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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:23:23 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:23:23 -0700 |
| commit | 9f734dc0bceb906e4eafab18982e1d23654997b0 (patch) | |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4362-h.zip b/4362-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6492ea --- /dev/null +++ b/4362-h.zip diff --git a/4362-h/4362-h.htm b/4362-h/4362-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..38f115f --- /dev/null +++ b/4362-h/4362-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,20911 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta name="linkgenerator" content="HTML-Kit Tools HTML Tidy plugin" /> + <title> + MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN, COMPLETE + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + .indent5 { margin-left: 5%;} + .indent10 { margin-left: 10%;} + .indent15 { margin-left: 15%;} + .indent20 { margin-left: 20%;} + .indent30 { margin-left: 30%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 100%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + .side { float: left; font-size: 75%; width: 25%; padding-left: 0.8em; + border-left: dashed thin; text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; + font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + p.pfirst, p.noindent {text-indent: 0} + span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + --> +</style> + </head> + <body> + <h1> + PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF P. H. SHERIDAN + </h1> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General P. H. Sheridan, +Complete, by General Philip Henry Sheridan + +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: The Memoirs of General P. H. Sheridan, Complete + +Author: General Philip Henry Sheridan + +Release Date: August 16, 2006 [EBook #4362] +Last Updated: July 18, 2014 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + <p> + <br /> + </p> + + +<div class="mynote"> +<i><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4362/old/orig4362-h/main.htm"> The original ebook, which was split into several small files, may be found by clicking on this link. DW</a></i> +</div> + + +<p> + <br /> + </p> +<hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF<br /> P. H. SHERIDAN + </h1> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="Cover.jpg (168K)" src="images/cover.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="Spines.jpg (76K)" src="images/Spines.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="Titlepage.jpg (28K)" src="images/Titlepage.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="linkFrontpiece" id="linkFrontpiece"></a><br /> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="Frontpiece.jpg (70K)" src="images/Frontpiece.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + CONTENTS + </h2> + <p> + <a href="#linkch1">CHAPTER I.</a><br /> Ancestry—Birth—Early + Education—A Clerk in a<br /> Grocery Store—Appointment—Monroe + Shoes—Journey<br /> to West Point—Hazing—A Fisticuff + Battle Suspended<br /> —Returns to Clerkship—Graduation<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch2">CHAPTER II.</a><br /> Ordered to Fort Duncan, + Texas—"Northers"—Scouting<br /> Duty—Hunting—Nearly + Caught by the Indians—<br /> A Primitive Habitation—A Brave + Drummer Boy's Death<br /> —A Mexican Ball<br /> <br /> <a + href="#linkch3">CHAPTER III.</a><br /> Ordered to Fort Reading, Cal.—A + Dangerous Undertaking<br /> —A Rescued Soldier—Discovering + Indians<br /> —Primitive Fishing—A Deserted Village<br /> + —Camping Opposite Fort Vancouver<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch4">CHAPTER + IV.</a><br /> "Old Red"—Skillful Shooting—The Yalima War<br /> + —A Ludicrous Mistake—Cut-mouth John's Encounter<br /> —Father + Pandoza's Mission—A Snow-Storm<br /> —Failure of the Expedition<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch5">CHAPTER V.</a><br /> An Indian Confederation—Massacre + at the Cascades<br /> of the Columbia—Plan to Relieve the Block-House<br /> + —A Hazardous Movement— A New Method of Establishing<br /> Guilt—Execution + of the Indian Murderers<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch6">CHAPTER VI.</a><br /> + Misdirected Vengeance — Honorable Mention<br /> —A Change of + Command—Educated Oxen—Feeding<br /> the Indians—Purchasing + a Burying-Ground<br /> —Knowing Rats<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch7">CHAPTER + VII.</a><br /> Learning the Chinook Language—Strange Indian Customs<br /> + —Their Doctors—Sam Patch—The Murder of a Woman<br /> + —In a Tight Place—Surprising the Indians<br /> —Conflicting + Reports of the Battle of Bull Run<br /> —Secession Question in + California—Appointed<br /> a Captain—Transferred to the East<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch8">CHAPTER VIII.</a><br /> Auditing Accounts—Chief + Quartermaster and Commissary<br /> of the Army of Southwest Missouri—Preparing + for<br /> the Pea Ridge Campaign—A Difference with General<br /> + Curtis—Ordered to the Front—Appointed a Colonel<br /> <br /> <a + href="#linkch9">CHAPTER IX.</a><br /> Expedition to Booneville—Destroying + Supplies<br /> —Confederate Stragglers—Success of the + Expedition<br /> —A Reconnoissance—The Importance of Bodily<br /> + Sustenance—The Battle of Booneville—Recommended<br /> for + Appointment as a Brigadier-General<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch10">CHAPTER + X.</a><br /> In Camp near Rienzi—General Granger—A Valuable<br /> + Capture at Ripley—Raiding a Corn—Field—Repulsing<br /> an + Attack—Presented with the Black Horse "Rienzi"<br /> —Meeting + General Grant—Appointed a Brigadier-General<br /> <br /> <a + href="#linkch11">CHAPTER XI.</a><br /> Good Advice from General Nelson—His + Tragic Death<br /> —Putting Louisville in a State of Defense—<br /> + Assigned to the Command of the Eleventh Division<br /> —Capture of + Chaplin Heights—Battle of Perryville<br /> —Reported Among the + Killed—A Thrilling Incident<br /> —General Buell Relieved by + General Rosecrans<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch12">CHAPTER XII.</a><br /> + Moving to Bowling Green—James Card, the Scout and<br /> Guide—General + Sill—Colonel Schaefer—Colonel<br /> G. W. Roberts—Movement + on Murfreesboro'<br /> —Opening of the Battle of Stone River<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch13">CHAPTER XIII.</a><br /> Assault on our Right + Flank—Occupying a New Position<br /> —The Enemy Checked — + Terrible Loss of Officers<br /> —Ammunition Gives Out—Reconstructing + the Line<br /> —Collecting the Wounded and Burying the Dead<br /> + —Dealing with Cowards—Results of the Victory<br /> <br /> <a + href="#linkch14">CHAPTER XIV.</a><br /> Appointed a Major-General—The + Secret Expedition<br /> under Card the Scout—His Capture by + Guerrillas<br /> —Escape—A Revenge Party—Women Soldiers<br /> + —A Fight with Sabres—Tullahoma Campaign<br /> —A Foolish + Adventure<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch15">CHAPTER XV.</a><br /> Ordered to + Occupy Bridgeport—A Spy—The Battle of<br /> Chickamauga—General + Thomas—Treated to Coffee<br /> —Results of the Battle<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch16">CHAPTER XVI</a><br /> At Chattanooga—The + Enemy Fortifies Lookout Mountain<br /> and Missionary Ridge—Reorganizing + the Army<br /> —Removal of General Rosecrans—Punishment of<br /> + Deserters—Grant at Chattanooga—The Fight on<br /> Lookout + Mountain—A Brave Color-Bearer<br /> —Battle of Missionary Ridge<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch17">CHAPTER XVII.</a><br /> Ordered to Return to + Chattanooga—March to Knoxville<br /> —Collecting Subsistence + Stores—A Clever Stratagem<br /> —A Bridge of Wagons—Looking + Out for the Personal<br /> Comfort of the Soldiers—A Leave of Absence<br /> + —Ordered to Washington—Parting with Sheridan's Division<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch18">CHAPTER XVIII.</a><br /> At Washington—Meeting + Secretary Stanton—Interview<br /> with President Lincoln—Made + Commander of the<br /> Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac<br /> + —Its Officers—General 'Meade's Method of Using<br /> Cavalry—Opening + of the Campaign—Spottsylvania<br /> Court House—A Difference + with General Meade<br /> —Preparing to Fight Stuart's Cavalry<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch19">CHAPTER XIX.</a><br /> The Expedition Starts—Destroying + Supplies—Opening<br /> of the Fight at Yellow Tavern—General + Custer's<br /> Brilliant Charge—Death of General Stuart—Removing<br /> + Torpedoes—Excitement in Richmond—A Night March<br /> —Enterprising + Newsboys—The Effects of Stuart's<br /> Defeat and Death—End of + the First Expedition<br /> —Its Great Success and Beneficial Results<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch20">CHAPTER XX.</a><br /> General Wilson's Advance + Toward Hanover Court<br /> House—Crossing the Pamunkey—Engagement + of<br /> Hawe's Shop—Fight at Matadequin Creek—Capture<br /> of + Cold Harbor—The Fight to Retain the<br /> Place—Movements of + General Wilson<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch21">CHAPTER XXI.</a><br /> The + Movement to the James—The Second Expedition<br /> —Battle of + Trevillian Station—Defeat of General<br /> Wade Hampton—Mallory's + Crossroads—Suffering of<br /> the Wounded—Securing the Trains—General + Gregg's<br /> Stubborn Fight<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch22">CHAPTER XXII.</a><br /> + General Wilson's Raid—Destroying Railroads<br /> —His + Discomfiture—Results of his Raid—Remounts<br /> —Movement + to the North Side of the James<br /> —Deceiving Lee—My Isolated + Position—Estimate<br /> of Hancock—Success of the Cavalry—Their + Constant<br /> Duties<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch23">CHAPTER XXIII.</a><br /> + General Hunter's Successful March and Subsequent<br /> Retreat—General + Jubal A. Early Threatens Washington<br /> —Chambersburg, Pa., Burned—Selected + to Operate<br /> Against General Early—The Shenandoah Valley<br /> + —The Confederate Army<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch24">CHAPTER XXIV.</a><br /> + Moving on General Early—General Grant's Letter of<br /> Instructions—Destroying + the Resources of the Valley<br /> —Reason for the Destruction—Withdrawal + to Halltown<br /> —Alarm in the North over the Retrograde Movement<br /> + —Renewing the Advance up the Valley—General<br /> Anderson's + Attempt to Return to Petersburg<br /> —Strength of the Armies<br /> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + VOLUME II. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch1b">CHAPTER I.</a><br /> Organizing Scouts—Miss + Rebecca Wright—Important<br /> Information—Decides to Move on + Newtown—Meeting<br /> General Grant—Organization of the Union + Army<br /> —Opening of the Battle of the Opequon<br /> —Death of + General Russell—A Turning Movement<br /> —A Successful Cavalry + Charge—Victory—Three<br /> Loyal Girls—Appointed a + Brigadier—General in the<br /> Regular Army—Remarks on the + Battle<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch2b">CHAPTER II.</a><br /> Pursuing Early—A + Secret March—Fisher's Hill<br /> —A Great Success—Removal + of Averell—The Retreat<br /> —Capturing an Old Comrade—The + Murder of Lieutenant Meigs<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch3b">CHAPTER III.</a><br /> + Reasons for Not Pursuing Early Through the Blue Ridge<br /> —General + Torbert Detailed to Give General<br /> Rosser a "Drubbing"—General + Rosser Routed<br /> —Telegraphed to Meet Stanton—Longstreet's + Message<br /> —Return to Winchester—The Ride to Cedar Creek<br /> + —The Retreating Army—Rallying the Troops<br /> —Reforming + the Line—Commencing the Attack—Defeat<br /> of the Confederates—Appointed + a Major-General<br /> in the Regular Army—Results of the Battle<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch4b">CHAPTER IV.</a><br /> General Early Reorganizes + His Forces—Mosby the<br /> Guerrilla—General Merritt sent to + Operate Against<br /> Mosby—Rosser Again Active—General Custer<br /> + Surprised—Colonel Young Sent to Capture Gilmore<br /> the Guerrilla—Colonel + Young's Success<br /> —Capture of General Kelly and General Crook<br /> + —Spies—Was Wilkes Booth a Spy—Driving the<br /> + Confederates Out of the Valley—The Battle of<br /> Waynesboro'—Marching + to join the Army of the<br /> Potomac<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch5b">CHAPTER + V.</a><br /> Transferred to Petersburg—General Raw'ins's Cordial<br /> + Welcome—General Grant's Orders and Plans—A Trip<br /> with Mr. + Lincoln and General Grant—Meeting General<br /> Sherman—Opposed + to Joining the Army of the Tennessee<br /> —Opening of the Appomattox + Campaign—General Grant<br /> and General Rawlins<br /><br /> <a + href="#linkch6b">CHAPTER VI.</a><br /> Battle of Dinwiddie Court House—Pickett + Repulsed<br /> —Reinforced by the Fifth Corps—Battle of Five<br /> + Forks—Turning the Confederate Left—An Unqualified<br /> Success—Relieving + General Warren—The Warren Court<br /> of Inquiry—General + Sherman's Opinion<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch7b">CHAPTER VII.</a><br /> + Result of the Battle of Five Forks—Retreat of Lee<br /> —An + Intercepted Despatch—At Amelia Court House<br /> —Battle of + Sailor's Creek—The Confederates'<br /> Stubborn Resistance—A + Complete Victory<br /> —Importance of the Battle<br /> <br /> <a + href="#linkch8b">CHAPTER VIII.</a><br /> Lincoln's Laconic Despatch—Capturing + Lee's Supplies<br /> —Delighted Engineers—The Confederates' + Last<br /> Effort—A Flag of Truce—General Geary's "Last<br /> + Ditch" Absurdity—Meeting of Grant and Lee<br /> —The Surrender—Estimate + of General Grant<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch9b">CHAPTER IX.</a><br /> + Ordered to Greensboro', N. C.—March to the Dan<br /> River—Assigned + to the Command West of the<br /> Mississippi—Leaving Washington—Flight + of General<br /> Early—Maximilian—Making Demonstrations<br /> on + the Upper Rio Grande—Confederates Join<br /> Maximilian—The + French Invasion of Mexico, and<br /> its Relations to the Rebellion—Assisting + the<br /> Liberals—Restoration of the Republic<br /> <br /> <a + href="#linkch10b">CHAPTER X.</a><br /> A. J. Hamilton Appointed Provisional + Governor of<br /> Texas—Assembles a Constitutional Convention<br /> + —The Texans Dissatisfied—Lawlessness—Oppressive<br /> + Legislation—Ex-Confederates—Controlling<br /> Louisiana—A + Constitutional Convention—The<br /> Meeting Suppressed—A Bloody + Riot—My Reports<br /> of the Massacre—Portions Suppressed by + President<br /> Johnson—Sustained by a Congressional Committee<br /> + —The Reconstruction Laws<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch11b">CHAPTER XI.</a><br /> + Passage of the Reconstruction Act Over the<br /> President's Veto—Placed + in Command of the Fifth<br /> Military District—Removing Officers—My + Reasons<br /> for Such Action—Affairs in Louisiana and Texas<br /> + —Removal of Governor Wells—Revision of the jury<br /> Lists—Relieved + from the Command of the Fifth<br /> Military District<br /> <a + href="#linkch12b">CHAPTER XII.</a><br /> At Fort Leavenworth—The + Treaty of Medicine Lodge<br /> —Going to Fort Dodge—Discontented + Indians<br /> —Indian Outrages—A Delegation of Chiefs—Terrible<br /> + Indian Raid—Death of Comstock—Vast Herds of<br /> Buffalo—Preparing + for a Winter Campaign—Meeting<br /> "Buffalo Bill"—He + Undertakes a Dangerous Task<br /> —Forsyth's Gallant Fight—Rescued<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch13b">CHAPTER XIII.</a><br /> Fitting Out the Winter + Expedition—Accompanying the<br /> Main Force—The Other Columns—Struck + by a Blizzard<br /> —Custer's Fight on the Washita—Defeat and + Death<br /> of Black Kettle—Massacre of Elliott's<br /> Party—Relief + of Colonel Crawford<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch14b">CHAPTER XIV.</a><br /> + A Winter Expedition—Herds of Buffalo—Wolves<br /> —Blizzards—A + Terrible Night—Finding the Bodies<br /> of Elliott's Party—The + Abandoned Indian Camps<br /> —Pushing Down the Washita—The + Captured Chiefs<br /> —Evans's Successful Fight—Establishing + Fort Sill<br /> —"California Joe"—Duplicity of the Cheyennes<br /> + —Ordered to Repair to Washington<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch15b">CHAPTER + XV.</a><br /> Inspecting Military Posts in Utah and Montana<br /> —Desire + to Witness the Franco—German War<br /> —On a Sand-Bar in the + Missouri—A Bear Hunt<br /> —An Indian Scare—Myriads of + Mosquitoes—Permission<br /> Given to Visit Europe — Calling on + President Grant<br /> —Sailing for Liverpool—Arrival in Berlin<br /> + <br /> <a href="#linkch16b">CHAPTER XVI.</a><br /> Leaving for the Seat of + War—Meeting with Prince<br /> Bismarck—His Interest in Public + Opinion in America<br /> —His Inclinations in Early Life—Presented + to the King<br /> —The Battle of Gravelotte—The German Plan—Its + Final<br /> Success—Sending News of the Victory—Mistaken for a + Frenchman<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch17b">CHAPTER XVII.</a><br /> Searching + for Quarters—Hunting up Provisions<br /> —A Slender Breakfast—Going + over the Battle-Field<br /> —The German Artillery—A Group of + Wounded<br /> —Dining With the King—On the March—The + Bavarians<br /> —Kirschwasser—Urging on the Troops<br /> <br /> + <a href="#linkch18b">CHAPTER XVIII.</a><br /> After McMahon—The + Battle of Beaumont—The French<br /> Surprised—The Marching of + the German Soldiers<br /> —The Battle of Sedan—Gallant Cavalry + Charges<br /> —Defeat of the French—The Surrender of Napoleon<br /> + —Bismarck and the King—Decorating the Soldiers<br /> <br /> <a + href="#linkch19b">CHAPTER XIX.</a><br /> Riding Over the Battle—Field—Destruction + of<br /> Bazeilles—Mistakes of the French—Marshal Bazaine<br /> + —On to Paris—A Week in Meaux—Rheims—On the<br /> + Picket-Line—Under Fire—A Surrender—At Versailles<br /> + —General Burnside and Mr. Forbes in Paris<br /> —Brussels—Deciding + to Visit Eastern Europe—Austria<br /> —Down the Danube—In + Constantinople—The<br /> Ladies of the Harem—The Sultan—Turkish + Soldiers<br /> —A Banquet—A Visit in Athens—King George + of<br /> Greece—Victor—Emmanuel—Bedeviled with Cares of<br /> + State—Deer Shooting—A Military Dinner—Return<br /> to + Versailles—Germans Entering Paris—Criticism<br /> on the + Franco-Prussian War—Conclusion<br /> <br /> <a href="#linkch20b">CHAPTER + XX.</a><br /> Brussels—Deciding to Visit Eastern Europe—Austria<br /> + —Down the Danube—In Constantinople—The Ladies of<br /> + the Harem—the Sultan—Turkish Soldiers—A Banquet<br /> + —A Visit in Athens—King George of Greece—Victor<br /> + Emmanuel—"Bedeviled with Cares of State"—Deer Shooting<br /> + —A Military Dinner—Return to Versailles—Germans<br /> + Entering Paris—Criticism on The Franco-Prussian War<br /> —Conclusion<br /> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + ILLUSTRATIONS + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#linkFrontpiece">Steel Portrait—General P. H. + Sheridan</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkp048">Lieutenant Williamson's Trail + from Fort Reading, Cal.,<br /><br /> to Fort Vancouver</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linkp077">Lieutenant Sheridan's Fight at the Cascades<br /><br /> of + the Columbia in 1856</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkrienzi">General + Sheridan's War Horse "Rienzi"</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkp146">Northeastern + Mississippi</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkp157">Battle of Booneville</a><br /><br /> + <a href="#linkp200">Map Showing the Field of Operations of the Army of the + Cumberland<br /><br /> in 1862 and 1863</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkp238">Battle—field + of Stone River</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkp285">Positions of General + Sheridan's Division in the Battle of Chickamauga</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linkgregg">Portrait of General D. McM. Gregg</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linktorbert">Portrait of General A. T. A. Torbert</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linkmerritt">Portrait of General Wesley Merritt</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linkcuster">Portrait of General George A. Custer</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linksheridan2">Portrait of General Sheridan During the War</a><br /><br /> + <a href="#linkwilson">Portrait of General James H. Wilson</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linkp317">Positions of General Sheridan's Division prior to the<br /><br /> + Attack on Missionary Ridge</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkp391">First + Expedition—The Richmond Raid</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkp433">Second + Expedition—The Trevillian Raid</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkp443">Third + Expedition—Raid to Roanoke Station</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkp446">General + Map, Embracing all the Expeditions</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkp470">Map + of the Shenandoah Valley</a><br /><br /><a + href="#linkmisswright">Portrait of Miss Rebecca M. Wright</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linklincoln1">Fac-simile Letter from Abraham Lincoln, Sept. 20, + 1864</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linklincoln2">Fac-simile Letter from Abraham + Lincoln, Oct. 22, 1864</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkemory">Portrait of + General William H. Emory</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkcrook">Portrait of + General George Crook</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkdinwiddie">General + Sheridan and Staff. Dinwiddie Court House</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linkpb039">Battle-field of Fisher's Hill</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linkpb094">Battle-field of Cedar Creek</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linkpb101">Fourth Expedition—Merritt's Raid to Loudoun</a><br /><br /> + <a href="#linkpb103">Fifth Expedition—Torbert's Raid to Gordonsville</a><br /><br /> + <a href="#linkpb117">Battle-field of Waynesboro</a><br /><br /> <a + href="#linkpb122">Sixth Expedition—Winchester to Petersburg</a><br /><br /> + <a href="#linkbelle-grove">Belle-Grove House. General Sheridan's + Headquarters at Cedar Creek</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkgenwright">Portrait + of General Horatio G. Wright</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkpb154">Battle-field + of Dinwiddie Court House</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkpb164">Battle-field + of Five Forks</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkpb185">Battle-field of Sailor's + Creek</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkpb195">Seventh Expedition—The + Appomattox Campaign</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkpb207">Eighth Expedition—To + the Dan River and Return</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkpb344">Indian + Campaign of 1868—1869</a><br /><br /> <a href="#linkpb426">Map Showing + Parts of France, Belgium, and Germany</a><br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + VOLUME I. + </h2> + <h2> + PREFACE + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + When, yielding to the solicitations of my friends, I finally decided to + write these Memoirs, the greatest difficulty which confronted me was that + of recounting my share in the many notable events of the last three + decades, in which I played a part, without entering too fully into the + history of these years, and at the same time without giving to my own acts + an unmerited prominence. To what extent I have overcome this difficulty I + must leave the reader to judge. + </p> + <p> + In offering this record, penned by my own hand, of the events of my life, + and of my participation in our great struggle for national existence, + human liberty, and political equality, I make no pretension to literary + merit; the importance of the subject-matter of my narrative is my only + claim on the reader's attention. + </p> + <p> + Respectfully dedicating this work to my comrades in arms during the War of + the Rebellion, I leave it as a heritage to my children, and as a source of + information for the future historian. + </p> + <p> + P. H. SHERIDAN. + </p> + <p> + Nonguitt, Mass., August 2, 1888 + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h1> + PERSONAL MEMOIRS + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + P. H. SHERIDAN. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch1" id="linkch1"></a>CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + ANCESTRY—BIRTH—EARLY EDUCATION—A CLERK IN A GROCERY + STORE—APPOINTMENT—MONROE SHOES—JOURNEY TO WEST POINT—HAZING—A + FISTICUFF BATTLE—SUSPENDED—RETURNS TO CLERKSHIP—GRADUATION. + </p> + <p> + My parents, John and Mary Sheridan, came to America in 1830, having been + induced by the representations of my father's uncle, Thomas Gainor, then + living in Albany, N. Y., to try their fortunes in the New World: They were + born and reared in the County Cavan, Ireland, where from early manhood my + father had tilled a leasehold on the estate of Cherrymoult; and the sale + of this leasehold provided him with means to seek a new home across the + sea. My parents were blood relations—cousins in the second degree—my + mother, whose maiden name was Minor, having descended from a collateral + branch of my father's family. Before leaving Ireland they had two + children, and on the 6th of March, 1831, the year after their arrival in + this country, I was born, in Albany, N. Y., the third child in a family + which eventually increased to six—four boys and two girls. + </p> + <p> + The prospects for gaining a livelihood in Albany did not meet the + expectations which my parents had been led to entertain, so in 1832 they + removed to the West, to establish themselves in the village of Somerset, + in Perry County, Ohio, which section, in the earliest days of the State; + had been colonized from Pennsylvania and Maryland. At this period the + great public works of the Northwest—the canals and macadamized + roads, a result of clamor for internal improvements—were in course + of construction, and my father turned his attention to them, believing + that they offered opportunities for a successful occupation. Encouraged by + a civil engineer named Bassett, who had taken a fancy to him, he put in + bids for a small contract on the Cumberland Road, known as the "National + Road," which was then being extended west from the Ohio River. A little + success in this first enterprise led him to take up contracting as a + business, which he followed on various canals and macadamized roads then + building in different parts of the State of Ohio, with some good fortune + for awhile, but in 1853 what little means he had saved were swallowed up + —in bankruptcy, caused by the failure of the Sciota and Hocking + Valley Railroad Company, for which he was fulfilling a contract at the + time, and this disaster left him finally only a small farm, just outside + the village of Somerset, where he dwelt until his death in 1875. + </p> + <p> + My father's occupation kept him away from home much of the time during my + boyhood, and as a consequence I grew up under the sole guidance and + training of my mother, whose excellent common sense and clear discernment + in every way fitted her for such maternal duties. When old enough I was + sent to the village school, which was taught by an old-time Irish "master"—one + of those itinerant dominies of the early frontier—who, holding that + to spare the rod was to spoil the child, if unable to detect the real + culprit when any offense had been committed, would consistently apply the + switch to the whole school without discrimination. It must be conceded + that by this means he never failed to catch the guilty mischief-maker. The + school-year was divided into terms of three months, the teacher being paid + in each term a certain sum—three dollars, I think, for each + pupil-and having an additional perquisite in the privilege of boarding + around at his option in the different families to which his scholars + belonged. This feature was more than acceptable to the parents at times, + for how else could they so thoroughly learn all the neighborhood gossip? + But the pupils were in almost unanimous opposition, because Mr. McNanly's + unheralded advent at any one's house resulted frequently in the discovery + that some favorite child had been playing "hookey," which means (I will + say to the uninitiated, if any such there be) absenting one's self from + school without permission, to go on a fishing or a swimming frolic. Such + at least was my experience more than once, for Mr. McNanly particularly + favored my mother's house, because of a former acquaintanceship in + Ireland, and many a time a comparison of notes proved that I had been in + the woods with two playfellows, named Binckly and Greiner, when the master + thought I was home, ill, and my mother, that I was at school, deeply + immersed in study. However, with these and other delinquencies not + uncommon among boys, I learned at McNanly's school, and a little later, + under a pedagogue named Thorn, a smattering of geography and history, and + explored the mysteries of Pike's Arithmetic and Bullions' English Grammar, + about as far as I could be carried up to the age of fourteen. This was all + the education then bestowed upon me, and this—with the exception of + progressing in some of these branches by voluntary study, and by practical + application in others, supplemented by a few months of preparation after + receiving my appointment as a cadet—was the extent of my learning on + entering the Military Academy. + </p> + <p> + When about fourteen years old I began to do something for myself; Mr. John + Talbot, who kept a country store in the village, employing me to deal out + sugar, coffee, and calico to his customers at the munificent salary of + twenty-four dollars a year. After I had gained a twelve-months' experience + with Mr. Talbot my services began to be sought by, others, and a Mr. David + Whitehead secured them by the offer of sixty dollars a year—Talbot + refusing to increase my pay, but not objecting to my advancement. A few + months later, before my year was up, another chance to increase my salary + came about; Mr. Henry Dittoe, the enterprising man of the village, + offering me one hundred and twenty dollars a year to take a position in + the dry-goods store of Fink & Dittoe. I laid the matter before Mr. + Whitehead, and he frankly advised me to accept, though he cautioned me + that I might regret it, adding that he was afraid Henry (referring to Mr. + Dittoe) "had too many irons in the fire." His warning in regard to the + enterprising merchant proved a prophecy, for "too many irons in the fire" + brought about Mr. Dittoe's bankruptcy, although this misfortune did not + befall him till long after I had left his service. I am glad to say, + however, that his failure was an exceptionally honest one, and due more to + the fact that he was in advance of his surroundings than to any other + cause. + </p> + <p> + I remained with Fink & Dittoe until I entered the Military Academy, + principally in charge of the book-keeping, which was no small work for one + of my years, considering that in those days the entire business of country + stores in the West was conducted on the credit system; the customers, + being mostly farmers, never expecting to pay till the product of their + farms could be brought to market; and even then usually squared the + book-accounts by notes of hand, that were often slow of collection. + </p> + <p> + From the time I ceased to attend school my employment had necessitated, to + a certain degree, the application of what I had learned there, and this + practical instruction I reinforced somewhat by doing considerable reading + in a general way, until ultimately I became quite a local authority in + history, being frequently chosen as arbiter in discussions and disputes + that arose in the store. The Mexican War, then going on, furnished, of + course, a never-ending theme for controversy, and although I was too young + to enter the military service when volunteers were mustering in our + section, yet the stirring events of the times so much impressed and + absorbed me that my sole wish was to become a soldier, and my highest + aspiration to go to West Point as a Cadet from my Congressional district. + My chances for this seemed very remote, however, till one day an + opportunity was thrown in my way by the boy who then held the place + failing to pass his examination. When I learned that by this occurrence a + vacancy existed, I wrote to our representative in Congress, the Hon. + Thomas Ritchey, and asked him for the appointment, reminding him that we + had often met in Fink & Dittoe's store, and that therefore he must + know something of my qualifications. He responded promptly by enclosing my + warrant for the class of 1848; so, notwithstanding the many romances that + have been published about the matter, to Mr. Ritchey, and to him alone, is + due all the credit—if my career justifies that term—of putting + me in the United States Army. + </p> + <p> + At once I set about preparing for the examination which precedes admission + to the Military Academy, studying zealously under the direction of Mr. + William Clark; my old teachers, McNanly and Thorn, having disappeared from + Somerset and sought new fields of usefulness. The intervening months + passed rapidly away, and I fear that I did not make much progress, yet I + thought I should be able to pass the preliminary examination. That which + was to follow worried me more and gave me many sleepless nights; but these + would have been less in number, I fully believe, had it not been for one + specification of my, outfit which the circular that accompanied my + appointment demanded. This requirement was a pair of "Monroe shoes." Now, + out in Ohio, what "Monroe shoes" were was a mystery—not a shoemaker + in my section having so much as an inkling of the construction of the + perplexing things, until finally my eldest brother brought an idea of them + from Baltimore, when it was found that they were a familiar pattern under + another name. + </p> + <p> + At length the time for my departure came, and I set out for West Point, + going by way of Cleveland and across Lake Erie to Buffalo. On the steamer + I fell in with another appointee en route to the academy, David S. + Stanley, also from Ohio; and when our acquaintanceship had ripened + somewhat, and we had begun to repose confidence in each other, I found out + that he had no "Monroe shoes," so I deemed myself just that much ahead of + my companion, although my shoes might not conform exactly to the + regulations in Eastern style and finish. At Buffalo, Stanley and I + separated, he going by the Erie Canal and I by the railroad, since I + wanted to gain time on account of commands to stop in Albany to see my + father's uncle. Here I spent a few days, till Stanley reached Albany, when + we journeyed together down the river to West Point. The examination began + a few days after our arrival, and I soon found myself admitted to the + Corps of Cadets, to date from July 1, 1848, in a class composed of + sixty-three members, many of whom—for example, Stanley, Slocum, + Woods, Kautz, and Crook—became prominent generals in later years, + and commanded divisions, corps, and armies in the war of the rebellion. + </p> + <p> + Quickly following my admission I was broken in by a course of hazing, with + many of the approved methods that the Cadets had handed down from year to + year since the Academy was founded; still, I escaped excessive + persecution, although there were in my day many occurrences so extreme as + to call forth condemnation and an endeavor to suppress the senseless + custom, which an improved civilization has now about eradicated, not only + at West Point, but at other colleges. + </p> + <p> + Although I had met the Academic board and come off with fair success, yet + I knew so little of Algebra or any of the higher branches of mathematics + that during my first six months at the Academy I was discouraged by many + misgivings as to the future, for I speedily learned that at the January + examination the class would have to stand a test much severer than that + which had been applied to it on entering. I resolved to try hard, however, + and, besides, good fortune gave me for a room-mate a Cadet whose education + was more advanced than mine, and whose studious habits and willingness to + aid others benefited me immensely. This room-mate was Henry W. Slocum, + since so signally distinguished in both military and civil capacities as + to win for his name a proud place in the annals of his country. After taps—that + is, when by the regulations of the Academy all the lights were supposed to + be extinguished, and everybody in bed—Slocum and I would hang a + blanket over the one window of our room and continue our studies—he + guiding me around scores of stumbling-blocks in Algebra and elucidating + many knotty points in other branches of the course with which I was + unfamiliar. On account of this association I went up before the Board in + January with less uneasiness than otherwise would have been the case, and + passed the examination fairly well. When it was over, a self-confidence in + my capacity was established that had not existed hitherto, and at each + succeeding examination I gained a little in order of merit till my + furlough summer came round—that is, when I was half through the + four-year course. + </p> + <p> + My furlough in July and August, 1850, was spent at my home in Ohio, with + the exception of a visit or two to other Cadets on furlough in the State, + and at the close of my leave I returned to the Academy in the full + expectation of graduating with my class in 1852. + </p> + <p> + A quarrel of a belligerent character in September 1851, with Cadet William + R. Terrill, put an end to this anticipation, however, and threw me back + into the class which graduated in 1853. Terrill was a Cadet Sergeant, and, + while my company was forming for parade, having, given me an order, in + what I considered an improper tone, to "dress" in a certain direction, + when I believed I was accurately dressed, I fancied I had a grievance, and + made toward him with a lowered bayonet, but my better judgment recalled me + before actual contact could take place. Of course Terrill reported me for + this, and my ire was so inflamed by his action that when we next met I + attacked him, and a fisticuff engagement in front of barracks followed, + which was stopped by an officer appearing on the scene. Each of us handed + in an explanation, but mine was unsatisfactory to the authorities, for I + had to admit that I was the assaulting party, and the result was that I + was suspended by the Secretary of War, Mr. Conrad, till August 28, 1852—the + Superintendent of the Academy, Captain Brewerton, being induced to + recommend this milder course, he said, by my previous good conduct. At the + time I thought, of course, my suspension a very unfair punishment, that my + conduct was justifiable and the authorities of the Academy all wrong, but + riper experience has led me to a different conclusion, and as I look back, + though the mortification I then endured was deep and trying, I am + convinced that it was hardly as much as I deserved for such an outrageous + breach of discipline. + </p> + <p> + There was no question as to Terrill's irritating tone, but in giving me + the order he was prompted by the duty of his position as a file closer, + and I was not the one to remedy the wrong which I conceived had been done + me, and clearly not justifiable in assuming to correct him with my own + hands. In 1862, when General Buell's army was assembling at Louisville, + Terrill was with it as a brigadier-general (for, although a Virginian, he + had remained loyal), and I then took the initiative toward a renewal of + our acquaintance. Our renewed friendship was not destined to be of long + duration, I am sorry to say, for a few days later, in the battle of + Perryville, while gallantly fighting for his country, poor Terrill was + killed. + </p> + <p> + My suspension necessitated my leaving the Academy, and I returned home in + the fall of 1851, much crestfallen. Fortunately, my good friend Henry + Dittoe again gave me employment in keeping the books of his establishment, + and this occupation of my time made the nine months which were to elapse + before I could go back to West Point pass much more agreeably than they + would have done had I been idle. In August, 1852, I joined the first class + at the Academy in accordance with the order of the War Department, taking + my place at the foot of the class and graduating with it the succeeding + June, number thirty-four in a membership of fifty-two. At the head of this + class graduated James B. McPherson, who was killed in the Atlanta campaign + while commanding the Army of the Tennessee. It also contained such men as + John M. Schofield, who commanded the Army of the Ohio; Joshua W. Sill, + killed as a brigadier in the battle of Stone River; and many others who, + in the war of the rebellion, on one side or the other, rose to prominence, + General John B. Hood being the most distinguished member of the class + among the Confederates. + </p> + <p> + At the close of the final examination I made no formal application for + assignment to any particular arm of the service, for I knew that my + standing would not entitle me to one of the existing vacancies, and that I + should be obliged to take a place among the brevet second lieutenants. + When the appointments were made I therefore found myself attached to the + First Infantry, well pleased that I had surmounted all the difficulties + that confront the student at our national school, and looking forward with + pleasant anticipation to the life before me. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch2" id="linkch2"></a>CHAPTER II. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + ORDERED TO FORT DUNCAN, TEXAS—"NORTHERS"—SCOUTING DUTY—HUNTING—NEARLY + CAUGHT BY THE INDIANS—A PRIMITIVE HABITATION—A BRAVE + DRUMMERBOY'S DEATH—A MEXICAN BALL. + </p> + <p> + On the 1st day of July, 1853, I was commissioned a brevet second + lieutenant in the First Regiment of United States Infantry, then stationed + in Texas. The company to which I was attached was quartered at Fort + Duncan, a military post on the Rio Grande opposite the little town of + Piedras Negras, on the boundary line between the United States and the + Republic of Mexico. + </p> + <p> + After the usual leave of three months following graduation from the + Military Academy I was assigned to temporary duty at Newport Barracks, a + recruiting station and rendezvous for the assignment of young officers + preparatory to joining their regiments. Here I remained from September, + 1853, to March, 1854, when I was ordered to join my company at Fort + Duncan. To comply with this order I proceeded by steamboat down the Ohio + and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, thence by steamer across the Gulf + of Mexico to Indianola, Tex., and after landing at that place, continued + in a small schooner through what is called the inside channel on the Gulf + coast to Corpus Christi, the headquarters of Brigadier-General Persifer F. + Smith, who was commanding the Department of Texas. Here I met some of my + old friends from the Military Academy, among them Lieutenant Alfred Gibbs, + who in the last year of the rebellion commanded under me a brigade of + cavalry, and Lieutenant Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, of the Mounted Rifles, + who resigned in 1854 to accept service in the French Imperial army, but to + most of those about headquarters I was an entire stranger. Among the + latter was Captain Stewart Van Vliet, of the Quartermaster's Department, + now on the retired list. With him I soon came in frequent contact, and, by + reason of his connection with the Quartermaster's Department, the kindly + interest he took in forwarding my business inaugurated between us—a + lasting friendship. + </p> + <p> + A day or two after my arrival at Corpus Christi a train of Government + wagons, loaded with subsistence stores and quartermaster's supplies, + started for Laredo, a small town on the Rio Grande below Fort Duncan. + There being no other means of reaching my station I put my small personal + possessions, consisting of a trunk, mattress, two blankets, and a pillow + into one of the heavily loaded wagons and proceeded to join it, sitting on + the boxes or bags of coffee and sugar, as I might choose. The movement of + the train was very slow, as the soil was soft on the newly made and sandy + roads. We progressed but a few miles on our first day's journey, and in + the evening parked our train at a point where there was no wood, a scant + supply of water—and that of bad quality—but an abundance of + grass. There being no comfortable place to sleep in any of the wagons, + filled as they were to the bows with army supplies, I spread my blankets + on the ground between the wheels of one of them, and awoke in the morning + feeling as fresh and bright as would have been possible if all the + comforts of civilization had been at my command. + </p> + <p> + It took our lumbering train many days to reach Laredo, a distance of about + one hundred and sixty miles from Corpus Christi. Each march was but a + repetition of the first day's journey, its monotony occasionally relieved, + though, by the passage of immense flocks of ducks and geese, and the + appearance at intervals of herds of deer, and sometimes droves of wild + cattle, wild horses and mules. The bands of wild horses I noticed were + sometimes led by mules, but generally by stallions with long wavy manes, + and flowing tails which almost touched the ground. + </p> + <p> + We arrived at Laredo during one of those severe storms incident to that + section, which are termed "Northers" from the fact that the north winds + culminate occasionally in cold windstorms, frequently preceded by heavy + rains. Generally the blow lasts for three days, and the cold becomes + intense and piercing. While the sudden depression of the temperature is + most disagreeable, and often causes great suffering, it is claimed that + these "Northers" make the climate more healthy and endurable. They occur + from October to May, and in addition to the destruction which, through the + sudden depression of the temperature, they bring on the herds in the + interior, they are often of sufficient violence to greatly injure the + harbors on the coast. + </p> + <p> + The post near Laredo was called Fort McIntosh, and at this period the + troops stationed there consisted of eight companies of the Fifth Infantry + and two of the First, one of the First Artillery, and three of the Mounted + Rifles. Just before the "Norther" began these troops had completed a + redoubt for the defense of the post, with the exception of the ditches, + but as the parapet was built of sand—the only material about Laredo + which could be obtained for its construction—the severity of the + winds was too much for such a shifting substance, and the work was + entirely blown away early in the storm. + </p> + <p> + I was pleasantly and hospitably welcomed by the officers at the post, all + of whom were living in tents, with no furniture except a cot and trunk, + and an improvised bed for a stranger, when one happened to come along. + After I had been kindly taken in by one of the younger officers, I + reported to the commanding officer, and was informed by him that he would + direct the quartermaster to furnish me, as soon as convenient, with + transportation to Fort Duncan, the station of my company. + </p> + <p> + In the course of a day or two, the quartermaster notified me that a + Government six-mule wagon would be placed at my disposal to proceed to my + destination. No better means offering, I concluded to set out in this + conveyance, and, since it was also to carry a quantity of quartermaster's + property for Fort Duncan, I managed to obtain room enough for my bed in + the limited space between the bows and load, where I could rest tolerably + well, and under cover at night, instead of sleeping on the ground under + the wagon, as I had done on the road from Corpus Christi to Laredo. + </p> + <p> + I reached Fort Duncan in March, 1854., and was kindly received by the + commanding officer of the regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson Morris, + and by the captain of my company ("D"), Eugene E. McLean, and his charming + wife the only daughter of General E. V. Sumner, who was already + distinguished in our service, but much better known in after years in the + operations of the Army of the Potomac, during its early campaigns in + Virginia. Shortly after joining company "D" I was sent out on scouting + duty with another company of the regiment to Camp La Pena, about sixty or + seventy miles east of Fort Duncan, in a section of country that had for + some time past been subjected to raids by the Lipan and Comanche Indians. + Our outpost at La Pena was intended as a protection against the predatory + incursions of these savages, so almost constant scouting became a daily + occupation. This enabled me soon to become familiar with and make maps of + the surrounding country, and, through constant association with our + Mexican guide, to pick up in a short time quite a smattering of the + Spanish language, which was very useful to one serving on that frontier. + </p> + <p> + At that early day western Texas was literally filled with game, and the + region in the immediate vicinity of La Pena contained its full proportion + of deer, antelope, and wild turkeys. The temptation to hunt was therefore + constantly before me, and a desire to indulge in this pastime, whenever + free from the legitimate duty of the camp, soon took complete possession + of me, so expeditions in pursuit of game were of frequent occurrence. In + these expeditions I was always accompanied by a soldier named Frankman, + belonging to "D" company, who was a fine sportsman, and a butcher by + trade. In a short period I learned from Frankman how to approach and + secure the different species of game, and also how to dress and care for + it when killed. Almost every expedition we made was rewarded with a good + supply of deer, antelope, and wild turkeys, and we furnished the command + in camp with such abundance that it was relieved from the necessity of + drawing its beef ration, much to the discomfiture of the disgruntled beef + contractor. + </p> + <p> + The camp at La Pena was on sandy ground, unpleasant for men and animals, + and by my advice it was moved to La Pendencia, not far from Lake + Espantosa. Before removal from our old location, however, early one bright + morning Frankman and I started on one of our customary expeditions, going + down La Pena Creek to a small creek, at the head of which we had + established a hunting rendezvous. After proceeding along the stream for + three or four miles we saw a column of smoke on the prairie, and supposing + it arose from a camp of Mexican rancheros catching wild horses or wild + cattle, and even wild mules, which were very numerous in that section of + country along the Nueces River, we thought we would join the party and see + how much success they were having, and observe the methods employed in + this laborious and sometimes dangerous vocation. With this object in view, + we continued on until we found it necessary to cross to the other side of + the creek to reach the point indicated by the smoke. Just before reaching + the crossing I discovered moccasin tracks near the water's edge, and + realizing in an instant that the camp we were approaching might possibly + be one of hostile Indians—all Indians in that country at that time + were hostile—Frankman and I backed out silently, and made eager + strides for La Pena, where we had scarcely arrived when Captain M. E. Van + Buren, of the Mounted Rifle regiment, came in with a small command, and + reported that he was out in pursuit of a band of Comanche Indians, which + had been committing depredations up about Fort Clark, but that he had lost + the trail. I immediately informed him of what had occurred to me during + the morning, and that I could put him on the trail of the Indians he was + desirous of punishing. + </p> + <p> + We hurriedly supplied with rations his small command of thirteen, men, and + I then conducted him to the point where I had seen the smoke, and there we + found signs indicating it to be the recently abandoned camp of the Indians + he was pursuing, and we also noticed that prairie rats had formed the + principal article of diet at the meal they had just completed. As they had + gone, I could do no more than put him on the trail made in their + departure, which was well marked; for Indians, when in small parties, and + unless pressed, usually follow each other in single file. Captain Van + Buren followed the trail by Fort Ewell, and well down toward Corpus + Christi, day and night, until the Indians, exhausted and used up, halted, + on an open plain, unsaddled their horses, mounted bareback, and offered + battle. Their number was double that of Van Buren's detachment, but he + attacked them fearlessly, and in the fight was mortally wounded by an + arrow which entered his body in front, just above the sword belt, and came + through the belt behind. The principal chief of the Indians was killed, + and the rest fled. Captain Van Buren's men carried him to Corpus Christi, + where in a few days he died. + </p> + <p> + After our removal to La Pendencia a similar pursuit of savages occurred, + but with more fortunate results. Colonel John H. King, now on the retired + list, then a captain in the First Infantry, came to our camp in pursuit of + a marauding band of hostile Indians, and I was enabled to put him also on + the trail. He soon overtook them, and killing two without loss to himself, + the band dispersed like a flock of quail and left him nothing to follow. + He returned to our camp shortly after, and the few friendly Indian scouts + he had with him held a grand pow-wow and dance over the scalps of the + fallen braves. + </p> + <p> + Around La Pendencia, as at La Pena, the country abounded in deer, + antelope, wild turkeys, and quail, and we killed enough to supply + abundantly the whole command with the meat portion of the ration. Some + mornings Frankman and I would bring in as many as seven deer, and our + hunting expeditions made me so familiar with the region between our camp + and Fort Duncan, the headquarters of the regiment, that I was soon enabled + to suggest a more direct route of communication than the circuitous one + then traversed, and in a short time it was established. + </p> + <p> + Up to this time I had been on detached duty, but soon my own company was + ordered into the field to occupy a position on Turkey Creek, about ten or + twelve miles west of the Nueces River, on the road from San Antonio to + Fort Duncan, and I was required to join the company. Here constant work + and scouting were necessary, as our camp was specially located with + reference to protecting from Indian raids the road running from San + Antonio to Fort Duncan, and on to the interior of Mexico. In those days + this road was the great line of travel, and Mexican caravans were + frequently passing over it, to and fro, in such a disorganized condition + as often to invite attack from marauding Comanches and Lipans. Our time, + therefore, was incessantly occupied in scouting, but our labors were much + lightened because they were directed with intelligence and justice by + Captain McLean, whose agreeable manners and upright methods are still so + impressed on my memory that to this day I look back upon my service with + "D" Company of the First Infantry as among those events which I remember + with most pleasure. + </p> + <p> + In this manner my first summer of active field duty passed rapidly away, + and in the fall my company returned to Fort Duncan to go into winter + quarters. These quarters, when constructed, consisted of "A" tents pitched + under a shed improvised by the company. With only these accommodations I + at first lived around as best I could until the command was quartered, and + then, requesting a detail of wagons from the quartermaster, I went out + some thirty miles to get poles to build a more comfortable habitation for + myself. In a few days enough poles for the construction of a modest + residence were secured and brought in, and then the building of my house + began. First, the poles were cut the proper length, planted in a trench + around four sides of a square of very small proportions, and secured at + the top by string-pieces stretched from one angle to another, in which + half-notches hack been made at proper intervals to receive the uprights. + The poles were then made rigid by strips nailed on half-way to the ground, + giving the sides of the structure firmness, but the interstices were large + and frequent; still, with the aid of some old condemned paulins obtained + from the quartermaster, the walls were covered and the necessity for + chinking obviated. This method of covering the holes in the side walls + also possessed the advantage of permitting some little light to penetrate + to the interior of the house, and avoided the necessity of constructing a + window, for which, by the way, no glass could have been obtained. Next a + good large fire-place and chimney were built in one corner by means of + stones and mud, and then the roof was put on—a thatched one of + prairie grass. The floor was dirt compactly tamped. + </p> + <p> + My furniture was very primitive: a chair or two, with about the same + number of camp stools, a cot, and a rickety old bureau that I obtained in + some way not now remembered. My washstand consisted of a board about three + feet long, resting on legs formed by driving sticks into the ground until + they held it at about the proper height from the floor. This washstand was + the most expensive piece of furniture I owned, the board having cost me + three dollars, and even then I obtained it as a favor, for lumber on the + Rio Grande was so scarce in those days that to possess even the smallest + quantity was to indulge in great luxury. Indeed, about all that reached + the post was what came in the shape of bacon boxes, and the boards from + these were reserved for coffins in which to bury our dead. + </p> + <p> + In this rude habitation I spent a happy winter, and was more comfortably + off than many of the officers, who had built none, but lived in tents and + took the chances of "Northers." During this period our food was + principally the soldier's ration: flour, pickled pork, nasty bacon—cured + in the dust of ground charcoal—and fresh beef, of which we had a + plentiful supply, supplemented with game of various kinds. The sugar, + coffee, and smaller parts of the ration were good, but we had no + vegetables, and the few jars of preserves and some few vegetables kept by + the sutler were too expensive to be indulged in. So during all the period + I lived at Fort Duncan and its sub-camps, nearly sixteen months, fresh + vegetables were practically unobtainable. To prevent scurvy we used the + juice of the maguey plant, called pulque, and to obtain a supply of this + anti-scorbutic I was often detailed to march the company out about forty + miles, cut the plant, load up two or three wagons with the stalks, and + carry them to camp. Here the juice was extracted by a rude press, and put + in bottles until it fermented and became worse in odor than sulphureted + hydrogen. At reveille roll-call every morning this fermented liquor was + dealt out to the company, and as it was my duty, in my capacity of + subaltern, to attend these roll-calls and see that the men took their + ration of pulque, I always began the duty by drinking a cup of the + repulsive stuff myself. Though hard to swallow, its well-known specific + qualities in the prevention and cure of scurvy were familiar to all, so + every man in the command gulped down his share notwithstanding its vile + taste and odor. + </p> + <p> + Considering our isolation, the winter passed very pleasantly to us all. + The post was a large one, its officers congenial, and we had many + enjoyable occasions. Dances, races, and horseback riding filled in much of + the time, and occasional raids from Indians furnished more serious + occupation in the way of a scout now and then. The proximity of the + Indians at times rendered the surrounding country somewhat dangerous for + individuals or small parties at a distance from the fort; but few thought + the savages would come near, so many risks were doubtless run by various + officers, who carried the familiar six-shooter as their only weapon while + out horseback riding, until suddenly we were awakened to the dangers we + had been incurring. + </p> + <p> + About mid-winter a party of hostile Lipans made a swoop around and + skirting the garrison, killing a herder—a discharged drummer-boy—in + sight of the flag-staff. Of course great excitement followed. Captain J. + G. Walker, of the Mounted Rifles, immediately started with his company in + pursuit of the Indians, and I was directed to accompany the command. Not + far away we found the body of the boy filled with arrows, and near him the + body of a fine looking young Indian, whom the lad had undoubtedly killed + before he was himself overpowered. We were not a great distance behind the + Indians when the boy's body was discovered, and having good trailers we + gained on them rapidly, with the prospect of overhauling them, but as soon + as they found we were getting near they headed for the Rio Grande, made + the crossing to the opposite bank, and were in Mexico before we could + overtake them. When on the other side of the boundary they grew very + brave, daring us to come over to fight them, well aware all the time that + the international line prevented us from continuing the pursuit. So we had + to return to the post without reward for our exertion except the + consciousness of having made the best effort we could to catch the + murderers. That night, in company with Lieutenant Thomas G. Williams, I + crossed over the river to the Mexican village of Piedras Negras, and on + going to a house where a large baille, or dance, was going on we found + among those present two of the Indians we had been chasing. As soon as + they saw us they strung their bows for a fight, and we drew our + six-shooters, but the Mexicans quickly closed in around the Indians and + forced them out of the house—or rude jackal—where the "ball" + was being held, and they escaped. We learned later something about the + nature of the fight the drummer had made, and that his death had cost them + dear, for, in addition to the Indian killed and lying by his side, he had + mortally wounded another and seriously wounded a third, with the three + shots that he had fired. + </p> + <p> + At this period I took up the notion of making a study of ornithology, + incited to it possibly by the great number of bright-colored birds that + made their winter homes along the Rio Grande, and I spent many a leisure + hour in catching specimens by means of stick traps, with which I found + little difficulty in securing almost every variety of the feathered + tribes. I made my traps by placing four sticks of a length suited to the + size desired so as to form a square, and building up on them in log-cabin + fashion until the structure came almost to a point by contraction of the + corners. Then the sticks were made secure, the trap placed at some + secluded spot, and from the centre to the outside a trench was dug in the + ground, and thinly covered when a depth had been obtained that would leave + an aperture sufficiently large to admit the class of birds desired. Along + this trench seeds and other food were scattered, which the birds soon + discovered, and of course began to eat, unsuspectingly following the + tempting bait through the gallery till they emerged from its farther end + in the centre of the trap, where they contentedly fed till the food was + all gone. Then the fact of imprisonment first presented itself, and they + vainly endeavored to escape through the interstices of the cage, never + once guided by their instinct to return to liberty through the route by + which they had entered. + </p> + <p> + Among the different kinds of birds captured in this way, mocking-birds, + blue-birds, robins, meadow larks, quail, and plover were the most + numerous. They seemed to have more voracious appetites than other + varieties, or else they were more unwary, and consequently more easily + caught. A change of station, however, put an end to my ornithological + plans, and activities of other kinds prevented me from resuming them in + after life. + </p> + <p> + There were quite a number of young officers at the post during the winter, + and as our relations with the Mexican commandant at Piedras Negras were + most amicable, we were often invited to dances at his house. He and his + hospitable wife and daughter drummed up the female portion of the elite of + Piedras Negras and provided the house, which was the official as well as + the personal residence of the commandant, while we—the young + officers—furnished the music and such sweetmeats, candies, etc., for + the baille as the country would afford. + </p> + <p> + We generally danced in a long hall on a hard dirt floor. The girls sat on + one side of the hall, chaperoned by their mothers or some old duennas, and + the men on the other. When the music struck up each man asked the lady + whom his eyes had already selected to dance with him, and it was not + etiquette for her to refuse—no engagements being allowed before the + music began. When the dance, which was generally a long waltz, was over, + he seated his partner, and then went to a little counter at the end of the + room and bought his dulcinea a plate of the candies and sweetmeats + provided. Sometimes she accepted them, but most generally pointed to her + duenna or chaperon behind, who held up her apron and caught the + refreshments as they were slid into it from the plate. The greatest + decorum was maintained at these dances, primitively as they were + conducted; and in a region so completely cut off from the world, their + influence was undoubtedly beneficial to a considerable degree in softening + the rough edges in a half-breed population. + </p> + <p> + The inhabitants of this frontier of Mexico were strongly marked with + Indian characteristics, particularly with those of the Comanche type, and + as the wild Indian blood predominated, few of the physical traits of the + Spaniard remained among them, and outlawry was common. The Spanish + conquerors had left on the northern border only their graceful manners and + their humility before the cross. The sign of Christianity was prominently + placed at all important points on roads or trails, and especially where + any one had been killed; and as the Comanche Indians, strong and warlike, + had devastated northeastern Mexico in past years, all along the border, on + both sides of the Rio Grande, the murderous effects of their raids were + evidenced by numberless crosses. For more than a century forays had been + made on the settlements and towns by these bloodthirsty savages, and, the + Mexican Government being too weak to afford protection, property was + destroyed, the women and children carried off or ravished, and the men + compelled to look on in an agony of helplessness till relieved by death. + During all this time, however, the forms and ceremonials of religion, and + the polite manners received from the Spaniards, were retained, and + reverence for the emblems of Christianity was always uppermost in the mind + of even the most ignorant. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch3" id="linkch3"></a>CHAPTER III. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + ORDERED TO FORT READING, CAL.—A DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING—A + RESCUED SOLDIER—DISCOVERING INDIANS—PRIMITIVE FISHING—A + DESERTED VILLAGE—CAMPING OPPOSITE FORT VANCOUVER. + </p> + <p> + In November, 1854, I received my promotion to a second lieutenancy in the + Fourth Infantry, which was stationed in California and Oregon. In order to + join my company at Fort Reading, California, I had to go to New York as a + starting point, and on arrival there, was placed on duty, in May, 1855, in + command of a detachment of recruits at Bedloe's Island, intended for + assignment to the regiments on the Pacific coast. I think there were on + the island (now occupied by the statue of Liberty Enlightening the World) + about three hundred recruits. For a time I was the only officer with them, + but shortly before we started for California, Lieutenant Francis H. Bates, + of the Fourth Infantry, was placed in command. We embarked for the Pacific + coast in July, 1855, and made the journey without incident via the Isthmus + of Panama, in due time landing our men at Benecia Barracks, above San + Francisco. + </p> + <p> + From this point I proceeded to join my company at Fort Reading, and on + reaching that post, found orders directing me to relieve Lieutenant John + B. Hood—afterward well known as a distinguished general in the + Confederate service. Lieutenant Hood was in command of the personal + mounted escort of Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, who was charged with the + duty of making such explorations and surveys as would determine the + practicability of connecting, by railroad, the Sacramento Valley in + California with the Columbia River in Oregon Territory, either through the + Willamette Valley, or (if this route should prove to be impracticable) by + the valley of the Des Chutes River near the foot-slopes of the Cascade + chain. The survey was being made in accordance with an act of Congress, + which provided both for ascertaining the must practicable and economical + route for a railroad between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean, + and for military and geographical surveys west of the Mississippi River. + </p> + <p> + Fort Reading was the starting-point for this exploring expedition, and + there I arrived some four or five days after the party under Lieutenant + Williamson had begun its march. His personal escort numbered about sixty + mounted men, made up of detachments from companies of the First Dragoons, + under command of Lieutenant Hood, together with about one hundred men + belonging to the Fourth Infantry and Third Artillery, commanded by + Lieutenant Horatio Gates Gibson, the present colonel of the Third United + States Artillery. Lieutenant George Crook—now major-general—was + the quartermaster and commissary of subsistence of the expedition. + </p> + <p> + The commanding officer at Fort Reading seemed reluctant to let me go on to + relieve Lieutenant Hood, as the country to be passed over was infested by + the Pit River Indians, known to be hostile to white people and especially + to small parties. I was very anxious to proceed, however, and willing to + take the chances; so, consent being finally obtained, I started with a + corporal and two mounted men, through a wild and uninhabited region, to + overtake if possible Lieutenant Williamson. Being on horseback, and + unencumbered by luggage of any kind except blankets and a little hard + bread, coffee and smoking-tobacco, which were all carried on our riding + animals, we were sanguine of succeeding, for we traversed in one day fully + the distance made in three by Lieutenant Williamson's party on foot. + </p> + <p> + The first day we reached the base of Lassan's Butte, where I determined to + spend the night near an isolated cabin, or dugout, that had been recently + constructed by a hardy pioneer. The wind was blowing a disagreeable gale, + which had begun early in the day. This made it desirable to locate our + camp under the best cover we could find, and I spent some little time in + looking about for a satisfactory place, but nothing better offered than a + large fallen tree, which lay in such a direction that by encamping on its + lee side we would be protected from the fury of the storm. This spot was + therefore fixed upon, and preparation made for spending the night as + comfortably as the circumstances would permit. + </p> + <p> + After we had unsaddled I visited the cabin to inquire in regard to the + country ahead, and there found at first only a soldier of Williamson's + party; later the proprietor of the ranch appeared. The soldier had been + left behind by the surveying party on account of illness, with + instructions to make his way back to Fort Reading as best he could when he + recovered. His condition having greatly improved, however, since he had + been left, he now begged me in beseeching terms to take him along with my + party, which I finally consented to do, provided that if he became unable + to keep up with me, and I should be obliged to abandon him, the + responsibility would be his, not mine. This increased my number to five, + and was quite a reinforcement should we run across any hostile Indians; + but it was also certain to prove an embarrassment should the man again + fall ill. + </p> + <p> + During the night, notwithstanding the continuance of the storm, I had a + very sound and refreshing sleep behind the protecting log where we made + our camp, and at daylight next morning we resumed our journey, fortified + by a breakfast of coffee and hard bread. I skirted around the base of + Lassan's Butte, thence down Hat Creek, all the time following the trail + made by Lieutenant Williamson's party. About noon the soldier I had picked + up at my first camp gave out, and could go no farther. As stipulated when + I consented to take him along, I had the right to abandon him, but when it + came to the test I could not make up my mind to do it. Finding a good + place not far off the trail, one of my men volunteered to remain with him + until he died; and we left them there, with a liberal supply of hard bread + and coffee, believing that we would never again see the invalid. My + reinforcement was already gone, and another man with it. + </p> + <p> + With my diminished party I resumed the trail and followed it until about 4 + o'clock in the afternoon, when we heard the sound of voices, and the + corporal, thinking we were approaching Lieutenant Williamson's party, was + so overjoyed in anticipation of the junction, that he wanted to fire his + musket as an expression of his delight. This I prevented his doing, + however, and we continued cautiously and slowly on to develop the source + of the sounds in front. We had not gone far before I discovered that the + noise came from a band of Pit River Indians, who had struck the trail of + the surveying expedition, and were following it up, doubtless with evil + intent. Dismounting from my horse I counted the moccasin tracks to + ascertain the number of Indians, discovered it to be about thirty, and + then followed on behind them cautiously, but with little difficulty, as + appearances of speed on their part indicated that they wished to overtake + Lieutenant Williamson's party, which made them less on the lookout than + usual for any possible pursuers. After following the trail until nearly + sundown, I considered it prudent to stop for the night, and drew off some + little distance, where, concealed in a dense growth of timber, we made our + camp. + </p> + <p> + As I had with me now only two men, I felt somewhat nervous, so I allowed + no fires to be built, and in consequence our supper consisted of hard + bread only. I passed an anxious night, but beyond our own solicitude there + was nothing to disturb us, the Indians being too much interested in + overtaking the party in front to seek for victims in the rear, After a + hard-bread breakfast we started again on the trail, and had proceeded but + a short distance when, hearing the voices of the Indians, we at once + slackened our speed so as not to overtake them. + </p> + <p> + Most of the trail on which we traveled during the morning ran over an + exceedingly rough lava formation—a spur of the lava beds often + described during the Modoc war of 1873 so hard and flinty that + Williamson's large command made little impression on its surface, leaving + in fact, only indistinct traces of its line of march. By care and frequent + examinations we managed to follow his route through without much delay, or + discovery by the Indians, and about noon, owing to the termination of the + lava formation, we descended into the valley of Hat Greek, a little below + where it emerges from the second canon and above its confluence with Pit + River. As soon as we reached the fertile soil of the valley, we found + Williamson's trail well defined, deeply impressed in the soft loam, and + coursing through wild-flowers and luxuriant grass which carpeted the + ground on every hand. + </p> + <p> + When we struck this delightful locality we traveled with considerable + speed, and after passing over hill and vale for some distance, the trail + becoming more and more distinct all the time, I suddenly saw in front of + me the Pit River Indians. + </p> + <p> + This caused a halt, and having hurriedly re-capped our guns and + six-shooters, thus preparing for the worst, I took a look at the band + through my field-glass. They were a half-mile or more in our front and + numbered about thirty individuals, armed with bows and arrows only. + Observing us they made friendly demonstrations, but I had not implicit + faith in a Pit River Indian at that period of the settlement of our + country, and especially in that wild locality, so after a "council of war" + with the corporal and man, I concluded to advance to a point about two + hundred yards distant from the party, when, relying on the speed of our + horses rather than on the peaceable intentions of the savages, I hoped to + succeed in cutting around them and take the trail beyond. Being on foot + they could not readily catch us, and inasmuch as their arrows were good + for a range of only about sixty yards, I had no fear of any material + damage on that score. + </p> + <p> + On reaching the place selected for our flank movement we made a dash to + the left of the trail, through the widest part of the valley, and ran our + horses swiftly by, but I noticed that the Indians did not seem to be + disturbed by the manoeuvre and soon realized that this indifference was + occasioned by the knowledge that we could not cross Hat Creek, a deep + stream with vertical banks, too broad to be leaped by our horses. We were + obliged, therefore, to halt, and the Indians again made demonstrations of + friendship, some of them even getting into the stream to show that they + were at the ford. Thus reassured, we regained our confidence and boldly + crossed the river in the midst of them. After we had gained the bluff on + the other side of the creek, I looked down into the valley of Pit River, + and could plainly see the camp of the surveying party. Its proximity was + the influence which had doubtless caused the peaceable conduct of the + Indians. Probably the only thing that saved us was their ignorance of our + being in their rear, until we stumbled on them almost within sight of the + large party under Williamson. + </p> + <p> + The Pit River Indians were very hostile at that time, and for many + succeeding years their treachery and cruelty brought misfortune and misery + to the white settlers who ventured their lives in search of home and + fortune in the wild and isolated section over which these savages roamed. + Not long after Williamson's party passed through their country, the + Government was compelled to send into it a considerable force for the + purpose of keeping them under control. The outcome of this was a severe + fight—resulting in the loss of a good many lives—between the + hostiles and a party of our troops under Lieutenant George Crook. It + finally ended in the establishment of a military post in the vicinity of + the battle-ground, for the permanent occupation of the country. + </p> + <p> + A great load was lifted from my heart when I found myself so near + Williamson's camp, which I joined August 4, 1855, receiving a warm welcome + from the officers. During the afternoon I relieved Lieutenant Hood of the + command of the personal escort, and he was ordered to return, with twelve + of the mounted men, over the trail I had followed. I pointed out to him on + the map the spot where he would find the two men left on the roadside, and + he was directed to take them into Fort Reading. They were found without + difficulty, and carried in to the post. The sick man—Duryea—whom + I had expected never to see again, afterward became the hospital steward + at Fort Yamhill, Oregon, when I was stationed there. + </p> + <p> + The Indians that I had passed at the ford came to the bluff above the + camp, and arranging themselves in a squatting posture, looked down upon + Williamson's party with longing eyes, in expectation of a feast. They were + a pitiable lot, almost naked, hungry and cadaverous. Indians are always + hungry, but these poor creatures were particularly so, as their usual + supply of food had grown very scarce from one cause and another. + </p> + <p> + In prosperity they mainly subsisted on fish, or game killed with the bow + and arrow. When these sources failed they lived on grasshoppers, and at + this season the grasshopper was their principal food. In former years + salmon were very abundant in the streams of the Sacramento Valley, and + every fall they took great quantities of these fish and dried them for + winter use, but alluvial mining had of late years defiled the water of the + different streams and driven the fish out. On this account the usual + supply of salmon was very limited. They got some trout high up on the + rivers, above the sluices and rockers of the miners, but this was a + precarious source from which to derive food, as their means of taking the + trout were very primitive. They had neither hooks nor lines, but depended + entirely on a contrivance made from long, slender branches of willow, + which grew on the banks of most of the streams. One of these branches + would be cut, and after sharpening the butt-end to a point, split a + certain distance, and by a wedge the prongs divided sufficiently to admit + a fish between. The Indian fisherman would then slyly put the forked end + in the water over his intended victim, and with a quick dart firmly wedge + him between the prongs. When secured there, the work of landing him took + but a moment. When trout were plentiful this primitive mode of taking them + was quite successful, and I have often known hundreds of pounds to be + caught in this way, but when they were scarce and suspicious the rude + method was not rewarded with good results. + </p> + <p> + The band looking down on us evidently had not had much fish or game to eat + for some time, so when they had made Williamson understand that they were + suffering for food he permitted them to come into camp, and furnished them + with a supply, which they greedily swallowed as fast as it was placed at + their service, regardless of possible indigestion. When they had eaten all + they could hold, their enjoyment was made complete by the soldiers, who + gave them a quantity of strong plug tobacco. This they smoked incessantly, + inhaling all the smoke, so that none of the effect should be lost. When we + abandoned this camp the next day, the miserable wretches remained in it + and collected the offal about the cooks' fires to feast still more, + piecing out the meal, no doubt, with their staple article of food—grasshoppers. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of August 5 Lieutenant Hood started back to Fort Reading, + and Lieutenant Williamson resumed his march for the Columbia River. Our + course was up Pit River, by the lower and upper canons, then across to the + Klamath Lakes, then east, along their edge to the upper lake. At the + middle Klamath Lake, just after crossing Lost River and the Natural + Bridge, we met a small party of citizens from Jacksonville, Oregon, + looking for hostile Indians who had committed some depredations in their + neighborhood. From them we learned that the Rogue River Indians in + southern Oregon were on the war-path, and that as the "regular troops up + there were of no account, the citizens had taken matters in hand, and + intended cleaning up the hostiles." They swaggered about our camp, bragged + a good deal, cursed the Indians loudly, and soundly abused the Government + for not giving them better protection. It struck me, however, that they + had not worked very hard to find the hostiles; indeed, it could plainly be + seen that their expedition was a town-meeting sort of affair, and that + anxiety to get safe home was uppermost in their thoughts. The enthusiasm + with which they started had all oozed out, and that night they marched + back to Jacksonville. The next day, at the head of the lake, we came + across an Indian village, and I have often wondered since what would have + been the course pursued by these valiant warriors from Jacksonville had + they gone far enough to get into its vicinity. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp048" id="linkp048"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p048.jpg (55K)" src="images/p048.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + When we reached the village the tepees—made of grass—were all + standing, the fires burning and pots boiling—the pots filled with + camas and tula roots—but not an Indian was to be seen. Williamson + directed that nothing in the village should be disturbed; so guards were + placed over it to carry out his instructions and we went into camp just a + little beyond. We had scarcely established ourselves when a very old + Indian rose up from the high grass some distance off, and with peaceable + signs approached our camp, evidently for the purpose of learning whether + or not our intentions were hostile. Williamson told him we were friendly; + that we had passed through his village without molesting it, that we had + put a guard there to secure the property his people had abandoned in their + fright, and that they might come back in safety. The old man searchingly + eyed everything around for some little time, and gaining confidence from + the peaceable appearance of the men, who were engaged in putting up the + tents and preparing their evening meal, he concluded to accept our + professions of friendship, and bring his people in. Going out about half a + mile from the village he gave a peculiar yell, at which between three and + four hundred Indians arose simultaneously from the ground, and in answer + to his signal came out of the tall grass like a swarm of locusts and soon + overran our camp in search of food, for like all Indians they were hungry. + They too, proved to be Pit Rivers, and were not less repulsive than those + of their tribe we had met before. They were aware of the hostilities going + on between the Rogue Rivers and the whites, but claimed that they had not + taken any part in them. I question if they had, but had our party been + small, I fear we should have been received at their village in a very + different manner. + </p> + <p> + From the upper Klamath Lake we marched over the divide and down the valley + of the Des Chutes River to a point opposite the mountains called the Three + Sisters. Here, on September 23, the party divided, Williamson and I + crossing through the crater of the Three Sisters and along the western + slope of the Cascade Range, until we struck the trail on McKenzie River, + which led us into the Willamette Valley not far from Eugene City. We then + marched down the Willamette Valley to Portland, Oregon, where we arrived + October 9, 1855. + </p> + <p> + The infantry portion of the command, escorting Lieutenant Henry L. Abbot, + followed farther down the Des Chutes River, to a point opposite Mount + Hood, from which it came into the Willamette Valley and then marched to + Portland. At Portland we all united, and moving across the point between + the Willamette and Columbia rivers, encamped opposite Fort Vancouver, on + the south bank of the latter stream, on the farm of an old settler named + Switzler, who had located there many years before. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch4" id="linkch4"></a>CHAPTER IV. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + "OLD RED"—SKILLFUL SHOOTING—YAKIMA—WAR—A LUDICROUS + MISTAKE—"CUT-MOUTH JOHN'S" ENCOUNTER—FATHER PANDOZA'S MISSION—A + SNOW-STORM—FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION. + </p> + <p> + Our camp on the Columbia, near Fort Vancouver, was beautifully situated on + a grassy sward close to the great river; and—as little duty was + required of us after so long a journey, amusement of one kind or another, + and an interchange of visits with the officers at the post, filled in the + time acceptably. We had in camp an old mountaineer guide who had + accompanied us on the recent march, and who had received the sobriquet of + "Old Red," on account of the shocky and tangled mass of red hair and + beard, which covered his head and face so completely that only his eyes + could be seen. His eccentricities constantly supplied us with a variety of + amusements. Among the pastimes he indulged in was one which exhibited his + skill with the rifle, and at the same time protected the camp from the + intrusions and ravages of a drove of razor-backed hogs which belonged to + Mr. Switzler. These hogs were frequent visitors, and very destructive to + our grassy sward, rooting it up in front of our tents and all about us; in + pursuit of bulbous roots and offal from the camp. Old Red conceived the + idea that it would be well to disable the pigs by shooting off the tips of + their snouts, and he proceeded to put his conception into execution, and + continued it daily whenever the hogs made their appearance. Of course + their owner made a row about it; but when Old Red daily settled for his + fun by paying liberally with gold-dust from some small bottles of the + precious metal in his possession, Switzler readily became contented, and I + think even encouraged the exhibitions—of skill. + </p> + <p> + It was at this period (October, 1855) that the Yakima Indian war broke + out, and I was detached from duty with the exploring party and required by + Major Gabriel J. Rains, then commanding the district, to join an + expedition against the Yakimas. They had some time before killed their + agent, and in consequence a force under Major Granville O. Haller had been + sent out from the Dalles of the Columbia to chastise them; but the + expedition had not been successful; in fact, it had been driven back, + losing a number of men and two mountain howitzers. + </p> + <p> + The object of the second expedition was to retrieve this disaster. The + force was composed of a small body of regular troops, and a regiment of + Oregon mounted volunteers under command of Colonel James W. Nesmith—subsequently + for several years United States Senator from Oregon. The whole force was + under the command of Major Rains, Fourth Infantry, who, in order that he + might rank Nesmith, by some hocus-pocus had been made a brigadier-general, + under an appointment from the Governor of Washington Territory. + </p> + <p> + We started from the Dalles October 30, under conditions that were not + conducive to success. The season was late for operations; and worse still, + the command was not in accord with the commanding officer, because of + general belief in his incompetency, and on account of the fictitious rank + he assumed. On the second day out I struck a small body of Indians with my + detachment of dragoons, but was unable to do them any particular injury + beyond getting possession of a large quantity of their winter food, which + their hurried departure compelled them to abandon. This food consisted + principally of dried salmon-pulverized and packed in sacks made of + grass-dried huckleberries, and dried camas; the latter a bulbous root + about the size of a small onion, which, when roasted and ground, is made + into bread by the Indians and has a taste somewhat like cooked chestnuts. + </p> + <p> + Our objective point was Father Pandoza's Mission, in the Yakima Valley, + which could be reached by two different routes, and though celerity of + movement was essential, our commanding officer "strategically" adopted the + longer route, and thus the Indians had ample opportunity to get away with + their horses, cattle, women and children, and camp property. + </p> + <p> + After the encounter which I just now referred to, the command, which had + halted to learn the results of my chase, resumed its march to and through + the Klikitat canon, and into the lower Yakima Valley, in the direction of + the Yakima River. I had charge at the head of the column as it passed + through the canon, and on entering the valley beyond, saw in the distance + five or six Indian scouts, whom I pressed very closely, until after a run + of several miles they escaped across the Yakima River. + </p> + <p> + The soil in the valley was light and dry, and the movement of animals over + it raised great clouds of dust, that rendered it very difficult to + distinguish friend from foe; and as I was now separated from the main + column a considerable distance, I deemed it prudent to call a halt until + we could discover the direction taken by the principal body of the + Indians. We soon learned that they had gone up the valley, and looking + that way, we discovered a column of alkali dust approaching us, about a + mile distant, interposing between my little detachment and the point where + I knew General Rains intended to encamp for the night. After hastily + consulting with Lieutenant Edward H. Day, of the Third United States + Artillery, who was with me, we both concluded that the dust was caused by + a body of the enemy which had slipped in between us and our main force. + There seemed no alternative left us but to get back to our friends by + charging through these Indians; and as their cloud of dust was much larger + than ours, this appeared a desperate chance. Preparations to charge were + begun, however, but, much to our surprise, before they were completed the + approaching party halted for a moment and then commenced to retreat. This + calmed the throbbing of our hearts, and with a wild cheer we started in a + hot pursuit, that continued for about two miles, when to our great relief + we discovered that we were driving into Rains's camp a squadron of + Nesmith's battalion of Oregon volunteers that we had mistaken for Indians, + and who in turn believed us to be the enemy. When camp was reached, we all + indulged in a hearty laugh over the affair, and at the fright each party + had given the other. The explanations which ensued proved that the + squadron of volunteers had separated from the column at the same time that + I had when we debouched from the canon, and had pursued an intermediate + trail through the hills, which brought it into the valley of the Yakima at + a point higher up the river than where I had struck it. + </p> + <p> + Next day we resumed our march up the valley, parallel to the Yakima. About + 1 o'clock we saw a large body of Indians on the opposite side of the + river, and the general commanding made up his mind to cross and attack + them. The stream was cold, deep, and swift, still I succeeded in passing + my dragoons over safely, but had hardly got them well on the opposite bank + when the Indians swooped down upon us. Dismounting my men, we received the + savages with a heavy fire, which brought them to a halt with some damage + and more or less confusion. + </p> + <p> + General Rains now became very much excited and alarmed about me, and + endeavored to ford the swift river with his infantry and artillery, but + soon had to abandon the attempt, as three or four of the poor fellows were + swept off their feet and drowned. Meantime Nesmith came up with his + mounted force, crossed over, and joined me. + </p> + <p> + The Indians now fell back to a high ridge, on the crest of which they + marched and countermarched, threatening to charge down its face. Most of + them were naked, and as their persons were painted in gaudy colors and + decorated with strips of red flannel, red blankets and gay war-bonnets, + their appearance presented a scene of picturesque barbarism, fascinating + but repulsive. As they numbered about six hundred, the chances of whipping + them did not seem overwhelmingly in our favor, yet Nesmith and I concluded + we would give them a little fight, provided we could engage them without + going beyond the ridge. But all our efforts were in vain, for as we + advanced they retreated, and as we drew back they reappeared and renewed + their parade and noisy demonstrations, all the time beating their drums + and yelling lustily. They could not be tempted into a fight where we + desired it, however, and as we felt unequal to any pursuit beyond the + ridge without the assistance of the infantry and artillery, we re-crossed + the river and encamped with Rains. It soon became apparent that the noisy + demonstrations of the Indians were intended only as a blind to cover the + escape of their women and children to a place of safety in the mountains. + </p> + <p> + Next morning we took up our march without crossing the river; and as our + route would lead us by the point on the opposite bank where the Indians + had made their picturesque display the day before, they at an early hour + came over to our side, and rapidly moved ahead of us to some distant + hills, leaving in our pathway some of the more venturesome young braves, + who attempted, to retard our advance by opening fire at long range from + favorable places where they lay concealed. This fire did us little harm, + but it had the effect of making our progress so slow that the patience of + every one but General Rains was well-nigh exhausted. + </p> + <p> + About 2 o'clock in the afternoon we arrived well up near the base of the + range of hills, and though it was growing late we still had time to + accomplish something, but our commanding officer decided that it was best + to go into camp, and make a systematic attack next morning. I proposed + that he let me charge with my dragoons through the narrow canon where the + river broke through the range, while the infantry should charge up the + hill and drive the enemy from the top down on the other side. In this way + I thought we might possibly catch some of the fugitives, but his extreme + caution led him to refuse the suggestion, so we pitched our tents out of + range of their desultory fire, but near enough to observe plainly their + menacing and tantalizing exhibitions of contempt. + </p> + <p> + In addition to firing occasionally, they called us all sorts of bad names, + made indecent gestures, and aggravated us, so that between 3 and 4 o'clock + in the afternoon, by an inexplicable concert of action, and with a serious + breach of discipline, a large number of the men and many of the officers + broke en masse from the camp with loud yells and charged the offending + savages. As soon as this mob got within musket-shot they opened fire on + the Indians, who ran down the other face of the ridge without making the + slightest resistance. The hill was readily taken by this unmilitary + proceeding, and no one was hurt on either side, but as Rains would not + permit it to be held, a large bonfire was lighted on the crest in + celebration of the victory, and then all hands marched back to camp, where + they had no sooner arrived and got settled down than the Indians returned + to the summit of the ridge, seemingly to enjoy the fire that had been so + generously built for their benefit, and with renewed taunts and gestures + continued to insult us. + </p> + <p> + Our camp that night was strongly picketed, and when we awoke in the + morning the Indians still occupied their position on the hill. At daylight + we advanced against them, two or three companies of infantry moving + forward to drive them from the summit, while our main column passed + through the canon into the upper Yakima Valley led by my dragoons, who + were not allowed to charge into the gorge, as the celerity of such a + movement might cause the tactical combination to fail. + </p> + <p> + As we passed slowly and cautiously through the canon the Indians ran + rapidly away, and when we reached the farther end they had entirely + disappeared from our front, except one old fellow, whose lame horse + prevented him keeping up with the main body. This presented an opportunity + for gaining results which all thought should not be lost, so our guide, an + Indian named "Cut-mouth John," seized upon it, and giving hot chase, soon, + overtook the poor creature, whom he speedily killed without much danger to + himself, for the fugitive was armed with only an old Hudson's Bay + flint-lock horse-pistol which could not be discharged. + </p> + <p> + "Cut-mouth John's" engagement began and ended all the fighting that took + place on this occasion, and much disappointment and discontent followed, + Nesmith's mounted force and my dragoons being particularly disgusted + because they had not been "given a chance." During the remainder of the + day we cautiously followed the retreating foe, and late in the evening + went into camp a short distance from Father Pandoza's Mission; where we + were to await a small column of troops under command of Captain Maurice + Maloney, of the Fourth Infantry, that was to join us from Steilicom by way + of the Natchez Pass, and from which no tidings had as yet been received. + </p> + <p> + Next morning the first thing I saw when I put my head out from my blankets + was "Cut-mouth John," already mounted and parading himself through the + camp. The scalp of the Indian he had despatched the day before was tied to + the cross-bar of his bridle bit, the hair dangling almost to the ground, + and John was decked out in the sacred vestments of Father Pandoza, having, + long before any one was stirring in camp, ransacked the log-cabin at the + Mission in which the good man had lived. John was at all times a most + repulsive looking individual, a part of his mouth having been shot away in + a fight with Indians near Walla Walla some years before, in which a + Methodist missionary had been killed; but his revolting personal + appearance was now worse than ever, and the sacrilegious use of Father + Pandoza's vestments, coupled with the ghastly scalp that hung from his + bridle, so turned opinion against him that he was soon captured, + dismounted, and his parade brought to an abrupt close, and I doubt whether + he ever after quite reinstated himself in the good graces of the command. + </p> + <p> + In the course of the day nearly all the men visited the Mission, but as it + had been plundered by the Indians at the outbreak of hostilities, when + Father Pandoza was carried off, little of value was left about it except a + considerable herd of pigs, which the father with great difficulty had + succeeded in accumulating from a very small beginning. The pigs had not + been disturbed by the Indians, but the straggling troops soon disposed of + them, and then turned their attention to the cabbages and potatoes in the + garden, with the intention, no doubt, of dining that day on fresh pork and + fresh vegetables instead of on salt junk and hard bread, which formed + their regular diet on the march. In digging up the potatoes some one + discovered half a keg of powder, which had been buried in the garden by + the good father to prevent the hostile Indians from getting it to use + against the whites. As soon as this was unearthed wild excitement ensued, + and a cry arose that Father Pandoza was the person who furnished powder to + the Indians; that here was the proof; that at last the mysterious means by + which the Indians obtained ammunition was explained—and a rush was + made for the mission building. This was a comfortable log-house of good + size, built by the Indians for a school and church, and attached to one + end was the log-cabin residence of the priest. Its destruction was a + matter of but a few moments. A large heap of dry wood was quickly + collected and piled in the building, matches applied, and the whole + Mission, including the priest's house, was soon enveloped in flames, and + burned to the ground before the officers in camp became aware of the + disgraceful plundering in which their men were engaged. + </p> + <p> + The commanding officer having received no news from Captain Maloney during + the day, Colonel Nesmith and I were ordered to go to his rescue, as it was + concluded that he had been surrounded by Indians in the Natchez Pass. We + started early the next morning, the snow falling slightly as we set out, + and soon arrived at the eastern mouth of the Natchez Pass. On the way we + noticed an abandoned Indian village, which had evidently not been occupied + for some time. As we proceeded the storm increased, and the snow-fall + became deeper and deeper, until finally our horses could not travel + through it. In consequence we were compelled to give up further efforts to + advance, and obliged to turn back to the abandoned village, where we + encamped for the night. Near night-fall the storm greatly increased, and + our bivouac became most uncomfortable; but spreading my blankets on the + snow and covering them with Indian matting, I turned in and slept with + that soundness and refreshment accorded by nature to one exhausted by + fatigue. When I awoke in the morning I found myself under about two feet + of snow, from which I arose with difficulty, yet grateful that it had kept + me warm during the night. + </p> + <p> + After a cup of coffee and a little hard bread, it was decided we should + return to the main camp near the Mission, for we were now confident that + Maloney was delayed by the snow, and safe enough on the other side of the + mountains. At all events he was beyond aid from us, for the impassable + snowdrifts could not be overcome with the means in our possession. It + turned out that our suppositions as to the cause of his delay were + correct. He had met with the same difficulties that confronted us, and had + been compelled to go into camp. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile valuable time had been lost, and the Indians, with their + families and stock, were well on their way to the Okenagan country, a + region into which we could not penetrate in the winter season. No other + course was therefore left but to complete the dismal failure of the + expedition by returning home, and our commander readily gave the order to + march back to the Dalles by the "short" route over the Yakima Mountains. + </p> + <p> + As the storm was still unabated, it was evident our march home would be a + most difficult one, and it was deemed advisable to start back at once, + lest we should be blocked up in the mountains by the snows for a period + beyond which our provisions would not last. Relying on the fact that the + short route to the Dalles would lead us over the range at its most + depressed point, where it was hoped the depth of snow was not yet so great + as to make the route impassable, we started with Colonel Nesmith's + battalion in advance to break the road, followed by my dragoons. In the + valley we made rapid progress, but when we reached the mountain every step + we took up its side showed the snow to be growing deeper and deeper. At + last Nesmith reached the summit, and there found a depth of about six feet + of snow covering the plateau in every direction, concealing all signs of + the trail so thoroughly that his guides became bewildered and took the + wrong divide. The moment I arrived at the top my guide—Donald Mc Kay—who + knew perfectly the whole Yakima range, discovered Nesmith's mistake. Word + was sent to bring him back, but as he had already nearly crossed the + plateau, considerable delay occurred before he returned. When he arrived + we began anew the work of breaking a road for the foot troops behind us, + my detachment now in advance. The deep snow made our work extremely + laborious, exhausting men and horses almost to the point of relinquishing + the struggle, but our desperate situation required that we should get down + into the valley beyond, or run the chance of perishing on the mountain in + a storm which seemed unending. About midnight the column reached the + valley, very tired and hungry, but much elated over its escape. We had + spent a day of the most intense anxiety, especially those who had had the + responsibility of keeping to the right trail, and been charged with the + hard work of breaking the road for the infantry and artillery through such + a depth of snow. + </p> + <p> + Our main difficulties were now over, and in due time we reached the + Dalles, where almost everyone connected with the expedition voted it a + wretched failure; indeed, General Rains himself could not think otherwise, + but he scattered far and wide blame for the failure of his combinations. + This, of course, led to criminations and recriminations, which eventuated + in charges of incompetency preferred against him by Captain Edward O. C. + Ord, of the Third Artillery. Rains met the charges with counter-charges + against Ord, whom he accused of purloining Father Pandoza's shoes, when + the soldiers in their fury about the ammunition destroyed the Mission. At + the time of its destruction a rumor of this nature was circulated through + camp, started by some wag, no doubt in jest; for Ord, who was somewhat + eccentric in his habits, and had started on the expedition rather + indifferently shod in carpet-slippers, here came out in a brand-new pair + of shoes. Of course there was no real foundation for such a report, but + Rains was not above small things, as the bringing of this petty accusation + attests. Neither party was ever tried, for General John E. Wool the + department commander, had not at command a sufficient number of officers + of appropriate rank to constitute a court in the case of Rains, and the + charges against Ord were very properly ignored on account of their + trifling character. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after the expedition returned to the Dalles, my detachment was + sent down to Fort Vancouver, and I remained at that post during the winter + of 1855-'56, till late in March. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch5" id="linkch5"></a>CHAPTER V. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + AN INDIAN CONFEDERATION—MASSACRE AT THE CASCADES OF THE COLUMBIA—PLAN + TO RELIEVE THE BLOCKHOUSE—A HAZARDOUS FLANK MOVEMENT—A NEW + METHOD OF ESTABLISHING GUILT—EXECUTION OF THE INDIAN MURDERERS. + </p> + <p> + The failure of the Haller expedition from lack of a sufficient force, and + of the Rains expedition from the incompetency of its commander, was a + great mortification to the officers and men connected with them, and, + taken together, had a marked effect upon the Indian situation in Oregon + and Washington Territories at that particular era. Besides, it led to + further complications and troubles, for it had begun to dawn upon the + Indians that the whites wanted to come in and dispossess them of their + lands and homes, and the failures of Haller and Rains fostered the belief + with the Indians that they could successfully resist the pressure of + civilization. + </p> + <p> + Acting under these influences, the Spokanes, Walla Wallas, Umatillas, and + Nez Perces cast their lot with the hostiles, and all the savage + inhabitants of the region east of the Cascade Range became involved in a + dispute as to whether the Indians or the Government should possess certain + sections of the country, which finally culminated in the war of 1856. + </p> + <p> + Partly to meet the situation that was approaching, the Ninth Infantry had + been sent out from the Atlantic coast to Washington Territory, and upon + its arrival at Fort Vancouver encamped in front of the officers' quarters, + on the beautiful parade-ground of that post, and set about preparing for + the coming campaign. The commander, Colonel George Wright, who had been + promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment upon its organization the + previous year, had seen much active duty since his graduation over thirty + years before, serving with credit in the Florida and Mexican wars. For the + three years previous to his assignment to the Ninth Infantry he had been + stationed on the Pacific coast, and the experience he had there acquired, + added to his excellent soldierly qualities, was of much benefit in the + active campaigns in which, during the following years, he was to + participate. Subsequently his career was brought to an untimely close + when, nine years after this period, as he was returning to the scene of + his successes, he, in common with many others was drowned by the wreck of + the ill-fated steamer Brother Jonathan. Colonel Wright took command of the + district in place of Rains, and had been at Vancouver but a short time + before he realized that it would be necessary to fight the confederated + tribes east of the Cascade Range of mountains, in order to disabuse them + of the idea that they were sufficiently strong to cope with the power of + the Government. He therefore at once set about the work of organizing and + equipping his troops for a start in the early spring against the hostile + Indians, intending to make the objective point of his expedition the heart + of the Spokane country on the Upper Columbia River, as the head and front + of the confederation was represented in the person of old Cammiackan, + chief of the Spokanes. + </p> + <p> + The regiment moved from Fort Vancouver by boat, March 25, 1856, and landed + at the small town called the Dalles, below the mouth of the Des Chutes + River at the eastern base of the Cascade Range, and just above where the + Columbia River enters those mountains. This rendezvous was to be the + immediate point of departure, and all the troops composing the expedition + were concentrated there. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of March 26 the movement began, but the column had only + reached Five Mile Creek when the Yakimas, joined by many young + warriors-free lances from other tribes, made a sudden and unexpected + attack at the Cascades of the Columbia, midway between Vancouver and the + Dalles, killed several citizens, women and children, and took possession + of the Portage by besieging the settlers in their cabins at the Upper + Cascades, and those who sought shelter at the Middle Cascades in the old + military block-house, which had been built some years before as a place of + refuge under just such circumstances. These points held out, and were not + captured, but the landing at the Lower Cascades fell completely into the + hands of the savages. Straggling settlers from the Lower Cascades made + their way down to Fort Vancouver, distant about thirty-six miles, which + they reached that night; and communicated the condition of affairs. As the + necessity for early relief to the settlers and the re-establishment of + communication with the Dalles were apparent, all the force that could be + spared was ordered out, and in consequence I immediately received + directions to go with my detachment of dragoons, numbering about forty + effective men, to the relief of the middle blockhouse, which really meant + to retake the Cascades. I got ready at once, and believing that a piece of + artillery would be of service to me, asked for one, but as there proved to + be no guns at the post, I should have been obliged to proceed without one + had it not been that the regular steamer from San Francisco to Portland + was lying at the Vancouver dock unloading military supplies, and the + commander, Captain Dall, supplied me with the steamer's small iron cannon, + mounted on a wooden platform, which he used in firing salutes at different + ports on the arrival and departure of the vessel. Finding at the arsenal a + supply of solid shot that would fit the gun, I had it put upon the + steamboat Belle, employed to carry my command to the scene of operations, + and started up the Columbia River at 2 A.M. on the morning of the 27th. We + reached the Lower Cascades early in the day, where, selecting a favorable + place for the purpose, I disembarked my men and gun on the north bank of + the river, so that I could send back the steamboat to bring up any + volunteer assistance that in the mean time might have been collected at + Vancouver. + </p> + <p> + The Columbia River was very high at the time, and the water had backed up + into the slough about the foot of the Lower Cascades to such a degree that + it left me only a narrow neck of firm ground to advance over toward the + point occupied by the Indians. On this neck of land the hostiles had taken + position, as I soon learned by frequent shots, loud shouting, and much + blustering; they, by the most exasperating yells and indecent exhibitions, + daring me to the contest. + </p> + <p> + After getting well in hand everything connected with my little command, I + advanced with five or six men to the edge of a growth of underbrush to + make a reconnoissance. We stole along under cover of this underbrush until + we reached the open ground leading over the causeway or narrow neck before + mentioned, when the enemy opened fire and killed a soldier near my side by + a shot which, just grazing the bridge of my nose, struck him in the neck, + opening an artery and breaking the spinal cord. He died instantly. The + Indians at once made a rush for the body, but my men in the rear, coming + quickly to the rescue, drove them back; and Captain Doll's gun being now + brought into play, many solid shot were thrown into the jungle where they + lay concealed, with the effect of considerably moderating their + impetuosity. Further skirmishing at long range took place at intervals + during the day, with little gain or loss, however, to either side, for + both parties held positions which could not be assailed in flank, and only + the extreme of rashness in either could prompt a front attack. My left was + protected by the back water driven into the slough by the high stage of + the river, and my right rested secure on the main stream. Between us was + only the narrow neck of land, to cross which would be certain death. The + position of the Indians was almost the exact counterpart of ours. + </p> + <p> + In the evening I sent a report of the situation back to Vancouver by the + steamboat, retaining a large Hudson's Bay bateau which I had brought up + with me. Examining this I found it would carry about twenty men, and made + up my mind that early next morning I would cross the command to the + opposite or south side of the Columbia River, and make my way up along the + mountain base until I arrived abreast the middle blockhouse, which was + still closely besieged, and then at some favorable point recross to the + north bank to its relief, endeavoring in this manner to pass around and to + the rear of the Indians, whose position confronting me was too strong for + a direct attack. This plan was hazardous, but I believed it could be + successfully carried out if the boat could be taken with me; but should I + not be able to do this I felt that the object contemplated in sending me + out would miserably fail, and the small band cooped up at the block-house + would soon starve or fall a prey to the Indians, so I concluded to risk + all the chances the plan involved. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp077" id="linkp077"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p077.jpg (31K)" src="images/p077.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + On the morning of March 28 the savages were still in my front, and after + giving them some solid shot from Captain Dall's gun we slipped down to the + river-bank, and the detachment crossed by means of the Hudson's Bay boat, + making a landing on the opposite shore at a point where the south channel + of the river, after flowing around Bradford's Island, joins the main + stream. It was then about 9 o'clock, and everything had thus far proceeded + favorably, but examination of the channel showed that it would be + impossible to get the boat up the rapids along the mainland, and that + success could only be assured by crossing the south channel just below the + rapids to the island, along the shore of which there was every probability + we could pull the boat through the rocks and swift water until the head of + the rapids was reached, from which point to the block-house there was + smooth water. Telling the men of the embarrassment in which I found + myself, and that if I could get enough of them to man the boat and pull it + up the stream by a rope to the shore we would cross to the island and make + the attempt, all volunteered to go, but as ten men seemed sufficient I + selected that number to accompany me. Before starting, however, I deemed + it prudent to find out if possible what was engaging the attention of the + Indians, who had not yet discovered that we had left their front. I + therefore climbed up the side of the abrupt mountain which skirted the + water's edge until I could see across the island. From this point I + observed the Indians running horse-races and otherwise enjoying themselves + behind the line they had held against me the day before. The squaws decked + out in gay colors, and the men gaudily dressed in war bonnets, made the + scene most attractive, but as everything looked propitious for the + dangerous enterprise in hand I spent little time watching them. Quickly + returning to the boat, I crossed to the island with my ten men, threw + ashore the rope attached to the bow, and commenced the difficult task of + pulling her up the rapids. We got along slowly at first, but soon striking + a camp of old squaws who had been left on the island for safety, and had + not gone over to the mainland to see the races, we utilized them to our + advantage. With unmistakable threats and signs we made them not only keep + quiet, but also give us much needed assistance in pulling vigorously on + the towrope of our boat. + </p> + <p> + I was laboring under a dreadful strain of mental anxiety during all this + time, for had the Indians discovered what we were about, they could easily + have come over to the island in their canoes, and, by forcing us to take + up our arms to repel their attack, doubtless would have obliged the + abandonment of the boat, and that essential adjunct to the final success + of my plan would have gone down the rapids. Indeed, under such + circumstances, it would have been impossible for ten men to hold out + against the two or three hundred Indians; but the island forming an + excellent screen to our movements, we were not discovered, and when we + reached the smooth water at the upper end of the rapids we quickly crossed + over and joined the rest of the men, who in the meantime had worked their + way along the south bank of the river parallel with us. I felt very + grateful to the old squaws for the assistance they rendered. They worked + well under compulsion, and manifested no disposition to strike for higher + wages. Indeed, I was so much relieved when we had crossed over from the + island and joined the rest of the party, that I mentally thanked the + squaws one and all. I had much difficulty in keeping the men on the main + shore from cheering at our success, but hurriedly taking into the bateau + all of them it could carry, I sent the balance along the southern bank, + where the railroad is now built, until both detachments arrived at a point + opposite the block-house, when, crossing to the north bank, I landed below + the blockhouse some little distance, and returned the boat for the balance + of the men, who joined me in a few minutes. + </p> + <p> + When the Indians attacked the people at the Cascades on the 26th, word was + sent to Colonel Wright, who had already got out from the Dalles a few + miles on his expedition to the Spokane country. He immediately turned his + column back, and soon after I had landed and communicated with the + beleaguered block-house the advance of his command arrived under + Lieutenant-Colonel Edward J. Steptoe. I reported to Steptoe, and related + what had occurred during the past thirty-six hours, gave him a description + of the festivities that were going on at the lower Cascades, and also + communicated the intelligence that the Yakimas had been joined by the + Cascade Indians when the place was first attacked. I also told him it was + my belief that when he pushed down the main shore the latter tribe without + doubt would cross over to the island we had just left, while the former + would take to the mountains. Steptoe coincided with me in this opinion, + and informing me that Lieutenant Alexander Piper would join my detachment + with a mountain' howitzer, directed me to convey the command to the island + and gobble up all who came over to it. + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Piper and I landed on the island with the first boatload, and + after disembarking the howitzer we fired two or three shots to let the + Indians know we had artillery with us, then advanced down the island with + the whole of my command, which had arrived in the mean time; all of the + men were deployed as skirmishers except a small detachment to operate the + howitzer. Near the lower end of the island we met, as I had anticipated, + the entire body of Cascade Indianmen, women, and children—whose + homes were in the vicinity of the Cascades. They were very much frightened + and demoralized at the turn events had taken, for the Yakimas at the + approach of Steptoe had abandoned them, as predicted, and fled to the + mountians. The chief and head-men said they had had nothing to do with the + capture of the Cascades, with the murder of men at the upper landing, nor + with the massacre of men, women, and children near the block-house, and + put all the blame on the Yakimas and their allies. I did not believe this, + however, and to test the truth of their statement formed them all in line + with their muskets in hand. Going up to the first man on the right I + accused him of having engaged in the massacre, but was met by a vigorous + denial. Putting my forefinger into the muzzle of his gun, I found + unmistakable signs of its having been recently discharged. My finger was + black with the stains of burnt powder, and holding it up to the Indian, he + had nothing more to say in the face of such positive evidence of his + guilt. A further examination proved that all the guns were in the same + condition. Their arms were at once taken possession of, and leaving a + small, force to look after the women and children and the very old men, so + that there could be no possibility of escape, I arrested thirteen of the + principal miscreants, crossed the river to the lower landing, and placed + them in charge of a strong guard. + </p> + <p> + Late in the evening the steamboat, which I had sent back to Vancouver, + returned, bringing to my assistance from Vancouver, Captain Henry D. + Wallen's company of the Fourth Infantry and a company of volunteers + hastily organized at Portland, but as the Cascades had already been + retaken, this reinforcement was too late to participate in the affair. The + volunteers from Portland, however, were spoiling for a fight, and in the + absence of other opportunity desired to shoot the prisoners I held (who, + they alleged, had killed a man named Seymour), and proceeded to make their + arrangements to do so, only desisting on being informed that the Indians + were my prisoners, subject to the orders of Colonel Wright, and would be + protected to the last by my detachment. Not long afterward Seymour turned + up safe and sound, having fled at the beginning of the attack on the + Cascades, and hid somewhere in the thick underbrush until the trouble was + over, and then made his way back to the settlement. The next day I turned + my prisoners over to Colonel Wright, who had them marched to the upper + landing of the Cascades, where, after a trial by a military commission, + nine of them were sentenced to death and duly hanged. I did not see them + executed, but was afterward informed that, in the absence of the usual + mechanical apparatus used on such occasions, a tree with a convenient limb + under which two empty barrels were placed, one on top of the other, + furnished a rude but certain substitute. In executing the sentence each + Indian in turn was made to stand on the top barrel, and after the noose + was adjusted the lower barrel was knocked away, and the necessary drop + thus obtained. In this way the whole nine were punished. Just before death + they all acknowledged their guilt by confessing their participation in the + massacre at the block-house, and met their doom with the usual stoicism of + their race. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch6" id="linkch6"></a>CHAPTER VI. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + MISDIRECTED VENGEANCE—HONORABLE MENTION—CHANGE OF COMMAND—EDUCATED + OXEN—FEEDING THE INDIANS—PURCHASING A BURYING-GROUND—KNOWING + RATS. + </p> + <p> + While still encamped at the lower landing, some three or four days after + the events last recounted, Mr. Joseph Meek, an old frontiersman and guide + for emigrant trains through the mountains, came down from the Dalles, on + his way to Vancouver, and stopped at my camp to inquire if an Indian named + Spencer and his family had passed down to Vancouver since my arrival at + the Cascades. Spencer, the head of the family, was a very influential, + peaceable Chinook chief, whom Colonel Wright had taken with him from Fort + Vancouver as an interpreter and mediator with the Spokanes and other + hostile tribes, against which his campaign was directed. He was a good, + reliable Indian, and on leaving Vancouver to join Colonel Wright, took his + family along, to remain with relatives and friends at Fort Dalles until + the return of the expedition. When Wright was compelled to retrace his + steps on account of the capture of the Cascades, this family for some + reason known only to Spencer, was started by him down the river to their + home at Vancouver. + </p> + <p> + Meek, on seeing the family leave the Dalles, had some misgivings as to + their safe arrival at their destination, because of the excited condition + of the people about the Cascades; but Spencer seemed to think that his own + peaceable and friendly reputation, which was widespread, would protect + them; so he parted from his wife and children with little apprehension as + to their safety. In reply to Meek's question, I stated that I had not seen + Spencer's family, when he remarked, "Well, I fear that they are gone up," + a phrase used in that country in early days to mean that they had been + killed. I questioned him closely, to elicit further information, but no + more could be obtained; for Meek, either through ignorance or the usual + taciturnity of his class, did not explain more fully, and when the steamer + that had brought the reinforcement started down the river, he took passage + for Vancouver, to learn definitely if the Indian family had reached that + point. I at once sent to the upper landing, distant about six miles, to + make inquiry in regard to the matter, and in a little time my messenger + returned with the information that the family had reached that place the + day before, and finding that we had driven the hostiles off, continued + their journey on foot toward my camp, from which point they expected to go + by steamer down the river to Vancouver. + </p> + <p> + Their non-arrival aroused in me suspicions of foul play, so with all the + men I could spare, and accompanied by Lieutenant William T. Welcker, of + the Ordnance Corps—a warm and intimate friend—I went in search + of the family, deploying the men as skirmishers across the valley, and + marching them through the heavy forest where the ground was covered with + fallen timber and dense underbrush, in order that no point might escape + our attention. The search was continued between the base of the mountain + and the river without finding any sign of Spencer's family, until about 3 + o'clock in the afternoon, when we discovered them between the upper and + lower landing, in a small open space about a mile from the road, all dead—strangled + to death with bits of rope. The party consisted of the mother, two youths, + three girls, and a baby. They had all been killed by white men, who had + probably met the innocent creatures somewhere near the blockhouse, driven + them from the road into the timber, where the cruel murders were committed + without provocation, and for no other purpose than the gratification of + the inordinate hatred of the Indian that has often existed on the + frontier, and which on more than one occasion has failed to distinguish + friend from foe. The bodies lay in a semicircle, and the bits of rope with + which the poor wretches had been strangled to death were still around + their necks. Each piece of rope—the unwound strand of a heavier + piece—was about two feet long, and encircled the neck of its victim + with a single knot, that must have been drawn tight by the murderers + pulling at the ends. As there had not been quite enough rope to answer for + all, the babe was strangled by means of a red silk handkerchief, taken, + doubtless, from the neck of its mother. It was a distressing sight. A most + cruel outrage had been committed upon unarmed people—our friends and + allies—in a spirit of aimless revenge. The perpetrators were + citizens living near the middle block-house, whose wives and children had + been killed a few days before by the hostiles, but who well knew that + these unoffending creatures had had nothing to do with those murders. + </p> + <p> + In my experience I have been obliged to look upon many cruel scenes in + connection with Indian warfare on the Plains since that day, but the + effect of this dastardly and revolting crime has never been effaced from + my memory. Greater and more atrocious massacres have been committed often + by Indians; their savage nature modifies one's ideas, however, as to the + inhumanity of their acts, but when such wholesale murder as this is done + by whites, and the victims not only innocent, but helpless, no defense can + be made for those who perpetrated the crime, if they claim to be civilized + beings. It is true the people at the Cascades had suffered much, and that + their wives and children had been murdered before their eyes, but to wreak + vengeance on Spencer's unoffending family, who had walked into their + settlement under the protection of a friendly alliance, was an + unparalleled outrage which nothing can justify or extenuate. With as + little delay as possible after the horrible discovery, I returned to camp, + had boxes made, and next day buried the bodies of these hapless victims of + misdirected vengeance. + </p> + <p> + The summary punishment inflicted on the nine Indians, in their trial and + execution, had a most salutary effect on the confederation, and was the + entering wedge to its disintegration; and though Colonel Wright's campaign + continued during the summer and into the early winter, the subjugation of + the allied bands became a comparatively easy matter after the lesson + taught the renegades who were captured at the Cascades. My detachment did + not accompany Colonel Wright, but remained for some time at the Cascades, + and while still there General Wool came up from San Francisco to take a + look into the condition of things. From his conversation with me in + reference to the affair at the Cascades, I gathered that he was greatly + pleased at the service I had performed, and I afterward found that his + report of my conduct had so favorably impressed General Scott that that + distinguished officer complimented me from the headquarters of the army in + general orders. + </p> + <p> + General Wool, while personally supervising matters on the Columbia River, + directed a redistribution to some extent of the troops in the district, + and shortly before his return to San Francisco I was ordered with my + detachment of dragoons to take station on the Grande Ronde Indian + Reservation in Yamhill County, Oregon, about twenty-five miles southwest + of Dayton, and to relieve from duty at that point Lieutenant William B. + Hazen—late brigadier-general and chief signal officer—who had + established a camp there some time before. I started for my new station on + April 21, and marching by way of Portland and Oregon City, arrived at + Hazen's camp April 25. The camp was located in the Coast range of + mountains, on the northeast part of the reservation, to which last had + been added a section of country that was afterward known as the Siletz + reservation. The whole body of land set aside went under the general name + of the "Coast reservation," from its skirting the Pacific Ocean for some + distance north of Yaquina Bay, and the intention was to establish within + its bounds permanent homes for such Indians as might be removed to it. In + furtherance of this idea, and to relieve northern California and + southwestern Oregon from the roaming, restless bands that kept the people + of those sections in a state of constant turmoil, many of the different + tribes, still under control but liable to take part in warfare, were + removed to the reservation, so that they might be away from the theatre of + hostilities. + </p> + <p> + When I arrived I found that the Rogue River Indians had just been placed + upon the reservation, and subsequently the Coquille, Klamath, Modocs, and + remnants of the Chinooks were collected there also, the home of the latter + being in the Willamette Valley. The number all told amounted to some + thousands, scattered over the entire Coast reservation, but about fifteen + hundred were located at the Grande Ronde under charge of an agent, Mr. + John F. Miller, a sensible, practical man, who left the entire police + control to the military, and attended faithfully to the duty of settling + the Indians in the work of cultivating the soil. + </p> + <p> + As the place was to be occupied permanently, Lieutenant Hazen had begun, + before my arrival, the erection of buildings for the shelter of his + command, and I continued the work of constructing the post as laid out by + him. In those days the Government did not provide very liberally for + sheltering its soldiers; and officers and men were frequently forced to + eke out parsimonious appropriations by toilsome work or go without shelter + in most inhospitable regions. Of course this post was no exception to the + general rule, and as all hands were occupied in its construction, and I + the only officer present, I was kept busily employed in supervising + matters, both as commandant and quartermaster, until July, when Captain D. + A. Russell, of the Fourth Infantry, was ordered to take command, and I was + relieved from the first part of my duties. + </p> + <p> + About this time my little detachment parted from me, being ordered to join + a company of the First Dragoons, commanded by Captain Robert Williams, as + it passed up the country from California by way of Yamhill. I regretted + exceedingly to see them go, for their faithful work and gallant service + had endeared every man to me by the strongest ties. Since I relieved + Lieutenant Hood on Pit River, nearly a twelvemonth before, they had been + my constant companions, and the zeal with which they had responded to + every call I made on them had inspired in my heart a deep affection that + years have not removed. When I relieved Hood—a dragoon officer of + their own regiment—they did not like the change, and I understood + that they somewhat contemptuously expressed this in more ways than one, in + order to try the temper of the new "Leftenant," but appreciative and + unremitting care, together with firm and just discipline, soon quieted all + symptoms of dissatisfaction and overcame all prejudice. The detachment had + been made up of details from the different companies of the regiment in + order to give Williamson a mounted force, and as it was usual, under such + circumstances, for every company commander to shove into the detail he was + called upon to furnish the most troublesome and insubordinate individuals + of his company, I had some difficulty, when first taking command, in + controlling such a medley of recalcitrants; but by forethought for them + and their wants, and a strict watchfulness for their rights and comfort, I + was able in a short time to make them obedient and the detachment + cohesive. In the past year they had made long and tiresome marches, forded + swift mountain streams, constructed rafts of logs or bundles of dry reeds + to ferry our baggage, swum deep rivers, marched on foot to save their + worn-out and exhausted animals, climbed mountains, fought Indians, and in + all and everything had done the best they could for the service and their + commander. The disaffected feeling they entertained when I first assumed + command soon wore away, and in its place came a confidence and respect + which it gives me the greatest pleasure to remember, for small though it + was, this was my first cavalry command. They little thought, when we were + in the mountains of California and Oregon—nor did I myself then + dream—that but a few years were to elapse before it would be my lot + again to command dragoons, this time in numbers so vast as of themselves + to compose almost an army. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after the arrival of Captain Russell a portion of the Indians at + the Grande Ronde reservation were taken down the coast to the Siletz + reservation, and I was transferred temporarily to Fort Haskins, on the + latter reserve, and assigned to the duty of completing it and building a + blockhouse for the police control of the Indians placed there. + </p> + <p> + While directing this work, I undertook to make a road across the coast + mountains from King's Valley to the Siletz, to shorten the haul between + the two points by a route I had explored. I knew there were many obstacles + in the way, but the gain would be great if we could overcome them, so I + set to work with the enthusiasm of a young path-finder. The point at which + the road was to cross the range was rough and precipitous, but the + principal difficulty in making it would be from heavy timber on the + mountains that had been burned over years and years before, until nothing + was left but limbless trunks of dead trees—firs and pines—that + had fallen from time to time until the ground was matted with huge logs + from five to eight feet in diameter. These could not be chopped with axes + nor sawed by any ordinary means, therefore we had to burn them into + suitable lengths, and drag the sections to either side of the roadway with + from four to six yoke of oxen. + </p> + <p> + The work was both tedious and laborious, but in time perseverance + surmounted all obstacles and the road was finished, though its grades were + very steep. As soon as it was completed, I wished to demonstrate its value + practically, so I started a Government wagon over it loaded with about + fifteen hundred pounds of freight drawn by six yoke of oxen, and escorted + by a small detachment of soldiers. When it had gone about seven miles the + sergeant in charge came back to the post and reported his inability to get + any further. Going out to the scene of difficulty I found the wagon at the + base of a steep hill, stalled. Taking up a whip myself, I directed the men + to lay on their gads, for each man had supplied himself with a flexible + hickory withe in the early stages of the trip, to start the team, but this + course did not move the wagon nor have much effect on the demoralized + oxen; but following as a last resort an example I heard of on a former + occasion, that brought into use the rough language of the country, I + induced the oxen to move with alacrity, and the wagon and contents were + speedily carried to the summit. The whole trouble was at once revealed: + the oxen had been broken and trained by a man who, when they were in a + pinch, had encouraged them by his frontier vocabulary, and they could not + realize what was expected of them under extraordinary conditions until + they heard familiar and possibly profanely urgent phrases. I took the + wagon to its destination, but as it was not brought back, even in all the + time I was stationed in that country, I think comment on the success of my + road is unnecessary. + </p> + <p> + I spent many happy months at Fort Haskins, remaining there until the post + was nearly completed and its garrison increased by the arrival of Captain + F. T. Dent—a brother-in-law of Captain Ulysses S. Grant—with + his company of the Fourth Infantry, in April, 1857. In the summer of 1856, + and while I was still on duty there, the Coquille Indians on the Siletz, + and down near the Yaquina Bay, became, on account of hunger and + prospective starvation, very much excited and exasperated, getting beyond + the control of their agent, and even threatening his life, so a detachment + of troops was sent out to set things to rights, and I took command of it. + I took with me most of the company, and arrived at Yaquina Bay in time to + succor the agent, who for some days had been besieged in a log hut by the + Indians and had almost abandoned hope of rescue. + </p> + <p> + Having brought with me over the mountains a few head of beef cattle for + the hungry Indians, without thinking of running any great personal risk I + had six beeves killed some little distance from my camp, guarding the meat + with four Soldiers, whom I was obliged to post as sentinels around the + small area on which the carcasses lay. The Indians soon formed a circle + about the sentinels, and impelled by starvation, attempted to take the + beef before it could be equally divided. This was of course resisted, when + they drew their knives—their guns having been previously taken away + from them—and some of the inferior chiefs gave the signal to attack. + The principal chief, Tetootney John, and two other Indians joined me in + the centre of the circle, and protesting that they would die rather than + that the frenzied onslaught should succeed, harangued the Indians until + the rest of the company hastened up from camp and put an end to the + disturbance. I always felt grateful to Tetootney John for his loyalty on + this occasion, and many times afterward aided his family with a little + coffee and sugar, but necessarily surreptitiously, so as not to heighten + the prejudices that his friendly act had aroused among his Indian + comrades. + </p> + <p> + The situation at Yaquina Bay did not seem very safe, notwithstanding the + supply of beef we brought; and the possibility that the starving Indians + might break out was ever present, so to anticipate any further revolt, I + called for more troops. The request was complied with by sending to my + assistance the greater part of my own company ("K")from Fort Yamhill. The + men, inspired by the urgency of our situation, marched more than forty + miles a day, accomplishing the whole distance in so short a period, that I + doubt if the record has ever been beaten. When this reinforcement arrived, + the Indians saw the futility of further demonstrations against their + agent, who they seemed to think was responsible for the insufficiency of + food, and managed to exist with the slender rations we could spare and + such indifferent food as they could pick up, until the Indian Department + succeeded in getting up its regular supplies. In the past the poor things + had often been pinched by hunger and neglect, and at times their only food + was rock oysters, clams and crabs. Great quantities of these shell-fish + could be gathered in the bay near at hand, but the mountain Indians, who + had heretofore lived on the flesh of mammal, did not take kindly to + mollusks, and, indeed, ate the shell-fish only as a last resort. + </p> + <p> + Crab catching at night on the Yaquina Bay by the coast Indians was a very + picturesque scene. It was mostly done by the squaws and children, each + equipped with a torch in one hand, and a sharp-pointed stick in the other + to take and lift the fish into baskets slung on the back to receive them. + I have seen at times hundreds of squaws and children wading about in + Yaquina Bay taking crabs in this manner, and the reflection by the water + of the light from the many torches, with the movements of the Indians + while at work, formed a weird and diverting picture of which we were never + tired. + </p> + <p> + Not long after the arrival of the additional troops from Yamhill, it + became apparent that the number of men at Yaquina Bay would have to be + reduced, so in view of this necessity, it was deemed advisable to build a + block-house for the better protection of the agents and I looked about for + suitable ground on which to erect it. Nearly all around the bay the land + rose up from the beach very abruptly, and the only good site that could be + found was some level ground used as the burial-place of the Yaquina Bay + Indians—a small band of fish-eating people who had lived near this + point on the coast for ages. They were a robust lot, of tall and + well-shaped figures, and were called in the Chinook tongue "salt chuck," + which means fish-eaters, or eaters of food from the salt water. Many of + the young men and women were handsome in feature below the forehead, + having fine eyes, aquiline noses and good mouths, but, in conformity with + a long-standing custom, all had flat heads, which gave them a distorted + and hideous appearance, particularly some of the women, who went to the + extreme of fashion and flattened the head to the rear in a sharp + horizontal ridge by confining it between two boards, one running back from + the forehead at an angle of about forty degrees, and the other up + perpendicularly from the back of the neck. When a head had been shaped + artistically the dusky maiden owner was marked as a belle, and one could + become reconciled to it after a time, but when carelessness and neglect + had governed in the adjustment of the boards, there probably was nothing + in the form of a human being on the face of the earth that appeared so + ugly. + </p> + <p> + It was the mortuary ground of these Indians that occupied the only level + spot we could get for the block-house. Their dead were buried in canoes, + which rested in the crotches of forked sticks a few feet above-ground. The + graveyard was not large, containing probably from forty to fifty canoes in + a fair state of preservation. According to the custom of all Indian tribes + on the Pacific coast, when one of their number died all his worldly + effects were buried with him, so that the canoes were filled with old + clothes, blankets, pieces of calico and the like, intended for the use of + the departed in the happy hunting grounds. + </p> + <p> + I made known to the Indians that we would have to take this piece of + ground for the blockhouse. They demurred at first, for there is nothing + more painful to an Indian than disturbing his dead, but they finally + consented to hold a council next day on the beach, and thus come to some + definite conclusion. Next morning they all assembled, and we talked in the + Chinook language all day long, until at last they gave in, consenting, + probably, as much because they could not help themselves, as for any other + reason. It was agreed that on the following day at 12 o'clock, when the + tide was going out, I should take my men and place the canoes in the bay, + and let them float out on the tide across the ocean to the happy + hunting-grounds: + </p> + <p> + At that day there existed in Oregon in vast numbers a species of wood-rat, + and our inspection of the graveyard showed that the canoes were thickly + infested with them. They were a light gray animal, larger than the common + gray squirrel, with beautiful bushy tails, which made them strikingly + resemble the squirrel, but in cunning and deviltry they were much ahead of + that quick-witted rodent. I have known them to empty in one night a keg of + spikes in the storehouse in Yamhill, distributing them along the stringers + of the building, with apparently no other purpose than amusement. We + anticipated great fun watching the efforts of these rats to escape the + next day when the canoes should be launched on the ocean, and I therefore + forbade any of the command to visit the graveyard in the interim, lest the + rats should be alarmed. I well knew that they would not be disturbed by + the Indians, who held the sacred spot in awe. When the work of taking down + the canoes and carrying them to the water began, expectation was on + tiptoe, but, strange as it may seem, not a rat was to be seen. This + unexpected development was mystifying. They had all disappeared; there was + not one in any of the canoes, as investigation proved, for disappointment + instigated a most thorough search. The Indians said the rats understood + Chinook, and that as they had no wish to accompany the dead across the + ocean to the happy hunting-grounds, they took to the woods for safety. + However that may be, I have no doubt that the preceding visits to the + burial-ground, and our long talk of the day before, with the unusual stir + and bustle, had so alarmed the rats that, impelled, by their suspicious + instincts, they fled a danger, the nature of which they could not + anticipate, but which they felt to be none the less real and impending. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch7" id="linkch7"></a>CHAPTER VII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + LEARNING THE CHINOOK LANGUAGE—STRANGE INDIAN CUSTOMS—THEIR + DOCTORS —SAM PATCH—THE MURDER OF A WOMAN—IN A TIGHT + PLACE—SURPRISING THE INDIANS—CONFLICTING REPORTS OF THE BATTLE + OF BULL RUN—SECESSION QUESTION IN CALIFORNIA—APPOINTED A + CAPTAIN—TRANSFERRED TO THE EAST. + </p> + <p> + The troubles at the Siletz and Yaquina Bay were settled without further + excitement by the arrival in due time of plenty of food, and as the + buildings, at Fort Haskins were so near completion that my services as + quartermaster were no longer needed, I was ordered to join my own company + at Fort Yamhill, where Captain Russell was still in command. I returned to + that place in May, 1857, and at a period a little later, in consequence of + the close of hostilities in southern Oregon, the Klamaths and Modocs were + sent back to their own country, to that section in which occurred, in + 1873, the disastrous war with the latter tribe. This reduced considerably + the number of Indians at the Grande Ronde, but as those remaining were + still somewhat unruly, from the fact that many questions requiring + adjustment were constantly arising between the different bands, the agent + and the officers at the post were kept pretty well occupied. Captain + Russell assigned to me the special work of keeping up the police control, + and as I had learned at an early day to speak Chinook (the "court + language" among the coast tribes) almost as well as the Indians + themselves, I was thereby enabled to steer my way successfully on many + critical occasions. + </p> + <p> + For some time the most disturbing and most troublesome element we had was + the Rogue River band. For three or four years they had fought our troops + obstinately, and surrendered at the bitter end in the belief that they + were merely overpowered, not conquered. They openly boasted to the other + Indians that they could whip the soldiers, and that they did not wish to + follow the white man's ways, continuing consistently their wild habits, + unmindful of all admonitions. Indeed, they often destroyed their household + utensils, tepees and clothing, and killed their horses on the graves of + the dead, in the fulfillment of a superstitious custom, which demanded + that they should undergo, while mourning for their kindred, the deepest + privation in a property sense. Everything the loss of which would make + them poor was sacrificed on the graves of their relatives or distinguished + warriors, and as melancholy because of removal from their old homes caused + frequent deaths, there was no lack of occasion for the sacrifices. The + widows and orphans of the dead warriors were of course the chief mourners, + and exhibited their grief in many peculiar ways. I remember one in + particular which was universally practiced by the near kinsfolk. They + would crop their hair very close, and then cover the head with a sort of + hood or plaster of black pitch, the composition being clay, pulverized + charcoal, and the resinous gum which exudes from the pine-tree. The hood, + nearly an inch in thickness, was worn during a period of mourning that + lasted through the time it would take nature, by the growth of the hair, + actually to lift from the head the heavy covering of pitch after it had + become solidified and hard as stone. It must be admitted that they + underwent considerable discomfort in memory of their relatives. It took + all the influence we could bring to bear to break up these absurdly + superstitious practices, and it looked as if no permanent improvement + could be effected, for as soon as we got them to discard one, another + would be invented. When not allowed to burn down their tepees or houses, + those poor souls who were in a dying condition would be carried out to the + neighboring hillsides just before dissolution, and there abandoned to + their sufferings, with little or no attention, unless the placing under + their heads of a small stick of wood—with possibly some laudable + object, but doubtless great discomfort to their victim—might be + considered such. + </p> + <p> + To uproot these senseless and monstrous practices was indeed most + difficult. The most pernicious of all was one which was likely to bring + about tragic results. They believed firmly in a class of doctors among + their people who professed that they could procure the illness of an + individual at will, and that by certain incantations they could kill or + cure the sick person. Their faith in this superstition was so steadfast + that there was no doubting its sincerity, many indulging at times in the + most trying privations, that their relatives might be saved from death at + the hands of the doctors. I often talked with them on the subject, and + tried to reason them out of the superstitious belief, defying the doctors + to kill me, or even make me ill; but my talks were unavailing, and they + always met my arguments with the remark that I was a white man, of a race + wholly different from the red man, and that that was the reason the + medicine of the doctors would not affect me. These villainous doctors + might be either men or women, and any one of them finding an Indian ill, + at once averred that his influence was the cause, offering at the same + time to cure the invalid for a fee, which generally amounted to about all + the ponies his family possessed. If the proposition was accepted and the + fee paid over, the family, in case the man died, was to have indemnity + through the death of the doctor, who freely promised that they might take + his life in such event, relying on his chances of getting protection from + the furious relatives by fleeing to the military post till time had so + assuaged their grief that matters could be compromised or settled by a + restoration of a part of the property, when the rascally leeches could + again resume their practice. Of course the services of a doctor were + always accepted when an Indian fell ill; otherwise the invalid's death + would surely ensue, brought about by the evil influence that was + unpropitiated. Latterly it had become quite the thing, when a patient + died, for the doctor to flee to our camp—it was so convenient and so + much safer than elsewhere—and my cellar was a favorite place of + refuge from the infuriated friends of the deceased. + </p> + <p> + Among the most notable of these doctors was an Indian named Sam Patch, who + several times sought asylum in any cellar, and being a most profound + diplomat, managed on each occasion and with little delay to negotiate a + peaceful settlement and go forth in safety to resume the practice of his + nefarious profession. I often hoped he would be caught before reaching the + post, but he seemed to know intuitively when the time had come to take + leg-bail, for his advent at the garrison generally preceded by but a few + hours the death of some poor dupe. + </p> + <p> + Finally these peculiar customs brought about the punishment of a noted + doctress of the Rogue River tribe, a woman who was constantly working in + this professional way, and who had found a victim of such prominence among + the Rogue Rivers that his unlooked for death brought down on her the wrath + of all. She had made him so ill, they believed, as to bring him to death's + door notwithstanding the many ponies that had been given her to cease the + incantations, and it was the conviction of all that she had finally caused + the man's death from some ulterior and indiscernible motive. His relatives + and friends then immediately set about requiting her with the just + penalties of a perfidious breach of contract. Their threats induced her + instant flight toward my house for the usual protection, but the enraged + friends of the dead man gave hot chase, and overtook the witch just inside + the limits of the garrison, where, on the parade-ground, in sight of the + officers' quarters, and before any one could interfere, they killed her. + There were sixteen men in pursuit of the doctress, and sixteen gun-shot + wounds were found in her body when examined by the surgeon of the post. + The killing of the woman was a flagrant and defiant outrage committed in + the teeth of the military authority, yet done so quickly that we could not + prevent it. This necessitated severe measures, both to allay the + prevailing excitement and to preclude the recurrence of such acts. The + body was cared for, and delivered to the relatives the next day for + burial, after which Captain Russell directed me to take such steps as + would put a stop to the fanatical usages that had brought about this + murderous occurrence, for it was now seen that if timely measures were not + taken to repress them, similar tragedies would surely follow. + </p> + <p> + Knowing all the men of the Rogue River tribe, and speaking fluently the + Chinook tongue, which they all understood, I went down to their village + the following day, after having sent word to the tribe that I wished to + have a council with them. The Indians all met me in council, as I had + desired, and I then told them that the men who had taken part in shooting + the woman would have to be delivered up for punishment. They were very + stiff with me at the interview, and with all that talent for + circumlocution and diplomacy with which the Indian is lifted, endeavored + to evade my demands and delay any conclusion. But I was very positive, + would hear of no compromise whatever, and demanded that my terms be at + once complied with. No one was with me but a sergeant of my company, named + Miller, who held my horse, and as the chances of an agreement began to + grow remote, I became anxious for our safety. The conversation waxing hot + and the Indians gathering close in around me, I unbuttoned the flap of my + pistol holster, to be ready for any emergency. When the altercation became + most bitter I put my hand to my hip to draw my pistol, but discovered it + was gone—stolen by one of the rascals surrounding me. Finding myself + unarmed, I modified my tone and manner to correspond with my helpless + condition, thus myself assuming the diplomatic side in the parley, in + order to gain time. As soon as an opportunity offered, and I could, + without too much loss of self-respect, and without damaging my reputation + among the Indians, I moved out to where the sergeant held my horse, + mounted, and crossing the Yamhill River close by, called back in Chinook + from the farther bank that "the sixteen men who killed the woman must be + delivered up, and my six-shooter also." This was responded to by + contemptuous laughter, so I went back to the military post somewhat + crestfallen, and made my report of the turn affairs had taken, inwardly + longing for another chance to bring the rascally Rogue Rivers to terms. + </p> + <p> + When I had explained the situation to Captain Russell, he thought that we + could not, under any circumstances, overlook this defiant conduct of the + Indians, since, unless summarily punished, it would lead to even more + serious trouble in the future. I heartily seconded this proposition, and + gladly embracing the opportunity it offered, suggested that if he would + give me another chance, and let me have the effective force of the + garrison, consisting of about fifty men, I would chastise the Rogue Rivers + without fail, and that the next day was all the time I required to + complete arrangements. He gave me the necessary authority, and I at once + set to work to bring about a better state of discipline on the + reservation, and to put an end to the practices of the medicine men + (having also in view the recovery of my six-shooter and self-respect), by + marching to the village and taking the rebellious Indians by force. + </p> + <p> + In the tribe there was an excellent woman called Tighee Mary (Tighee in + Chinook means chief), who by right of inheritance was a kind of queen of + the Rogue Rivers. Fearing that the insubordinate conduct of the Indians + would precipitate further trouble, she came early the following morning to + see me and tell me of the situation Mary informed me that she had done all + in her power to bring the Indians to reason, but without avail, and that + they were determined to fight rather than deliver up the sixteen men who + had engaged in the shooting. She also apprised me of the fact that they + had taken up a position on the Yamhill River, on the direct road between + the post and village, where, painted and armed for war, they were awaiting + attack. + </p> + <p> + On this information I concluded it would be best to march to the village + by a circuitous route instead of directly, as at first intended, so I had + the ferry-boat belonging to the post floated about a mile and a half down + the Yamhill River and there anchored. At 11 o'clock that night I marched + my fifty men, out of the garrison, in a direction opposite to that of the + point held by the Indians, and soon reached the river at the ferryboat. + Here I ferried the party over with little delay, and marched them along + the side of the mountain, through underbrush and fallen timber, until, + just before daylight, I found that we were immediately in rear of the + village, and thence in rear, also, of the line occupied by the refractory + Indians, who were expecting to meet me on the direct road from the post. + Just at break of day we made a sudden descent upon the village and took + its occupants completely by surprise, even capturing the chief of the + tribe, "Sam," who was dressed in all his war toggery, fully armed and + equipped, in anticipation of a fight on the road where his comrades were + in position. I at once put Sam under guard, giving orders to kill him + instantly if the Indians fired a shot; then forming my line on the road + beyond the edge of the village, in rear of the force lying in wait for a + front attack, we moved forward. When the hostile party realized that they + were completely cut off from the village, they came out from their + stronghold on the river and took up a line in my front, distant about + sixty yards with the apparent intention of resisting to the last. + </p> + <p> + As is usual with Indians when expecting a fight, they were nearly naked, + fantastically painted with blue clay, and hideously arrayed in war + bonnets. They seemed very belligerent, brandishing their muskets in the + air, dancing on one foot, calling us ugly names, and making such other + demonstrations of hostility, that it seemed at first that nothing short of + the total destruction of the party could bring about the definite + settlement that we were bent on. Still, as it was my desire to bring them + under subjection without loss of life, if possible, I determined to see + what result would follow when they learned that their chief was at our + mercy. So, sending Sam under guard to the front, where he could be seen, + informing them that he would be immediately shot if they fired upon us, + and aided by the cries and lamentations of the women of the village, who + deprecated any hostile action by either party, I soon procured a parley. + </p> + <p> + The insubordinate Indians were under command of "Joe," Sam's brother, who + at last sent me word that he wanted to see me, and we met between our + respective lines. I talked kindly to him, but was firm in my demand that + the men who killed the woman must be given up and my six-shooter returned. + His reply was he did not think it could be done, but he would consult his + people. After the consultation, he returned and notified me that fifteen + would surrender and the six-shooter would be restored, and further, that + we could kill the sixteenth man, since the tribe wished to get rid of him + anyhow, adding that he was a bad Indian, whose bullet no doubt had given + the woman her death wound. He said that if I assented to this arrangement, + he would require all of his people except the objectionable man to run to + the right of his line at a preconcerted signal. The bad Indian would be + ordered to stand fast on the extreme left, and we could open fire on him + as his comrades fell away to the right. I agreed to the proposition, and + gave Joe fifteen minutes to execute his part of it. We then returned to + our respective forces, and a few minutes later the fifteen ran to the + right flank as agreed upon, and we opened fire on the one Indian left + standing alone, bringing him down in his tracks severely wounded by a shot + through the shoulder. + </p> + <p> + While all this was going on, the other bands of the reservation, several + thousand strong, had occupied the surrounding hills for the purpose of + witnessing the fight, for as the Rogue Rivers had been bragging for some + time that they could whip the soldiers, these other Indians had come out + to see it done. The result, however, disappointed the spectators, and the + Rogue Rivers naturally lost caste. The fifteen men now came in and laid + down their arms (including my six-shooter) in front of us as agreed, but I + compelled them to take the surrendered guns up again and carry them to the + post, where they were deposited in the block-house for future security. + The prisoners were ironed with ball and chain, and made to work at the + post until their rebellious spirit was broken; and the wounded man was + correspondingly punished after he had fully recovered. An investigation as + to why this man had been selected as the offering by which Joe and his + companions expected to gain immunity, showed that the fellow was really a + most worthless character, whose death even would have been a benefit to + the tribe. Thus it seemed that they had two purposes in view—the one + to propitiate me and get good terms, the other to rid themselves of a + vagabond member of the tribe. + </p> + <p> + The punishment of these sixteen Indians by ball and chain ended all + trouble with the Rogue River tribe. The disturbances arising from the + incantations of the doctors and doctresses, and the practice of killing + horses and burning all worldly property on the graves of those who died, + were completely suppressed, and we made with little effort a great stride + toward the civilization of these crude and superstitious people, for they + now began to recognize the power of the Government. In their management + afterward a course of justice and mild force was adopted, and unvaryingly + applied. They were compelled to cultivate their land, to attend church, + and to send their children to school. When I saw them, fifteen years + later, transformed into industrious and substantial farmers, with neat + houses, fine cattle, wagons and horses, carrying their grain, eggs, and + butter to market and bringing home flour, coffee, sugar, and calico in + return, I found abundant confirmation of my early opinion that the most + effectual measures for lifting them from a state of barbarism would be a + practical supervision at the outset, coupled with a firm control and mild + discipline. + </p> + <p> + In all that was done for these Indians Captain Russell's judgment and + sound, practical ideas were the inspiration. His true manliness, honest + and just methods, together with the warm-hearted interest he took in all + that pertained to matters of duty to his Government, could not have + produced other than the best results, in what position soever he might + have been placed. As all the lovable traits of his character were + constantly manifested, I became most deeply attached to him, and until the + day of his death in 1864, on the battle-field of Opequan, in front of + Winchester, while gallantly leading his division under my command, my + esteem and affection were sustained and intensified by the same strong + bonds that drew me to him in these early days in Oregon. + </p> + <p> + After the events just narrated I continued on duty at the post of Yamhill, + experiencing the usual routine of garrison life without any incidents of + much interest, down to the breaking out of the war of the rebellion in + April, 1861. The news of the firing on Fort Sumter brought us an + excitement which overshadowed all else, and though we had no officers at + the post who sympathized with the rebellion, there were several in our + regiment—the Fourth Infantry—who did, and we were considerably + exercised as to the course they might pursue, but naturally far more so + concerning the disposition that would be made of the regiment during the + conflict. + </p> + <p> + In due time orders came for the regiment to go East, and my company went + off, leaving me, however—a second lieutenant—in command of the + post until I should be relieved by Captain James J. Archer, of the Ninth + Infantry, whose company was to take the place of the old garrison. Captain + Archer, with his company of the Ninth, arrived shortly after, but I had + been notified that he intended to go South, and his conduct was such after + reaching the post that I would not turn over the command to him for fear + he might commit some rebellious act. Thus a more prolonged detention + occurred than I had at first anticipated. Finally the news came that he + had tendered his resignation and been granted a leave of absence for sixty + days. On July 17 he took his departure, but I continued in command till + September 1, when Captain Philip A. Owen, of the Ninth Infantry, arrived + and, taking charge, gave me my release. + </p> + <p> + From the day we received the news of the firing on Sumter until I started + East, about the first of September, 1861, I was deeply solicitous as to + the course of events, and though I felt confident that in the end the just + cause of the Government must triumph, yet the thoroughly crystallized + organization which the Southern Confederacy quickly exhibited disquieted + me very much, for it alone was evidence that the Southern leaders had long + anticipated the struggle and prepared for it. It was very difficult to + obtain direct intelligence of the progress of the war. Most of the time we + were in the depths of ignorance as to the true condition of affairs, and + this tended to increase our anxiety. Then, too, the accounts of the + conflicts that had taken place were greatly exaggerated by the Eastern + papers, and lost nothing in transition. The news came by the pony express + across the Plains to San Francisco, where it was still further magnified + in republishing, and gained somewhat in Southern bias. I remember well + that when the first reports reached us of, the battle of Bull Run—that + sanguinary engagement—it was stated that each side had lost forty + thousand men in killed and wounded, and none were reported missing nor as + having run away. Week by week these losses grew less, until they finally + shrunk into the hundreds, but the vivid descriptions of the gory conflict + were not toned down during the whole summer. + </p> + <p> + We received our mail at Yamhill only once a week, and then had to bring it + from Portland, Oregon, by express. On the day of the week that our + courier, or messenger, was expected back from Portland, I would go out + early in the morning to a commanding point above the post, from which I + could see a long distance down the road as it ran through the valley of + the Yamhill, and there I would watch with anxiety for his coming, longing + for good news; for, isolated as I had been through years spent in the + wilderness, my patriotism was untainted by politics, nor had it been + disturbed by any discussion of the questions out of which the war grew, + and I hoped for the success of the Government above all other + considerations. I believe I was also uninfluenced by any thoughts of the + promotion that might result to me from the conflict, but, out of a sincere + desire to contribute as much as I could to the preservation of the Union, + I earnestly wished to be at the seat of war, and feared it might end + before I could get East. In no sense did I anticipate what was to happen + to me afterward, nor that I was to gain any distinction from it. I was + ready to do my duty to the best of my ability wherever I might be called, + and I was young, healthy, insensible to fatigue, and desired opportunity, + but high rank was so distant in our service that not a dream of its + attainment had flitted through my brain. + </p> + <p> + During the period running from January to September, 1861, in consequence + of resignations and the addition of some new regiments to the regular + army, I had passed through the grade of first lieutenant and reached that + of captain in the Thirteenth United States Infantry, of which General W. + T. Sherman had recently been made the colonel. When relieved from further + duty at Yamhill by Captain Owen, I left for the Atlantic coast to join my + new regiment. A two days' ride brought me down to Portland, whence I + sailed to San Franciso, and at that city took passage by steamer for New + York via the Isthmus of Panama, in company with a number of officers who + were coming East under circumstances like my own. + </p> + <p> + At this time California was much agitated—on the question of + secession, and the secession element was so strong that considerable + apprehension was felt by the Union people lest the State might be carried + into the Confederacy. As a consequence great distrust existed in all + quarters, and the loyal passengers on the steamer, not knowing what might + occur during our voyage, prepared to meet emergencies by thoroughly + organizing to frustrate any attempt that might possibly be made to carry + us into some Southern port after we should leave Aspinwall. However, our + fears proved groundless; at all events, no such attempt was made, and we + reached New York in safety in November, 1861. A day or two in New York + sufficed to replenish a most meagre wardrobe, and I then started West to + join my new regiment, stopping a day and a night at the home of my parents + in Ohio, where I had not been since I journeyed from Texas for the Pacific + coast. The headquarters of my regiment were at Jefferson Barracks, + Missouri, to which point I proceeded with no further delay except a stay + in the city of St. Louis long enough to pay my respects to General H. W. + Halleck. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch8" id="linkch8"></a>CHAPTER VIII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + AUDITING ACCOUNTS—CHIEF QUARTERMASTER AND COMMISSARY OF THE ARMY OF + SOUTHWEST MISSOURI—PREPARING FOR THE PEA RIDGE CAMPAIGN—A + DIFFERENCE WITH GENERAL CURTIS—ORDERED TO THE FRONT—APPOINTED + A COLONEL. + </p> + <p> + Some days after I had reached the headquarters of my regiment near St. + Louis, General Halleck sent for me, and when I reported he informed me + that there existed a great deal of confusion regarding the accounts of + some of the disbursing officers in his department, whose management of its + fiscal affairs under his predecessor, General John C. Fremont, had been + very loose; and as the chaotic condition of things could be relieved only + by auditing these accounts, he therefore had determined to create a board + of officers for the purpose, and intended to make me president of it. The + various transactions in question covered a wide field, for the department + embraced the States of Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Arkansas, and + all of Kentucky west of the Cumberland River. + </p> + <p> + The duty was not distasteful, and I felt that I was qualified to undertake + it, for the accounts to be audited belonged exclusively to the + Quartermaster and Subsistence departments, and by recent experience I had + become familiar with the class of papers that pertained to those branches + of the army. Indeed, it was my familiarity with such transactions, + returns, etc., that probably caused my selection as president of the + board. + </p> + <p> + I entered upon the work forthwith, and continued at it until the 26th of + December, 1861. At that date I was relieved from the auditing board and + assigned to duty as Chief Commissary of the Army of Southwest Missouri, + commanded by General Samuel R. Curtis. This army was then organizing at + Rolla, Missouri, for the Pea Ridge campaign, its strength throughout the + campaign being in the aggregate about fifteen thousand men. + </p> + <p> + As soon as I received information of my selection for this position, I + went to General Halleck and requested him to assign me as Chief + Quartermaster also. He was reluctant to do so, saying that I could not + perform both duties, but I soon convinced him that I could do both better + than the one, for I reminded him that as Chief Quartermaster I should + control the transportation, and thus obviate all possible chances of + discord between the two staff departments; a condition which I deemed + essential to success, especially as it was intended that Curtis's army + should mainly subsist on the country. This argument impressed Halleck, and + becoming convinced, he promptly issued the order making me Chief + Quartermaster and Chief Commissary of Subsistence of the Army of Southwest + Missouri, and I started for Rolla to enter upon the work assigned me. + </p> + <p> + Having reported to General Curtis, I quickly learned that his system of + supply was very defective, and the transportation without proper + organization, some of the regiments having forty to fifty wagon each, and + others only three or four. I labored day and night to remedy these and + other defects, and with the help of Captain Michael P. Small, of the + Subsistence Department, who was an invaluable assistant, soon brought + things into shape, putting the transportation in good working order, + giving each regiment its proper quota of wagons, and turning the surplus + into the general supply trains of the army. In accomplishing this I was + several times on the verge of personal conflict with irate regimental + commanders, but Colonel G. M. Dodge so greatly sustained me with General + Curtis by strong moral support, and by such efficient details from his + regiment—the Fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry—that I still bear + him and it great affection and lasting gratitude. + </p> + <p> + On January 26, 1862, General Curtis's army began its march from Rolla to + Springfield, Missouri, by way of Lebanon. The roads were deep with mud, + and so badly cut up that the supply trains in moving labored under the + most serious difficulties, and were greatly embarrassed by swollen + streams. Under these circumstances many delays occurred, and when we + arrived at Lebanon nearly all the supplies with which we had started had + been consumed, and the work of feeding the troops off the country had to + begin at that point. To get flour, wheat had to be taken from the stacks, + threshed, and sent to the mills to be ground. Wheat being scarce in this + region, corn as a substitute had to be converted into meal by the same + laborious process. In addition, beef cattle had to be secured for the meat + ration. + </p> + <p> + By hard work we soon accumulated a sufficient quantity of flour and corn + meal to justify the resumption of our march on Springfield; at or near + which point the enemy was believed to be awaiting us, and the order was + given to move forward, the commanding general cautioning me, in the event + of disaster, to let no salt fall into General Price's hands. General + Curtis made a hobby of this matter of salt, believing the enemy was sadly + in need of that article, and he impressed me deeply with his conviction + that our cause would be seriously injured by a loss which would inure so + greatly and peculiarly to the enemy's benefit; but we afterward discovered, + when Price abandoned his position, that about all he left behind was salt. + </p> + <p> + When we were within about eight miles of Springfield, General Curtis + decided to put his troops in line of battle for the advance on the town, + and directed me to stretch out my supply trains in a long line of battle, + so that in falling back, in case the troops were repulsed, he could rally + the men on the wagons. I did not like the tactics, but of course obeyed + the order. The line moved on Springfield, and took the town without + resistance, the enemy having fled southward, in the direction of Pea + Ridge, the preceding day. Of course our success relieved my anxiety about + the wagons; but fancy has often pictured since, the stampede of six mule + teams that, had we met with any reverse, would have taken place over the + prairies of southwest Missouri. + </p> + <p> + The army set out in pursuit of Price, but I was left at Springfield to + gather supplies from the surrounding country, by the same means that had + been used at Lebanon, and send them forward. To succeed in this useful and + necessary duty required much hard work. To procure the grain and to run + the mills in the country, replacing the machinery where parts had been + carried away, or changing the principle and running the mills on some + different plan when necessary, and finally forward the product to the + army, made a task that taxed the energy of all engaged in it. Yet, having + at command a very skillful corps of millwrights, machinists, and millers, + detailed principally from the Fourth Iowa and Thirty-sixth Illinois + volunteer regiments, we soon got matters in shape, and were able to send + such large quantities of flour and meal to the front, that only the bacon + and small parts of the ration had to be brought forward from our depot at + Rolla. When things were well systematized, I went forward myself to + expedite the delivery of supplies, and joined the army at Cross Hollows, + just south of Pea Ridge. + </p> + <p> + Finding everything working well at Cross Hollows, I returned to + Springfield in a few days to continue the labor of collecting supplies. On + my way back I put the mills at Cassville in good order to grind the grain + in that vicinity, and perfected there a plan for the general supply from + the neighboring district of both the men and animals of the army, so that + there should, be no chance of a failure of the campaign from bad roads or + disaster to my trains. Springfield thus became the centre of the entire + supply section. + </p> + <p> + Just after my return to Springfield the battle of Pea Ridge was fought. + The success of the Union troops in this battle was considerable, and while + not of sufficient magnitude to affect the general cause materially, it was + decisive as to that particular campaign, and resulted in driving all + organized Confederate forces out of the State of Missouri. After Pea Ridge + was won, certain efforts were made to deprive Curtis of the credit due him + for the victory; but, no matter what merit belonged to individual + commanders, I was always convinced that Curtis was deserving of the + highest commendation, not only for the skill displayed on the field, but + for a zeal and daring in campaign which was not often exhibited at that + early period of the war. Especially should this credit be awarded him, + when we consider the difficulties under which he labored, how he was + hampered in having to depend on a sparsely settled country for the + subsistence of his troops. In the reports of the battle that came to + Springfield, much glory was claimed for some other general officers, but + as I had control of the telegraph line from Springfield east, I detained + all despatches until General Curtis had sent in his official report. He + thus had the opportunity of communicating with his superior in advance of + some of his vain subordinates, who would have laid claim to the credit of + the battle had I not thwarted them by this summary means. + </p> + <p> + Not long afterward came the culmination of a little difference that had + arisen between General Curtis and me, brought about, I have since + sometimes thought, by an assistant quartermaster from Iowa, whom I had on + duty with me at Springfield. He coveted my place, and finally succeeded in + getting it. He had been an unsuccessful banker in Iowa, and early in the + war obtained an appointment as assistant quartermaster of volunteers with + the rank of captain. As chief quartermaster of the army in Missouri, there + would be opportunities for the recuperation of his fortunes which would + not offer to one in a subordinate place; so to gain this position he + doubtless intrigued for it while under my eye, and Curtis was induced to + give it to him as soon as I was relieved. His career as my successor, as + well as in other capacities in which he was permitted to act during the + war, was to say the least not savory. The war over he turned up in Chicago + as president of a bank, which he wrecked; and he finally landed in the + penitentiary for stealing a large sum of money from the United States + Treasury at Washington while employed there as a clerk. The chances that + this man's rascality would be discovered were much less when chief of the + departments of transportation and supply of an army than they afterward + proved to be in the Treasury. I had in my possession at all times large + sums of money for the needs of the army, and among other purposes for + which these funds were to be disbursed was the purchase of horses and + mules. Certain officers and men more devoted to gain than to the + performance of duty (a few such are always to be found in armies) quickly + learned this, and determined to profit by it. Consequently they began a + regular system of stealing horses from the people of the country and + proffering them to me for purchase. It took but a little time to discover + this roguery, and when I became satisfied of their knavery I brought it to + a sudden close by seizing the horses as captured property, branding them + U. S., and refusing to pay for them. General Curtis, misled by the + misrepresentations that had been made, and without fully knowing the + circumstances, or realizing to what a base and demoralizing state of + things this course was inevitably tending, practically ordered me to make + the Payments, and I refused. The immediate result of this disobedience was + a court-martial to try me; and knowing that my usefulness in that army was + gone, no matter what the outcome of the trial might be, I asked General + Halleck to relieve me from duty with General Curtis and order me to St. + Louis. This was promptly done, and as my connection with the Army of + Southwest Missouri was thus severed before the court could be convened, my + case never came to trial. The man referred to as being the cause of this + condition of affairs was appointed by General Curtis to succeed me. I + turned over to the former all the funds and property for which I was + responsible, also the branded horses and mules stolen from the people of + the country, requiring receipts for everything. I heard afterward that + some of the blooded stock of southwest Missouri made its way to Iowa in an + unaccountable manner, but whether the administration of my successor was + responsible for it or not I am unable to say. + </p> + <p> + On my arrival at St. Louis I felt somewhat forlorn and disheartened at the + turn affairs had taken. I did not know where I should be assigned, nor + what I should be required to do, but these uncertainties were dispelled in + a few days by General Halleck, who, being much pressed by the Governors of + some of the Western States to disburse money in their sections, sent me + out into the Northwest with a sort of roving commission to purchase horses + for the use of the army. I went to Madison and Racine, Wis., at which + places I bought two hundred horses, which were shipped to St. Louis. At + Chicago I bought two hundred more, and as the prices paid at the latter + point showed that Illinois was the cheapest market—it at that time + producing a surplus over home demands—I determined to make Chicago + the centre of my operations. + </p> + <p> + While occupied in this way at Chicago the battle of Shiloh took place, and + the desire for active service with troops became uppermost in my thoughts, + so I returned to St. Louis to see if I could not get into the field. + General Halleck having gone down to the Shiloh battle-field, I reported to + his Assistant Adjutant-General, Colonel John C. Kelton, and told him of my + anxiety to take a hand in active field-service, adding that I did not wish + to join my regiment, which was still organizing and recruiting at + Jefferson Barracks, for I felt confident I could be more useful elsewhere. + Kelton knew that the purchasing duty was but temporary, and that on its + completion, probably at no distant date, I should have to join my company + at the barracks; so, realizing the inactivity to which that situation of + affairs would subject me, he decided to assume the responsibility of + sending me to report to General Halleck at Shiloh, and gave me an order to + that effect. + </p> + <p> + This I consider the turning-point in my military career, and shall always + feel grateful to Colonel Kelton for his kindly act which so greatly + influenced my future. My desire to join the army at Shiloh had now taken + possession of me, and I was bent on getting there by the first means + available. Learning that a hospital-boat under charge of Dr. Hough was + preparing to start for Pittsburg Landing, I obtained the Doctor's consent + to take passage on it, and on the evening of April 15, I left St. Louis + for the scene of military operations in northeastern Mississippi. + </p> + <p> + At Pittsburg Landing I reported to General Halleck, who, after some slight + delay, assigned me to duty as an assistant to Colonel George Thom, of the + topographical engineers. Colonel Thom put me at the work of getting the + trains up from the landing, which involved the repair of roads for that + purpose by corduroying the marshy places. This was rough, hard work, + without much chance of reward, but it, was near the field of active + operations, and I determined to do the best I could at it till opportunity + for something better might arise. + </p> + <p> + General Halleck did not know much about taking care of himself in the + field. His camp arrangements were wholly inadequate, and in consequence he + and all the officers about him were subjected to much unnecessary + discomfort and annoyance. Someone suggested to him to appoint me + quartermaster for his headquarters, with a view to systematizing the + establishment and remedying the defects complained of, and I was + consequently assigned to this duty. Shortly after this assignment I had + the satisfaction of knowing that General Halleck was delighted with the + improvements made at headquarters, both in camp outfit and transportation, + and in administration generally. My popularity grew as the improvements + increased, but one trifling incident came near marring it. There was some + hitch about getting fresh beef for General Halleck's mess, and as by this + time everybody had come to look to me for anything and everything in the + way of comfort, Colonel Joe McKibben brought an order from the General for + me to get fresh beef for the headquarters mess. I was not caterer for this + mess, nor did I belong to it even, so I refused point-blank. McKibben, + disliking to report my disobedience, undertook persuasion, and brought + Colonel Thom to see me to aid in his negotiations, but I would not give + in, so McKibben in the kindness of his heart rode several miles in order + to procure the beef himself, and thus save me from the dire results which + be thought would follow should Halleck get wind of such downright + insubordination. The next day I was made Commissary of Subsistence for the + headquarters in addition to my other duties, and as this brought me into + the line of fresh beef, General Halleck had no cause thereafter to + complain of a scarcity of that article in his mess. + </p> + <p> + My stay at General Halleck's headquarters was exceedingly agreeable, and + my personal intercourse with officers on duty there was not only pleasant + and instructive, but offered opportunities for improvement and advancement + for which hardly any other post could have afforded like chances. My + special duties did not occupy all my time, and whenever possible I used to + go over to General Sherman's division, which held the extreme right of our + line in the advance on Corinth, to witness the little engagements + occurring there continuously during the slow progress which the army was + then making, the enemy being forced back but a short distance each day. I + knew General Sherman very well. We came from near the same section of + country in Ohio, and his wife and her family had known me from childhood. + I was always kindly received by the General, and one day he asked me if I + would be willing to accept the colonelcy of a certain Ohio regiment if he + secured the appointment. I gladly told him yes, if General Halleck would + let me go; but I was doomed to disappointment, for in about a week or so + afterward General Sherman informed me that the Governor of Ohio would not + consent, having already decided to appoint some one else. + </p> + <p> + A little later Governor Blair, of Michigan, who was with the army + temporarily in the interest of the troops from his State, and who just at + this time was looking around for a colonel for the Second Michigan + Cavalry, and very anxious to get a regular officer, fixed upon me as the + man. The regiment was then somewhat run down by losses from sickness, and + considerably split into factions growing out of jealousies engendered by + local differences previous to organization, and the Governor desired to + bridge over all these troubles by giving the regiment a commander who knew + nothing about them. I presume that some one said to the Governor about + this time, "Why don't you get Sheridan?" This, however, is only + conjecture. I really do not know how my name was proposed to him, but I + have often been told since that General Gordon Granger, whom I knew + slightly then, and who had been the former colonel of the regiment, first + suggested the appointment. At all events, on the morning of May 27, 1862, + Captain Russell A. Alger—recently Governor of Michigan—accompanied + by the quartermaster of the regiment, Lieutenant Frank Walbridge, arrived + at General Halleck's headquarters and delivered to me this telegram: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> (By Telegraph.)<br /> "MILITARY DEPT OF MICHIGAN,<br /> + "ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,<br /> "DETROIT, May 25, 1862.<br /> <br /> + GENERAL ORDERS NO. 148.<br /> <br /> "Captain Philip H. Sheridan, U. S. + Army, is hereby appointed Colonel of the Second Regiment Michigan + Cavalry, to rank from this date.<br /> <br /> "Captain Sheridan will + immediately assume command of the regiment.<br /> <br /> "By order of the + Commander-in-Chief,<br /> "JNO. ROBERTSON,<br /> "Adjutant-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + I took the order to General Halleck, and said that I would like to accept, + but he was not willing I should do so until the consent of the War + Department could be obtained. I returned to my tent much disappointed, for + in those days, for some unaccountable reason, the War Department did not + favor the appointment of regular officers to volunteer regiments, and I + feared a disapproval at Washington. After a further consultation with + Captain Alger and Lieutenant Walbridge, I determined to go to the General + again and further present the case. Enlarging on my desire for active + service with troops, and urging the utter lack of such opportunity where I + was, I pleaded my cause until General Halleck finally resolved to take the + responsibility of letting me go without consulting the War Department. + When I had thanked him for the kindness, he said that inasmuch as I was to + leave him, he would inform me that the regiment to which I had just been + appointed was ordered out as part of a column directed to make a raid to + the south of the enemy, then occupying Corinth, and that if I could turn + over my property, it would probably be well for me to join my command + immediately, so that I could go with the expedition. I returned to my + tent, where Alger and Walbridge were still waiting, and told them of the + success of my interview, at the same time notifying them that I would join + the regiment in season to accompany the expedition of which Halleck had + spoken. + </p> + <p> + In the course of the afternoon I turned over all my property to my + successor, and about 8 o'clock that evening made my appearance at the camp + of the Second Michigan Cavalry, near Farmington, Mississippi. The regiment + was in a hubbub of excitement making preparations for the raid, and I had + barely time to meet the officers of my command, and no opportunity at all + to see the men, when the trumpet sounded to horse. Dressed in a coat and + trousers of a captain of infantry, but recast as a colonel of cavalry by a + pair of well-worn eagles that General Granger had kindly given me, I + hurriedly placed on my saddle a haversack, containing some coffee, sugar, + bacon, and hard bread, which had been prepared, and mounting my horse, I + reported my regiment to the brigade commander as ready for duty. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch9" id="linkch9"></a>CHAPTER IX. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + EXPEDITION TO BOONEVILLE—DESTROYING SUPPLIES—CONFEDERATE + STRAGGLERS—SUCCESS OF THE EXPEDITION—A RECONNOISSANCE—THE + IMPORTANCE OF BODILY SUSTENANCE—THE BATTLE OF BOONEVILLE—RECOMMENDED + FOR APPOINTMENT AS A BRIGADIER-GENERAL. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp146" id="linkp146"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p146.jpg (56K)" src="images/p146.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + The expedition referred to by General Halleck in his parting conversation + was composed of the Second Michigan and Second Iowa regiments of cavalry, + formed into a brigade under command of Colonel Washington L. Elliott, of + the Second Iowa. It was to start on the night of the 27th of May at 12 + o'clock, and proceed by a circuitous route through Iuka, Miss., to + Booneville, a station on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, about twenty-two + miles below Corinth, and accomplish all it could in the way of destroying + the enemy's supplies and cutting his railroad communications. + </p> + <p> + The weather in that climate was already warm, guides unobtainable, and + both men and horses suffered much discomfort from the heat, and fatigue + from the many delays growing out of the fact that we were in almost total + ignorance of the roads leading to the point that we desired to reach. In + order that we might go light we carried only sugar, coffee, and salt, + depending on the country for meat and bread. Both these articles were + scarce, but I think we got all there was, for our advent was so unexpected + by the people of the region through which we passed that, supposing us to + be Confederate cavalry, they often gave us all they had, the women and + servants contributing most freely from their reserve stores. + </p> + <p> + Before reaching Booneville I had the advance, but just as we arrived on + the outskirts of the town the brigade was formed with the Second Iowa on + my right, and the whole force moved forward, right in front, preceded by + skirmishers. Here we encountered the enemy, but forced him back with + little resistance. When we had gained possession of the station, Colonel + Elliott directed me to take the left wing of my regiment, pass to the + south, and destroy a bridge or culvert supposed to be at a little distance + below the town on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The right wing, or other + half of the regiment, was to be held in reserve for my support if + necessary. I moved rapidly in the designated direction till I reached the + railroad, and then rode down it for a mile and a half, but found neither + bridge nor culvert. I then learned that there was no bridge of any + importance except the one at Baldwin, nine miles farther down, but as I + was aware, from information recently received, that it was defended by + three regiments and a battery, I concluded that I could best accomplish + the purpose for which I had been detached—crippling the road—by + tearing up the track, bending the rails, and burning the cross-ties. This + was begun with alacrity at four different points, officers and men vieing + with one another in the laborious work of destruction. We had but few + tools, and as the difficulties to overcome were serious, our progress was + slow, until some genius conceived the idea that the track, rails and ties, + might be lifted from its bed bodily, turned over, and subjected to a high + heat; a convenient supply of dry fence-rails would furnish ample fuel to + render the rails useless. In this way a good deal of the track was + effectively broken up, and communication by rail from Corinth to the south + entirely cut off. While we were still busy in wrecking the road, a dash + was made at my right and rear by a squadron of Confederate cavalry. This + was handsomely met by the reserve under Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of + the Second Michigan, who, dismounting a portion of his command, received + the enemy with such a volley from his Colt's repeating rifles that the + squadron broke and fled in all directions. We were not molested further, + and resumed our work, intending to extend the break toward Baldwin, but + receiving orders from Elliott to return to Booneville immediately, the men + were recalled, and we started to rejoin the main command. + </p> + <p> + In returning to Booneville, I found the railroad track above where I had + struck it blocked by trains that we had thus cut off, and the woods and + fields around the town covered with several thousand Confederate soldiers. + These were mostly convalescents and disheartened stragglers belonging to + General Beauregard's army, and from them we learned that Corinth was being + evacuated. I spent some little time in an endeavor to get these + demoralized men into an open field, with a view to some future disposition + of them; but in the midst of the undertaking I received another order from + Colonel Elliott to join him at once. The news of the evacuation had also + reached Elliott, and had disclosed a phase of the situation so different + from that under which he had viewed it when we arrived at Booneville, that + he had grown anxious to withdraw, lest we should be suddenly pounced upon + by an overwhelming force from some one of the columns in retreat. Under + such circumstances my prisoners would prove a decided embarrassment, so I + abandoned further attempts to get them together—not even paroling + them, which I thought might have been done with but little risk. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the captured cars had been fired, and as their complete + destruction was assured by explosions from those containing ammunition, + they needed no further attention, so I withdrew my men and hastened to + join Elliott, taking along some Confederate officers whom I had retained + from among four or five hundred prisoners captured when making the + original dash below the town. + </p> + <p> + The losses in my regiment, and, in fact, those of the entire command, were + insignificant. The results of the expedition were important; the railroad + being broken so thoroughly as to cut off all rolling stock north of + Booneville, and to place at the service of General Halleck's army the cars + and locomotives of which the retreating Confederates were now so much in + need. In addition, we burned twenty-six cars containing ten thousand stand + of small arms, three pieces of artillery, a great quantity of clothing, a + heavy supply of ammunition, and the personal baggage of General Leonidas + Polk. A large number of prisoners, mostly sick and convalescent, also fell + into our hands; but as we could not carry them with us—such a + hurried departure was an immediate necessity, by reason of our critical + situation—the process of paroling them was not completed, and they + doubtless passed back to active service in the Confederacy, properly + enough unrecognized as prisoners of war by their superiors. + </p> + <p> + In returning, the column marched back by another indirect route to its old + camp near Farmington, where we learned that the whole army had moved into + and beyond Corinth, in pursuit of Beauregard, on the 13th of May, the very + day we had captured Booneville. Although we had marched about one hundred + and eighty miles in four days, we were required to take part, of course, + in the pursuit of the Confederate army. So, resting but one night in our + old camp, we were early in the saddle again on the morning of the 2d of + June. Marching south through Corinth, we passed on the 4th of June the + scene of our late raid, viewing with much satisfaction, as we took the + road toward Blackland, the still smoldering embers of the burned trains. + </p> + <p> + On the 4th of June I was ordered to proceed with my regiment along the + Blackland road to determine the strength of the enemy in that direction, + as it was thought possible we might capture, by a concerted movement which + General John Pope had suggested to General Halleck, a portion of + Beauregard's rear guard. Pushing the Confederate scouts rapidly in with a + running fire for a mile or more, while we were approaching a little + stream, I hoped to gobble the main body of the enemy's pickets. I + therefore directed the sabre battalion of the regiment, followed by that + portion of it armed with revolving rifles, to dash forward in column, cut + off these videttes before they could cross the stream, and then gather + them in. The pickets fled hastily, however, and a pell-mell pursuit + carried us over the stream at their heels by a little bridge, with no + thought of halting till we gained a hill on the other side, and suddenly + found ourselves almost in the camp of a strong body of artillery and + infantry. Captain Campbell being in advance, hurriedly dismounted his + battalion for a further forward movement on foot, but it was readily seen + that the enemy was present in such heavy force as almost to ensure our + destruction, and I gave orders for a hasty withdrawal. We withdrew without + loss under cover of thick woods, aided much, however, by the consternation + of the Confederates, who had hardly recovered from their surprise at our + sudden appearance in their camp before we had again placed the stream + between them and us by recrossing the bridge. The reconnoissance was a + success in one way—that is, in finding out that the enemy was at the + point supposed by, General Pope; but it also had a tendency to accelerate + Beauregard's retreat, for in a day or two his whole line fell back as far + south as Guntown, thus rendering abortive the plans for bagging a large + portion of his army. + </p> + <p> + General Beauregard's evacuation of Corinth and retreat southward were + accomplished in the face of a largely superior force of Union troops, and + he reached the point where he intended to halt for reorganization without + other loss than that sustained in the destruction of the cars and supplies + at Booneville, and the capture of some stragglers and deserters that fell + into our hands while we were pressing his rear from General Pope's flank. + The number of these was quite large, and indicated that the enemy was + considerably demoralized. Under such circumstances, an energetic and + skillfully directed pursuit might not have made certain the enemy's + destruction, but it would largely have aided in disintegrating his forces, + and I never could quite understand why it was not ordered. The desultory + affairs between rear and advance guards seemed as a general, thing to have + no particular purpose in view beyond finding out where the enemy was, and + when he was found, since no supporting colums were at hand and no one in + supreme control was present to give directions, our skirmishing was of + little avail and brought but small reward. + </p> + <p> + A short time subsequent to these occurrences, Colonel Elliott was made a + brigadier-general, and as General Pope appointed him his Chief-of-Staff, + I, on the 11th of June, 1862, fell in command of the brigade by seniority. + For the rest of the month but little of moment occurred, and we settled + down into camp at Booneville on the 26th of June, in a position which my + brigade had been ordered to take up some twenty miles, in advance of the + main army for the purpose of covering its front. Although but a few days + had elapsed from the date of my appointment as colonel of the Second + Michigan to that of my succeeding to the command of the brigade, I believe + I can say with propriety that I had firmly established myself in the + confidence of the officers and men of the regiment, and won their regard + by thoughtful care. I had striven unceasingly to have them well fed and + well clothed, had personally looked after the selection of their camps, + and had maintained such a discipline as to allay former irritation. + </p> + <p> + Men who march, scout, and fight, and suffer all the hardships that fall to + the lot of soldiers in the field, in order to do vigorous work must have + the best bodily sustenance, and every comfort that can be provided. I knew + from practical experience on the frontier that my efforts in this + direction would not only be appreciated, but requited by personal + affection and gratitude; and, further, that such exertions would bring the + best results to me. Whenever my authority would permit I saved my command + from needless sacrifices and unnecessary toil; therefore, when hard or + daring work was to be done I expected the heartiest response, and always + got it. Soldiers are averse to seeing their comrades killed without + compensating results, and none realize more quickly than they the + blundering that often takes place on the field of battle. They want some + tangible indemnity for the loss of life, and as victory is an offset the + value of which is manifest, it not only makes them content to shed their + blood, but also furnishes evidence of capacity in those who command them. + My regiment had lost very few men since coming under my command, but it + seemed, in the eyes of all who belonged to it, that casualties to the + enemy and some slight successes for us had repaid every sacrifice, and in + consequence I had gained not only their confidence as soldiers, but also + their esteem and love as men, and to a degree far beyond what I then + realized. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the camp of my brigade was pitched at Booneville, I began to + scout in every direction, to obtain a knowledge of the enemy's whereabouts + and learn the ground about me. My standing in drawing at the Military + Academy had never been so high as to warrant the belief that I could ever + prove myself an expert, but a few practical lessons in that line were + impressed on me there, and I had retained enough to enable me to make + rough maps that could be readily understood, and which would be suitable + to replace the erroneous skeleton outlines of northern Mississippi, with + which at this time we were scantily furnished; so as soon as possible I + compiled for the use of myself and my regimental commanders an information + map of the surrounding country. This map exhibited such details as country + roads, streams, farmhouses, fields, woods, and swamps, and such other + topographical features as would be useful. I must confess that my crude + sketch did not evidence much artistic merit, but it was an improvement on + what we already possessed in the way of details to guide the command, and + this was what I most needed; for it was of the first importance that in + our exposed condition we should be equipped with a thorough knowledge of + the section in which we were operating, so as to be prepared to encounter + an enemy already indicating recovery from the disorganizing effects of his + recent retreat. + </p> + <p> + In the immediate vicinity of Booneville the country was covered with heavy + forests, with here and there clearings or intervening fields that had been + devoted to the cultivation of cotton and corn. The ground was of a low + character, typical of northeastern Mississippi, and abounded in small + creeks that went almost totally dry even in short periods of drought, but + became flooded with muddy water under the outpouring of rain peculiar to a + semi-tropical climate. In such a region there were many chances of our + being surprised, especially by an enemy who knew the country well, and + whose ranks were filled with local guides; and great precautions as well + as the fullest information were necessary to prevent disaster. I therefore + endeavored to familiarize all with our surroundings, but scarcely had + matters begun to shape themselves as I desired when our annihilation was + attempted by a large force of Confederate cavalry. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp157" id="linkp157"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p157.jpg (23K)" src="images/p157.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + On the morning of July 1, 1862, a cavalry command of between five and six + thousand-men, under the Confederate General James R. Chalmers, advanced on + two roads converging near Booneville. The head of the enemy's column on + the Blackland and Booneville road came in contact with my pickets three + miles and a half west of Booneville. These pickets, under Lieutenant + Leonidas S. Scranton, of the Second Michigan Cavalry, fell back slowly, + taking advantage of every tree or other cover to fire from till they + arrived at the point where the converging roads joined. At this junction + there was a strong position in the protecting timber, and here Scranton + made a firm stand, being reinforced presently by the few men he had out as + pickets on the road to his left, a second company I had sent him from + camp, and subsequently by three companies more, all now commanded by + Captain Campbell. This force was dismounted and formed in line, and soon + developed that the enemy was present in large numbers. Up to this time + Chalmers had shown only the heads of his columns, and we had doubts as to + his purpose, but now that our resistance forced him to deploy two + regiments on the right and left of the road, it became apparent that he + meant business, and that there was no time to lose in preparing to repel + his attack. + </p> + <p> + Full information of the situation was immediately sent me, and I directed + Campbell to hold fast, if possible, till I could support him, but if + compelled to retire he was authorized to do so slowly, taking advantage of + every means that fell in his way to prolong the fighting. Before this I + had stationed one battalion of the Second Iowa in Booneville, but Colonel + Edward Hatch, commanding that regiment, was now directed to leave one + company for the protection of our camp a little to the north of the + station, and take the balance of the Second Iowa, with the battalion in + Booneville except two sabre companies, and form the whole in rear of + Captain Campbell, to protect his flanks and support him by a charge should + the enemy break his dismounted line. + </p> + <p> + While these preparations were being made, the Confederates attempted to + drive Campbell from his position by a direct attack through an open field. + In this they failed, however, for our men, reserving their fire until the + enemy came within about thirty yards, then opened on him with such a + shower of bullets from our Colt's rifles that it soon became too hot for + him, and he was repulsed with considerable loss. Foiled in this move, + Chalmers hesitated to attack again in front, but began overlapping both + flanks of Campbell's line by force of numbers, compelling Campbell to + retire toward a strong position I had selected in his rear for a line on + which to make our main resistance. As soon as the enemy saw this + withdrawing he again charged in front, but was again as gallantly repelled + as in the first assault, although the encounter was for a short time so + desperate as to have the character of a hand-to-hand conflict, several + groups of friend and foe using on each other the butts of their guns. At + this juncture the timely arrival of Colonel Hatch with the Second Iowa + gave a breathing-spell to Campbell, and made the Confederates so chary of + further direct attacks that he was enabled to retire; and at the same time + I found opportunity to make disposition of the reinforcement to the best + advantage possible, placing the Second Iowa on the left of the new line + and strengthening Campbell on its right with all the men available. + </p> + <p> + In view of his numbers, the enemy soon regained confidence in his ability + to overcome us, and in a little while again began his flanking movements, + his right passing around my left flank some distance, and approaching our + camp and transportation, which I had forbidden to be moved out to the + rear. Fearing that he would envelop us and capture the camp and + transportation, I determined to take the offensive. Remembering a + circuitous wood road that I had become familiar with while making the map + heretofore mentioned, I concluded that the most effective plan would be to + pass a small column around the enemy's left, by way of this road, and + strike his rear by a mounted charge simultaneously with an advance of our + main line on his front. I knew that the attack in rear would be a most + hazardous undertaking, but in the face of such odds as the enemy had the + condition of affairs was most critical, and could be relieved, only by a + bold and radical change in our tactics; so I at once selected four sabre + companies, two from the Second Michigan and two from the Second Iowa, and + placing Captain Alger, of the former regiment, in command of them, I + informed him that I expected of them the quick and desperate work that is + usually imposed on a forlorn hope. + </p> + <p> + To carry out the purpose now in view, I instructed Captain Alger to follow + the wood road as it led around the left of the enemy's advancing forces, + to a point where 'it joined the Blackland road, about three miles from + Booneville, and directed him, upon reaching the Blackland road, to turn up + it immediately, and charge the rear of the enemy's line. Under no + circumstances was he to deploy the battalion, but charge in column right + through whatever he came upon, and report to me in front of Booneville, if + at all possible for him to get there. If he failed to break through the + enemy's line, he was to go ahead as far as he could, and then if any of + his men were left, and he was able to retreat, he was to do so by the same + route he had taken on his way out. To conduct him on this perilous service + I sent along a thin, sallow, tawny-haired Mississippian named Beene, whom + I had employed as a guide and scout a few days before, on account of his + intimate knowledge of the roads, from the public thoroughfares down to the + insignificant by-paths of the neighboring swamps. With such guidance I + felt sure that the column would get to the desired point without delay, + for there was no danger of its being lost or misled by taking any of the + many by-roads which traversed the dense forests through which it would be + obliged to pass. I also informed Alger that I should take the reserve and + join the main line in front of Booneville for the purpose of making an + advance of my whole force, and that as a signal he must have his men cheer + loudly when he struck the enemy's rear, in order that my attack might be + simultaneous with his. + </p> + <p> + I gave him one hour to go around and come back through the enemy, and when + he started I moved to the front with the balance of the reserve, to put + everything I had into the fight. This meant an inestimable advantage to + the enemy in case of our defeat, but our own safety demanded the hazard. + All along our attenuated line the fighting was now sharp, and the enemy's + firing indicated such numerical strength that fear of disaster to Alger + increased my anxiety terribly as the time set for his cheering arrived and + no sound of it was heard. + </p> + <p> + Relying, however, on the fact that Beene's knowledge of the roads would + prevent his being led astray, and confident of Alger's determination to + accomplish the purpose for which he set out, as soon as the hour was up I + ordered my whole line forward. Fortunately, just as this moment a + locomotive and two cars loaded with grain for my horses ran into + Booneville from Corinth. I say fortunately, because it was well known + throughout the command that in the morning, when I first discovered the + large numbers of the enemy, I had called for assistance; and my troops, + now thinking that reinforcements had arrived by rail from Rienzi, where a + division of infantry was encamped, and inspirated by this belief, advanced + with renewed confidence and wild cheering. Meantime I had the engineer of + the locomotive blow his whistle loudly, so that the enemy might also learn + that a train had come; and from the fact that in a few moments he began to + give way before our small force, I thought that this strategem had some + effect. Soon his men broke, and ran in the utmost disorder over the + country in every direction. I found later, however, that his precipitous + retreat was due to the pressure on his left from the Second Iowa, in + concert with the front attack of the Second Michigan, and the + demoralization wrought in his rear by Alger, who had almost entirely + accomplished the purpose of his expedition, though he had failed to come + through, or so near that I could hear the signal agreed upon before + leaving Booneville. + </p> + <p> + After Alger had reached and turned up the Blackland road, the first thing + he came across was the Confederate headquarters; the officers and + orderlies about which he captured and sent back some distance to a + farm-house. Continuing on a gallop, he soon struck the rear of the enemy's + line, but was unable to get through; nor did he get near enough for me to + hear his cheering; but as he had made the distance he was to travel in the + time allotted, his attack and mine were almost coincident, and the enemy, + stampeded by the charges in front and rear, fled toward Blackland, with + little or no attempt to capture Alger's command, which might readily have + been done. Alger's troopers soon rejoined me at Booneville, minus many + hats, having returned by their original route. They had sustained little + loss except a few men wounded and a few temporarily missing. Among these + was Alger himself, who was dragged from his saddle by the limb of a tree + that, in the excitement of the charge, he was unable to flank. The missing + had been dismounted in one way or another, and run over by the enemy in + his flight; but they all turned up later, none the worse except for a few + scratches and bruises. + </p> + <p> + My effective strength in this fight was 827 all told, and Alger's command + comprised ninety officers and men. Chalmers's force was composed of six + regiments and two battalions, and though I have been unable to find any + returns from which to verify his actual numbers, yet, from the statements + of prisoners and from information obtained from citizens along his line of + march, it is safe to say that he had in the action not less than + five-thousand men. Our casualties were not many—forty-one in all. + His loss in killed and wounded was considerable, his most severely wounded—forty + men—falling into our hands, having been left at farm-houses in the + vicinity of the battlefield. + </p> + <p> + The victory in the face of such odds was most gratifying, and as it + justified my disinclination—in fact, refusal—to retire from + Booneville without fighting (for the purpose of saving my transportation, + as directed by superior authority when I applied in the morning for + reinforcements), it was to me particularly grateful. It was also very + valuable in, view of the fact that it increased the confidence between the + officers and men of my brigade and me, and gave us for the balance of the + month not only comparative rest, but entire immunity from the dangers of a + renewed effort to gobble my isolated outpost. In addition to all this, + commendation from my immediate superiors was promptly tendered through + oral and written congratulations; and their satisfaction at the result of + the battle took definite form a few days later, in the following + application for my promotion, when, by an expedition to Ripley, Miss., + most valuable information as to the enemy's location and plans was + captured: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,<br /> "JULY 30, 1862.—3.05 + P. M.<br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,<br /> "Washington, D. C.<br /> + <br /> "Brigadiers scarce; good ones scarce. Asboth goes on the month's + leave you gave him ten months since; Granger has temporary command. The + undersigned respectfully beg that you will obtain the promotion of + Sheridan. He is worth his weight in gold. His Ripley expedition has + brought us captured letters of immense value, as well as prisoners, + showing the rebel plans and dispositions, as you will learn from + District Commander.<br /> <br /> "W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General.<br /> + "C. C. SULLIVAN, " "<br /> "G. GRANGER, " "<br /> "W. L. ELLIOTT, " "<br /> + "A. ASBOTH, " " " + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch10" id="linkch10"></a>CHAPTER X. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + IN CAMP NEAR RIENZI—GENERAL GRANGER—A VALUABLE CAPTURE AT + RIPLEY—RAIDING A CORNFIELD—REPULSING AN ATTACK—PRESENTED + WITH THE BLACK HORSE "RIENZI"—MEETING GENERAL GRANT—APPOINTED + A BRIGADIER-GENERAL. + </p> + <p> + After the battle of Booneville, it was decided by General Rosecrans, on + the advice of General Granger, that my position at Booneville was too much + exposed, despite the fact that late on the evening of the fight my force + had been increased by the addition of, a battery of four guns and two + companies of infantry, and by the Third Michigan Cavalry, commanded by + Colonel John K. Mizner; so I was directed to withdraw from my post and go + into camp near Rienzi, Mississippi, where I could equally well cover the + roads in front of the army, and also be near General Asboth's division of + infantry, which occupied a line in rear of the town. This section of + country, being higher and more rolling than that in the neighborhood of + Booneville, had many advantages in the way of better camping-grounds, + better grazing and the like, but I moved with reluctance, because I feared + that my proximity to Asboth would diminish to a certain extent my + independence of command. + </p> + <p> + General Asboth was a tall, spare, handsome man, with gray mustache and a + fierce look. He was an educated soldier, of unquestioned courage, but the + responsibilities of outpost duty bore rather heavily on him, and he kept + all hands in a state of constant worry in anticipation of imaginary + attacks. His ideas of discipline were not very rigid either, and as by + this time there had been introduced into my brigade some better methods + than those obtaining when it first fell to my command, I feared the effect + should he, have any control over it, or meddle with its internal affairs. + However, there was nothing to do but to move to the place designated, but + General Granger, who still commanded the cavalry division to which the + brigade belonged, so arranged matters with General Rosecrans, who had + succeeded to the command of the Army of the Mississippi, that my + independence was to be undisturbed, except in case of a general attack by + the enemy. + </p> + <p> + We went into camp near Rienzi, July 22, sending back to the general + field-hospital at Tuscumbia Springs all our sick—a considerable + number—stricken down by the malarial influences around Booneville. + In a few days the fine grazing and abundance of grain for our exhausted + horses brought about their recuperation; and the many large open fields in + the vicinity gave opportunity for drills and parades, which were much + needed. I turned my attention to those disciplinary measures which, on + account of active work in the field, had been necessarily neglected since + the brigade had arrived at Pittsburg Landing, in April; and besides, we + had been busy in collecting information by scouting parties and otherwise, + in prosecution of the purpose for which we were covering the main army. + </p> + <p> + I kept up an almost daily correspondence with General Granger, concerning + the information obtained by scouts and reconnoitring parties, and he came + often to Rienzi to see me in relation to this and other matters. + Previously I had not had much personal association with Granger. While I + was at Halleck's headquarters we met on one or two occasions, and the day + I joined the Second Michigan at Farmington I saw him for a few moments, + but, with such slight exception, our intercourse had been almost + exclusively official. He had suggested my name, I was told, to Governor + Blair, when the Governor was in search of an officer of the regular army + to appoint to the colonelcy of the Second Michigan Cavalry, but his + recommendation must have been mainly based on the favorable opinions he + had heard expressed by General Halleck and by some of the officers of his + staff, rather than from any personal knowledge of my capacity. Of course I + was very grateful for this, but some of his characteristics did not + impress me favorably, and I sometimes wished the distance between our + camps greater. His most serious failing was an uncontrollable propensity + to interfere with and direct the minor matters relating to the command, + the details for which those under him were alone responsible. Ill-judged + meddling in this respect often led to differences between us, only + temporary it is true, but most harassing to the subordinate, since I was + compelled by the circumstances of the situation not only invariably to + yield my own judgment, but many a time had to play peacemaker—smoothing + down ruffled feelings, that I knew had been excited by Granger's freaky + and spasmodic efforts to correct personally some trifling fault that ought + to have been left to a regimental or company commander to remedy. Yet with + all these small blemishes Granger had many good qualities, and his big + heart was so full of generous impulses and good motives as to far + outbalance his short-comings; and not-withstanding the friction and + occasional acerbity of our official intercourse, we maintained friendly + relations till his death. + </p> + <p> + In pursuance of the fatal mistake made by dispersing Halleck's forces + after the fall of Corinth, General Don Carlos Buell's Army of the Ohio had + been started some time before on its march eastward toward Chattanooga; + and as this movement would be followed of course by a manoeuvre on the + part of the enemy, now at Tupelo under General Braxton Bragg, either to + meet Buell or frustrate his designs by some counter-operation, I was + expected to furnish, by scouting and all other means available, + information as to what was going on within the Confederate lines. To do + the work required, necessitated an increase of my command, and the Seventh + Kansas Cavalry was therefore added to it, and my picket-line extended so + as to cover from Jacinto southwesterly to a point midway between Rienzi + and Booneville, and then northwesterly to the Hatchie River. Skirmishes + between outposts on this line were of frequent occurrence, with small + results to either side, but they were somewhat annoying, particularly in + the direction of Ripley, where the enemy maintained a considerable + outpost. Deciding to cripple if not capture this outpost, on the evening + of July 27, I sent out an expedition under Colonel Hatch, which drove the + enemy from the town of Ripley and took a few prisoners, but the most + valuable prize was in the shape of a package of thirty-two private + letters, the partial reading of which disclosed to me the positive + transfer from Mississippi of most of Bragg's army, for the purpose of + counteracting Buell's operations in northern Alabama and East Tennessee. + This decisive evidence was of the utmost importance, and without taking + time to read all the letters, I forwarded them to General Granger July 28, + in a despatch which stated: "I deem it necessary to send them at once; the + enemy is moving in large force on Chattanooga." Other than this the + results of the expedition were few; and the enemy, having fled from Ripley + with but slight resistance, accompanied by almost all the inhabitants, + re-occupied the place next day after our people had quitted it, and + resumed in due time his annoying attacks on our outposts, both sides + trying to achieve something whenever occasion offered. + </p> + <p> + The prevalence of a severe drought had resulted in drying up many of the + streams within the enemy's lines, and, in consequence, he was obliged to + shift his camps often, and send his beef-cattle and mules near his + outposts for water. My scouts kept me well posted in regard to the + movements of both camps and herds; and a favorable opportunity presenting + itself, I sent an expedition on August 14 to gather in some animals + located on Twenty-Mile Creek, a stream always supplied with water from a + source of never-failing, springs. Our side met with complete success in + this instance, and when the expedition returned, we were all made happy by + an abundance of fresh beef, and by some two hundred captured mules, that + we thus added to our trains at a time when draft animals were much needed. + </p> + <p> + Rations for the men were now supplied in fair quantities, and the only + thing required to make us wholly contented was plenty of grain for our + animals. Because of the large number of troops then in West Tennessee and + about Corinth, the indifferent railroad leading down from Columbus, Ky., + was taxed to its utmost capacity to transport supplies. The quantity of + grain received at Corinth from the north was therefore limited, and before + reaching the different outposts, by passing through intermediate depots of + supply, it had dwindled to insignificance. I had hopes, however, that this + condition of things might be ameliorated before long by gathering a good + supply of corn that was ripening in the neighborhood, and would soon, I + thought, be sufficiently hard to feed to my animals. Not far from my + headquarters there was a particularly fine field, which, with this end in + view, I had carefully protected through the milky stage, to the evident + disappointment of both Asboth's men and mine. They bore the prohibition + well while it affected only themselves, but the trial was too great when + it came to denying their horses; and men whose discipline kept faith with + my guards during the roasting-ear period now fell from grace. Their horses + were growing thin, and few could withstand the mute appeals of their + suffering pets; so at night the corn, because of individual foraging, kept + stealthily and steadily vanishing, until the field was soon fringed with + only earless stalks. The disappearance was noticed, and the guard + increased, but still the quantity of corn continued to grow less, the more + honest troopers bemoaning the loss, and questioning the honor of those to + whose safekeeping it had been entrusted. Finally, doubtless under the + apprehension that through their irregularities the corn would all + disappear and find its way to the horses in accordance with the stealthy + enterprise of their owners, a general raid was made on the field in broad + daylight, and though the guard drove off the marauders, I must admit that + its efforts to keep them back were so unsuccessful that my hopes for an + equal distribution of the crop were quickly blasted. One look at the field + told that it had been swept clean of its grain. Of course a great row + occurred as to who was to blame, and many arrests and trials took place, + but there had been such an interchanging of cap numbers and other insignia + that it was next to impossible to identify the guilty, and so much + crimination and acrimony grew out of the affair that it was deemed best to + drop the whole matter. + </p> + <p> + On August 27 about half of the command was absent reconnoitring, I having + sent it south toward Tupelo, in the hope of obtaining some definite + information regarding a movement to Holly Springs of the remainder of the + Confederate army, under General Price, when about mid-day I was suddenly + aroused by excited cries and sounds of firing, and I saw in a moment that + the enemy was in my camp. He had come in on my right flank from the + direction of the Hatchie River, pell-mell with our picket-post stationed + about three miles out on the Ripley road. The whole force of the enemy + comprised about eight hundred, but only his advance entered with my + pickets, whom he had charged and badly stampeded, without, on their part, + the pretense of a fight in behalf of those whom it was their duty to + protect until proper dispositions for defense could be made. The day was + excessively hot, one of those sultry debilitating days that had caused the + suspending of all military exercises; and as most of the men were lounging + or sleeping in their tents, we were literally caught napping. The alarm + spread instantly through the camp, and in a moment the command turned out + for action, somewhat in deshabille it is true, but none the less + effective, for every man had grabbed his rifle and cartridge-box at the + first alarm. Aided by a few shots from Captain Henry Hescock's battery, we + soon drove the intruders from our camp in about the same disorder in which + they had broken in on us. By this time Colonel Hatch and Colonel Albert L. + Lee had mounted two battalions each, and I moved them out at a lively pace + in pursuit, followed by a section of the battery. No halt was called till + we came upon the enemy's main body, under Colonel Faulkner, drawn up in + line of battle near Newland's store. Opening on him with the two pieces of + artillery, I hurriedly formed line confronting him, and quickly and with + but little resistance drove him in confusion from the field. The sudden + turning of the tables dismayed Faulkner's men, and panic seizing them, + they threw away every loose article of arms or clothing of which they + could dismember themselves, and ran in the wildest disorder in a mad + effort to escape. As the chase went on the panic increased, the clouds of + dust from the road causing an intermingling of friend and foe. In a little + while the affair grew most ludicrous, Faulkner's hatless and coatless men + taking to the woods in such dispersed order and so demoralized that a good + many prisoners were secured, and those of the enemy who escaped were + hunted until dark. When the recall was sounded, our men came in loaded + down with plunder in the shape of hats, haversacks, blankets, pistols, and + shotguns, in a quantity which amply repaid for the surprise of the + morning, but did not excuse the delinquent commander of our picket-guard, + who a few days later was brought to a realizing sense of his duty by a + court-martial. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after this affair Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of the Second + Michigan Cavalry, presented me with the black horse called Rienzi, since + made historical from having been ridden by me in many battles, + conspicuously in the ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek, which has been + celebrated in the poem by T. Buchanan Read. This horse was of Morgan + stock, and then about three years old. He was jet black, excepting three + white feet, sixteen hands high, and strongly built, with great powers of + endurance. He was so active that he could cover with ease five miles an + hour at his natural walking gait. The gelding had been ridden very seldom; + in fact, Campbell had been unaccustomed to riding till the war broke out, + and, I think, felt some disinclination to mount the fiery colt. Campbell + had an affection for him, however, that never waned, and would often come + to my headquarters to see his favorite, the colt being cared for there by + the regimental farrier, an old man named John Ashley, who had taken him in + charge when leaving Michigan, and had been his groom ever since. Seeing + that I liked the horse—I had ridden him on several occasions—Campbell + presented him to me on one of these visits, and from that time till the + close of the war I rode him almost continuously, in every campaign and + battle in which I took part, without once finding him overcome by fatigue, + though on many occasions his strength was severely tested by long marches + and short rations. I never observed in him any vicious habit; a + nervousness and restlessness and switch of the tail, when everything about + him was in repose, being the only indication that he might be + untrustworthy. No one but a novice could be deceived by this, however, for + the intelligence evinced in every feature, and his thoroughbred + appearance, were so striking that any person accustomed to horses could + not misunderstand such a noble animal. But Campbell thought otherwise, at + least when the horse was to a certain degree yet untrained, and could not + be pursuaded to ride him; indeed, for more than a year after he was given + to me, Campbell still retained suspicions of his viciousness, though, + along with this mistrust, an undiminished affection. Although he was + several times wounded, this horse escaped death in action; and living to a + ripe old age, died in 1878, attended to the last with all the care and + surrounded with every comfort due the faithful service he had rendered. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkrienzi" id="linkrienzi"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p179-Rienzi.jpg (110K)" src="images/p179-Rienzi.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + In moving from Corinth east toward Chattanooga, General Buell's army was + much delayed by the requirement that he should repair the Memphis and + Charleston railroad as he progressed. The work of repair obliged him to + march very slowly, and was of but little use when done, for guerrillas and + other bands of Confederates destroyed the road again as soon as he had + passed on. But worst of all, the time thus consumed gave General Bragg the + opportunity to reorganize and increase his army to such an extent that he + was able to contest the possession of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. + Consequently, the movement of this army through Tennessee and Kentucky + toward the Ohio River—its objective points being Louisville and + Cincinnati—was now well defined, and had already rendered abortive + General Buell's designs on Chattanooga and East Tennessee. Therefore + extraordinary efforts on the part of the Government became necessary, and + the concentration of National troops at Louisville and Cincinnati to meet + the contingency of Bragg's reaching those points was an obvious + requirement. These troops were drawn from all sections in the West where + it was thought they could be spared, and among others I was ordered to + conduct thither—to Louisville or Cincinnati, as subsequent + developments might demand—my regiment, Hescock's battery, the Second + and Fifteenth Missouri, and the Thirty-sixth and Forty-fourth Illinois + regiments of infantry, known as the "Pea Ridge Brigade." With this column + I marched back to Corinth on the 6th of September, 1862, for the purpose + of getting railroad transportation to Columbus, Kentucky. + </p> + <p> + At Corinth I met General Grant, who by this time had been reestablished in + favor and command somewhat, General Halleck having departed for Washington + to assume command of the army as General-in-Chief. Before and during the + activity which followed his reinstatement, General Grant had become + familiar with my services through the transmission to Washington of + information I had furnished concerning the enemy's movements, and by + reading reports of my fights and skirmishes in front, and he was loth to + let me go. Indeed, he expressed surprise at seeing me in Corinth, and said + he had not expected me to go; he also plainly showed that he was much hurt + at the inconsiderate way in which his command was being depleted. Since I + was of the opinion that the chief field of usefulness and opportunity was + opening up in Kentucky, I did not wish him to retain me, which he might + have done, and I impressed him with my conviction, somewhat emphatically, + I fear. Our conversation ended with my wish gratified. I afterward learned + that General Granger, whom General Grant did not fancy, had suggested that + I should take to Cincinnati the main portion of Granger's command—the + Pea Ridge Brigade—as well as the Second Michigan Cavalry, of which I + was still colonel. We started that night, going by rail over the Mobile + and Ohio road to Columbus, Ky., where we embarked on steamboats awaiting + us. These boats were five in number, and making one of them my flag-ship, + expecting that we might come upon certain batteries reported to be located + upon the Kentucky shore of the Ohio, I directed the rest to follow my + lead. Just before reaching Caseyville, the captain of a tin-clad gunboat + that was patrolling the river brought me the information that the enemy + was in strong force at Caseyville, and expressed a fear that my fleet + could not pass his batteries. Accepting the information as correct, I + concluded to capture the place before trying to pass up the river. Pushing + in to the bank as we neared the town, I got the troops ashore and moved on + Caseyville, in the expectation of a bloody fight, but was agreeably + surprised upon reaching the outskirts of the village by an outpouring of + its inhabitants—men, women, and children—carrying the Stars + and Stripes, and making the most loyal professions. Similar demonstrations + of loyalty had been made to the panic-stricken captain of the gunboat when + he passed down the river, but he did not stay to ascertain their + character, neither by landing nor by inquiry, for he assumed that on the + Kentucky bank of the river there could be no loyalty. The result mortified + the captain intensely; and deeming his convoy of little further use, he + steamed toward Cairo in quest of other imaginary batteries, while I + re-embarked at Caseyville, and continued up the Ohio undisturbed. About + three miles below Cincinnati I received instructions to halt, and next day + I was ordered by Major-General H. G. Wright to take my troops back to + Louisville, and there assume command of the Pea Ridge Brigade, composed of + the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, Thirty-sixth and Forty-fourth Illinois + infantry, and of such other regiments as might be sent me in advance of + the arrival of General Buell's army. When I reached Louisville I reported + to Major-General William Nelson, who was sick, and who received me as he + lay in bed. He asked me why I did not wear the shoulder-straps of my rank. + I answered that I was the colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry, and had + on my appropriate shoulder-straps. He replied that I was a + brigadier-general for the Booneville fight, July 1, and that I should wear + the shoulder-straps of that grade. I returned to my command and put it in + camp; and as I had no reluctance to wearing the shoulder-straps of a + brigadier-general, I was not long in procuring a pair, particularly as I + was fortified next day by receiving from Washington official information + of my appointment as a brigadier-general, to date from July 1, 1862, the + day of the battle of Booneville + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch11" id="linkch11"></a>CHAPTER XI. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + GOOD ADVICE FROM GENERAL NELSON—HIS TRAGIC DEATH—PUTTING + LOUISVILLE IN A STATE OF DEFENSE—ASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF THE + ELEVENTH DIVISION—CAPTURE OF CHAPLIN HEIGHTS—BATTLE OF + PERRYVILLE—REPORTED AMONG THE KILLED—A THRILLING INCIDENT—GENERAL + BUELL RELIEVED BY GENERAL ROSECRANS. + </p> + <p> + I reported to Major-General Nelson at the Galt House in Louisville, + September 14, 1862, who greeted me in the bluff and hearty fashion of a + sailor—for he had been in the navy till the breaking out of the war. + The new responsibilities that were now to fall upon me by virtue of + increased rank caused in my mind an uneasiness which, I think, Nelson + observed at the interview, and he allayed it by giving me much good + advice, and most valuable information in regard to affairs in Kentucky, + telling me also that he intended I should retain in my command the Pea + Ridge Brigade and Hescock's battery. This latter assurance relieved me + greatly, for I feared the loss of these troops in the general + redistribution which I knew must soon take place; and being familiar with + their valuable service in Missouri, and having brought them up from + Mississippi, I hoped they would continue with me. He directed me to take + position just below the city with the Pea Ridge Brigade, Hescock's + battery, and the Second Michigan Cavalry, informing me, at the same time, + that some of the new regiments, then arriving under a recent call of the + President for volunteers, would also be assigned to my command. Shortly + after the interview eight new regiments and an additional battery joined + me, thus making good his promise of more troops. + </p> + <p> + A few days later came Nelson's tragic end, shocking the whole country. + Those of us in camp outside of the city were startled on the morning of + September 29 by the news that General Jefferson C. Davis, of the Union + Army, had shot General Nelson at the Galt House, and the wildest rumors in + regard to the occurrence came thick and fast; one to the effect that + Nelson was dead, another having it that he was living and had killed + Davis, and still others reflecting on the loyalty of both, it being + supposed by the general public at first that the difficulty between the + two men had grown out of some political rather than official or personal + differences. When the news came, I rode into the city to the Galt House to + learn the particulars, reaching there about 10 o'clock in the forenoon. + Here I learned that Nelson had been shot by Davis about two hours before, + at the foot of the main stairway leading from the corridor just beyond the + office to the second floor, and that Nelson was already dead. It was + almost as difficult to get reliable particulars of the matter at the hotel + as it had been in my camp, but I gathered that the two men had met first + at an early hour near the counter of the hotel office, and that an + altercation which had begun several days before in relation to something + official was renewed by Davis, who, attempting to speak to Nelson in + regard to the subject-matter of their previous dispute, was met by an + insulting refusal to listen. It now appears that when Nelson made this + offensive remark, Davis threw a small paper ball that he was nervously + rolling between his fingers into Nelson's face, and that this insult was + returned by Nelson slapping Davis (Killed by a Brother Soldier.—Gen. + J. B. Fry.) in the face. But at the time, exactly what had taken place + just before the shooting was shrouded in mystery by a hundred conflicting + stories, the principal and most credited of which was that Davis had + demanded from Nelson an apology for language used in the original + altercation, and that Nelson's refusal was accompanied by a slap in the + face, at the same moment denouncing Davis as a coward. However this may + be, Nelson, after slapping Davis, moved toward the corridor, from which a + stairway led to the second floor, and just as he was about to ascend, + Davis fired with a pistol that he had obtained from some one near by after + the blow had been struck. The ball entered Nelson's breast just above the + heart, but his great strength enabled him to ascend the stairway + notwithstanding the mortal character of the wound, and he did not fall + till he reached the corridor on the second floor. He died about half an + hour later. The tragedy cast a deep gloom over all who knew the men, for + they both had many warm personal friends; and affairs at Louisville had + hardly recovered as yet from the confused and discouraging condition which + preceded the arrival of General Buell's army. General Buell reported the + killing of Nelson to the authorities at Washington, and recommended the + trial of Davis by court-martial, but no proceedings were ever instituted + against him in either a civil or military court, so to this day it has not + been determined judicially who was the aggressor. Some months later Davis + was assigned to the command of a division in Buell's army after that + officer had been relieved from its command. + </p> + <p> + Two Confederate armies, under General Kirby Smith and General Braxton + Bragg, had penetrated into Kentucky, the one under Smith by the way of + Cumberland Gap, the other and main army under Bragg by way of the + Sequatche Valley, Glasgow, and Mumfordsville. Glasgow was captured by the + enemy on the 17th of September, and as the expectation was that Buell + would reach the place in time to save the town, its loss created + considerable alarm in the North, for fears were now entertained that Bragg + would strike Louisville and capture the city before Buell could arrive on + the ground. It became necessary therefore to put Louisville in a state of + defense, and after the cordon of principal works had been indicated, my + troops threw up in one night a heavy line of rifle-pits south of the city, + from the Bardstown pike to the river. The apprehended attack by Bragg + never came, however, for in the race that was then going on between him + and Buell on parallel roads, the Army of the Ohio outmarched the + Confederates, its advance arriving at Louisville September 25. + </p> + <p> + General Buell immediately set about reorganizing the whole force, and on + September 29 issued an order designating the troops under my command as + the Eleventh Division, Army of the Ohio, and assigning Brigadier-General + J. T. Boyle to command the division, and me to command one of its + brigades. To this I could not object, of course, for I was a + brigadier-general of very recent date, and could hardly expect more than a + brigade. I had learned, however, that at least one officer to whom a high + command had been given—a corps—had not yet been appointed a + general officer by the President, and I considered it somewhat unfair that + I should be relegated to a brigade, while men who held no commissions at + all were being made chiefs of corps and divisions; so I sought an + interview with General Buell's chief-of-staff, Colonel Fry, and, while not + questioning Buell's good intentions nor his pure motives, insisted that my + rights in the matter should be recognized. That same evening I was + assigned to the command of the Eleventh Division, and began preparing it + at once for a forward movement, which I knew must soon take place in the + resumption of offensive operations by the Army of the Ohio. + </p> + <p> + During the interval from September 25 till October 1 there was among the + officers much criticism of General Buell's management of the recent + campaign, which had resulted in his retirement to Louisville; and he was + particularly censured by many for not offering battle to General Bragg + while the two armies were marching parallel to each other, and so near + that an engagement could have been brought on at any one of several points—notably + so at Glasgow, Kentucky, if there had been a desire to join issue. It was + asserted, and by many conceded, that General Buell had a sufficient force + to risk a fight. He was much blamed for the loss of Mumfordsville also. + The capture of this point, with its garrison, gave Bragg an advantage in + the race toward the Ohio River, which odds would most likely have ensured + the fall of Louisville had they been used with the same energy and skill + that the Confederate commander displayed from Chattanooga to Glasgow; but + something always diverted General Bragg at the supreme moment, and he + failed to utilize the chances falling to him at this time, for, deflecting + his march to the north toward Bardstown, he left open to Buell the direct + road to Louisville by way of Elizabethtown. + </p> + <p> + At Bardstown Bragg's army was halted while he endeavored to establish a + Confederate government in Kentucky by arranging for the installation of a + provisional governor at Lexington. Bragg had been assured that the + presence of a Confederate army in Kentucky would so encourage the + secession element that the whole State could be forced into the rebellion + and his army thereby largely increased; but he had been considerably + misled, for he now found that though much latent sympathy existed for his + cause, yet as far as giving active aid was concerned, the enthusiasm + exhibited by the secessionists of Kentucky in the first year of the war + was now replaced by apathy, or at best by lukewarmness. So the time thus + spent in political machinations was wholly lost to Bragg; and so little + reinforcement was added to his army that it may be said that the recruits + gained were not enough to supply the deficiencies resulting from the + recent toilsome marches of the campaign. + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile Buell had arrived at Louisville, system had been + substituted for the chaos which had previously obtained there, and orders + were issued for an advance upon the enemy with the purpose of attacking + and the hope of destroying him within the limits of the "blue grass" + region, and, failing in that, to drive him from Kentucky. The army moved + October 1, 1862, and my division, now a part of the Third Corps, commanded + by General C. C. Gilbert, marched directly on Bardstown, where it was + thought the enemy would make a stand, but Bragg's troops retreated toward + Perryville, only resisting sufficiently to enable the forces of General + Kirby Smith to be drawn in closer—they having begun a concentration + at Frankfort—so they could be used in a combined attack on + Louisville as soon as the Confederate commander's political projects were + perfected. + </p> + <p> + Much time was consumed by Buell's army in its march on Perryville, but we + finally neared it on the evening of October 7. During the day, + Brigadier-General Robert B. Mitchell's division of Gilbert's corps was in + the advance on the Springfield pike, but as the enemy developed that he + was in strong force on the opposite side of a small stream called Doctor's + Creek, a tributary of Chaplin River, my division was brought up and passed + to the front. It was very difficult to obtain water in this section of + Kentucky, as a drought had prevailed for many weeks, and the troops were + suffering so for water that it became absolutely necessary that we should + gain possession of Doctor's Creek in order to relieve their distress. + Consequently General Gilbert, during the night, directed me to push beyond + Doctor's Creek early the next morning. At daylight on the 8th I moved out + Colonel Dan McCook's brigade and Barnett's battery for the purpose, but + after we had crossed the creek with some slight skirmishing, I found that + we could not hold the ground unless we carried and occupied a range of + hills, called Chaplin Heights, in front of Chaplin River. As this would + project my command in the direction of Perryville considerably beyond the + troops that were on either flank, I brought up Laiboldt's brigade and + Hescock's battery to strengthen Colonel McCook. Putting both brigades into + line we quickly carried the Heights, much to the surprise of the enemy, I + think, for he did not hold on to the valuable ground as strongly as he + should have done. This success not only ensured us a good supply of water, + but also, later in the day, had an important bearing in the battle of + Perryville. After taking the Heights, I brought up the rest of my division + and intrenched, without much difficulty, by throwing up a strong line of + rifle-pits, although the enemy's sharpshooters annoyed us enough to make + me order Laiboldt's brigade to drive them in on the main body. This was + successfully done in a few minutes, but in pushing them back to Chaplin + River, we discovered the Confederates forming a line of battle on the + opposite bank, with the apparent purpose of an attack in force, so I + withdrew the brigade to our intrenchments on the crest and there awaited + the assault. + </p> + <p> + While this skirmishing was going on, General Gilbert—the corps + commander—whose headquarters were located on a hill about a mile + distant to the rear, kept sending me messages by signal not to bring on an + engagement. I replied to each message that I was not bringing on an + engagement, but that the enemy evidently intended to do so, and that I + believed I should shortly be attacked. Soon after returning to the crest + and getting snugly fixed in the rifle-pits, my attention was called to our + left, the high ground we occupied affording me in that direction an + unobstructed view. I then saw General A. McD. McCook's corps—the + First-advancing toward Chaplin River by the Mackville road, apparently + unconscious that the Confederates were present in force behind the stream. + I tried by the use of signal flags to get information of the situation to + these troops, but my efforts failed, and the leading regiments seemed to + approach the river indifferently prepared to meet the sudden attack that + speedily followed, delivered as it was from the chosen position of the + enemy. The fury of the Confederate assault soon halted this advance force, + and in a short time threw it into confusion, pushed it back a considerable + distance, and ultimately inflicted upon it such loss of men and guns as to + seriously cripple McCook's corps, and prevent for the whole day further + offensive movement on his part, though he stoutly resisted the enemy's + assaults until 4 o'clock in the afternoon. + </p> + <p> + Seeing McCook so fiercely attacked, in order to aid him I advanced + Hescock's battery, supported by six regiments, to a very good position in + front of a belt of timber on my extreme left, where an enfilading fire + could be opened on that portion of the enemy attacking the right of the + First Corps, and also on his batteries across Chaplin River. But at this + juncture he placed two batteries on my right and began to mass troops + behind them, and General Gilbert, fearing that my intrenched position on + the heights might be carried, directed me to withdraw Hescock and his + supports and return them to the pits. My recall was opportune, for I had + no sooner got back to my original line than the Confederates attacked me + furiously, advancing almost to my intrenchments, notwithstanding that a + large part of the ground over which they had to move was swept by a heavy + fire of canister from both my batteries. Before they had quite reached us, + however, our telling fire made them recoil, and as they fell back, I + directed an advance of my whole division, bringing up my reserve regiments + to occupy the crest of the hills; Colonel William P. Carlin's brigade of + Mitchell's division meanwhile moving forward on my right to cover that + flank. This advance pressed the enemy to Perryville, but he retired in + such good order that we gained nothing but some favorable ground that + enabled me to establish my batteries in positions where they could again + turn their attention to the Confederates in front of McCook, whose + critical condition was shortly after relieved, however, by a united + pressure of Gilbert's corps against the flank of McCook's assailants, + compelling them to retire behind Chaplin River. + </p> + <p> + The battle virtually ended about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, though more + or less desultory firing continued until dark. Considering the severity of + the engagement on McCook's front, and the reverses that had befallen him, + I question if, from that part of the line, much could have been done + toward retrieving the blunders of the day, but it did seem to me that, had + the commander of the army been able to be present on the field, he could + have taken advantage of Bragg's final repulse, and there would have + remained in our hands more than the barren field. But no attempt was made + to do anything more till next morning, and then we secured little except + the enemy's killed and most severely wounded. + </p> + <p> + The operations of my division during the engagement pleased. General + Gilbert very much, and he informed me that he would relax a rigidly + enforced order which General Buell had issued some days before, + sufficiently to permit my trains to come to the front and supply my almost + starving troops with rations. The order in question was one of those + issued, doubtless with a good intent, to secure generally the safety of + our trains, but General Gilbert was not elastic, and on the march he had + construed the order so illiberally that it was next to impossible to + supply the men with food, and they were particularly short in this respect + on the eve of the battle. I had then endeavored to persuade him to modify + his iron-clad interpretation of the order, but without effect, and the + only wagons we could bring up from the general parks in rear were + ambulances and those containing ammunition. So to gain access to our + trains was a great boon, and at that moment a more welcome result than + would have been a complete victory minus this concession. + </p> + <p> + When the battle ceased General Gilbert asked me to join him at Buell's + headquarters, which were a considerable distance to the rear, so after + making some dispositions for the evening I proceeded there as requested. I + arrived just as Buell was about to sit down to his supper, and noticing + that he was lame, then learned that he had been severely injured by a + recent fall from his horse. He kindly invited me to join him at the table, + an invitation which I accepted with alacrity, enjoying the meal with a + relish known only to a very-hungry man, for I had eaten nothing since + morning. Of course the events of the day were the chief topic of + discussion—as they were during my stay at headquarters—but the + conversation indicated that what had occurred was not fully realized, and + I returned to my troops impressed with the belief that General Buell and + his staff-officers were unconscious of the magnitude of the battle that + had just been fought. + </p> + <p> + It had been expected by Buell that he would fight the enemy on the 9th of + October, but the Confederates disposed of that proposition by attacking us + on the 8th, thus disarranging a tactical conception which, with our + superior numbers, would doubtless have proved successful had it not been + anticipated by an enterprising foe. During the battle on the 8th the + Second Corps, under General Thomas L. Crittenden, accompanied by General + George H. Thomas, lay idle the whole day for want of orders, although it + was near enough to the field to take an active part in the fight; and, + moreover, a large part of Gilbert's corps was unengaged during the + pressure on McCook. Had these troops been put in on the enemy's left at + any time after he assaulted McCook, success would have been beyond + question; but there was no one on the ground authorized to take advantage + of the situation, and the battle of Perryville remains in history an + example of lost opportunities. This was due in some measure probably to + General Buell's accident, but is mainly attributable to the fact that he + did not clearly apprehend Bragg's aim, which was to gain time to withdraw + behind Dick's River all the troops he had in Kentucky, for the Confederate + general had no idea of risking the fate of his army on one general battle + at a place or on a day to be chosen by the Union commander. + </p> + <p> + Considering the number of troops actually engaged, the losses to Buell + were severe, amounting to something over five thousand in killed, wounded, + and missing. Among the killed were two brigade commanders of much promise—General + James S. Jackson and General William R. Terrill. McCook's corps lost + twelve guns, some of which were recovered next day. The enemy's loss in + killed and wounded we never learned, but it must have equalled ours; and + about four thousand prisoners, consisting principally of sick and wounded, + fell into our hands. In the first report of the battle sent North to the + newspapers I was reported among the killed; but I was pleased to notice, + when the papers reached us a few days later, that the error had been + corrected before my obituary could be written. + </p> + <p> + The enemy retired from our front the night of the 8th, falling back on + Harrodsburg to form a junction with Kirby Smith, and by taking this line + of retreat opened to us the road to Danville and the chance for a direct + march against his depot of supplies at Bryantsville. We did not take + advantage of this opening, however, and late in the day—on the 9th—my + division marched in pursuit, in the direction of Harrodsburg, which was + the apex of a triangle having for its base a line from Perryville to + Danville. The pursuit was slow, very slow, consuming the evening of the + 9th and all of the 10th and 11th. By cutting across the triangle spoken of + above, just south of the apex, I struck the Harrodsburg-Danville road, + near Cave Springs, joining there Gilbert's left division, which had + preceded me and marched through Harrodsburg. Here we again rested until + the intention of the enemy could be divined, and we could learn on which + side of Dick's River he would give us battle. A reconnoissance sent toward + the Dickville crossing developed to a certainty that we should not have + another engagement, however; for it disclosed the fact that Bragg's army + had disappeared toward Camp Dick Robinson, leaving only a small rear-guard + at Danville, which in turn quickly fled in the direction of Lancaster, + after exchanging a few shots with Hescock's battery. + </p> + <p> + While this parting salute of deadly projectiles was going on, a little, + daughter of Colonel William J. Landram, whose home was in Danville, came + running out from his house and planted a small national flag on one of + Hescock's guns. The patriotic act was so brave and touching that it + thrilled all who witnessed the scene; and until the close of the war, when + peace separated the surviving officers and men of the battery, that little + flag was protected and cherished as a memento of the Perryville campaign. + </p> + <p> + Pursuit of the enemy was not continued in force beyond Crab Orchard, but + some portions of the army kept at Bragg's heels until he crossed the + Cumberland River, a part of his troops retiring to Tennessee by way of + Cumberland Gap, but the major portion through Somerset. As the retreat of + Bragg transferred the theatre of operations back to Tennessee, orders were + now issued for a concentration of Buell's army at Bowling Green, with a + view to marching it to Nashville, and my division moved to that point + without noteworthy incident. I reached Bowling Green with a force much + reduced by the losses sustained in the battle of Perryville and by + sickness. I had started from Louisville on October 1 with twelve regiments + of infantry—four old and eight new ones—and two batteries, but + many poor fellows, overcome by fatigue, and diseases induced by the heat, + dust, and drought of the season, had to be left at roadside hospitals. + This was particularly the case with the new regiments, the men of which, + much depressed by homesickness, and not yet inured to campaigning, fell + easy victims to the hardships of war. + </p> + <p> + At Bowling Green General Buell was relieved, General W. S. Rosecrans + succeeding him. The army as a whole did not manifest much regret at the + change of commanders, for the campaign from Louisville on was looked upon + generally as a lamentable failure, yet there were many who still had the + utmost confidence in General Buell, and they repelled with some asperity + the reflections cast upon him by his critics. These admirers held him + blameless throughout for the blunders of the campaign, but the greater + number laid every error at his door, and even went to the absurdity of + challenging his loyalty in a mild way, but they particularly charged + incompetency at Perryville, where McCook's corps was so badly crippled + while nearly 30,000 Union troops were idle on the field, or within + striking distance. With these it was no use to argue that Buell's accident + stood in the way of his activity, nor that he did not know that the action + had assumed the proportions of a battle. The physical disability was + denied or contested, but even granting this, his detractors claimed that + it did not excuse his ignorance of the true condition of the fight, and + finally worsted his champions by pointing out that Bragg's retreat by way + of Harrodsburg beyond Dick's River so jeopardized the Confederate army, + that had a skillful and energetic advance of the Union troops been made, + instead of wasting precious time in slow and unnecessary tactical + manoeuvres, the enemy could have been destroyed before he could quit the + State of Kentucky. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp200" id="linkp200"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p200.jpg (120K)" src="images/p200.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/p200.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch12" id="linkch12"></a>CHAPTER XII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + MOVING TO BOWLING GREEN—JAMES CARD, THE SCOUT AND GUIDE—GENERAL + SILL—COLONEL SCHAEFER—COLONEL G. W. ROBERTS—MOVEMENT ON + MURFREESBORO'—OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF STONE RIVER. + </p> + <p> + My division had moved from Crab Orchard to Bowling Green by easy marches, + reaching this place November 1. General Rosecrans assumed command of the + department October 30, at Louisville, and joined the army November 2. + There had been much pressure brought to bear on General Buell to induce + him to take measures looking to the occupancy of East Tennessee, and the + clamor to this end from Washington still continued; but now that Bragg was + south of the Cumberland River, in a position threatening Nashville, which + was garrisoned by but a small force, it was apparent to every one at all + conversant with the situation that a battle would have to be fought + somewhere in Middle Tennessee. So, notwithstanding the pressure from + Washington, the army was soon put in motion for Nashville, and when we + arrived there my division went into camp north of the river, on a plateau + just outside the little town of Edgefield, until the movements of the + enemy should be further developed. + </p> + <p> + While in this camp, on the plantation of Mr. Hobson, there came to my + headquarters one morning an East Tennessean named James Card, who offered + to the Union cause his services in any capacity in which they might be + made useful. This offer, and the relation of his personal history, were + given with such sincerity of speech and manner that in a short time I + became convinced of his honesty of purpose. He was a small, active, busy + man, with a determined way about him, and his countenance indicated great + intelligence. He gave minute information that was of inestimable value to + me regarding East and Middle Tennessee and northern Georgia, for, with a + view to the army's future movements, I was then making a study of the + topography of this region, and posting myself as to Middle Tennessee, for + all knew this would be the scene of active operations whenever the + campaign was resumed. This man, like most of the East Tennesseans whom I + had met, was intensely loyal and patriotic, and the interview led in a few + days to his employment as a scout and guide, and subsequently to the + engaging in the same capacity of two of his brothers, who were good men; + but not quite as active nor so intelligent as he was. Card had been a + colporter, having pedled books, especially religious tracts, over all + Middle and East Tennessee and Georgia, assisted by his brothers at times, + and was therefore thoroughly familiar with these regions, their roads and + inhabitants. He also preached to country congregations occasionally, when + ministers were scarce, and I have no doubt often performed the functions + of family physician in the mountain district. Thus his opportunities were + great; and the loyal people in every section of the country being well + known to him and his brothers, the three began, at this time, a system of + scouting and investigation which bore its first-fruits in specifically + locating the different divisions of Bragg's army, with statements of their + strength and condition, and all with so much accuracy that I thereafter + felt reasonably sure that I could at all times procure such knowledge of + the enemy's operations as would well equip me for any contingency that + might arise. + </p> + <p> + By the middle of November the enemy, having assembled his forces in Middle + Tennessee, showed considerable boldness, and it became necessary to + rearrange the Union lines; so my troops were moved to the south side of + the river, out on the Murfreesboro' pike, to Mill Creek, distant from + Nashville about seven miles. While we were in camp on Mill Creek the army + was reorganized, and General Joshua W. Sill, at his own request, was + assigned to my division, and took command of Colonel Nicholas Greusel's + brigade. My division became at the same time the Third Division, Right + Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps, its three brigades of four regiments each + being respectively commanded by General Sill, Colonel Frederick Schaefer + and Colonel Dan McCook; but a few days later Colonel George W. Roberts's + brigade, from the garrison at Nashville, was substituted for McCook's. + </p> + <p> + General Sill was a classmate of mine at the Military Academy, having + graduated in 1853. On graduating he was appointed to the Ordnance Corps, + and served in that department at various arsenals and ordnance depots + throughout the country till early in 1861, when he resigned to accept a + professorship of mathematics and civil engineering at the Brooklyn + Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. At the breaking out of the war he + immediately tendered his services to the Government, and soon rose to the + colonelcy of the Thirty-Third Ohio Volunteers, and afterward to the rank + of brigadier-general. I knew him well, and was glad that he came to my + division, though I was very loth to relieve Colonel Greusel, of the + Thirty-Sixth Illinois, who had already indicated much military skill and + bravery, and at the battle of Perryville had handled his men with the + experience of a veteran. Sill's modesty and courage were exceeded only by + a capacity that had already been demonstrated in many practical ways, and + his untimely death, almost within a month of his joining me, abruptly + closed a career which, had it been prolonged a little more, not only would + have shed additional lustre on his name, but would have been of marked + benefit to his country. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Schaefer, of the Second Missouri Infantry, had been absent on + sick-leave during the Kentucky campaign, but about this date he returned + to duty, and by seniority fell in command of the second brigade. He was of + German birth, having come from Baden, where, prior to 1848, he had been a + non-commissioned officer in the service of his State. He took part as an + insurgent in the so-called revolution which occurred at Baden in that + year, and, compelled to emigrate on the suppression of the insurrection, + made his way to this country and settled in St. Louis. Here the breaking + out of the war found him, and through the personal interest which General + Sigel took in him he was commissioned a colonel of volunteers. He had had + a pretty fair education, a taste for the military profession, and was of + tall and slender build, all of which gave him a student-like appearance. + He was extremely excitable and nervous when anticipating a crisis, but + always calmed down to cool deliberation when the critical moment came. + With such a man I could not be less than well satisfied, although the + officer whom he replaced—Colonel Laiboldt—had performed + efficient service and shown much capacity in the recent campaign. + </p> + <p> + Colonel G. W. Roberts, of the Forty-Second Illinois Infantry, also came to + me in the reorganization. He was an ideal soldier both in mind and body. + He was young, tall, handsome, brave, and dashing, and possessed a + balance-wheel of such good judgment that in his sphere of action no + occasion could arise from which he would not reap the best results. But he + too was destined to lay, down his life within a few days, and on the same + fatal field. His brigade had been performing garrison duty in Nashville + during the siege of that city while Buell's army was in Kentucky, but + disliking the prospect of inactivity pending the operations opening before + us, Roberts had requested and obtained a transfer to the army in the + field. His brigade relieved Colonel Dan McCook's, the latter reluctantly + joining the garrison at Nashville, every one in it disappointed and + disgusted that the circumstances existing at this time should necessitate + their relegation to the harassing and tantalizing duty of protecting our + depots and line of supply. + </p> + <p> + I was fortunate in having such brigade commanders, and no less favored in + the regimental and battery commanders. They all were not only patriots, + but soldiers, and knowing that discipline must be one of the most potent + factors in bringing to a successful termination, the mighty contest in + which our nation was struggling for existence, they studied and practiced + its methods ceaselessly, inspiring with the same spirit that pervaded + themselves the loyal hearts of their subordinate officers and men. All + worked unremittingly in the camp at Mill Creek in preparing for the storm, + which now plainly indicated its speedy coming. Drills, parades, scouts, + foraging expeditions, picket and guard duty, made up the course in this + school of instruction, supplemented by frequent changes in the locations + of the different brigades, so that the division could have opportunity to + learn to break camp quickly and to move out promptly on the march. + Foraging expeditions were particularly beneficial in this respect, and + when sent out, though absent sometimes for days, the men went without + tents or knapsacks, equipped with only one blanket and their arms, + ammunition, and rations, to teach them to shift for themselves with + slender means in the event of necessity. The number of regimental and + headquarters wagons was cut down to the lowest possible figure, and + everything made compact by turning into the supply and ammunition trains + of the division all surplus transportation, and restricting the personal + baggage of officers to the fewest effects possible. + </p> + <p> + My own staff also was somewhat reorganized and increased at Mill Creek, + and though it had been perfectly satisfactory before, yet, on account of + the changes of troops that had occurred in the command, I found it + necessary to replace valuable officers in some instances, and secure + additional ones in others. The gathering of information about the enemy + was also industriously pursued, and Card and his brothers were used + constantly on expeditions within the Confederate lines, frequently + visiting Murfreesboro', Sparta, Tullahoma, Shelbyville, and other points. + What they learned was reported to army headquarters, often orally through + me or personally communicated by Card himself, but much was forwarded in + official letters, beginning with November 24, when I transmitted accurate + information of the concentration of Bragg's main force at Tullahoma. + Indeed, Card kept me so well posted as to every movement of the enemy, not + only with reference to the troops in my immediate front, but also + throughout his whole army, that General Rosecrans placed the most + unreserved reliance on all his statements, and many times used them to + check and correct the reports brought in by his own scouts. + </p> + <p> + Slight skirmishes took place frequently during this period, and now and + then heavy demonstrations were made in the neighborhood of Nolensville by + reconnoitring parties from both armies, but none of these ever grew into a + battle. These affairs sprung from the desire of each side to feel his + antagonist, and had little result beyond emphasizing the fact that behind + each line of pickets lay a massed and powerful army busily preparing for + the inevitable conflict and eager for its opening. So it wore on till the + evening of December 25, 1862; then came the order to move forward. + </p> + <p> + General Rosecrans, in the reorganization of the army, had assigned + Major-General A. McD. McCook to command the right wing, Major-General + George H. Thomas the centre, and Major-General T. L. Crittenden the left + wing. McCook's wing was made up of three divisions, commanded in order of + rank by Brigadier-General Jeff. C. Davis; Brigadier-General R. W. Johnson, + and Brigadier-General P. H. Sheridan. Although the corps nomenclature + established by General Buell was dropped, the grand divisions into which + he had organized the army at Louisville were maintained, and, in fact, the + conditions established then remained practically unaltered, with the + exception of the interchange of some brigades, the transfer of a few + general officers from one wing or division to another, and the + substitution of General Thomas for Gilbert as a corps commander. The army + was thus compact and cohesive, undisturbed by discord and unembarrassed by + jealousies of any moment; and it may be said that under a commander who, + we believed, had the energy and skill necessary to direct us to success, a + national confidence in our invincibility made us all keen for a test of + strength with the Confederates. We had not long to wait. + </p> + <p> + Early on the morning of December 26, 1862, in a heavy rain, the army + marched, the movement being directed on Murfreesboro', where the enemy had + made some preparation to go into winter-quarters, and to hold which town + it was hoped he would accept battle. General Thomas moved by the Franklin + and Wilson pikes, General Crittenden by the Murfreesboro' pike, through + Lavergne, and General McCook by the Nolensville pike—Davis's + division in advance. As McCook's command neared Nolensville, I received a + message from Davis informing me that the Confederates were in considerable + force, posted on a range of hills in his front, and requesting me to + support him in an attack he was about to make. When the head of my column + arrived at Nolensville I began massing my troops on the right of the road, + and by the time this formation was nearly completed Davis advanced, but + not meeting with sufficient resistance to demand active assistance from + me, he with his own command carried the hills, capturing one piece of + artillery. This position of the Confederates was a strong one, defending + Knob's Gap, through which the Nolensville and Triune pike passed. On the + 27th Johnson's division, followed by mine, advanced to Triune, and engaged + in a severe skirmish near that place, but my troops were not called into + action, the stand made by the enemy being only for the purpose of gaining + time to draw in his outlying troops, which done, he retired toward + Murfreesboro'. I remained inactive at Triune during the 28th, but early on + the 29th moved out by the Bole Jack road to the support of, Davis in his + advance to Stewart's Creek, and encamped at Wilkinson's crossroads, from + which point to Murfreesboro', distant about six miles, there was a good + turnpike. The enemy had sullenly resisted the progress of Crittenden and + McCook throughout the preceding three days, and as it was thought probable + that he might offer battle at Stewart's Creek, Thomas, in pursuance of his + original instructions looking to just such a contingency, had now fallen + into the centre by way of the Nolensville crossroads. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the 30th I had the advance of McCook's corps on the + Wilkinson pike, Roberts's brigade leading. At first only slight + skirmishing took place, but when we came within about three miles of + Murfreesboro' the resistance of the enemy's pickets grew serious, and a + little further on so strong that I had to put in two regiments to push + them back. I succeeded in driving them about half a mile, when I was + directed by McCook to form line of battle and place my artillery in + position so that I could act in concert with Davis's division, which he + wished to post on my right in the general line he desired to take up. In + obedience to these directions I deployed on the right of, and oblique to + the Wilkinson pike, with a front of four regiments, a second line of four + regiments within short supporting distance, and a reserve of one brigade + in column of regiments to the rear of my centre. All this time the enemy + kept up a heavy artillery and musketry fire on my skirmishers, he + occupying, with his sharpshooters, beyond some open fields, a heavy belt + of timber to my front and right, where it was intended the left of Davis + should finally rest. To gain this point Davis was ordered to swing his + division into it in conjunction with a wheeling movement of my right + brigade, until our continuous line should face nearly due east. This would + give us possession of the timber referred to, and not only rid us of the + annoying fire from the skirmishers screened by it, but also place us close + in to what was now developing as Bragg's line of battle. The movement was + begun about half-past 2, and was successfully executed, after a stubborn + resistance. In this preliminary affair the enemy had put in one battery of + artillery, which was silenced in a little while, however, by Bush's and + Hescock's guns. By sundown I had taken up my prescribed position, facing + almost east, my left (Roberts's brigade) resting on the Wilkinson pike, + the right (Sill's brigade) in the timber we had just gained, and the + reserve brigade (Schaefer's) to the rear of my centre, on some rising + ground in the edge of a strip of woods behind Houghtaling's and Hescock's + batteries. Davis's division was placed in position on my right, his troops + thrown somewhat to the rear, so that his line formed nearly a right angle + with mine, while Johnson's division formed in a very exposed position on + the right of Davis, prolonging the general line just across the Franklin + pike. + </p> + <p> + The centre, under Thomas, had already formed to my left, the right of + Negley's division joining my left in a cedar thicket near the Wilkinson + pike, while Crittenden's corps was posted on the left of Thomas, his left + resting on Stone River, at a point about two miles and a half from + Murfreesboro'. + </p> + <p> + The precision that had characterized every manoeuvre of the past three + days, and the exactness with which each corps and division fell into its + allotted place on the evening of the 30th, indicated that at the outset of + the campaign a well-digested plan of operations had been prepared for us; + and although the scheme of the expected battle was not known to + subordinates of my grade, yet all the movements up to this time had been + so successfully and accurately made as to give much promise for the + morrow, and when night fell there was general anticipation of the best + results to the Union army. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch13" id="linkch13"></a>CHAPTER XIII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + ASSAULT ON OUR RIGHT FLANK—OCCUPYING A NEW POSITION—THE ENEMY + CHECKED—TERRIBLE LOSS OF OFFICERS—AMMUNITION GIVES OUT—RECONSTRUCTING + THE LINE—COLLECTING THE WOUNDED AND BURYING THE DEAD—DEALING + WITH COWARDS—RESULTS OF THE VICTORY. + </p> + <p> + The enemy under Bragg lay between us and stone River in order of battle, + his general line conforming to the course of that stream. In my immediate + front he appeared to be established in strong force in a dense cedar wood, + just beyond an open valley, which varied from two hundred to four hundred + yards in width, the cedars extending the entire length of the valley. From + the events of the day and evening of the 30th, it was apparent that the + two armies were in close proximity, and orders received during the night + revealed the fact that Rosecrans intended to attack by throwing his left + on the enemy's right, with the expectation of driving it in toward + Murfreesboro', so that the right of Crittenden's corps could attack + Bragg's centre in reverse, while Thomas supported Crittenden by a + simultaneous front assault; and from the movements of the enemy at + daylight next morning, it was plainly indicated that Bragg had planned to + swing his left on our right by an exactly similar manoeuvre, get + possession of the railroad and the Nashville pike, and if possible cut us + off from our base at Nashville. The conceptions in the minds of the two + generals were almost identical; but Bragg took the initiative, beginning + his movement about an hour earlier than the time set by Rosecrans, which + gained him an immense advantage in execution in the earlier stages of the + action. + </p> + <p> + During the evening, feeling keenly all the solicitude which attends one in + anticipation of a battle, I examined my position with great care, + inspecting its whole length several times to remedy any defects that might + exist, and to let the men see that I was alive to their interests and + advantages. After dark, I went back to the rear of my reserve brigade, and + establishing my headquarters behind the trunk of a large fallen tree, + which would shelter me somewhat from the cold December wind, lay down + beside a small camp-fire to get some rest. + </p> + <p> + At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 31st General Sill came back to me to + report that on his front a continuous movement of infantry and artillery + had been going on all night within the Confederate lines, and that he was + convinced that Bragg was massing on our right with the purpose of making + an attack from that direction early in the morning. After discussing for a + few minutes the probabilities of such a course on the part of the enemy, I + thought McCook should be made acquainted with what was going on, so Sill + and I went back to see him at his headquarters, not far from the Griscom + House, where we found him sleeping on some straw in the angle of a + worm-fence. I waked him up and communicated the intelligence, and our + consequent impressions. He talked the matter over with us for some little + time, but in view of the offensive-defensive part he was to play in the + coming battle, did not seem to think that there was a necessity for any + further dispositions than had already been taken. He said that he thought + Johnson's division would be able to take care of the right, and seemed + confident that the early assault which was to be made from Rosecrans's + left would anticipate and check the designs which we presaged. We two then + returned to my little camp-fire behind the log, and as we continued + talking of what might be expected from the indications on the right, and + Sill becoming more anxious, I directed two regiments from the reserve to + report to him, that they might be placed within very short supporting + distance of his line. He then rejoined his brigade, better satisfied, but + still adhering to the belief he had expressed when first making his + report. + </p> + <p> + Long before dawn my division breakfasted, and was assembled under arms, + the infantry in line, the cannoneers at their pieces, but while we were + thus preparing, all the recent signs of activity in the enemy's camp were + hushed, a death-like stillness prevailing in the cedars to our front. + Shortly after daylight General Hardee opened the engagement, just as Sill + had predicted, by a fierce attack on Johnson's division, the extreme right + of the Union line. Immediate success attending this assault, Hardee + extended the attack gradually along in front of Davis, hip movement taking + the form of a wheel to the right, the pivot being nearly opposite the left + of my division. Johnson's division soon gave way, and two of Davis's + brigades were forced to fall back with it, though stubbornly resisting the + determined and sweeping onset. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime the enemy had also attacked me, advancing across an old + cotton-field in Sill's front in heavy masses, which were furiously opened + upon by Bush's battery from Sill's line, and by Hescock's and + Houghtaling's batteries, which had an oblique fire on the field from a + commanding position in rear of my centre. The effect of this fire on the + advancing column was terrible, but it continued on till it reached the + edge of the timber where Sill's right lay, when my infantry opened at a + range of not over fifty yards. For a short time the Confederates withstood + the fire, but then wavered, broke, and fell back toward their original + line. As they retired, Sill's brigade followed in a spirited charge, + driving them back across the open ground and behind their intrenchments. + In this charge the gallant Sill was killed; a rifle ball passing through + his upper lip and penetrating the brain. Although this was a heavy loss, + yet the enemy's discomfiture was such as to give us an hour's time, and as + Colonel Greusel, Thirty-sixth Illinois, succeeded to Sill's command, I + directed him, as he took charge, to recall the brigade to its original + position, for the turning-column on my extreme right was now assuming the + most menacing attitude, and it was urgently necessary to prepare for it. + </p> + <p> + When that portion of the enemy driven back by Sill recovered from its + repulse it again advanced to the attack, this time directing its efforts + chiefly upon my extreme right, and the front of Woodruff's brigade of + Davis's division, which brigade still held on in its first position. In + front of my centre the Confederates were again driven back, but as the + assault on Woodruff was in conjunction with an advance of the column that + had forced Johnson to retire, Woodruff was compelled unfortunately to give + way, and two regiments on the right of my line went with him, till they + rallied on the two reserve regiments which, in anticipation of the enemy's + initiatory attack I had sent to Sill's rear before daylight. + </p> + <p> + Both Johnson's and Davis's divisions were now practically gone from our + line, having retired with a loss of all formation, and they were being + closely pursued by the enemy, whose columns were following the arc of a + circle that would ultimately carry him in on my rear. In consequence of + the fact that this state of things would soon subject me to a fire in + reverse, I hastily withdrew Sill's brigade and the reserve regiments + supporting it, and ordered Roberts's brigade, which at the close of the + enemy's second repulse had changed front toward the south and formed in + column of regiments, to cover the withdrawal by a charge on the + Confederates as they came into the timber where my right had originally + rested. Roberts made the charge at the proper time, and was successful in + checking the enemy's advance, thus giving us a breathing-spell, during + which I was able to take up a new position with Schaefer's and Sill's + brigades on the commanding ground to the rear, where Hescock's and + Houghtaling's batteries had been posted all the morning. + </p> + <p> + The general course of this new position was at right angles with my + original line, and it took the shape of an obtuse angle, with my three + batteries at the apex. Davis, and Carlin of his division, endeavored to + rally their men here on my right, but their efforts were practically + unavailing,—though the calm and cool appearance of Carlin, who at + the time was smoking a stumpy pipe, had some effect, and was in strong + contrast to the excited manner of Davis, who seemed overpowered by the + disaster that had befallen his command. But few could be rallied, however, + as the men were badly demoralized, and most of them fell back beyond the + Wilkinson pike, where they reorganized behind the troops of General + Thomas. + </p> + <p> + At this juncture the enemy's turning-column began advancing again in + concert with Cheatham's division, and as the extreme left of the + Confederates was directed on Griscom's house, and their right on the + Blanton house, my new position was in danger of envelopment. No hope of + stemming the tide at this point seemed probable, but to gain time I + retained my ground as long as possible, and until, under directions from + General McCook, I moved to the front from my left flank and attached + myself to the right of Negley's division, which up to this hour had been + left almost undisturbed by the enemy in the line it had taken up the night + before. Under a heavy fire we succeeded in this manoeuvre, Schaefer's + brigade marching first, then the batteries, and Roberts's and Sill's + brigades following. When my division arrived on this new ground, I posted + Roberts on Negley's right, with Hescock's and Bush's guns, the brigade and + guns occupying a low rocky ridge of limestone, which faced them toward + Murfreesboro', nearly south. The rest of my division was aligned facing + west, along the edge of a cedar thicket, the rear rank backed up on the + right flank of Roberts, with Houghtaling's battery in the angle. This + presented Sill's and Schaefer's brigades in an almost opposite direction + to the line we had so confidently taken up the night before, and covered + Negley's rear. The enemy, in the meantime, had continued his wheeling + movement till he occupied the ground that my batteries and reserve brigade + had held in the morning, and I had now so changed my position that the + left brigade of my division approached his intrenchments in front of Stone + River, while Sill's and Schaeffer's brigades, by facing nearly west, + confronted the successful troops that had smashed in our extreme right. + </p> + <p> + I had hardly got straightened out in this last place when I was attacked + by Cheatham's'division, which, notwithstanding the staggering blows it had + previously received from Sill and Roberts, now again moved forward in + conjunction with the wheeling movement under the immediate command of + Hardee. One of the most sanguinary contests of the day now took place. In + fulfillment of Bragg's original design no doubt, Cheatham's division + attacked on my left, while heavy masses under Hardee, covered by batteries + posted on the high ground formerly occupied by my guns, assaulted my + right, the whole force advancing simultaneously. At the same time the + enemy opened an artillery fire from his intrenchments in front of + Murfreesboro', and it seemed that he was present on every side. My + position was strong, however, located in the edge of a dense cedar thicket + and commanding a slight depression of open ground that lay in my front. My + men were in good spirits too, notwithstanding they had been a good deal + hustled around since daylight, with losses that had told considerably on + their numbers. Only a short distance now separated the contending lines, + and as the batteries on each side were not much more than two hundred + yards apart when the enemy made his assault, the artillery fire was + fearful in its effect on the ranks of both contestants, the enemy's heavy + masses staggering under the torrent of shell and canister from our + batteries, while our lines were thinned by his ricochetting projectiles, + that rebounded again and again over the thinly covered limestone formation + and sped on to the rear of Negley. But all his efforts to dislodge or + destroy us were futile, and for the first time since daylight General + Hardee was seriously checked in the turning movement he had begun for the + purpose of getting possession of the Nashville pike, and though reinforced + until two-fifths of Bragg's army was now at his command, yet he met with + repulse after repulse, which created great gaps in his lines and taught + him that to overwhelm us was hopeless. + </p> + <p> + As the enemy was recoiling from his first attack, I received a message + from Rosecrans telling me that he was making new dispositions, and + directing me to hold on where I was until they were completed. From this I + judged that the existing conditions of the battle would probably require a + sacrifice of my command, so I informed Roberts and Schaefer that we must + be prepared to meet the demand on us by withstanding the assault of the + enemy, no matter what the outcome. Every energy was therefore bent to the + simple holding of our ground, and as ammunition was getting scarce, + instructions were given throughout the command to have it reserve its fire + till the most effective moment. In a little while came a second and a + third assault, and although they were as daring and furious as the first, + yet in each case the Confederates were repulsed, driven back in confusion, + but not without deadly loss to us, for the noble Roberts was killed, and + Colonel Harrington, of the Twenty-Seventh Illinois, who succeeded to his + brigade, was mortally wounded a few minutes later. I had now on the + death-roll three brigade commanders, and the loss of subordinate officers + and men was appalling, but their sacrifice had accomplished the desired + result; they had not fallen in vain. Indeed, the bravery and tenacity of + my division gave to Rosecrans the time required to make new dispositions, + and exacted from our foes the highest commendations. + </p> + <p> + A lull followed the third fierce assault, and an investigation showed + that, with the exception of a few rounds in my brigade, our ammunition was + entirely exhausted; and while it was apparent that the enemy was reluctant + to renew the conflict in my front, yet I was satisfied I could not hold on + much longer without the danger of ultimate capture, so I prepared to + withdraw as soon as the troops of Rousseau's division, which had been + ordered to take up a line on my right, came into position. Schaefer's and + Sill's brigades being without a cartridge, I directed them to fix bayonets + for a charge, and await any attempt of the enemy to embarrass my retreat, + while Roberts's brigade, offering such resistance as its small quantity of + ammunition would permit, was pulled slowly in toward the Nashville pike. + Eighty of the horses of Houghtaling's battery having been killed, an + attempt was made to bring his guns back by hand over the rocky ground, but + it could not be done, and we had to abandon them. Hescock also had lost + most of his horses, but all his guns were saved. Bush's battery lost two + pieces, the tangled underbrush in the dense cedars proving an obstacle to + getting them away which his almost superhuman exertions could not + surmount. Thus far the bloody duel had cost me heavily, one-third of my + division being killed or wounded. I had already three brigade commanders + killed; a little later I lost my fourth—Colonel Schaefer. + </p> + <p> + The difficulties of withdrawing were very great, as the ground was + exceptionally rocky, and the growth of cedars almost impenetrable for + wheeled carriages. Retiring sullenly under a heavy fire, while the general + line was reformed to my right and rear, my division was at length drawn + through the cedars and debouched into an open space near the Murfreesboro' + pike, behind the right of Palmer's division. Two regiments of Sill's + brigade, however, on account of the conformation of the ground, were + obliged to fall back from the point where Woodruff's brigade of Davis's + division had rallied after the disaster of the early morning. The division + came out of the cedars with unbroken ranks, thinned by only its killed and + wounded—but few missing. When we came into the open ground, McCook + directed Roberts's brigade—now commanded by Colonel Luther P. + Bradley—to proceed a short distance to the rear on the Nashville + pike, to repel the enemy's threatening attempt at our communications. + Willingly and cheerfully the brigade again entered the fight under these + new conditions, and although it was supplied with but three or four + cartridges to the man now, it charged gallantly and recaptured two pieces + of artillery which the Union troops had had to abandon at that point. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after we debouched from the cedars I was directed by Rosecrans to + send some aid to the right of General Palmer's division; and two of + Schaefer's regiments, having obtained ammunition, were pushed up on + Palmer's right, accompanied by four of Hescock's guns; but the advance of + the enemy here had already been checked by Palmer, and only a desultory + contest ensued. Rosecrans, whom I now met in the open ground west of the + railroad, behind Palmer, directed that my command should relieve Wood's + division, which was required to fall back and take up the new line that + had been marked out while I was holding on in the cedars. His usually + florid face had lost its ruddy color, and his anxious eyes told that the + disasters of the morning were testing his powers to the very verge of + endurance, but he seemed fully to comprehend what had befallen us. His + firmly set lips and, the calmness with which his instructions were + delivered inspired confidence in all around him; and expressing + approbation of what my division had done, while deliberately directing it + to a new point, he renewed in us all the hope of final victory, though it + must be admitted that at this phase of the battle the chances lay largely + with the enemy. + </p> + <p> + Withdrawing the two regiments and Hescock's battery, that I had posted on + the right of Palmer, I moved as directed by Rosecrans into the position to + the east of the railroad, and formed immediately to the right of Wood, who + was now being attacked all along his front, but more particularly where + his right rested near the railroad. Under a storm of shot and shell that + came in torrents my troops took up the new ground, advancing through a + clump of open timber to Wood's assistance. Forming in line in front of the + timber we poured a telling fire into the enemy's ranks, which were then + attacking across some cleared fields; but when he discovered additional + troops confronting him, he gave up the attempt to carry Wood's position. + It was here that I lost Schaefer, who was killed instantly, making my + fourth brigade commander dead that day. The enemy in front of Wood having + been checked, our whole line east of the railroad executed undisturbed its + retrograde movement to a position about three hundred yards to its rear. + When I fell back to the edge of the clump of timber, where when first + coming on the ground I had formed to help Wood, I was ordered by Rosecrans + to prepare to make a charge should the enemy again assault us. In + anticipation of this work I massed my troops in close column. The expected + attack never came, however, but the shot and shell of a furious cannonade + told with fatal effect upon men and officers as they lay on their faces + hugging the ground. The torments of this trying situation were almost + unbearable, but it was obvious to all that it was necessary to have at + hand a compact body of troops to repel any assault the enemy might make + pending the reconstruction of the extreme right of our line, and a silent + determination to stay seemed to take hold of each individual soldier; nor + was this grim silence interrupted throughout the cannonade, except in one + instance, when one of the regiments broke out in a lusty cheer as a + startled rabbit in search of a new hiding-place safely ran the whole + length of the line on the backs of the men. + </p> + <p> + While my troops were still lying here, General Rosecrans, with a part of + his staff and a few orderlies, rode out on the rearranged line to + supervise its formation and encourage the men, and in prosecution of these + objects moved around the front of my column of attack, within range of the + batteries that were shelling us so viciously. As he passed to the open + ground on my left, I joined him. The enemy seeing this mounted party, + turned his guns upon it, and his accurate aim was soon rewarded, for a + solid shot carried away the head of Colonel Garesche, the chief-of-staff, + and killed or wounded two or three orderlies. Garesche's appalling death + stunned us all, and a momentary expression of horror spread over + Rosecrans's face; but at such a time the importance of self-control was + vital, and he pursued his course with an appearance of indifference, + which, however, those immediately about him saw was assumed, for + undoubtedly he felt most deeply the death of his friend and trusted + staff-officer. + </p> + <p> + No other attacks were made on us to the east of the railroad for the rest + of the afternoon, and just before dark I was directed to withdraw and take + up a position along the west side of the Nashville pike, on the extreme + right of our new line, where Roberts's brigade and the Seventy-third and + Eighty-eighth Illinois had already been placed by McCook. The day had cost + me much anxiety and sadness, and I was sorely disappointed at the general + result, though I could not be other than pleased at the part taken by my + command. The loss of my brigade commanders—Sill, Roberts, Schaefer, + and Harrington-and a large number of regimental and battery officers, with + so many of their men, struck deep into my heart: My thinned ranks told the + woeful tale of the fierce struggles, indescribable by words, through which + my division had passed since 7 o'clock in the morning; and this, added to + our hungry and exhausted condition, was naturally disheartening. The men + had been made veterans, however, by the fortunes and misfortunes of the + day, and as they went into their new places still confident of final + success, it was plain to see that they felt a self-confidence inspired by + the part they had already played. + </p> + <p> + My headquarters were now established on the Nashville pike, about three + miles and a half from Murfreesboro'; my division being aligned to the west + of the pike, bowed out and facing almost west, Cleburn's division of the + Confederates confronting it. Davis's division was posted on my right, and + Walker's brigade of Thomas's corps, which had reported to me, took up a + line that connected my left with Johnson's division. + </p> + <p> + Late in the evening General Rosecrans, accompanied by General McCook, and + several other officers whose names I am now unable to recall, rode by my + headquarters on their way to the rear to look for a new line of battle—on + Overall's creek it was said—that would preserve our communications + with Nashville and offer better facilities for resistance than the one we + were now holding. Considerable time had elapsed when they returned from + this exploration and proceeded to their respective commands, without + intimating to me that anything had been determined upon by the + reconnoissance, but a little later it was rumored through the different + headquarters that while the party was looking for a new position it + discovered the enemy's troops moving toward our right and rear, the head + of his columns being conducted in the darkness by the aid of torches, and + that no alternative was left us but to hold the lines we then occupied. + The torches had been seen unquestionably, and possibly created some alarm + at first in the minds of the reconnoitring party, but it was soon + ascertained that the lights came from a battalion of the Fourth regular + cavalry that was picketing our flank and happened to be starting its + bivouac fires at the moment. The fires and the supposed movements had no + weight, therefore, in deciding the proposition to take up a line at + Overall's creek, but General Rosecrans, fortunately for the army, decided + to remain where he was. Doubtless reflections during his ride caused him + to realize that the enemy must be quite as much crippled as himself. If it + had been decided to fall back to Overall's creek, we could have withdrawn + without much difficulty very likely, but such a retrograde movement would + have left to the enemy the entire battle-field of Stone River and + ultimately compelled our retreat to Nashville. + </p> + <p> + In the night of December 3rd several slight demonstrations were made on my + front, but from the darkness neither party felt the effect of the other's + fire, and when daylight came again the skirmishers and lines of battle + were in about the same position they had taken up the evening before. Soon + after daybreak it became evident that the conflict was to be renewed, and + a little later the enemy resumed the offensive by an attack along my left + front, especially on Walker's brigade. His attempt was ineffectual, + however, and so easily repulsed as to demonstrate that the desperate + character of his assaults the day before had nearly exhausted his + strength. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon he made another feeble charge + on my front, but our fire from the barricades and rifle-pits soon + demoralized his advancing lines, which fell back in some confusion, thus + enabling us to pick up about a hundred prisoners. From this time till the + evening of January 3 Bragg's left remained in our front, and continued to + show itself at intervals by weak demonstrations, which we afterward + ascertained were directly intended to cover the desperate assault he made + with Breckenridge on the left of Rosecrans, an assault that really had in + view only a defensive purpose, for unless Bragg dislodged the troops which + were now massing in front of his right he would be obliged to withdraw + General Polk's corps behind Stone River and finally abandon Murfreesboro'. + The sequel proved this to be the case; and the ill-judged assault led by + Breckenridge ending in entire defeat, Bragg retired from Murfreesboro' the + night of January 3. + </p> + <p> + General Rosecrans occupied Murfreesboro' on the 4th and 5th, having gained + a costly victory, which was not decisive enough in its character to + greatly affect the general course of the war, though it somewhat + strengthened and increased our hold on Middle Tennessee. The enemy in + retiring did not fall back very far—only behind Duck River to + Shelbyville and Tullahoma—and but little endeavor was made to follow + him. Indeed, we were not in condition to pursue, even if it had been the + intention at the outset of the campaign. + </p> + <p> + As soon as possible after the Confederate retreat I went over the + battle-field to collect such of my wounded as had not been carried off to + the South and to bury my dead. In the cedars and on the ground where I had + been so fiercely assaulted when the battle opened, on the morning of the + 31st, evidences of the bloody struggle appeared on every hand in the form + of broken fire-arms, fragments of accoutrements, and splintered trees. The + dead had nearly all been left unburied, but as there was likelihood of + their mutilation by roving swine, the bodies had mostly been collected in + piles at different points and inclosed by rail fences. The sad duties of + interment and of caring for the wounded were completed by the 5th, and on + the 6th I moved my division three miles, south of Murfreesboro' on the + Shelbyville pike, going into camp on the banks of Stone River. Here the + condition of my command was thoroughly looked into, and an endeavor made + to correct such defects as had been disclosed by the recent battle. + </p> + <p> + During the engagement there had been little straggling, and my list of + missing was small and legitimate; still, it was known that a very few had + shirked their duty, and an example was necessary. Among this small number + were four officers who, it was charged, had abandoned their colors and + regiments. When their guilt was clearly established, and as soon as an + opportunity occurred, I caused the whole division to be formed in a hollow + square, closed in mass, and had the four officers marched to the centre, + where, telling them that I would not humiliate any officer or soldier by + requiring him to touch their disgraced swords, I compelled them to deliver + theirs up to my colored servant, who also cut from their coats every + insignia of rank. Then, after there had been read to the command an order + from army headquarters dismissing the four from the service, the scene was + brought to a close by drumming the cowards out of camp. It was a + mortifying spectacle, but from that day no officer in that division ever + abandoned his colors. + </p> + <p> + My effective force in the battle of Stone River was 4,154 officers and + men. Of this number I lost 1,633 killed, wounded, and missing, or nearly + 40 per cent. In the remaining years of the war, though often engaged in + most severe contests, I never experienced in any of my commands so high a + rate of casualties. The ratio of loss in the whole of Rosecrans's army was + also high, and Bragg's losses were almost equally great. Rosecrans carried + into the action about 42,000 officers and men. He lost 13,230, or 31 per + cent. Bragg's effective force was 37,800 officers and men; he lost 10,306, + or nearly 28 per cent. + </p> + <p> + Though our victory was dearly bought, yet the importance of gaining the + day at any price was very great, particularly when we consider what might + have been the result had not the gallantry of the army and the manoeuvring + during the early disaster saved us from ultimate defeat. We had started + out from Nashville on an offensive campaign, probably with no intention of + going beyond Murfreesboro', in midwinter, but still with the expectation + of delivering a crushing blow should the enemy accept our challenge to + battle. He met us with a plan of attack almost the counterpart of our own. + In the execution of his plan he had many advantages, not the least of + which was his intimate knowledge of the ground, and he came near + destroying us. Had he done so, Nashville would probably have fallen; at + all events, Kentucky would have been opened again to his incursions, and + the theatre of war very likely transferred once more to the Ohio River. As + the case now stood, however, Nashville was firmly established as a base + for future operations, Kentucky was safe from the possibility of being + again overrun, and Bragg, thrown on the defensive, was compelled to give + his thoughts to the protection of the interior of the Confederacy and the + security of Chattanooga, rather than indulge in schemes of conquest north + of the Cumberland River. While he still held on in Middle Tennessee his + grasp was so much loosened that only slight effort would be necessary to + push him back into Georgia, and thus give to the mountain region of East + Tennessee an opportunity to prove its loyalty to the Union. + </p> + <p> + The victory quieted the fears of the West and Northwest, destroyed the + hopes of the secession element in Kentucky, renewed the drooping spirits + of the East Tennesseans, and demoralized the disunionists in Middle + Tennessee; yet it was a negative victory so far as concerned the result on + the battle-field. Rosecrans seems to have planned the battle with the idea + that the enemy would continue passive, remain entirely on the defensive, + and that it was necessary only to push forward our left in order to force + the evacuation of Murfreesboro'; and notwithstanding the fact that on the + afternoon of December 30 McCook received information that the right of + Johnson's division. resting near the Franklin pike, extended only to about + the centre of the Confederate army, it does not appear that attack from + that quarter was at all apprehended by the Union commanders. + </p> + <p> + The natural line of retreat of the Confederates was not threatened by the + design of Rosecrans; and Bragg, without risk to his communications, + anticipated it by a counter-attack of like character from his own left, + and demolished his adversary's plan the moment we were thrown on the + defensive. Had Bragg followed up with the spirit which characterized its + beginning the successful attack by Hardee on our right wing—and + there seems no reason why he should not have done so—the army of + Rosecrans still might have got back to Nashville, but it would have been + depleted and demoralized to such a degree as to unfit it for offensive + operations for a long time afterward. Bragg's intrenchments in front of + Stone River were very strong, and there seems no reason why he should not + have used his plain advantage as explained, but instead he allowed us to + gain time, intrench, and recover a confidence that at first was badly + shaken. Finally, to cap the climax of his errors, he directed Breckenridge + to make the assault from his right flank on January 2, with small chance + for anything but disaster, when the real purpose in view could have been + accomplished without the necessity of any offensive manoeuvre whatever. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp238" id="linkp238"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p238.jpg (146K)" src="images/p238.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/p238.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch14" id="linkch14"></a>CHAPTER XIV. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL—THE SECRET EXPEDITION UNDER CARD THE SCOUT—HIS + CAPTURE BY GUERRILLAS—ESCAPE—A REVENGE PARTY—WOMEN + SOLDIERS—A FIGHT WITH SABRES—TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN—A + FOOLISH ADVENTURE. + </p> + <p> + On the 6th of January, 1863, my division settled quietly down in its camp + south of Murfreesboro'. Its exhausted condition after the terrible + experiences of the preceding week required attention. It needed + recuperation, reinforcement, and reorganization, and I set about these + matters without delay, in anticipation of active operations early in the + spring. No forward movement was made for nearly six months, however, and + throughout this period drills, parades, reconnoissances, and foraging + expeditions filled in the time profitably. In addition to these exercises + the construction of permanent fortifications for the security of + Murfreesboro' was undertaken by General Rosecrans, and large details from + my troops were furnished daily for the work. Much attention was also given + to creating a more perfect system of guard and picket duty-a matter that + had hitherto been somewhat neglected in the army, as its constant activity + had permitted scant opportunity for the development of such a system. It + was at this time that I received my appointment as a major-general of + Volunteers. My promotion had been recommended by General Rosecrans + immediately after the battle of Stone River, but for some reason it was + delayed until April, and though a long time elapsed between the promise + and the performance, my gratification was extreme. + </p> + <p> + My scout, Card, was exceedingly useful while encamped near Murfreesboro, + making several trips to East Tennessee within the enemy's lines to collect + information as to the condition of the loyal people there, and to + encourage them with the hope of early liberation. He also brought back + from each trip very accurate statements as to the strength and doings of + the Confederate army, fixing almost with certainty its numbers and the + locations of its different divisions, and enabling my engineer-officer—Major + Morhardt—to construct good maps of the country in our front. On + these dangerous excursions Card was always accompanied by one of his + brothers, the other remaining with me to be ready for duty if any accident + occurred to those who had gone out, or in case I wanted to communicate + with them. In this way we kept well posted, although the intelligence + these men brought was almost always secured at the risk of their lives. + </p> + <p> + Early in the spring, before the Tullahoma campaign began, I thought it + would be practicable, by sending out a small secret expedition of but + three or four men, to break the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad between + Chattanooga and the enemy's position at Tullahoma by burning the bridges + in Crow Creek valley from its head to Stevenson, Alabama, and then the + great bridge across the Tennessee River at Bridgeport. Feeling confident + that I could persuade Card to undertake the perilous duty, I broached the + contemplated project to him, and he at once jumped at the opportunity of + thus distinguishing himself, saying that with one of his brothers and + three other loyal East Tennesseeans, whose services he knew could be + enlisted, he felt sure of carrying out the idea, so I gave him authority + to choose his own assistants. In a few days his men appeared at my + headquarters, and when supplied with money in notes of the State Bank of + Tennessee, current everywhere as gold in those days, the party, composed + of Card, the second brother, and the three East Tennesseeans, started on + their precarious enterprise, their course being directed first toward the + Cumberland Mountains, intending to strike the Nashville and Chattanooga + railroad somewhere above Anderson's station. They expected to get back in + about fifteen days, but I looked for some knowledge of the progress of + their adventure before the expiration of that period, hoping to hear + through Confederate sources prisoners and the like-of the destruction of + the bridges. I waited in patience for such news, but none came, and as the + time Card had allotted himself passed by, I watched anxiously for his + return, for, as there was scarcely a doubt that the expedition had proved + a failure, the fate of the party became a matter of deep concern to Card's + remaining brother and to me. Finally this brother volunteered to go to his + father's house in East Tennessee to get tidings of the party, and I + consented, for the probabilities were that some of them had made their way + to that point, or at least that some information had reached there about + them. As day after day went by, the time fixed for this brother's return + came round, yet he also remained out; but some days after the lad was due + Card himself turned up accompanied by the brother he had taken with him, + soon explained his delay in getting back, and gave me the story of his + adventures while absent. + </p> + <p> + After leaving my camp, his party had followed various byways across the + Cumberland Mountains to Crow Creek Valley, as instructed; but when nearing + the railroad above Anderson's Station, they were captured by some + guerrillas prowling about that vicinity, and being suspected of disloyalty + to the Confederacy, were carried to Chattanooga and imprisoned as Yankee + spies. Their prospects now were decidedly discouraging, for death stared + them in the face. Fortunately, however, some delays occurred relative to + the disposition that should be made of them, and they, meanwhile, effected + their escape from their jailors by way of one of the prison windows, from + which they managed to displace a bar, and by a skiff, in the darkness of + night, crossed the Tennessee River a little below Chattanooga. From this + point the party made their way back to my camp, traveling only at night, + hiding in the woods by day, and for food depending on loyal citizens that + Card had become acquainted with when preaching and peddling. + </p> + <p> + Card's first inquiry after relating his story was for the youngest + brother, whom he had left with me. I told him what I had done, in my + anxiety about himself, and that more than sufficient time had elapsed for + his brother's return. His reply was: "They have caught him. The poor + fellow is dead." His surmise proved correct; for news soon came that the + poor boy had been captured at his father's house, and hanged. The blow to + Card was a severe one, and so hardened his heart against the guerrillas in + the neighborhood of his father's home—for he knew they were guilty + of his brother's murder—that it was with difficulty I could persuade + him to continue in the employment of the Government, so determined was he + to avenge his brother's death at the first opportunity. Finally, however, + I succeeded in quieting the almost uncontrollable rage that seemed to + possess him, and he remained with me during the Tullahoma and Chickamauga + campaigns; but when we reached Knoxville the next winter, he took his + departure, informing me that he was going for the bushwhackers who had + killed his brother. A short time after he left me, I saw him at the head + of about thirty well-armed East Tennesseeans—refugees. They were + determined-looking men, seeking revenge for the wrongs and sufferings that + had been put upon them in the last two years, and no doubt wreaked their + vengeance right and left on all who had been in any way instrumental in + persecuting them. + </p> + <p> + The feeding of our army from the base at Louisville was attended with a + great many difficulties, as the enemy's cavalry was constantly breaking + the railroad and intercepting our communications on the Cumberland River + at different points that were easily accessible to his then superior force + of troopers. The accumulation of reserve stores was therefore not an easy + task, and to get forage ahead a few days was well-nigh impossible, unless + that brought from the North was supplemented by what we could gather from + the country. Corn was abundant in the region to the south and southwest of + Murfreesboro', so to make good our deficiences in this respect, I employed + a brigade about once a week in the duty of collecting and bringing in + forage, sending out sometimes as many as a hundred and fifty wagons to + haul the grain which my scouts had previously located. In nearly every one + of these expeditions the enemy was encountered, and the wagons were + usually loaded while the skirmishers kept up a running fire, Often there + would occur a respectable brush, with the loss on each side of a number of + killed and wounded. The officer in direct command always reported to me + personally whatever had happened during the time he was out—the + result of his reconnoissance, so to speak, for that war the real nature of + these excursions—and on one occasion the colonel in command, Colonel + Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri, informed me that he got through without + much difficulty; in fact, that everything had gone all right and been + eminently satisfactory, except that in returning he had been mortified + greatly by the conduct of the two females belonging to the detachment and + division train at my headquarters. These women, he said, had given much + annoyance by getting drunk, and to some extent demoralizing his men. To + say that I was astonished at his statement would be a mild way of putting + it, and had I not known him to be a most upright man and of sound sense, I + should have doubted not only his veracity, but his sanity. Inquiring who + they were and for further details, I was informed that there certainly + were in the command two females, that in some mysterious manner had + attached themselves to the service as soldiers; that one, an East + Tennessee woman, was a teamster in the division wagon-train and the other + a private soldier in a cavalry company temporarily attached to my + headquarters for escort duty. While out on the foraging expedition these + Amazons had secured a supply of "apple-jack" by some means, got very + drunk, and on the return had fallen into Stone River and been nearly + drowned. After they had been fished from, the water, in the process of + resuscitation their sex was disclosed, though up to this time it appeared + to be known only to each other. The story was straight and the + circumstance clear, so, convinced of Conrad's continued sanity, I directed + the provost-marshal to bring in arrest to my headquarters the two + disturbers of Conrad's peace of mind, After some little search the East + Tennessee woman was found in camp, somewhat the worse for the experiences + of the day before, but awaiting her fate content idly smoking a cob-pipe. + She was brought to me, and put in duress under charge of the division + surgeon until her companion could be secured. To the doctor she related + that the year before she had "refugeed" from East Tennessee, and on + arriving in Louisville assumed men's apparel and sought and obtained + employment as a teamster in the quartermaster's department. Her features + were very large, and so coarse and masculine was her general appearance + that she would readily have passed as a man, and in her case the deception + was no doubt easily practiced. Next day the "she dragoon" was caught, and + proved to be a rather prepossessing young woman, and though necessarily + bronzed and hardened by exposure, I doubt if, even with these marks of + campaigning, she could have deceived as readily as did her companion. How + the two got acquainted, I never learned, and though they had joined the + army independently of each other, yet an intimacy had sprung up between + them long before the mishaps of the foraging expedition. They both were + forwarded to army headquarters, and, when provided with clothing suited to + their sex, sent back to Nashville, and thence beyond our lines to + Louisville. + </p> + <p> + On January 9, by an order from the War Department, the Army of the + Cumberland had been divided into three corps, designated the Fourteenth, + Twentieth, and Twenty-first. This order did not alter the composition of + the former grand divisions, nor change the commanders, but the new + nomenclature was a decided improvement over the clumsy designations Right + Wing, Centre, and Left Wing, which were well calculated to lead to + confusion sometimes. McCook's wing became the Twentieth Corps, and my + division continued of the same organization, and held the same number as + formerly-the Third Division, Twentieth Corps. My first brigade was now + commanded by Brigadier-General William H. Lytle, the second by Colonel + Bernard Laiboldt, and the third by Colonel Luther P. Bradley. + </p> + <p> + On the 4th of March I was directed to move in light marching order toward + Franklin and join General Gordon Granger, to take part in some operations + which he was projecting against General Earl Van Dorn, then at Spring + Hill. Knowing that my line of march would carry me through a region where + forage was plentiful, I took along a large train of empty wagons, which I + determined to fill with corn and send back to Murfreesboro', believing + that I could successfully cover the train by Minty's brigade of cavalry, + which had joined me for the purpose of aiding in a reconnoissance toward + Shelbyville. In marching the column I placed a regiment of infantry at its + head, then the wagon-train, then a brigade of infantry—masking the + cavalry behind this brigade. The enemy, discovering that the train was + with us, and thinking he could capture it, came boldly out with his, + cavalry to attack. The head of his column came up to the crossroads at + Versailles, but holding him there, I passed the train and infantry brigade + beyond toward Eagleville, and when my cavalry had been thus unmasked, + Minty, followed by the balance of my division, which was still behind, + charged him with the sabre. Success was immediate and complete, and + pursuit of the routed forces continued through Unionville, until we fell + upon and drove in the Confederate outposts at Shelbyville. Here the enemy + was taken by surprise evidently, which was most fortunate for us, + otherwise the consequences might have been disastrous. Minty captured in + the charge about fifty prisoners and a few wagons and mules, and thus + enabled me to load my train with corn, and send it back to Murfreesboro' + unmolested. In this little fight the sabre was freely used by both sides, + and I do not believe that during the whole war I again knew of so large a + percentage of wounds by that arm in proportion to the numbers engaged. + </p> + <p> + That night I encamped at Eagleville, and next day reported to Granger at + Franklin, arriving in the midst of much excitement prevailing on account + of the loss of Coburn's brigade, which had been captured the day before a + little distance south of that point, while marching to form a junction + with a column that had been directed on Columbia from Murfreesboro'. + Shortly after Coburn's capture General Granger had come upon the scene, + and the next day he advanced my division and Minty's troops directly on + Spring Hill, with a view to making some reprisal; but Van Dorn had no + intention of accommodating us, and retired from Spring Hill, offering but + little resistance. He continued to fall back, till finally he got behind + Duck River, where operations against him ceased; for, in consequence of + the incessant rains of the season, the streams had become almost + impassable. Later, I returned by way of Franklin to my old camp at + Murfreesboro', passing over on this march the ground on which the + Confederate General Hood met with such disaster the following year in his + attack on Stanley's corps. + </p> + <p> + My command had all returned from the Franklin expedition to Murfreesboro' + and gone into camp on the Salem pike by the latter part of March, from + which time till June it took part in only the little affairs of outposts + occurring every now and then on my own front. In the meanwhile General + Rosecrans had been materially reinforced by the return of sick and wounded + men; his army had become well disciplined, and was tolerably supplied; and + he was repeatedly pressed by the authorities at Washington to undertake + offensive operations. + </p> + <p> + During the spring and early summer Rosecrans resisted, with a great deal + of spirit and on various grounds, these frequent urgings, and out of this + grew up an acrimonious correspondence and strained feeling between him and + General Halleck. Early in June, however, stores had been accumulated and + other preparations made for a move forward, Resecrans seeming to have + decided that he could safely risk an advance, with the prospect of good + results. Before finally deciding, he called upon most of his corps and + division commanders for their opinions on certain propositions which he + presented, and most of them still opposed the projected movement, I among + the number, reasoning that while General Grant was operating against + Vicksburg, it was better to hold Bragg in Middle Tennessee than to push + him so far back into Georgia that interior means of communication would + give the Confederate Government the opportunity of quickly joining a part + of his force to that of General Johnson in Mississippi. + </p> + <p> + At this stage, and in fact prior to it, Rosecrans seemed to manifest + special confidence in me, often discussing his plans with me independent + of the occasions on which he formally referred them for my views. I + recollect that on two different occasions about this time he unfolded his + designs to me in this informal way, outlining generally how he expected + ultimately to force Bragg south of the Tennessee River, and going into the + details of the contemplated move on Tullahoma. His schemes, to my mind, + were not only comprehensive, but exact, and showed conclusively, what no + one doubted then, that they were original with him. I found in them very + little to criticise unfavorably, if we were to move at all, and Rosecrans + certainly impressed me that he favored an advance at an early day, though + many of his generals were against it until the operations on the + Mississippi River should culminate in something definite. There was much, + fully apparent in the circumstances about his headquarters, leading to the + conviction that Rosecrans originated the Tullahoma campaign, and the + record of his prior performances collaterally sustains the visible + evidence then existing. In my opinion, then, based on a clear recollection + of various occurrences growing out of our intimacy, he conceived the plan + of the Tullahoma campaign and the one succeeding it; and is therefore + entitled to every credit that attended their execution, no matter what may + be claimed for others. + </p> + <p> + On the 23d of June Bragg was covering his position north of Duck River + with a front extending from McMinnville, where his cavalry rested, through + Wartrace and Shelbyville to Columbia, his depot being at Tullahoma. + Rosecrans, thinking that Bragg would offer strong resistance at + Shelbyville—which was somewhat protected by a spur of low mountains + or hills, offshoots of the Cumberland Mountains—decided to turn that + place; consequently, he directed the mass of the Union army on the enemy's + right flank, about Manchester. + </p> + <p> + On the 26th of June McCook's corps advanced toward Liberty Gap, my + divisions marching on the Shelbyville pike. I had proceeded but a few + miles when I encountered the enemy's pickets, who fell back to Christiana, + about nine miles from Murfreesboro'. Here I was assailed pretty wickedly + by the enemy's sharpshooters and a section of artillery, but as I was + instructed to do nothing more than cover the road from Eagleville, over + which Brannan's division was to approach Christiana, I made little reply + to this severe annoyance, wishing to conceal the strength of my force. As + soon as the head of Brannan's column arrived I marched across-country to + the left, and encamped that night at the little town of Millersburg, in + the vicinity of Liberty Gap. I was directed to move from Millersburg, on + Hoover's Gap—a pass in the range of hills already referred to, + through which ran the turnpike from Murfreesboro' to Manchester—but + heavy rains had made the country roads almost impassable, and the last of + my division did not reach Hoover's Gap till the morning of June 27, after + its abandonment by the enemy. Continuing on to Fairfield, the head of my + column met, south of that place, a small force of Confederate infantry and + cavalry, which after a slight skirmish Laiboldt's brigade drove back + toward Wartrace. The next morning I arrived at Manchester, where I + remained quiet for the day. Early on the 29th I marched by the Lynchburg + road for Tullahoma, where the enemy was believed to be in force, and came + into position about six miles from the town. + </p> + <p> + By the 31st the whole army had been concentrated, in spite of many + difficulties, and though, on account of the heavy rains that had fallen + almost incessantly since we left Murfreesboro', its movements had been + slow and somewhat inaccurate, yet the precision with which it took up a + line of battle for an attack on Tullahoma showed that forethought and + study had been given to every detail. The enemy had determined to fall + back from Tullahoma at the beginning of the campaign, however, and as we + advanced, his evacuation had so far progressed that when, on July 1. We + reached the earthworks thrown. up early in the year for the defense of the + place, he had almost wholly disappeared, carrying off all his stores and + munitions of war except some little subsistence and eleven pieces of + artillery. A strong rearguard remained to cover the retreat, and on my + front the usual encounters between advancing and retreating forces took + place. Just before reaching the intrenchments on the Lynchburg road, I + came upon an open space that was covered by a network of fallen trees and + underbrush, which had been slashed all along in front of the enemy's + earthworks. This made our progress very difficult, but I shortly became + satisfied that there were only a few of the enemy within the works, so + moving a battalion of cavalry that had joined me the day before down the + road as rapidly as the obstructions would permit, the Confederate pickets + quickly departed, and we gained possession of the town. Three siege guns, + four caissons, a few stores, and a small number of prisoners fell into my + hands. + </p> + <p> + That same evening orders were issued to the army to push on from Tullahoma + in pursuit, for, as it was thought that we might not be able to cross Elk + River on account of its swollen condition, we could do the enemy some + damage by keeping close as possible at his heels. I marched on the + Winchester road at 3 o'clock on the 2d of July and about 8 o'clock reached + Elk River ford. The stream was for the time truly an impassable torrent, + and all hope of crossing by the Winchester ford had to be abandoned. + Deeming that further effort should be made, however, under guidance of + Card, I turned the head of my column in the direction of Alisona, marching + up the river and nearly parallel with it till I came to Rock Creek. With a + little delay we got across Rock Creek, which was also much swollen, and + finding a short distance above its mouth a ford on Elk River that Card + said was practicable, I determined to attempt it: Some of the enemy's + cavalry were guarding this ford, but after a sharp little skirmish my + battalion of cavalry crossed and took up a strong position on the other + bank. The stream was very high and the current very swift, the water, + tumbling along over its rocky bed in an immense volume, but still it was + fordable for infantry if means could be devised by which the men could + keep their feet. A cable was stretched across just below the ford as a + lifeline for the weaker ones, and then the men of the entire division + having secured their ammunition by placing the cartridge-boxes on their + shoulders, the column pushed cheerfully into the rushing current. The men + as they entered the water joined each other in sets of four in a close + embrace, which enabled them to retain a foothold and successfully resist + the force of the flood. When they were across I turned the column down the + left bank of Elk River, and driving the enemy from some slight works near + Estelle Springs, regained the Winchester road. + </p> + <p> + By this time it was clear that Bragg intended to fall back behind the + Tennessee River, and our only chance of accomplishing anything of + importance was to smash up his rear-guard before it crossed the Cumberland + Mountains, and in pursuance of this idea I was directed to attack such of + his force as was holding on to Winchester. At 4 o'clock on the morning of + July 2 I moved on that town, and when we got close to it directed my + mounted troops to charge a small force of Confederate cavalry that was + picketing their front. The Confederates resisted but little, and our men + went with them in a disorderly chase through the village to Boiling Fork, + a small stream about half a mile beyond. Here the fleeing pickets, + rallying behind a stronger force, made a stand, and I was directed by + McCook to delay till I ascertained if Davis's division, which was to + support me, had made the crossing of Elk River, and until I could open up + communication with Brannan's division, which was to come in on my left at + Decherd. As soon as I learned that Davis was across I pushed on, but the + delay had permitted the enemy to pull his rear-guard up on the mountain, + and rendered nugatory all further efforts to hurt him materially, our only + returns consisting in forcing him to relinquish a small amount of + transportation and forage at the mouth of the pass just beyond Cowan, a + station on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad. + </p> + <p> + At Cowan, Colonel Watkins, of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, reported to me + with twelve hundred mounted men. Having heard during the night that the + enemy had halted on the mountain near the University—an educational + establishment on the summit—I directed Watkins to make a + reconnoissance and find out the value of the information. He learned that + Wharton's brigade of cavalry was halted at the University to cover a + moderately large force of the enemy's infantry which had not yet got down + the mountain on the other side, so I pushed Watkins out again on the 5th, + supporting him by a brigade of infantry, which I accompanied myself. We + were too late, however, for when we arrived at the top of the mountain + Wharton had disappeared, and though Watkins pursued to Bridgeport, he was + able to do nothing more, and on his return reported that the last of the + enemy had crossed the Tennessee River and burned the railroad bridge. + </p> + <p> + Nothing further could now be done, so I instructed Watkins to rejoin the + division at Cowan, and being greatly fatigued by the hard campaigning of + the previous ten days, I concluded to go back to my camp in a more + comfortable way than on the back of my tired horse. In his retreat the + enemy had not disturbed the railway track at all, and as we had captured a + hand-car at Cowan, I thought I would have it brought up to the station + near the University to carry me down the mountain to my camp, and, + desiring company, I persuasively invited Colonel Frank T. Sherman to ride + with me. I sent for the car by a courier, and for a long time patiently + awaited its arrival, in fact, until all the returning troops had passed + us, but still it did not come. Thinking it somewhat risky to remain at the + station without protection, Sherman and myself started our horses to Cowan + by our orderlies, and set out on foot to meet the car, trudging along down + the track in momentary expectation of falling in with our private + conveyance. We had not gone very far before night overtook us, and we then + began to realize the dangers surrounding us, for there we were alone and + helpless, tramping on in the darkness over an unknown railroad track in + the enemy's country, liable on the one hand to go tumbling through some + bridge or trestle, and on the other, to possible capture or death at the + hands of the guerrillas then infesting these mountains. Just after dark we + came to a little cabin near the track, where we made bold to ask for + water, notwithstanding the fact that to disclose ourselves to the inmates + might lead to fatal consequences. The water was kindly given, but the + owner and his family were very much exercised lest some misfortune might + befall us near their house, and be charged to them, so they encouraged us + to move on with a frankness inspired by fear of future trouble to + themselves. + </p> + <p> + At every turn we eagerly hoped to meet the hand-car, but it never came, + and we jolted on from tie to tie for eleven weary miles, reaching Cowan + after midnight, exhausted and sore in every muscle from frequent falls on + the rough, unballasted road-bed. Inquiry. developed that the car had been + well manned, and started to us as ordered, and nobody could account for + its non-arrival. Further investigation next day showed, however, that when + it reached the foot of the mountain, where the railroad formed a junction, + the improvised crew, in the belief no doubt that the University was on the + main line instead of near the branch to Tracy City, followed the main stem + until it carried them clear across the range down the Crow Creek Valley, + where the party was captured. + </p> + <p> + I had reason to remember for many a day this foolish adventure, for my + sore bones and bruised muscles, caused me physical suffering until I left + the Army of the Cumberland the next spring; but I had still more reason to + feel for my captured men, and on this account I have never ceased to + regret that I so thoughtlessly undertook to rejoin my troops by rail, + instead of sticking to my faithful horse. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch15" id="linkch15"></a>CHAPTER XV. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + ORDERED TO OCCUPY BRIDGEPORT—A SPY—THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA—GENERAL + THOMAS—TREATED TO COFFEE—RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. + </p> + <p> + The Tullahoma campaign was practically closed by the disappearance of the + enemy from the country north of the Tennessee River. Middle Tennessee was + once more in the possession of the National troops, and Rosecrans though + strongly urged from Washington to continue on, resisted the pressure until + he could repair the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, which was of vital + importance in supplying his army from its secondary base at Nashville. As + he desired to hold this road to where it crossed the Tennessee, it was + necessary to push a force beyond the mountains, and after a few days of + rest at Cowan my division was ordered to take station at Stevenson, + Alabama, the junction of the Memphis and Charleston road with the + Nashville and Chattanooga, with instructions to occupy Bridgeport also. + </p> + <p> + The enemy had meanwhile concentrated most of his forces at Chattanooga for + the twofold purpose of holding this gateway of the Cumberland Mountains, + and to assume a defensive attitude which would enable him to take + advantage of such circumstances as might arise in the development of the + offensive campaign he knew we must make. The peculiar topography of the + country was much to his advantage, and while we had a broad river and + numerous spurs and ridges of the Cumberland Mountains to cross at a long + distance from our base, he was backed up on his depots of supply, and + connected by interior lines of railway with the different armies of the + Confederacy, so that he could be speedily reinforced. + </p> + <p> + Bridgeport was to be ultimately a sub-depot for storing subsistence + supplies, and one of the points at which our army would cross the + Tennessee, so I occupied it on July 29 with two brigades, retaining one at + Stevenson, however, to protect that railway junction from raids by way of + Caperton's ferry. By the 29th of August a considerable quantity of + supplies had been accumulated, and then began a general movement of our + troops for crossing the river. As there were not with the army enough + pontoons to complete the two bridges required, I was expected to build one + of them of trestles; and a battalion of the First Michigan Engineers under + Colonel Innis was sent me to help construct the bridge. Early on the 31st + I sent into the neighboring woods about fifteen hundred men with axes and + teams, and by nightfall they had delivered on the riverbank fifteen + hundred logs suitable for a trestle bridge. Flooring had been shipped to + me in advance by rail, but the quantity was insufficient, and the lack had + to be supplied by utilizing planking and weather-boarding taken from barns + and houses in the surrounding country. The next day Innis's engineers, + with the assistance of the detail that had felled the timber, cut and + half-notched the logs, and put the bridge across; spanning the main + channel, which was swimming deep, with four or five pontoons that had been + sent me for this purpose. On the 2d and 3d of September my division + crossed on the bridge in safety, though we were delayed somewhat because + of its giving way once where the pontoons joined the trestles. We were + followed by a few detachments from other commands, and by nearly all the + transportation of McCook's corps. + </p> + <p> + After getting to the south side of the Tennessee River I was ordered to + Valley Head, where McCook's corps was to concentrate. On the 4th of + September I ascended Sand Mountain, but had got only half way across the + plateau, on top, when night came, the march having been a most toilsome + one. The next day we descended to the base, and encamped near Trenton. On + the 10th I arrived at Valley Head, and climbing Lookout Mountain, encamped + on the plateau at Indian Falls. The following day I went down into + Broomtown Valley to Alpine. The march of McCook's corps from Valley Head + to Alpine was in pursuance of orders directing it to advance on + Summerville, the possession of which place would further threaten the + enemy's communications, it being assumed that Bragg was in full retreat + south, as he had abandoned Chattanooga on the 8th. This assumption soon + proved erroneous, however, and as we, while in Broomtown Valley, could not + communicate directly with Thomas's corps, the scattered condition of the + army began to alarm us all, and McCook abandoned the advance to + Summerville, ordering back to the summit of Lookout Mountain such of the + corps trains as had got down into Broomtown Valley. + </p> + <p> + But before this I had grown uneasy in regard to the disjointed situation + of our army, and, to inform myself of what was going on, determined to + send a spy into the enemy's lines. In passing Valley Head on the 10th my + scout Card, who had been on the lookout for some one capable to undertake + the task, brought me a Union man with whom he was acquainted, who lived on + Sand Mountain, and had been much persecuted by guerrillas on account of + his loyal sentiments. He knew the country well, and as his loyalty was + vouched for I asked him to go into the enemy's camp, which I believed to + be near Lafayette, and, bring me such information as he could gather. He + said such a journey would be at the risk of his life, and that at best he + could not expect to remain in that section of country if he undertook it, + but that he would run all the chances if I would enable him to emigrate to + the West at the end c f the "job," which I could do by purchasing the + small "bunch" of stock he owned on the mountain. To this I readily + assented, and he started on the delicate undertaking. He penetrated the + enemy's lines with little difficulty, but while prosecuting his search for + information was suspected, and at once arrested and placed under guard. + From this critical situation he escaped; however, making his way through + the enemy's picket-line in the darkness by crawling on his belly and + deceiving the sentinels by imitating the grunts of the half-wild, + sand-colored hogs with which the country abounded. He succeeded in + reaching Rosecrans's headquarters finally, and there gave the definite + information that Bragg intended to fight, and that he expected to be + reinforced by Longstreet. + </p> + <p> + By this time it was clear that Bragg had abandoned Chattanooga with the + sole design of striking us in detail as we followed in pursuit; and to + prevent his achieving this purpose orders came at 12 o'clock, midnight, + for McCook to draw in toward Chattanooga. This could be done only by + recrossing Lookout Mountain, the enemy's army at Lafayette now interposing + between us and Thomas's corps. The retrograde march began at once. I moved + back over the mountain on the 13th and 14th to Stevens's Mills, and on the + 15th and 16th recrossed through Stevens's Gap, in the Lookout range, and + encamped at its base in McLamore's cove. The march was made with all + possible celerity, for the situation was critical and demanded every + exertion. The ascent and descent of the mountains was extremely + exhausting, the steep grades often rendering it necessary to drag up and + let down by hand both the transportation and artillery. But at last we + were in conjunction with the main army, and my division breathed easier. + </p> + <p> + On the 17th I remained in line of battle all day and night in front of + McLamore's cove, the enemy making slight demonstrations against me from + the direction of Lafayette. The main body of the army having bodily moved + to the left meanwhile, I followed it on the 18th, encamping at Pond + Spring. On the 19th I resumed the march to the left and went into line of + battle at Crawfish Springs to cover our right and rear. Immediately after + forming this line, I again became isolated by the general movement to the + left, and in consequence was directed to advance and hold the ford of + Chickamauga Creek at Lee and Gordon's Mills, thus coming into close + communication with the balance of our forces. I moved into this position + rapidly, being compelled, though, first to drive back the enemy's cavalry + skirmishers, who, having crossed to the west side of the creek, annoyed + the right flank of my column a good deal while en route. + </p> + <p> + Upon arrival at Lee and Gordon's Mills I found the ford over Chickamauga + Creek temporarily uncovered, through the hurried movement of Wood to the + assistance of Davis's division. The enemy was already present in small + force, with the evident intention of taking permanent possession, but my + troops at once actively engaged him and recovered the ford with some + slight losses. Scarcely had this been done when I was directed to assist + Crittenden. Leaving Lytle's brigade at the ford, I proceeded with + Bradley's and Laiboldt's to help Crittenden, whose main line was formed to + the east of the Chattanooga and Lafayette road, its right trending toward + a point on Chickamauga Creek about a mile and a half north of Lee and + Gordon's Mills. By the time I had joined Crittenden with my two brigades, + Davis had been worsted in an attack Rosecrans had ordered him to make on + the left of that portion of the enemy's line which was located along the + west bank of the Chickamauga, the repulse being so severe that one of + Davis's batteries had to be abandoned. Bradley's brigade arrived on the + ground first and was hastily formed and thrown into the fight, which up to + this moment had been very doubtful, fortune inclining first to one side, + then to the other. Bradley's brigade went in with steadiness, and charging + across an open corn-field that lay in front of the Lafayette road, + recovered Davis's guns and forced the enemy to retire. Meanwhile + Laiboldt's brigade had come on the scene, and forming it on Bradley's + right, I found myself at the end of the contest holding the ground which + was Davis's original position. It was an ugly fight and my loss was heavy, + including Bradley wounded. The temporary success was cheering, and when + Lytle's brigade joined me a little later I suggested to Crittenden that we + attack, but investigation showed that his troops, having been engaged all + day, were not in condition, so the suggestion could not be carried out. + </p> + <p> + The events of the day had indicated that Bragg's main object was to turn + Rosecrans's left; it was therefore still deemed necessary that the army + should continue its flank movement to the left, so orders came to draw my + troops in toward the widow Glenn's house. By strengthening the skirmish + line and shifting my brigades in succession from right to left until the + point designated was reached, I was able to effect the withdrawal without + much difficulty, calling in my skirmish line after the main force had + retired. + </p> + <p> + My command having settled down for the night in this new line I rode to + army headquarters, to learn if possible the expectations for the morrow + and hear the result of the battle in General Thomas's front. Nearly all + the superior officers of the army were at headquarters, and it struck me + that much depression prevailed, notwithstanding the fact that the enemy's + attempts during the day to turn our left flank and also envelop our right + had been unsuccessful. It was now positively known, through prisoners and + otherwise, that Bragg had been reinforced to such an extent as to make him + materially outnumber us, consequently there was much apprehension for the + future. + </p> + <p> + The necessity of protecting our left was most apparent, and the next day + the drifting in that direction was to be continued. This movement in the + presence of the enemy, who at all points was actively seeking an + opportunity to penetrate our line and interpose a column between its right + and left, was most dangerous. But the necessity for shifting the army to + the left was obvious, hence only the method by which it was undertaken is + open to question. The move was made by the flank in the face of an + exultant foe superior in numbers, and was a violation of a simple and + fundamental military principle. Under such circumstances columns naturally + stretch out into attenuated lines, organizations become separated, and + intervals occur, all of which we experienced; and had the orders for the + movement been construed properly I doubt if it could have been executed + without serious danger. Necessity knows no law, however, and when all the + circumstances of this battle are fully considered it is possible that + justification may be found for the manoeuvres by which the army was thus + drifted to the left. We were in a bad strait unquestionably, and under + such conditions possibly the exception had to be applied rather than the + rule. + </p> + <p> + At daylight on the morning of the 20th a dense fog obscured everything; + consequently both armies were passive so far as fighting was concerned. + Rosecrans took advantage of the inaction to rearrange his right, and I was + pulled back closer to the widow Glenn's house to a strong position, where + I threw together some rails and logs as barricades, but I was disconnected + from the troops on my left by a considerable interval. Here I awaited the + approach of the enemy, but he did not disturb me, although about 9 o'clock + in the forenoon he had opened on our extreme left with musketry fire and a + heavy cannonade. Two hours later it was discovered by McCook that the + interval between the main army and me was widening, and he ordered me to + send Laiboldt's brigade to occupy a portion of the front that had been + covered by Negley's division. Before getting this brigade into place, + however, two small brigades of Davis's division occupied the ground, and I + directed Laiboldt to form in column of regiments on the crest of a low + ridge in rear of Carlin's brigade, so as to prevent Davis's right flank + from being turned. The enemy was now feeling Davis strongly, and I was + about sending for Lytle's and Bradley's brigades when I received an order + to move these rapidly to the extreme left of the army to the assistance of + General Thomas. I rode hastily back toward their position, but in the + meanwhile, they had been notified by direct orders from McCook, and were + moving out at a double-quick toward the Lafayette road. By this time the + enemy had assaulted Davis furiously in front and flank, and driven him + from his line, and as the confused mass came back, McCook ordered Laiboldt + to charge by deploying to the front. This he did through Davis's broken + ranks, but failed to check the enemy's heavy lines, and finally Laiboldt's + brigade broke also and fell to the rear. My remaining troops, headed by + Lytle, were now passing along the rear of the ground where this disaster + took place—in column on the road—en route to Thomas, and as + the hundreds of fugitives rushed back, McCook directed me to throw in + Lytle's and Bradley's brigades. This was hastily done, they being formed + to the front under a terrible fire. Scarcely were they aligned when the + same horde of Confederates that had overwhelmed Davis and Laiboldt poured + in upon them a deadly fire and shivered the two brigades to pieces. We + succeeded in rallying them, however, and by a counter attack regained the + ridge that Laiboldt had been driven from, where we captured the colors of + the Twenty-fourth Alabama. We could not hold the ridge, though, and my + troops were driven back with heavy loss, including General Lytle killed, + past the widow Glenn's house, and till I managed to establish them in line + of battle on a range of low hills behind the Dry Valley road. + </p> + <p> + During these occurrences General Rosecrans passed down the road behind my + line, and sent word that he wished to see me, but affairs were too + critical to admit of my going to him at once, and he rode on to + Chattanooga. It is to be regretted that he did not wait till I could join + him, for the delay would have permitted him to see that matters were not + in quite such bad shape as he supposed; still, there is no disguising the + fact that at this juncture his army was badly crippled. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after my division had rallied on the low hills already described, + I discovered that the enemy, instead of attacking me in front, was wedging + in between my division and the balance of the army; in short, endeavoring + to cut me off from Chattanooga. This necessitated another retrograde + movement, which brought me back to the southern face of Missionary Ridge, + where I was joined by Carlin's brigade of Davis's division. Still thinking + I could join General Thomas, I rode some distance to the left of my line + to look for a way out, but found that the enemy had intervened so far as + to isolate me effectually. I then determined to march directly to + Rossville, and from there effect a junction with Thomas by the Lafayette + road. I reached Rossville about o'clock in the afternoon, bringing with me + eight guns, forty-six caissons, and a long ammunition train, the latter + having been found in a state of confusion behind the widow Glenn's when I + was being driven back behind the Dry Valley road. + </p> + <p> + The head of my column passed through Rossville, appearing upon Thomas's + left about 6 o'clock in the evening, penetrated without any opposition the + right of the enemy's line, and captured several of his field-hospitals. As + soon as I got on the field I informed Thomas of the presence of my + command, and asked for orders. He replied that his lines were + disorganized, and that it would be futile to attack; that all I could do + was to hold on, and aid in covering his withdrawal to Rossville. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp285" id="linkp285"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p285.jpg (56K)" src="images/p285.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/p285.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + I accompanied him back to Rossville, and when we reached the skirt of the + little hamlet General Thomas halted and we dismounted. Going into one of + the angles of a worm fence near by I took a rail from the top and put it + through the lower rails at a proper height from the ground to make a seat, + and General Thomas and I sat down while, my troops were moving by. The + General appeared very much exhausted, seemed to forget what he had stopped + for, and said little or nothing of the incidents of the day. This was the + second occasion on which I had met him in the midst of misfortune, for + during the fight in the cedars at Stone River, when our prospects were + most disheartening, we held a brief conversation respecting the line he + was then taking up for the purpose of helping me. At other times, in + periods of inactivity, I saw but little of him. He impressed me, now as he + did in the cedars, his quiet, unobtrusive: demeanor communicating a gloomy + rather than a hopeful view of the situation. This apparent depression was + due no doubt to the severe trial through which he had gone in the last + forty-eight hours, which, strain had exhausted him very much both + physically and mentally. His success in maintaining his ground was + undoubtedly largely influenced by the fact that two-thirds of the National + forces had been sent to his succor, but his firm purpose to save the army + was the mainstay on which all relied after Rosecrans left the field. As + the command was getting pretty well past, I rose to go in order to put my + troops into camp. This aroused the General, when, remarking that he had a + little flask of brandy in his saddle-holster, he added that he had just + stopped for the purpose of offering me a drink, as he knew I must be very + tired. He requested one of his staff-officers to get the flask, and after + taking a sip himself, passed it to me. Refreshed by the brandy, I mounted + and rode off to supervise the encamping of my division, by no means an + easy task considering the darkness, and the confusion that existed among + the troops that had preceded us into Rossville. + </p> + <p> + This done, I lay down at the foot of a tree, with my saddle for a pillow, + and saddle-blanket for a cover. Some soldiers near me having built a fire, + were making coffee, and I guess I must have been looking on wistfully, for + in a little while they brought me a tin-cupful of the coffee and a small + piece of hard bread, which I relished keenly, it being the first food that + had passed my lips since the night before. I was very tired, very hungry, + and much discouraged by what had taken place since morning. I had been + obliged to fight my command under the most disadvantageous circumstances, + disconnected, without supports, without even opportunity to form in line + of battle, and at one time contending against four divisions of the enemy. + In this battle of Chickamauga, out of an effective strength Of 4,000 + bayonets, I had lost 1,517 officers and men, including two brigade + commanders. This was not satisfactory indeed, it was most depressing—and + then there was much confusion prevailing around Rossville; and, this + condition of things doubtless increasing my gloomy reflections, it did not + seem to me that the outlook for the next day was at all auspicious, unless + the enemy was slow to improve his present advantage. Exhaustion soon + quieted all forebodings, though, and I fell into a sound sleep, from which + I was not aroused till daylight. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the 21st the enemy failed to advance, and his inaction + gave us the opportunity for getting the broken and disorganized army into + shape. It took a large part of the day to accomplish this, and the chances + of complete victory would have been greatly in Bragg's favor if he could + have attacked us vigorously at this time. But he had been badly hurt in + the two days' conflict, and his inactivity on the 21st showed that he too + had to go through the process of reorganization. Indeed, his crippled + condition began to show itself the preceding evening, and I have always + thought that, had General Thomas held on and attacked the Confederate + right and rear from where I made the junction with him on the Lafayette + road, the field of Chickamauga would have been relinquished to us; but it + was fated to be otherwise. + </p> + <p> + Rosecrans, McCook, and Crittenden passed out of the battle when they went + back to Chattanooga, and their absence was discouraging to all aware of + it. Doubtless this had much to do with Thomas's final withdrawal, thus + leaving the field to the enemy, though at an immense cost in killed and + wounded. The night of the 21st the army moved back from Rossville, and my + division, as the rearguard of the Twentieth Corps, got within our lines at + Chattanooga about 8 o'clock the morning of the 22d. Our unmolested + retirement from Rossville lent additional force to the belief that the + enemy had been badly injured, and further impressed me with the conviction + that we might have held on. Indeed, the battle of Chickamauga was somewhat + like that of Stone River, victory resting with the side that had the grit + to defer longest its relinquishment of the field. + </p> + <p> + The manoeuvres by which Rosecrans had carried his army over the Cumberland + Mountains, crossed the Tennessee River, and possessed himself of + Chattanooga, merit the highest commendation up to the abandonment of this + town by Bragg on the 8th of September; but I have always fancied that that + evacuation made Rosecrans over-confident, and led him to think that he + could force Bragg south as far as Rome. After the Union army passed the + river and Chattanooga fell into our hands; we still kept pressing the + enemy's communications, and the configuration of the country necessitated + more or less isolation of the different corps. McCook's corps of three + divisions had crossed two difficult ridges—Sand and Lookout + mountains—to Alpine in Broomtown Valley with intentions against + Summerville. Thomas's corps had marched by the way of Stevens's Gap toward + Lafayette, which he expected to occupy. Crittenden had passed through + Chattanooga, at first directing his march an Ringgold. Thus the corps of + the army were not in conjunction, and between McCook and Thomas there + intervened a positive and aggressive obstacle in the shape of Bragg's army + concentrating and awaiting reinforcement at Lafayette. Under these + circumstances Bragg could have taken the different corps in detail, and it + is strange that he did not, even before receiving his reinforcements, turn + on McCook in Broomtown Valley and destroy him. + </p> + <p> + Intelligence that Bragg would give battle began to come to us from various + sources as early as the 10th of September, and on the 11th McCook found + that he could not communicate with Thomas by the direct road through + Broomtown Valley; but we did not begin closing in toward Chattanooga till + the 13th, and even then the Twentieth Corps had before it the certainty of + many delays that must necessarily result from the circuitous and difficult + mountain roads which we would be obliged to follow. Had the different + corps, beginning with McCook's, been drawn in toward Chattanooga between + the 8th and 12th of September, the objective point of the campaign would + have remained in our hands without the battle of Chickamauga, but, as has + been seen, this was not done. McCook was almost constantly on the march + day and night between the 13th and the 19th, ascending and descending + mountains, his men worried and wearied, so that when they appeared on the + battle-field, their fatigued condition operated greatly against their + efficiency. This delay in concentration was also the original cause of the + continuous shifting toward our left to the support of Thomas, by which + manoeuvre Rosecrans endeavored to protect his communications with + Chattanooga, and out of which grew the intervals that offered such + tempting opportunities to Bragg. In addition to all this, much transpired + on the field of battle tending to bring about disaster. There did not seem + to be any well-defined plan of action in the fighting; and this led to + much independence of judgment in construing orders among some of the + subordinate generals. It also gave rise to much license in issuing orders: + too many people were giving important directions, affecting the whole + army, without authority from its head. In view, therefore, of all the + errors that were committed from the time Chattanooga fell into our hands + after our first crossing the Tennessee, it was fortunate that the Union + defeat was not more complete, that it left in the enemy's possession not + much more than the barren results arising from the simple holding of the + ground on which the engagement was fought. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch16" id="linkch16"></a>CHAPTER XVI. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + AT CHATTANOOGA—THE ENEMY FORTIFIES LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND MISSIONARY + RIDGE—REORGANIZING THE ARMY—REMOVAL OF GENERAL ROSECRANS—PUNISHMENT + OF DESERTERS—GRANT AT CHATTANOOGA—THE FIGHT ON LOOKOUT + MOUNTAIN—A BRAVE COLOR-BEARER—BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE. + </p> + <p> + By 9 o'clock on the morning of September 22 my command took up a position + within the heavy line of intrenchments at Chattanooga, the greater part of + which defenses had been thrown up since the army commenced arriving there + the day before. The enemy, having now somewhat recovered from the shock of + the recent battle, followed carefully, and soon invested us close into our + lines with a parallel system of rifle-pits. He also began at once to erect + permanent lines of earthworks on Missionary Ridge and to establish himself + strongly on Lookout Mountain. He then sent Wheeler's cavalry north of the + Tennessee, and, aided greatly by the configuration of the ground, held us + in a state of partial siege, which serious rains might convert into a + complete investment. The occupation of Lookout Mountain broke our direct + communication with Bridgeport-our sub-depot—and forced us to bring + supplies by way of the Sequatchie Valley and Waldron's Ridge of the + Cumberland Mountains, over a road most difficult even in the summer + season, but now liable to be rendered impassable by autumn rains. The + distance to Bridgeport by this circuitous route was sixty miles, and the + numerous passes, coves, and small valleys through which the road ran + offered tempting opportunities, for the destruction of trains, and the + enemy was not slow to take advantage of them. Indeed, the situation was + not promising, and General Rosecrans himself, in communicating with the + President the day succeeding the battle of Chickamauga, expressed doubts + of his ability to hold the gateway of the Cumberland Mountains. + </p> + <p> + The position taken up by my troops inside the lines of Chattanooga was + near the old iron-works, under the shadow of Lookout Mountain. Here we + were exposed to a continual fire from the enemy's batteries for many days, + but as the men were well covered by secure though simple intrenchments, + but little damage was done. My own headquarters were established on the + grounds of Mr. William Crutchfield, a resident of the place, whose + devotion to the Union cause knew no bounds, and who rendered me—and, + in fact, at one time or another, nearly every general officer in the Army + of the Cumberland—invaluable service in the way of information about + the Confederate army. My headquarters camp frequently received shots from + the point of Lookout Mountain also, but fortunately no casualties resulted + from this plunging fire, though, I am free to confess, at first our nerves + were often upset by the whirring of twenty-pounder shells dropped + inconsiderately into our camp at untimely hours of the night. + </p> + <p> + In a few days rain began to fali, and the mountain roads by which our + supplies came were fast growing impracticable. Each succeeding train of + wagons took longer to make the trip from Bridgeport, and the draft mules + were dying by the hundreds. The artillery horses would soon go too, and + there was every prospect that later the troops would starve unless + something could be done. Luckily for my division, a company of the Second + Kentucky Cavalry had attached itself to my headquarters, and, though there + without authority, had been left undisturbed in view of a coming + reorganization of the army incidental to the removal of McCook and + Crittenden from the command of their respective corps, a measure that had + been determined upon immediately after the battle of Chickamauga. Desiring + to remain with me, Captain Lowell H. Thickstun, commanding this company, + was ready for any duty I might find, for him, so I ordered him into the + Sequatchie Valley for the purpose of collecting supplies for my troops, + and sent my scout, Card along to guide him to the best locations. The + company hid itself away in a deep cove in the upper end of the valley, and + by keeping very quiet and paying for everything it took from the people, + in a few days was enabled to send me large quantities of corn for my + animals and food for the officers and men, which greatly supplemented the + scanty supplies we were getting from the sub-depot at Bridgeport. In this + way I carried men and animals through our beleaguerment in pretty fair + condition, and of the turkeys, chickens, ducks, and eggs sent in for the + messes of my officers we often had enough to divide liberally among those + at different headquarters. Wheeler's cavalry never discovered my detached + company, yet the chances of its capture were not small, sometimes giving + much uneasiness; still, I concluded it was better to run all risks than to + let the horses die of starvation in Chattanooga. Later, after the battle + of Missionary Ridge, when I started to Knoxville, the company joined me in + excellent shape, bringing with it an abundance of food, including a small + herd of beef cattle. + </p> + <p> + The whole time my line remained near the iron-mills the shelling from + Lookout was kept up, the screeching shots inquisitively asking in their + well-known way, "Where are you? Where are you?" but it is strange to see + how readily, soldiers can become accustomed to the sound of dangerous + missiles under circumstances of familiarity, and this case was no + exception to the rule. Few casualties occurred, and soon contempt took the + place of nervousness, and as we could not reply in kind on account of the + elevation required for our guns, the men responded by jeers and + imprecations whenever a shell fell into their camp. + </p> + <p> + Meantime, orders having been issued for the organization of the army, + additional troops were attached to my command, and it became the Second + Division of the Fourth Army Corps, to which Major-General Gordon Granger + was assigned as commander. This necessitated a change of position of the + division, and I moved to ground behind our works, with my right resting on + Fort Negley and my left extending well over toward Fort Wood, my front + being parallel to Missionary Ridge. My division was now composed of + twenty-five regiments, classified into brigades and demi-brigades, the + former commanded by Brigadier-General G. D. Wagner, Colonel C. G. Harker, + and Colonel F. T. Sherman; the latter, by Colonels Laiboldt, Miller, Wood, + Walworth, and Opdyke. The demi-brigade was an awkward invention of + Granger's; but at this time it was necessitated—perhaps by the + depleted condition of our regiments, which compelled the massing of a + great number of regimental organizations into a division to give it weight + and force. + </p> + <p> + On October 16, 1863, General Grant had been assigned to the command of the + "Military Division of the Mississippi," a geographical area which embraced + the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee, thus + effecting a consolidation of divided commands which might have been + introduced most profitably at an earlier date. The same order that + assigned General Grant relieved General Rosecrans, and placed General + Thomas in command of the Army of the Cumberland. At the time of the + reception of the order, Rosecrans was busy with preparations for a + movement to open the direct road to Bridgeport—having received in + the interval, since we came back to Chattanooga, considerable + reinforcement by the arrival in his department of the Eleventh and Twelfth + corps, under General Hooker, from the Army of the Potomac. With this force + Rosecrans had already strengthened certain important points on the + railroad between Nashville and Stevenson, and given orders to Hooker to + concentrate at Bridgeport such portions of his command as were available, + and to hold them in readiness to advance toward Chattanooga. + </p> + <p> + On the 19th of October, after turning the command over to Thomas, General + Rosecrans quietly slipped away from the army. He submitted uncomplainingly + to his removal, and modestly left us without fuss or demonstration; ever + maintaining, though, that the battle of Chickamauga was in effect a + victory, as it had ensured us, he said, the retention of Chattanooga. When + his departure became known deep and almost universal regret was expressed, + for he was enthusiastically esteemed and loved by the Army of the + Cumberland, from the day he assumed command of it until he left it, + notwithstanding the censure poured upon him after the battle of + Chickamauga. + </p> + <p> + The new position to which my division had been moved, in consequence of + the reorganization, required little additional labor to strengthen it, and + the routine of fatigue duty and drills was continued as before, its + monotony occasionally broken by the excitement of an expected attack, or + by amusements of various kinds that were calculated to keep the men in + good spirits. Toward this result much was contributed by Mr. James E. + Murdock, the actor, who came down from the North to recover the body of + his son, killed at Chickamauga, and was quartered with me for the greater + part of the time he was obliged to await the successful conclusion of his + sad mission. He spent days, and even weeks, going about through the + division giving recitations before the camp-fires, and in improvised + chapels, which the men had constructed from refuse lumber and canvas. + Suiting his selections to the occasion, he never failed to excite intense + interest in the breasts of all present, and when circumstances finally + separated him from us, all felt that a debt of gratitude was due him that + could never be paid. The pleasure he gave, and the confident feeling that + was now arising from expected reinforcements, was darkened, however, by + one sad incident. Three men of my division had deserted their colors at + the beginning of the siege and made their way north. They were soon + arrested, and were brought back to stand trial for the worst offense that + can be committed by a soldier, convicted of the crime, and ordered to be + shot. To make the example effective I paraded the whole division for the + execution, and on the 13th of November, in the presence of their former + comrades, the culprits were sent, in accordance with the terms of their + sentence, to render their account to the Almighty. It was the saddest + spectacle I ever witnessed, but there could be no evasion, no mitigation + of the full letter of the law; its timely enforcement was but justice to + the brave spirits who had yet to fight the rebellion to the end. + </p> + <p> + General Grant arrived at Chattanooga on October 23, and began at once to + carry out the plans that had been formed for opening the shorter or river + road to Bridgeport. This object was successfully accomplished by the + moving of Hooker's command to Rankin's and Brown's ferries in concert with + a force from the Army of the Cumberland which was directed on the same + points, so by the 27th of October direct communication with our depots was + established. The four weeks which followed this cheering result were busy + with the work of refitting and preparing for offensive operations as soon + as General Sherman should reach us with his troops from West Tennessee. + During this period of activity the enemy committed the serious fault of + detaching Longstreet's corps—sending it to aid in the siege of + Knoxville in East Tennessee—an error which has no justification + whatever, unless it be based on the presumption that it was absolutely + necessary that Longstreet should ultimately rejoin Lee's army in Virginia + by way of Knoxville and Lynchburg, with a chance of picking up Burnside en + route. Thus depleted, Bragg still held Missionary Ridge in strong force, + but that part of his line which extended across the intervening valley to + the northerly point of. Lookout Mountain was much attenuated. + </p> + <p> + By the 18th of November General Grant had issued instructions covering his + intended operations. They contemplated that Sherman's column, which was + arriving by the north bank of the Tennessee, should cross the river on a + pontoon bridge just below the mouth of Chickamauga Creek and carry the + northern extremity of Missionary Ridge as far as the railroad tunnel; that + the Army of the Cumberland—the centre—should co-operate with + Sherman; and that Hooker with a mixed command should continue to hold + Lookout Valley and operate on our extreme right as circumstances might + warrant. Sherman crossed on the 24th to perform his alloted part of the + programme, but in the meantime Grant becoming impressed with the idea that + Bragg was endeavoring to get away, ordered Thomas to make a strong + demonstration in his front, to determine the truth or falsity of the + information that had been received. This task fell to the Fourth Corps, + and at 12 o'clock on the 23d I was notified that Wood's division would + make a reconnoissance to an elevated point in its front called Orchard + Knob, and that I was to support it with my division and prevent Wood's + right flank from being turned by an advance of the enemy on Moore's road + or from the direction of Rossville. For this duty I marched my division + out of the works about 2 p.m., and took up a position on Bushy Knob. + Shortly after we reached this point Wood's division passed my left flank + on its reconnoissance, and my command, moving in support of it, drove in + the enemy's picket-line. Wood's took possession of Orchard Knob easily, + and mine was halted on a low ridge to the right of the Knob, where I was + directed by General Thomas to cover my front by a strong line of + rifle-pits, and to put in position two batteries of the Fourth regular + artillery that had joined me from the Eleventh Corps. After dark Wood + began to feel uneasy about his right flank, for a gap existed between it + and my left, so I moved in closer to him, taking up a line where I + remained inactive till the 25th, but suffering some inconvenience from the + enemy's shells. + </p> + <p> + On the 24th General Sherman made an attack for the purpose of carrying the + north end of Missionary Ridge. His success was not complete, although at + the time it was reported throughout the army to be so. It had the effect + of disconcerting Bragg, however, and caused him to strengthen his right by + withdrawing troops from his left, which circumstance led Hooker to advance + on the northerly face of Lookout Mountain. At first, with good glasses, we + could plainly see Hooker's troops driving the Confederates up the face of + the mountain. All were soon lost to view in the dense timber, but emerged + again on the open ground, across which the Confederates retreated at a + lively pace, followed by the pursuing line, which was led by a + color-bearer, who, far in advance, was bravely waving on his comrades. The + gallantry of this man elicited much enthusiasm among us all, but as he was + a considerable distance ahead of his comrades I expected to see his + rashness punished at any moment by death or capture. He finally got quite + near the retreating Confederates, when suddenly they made a dash at him, + but he was fully alive to such a move, and ran back, apparently uninjured, + to his friends. About this time a small squad of men reached the top of + Lookout and planted the Stars and Stripes on its very crest. Just then a + cloud settled down on the mountain, and a heavy bank of fog obscured its + whole face. + </p> + <p> + After the view was lost the sharp rattle of musketry continued some time, + but practically the fight had been already won by Hooker's men, the enemy + only holding on with a rear-guard to assure his retreat across Chattanooga + Valley to Missionary Ridge. Later we heard very heavy cannonading, and + fearing that Hooker was in trouble I sent a staff-officer to find out + whether he needed assistance, which I thought could be given by a + demonstration toward Rossville. The officer soon returned with the report + that Hooker was all right, that the cannonading was only a part of a + little rear-guard fight, two sections of artillery making all the noise, + the reverberations from point to point in the adjacent mountains echoing + and reechoing till it seemed that at least fifty guns were engaged. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the 25th of November Bragg's entire army was holding + only the line of Missionary Ridge, and our troops, being now practically + connected from Sherman to Hooker, confronted it with the Army of the + Cumberland in the centre—bowed out along the front of Wood's + division and mine. Early in the day Sherman, with great determination and + persistence, made an attempt to carry the high ground near the tunnel, + first gaining and then losing advantage, but his attack was not crowned + with the success anticipated. Meanwhile Hooker and Palmer were swinging + across Chattanooga Valley, using me as a pivot for the purpose of crossing + Missionary Ridge in the neighborhood of Rossville. In the early part of + the day I had driven in the Confederate pickets in my front, so as to + prolong my line of battle on that of Wood, the necessity of continuing to + refuse my right having been obviated by the capture of Lookout Mountain + and the advance of Palmer. + </p> + <p> + About 2 o'clock orders came to carry the line at the foot of the ridge, + attacking at a signal of six guns. I had few changes or new dispositions + to make. Wagner's brigade, which was next to Wood's division, was formed + in double lines, and Harker's brigade took the same formation on Wagner's + right. Colonel F. T. Sherman's brigade came on Harker's right, formed in a + column of attack, with a front of three regiments, he having nine. My + whole front was covered with a heavy line of skirmishers. These + dispositions made, my right rested a little distance south of Moore's + road, my left joined Wood over toward Orchard Knob, while my centre was + opposite Thurman's house—the headquarters of General Bragg—on + Missionary Ridge. A small stream of water ran parallel to my front, as far + as which the ground was covered by a thin patch of timber, and beyond the + edge of the timber was an open plain to the foot of Missionary Ridge, + varying in width from four to nine hundred yards. At the foot of the ridge + was the enemy's first line of rifle-pits; at a point midway up its face, + another line, incomplete; and on the crest was a third line, in which + Bragg had massed his artillery. + </p> + <p> + The enemy saw we were making dispositions for an attack, and in plain view + of my whole division he prepared himself for resistance, marching + regiments from his left flank with flying colors; and filling up the + spaces not already occupied in his intrenchments. Seeing the enemy thus + strengthening himself, it was plain that we would have to act quickly if + we expected to accomplish much, and I already began to doubt the + feasibility of our remaining in the first line of rifle-pits when we + should have carried them. I discussed the order with Wagner, Harker, and + Sherman, and they were similarly impressed, so while anxiously awaiting + the signal I sent Captain Ransom of my staff to Granger, who was at Fort + Wood, to ascertain if we were to carry the first line or the ridge beyond. + Shortly after Ransom started the signal guns were fired, and I told my + brigade commanders to go for the ridge. + </p> + <p> + Placing myself in front of Harker's brigade, between the line of battle + and the skirmishers, accompanied by only an orderly so as not to attract + the enemy's fire, we moved out. Under a terrible storm of shot and shell + the line pressed forward steadily through the timber, and as it emerged on + the plain took the double-quick and with fixed bayonets rushed at the + enemy's first line. Not a shot was fired from our line of battle, and as + it gained on my skirmishers they melted into and became one with it, and + all three of my brigades went over the rifle-pits simultaneously. They + then lay down on the face of the ridge, for a breathing-spell and for + protection' from the terrible fire, of canister and musketry pouring over + us from the guns on the crest. At the rifle-pits there had been little use + for the bayonet, for most of the Confederate troops, disconcerted by the + sudden rush, lay close in the ditch and surrendered, though some few fled + up the slope to the next line. The prisoners were directed to move out to + our rear, and as their intrenchments had now come under fire from the + crest, they went with alacrity, and without guard or escort, toward + Chattanooga. + </p> + <p> + After a short pause to get breath the ascent of the ridge began, and I + rode, into the ditch of the intrenchments to drive out a few skulkers who + were hiding there. Just at this time I was joined by Captain Ransom, who, + having returned from Granger, told me that we were to carry only the line + at the base, and that in coming back, when he struck the left of the + division, knowing this interpretation of the order, he in his capacity as + an aide-de-camp had directed Wagner, who was up on the face of the ridge, + to return, and that in consequence Wagner was recalling his men to the + base. I could not bear to order the recall of troops now so gallantly + climbing the hill step by step, and believing we could take it, I + immediately rode to Wagner's brigade and directed it to resume the attack. + In the meantime Harker's and F. T. Sherman's troops were approaching the + partial line of works midway of the ridge, and as I returned to the centre + of their rear, they were being led by many stands of regimental colors. + There seemed to be a rivalry as to which color should be farthest to the + front; first one would go forward a few feet, then another would come up + to it, the color-bearers vying with one another as to who should be + foremost, until finally every standard was planted on the intermediate + works. The enemy's fire from the crest during the ascent was terrific in + the noise made, but as it was plunging, it over-shot and had little effect + on those above the second line of pits, but was very uncomfortable for + those below, so I deemed it advisable to seek another place, and Wagner's + brigade having reassembled and again pressed up the ridge, I rode up the + face to join my troops. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the men saw me, they surged forward and went over the works on + the crest. The parapet of the intrenchment was too high for my horse to + jump, so, riding a short distance to the left, I entered through a low + place in the line. A few Confederates were found inside, but they turned + the butts of their muskets toward me in token of surrender, for our men + were now passing beyond them on both their flanks. + </p> + <p> + The right and right centre of my division gained the summit first, they + being partially sheltered by a depression in the face of the ridge, the + Confederates in their immediate front fleeing down the southern face. When + I crossed the rifle-pits on the top the Confederates were still holding + fast at Bragg's headquarters, and a battery located there opened fire + along the crest; making things most uncomfortably hot. Seeing the danger + to which I was exposed, for I was mounted, Colonel Joseph Conrad, of the + Fifteenth Missouri, ran up and begged me to dismount. I accepted his + excellent advice, and it probably saved my life; but poor Conrad was + punished for his solicitude by being seriously wounded in the thigh at the + moment he was thus contributing to my safety. + </p> + <p> + Wildly cheering, the men advanced along the ridge toward Bragg's + headquarters, and soon drove the Confederates from this last position, + capturing a number of prisoners, among them Breckenridge's and Bates's + adjutant-generals, and the battery that had made such stout resistance on + the crest-two guns which were named "Lady Breckenridge" and "Lady Buckner" + General Bragg himself having barely time to escape before his headquarters + were taken. + </p> + <p> + My whole division had now reached the summit, and Wagner and Harker—the + latter slightly wounded—joined me as I was standing in the battery + just secured. The enemy was rapidly retiring, and though many of his + troops, with disorganized wagon-trains and several pieces of artillery, + could be distinctly seen in much confusion about half a mile distant in + the valley below, yet he was covering them with a pretty well organized + line that continued to give us a desultory fire. Seeing this, I at once + directed Wagner and Harker to take up the pursuit along Moore's road, + which led to Chickamauga Station—Bragg's depot of supply—and + as they progressed, I pushed Sherman's brigade along the road behind them. + Wagner and Harker soon overtook the rearguard, and a slight skirmish + caused it to break, permitting nine guns and a large number of wagons + which were endeavoring to get away in the stampede to fall into our hands. + </p> + <p> + About a mile and a half beyond Missionary Ridge, Moore's road passed over + a second ridge or high range of hills, and here the enemy had determined + to make a stand for that purpose, posting eight pieces of artillery with + such supporting force as he could rally. He was immediately attacked by + Harker and Wagner, but the position was strong, the ridge being rugged and + difficult of ascent, and after the first onset our men recoiled. A + staff-officer from Colonel Wood's demi-brigade informing me at this + juncture that that command was too weak to carry the position in its + front, I ordered the Fifteenth Indiana and the Twenty-Sixth Ohio to + advance to Wood's aid, and then hastening to the front I found his men + clinging to the face of the ridge, contending stubbornly with the + rear-guard of the enemy. Directing Harker to put Opdyke's demi-brigade in + on the right, I informed Wagner that it was necessary to flank the enemy + by carrying the high bluff on our left where the ridge terminated, that I + had designated the Twenty-Sixth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana for the work, + and that I wished him to join them. + </p> + <p> + It was now dusk, but the two regiments engaged in the flanking movement + pushed on to gain the bluff. Just as they reached the crest of the ridge + the moon rose from behind, enlarged by the refraction of the atmosphere, + and as the attacking column passed along the summit it crossed the moon's + disk and disclosed to us below a most interesting panorama, every figure + nearly being thrown out in full relief. The enemy, now outflanked on left + and right, abandoned his ground, leaving us two pieces of artillery and a + number of wagons. After this ridge was captured I found that no other + troops than mine were pursuing the enemy, so I called a halt lest I might + become too much isolated. Having previously studied the topography of the + country thoroughly, I knew that if I pressed on my line of march would + carry me back to Chickamauga station, where we would be in rear of the + Confederates that had been fighting General Sherman, and that there was a + possibility of capturing them by such action; but I did not feel warranted + in marching there alone, so I rode back to Missionary Ridge to ask for + more troops, and upon arriving there I found Granger in command, General + Thomas having gone back to Chattanooga. + </p> + <p> + Granger was at Braggy's late headquarters in bed. I informed him of my + situation and implored him to follow me up with the Army of the + Cumberland, but he declined, saying that he thought we had done well + enough. I still insisting, he told me finally to push on to the crossing + of Chickamauga Creek, and if I, encountered the enemy he would order + troops to my support. I returned to my division about 12 o'clock at night, + got it under way, and reached the crossing, about half a mile from the + station, at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 26th, and there found the + bridge destroyed, but that the creek was fordable. I did not encounter the + enemy in any force, but feared to go farther without assistance. This I + thought I might bring up by practicing a little deception, so I caused two + regiments to simulate an engagement by opening fire, hoping that this + would alarm Granger and oblige him to respond with troops, but my scheme + failed. General Granger afterward told me that he had heard the volleys, + but suspected their purpose, knowing that they were not occasioned by a + fight, since they were too regular in their delivery. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp317" id="linkp317"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p317.jpg (69K)" src="images/p317.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + I was much disappointed that my pursuit had not been supported, for I felt + that great results were in store for us should the enemy be vigorously + followed. Had the troops under Granger's command been pushed out with mine + when Missionary Ridge was gained, we could have reached Chickamauga + Station by 12 o'clock the night of the 25th; or had they been sent even + later, when I called for them, we could have got there by daylight and + worked incalculable danger to the Confederates, for the force that had + confronted Sherman did not pass Chickamauga Station in their retreat till + after daylight on the morning of the 26th. + </p> + <p> + My course in following so close was dictated by a thorough knowledge of + the topography of the country and a familiarity with its roads, bypaths, + and farm-houses, gained with the assistance of Mr. Crutchfield; and sure + my column was heading in the right direction, though night had fallen I + thought that an active pursuit would almost certainly complete the + destruction of Bragg's army. When General Grant came by my bivouac at the + crossing of Chickamauga Creek on the 26th, he realized what might have + been accomplished had the successful assault on Missionary Ridge been + supplemented by vigorous efforts on the part of some high officers, who + were more interested in gleaning that portion of the battle-field over + which my command had passed than in destroying a panic-stricken enemy. + </p> + <p> + Although it cannot be said that the result of the two days' operations was + reached by the methods which General Grant had indicated in his + instructions preceding the battle, yet the general outcome was + unquestionably due to his genius, for the manoeuvring of Sherman's and + Hooker's commands created the opportunity for Thomas's corps of the Army + of the Cumberland to carry the ridge at the centre. In directing Sherman + to attack the north end of the ridge, Grant disconcerted Bragg—who + was thus made to fear the loss of his depot of supplies at Chickamauga + Station—and compelled him to resist stoutly; and stout resistance to + Sherman meant the withdrawal of the Confederates from Lookout Mountain. + While this attack was in process of execution advantage was taken of it by + Hooker in a well-planned and well-fought battle, but to my mind an + unnecessary one, for our possession of Lookout was the inevitable result + that must follow from Sherman's threatening attitude. The assault on + Missionary Ridge by Granger's and Palmer's corps was not premeditated by + Grant, he directing only the line at its base to be carried, but when this + fell into our hands the situation demanded our getting the one at the top + also. + </p> + <p> + I took into the action an effective force of 6,000, and lost 123 officers + and 1,181 men killed and wounded. These casualties speak louder than words + of the character of the fight, and plainly tell where the enemy struggled + most stubbornly for these figures comprise one-third the casualties of the + entire body of Union troops—Sherman's and all included. My division + captured 1,762 prisoners and, in all, seventeen pieces of artillery. Six + of these guns I turned over with caissons complete; eleven were hauled off + the field and appropriated by an officer of high rank—General Hazen. + I have no disposition to renew the controversy which grew out of this + matter. At the time the occurrence took place I made the charge in a plain + official report, which was accepted as correct by the corps and army + commanders, from General Granger up to General Grant. General Hazen took + no notice of this report then, though well aware of its existence. Nearly + a quarter of a century later, however, he endeavored to justify his + retention of the guns by trying to show that his brigade was the first to + reach the crest of Missionary Ridge, and that he was therefore entitled to + them. This claim of being the first to mount the ridge is made by other + brigades than Hazen's, with equal if not greater force, so the absurdity + of his deduction is apparent: + </p> + <p> + NOTE: In a book published by General Hazen in 1885, he endeavored to show, + by a number of letters from subordinate officers of his command, written + at his solicitation from fifteen to twenty years after the occurrence, + that his brigade was the first to mount Missionary Ridge, and that it was + entitled to possess these guns. The doubtful character of testimony dimmed + by the lapse of many years has long been conceded, and I am content to let + the controversy stand the test of history, based on the conclusions of + General Grant, as he drew them from official reports made when the + circumstances were fresh in the minds of all. + </p> + <p> + General Grant says: "To Sheridan's prompt movement, the Army of the + Cumberland and the nation are indebted for the bulk of the capture of + prisoners, artillery, and small-arms that day. Except for his prompt + pursuit, so much in this way would not have been accomplished." + </p> + <p> + General Thomas says: "We captured all their cannon and ammunition before + they could be removed or destroyed. After halting a few moments to + reorganize the troops, who had become somewhat scattered in the assault of + the hill, General Sheridan pushed forward in pursuit, and drove those in + his front who had escaped capture across Chickamauga Creek." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF COLONEL FRANCIS T. SHERMAN, COMMANDING FIRST BRIGADE: "When + within ten yards of the crest, our men seemed to be thrown forward as if + by some powerful engine, and the old flag was planted firmly and surely on + the last line of works of the enemy, followed by the men, taking one + battery of artillery." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF COLONEL MICHAEL GOODING, TWENTY-SECOND INDIANA: ...."I pushed + men up to the second line of works as fast as possible; on and on, clear + to the top, and over the ridge they went, to the hollow beyond, killing + and wounding numbers of the enemy as we advanced, and leaving the rebel + battery in our rear. We captured great numbers of prisoners, and sent them + to the rear without guards, as we deemed the pursuit of the enemy of + greater importance.... "I cannot give too much praise to Captain Powers, + Company "H," Lieutenant Smith, Company "K," Lieutenant Gooding, Company + "A," and Second Lieutenant Moser, Company "G," for their assistance, and + for the gallant manner in which they encouraged their men up the side of + the mountain, and charging the enemy's works right up to the muzzles of + their guns." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF COLONEL JASON MARSH, SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS: ...."The first on + the enemy's works, and almost simultaneously, were Lieutenant Clement, + Company "A," Captain Stegner, Company "I," Captain Bacon, Company "G," and + Captain Leffingwell, with some of their men. The enemy was still in + considerable force behind their works; but, for some unaccountable reason, + they either fled or surrendered instantly upon the first few of our men + reaching them—not even trying to defend their battery, which was + immediately captured by Captain Stegner." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL PORTER C. OLSON, THIRTY-SIXTH ILLINOIS: + ...."In connection with other regiments of this brigade, we assisted in + capturing several pieces of artillery, a number of caissons, and a great + quantity of small-arms." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF COLONEL JOHN Q. LANE: ...."At the house known as Bragg's + headquarters, the enemy were driven from three guns, which fell into our + hands." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. D. WAGNER, SECOND BRIGADE: ...."I ordered + the command to storm the ridge, bringing up the Fifteenth Indiana and + Ninety-seventh Ohio, which had not yet been engaged, although suffering + from the enemy's artillery. The result is a matter of history, as we + gained the ridge, capturing artillery, prisoners, and small-arms; to what + amount, however, I do not know, as we pushed on after the enemy as soon as + I had re-formed the command. ....Captain Tinney, with his usual gallantry, + dashed up the line with the first troops, and with the aid of an orderly + (George Dusenbury, Fifteenth Indiana), turned the loaded gun of the enemy + on his retreating ranks." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. HEGLER, FIFTEENTH INDIANA: ...."Our captures + amounted to prisoners not counted, representing many different regiments; + several pieces of artillery, and some wagons." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ELIAS NEFF, FORTIETH INDIANA: ...."As the + regiment reached the top of the ridge and swept for. ward, the right + passed through, without stopping to take possession, the battery at + General Bragg's headquarters that had fired so venomously during the whole + contest." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J. MOORE, FIFTY-EIGHTH INDIANA: ...."In + passing to the front from Missionary Ridge, we saw several pieces of + artillery which had been abandoned by the enemy, though I did not leave + any one in charge of them." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF MAJOR C, M. HAMMOND, ONE HUNDREDTH ILLINOIS: ...."I immediately + organized my regiment, and while so doing discovered a number of pieces of + artillery in a ravine on my left. I sent Lieutenant Stewart, of Company A, + to see if these guns which the enemy had abandoned could not be turned + upon them. He returned and reported them to be four ten-pound Parrotts and + two brass Napoleons; also that it would require a number of men to place + them in position. I ordered him to report the same to General Wagner, and + ask permission, but before receiving a reply was ordered by you to move + forward my regiment on the left of the Fifty-Eighth Indiana Volunteers." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF COLONEL CHARLES G. HARKER, THIRD BRIGADE: ...."My right and + Colonel Sherman's left interlocked, so to speak, as we approached the + summit, and it was near this point that I saw the first part of my line + gain the crest. This was done by a few brave men of my own and Colonel + Sherman's command driving the enemy from his intrenchments. The gap thus + opened, our men rushed rapidly in, and the enemy, loth to give up their + position, still remained, firing at my command toward the left, and the + battery in front of the house known as General Bragg's headquarters was + still firing at the troops, and was captured by our men while the gunners + were still at their posts.... ...."We captured and sent to division and + corps headquarters 503 prisoners and a large number of small-arms. In + regard to the number of pieces of artillery, it will probably be difficult + to reconcile the reports of my regimental commanders with the reports of + other regiments and brigades who fought so nobly with my own command, and + who alike are entitled to share the honors and glories of the day. More + anxious to follow the enemy than to appropriate trophies already secured, + we pushed to the front, while the place we occupied on ascending the hill + was soon occupied by other troops, who, I have learned, claim the + artillery as having fallen into their own hands. It must therefore remain + with the division and corps commanders, who knew the relative position of + each brigade and division, to accord to each the trophies to which they + are due. ...."From my personal observation I can claim a battery of six + guns captured by a portion of my brigade." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF COLONEL EMERSON OPDYKE, FIRST DEMI-BRIGADE: ...."My command + captured Bragg's headquarters, house, and the six guns which were near + there; one of these I ordered turned upon the enemy, which was done with + effect." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF COLONEL H. C. DUNLAP, THIRD KENTUCKY: ...."The point at which + the centre of my regiment reached the crest was at the stable to the left + of the house said to be Bragg's headquarters, and immediately in front of + the road which leads down the southern slope of the ridge. One piece of + the abandoned battery, was to the left of this point, the remainder to the + right, near by." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. A. BULLITT, SIXTY-FIFTH OHIO: ...."The + position in which my regiment found itself was immediately in front of a + battery, which belched forth a stream of canister upon us with terrible + rapidity. In addition to this, the enemy, whenever driven from other + points, rallied around this battery, and defended it with desperation. It + cost a struggle to take it; but we finally succeeded, and the colors of + the Sixty-fifth Ohio were the first planted upon the yet smoking guns. + Captain Smith, of my regiment, was placed in charge of the captured + battery, which consisted of 5 guns, 3 caissons, and 17 horses." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF CAPTAIN E. P. BATES, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH OHIO: + ...."Perceiving that the ridge across which my regiment extended was + commanded to the very crest by a battery in front, also by those to right + and left, I directed the men to pass up the gorges on either side. About + forty men, with Captain Parks and Lieutenant Stinger, passed to the left, + the balance to the right, and boldly charged on, till, foremost with those + of other regiments, they stood on the strongest point of the enemy's + works, masters alike of his guns and position.... Captain Parks reports + his skirmish-line to have charged upon and captured one gun, that + otherwise would have been hauled off." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF COLONEL ALLEN BUCKNER, SEVENTY-NINTH ILLINOIS: ...."The right of + the regiment rested on the left of the road, where it crossed the rebel + fortification, leading up the hill toward Bragg's headquarters. We took a + right oblique direction through a peach orchard until arriving at the + woods and logs on the side of the ridge, when I ordered the men to + commence firing, which they did with good effect, and continued it all the + way up until the heights were gained. At this point the left of the + regiment was near the right of the house, and I claim that my officers and + men captured two large brass pieces, literally punching the cannoniers + from their guns. Privates John Fregan and Jasper Patterson, from Company + "A," rushed down the hill, captured one caisson, with a cannonier and six + horses, and brought them back." + </p> + <p> + REPORT OF COLONEL J. R. MILES, TWENTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS: ...."The regiment, + without faltering, finally, at about 4.30 P.M., gained the enemy's works + in conjunction with a party of the Thirty-sixth Illinois, who were + immediately on our right. The regiment, or a portion of it, proceeded to + the left, down the ridge, for nearly or quite a quarter of a mile + capturing three or four pieces of cannon, driving the gunners from them." + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch17" id="linkch17"></a>CHAPTER XVII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + ORDERED TO RETURN TO CHATTANOOGA—MARCH TO KNOXVILLE—COLLECTING + SUBSISTENCE STORES—A CLEVER STRATAGEM—A BRIDGE OF WAGONS—LOOKING + OUT FOR THE PERSONAL COMFORT OF THE SOLDIERS-A LEAVE OF ABSENCE—ORDERED + TO WASHINGTON—PARTING WITH SHERIDAN'S DIVISION. + </p> + <p> + The day after the battle of Missionary Ridge I was ordered in the evening + to return to Chattanooga, and from the limited supply of stores to be had + there outfit my command to march to the relief of Knoxville, where General + Burnside was still holding out against the besieging forces of General + Longstreet. When we left Murfreesboro' in the preceding June, the men's + knapsacks and extra clothing, as well as all our camp equipage, had been + left behind, and these articles had not yet reached us, so we were poorly + prepared for a winter campaign in the mountains of East Tennessee. There + was but little clothing to be obtained in Chattanooga, and my command + received only a few overcoats and a small supply of India-rubber ponchos. + We could get no shoes, although we stood in great need of them, for the + extra pair with which each man had started out from Murfreesboro' was now + much the worse for wear. The necessity for succoring Knoxville was urgent, + however, so we speedily refitted as thoroughly as was possible with the + limited means at hand. My division teams were in very fair condition in + consequence of the forage we had procured in the Sequatchie Valley, so I + left the train behind to bring up clothing when any should arrive in + Chattanooga. + </p> + <p> + Under these circumstances, on the 29th of November the Fourth Corps + (Granger's) took up the line of march for Knoxville, my men carrying in + their haversacks four days' rations, depending for a further supply of + food on a small steamboat loaded with subsistence stores, which was to + proceed up the Tennessee River and keep abreast of the column. + </p> + <p> + Not far from Philadelphia, Tennessee, the columns of General Sherman's + army, which had kept a greater distance from the river than Granger's + corps, so as to be able to subsist on the country, came in toward our + right and the whole relieving force was directed on Marysville, about + fifteen miles southwest of Knoxville. We got to Marysville December 5, and + learned the same day that Longstreet had shortly before attempted to take + Knoxville by a desperate assault, but signally failing, had raised the + siege and retired toward Bean's Station on the Rutledge, Rogersville, and + Bristol road, leading to Virginia. From Marysville General Sherman's + troops returned to Chattanooga, while Granger's corps continued on toward + Knoxville, to take part in the pursuit of Longstreet. + </p> + <p> + Burnside's army was deficient in subsistence, though not to the extent + that we had supposed before leaving Chattanooga. It had eaten out the + country in the immediate vicinity of Knoxville, however; therefore my + division did not cross the Holstein River, but was required, in order to + maintain itself, to proceed to the region of the French Broad River. To + this end I moved to Sevierville, and making this village my headquarters, + the division was spread out over the French Broad country, between Big + Pigeon and Little Pigeon rivers, where we soon had all the mills in + operation, grinding out plenty of flour and meal. The whole region was + rich in provender of all kinds, and as the people with rare exceptions + were enthusiastically loyal, we in a little while got more than enough + food for ourselves, and by means of flatboats began sending the surplus + down the river to the troops at Knoxville. + </p> + <p> + The intense loyalty of this part of Tennessee exceeded that of any other + section I was in during the war. The people could not do too much to aid + the Union cause, and brought us an abundance of everything needful. The + women were especially loyal, and as many of their sons and husbands, who + had been compelled to "refugee" on account of their loyal sentiments, + returned with us, numbers of the women went into ecstasies of joy when + this part of the Union army appeared among them. So long as we remained in + the French Broad region, we lived on the fat of the land, but unluckily + our stay was to be of short duration, for Longstreet's activity kept the + department commander in a state of constant alarm. + </p> + <p> + Soon after getting the mills well running, and when the shipment of their + surplus product down the river by flatboats had begun, I was ordered to + move to Knoxville, on account of demonstrations by Longstreet from the + direction of Blain's crossroads. On arriving at Knoxville, an inspection + of my command, showed that the shoes of many of the men were entirely worn + out, the poor fellows having been obliged to protect their feet with a + sort of moccasin, made from their blankets or from such other material as + they could procure. About six hundred of the command were in this + condition, plainly not suitably shod to withstand the frequent storms of + sleet and snow. These men I left in Knoxville to await the arrival of my + train, which I now learned was en route from Chattanooga with shoes, + overcoats, and other clothing, and with the rest of the division proceeded + to Strawberry Plains, which we reached the latter part of December. + </p> + <p> + Mid-winter was now upon us, and the weather in this mountain region of + East Tennessee was very cold, snow often falling to the depth of several + inches. The thin and scanty clothing of the men afforded little + protection, and while in bivouac their only shelter was the ponchos with + which they had been provided before leaving Chattanooga; there was not a + tent in the command. Hence great suffering resulted, which I anxiously + hoped would be relieved shortly by the arrival of my train with supplies. + In the course of time the wagons reached Knoxville, but my troops derived + little comfort from this fact, for the train was stopped by General + Foster, who had succeeded Burnside in command of the department, its + contents distributed pro rata to the different organizations of the entire + army, and I received but a small share. This was very disappointing, not + to say exasperating, but I could not complain of unfairness, for every + command in the army was suffering to the same extent as mine, and yet it + did seem that a little forethought and exertion on the part of some of the + other superior officers, whose transportation was in tolerable condition, + might have ameliorated the situation considerably. I sent the train back + at once for more clothing, and on its return, just before reaching + Knoxville, the quartermaster in charge, Captain Philip Smith, filled the + open spaces in the wagons between the bows and load with fodder and hay, + and by this clever stratagem passed it through the town safe and + undisturbed as a forage train. On Smith's arrival we lost no time in + issuing the clothing, and when it had passed into the hands of the + individual soldiers the danger of its appropriation for general + distribution, like the preceding invoice, was very remote. + </p> + <p> + General Foster had decided by this time to move his troops to Dandridge + for the twofold purpose of threatening the enemy's left and of getting + into a locality where we could again gather subsistence from the French + Broad region. Accordingly we began an advance on the 15th of January, the + cavalry having preceded us some time before. The Twenty-third Corps and + Wood's division of the Fourth Corps crossed the Holstein River by a bridge + that had been constructed at Strawberry Plains. My division being higher + up the stream, forded it, the water very deep and bitter cold, being + filled with slushy ice. Marching by way of New Market, I reached Dandridge + on the 17th, and here on my arrival met General Sturgis, then commanding + our cavalry. He was on the eve of setting out to, "whip the enemy's + cavalry," as he said, and wanted me to go along and see him do it. I + declined, however, for being now the senior officer present, Foster, + Parke, and Granger having remained at Knoxville and Strawberry Plains, + their absence left me in command, and it was necessary that I should make + disposition of the infantry when it arrived. As there were indications of + a considerable force of the enemy on the Russellville road I decided to + place the troops in line of battle, so as to be prepared for any emergency + that might arise in the absence of the senior officers, and I deemed it + prudent to supervise personally the encamping of the men. This disposition + necessarily required that some of the organizations should occupy very + disagreeable ground, but I soon got all satisfactorily posted with the + exception of General Willich, who expressed some discontent at being + placed beyond the shelter of the timber, but accepted the situation + cheerfully when its obvious necessity was pointed out to him. + </p> + <p> + Feeling that all was secure, I returned to my headquarters in the village + with the idea that we were safely established in ease of attack, and that + the men would now have a good rest if left undisturbed; and plenty to eat, + but hardly had I reached my own camp when a staff-officer came post-haste + from Sturgis with the information that he was being driven back to my + lines, despite the confident invitation to me (in the morning) to go out + and witness the whipping which was to be given to the enemy's cavalry. + Riding to the front, I readily perceived that the information was correct, + and I had to send a brigade of infantry out to help Sturgis, thus + relieving him from a rather serious predicament. Indeed, the enemy was + present in pretty strong force, both cavalry and infantry, and from his + vicious attack on Sturgis it looked very much as though he intended to + bring on a general engagement. + </p> + <p> + Under such circumstances I deemed it advisable that the responsible + commanders of the army should be present, and so informed them. My + communication brought Parke and Granger to the front without delay, but + Foster could not come, since the hardships of the winter had reopened an + old wound received during the Mexican War, and brought on much suffering. + By the time Parke and Granger arrived, however, the enemy, who it turned + out was only making a strong demonstration to learn the object of our + movement on Dandridge, seemed satisfied with the results of his + reconnoissance, and began falling back toward Bull's Gap. Meanwhile Parke + and Granger concluded that Dandridge was an untenable point, and hence + decided to withdraw a part of the army to Strawberry Plains; and the + question of supplies again coming up, it was determined to send the Fourth + Corps to the south side of the French Broad to obtain subsistence, + provided we could bridge the river so that men could get across the deep + and icy stream without suffering. + </p> + <p> + I agreed to undertake the construction of a bridge on condition that each + division should send to the ford twenty-five wagons with which to make it. + This being acceded to, Harker's brigade began the work next morning at a + favorable point a few miles down the river. As my quota of wagons arrived, + they were drawn into the stream one after another by the wheel team, six + men in each wagon, and as they successively reached the other side of the + channel the mules were unhitched, the pole of each wagon run under thre + hind axle of the one just in front, and the tailboards used so as to span + the slight space between them. The plan worked well as long as the + material lasted, but no other wagons than my twenty-five coming on the + ground, the work stopped when the bridge was only half constructed. + Informed of the delay and its cause, in sheer desperation I finished the + bridge by taking from my own division all the wagons needed to make up the + deficiency. + </p> + <p> + It was late in the afternoon when the work was finished, and I began + putting over one of my brigades; but in the midst of its crossing word + came that Longstreet's army was moving to attack us, which caused an + abandonment of the foraging project, and orders quickly followed to retire + to Strawberry Plains, the retrograde movement to begin forthwith. I sent + to headquarters information of the plight I was in—baggage and + supplies on the bank and wagons in the stream—begged to know what + was to become of them if we were to hurry off at a moment's notice, and + suggested that the movement be delayed until I could recover my + transportation. Receiving in reply no assurances that I should be relieved + from my dilemma—and, in fact, nothing satisfactory—I + determined to take upon myself the responsibility of remaining on the + ground long enough to get my wagons out of the river; so I sent out a + heavy force to watch for the enemy, and with the remainder of the command + went to work to break up the bridge. Before daylight next morning I had + recovered everything without interference by Longstreet, who, it was + afterward ascertained, was preparing to move east toward Lynchburg instead + of marching to attack us; the small demonstration against Dandridge, being + made simply to deceive us as to his ultimate object. I marched to + Strawberry Plains unmolested, and by taking the route over Bay's Mountain, + a shorter one than that followed by the main body of our troops, reached + the point of rendezvous as soon as the most of the army, for the road it + followed was not only longer, but badly cut up by trains that had recently + passed over it. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after getting into camp, the beef contractor came in and reported + that a detachment of the enemy's cavalry had captured my herd of beef + cattle. This caused me much chagrin at first, but the commissary of my + division soon put in an appearance, and assured me that the loss would not + be very disastrous to us nor of much benefit to the enemy, since the + cattle were so poor and weak that they could not be driven off. A + reconnoissance in force verified the Commissary's statement. From its + inability to travel, the herd, after all efforts to carry it off had + proved ineffectual, had been abandoned by its captors. + </p> + <p> + After the troops from Chattanooga arrived in the vicinity of Knoxville and + General Sherman had returned to Chattanooga, the operations in East + Tennessee constituted a series of blunders, lasting through the entire + winter; a state of affairs doubtless due, in the main, to the fact that + the command of the troops was so frequently changed. Constant shifting of + responsibility from one to another ensued from the date that General + Sherman, after assuring himself that Knoxville was safe, devolved the + command on Burnside. It had already been intimated to Burnside that he was + to be relieved, and in consequence he was inactive and apathetic, + confining his operations to an aimless expedition whose advance extended + only as far as Blain's crossroads, whence it was soon withdrawn. Meanwhile + General Foster had superseded Burnside, but physical disabilities rendered + him incapable of remaining in the field, and then the chief authority + devolved on Parke. By this time the transmission of power seemed almost a + disease; at any rate it was catching, so, while we were en route to + Dandridge, Parke transferred the command to Granger. The latter next + unloaded it on me, and there is no telling what the final outcome would + have been had I not entered a protest against a further continuance of the + practice, which remonstrance brought Granger to the front at Dandridge. + </p> + <p> + While the events just narrated were taking place, General Grant had made a + visit to Knoxville—about the last of December—and arranged to + open the railroad between there and Chattanooga, with a view to supplying + the troops in East Tennessee by rail in the future, instead of through + Cumberland Gap by a tedious line of wagon-trains. In pursuance of his plan + the railroad had already been opened to Loudon, but here much delay + occurred on account of the long time it took to rebuild the bridge over + the Tennessee. Therefore supplies were still very scarce, and as our + animals were now dying in numbers from starvation, and the men were still + on short allowance, it became necessary that some of the troops east of + Knoxville should get nearer to their depot, and also be in a position to + take part in the coming Georgia campaign, or render assistance to General + Thomas, should General Johnston (who had succeeded in command of the + Confederate army) make any demonstration against Chattanooga. Hence my + division was ordered to take station at Loudon, Tennessee, and I must + confess that we took the road for that point with few regrets, for a + general disgust prevailed regarding our useless marches during the winter. + </p> + <p> + At this time my faithful scout Card and his younger brother left me, with + the determination, as I have heretofore related, to avenge their brother's + death. No persuasion could induce Card to remain longer, for knowing that + my division's next operation would be toward Atlanta, and being ignorant + of the country below Dalton, he recognized and insisted that his services + would then become practically valueless. + </p> + <p> + At Loudon, where we arrived January 27, supplies were more plentiful, and + as our tents and extra clothing reached us there in a few days, every one + grew contented and happy. Here a number of my regiments, whose terms of + service were about to expire, went through the process of "veteranizing," + and, notwithstanding the trials and hardships of the preceding nine + months, they re-enlisted almost to a man. + </p> + <p> + When everything was set in motion toward recuperating and refitting my + troops, I availed myself of the opportunity during a lull that then + existed to take a short leave of absence—a privilege I had not + indulged in since entering the service in 1853. This leave I spent in the + North with much benefit to my physical condition, for I was much run down + by fatiguing service, and not a little troubled by intense pain which I at + times still suffered from my experience in the unfortunate hand-car + incident on the Cumberland Mountains the previous July. I returned from + leave the latter part of March, rejoining my division with the expectation + that the campaign in that section would begin as early as April. + </p> + <p> + On the 12th of March, 1864, General Grant was assigned to the command of + the armies of the United States, as general-in-chief. He was already in + Washington, whither he had gone to receive his commission as + lieutenant-general. Shortly after his arrival there, he commenced to + rearrange the different commands in the army to suit the plans which he + intended to enter upon in the spring, and out of this grew a change in my + career. Many jealousies and much ill-feeling, the outgrowth of former + campaigns, existed among officers of high grade in the Army of the Potomac + in the winter of 1864, and several general officers were to be sent + elsewhere in consequence. Among these, General Alfred Pleasonton was to be + relieved from the command of the cavalry, General Grant having expressed + to the President dissatisfaction that so little had hitherto been + accomplished by that arm of the service, and I was selected as chief of + the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac, receiving on the night of + the 23d of March from General Thomas at Chattanooga the following + telegram: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> "MARCH 23, 1864.<br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, Chattanooga<br /> + <br /> "Lieutenant-General Grant directs that Major-General Sheridan + immediately repair to Washington and report to the Adjutant-General of + the Army.<br /> <br /> "H. W. HALLECK,<br /> Major-General, + Chief-of-Staff."<br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + I was not informed of the purpose for which I was to proceed to + Washington, but I conjectured that it meant a severing of my relations + with the Second Division, Fourth Army Corps. I at once set about obeying + the order, and as but little preparation was necessary, I started for + Chattanooga the next day, without taking any formal leave of the troops I + had so long commanded. I could not do it; the bond existing between them + and me had grown to such depth of attachment that I feared to trust my + emotions in any formal parting from a body of soldiers who, from our + mutual devotion, had long before lost their official designation, and by + general consent within and without the command were called "Sheridan's + Division." When I took the train at the station the whole command was + collected on the hill-sides around to see me off. They had assembled + spontaneously, officers and men, and as the cars moved out for Chattanooga + they waved me farewell with demonstrations of affection. + </p> + <p> + A parting from such friends was indeed to be regretted. They had never + given me any trouble, nor done anything that could bring aught but honor + to themselves. I had confidence in them, and I believe they had in me. + They were ever steady, whether in victory or in misfortune, and as I tried + always to be with them, to put them into the hottest fire if good could be + gained, or save them from unnecessary loss, as occasion required, they + amply repaid all my care and anxiety, courageously and readily meeting all + demands in every emergency that arose. + </p> + <p> + In Kentucky, nearly two years before, my lot had been cast with about half + of the twenty-five regiments of infantry that I was just leaving, the rest + joining me after Chickamauga. It was practically a new arm of the service + to me, for although I was an infantry officer, yet the only large command + which up to that time I had controlled was composed of cavalry, and most + of my experience had been gained in this arm of the service. I had to + study hard to be able to master all the needs of such a force, to feed and + clothe it and guard all its interests. When undertaking these + responsibilities I felt that if I met them faithfully, recompense would + surely come through the hearty response that soldiers always make to + conscientious exertion on the part of their superiors, and not only that + more could be gained in that way than from the use of any species of + influence, but that the reward would be quicker. Therefore I always tried + to look after their comfort personally; selected their camps, and provided + abundantly for their subsistence, and the road they opened for me shows + that my work was not in vain. I regretted deeply to have to leave such + soldiers, and felt that they were sorry I was going, and even now I could + not, if I would, retain other than the warmest sentiments of esteem and + the tenderest affection for the officers and men of "Sheridan's Division," + Army of the Cumberland. + </p> + <p> + On reaching Chattanooga I learned from General Thomas the purpose for + which I had been ordered to Washington. I was to be assigned to the + command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The information + staggered me at first, for I knew well the great responsibilities of such + a position; moreover, I was but slightly acquainted with military + operations in Virginia, and then, too, the higher officers of the Army of + the Potomac were little known to me, so at the moment I felt loth to + undergo the trials of the new position. Indeed, I knew not a soul in + Washington except General Grant and General Halleck, and them but + slightly, and no one in General Meade's army, from the commanding general + down, except a few officers in the lower grades, hardly any of whom I had + seen since graduating at the Military Academy. + </p> + <p> + Thus it is not much to be wondered at that General Thomas's communication + momentarily upset me. But there was no help for it, so after reflecting on + the matter a little I concluded to make the best of the situation. As in + Virginia I should be operating in a field with which I was wholly + unfamiliar, and among so many who were strangers, it seemed to me that it + would be advisable to have, as a chief staff-officer, one who had had + service in the East, if an available man could be found. In weighing all + these considerations in my mind, I fixed upon Captain James W. Forsyth, of + the Eighteenth Infantry, then in the regular brigade at Chattanooga—a + dear friend of mine, who had served in the Army of the Potomac, in the + Peninsula and Antietam campaigns. He at once expressed a desire to accept + a position on my staff, and having obtained by the next day the necessary + authority, he and I started for Washington, accompanied by Lieutenant T. + W. C. Moore, one of my aides, leaving behind Lieutenant M. V. Sheridan, my + other aide, to forward our horses as soon as they should be sent down to + Chattanooga from Loudon, after which he was to join me. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch18" id="linkch18"></a>CHAPTER XVIII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + AT WASHINGTON—MEETING SECRETARY STANTON—INTERVIEW WITH + PRESIDENT LINCOLN—MADE COMMANDER OF THE CAVALRY CORPS OF THE ARMY OF + THE POTOMAC—ITS OFFICERS—GENERAL MEADE's METHOD OF USING + CAVALRY—OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN—SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.—A + DIFFERENCE WITH GENERAL MEADE—PREPARING TO FIGHT STUART'S CAVALRY. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linksheridan2" id="linksheridan2"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p345-Sheridan.jpg (32K)" src="images/p345-Sheridan.jpg" style="width:100%;" + /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Accompanied by Captain Forsyth and Lieutenant Moore, I arrived in + Washington on the morning of April, 4, 1864, and stopped at Willard's + Hotel, where, staying temporarily, were many officers of the Army of the + Potomac en route to their commands from leave at the North. Among all + these, however, I was an entire stranger, and I cannot now recall that I + met a single individual whom I had ever before known. + </p> + <p> + With very little delay after reaching my hotel I made my way to General + Halleck's headquarters and reported to that officer, having learned in the + meantime that General Grant was absent from the city. General Halleck + talked to me for a few minutes, outlining briefly the nature and duties of + my new command, and the general military situation in Virginia. When he + had finished all he had to say about these matters, he took me to the + office of the Secretary of War, to present me to Mr. Stanton. During the + ceremony of introduction, I could feel that Mr. Stanton was eying me + closely and searchingly, endeavoring to form some estimate of one about + whom he knew absolutely nothing, and whose career probably had never been + called to his attention until General Grant decided to order me East, + after my name had been suggested by General Halleck in an interview the + two generals had with Mr. Lincoln. I was rather young in appearance—looking + even under than over thirty-three years—but five feet five inches in + height, and thin almost to emaciation, weighing only one hundred and + fifteen pounds. If I had ever possessed any self-assertion in manner or + speech, it certainly vanished in the presence of the imperious Secretary, + whose name at the time was the synonym of all that was cold and formal. I + never learned what Mr. Stanton's first impressions of me were, and his + guarded and rather calculating manner gave at this time no intimation that + they were either favorable or unfavorable, but his frequent commendation + in after years indicated that I gained his goodwill before the close of + the war, if not when I first came to his notice; and a more intimate + association convinced me that the cold and cruel characteristics popularly + ascribed to him were more mythical than real. + </p> + <p> + When the interview with the Secretary was over, I proceeded with General + Halleck to the White House to pay my respects to the President. Mr. + Lincoln received me very cordially, offering both his hands, and saying + that he hoped I would fulfill the expectations of General Grant in the new + command I was about to undertake, adding that thus far the cavalry of the + Army of the Potomac had not done all it might have done, and wound up our + short conversation by quoting that stale interrogation so prevalent during + the early years of the war, "Who ever saw a dead cavalryman?" His manner + did not impress me, however, that in asking the question he had meant + anything beyond a jest, and I parted from the President convinced that he + did not believe all that the query implied. + </p> + <p> + After taking leave I separated from General Halleck, and on returning to + my hotel found there an order from the War Department assigning me to the + command of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. The next morning, April + 5, as I took the cars for the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, + General Grant, who had returned to Washington the previous night from a + visit to his family, came aboard the train on his way to Culpeper Court + House, and on the journey down I learned among other things that he had + wisely determined to continue personally in the field, associating himself + with General Meade's army; where he could supervise its movements + directly, and at the same time escape the annoyances which, should he + remain in Washington, would surely arise from solicitude for the safety of + the Capital while the campaign was in progress. When we reached Brandy + Station, I left the train and reported to General Meade, who told me that + the headquarters of the Cavalry Corps were some distance back from the + Station, and indicated the general locations of the different divisions of + the corps, also giving me, in the short time I remained with him, much + information regarding their composition. + </p> + <p> + I reached the Cavalry Corps headquarters on the evening of April 5, 1864, + and the next morning issued orders assuming command. General Pleasonton + had but recently been relieved, and many of his staff-officers were still + on duty at the headquarters awaiting the arrival of the permanent + commander. I resolved to retain the most of these officers on my staff, + and although they were all unknown to me when I decided on this course, + yet I never had reason to regret it, nor to question the selections made + by my predecessor. + </p> + <p> + The corps consisted of three cavalry divisions and twelve batteries of + horse artillery. Brigadier-General A. T. A. Torbert was in command of the + First Division, which was composed of three brigades; Brigadier-General D. + McM. Gregg, of the Second, consisting of two brigades; and + Brigadier-General J. H. Wilson was afterward assigned to command the + Third, also comprising two brigades: Captain Robinson, a veteran soldier + of the Mexican war, was chief of artillery, and as such had a general + supervision of that arm, though the batteries, either as units or in + sections, were assigned to the different divisions in campaign. + </p> + <p> + Each one of my division commanders was a soldier by profession. Torbert + graduated from the Military Academy in 1855, and was commissioned in the + infantry, in which arm he saw much service on the frontier, in Florida, + and on the Utah expedition. At the beginning of hostilities in April, + 1861, he was made a colonel of New Jersey volunteers, and from that + position was promoted in the fall of 1862 to be a brigadier-general, + thereafter commanding a brigade of infantry in the Army of the Potomac + till, in the redistribution of generals, after Grant came to the East, he + was assigned to the First Cavalry Division. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linktorbert" id="linktorbert"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p117-Torbert.jpg (33K)" src="images/p117-Torbert.jpg" style="width:100%;" + /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Gregg graduated in 1855 also, and was appointed to the First Dragoons, + with which regiment, up to the breaking out of the war, he saw frontier + service extending from Fort Union, New Mexico, through to the Pacific + coast, and up into Oregon and Washington Territories, where I knew him + slightly. In the fall of 1861 he became colonel of the Eighth Pennsylvania + Cavalry, and a year later was made a brigadier-general. He then succeeded + to the command of a division of cavalry, and continued in that position + till the close of his service, at times temporarily commanding the Cavalry + Corps. He was the only division commander I had whose experience had been + almost exclusively derived from the cavalry arm. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkgregg" id="linkgregg"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p065-Gregg.jpg (22K)" src="images/p065-Gregg.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Wilson graduated in 1860 in the Topographical Engineers, and was first + assigned to duty in Oregon, where he remained till July, 1861. In the fall + of that year his active service in the war began, and he rose from one + position to another, in the East and West, till, while on General Grant's + staff, he was made a brigadier-general in the fall of 1863 in reward for + services performed during the Vicksburg campaign and for engineer duty at + Chattanooga preceding the battle of Missionary Ridge. At my request he was + selected to command the Third Division. General Grant thought highly of + him, and, expecting much from his active mental and physical ability, + readily assented to assign him in place of General Kilpatrick. The only + other general officers in the corps were Brigadier-General Wesley Merritt, + Brigadier-General George A. Custer, and Brigadier-General Henry E. Davies, + each commanding a brigade. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkwilson" id="linkwilson"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p409-Wilson.jpg (83K)" src="images/p409-Wilson.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + In a few days after my arrival at Brandy Station I reviewed my new + command, which consisted of about twelve thousand officers and men, with + the same number of horses in passable trim. Many of the general officers + of the army were present at the review, among them Generals Meade, + Hancock, and Sedgwick. Sedgwick being an old dragoon, came to renew his + former associations with mounted troops, and to encourage me, as he + jestingly said, because of the traditional prejudices the cavalrymen were + supposed to hold against being commanded by an infantry officer. The corps + presented a fine appearance at the review, and so far as the health and + equipment of the men were concerned the showing was good and satisfactory; + but the horses were thin and very much worn down by excessive and, it + seemed to me, unnecessary picket duty, for the cavalry picket-line almost + completely encircled the infantry and artillery camps of the army, + covering a distance, on a continuous line, of nearly sixty miles, with + hardly a mounted Confederate confronting it at any point. From the very + beginning of the war the enemy had shown more wisdom respecting his + cavalry than we. Instead of wasting its strength by a policy of + disintegration he, at an early day, had organized his mounted force into + compact masses, and plainly made it a favorite; and, as usual, he was now + husbanding the strength of his horses by keeping them to the rear, so that + in the spring he could bring them out in good condition for the impending + campaign. + </p> + <p> + Before and at the review I took in this situation, and determined to + remedy it if possible; so in due time I sought an interview with General + Meade and informed him that, as the effectiveness of my command rested + mainly on the strength of its horses, I thought the duty it was then + performing was both burdensome and wasteful. I also gave him my idea as to + what the cavalry should do, the main purport of which was that it ought to + be kept concentrated to fight the enemy's cavalry. Heretofore, the + commander of the Cavalry Corps had been, virtually, but an adjunct at army + headquarters—a sort of chief of cavalry—and my proposition + seemed to stagger General Meade not a little. I knew that it would be + difficult to overcome the recognized custom of using the cavalry for the + protection of trains and the establishment of cordons around the infantry + corps, and so far subordinating its operations to the movements of the + main army that in name only was it a corps at all, but still I thought it + my duty to try. + </p> + <p> + At first General Meade would hardly listen to my proposition, for he was + filled with the prejudices that, from the beginning of the war, had + pervaded the army regarding the importance and usefulness of cavalry, + General Scott then predicting that the contest would be settled by + artillery, and thereafter refusing the services of regiment after regiment + of mounted troops. General Meade deemed cavalry fit for little more than + guard and picket duty, and wanted to know what would protect the + transportation trains and artillery reserve, cover the front of moving + infantry columns, and secure his flanks from intrusion, if my policy were + pursued. I told him that if he would let me use the cavalry as I + contemplated, he need have little solicitude in these respects, for, with + a mass of ten thousand mounted men, it was my belief that I could make it + so lively for the enemy's cavalry that, so far as attacks from it were + concerned, the flanks and rear of the Army of the Potomac would require + little or no defense, and claimed, further, that moving columns of + infantry should take care of their own fronts. I also told him that it was + my object to defeat the enemy's cavalry in a general combat, if possible, + and by such a result establish a feeling of confidence in my own troops + that would enable us after awhile to march where we pleased, for the + purpose of breaking General Lee's communications and destroying the + resources from which his army was supplied. + </p> + <p> + The idea as here outlined was contrary to Meade's convictions, for though + at different times since he commanded the Army of the Potomac considerable + bodies of the cavalry had been massed for some special occasion, yet he + had never agreed to the plan as a permanency, and could not be bent to it + now. He gave little encouragement, therefore, to what I proposed, yet the + conversation was immediately beneficial in one way, for when I laid before + him the true condition of the cavalry, he promptly relieved it from much + of the arduous and harassing picket service it was performing, thus giving + me about two weeks in which to nurse the horses before the campaign + opened. + </p> + <p> + The interview also disclosed the fact that the cavalry commander should + be, according to General Meade's views, at his headquarters practically as + one of his staff, through whom he would give detailed directions as, in + his judgment, occasion required. Meade's ideas and mine being so widely + divergent, disagreements arose between us later during the battles of the + Wilderness, which lack of concord ended in some concessions on his part + after the movement toward Spottsylvania Court House began, and although I + doubt that his convictions were ever wholly changed, yet from that date + on, in the organization of the Army of the Potomac, the cavalry corps + became more of a compact body, with the same privileges and + responsibilities that attached to the other corps—conditions that + never actually existed before. + </p> + <p> + On the 4th of May the Army of the Potomac moved against Lee, who was + occupying a defensive position on the south bank of the Rapidan. After + detailing the various detachments which I was obliged to supply for + escorts and other mounted duty, I crossed the river with an effective + force of about 10,000 troopers. In the interval succeeding my assignment + to the command of the cavalry, I had taken the pains to study carefully + the topography of the country in eastern Virginia, and felt convinced + that, under the policy Meade intended I should follow, there would be + little opportunity for mounted troops to acquit themselves well in a + region so thickly wooded, and traversed by so many almost parallel + streams; but conscious that he would be compelled sooner or later either + to change his mind or partially give way to the pressure of events, I + entered on the campaign with the loyal determination to aid zealously in + all its plans. + </p> + <p> + General Lee's army was located in its winter quarters behind intrenchments + that lay along the Rapidan for a distance of about twenty miles; extending + from Barnett's to Morton's ford. The fords below Morton's were watched by + a few small detachments of Confederate cavalry, the main body of which, + however, was encamped below Hamilton's crossing, where it could draw + supplies from the rich country along the Rappahannock. Only a few brigades + of Lee's infantry guarded the works along the river, the bulk of it being + so situated that it could be thrown to either flank toward which the Union + troops approached. + </p> + <p> + General Grant adopted the plan of moving by his left flank, with the + purpose of compelling Lee to come out from behind his intrenchments along + Mine Run and fight on equal terms. Grant knew well the character of + country through which he would have to pass, but he was confident that the + difficulties of operation in the thickly wooded region of the Wilderness + would be counterbalanced by the facility with which his position would + enable him to secure a new base; and by the fact that as he would thus + cover Washington, there would be little or no necessity for the + authorities there to detach from his force at some inopportune moment for + the protection of that city. + </p> + <p> + In the move forward two divisions of my cavalry took the advance, Gregg + crossing the Rapidan at Ely's ford and Wilson at Germania ford. Torbert's + division remained in the rear to cover the trains and reserve artillery, + holding from Rapidan Station to Culpeper, and thence through Stevensburg + to the Rappahannock River. Gregg crossed the Rapidan before daylight, in + advance of the Second Corps, and when the latter reached Ely's ford, he + pushed on to Chancellorsville; Wilson preceded the Fifth Corps to Germania + ford, and when it reached the river he made the crossing and moved rapidly + by Wilderness Tavern, as far as Parker's Store, from which point he sent a + heavy reconnoissance toward Mine Run, the rest of his division bivouacking + in a strong position. I myself proceeded to Chancellorsville and fixed my + headquarters at that place, whereon the 5th I was joined by Torbert's + division. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, General Meade had crossed the Rapidan and established his + headquarters not far from Germania ford. From that point he was in direct + communication with Wilson, whose original instructions from me carried him + only as far as Parker's Store, but it being found, during the night of the + 4th, that the enemy was apparently unacquainted with the occurrences of + the day, Meade directed Wilson to advance in the direction of Craig's + Meeting House; leaving one regiment to hold Parker's Store. Wilson with + the second brigade encountered Rosser's brigade of cavalry just beyond the + Meeting House, and drove it back rapidly a distance of about two miles, + holding it there till noon, while his first brigade was halted on the + north side of Robinson's Run near the junction of the Catharpen and + Parker's Store roads. + </p> + <p> + Up to this time Wilson had heard nothing of the approach of the Fifth + Corps, and the situation becoming threatening, he withdrew the second + brigade to the position occupied by the first, but scarcely had he done so + when he learned that at an early hour in the forenoon the enemy's infantry + had appeared in his rear at Parker's Store and cut off his communication + with General Meade. Surprised at this, he determined to withdraw to Todd's + Tavern, but before his resolution could be put into execution the + Confederates attacked him with a heavy force, and at the same time began + pushing troops down the Catharpen road. Wilson was now in a perplexing + situation, sandwiched between the Confederates who had cut him off in the + rear at Parker's store and those occupying the Catharpen road, but he + extricated his command by passing it around the latter force, and reached + Todd's Tavern by crossing the Po River at Corbin's bridge. General Meade + discovering that the enemy had interposed at Parker's store between Wilson + and the Fifth Corps, sent me word to go to Wilson's relief, and this was + the first intimation I received that Wilson had been pushed out so far, + but, surmising that he would retire in the direction of Todd's Tavern I + immediately despatched Gregg's division there to his relief. Just beyond + Todd's Tavern Gregg met Wilson, who was now being followed by the enemy's + cavalry. The pursuing force was soon checked, and then driven back to + Shady Grove Church, while Wilson's troops fell in behind Gregg's line, + somewhat the worse for their morning's adventure. + </p> + <p> + When the Army of the Potomac commenced crossing the Rapidan on the 4th, + General J. E. B. Stuart, commanding the Confederate cavalry, began + concentrating his command on the right of Lee's infantry, bringing it from + Hamilton's crossing and other points where it had been wintering. Stuart's + force at this date was a little more than eight thousand men, organized in + two divisions, commanded by Generals Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee. + Hampton's division was composed of three brigades, commanded by Generals + Cordon, Young, and Rosser; Fitzhugh Lee's division comprised three + brigades also, Generals W. H. F. Lee, Lomax, and Wickham commanding them. + </p> + <p> + Information of this concentration, and of the additional fact that the + enemy's cavalry about Hamilton's crossing was all being drawn in, reached + me on the 5th, which obviated all necessity for my moving on that point as + I intended at the onset of the campaign. The responsibility for the safety + of our trains and of the left flank of the army still continued, however, + so I made such dispositions of my troops as to secure these objects by + holding the line of the Brock road beyond the Furnaces, and thence around + to Todd's Tavern and Piney Branch Church. On the 6th, through some false + information, General Meade became alarmed about his left flank, and sent + me the following note: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,<br /> "May 6, 1864.—1 + o'clock P. M.<br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN,<br /> "Commanding Cavalry + Corps<br /> <br /> "Your despatch of 11.45 a.m., received. General Hancock + has been heavily pressed, and his left turned. The major-general + commanding thinks that you had better draw in your cavalry, so as to + secure the protection of the trains. The order requiring an escort for + the wagons to-night has been rescinded.<br /> <br /> "A. A. HUMPHREYS,<br /> + "Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + On the morning of the 6th Custer's and Devin's brigades had been severely + engaged at the Furnaces before I received the above note. They had been + most successful in repulsing the enemy's attacks, however, and I felt that + the line taken up could be held; but the despatch from General Humphreys + was alarming, so I drew all the cavalry close in toward Chancellorsville. + It was found later that Hancock's left had not been turned, and the points + thus abandoned had to be regained at a heavy cost in killed and wounded, + to both the cavalry and the infantry. + </p> + <p> + On the 7th of May, under directions from headquarters, Army of the + Potomac, the trains were put in motion to go into park at Piney Branch + Church, in anticipation of the movement that was about to be made for the + possession of Spottsylvania Court House. I felt confident that the order + to move the trains there had been given without a full understanding of + the situation, for Piney Branch Church was now held by the enemy, a + condition which had resulted from the order withdrawing the cavalry on + account of the supposed disaster to Hancock's left the day before; but I + thought the best way to remedy matters was to hold the trains in the + vicinity of Aldrich's till the ground on which it was intended to park + them should be regained. + </p> + <p> + This led to the battle of Todd's Tavern, a spirited fight for the + possession of the crossroads at that point, participated in by the enemy's + cavalry and Gregg's division, and two brigades of Torbert's division, the + latter commanded by Merritt, as Torbert became very ill on the 6th, and + had to be sent to the rear. To gain the objective point—the + crossroads—I directed Gregg to assail the enemy on the Catharpen + road with Irvin Gregg's brigade and drive him over Corbin's bridge, while + Merritt attacked him with the Reserve brigade on the Spottsylvania road in + conjunction with Davies's brigade of Gregg's division, which was to be put + in on the Piney Branch Church road, and unite with Merritt's left. + Davies's and Irvin Gregg's brigades on my right and left flanks met with + some resistance, yet not enough to deter them from, executing their + orders. In front of Merritt the enemy held on more stubbornly, however, + and there ensued an exceedingly severe and, at times, fluctuating fight. + Finally the Confederates gave way, and we pursued them almost to + Spottsylvania Court House; but deeming it prudent to recall the pursuers + about dark, I encamped Gregg's and Merritt's divisions in the open fields + to the east of Todd's Tavern. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkmerritt" id="linkmerritt"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p251-Merritt.jpg (38K)" src="images/p251-Merritt.jpg" style="width:100%;" + /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + During the preceding three days the infantry corps of the army had been + engaged in the various conflicts known as the battles of the Wilderness. + The success of the Union troops in those battles had not been all that was + desired, and General Grant now felt that it was necessary to throw himself + on Lee's communications if possible, while preserving his own intact by + prolonging the movement to the left. Therefore, on the evening of the 7th + he determined to shift his whole army toward Spottsylvania Court House, + and initiated the movement by a night march of the infantry to Todd's + Tavern. In view of what was contemplated, I gave orders to Gregg and + Merritt to move at daylight on the morning of the 8th, for the purpose of + gaining possession of Snell's bridge over the Po River, the former by the + crossing at Corbin's bridge and the latter by the Block House. I also + directed Wilson, who was at Alsop's house, to take possession of + Spottsylvania as early as possible on the morning of the 8th, and then + move into position at Snell's bridge conjointly with the other two + divisions. Wilson's orders remained as I had issued them, so he moved + accordingly and got possession of Spottsylvania, driving the enemy's + cavalry a mile beyond, as will be seen by the following despatch sent me + at 9 A. M. of the 8th: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS,<br /> "ARMY OF THE + POTOMAC.<br /> "SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, May 8, 1864 9 A. M.<br /> + "LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FORSYTH, CHIEF-OF-STAFF, C. C.<br /> <br /> "Have run + the enemy's cavalry a mile from Spottsylvania Court House; have charged + them, and drove them through the village; am fighting now with a + considerable force, supposed to be Lee's division. Everything all right.<br /> + <br /> "J. H. WILSON,<br /> "Brigadier-General Commanding. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + During the night of the 7th General Meade arrived at Todd's Tavern and + modified the orders I had given Gregg and Merritt, directing Gregg simply + to hold Corbin's bridge, and Merritt to move out in front of the infantry + column marching on the Spottsylvania road. Merritt proceeded to obey, but + in advancing, our cavalry and infantry became intermingled in the + darkness, and much confusion and delay was the consequence. I had not been + duly advised of these changes in Gregg's and Merritt's orders, and for a + time I had fears for the safety of Wilson, but, while he was preparing to + move on to form his junction with Gregg and Merritt at Snell's bridge, the + advance of Anderson (who was now commanding Longstreet's corps) appeared + on the scene and drove him from Spottsylvania. + </p> + <p> + Had Gregg and Merritt been permitted to proceed as they were originally + instructed, it is doubtful whether the battles fought at Spottsylvania + would have occurred, for these two divisions would have encountered the + enemy at the Pa River, and so delayed his march as to enable our infantry + to reach Spottsylvania first, and thus force Lee to take up a line behind + the Po. I had directed Wilson to move from the left by "the Gate" through + Spottsylvania to Snell's bridge, while Gregg and Merritt were to advance + to the same point by Shady Grove and the Block House. There was nothing to + prevent at least a partial success of these operations; that is to say, + the concentration of the three divisions in front of Snell's bridge, even + if we could not actually have gained it. But both that important point and + the bridge on the Block House road were utterly ignored, and Lee's + approach to Spottsylvania left entirely unobstructed, while three + divisions of cavalry remained practically ineffective by reason of + disjointed and irregular instructions. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the 8th, when I found that such orders had been given, I + made some strong remonstrances against the course that had been pursued, + but it was then too late to carry out the combinations I had projected the + night before, so I proceeded to join Merritt on the Spottsylvania road. On + reaching Merritt I found General Warren making complaint that the cavalry + were obstructing his infantry column, so I drew Merritt off the road, and + the leading division of the Fifth Corps pushed up to the front. It got + into line about 11 o'clock, and advanced to take the village, but it did + not go very far before it struck Anderson's corps, and was hurled back + with heavy loss. This ended all endeavor to take Spottsylvania that day. + </p> + <p> + A little before noon General Meade sent for me, and when I reached his + headquarters I found that his peppery temper had got the better of his + good judgment, he showing a disposition to be unjust, laying blame here + and there for the blunders that had been committed. He was particularly + severe on the cavalry, saying, among other things, that it had impeded the + march of the Fifth Corps by occupying the Spottsylvania road. I replied + that if this were true, he himself had ordered it there without my + knowledge. I also told him that he had broken up my combinations, exposed + Wilson's division to disaster, and kept Gregg unnecessarily idle, and + further, repelled his insinuations by saying that such disjointed + operations as he had been requiring of the cavalry for the last four days + would render the corps inefficient and useless before long. Meade was very + much irritated, and I was none the less so. One word brought on another, + until, finally, I told him that I could whip Stuart if he (Meade) would + only let me, but since he insisted on giving the cavalry directions + without consulting or even notifying me, he could henceforth command the + Cavalry Corps himself—that I would not give it another order. + </p> + <p> + The acrimonious interview ended with this remark, and after I left him he + went to General Grant's headquarters and repeated the conversation to him, + mentioning that I had said that I could whip Stuart. At this General Grant + remarked: "Did he say so? Then let him go out and do it." This intimation + was immediately acted upon by General Meade, and a little later the + following order came to me: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC<br /> "May 8th, 1864 1 P. M.<br /> + <br /> "GENERAL SHERIDAN,<br /> "Commanding Cavalry Corps.<br /> <br /> "The + major-general commanding directs you to immediately concentrate your + available mounted force, and with your ammunition trains and such supply + trains as are filled (exclusive of ambulances) proceed against the + enemy's cavalry, and when your supplies are exhausted, proceed via New + Market and Green Bay to Haxall's Landing on the James River, there + communicating with General Butler, procuring supplies and return to this + army. Your dismounted men will be left with the train here.<br /> <br /> + "A. A. HUMPHREYS,<br /> "Major-General, Chief-of-staff." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + As soon as the above order was received I issued instructions for the + concentration of the three divisions of cavalry at Aldrich's to prepare + for the contemplated expedition. Three days' rations for the men were + distributed, and half rations of grain for one day were doled out for the + horses. I sent for Gregg, Merritt, and Wilson and communicated the order + to them, saying at the same time, "We are going out to fight Stuart's + cavalry in consequence of a suggestion from me; we will give him a fair, + square fight; we are strong, and I know we can beat him, and in view of my + recent representations to General Meade I shall expect nothing but + success." I also indicated to my division commanders the line of march I + should take—moving in one column around the right flank of Lee's + army to get in its rear—and stated at the same time that it was my + intention to fight Stuart wherever he presented himself, and if possible + go through to Haxall's Landing; but that if Stuart should successfully + interpose between us and that point we would swing back to the Army of the + Potomac by passing around the enemy's left flank by way of Gordonsville. + At first the proposition seemed to surprise the division commanders + somewhat, for hitherto even the boldest, mounted expeditions had been + confined to a hurried ride through the enemy's country, without purpose of + fighting more than enough to escape in case of molestation, and here and + there to destroy a bridge. Our move would be a challenge to Stuart for a + cavalry duel behind Lee's lines, in his own country, but the advantages + which it was reasonable to anticipate from the plan being quickly + perceived, each division commander entered into its support + unhesitatingly, and at once set about preparing for the march next day. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch19" id="linkch19"></a>CHAPTER XIX. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + THE EXPEDITION STARTS—DESTROYING SUPPLIES—OPENING OF THE FIGHT + AT YELLOW TAVERN—GENERAL CUSTER'S BRILLIANT CHARGE—DEATH OF + GENERAL STUART—REMOVING TORPEDOES—EXCITEMENT IN RICHMOND—A + NIGHT MARCH—ENTERPRISING NEWSBOYS—THE EFFECTS OF STUART'S + DEFEAT AND DEATH—END OF THE FIRST EXPEDITION—ITS GREAT SUCCESS + AND BENEFICIAL RESULTS. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkcuster" id="linkcuster"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p305-Custer.jpg (33K)" src="images/p305-Custer.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + The expedition which resulted in the battle of Yellow Tavern and the death + of General Stuart started from the vicinity of Aldrich's toward + Fredericksburg early on the morning of May 9, 1864, marching on the + plank-road, Merritt's division leading. When the column reached Tabernacle + Church it headed almost due east to the telegraph road, and thence down + that highway to Thornburg, and from that point through Childsburg to + Anderson's crossing of the North Anna River, it being my desire to put my + command south of that stream if possible, where it could procure forage + before it should be compelled to fight. The corps moved at a walk, three + divisions on the same road, making a column nearly thirteen miles in + length, and marched around the right flank of the enemy unsuspected until + my rear guard had passed Massaponax Church. Although the column was very + long, I preferred to move it all on one road rather than to attempt + combinations for carrying the divisions to any given point by different + routes. Unless the separate commands in an expedition of this nature are + very prompt in movement, and each fully equal to overcoming at once any + obstacle it may meet, combinations rarely work out as expected; besides, + an engagement was at all times imminent, hence it was specially necessary + to keep the whole force well together. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the Ny, Po, and Ta rivers were crossed, each of which streams + would have afforded an excellent defensive line to the enemy, all anxiety + as to our passing around Lee's army was removed, and our ability to cross + the North Anna placed beyond doubt. Meanwhile General Stuart had + discovered what we were about, and he set his cavalry in motion, sending + General Fitzhugh Lee to follow and attack my rear on the Childsburg road, + Stuart himself marching by way of Davenport's bridge, on the North Anna, + toward Beaver Dam Station, near which place his whole command was directed + to unite the next day. + </p> + <p> + My column having passed the Ta River, Stuart attacked its rear with + considerable vigor, in the hope that he could delay my whole force long + enough to permit him to get at least a part of his command in my front; + but this scheme was frustrated by Davies's brigade, which I directed to + fight as a rear-guard, holding on at one position and then at another + along the line of march just enough to deter the enemy from a too rapid + advance. Davies performed this responsible and trying duty with tact and + good judgment, following the main column steadily as it progressed to the + south, and never once permitting Fitzhugh Lee's advance to encroach far + enough to compel a halt of my main body. About dark Merritt's division + crossed the North Anna at Anderson's ford, while Gregg and Wilson encamped + on the north side, having engaged the enemy, who still hung on my rear up + to a late hour at night. + </p> + <p> + After Merritt's division passed the river, Custer's brigade proceeded on + to Beaver Dam Station to cut the Virginia Central railroad. Before + reaching the station he met a small force of the enemy, but this he + speedily drove off, recapturing from it about four hundred Union + prisoners, who had been taken recently in the Wilderness and were being + conducted to Richmond. Custer also destroyed the station, two locomotives, + three trains of cars, ninety wagons, from eight to ten miles of railroad + and telegraph lines, some two hundred thousand pounds of bacon and other + supplies, amounting in all to about a million and a half of rations, and + nearly all they medical stores of General Lee's army, which had been moved + from Orange Court House either because Lee wished to have them directly in + his rear or because he contemplated falling back to the North Anna. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the 10th Gregg and Wilson, while crossing the North + Anna, were again attacked, but were covered by the division on the south + side of the stream; the passage was effected without much loss, + notwithstanding the approach of Stuart on the south bank from the + direction of Davenport's bridge. The possession of Beaver Dam gave us an + important point, as it opened a way toward Richmond by the Negro-foot + road. It also enabled us to obtain forage for our well-nigh famished + animals, and to prepare for fighting the enemy, who, I felt sure, would + endeavor to interpose between my column and Richmond. + </p> + <p> + Stuart had hardly united his troops near Beaver Dam when he realized that + concentrating there was a mistake, so he began making dispositions for + remedying his error, and while we leisurely took the Negro-foot toad + toward Richmond, he changed his tactics and hauled off from my rear, + urging his horses to the death in order to get in between Richmond and my + column. This he effected about 10 o'clock on the morning of the 11th, + concentrating at Yellow Tavern, six miles from the city, on the Brook + turnpike. His change of tactics left my march on the 10th practically + unmolested, and we quietly encamped that night on the south bank of the + South Anna, near Ground Squirrel Bridge. Here we procured an abundance of + forage, and as the distance traveled that day had been only fifteen to + eighteen miles, men and horses were able to obtain a good rest during the + night. + </p> + <p> + At 2 o'clock in the morning, May 11, Davies's brigade of Gregg's division + marched for Ashland to cut the Fredericksburg railroad. Arriving there + before the head of the enemy's column, which had to pass through this same + place to reach Yellow Tavern, Davies drove out a small force occupying the + town, burnt a train of cars and a locomotive, destroyed the railroad for + some distance, and rejoined the main column at Allen's Station on the + Fredericksburg and Richmond railroad. From Allen's Station the whole + command moved on Yellow Tavern, Merritt in the lead, Wilson following, and + Gregg in the rear. + </p> + <p> + The appearance of Davies's brigade at Ashland in the morning had had the + effect of further mystifying the enemy as to my intentions; and while he + held it incumbent to place himself between me and Richmond, yet he was + still so uncertain of my movements that he committed the same fault that + he did the first day, when he divided his force and sent a part to follow + me on the Childsburg road. He now divided his command again, sending a + portion to hang upon my rear, while he proceeded with the rest to Yellow + Tavern. This separation not only materially weakened the force which might + have been thrown across my line of march, but it also enabled me to attack + with almost my entire corps, while occupying the pursuers with a small + rearguard. + </p> + <p> + By forced marches General Stuart succeeded in reaching Yellow Tavern ahead + of me on May 11; and the presence of his troops, on the Ashland and + Richmond road becoming known to Merritt as he was approaching the Brook + turnpike, this general pressed forward at once to the attack. Pushing his + division to the front, he soon got possession of the turnpike and drove + the enemy back several hundred yards to the east of it. This success had + the effect of throwing the head of my column to the east of the pike, and + I quickly brought up Wilson and one of Gregg's brigades to take advantage + of the situation by forming a line of battle on that side or the road. + Meanwhile the enemy, desperate but still confident, poured in a heavy fire + from his line and from a battery which enfiladed the Brook road, and made + Yellow Tavern an uncomfortably hot place. Gibbs's and Devin's brigades, + however, held fast there, while Custer, supported by Chapman's brigade, + attacked the enemy's left and battery in a mounted charge. + </p> + <p> + Custer's charge, with Chapman on his flank and the rest of Wilson's + division sustaining him, was brilliantly executed. Beginning at a walk, he + increased his gait to a trot, and then at full speed rushed at the enemy. + At the same moment the dismounted troops along my whole front moved + forward, and as Custer went through the battery, capturing two of the guns + with their cannoneers and breaking up the enemy's left, Gibbs and Devin + drove his centre and right from the field. Gregg meanwhile, with equal + success, charged the force in his rear-Gordon's brigadeand the engagement + ended by giving us complete control of the road to Richmond. We captured a + number of prisoners, and the casualties on both sides were quite severe, + General Stuart himself falling mortally wounded, and General James B. + Gordon, one of his brigade commanders, being killed. + </p> + <p> + After Custer's charge, the Confederate cavalry was badly broken up, the + main portion of it being driven in a rout toward Ashland and a small part + in the direction of Richmond, which latter force finally rejoined Fitzhugh + Lee near Mechanicsville. A reconnoitring party being now sent up the Brook + turnpike toward the city, dashed across the South Fork of the + Chickahominy, drove a small force from the enemy's exterior intrenchments + and went within them. I followed this party, and after a little + exploration found between the two lines of works a country road that led + across to the pike which runs from Mechanicsville to Richmond. I thought + we could go around within the outer line of works by this country road + across to the Mechanicsville pike on the south side of the Chickahominy, + and encamp the next night at Fair Oaks; so I determined to make the + movement after dark, being influenced in this to some extent by reports + received during the afternoon from colored people, to the effect that + General B. F. Butler's army had reached a small stream on the south side + of the James, about four miles south of Richmond. If I could succeed in + getting through by this road, not only would I have a shorter line of + march to Haxall's landing, but there was also a possibility that I could + help Butler somewhat by joining him so near Richmond. Therefore, after + making the wounded as comfortable as possible, we commenced the march + about 11 o'clock on the night of the 1lth, and massed the command on the + plateau south of the Meadow bridge near daylight on the 12th. + </p> + <p> + The enemy, anticipating that I would march by this route, had planted + torpedoes along it, and many of these exploded as the column passed over + them, killing several horses and wounding a few men, but beyond this we + met with no molestation. The torpedoes were loaded shells planted on each + side of the road, and so connected by wires attached to friction-tubes in + the shells, that when a horse's hoof struck a wire the shell was exploded + by the jerk on the improvised lanyard. After the loss of several horses + and the wounding of some of the men by these torpedoes, I gave directions + to have them removed, if practicable, so about twenty-five of the + prisoners were brought up and made to get down on their knees, feel for + the wires in the darkness, follow them up and unearth the shells. The + prisoners reported the owner of one of the neighboring houses to be the + principal person who had engaged in planting these shells, and I therefore + directed that some of them be carried and placed in the cellar of his + house, arranged to explode if the enemy's column came that way, while he + and his family were brought off as prisoners and held till after daylight. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the most intense excitement prevailed in Richmond. The + Confederates, supposing that their capital was my objective point, were + straining every effort to put it in a state of defense, and had collected + between four and five thousand irregular troops, under General Bragg, + besides bringing up three brigades of infantry from the force confronting + General Butler south of the James River, the alarm being intensified by + the retreat, after the defeat at Yellow Tavern, of Stuart's cavalry, now + under General Fitzhugh Lee, by way of Ashland to Mechanicsville, on the + north side of the Chickahominy, for falling back in that direction, left + me between them and Richmond. + </p> + <p> + Our march during the night of the 11th was very tedious, on account of the + extreme darkness and frequent showers of rain; but at daylight on the 12th + the head of my column, under Wilson, reached the Mechanicsville pike. Here + Wilson, encountering the enemy's works and batteries manned by General + Bragg's troops, endeavored to pass. In this he failed, and as soon as I + was notified that it was impracticable to reach Fair Oaks by passing + between the works and the Chickahominy, Custer's brigade was directed to + make the crossing to the north side of the Chickahominy, at the Meadow + bridge. Custer moved rapidly for the bridge, but found it destroyed, and + that the enemy's cavalry was posted on the north side, in front of + Mechanicsville. When this information came back, I ordered Merritt to take + his whole division and repair the bridge, instructing him that the + crossing must be made at all hazards; for, in view of an impending attack + by the enemy's infantry in Richmond, it was necessary that I should have + the bridge as a means of egress in case of serious disaster. + </p> + <p> + All the time that Merritt was occupied in this important duty, the enemy + gave great annoyance to the working party by sweeping the bridge with a + section of artillery and a fire from the supporting troops, so a small + force was thrown across to drive them away. When Merritt had passed two + regiments over, they attacked, but were repulsed. The work on the bridge + continued however, not-withstanding this discomfiture; and when it was + finished, Merritt crossed nearly all his division, dismounted, and again + attacked the enemy, this time carrying the line, of temporary breastworks, + built with logs and rails, and pursuing his broken troops toward Gaines's + Mills. + </p> + <p> + While Merritt was engaged in this affair, the Confederates advanced from + behind their works at Richmond, and attacked Wilson and Gregg. Wilson's + troops were driven back in some confusion at first; but Gregg, in + anticipation of attack, had hidden a heavy line of dismounted men in a + bushy ravine on his front, and when the enemy marched upon it, with much + display and under the eye of the President of the Confederacy, this + concealed line opened a destructive fire with repeating carbines; and at + the same time the batteries of horse-artillery, under Captain Robinson, + joining in the contest, belched forth shot and shell with fatal effect. + The galling fire caused the enemy to falter, and while still wavering + Wilson rallied his men, and turning some of them against the right flank + of the Confederates, broke their line, and compelled them to withdraw for + security behind the heavy works thrown up for the defense of the city in + 1862. + </p> + <p> + By destroying the Meadow bridge and impeding my column on the + Mechanicsville, pike, the enemy thought to corner us completely, for he + still maintained the force in Gregg's rear that had pressed it the day + before; but the repulse of his infantry ended all his hopes of doing us + any serious damage on the limited ground between the defenses of Richmond + and the Chickahominy. He felt certain that on account of the recent heavy + rains we could not cross the Chickahominy except by the Meadow bridge, and + it also seemed clear to him that we could not pass between the river and + his intrenchments; therefore he hoped to ruin us, or at least compel us to + return by the same route we had taken in coming, in which case we would + run into Gordon's brigade, but the signal repulse of Bragg's infantry + dispelled these illusions. + </p> + <p> + Even had it not been our good fortune to defeat him, we could have crossed + the Chickahominy if necessary at several points that were discovered by + scouting parties which, while the engagement was going on, I had sent out + to look up fords. This means of getting out from the circumscribed plateau + I did not wish to use, however, unless there was no alternative, for I + wished to demonstrate to the Cavalry Corps the impossibility of the + enemy's destroying or capturing so large a body of mounted troops. + </p> + <p> + The chances of seriously injuring, us were more favorable to the enemy + this time than ever they were afterward, for with the troops from + Richmond, comprising three brigades of veterans and about five thousand + irregulars on my front and right flank, with Gordon's cavalry in the rear, + and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry on my left flank, holding the Chickahominy and + Meadow bridge, I was apparently hemmed in on every side, but relying on + the celerity with which mounted troops could be moved, I felt perfectly + confident that the seemingly perilous situation could be relieved under + circumstances even worse than those then surrounding us. Therefore, + instead of endeavoring to get away without a fight, I concluded that there + would be little difficulty in withdrawing, even should I be beaten, and + none whatever if I defeated the enemy. + </p> + <p> + In accordance with this view I accepted battle; and the complete repulse + of the enemy's infantry, which assailed us from his intrenchments, and of + Gordon's cavalry, which pressed Gregg on the Brook road, ended the contest + in our favor. The rest of the day we remained on the battle-field + undisturbed, and our time was spent in collecting the wounded, burying the + dead, grazing the horses, and reading the Richmond journals, two small + newsboys with commendable enterprise having come within our lines from the + Confederate capital to sell their papers. They were sharp youngsters, and + having come well supplied, they did a thrifty business. When their stock + in trade was all disposed of they wished to return, but they were so + intelligent and observant that I thought their mission involved other + purposes than the mere sale of newspapers, so they were held till we + crossed the Chickahominy and then turned loose. + </p> + <p> + After Merritt had crossed the Chickahominy and reached Mechanicsville, I + sent him orders to push on to Gaines's Mills. Near the latter place he + fell in with the enemy's cavalry again, and sending me word, about 4 + o'clock in the afternoon I crossed the Chickahominy with Wilson and Gregg, + but when we overtook Merritt he had already brushed the Confederates away, + and my whole command went into camp between Walnut Grove and Gaines's + Mills. + </p> + <p> + The main purposes of the expedition had now been executed. They were "to + break up General Lee's railroad communications, destroy such depots of + supplies as could be found in his rear, and to defeat General Stuart's + cavalry." Many miles of the Virginia Central and of the Richmond and + Fredericksburg railroads were broken up, and several of the bridges on + each burnt. At Beaver Dam, Ashland, and other places, about two millions + of rations had been captured and destroyed. The most important of all, + however, was the defeat of Stuart. Since the beginning of the war this + general had distinguished himself by his management of the Confederate + mounted force. Under him the cavalry of Lee's army had been nurtured, and + had acquired such prestige that it thought itself well-nigh invincible; + indeed, in the early years of the war it had proved to be so. This was now + dispelled by the successful march we had made in Lee's rear; and the + discomfiture of Stuart at Yellow Tavern had inflicted a blow from which + entire recovery was impossible. + </p> + <p> + In its effect on the Confederate cause the defeat of Stuart was most + disheartening, but his death was even a greater calamity, as is evidenced + by the words of a Confederate writer (Cooke), who says: "Stuart could be + ill spared at this critical moment, and General Lee was plunged into the + deepest melancholy at the intelligence of his death. When it reached him + he retired from those around him, and remained for some time communing + with his own heart and memory. When one of his staff entered and spoke of + Stuart, General Lee said: 'I can scarcely think of him without weeping.'" + </p> + <p> + From the camp near Gaines's Mills I resumed the march to Haxall's Landing, + the point on the James River contemplated in my instructions where I was + to obtain supplies from General Butler. We got to the James on the 14th + with all our wounded and a large number of prisoners, and camped between + Haxall's and Shirley. The prisoners, as well as the captured guns, were + turned over to General Butler's provost-marshal, and our wounded were + quickly and kindly cared for by his surgeons. Ample supplies, also, in the + way of forage and rations, were furnished us by General Butler, and the + work of refitting for our return to the Army of the Potomac was vigorously + pushed. By the 17th all was ready, and having learned by scouting parties + sent in the direction of Richmond and as far as Newmarket that the enemy's + cavalry was returning to Lee's army I started that evening on my return + march, crossing the Chickahominy at Jones's bridge, and bivouacking on the + 19th near Baltimore crossroads. + </p> + <p> + My uncertainty of what had happened to the Army of the Potomac in our + absence, and as to where I should find it, made our getting back a problem + somewhat difficult of solution, particularly as I knew that reinforcements + for Lee had come up from the south to Richmond, and that most likely some + of these troops were being held at different points on the route to + intercept my column. Therefore I determined to pass the Pamunkey River at + the White House, and sent to Fort Monroe for a pontoon-bridge on which to + make the crossing. While waiting for the pontoons I ordered Custer to + proceed with his brigade to Hanover Station, to destroy the railroad + bridge over the South Anna, a little beyond that place; at the same time I + sent Gregg and Wilson to Cold Harbor, to demonstrate in the direction of + Richmond as far as Mechanicsville, so as to cover Custer's movements. + Merritt, with the remaining brigades of his division, holding fast at + Baltimore crossroads to await events. + </p> + <p> + After Gregg and Custer had gone, it was discovered that the railroad + bridge over the Pamunkey, near the White House, had been destroyed but + partially—the cross-ties and stringers being burned in places only—and + that it was practicable to repair it sufficiently to carry us over. In + view of this information General Merritt's two brigades were at once put + on the duty of reconstructing the bridge. By sending mounted parties + through the surrounding country, each man of which would bring in a board + or a plank, Merritt soon accumulated enough lumber for the flooring, and + in one day the bridge was made practicable. On the 22d Gregg, Wilson, and + Custer returned. The latter had gone on his expedition as far as Hanover + Station, destroyed some commissary stores there, and burned two trestle + bridges over Hanover Creek. This done, he deemed it prudent to retire to + Hanovertown. The next morning he again marched to Hanover Station, and + there ascertained that a strong force of the enemy, consisting of + infantry, cavalry, and artillery, was posted at the South Anna bridges. + These troops had gone there from Richmond en route to reinforce Lee. In + the face of this impediment Custer's mission could not be executed fully, + so he returned to Baltimore crossroads. + </p> + <p> + The whole command was drawn in by noon of the 22d, and that day it crossed + the Pamunkey by Merritt's reconstructed bridge, marching to Ayletts, on + the Mattapony River, the same night. Here I learned from citizens, and + from prisoners taken during the day by scouting parties sent toward + Hanover Court House, that Lee had been, forced from his position near + Spottsylvania Court House and compelled to retire to the line of the North + Anna. I then determined to rejoin the Army of the Potomac at the earliest + moment, which I did by making for Chesterfield Station, where I reported + to General Meade on the 24th of May. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp391" id="linkp391"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p391.jpg (112K)" src="images/p391.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Our return to Chesterfield ended the first independent expedition the + Cavalry Corps had undertaken since coming under my command, and our + success was commended highly by Generals Grant and Meade, both realizing + that our operations in the rear of Lee had disconcerted and alarmed that + general so much as to aid materially in forcing his retrograde march, and + both acknowledged that, by drawing off the enemy's cavalry during the past + fortnight, we had enabled them to move the Army of the Potomac and its + enormous trains without molestation in the manoeuvres that had carried it + to the North Anna. Then, too, great quantities of provisions and munitions + of war had been destroyed—stores that the enemy had accumulated at + sub-depots from strained resources and by difficult means; the railroads + that connected Lee with Richmond broken, the most successful cavalry + leader of the South killed, and in addition to all this there had been + inflicted on the Confederate mounted troops the most thorough defeat that + had yet befallen them in Virginia. + </p> + <p> + When the expedition set out the Confederate authorities in Richmond were + impressed, and indeed convinced, that my designs contemplated the capture + of that city, and notwithstanding the loss they sustained in the defeat + and death of Stuart, and their repulse the succeeding day, they drew much + comfort from the fact that I had not entered their capital. Some + Confederate writers have continued to hold this theory and conviction + since the war. In this view they were and are in error. When Stuart was + defeated the main purpose of my instructions had been carried out, and my + thoughts then turned to joining General Butler to get supplies. I believed + that I could do this by cutting across to the Mechanicsville pike and Fair + Oaks on the south side of the Chickahominy, but the failure of Wilson's + column to get possession of the outwork which commanded the pike + necessitated my crossing at Meadow bridge, and then moving by + Mechanicsville and Gaines's Mills instead of by the shorter route. + Moreover, my information regarding General Butler's position was + incorrect, so that even had I been successful in getting to Fair Oaks by + the direct road I should still have gained nothing thereby, for I should + still have been obliged to continue down the James River to Haxall's. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch20" id="linkch20"></a>CHAPTER XX. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + GENERAL WILSON'S ADVANCE TOWARD HANOVER COURT HOUSE—CROSSING THE + PAMUNKEY—ENGAGEMENT OF HAWE'S SHOP—FIGHT AT MATADEQUIN CREEK—CAPTURE + OF COLD HARBOR—THE FIGHT TO RETAIN THE PLACE—MOVEMENTS OF + GENERAL WILSON. + </p> + <p> + When I rejoined the Army of the Potomac, near Chesterfield Station, the + heavy battles around Spottsylvania had been fought, and the complicated + manoeuvres by which the whole Union force was swung across the North Anna + were in process of execution. In conjunction with these manoeuvres + Wilson's division was sent to the right flank of the army, where he made a + reconnoissance south of the North Anna as far as Little River, crossing + the former stream near Jericho Mills. Wilson was to operate from day to + day on that flank as it swung to the south, covering to New Castle ferry + each advance of the infantry and the fords left behind on the march. From + the 26th to the 30th these duties kept Wilson constantly occupied, and + also necessitated a considerable dispersion of his force, but by the 31st + he was enabled to get all his division together again, and crossing to the + south side of the Pamunkey at New Castle ferry, he advanced toward Hanover + Court House. Near Dr Pride's house he encountered a division of the + enemy's cavalry under General W. H. F. Lee, and drove it back across + Mechamp's Creek, thus opening communication with the right of our infantry + resting near Phillips's Mills. Just as this had been done, a little before + dark, Wilson received an order from General Meade directing him to push on + toward Richmond until he encountered the Confederates in such strength + that he could no longer successfully contend against them, and in + compliance with this order occupied Hanover Court House that same day. + Resuming his march at daylight on June 1, he went ahead on the Ashland + road while sending Chapman's brigade up the south bank of the South Anna + to destroy the bridges on that stream. Chapman having succeeded in this + work, Wilson re-united his whole command and endeavored to hold Ashland, + but finding the Confederate cavalry and infantry there in strong force, he + was obliged to withdraw to Dr. Price's house. Here he learned that the + army had gone to the left toward Cold Harbor, so on the 2d of June he + moved to Hawe's Shop. + </p> + <p> + While Wilson was operating thus on the right, I had to cover with Gregg's + and Torbert's divisions the crossing of the army over the Pamunkey River + at and near Hanovertown. Torbert having recovered from the illness which + overtook him in the Wilderness, had now returned to duty. The march to + turn the enemy's right began on the 26th. Torbert and Gregg in advance, to + secure the crossings of the Pamunkey and demonstrate in such manner as to + deceive the enemy as much as possible in the movement, the two cavalry + divisions being supported by General D. A. Russell's division of the Sixth + Corps. + </p> + <p> + To attain this end in the presence of an ever-watchful foe who had just + recently been reinforced in considerable numbers from Richmond and further + south—almost enough to make up the losses he had sustained in the + Wilderness and at Spottsylvania—required the most vigorous and + zealous work on the part of those to whom had been allotted the task of + carrying out the initial manoeuvres. Torbert started for Taylor's ford on + the Pamunkey with directions to demonstrate heavily at that point till + after dark, as if the crossing was to be made there, and having thus + impressed the enemy, he was to leave a small guard, withdraw quietly, and + march to Hanovertown ford, where the real crossing was to be effected. + Meanwhile Gregg marched to Littlepage's crossing of the Pamunkey, with + instructions to make feints in the same manner as Torbert until after + dark, when he was to retire discreetly, leaving a small force to keep up + the demonstration, and then march rapidly to Hanovertown crossing, taking + with him the pontoon-bridge. + </p> + <p> + At the proper hour Russell took up the march and followed the cavalry. The + troops were in motion all night, undergoing the usual delays incident to + night marches, and, early on the morning of the 27th the crossing was + made, Custer's brigade of Torbert's division driving from the ford about + one hundred of the enemy's cavalry, and capturing between thirty and forty + prisoners. The remainder of Torbert's division followed this brigade and + advanced to Hanovertown, where General Gordon's brigade of Confederate + cavalry was met. Torbert attacked this force with Devin's brigade, while + he sent Custer to Hawe's Shop, from which point a road leading to the + right was taken that brought him in rear of the enemy's cavalry; when the + Confederates discovered this manoeuvre, they retired in the direction of + Hanover Court House. Pursuit continued as far as a little stream called + Crump's Creek, and here Torbert was halted, Gregg moving up on his line + meanwhile, and Russell encamping near the crossing of the river. This + completed our task of gaining a foothold south of the Pamunkey, and on the + 28th the main army crossed unharassed and took up a position behind my + line, extending south from the river, with the Sixth Corps on the right + across the Hanover Court House road at Crump's Creek, the Second Corps on + the left of the Sixth, and the Fifth Corps about two miles in front of + Hanovertown, its left extending to the Tolopotomy. + </p> + <p> + There was now much uncertainty in General Grant's mind as to the enemy's + whereabouts, and there were received daily the most conflicting statements + as to the nature of Lee's movements. It became necessary, therefore, to + find out by an actual demonstration what Lee was doing, and I was required + to reconnoitre in the direction of Mechanicsville. For this purpose I + moved Gregg's division out toward this town by way of Hawe's Shop, and + when it had gone about three-fourths of a mile beyond the Shop the enemy's + cavalry was discovered dismounted and disposed behind a temporary + breastwork of rails and logs. + </p> + <p> + This was the first occasion on which, since the battle of Yellow Tavern, + the Confederate troopers had confronted us in large numbers, their mounted + operations, like ours, having been dependent more or less on the + conditions that grew out of the movements in which Lee's infantry had been + engaged since the 14th of May. + </p> + <p> + On that date General Lee had foreshadowed his intention of using his + cavalry in connection with the manoeuvres of his infantry by issuing an + order himself, now that Stuart was dead, directing that the "three + divisions of cavalry serving with the army [Lee's] will constitute + separate commands, and will report directly to and receive orders from the + headquarters of the army." The order indicates that since Stuart's death + the Confederate cavalry had been re-organized into three divisions, that + were commanded respectively by General Wade Hampton, General Fitzhugh Lee, + and General W. H. F. Lee, the additional division organization undoubtedly + growing out of the fact, that General M. C. Butler's brigade of about four + thousand men had joined recently from South Carolina. + </p> + <p> + When this force developed in Gregg's front, he attacked the moment his + troops could be dismounted; and the contest became one of exceeding + stubborness, for he found confronting him Hampton's and Fitzhugh Lee's + divisions, supported by what we then supposed to be a brigade of infantry, + but which, it has since been ascertained, was Butler's brigade of mounted + troops; part of them armed with long-range rifles. The contest between the + opposing forces was of the severest character and continued till late in + the evening. The varying phases of the fight prompted me to reinforce + Gregg as much as possible, so I directed Custer's brigade to report to + him, sending, meanwhile, for the other two brigades of Torbert, but these + were not available at the time—on account of delays which occurred + in relieving them from the line at Crump's Creek—and did not get up + till the fight was over. As soon as Custer joined him, Gregg vigorously + assaulted the Confederate position along his whole front; and + notwithstanding the long-range rifles of the South Carolinians, who were + engaging in their first severe combat it appears, and fought most + desperately, he penetrated their barricades at several points. + </p> + <p> + The most determined and obstinate efforts for success were now made on + both sides, as the position at Hawe's Shop had become of very great + importance on account of the designs of both Lee and Grant. Lee wished to + hold this ground while he manoeuvred his army to the line of the + Tolopotomy, where he could cover the roads to Richmond, while Grant, + though first sending me out merely to discover by a strong reconnoissance + the movements of the enemy, saw the value of the place to cover his new + base at the White House, and also to give us possession of a direct road + to Cold Harbor. Hawe's Shop remained in our possession finally, for late + in the evening Custer's brigade was dismounted and formed in close column + in rear of Gregg, and while it assaulted through an opening near the + centre of his line, the other two brigades advanced and carried the + temporary works. The enemy's dead and many of his wounded fell into our + hands; also a considerable number of prisoners, from whom we learned that + Longstreet's and Ewell's corps were but four miles to the rear. + </p> + <p> + The battle was a decidedly severe one, the loss on each side being heavy + in proportion to the number of troops engaged. This fight took place + almost immediately in front of our infantry, which, during the latter part + of the contest, was busily occupied in throwing up intrenchments. Late in + the afternoon I reported to General Meade the presence of the enemy's + infantry, and likewise that Hampton's and Fitzhugh Lee's divisions were in + my front also, and asked, at the same time; that some of our infantry, + which was near at hand, be sent to my assistance. I could not convince + Meade that anything but the enemy's horse was fighting us, however, and he + declined to push out the foot-troops, who were much wearied by night + marches. It has been ascertained since that Meade's conclusions were + correct in so far as they related to the enemy's infantry; but the five + cavalry brigades far outnumbered my three, and it is to be regretted that + so much was risked in holding a point that commanded the roads to Cold + Harbor and Meadow bridge, when there was at hand a preponderating number + of Union troops which might have been put into action. However, Gregg's + division and Custer's brigade were equal to the situation, all unaided as + they were till dark, when Torbert and Merritt came on the ground. The + contest not only gave us the crossroads, but also removed our uncertainty + regarding Lee's movements, clearly demonstrating that his army was + retiring by its right flank, so that it might continue to interpose + between Grant and the James River; as well as cover the direct route to + Richmond. + </p> + <p> + General Lee reported this battle to his Government as a Confederate + victory, but his despatch was sent early in the day, long before the fight + ended, and evidently he could not have known the final result when he made + the announcement, for the fight lasted until dark. After dark, our own and + the Confederate dead having been buried, I withdrew, and moving to the + rear of our infantry, marched all night and till I reached the vicinity of + Old Church, where I had been instructed to keep a vigilant watch on the + enemy with Gregg's and Torbert's divisions. As soon as I had taken + position at Old Church my pickets were pushed out in the direction of Cold + Harbor, and the fact that the enemy was holding that point in some force + was clearly ascertained. But our occupation of Cold Harbor was of the + utmost importance; indeed, it was absolutely necessary that we should + possess it, to secure our communications with the White House, as well as + to cover the extension of our line to the left toward the James River. + Roads from Bethesda Church, Old Church, and the White House centred at + Cold Harbor, and from there many roads diverged also toward different + crossings of the Chickahominy, which were indispensable to us. + </p> + <p> + The enemy too realized the importance of the place, for as soon as he + found himself compelled to take up the line of the Tolopotomy he threw a + body of troops into Cold Harbor by forced marches, and followed it up by + pushing a part of this force out on the Old Church road as far as + Matadequin Creek, where he established a line of battle, arranging the + front of it parallel to the road along the south bank of the Pamunkey; + this for the purpose of endangering our trains as they moved back and + forth between the army and the White House. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile I had occupied Old Church and pushed pickets down toward Cold + Harbor. The outposts struck each other just north of Matadequin Creek, and + a spirited fight immediately took place. At first our pickets were sorely + pressed, but Torbert, who was already preparing to make a reconnoissance, + lost no time in reinforcing them on the north side of the creek with + Devin's brigade. The fight then became general, both sides, dismounted, + stubbornly contesting the ground. Of the Confederates, General Butler's + South Carolinians bore the brunt of the fight, and, strongly posted as + they were on the south bank of the creek, held their ground with the same + obstinacy they had previously shown at Hawe's Shop. Finally, however, + Torbert threw Merritt's and Custer's brigades into the action, and the + enemy retired, we pursuing to within a mile and a half of Cold Harbor and + capturing a number of prisoners. Gregg's division took no part in the + actual fighting, but remained near Old Church observing the roads on + Torberts flanks, one leading toward Bethesda Church on his right, the + other to his left in the direction of the White House. This latter road + Gregg was particularly instructed to keep open, so as to communicate with + General W. F. Smith, who was then debarking his corps at the White House, + and on the morning of the 31st this general's advance was covered by a + brigade which Gregg had sent him for the purpose. + </p> + <p> + Torbert having pursued toward Cold Harbor the troops he fought at + Matadequin Creek, had taken up a position about a mile and a half from + that place, on the Old Church road. The morning of the 31st I visited him + to arrange for his further advance, intending thus to anticipate an + expected attack from Fitzhugh Lee, who was being reinforced by infantry. I + met Torbert at Custer's headquarters, and found that the two had already + been talking over a scheme to capture Cold Harbor, and when their plan was + laid before me it appeared so plainly feasible that I fully endorsed it, + at once giving directions for its immediate execution, and ordering Gregg + to come forward to Torbert's support with such troops as he could spare + from the duty with which he had been charged. + </p> + <p> + Torbert moved out promptly, Merritt's brigade first, followed by Custer's, + on the direct road to Cold Harbor, while Devin's brigade was detached, and + marched by a left-hand road that would bring him in on the right and rear + of the enemy's line, which was posted in front of the crossroads. Devin + was unable to carry his part of the programme farther than to reach the + front of the Confederate right, and as Merritt came into position to the + right of the Old Church road Torbert was obliged to place a part of + Custer's brigade on Merritt's left so as to connect with Devin. The whole + division was now in line, confronted by Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, supported + by Clingman's brigade from Hoke's division of infantry; and from the + Confederate breastworks, hastily constructed out of logs, rails, and + earth, a heavy fire was already being poured upon us that it seemed + impossible to withstand. None of Gregg's division had yet arrived, and so + stubborn was the enemy's resistance that I began to doubt our ability to + carry the place before reinforcements came up, but just then Merritt + reported that he could turn the enemy's left, and being directed to + execute his proposition, he carried it to a most successful issue with the + First and Second regular cavalry. Just as these two regiments passed + around the enemy's left and attacked his rear, the remainder of the + division assailed him in front. This manoeuvre of Merritt's stampeded the + Confederates, and the defenses falling into our hands easily, we pushed + ahead on the Bottom's bridge road three-fourths of a mile beyond Cold + Harbor. + </p> + <p> + Cold Harbor was now mine, but I was about nine miles away from our nearest + infantry, and had been able to bring up only Davies's brigade of cavalry, + which arrived after the fight. My isolated position therefore made me a + little uneasy. I felt convinced that the enemy would attempt to regain the + place, for it was of as much importance to him as to us, and the presence + of his infantry disclosed that he fully appreciated this. My uneasiness + increased as the day grew late, for I had learned from prisoners that the + balance of Hoke's division was en route to Cold Harbor, and Kershaw near + at hand, interposing between the Union left near Bethesda Church and my + position. In view of this state of affairs, I notified General Meade that + I had taken Cold Harbor, but could not with safety to my command hold it, + and forthwith gave directions to withdraw during the night. The last of my + troops had scarcely pulled out, however, when I received a despatch from + Meade directing me to hold Cold Harbor at every hazard. General Grant had + expected that a severe battle would have to be fought before we could + obtain possession of the place; and its capture by our cavalry not being + anticipated, no preparation had been made for its permanent occupancy. No + time was to be lost, therefore, if the advantages which possession of Cold + Harbor gave us were to be improved, so at the same hour that Meade ordered + me to hold the place at all hazards the Sixth Corps was started on a + forced march, by Grant's directions, to aid in that object, and on arrival + to relieve my cavalry. + </p> + <p> + The moment Meade's order was received, I directed a reoccupation of Cold + Harbor, and although a large portion of Torbert's command was already well + on its way back to the line we held on the morning of the 31st, this force + speedily retraced its steps, and re-entered the place before daylight; + both our departure and return having been effected without the enemy being + aware of our movements. We now found that the temporary breastworks of + rails and logs which the Confederates had built were of incalculable + benefit to us in furnishing material with which to establish a line of + defense, they being made available by simply reversing them at some + points, or at others wholly reconstructing them to suit the circumstances + of the ground: The troops, without reserves, were then placed behind our + cover dismounted, boxes of ammunition distributed along the line, and the + order passed along that the place must be held. All this was done in the + darkness, and while we were working away at our cover the enemy could be + distinctly heard from our skirmish-line giving commands and making + preparations to attack. + </p> + <p> + Just after daylight on the 1st of June the Confederate infantry under + General Kershaw endeavored to drive us out, advancing against my right + from the Bethesda Church road. In his assault he was permitted to come + close up to our works, and when within short range such afire was opened + on him from our horse-artillery and repeating carbines that he recoiled in + confusion after the first onset; still, he seemed determined to get the + place, and after reorganizing, again attacked; but the lesson of the first + repulse was not without effect, and his feeble effort proved wholly + fruitless. After his second failure we were left undisturbed, and at 9 + A.M. I sent the following despatch to army headquarters: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS,<br /> "ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.<br /> "Cold + Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864—9 A.M.<br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL + HUMPHREYS,<br /> "Chief-of-Staff.<br /> <br /> "GENERAL: In obedience to + your instructions I am holding Cold Harbor. I have captured this morning + more prisoners; they belong to three different infantry brigades. The + enemy assaulted the right of my lines this morning, but were handsomely + repulsed. I have been very apprehensive, but General Wright is now + coming up. I built slight works for my men; the enemy came up to them, + and were driven back. General Wright has just arrived.<br /> <br /> "P. H. + SHERIDAN,<br /> "Major-General Commanding." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + About 10 o'clock in the morning the Sixth Corps relieved Torbert and + Davies, having marched all night, and these two generals moving out toward + the Chickahominy covered the left of the infantry line till Hancock's + corps took their place in the afternoon. By this time Gregg had joined me + with his two brigades, and both Torbert and Gregg were now marched to + Prospect Church, from which point I moved them to a position on the north + side of the Chickahominy at Bottom's bridge. Here the enemy's cavalry + confronted us, occupying the south bank of the stream, with artillery in + position at the fords prepared to dispute our passage; but it was not + intended that we should cross; so Gregg and Torbert lay quiet in camp at + Bottom's bridge and at Old Church without noteworthy event until the 6th + of June. + </p> + <p> + As before related, Wilson's division struck the enemy's infantry as well + as W. H. F. Lee's cavalry near Ashland on the 1st of June, and although + Chapman destroyed the bridges over the South Anna, which was his part of + the programme, Wilson found it necessary to return to Price's Store. From + this point he continued to cover the right of the Army of the Potomac, on + the 2d of June driving the rear-guard of the enemy from Hawe's Shop, the + scene of the battle of May 28. The same day he crossed Tolopotomy Creek, + and passed around the enemy's left flank so far that Lee thought his left + was turned by a strong force, and under cover of darkness withdrew from a + menacing position which he was holding in front of the Ninth Corps. This + successful manoeuvre completed, Wilson returned to Hawe's Shop, and on the + 4th went into camp at New Castle ferry, in anticipation of certain + operations of the Cavalry Corps, which were to take place while the Army + of the Potomac was crossing to the south side of the James. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch21" id="linkch21"></a>CHAPTER XXI. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + THE MOVEMENT TO THE JAMES—THE SECOND EXPEDITION—BATTLE OF + TREVILLIAN STATION—DEFEAT OF GENERAL WADE HAMPTON—MALLORY'S + CROSSROADS—SUFFERING OF THE WOUNDED—SECURING THE TRAINS—GENERAL + GREGG'S STUBBORN FIGHT. + </p> + <p> + By the 6th of June General Grant again determined to continue the movement + of the army by its left flank to the south bank of the James River, his + unsuccessful attack on the enemy's works near Cold Harbor having + demonstrated that Lee's position north of the Chickahominy could not be + carried by assault with results that would compensate for the enormous + loss of life which must follow; therefore a further attempt to fight a + decisive battle north of Richmond was abandoned. In carrying the army to + the James River the hazardous manoeuvres would be hampered by many + obstacles, such as the thick timber, underbrush, and troublesome swamps to + be met in crossing the Chickahominy. Besides, Lee held an interior line, + from which all the direct roads to Richmond could be covered with his + infantry, leaving his cavalry free to confront our advance on the south + bank of the Chickahominy as far down as Jones's bridge, and thence around + to Charles City Court House. In view of these difficulties it became + necessary to draw off the bulk of the enemy's cavalry while the movement + to the James was in process of execution, and General Meade determined to + do this by requiring me to proceed with two divisions as far as + Charlottesville to destroy the railroad bridge over the Rivanna River near + that town, the railroad itself from the Rivanna to Gordonsville, and, if + practicable, from Gordonsville back toward Hanover Junction also. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,<br /> "June 5, 1864. 3.30 P. M.<br /> + <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Commanding Cavalry Corps.<br /> <br /> "I + am directed by the major-general commanding to furnish the following + instructions for your guidance in the execution of the duty referred to + in the order for movements and changes of position to-night, a copy of + which order accompanies this communication.<br /> <br /> "With two + divisions of your corps you will move on the morning of the 7th instant + to Charlottesville and destroy the railroad bridge over the Rivanna near + that town; you will then thoroughly destroy the railroad from that point + to Gordonsville, and from Gordonsville toward Hanover Junction, and to + the latter point, if practicable. The chief engineer, Major Duane, will + furnish you a canvas pontoon-train of eight boats. The chief + quartermaster will supply you with such tools, implements, and materials + as you may require for the destruction of the road. Upon the completion + of this duty you will rejoin this army.<br /> <br /> "A. HUMPHREYS,<br /> + "Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + After Meade's instructions reached me they were somewhat modified by + General Grant, who on the same evening had received information that + General Hunter, commanding the troops in West Virginia, had reached + Staunton and engaged with advantage the Confederate commander, General + Jones, near that place. General Grant informed me orally that he had + directed Hunter to advance as far as Charlottesville, that he expected me + to unite with him there, and that the two commands, after destroying the + James River canal and the Virginia Central road, were to join the Army of + the Potomac in the manner contemplated in my instructions from General + Meade; and that in view of what was anticipated, it would be well to break + up as much of the railroad as possible on my way westward. A copy of his + letter to Hunter comprised my written instructions. A junction with this + general was not contemplated when the expedition was first conceived, but + became an important though not the paramount object after the reception of + the later information. The diversion of the enemy's cavalry from the south + side of the Chickahominy was its main purpose, for in the presence of such + a force as Lee's contracted lines would now permit him to concentrate + behind the Chickahominy, the difficulties of crossing that stream would be + largely increased if he also had at hand a strong body of horse, to gain + the time necessary for him to oppose the movement at the different + crossings with masses of his infantry. + </p> + <p> + The order calling for two divisions for the expedition, I decided to take + Gregg's and Torbert's, leaving Wilson's behind to continue with the + infantry in its march to the James and to receive instructions directly + from, the headquarters of the army. All my dismounted men had been sent to + the White House some days before, and they were directed to report to + Wilson as they could be provided with mounts. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1964.<br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL D. + HUNTER, Commanding Dept West Virginia.<br /> <br /> "General Sheridan + leaves here to-morrow morning with instructions to proceed to + Charlottesville, Va., and to commence there the destruction of the + Virginia Central railroad, destroying this way as much as possible. The + complete destruction of this road and of the canal on James River is of + great importance to us. According to the instructions I sent to General + Halleck for your guidance, you will proceed to Lynchburg and commence + there. It would be of great value to us to get possession of Lynchburg + for a single day. But that point is of so much importance to the enemy, + that in attempting to get it such resistance may be met as to defeat + your getting into the road or canal at all. I see, in looking over the + letter to General Halleck on the subject of your instructions, that it + rather indicates that your route should be from Staunton via + Charlottesville. If you have so understood it, you will be doing just + what I want. The direction I would now give is, that if this letter + reaches you in the valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you + immediately turn east by the most practicable road until you strike the + Lynchburg branch of the Virginia Central road. From there move eastward + along the line of the road, destroying it completely and thoroughly, + until you join General Sheridan. After the work laid out for General + Sheridan and yourself is thoroughly done, proceed to join the Army of + the Potomac by the route laid out in General Sheridan's instructions. If + any portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed back in + your department, you are authorized to send it back. If on receipt of + this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem it practicable to reach + that point, you will exercise your judgment about going there. If you + should be on the railroad between Charlottesville and Lynchburg, it may + be practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy the canal. Lose no + opportunity to destroy the canal.<br /> <br /> "U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Owing to the hard service of the preceding month we had lost many horses, + so the number of dismounted men was large; and my strength had also been + much reduced by killed and wounded during the same period of activity. The + effective mounted force of my two divisions was therefore much diminished, + they mustering only about six thousand officers and men when concentrated + on June 6 at New Castle ferry. Here they were provided with three days' + rations, intended to last five days, and with two days' grain for the + horses. The rations and forty rounds of ammunition per man were to be + carried on the persons of the troopers, the grain on the pommel of the + saddle, and the reserve ammunition in wagons. One medical wagon and eight + ambulances were also furnished, and one wagon was authorized for each + division and brigade headquarters; enough canvas-covered boats for a small + pontoon-bridge were also provided. + </p> + <p> + My instructions permitting latitude in the route I should take, I decided + to march along the north bank of the North Anna River, cross that stream + at Carpenter's ford, strike the Virginia Central railroad at Trevillian + Station, destroy it toward Louisa Court House, march past Gordonsville, + strike the railroad again at Cobham's Station, and destroy it thence to + Charlottesville as we proceeded west. The success of the last part of this + programme would of course depend on the location of General Hunter when I + should arrive in the region where it would be practicable for us to + communicate with each other. + </p> + <p> + From my camp at New Castle ferry we crossed the Pamunkey, marched between + Aylett's and Dunkirk on the Mattapony River, and on the 8th of June + encamped at Polecat Station. The next day we resumed the march along the + North Anna—our advance guard skirmishing with a few mounted men of + the enemy, who proved to be irregulars—and bivouacked on Northeast + Creek, near Young's Mills. This day I learned from some of these + irregulars whom we made prisoners that Breckenridge's division of + infantry, en route to the Shenandoah Valley by way of Gordonsville, was + passing slowly up the railroad parallel to me, and that the enemy's + cavalry had left its position on the south side of the Chickahominy, and + was marching on the old Richmond and Gordonsville road toward + Gordonsville, under command of General Wade Hampton, the information being + confirmed by a scouting party sent out to cut the telegraph wires along + the railroad in the night. Breckenridge had been ordered back to the + valley by General Lee as soon as he heard of Hunter's victory near + Staunton, but now that my expedition had been discovered, the movement of + Breckenridge's troops on the railroad was being timed to correspond with + the marches of my command till Hampton could get more nearly parallel with + me. + </p> + <p> + On the 10th we resumed the march, passing by Twyman's store, crossing the + North Anna at Carpenter's ford and encamping on the road leading along the + south fork of the North Anna to Trevillian Station. During the evening and + night of the 10th the boldness of the enemy's scouting parties, with which + we had been coming into collision more or less every day, perceptibly + increased, thus indicating the presence of a large force, and evidencing + that his shorter line of march had enabled him to bring to my front a + strong body of cavalry, although it started from Lee's army nearly two + days later than I did from Grant's. The arrival of this body also + permitted Breckenridge to pass on to Gordonsville, and from there to + interpose between General Hunter and me at either Charlottesville or + Waynesboro' as circumstances might determine. + </p> + <p> + On the night of the 10th General Hampton's division camped about three + miles northwest of Trevillian, at a place called Green Spring Valley and + Fitzhugh Lee's division not far from Louisa Court House, some six miles + east of Trevillian. Learning that I was at Carpenter's ford, Hampton + marched his division by way of Trevillian Station toward Clayton's store, + on the road from Trevillian to Carpenter's ford, intending to attack me at + Clayton's. Fitzhugh Lee's division was to join Hampton at Clayton's store + from Louisa Court House; but on the morning of the 11th the two generals + were separated by several miles. + </p> + <p> + At daylight of the 11th my march, to Trevillian Station was resumed on the + direct road to that point, and engaging the enemy's pickets and advanced + parties soon after setting out, we began to drive them in. Torbert had the + lead with Merritt's and Devin's brigades, and as he pressed back the + pickets he came upon the enemy posted behind a line of barricades in dense + timber about three miles from Trevillian. Meanwhile Custer's brigade had + been sent from where we bivouacked, by a wood road found on our left, to + destroy Trevillian Station. In following this road Custer got to the rear + of Hampton's division, having passed between its right flank and Fitzhugh + Lee's division, which was at the time marching on the road leading from + Louisa Court House to Clayton's store to unite with Hampton. + </p> + <p> + Custer, the moment he found himself in Hampton's rear, charged the led + horses, wagons, and caissons found there, getting hold of a vast number of + each, and also of the station itself. The stampede and havoc wrought by + Custer in Hampton's rear compelled him to turn Rosser's brigade in that + direction, and while it attacked Custer on one side, Fitzhugh Lee's + division, which had followed Custer toward Trevillian, attacked him on the + other. There then ensued a desperate struggle for the possession of the + captured property, resulting finally in its being retaken by the enemy. + Indeed, the great number of horses and vehicles could not be kept on the + limited space within Custer's line, which now formed almost a complete + circle; and while he was endeavoring to remove them to a secure place + they, together with Custer's headquarters wagon and four of his caissons, + fell into the hands of their original owners. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the firing told that Custer had struck the enemy's rear, I + directed Torbert to press the line in front of Merritt and Devin, aided by + one brigade of Gregg's division on their left, Gregg's other brigade in + the meantime attacking Fitzhugh Lee on the Louisa Court House road. The + effect of this was to force Hampton back, and his division was so hard + pushed that a portion of it was driven pell-mell into Custer's lines, + leaving there about five hundred prisoners. The rest of Hampton's men did + not rally till they got some distance west of Trevillian, while, in the + meantime, Gregg had driven Fitzhugh Lee toward Louisa Court House so far + that many miles now intervened between the two Confederate divisions, + precluding their union until about noon the next day, when Fitzhugh Lee + effected the junction after a circuitous march in the night. The defeat of + Hampton at the point where he had determined to resist my further advance, + and his retreat westward, gave me undisturbed possession of the station; + and after destroying the railroad to some extent toward Gordonsville, I + went into camp. + </p> + <p> + From prisoners taken during the day, I gathered that General Hunter, + instead of coming toward Charlottesville, as I had reason to expect, both + from the instructions given me and the directions sent him by General + Grant, was in the neighborhood of Lexington—apparently moving on + Lynchburg—and that Breckenridge was at Gordonsville and + Charlottesville. I also heard, from the same source, that Ewell's corps + was on its way to Lynchburg, but this intelligence proved afterward to be + incorrect, for these troops, commanded by General Early, did not leave + Richmond till two days later. + </p> + <p> + There was no doubt as to the information about Hunter's general location, + however. He was marching toward Lynchburg, away from instead of toward me, + thus making the junction of our commands beyond all reasonable + probability. So in view of this, I made up my mind to abandon that part of + the scheme, and to return by leisurely marches, which would keep Hampton's + cavalry away from Lee while Grant was crossing the James River. I was + still further influenced to this course by the burden which was thrown on + me in the large number of wounded—there being about five hundred + cases of my own—and the five hundred prisoners that I would probably + be forced to abandon, should I proceed farther. Besides, the recent battle + had reduced my supply of ammunition to a very small amount—not more + than enough for one more respectable engagement; and as the chances were + that I would have to fight a great deal before I could reach Hunter, now + that the enemy's cavalry and Breckenridge's infantry were between us, the + risks of the undertaking seemed too great to warrant it. + </p> + <p> + The morning of June 12 Gregg's division commenced destroying the railroad + to Louisa Court House, and continued the work during the day, breaking it + pretty effectually. While Gregg was thus occupied, I directed Torbert to + make a reconnoissance up the Gordonsville road, to secure a by-road + leading over Mallory's ford, on the North Anna, to the Catharpen road, as + I purposed following that route to Spottsylvania Court House on my return, + and thence via Bowling Green and Dunkirk to the White House. About a mile + beyond Trevillian the Gordonsville road fork—the left fork leading + to Charlottesville—and about a mile beyond the fork Hampton had + taken up and strongly intrenched a line across both roads, being + reinforced by Fitzhugh Lee, who, as before related, had joined him about + noon by a roundabout march. Torbert soon hotly engaged this line, and by + the impetuosity of his first attack, gained some advantage; but the + appearance of Fitzhugh Lee's troops on the right, and Hampton's strong + resistance in front, rendered futile all efforts to carry the position; + and, although I brought up one of Gregg's brigades to Torbert's + assistance, yet the by-road I coveted was still held by the enemy when + night closed in. + </p> + <p> + This engagement, like that off the day before around Trevillian, was + mostly fought dismounted by both sides, as had also been the earlier + fights of the cavalry during the summer in the Wilderness, at Todd's + Tavern, Hawe's Shop, and Matadequin Creek. Indeed, they could hardly have + been fought otherwise than on foot, as there was little chance for mounted + fighting in eastern Virginia, the dense woods, the armament of both + parties, and the practice of barricading making it impracticable to use + the sabre with anything like a large force; and so with the exception of + Yellow Tavern the dismounted method prevailed in almost every engagement. + </p> + <p> + The losses at Mallory's Crossroads were very heavy on both sides. The + character of the fighting, together with the day's results, demonstrated + that it was impossible to make the passage of the North Anna at Mallory's + ford without venturing another battle the next day. This would consume the + little ammunition left, and though we might gain the road, yet the + possibility of having no ammunition whatever to get back with was too + great a hazard, so I gave orders to withdraw during the night of the 12th. + We retired along the same road by which we had come, taking with us the + prisoners, and all of our wounded who could be moved. Those who could not + be transported, some ninety in number, and all the Confederate wounded in + my hands, were left at Trevillian in hospitals, under charge of one of our + surgeons, with plenty of medical and other stores. + </p> + <p> + We recrossed the North Anna at Carpenter's ford the following morning, and + halting there, unsaddled and turned the horses out to graze, for they were + nearly famished, having had neither food nor water during the preceding + forty-eight hours. Late in the afternoon we saddled up and proceeded to + Twyman's Store, while General Hampton's main body moved down the south + bank of the North Anna, with the purpose of intervening between me and the + Army of the Potomac, in the hope of preventing my return to it; but his + movements took no definite shape beyond watching me, however, till several + days later, near St. Mary's Church, when I was crossing the peninsula to + the James River. + </p> + <p> + On the 14th the march was continued, and we reached the Catharpen road, + upon which it was originally intended to move if we had been able to cross + at Mallory's ford, and this conducted me to Shady Grove Church. The next + day we passed over the battle-field of Spottsylvania Court House. The + marks of the recent conflicts about there were visible on every hand, and + in the neighboring houses were found many Union and Confederate wounded, + who had been too severely hurt to be removed from the field-hospitals at + the time of the battles. Such of our wounded as were able to travel were + brought away. + </p> + <p> + On the 16th I marched from Edge Hill on the Ta River through Bowling Green + to Dr. Butler's, on the north side of the Mattapony. When I arrived here I + was unable to ascertain the position of the Army of the Potomac, and was + uncertain whether or not the base at the White House had been + discontinued. I had heard nothing from the army for nine days except + rumors through Southern sources, and under these circumstances did not + like to venture between the Mattapony and Pamunkey rivers, embarrassed as + I was with some four hundred wounded, five hundred prisoners, and about + two thousand negroes that had joined my column in the hope of obtaining + their freedom. I therefore determined to push down the north bank of the + Mattapony far enough to enable me to send these impediments directly to + West Point, where I anticipated finding some of our gunboats and + transports, that could carry all to the North. Following this plan, we + proceeded through Walkerton to King and Queen Court House, and bivouacked + in its vicinity the night of the 18th. Next day I learned that the depot + at the White House had not yet been broken up entirely, and that supplies + were in store for me there; so after sending the wounded, prisoners, and + negroes to West Point under an escort of two regiments, I turned back to + Dunkirk, on the Mattapony, and crossed to the south side at a place where + the stream was narrow enough to bridge with my pontoon-boats. + </p> + <p> + In returning from Trevillian, as the most of our wounded were hauled in + old buggies, carts, and such other vehicles as could be made available in + the absence of a sufficient number of ambulances, the suffering was + intense, the heat of the season and dusty roads adding much to the + discomfort. Each day we halted many times to dress the wounds of the + injured and to refresh them as much as possible, but our means for + mitigating their distress were limited. The fortitude and cheerfulness of + the poor fellows under such conditions were remarkable, for no word of + complaint was heard. The Confederate prisoners and colored people being on + foot, our marches were necessarily made short, and with frequent halts + also, but they too suffered considerably from the heat and dust, though at + times the prisoners were relieved by being mounted on the horses of some + of our regiments, the owners meantime marching on foot. Where all the + colored people came from and what started them was inexplicable, but they + began joining us just before we reached Trevillian—men, women, and + children with bundles of all sorts containing their few worldly goods, and + the number increased from day to day until they arrived at West Point. + Probably not one of the poor things had the remotest idea, when he set + out, as to where he would finally land, but to a man they followed the + Yankees in full faith that they would lead to freedom, no matter what road + they took. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the 20th, at an early hour, we resumed our march, and as + the column proceeded sounds of artillery were heard in the direction of + the White House, which fact caused us to quicken the pace. We had not gone + far when despatches from General Abercrombie, commanding some fragmentary + organizations at the White House, notified me that the place was about to + be attacked. I had previously sent an advance party with orders to move + swiftly toward the cannonading and report to me by couriers the actual + condition of affairs. From this party I soon learned that there was no + occasion to push our jaded animals, since the crisis, if there had been + one, was over and the enemy repulsed, so the increased gait was reduced to + a leisurely march that took us late in the afternoon to the north bank of + the Pamunkey, opposite Abercrombie's camp. When I got to the river the + enemy was holding the bluffs surrounding the White House farm, having made + no effort to penetrate General Abercrombie's line or do him other hurt + than to throw a few shells among the teamsters there congregated. + </p> + <p> + Next day Gregg's division crossed the Pamunkey dismounted, and Torbert's + crossed mounted. As soon as the troops were over, Gregg, supported by + Merritt's brigade, moved out on the road to Tunstall's Station to attack + Hampton, posted an the west side of Black Creek, Custer's brigade + meanwhile moving, mounted, on the road to Cumberland, and Devin's in like + manner on the one to Baltimore crossroads. This offer of battle was not + accepted, however, and Hampton withdrew from my front, retiring behind the + Chickahominy, where his communications with Lee would be more secure. + </p> + <p> + While at the White House I received orders to break up that depot wholly, + and also instructions to move the trains which the Army of the Potomac had + left there across the peninsula to the pontoon-bridge at Deep Bottom on + the James River. These trains amounted to hundreds of wagons and other + vehicles, and knowing full well the dangers which would attend the + difficult problem of getting them over to Petersburg, I decided to start + them with as little delay as circumstances would permit, and the morning + of the 22d sent Torbert's division ahead to secure Jones's bridge on the + Chickahominy, so that the wagons could be crossed at that point. The + trains followed Torbert, while Gregg's division marched by a road parallel + to the one on which the wagons were moving, and on their right flank, as + they needed to be covered and protected in that direction only. + </p> + <p> + The enemy made no effort to attack us while we were moving the trains that + day, and the wagons were all safely parked for the night on the south side + of the Chickahominy, guarded by General Getty, who had relieved + Abercrombie from command of the infantry fragments before we started off + from the White House. + </p> + <p> + To secure the crossing at Jones's bridge, Torbert had pushed Devin's + brigade out on the Long Bridge road, on the side of the Chickahominy + where, on the morning of the 23d, he was attacked by Chambliss's brigade + of W. H. F. Lee's division. Devin was driven in some little distance, but + being reinforced by Getty with six companies of colored troops, he quickly + turned the tables on Chambliss and re-established his picketposts. From + this affair I learned that Chambliss's brigade was the advance of the + Confederate cavalry corps, while Hampton discovered from it that we were + already in possession of the Jones's bridge crossing of the Chickahominy; + and as he was too late to challenge our passage of the stream at this + point he contented himself with taking up a position that night so as to + cover the roads leading from Long Bridge to Westover, with the purpose of + preventing the trains from following the river road to the pontoon-bridge + at Deep Bottom. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp433" id="linkp433"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p433.jpg (95K)" src="images/p433.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + My instructions required me to cross the trains over the James River on + this pontoon-bridge if practicable, and to reach it I should be obliged to + march through Charles City Court House, and then by Harrison's Landing and + Malvern Hill, the latter point being held by the enemy. In fact, he held + all the ground between Long Bridge on the Chickahominy and the + pontoon-bridge except the Tete de pont at the crossing. Notwithstanding + this I concluded to make the attempt, for all the delays of ferrying the + command and trains would be avoided if we got through to the bridge; and + with this object in view I moved Torbert's division out on the Charles + City road to conduct the wagons. Just beyond Charles City Court House + Torbert encountered Lomax's brigade, which he drove across Herring Creek + on the road to Westover Church; and reporting the affair to me, I + surmised, from the presence of this force in my front, that Hampton would + endeavor to penetrate to the long column of wagons, so I ordered them to + go into park near Wilcox's landing, and instructed Gregg, whose division + had been marching in the morning along the road leading from Jones's + bridge to St. Mary's Church for the purpose of covering the exposed flank + of the train, to hold fast near the church without fail till all the + transportation had passed Charles City Court House. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, General Hampton, who had conjectured that I would try to get + the train across the James by the pontoonbridge at Deep Bottom, began + concentrating all his troops except Lomax's brigade, which was to confront + the head of my column on the river road, in the vicinity of Nance's Shop. + This was discovered by Gregg at an early hour, and divining this purpose + he had prepared to meet it by constructing hasty cover for his men before + receiving my instructions. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon Hampton got + his force in hand, and with Fitzhugh Lee's division assailed the whole + front of Gregg's line, and his left flank with Chambliss's and Geary's + brigades. For two hours he continued to attack, but made little impression + on Gregg—gain at one point being counterbalanced by failure at + another. Because of the evident strength of Hampton, Gregg had placed all + his troops in line of battle from the first, and on discovery of the + enemy's superior numbers sent message after message to me concerning the + situation, but the messengers never arrived, being either killed or + captured, and I remained in total ignorance till dark of the strait his + division was in. + </p> + <p> + Toward night it became clear to Gregg that he could maintain the unequal + contest no longer, and he then decided to retreat, but not until convinced + that the time won had enabled all the trains to pass Charles City Court + House in safety. When he had got all his led horses fairly on the way, and + such of the wounded as could be transported, he retired by his right + flank-in some confusion, it is true, but stubbornly resisting to Hopewell + Church, where Hampton ceased to press him. + </p> + <p> + Gregg's losses were heavy, and he was forced to abandon his dead and most + seriously wounded, but the creditable stand made ensured the safety of the + train, the last wagon of which was now parked at Wilcox's Landing. His + steady, unflinching determination to gain time for the wagons to get + beyond the point of danger was characteristic of the man, and this was the + third occasion on which he had exhibited a high order of capacity and + sound judgment since coming under my command. The firmness and coolness + with which he always met the responsibilities of a dangerous place were + particularly strong points in Gregg's make-up, and he possessed so much + professional though unpretentious ability, that it is to be regretted he + felt obliged a few months later to quit the service before the close of + the war. + </p> + <p> + Gregg's fight fully satisfied me that we could not get the trains up to + the pontoon-bridge, for of course Hampton would now throw all his cavalry + in my front, on the river road, where it could be backed up by Lee's + infantry. Meanwhile, General Meade had become assured of the same thing, + and as he was now growing anxious about the fate of Wilson's division—which, + during my absence, had been sent out to break the enemy's communications + south of Petersburg, by destroying the Southside and Danville railroads—he + sent ferryboats to cross me over the James. During the night'of the 24th, + and next morning, the immense train—which ought never to have been + left for the cavalry to escort, after a fatiguing expedition of three + weeks—was moved back through Charles City Court House to Douthard's + landing, and there ferried over the river, followed by my troops in like + manner. When General Hampton discovered this, he moved to Drury's Bluff, + and there, on the morning of the 27th, crossed the James by the + Confederate pontoon-bridge. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch22" id="linkch22"></a>CHAPTER XXII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + GENERAL WILSON'S RAID—DESTROYING RAILROADS—HIS DISCOMFITURE—RESULTS + OF HIS RAID—REMOUNTS—MOVEMENT TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE JAMES—DECEIVING + LEE—MY ISOLATED POSITION—ESTIMATE OF HANCOCK—SUCCESS OF + THE CAVALRY—THEIR CONSTANT DUTIES. + </p> + <p> + While I was absent on the expedition to Trevillian, the movement of the + Army of the Potomac across the James River was effected, and Wilson, whom + I had left behind for the purpose, was engaged in the duty of covering its + front and rear. Late on the night of June 12 he, with Chapman's brigade, + crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, in advance of the Fifth Corps, + and by 7 o'clock next morning had driven the enemy's pickets up to White + Oak bridge, where he waited for our infantry. When that came up, he pushed + on as far as Riddle's Shop, but late that evening the Confederate infantry + forced him to withdraw to St. Mary's Church; for early in the morning + General Lee had discovered the movement of our army, and promptly threw + this column of infantry south of the Chickahominy to White Oak Swamp, with + the design of covering Richmond. From St. Mary's Church Wilson guarded all + the roads toward White Oak Swamp and Riddle's Shop, McIntosh's brigade + joining him on the 14th, by way of Long Bridge, as the rear of the Army of + the Potomac passed the Chickahominy. In the performance of this duty + Wilson did not have to fight any engagement of magnitude, for the bulk of + the enemy's cavalry had followed me to Trevillian. During the 15th and + 16th Wilson drew his troops in toward the James River, and next day + crossed it on the pontoon-bridge and camped on the Blackwater, near Mt. + Sinai Church. Here he remained till the 22d of June—the same day I + reached the White House with Gregg and Torbert—when, under orders + from General Meade, he set out to cut the enemy's communications to the + south and southwest of Petersburg. + </p> + <p> + His instructions implied that the breaking up of the Petersburg and + Lynchburg, and Richmond and Danville railroads at Burkeville was the most + important part of his mission, and that when the work of destruction + began, it should be continued till he was driven off by the enemy. + Wilson's force consisted of about 5,500 men, General A. V. Kautz, with the + cavalry of the Army of the James, having joined him for the expedition. In + moving out Wilson crossed the Weldon road near Ream's Station, first + destroying it effectually at that point. About fourteen miles west of + Petersburg he struck the Southside railroad, and broke it up clear to + Burkeville, a distance of thirty miles. Having destroyed everything at + Burkeville Junction, he moved along the Danville road to Staunton River, + completely wrecking about thirty miles of that line also. At Staunton + River he found the railroad bridge strongly guarded, and seeing that he + could not burn it, he began his return march that night, and reached + Nottoway River, some thirty miles south of Petersburg, at noon of the next + day—the 28th. + </p> + <p> + In this expedition Wilson was closely followcd from the start by + Barringer's brigade of W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, but the operations were not + interfered with materially, his success being signal till he reached the + vicinity of Stony Creek depot on his return. At this point General + Hampton, with his own and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, got between Wilson and + the Army of the Potomac, there being behind them at Ream's Station, at the + same time, two brigades of infantry under General Mahone. A severe battle + ensued, resulting in Wilson's defeat, with the loss of twelve guns and all + his wagons. In consequence of this discomfiture he was obliged to fall + back across the Nottoway River with his own division, and rejoined the + army by way of Peter's bridge on that stream, while Kautz's division, + unable to unite with Wilson after the two commands had become separated in + the fight, made a circuit of the enemy's left, and reached the lines of + our army in the night of the 28th. + </p> + <p> + Neither the presence of Hampton's cavalry at Stony Creek depot, nor the + possession of Ream's Station by the Confederate infantry, seems to have + been anticipated by Wilson, for in the report of the expedition he states: + </p> + <p> + "Foreseeing the probability of having to return northward, I wrote to + General Meade the evening before starting that I anticipated no serious + difficulty in executing his orders; but unless General Sheridan was + required to keep Hampton's cavalry engaged, and our infantry to prevent + Lee from making detachments, we should probably experience great + difficulty in rejoining the army. In reply to this note, General + Humphreys, chief-of-staff, informed me it was intended the Army of the + Potomac should cover the Weldon road the next day, the Southside road the + day after, and that Hampton having followed Sheridan toward Gordonsville, + I need not fear any trouble from him." + </p> + <p> + I doubt that General Meade's letter of instructions and Wilson's note of + the same evening, warrant what General Wilson here says. It is true that + the Weldon railroad near Ream's Station was not covered by our infantry, + as General Humphreys informed him it would be, but Wilson is in error when + he intimates that he was assured that I would look after Hampton. I do not + think General Meade's instructions are susceptible of this interpretation. + I received no orders requiring me to detain Hampton. On the contrary, when + I arrived at the White House my instructions required me to break up the + depot there, and then bring the train across the Peninsula as soon as + practicable, nor were these instructions ever modified. I began the duty + imposed on me on the morning of the 23d, totally in the dark as to what + was expected of Wilson, though it seems, from some correspondence between + Generals Grant and Meade, which I never saw till after the war, that Grant + thought Wilson could rely on Hampton's absence from his field of + operations throughout the expedition. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp443" id="linkp443"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p443.jpg (120K)" src="images/p443.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/p443.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,<br /> "June 21, 1864. 9:20 A. M.<br /> + <br /> "BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILSON,<br /> "Commanding Third Division Cavalry + Corps.<br /> <br /> "The major-general commanding directs that you move + your command at 2 A. M. to-morrow, the 22d instant, in execution of the + duty assigned you of destroying certain railroads. Despatches received + from the White House state that Hampton's cavalry was before that place + yesterday evening, and that General Sheridan had also reached there, + hence it is desirable that you should march at the earliest moment. In + passing Petersburg you will endeavor to avoid the observation of the + enemy, and then move by the shortest routes to the intersection of the + Petersburg and Lynchburg, and the Richmond and Danville railroads, and + destroy both these roads to the greatest extent possible, continuing + their destruction until driven from it by such attacks of the enemy as + you can no longer resist. The destruction of those roads to such an + extent that they cannot be used by the enemy in connection with Richmond + during the remainder of the campaign is an important part of the plan of + campaign. The latest information from Major-General Hunter represents + him to be a few miles west of Lynchburg. He may endeavor to form a + junction with this army; you will communicate with him if practicable, + and have delivered to him verbally the contents of the following copy of + a communication from Lieutenant-General Grant to the major-general + commanding this army. Lieutenant Brooks, who will accompany your + expedition part of the way, should be informed where General Hunter will + probably be found.<br /> <br /> "The success of your expedition will + depend upon the secrecy with which it is commenced, and the celerity + with which its movements are conducted; your command will, therefore, + have with it the lightest supplies and smallest number of wheels + consistent with the thorough execution of the duty, the supplies of the + section of country you will operate in being taken into account. Upon + the completion of the work assigned you, you will rejoin this army.<br /> + <br /> "The chief quartermaster was directed yesterday to supply you with + the implements and material for the destruction of railroads obtained + for General Sheridan.<br /> <br /> "[Signed] A. A. HUMPHREYS,<br /> + "Major-General, Chief-of-Staff."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "HEADQUARTERS + CAVALRY FORCES,<br /> Mount Sinai Church, June 21, 1864—6 P.M.<br /> + <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL HUMPHREYS,"<br /> "Chief-of-Staff.<br /> <br /> "The + instructions of the major-general commanding, of this date, are + received. I shall march in obedience thereto at 2 A. M. to-morrow. + Before starting I would like to know if our infantry forces cover the + Weldon road.<br /> <br /> "I propose striking the Southside road first at + Sutherland Station, or some point in that vicinity, tearing up the track + sufficiently to delay railroad communication ten or twelve hours. At + this place I shall detach a force to strike the Richmond and Danville + road, by a rapid march, at the nearest point, tearing up the track at + every practicable point between there and Burkeville.<br /> <br /> "From + Sutherlands I shall move the main body of my command by the Great road + (breaking the railroad at every convenient point) directly to + Burkeville, which, if we succeed in capturing, will afford us the + opportunity of prosecuting our work with great advantage. As soon as I + have made dispositions for communicating with Hunter and done all the + damage possible, I shall move with all possible rapidity for Danville + and Grenboro'.<br /> <br /> "Circumstances must, however, is a great + degree control our movements after leaving Burkeville.<br /> <br /> "If + Sheridan will look after Hampton, I apprehend no difficulty, and hope to + be able to do the enemy great damage. The ammunition issued to my + command is very defective. The implements for destroying roads have not + yet arrived, but I learn from General Ingalls that they will certainly + be here early to-morrow.<br /> <br /> "[Signed] J. H. WILSON,<br /> + "Brigadier-General Commanding." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + The moment I received orders from General Meade to go to the relief of + Wilson, I hastened with Torbert and Gregg by way of Prince George Court + House and Lee's Mills to Ream's Station. Here I found the Sixth Corps, + which Meade had pushed out on his left flank immediately on hearing of + Wilson's mishap, but I was too late to render any material assistance, + Wilson having already disappeared, followed by the enemy. However, I at + once sent out parties to gather information, and soon learned that Wilson + had got safe across the Nottoway at Peter's bridge and was making for the + army by way of Blunt's bridge, on the Blackwater. + </p> + <p> + The benefits derived from this expedition, in the destruction of the + Southside and Danville railroads, were considered by General Grant as + equivalent for the losses sustained in Wilson's defeat, for the wrecking + of the railroads and cars was most complete, occasioning at this, time + serious embarrassment to the Confederate Government; but I doubt if all + this compensated for the artillery and prisoners that fell into the hands + of the enemy in the swamps of Hatcher's Run and Rowanty Creek. Wilson's + retreat from the perilous situation at Ream's station was a most + creditable performance—in the face of two brigades of infantry and + three divisions of cavalry—and in the conduct of the whole + expedition the only criticism that can hold against him is that he placed + too much reliance on meeting our infantry at Ream's station, seeing that + uncontrollable circumstances might, and did, prevent its being there. He + ought to have marched on the 28th by Jarrett's Station to Peter's bridge, + on the Nottoway, and Blunts bridge on the Blackwater, to the rear of the + Army of the Potomac. + </p> + <p> + When the safety of Wilson's command was assured, I was ordered back to + Light House Point, where I had gone into camp after crossing the James + River to rest and recruit my command, now very much reduced in numbers by + reason of casualties to both horses and men. It had been marching and + fighting for fifty consecutive days, and the fatiguing service had told so + fearfully on my animals that the number of dismounted men in the corps was + very large. With the exception of about four hundred horses that I + received at the White House, no animals were furnished to supply the + deficiencies which had arisen from the wearing marches of the past two + months until I got to this camp at Light House Point; here my needs were + so obvious that they could no longer be neglected. + </p> + <p> + I remained at Light House Point from the 2d to the 26th of July, + recuperating the cavalry, the intensely warm weather necessitating almost + an entire suspension of hostilities on the part of the Army of the + Potomac. Meanwhile fifteen hundred horses were sent me here, and these, + with the four hundred already mentioned, were all that my troops received + while I held the personal command of the Cavalry Corps, from April 6 to + August 1, 1864. This was not near enough to mount the whole command, so I + disposed the men who could not be supplied in a dismounted camp. + </p> + <p> + By the 26th of July our strength was pretty well restored, and as General + Grant was now contemplating offensive operations for the purpose of + keeping Lee's army occupied around Richmond, and also of carrying + Petersburg by assault if possible, I was directed to move to the north + side of the James River in conjunction with General Hancock's corps, and, + if opportunity offered, to make a second expedition against the Virginia + Central railroad, and again destroy the bridges on the North Anna, the + Little and the South Anna rivers. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp446" id="linkp446"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p446.jpg (262K)" src="images/p446.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/p446.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + I started out on the afternoon of the 26th and crossed the Appomattox at + Broadway landing. At Deep Bottom I was joined by Kautz's small division + from the Army of the James, and here massed the whole command, to allow + Hancock's corps to take the lead, it crossing to the north bank of the + James River by the bridge below the mouth of Bailey's Creek. I moved late + in the afternoon, so as not to come within the enemy's view before dark, + and after night-fall Hancock's corps passed me and began crossing the + pontoon-bridge about 2 o'clock in the morning. + </p> + <p> + By daylight Hancock was across, the cavalry following. Soon a portion of + his corps attacked the enemy's works on the east side of Bailey's Creek, + and, aided by the cavalry moving on its right, captured four pieces of + artillery. This opened the way for Hancock to push out his whole corps, + and as he advanced by a wheel, with his left as a pivot, the cavalry + joined in the movement, pressing forward on the New Market and Central or + Charles City roads. + </p> + <p> + We did not go far before we found the enemy's infantry posted across these + two roads behind a strong line of intrenchments on the west bank of + Bailey's Creek. His videttes in front of Ruffin's house on the New Market + road were soon driven in on their main line, and the high ground before + the house was immediately occupied by Torbert and Gregg, supported by + Kautz's division. By the time the cavalry line was formed the Confederate + General Kershaw, with his own division of infantry and those of Wilcox and + Heath, advanced to attack us. Directing the most of his troops against the + cavalry, which was still mounted, Kershaw drove it back some distance over + the high ground. When it reached the eastern face of the ridge, however, + it was quickly dismounted, and the men directed to lie down in line of + battle about fifteen yards from the crest, and here the onset of the enemy + was awaited. When Kershaw's men reached the crest such a severe fire was + opened on them, and at such close quarters, that they could not withstand + it, and gave way in disorder. They were followed across the plain by the + cavalry, and lost about two hundred and fifty prisoners and two + battle-flags. The counter attack against the infantry by Torbert and Gregg + re-established our line and gave us the victory of Darbytown, but it also + demonstrated the fact that General Lee had anticipated the movement around + his left flank by transferring to the north side of the James a large + portion of his infantry and W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry. + </p> + <p> + This development rendered useless any further effort on Hancock's part or + mine to carry out the plan of the expedition, for General Grant did not + intend Hancock to assault the enemy's works unless there should be found + in them but a very thin line of infantry which could be surprised. In such + event, Hancock was to operate so that the cavalry might turn the + Confederates on the Central or Charles City road, but the continually + increasing force of the enemy showed this to be impracticable. The long + front presented by Hancock's corps and the cavalry deceived General Lee, + and he undoubtedly thought that nearly all of Grant's army had been moved + to the north side of the James River; and to meet the danger he + transferred the most of his own strength to the same side to confront his + adversary, thinning the lines around Petersburg to reinforce those + opposing us on the Central and New Market roads. This was what Grant hoped + Lee would do in case the operations of Hancock and myself became + impracticable, for Grant had an alternative plan for carrying Petersburg + by assault in conjunction with the explosion of a mine that had been + driven under the enemy's works from the front of Burnside's corps. + </p> + <p> + Now that there was no longer a chance for the cavalry to turn the enemy's + left, our attention was directed to keeping up the deception of Lee, and + on the afternoon of the 28th Hancock's corps withdrew to a line nearer the + head of the bridge, the cavalry drawing back to a position on his right. + From now on, all sorts of devices and stratagems were practiced—anything + that would tend to make the Confederates believe we were being reinforced, + while Hancock was preparing for a rapid return to Petersburg at the proper + time. In order to delude the enemy still more after night-fall of the 28th + I sent one of my divisions to the south side of the James, first covering + the bridgeway with refuse hay to keep the tramp of the horses from being + heard. After daylight the next morning, I marched this division back again + on foot, in full view of the enemy, to create the impression of a + continuous movement large bodies of infantry to the north side, while the + same time Kautz was made to skirmish with the enemy on our extreme right. + These various artifices had the effect intended, for by the evening of the + 29th Lee had transferred all his infantry to the north bank of the James, + except three divisions, and all his cavalry save one. + </p> + <p> + The morning of the 30th had been fixed upon to explode the mine and + assault the enemy's works, so after dark on the evening of the 29th + Hancock hastily but quietly withdrew his corps to the south side to take + part in the engagement which was to succeed the explosion, and I was + directed to follow Hancock. This left me on the north side of the river + confronting two-thirds of Lee's army in a perilous position, where I could + easily be driven into Curl's Neck and my whole command annihilated. The + situation, therefore, was not a pleasant one to contemplate, but it could + not be avoided. Luckily the enemy did not see fit to attack, and my + anxiety was greatly relieved by getting the whole command safely across + the bridge shortly after daylight, having drawn in the different brigades + successively from my right. By 10 o'clock on the morning of the 30th my + leading division was well over toward the left of our army in front of + Petersburg, marching with the purpose to get around the enemy's right + flank during the operations that were to succeed the mine explosion, but + when I reached General Meade's headquarters I found that lamentable + failure had attended the assault made when the enemy's works were blown up + in the morning. Blunder after blunder had rendered the assault abortive, + and all the opportunities opened by our expedition to the north side were + irretrievably lost, so General Meade at once arrested the movement of the + cavalry. + </p> + <p> + In the expedition to Deep Bottom I was under the command of Major-General + Hancock, who, by seniority, was to control my corps as well as his own + until the way was opened for me to get out on the Virginia Central + railroad. If this opportunity was gained, I was to cut loose and damage + Lee's communications with the Shenandoah Valley in such manner as best + suited the conditions, but my return was not to be jeopardized nor long + delayed. This necessitated that Hancock's line should extend to Bottom's + bridge on the Chickahominy. The enemy's early discovery of the movement + and his concentration of troops on the north side prevented Hancock from + accomplishing the programme laid out for him. Its impracticability was + demonstrated early on the 27th, and Hancock's soldierly instincts told him + this the moment he unexpectedly discovered Kershaw blocking the New Market + and Charles City roads. To Hancock the temptation to assault Kershaw's + position was strong indeed, but if he carried it there would still remain + the dubious problem of holding the line necessary for my safe return, so + with rare judgment he desisted zealously turning to the alternative + proposition—the assault on Petersburg—for more significant + results. This was the only occasion during the war in which I was + associated with Hancock in campaign. Up till then we had seldom met, and + that was the first opportunity I had to observe his quick apprehension, + his physical courage, and the soldierly personality which had long before + established his high reputation. + </p> + <p> + On the 1st of August, two days after the mine explosion, I was. relieved + from the personal command of the Cavalry Corps, and ordered to the + Shenandoah Valley, where at a later date Torbert's and Wilson's divisions + joined me. Practically, after I went to the valley, my command of the + Cavalry Corps became supervisory merely. During the period of my immediate + control of the corps, I tried to carry into effect, as far as possible, + the views I had advanced before and during the opening of the Wilderness + campaign, i.e., "that our cavalry ought to fight the enemy's cavalry, and + our infantry the enemy's infantry"; for there was great danger of breaking + the spirit of the corps if it was to be pitted against the enemy's compact + masses of foot-troops posted behind intrenchments, and unless there was + some adequate tactical or strategical advantage to be gained, such a use + of it would not be justified. Immediately succeeding the battles of the + Wilderness, opportunity offered to put this plan into execution to some + extent, and from that time forward—from the battle of Yellow Tavern—our + success was almost continuous, resulting finally, before the close of the + war, in the nearly total annihilation of the enemy's cavalry. + </p> + <p> + The constant activity of the corps from May 5 till August 1 gave little + opportunity for the various division and brigade commanders to record its + work in detail; so there exists but meagre accounts of the numerous + skirmishes and graver conflicts in which, in addition to the fights + mentioned in this narrative, it engaged. A detailed history of its + performances is not within the province of a work of this nature; but in + review, it can be said, without trespassing on the reader's time, that the + Cavalry Corps led the advance of the Army of the Potomac into the + Wilderness in the memorable campaign of 1864; that on the expedition by + way of Richmond to Haxall's it marked out the army's line of march to the + North Anna; that it again led the advance to the Tolopotomy, and also to + Cold Harbor, holding that important strategic point at great hazard; and + that by the Trevillian expedition it drew away the enemy's cavalry from + the south side of the Chickahominy, and thereby assisted General Grant + materially in successfully marching to the James River and Petersburg. + Subsequently, Wilson made his march to Staunton bridge, destroying + railroads and supplies of inestimable value, and though this was + neutralized by his disaster near Ream's Station, the temporary set-back + there to one division was soon redeemed by victory over the Confederate + infantry at the battle of Darbytown. + </p> + <p> + In the campaign we were almost always on the march, night and day, often + unable to care properly for our wounded, and obliged to bury our dead + where they fell; and innumerable combats attest the part the cavalry + played in Grant's march from the Rapidan to Petersburg. In nearly all of + these our casualties were heavy, particularly so when, as was often the + case, we had to engage the Confederate infantry; but the enemy returned + such a full equivalent in dead and wounded in every instance, that finally + his mounted power, which from the beginning of the war had been nurtured + with a wise appreciation of its value, was utterly broken. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch23" id="linkch23"></a>CHAPTER XXIII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + GENERAL HUNTER'S SUCCESSFUL MARCH AND SUBSEQUENT RETREAT—GENERAL + JUBAL A. EARLY THREATENS WASHINGTON—CHAMBERSBURG, PA., BURNED—SELECTED + TO OPERATE AGAINST GENERAL EARLY—THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY—THE + CONFEDERATE ARMY. + </p> + <p> + When the attempt to take Petersburg in conjunction with the mine explosion + resulted in such a dismal failure, all the operations contemplated in + connection with that project came to a standstill, and there was every + prospect that the intensely hot and sultry weather would prevent further + activity in the Army of the Potomac till a more propitious season. Just + now, however, the conditions existing in the Shenandoah Valley and along + the upper Potomac demanded the special attention of General Grant, for, + notwithstanding the successful march that Major-General David Hunter had + made toward Lynchburg early in the summer, what he had first gained was + subsequently lost by strategical mistakes, that culminated in disaster + during the retreat he was obliged to make from the vicinity of Lynchburg + to the Kanawha Valley. This route of march uncovered the lower portion of + the Valley of the Shenandoah, and with the exception of a small force of + Union troops under General Franz Sigel posted aft Martinsburg for the + purpose of covering the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, there was nothing at + hand to defend the lower valley. + </p> + <p> + The different bodies of Confederates which compelled Hunter's retreat were + under command of General Jubal A. Early, who had been sent to Lynchburg + with Ewell's corps after the defeat of the Confederate General W. C. Jones + near Staunton on the 5th of June, to take command of the Valley District. + When Early had forced Hunter into the Kanawha region far enough to feel + assured that Lynchburg could not again be threatened from that direction, + he united to his own corps General John C. Breckenridge's infantry + division and the cavalry of Generals J. H. Vaughn, John McCausland. B. T. + Johnson, and J. D. Imboden, which heretofore had been operating in + southwest and western Virginia under General Robert Ransom, Jr., and with + the column thus formed, was ready to turn his attention to the lower + Shenandoah Valley. At Early's suggestion General Lee authorized him to + move north at an opportune moment, cross the upper Potomac into Maryland + and threaten Washington. Indeed, General Lee had foreshadowed such a + course when Early started toward Lynchburg for the purpose of relieving + the pressure in front of Petersburg, but was in some doubt as to the + practicability of the movement later, till persuaded to it by the + representations of Early after that general had driven Hunter beyond the + mountains and found little or nothing opposing except the small force of + Sigel, which he thought he could readily overcome by celerity of movement. + </p> + <p> + By rapid marching Early reached Winchester on the 2d of July, and on the + 4th occupied Martinsburg, driving General Sigel out of that place the same + day that Hunter's troops, after their fatiguing retreat through the + mountains, reached Charlestown, West Virginia. Early was thus enabled to + cross the Potomac without difficulty, when, moving around Harper's Ferry, + through the gaps of the South Mountain, he found his path unobstructed + till he reached the Monocacy, where Ricketts's division of the Sixth + Corps, and some raw troops that had been collected by General Lew Wallace, + met and held the Confederates till the other reinforcements that had been + ordered to the capital from Petersburg could be brought up. Wallace + contested the line of the Monocacy with obstinacy, but had to retire + finally toward Baltimore. The road was then open to Washington, and Early + marched to the outskirts and began against the capital the demonstrations + which were designed to divert the Army of the Potomac from its main + purpose in front of Petersburg. + </p> + <p> + Early's audacity in thus threatening Washington had caused some concern to + the officials in the city, but as the movement was looked upon by General + Grant as a mere foray which could have no decisive issue, the + Administration was not much disturbed till the Confederates came in close + proximity. Then was repeated the alarm and consternation of two years + before, fears for the safety of the capital being magnified by the + confusion and discord existing among the different generals in Washington + and Baltimore; and the imaginary dangers vanished only with the appearance + of General Wright, who, with the Sixth Corps and one division of the + Nineteenth Corps, pushed out to attack Early as soon as he could get his + arriving troops in hand, but under circumstances that precluded celerity + of movement; and as a consequence the Confederates escaped with little + injury, retiring across the Potomac to Leesburg, unharassed save by some + Union cavalry that had been sent out into Loudoun County by Hunter, who in + the meantime had arrived at Harper's Ferry by the Baltimore and Ohio + railroad. From Leesburg Early retired through Winchester toward Strasburg, + but when the head of his column reached this place he found that he was + being followed by General Crook with the combined troops of Hunter and + Sigel only, Wright having returned to Washington under orders to rejoin + Meade at Petersburg. This reduction of the pursuing force tempting Early + to resume the offensive, he attacked Crook at Kernstown, and succeeded in + administering such a check as to necessitate this general's retreat to + Martinsburg, and finally to Harper's Ferry. Crook's withdrawal restored to + Early the line of the upper Potomac, so, recrossing this stream, he + advanced again into Maryland, and sending McCausland on to Chambersburg, + Pennsylvania, laid that town in ashes, leaving three thousand + non-combatants without shelter or food. + </p> + <p> + When Early fell back from the vicinity of Washington toward Strasburg, + General Grant believed that he would rejoin Lee, but later manoeuvres of + the enemy indicated that Early had given up this idea, if he ever, + entertained it, and intended to remain in the valley, since it would + furnish Lee and himself with subsistence, and also afford renewed + opportunities for threatening Washington. Indeed, the possession of the + Valley of the Shenandoah at this time was of vast importance to Lee's + army, and on every hand there were indications that the Confederate + Government wished to hold it at least until after the crops could be + gathered in to their depots at Lynchburg and Richmond. Its retention, + besides being of great advantage in the matter of supplies, would also be + a menace to the North difficult for General Grant to explain, and thereby + add an element of considerable benefit to the Confederate cause; so when + Early's troops again appeared at Martinsburg it was necessary for General + Grant to confront them with a force strong enough to put an end to + incursions north of the Potomac, which hitherto had always led to National + discomfiture at some critical juncture, by turning our army in eastern + Virginia from its chief purpose—the destruction of Lee and the + capture of the Confederate capital. + </p> + <p> + This second irruption of Early, and his ruthless destruction of + Chambersburg led to many recommendations on the part of General Grant + looking to a speedy elimination of the confusion then existing among the + Union forces along the upper Potomac, but for a time the authorities at + Washington would approve none of his propositions. The President and + Secretary Stanton seemed unwilling to adopt his suggestions, and one + measure which he deemed very important—the consolidation into a + single command of the four geographical districts into which, to relieve + political pressure no doubt, the territory had been divided—met with + serious opposition. Despite Grant's representations, he could not prevail + on the Administration to approve this measure, but finally the manoeuvres + of Early and the raid to Chambersburg compelled a partial compliance, + though Grant had somewhat circumvented the difficulty already by deciding + to appoint a commander for the forces in the field that were to operate + against Early. + </p> + <p> + On the 31st of July General Grant selected me as this commander, and in + obedience to his telegraphic summons I repaired to his headquarters at + City Point. In the interview that followed, he detailed to me the + situation of affairs on the upper Potomac, telling me that I was to + command in the field the troops that were to operate against Early, but + that General Hunter, who was at the head of the geographical department, + would be continued in his position for the reason that the Administration + was reluctant to reconstruct or consolidate the different districts. After + informing me that one division of the Cavalry Corps would be sent to my + new command, he went on to say that he wanted me to push the enemy as soon + as this division arrived, and if Early retired up the Shenandoah Valley I + was to pursue, but if he crossed the Potomac I was to put myself south of + him and try to compass his destruction. The interview having ended, I + returned to Hancock Station to prepare for my departure, and on the + evening of August 1 I was relieved from immediate duty with the Army of + the Potomac, but not from command of the cavalry as a corps organization. + </p> + <p> + I arrived at Washington on the 4th of August, and the next day received + instructions from General Halleck to report to General Grant at Monocacy + Junction, whither he had gone direct from City Point, in consequence of a + characteristic despatch from the President indicating his disgust with the + confusion, disorder, and helplessness prevailing along the upper Potomac, + and intimating that Grant's presence there was necessary. + </p> + <p> + In company with the Secretary of War I called on the President before + leaving Washington, and during a short conversation Mr. Lincoln candidly + told me that Mr. Stanton had objected to my assignment to General Hunter's + command, because he thought me too young, and that he himself had + concurred with the Secretary; but now, since General Grant had "ploughed + round" the difficulties of the situation by picking me out to command the + "boys in the field," he felt satisfied with what had been done, and "hoped + for the best." Mr. Stanton remained silent during these remarks, never + once indicating whether he, too, had become reconciled to my selection or + not; and although, after we left the White House, he conversed with me + freely in regard to the campaign I was expected to make, seeking to + impress on me the necessity for success from the political as well as from + the military point of view, yet he utterly ignored the fact that he had + taken any part in disapproving the recommendation of the general-in-chief. + </p> + <p> + August 6, I reported to General Grant at the Monocacy, and he there turned + over to me the following instructions, which he had previously prepared + for General Hunter in the expectation that general would continue to + command the department: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD,<br /> "Monocacy Bridge, Md., Aug. 5, + 1864.<br /> <br /> "GENERAL: Concentrate all your available force without + delay in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad + guards and garrisons for public property as may be necessary.<br /> <br /> + "Use in this concentration the railroad, if by so doing time can be + saved. From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has moved + north of the Potomac in large force, push north, following and attacking + him wherever found; following him, if driven south of the Potomac, as + long as it is safe to do so. If it is ascertained that the enemy has but + a small force north of the Potomac, then push south the main force, + detaching, under a competent commander, a sufficient force to look after + the raiders and drive them to their homes. In detaching such a force, + the brigade of cavalry now en route from Washington via Rockville may be + taken into account.<br /> <br /> "There are now on the way to join you + three other brigades of the best of cavalry, numbering at least five + thousand men and horses. These will be instructed, in the absence of + further orders, to join you by the south side of the Potomac. One + brigade will probably start to-morrow.<br /> <br /> "In pushing up the + Shenandoah Valley, as it is expected you will have to go first or last, + it is desirable that nothing should be left to invite the enemy to + return. Take all provisions, forage, and stock wanted for the use of + your command. Such as cannot be consumed, destroy. It is not desirable + that the buildings should be destroyed—they should, rather, be + protected; but the people should be informed that so long as an army can + subsist among them recurrences of these raids must be expected, and we + are determined to stop them at all hazards.<br /> <br /> "Bear in mind, + the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do this you want to keep + him always in sight. Be guided in your course by the course he takes.<br /> + <br /> "Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving + regular vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in the + country through which you march.<br /> <br /> "Very respectfully,<br /> "U. + S. GRANT, Lieut.-General."<br /> <br /> <br /> "Major-General D. HUNTER,<br /> + "Commanding Department of West Virginia." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + When I had read the letter addressed to Hunter, General Grant said I would + be expected to report directly to him, as Hunter had asked that day to be + wholly relieved, not from any chagrin at my assignment to the control of + the active forces of his command, but because he thought that his fitness + for the position he was filling was distrusted by General Halleck, and he + had no wish to cause embarrassment by remaining where he could but remove + me one degree from the headquarters of the army. The next day Hunter's + unselfish request was complied with, and an order was issued by the + President, consolidating the Middle Department, the Department of + Washington, the Department of the Susquehanna, and the Department of West + Virginia. + </p> + <p> + Under this order these four geographical districts constituted the Middle + Military Division, and I was temporarily assigned to command it. Hunter's + men had been bivouacking for some days past in the vicinity of Monocacy + Junction and Frederick, but before General Grant's instructions were + written out, Hunter had conformed to them by directing the concentration + at Halltown, about four miles in front of Harper's Ferry, of all his force + available for field service. Therefore the different bodies of troops, + with the exception of Averell's cavalry, which had followed McCausland + toward Moorefield after the burning of Chambersburg, were all in motion + toward Halltown on August 6. + </p> + <p> + Affairs at Monocacy kept me but an hour or two, and these disposed of, I + continued on to Harper's Ferry by the special train which had brought me + from Washington, that point being intended as my headquarters while making + preparations to advance. The enemy was occupying Martinsburg, + Williamsport, and Shepherdstown at the time; sending occasional raiding + parties into Maryland as far as Hagerstown. The concentration of my troops + at Halltown being an indication to Early that we intended to renew the + offensive, however, he immediately began counter preparations by drawing + in all his detached columns from the north side of the Potomac, abandoning + a contemplated raid into Maryland, which his success against Crook at + Kernstown had prompted him to project, and otherwise disposing himself for + defense. + </p> + <p> + At Harper's Ferry I made my headquarters in the second story of a small + and very dilapidated hotel, and as soon as settled sent for Lieutenant + John R. Meigs, the chief engineer officer of the command, to study with + him the maps of my geographical division. It always came rather easy to me + to learn the geography of a new section, and its important topographical + features as well; therefore I found that, with the aid of Meigs, who was + most intelligent in his profession, the region in which I was to operate + would soon be well fixed in my mind. Meigs was familiar with every + important road and stream, and with all points worthy of note west of the + Blue Ridge, and was particularly well equipped with knowledge regarding + the Shenandoah Valley, even down to the farmhouses. He imparted with great + readiness what he knew of this, clearly pointing out its configuration and + indicating the strongest points for Confederate defense, at the same time + illustrating scientifically and forcibly the peculiar disadvantages under + which the Union army had hitherto labored. + </p> + <p> + The section that received my closest attention has its northern limit + along the Potomac between McCoy's ferry at the eastern base of the North + Mountain, and Harper's Ferry at the western base of the Blue Ridge. The + southern limit is south of Staunton, on the divide which separates the + waters flowing into the Potomac from those that run to the James. The + western boundary is the eastern slope of the Alleghany Mountains, the + eastern, the Blue Ridge; these two distinct mountain ranges trending about + southwest inclose a stretch of quite open, undulating country varying in + width from the northern to the southern extremity, and dotted at frequent + intervals with patches of heavy woods: At Martinsburg the valley is about + sixty miles broad, and on an east and west line drawn through Winchester + about forty-five, while at Strasburg it narrows down to about twenty-five. + Just southeast of Strasburg, which is nearly midway between the eastern + and western walls of the valley, rises an abrupt range of mountains called + Massanutten, consisting of several ridges which extend southward between + the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River until, losing their + identity, they merge into lower but broken ground between New Market and + Harrisonburg. The Massanutten ranges, with their spurs and hills, divide + the Shenandoah Valley into two valleys, the one next the Blue Ridge being + called the Luray, while that next the North Mountain retains the name of + Shenandoah. + </p> + <p> + A broad macadamized road, leading south from Williamsport, Maryland, to + Lexington, Virginia, was built at an early day to connect the interior of + the latter State with the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and along this road + are situated the principal towns and villages of the Shenandoah Valley, + with lateral lines of communication extending to the mountain ranges on + the east and west. The roads running toward the Blue Ridge are nearly all + macadamized, and the principal ones lead to the railroad system of eastern + Virginia through Snicker's, Ashby's Manassas, Chester, Thornton's Swift + Run, Brown's and Rock-fish gaps, tending to an ultimate centre at + Richmond. These gaps are low and easy, offering little obstruction to the + march of an army coming from eastern Virginia, and thus the Union troops + operating west of the Blue Ridge were always subjected to the perils of a + flank attack; for the Confederates could readily be brought by rail to + Gordonsville and Charlottesville, from which points they could move with + such celerity through the Blue Ridge that, on more than one occasion, the + Shenandoah Valley had been the theatre of Confederate success, due greatly + to the advantage of possessing these interior lines. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkp470" id="linkp470"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p470upper.jpg (157K)" src="images/p470upper.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="p470lower.jpg (182K)" src="images/p470lower.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Nature had been very kind to the valley, making it rich and productive to + an exceptional degree, and though for three years contending armies had + been marching up and down it, the fertile soil still yielded ample + subsistence for Early's men, with a large surplus for the army of Lee. The + ground had long been well cleared of timber, and the rolling surface + presented so few obstacles to the movement of armies that they could march + over the country in any direction almost as well as on the roads, the + creeks and rivers being everywhere fordable, with little or no difficulty + beyond that of leveling the approaches. + </p> + <p> + I had opposing me an army largely composed of troops that had operated in + this region hitherto under "Stonewall" Jackson with marked success, + inflicting defeat on the Union forces almost every time the two armies had + come in contact. These men were now commanded by a veteran officer of the + Confederacy-General Jubal A. Early—whose past services had so + signalized his ability that General Lee specially selected him to take + charge of the Valley District, and, notwithstanding the misfortunes that + befell him later, clung to him till the end, of the war. The Confederate + army at this date was about twenty thousand strong, and consisted of + Early's own corps, with Generals Rodes, Ramseur, and Gordon commanding its + divisions; the infantry of Breckenridge from southwestern Virginia; three + battalions of artillery; and the cavalry brigades of Vaughn, Johnson, + McCausland, and Imboden. This cavalry was a short time afterward organized + into a division under the command of General Lomax. + </p> + <p> + After discovering that my troops were massing in front of Harper's Ferry, + Early lost not a moment in concentrating his in the vicinity of + Martinsburg, in positions from which he could continue to obstruct the + Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and yet be enabled to retire up the valley + under conditions of safety when I should begin an offensive campaign. + </p> + <p> + When I took command of the Army of the Shenandoah its infantry force + comprised the Sixth Corps, one division of the Nineteenth Corps, and two + divisions from West Virginia. The Sixth Corps was commanded by + Major-General Horatio G. Wright; its three divisions by Brigadier-Generals + David A. Russell, Geo. W. Getty, and James B. Ricketts. The single + division of the Nineteenth Corps had for its immediate chief + Brigadier-General William Dwight, the corps being commanded by + Brigadier-General Wm. H. Emory. The troops from West Virginia were under + Brigadier-General George Crook, with Colonels Joseph Thoburn and Isaac H. + Duval as division commanders, and though in all not more than one + fair-sized division, they had been designated, on account of the + department they belonged to, the Army of West Virginia. General Torbert's + division, then arriving from the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, + represented the mounted arm of the service, and in the expectation that + Averell would soon join me with his troopers, I assigned General Torbert + as chief of cavalry, and General Wesley Merritt succeeded to the command + of Torbert's division. + </p> + <p> + General Wright, the commander of the Sixth Corps, was an officer of high + standing in the Corps of Engineers, and had seen much active service + during the preceding three years. He commanded the Department of the Ohio + throughout the very trying period of the summer and fall of 1862, and + while in that position he, with other prominent officers, recommended my + appointment as a brigadier-general. In 1863 he rendered valuable service + at the battle of Gettysburg, following which he was assigned to the Sixth + Corps, and commanded it at the capture of the Confederate works at + Rappahannock Station and in the operations at Mine Run. He ranked me as a + major-general of volunteers by nearly a year in date of commission, but my + assignment by the President to the command of the army in the valley met + with Wright's approbation, and, so far as I have ever known, he never + questioned the propriety of the President's action. The Sixth Corps + division commanders, Getty, Russell, and Ricketts, were all educated + soldiers, whose records, beginning with the Mexican War, had already been + illustrated in the war of the rebellion by distinguished service in the + Army of the Potomac. + </p> + <p> + General Emory was a veteran, having graduated at the Military Academy in + 1831, the year I was born. In early life he had seen much service in the + Artillery, the Topographical Engineers, and the Cavalry, and in the war of + the rebellion had exhibited the most soldierly characteristics at Port + Hudson and on the Red River campaign. At this time he had but one division + of the Nineteenth Corps present, which division was well commanded by + General Dwight, a volunteer officer who had risen to the grade of + brigadier-general through constant hard work. Crook was a classmate of + mine—at least, we entered the Military Academy the same year, though + he graduated a year ahead of me. We had known each other as boys before we + entered the army, and later as men, and I placed implicit faith in his + experience and qualifications as a general. + </p> + <p> + The transfer of Torbert to the position of chief of cavalry left Merritt, + as I have already said, in command of the First Cavalry Division. He had + been tried in the place before, and from the day he was selected as one of + a number of young men to be appointed general officers, with the object of + giving life to the Cavalry Corps, he filled the measure of expectation. + Custer was one of these young men too, and though as yet commanding a + brigade under Merritt, his gallant fight at Trevillian Station, as well as + a dozen others during the summer, indicated that he would be equal to the + work that was to fall to him when in a few weeks he should succeed Wilson. + But to go on down the scale of rank, describing the officers who commanded + in the Army of the Shenandoah, would carry me beyond all limit, so I + refrain from the digression with regret that I cannot pay to each his + well-earned tribute. + </p> + <p> + The force that I could take with me into the field at this time numbered + about 26,000 men. Within the limits of the geographical division there was + a much greater number of troops than this. Baltimore, Washington, Harper's + Ferry, Hagerstown, Frederick, Cumberland, and a score of other points; + besides the strong detachments that it took to keep the Baltimore and Ohio + railroad open through the mountains of West Virginia, and escorts for my + trains, absorbed so many men that the column which could be made available + for field operations was small when compared with the showing on paper. + Indeed, it was much less than it ought to have been, but for me, in the + face of the opposition made by different interests involved, to detach + troops from any of the points to which they had been distributed before I + took charge was next to impossible. + </p> + <p> + In a few days after my arrival preparations were completed, and I was + ready to make the first move for the possession of the Shenandoah Valley. + For the next five weeks the operations on my part consisted almost wholly + of offensive and defensive manoeuvring for certain advantages, the enemy + confining himself meanwhile to measures intended to counteract my designs. + Upon the advent of Torbert, Early immediately grew suspicious, and fell + back twelve miles south of Martinsburg, to Bunker Hill and vicinity, where + his right flank would be less exposed, but from which position he could + continue to maintain the break in the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and + push reconnoitring parties through Smithfield to Charlestown. These + reconnoitring parties exhibited considerable boldness at times, but since + they had no purpose in view save to discover whether or not we were + moving, I did not contest any ground with them except about our outposts. + Indeed, I desired that Early might remain at some point well to the north + till I was fully prepared to throw my army on his right and rear and force + a battle, and hence I abstained from disturbing him by premature activity, + for I thought that if I could beat him at Winchester, or north of it, + there would be far greater chances of weighty results. I therefore + determined to bring my troops, if it were at all possible to do so, into + such a position near that town as to oblige Early to fight. The sequel + proved, however, that he was accurately informed of all my movements. To + anticipate them, therefore, he began his retreat up the valley the day + that I moved out from Halltown, and consequently was able to place himself + south of Winchester before I could get there. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch24" id="linkch24"></a>CHAPTER XXIV. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + MOVING ON GENERAL EARLY—GENERAL GRANT'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS—DESTROYING + THE RESOURCES OF THE VALLEY—REASON FOR THE DESTRUCTION—WITHDRAWAL + TO HALLTOWN—ALARM IN THE NORTH OVER THE RETROGRADE MOVEMENT—RENEWING + THE ADVANCE UP THE VALLEY—GENERAL ANDERSON'S ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO + PETERSBURG—STRENGTH OF THE ARMIES. + </p> + <p> + For a clear understanding of the operations which preceded the victories + that resulted in almost annihilating General Early's army in the + Shenandoah Valley, it is necessary to describe in considerable detail the + events that took place prior to the 19th of September. My army marched + from Harper's Ferry on the 10th of August, 1864, General Torbert with + Merritt's division of cavalry moving in advance through Berryville, going + into position near White Post. The Sixth Corps, under General Wright, + moved by way of Charlestown and Summit Point to Clifton; General Emory, + with Dwight's division of the Nineteenth Corps, marched along the + Berryville pike through Berryville to the left of the position of the + Sixth Corps at Clifton; General Crook's command, moving on the Kabletown + road, passed through Kabletown to the vicinity of Berryville, and went + into position on the left of Dwight's division, while Colonel Lowell, with + a detached force of two small regiments of cavalry, marched to Summit + Point; so that on the night of August 10 my infantry occupied a line + stretching from Clifton to Berryville, with Merritt's cavalry at White + Post and Lowell's at Summit Point. The enemy, as stated before, moved at + the same time from Bunker Hill and vicinity, and stretched his line from + where the Winchester and Potomac railroad crosses Opequon Creek to the + point at which the Berryville and Winchester pike crosses the same stream, + thus occupying the west bank to cover Winchester. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the 11th the Sixth Corps was ordered to move across the + country toward the junction of the Berryville-Winchester pike and the + Opequon, and to take the crossing and hold it, Dwight's division being + directed to move through Berryville on the White Post road for a mile, + then file to the right by heads of regiments at deploying distances, and + carry the crossing of Opequon Creek at a ford about three-fourths of a + mile from the left of the Sixth Corps, while Crook was instructed to move + out on the White Post road, a mile and a half beyond Berryville, then head + to the right and secure the ford about a mile to the left of Dwight; + Torbert's orders were to push Merritt's division up the Millwood pike + toward Winchester, attack any force he might run against, and ascertain + the movements of the Confederate army; and lastly, Lowell received + instructions to close in from Summit Point on the right of the Sixth + Corps. + </p> + <p> + My object in securing the fords was to further my march on Winchester from + the southeast, since, from all the information gathered during the 10th, I + still thought Early could be brought to a stand at that point; but in this + I was mistaken, as Torbert's reconnoissance proved, for on the morning of + the 11th, when Merritt had driven the Confederate cavalry, then covering + the Millwood pike west of the Opequon, off toward Kernstown, he found that + their infantry and artillery were retreating south, up the Valley pike. + </p> + <p> + As soon as this information was obtained Torbert moved quickly through the + toll-gate on the Front Royal and Winchester road to Newtown, to strike the + enemy's flank and harass him in his retreat, Lowell following up through + Winchester, on the Valley pike; Crook was turned to the left and ordered + to Stony Point, while Emory and Wright, marching to the left also, were + directed to take post on the night of the 11th between the Millwood and + Front Royal roads, within supporting distance of Crook. Merritt meeting + some of the enemy's cavalry at the tollgate, drove it in the direction of + Newtown till it got inside the line of Gordon's division of infantry, + which had been thrown out and posted behind barricades to cover the flank + of the main force in its retreat. A portion of Merritt's cavalry attacked + this infantry and drove in its skirmish-line, and though not able to + dislodge Gordon, Merritt held the ground gained till night-fall, when the + Confederate infantry moved off under cover of darkness to Hupp's Hill, + between Strasburg and Cedar Creek + </p> + <p> + The next morning Crook marched from Stony Point to Cedar Creek, Emory + followed with Dwight, and the cavalry moved to the same point by way of + Newtown and the Valley pike, the Sixth Corps following the cavalry. That + night Crook was in position at Cedar Creek, on the left of the Valley + pike, Emory on the right of the pike, the Sixth Corps on the right of + Emory, and the cavalry on the flanks. In the afternoon a heavy + skirmish-line had been thrown forward to the heights on the south side of + Cedar Creek, and a brisk affair with the enemy's pickets took place, the + Confederates occupying with their main force the heights north of + Strasburg. On the morning of the 13th my cavalry went out to reconnoitre + toward Strasburg, on the middle road, about two and a half miles west of + the Valley pike, and discovered that Early's infantry was at Fisher's + Hill, where he had thrown up behind Tumbling Run earthworks extending + clear across the narrow valley between the Massanutten and North + mountains. On the left of these works he had Vaughan's, McCausland's, and + Johnson's brigades of cavalry under General Lomax, who at this time + relieved General Ramseur from the command of the Confederate mounted + forces. + </p> + <p> + Within the past day or two I had received information that a column of the + enemy was moving up from Culpeper Court House and approaching Front Royal + through Chester Gap, and although the intelligence was unconfirmed, it + caused me much solicitude; for there was strong probability that such a + movement would be made, and any considerable force advancing through Front + Royal toward Winchester could fall upon my rear and destroy my + communication with Harper's Ferry, or, moving along the base of + Massanutten Mountain, could attack my flank in conjunction with the force + at Fisher's Hill without a possibility of my preventing it. + </p> + <p> + Neither Wilson's cavalry nor Grower's infantry had yet joined me, and the + necessities, already explained, which obliged me to hold with string + garrisons Winchester and other points heretofore mentioned. had so + depleted my line of battle strength that I knew the enemy would outnumber + me when Anderson's corps should arrive in the valley. I deemed it + advisable, therefore, to act with extreme caution, so, with the exception + of a cavalry reconnoissance on the 13th, I remained on the defensive, + quietly awaiting developments. In the evening of that day the enemy's + skirmishers withdrew to Tumbling Run, his main force remaining inactive + behind the intrenchments at Fisher's Hill waiting for the arrival of + Anderson. + </p> + <p> + The rumors in regard to the force advancing from Culpeper kept increasing + every hour, so on the morning of the 14th I concluded to send a brigade of + cavalry to Front Royal to ascertain definitely what was up. At the same + time I crossed the Sixth Corps to the south side of Cedar Creek, and + occupied the heights near Strasburg. That day I received from the hands of + Colonel Chipman, of the Adjutant-General's Department, the following + despatch, to deliver which he had ridden in great haste from Washington + through Snicker's Gap, escorted by a regiment of cavalry: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "CITY POINT, August 12, 1864—9 A. M.<br /> <br /> + "MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK<br /> <br /> "Inform General Sheridan that it is + now certain two (2) divisions of infantry have gone to Early, and some + cavalry and twenty (20) pieces of artillery. This movement commenced + last Saturday night. He must be cautious, and act now on the defensive + until movements here force them to detach to send this way. Early's + force, with this increase, cannot exceed forty thousand men, but this is + too much for General Sheridan to attack. Send General Sheridan the + remaining brigade of the Nineteenth Corps.<br /> <br /> "I have ordered to + Washington all the one-hundred-day men. Their time will soon be out, but + for the present they will do to serve in the defenses.<br /> <br /> "U. S. + GRANT, Lieutenant-General."<br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The despatch explained the movement from Culpeper, and on the morning of + the 15th Merritt's two remaining brigades were sent to Front Royal to + oppose Anderson, and the Sixth Corps withdrawn to the north side of Cedar + Creek, where it would be in a position enabling me either to confront + Anderson or to act defensively, as desired by General Grant. + </p> + <p> + To meet the requirements of his instructions I examined the map of the + valley for a defensive line—a position where a smaller number of + troops could hold a larger number—for this information led me to + suppose that Early's force would greatly exceed mine when Anderson's two + divisions of infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had joined him. I could + see but one such position, and that was at Halltown, in front of Harper's + Ferry. Subsequent experience convinced me that there was no other really + defensive line in the Shenandoah Valley, for at almost any other point the + open country and its peculiar topography invites rather than forbids + flanking operations. + </p> + <p> + This retrograde movement would also enable me to strengthen my command by + Grower's division of the Nineteenth Corps and Wilson's cavalry, both of + which divisions were marching from Washington by way of Snicker's Gap. + </p> + <p> + After fully considering the matter, I determined to move back to Halltown, + carrying out, as I retired, my instructions to destroy all the forage and + subsistence the country afforded. So Emory was ordered to retire to + Winchester on the night of the 15th, and Wright and Crook to follow + through Winchester to Clifton the next night. + </p> + <p> + For the cavalry, in this move to the rear, I gave the following + instructions: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "....In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, as it is expected you + will have to go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be + left to invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and + stock wanted for the use of your command. Such as cannot be consumed, + destroy. It is not desirable that buildings should be destroyed—they + should, rather, be protected; but the people should be informed that so + long as an army can subsist among them, recurrences of these raids must + be expected, and we are determined to stop them at all hazards...." + [Grant's letter of instructions.]<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "HEADQUARTERS + MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,<br /> "Cedar Creek, Va., August 16, 1864.<br /> + <br /> "GENERAL: In compliance with instructions of the + Lieutenant-General commanding, you will make the necessary arrangements + and give the necessary orders for the destruction of the wheat and hay + south of a line from Millwood to Winchester and Petticoat Gap. You will + seize all mules, horses, and cattle that may be useful to our army. + Loyal citizens can bring in their claims against the Government for this + necessary destruction. No houses will be burned, and officers in charge + of this delicate but necessary duty must inform the people that the + object is to make this valley untenable for the raiding parties of the + rebel army.<br /> <br /> "Very respectfully,<br /> <br /> "P. H. SHERIDAN,<br /> + "Major-General Commanding.<br /> <br /> <br /> "BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. T. A. + TORBERT, "Chief of Cavalry, Middle Military Division." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + During his visit to General Hunter at the Monocacy, General Grant had not + only decided to retain in the Shenandoah Valley a large force sufficient + to defeat Early's army or drive it back to Lee, but he had furthermore + determined to make that sections by the destruction of its supplies, + untenable for continued occupancy by the Confederates. This would cut off + one of Lee's main-stays in the way of subsistence, and at the same time + diminish the number of recruits and conscripts he received; the valley + district while under his control not only supplying Lee with an abundance + of food, but also furnishing him many men for his regular and irregular + forces. Grant's instructions to destroy the valley began with the letter + of August 5 to Hunter, which was turned over to me, and this was followed + at intervals by more specific directions, all showing the earnestness of + his purpose. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> "CITY POINT, Va., Aug. 16—3:30 P. M., 1864.<br /> + "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Winchester, Va.:<br /> <br /> "If you can + possibly spare a division of cavalry, send them through Loudoun County + to destroy and carry off the crops, animals, negroes, and all men under + fifty years of age capable of bearing arms. In this way you will get + many of Mosby's men. All male citizens under fifty can fairly be held as + prisoners of war, not as citizen prisoners. If not already soldiers, + they will be made so the moment the rebel army gets hold of them.<br /> + <br /> "U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + "HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,<br /> "CITY POINT, Aug. 21, + 1864.<br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Charlestown, Va.:<br /> <br /> + "In stripping Loudoun County of supplies, etc., impress from all loyal + persons so that they may receive pay for what is taken from them. I am + informed by the Assistant Secretary of War that Loudoun County has a + large population of Quakers, who are all favorably disposed to the + Union. These people may be exempted from arrest.<br /> <br /> "U. S. + GRANT, Lieutenant-General."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMIES + OF THE UNITED STATES<br /> "CITY POINT, Va., Aug. 26,2:30 P. M. 1864.<br /> + <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Halltown, Va.:<br /> <br /> "Telegraphed + you that I had good reason for believing that Fitz Lee had been ordered + back here. I now think it likely that all troops will be ordered back + from the valley except what they believe to be the minimum number to + detain you. My reason for supposing this is based upon the fact that + yielding up the Weldon road seems to be a blow to the enemy he cannot + stand. I think I do not overstate the loss of the enemy in the last two + weeks at 10,000 killed and wounded. We have lost heavily, mostly in + captured when the enemy gained temporary advantages. Watch closely, and + if you find this theory correct, push with all vigor. Give the enemy no + rest, and if it is possible to follow to the Virginia Central road, + follow that far. Do all the damage to railroads and crops you can. Carry + off stock of all descriptions and negroes, so as to prevent further + planting. If the war is to last another year we want the Shenandoah + Valley to remain a barren waste.<br /> <br /> "U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE + UNITED STATES,<br /> "CITY POINT, Va., Sept. 4,—10 A. M.—1864.<br /> + <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Charlestown, Va.:<br /> <br /> "In cleaning + out the arms-bearing community of Loudoun County and the subsistence for + armies, exercise your own judgment as to who should be exempt from + arrest, and as to who should receive pay for their stock, grain, etc. It + is our interest that that county should not be capable of subsisting a + hostile army, and at the same time we want to inflict as little hardship + upon Union men as possible.<br /> <br /> "U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "CITY POINT, Va., Nov. 9, + 1864.<br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Cedar Creek, Va.:<br /> <br /> "Do you + not think it advisable to notify all citizens living east of the Blue + Ridge to move out north of the Potomac all their stock, grain, and + provisions of every description? There is no doubt about the necessity + of clearing out that country so that it will not support Mosby's gang. + And the question is whether it is not better that the people should save + what they can. So long as the war lasts they must be prevented from + raising another crop, both there and as high up the valley as we can + control.<br /> <br /> "U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + He had rightly concluded that it was time to bring the war home to a + people engaged in raising crops from a prolific soil to feed the country's + enemies, and devoting to the Confederacy its best youth. I endorsed the + programme in all its parts, for the stores of meat and grain that the + valley provided, and the men it furnished for Lee's depleted regiments, + were the strongest auxiliaries he possessed in the whole insurgent + section. In war a territory like this is a factor of great importance, and + whichever adversary controls it permanently reaps all the advantages of + its prosperity. Hence, as I have said, I endorsed Grant's programme, for I + do not hold war to mean simply that lines of men shall engage each other + in battle, and material interests be ignored. This is but a duel, in which + one combatant seeks the other's life; war means much more, and is far + worse than this. Those who rest at home in peace and plenty see but little + of the horrors attending such a duel, and even grow indifferent to them as + the struggle goes on, contenting themselves with encouraging all who are + able-bodied to enlist in the cause, to fill up the shattered ranks as + death thins them. It is another matter, however, when deprivation and + suffering are brought to their own doors. Then the case appears much + graver, for the loss of property weighs heavy with the most of mankind; + heavier often, than the sacrifices made on the field of battle. Death is + popularly considered the maximum of punishment in war, but it is not; + reduction to poverty brings prayers for peace more surely and more quickly + than does the destruction of human life, as the selfishness of man has + demonstrated in more than one great conflict. + </p> + <p> + In the afternoon of the 16th I started back to Winchester, whence I could + better supervise our regressive march. As I was passing through Newtown, I + heard cannonading from the direction of Front Royal, and on reaching + Winchester, Merritt's couriers brought me word that he had been attacked + at the crossing of the Shenandoah by Kershaw's division of Anderson's + corps and two brigades of Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, but that the attack had + been handsomely repulsed, with a capture of two battle-flags and three + hundred prisoners. This was an absolute confirmation of the despatch from + Grant; and I was now more than satisfied with the wisdom of my withdrawal. + </p> + <p> + At daylight of the 17th Emory moved from Winchester to Berryville, and the + same morning Crook and Wright reached Winchester, having started from + Cedar Creek the day before. From Winchester, Crook and Wright resumed + their march toward Clifton, Wright, who had the rear guard, getting that + day as far as the Berryville crossing of the Opequon, where he was ordered + to remain, while Crook went ahead till he reached the vicinity of + Berryville. On the afternoon of the 17th Lowell with his two regiments of + troopers came into Winchester, where he was joined by Wilson's mounted + division, which had come by a rapid march from Snicker's ferry. In the + mean time Merritt, after his handsome engagement with Kershaw near Front + Royal, had been ordered back to the neighborhood of White Post, so that my + cavalry outposts now extended from this last point around to the west of + Winchester. + </p> + <p> + During all these operations the enemy had a signal-station on Three Top + Mountain, almost overhanging Strasburg, from which every movement made by + our troops could be plainly seen; therefore, early on the morning of the + 17th he became aware of the fact that we were retiring down the valley, + and at once made after us, and about sundown drove Torbert out of + Winchester, he having been left there-with Wilson and Lowell, and the + Jersey brigade of the Sixth Corps, to develop the character of the enemy's + pursuit. After a severe skirmish Wilson and Lowell fell back to Summit + Point, and the Jersey brigade joined its corps at the crossing of the + Opequon. This affair demonstrated that Early's whole army had followed us + from Fisher's Hill, in concert with Anderson and Fitzhugh Lee from Front + Royal, and the two columns joined near Winchester the morning of the 18th. + </p> + <p> + That day I moved the Sixth Corps by way of Clifton to Flowing Spring, two + and a half miles west of Charlestown, on the Smithfield pike; and Emory, + with Dwight's and Grower's divisions (Grower's having joined that morning + from Washington), to a position about the same distance south of + Charlestown, on the Berryville pike. Following these movements, Merritt + fell back to Berryville, covering the Berryville pike crossing of the + Opequon, and Wilson was stationed at Summit Point, whence he held a line + along the Opequon as far north as the bridge at Smithfield. Crook + continued to hold on near Clifton until the next day, and was then moved + into place on the left of Emory. + </p> + <p> + This line was practically maintained till the 21st, when the enemy, + throwing a heavy force across the Opequon by the bridge at Smithfield, + drove in my cavalry pickets to Summit Point, and followed up with a rapid + advance against the position of the Sixth Corps near Flowing Spring. A + sharp and obstinate skirmish with a heavy picket-line of the Sixth Corps + grew out of this manoeuvre, and resulted very much in our favor, but the + quick withdrawal of the Confederates left no opportunity for a general + engagement. It seems that General Early thought I had taken position near + Summit Point, and that by moving rapidly around through Smithfield he + could fall upon my rear in concert with an attack in front by Anderson, + but the warm reception given him disclosed his error, for he soon + discovered that my line lay in front of Charlestown instead of where he + supposed. + </p> + <p> + In the manoeuvre Merritt had been attacked in front of Berryville and + Wilson at Summit Point, the former by cavalry and the latter by Anderson's + infantry. The exposed positions of Merritt and Wilson necessitated their + withdrawal if I was to continue to act on the defensive; so, after the + army had moved back to Halltown the preceding night, without loss or + inconvenience, I called them in and posted them on the right of the + infantry. + </p> + <p> + My retrograde move from Strasburg to Halltown caused considerable alarm in + the North, as the public was ignorant of the reasons for it; and in the + excited state of mind then prevailing, it was generally expected that the + reinforced Confederate army would again cross the Potomac, ravage Maryland + and Pennsylvania, and possibly capture Washington. Mutterings of + dissatisfaction reached me from many sources, and loud calls were made for + my removal, but I felt confident that my course would be justified when + the true situation was understood, for I knew that I was complying with my + instructions. Therefore I paid small heed to the adverse criticisms + pouring down from the North almost every day, being fully convinced that + the best course was to bide my time, and wait till I could get the enemy + into a position from which he could not escape without such serious + misfortune as to have some bearing on the general result of the war. + Indeed, at this time I was hoping that my adversary would renew the + boldness he had exhibited the early part of the month, and strike for the + north side of the Potomac, and wrote to General Grant on the 20th of + August that I had purposely left everything in that direction open to the + enemy. + </p> + <p> + On the 22d the Confederates moved to Charlestown and pushed well up to my + position at Halltown. Here for the next three days they skirmished with my + videttes and infantry pickets, Emory and Cook receiving the main + attention; but finding that they could make no impression, and judging it + to be an auspicious time to intensify the scare in the North, on the 25th + of August Early despatched Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry to Williamsport, and + moved all the rest of his army but Anderson's infantry and McCausland's + cavalry to Kerneysville. This same day there was sharp picket firing along + the whole front of my infantry line, arising, as afterward ascertained, + from a heavy demonstration by Anderson. During this firing I sent Torbert, + with Merritt's and Wilson's divisions, to Kerrteysville, whence he was to + proceed toward Leetown and learn what had become of Fitz. Lee. + </p> + <p> + About a mile from Leetown Torbert met a small force of Confederate + cavalry, and soon after encountering it, stumbled on Breckenridge's corps + of infantry on the march, apparently heading for Shepherdstown. The + surprise was mutual, for Torbert expected to meet only the enemy's + cavalry, while the Confederate infantry column was anticipating an + unobstructed march to the Potomac. Torbert attacked with such vigor as at + first to double up the head of Breckenridge's corps and throw it into + confusion, but when the Confederates realized that they were confronted + only by cavalry, Early brought up the whole of the four infantry divisions + engaged in his manoeuvre, and in a sharp attack pushed Torbert rapidly + back. + </p> + <p> + All the advantages which Torbert had gained by surprising the enemy were + nullified by this counter-attack, and he was obliged to withdraw Wilson's + division toward my right, to the neighborhood of Duffield's Station, + Merritt drawing back to the same point by way of the Shepherdstown ford. + Custer's brigade becoming isolated after the fight while assisting the + rear guard, was also obliged to retire, which it did to Shepherdstown and + there halted, picketing the river to Antietam ford. + </p> + <p> + When Torbert reported to me the nature of his encounter, and that a part + of Early's infantry was marching to the north, while Fitzhugh Lee's + cavalry had gone toward Martinsburg, I thought that the Confederate + general meditated crossing his cavalry into Maryland, so I sent Wilson by + way of Harper's Ferry to watch his movements from Boonesboro', and at the + same time directed Averell, who had reported from West Virginia some days + before, to take post at Williamsport and hold the crossing there until he + was driven away. I also thought it possible that Early might cross the + Potomac with his whole army, but the doubts of a movement like this + outweighed the probabilities favoring it. Nevertheless, to meet such a + contingency I arranged to throw my army on his rear should the occasion + arise, and deeming my position at Halltown the most advantageous in which + to await developments, my infantry was retained there. + </p> + <p> + If General Early had ever intended to cross the Potomac, Torbert's + discovery of his manoeuvre put an end to his scheme of invasion, for he + well knew that and success he might derive from such a course would depend + on his moving with celerity, and keeping me in ignorance of his march till + it should be well under way; so he settled all the present uncertainties + by retiring with all his troops about Kerneysville to his old position at + Bunker Hill behind the Opequon, and on the night of the 26th silently + withdrew Anderson and McCausland from my front at Halltown to Stephenson's + depot. + </p> + <p> + By the 27th all of Early's infantry was in position at Brucetown and + Bunker Hill, his cavalry holding the outposts of Leetown and Smithfield, + and on that day Merritt's division attacked the enemy's horse at Leetown, + and pressed it back through Smithfield to the west side of the Opequon. + This reconnoissance determined definitely that Early had abandoned the + projected movement into Maryland, if he ever seriously contemplated it; + and I marched my infantry out from Halltown to the front of Charlestown, + with the intention of occupying a line between Clifton and Berryville the + moment matters should so shape themselves that I could do so with + advantage. The night of the 28th Wilson joined me near Charlestown from + his points of observation in Maryland, and the next day Averell crossed + the Potomac at Williamsport and advanced to Martinsburg. + </p> + <p> + Merritt's possession of Smithfield bridge made Early somewhat uneasy, + since it afforded opportunity for interposing a column between his right + and left flanks, so he concluded to retake the crossing, and, to this end, + on the 29th advanced two divisions of infantry. A severe fight followed, + and Merritt was forced to retire, being driven through the village toward + Charlestown with considerable loss. As Merritt was nearing my infantry + line, I ordered. Ricketts's division of the Sixth Corps to his relief, and + this in a few minutes turned the tide, the Smithfield crossing of the + Opequon being regained, and afterward held by Lowell's brigade, supported + by Ricketts. The next morning I moved Torbert, with Wilson and Merritt, to + Berryville, and succeeding their occupation of that point there occurred + along my whole line a lull, which lasted until the 3d of September, being + undisturbed except by a combat near Bunker Hill between Averell's cavalry + and a part of McCausland's, supported by Rodes's division of infantry, in + which affair the Confederates were defeated with the loss of about fifty + prisoners and considerable property in the shape of wagons and + beef-cattle. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Torbert's movement to Berryville had alarmed Early, and as a + counter move on the 2d of September he marched with the bulk of his army + to Summit Point, but while reconnoitring in that region on the 3d he + learned of the havoc that Averell was creating in his rear, and this + compelled him to recross to the west side of the Opequon and mass his + troops in the vicinity of Stephenson's depot, whence he could extend down + to Bunker Hill, continue to threaten the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and + at the same time cover Winchester. + </p> + <p> + The same day I was moving my infantry to take up the Clifton-Berryville + line, and that afternoon Wright went into position at Clifton, Crook + occupied Berryville, and Emory's corps came in between them, forming + almost a continuous line. Torbert had moved to White Post meanwhile, with + directions to reconnoitre as far south as the Front Royal Pike. + </p> + <p> + My infantry had just got fairly into this position about an hour before + sunset, when along Crook's front a combat took place that at the time + caused me to believe it was Early's purpose to throw a column between + Crook and Torbert, with the intention of isolating the latter; but the + fight really arose from the attempt of General Anderson to return to + Petersburg with Kershaw's division in response to loud calls from General + Lee. Anderson started south on the 3d of September, and possibly this + explains Early's reconnoissance that day to Summit Point as a covering + movement, but his rapid withdrawal left him in ignorance of my advance, + and Anderson marched on heedlessly toward Berryville, expecting to cross + the Blue Ridge through Ashby's Gap. At Berryville however, he blundered + into Crook's lines about sunset, and a bitter little fight ensued, in + which the Confederates got so much the worst of it that they withdrew + toward Winchester. When General Early received word of this encounter he + hurried to Anderson's assistance with three divisions, but soon perceiving + what was hitherto unknown to him, that my whole army was on a new line, he + decided, after some slight skirmishing, that Anderson must remain at + Winchester until a favorable opportunity offered for him to rejoin Lee by + another route. + </p> + <p> + Succeeding the discomfiture of Anderson, some minor operations took place + on the part of, Averell on the right and McIntosh's brigade of Wilson's + division on the left, but from that time until the 19th of September no + engagement of much importance occurred. The line from Clifton to + Berryville was occupied by the Sixth Corps and Grower's and Dwight's + divisions of the Nineteenth, Crook being transferred to Summit Point, + whence I could use him to protect my right flank and my communication with + Harper's Ferry, while the cavalry threatened the enemy's right flank and + line of retreat up the valley. + </p> + <p> + The difference of strength between the two armies at this date was + considerably in my favor, but the conditions attending my situation in a + hostile region necessitated so much detached service to protect trains, + and to secure Maryland and Pennsylvania from raids, that my excess in + numbers was almost canceled by these incidental demands that could not be + avoided, and although I knew that I was strong, yet, in consequence of the + injunctions of General Grant, I deemed it necessary to be very cautious; + and the fact that the Presidential election was impending made me doubly + so, the authorities at Washington having impressed upon me that the defeat + of my army might be followed by the overthrow of the party in power, which + event, it was believed, would at least retard the progress of the war, if, + indeed, it did not lead to the complete abandonment of all coercive + measures. Under circumstances such as these I could not afford to risk a + disaster, to say nothing of the intense disinclination every soldier has + for such results; so, notwithstanding my superior strength, I determined + to take all the time necessary to equip myself with the fullest + information, and then seize an opportunity under such conditions that I + could not well fail of success. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + VOLUME II. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch1b" id="linkch1b"></a>CHAPTER I. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + ORGANIZING SCOUTS—MISS REBECCA WRIGHT—IMPORTANT INFORMATION—DECIDE + TO MOVE ON NEWTOWN—MEETING GENERAL GRANT—ORGANIZATION OF THE + UNION ARMY—OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF THE OPEQUON—DEATH OF + GENERAL RUSSELL—A TURNING MOVEMENT—A SUCCESSFUL CAVALRY CHARGE—VICTORY—THREE + LOYAL GIRLS—APPOINTED A BRIGADIER-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR ARMY—REMARKS + ON THE BATTLE. + </p> + <p> + While occupying the ground between Clifton and Berryville, referred to in + the last chapter of the preceding volume, I felt the need of an efficient + body of scouts to collect information regarding the enemy, for the + defective intelligence-establishment with which I started out from + Harper's Ferry early in August had not proved satisfactory. I therefore + began to organize my scouts on a system which I hoped would give better + results than bad the method hitherto pursued in the department, which was + to employ on this service doubtful citizens and Confederate deserters. If + these should turn out untrustworthy, the mischief they might do us gave me + grave apprehension, and I finally concluded that those of our own soldiers + who should volunteer for the delicate and hazardous duty would be the most + valuable material, and decided that they should have a battalion + organization and be commanded by an officer, Major H. K. Young, of the + First Rhode Island Infantry. These men were disguised in Confederate + uniforms whenever necessary, were paid from the Secret-Service Fund in + proportion to the value of the intelligence they furnished, which often + stood us in good stead in checking the forays of Gilmore, Mosby, and other + irregulars. Beneficial results came from the plan in many other ways too, + and particularly so when in a few days two of my scouts put me in the way + of getting news conveyed from Winchester. They had learned that just + outside of my lines, near Millwood, there was living an old colored man, + who had a permit from the Confederate commander to go into Winchester and + return three times a week, for the purpose of selling vegetables to the + inhabitants. The scouts had sounded this man, and, finding him both loyal + and shrewd, suggested that he might be made useful to us within the + enemy's lines; and the proposal struck me as feasible, provided there + could be found in Winchester some reliable person who would be willing to + co-operate and correspond with me. I asked General Crook, who was + acquainted with many of the Union people of Winchester, if he knew of such + a person, and he recommended a Miss Rebecca Wright, a young lady whom he + had met there before the battle of Kernstown, who, he said, was a member + of the Society of Friends and the teacher of a small private school. He + knew she was faithful and loyal to the Government, and thought she might + be willing to render us assistance, but he could not be certain of this, + for on account of her well known loyalty she was under constant + surveillance. I hesitated at first, but finally deciding to try it, + despatched the two scouts to the old negro's cabin, and they brought him + to my headquarters late that night. I was soon convinced of the negro's + fidelity, and asking him if he was acquainted with Miss Rebecca Wright, of + Winchester, he replied that he knew her well. There upon I told him what I + wished to do, and after a little persuasion he agreed to carry a letter to + her on his next marketing trip. My message was prepared by writing it on + tissue paper, which was then compressed into a small pellet, and protected + by wrapping it in tin-foil so that it could be safely carried in the man's + mouth. The probability, of his being searched when he came to the + Confederate picket-line was not remote, and in such event he was to + swallow the pellet. The letter appealed to Miss Wright's loyalty and + patriotism, and requested her to furnish me with information regarding the + strength and condition of Early's army. The night before the negro started + one of the scouts placed the odd-looking communication in his hands, with + renewed injunctions as to secrecy and promptitude. Early the next morning + it was delivered to Miss Wright, with an intimation that a letter of + importance was enclosed in the tin-foil, the negro telling her at the same + time that she might expect him to call for a message in reply before his + return home. At first Miss Wright began to open the pellet nervously, but + when told to be careful, and to preserve the foil as a wrapping for her + answer, she proceeded slowly and carefully, and when the note appeared + intact the messenger retired, remarking again that in the evening he would + come for an answer. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkmisswright" id="linkmisswright"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb006.jpg (60K)" src="images/pb006.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + On reading my communication Miss Wright was much startled by the perils it + involved, and hesitatingly consulted her mother, but her devoted loyalty + soon silenced every other consideration, and the brave girl resolved to + comply with my request, notwithstanding it might jeopardize her life. The + evening before a convalescent Confederate officer had visited her mother's + house, and in conversation about the war had disclosed the fact that + Kershaw's division of infantry and Cutshaw's battalion of artillery had + started to rejoin General Lee. At the time Miss Wright heard this she + attached little if any importance to it, but now she perceived the value + of the intelligence, and, as her first venture, determined to send it to + me at once, which she did with a promise that in the future she would with + great pleasure continue to transmit information by the negro messenger. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "SEPTEMBER 15, 1864.<br /> <br /> "I learn from Major-General Crook + that you are a loyal lady, and still love the old flag. Can you inform + me of the position of Early's forces, the number of divisions in his + army, and the strength of any or all of them, and his probable or + reported intentions? Have any more troops arrived from Richmond, or are + any more coming, or reported to be coming?<br /> <br /> "You can trust the + bearer."<br /> <br /> "I am, very respectfully, your most obedient + servant,<br /> <br /> "P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General Commanding."<br /> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "SEPTEMBER 16, 1864.<br /> <br /> "I have no + communication whatever with the rebels, but will tell you what I know. + The division of General Kershaw, and Cutshaw's artillery, twelve guns + and men, General Anderson commanding, have been sent away, and no more + are expected, as they cannot be spared from Richmond. I do not know how + the troops are situated, but the force is much smaller than represented. + I will take pleasure hereafter in learning all I can of their strength + and position, and the bearer may call again.<br /> <br /> "Very + respectfully yours,"<br /> ............ + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Miss Wright's answer proved of more value to me than she anticipated, for + it not only quieted the conflicting reports concerning Anderson's corps, + but was most important in showing positively that Kershaw was gone, and + this circumstance led, three days later, to the battle of the Opequon, or + Winchester as it has been unofficially called. Word to the effect that + some of Early's troops were under orders to return to Petersburg, and + would start back at the first favorable opportunity, had been communicated + to me already from many sources, but we had not been able to ascertain the + date for their departure. Now that they had actually started, I decided to + wait before offering battle until Kershaw had gone so far as to preclude + his return, feeling confident that my prudence would be justified by the + improved chances of victory; and then, besides, Mr. Stanton kept reminding + me that positive success was necessary to counteract the political + dissatisfaction existing in some of the Northern States. This course was + advised and approved by General Grant, but even with his powerful backing + it was difficult to resist the persistent pressure of those whose + judgment, warped by their interests in the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, + was often confused and misled by stories of scouts (sent out from + Washington), averring that Kershaw and Fitzhugh Lee had returned to + Petersburg, Breckenridge to southwestern Virginia, and at one time even + maintaining that Early's whole army was east of the Blue Ridge, and its + commander himself at Gordonsville. + </p> + <p> + During the inactivity prevailing in my army for the ten days preceding + Miss Wright's communication the infantry was quiet, with the exception of + Getty's division, which made a reconnoissance to the Opequon, and + developed a heavy force of the enemy at Edwards's Corners. The cavalry, + however, was employed a good deal in this interval skirmishing heavily at + times to maintain a space about six miles in width between the hostile + lines, for I wished to control this ground so that when I was released + from the instructions of August 12, I could move my men into position for + attack without the knowledge of Early. The most noteworthy of these + mounted encounters was that of McIntosh's brigade, which captured the + Eighth South Carolina at Abraham's Creek September 13. + </p> + <p> + It was the evening of the 16th of September that I received from Miss + Wright the positive information that Kershaw was in march toward Front + Royal on his way by Chester Gap to Richmond. Concluding that this was my + opportunity, I at once resolved to throw my whole force into Newtown the + next day, but a despatch from General Grant directing me to meet him at + Charlestown, whither he was coming to consult with me, caused me to defer + action until after I should see him. In our resulting interview at + Charlestown, I went over the situation very thoroughly, and pointed out + with so much confidence the chances of a complete victory should I throw + my army across the Valley pike near Newtown that he fell in with the plan + at once, authorized me to resume the offensive, and to attack Early as + soon as I deemed it most propitious to do so; and although before leaving + City Point he had outlined certain operations for my army, yet he neither + discussed nor disclosed his plans, my knowledge of the situation striking + him as being so much more accurate than his own. + </p> + <blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> ["Extract from Grant's Memoirs," page 328.]<br /> <br /> + "....Before starting I had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, + which I had brought with me; but seeing that he was so clear and so + positive in his views, and so confident of success, I said nothing + about this, and did not take it out of my pocket...."<br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + </blockquote> + <p> + The interview over, I returned to my army to arrange for its movement + toward Newtown, but while busy with these preparations, a report came to + me from General Averell which showed that Early was moving with two + divisions of infantry toward Martinsburg. This considerably altered the + state of affairs, and I now decided to change my plan and attack at once + the two divisions remaining about Winchester and Stephenson's depot, and + later, the two sent to Martinsburg; the disjointed state of the enemy + giving me an opportunity to take him in detail, unless the Martinsburg + column should be returned by forced marches. + </p> + <p> + While General Early was in the telegraph office at Martinsburg on the + morning of the 18th, he learned of Grant's visit to me; and anticipating + activity by reason of this circumstance, he promptly proceeded to withdraw + so as to get the two divisions within supporting distance of Ramseur's, + which lay across the Berryville pike about two miles east of Winchester, + between Abraham's Creek and Red Bud Run, so by the night of the 18th + Wharton's division, under Breckenridge, was at Stephenson's depot, Rodes + near there, and Gordon's at Bunker Hill. At daylight of the 19th these + positions of the Confederate infantry still obtained, with the cavalry of + Lomax, Jackson, and Johnson on the right of Ramseur, while to the left and + rear of the enemy's general line was Fitzhugh Lee, covering from + Stephenson's depot west across the Valley pike to Applepie Ridge. + </p> + <p> + My army moved at 3 o'clock that morning. The plan was for Torbert to + advance with Merritt's division of cavalry from Summit Point, carry the + crossings of the Opequon at Stevens's and Lock's fords, and form a + junction near Stephenson's depot, with Averell, who was to move south from + Darksville by the Valley pike. Meanwhile, Wilson was to strike up the + Berryville pike, carry the Berryville crossing of the Opequon, charge + through the gorge or canyon on the road west of the stream, and occupy the + open ground at the head of this defile. Wilson's attack was to be + supported by the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, which were ordered to the + Berryville crossing, and as the cavalry gained the open ground beyond the + gorge, the two infantry corps, under command of General Wright, were + expected to press on after and occupy Wilson's ground, who was then to + shift to the south bank of Abraham's Creek and cover my left; Crook's two + divisions, having to march from Summit Point, were to follow the Sixth and + Nineteenth corps to the Opcquon, and should they arrive before the action + began, they were to be held in reserve till the proper moment came, and + then, as a turning-column, be thrown over toward the Valley pike, south of + Winchester. + </p> + <p> + McIntosh's brigade of Wilson's division drove the enemy's pickets away + from the Berryville crossing at dawn, and Wilson following rapidly through + the gorge with the rest of the division, debouched from its western + extremity with such suddenness as to capture a small earthwork in front of + General Ramseur's main line; and not-withstanding the Confederate + infantry, on recovering from its astonishment, tried hard to dislodge + them, Wilson's troopers obstinately held the work till the Sixth Corps + came up. I followed Wilson to select the ground on which to form the + infantry. The Sixth Corps began to arrive about 8 o'clock, and taking up + the line Wilson had been holding, just beyond the head of the narrow + ravine, the cavalry was transferred to the south side of Abraham's Creek. + </p> + <p> + The Confederate line lay along some elevated ground about two miles east + of Winchester, and extended from Abraham's Creek north across the + Berryville pike, the left being hidden in the heavy timber on Red Bud Run. + Between this line and mine, especially on my right, clumps of woods and + patches of underbrush occurred here and there, but the undulating ground + consisted mainly of open fields, many of which were covered with standing + corn that had already ripened. + </p> + <p> + Much time was lost in getting all of the Sixth and Nineteenth corps + through the narrow defile, Grover's division being greatly delayed there + by a train of ammunition wagons, and it was not until late in the forenoon + that the troops intended for the attack could be got into line ready to + advance. General Early was not slow to avail himself of the advantages + thus offered him, and my chances of striking him in detail were growing + less every moment, for Gordon and Rodes were hurrying their divisions from + Stephenson's depot—across-country on a line that would place Gordon + in the woods south of Red Bud Run, and bring Rodes into the interval + between Gordon and Ramseur. + </p> + <p> + When the two corps had all got through the canyon they were formed with + Getty's division of the Sixth to the left of the Berryville pike, + Rickett's division to the right of the pike, and Russell's division in + reserve in rear of the other two. Grover's division of the Nineteenth + Corps came next on the right of Rickett's, with Dwight to its rear in + reserve, while Crook was to begin massing near the Opequon crossing about + the time Wright and Emory were ready to attack. + </p> + <p> + Just before noon the line of Getty, Ricketts, and Grover moved forward, + and as we advanced, the Confederates, covered by some heavy woods on their + right, slight underbrush and corn-fields along their Centre, and a large + body of timber on their left along the Red Bud, opened fire from their + whole front. We gained considerable ground at first, especially on our + left but the desperate resistance which the right met with demonstrated + that the time we had unavoidably lost in the morning had been of + incalculable value to Early, for it was evident that he had been enabled + already to so far concentrate his troops as to have the different + divisions of his army in a connected line of battle, in good shape to + resist. + </p> + <p> + Getty and Ricketts made some progress toward Winchester in connection with + Wilson's cavalry, which was beyond the Senseny road on Getty's left, and + as they were pressing back Ramseur's infantry and Lomax's cavalry Grover + attacked from the right with decided effect. Grover in a few minutes broke + up Evans's brigade of Gordon's division, but his pursuit of Evans + destroyed the continuity of my general line, and increased an interval + that had already been made by the deflection of Ricketts to the left, in + obedience to instructions that had been given him to guide his division on + the Berryville pike. As the line pressed forward, Ricketts observed this + widening interval and endeavored to fill it with the small brigade of + Colonel Keifer, but at this juncture both Gordon and Rodes struck the weak + spot where the right of the Sixth Corps and the left of the Nineteenth + should have been in conjunction, and succeeded in checking my advance by + driving back a part of Ricketts's division, and the most of Grover's. As + these troops were retiring I ordered Russell's reserve division to be put + into action, and just as the flank of the enemy's troops in pursuit of + Grover was presented, Upton's brigade, led in person by both Russell and + Upton, struck it in a charge so vigorous as to drive the Confederates back + in turn to their original ground. + </p> + <p> + The success of Russell enabled me to re-establish the right of my line + some little distance in advance of the position from which it started in + the morning, and behind Russell's division (now commanded by Upton) the + broken regiments of Ricketts's division were rallied. Dwight's division + was then brought up on the right, and Grover's men formed behind it. + </p> + <p> + The charge of Russell was most opportune, but it cost many men in killed + and wounded. Among the former was the courageous Russell himself; killed + by a piece of shell that passed through his heart, although he had + previously been struck by a bullet in the left breast, which wound, from + its nature, must have proved mortal, yet of which he had not spoken. + Russell's death oppressed us all with sadness, and me particularly. In the + early days of my army life he was my captain and friend, and I was deeply + indebted to him, not only for sound advice and good example, but for the + inestimable service he had just performed, and sealed with his life, so it + may be inferred how keenly I felt his loss. + </p> + <p> + As my lines were being rearranged, it was suggested to me to put Crook + into the battle, but so strongly had I set my heart on using him to take + possession of the Valley pike and cut off the enemy, that I resisted this + advice, hoping that the necessity for putting him in would be obviated by + the attack near Stephenson's depot that Torbert's cavalry was to make, and + from which I was momentarily expecting to hear. No news of Torbert's + progress came, however, so, yielding at last, I directed Crook to take + post on the right of the Nineteenth Corps and, when the action was + renewed, to push his command forward as a turning-column in conjunction + with Emory. After some delay in the annoying defile, Crook got his men up, + and posting Colonel Thoburn's division on the prolongation of the + Nineteenth Corps, he formed Colonel Duval's division to the right of + Thoburn. Here I joined Crook, informing him that I had just got word that + Torbert was driving the enemy in confusion along the Martinsburg pike + toward Winchester; at the same time I directed him to attack the moment + all of Duval's men were in line. Wright was instructed to advance in + concert with Crook, by swinging Emory and the right of the Sixth Corps to + the left together in a half-wheel. Then leaving Crook, I rode along the + Sixth and Nineteenth corps, the open ground over which they were passing + affording a rare opportunity to witness the precision with which the + attack was taken up from right to left. Crook's success began the moment + he started to turn the enemy's left; and assured by the fact that Torbert + had stampeded the Confederate cavalry and thrown Breckenridge's infantry + into such disorder that it could do little to prevent the envelopment of + Gordon's left, Crook pressed forward without even a halt. + </p> + <p> + Both Emory and Wright took up the fight as ordered, and as they did so I + sent word to Wilson, in the hope that he could partly perform the work + originally laid out for Crook, to push along the Senseny road and, if + possible, gain the valley pike south of Winchester. I then returned toward + my right flank, and as I reached the Nineteenth Corps the enemy was + contesting the ground in its front with great obstinacy; but Emory's + dogged persistence was at length rewarded with success, just as Crook's + command emerged from the morass of Red Bud Run, and swept around Gordon, + toward the right of Breckenridge, who, with two of Wharton's brigades, was + holding a line at right angles with the Valley pike for the protection of + the Confederate rear. Early had ordered these two brigades back from + Stephenson's depot in the morning, purposing to protect with them his + right flank and line of retreat, but while they were en route to this end, + he was obliged to recall them to his left to meet Crook's attack. + </p> + <p> + To confront Torbert, Patton's brigade of infantry and some of Fitzhugh + Lee's cavalry had been left back by Breckenridge, but, with Averell on the + west side of the Valley pike and Merritt on the east, Torbert began to + drive this opposing force toward Winchester the moment he struck it near + Stephenson's depot, keeping it on the go till it reached the position held + by Breckenridge, where it endeavored to make a stand. + </p> + <p> + The ground which Breckenridge was holding was open, and offered an + opportunity such as seldom had been presented during the war for a mounted + attack, and Torbert was not slow to take advantage of it. The instant + Merritt's division could be formed for the charge, it went at + Breckenridge's infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry with such momentum as + to break the Confederate left, just as Averell was passing around it. + Merritt's brigades, led by Custer, Lowell, and Devin, met from the start + with pronounced success, and with sabre or pistol in hand literally rode + down a battery of five guns and took about 1,200 prisoners. Almost + simultaneously with this cavalry charge, Crook struck Breckenridge's right + and Gordon's left, forcing these divisions to give way, and as they + retired, Wright, in a vigorous attack, quickly broke Rodes up and pressed + Ramseur so hard that the whole Confederate army fell back, contracting its + lines within some breastworks which had been thrown up at a former period + of the war, immediately in front of Winchester. + </p> + <p> + Here Early tried hard to stem the tide, but soon Torbert's cavalry began + passing around his left flank, and as Crook, Emory, and Wright attacked in + front, panic took possession of the enemy, his troops, now fugitives and + stragglers, seeking escape into and through Winchester. + </p> + <p> + When this second break occurred, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps were moved + over toward the Millwood pike to help Wilson on the left, but the day was + so far spent that they could render him no assistance, and Ramseur's + division, which had maintained some organization, was in such tolerable + shape as to check him. Meanwhile Torbert passed around to the west of + Winchester to join Wilson, but was unable to do so till after dark. + Crook's command pursued the enemy through the town to Mill Greek, I going + along. + </p> + <p> + Just after entering the town, Crook and I met, in the main street, three + young girls, who gave us the most hearty reception. One of these young + women was a Miss Griffith, the other two Miss Jennie and Miss Susie + Meredith. During the day they had been watching the battle from the roof + of the Meredith residence, with tears and lamentations, they said, in the + morning when misfortune appeared to have overtaken the Union troops, but + with unbounded exultation when, later, the tide set in against the + Confederates. Our presence was, to them, an assurance of victory, and + their delight being irrepressible, they indulged in the most unguarded + manifestations and expressions. When cautioned by Crook, who knew them + well, and reminded that the valley had hitherto been a race-course—one + day in the possession of friends, and the next of enemies—and warned + of the dangers they were incurring by such demonstrations, they assured + him that they had no further fears of that kind now, adding that Early's + army was so demoralized by the defeat it had just sustained that it would + never be in condition to enter Winchester again. As soon as we had + succeeded in calming the excited girls a little I expressed a desire to + find some place where I could write a telegram to General Grant informing + him of the result of the battle, and General Crook conducted me to the + home of Miss Wright, where I met for the first time the woman who had + contributed so much to our success, and on a desk in her school-room wrote + the despatch announcing that we had sent Early's army whirling up the + valley. + </p> + <p> + My losses in the battle of the Opequon were heavy, amounting to about + 4,500 killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed was General Russell, + commanding a division, and the wounded included Generals Upton, McIntosh + and Chapman, and Colonels Duval and Sharpe. The Confederate loss in + killed, wounded, and prisoners about equaled mine, General Rodes being of + the killed, while Generals Fitzhugh Lee and York were severely wounded. + </p> + <p> + We captured five pieces of artillery and nine battle-flags. The + restoration of the lower valley—from the Potomac to Strasburg—to + the control of the Union forces caused great rejoicing in the North, and + relieved the Administration from further solicitude for the safety of the + Maryland and Pennsylvania borders. The President's appreciation of the + victory was expressed in a despatch so like Mr. Lincoln that I give a + facsimile of it to the reader: + </p> + <p> + [In the handwriting of President Lincoln] "EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT + "WASHINGTON, Sep. 20, 1864 + </p> + <p> + "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN "WINCHESTER, VA. + </p> + <p> + "Have just heard of your geat victory. God bless you all, officers and + men. Strongly inclined to come up and see you. + </p> + <p> + "A. LINCOLN." + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linklincoln1" id="linklincoln1"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb031.jpg (39K)" src="images/pb031.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb031.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + This he supplemented by promoting me to the grade of brigadier-general in + the regular army, and assigning me to the permanent command of the Middle + Military Department, and following that came warm congratulations from Mr. + Stanton and from Generals Grant, Sherman, and Meade. + </p> + <p> + The battle was not fought out on the plan in accordance with which + marching orders were issued to my troops, for I then hoped to take Early + in detail, and with Crook's force cut off his retreat. I adhered to this + purpose during the early part of the contest, but was obliged to abandon + the idea because of unavoidable delays by which I was prevented from + getting the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through the narrow defile and into + position early enough to destroy Ramseur while still isolated. So much + delay had not been anticipated, and this loss of time was taken advantage + of by the enemy to recall the troops diverted to Bunker Hill and + Martinsburg on the 17th, thus enabling him to bring them all to the + support of Ramseur before I could strike with effect. My idea was to + attack Ramseur and Wharton, successively, at a very early hour and before + they could get succor, but I was not in condition to do it till nearly + noon, by which time Gordon and Rodes had been enabled to get upon the + ground at a point from which, as I advanced, they enfiladed my right + flank, and gave it such a repulse that to re-form this part of my line I + was obliged to recall the left from some of the ground it had gained. It + was during this reorganization of my lines that I changed my plan as to + Crook, and moved him from my left to my right. This I did with great + reluctance, for I hoped to destroy Early's army entirely if Crook + continued on his original line of march toward the Valley pike, south of + Winchester; and although the ultimate results did, in a measure vindicate + the change, yet I have always thought that by adhering to the original + plan we might have captured the bulk of Early's army. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch2b" id="linkch2b"></a>CHAPTER II. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + PURSUING EARLY—A SECRET MARCH—FISHER'S HILL—A GREAT + SUCCESS—REMOVAL OF AVERELL—THE RETREAT—CAPTURING AN OLD + COMRADE—THE MURDER OF LIEUTENANT MEIGS. + </p> + <p> + The night of the 19th of September I gave orders for following Early up + the valley next morning—the pursuit to begin at daybreak—and + in obedience to these directions Torbert moved Averell out on the Back + road leading to Cedar Creek, and Merritt up the Valley pike toward + Strasburg, while Wilson was directed on Front Royal by way of Stevensburg. + Merritt's division was followed by the infantry, Emory's and Wright's + columns marching abreast in the open country to the right and left of the + pike, and Crook's immediately behind them. The enemy having kept up his + retreat at night, presented no opposition whatever until the cavalry + discovered him posted at Fisher's Hill, on the first defensive line where + he could hope to make any serious resistance. No effort was made to + dislodge him, and later in the day, after Wright and Emory came up, + Torbert shifted Merritt over toward the Back road till he rejoined + Averell. As Merritt moved to the right, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps + crossed Cedar Creek and took up the ground the cavalry was vacating, + Wright posting his own corps to the west of the Valley pike overlooking + Strasburg, and Emory's on his left so as to extend almost to the road + leading from Strasburg to Front Royal. Crook, as he came up the same + evening, went into position in some heavy timber on the north bank of + Cedar Creek. + </p> + <p> + A reconnoissance made pending these movements convinced me that the + enemy's position at Fisher's Hill was so strong that a direct assault + would entail unnecessary destruction of life, and, besides, be of doubtful + result. At the point where Early's troops were in position, between the + Massanutten range and Little North Mountain, the valley is only about + three and a half miles wide. All along the precipitous bluff which + overhangs Tumbling Run on the south side, a heavy line of earthworks had + been constructed when Early retreated to this point in August, and these + were now being strengthened so as to make them almost impregnable; in + fact, so secure did Early consider himself that, for convenience, his + ammunition chests were taken from the caissons and placed behind the + breastworks. Wharton, now in command of Breckenridge's division—its + late commander having gone to southwest Virginia—held the right of + this line, with Gordon next him; Pegram, commanding Ramseur's old + division, joined Gordon. Ramseur with Rodes's division, was on Pegram's + left, while Lomax's cavalry, now serving as foot-troops, extended the line + to the Back road. Fitzhugh Lee being wounded, his cavalry, under General + Wickham, was sent to Milford to prevent Fisher's Hill from being turned + through the Luray Valley. + </p> + <p> + In consequence of the enemy's being so well protected from a direct + assault, I resolved on the night of the 20th to use again a turning-column + against his left, as had been done on the 19th at the Opequon. To this end + I resolved to move Crook, unperceived if possible, over to the eastern + face of Little North Mountain, whence he could strike the left and rear of + the Confederate line, and as he broke it up, I could support him by a left + half-wheel of my whole line of battle. The execution of this plan would + require perfect secrecy, however, for the enemy from his signal-station on + Three Top could plainly see every movement of our troops in daylight. + Hence, to escape such observation, I marched Crook during the night of the + 20th into some heavy timber north of Cedar Creek, where he lay concealed + all day the 21st. This same day Wright and Emory were moved up closer to + the Confederate works, and the Sixth Corps, after a severe fight, in which + Ricketts's and Getty were engaged, took up some high ground on the right + of the Manassas Gap railroad in plain view of the Confederate works, and + confronting a commanding point where much of Early's artillery was massed. + Soon after General Wright had established this line I rode with him along + it to the westward, and finding that the enemy was still holding an + elevated position further to our right, on the north side of Tumbling Run, + I directed this also to be occupied. Wright soon carried the point, which + gave us an unobstructed view of the enemy's works and offered good ground + for our artillery. It also enabled me to move the whole of the Sixth Corps + to the front till its line was within about seven hundred yards of the + enemy's works; the Nineteenth Corps, on the morning of the 22d, covering + the ground vacated by the Sixth by moving to the front and extending to + the right, but still keeping its reserves on the railroad. + </p> + <p> + In the darkness of the night of the gist, Crook was brought across Cedar + Creek and hidden in a clump of timber behind Hupp's Hill till daylight of + the 22d, when, under cover of the intervening woods and ravines, he was + marched beyond the right of the Sixth Corps and again concealed not far + from the Back road. After Crook had got into this last position, + Ricketts's division was pushed out until it confronted the left of the + enemy's infantry, the rest of the Sixth Corps extending from Ricketts's + left to the Manassas Gap railroad, while the Nineteenth Corps filled in + the space between the left of the Sixth and the North Fork of the + Shenandoah. + </p> + <p> + When Ricketts moved out on this new line, in conjunction with Averell's + cavalry on his right, the enemy surmising, from information secured from + his signal-station, no doubt, that my attack was to be made from + Ricketts's front, prepared for it there, but no such intention ever + existed. Ricketts was pushed forward only that he might readily join + Crook's turning-column as it swung into the enemy's rear. To ensure + success, all that I needed now was enough daylight to complete my + arrangements, the secrecy of movement imposed by the situation consuming + many valuable hours. + </p> + <p> + While Ricketts was occupying the enemy's attention, Crook, again moving + unobserved into the dense timber on the eastern face of Little North + Mountain, conducted his command south in two parallel columns until he + gained the rear of the enemy's works, when, marching his divisions by the + left flank, he led them in an easterly direction down the mountain-side. + As he emerged from the timber near the base of the mountain, the + Confederates discovered him, of course, and opened with their batteries, + but it was too late—they having few troops at hand to confront the + turning-column. Loudly cheering, Crook's men quickly crossed the broken + stretch in rear of the enemy's left, producing confusion and consternation + at every step. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb039" id="linkpb039"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb039.jpg (63K)" src="images/pb039.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + About a mile from the mountain's base Crook's left was joined by Ricketts, + who in proper time had begun to swing his division into the action, and + the two commands moved along in rear of the works so rapidly that, with + but slight resistance, the Confederates abandoned the guns massed near the + centre. The swinging movement of Ricketts was taken up successively from + right to left throughout my line, and in a few minutes the enemy was + thoroughly routed, the action, though brief, being none the less decisive. + Lomax's dismounted cavalry gave way first, but was shortly followed by all + the Confederate infantry in an indescribable panic, precipitated doubtless + by fears of being caught and captured in the pocket formed by Tumbling Run + and the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The stampede was complete, the + enemy leaving the field without semblance of organization, abandoning + nearly all his artillery and such other property as was in the works, and + the rout extending through the fields and over the roads toward Woodstock, + Wright and Emory in hot pursuit. + </p> + <p> + Midway between Fisher's Hill and Woodstock there is some high ground, + where at night-fall a small squad endeavored to stay us with two pieces of + artillery, but this attempt at resistance proved fruitless, and, + notwithstanding the darkness, the guns were soon captured. The chase was + then taken up by Devin's brigade as soon as it could be passed to the + front, and continued till after daylight the next morning, but the delays + incident to a night pursuit made it impossible for Devin to do more than + pick up stragglers. + </p> + <p> + Our success was very great, yet I had anticipated results still more + pregnant. Indeed, I had high hopes of capturing almost the whole of + Early's army before it reached New Market, and with this object in view, + during the manoeuvres of the 21st I had sent Torbert up the Luray Valley + with Wilson's division and two of Merritt's brigades, in the expectation + that he would drive Wickham out of the Luray Pass by Early's right, and by + crossing the Massanutten Mountain near New Market, gain his rear. Torbert + started in good season, and after some slight skirmishing at Gooney Run, + got as far as Milford, but failed to dislodge Wickham. In fact, he made + little or no attempt to force Wickham from his position, and with only a + feeble effort withdrew. I heard nothing at all from Torbert during the + 22d, and supposing that everything was progressing favorably, I was + astonished and chagrined on the morning of the 23d, at Woodstock, to + receive the intelligence that he had fallen back to Front Royal and + Buckton ford. My disappointment was extreme, but there was now no help for + the situation save to renew and emphasize Torbert's orders, and this was + done at once, notwithstanding that I thought, the delay, had so much + diminished the chances of his getting in the rear of Early as to make such + a result a very remote possibility, unless, indeed, far greater zeal was + displayed than had been in the first attempt to penetrate the Luray + Valley. + </p> + <p> + The battle of Fisher's Hill was, in a measure, a part of the battle of the + Opequon; that is to say, it was an incident of the pursuit resulting from + that action. In many ways, however, it was much more satisfactory, and + particularly so because the plan arranged on the evening of the 20th was + carried out to the very letter by Generals Wright, Crook, and Emory, not + only in all their preliminary manoeuvres, but also during the fight + itself. The only drawback was with the cavalry, and to this day I have + been unable to account satisfactorily for Torbert's failure. No doubt, + Wickham's position near Milford was a strong one, but Torbert ought to + have made a fight. Had he been defeated in this, his withdrawal then to + await the result at Fisher's Hill would have been justified, but it does + not appear that he made any serious effort of all to dislodge the + Confederate cavalry: his impotent attempt not only chagrined me very much, + but occasioned much unfavorable comment throughout the army. + </p> + <p> + We reached Woodstock early on the morning of the 23d, and halted there + some little time to let the troops recover their organization, which had + been broken in the night march they had just made. When the commands had + closed up we pushed on toward Edinburg, in the hope of making more + captures at Narrow Passage Creek; but the Confederates, too fleet for us, + got away; so General Wright halted the infantry not far from Edinburg, + till rations could be brought the men. Meanwhile I, having remained at + Woodstock, sent Dedin's brigade to press the enemy under every favorable + opportunity, and if possible prevent him from halting long enough to + reorganize. Notwithstanding Devin's efforts the Confederates managed to + assemble a considerable force to resist him, and being too weak for the + rearguard, he awaited the arrival of Averell, who, I had informed him, + would be hurried to the front with all possible despatch, for I thought + that Averell must be close at hand. It turned out, however, that he was + not near by at all, and, moreover, that without good reason he had + refrained from taking any part whatever in pursuing the enemy in the + flight from Fisher's Hill; and in fact had gone into camp and left to the + infantry the work of pursuit. + </p> + <p> + It was nearly noon when Averell came up, and a great deal of precious time + had been lost. We had some hot words, but hoping that he would retrieve + the mistake of the night before, I directed him to proceed to the front at + once, and in conjunction with Devin close with the enemy. He reached + Devin's command about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, just as this officer was + pushing the Confederates so energetically that they were abandoning Mount + Jackson, yet Averell utterly failed to accomplish anything. Indeed, his + indifferent attack was not at all worthy the excellent soldiers he + commanded, and when I learned that it was his intention to withdraw from + the enemy's front, and this, too, on the indefinite report of a + signal-officer that a "brigade or division" of Confederates was turning + his right flank, and that he had not seriously attempted to verify the + information, I sent him this order: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,<br /> "Woodstock, Va., + Sept. 23, 1864<br /> <br /> "BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL AVERELL<br /> <br /> "Your + report and report of signal-officer received. I do not want you to let + the enemy bluff you or your command, and I want you to distinctly + understand this note. I do not advise rashness, but I do desire + resolution and actual fighting, with necessary casualties, before you + retire. There must now be no backing or filling by you without a + superior force of the enemy actually engaging you.<br /> <br /> "P. H. + SHERIDAN,<br /> "Major-General Commanding.' + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Some little time after this note went to Averell, word was brought me that + he had already carried out the programme indicated when forwarding the + report of the expected turning of his right, and that he had actually + withdrawn and gone into camp near Hawkinsburg. I then decided to relieve + him from the command of his division, which I did, ordering him to + Wheeling, Colonel William H. Powell being assigned to succeed him. + </p> + <p> + The removal of Averell was but the culmination of a series of events + extending back to the time I assumed command of the Middle Military + Division. At the outset, General Grant, fearing discord on account of + Averell's ranking Torbert, authorized me to relieve the former officer, + but I hoped that if any trouble of this sort arose, it could be allayed, + or at least repressed, during the campaign against Early, since the + different commands would often have to act separately. After that, the + dispersion of my army by the return of the Sixth Corps and Torbert's + cavalry to the Army of the Potomac would take place, I thought, and this + would restore matters to their normal condition; but Averell's + dissatisfaction began to show itself immediately after his arrival at + Martinsburg, on the 14th of August, and, except when he was conducting + some independent expedition, had been manifested on all occasions since. I + therefore thought that the interest of the service would be subserved by + removing one whose growing indifference might render the best-laid plans + inoperative. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION.<br /> "HARRISONBURG, VA., + SEPT. 25, 1864 11:30 P. M.<br /> "LIEUT-GENERAL GRANT, Comd'g, City + Point, Va.<br /> <br /> "I have relieved Averell from his command. Instead + of following the enemy when he was broken at Fisher's Hill (so there was + not a cavalry organization left), he went into camp and let me pursue + the enemy for a distance of fifteen miles, with infantry, during the + night.<br /> <br /> "P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The failure of Averell to press the enemy the evening of the 23d gave + Early time to collect his scattered forces and take up a position on the + east side of the North Fork of the Shenandoah, his left resting on the + west side of that stream at Rude's Hill, a commanding point about two + miles south of Mt. Jackson. Along this line he had constructed some slight + works during the night, and at daylight on the 24th, I moved the Sixth and + Nineteenth corps through Mt. Jackson to attack him, sending Powell's + division to pass around his left flank, toward Timberville, and Devin's + brigade across the North Fork, to move along the base of Peaked Ridge and + attack his right. The country was entirely open, and none of these + manoeuvres could be executed without being observed, so as soon as my + advance began, the enemy rapidly retreated in line of battle up the valley + through New Market, closely followed by Wright and Emory, their artillery + on the pike and their columns on its right and left. Both sides moved with + celerity, the Confederates stimulated by the desire to escape, and our men + animated by the prospect of wholly destroying Early's army. The + stern-chase continued for about thirteen miles, our infantry often coming + within range, yet whenever we began to deploy, the Confederates increased + the distance between us by resorting to a double quick, evading battle + with admirable tact. While all this was going on, the open country + permitted us a rare and brilliant sight, the bright sun gleaming from the + arms and trappings of the thousands of pursuers and pursued. + </p> + <p> + Near New Market, as a last effort to hold the enemy, I pushed Devin's + cavalry—comprising about five hundred men—with two guns right + up on Early's lines, in the hope that the tempting opportunity given him + to capture the guns would stay his retreat long enough to let my infantry + deploy within range, but he refused the bait, and after momentarily + checking Devin he continued on with little loss and in pretty good order. + </p> + <p> + All hope of Torbert's appearing in rear of the Confederates vanished as + they passed beyond New Market. Some six miles south of this place Early + left the Valley Pike and took the road to Keezletown, a move due in a + measure to Powell's march by way of Timberville toward Lacy's Springs, but + mainly caused by the fact that the Keezletown road ran immediately along + the base of Peaked Mountain—a rugged ridge affording protection to + Early's right flank—and led in a direction facilitating his junction + with Kershaw, who had been ordered back to him from Culpeper the day after + the battle of the Opequon. The chase was kept up on the Keezeltown road + till darkness overtook us, when my weary troops were permitted to go into + camp; and as soon as the enemy discovered by our fires that the pursuit + had stopped, he also bivouacked some five miles farther south toward Port + Republic. + </p> + <p> + The next morning Early was joined by Lomax's cavalry from Harrisonburg, + Wickham's and Payne's brigades of cavalry also uniting with him from the + Luray Valley. His whole army then fell back to the mouth of Brown's Gap to + await Kershaw's division and Cutshaw's artillery, now on their return. + </p> + <p> + By the morning of the 25th the main body of the enemy had disappeared + entirely from my front, and the capture of some small, squads of + Confederates in the neighboring hills furnished us the only incidents of + the day. Among the prisoners was a tall and fine looking officer, much + worn with hunger and fatigue. The moment I saw him I recognized him as a + former comrade, George W. Carr, with whom I had served in Washington + Territory. He was in those days a lieutenant in the Ninth Infantry, and + was one of the officers who superintended the execution of the nine + Indians at the Cascades of the Columbia in 1856. Carr was very much + emaciated, and greatly discouraged by the turn events had recently taken. + For old acquaintance sake I gave him plenty to eat, and kept him in + comfort at my headquarters until the next batch of prisoners was sent to + the rear, when he went with them. He had resigned from the regular army at + the commencement of hostilities, and, full of high anticipation, cast his + lot with the Confederacy, but when he fell into our hands, his bright + dreams having been dispelled by the harsh realities of war, he appeared to + think that for him there was no future. + </p> + <p> + Picking up prisoners here and there, my troops resumed their march + directly south on the Valley pike, and when the Sixth and Nineteenth corps + reached Harrisonburg, they went into camp, Powell in the meanwhile pushing + on to Mt. Crawford, and Crook taking up a position in our rear at the + junction of the Keezletown road and the Valley pike. Late in the afternoon + Torbert's cavalry came in from New Market arriving at that place many + hours later than it had been expected. + </p> + <p> + The succeeding day I sent Merritt to Port Republic to occupy the enemy's + attention, while Torbert, with Wilson's division and the regular brigade, + was ordered to Staunton, whence he was to proceed to Waynesboro' and blow + up the railroad bridge. Having done this, Torbert, as he returned, was to + drive off whatever cattle he could find, destroy all forage and + breadstuffs, and burn the mills. He took possession of Waynesboro' in due + time, but had succeeded in only partially demolishing the railroad bridge + when, attacked by Pegram's division of infantry and Wickham's cavalry, he + was compelled to fall back to Staunton. From the latter place he retired + to Bridgewater, and Spring Hill, on the way, however, fully executing his + instructions regarding the destruction of supplies. + </p> + <p> + While Torbert was on this expedition, Merritt had occupied Port Republic, + but he happened to get there the very day that Kershaw's division was + marching from Swift Run Gap to join Early. By accident Kershaw ran into + Merritt shortly after the latter had gained the village. Kershaw's four + infantry brigades attacked at once, and Merrit, forced out of Port + Republic, fell back toward Cross Keys; and in anticipation that the + Confederates could be coaxed to that point, I ordered the infantry there, + but Torbert's attack at Wavnesboro' had alarmed Early, and in consequence + he drew all his forces in toward Rock-fish Gap. This enabled me to + re-establish Merritt at Port Republic, send the Sixth and Nineteenth corps + to the neighborhood of Mt. Crawford to await the return of Torbert, and to + post Crook at Harrisonburg; these dispositions practically obtained till + the 6th of October, I holding a line across the valley from Port Republic + along North River by Mt. Crawford to the Back road near the mouth of + Briery Branch Gap. + </p> + <p> + It was during this period, about dusk on the evening of October 3, that + between Harrisonburg and Dayton my engineer officer, Lieutenant John R. + Meigs, was murdered within my lines. He had gone out with two + topographical assistants to plot the country, and late in the evening, + while riding along the public road on his return to camp, he overtook + three men dressed in our uniform. From their dress, and also because the + party was immediately behind our lines and within a mile and a half of my + headquarters, Meigs and his assistants naturally thought that they were + joining friends, and wholly unsuspicious of anything to the contrary, rode + on with the three men some little distance; but their perfidy was abruptly + discovered by their suddenly turning upon Meigs with a call for his + surrender. It has been claimed that, refusing to submit, he fired on the + treacherous party, but the statement is not true, for one of the + topographers escaped—the other was captured—and reported a few + minutes later at my headquarters that Meigs was killed without resistance + of any kind whatever, and without even the chance to give himself up. This + man was so cool, and related all the circumstances of the occurrence with + such exactness, as to prove the truthfulness of his statement. The fact + that the murder had been committed inside our lines was evidence that the + perpetrators of the crime, having their homes in the vicinity, had been + clandestinely visiting them, and been secretly harbored by some of the + neighboring residents. Determining to teach a lesson to these abettors of + the foul deed—a lesson they would never forget—I ordered all + the houses within an area of five miles to be burned. General Custer, who + had succeeded to the command of the Third Cavalry division (General Wilson + having been detailed as chief of cavalry to Sherman's army), was charged + with this duty, and the next morning proceeded to put the order into + execution. The prescribed area included the little village of Dayton, but + when a few houses in the immediate neighborhood of the scene of the murder + had been burned, Custer was directed to cease his desolating work, but to + fetch away all the able-bodied males as prisoners. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch3b" id="linkch3b"></a>CHAPTER III. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + REASONS FOR NOT PURSUING EARLY THROUGH THE BLUE RIDGE—GENERAL + TORBERT DETAILED TO GIVE GENERAL ROSSER A "DRUBBING"—GENERAL ROSSER + ROUTED—TELEGRAPHED TO MEET STANTON—LONGSTREET'S MESSAGE—RETURN + TO WINCHESTER—THE RIDE TO CEDAR CREEK—THE RETREATING ARMY—RALLYING + THE TROOPS—REFORMING THE LINE—COMMENCING THE ATTACK—DEFEAT + OF THE CONFEDERATES—APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR ARMY—RESULTS + OF THE BATTLE. + </p> + <p> + While we lay in camp at Harrisonburg it became necessary to decide whether + or not I would advance to Brown's Gap, and, after driving the enemy from + there, follow him through the Blue Ridge into eastern Virginia. Indeed, + this question began to cause me solicitude as soon as I knew Early had + escaped me at New Market, for I felt certain that I should be urged to + pursue the Confederates toward Charlottesville and Gordonsville, and be + expected to operate on that line against Richmond. For many reasons I was + much opposed to such a plan, but mainly because its execution would + involve the opening of the Orange and Alexandria railroad. To protect this + road against the raids of the numerous guerrilla bands that infested the + region through which it passed, and to keep it in operation, would require + a large force of infantry, and would also greatly reduce my cavalry; + besides, I should be obliged to leave a force in the valley strong enough + to give security to the line of the upper Potomac and the Baltimore and + Ohio railroad, and this alone would probably take the whole of Crook's + command, leaving me a wholly inadequate number of fighting men to + prosecute a campaign against the city of Richmond. Then, too, I was in + doubt whether the besiegers could hold the entire army at Petersburg; and + in case they could not, a number of troops sufficient to crush me might be + detached by Lee, moved rapidly by rail, and, after overwhelming me, be + quickly returned to confront General Meade. I was satisfied, moreover, + that my transportation could not supply me further than Harrisonburg, and + if in penetrating the Blue Ridge I met with protracted resistance, a lack + of supplies might compel me to abandon the attempt at a most inopportune + time. + </p> + <p> + I therefore advised that the Valley campaign be terminated north of + Staunton, and I be permitted to return, carrying out on the way my + original instructions for desolating the Shenandoah country so as to make + it untenable for permanent occupation by the Confederates. I proposed to + detach the bulk of my army when this work of destruction was completed, + and send it by way of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad through Washington + to the Petersburg line, believing that I could move it more rapidly by + that route than by any other. I was confident that if a movement of this + character could be made with celerity it would culminate in the capture of + Richmond and possibly of General Lee's army, and I was in hopes that + General Grant would take the same view of the matter; but just at this + time he was so pressed by the Government and by public-opinion at the + North, that he advocated the wholly different conception of driving Early + into eastern Virginia, and adhered to this plan with some tenacity. + Considerable correspondence regarding the subject took place between us, + throughout which I stoutly maintained that we should not risk, by what I + held to be a false move, all that my army had gained. I being on the + ground, General Grant left to me the final decision of the question, and I + solved the first step by determining to withdraw down the valley at least + as far as Strasburg, which movement was begun on the 6th of October. + </p> + <p> + The cavalry as it retired was stretched across the country from the Blue + Ridge to the eastern slope of the Alleghanies, with orders to drive off + all stock and destroy all supplies as it moved northward. The infantry + preceded the cavalry, passing down the Valley pike, and as we marched + along the many columns of smoke from burning stacks, and mills filled with + grain, indicated that the adjacent country was fast losing the features + which hitherto had made it a great magazine of stores for the Confederate + armies. + </p> + <p> + During the 6th and 7th of October, the enemy's horse followed us up, + though at a respectful distance. This cavalry was now under command of + General T. W. Rosser, who on October 5 had joined Early with an additional + brigade from Richmond. As we proceeded the Confederates gained confidence, + probably on account of the reputation with which its new commander had + been heralded, and on the third day's march had the temerity to annoy my + rear guard considerably. Tired of these annoyances, I concluded to open + the enemy's eyes in earnest, so that night I told Torbert I expected him + either to give Rosser a drubbing next morning or get whipped himself, and + that the infantry would be halted until the affair was over; I also + informed him that I proposed to ride out to Round Top Mountain to see the + fight. When I decided to have Rosser chastised, Merritt was encamped at + the foot of Round Top, an elevation just north of Tom's Brook, and Custer + some six miles farther north and west, near Tumbling Run. In the night + Custer was ordered to retrace his steps before daylight by the Back road, + which is parallel to and about three miles from the Valley pike, and + attack the enemy at Tom's Brook crossing, while Merritt's instructions + were to assail him on the Valley pike in concert with Custer. About 7 in + the morning, Custer's division encountered Rosser himself with three + brigades, and while the stirring sounds of the resulting artillery duel + were reverberating through the valley Merritt moved briskly to the front + and fell upon Generals Lomax and Johnson on the Valley pike. Merritt, by + extending his right, quickly established connection with Custer, and the + two divisions moved forward together under Torbert's direction, with a + determination to inflict on the enemy the sharp and summary punishment his + rashness had invited. + </p> + <p> + The engagement soon became general across the valley, both sides fighting + mainly mounted. For about two hours the contending lines struggled with + each other along Tom's Brook, the charges and counter charges at many + points being plainly visible from the summit of Round Top, where I had my + headquarters for the time. + </p> + <p> + The open country permitting a sabre fight, both sides seemed bent on using + that arm. In the centre the Confederates maintained their position with + much stubbornness, and for a time seemed to have recovered their former + spirit, but at last they began to give way on both flanks, and as these + receded, Merritt and Custer went at the wavering ranks in a charge along + the whole front. The result was a general smash-up of the entire + Confederate line, the retreat quickly degenerating into a rout the like of + which was never before seen. For twenty-six miles this wild stampede kept + up, with our troopers close at the enemy's heels; and the ludicrous + incidents of the chase never ceased to be amusing topics around the + camp-fires of Merritt and Custer. In the fight and pursuit Torbert took + eleven pieces of artillery, with their caissons, all the wagons and + ambulances the enemy had on the ground, and three hundred prisoners. Some + of Rosser's troopers fled to the mountains by way of Columbia Furnace, and + some up the Valley pike and into the Massamitten Range, apparently not + discovering that the chase had been discontinued till south of Mount + Jackson they rallied on Early's infantry. + </p> + <p> + After this catastrophe, Early reported to General Lee that his cavalry was + so badly demoralized that it should be dismounted; and the citizens of the + valley, intensely disgusted with the boasting and swaggering that had + characterized the arrival of the "Laurel Brigade" in that section, + baptized the action (known to us as Tom's Brook) the "Woodstock Races," + and never tired of poking fun at General Rosser about his precipitate and + inglorious flight. (When Rosser arrived from Richmond with his brigade he + was proclaimed as the savior of the Valley, and his men came all bedecked + with laurel branches.) + </p> + <p> + On the 10th my army, resuming its retrograde movement, crossed to the + north side of Cedar Creek. The work of repairing the Manassas Gap branch + of the Orange and Alexandria railroad had been begun some days before, out + from Washington, and, anticipating that it would be in readiness to + transport troops by the time they could reach Piedmont, I directed the + Sixth Corps to continue its march toward Front Royal, expecting to return + to the Army of the Potomac by that line. By the 12th, however, my views + regarding the reconstruction of this railroad began to prevail, and the + work on it was discontinued. The Sixth Corps, therefore, abandoned that + route, and moved toward Ashby's Gap with the purpose of marching direct to + Washington, but on the 13th I recalled it to Cedar Creek, in consequence + of the arrival of the enemy's infantry at Fisher's Hill, and the receipt, + the night before, of the following despatch, which again opened the + question of an advance on Gordonsville and Charlottesville: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> (Cipher.)<br /> "WASHINGTON, October 12, 1864, 12 M.<br /> <br /> + "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN:<br /> <br /> "Lieutenant-General Grant wishes a + position taken far enough south to serve as a base for further + operations upon Gordonsville and Charlottesville. It must be strongly + fortified and provisioned. Some point in the vicinity of Manassas Gap + would seem best suited for all purposes. Colonel Alexander, of the + Engineers, will be sent to consult with you as soon as you connect with + General Augur.<br /> <br /> <br /> "H. W. HALLECK, Major-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + As it was well known in Washington that the views expressed in the above + despatch were counter to my convictions, I was the next day required by + the following telegram from Secretary Stanton to repair to that city: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "WASHINGTON, October 13, 1864.<br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN + (through General Augur)<br /> <br /> "If you can come here, a consultation + on several points is extremely desirable. I propose to visit General + Grant, and would like to see you first.<br /> <br /> "EDWIN M. STANTON, + "Secretary of War." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + I got all ready to comply with the terms of Secretary Stanton's despatch, + but in the meantime the enemy appeared in my front in force, with infantry + and cavalry, and attacked Colonel Thoburn, who had been pushed out toward + Strasburg from Crook's command, and also Custer's division of cavalry on + the Back road. As afterward appeared, this attack was made in the belief + that all of my troops but Crook's had gone to Petersburg. From this + demonstration there ensued near Hupp's Hill a bitter skirmish between + Kershaw and Thoburn, and the latter was finally compelled to withdraw to + the north bank of Cedar Creek. Custer gained better results, however, on + the Back road, with his usual dash driving the enemy's cavalry away from + his front, Merritt's division then joining him and remaining on the right. + </p> + <p> + The day's events pointing to a probability that the enemy intended to + resume the offensive, to anticipate such a contingency I ordered the Sixth + Corps to return from its march toward Ashby's Gap. It reached me by noon + of the 14th, and went into position to the right and rear of the + Nineteenth Corps, which held a line along the north bank of Cedar Creek, + west of the Valley pike. Crook was posted on the left of the Nineteenth + Corps and east of the Valley pike, with Thoburn's division advanced to a + round hill, which commanded the junction of Cedar Creek and the Shenandoah + River, while Torbert retained both Merritt and Custer on the right of the + Sixth Corps, and at the same time covered with Powell the roads toward + Front Royal. My head-quarters were at the Belle Grove House, which was to + the west of the pike and in rear of the Nineteenth Corps. It was my + intention to attack the enemy as soon as the Sixth Corps reached me, but + General Early having learned from his demonstration that I had not + detached as largely as his previous information had led him to believe, on + the night of the 13th withdrew to Fisher's Hill; so, concluding that he + could not do us serious hurt from there, I changed my mind as to + attacking, deciding to defer such action till I could get to Washington, + and come to some definite understanding about my future operations. + </p> + <p> + To carry out this idea, on the evening of the 15th I ordered all of the + cavalry under General Torbert to accompany me to Front Royal, again + intending to push it thence through Chester Gap to the Virginia Central + railroad at Charlottesville, to destroy the bridge over the Rivanna River, + while I passed through Manassas Gap to Rectortown, and thence by rail to + Washington. On my arrival with the cavalry near Front Royal on the 16th, I + halted at the house of Mrs. Richards, on the north bank of the river, and + there received the following despatch and inclosure from General Wright, + who had been left in command at Cedar Creek: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY Division,<br /> "October 16, 1864.<br /> + <br /> "GENERAL:<br /> <br /> <br /> "I enclose you despatch which explains + itself. If the enemy should be strongly reenforced in cavalry, he might, + by turning our right, give us a great deal of trouble. I shall hold on + here until the enemy's movements are developed, and shall only fear an + attack on my right, which I shall make every preparation for guarding + against and resisting.<br /> <br /> <br /> "Very respectfully, your + obedient servant,<br /> <br /> "H. G. WRIGHT, Major-General Commanding.<br /> + <br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN,<br /> "Commanding Middle + Military Division."<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> [INCLOSURE.] "To + LIEUTENANT-GENERAL EARLY:<br /> <br /> "Be ready to move as soon as my + forces join you, and we will crush Sheridan.<br /> <br /> "LONGSTREET, + Lieutenant-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The message from Longstreet had been taken down as it was being flagged + from the Confederate signal-station on Three Top Mountain, and afterward + translated by our signal officers, who knew the Confederate signal code. I + first thought it a ruse, and hardly worth attention, but on reflection + deemed it best to be on the safe side, so I abandoned the cavalry raid + toward Charlottesville, in order to give General Wright the entire + strength of the army, for it did not seem wise to reduce his numbers while + reinforcement for the enemy might be near, and especially when such + pregnant messages were reaching Early from one of the ablest of the + Confederate generals. Therefore I sent the following note to General + Wright: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,<br /> "Front Royal, October + 16, 1864.<br /> <br /> "GENERAL: The cavalry is all ordered back to you; + make your position strong. If Longstreet's despatch is true, he is under + the impression that we have largely detached. I will go over to Augur, + and may get additional news. Close in Colonel Powell, who will be at + this point. If the enemy should make an advance, I know you will defeat + him. Look well to your ground and be well prepared. Get up everything + that can be spared. I will bring up all I can, and will be up on + Tuesday, if not sooner.<br /> <br /> "P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General.<br /> + <br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT,<br /> "Commanding Sixth Army + Corps." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + At 5 o'clock on the evening of the 16th I telegraphed General Halleck from + Rectortown, giving him the information which had come to me from Wright, + asking if anything corroborative of it had been received from General + Grant, and also saying that I would like to see Halleck; the telegram + ending with the question: "Is it best for me to go to see you?" Next + morning I sent back to Wright all the cavalry except one regiment, which + escorted me through Manassas Gap to the terminus of the railroad from + Washington. I had with me Lieutenant-Colonel James W. Forsyth, + chief-of-staff, and three of my aides, Major George A. Forsyth, Captain + Joseph O'Keefe, and Captain Michael V. Sheridan. I rode my black horse, + Rienzi, and the others their own respective mounts. + </p> + <p> + Before leaving Cedar Creek I had fixed the route of my return to be by + rail from Washington to Martinsburg, and thence by horseback to Winchester + and Cedar Creek, and had ordered three hundred cavalry to Martinsburg to + escort me from that point to the front. At Rectortown I met General Augur, + who had brought a force out from Washington to reconstruct and protect the + line of railroad, and through him received the following reply from + General Halleck: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,<br /> "WASHINGTON, D.C., + October 16 1864<br /> <br /> "To MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN,<br /> "Rectortown, + Va.<br /> <br /> General Grant says that Longstreet brought with him no + troops from Richmond, but I have very little confidence in the + information collected at his headquarters. If you can leave your command + with safety, come to Washington, as I wish to give you the views of the + authorities here.<br /> <br /> "H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, + Chief-of-Staff." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In consequence of the Longstreet despatch, I felt a concern about my + absence which I could hardly repress, but after duly considering what + Halleck said, and believing that Longstreet could not unite with Early + before I got back, and that even if he did Wright would be able to cope + with them both, I and my staff, with our horses, took the cars for + Washington, where we arrived on the morning of the 17th at about 8 + o'clock. I proceeded at an early hour to the War Department, and as soon + as I met Secretary Stanton, asked him for a special train to be ready at + 12 o'clock to take me to Martinsburg, saying that in view of existing + conditions I must get back to my army as quickly as possible. He at once + gave the order for the train, and then the Secretary, Halleck, and I + proceeded to hold a consultation in regard to my operating east of the + Blue Ridge. The upshot was that my views against such a plan were + practically agreed to, and two engineer officers were designated to return + with me for the purpose of reporting on a defensive line in the valley + that could be held while the bulk of my troops were being detached to + Petersburg. Colonel Alexander and Colonel Thom both of the Engineer Corps, + reported to accompany me, and at 12 o'clock we took the train. + </p> + <p> + We arrived about dark at Martinsburg, and there found the escort of three + hundred men which I had ordered before leaving Cedar Creek. We spent that + night at Martinsburg, and early next morning mounted and started up the + Valley pike for Winchester, leaving Captain Sheridan behind to conduct to + the army the Commissioners whom the State of New York had sent down to + receive the vote of her troops in the coming Presidential election. + Colonel Alexander was a man of enormous weight, and Colonel Thom + correspondingly light, and as both were unaccustomed to riding we had to + go slowly, losing so much time, in fact, that we did not reach Winchester + till between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, though the distance is but + twenty-eight miles. As soon as we arrived at Colonel Edwards's + headquarters in the town, where I intended stopping for the night, I sent + a courier to the front to bring me a report of the condition of affairs, + and then took Colonel Alexander out on the heights about Winchester, in + order that he might overlook the country, and make up his mind as to the + utility of fortifying there. By the time we had completed our survey it + was dark, and just as we reached Colonel Edwards's house on our return a + courier came in from Cedar Creek bringing word that everything was all + right, that the enemy was quiet at Fisher's Hill, and that a brigade of + Grover's division was to make a reconnoissance in the morning, the 19th, + so about 10 o'clock I went to bed greatly relieved, and expecting to + rejoin my headquarters at my leisure next day. + </p> + <p> + Toward 6 o'clock the morning of the 19th, the officer on picket duty at + Winchester came to my room, I being yet in bed, and reported artillery + firing from the direction of Cedar Creek. I asked him if the firing was + continuous or only desultory, to which he replied that it was not a + sustained fire, but rather irregular and fitful. I remarked: "It's all + right; Grover has gone out this morning to make a reconnoissance, and he + is merely feeling the enemy." I tried to go to sleep again, but grew so + restless that I could not, and soon got up and dressed myself. A little + later the picket officer came back and reported that the firing, which + could be distinctly heard from his line on the heights outside of + Winchester, was still going on. I asked him if it sounded like a battle, + and as he again said that it did not, I still inferred that the + cannonading was caused by Grover's division banging away at the enemy + simply to find out what he was up to. However, I went down-stairs and + requested that breakfast be hurried up, and at the same time ordered the + horses to be saddled and in readiness, for I concluded to go to the front + before any further examinations were made in regard to the defensive line. + </p> + <p> + We mounted our horses between half-past 8 and 9, and as we were proceeding + up the street which leads directly through Winchester, from the Logan + residence, where Edwards was quartered, to the Valley pike, I noticed that + there were many women at the windows and doors of the houses, who kept + shaking their skirts at us and who were otherwise markedly insolent in + their demeanor, but supposing this conduct to be instigated by their + well-known and perhaps natural prejudices, I ascribed to it no unusual + significance. On reaching the edge of the town I halted a moment, and + there heard quite distinctly the sound of artillery firing in an unceasing + roar. Concluding from this that a battle was in progress, I now felt + confident that the women along the street had received intelligence from + the battle, field by the "grape-vine telegraph," and were in raptures over + some good news, while I as yet was utterly ignorant of the actual + situation. Moving on, I put my head down toward the pommel of my saddle + and listened intently, trying to locate and interpret the sound, + continuing in this position till we had crossed Mill Creek, about half a + mile from Winchester. The result of my efforts in the interval was the + conviction that the travel of the sound was increasing too rapidly to be + accounted for by my own rate of motion, and that therefore my army must be + falling back. + </p> + <p> + At Mill Creek my escort fell in behind, and we were going ahead at a + regular pace, when, just as we made the crest of the rise beyond the + stream, there burst upon our view the appalling spectacle of a + panic-stricken army—hundreds of slightly wounded men, throngs of + others unhurt but utterly demoralized, and baggage-wagons by the score, + all pressing to the rear in hopeless confusion, telling only too plainly + that a disaster had occurred at the front. On accosting some of the + fugitives, they assured me that the army was broken up, in full retreat, + and that all was lost; all this with a manner true to that peculiar + indifference that takes possession of panic-stricken men. I was greatly + disturbed by the sight, but at once sent word to Colonel Edwards + commanding the brigade in Winchester, to stretch his troops across the + valley, near Mill Creek, and stop all fugitives, directing also that the + transportation be, passed through and parked on the north side of the + town. + </p> + <p> + As I continued at a walk a few hundred yards farther, thinking all the + time of Longstreet's telegram to Early, "Be ready when I join you, and we + will crush Sheridan," I was fixing in my mind what I should do. My first + thought was too stop the army in the suburbs of Winchester as it came + back, form a new line, and fight there; but as the situation was more + maturely considered a better conception prevailed. I was sure the troops + had confidence in me, for heretofore we had been successful; and as at + other times they had seen me present at the slightest sign of trouble or + distress, I felt that I ought to try now to restore their broken ranks, + or, failing in that, to share their fate because of what they had done + hitherto. + </p> + <p> + About this time Colonel Wood, my chief commissary, arrived from the front + and gave me fuller intelligence, reporting that everything was gone, my + headquarters captured, and the troops dispersed. When I heard this I took + two of my aides-de-camp, Major. George A. Forsyth and Captain Joseph + O'Keefe, and with twenty men from the escort started for the front, at the + same time directing Colonel James W. Forsyth and Colonels Alexander and + Thom to remain behind and do what they could to stop the runaways. + </p> + <p> + For a short distance I traveled on the road, but soon found it so blocked + with wagons and wounded men that my progress was impeded, and I was forced + to take to the adjoining fields to make haste. When most of the wagons and + wounded were past I returned to the road, which was thickly lined with + unhurt men, who, having got far enough to the rear to be out of danger, + had halted, without any organization, and begun cooking coffee, but when + they saw me they abandoned their coffee, threw up their hats, shouldered + their muskets, and as I passed along turned to follow with enthusiasm and + cheers. To acknowledge this exhibition of feeling I took off my hat, and + with Forsyth and O'Keefe rode some distance in advance of my escort, while + every mounted officer who saw me galloped out on either side of the pike + to tell the men at a distance that I had come back. In this way the news + was spread to the stragglers off the road, when they, too, turned their + faces to the front and marched toward the enemy, changing in a moment from + the depths of depression, to the extreme of enthusiasm. I already knew + that even in the ordinary condition of mind enthusiasm is a potent element + with soldiers, but what I saw that day convinced me that if it can be + excited from a state of despondency its power is almost irresistible. I + said nothing except to remark as I rode among those on the road: "If I had + been, with you this morning this disaster would not have happened. We must + face the other way; we will go back and recover our camp." + </p> + <p> + My first halt was made just north of Newtown, where I met a chaplain + digging his heels into the sides of his jaded horse, and making for the + rear with all possible speed. I drew up for an instant, and inquired of + him how matters were going at the front. He replied, "Everything is lost; + but all will be right when you get there"; yet notwithstanding this + expression of confidence in me, the parson at once resumed his breathless + pace to the rear. At Newtown I was obliged to make a circuit to the left, + to get round the village. I could not pass through it, the streets were so + crowded, but meeting on this detour Major McKinley, of Crook's staff, he + spread the news of my return through the motley throng there. + </p> + <p> + When nearing the Valley pike, just south of Newtown I saw about + three-fourths of a mile west of the pike a body of troops, which proved to + be Ricketts's and Wheaton's divisions of the Sixth Corps, and then learned + that the Nineteenth Corps had halted a little to the right and rear of + these; but I did not stop, desiring to get to the extreme front. + Continuing on parallel with the pike, about midway between Newtown and + Middletown I crossed to the west of it, and a little later came up in rear + of Getty's division of the Sixth Corps. When I arrived, this division and + the cavalry were the only troops in the presence of and resisting the + enemy; they were apparently acting as a rear-guard at a point about three + miles north of the line we held at Cedar Creek when the battle began. + General Torbert was the first officer to meet me, saying as he rode up, + "My God! I am glad you've come." Getty's division, when I found it, was + about a mile north of Middletown, posted on the reverse slope of some + slightly rising ground, holding a barricade made with fence-rails, and + skirmishing slightly with the enemy's pickets. Jumping my horse over the + line of rails, I rode to the crest of the elevation, and there taking off + my hat, the men rose up from behind their barricade with cheers of + recognition. An officer of the Vermont brigade, Colonel A. S. Tracy, rode + out to the front, and joining me, informed me that General Louis A. Grant + was in command there, the regular division commander, General Getty, + having taken charge of the Sixth Corps in place of Ricketts, wounded early + in the action, while temporarily commanding the corps. I then turned back + to the rear of Getty's division, and as I came behind it, a line of + regimental flags rose up out of the ground, as it seemed, to welcome me. + They were mostly the colors of Crook's troops, who had been stampeded and + scattered in the surprise of the morning. The color-bearers, having + withstood the panic, had formed behind the troops of Getty. The line with + the colors was largely composed of officers, among whom I recognized + Colonel R. B. Hayes, since president of the United States, one of the + brigade commanders. At the close of this incident I crossed the little + narrow valley, or depression, in rear of Getty's line, and dismounting on + the opposite crest, established that point as my headquarters. In a few + minutes some of my staff joined me, and the first directions I gave were + to have the Nineteenth Corps and the two divisions of Wright's corps + brought to the front, so they could be formed on Getty's division, + prolonged to the right; for I had already decided to attack the enemy from + that line as soon as I could get matters in shape to take the offensive. + Crook met me at this time, and strongly favored my idea of attacking, but + said, however, that most of his troops were gone. General Wright came up a + little later, when I saw that he was wounded, a ball having grazed the + point of his chin so as to draw the blood plentifully. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkcrook" id="linkcrook"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb375-Crook.jpg (80K)" src="images/pb375-Crook.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Wright gave me a hurried account of the day's events, and when told that + we would fight the enemy on the line which Getty and the cavalry were + holding, and that he must go himself and send all his staff to bring up + the troops, he zealously fell in with the scheme; and it was then that the + Nineteenth Corps and two divisions of the Sixth were ordered to the front + from where they had been halted to the right and rear of Getty. + </p> + <p> + After this conversation I rode to the east of the Valley pike and to the + left of Getty's division, to a point from which I could obtain a good view + of the front, in the mean time sending Major Forsyth to communicate with + Colonel Lowell (who occupied a position close in toward the suburbs of + Middletown and directly in front of Getty's left) to learn whether he + could hold on there. Lowell replied that he could. I then ordered Custer's + division back to the right flank, and returning to the place where my + headquarters had been established I met near them Ricketts's division + under General Keifer and General Frank Wheaton's division, both marching + to the front. When the men of these divisions saw me they began cheering + and took up the double quick to the front, while I turned back toward + Getty's line to point out where these returning troops should be placed. + Having done this, I ordered General Wright to resume command of the Sixth + Corps, and Getty, who was temporarily in charge of it, to take command of + his own division. A little later the Nineteenth Corps came up and was + posted between the right of the Sixth Corps and Middle Marsh Brook. + </p> + <p> + All this had consumed a great deal of time, and I concluded to visit again + the point to the east of the Valley pike, from where I had first observed + the enemy, to see what he was doing. Arrived there, I could plainly see + him getting ready for attack, and Major Forsyth now suggested that it + would be well to ride along the line of battle before the enemy assailed + us, for although the troops had learned of my return, but few of them had + seen me. Following his suggestion I started in behind the men, but when a + few paces had been taken I crossed to the front and, hat in hand, passed + along the entire length of the infantry line; and it is from this + circumstance that many of the officers and men who then received me with + such heartiness have since supposed that that was my first appearance on + the field. But at least two hours had elapsed since I reached the ground, + for it was after mid-day, when this incident of riding down the front took + place, and I arrived not later, certainly, than half-past 10 o'clock. + </p> + <p> + After re-arranging the line and preparing to attack I returned again to + observe the Confederates, who shortly began to advance on us. The + attacking columns did not cover my entire front, and it appeared that + their onset would be mainly directed against the Nineteenth Corps, so, + fearing that they might be too strong for Emory on account of his depleted + condition (many of his men not having had time to get up from the rear), + and Getty's division being free from assault I transferred a part of it + from the extreme left to the support of the Nineteenth Corps. The assault + was quickly repulsed by Emory, however, and as the enemy fell back Getty's + troops were returned to their original place. This repulse of the + Confederates made me feel pretty safe from further offensive operations on + their part, and I now decided to suspend the fighting till my thin ranks + were further strengthened by the men who were continually coming up from + the rear, and particularly till Crook's troops could be assembled on the + extreme left. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkemory" id="linkemory"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb329-Emory.jpg (86K)" src="images/pb329-Emory.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + In consequence of the despatch already mentioned, "Be ready when I join + you, and we will crush Sheridan," since learned to have been fictitious, I + had been supposing all day that Longstreet's troops were present, but as + no definite intelligence on this point had been gathered, I concluded, in + the lull that now occurred, to ascertain something positive regarding + Longstreet; and Merritt having been transferred to our left in the + morning, I directed him to attack an exposed battery then at the edge of + Middletown, and capture some prisoners. Merritt soon did this work + effectually, concealing his intention till his troops got close in to the + enemy, and then by a quick dash gobbling up a number of Confederates. When + the prisoners were brought in, I learned from them that the only troops of + Longstreet's in the fight were of Kershaw's division, which had rejoined + Early at Brown's Gap in the latter part of September, and that the rest of + Longstreet's corps was not on the field. The receipt of this information + entirely cleared the way for me to take the offensive, but on the heels of + it came information that Longstreet was marching by the Front Royal pike + to strike my rear at Winchester, driving Powell's cavalry in as he + advanced. This renewed my uneasiness, and caused me to delay the general + attack till after assurances came from Powell denying utterly the reports + as to Longstreet, and confirming the statements of the prisoners. + </p> + <p> + Between half-past and 4 o'clock, I was ready to assail, and decided to do + so by advancing my infantry line in a swinging movement, so as to gain the + Valley pike with my right between Middletown and the Belle Grove House; + and when the order was passed along, the men pushed steadily forward with + enthusiasm and confidence. General Early's troops extended some little + distance beyond our right, and when my flank neared the overlapping enemy, + he turned on it, with the effect of causing a momentary confusion, but + General McMillan quickly realizing the danger, broke the Confederates at + the reentering angle by a counter charge with his brigade, doing his work + so well that the enemy's flanking troops were cut off from their main body + and left to shift for themselves. Custer, who was just then moving in from + the west side of Middle Marsh Brook, followed McMillan's timely blow with + a charge of cavalry, but before starting out on it, and while his men were + forming, riding at full speed himself, to throw his arms around my neck. + By the time he had disengaged himself from this embrace, the troops broken + by McMillan had gained some little distance to their rear, but Custer's + troopers sweeping across the Middletown meadows and down toward Cedar + Creek, took many of them prisoners before they could reach the stream—so + I forgave his delay. + </p> + <p> + My whole line as far as the eye could see was now driving everything + before it, from behind trees, stone walls, and all such sheltering + obstacles, so I rode toward the left to ascertain how matters were getting + on there. As I passed along behind the advancing troops, first General + Grover, and then Colonel Mackenzie, rode up to welcome me. Both were + severely wounded, and I told them to leave the field, but they implored + permission to remain till success was certain. When I reached the Valley + pike Crook had reorganized his men, and as I desired that they should take + part in the fight, for they were the very same troops that had turned + Early's flank at Winchester and at Fisher's Hill, I ordered them to be + pushed forward; and the alacrity and celerity with which they moved on + Middletown demonstrated that their ill-fortune of the morning had not + sprung from lack of valor. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Lowell's brigade of cavalry, which, it will be remembered, had + been holding on, dismounted, just north of Middletown ever since the time + I arrived from Winchester, fell to the rear for the purpose of getting + their led horses. A momentary panic was created in the nearest brigade of + infantry by this withdrawal of Lowell, but as soon as his men were mounted + they charged the enemy clear up to the stone walls in the edge of + Middletown; at sight of this the infantry brigade renewed its attack, and + the enemy's right gave way. The accomplished Lowell received his + death-wound in this courageous charge. + </p> + <p> + All our troops were now moving on the retreating Confederates, and as I + rode to the front Colonel Gibbs, who succeeded Lowell, made ready for + another mounted charge, but I checked him from pressing the enemy's right, + in the hope that the swinging attack from my right would throw most of the + Confederates to the east of the Valley pike, and hence off their line of + retreat through Strasburg to Fisher's Hill. The eagerness of the men soon + frustrated this anticipation, however, the left insisting on keeping pace + with the centre and right, and all pushing ahead till we regained our old + camps at Cedar Creek. Beyond Cedar Creek, at Strasburg, the pike makes a + sharp turn to the west toward Fisher's Hill, and here Merritt uniting with + Custer, they together fell on the flank of the retreating columns, taking + many prisoners, wagons, and guns, among the prisoners being Major-General + Ramseur, who, mortally wounded, died the next day. + </p> + <p> + When the news of the victory was received, General Grant directed a salute + of one hundred shotted guns to be fired into Petersburg, and the President + at once thanked the army in an autograph letter. A few weeks after, he + promoted me, and I received notice of this in a special letter from the + Secretary of War, saying: + </p> + <p> + "—that for the personal gallantry, military skill, and just + confidence in the courage and patriotism of your troops, displayed by you + on the 19th day of October at Cedar Run, whereby, under the blessing of + Providence, your routed army was reorganized, a great National disaster + averted, and a brilliant victory achieved over the rebels for the third + time in pitched battle within thirty days, Philip H. Sheridan is appointed + a major-general in the United States Army." + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linklincoln2" id="linklincoln2"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb091.jpg (50K)" src="images/pb091.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb091.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + The direct result of the battle was the recapture of all the artillery, + transportation, and camp equipage we had lost, and in addition twenty-four + pieces of the enemy's artillery, twelve hundred prisoners, and a number of + battle-flags. But more still flowed from this victory, succeeding as it + did the disaster of the morning, for the reoccupation of our old camps at + once re-established a morale which for some hours had been greatly + endangered by ill-fortune. + </p> + <p> + It was not till after the battle that I learned fully what had taken place + before my arrival, and then found that the enemy, having gathered all the + strength he could through the return of convalescents and other absentees, + had moved quietly from Fisher's Hill, in the night of the 18th and early + on the morning of the 19th, to surprise my army, which, it should be + remembered, was posted on the north bank of Cedar Creek, Crook holding on + the left of the Valley pike, with Thoburn's division advanced toward the + creek on Duval's (under Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes) and Kitching's + provisional divisions to the north and rear of Thoburn. The Nineteenth + Corps was on the right of Crook, extending in a semi-circular line from + the pike nearly to Meadow Brook, while the Sixth Corps lay to the west of + the brook in readiness to be used as a movable column. Merritt's division + was to the right and rear of the Sixth Corps, and about a mile and a half + west of Merrit was Custer covering the fords of Cedar Creek as far west as + the Middle road. + </p> + <p> + General Early's plan was for one column under General Gordon, consisting + of three divisions of infantry (Gordon's, Ramseur's, and Pegram's), and + Payne's brigade of cavalry to cross the Shenandoah River directly east of + the Confederate works at Fisher's Hill, march around the northerly face of + the Massanutten Mountain, and again cross the Shenandoah at Bowman's and + McInturff's fords. Payne's task was to capture me at the Belle Grove + House. General Early himself, with Kershaw's and Wharton's divisions, was + to move through Strasburg, Kershaw, accompanied by Early, to cross Cedar + Creek at Roberts's ford and connect with Gordon, while Wharton was to + continue on the Valley pike to Hupp's Hill and join the left of Kershaw, + when the crossing of the Valley pike over Cedar Creek became free. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb094" id="linkpb094"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb094.jpg (162K)" src="images/pb094.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb094.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Lomax's cavalry, then in the Luray Valley, was ordered to join the right + of Gordon on the field of battle, while Rosser was to carry the crossing + of Cedar Creek on the Back road and attack Custer. Early's conceptions + were carried through in the darkness with little accident or delay, + Kershaw opening the fight by a furious attack on Thoburn's division, while + at dawn and in a dense fog Gordon struck Crook's extreme left, surprising + his pickets, and bursting into his camp with such suddenness as to + stampede Crook's men. Gordon directing his march on my headquarters (the + Belle Grove House), successfully turned our position as he gained the + Valley pike, and General Wright was thus forced to order the withdrawal of + the Nineteenth Corps from its post at the Cedar Creek crossing, and this + enabled Wharton to get over the stream there unmolested and join Kershaw + early in the action. + </p> + <p> + After Crook's troops had been driven from their camps, General Wright + endeavored to form a line with the Sixth Corps to hold the Valley pike to + the left of the Nineteenth, but failing in this he ordered the withdrawal + of the latter corps, Ricketts, temporarily commanding the Sixth Corps, + checking Gordon till Emory had retired. As already stated, Wharton was + thus permitted to cross Cedar Creek on the pike, and now that Early had a + continuous line, he pressed his advantage so vigorously that the whole + Union army was soon driven from its camps in more or less disorder; and + though much disjointed resistance was displayed, it may be said that no + systematic stand was made until Getty's division, aided by Torbert's + cavalry, which Wright had ordered to the left early in the action, took up + the ground where, on arriving from Winchester, I found them. + </p> + <p> + When I left my command on the 16th, little did I anticipate that anything + like this would happen. Indeed, I felt satisfied that Early was, of + himself, too weak to take the offensive, and although I doubted the + Longstreet despatch, yet I was confident that, even should it prove true, + I could get back before the junction could be made, and at the worst I + felt certain that my army was equal to confronting the forces of + Longstreet and Early combined. Still, the surprise of the morning might + have befallen me as well as the general on whom it did descend, and though + it is possible that this could have been precluded had Powell's cavalry + been closed in, as suggested in my despatch from Front Royal, yet the + enemy's desperation might have prompted some other clever and ingenious + scheme for relieving his fallen fortunes in the Shenandoah Valley. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch4b" id="linkch4b"></a>CHAPTER IV. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + GENERAL EARLY REORGANIZES HIS FORCES—MOSBY THE GUERRILLA—GENERAL + MERRITT SENT TO OPERATE AGAINST MOSBY—ROSSER AGAIN ACTIVE—GENERAL + CUSTER SURPRISED—COLONEL YOUNG SENT TO CAPTURE GILMORE THE GUERRILLA—COLONEL + YOUNG'S SUCCESS—CAPTURE OF GENERAL KELLY AND GENERAL CROOK—SPIES—WAS + WILKES BOOTH A SPY?—DRIVING THE CONFEDERATES OUT OF THE VALLEY—THE + BATTLE OF WAYNESBORO'—MARCHING TO JOIN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. + </p> + <p> + Early's broken army practically made no halt in its retreat after the + battle of Cedar-Creek until it reached New Market, though at Fisher's Hill + was left a small rear-guard of cavalry, which hastily decamped, however, + when charged by Gibbs's brigade on the morning of the 20th. Between the + date of his signal defeat and the 11th of November, the enemy's scattered + forces had sufficiently reorganized to permit his again making a + reconnoissance in the valley as far north as Cedar Creek, my army having + meanwhile withdrawn to Kernstown, where it had been finally decided that a + defensive line should be held to enable me to detach troops to General + Grant, and where, by reconstructing the Winchester and Potomac railroad + from Stephenson's depot to Harper's Ferry, my command might be more + readily, supplied. Early's reconnoissance north of Cedar Creek ended in a + rapid withdrawal of his infantry after feeling my front, and with the + usual ill-fortune to his cavalry; Merritt and Custer driving Rosser and + Lomax with ease across Cedar Creek on the Middle and Back roads, while + Powell's cavalry struck McCausland near Stony Point, and after capturing + two pieces of artillery and about three hundred officers and men chased + him into the Luray Valley. + </p> + <p> + Early got back to New Market on the 14th of November, and, from lack of + subsistence, being unable to continue demonstrations to prevent my + reinforcement of General Grant, began himself to detach to General Lee by + returning Kershaw's division to Petersburg, as was definitely ascertained + by Torbert in a reconnoissance to Mount Jackson. At this time General + Grant wished me to send him the Sixth Corps, and it was got ready for the + purpose, but when I informed him that Torbert's reconnoissance had + developed the fact that Early still retained four divisions of infantry + and one of cavalry, it was decided, on my suggestion, to let the Sixth + Corps remain till the season should be a little further advanced, when the + inclemency of the weather would preclude infantry campaigning. These + conditions came about early in December, and by the middle of the month + the whole of the Sixth Corps was at Petersburg; simultaneously with its + transfer to that line Early sending his Second Corps to Lee. + </p> + <p> + During the entire campaign I had been annoyed by guerrilla bands under + such partisan chiefs as Mosby, White, Gilmore, McNeil, and others, and + this had considerably depleted my line-of-battle strength, necessitating + as it did large, escorts for my supply-trains. The most redoubtable of + these leaders was Mosby, whose force was made up from the country around + Upperville, east of the Blue Ridge, to which section he always fled for a + hiding-place when he scented danger. I had not directed any special + operations against these partisans while the campaign was active, but as + Mosby's men had lately killed, within my lines, my chief quartermaster, + Colonel Tolles, and Medical Inspector Ohlenchlager, I concluded to devote + particular attention to these "irregulars" during the lull that now + occurred; so on the 28th of November, I directed General Merritt to march + to the Loudoun Valley and operate against Mosby, taking care to clear the + country of forage and subsistence, so as to prevent the guerrillas from + being harbored there in the future their destruction or capture being + well-nigh impossible, on account of their intimate knowledge of the + mountain region. Merritt carried out his instructions with his usual + sagacity and thoroughness, sweeping widely over each side of his general + line of march with flankers, who burned the grain and brought in large + herds of cattle, hogs and sheep, which were issued to the troops. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb101" id="linkpb101"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb101.jpg (73K)" src="images/pb101.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb101.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + While Merritt was engaged in this service the Baltimore and Ohio railroad + once more received the attention of the enemy; Rosser, with two brigades + of cavalry, crossing the Great North Mountain, capturing the post of New + Creek, with about five hundred prisoners and seven guns, destroying all + the supplies of the garrison, and breaking up the railroad track. This + slight success of the Confederates in West Virginia, and the intelligence + that they were contemplating further raids in that section, led me to + send, Crook there with one division, his other troops going to City Point; + and, I hoped that all the threatened places would thus be sufficiently + protected, but negligence at Beverly resulted in the capture of that + station by Rosser on the 11th of January. + </p> + <p> + In the meanwhile, Early established himself with Wharton's division at + Staunton in winter quarters, posting his cavalry in that neighborhood + also, except a detachment at New Market, and another small one at the + signal-station on Three Top Mountain. The winter was a most severe one, + snow falling frequently to the depth of several inches, and the mercury + often sinking below zero. The rigor of the season was very much against + the success of any mounted operations, but General Grant being very + desirous to have the railroads broken up about Gordonsville and + Charlottesville, on the 19th of December I started the cavalry out for + that purpose, Torbert, with Merritt and Powell, marching through Chester + Gap, while Custer moved toward Staunton to make a demonstration in + Torbert's favor, hoping to hold the enemy's troops in the valley. + Unfortunately, Custer did not accomplish all that was expected of him, and + being surprised by Rosser and Payne near Lacy's Springs before reveille, + had to abandon his bivouac and retreat down the valley, with the loss of a + number of prisoners, a few horses, and a good many horse equipments, for, + because of the suddenness of Rosser's attack, many of the men had no time + to saddle up. As soon as Custer's retreat was assured, Wharton's division + of infantry was sent to Charlottesville to check Torbert, but this had + already been done by Lomax, with the assistance of infantry sent up from + Richmond. Indeed, from the very beginning of the movement the Confederates + had been closely observing the columns of Torbert and Custer, and in + consequence of the knowledge thus derived, Early had marched Lomax to + Gordonsville in anticipation of an attack there, at the same time sending + Rosser down the valley to meet Custer. Torbert in the performance of his + task captured two pieces of artillery from Johnson's and McCausland's + brigades, at Liberty Mills on the Rapidan River, but in the main the + purpose of the raid utterly failed, so by the 27th of December he + returned, many, of his men badly frost-bitten from the extreme cold which + had prevailed. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb103" id="linkpb103"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb103.jpg (70K)" src="images/pb103.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + This expedition practically closed all operations for the season, and the + cavalry was put into winter cantonment near Winchester. The distribution + of my infantry to Petersburg and West Virginia left with me in the + beginning of the new year, as already stated, but the one small division + of the Nineteenth Corps. On account of this diminution of force, it became + necessary for me to keep thoroughly posted in regard to the enemy, and I + now realized more than I had done hitherto how efficient my scouts had + become since under the control of Colonel Young; for not only did they + bring me almost every day intelligence from within Early's lines, but they + also operated efficiently against the guerrillas infesting West Virginia. + </p> + <p> + Harry Gilmore, of Maryland, was the most noted of these since the death of + McNeil, and as the scouts had reported him in Harrisonburg the latter part + of January, I directed two of the most trustworthy to be sent to watch his + movements and ascertain his purposes. In a few days these spies returned + with the intelligence that Gilmore was on his way to Moorefield, the + centre of a very disloyal section in West Virginia, about ninety miles + southwest of Winchester, where, under the guise of a camp-meeting, a + gathering was to take place, at which he expected to enlist a number of + men, be joined by a party of about twenty recruits coming from Maryland, + and then begin depredations along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. + Believing that Gilmore might be captured, I directed Young to undertake + the task, and as a preliminary step he sent to Moorefield two of his men + who early in the war had "refugeed" from that section and enlisted in one + of the Union regiments from West Virginia. In about a week these men came + back and reported that Gilmore was living at a house between three and + four miles from Moorefield, and gave full particulars as to his coming and + going, the number of men he had about there and where they rendezvoused. + </p> + <p> + With this knowledge at hand I directed Young to take twenty of his best + men and leave that night for Moorefield, dressed in Confederate uniforms, + telling him that I would have about three hundred cavalry follow in his + wake when he had got about fifteen miles start, and instructing him to + pass his party off as a body of recruits for Gilmore coming from Maryland + and pursued by the Yankee cavalry. I knew this would allay suspicion and + provide him help on the road; and, indeed, as Colonel Whittaker, who alone + knew the secret, followed after the fleeing "Marylanders," he found that + their advent had caused so little remark that the trail would have been + lost had he not already known their destination. Young met with a hearty, + welcome wherever he halted on the way, and as he passed through the town + of Moorefield learned with satisfaction that Gilmore still made his + headquarters at the house where the report of the two scouts had located + him a few days before. Reaching the designated place about 12 o'clock on + the night of the 5th of February, Young, under the representation that he + had come directly from Maryland and was being pursued by the Union + cavalry, gained immediate access to Gilmore's room. He found the bold + guerrilla snugly tucked in bed, with two pistols lying on a chair near by. + He was sleeping so soundly that to arouse him Young had to give him a + violent shake. As he awoke and asked who was disturbing his slumbers, + Young, pointing at him a cocked six-shooter, ordered him to dress without + delay, and in answer to his inquiry, informed him that he was a prisoner + to one of Sheridan's staff. Meanwhile Gilmore's men had learned of his + trouble, but the early appearance of Colonel Whittaker caused them to + disperse; thus the last link between Maryland and the Confederacy was + carried a prisoner to Winchester, whence he was sent to Fort Warren. + </p> + <p> + The capture of Gilmore caused the disbandment of the party he had + organized at the "camp-meeting," most of the men he had recruited + returning to their homes discouraged, though some few joined the bands of + Woodson and young Jesse McNeil, which, led by the latter, dashed into + Cumberland, Maryland, at 3 O'clock on the morning of the 21st of February + and made a reprisal by carrying off General Crook and General Kelly, and + doing their work so silently and quickly that they escaped without being + noticed, and were some distance on their way before the colored watchman + at the hotel where Crook was quartered could compose himself enough to + give the alarm. A troop of cavalry gave hot chase from Cumberland, + striving to intercept the party at Moorefield and other points, but all + efforts were fruitless, the prisoners soon being beyond reach. + </p> + <p> + Although I had adopted the general rule of employing only soldiers as + scouts, there was an occasional exception to it. I cannot say that these + exceptions proved wholly that an ironclad observance of the rule would + have been best, but I am sure of it in one instance. A man named Lomas, + who claimed to be a Marylander, offered me his services as a spy, and + coming highly recommended from Mr. Stanton, who had made use of him in + that capacity, I employed him. He made many pretensions, often appearing + over anxious to impart information seemingly intended to impress me with + his importance, and yet was more than ordinarily intelligent, but in spite + of that my confidence in him was by no means unlimited. I often found what + he reported to me as taking place within the Confederate lines + corroborated by Young's men, but generally there were discrepancies in his + tales, which led me to suspect that he was employed by the enemy as well + as by me. I felt, however, that with good watching he could do me little + harm, and if my suspicions were incorrect he might be very useful, so I + held on to him. + </p> + <p> + Early in February Lomas was very solicitous for me to employ a man who, he + said, had been with Mosby, but on account of some quarrel in the irregular + camp had abandoned that leader. Thinking that with two of them I might + destroy the railroad bridges east of Lynchburg, I concluded, after the + Mosby man had been brought to my headquarters by Lomas about 12 o'clock + one night, to give him employment, at the same time informing Colonel + Young that I suspected their fidelity, however, and that he must test it + by shadowing their every movement. When Lomas's companion entered my room + he was completely disguised, but on discarding the various contrivances by + which his identity was concealed he proved to be a rather slender, + dark-complexioned, handsome young man, of easy address and captivating + manners. He gave his name as Renfrew, answered all my questions + satisfactorily, and went into details about Mosby and his men which showed + an intimacy with them at some time. I explained to the two men the work I + had laid out for them, and stated the sum of money I would give to have it + done, but stipulated that in case of failure there would be no + compensation whatever beyond the few dollars necessary for their expenses. + They readily assented, and it was arranged that they should start the + following night. Meanwhile Young had selected his men to shadow them, and + in two days reported my spies as being concealed at Strasburg, where they + remained, without making the slightest effort to continue on their + mission, and were busy, no doubt, communicating with the enemy, though I + was not able to fasten this on them. On the 16th of February they returned + to Winchester, and reported their failure, telling so many lies about + their hazardous adventure as to remove all remaining doubt as to their + double-dealing. Unquestionably they were spies from the enemy, and hence + liable to the usual penalties of such service; but it struck me that + through them, I might deceive Early as to the time of opening the spring + campaign, I having already received from General Grant an intimation of + what was expected of me. I therefore retained the men without even a + suggestion of my knowledge of their true character, Young meanwhile + keeping close watch over all their doings. + </p> + <p> + Toward the last of February General Early had at Staunton two brigades of + infantry under Wharton. All the rest of the infantry except Echol's + brigade, which was in southwestern Virginia, had been sent to Petersburg + during the winter, and Fitz. Lee's two brigades of cavalry also. Rosser's + men were mostly at their homes, where, on account of a lack of subsistence + and forage in the valley, they had been permitted to go, subject to call. + Lomax's cavalry was at Millboro', west of Staunton, where supplies were + obtainable. It was my aim to get well on the road before Early could + collect these scattered forces, and as many of the officers had been in + the habit of amusing themselves fox-hunting during the latter part of the + winter, I decided to use the hunt as an expedient for stealing a march on + the enemy, and had it given out officially that a grand fox-chase would + take place on the 29th of February. Knowing that Lomas, and Renfrew would + spread the announcement South, they were permitted to see several red + foxes that had been secured, as well as a large pack of hounds which + Colonel Young had collected for the sport, and were then started on a + second expedition to burn the bridges. Of course, they were shadowed as + usual, and two days later, after they had communicated with friends from + their hiding-place, in Newtown, they were arrested. On the way north to + Fort Warren they escaped from their guards when passing through Baltimore, + and I never heard of them again, though I learned that, after the + assassination of, Mr. Lincoln, Secretary Stanton strongly suspected his + friend Lomas of being associated with the conspirators, and it then + occurred to me that the good-looking Renfrew may have been Wilkes Booth, + for he certainly bore a strong resemblance to Booth's pictures. + </p> + <p> + On the 27th of February my cavalry entered upon the campaign which cleared + the Shenandoah Valley of every remnant of organized Confederates. General + Torbert being absent on leave at this time, I did not recall him, but + appointed General Merritt Chief of Cavalry. for Torbert had disappointed + me on two important occasions—in the Luray Valley during the battle + of Fisher's Hill, and on the recent Gordonsville expedition—and I + mistrusted his ability to conduct any operations requiring much + self-reliance. The column was composed of Custer's and Devin's divisions + of cavalry, and two sections of artillery, comprising in all about 10,000 + officers and men. On wheels we had, to accompany this column, eight + ambulances, sixteen ammunition wagons, a pontoon train for eight canvas + boats, and a small supply-train, with fifteen days' rations of coffee, + sugar, and salt, it being intended to depend on the country for the meat + and bread ration, the men carrying in their haversacks nearly enough to + subsist them till out of the exhausted valley. + </p> + <p> + Grant's orders were for me to destroy the Virginia Central railroad and + the James River canal, capture Lynchburg if practicable, and then join + General Sherman in North Carolina wherever he might be found, or return to + Winchester, but as to joining Sherman I was to be governed by the state of + affairs after the projected capture of Lynchburg. The weather was cold, + the valley and surrounding mountains being still covered with snow; but + this was fast disappearing, however, under the heavy rain that was coming + down as the column moved along up the Valley pike at a steady gait that + took us to Woodstock the first day. The second day we crossed the North + Fork of the Shenandoah on our pontoon-bridge, and by night-fall reached + Lacy's Springs, having seen nothing of the enemy as yet but a few + partisans who hung on our flanks in the afternoon. + </p> + <p> + March 1 we encountered General Rosser at Mt. Crawford, he having been able + to call together only some five or six hundred of his troops, our + unsuspected march becoming known to Early only the day before. Rosser + attempted to delay us here, trying to burn the bridges over the Middle + Fork of the Shenandoah, but two regiments from Colonel Capehart's brigade + swam the stream and drove Rosser to Kline's Mills, taking thirty prisoners + and twenty ambulances and wagons. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile General Early was busy at Staunton, but not knowing my objective + point, he had ordered the return of Echol's brigade from southwestern + Virginia for the protection of Lynchburg, directed Lomax's cavalry to + concentrate at Pond Gap for the purpose of harassing me if I moved toward + Lynchburg, and at the same time marched Wharton's two brigades of + infantry, Nelson's artillery, and Rosser's cavalry to Waynesboro', whither + he went also to remain till the object of my movement was ascertained. + </p> + <p> + I entered Staunton the morning of March 2, and finding that Early had gone + to Waynesboro' with his infantry and Rosser, the question at once arose + whether I should continue my march to Lynchburg direct, leaving my + adversary in my rear, or turn east and open the way through Rockfish Gap + to the Virginia Central railroad and James River canal. I felt confident + of the success of the latter plan, for I knew that Early numbered there + not more than two thousand men; so, influenced by this, and somewhat also + by the fact that Early had left word in Staunton that he would fight at + Waynesboro', I directed Merritt to move toward that place with Custer, to + be closely followed by Devin, who was to detach one brigade to destroy + supplies at Swoope's depot. The by-roads were miry beyond description, + rain having fallen almost incessantly since we left Winchester, but + notwithstanding the down-pour the column pushed on, men and horses growing + almost unrecognizable from the mud covering them from head to foot. + </p> + <p> + General Early was true to the promise made his friends in Staunton, for + when Custer neared Waynesboro' he found, occupying a line of breastworks + on a ridge west of the town, two brigades of infantry, with eleven pieces + of artillery and Rosser's cavalry. Custer, when developing the position of + the Confederates, discovered that their left was somewhat exposed instead + of resting on South River; he therefore made his dispositions for attack, + sending around that flank the dismounted regiments from Pennington's + brigade, while he himself, with two brigades, partly mounted and partly + dismounted, assaulted along the whole line of breastworks. Pennington's + flanking movement stampeded the enemy in short order, thus enabling Custer + to carry the front with little resistance, and as he did so the Eighth New + York and First Connecticut, in a charge in column, broke through the + opening made by Custer, and continued on through the town of Waynesboro', + never stopping till they crossed South River. There, finding themselves + immediately in the enemy's rear, they promptly formed as foragers and held + the east bank of the stream till all the Confederates surrendered except + Rosser, who succeeded in making his way back to the valley, and Generals + Early, Wharton, Long, and Lilley, who, with fifteen or twenty men, escaped + across the Blue Ridge. I followed up the victory immediately by + despatching Capehart through Rock-fish Gap, with orders to encamp on the + east side of the Blue Ridge. By reason of this move all the enemy's stores + and transportation fell into our hands, while we captured on the field + seventeen battle flags, sixteen hundred officers and men, and eleven + pieces of artillery. This decisive victory closed hostilities in the + Shenandoah Valley. The prisoners and artillery were sent back to + Winchester next morning, under a guard of 1,500 men, commanded by Colonel + J. H. Thompson, of the First New Hampshire. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb117" id="linkpb117"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb117.jpg (44K)" src="images/pb117.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + The night of March 2 Custer camped at Brookfield, Devin remaining at + Waynesboro'. The former started for Charlottesville the next morning + early, followed by Devin with but two brigades, Gibbs having been left + behind to blow up the iron railroad bridge across South River. Because of + the incessant rains and spring thaws the roads were very soft, and the + columns cut them up terribly, the mud being thrown by the sets of fours + across the road in ridges as much as two feet high, making it most + difficult to get our wagons along, and distressingly wearing on the + animals toward the middle and rear of the columns. Consequently I + concluded to rest at Charlottesville for a couple of days and recuperate a + little, intending at the same time to destroy, with small parties, the + railroad from that point toward Lynchburg. Custer reached Charlottesville + the 3d, in the afternoon, and was met at the outskirts by a deputation of + its citizens, headed by the mayor, who surrendered the town with medieval + ceremony, formally handing over the keys of the public buildings and of + the University of Virginia. But this little scene did not delay Custer + long enough to prevent his capturing, just beyond the village, a small + body of cavalry and three pieces of artillery. Gibbs's brigade, which was + bringing up my mud-impeded train, did not arrive until the 5th of March. + In the mean time Young's scouts had brought word that the garrison of + Lynchburg was being increased and the fortifications strengthened, so that + its capture would be improbable. I decided, however, to move toward the + place as far as Amherst Court House, which is sixteen miles short of the + town, so Devin, under Merritt's supervision, marched along the James + River, destroying the canal, while Custer pushed ahead on the railroad and + broke it up. The two columns were to join at New Market, whence I intended + to cross the James River at some point east of Lynchburg, if practicable, + so as to make my way to Appomattox Court House, and destroy the Southside + railroad as far east as Farmville. Owing to its swollen condition the + river was unfordable but knowing that there was a covered bridge at + Duguidsville, I hoped to secure it by a dash, and cross there, but the + enemy, anticipating this, had filled the bridge with inflammable material, + and just as our troops got within striking distance it burst into flames. + The bridge at Hardwicksville also having been burned by the enemy, there + was now no means of crossing except by pontoons. But, unfortunately, I had + only eight of these, and they could not be made to span the swollen river. + </p> + <p> + Being thus unable to cross until the river should fall, and knowing that + it was impracticable to join General Sherman, and useless to adhere to my + alternative instructions to return to Winchester, I now decided to destroy + still more thoroughly the James River canal and the Virginia Central + railroad and then join General Grant in front of Petersburg. I was master + of the whole country north of the James as far down as Goochland; hence + the destruction of these arteries of supply could be easily compassed, and + feeling that the war was nearing its end, I desired my cavalry to be in at + the death. + </p> + <p> + On March 9 the main column started eastward down the James River, + destroying locks, dams, and boats, having been preceded by Colonel + Fitzhugh's brigade of Devin's division in a forced march to Goochland and + Beaver Dam Creek, with orders to destroy everything below Columbia. I made + Columbia on the 10th, and from there sent a communication to General Grant + reporting what had occurred, informing him of my condition and intention, + asking him to send forage and rations to meet me at the White House, and + also a pontoon-bridge to carry me over the Pamunkey, for in view of the + fact that hitherto it had been impracticable to hold Lee in the trenches + around Petersburg, I regarded as too hazardous a march down the south bank + of the Pamunkey, where the enemy, by sending troops out from Richmond, + might fall upon my flank and rear. It was of the utmost importance that + General Grant should receive these despatches without chance of failure, + in order that I might, depend absolutely on securing supplies at the White + House; therefore I sent the message in duplicate, one copy overland direct + to City Point by two scouts, Campbell and Rowan, and the other by Fannin + and Moore, who were to go down the James River in a small boat to + Richmond, join the troops in the trenches in front of Petersburg, and, + deserting to the Union lines, deliver their tidings into General Grant's + hands. Each set of messengers got through, but the copy confided to + Campbell and Rowan was first at Grant's headquarters. + </p> + <p> + I halted for one day at Columbia to let my trains catch up, for it was + still raining and the mud greatly delayed the teams, fatiguing and + wearying the mules so much that I believe we should have been forced to + abandon most of the wagons except for the invaluable help given by some + two thousand negroes who had attached themselves to the column: they + literally lifted the wagons out of the mud. From Columbia Merritt, with + Devin's division, marched to Louisa Court House and destroyed the Virginia + Central to Frederick's Hall. Meanwhile Custer was performing similar work + from Frederick's Hall to Beaver Dam Station, and also pursued for a time + General Early, who, it was learned from despatches captured in the + telegraph office at Frederick's Hall, was in the neighborhood with a + couple of hundred men. Custer captured some of these men and two of + Early's staff-officers, but the commander of the Valley District, + accompanied by a single orderly, escaped across the South Anna and next + day made his way to Richmond, the last man of the Confederate army that + had so long contended with us in the Shenandoah Valley. + </p> + <p> + At Frederick's Hall, Young's scouts brought me word from Richmond that + General Longstreet was assembling a force there to prevent my junction + with Grant, and that Pickett's division, which had been sent toward + Lynchburg to oppose my march, and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, were moving east + on the Southside railroad, with the object of circumventing me. Reasoning + that Longstreet could interpose effectually only by getting to the White + House ahead of me, I pushed one column under Custer across the South Anna, + by way of Ground Squirrel bridge, to Ashland, where it united with + Merritt, who had meanwhile marched through Hanover Junction. Our + appearance at Ashland drew the Confederates out in that direction, as was + hoped, so, leaving Colonel Pennington's brigade there to amuse them, the + united command retraced its route to Mount Carmel church to cross the + North Anna. After dark Pennington came away, and all the troops reached + the church by midnight of the 15th. + </p> + <p> + Resuming the march at an early hour next morning, we took the road by way + of King William Court House to the White House, where, arriving on the + 18th, we found, greatly to our relief, the supplies which I had requested + to be sent there. In the meanwhile the enemy had marched to Hanover Court + House, but being unable either to cross the Pamunkey there or forestall me + at the White House on the south side of the river, he withdrew to Richmond + without further effort to impede my column. + </p> + <p> + The hardships of this march far exceeded those of any previous campaigns + by the cavalry. Almost incessant rains had drenched us for sixteen days + and nights, and the swollen streams and well-nigh bottomless roads east of + Staunton presented grave difficulties on every hand, but surmounting them + all, we destroyed the enemy's means of subsistence, in quantities beyond + computation, and permanently crippled the Virginia Central railroad, as + well as the James River canal, and as each day brought us nearer the Army + of the Potomac, all were filled with the comforting reflection that our + work in the Shenandoah Valley had been thoroughly done, and every one was + buoyed up by the cheering thought that we should soon take part in the + final struggle of the war. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb122" id="linkpb122"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb122.jpg (276K)" src="images/pb122.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb122.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch5b" id="linkch5b"></a>CHAPTER V. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + TRANSFERRED TO PETERSBURG—GENERAL RAWLINS CORDIAL WELCOME—GENERAL + GRANT'S ORDERS AND PLANS—A TRIP WITH MR. LINCOLN AND GENERAL GRANT—MEETING + GENERAL SHERMAN—OPPOSED TO JOINING THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE —OPENING + OF THE APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGN—GENERAL GRANT AND GENERAL RAWLINS. + </p> + <p> + The transfer of my command from the Shenandoah Valley to the field of + operations in front of Petersburg was not anticipated by General Grant; + indeed, the despatch brought from Columbia by my scouts, asking that + supplies be sent me at the White House, was the first word that reached + him concerning the move. In view of my message the general-in-chief + decided to wait my arrival before beginning spring operations with the + investing troops south of the James River, for he felt the importance of + having my cavalry at hand in a campaign which he was convinced would wind + up the war. We remained a few days at the White House resting and + refitting the cavalry, a large amount of shoeing being necessary; but + nothing like enough horses were at hand to replace those that had died or + been disabled on the mud march from Staunton to the Pamunkey River, so a + good many of the men were still without mounts, and all such were sent by + boat to the dismounted camp near City Point. When all was ready the column + set out for Hancock Station, a point on the military railroad in front of + Petersburg, and arriving there on the 27th of March, was in orders + reunited with its comrades of the Second Division, who had been serving + with the Army of the Potomac since we parted from them the previous + August. General Crook, who had been exchanged within a few days, was now + in command of this Second Division. The reunited corps was to enter upon + the campaign as a separate army, I reporting directly to General Grant; + the intention being thus to reward me for foregoing, of my own choice, my + position as a department commander by joining the armies at Petersburg. + </p> + <p> + Taking the road across the Peninsula, I started from the White House with + Merritt's column on the 25th of March and encamped that night at + Harrison's Landing. Very early next morning, in conformity with a request + from General Grant, I left by boat for City Point, Merritt meanwhile + conducting the column across the James River to the point of rendezvous, + The trip to City Point did not take long, and on arrival at army + headquarters the first person I met was General John A. Rawlins, General + Grant's chief-of-staff. Rawlins was a man of strong likes and dislikes, + and positive always both in speech and action, exhibiting marked feelings + when greeting any one, and on this occasion met me with much warmth. His + demonstrations of welcome over, we held a few minutes' conversation about + the coming campaign, he taking strong ground against a part of the plan of + operations adopted, namely, that which contemplated my joining General + Sherman's army. His language was unequivocal and vehement, and when he was + through talking, he conducted me to General Grant's quarters, but he + himself did not enter. + </p> + <p> + General Grant was never impulsive, and always met his officers in an + unceremonious way, with a quiet "How are you" soon putting one at his + ease, since the pleasant tone in which he spoke gave assurance of welcome, + although his manner was otherwise impassive. When the ordinary greeting + was over, he usually waited for his visitor to open the conversation, so + on this occasion I began by giving him the details of my march from + Winchester, my reasons for not joining Sherman, as contemplated in my + instructions, and the motives which had influenced me to march to the + White House. The other provision of my orders on setting out from + Winchester—the alternative return to that place—was not + touched upon, for the wisdom of having ignored that was fully apparent. + Commenting on this recital of my doings, the General referred only to the + tortuous course of my march from Waynesboro' down, our sore trials, and + the valuable services of the scouts who had brought him tidings of me, + closing with the remark that it was, rare a department commander + voluntarily deprived himself of independence, and added that I should not + suffer for it. Then turning to the business for which he had called me to + City Point, he outlined what he expected me to do; saying that I was to + cut loose from the Army of the Potomac by passing its left flank to the + southward along the line of the Danville railroad, and after crossing the + Roanoke River, join General Sherman. While speaking, he handed me a copy + of a general letter of instructions that had been drawn up for the army on + the 24th. The letter contained these words concerning the movements of my + command: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now + under General Davies, will move at the same time (29th inst.) by the + Weldon road and the Jerusalem plank-road, turning west from the latter + before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column before + reaching Stony Creek. General Sheridan will then move independently + under other instructions which will be given him. All dismounted cavalry + belonging to the Army of the Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from + the Middle Military Division not required for guarding property + belonging to their arm of the service, will report to Brigadier-General + Benham to be added to the defenses of City Point." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + When I had gone over the entire letter I showed plainly that I was + dissatisfied with it, for, coupled with what the General had outlined + orally, which I supposed was the "other instructions," I believed it + foreshadowed my junction with General Sherman. Rawlins thought so too, as + his vigorous language had left no room to doubt, so I immediately began to + offer my objections to the programme. These were, that it would be bad + policy to send me down to the Carolinas with a part of the Army of the + Potomac, to come back to crush Lee after the destruction of General + Johnston's army; such a course would give rise to the charge that his own + forces around Petersburg were not equal to the task, and would seriously + affect public opinion in the North; that in fact my cavalry belonged to + the Army of the Potomac, which army was able unaided to destroy Lee, and I + could not but oppose any dispersion of its strength. + </p> + <p> + All this was said in a somewhat emphatic manner, and when I had finished + he quietly told me that the portion of my instructions from which I so + strongly dissented was intended as a "blind" to cover any check the army + in its general move, to the left might meet with, and prevent that element + in the North which held that the war could be ended only through + negotiation, from charging defeat. The fact that my cavalry was not to + ultimately join Sherman was a great relief to me, and after expressing the + utmost confidence in the plans unfolded for closing the war by directing + every effort to the annihilation of Lee's army, I left him to go to + General Ingalls's quarters. On the way I again met Rawlins, who, when I + told him that General Grant had intimated his intention to modify the + written plan of operations so far as regarded the cavalry, manifested the + greatest satisfaction, and I judged from this that the new view of the + matter had not previously been communicated to the chief-of-staff, though + he must have been acquainted of course with the programme made out on the + 24th of March. + </p> + <p> + Toward noon General Grant sent for me to accompany him up the river. When + I joined the General he informed me that the President was on board the + boat—the steamer Mary Martin. For some days Mr. Lincoln had been at + City Point, established on the steamer River Queen, having come down from + Washington to be nearer his generals, no doubt, and also to be + conveniently situated for the reception of tidings from the front when + operations began, for he could not endure the delays in getting news to + Washington. This trip up the James had been projected by General Meade, + but on account of demands at the front he could not go, so the President, + General Grant, and I composed the party. We steamed up to where my cavalry + was crossing on the pontoon-bridge below the mouth of the Dutch Gap canal, + and for a little while watched the column as it was passing over the + river, the bright sunshine presaging good weather, but only to delude, as + was proved by the torrents of rain brought by the succeeding days of + March. On the trip the President was not very cheerful. In fact, he was + dejected, giving no indication of his usual means of diversion, by which + (his quaint stories) I had often heard he could find relief from his + cares. He spoke to me of the impending operations and asked many + questions, laying stress upon the one, "What would be the result when the + army moved out to the left, if the enemy should come down and capture City + Point?" the question being prompted, doubtless, by the bold assault on our + lines and capture of Fort Steadman two days before by General Gordon. I + answered that I did not think it at all probable that General Lee would + undertake such a desperate measure to relieve the strait he was in; that + General Hartranft's successful check to Gordon had ended, I thought, + attacks of such a character; and in any event General Grant would give Lee + all he could attend to on the left. Mr. Lincoln said nothing about my + proposed route of march, and I doubt if he knew of my instructions, or was + in possession at most of more than a very general outline of the plan of + campaign. It was late when the Mary Martin returned to City Point, and I + spent the night there with General Ingalls. + </p> + <p> + The morning of the 27th I went out to Hancock Station to look after my + troops and prepare for moving two days later. In the afternoon I received + a telegram from General Grant, saying: "General Sherman will be here this + evening to spend a few hours. I should like to have you come down." + Sherman's coming was a surprise—at least to me it was—this + despatch being my first intimation of his expected arrival. Well knowing + the zeal and emphasis with which General Sherman would present his views, + there again came into my mind many misgivings with reference to the + movement of the cavalry, and I made haste to start for Grant's + headquarters. I got off a little after 7 o'clock, taking the rickety + military railroad, the rails of which were laid on the natural surface of + the ground, with grading only here and there at points of absolute + necessity, and had not gone far when the locomotive jumped the track. This + delayed my arrival at City Point till near midnight, but on repairing to + the little cabin that sheltered the general-in-chief, I found him and + Sherman still up talking over the problem whose solution was near at hand. + As already stated, thoughts as to the tenor of my instructions became + uppermost the moment I received the telegram in the afternoon, and they + continued to engross and disturb me all the way down the railroad, for I + feared that the telegram foreshadowed, under the propositions Sherman + would present, a more specific compliance with the written instructions + than General Grant had orally assured me would be exacted. + </p> + <p> + My entrance into the shanty suspended the conversation for a moment only, + and then General Sherman, without prelude, rehearsed his plans for moving + his army, pointing out with every detail how he would come up through the + Carolinas to join the troops besieging Petersburg and Richmond, and + intimating that my cavalry, after striking the Southside and Danville + railroads, could join him with ease. I made no comments on the projects + for moving, his own troops, but as soon as opportunity offered, dissented + emphatically from the proposition to have me join the Army of the + Tennessee, repeating in substance what I had previously expressed to + General Grant. + </p> + <p> + My uneasiness made me somewhat too earnest, I fear, but General Grant soon + mollified me, and smoothed matters over by practically repeating what he + had told me in regard to this point at the close of our interview the day + before, so I pursued the subject no further. In a little while the + conference ended, and I again sought lodging at the hospitable quarters of + Ingalls. + </p> + <p> + Very early the next morning, while I was still in bed, General Sherman + came to me and renewed the subject of my joining him, but when he saw that + I was unalterably opposed to it the conversation turned into other + channels, and after we had chatted awhile he withdrew, and later in the + day went up the river with the President, General Grant, and Admiral + Porter, I returning to my command at Hancock Station, where my presence + was needed to put my troops in march next day. + </p> + <p> + During the entire winter General Grant's lines fronting Petersburg had + extended south of the Appomattox River, practically from that stream + around to where the Vaughn road crosses Hatcher's Run, and this was nearly + the situation Wilien the cavalry concentrated at Hancock Station, General + Weitzel holding the line north of the Appomattox, fronting Richmond and + Bermuda Hundred. + </p> + <p> + The instructions of the 24th of March contemplated that the campaign + should begin with the movement of Warren's corps (the Fifth) at 3 o'clock + on the morning of the 29th, and Humphreys's (the Second) at 6; the rest of + the infantry holding on in the trenches. The cavalry was to move in + conjunction with Warren and Humphreys, and make its way out beyond our + left as these corps opened the road. + </p> + <p> + The night of the 28th I received the following additional instructions, + the general tenor of which again disturbed me, for although I had been + assured that I was not to join General Sherman, it will be seen that the + supplemental directions distinctly present that alternative, and I + therefore feared that during the trip up the James River on the morning of + the 28th General Grant had returned to his original views: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,<br /> :City Point, Va., + March 28, 1865.<br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN:<br /> <br /> + "The Fifth Army Corps will move by the Vaughn road at 3 A.M. tomorrow + morning. The Second moves at about 9 A.M., having but about three miles + to march to reach the point designated for it to take on the right of + the Fifth Corps, after the latter reaches Dinwiddie Court House.<br /> + <br /> "Move your cavalry at as early an hour as you can, and without + being confined to any particular road or roads. You may go out by the + nearest roads in rear of the Fifth Corps, pass by its left, and passing + near to or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the enemy as + soon as you can. It is not the intention to attack the enemy in his + intrenched position, but to force him out if possible. Should he come + out and attack us, or get himself where he can be attacked, move in with + your entire force in your own way, and with the full reliance that the + army will engage or follow the enemy, as circumstances will dictate. I + shall be on the field, and will probably be able to communicate with + you; should I not do so, and you find that the enemy keeps within his + main intrenched line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville road. + If you find it practicable I would like you to cross the Southside road, + between Petersburg and Burkeville, and destroy it to some extent. I + would not advise much detention, however, until you reach the Danville + road, which I would like you to strike as near to the Appomattox as + possible; make your destruction of that road as complete as possible; + you can then pass on to the Southside road, west of Burkeville, and + destroy that in like manner.<br /> <br /> "After having accomplished the + destruction of the two railroads, which are now the only avenues of + supply to Lee's army, you may return to this army, selecting your road + farther south, or you may go on into North Carolina and join General + Sherman. Should you select the latter course, get the information to me + as early as possible, so that I may send orders to meet you at + Goldsboro'.<br /> <br /> "U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + These instructions did not alter my line of march for the morrow, and I + trusted matters would so come about as not to require compliance with + those portions relative to the railroads and to joining Sherman; so early + on the 29th I moved my cavalry out toward Ream's Station on the Weldon + road, Devin commanding the First Division, with Colonels Gibbs, Stagg, and + Fitzhugh in charge of the brigades; the Third Division under Custer, + Colonels Wells, Capehart and Pennington being the brigade commanders. + These two divisions united were commanded by Merritt, as they had been + since leaving Winchester. Crook headed the Second Division, his brigades + being under General Davies and Colonels John I. Gregg and Smith. + </p> + <p> + Our general direction was westward, over such routes as could be found, + provided they did not embarrass the march of the infantry. The roads, from + the winter's frosts and rains, were in a frightful state, and when it was + sought to avoid a spot which the head of the column had proved almost + bottomless, the bogs and quicksands of the adjoining fields demonstrated + that to make a detour was to go from bad to worse. In the face of these + discouragements we floundered on, however, crossing on the way a series of + small streams swollen to their banks. Crook and Devin reached the + county-seat of Dinwiddie about 5 o'clock in the evening, having + encountered only a small picket, that at once gave way to our advance. + Merritt left Custer at Malon's crossing of Rowanty Creek to care for the + trains containing our subsistence and the reserve ammunition, these being + stuck in the mire at, intervals all the way back to the Jerusalem + plank-road; and to make any headway at all with the trains, Custer's men + often had to unload the wagons and lift them out of the boggy places. + </p> + <p> + Crook and Devin camped near Dinwiddie Court House in such manner as to + cover the Vaughn, Flatfoot, Boydton, and Five Forks roads; for, as these + all intersected at Dinwiddie, they offered a chance for the enemy's + approach toward the rear of the Fifth Corps, as Warren extended to the + left across the Boydton road. Any of these routes leading to the south or + west might also be the one on which, in conformity with one part of my + instructions, I was expected to get out toward the Danville and Southside + railroads, and the Five Forks road would lead directly to General Lee's + right flank, in case opportunity was found to comply with the other part. + The place was, therefore, of great strategic value, and getting it without + cost repaid us for floundering through the mud. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkdinwiddie" id="linkdinwiddie"></a><a + name="linkpb419" id="linkpb419"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb419.jpg (110K)" src="images/pb419.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb419.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Dinwiddie Court House, though a most important point in the campaign, was + far from attractive in feature, being made up of a half-dozen unsightly + houses, a ramshackle tavern propped up on two sides with pine poles, and + the weatherbeaten building that gave official name to the cross-roads. We + had no tents—there were none in the command—so I took + possession of the tavern for shelter for myself and staff, and just as we + had finished looking over its primitive interior a rain storm set in. + </p> + <p> + The wagon containing my mess equipment was back somewhere on the road, + hopelessly stuck in the mud, and hence we had nothing to eat except some + coffee which two young women living at the tavern kindly made for us; a + small quantity of the berry being furnished from the haversacks of my + escort. By the time we got the coffee, rain was falling in sheets, and the + evening bade fair to be a most dismal one; but songs and choruses set up + by some of my staff—the two young women playing accompaniments on a + battered piano—relieved the situation and enlivened us a little. + However, the dreary night brought me one great comfort; for General Grant, + who that day had moved out to Gravelly Run, sent me instructions to + abandon all idea of the contemplated raid, and directed me to act in + concert with the infantry under his immediate command, to turn, if + possible, the right flank of Lee's army. The despatch made my mind easy + with respect to the objectionable feature of my original instructions, and + of course relieved me also from the anxiety growing out of the letter + received at Hancock Station the night of the 28th; so, notwithstanding the + suspicions excited by some of my staff concerning the Virginia feather-bed + that had been assigned me, I turned in at a late hour and slept most + soundly. + </p> + <p> + The night of the 29th the left of General Grant's infantry—Warren's + corps—rested on the Boydton road, not far from its intersection with + the Quaker road. Humphreys's corps was next to Warren; then came Ord, next + Wright, and then Parke, with his right resting on the Appomattox. The + moving of Warren and Humphreys to the left during the day was early + discovered by General Lee. He met it by extending the right of his + infantry on the White Oak road, while drawing in the cavalry of W. H. F. + Lee and Rosser along the south bank of Stony Creek to cover a crossroads + called Five Forks, to anticipate me there; for assuming that my command + was moving in conjunction with the infantry, with the ultimate purpose of + striking the Southside railroad, Lee made no effort to hold Dinwiddie, + which he might have done with his cavalry, and in this he made a fatal + mistake. The cavalry of Fitz. Lee was ordered at this same time from + Sunderland depot to Five Forks, and its chief placed in command of all the + mounted troops of General Lee's army. + </p> + <p> + At daylight on the 30th I proceeded to make dispositions under the new + conditions imposed by my modified instructions, and directed Merritt to + push Devin out as far as the White Oak road to make a reconnoissance to + Five Forks, Crook being instructed to send Davies's brigade to support + Devin. Crook was to hold, with Gregg's brigade, the Stony Creek crossing + of the Boydton plank road, retaining Smith's near Dinwiddie, for use in + any direction required. On the 29th W. H. F. Lee conformed the march of + his cavalry with that of ours, but my holding Stony Creek in this way + forced him to make a detour west of Chamberlin's Run, in order to get in + communication with his friends at Five Forks. + </p> + <p> + The rain that had been falling all night gave no sign of stopping, but + kept pouring down all day long, and the swamps and quicksands mired the + horses, whether they marched in the roads or across the adjacent fields. + Undismayed, nevertheless, each column set out for its appointed duty, but + shortly after the troops began to move I received from General Grant this + despatch, which put a new phase on matters: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,<br /> "GRAVELLY RUN, + March 30, 1865.<br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN:<br /> <br /> "The + heavy rain of to-day will make it impossible for us to do much until it + dries up a little, or we get roads around our rear repaired. You may, + therefore, leave what cavalry you deem necessary to protect the left, + and hold such positions as you deem necessary for that purpose, and send + the remainder back to Humphrey's Station where they can get hay and + grain. Fifty wagons loaded with forage will be sent to you in the + morning. Send an officer back to direct the wagons back to where you + want them. Report to me the cavalry you will leave back, and the + position you will occupy. Could not your cavalry go back by the way of + Stony Creek depot and destroy or capture the store of supplies there?<br /> + <br /> "U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General."<br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + When I had read and pondered this, I determined to ride over to General + Grant's headquarters on Gravelly Run, and get a clear idea of what it was + proposed to do, for it seemed to me that a suspension of operations would + be a serious mistake. Mounting a powerful gray pacing horse called + Breckenridge (from its capture from one of Breckenridge's staff-officers + at Missionary Ridge), and that I knew would carry me through the mud, I + set out accompanied by my Assistant Adjutant-General, Colonel Frederick C. + Newhall, and an escort of about ten or fifteen men. At first we rode north + up the Boydton plank-road, and coming upon our infantry pickets from a + direction where the enemy was expected to appear, they began to fire upon + us, but seeing from our actions that we were friends, they ceased, and + permitted us to pass the outposts. We then struggled on in a northeasterly + direction across-country, till we struck the Vaughn road. This carried us + to army headquarters, which were established south of Gravelly Run in an + old cornfield. I rode to within a few yards of the front of General + Grant's tent, my horse plunging at every step almost to his knees in the + mud, and dismounted near a camp-fire, apparently a general one, for all + the staff-officers were standing around it on boards and rails placed here + and there to keep them from sinking into the mire. + </p> + <p> + Going directly to General Grant's tent, I found him and Rawlins talking + over the question of suspending operations till the weather should + improve. No orders about the matter had been issued yet, except the + despatch to me, and Rawlins, being strongly opposed to the proposition, + was frankly expostulating with General Grant, who, after greeting me, + remarked, in his quiet way: "Well, Rawlins, I think you had better take + command." Seeing that there was a difference up between Rawlins and his + chief, I made the excuse of being wet and cold, and went outside to the + fire. Here General Ingalls met me and took me to his tent, where I was + much more comfortable than when standing outside, and where a few minutes + later we were joined by General Grant. Ingalls then retired, and General + Grant began talking of our fearful plight, resulting from the rains and + mud, and saying that because of this it seemed necessary to suspend + operations. I at once begged him not to do so, telling him that my cavalry + was already on the move in spite of the difficulties, and that although a + suspension of operations would not be fatal, yet it would give rise to the + very charge of disaster to which he had referred at City Point, and, + moreover, that we would surely be ridiculed, just as General Burnside's + army was after the mud march of 1863. His better judgment was against + suspending operations, but the proposition had been suggested by all sorts + of complaints as to the impossibility of moving the trains and the like, + so it needed little argument to convince him, and without further + discussion he said, in that manner which with him meant a firmness of + purpose that could not be changed by further complainings, "We will go + on." I then told him that I believed I could break in the enemy's right if + he would let me have the Sixth Corps; but saying that the condition of the + roads would prevent the movement of infantry, he replied that I would have + to seize Five Forks with the cavalry alone. + </p> + <p> + On my way back to Dinwiddie I stopped at the headquarters of General + Warren, but the General being asleep, I went to the tent of one of his + staff-officers. Colonel William T. Gentry, an old personal friend with + whom I had served in Oregon. In a few minutes Warren came in and we had a + short conversation, he speaking rather despondently of the outlook, being + influenced no doubt by the depressing weather. + </p> + <p> + From Warren's headquarters I returned, by the Boydton road to Dinwiddie + Court House, fording Gravelly Run with ease. When I got as far as the + Dabney road I sent Colonel Newhall out on it toward Five Forks, with + orders for Merritt to develop the enemy's position and strength, and then + rode on to Dinwiddie to endeavor to get all my other troops up. Merritt + was halted at the intersection of the Five Forks and Gravelly Church roads + when Newhall delivered the orders, and in compliance moving out Gibbs's + brigade promptly, sharp skirmishing was brought on, Gibbs driving the + Confederates to Five Forks, where he found them behind a line of + breastworks running along the White Oak road. The reconnoissance + demonstrating the intention of the enemy to hold this point, Gibbs was + withdrawn. + </p> + <p> + That evening, at 7 o'clock, I reported the position of the Confederate + cavalry, and stated that it had been reinforced by Pickett's division of + infantry. On receipt of this despatch, General Grant offered me the Fifth + Corps, but I declined to take it, and again asked for the Sixth, saying + that with it I believed I could turn the enemy (Pickett's) left, or break + through his lines. The morning of the 31st General Grant replied the the + Sixth Corps could not be taken from its position in the line, and offered + me the Second; but in the mean time circumstances had changed, and no + corps was ordered. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch6b" id="linkch6b"></a>CHAPTER VI. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + BATTLE OF DINWIDDIE COURT HOUSE—PICKETT REPULSED—REINFORCED BY + THE FIFTH CORPS—BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS—TURNING THE CONFEDERATE + LEFT—AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS—RELIEVING GENERAL WARREN—THE + WARREN COURT OF INQUIRY—GENERAL SHERMAN'S OPINION. + </p> + <p> + The night of March 30 Merritt, with Devin's division and Davies's brigade, + was camped on the Five Forks road about two miles in front of Dinwiddie, + near J. Boisseau's. Crook, with Smith and Gregg's brigades, continued to + cover Stony Creek, and Custer was still back at Rowanty Creek, trying to + get the trains up. This force had been counted while crossing the creek on + the 29th, the three divisions numbering 9,000 enlisted men, Crook having + 3,300, and Custer and Devin 5,700. + </p> + <p> + During the 30th, the enemy had been concentrating his cavalry, and by + evening General W. H. F. Lee and General Rosser had joined Fitzhugh Lee + near Five Forks. To this force was added, about dark, five brigades of + infantry—three from Pickett's division, and two from Johnson's—all + under command of Pickett. The infantry came by the White Oak road from the + right of General Lee's intrenchments, and their arrival became positively + known to me about dark, the confirmatory intelligence being brought in + then by some of Young's scouts who had been inside the Confederate lines. + </p> + <p> + On the 31st, the rain having ceased, directions were given at an early + hour to both Merritt and Crook to make reconnoissances preparatory to + securing Five Forks, and about 9 o'clock Merritt started for the + crossroads, Davies's brigade supporting him. His march was necessarily + slow because of the mud, and the enemy's pickets resisted with obstinacy + also, but the coveted crossroads fell to Merritt without much trouble, as + the bulk of the enemy was just then bent on other things. At the same hour + that Merritt started, Crook moved Smith's brigade out northwest from + Dinwiddie to Fitzgerald's crossing of Chamberlain's Creek, to cover + Merritt's left, supporting Smith by placing Gregg to his right and rear. + The occupation of this ford was timely, for Pickett, now in command of + both the cavalry and infantry, was already marching to get in Merritt's + rear by crossing Chamberlain's Creek. + </p> + <p> + To hold on to Fitzgerald's ford Smith had to make a sharp fight, but + Mumford's cavalry attacking Devin, the enemy's infantry succeeded in + getting over Chamberlain's Creek at a point higher up than Fitzgerald's + ford, and assailing Davies, forced him back in a northeasterly direction + toward the Dinwiddie and Five Forks road in company with Devin. The + retreat of Davies permitted Pickett to pass between Crook and Merritt, + which he promptly did, effectually separating them and cutting off both + Davies and Devin from the road to Dinwiddie, so that to get to that point + they had to retreat across the country to B. Boisseau's and then down the + Boydton road. + </p> + <p> + Gibbs's brigade had been in reserve near the intersection of the Five + Forks and Dabney roads, and directing Merritt to hold on there, I ordered + Gregg's brigade to be mounted and brought to Merritt's aid, for if Pickett + continued in pursuit north of the Five Forks road he would expose his + right and rear, and I determined to attack him, in such case, from Gibbs's + position. Gregg arrived in good season, and as soon as his men were + dismounted on Gibbs's left, Merritt assailed fiercely, compelling Pickett + to halt and face a new foe, thus interrupting an advance that would + finally have carried Pickett into the rear of Warren's corps. + </p> + <p> + It was now about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we were in a critical + situation, but having ordered Merritt to bring Devin and Davies to + Dinwiddie by the Boydton road, staff-officers were sent to hurry Custer to + the same point, for with its several diverging roads the Court House was + of vital importance, and I determined to stay there at all hazards. At the + same time orders were sent to Smith's brigade, which, by the advance of + Pickett past its right flank and the pressure of W. H. F. Lee on its + front, had been compelled to give up Fitzgerald's crossing, to fall back + toward Dinwiddie but to contest every inch of ground so as to gain time. + </p> + <p> + When halted by the attack of Gregg and Gibbs, Pickett, desisting from his + pursuit of Devin, as already stated, turned his undivided attention to + this unexpected force, and with his preponderating infantry pressed it + back on the Five Forks road toward Dinwiddle, though our men, fighting + dismounted behind barricades at different points, displayed such obstinacy + as to make Pickett's progress slow, and thus give me time to look out a + line for defending the Court House. I selected a place about three-fourths + of a mile northwest of the crossroads, and Custer coming up quickly with + Capehart's brigade, took position on the left of the road to Five Forks in + some open ground along the crest of a gentle ridge. Custer got Capehart + into place just in time to lend a hand to Smith, who, severely pressed, + came back on us here from his retreat along Chamberlain's "bed"—the + vernacular for a woody swamp such as that through which Smith retired. A + little later the brigades of Gregg and Gibbs, falling to the rear slowly + and steadily, took up in the woods a line which covered the Boydton Road + some distance to the right of Capehart, the intervening gap to be filled + with Pennington's brigade. By this time our horse-artillery, which for two + days had been stuck in the mud, was all up, and every gun was posted in + this line. + </p> + <p> + It was now near sunset, and the enemy's cavalry thinking the day was + theirs, made a dash at Smith, but just as the assailants appeared in the + open fields, Capehart's men opened so suddenly on their left flank as to + cause it to recoil in astonishment, which permitted Smith to connect his + brigade with Custer unmolested. We were now in good shape behind the + familiar barricades, and having a continuous line, excepting only the gap + to be filled with Pennington, that covered Dinwiddie and the Boydton Road. + My left rested in the woods about half a mile west of the Court House, and + the barricades extended from this flank in a semicircle through the open + fields in a northeasterly direction, to a piece-of thick timber on the + right, near the Boydton Road. + </p> + <p> + A little before the sun went down the Confederate infantry was formed for + the attack, and, fortunately for us, Pennington's brigade came up and + filled the space to which it was assigned between Capehart and Gibbs, just + as Pickett moved out across the cleared fields in front of Custer, in deep + lines that plainly told how greatly we were outnumbered. + </p> + <p> + Accompanied by Generals Merritt and Custer and my staff, I now rode along + the barricades to encourage the men. Our enthusiastic reception showed + that they were determined to stay. The cavalcade drew the enemy's fire, + which emptied several of the saddles—among others Mr. Theodore + Wilson, correspondent of the New York Herald, being wounded. In reply our + horse-artillery opened on the advancing Confederates, but the men behind + the barricades lay still till Pickett's troops were within short range. + Then they opened, Custer's repeating rifles pouring out such a shower of + lead that nothing could stand up against it. The repulse was very quick, + and as the gray lines retired to the woods from which but a few minutes + before they had so confidently advanced, all danger of their taking + Dinwiddie or marching to the left and rear of our infantry line was over, + at least for the night. The enemy being thus checked, I sent a + staff-officer—Captain Sheridan—to General Grant to report what + had taken place during the afternoon, and to say that I proposed to stay + at Dinwiddie, but if ultimately compelled to abandon the place, I would do + so by retiring on the Vaughn road toward Hatcher's Run, for I then thought + the attack might be renewed next morning. Devin and Davies joined me about + dark, and my troops being now well in hand, I sent a second staff-officer—Colonel + John Kellogg—to explain my situation more fully, and to assure + General Grant that I would hold on at Dinwiddie till forced to let go. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb154" id="linkpb154"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb154.jpg (144K)" src="images/pb154.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb154.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + By following me to Dinwiddie the enemy's infantry had completely isolated + itself, and hence there was now offered the Union troops a rare + opportunity. Lee was outside of his works, just as we desired, and the + general-in-chief realized this the moment he received the first report of + my situation; General Meade appreciated it too from the information he got + from Captain Sheridan, en route to army headquarters with the first + tidings, and sent this telegram to General Grant: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,<br /> "March 31, 1865. + 9:45 p.m.<br /> <br /> "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT:<br /> <br /> "Would it not + be well for Warren to go down with his whole corps and smash up the + force in front of Sheridan? Humphreys can hold the line to the Boydton + plank-road, and the refusal along with it. Bartlett's brigade is now on + the road from G. Boisseau's, running north, where it crosses Gravelly + Run, he having gone down the White Oak road. Warren could go at once + that way, and take the force threatening Sheridan in rear at Dinwiddie, + and move on the enemy's rear with the other two.<br /> <br /> "G. G. + MEADE, Major-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + An hour later General Grant replied in these words: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,<br /> "DABNEY'S MILLS, + March 311, 1865. 10:15 P. M.<br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,<br /> + "Commanding Army of the Potomac.<br /> <br /> Let Warren move in the way + you propose, and urge him not to stop for anything. Let Griffin (Griffin + had been ordered by Warren to the Boydton road to protect his rear) go + on as he was first directed.<br /> <br /> "U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + These two despatches were the initiatory steps in sending the Fifth Corps, + under Major-General G. K. Warren, to report to me, and when I received + word of its coming and also that Genera Mackenzie's cavalry from the Army + of the James was likewise to be added to my command, and that + discretionary authority was given me to use all my forces against Pickett, + I resolved to destroy him, if it was within the bounds of possibility, + before he could rejoin Lee. + </p> + <p> + In a despatch, dated 10:05 p.m., telling me of the coming of Warren and + Mackenzie, General Grant also said that the Fifth Corps should reach me by + 12 o'clock that night, but at that hour not only had none of the corps + arrived, but no report from it, so believing that if it came all the way + down to Dinwiddie the next morning, our opportunity would be gone, I + concluded that it would be best to order Warren to move in on the enemy's + rear while the cavalry attacked in front, and, therefore, at 3 o'clock in + the morning of April 1 sent this despatch to General Warren: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, DINWIDDIE C. H.,<br /> "April 1, 1865—3. + A.M.<br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL WARREN, "Commanding Fifth Army Corps.<br /> + "I am holding in front of Dinwiddie Court House, on the road leading to + Five Forks, for three-quarters of a mile with General Custer's division. + The enemy are in his immediate front, lying so as to cover the road just + this side of A. Adams's house, which leads across Chamberlain's bed, or + run. I understand you have a division at J.[G] Boisseau's; if so, you + are in rear of the enemy's line and almost on his flank. I will hold on + here. Possibly they may attack Custer at daylight; if so, attack + instantly and in full force. Attack at daylight anyhow, and I will make + an effort to get the road this side of Adams's house, and if I do, you + can capture the whole of them. Any force moving down the road I am + holding, or on the White Oak road, will be in the enemy's rear, and in + all probability get any force that may escape you by a flank movement. + Do not fear my leaving here. If the enemy remains, I shall fight at + daylight.<br /> <br /> "P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + With daylight came a slight fog, but it lifted almost immediately, and + Merritt moved Custer and Devin forward. As these divisions advanced the + enemy's infantry fell back on the Five Forks road, Devin pressing him + along the road, while Custer extended on the left over toward + Chamberlain's Run, Crook being held in watch along Stony Creek, meanwhile, + to be utilized as circumstances might require when Warren attacked. + </p> + <p> + The order of General Meade to Warren the night of March 31—a copy + being sent me also—was positive in its directions, but as midnight + came without a sign of or word from the Fifth Corps, notwithstanding that + was the hour fixed for its arrival, I nevertheless assumed that there were + good reasons for its non-appearance, but never once doubted that measures + would be taken to comply with my despatch Of 3 A. M. and therefore hoped + that, as Pickett was falling back slowly toward Five Forks, Griffin's and + Crawford's divisions would come in on the Confederate left and rear by the + Crump road near J.[G] Boisseau's house. + </p> + <p> + But they did not reach there till after the enemy had got by. As a matter + of fact, when Pickett was passing the all-important point Warren's men + were just breaking from the bivouac in which their chief had placed them + the night before, and the head of Griffin's division did not get to + Boisseau's till after my cavalry, which meanwhile had been joined by + Ayres's division of the Fifth Corps by way of the Boydton and Dabney + roads. By reason of the delay in moving Griffin and Crawford, the enemy + having escaped, I massed the Fifth Corps at J.[G] Boisseau's so that the + men could be rested, and directed it to remain there; General Warren + himself had not then come up. General Mackenzie, who had reported just + after daybreak, was ordered at first to stay at Dinwiddie Court House, but + later was brought along the Five Forks road to Dr. Smith's, and Crook's + division was directed to continue watching the crossings of Stony Creek + and Chamberlain's Run. + </p> + <p> + That we had accomplished nothing but to oblige our foe to retreat was to + me bitterly disappointing, but still feeling sure that he would not give + up the Five Forks crossroads without a fight, I pressed him back there + with Merritt's cavalry, Custer advancing on the Scott road, while Devin + drove the rearguard along that leading from J.[G] Boisseau's to Five + Forks. + </p> + <p> + By 2 o'clock in the afternoon Merritt had forced the enemy inside his + intrenchments, which began with a short return about three-quarters of a + mile east of the Forks and ran along the south side of the White Oak road + to a point about a mile west of the Forks. From the left of the return + over toward Hatcher's Run was posted Mumford's cavalry, dismounted. In the + return itself was Wallace's brigade, and next on its right came Ransom's, + then Stewart's, then Terry's, then Corse's. On the right of Corse was W. + H. F. Lee's division of cavalry. Ten pieces of artillery also were in this + line, three on the right of the works, three near the centre at the + crossroads, and four on the left, in the return. Rosser's cavalry was + guarding the Confederate trains north of Hatcher's Run beyond the crossing + of the Ford road. + </p> + <p> + I felt certain the enemy would fight at Five Forks—he had to—so, + while we were getting up to his intrenchments, I decided on my plan of + battle. This was to attack his whole front with Merritt's two cavalry + divisions, make a feint of turning his right flank, and with the Fifth + Corps assail his left. As the Fifth Corps moved into action, its right + flank was to be covered by Mackenzie's cavalry, thus entirely cutting off + Pickett's troops from communication with Lee's right flank, which rested + near the Butler house at the junction of the Claiborne and White Oaks + roads. In execution of this plan, Merritt worked his men close in toward + the intrenchments, and while he was thus engaged, I ordered Warren to + bring up the Fifth Corps, sending the order by my engineer officer, + Captain Gillespie, who had reconnoitred the ground in the neighborhood of + Gravelly Run Church, where the infantry was to form for attack. + </p> + <p> + Gillespie delivered the order about 1 o'clock, and when the corps was put + in motion, General Warren joined me at the front. Before he came, I had + received, through Colonel Babcock, authority from General Grant to relieve + him, but I did not wish to do it, particularly on the eve of battle; so, + saying nothing at all about the message brought me, I entered at once on + the plan for defeating Pickett, telling Warren how the enemy was posted, + explaining with considerable detail, and concluding by stating that I + wished his troops to be formed on the Gravelly Church road, near its + junction with the White Oak road, with two divisions to the front, aligned + obliquely to the White Oak road, and one in reserve, opposite the centre + of these two. + </p> + <p> + General Warren seemed to understand me clearly, and then left to join his + command, while I turned my attention to the cavalry, instructing Merritt + to begin by making demonstrations as though to turn the enemy's right, and + to assault the front of the works with his dismounted cavalry as soon as + Warren became engaged. Afterward I rode around to Gravelly Run Church, and + found the head of Warren's column just appearing, while he was sitting + under a tree making a rough sketch of the ground. I was disappointed that + more of the corps was not already up, and as the precious minutes went by + without any apparent effort to hurry the troops on to the field, this + disappointment grew into disgust. At last I expressed to Warren my fears + that the cavalry might expend all their ammunition before the attack could + be made, that the sun would go down before the battle could be begun, or + that troops from Lee's right, which, be it remembered, was less than three + miles away from my right, might, by striking my rear, or even by + threatening it, prevent the attack on Pickett. + </p> + <p> + Warren did not seem to me to be at all solicitous; his manner exhibited + decided apathy, and he remarked with indifference that "Bobby Lee was + always getting people into trouble." With unconcern such as this, it is no + wonder that fully three hours' time was consumed in marching his corps + from J.[G] Boisseau's to Gravelly Run Church, though the distance was but + two miles. However, when my patience was almost worn out, Warren reported + his troops ready, Ayres's division being formed on the west side of the + Gravelly Church road, Crawford's on the east side, and Griffin in reserve + behind the right of Crawford, a little different from my instructions. The + corps had no artillery present, its batteries, on account of the mud, + being still north of Gravelly Run. Meanwhile Merritt had been busy working + his men close up to the intrenchments from the angle of the return west, + along the White Oak road. + </p> + <p> + About 4 o'clock Warren began the attack. He was to assault the left flank + of the Confederate infantry at a point where I knew Pickett's + intrenchments were refused, almost at right angles with the White Oak + road. I did not know exactly how far toward Hatcher's Run this part of the + works extended, for here the videttes of Mumford's cavalry were covering, + but I did know where the refusal began. This return, then, was the point I + wished to assail, believing that if the assault was made with spirit, the + line could be turned. I therefore intended that Ayres and Crawford should + attack the refused trenches squarely, and when these two divisions and + Merritt's cavalry became hotly engaged, Griffin's division was to pass + around the left of the Confederate line; and I personally instructed + Griffin how I wished him to go in, telling him also that as he advanced, + his right flank would be taken care of by Mackenzie, who was to be pushed + over toward the Ford road and Hatcher's Run. + </p> + <p> + The front of the corps was oblique to the White Oak road; and on getting + there, it was to swing round to the left till perpendicular to the road, + keeping closed to the left. Ayres did his part well, and to the letter, + bringing his division square up to the front of the return near the angle; + but Crawford did not wheel to the left, as was intended. On the contrary, + on receiving fire from Mumford's cavalry, Crawford swerved to the right + and moved north from the return, thus isolating his division from Ayres; + and Griffin, uncertain of the enemy's position, naturally followed + Crawford. + </p> + <p> + The deflection of this division on a line of march which finally brought + it out on the Ford road near C. Young's house, frustrated the purpose I + had in mind when ordering the attack, and caused a gap between Ayres and + Crawford, of which the enemy quickly took advantage, and succeeded in + throwing a part of Ayres's division into confusion. At this juncture I + sent word to General Warren to have Crawford recalled; for the direction + he was following was not only a mistaken one, but, in case the assault at + the return failed, he ran great risk of capture. Warren could not be + found, so I then sent for Griffin—first by Colonel Newhall, and then + by Colonel Sherman—to come to the aid of Ayres, who was now + contending alone with that part of the enemy's infantry at the return. By + this time Griffin had observed and appreciated Crawford's mistake, + however, and when the staff-officers reached him, was already faced to the + left; so, marching across Crawford's rear, he quickly joined Ayres, who + meanwhile had rallied his troops and carried the return. + </p> + <p> + When Ayres's division went over the flank of the enemy's works, Devin's + division of cavalry, which had been assaulting the front, went over in + company with it; and hardly halting to reform, the intermingling infantry + and dismounted cavalry swept down inside the intrenchments, pushing to and + beyond Five Forks, capturing thousands of prisoners. The only stand the + enemy tried to make was when he attempted to form near the Ford road. + Griffin pressed him so hard there, however, that he had to give way in + short order, and many of his men, with three pieces of artillery, fell + into the hands of Crawford while on his circuitous march. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb164" id="linkpb164"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb164.jpg (151K)" src="images/pb164.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb164.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + The right of Custer's division gained a foothold on the enemy's works + simultaneously with Devin's, but on the extreme left Custer had a very + severe combat with W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, as well as with Corse's and + Terry's infantry. Attacking Terry and Corse with Pennington's brigade + dismounted, he assailed Lee's cavalry with his other two brigades mounted, + but Lee held on so obstinately that Custer gained but little ground till + our troops, advancing behind the works, drove Corse and Terry out. Then + Lee made no further stand except at the west side of the Gillian field, + where, assisted by Corse's brigade, he endeavored to cover the retreat, + but just before dark Custer, in concert with some Fifth Corps regiments + under Colonel Richardson, drove ihe last of the enemy westward on the + White Oak road. + </p> + <p> + Our success was unqualified; we had overthrown Pickett, taken six guns, + thirteen battle-flags, and nearly six thousand prisoners. When the battle + was practically over, I turned to consider my position with reference to + the main Confederate army. My troops, though victorious, were isolated + from the Army of the Potomac, for on the 31st of March the extreme left of + that army had been thrown back nearly to the Boydton plank-road, and hence + there was nothing to prevent the enemy's issuing from his trenches at the + intersection of the White Oak and Claiborne roads and marching directly on + my rear. I surmised that he might do this that night or early next + morning. It was therefore necessary to protect myself in this critical + situation, and General Warren having sorely disappointed me, both in the + moving of his corps and in its management during the battle, I felt that + he was not the man to rely upon under such circumstances, and deeming that + it was to the best interest of the service as well as but just to myself, + I relieved him, ordering him to report to General Grant. + </p> + <p> + I then put Griffin in command of the Fifth Corps, and directed him to + withdraw from the pursuit as quickly as he could after following the enemy + a short distance, and form in line of battle near Gravelly Run Church, at + right angles with the White Oak road, with Ayres and Crawford facing + toward the enemy at the junction of the White Oak and Claiborne roads, + leaving Bartlett, now commanding Griffin's division, near the Ford road. + Mackenzie also was left on the Ford road at the crossing of Hatcher's Run, + Merritt going into camp on the Widow Gillian's plantation. As I had been + obliged to keep Crook's division along Stony Creek throughout the day, it + had taken no active part in the battle. + </p> + <p> + Years after the war, in 1879, a Court of Inquiry was given General Warren + in relation to his conduct on the day of the battle. He assumed that the + delay in not granting his request for an inquiry, which was first made at + the close of the war, was due to opposition on my part. In this he was in + error; I never opposed the ordering of the Court, but when it was finally + decided to convene it I naturally asked to be represented by counsel, for + the authorization of the Inquiry was so peculiarly phrased that it made me + practically a respondent. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "NEW YORK CITY, May 3, 1880<br /> <br /> "MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. + HANCOCK, U. S. A.<br /> "President Court of Inquiry, Governor's Island.<br /> + <br /> "Sir: Since my arrival in this city, under a subpoena to appear + and testify before the Court of which you are president, I have been + indirectly and unofficially informed that the Court some time ago + forwarded an invitation to me (which has not been received) to appear + personally or by counsel, in order to aid it in obtaining a knowledge as + to the facts concerning the movements terminating in the battle of 'Five + Forks,' with reference to the direct subjects of its inquiry. Any + invitation of this character I should always and do consider it + incumbent on me to accede to, and do everything in my power in + furtherance of the specific purposes for which courts of inquiry are by + law instituted.<br /> <br /> "The order convening the Court (a copy of + which was not received by me at my division headquarters until two days + after the time appointed for the Court to assemble) contemplates an + inquiry based on the application of Lieutenant Colonel G. K. Warren, + Corps of Engineers, as to his conduct while major-general commanding the + Fifth Army Corps, under my command, in reference to accusations or + imputations assumed in the order to have been made against him, and I + understand through the daily press that my official report of the battle + of Five Forks has been submitted by him as a basis of inquiry.<br /> + <br /> "If it is proposed to inquire, either directly or indirectly, as + to any action of mine so far as the commanding general Fifth Army Corps + was concerned, or my motives for such action, I desire to be + specifically informed wherein such action or transaction is alleged to + contain an accusation or imputation to become a subject of inquiry, so + that, knowing what issues are raised, I may intelligently aid the Court + in arriving at the facts.<br /> <br /> "It is a long time since the battle + of Five Forks was fought, and during the time that has elapsed the + official reports of that battle have been received and acknowledged by + the Government; but now, when the memory of events has in many instances + grown dim, and three of the principal actors on that field are dead—Generals + Griffin, Custer, and Devin, whose testimony would have been valuable—an + investigation is ordered which might perhaps do injustice unless the + facts pertinent to the issues are fully developed.<br /> <br /> "My duties + are such that it will not be convenient for me to be present + continuously during the sessions of the Court. In order, however, that + everything may be laid before it in my power pertinent to such specific + issues as are legally raised, I beg leave to introduce Major Asa Bird + Gardner as my counsel.<br /> <br /> "Very respectfully,<br /> <br /> "P. H. + SHERIDAN, Lieut.-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Briefly stated, in my report of the battle of Five Forks there were four + imputations concerning General Warren. The first implied that Warren + failed to reach me on the 1st of April, when I had reason to expect him; + the second, that the tactical handling of his corps was unskillful; the + third, that he did not exert himself to get his corps up to Gravelly Run + Church; and the fourth, that when portions of his line gave way he did not + exert himself to restore confidence to his troops. The Court found against + him on the first and second counts, and for him on the third and fourth. + This finding was unsatisfactory to General Warren, for he hoped to obtain + such an unequivocal recognition of his services as to cast discredit on my + motives for relieving him. These were prompted by the conditions alone—by + the conduct of General Warren as described, and my consequent lack of + confidence in him. + </p> + <p> + It will be remembered that in my conversation with General Grant on the + 30th, relative to the suspension of operations because of the mud, I asked + him to let me have the Sixth Corps to help me in breaking in on the + enemy's right, but that it could not be sent me; it will be recalled also + that the Fifth Corps was afterward tendered and declined. From these facts + it has been alleged that I was prejudiced against General Warren, but this + is not true. As we had never been thrown much together I knew but little + of him. I had no personal objection to him, and certainly could have none + to his corps. I was expected to do an extremely dangerous piece of work, + and knowing the Sixth Corps well—my cavalry having campaigned with + it so successfully in the Shenandoah Valley, I naturally preferred it, and + declined the Fifth for no other reason. But the Sixth could not be given, + and the turn of events finally brought me the Fifth after my cavalry, + under the most trying difficulties, had drawn the enemy from his works, + and into such a position as to permit the realization of General Grant's + hope to break up with my force Lee's right flank. Pickett's isolation + offered an opportunity which we could not afford to neglect, and the + destruction of his command would fill the measure of General Grant's + expectations as well as meet my own desires. The occasion was not an + ordinary one, and as I thought that Warren had not risen to its demand in + the battle, I deemed it injudicious and unsafe under the critical + conditions existing to retain him longer. That I was justified in this is + plain to all who are disposed to be fair-minded, so with the following + extract from General Sherman's review of the proceedings of the Warren + Court, and with which I am convinced the judgment of history will accord, + I leave the subject: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "....It would be an unsafe and dangerous rule to hold the + commander of an army in battle to a technical adherence to any rule of + conduct for managing his command. He is responsible for results, and + holds the lives and reputations of every officer and soldier under his + orders as subordinate to the great end—victory. The most important + events are usually compressed into an hour, a minute, and he cannot stop + to analyze his reasons. He must act on the impulse, the conviction, of + the instant, and should be sustained in his conclusions, if not + manifestly unjust. The power to command men, and give vehement impulse + to their joint action, is something which cannot be defined by words, + but it is plain and manifest in battles, and whoever commands an army in + chief must choose his subordinates by reason of qualities which can + alone be tested in actual conflict.<br /> <br /> "No one has questioned + the patriotism, integrity, and great intelligence of General Warren. + These are attested by a long record of most excellent service, but in + the clash of arms at and near Five Forks, March 31 and April 1, 1865, + his personal activity fell short of the standard fixed by General + Sheridan, on whom alone rested the great responsibility for that and + succeeding days.<br /> <br /> "My conclusion is that General Sheridan was + perfectly justified in his action in this case, and he must be fully and + entirely sustained if the United States expects great victories by her + arms in the future." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch7b" id="linkch7b"></a>CHAPTER VII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + RESULT OF THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS—RETREAT OF LEE—AN + INTERCEPTED DESPATCH—AT AMELIA COURT HOUSE—BATTLE OF SAILOR'S + CREEK—THE CONFEDERATES' STUBBORN RESISTANCE—A COMPLETE VICTORY—IMPORTANCE + OF THE BATTLE. + </p> + <p> + When the news of the battle at Five Forks reached General Grant, he + realized that the decisive character of our victory would necessitate the + immediate abandonment of Richmond and Petersburg by the enemy; and fearing + that Lee would escape without further injury, he issued orders, the + propriety of which must be settled by history, to assault next morning the + whole intrenched line. But Lee could not retreat at once. He had not + anticipated, disaster at Five Forks, and hence was unprepared to withdraw + on the moment; and the necessity of getting off his trains and munitions + of war, as well as being obliged to cover the flight of the Confederate + Government, compelled him to hold on to Richmond and Petersburg till the + afternoon of the 2d, though before that Parke, Ord, and Wright had carried + his outer intrenchments at several points, thus materially shortening the + line of investment. + </p> + <p> + The night of the 1st of April, General Humphreys's corps—the Second—had + extended its left toward the White Oak road, and early next morning, under + instructions from General Grant, Miles's division of that corps reported + to me, and supporting him with Ayres's and Crawford's divisions of the + Fifth Corps, I then directed him to advance toward Petersburg and attack + the enemy's works at the intersection of the Claiborne and White Oak + roads. + </p> + <p> + Such of the enemy as were still in the works Miles easily forced across + Hatcher's Run, in the direction of Sutherland's depot, but the + Confederates promptly took up a position north of the little stream, and + Miles being anxious to attack, I gave him leave, but just at this time + General Humphreys came up with a request to me from General Meade to + return Miles. On this request I relinquished command of the division, + when, supported by the Fifth Corps it could have broken in the enemy's + right at a vital point; and I have always since regretted that I did so, + for the message Humphreys conveyed was without authority from General + Grant, by whom Miles had been sent to me, but thinking good feeling a + desideratum just then, and wishing to avoid wrangles, I faced the Fifth + Corps about and marched it down to Five Forks, and out the Ford road to + the crossing of Hatcher's Run. After we had gone, General Grant, intending + this quarter of the field to be under my control, ordered Humphreys with + his other two divisions to move to the right, in toward Petersburg. This + left Miles entirely unsupported, and his gallant attack made soon after + was unsuccessful at first, but about 3 o'clock in the afternoon he carried + the point which covered the retreat from Petersburg and Richmond. + </p> + <p> + Merritt had been sent westward, meanwhile, in the direction of Ford's + Station, to break the enemy's horse which had been collecting to the north + of Hatcher's Run. Meeting, with but little opposition, Merritt drove this + cavalry force in a northerly direction toward Scott's Corners, while the + Fifth Corps was pushed toward Sutherland's depot, in the hope of coming in + on the rear of the force that was confronting Miles when I left him. + Crawford and Merritt engaged the enemy lightly just before night, but his + main column, retreating along the river road south of the Appomattox, had + got across Namozine Creek, and the darkness prevented our doing more than + to pick up some stragglers. The next morning the pursuit was resumed, the + cavalry again in advance, the Fifth Corps keeping up with it all the + while, and as we pressed our adversaries hundreds and hundreds of + prisoners, armed and unarmed, fell into our hands, together with many + wagons and five pieces of artillery. At Deep Creek the rearguard turned on + us, and a severe skirmish took place. Merritt, finding the enemy very + strong, was directed to await the arrival of Crook and for the rear + division of the Fifth Corps; but by the time they reached the creek, + darkness had again come to protect the Confederates, and we had to be + content with meagre results at that point. + </p> + <p> + From the beginning it was apparent that Lee, in his retreat, was making + for Amelia Court House, where his columns north and south of the + Appomattox River could join, and where, no doubt, he expected to meet + supplies, so Crook was ordered to march early on April 4 to strike the + Danville railroad, between Jettersville and Burkeville, and then move + south along the railroad toward Jettersville, Merritt to move toward + Amelia Court House, and the Fifth Corps to Jettersville itself. + </p> + <p> + The Fifth Corps got to Jettersville about 5 in the afternoon, and I + immediately intrenched it across the Burkeville road with the + determination to stay there till the main army could come up, for I hoped + we could force Lee to surrender at Amelia Court House, since a firm hold + on Jettersville would cut him off from his line of retreat toward + Burkeville. + </p> + <p> + Accompanied only by my escort—the First United States Cavalry, about + two hundred strong—I reached Jettersville some little time before + the Fifth Corps, and having nothing else at hand I at once deployed this + handful of men to cover the crossroads till the arrival of the corps. Just + as the troopers were deploying, a man on a mule, heading for Burkeville, + rode into my pickets. He was arrested, of course, and being searched there + was found in his boots this telegram in duplicate, signed by Lee's + Commissary General. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "The army is at Amelia Court House, short of provisions. Send + 300,000 rations quickly to Burkeville Junction." One copy was addressed + to the supply department at Danville, and the other to that at + Lynchburg. I surmised that the telegraph lines north of Burkeville had + been broken by Crook after the despatches were written, which would + account for their being transmitted by messenger. There was thus + revealed not only the important fact that Lee was concentrating at + Amelia Court House, but also a trustworthy basis for estimating his + troops, so I sent word to Crook to strike up the railroad toward me, and + to Merritt—who, as I have said, had followed on the heels of the + enemy—to leave Mackenzie there and himself close in on + Jettersville. Staff-officers were also despatched to hurry up Griffin + with the Fifth Corps, and his tired men redoubled their strides. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + My troops too were hard up for rations, for in the pursuit we could not + wait for our trains, so I concluded to secure if possible these provisions + intended for Lee. To this end I directed Young to send four of his best + scouts to Burkeville Junction. There they were to separate, two taking the + railroad toward Lynchburg and two toward Danville, and as soon as a + telegraph station was reached the telegram was to be transmitted as it had + been written and the provisions thus hurried forward. + </p> + <p> + Although the Fifth Corps arrived at Jettersville the evening of April 4, + as did also Crook's and Merritt's cavalry, yet none of the army of the + Potomac came up till about 3 o'clock the afternoon of the 5th, the Second + Corps, followed by the Sixth, joining us then. General Meade arrived at + Jettersville an hour earlier, but being ill, requested me to put his + troops in position. The Fifth Corps being already intrenched across the + Amelia Court House road facing north, I placed the Sixth on its right and + the Second on its left as they reached the ground. + </p> + <p> + As the enemy had been feeling us ever since morning—to learn what he + was up to I directed Crook to send Davies's brigade on a reconnoissance to + Paine's crossroads. Davies soon found out that Lee was trying to escape by + that flank, for at the crossroads he found the Confederate trains and + artillery moving rapidly westward. Having driven away the escort, Davies + succeeded in burning nearly two hundred wagons, and brought off five + pieces of artillery. Among these wagons were some belonging to General, + Lee's and to General Fitzhugh Lee's headquarters. This work through, + Davies withdrew and rejoined Crook, who, with Smith and Gregg, was + established near Flat Creek. + </p> + <p> + It being plain that Lee would attempt to escape as soon as his trains were + out of the way, I was most anxious to attack him when the Second Corps + began to arrive, for I felt certain that unless we did so he would succeed + in passing by our left flank, and would thus again make our pursuit a + stern-chase; but General Meade, whose plan of attack was to advance his + right flank on Amelia Court House, objected to assailing before all his + troops were up. + </p> + <p> + I then sent despatches to General Grant, explaining what Davies had done, + and telling him that the Second Corps was arriving, and that I wished he + himself was present. I assured him of my confidence in our capturing Lee + if we properly exerted ourselves, and informed him, finally, that I would + put all my cavalry, except Mackenzie, on my left, and that, with such a + disposition of my forces, I could see no escape for Lee. I also inclosed + him this letter, which had just been captured: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "AMELIA C. H., April 5, 1865.<br /> <br /> "DEAR MAMMA:<br /> <br /> + "Our army is ruined, I fear. We are all safe as yet. Shyron left us + sick. John Taylor is well—saw him yesterday. We are in line of + battle this morning. General Robert Lee is in the field near us. My + trust is still in the justice of our cause, and that of God. General + Hill is killed. I saw Murray a few minutes since. Bernard, Terry said, + was taken prisoner, but may yet get out. I send this by a negro I see + passing up the railroad to Mechlenburg. Love to all.<br /> <br /> "Your + devoted son,<br /> <br /> "Wm. B. TAYLOR, Colonel." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + General Grant, who on the 5th was accompanying General Ord's column toward + Burkeville Junction, did not receive this intelligence till nearly + nightfall, when within about ten miles of the Junction. He set out for + Jettersville immediately, but did not reach us till near midnight, too + late of course to do anything that night. Taking me with him, we went over + to see Meade, whom he then directed to advance early in the morning on + Amelia Court House. In this interview Grant also stated that the orders + Meade had already issued would permit Lee's escape, and therefore must be + changed, for it was not the aim only to follow the enemy, but to get ahead + of him, remarking during the conversation that, "he had no doubt Lee was + moving right then." On this same occasion Meade expressed a desire to have + in the proposed attack all the troops of the Army of the Potomac under his + own command, and asked for the return of the Fifth Corps. I made no + objections, and it was ordered to report, to him. + </p> + <p> + When, on the morning of the 6th, Meade advanced toward Amelia Court House, + he found, as predicted, that Lee was gone. It turned out that the retreat + began the evening of the 5th and continued all night. Satisfied that this + would be the case, I did not permit the cavalry to participate in Meade's + useless advance, but shifted it out toward the left to the road running + from Deatonsville to Rice's station, Crook leading and Merritt close up. + Before long the enemy's trains were discovered on this road, but Crook + could make but little impression on them, they were so strongly guarded; + so, leaving Stagg's brigade and Miller's battery about three miles + southwest of Deatonsville—where the road forks, with a branch + leading north toward the Appomattox—to harass the retreating column + and find a vulnerable point, I again shifted the rest of the cavalry + toward the left, across-country, but still keeping parallel to the enemy's + line of march. + </p> + <p> + Just after crossing Sailor's Greek, a favorable opportunity offering, both + Merritt and Crook attacked vigorously, gained the Rice's Station road, + destroyed several hundred wagons, made many prisoners, and captured + sixteen pieces of artillery. This was important, but more valuable still + was the fact that we were astride the enemy's line of retreat, and had cut + off from joining Longstreet, waiting at Rice's Station, a corps of + Confederate infantry under General Ewell, composed of Anderson's, + Kershaw's, and Custis Lee's divisions. Stagg's brigade and Miller's + battery, which, as I have said, had been left at the forks of the + Deatonsville road, had meanwhile broken in between the rear of Ewell's + column and the head of Gordon's, forcing Gordon to abandon his march for + Rice's Station, and to take the right-hand road at the forks, on which he + was pursued by General Humphreys. + </p> + <p> + The complete isolation of Ewell from Longstreet in his front and Gordon in + his rear led to the battle of Sailor's Creek, one of the severest + conflicts of the war, for the enemy fought with desperation to escape + capture, and we, bent on his destruction, were no less eager and + determined. The capture of Ewell, with six of his generals and most of his + troops, crowned our success, but the fight was so overshadowed by the + stirring events of the surrender three days later, that the battle has + never been accorded the prominence it deserves. + </p> + <p> + The small creek from which the field takes its name flows in a + northwesterly direction across the road leading from Deatonsville to + Rice's Station. By shifting to the left, Merritt gained the Rice's Station + road west of the creek, making havoc of the wagon-trains, while Crook + struck them further on and planted himself square across the road. This + blocked Ewell, who, advancing Anderson to some high ground west of the + creek, posted him behind barricades, with the intention of making a hard + fight there, while the main body should escape through the woods in a + westerly direction to roads that led to Farmville. This was prevented, + however, by Crook forming his division, two brigades dismounted and one + mounted, and at once assaulting all along Anderson's front and overlapping + his right, while Merritt fiercely attacked to the right of Crook. The + enemy being thus held, enabled the Sixth Corps—which in the meantime + I had sent for—to come upon the ground, and Ewell, still contending + with the cavalry, found himself suddenly beset by this new danger from his + rear. To, meet it, he placed Kershaw to the right and Custis Lee to the + left of the Rice's Station road, facing them north toward and some little + distance from Sailor's Creek, supporting Kershaw with Commander Tucker's + Marine brigade. Ewell's skirmishers held the line of Sailor's Creek, which + runs through a gentle valley, the north slope of which was cleared ground. + </p> + <p> + By General Grant's directions the Sixth Corps had been following my route + of march since the discovery, about 9 o'clock in the morning, that Lee had + decamped from Amelia Court House. Grant had promptly informed me of this + in a note, saying, "The Sixth Corps will go in with a vim any place you + may dictate," so when I sent word to Wright of the enemy's isolation, and + asked him to hurry on with all speed, his gallant corps came as fast as + legs could carry them, he sending to me successively Major McClellan and + Colonel Franklin, of his staff, to report his approach. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkgenwright" id="linkgenwright"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb273-Wright.jpg (76K)" src="images/pb273-Wright.jpg" style="width:100%;" + /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + I was well advised as to the position of the enemy through information + brought me by an intelligent young soldier, William A. Richardson, Company + "A," Second Ohio, who, in one of the cavalry charges on Anderson, had + cleared the barricades and made his way back to my front through Ewell's + line. Richardson had told me just how the main body of the enemy was + posted, so as Seymour's division arrived I directed General Wright to put + it on the right of the road, while Wheaton's men, coming up all hot and + out of breath, promptly formed on Seymour's left. Both divisions thus + aligned faced southwest toward Sailor's Creek, and the artillery of the + corps being massed to the left and front of the Hibbon house, without + waiting for Getty's division—for I feared that if we delayed longer + the enemy might effect his escape toward Farmville—the general + attack was begun. Seymour and Wheaton, moving forward together, assailed + the enemy's front and left, and Stagg's brigade, too, which in the mean + time had been placed between Wheaton's left and Devin's right, went at him + along with them, Merritt and Crook resuming the fight from their positions + in front of Anderson. The enemy, seeing little chance of escape, fought + like a tiger at bay, but both Seymour and Wheaton pressed him vigorously, + gaining ground at all points except just to the right of the road, where + Seymour's left was checked. Here the Confederates burst back on us in a + counter-charge, surging down almost to the creek, but the artillery, + supported by Getty, who in the mean time had come on the ground, opened on + them so terribly that this audacious and furious onset was completely + broken, though the gallant fellows fell back to their original line + doggedly, and not until after they had almost gained the creek. Ewell was + now hemmed in on every side, and all those under his immediate command + were captured. Merritt and Crook had also broken up Anderson by this time, + but he himself, and about two thousand disorganized men escaped by making + their way through the woods toward the Appomattox River before they could + be entirely enveloped. Night had fallen when the fight was entirely over, + but Devin was pushed on in pursuit for about two miles, part of the Sixth + Corps following to clinch a victory which not only led to the annihilation + of one corps of Lee's retreating army, but obliged Longstreet to move up + to Farmville, so as to take a road north of the Appomattox River toward + Lynchburg instead of continuing toward Danville. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb185" id="linkpb185"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb185.jpg (43K)" src="images/pb185.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + At the close of the battle I sent one of my staff—Colonel Redwood + Price—to General Grant to report what had been done; that we had + taken six generals and from nine to ten thousand prisoners. On his way + Price stopped at the headquarters of General Meade, where he learned that + not the slightest intelligence of the occurrence on my line had been + received, for I not being under Meade's command, he had paid no attention + to my movements. Price gave the story of the battle, and General Meade, + realizing its importance, sent directions immediately to General Wright to + make his report of the engagement to the headquarters of the Army of the + Potomac, assuming that Wright was operating independently of me in the + face of Grant's despatch Of 2 o'clock, which said that Wright was + following the cavalry and would "go in with a vim" wherever I dictated. + Wright could not do else than comply with Meade's orders in the case, and + I, being then in ignorance of Meade's reasons for the assumption, could + say nothing. But General Grant plainly intending, and even directing, that + the corps should be under my command, remedied this phase of the matter, + when informed of what had taken place, by requiring Wright to send a + report of the battle through me. What he then did, and what his intentions + and orders were, are further confirmed by a reference to the episode in + his "Memoirs," where he gives his reasons for ordering the Sixth Corps to + abandon the move on Amelia Court House and pass to the left of the army. + On the same page he also says, referring to the 6th of April: "The Sixth + Corps now remained with the cavalry under Sheridan's direct command until + after the surrender." He unquestionably intended all of this, but his + purpose was partly frustrated by General Meade's action next morning in + assuming direction of the movements of the corps; and before General Grant + became aware of the actual conditions the surrender was at hand. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch8b" id="linkch8b"></a>CHAPTER VIII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + LINCOLN'S LACONIC DESPATCH—CAPTURING LEE'S SUPPLIES—DELIGHTED + ENGINEERS—THE CONFEDERATES' LAST EFFORT—A FLAG OF TRUCE—GENERAL + GEARY'S "LAST DITCH" ABSURDITY—MEETING OF GRANT AND LEE—THE + SURRENDER—ESTIMATE OF GENERAL GRANT. + </p> + <p> + The first report of the battle of Sailor's Creek that General Grant + received was, as already stated, an oral message carried by Colonel Price, + of my staff. Near midnight I sent a despatch giving the names of the + generals captured. These were Ewell, Kershaw, Barton, Corse, Dubose, and + Custis Lee. In the same despatch I wrote: <b>"If the thing is pressed, I + think that Lee will surrender."</b> When Mr. Lincoln, at City Point, + received this word from General Grant, who was transmitting every item of + news to the President, he telegraphed Grant the laconic message: <b>"Let + the thing be pressed."</b> The morning of the 7th we moved out at a very + early hour, Crook's division marching toward Farmville in direct pursuit, + while Merritt and Mackenzie were ordered to Prince Edward's Court House to + anticipate any effort Lee might make to escape through that place toward + Danville since it had been discovered that Longstreet had slipped away + already from the front of General Ord's troops at Rice's Station. Crook + overtook the main body of the Confederates at Farmville, and promptly + attacked their trains on the north side of the Appomattox with Gregg's + brigade, which was fiercely turned upon and forced to re-cross the river + with the loss of a number of prisoner's, among them Gregg himself. When + Crook sent word of this fight, it was clear that Lee had abandoned all + effort to escape to the southwest by way of Danville. Lynchburg was + undoubtedly his objective point now; so, resolving to throw my cavalry + again across his path, and hold him till the infantry could overtake him, + I directed everything on Appomattox depot, recalling Crook the night of + the 7th to Prospect Station, while Merritt camped at Buffalo Creek, and + Mackenzie made a reconnoissance along the Lynchburg railroad. + </p> + <p> + At break of day, April 8, Merritt and Mackenzie united with Crook at + Prospect Station, and the cavalry all moved then toward Appomattox depot. + Hardly had it started when one of the scouts—Sergeant White—informed + me that there were four trains of cars at the depot loaded with supplies + for Lee's army; these had been sent from Lynchburg, in compliance with the + telegram of Lee's commissary-general, which message, it will be + remembered, was captured and transmitted to Lynchburg by two of Young's + scouts on the 4th. Sergeant White, who had been on the lookout for the + trains ever since sending the despatch, found them several miles west of + Appomattox depot feeling their way along, in ignorance of Lee's exact + position. As he had the original despatch with him, and took pains to + dwell upon the pitiable condition of Lee's army, he had little difficulty + in persuading the men in charge of the trains to bring them east of + Appomattox Station, but fearing that the true state of affairs would be + learned before long, and the trains be returned to Lynchburg, he was + painfully anxious to have them cut off by breaking the track west of the + station. + </p> + <p> + The intelligence as to the trains was immediately despatched to Crook, and + I pushed on to join him with Merritt's command. Custer having the advance, + moved rapidly, and on nearing the station detailed two regiments to make a + detour southward to strike the railroad some distance beyond and break the + track. These regiments set off at a gallop, and in short order broke up + the railroad enough to prevent the escape of the trains, Custer meanwhile + taking possession of the station, but none too soon, for almost at the + moment he did so the advance-guard of Lee's army appeared, bent on + securing the trains. Without halting to look after the cars further, + Custer attacked this advance-guard and had a spirited fight, in which he + drove the Confederates away from the station, captured twenty-five pieces + of artillery, a hospital train, and a large park of wagons, which, in the + hope that they would reach Lynchburg next day, were being pushed ahead of + Lee's main body. + </p> + <p> + Devin coming up a little before dusk, was put in on the right of Custer, + and one of Crook's brigades was sent to our left and the other two held in + reserve. I then forced the enemy back on the Appomattox road to the + vicinity of the Court House, and that the Confederates might have no rest, + gave orders to continue the skirmishing throughout the night. Meanwhile + the captured trains had been taken charge of by locomotive engineers, + soldiers of the command, who were delighted evidently to get back at their + old calling. They amused themselves by running the trains to and fro, + creating much confusion, and keeping up such an unearthly screeching with + the whistles that I was on the point of ordering the cars burned. They + finally wearied of their fun, however, and ran the trains off to the east + toward General Ord's column. + </p> + <p> + The night of the 8th I made my headquarters at a little frame house just + south of the station. I did not sleep at all, nor did anybody else, the + entire command being up all night long; indeed, there had been little rest + in the, cavalry for the past eight days. The necessity of getting Ord's + column up was so obvious now that staff-officer after staff-officer was + sent to him and to General Grant requesting that the infantry be pushed + on, for if it could get to the front, all knew that the rebellion would be + ended on the morrow. Merritt, Crook, Custer, and Devin were present at + frequent intervals during the night, and everybody was overjoyed at the + prospect that our weary work was about to end so happily. Before sun-up + General Ord arrived, and informed me of the approach of his column, it + having been marching the whole night. As he ranked me, of course I could + give him no orders, so after a hasty consultation as to where his troops + should be placed we separated, I riding to the front to overlook my line + near Appomattox Court House, while he went back to urge along his weary + troops. + </p> + <p> + The night before General Lee had held a council with his principal + generals, when it was arranged that in the morning General Gordon should + undertake to break through my cavalry, and when I neared my troops this + movement was beginning, a heavy line of infantry bearing down on us from + the direction of the village. In front of Crook and Mackenzie firing had + already begun, so riding to a slight elevation where a good view of the + Confederates could be had, I there came to the conclusion that it would be + unwise to offer more resistance than that necessary to give Ord time to + form, so I directed Merritt to fall back, and in retiring to shift Devin + and Custer to the right so as to make room for Ord, now in the woods to my + rear. Crook, who with his own and Mackenzie's divisions was on my extreme + left covering some by-roads, was ordered to hold his ground as long as + practicable without sacrificing his men, and, if forced to retire, to + contest with obstinacy the enemy's advance. + </p> + <p> + As already stated, I could not direct General Ord's course, he being my + senior, but hastily galloping back to where he was, at the edge of the + timber, I explained to him what was taking place at the front. Merritt's + withdrawal inspired the Confederates, who forthwith began to press Crook, + their line of battle advancing with confidence till it reached the crest + whence I had reconnoitred them. From this ground they could see Ord's men + emerging from the woods, and the hopelessness of a further attack being + plain, the gray lines instinctively halted, and then began to retire + toward a ridge immediately fronting Appomattox Court House, while Ord, + joined on his right by the Fifth Corps, advanced on them over the ground + that Merritt had abandoned. + </p> + <p> + I now directed my steps toward Merritt, who, having mounted his troopers, + had moved them off to the right, and by the time I reached his + headquarters flag he was ready for work, so a move on the enemy's left was + ordered, and every guidon was bent to the front. As the cavalry marched + along parallel with the Confederate line, and in toward its left, a heavy + fire of artillery opened on us, but this could not check us at such a + time, and we soon reached some high ground about half a mile from the + Court House, and from here I could see in the low valley beyond the + village the bivouac undoubtedly of Lee's army. The troops did not seem to + be disposed in battle order, but on the other side of the bivouac was a + line of battle—a heavy rear-guard—confronting, presumably, + General Meade. + </p> + <p> + I decided to attack at once, and formations were ordered at a trot for a + charge by Custer's and Devin's divisions down the slope leading to the + camps. Custer was soon ready, but Devin's division being in rear its + formation took longer, since he had to shift further to the right; Devin's + preparations were, therefore, but partially completed when an aide-decamp + galloped up to with the word from Custer, "Lee has surrendered; do not + charge; the white flag is up." The enemy perceiving that Custer was + forming for attack, had sent the flag out to his front and stopped the + charge just in time. I at once sent word of the truce to General Ord, and + hearing nothing more from Custer himself, I supposed that he had gone down + to the Court House to join a mounted group of Confederates that I could + see near there, so I, too, went toward them, galloping down a narrow + ridge, staff and orderlies following; but we had not got half way to the + Court House when, from a skirt of timber to our right, not more than three + hundred yards distant, a musketry fire was opened on us. This halted us, + when, waving my hat, I called out to the firing party that we were under a + truce, and they were violating it. This did not stop them, however, so we + hastily took shelter in a ravine so situated as to throw a ridge between + us and the danger. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb195" id="linkpb195"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb195.jpg (113K)" src="images/pb195.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb195.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + We traveled in safety down this depression to its mouth, and thence by a + gentle ascent approached the Court House. I was in advance, followed by a + sergeant carrying my battleflag. When I got within about a hundred and + fifty yards of the enemy's line, which was immediately in front of the + Court House, some of the Confederates leveled their pieces at us, and I + again halted. Their officers kept their men from firing, however, but + meanwhile a single-handed contest had begun behind me, for on looking back + I heard a Confederate soldier demanding my battle-flag from the + color-bearer, thinking, no doubt, that we were coming in as prisoners. The + sergeant had drawn his sabre and was about to cut the man down, but at a + word from me he desisted and carried the flag back to my staff, his + assailant quickly realizing that the boot was on the other leg. + </p> + <p> + These incidents determined me to remain where I was till the return of a + staff-officer whom I had sent over to demand an explanation from the group + of Confederates for which I had been heading. He came back in a few + minutes with apologies for what had occurred, and informed me that General + Gordon and General Wilcox were the superior officers in the group. As they + wished me to join them I rode up with my staff, but we had hardly met when + in front of Merritt firing began. At the sound I turned to General Gordon, + who seemed embarrassed by the occurrence, and remarked: "General, your men + fired on me as I was coming over here, and undoubtedly they are treating + Merritt and Custer the same way. We might as well let them fight it out." + He replied, "There must be some mistake." I then asked, "Why not send a + staff-officer and have your people cease firing; they are violating the + flag." He answered, "I have no staff-officer to send." Whereupon I said + that I would let him have one of mine, and calling for Lieutenant + Vanderbilt Allen, I directed him to carry General Gordon's orders to + General Geary, commanding a small brigade of South Carolina cavalry, to + discontinue firing. Allen dashed off with the message and soon delivered + it, but was made a prisoner, Geary saying, "I do not care for white flags: + South Carolinians never surrender...." By this time Merritt's patience + being exhausted, he ordered an attack, and this in short order put an end + to General Geary's "last ditch" absurdity, and extricated Allen from his + predicament. + </p> + <p> + When quiet was restored Gordon remarked: "General Lee asks for a + suspension of hostilities pending the negotiations which he is having with + General Grant." I rejoined: "I have been constantly informed of the + progress of the negotiations, and think it singular that while such + discussions are going on, General Lee should have continued his march and + attempted to break through my lines this morning. I will entertain no + terms except that General Lee shall surrender to General Grant on his + arrival here. If these terms are not accepted we will renew hostilities." + Gordon replied: "General Lee's army is exhausted. There is no doubt of his + surrender to General Grant." + </p> + <p> + It was then that General Ord joined us, and after shaking hands all + around, I related the situation to him, and Gordon went away agreeing to + meet us again in half an hour. When the time was up he came back + accompanied by General Longstreet, who brought with him a despatch, the + duplicate of one that had been sent General Grant through General Meade's + lines back on the road over which Lee had been retreating. + </p> + <p> + General Longstreet renewed the assurances that already had been given by + Gordon, and I sent Colonel Newhall with the despatch to find General Grant + and bring him to the front. When Newhall started, everything on our side + of the Appomattox Court House was quiet, for inevitable surrender was at + hand, but Longstreet feared that Meade, in ignorance of the new conditions + on my front might attack the Confederate rearguard. To prevent this I + offered to send Colonel J. W. Forsyth through the enemy's lines to let + Meade know of my agreement, for he too was suspicious that by a renewed + correspondence Lee was endeavoring to gain time for escape. My offer being + accepted, Forsyth set out accompanied by Colonel Fairfax, of Longstreet's + staff, and had no difficulty in accomplishing his mission. + </p> + <p> + About five or six miles from Appomattox, on the road toward Prospect + Station near its intersection with the Walker's Church road, my + adjutant-general, Colonel Newhall, met General Grant, he having started + from north of the Appomattox River for my front the morning of April 9, in + consequence of the following despatches which had been sent him the night + before, after we had captured Appomattox Station and established a line + intercepting Lee: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, April 8, 1865—9:20 P. M.<br /> <br /> + "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT,<br /> "Commanding Armies of the U. S.<br /> + <br /> "General: I marched early this morning from Buffalo Creek and + Prospect Station on Appomattox Station, where my scouts had reported + trains of cars with supplies for Lee's army. A short time before dark + General Custer, who had the advance, made a dash at the station, + capturing four trains of supplies with locomotives. One of the trains + was burned and the others were run back toward Farmville for security. + Custer then pushed on toward Appomattox Court House, driving the enemy—who + kept up a heavy fire of artillery—charging them repeatedly and + capturing, as far as reported, twenty-five pieces of artillery and a + number of prisoners and wagons. The First Cavalry Division supported him + on the right. A reconnoissance sent across the Appomattox reports the + enemy moving on the Cumberland road to Appomattox Station, where they + expect to get supplies. Custer is still pushing on. If General Gibbon + and the Fifth Corps can get up to-night, we will perhaps finish the job + in the morning. I do not think Lee means to surrender until compelled to + do so.<br /> <br /> "P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General."<br /> <br /> <br /> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, April 8, 1865—9:40 p.m.<br /> <br /> + "LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.<br /> "Commanding Armies U. S.<br /> + <br /> "GENERAL: Since writing the accompanying despatch, General Custer + reports that his command has captured in all thirty-five pieces of + artillery, one thousand prisoners—including one general officer—and + from one hundred and fifty to two hundred wagons.<br /> <br /> "P. H. + SHERIDAN, Major-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In attempting to conduct the lieutenant-general and staff back by a short + route, Newhall lost his bearings for a time, inclining in toward the + enemy's lines too far, but regained the proper direction without serious + loss of time. General Grant arrived about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Ord + and I, dismounted, meeting him at the edge of the town, or crossroads, for + it was little more. He remaining mounted, spoke first to me, saying + simply, + </p> + <p> + "How are you, Sheridan?" I assured him with thanks that I was + "first-rate," when, pointing toward the village, he asked, "Is General Lee + up there?" and I replied: "There is his army down in that valley, and he + himself is over in that house (designating McLean's house) waiting to + surrender to you." The General then said, "Come, let us go over," this + last remark being addressed to both Ord and me. We two then mounted and + joined him, while our staff-officers followed, intermingling with those of + the general-in-chief as the cavalcade took its way to McLean's house near + by, and where General Lee had arrived some time before, in consequence of + a message from General Grant consenting to the interview asked for by Lee + through Meade's front that morning—the consent having been carried + by Colonel Babcock. + </p> + <p> + When I entered McLean's house General Lee was standing, as was also his + military secretary, Colonel Marshall, his only staff-officer present. + General Lee was dressed in a new uniform and wore a handsome sword. His + tall, commanding form thus set off contrasted strongly with the short + figure of General Grant, clothed as he was in a soiled suit, without sword + or other insignia of his position except a pair of dingy shoulder-straps. + After being presented, Ord and I, and nearly all of General Grant's staff, + withdrew to await the agreement as to terms, and in a little while Colonel + Babcock came to the door and said, "The surrender had been made; you can + come in again." + </p> + <p> + When we re-entered General Grant was writing; and General Lee, having in + his hand two despatches, which I that morning requested might be returned, + as I had no copies of them, addressed me with the remark: "I am sorry. It + is probable that my cavalry at that point of the line did not fully + understand the agreement." These despatches had been sent in the forenoon, + after the fighting had been stopped, notifying General Lee that some of + his cavalry in front of Crook was violating the suspension of hostilities + by withdrawing. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon the terms of surrender + were written out and accepted, and General Lee left the house, as he + departed cordially shaking hands with General Grant. A moment later he + mounted his chunky gray horse, and lifting his hat as he passed out of the + yard, rode off toward his army, his arrival there being announced to us by + cheering, which, as it progressed, varying in loudness, told he was riding + through the bivouac of the Army of Northern Virginia. + </p> + <p> + The surrender of General Lee practically ended the war of the rebellion. + For four years his army had been the main-stay of the Confederacy; and the + marked ability with which he directed its operations is evidenced both by + his frequent successes and the length of time he kept up the contest. + Indeed, it may be said that till General Grant was matched against him, he + never met an opponent he did not vanquish, for while it is true that + defeat was inflicted on the Confederates at Antietam and Gettysburg, yet + the fruits of these victories were not gathered, for after each of these + battles Lee was left unmolested till he had a chance to recuperate. + </p> + <p> + The assignment of General Grant to the command of the Union armies in the + winter of 1863-64 gave presage of success from the start, for his eminent + abilities had already been proved, and besides, he was a tower of strength + to the Government, because he had the confidence of the people. They knew + that henceforth systematic direction would be given to our armies in every + section of the vast territory over which active operations were being + prosecuted, and further, that this coherence, this harmony of plan, was + the one thing needed to end the war, for in the three preceding years + there had been illustrated most lamentable effects of the absence of + system. From the moment he set our armies in motion simultaneously, in the + spring of 1864, it could be seen that we should be victorious ultimately, + for though on different lines we were checked now and then, yet we were + harassing the Confederacy at so many vital points that plainly it must + yield to our blows. Against Lee's army, the forefront of the Confederacy, + Grant pitted himself; and it may be said that the Confederate commander + was now, for the first time, overmatched, for against all his devices—the + products of a mind fertile in defense—General Grant brought to bear + not only the wealth of expedient which had hitherto distinguished him, but + also an imperturbable tenacity, particularly in the Wilderness and on the + march to the James, without which the almost insurmountable obstacles of + that campaign could not have been overcome. During it and in the siege of + Petersburg he met with many disappointments—on several occasions the + shortcomings of generals, when at the point of success, leading to + wretched failures. But so far as he was concerned, the only apparent + effect of these discomfitures was to make him all the more determined to + discharge successfully the stupendous trust committed to his care, and to + bring into play the manifold resources of his well ordered military mind. + He guided every subordinate then, and in the last days of the rebellion, + with a fund of common sense and superiority of intellect, which have left + an impress so distinct as to exhibit his great personality. When his + military history is analyzed after the lapse of years, it will show, even + more clearly than now, that during these as well as in his previous + campaigns he was the steadfast Centre about and on which everything else + turned. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch9b" id="linkch9b"></a>CHAPTER IX. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + ORDERED TO GREENSBORO', N. C.—MARCH TO THE DAN RIVER—ASSIGNED + TO THE COMMAND WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI—LEAVING WASHINGTON—FLIGHT + OF GENERAL EARLY—MAXIMILIAN—MAKING DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE UPPER + RIO GRANDE—CONFEDERATES JOIN MAXIMILIAN—THE FRENCH INVASION OF + MEXICO AND ITS RELATIONS TO THE REBELLION—ASSISTING THE LIBERALS—RESTORATION + OF THE REPUBLIC. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb207" id="linkpb207"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb207.jpg (121K)" src="images/pb207.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb207.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + The surrender at Appomattox put a stop to all military operations on the + part of General Grant's forces, and the morning of April 10 my cavalry + began its march to Petersburg, the men anticipating that they would soon + be mustered out and returned to their homes. At Nottoway Court House I + heard of the assassination of the President. The first news came to us the + night after the dastardly deed, the telegraph operator having taken it + from the wires while in transmission to General Meade. The despatch ran + that Mr. Lincoln had been, shot at 10 o'clock that morning at Willard's + Hotel, but as I could conceive of nothing to take the President there I + set the story down as a canard, and went to bed without giving it further + thought. Next morning, however, an official telegram confirmed the fact of + the assassination, though eliminating the distorted circumstances that had + been communicated the night before. + </p> + <p> + When we reached Petersburg my column was halted, and instructions given me + to march the cavalry and the Sixth Corps to Greensboro', North Carolina, + for the purpose of aiding General Sherman (the surrender of General + Johnston having not yet been effected), so I made the necessary + preparations and moved on the 24th of April, arriving at South Boston, on + the Dan River, the 28th, the Sixth Corps having reached Danville + meanwhile. At South Boston I received a despatch from General Halleck, who + immediately after Lee's surrender had been assigned to command at + Richmond, informing me that General Johnston had been brought to terms. + The necessity for going farther south being thus obviated we retraced our + steps to Petersburg, from which place I proceeded by steamer to + Washington, leaving, the cavalry to be marched thither by easy stages. + </p> + <p> + The day after my arrival in Washington an important order was sent me, + accompanied by the following letter of instructions, transferring me to a + new field of operations: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES.<br /> "Washington, D. + C., May 17, 1865.<br /> <br /> "GENERAL: Under the orders relieving you + from the command of the Middle Military Division and assigning you to + command west of the Mississippi, you will proceed without delay to the + West to arrange all preliminaries for your new field of duties.<br /> + <br /> "Your duty is to restore Texas, and that part of Louisiana held by + the enemy, to the Union in the shortest practicable time, in a way most + effectual for securing permanent peace.<br /> <br /> "To do this, you will + be given all the troops that can be spared by Major-General Canby, + probably twenty-five thousand men of all arms; the troops with + Major-General J. J. Reynolds, in Arkansas, say twelve thousand, Reynolds + to command; the Fourth Army Corps, now at Nashville, Tennessee, awaiting + orders; and the Twenty-Fifth Army Corps, now at City Point, Virginia, + ready to embark.<br /> <br /> "I do not wish to trammel you with + instructions; I will state, however, that if Smith holds out, without + even an ostensible government to receive orders from or to report to, he + and his men are not entitled to the considerations due to an + acknowledged belligerent. Theirs are the conditions of outlaws, making + war against the only Government having an existence over the territory + where war is now being waged.<br /> <br /> "You may notify the rebel + commander west of the Mississippi—holding intercourse with him in + person, or through such officers of the rank of major-general as you may + select—that he will be allowed to surrender all his forces on the + same terms as were accorded to Lee and Johnston. If he accedes, proceed + to garrison the Red River as high up as Shreveport, the seaboard at + Galveston, Malagorda Bay, Corpus Christi, and mouth of the Rio Grande.<br /> + <br /> "Place a strong force on the Rio Grande, holding it at least to a + point opposite Camargo, and above that if supplies can be procured.<br /> + <br /> "In case of an active campaign (a hostile one) I think a heavy + force should be put on the Rio Grande as a first preliminary. Troops for + this might be started at once. The Twenty-Fifth Corps is now available, + and to it should be added a force of white troops, say those now under + Major-General Steele.<br /> <br /> "To be clear on this last point, I + think the Rio Grande should be strongly held, whether the forces in + Texas surrender or not, and that no time should be lost in getting + troops there. If war is to be made, they will be in the right place; if + Kirby Smith surrenders, they will be on the line which is to be strongly + garrisoned.<br /> <br /> "Should any force be necessary other than those + designated, they can be had by calling for them on Army Headquarters.<br /> + <br /> "U. S. GRANT,<br /> "Lieutenant-General.<br /> <br /> <br /> "To + MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN,<br /> "United States Army." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + On receipt of these instructions I called at once on General Grant, to see + if they were to be considered so pressing as to preclude my remaining in + Washington till after the Grand Review, which was fixed for the 23d and + 24th of May, for naturally I had a strong desire to head my command on + that great occasion. But the General told me that it was absolutely + necessary to go at once to force the surrender of the Confederates under + Kirby Smith. He also told me that the States lately in rebellion would be + embraced in two or three military departments, the commanders of which + would control civil affairs until Congress took action about restoring + them to the Union, since that course would not only be economical and + simple, but would give the Southern people confidence, and encourage them + to go to work, instead of distracting them with politics. + </p> + <p> + At this same interview he informed me that there was an additional motive + in sending me to the new command, a motive not explained by the + instructions themselves, and went on to say that, as a matter of fact, he + looked upon the invasion of Mexico by Maximilian as a part of the + rebellion itself, because of the encouragement that invasion had received + from the Confederacy, and that our success in putting down secession would + never be complete till the French and Austrian invaders were compelled to + quit the territory of our sister republic. With regard to this matter, + though, he said it would be necessary for me to act with great + circumspection, since the Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, was much opposed + to the use of our troops along the border in any active way that would be + likely to involve us in a war with European powers. + </p> + <p> + Under the circumstances, my disappointment at not being permitted to + participate in the review had to be submitted to, and I left Washington + without an opportunity of seeing again in a body the men who, while under + my command, had gone through so many trials and unremittingly pursued and, + assailed the enemy, from the beginning of the campaign of 1864 till the + white flag came into their hands at Appomattox Court House. + </p> + <p> + I went first to St. Louis, and there took the steamboat for New Orleans, + and when near the mouth of the Red River received word from General Canby + that Kirby Smith had surrendered under terms similar to those accorded Lee + and Johnston. But the surrender was not carried out in good faith, + particularly by the Texas troops, though this I did not learn till some + little time afterward when I was informed that they had marched off to the + interior of the State in several organized bodies, carrying with them + their camp equipage, arms, ammunition, and even some artillery, with the + ultimate purpose of going to Mexico. In consequence of this, and also + because of the desire of the Government to make a strong showing of force + in Texas, I decided to traverse the State with two columns of cavalry, + directing one to San Antonio under Merritt, the other to Houston under + Custer. Both commands were to start from the Red River—Shreveport + and Alexandria—being the respective initial points—and in + organizing the columns, to the mounted force already on the Red River were + added several regiments of cavalry from the east bank of the Mississippi, + and in a singular way one of these fell upon the trail of my old + antagonist, General Early. While crossing the river somewhere below + Vicksburg some of the men noticed a suspicious looking party being ferried + over in a rowboat, behind which two horses were swimming in tow. Chase was + given, and the horses, being abandoned by the party, fell into the hands + of our troopers, who, however, failed to capture or identify the people in + the boat. As subsequently ascertained, the men were companions of Early, + who was already across the Mississippi, hidden in the woods, on his way + with two or three of these followers to join the Confederates in Texas, + not having heard of Kirby Smith's surrender. A week or two later I + received a letter from Early describing the affair, and the capture of the + horses, for which he claimed pay, on the ground that they were private + property, because he had taken them in battle. The letter also said that + any further pursuit of Early would be useless, as he "expected to be on + the deep blue sea" by the time his communication reached me. The + unfortunate man was fleeing from imaginary dangers, however, for striking + his trail was purely accidental, and no effort whatever was being made to + arrest him personally. Had this been especially desired it might have been + accomplished very readily just after Lee's surrender, for it was an open + secret that Early was then not far away, pretty badly disabled with + rheumatism. + </p> + <p> + By the time the two columns were ready to set out for San Antonio and + Houston, General Frank Herron,—with one division of the Thirteenth + Corps, occupied Galveston, and another division under General Fred Steele + had gone to Brazos Santiago, to hold Brownsville and the line of the Rio + Grande, the object being to prevent, as far as possible, the escaping + Confederates from joining Maximilian. With this purpose in view, and not + forgetting Grant's conviction that the French invasion of Mexico was + linked with the rebellion, I asked for an increase of force to send troops + into Texas in fact, to concentrate at available points in the State an + army strong enough to move against the invaders of Mexico if occasion + demanded. The Fourth and Twenty-fifth army corps being ordered to report + to me, accordingly, I sent the Fourth Corps to Victoria and San Antonio, + and the bulk of the Twenty-fifth to Brownsville. Then came the feeding and + caring for all these troops—a difficult matter—for those at + Victoria and San Antonio had to be provisioned overland from Indianola + across the "hog-wallow prairie," while the supplies for the forces at + Brownsville and along the Rio Grande must come by way of Brazos Santiago, + from which point I was obliged to construct, with the labor of the men, a + railroad to Clarksville, a distance of about eighteen miles. + </p> + <p> + The latter part of June I repaired to Brownsville myself to impress the + Imperialists, as much as possible, with the idea that we intended + hostilities, and took along my chief of scouts—Major Young—and + four of his most trusty men, whom I had had sent from Washington. From + Brownsville I despatched all these men to important points in northern + Mexico, to glean information regarding the movements of the Imperial + forces, and also to gather intelligence about the ex-Confederates who had + crossed the Rio Grande. On information furnished by these scouts, I caused + General Steele to make demonstrations all along the lower Rio Grande, and + at the same time demanded the return of certain munitions of war that had + been turned over by ex-Confederates to the Imperial General (Mejia) + commanding at Matamoras. These demands, backed up as they were by such a + formidable show of force created much agitation and demoralization among + the Imperial troops, and measures looking to the abandonment of northern + Mexico were forthwith adopted by those in authority—a policy that + would have resulted in the speedy evacuation of the entire country by + Maximilian, had not our Government weakened; contenting itself with a few + pieces of the contraband artillery varnished over with the Imperial + apologies. A golden opportunity was lost, for we had ample excuse for + crossing the boundary, but Mr. Seward being, as I have already stated, + unalterably opposed to any act likely to involve us in war, insisted on + his course of negotiation with Napoleon. + </p> + <p> + As the summer wore away, Maximilian, under Mr. Seward's policy, gained in + strength till finally all the accessible sections of Mexico were in his + possession, and the Republic under President Juarez almost succumbed. + Growing impatient at this, in the latter part of September I decided to + try again what virtue there might be in a hostile demonstration, and + selected the upper Rio Grande for the scene of my attempt. Merritt's + cavalry and the Fourth Corps still being at San Antonio, I went to that + place and reviewed these troops, and having prepared them with some + ostentation for a campaign, of course it was bruited about that we were + going to invade Mexico. Then, escorted by a regiment of horse I proceeded + hastily to Fort Duncan, on the Rio Grande just opposite the Mexican town + of Piedras Negras. Here I opened communication with President Juarez, + through one of his staff, taking care not to do this in the dark, and the + news, spreading like wildfire, the greatest significance was ascribed to + my action, it being reported most positively and with many specific + details that I was only awaiting the arrival of the troops, then under + marching orders at San Antonio, to cross the Rio Grande in behalf of the + Liberal cause. + </p> + <p> + Ample corroboration of the reports then circulated was found in my + inquiries regarding the quantity of forage we could depend upon getting in + Mexico, our arrangements for its purchase, and my sending a pontoon train + to Brownsville, together with which was cited the renewed activity of the + troops along the lower Rio Grande. These reports and demonstrations + resulted in alarming the Imperialists so much that they withdrew the + French and Austrian soldiers from Matamoras, and practically abandoned the + whole of northern Mexico as far down as Monterey, with the exception of + Matamoras, where General Mejia continued to hang on with a garrison of + renegade Mexicans. + </p> + <p> + The abandonment of so much territory in northern Mexico encouraged General + Escobedo and other Liberal leaders to such a degree that they collected a + considerable army of their followers at Comargo, Mier, and other points. + At the same time that unknown quantity, Cortinas, suspended his + free-booting for the nonce, and stoutly harassing Matamoras, succeeded in + keeping its Imperial garrison within the fortifications. Thus countenanced + and stimulated, and largely supplied with arms and ammunition, which we + left at convenient places on our side of the river to fall into their + hands, the Liberals, under General Escobedo—a man of much force of + character—were enabled in northern Mexico to place the affairs of + the Republic on a substantial basis. + </p> + <p> + But in the midst of what bade fair to cause a final withdrawal of the + foreigners, we were again checked by our Government, as a result of + representations of the French Minister at Washington. In October, he wrote + to Mr. Seward that the United States troops on the Rio Grande were acting + "in exact opposition to the repeated assurances Your Excellency has given + me concerning the desire of the Cabinet at Washington to preserve the most + strict neutrality in the events now taking place in Mexico," and followed + this statement with an emphatic protest against our course. Without any + investigation whatever by our State Department, this letter of the French + Minister was transmitted to me, accompanied by directions to preserve a + strict neutrality; so, of course, we were again debarred from anything + like active sympathy. + </p> + <p> + After this, it required the patience of Job to abide the slow and poky + methods of our State Department, and, in truth, it was often very + difficult to restrain officers and men from crossing the Rio Grande with + hostile purpose. Within the knowledge of my troops, there had gone on + formerly the transfer of organized bodies of ex-Confederates to Mexico, in + aid of the Imperialists, and at this period it was known that there was in + preparation an immigration scheme having in view the colonizing, at + Cordova and one or two other places, of all the discontented elements of + the defunct Confederacy—Generals Price, Magruder, Maury, and other + high personages being promoters of the enterprise, which Maximilian took + to readily. He saw in it the possibilities of a staunch support to his + throne, and therefore not only sanctioned the project, but encouraged it + with large grants of land, inspirited the promoters with titles of nobility, + and, in addition, instituted a system of peonage, expecting that the + silver hook thus baited would be largely swallowed by the Southern people. + </p> + <p> + The announcement of the scheme was followed by the appointment of + commissioners in each of the Southern States to send out emigrants; but + before any were deluded into starting, I made to General Grant a report of + what was going on, with the recommendation that measures be taken, through + our State Department, looking to the suppression of the colony; but, as + usual, nothing could be effected through that channel; so, as an + alternative, I published, in April, 1866, by authority of General Grant, + an order prohibiting the embarkation from ports in Louisiana and Texas, + for ports in Mexico, of any person without a permit from my headquarters. + This dampened the ardor of everybody in the Gulf States who had planned to + go to Mexico; and although the projectors of the Cordova Colonization + Scheme—the name by which it was known—secured a few innocents + from other districts, yet this set-back led ultimately to failure. + </p> + <p> + Among the Liberal leaders along the Rio Grande during this period there + sprang up many factional differences from various causes, some personal, + others political, and some, I regret to say, from downright moral + obliquity—as, for example, those between Cortinas and Canales—who, + though generally hostile to the Imperialists, were freebooters enough to + take a shy at each other frequently, and now and then even to join forces + against Escobedo, unless we prevented them by coaxing or threats. A + general who could unite these several factions was therefore greatly + needed, and on my return to New Orleans I so telegraphed General Grant, + and he, thinking General Caravajal (then in Washington seeking aid for the + Republic) would answer the purpose, persuaded him to report to me in New + Orleans. Caravajal promptly appeared, but he did not impress me very + favorably. He was old and cranky, yet, as he seemed anxious to do his + best, I sent him over to Brownsville, with credentials, authorizing him to + cross into Mexico, and followed him myself by the next boat. When I + arrived in Brownsville, matters in Matamoras had already reached a crisis. + General Mejia, feeling keenly the moral support we were giving the + Liberals, and hard pressed by the harassing attacks of Cortinas and + Canales, had abandoned the place, and Caravajal, because of his + credentials from our side, was in command, much to the dissatisfaction of + both those chiefs whose differences it was intended he should reconcile. + </p> + <p> + The day after I got to Brownsville I visited Matamoras, and had a long + interview with Caravajal. The outcome of this meeting was, on my part, a + stronger conviction than ever that he was unsuitable, and I feared that + either Canales or Cortinas would get possession of the city. Caravajal + made too many professions of what he would do—in short, bragged too + much—but as there was no help for the situation, I made the best of + it by trying to smooth down the ruffled feathers of Canales and Cortinas. + In my interview with Caravajal I recommended Major Young as a confidential + man, whom he could rely upon as a "go-between" for communicating with our + people at Brownsville, and whom he could trust to keep him informed of the + affairs of his own country as well. + </p> + <p> + A day or two afterward I recrossed the Gulf to New Orleans, and then, + being called from my headquarters to the interior of Texas, a fortnight + passed before I heard anything from Brownsville. In the meanwhile Major + Young had come to New Orleans, and organized there a band of men to act as + a body-guard for Caravajal, the old wretch having induced him to accept + the proposition by representing that it had my concurrence. I at once + condemned the whole business, but Young, having been furnished with seven + thousand dollars to recruit the men and buy their arms, had already + secured both, and was so deeply involved in the transaction, he said, that + he could not withdraw without dishonor, and with tears in his eyes he + besought me to help him. He told me he had entered upon the adventure in + the firm belief that I would countenance it; that the men and their + equipment were on his hands; that he must make good his word at all + hazards; and that while I need not approve, yet I must go far enough to + consent to the departure of the men, and to loan him the money necessary + to provision his party and hire a schooner to carry them to Brazos. It was + hard in deed to resist the appeals of this man, who had served me so long + and so well, and the result of his pleading was that I gave him permission + to sail, and also loaned him the sum asked for; but I have never ceased to + regret my consent, for misfortune fell upon the enterprise almost from its + inception. + </p> + <p> + By the time the party got across the Gulf and over to Brownsville, + Caravajal had been deposed by Canales, and the latter would not accept + their services. This left Young with about fifty men to whom he was + accountable, and as he had no money to procure them subsistence, they were + in a bad fix. The only thing left to do was to tender their services to + General Escobedo, and with this in view the party set out to reach the + General's camp, marching up the Rio Grande on the American side, intending + to cross near Ringgold Bar racks. In advance of them, however, had spread + far and wide the tidings of who they were, what they proposed to do, and + where they were going, and before they could cross into Mexico they were + attacked by a party of ex-Confederates and renegade Mexican rancheros. + Being on American soil, Young forbade his men to return the fire, and bent + all his efforts to getting them over the river; but in this attempt they + were broken up, and became completely demoralized. A number of the men + were drowned while swimming the river, Young himself was shot and killed, + a few were captured, and those who escaped—about twenty in all—finally + joined Escobedo, but in such a plight as to be of little use. With this + distressing affair came to an end pretty much all open participation of + American sympathizers with the Liberal cause, but the moral support + afforded by the presence of our forces continued, and this was frequently + supplemented with material aid in the shape of munitions of war, which we + liberally supplied, though constrained to do so by the most secret + methods. + </p> + <p> + The term of office of Juarez as President of the Mexican Republic expired + in December, 1865, but to meet existing exigencies he had continued + himself in office by proclamation, a course rendered necessary by the fact + that no elections could be held on account of the Imperial occupation of + most of the country. The official who, by the Mexican Constitution, is + designated for the succession in such an emergency, is the President of + the Supreme Court, and the person then eligible under this provision was + General Ortega, but in the interest of the Imperialists he had absented + himself from Mexico, hence the patriotic course of Juarez in continuing + himself at the head of affairs was a necessity of the situation. This + action of the President gave the Imperialists little concern at first, but + with the revival of the Liberal cause they availed themselves of every + means to divide its supporters, and Ortega, who had been lying low in the + United States, now came forward to claim the Presidency. Though + ridiculously late for such a step, his first act was to issue a manifesto + protesting against the assumption of the executive authority by Juarez. + The protest had little effect, however, and his next proceeding was to + come to New Orleans, get into correspondence with other disaffected + Mexicans, and thus perfect his plans. When he thought his intrigue ripe + enough for action, he sailed for Brazos, intending to cross the Rio Grande + and assert his claims with arms. While he was scheming in New Orleans, + however, I had learned what he was up to, and in advance of his departure + had sent instructions to have him arrested on American soil. Colonel + Sedgwick, commanding at Brownsville, was now temporary master of Matamoras + also, by reason of having stationed some American troops there for the + protection of neutral merchants, so when Ortega appeared at Brazos, + Sedgwick quietly arrested him and held him till the city of Matamoras was + turned over to General Escobedo, the authorized representative of Juarez; + then Escobedo took charge, of Ortega, and with ease prevented his further + machinations. + </p> + <p> + During the winter and spring of 1866 we continued covertly supplying arms + and ammunition to the Liberals—sending as many as 30,000 muskets + from Baton Rouge Arsenal alone—and by mid-summer Juarez, having + organized a pretty good sized army, was in possession of the whole line of + the Rio Grande, and, in fact, of nearly the whole of Mexico down to San + Louis Potosi. Then thick and fast came rumors pointing to the tottering + condition of Maximilian's Empire-first, that Orizaba and Vera Cruz were + being fortified; then, that the French were to be withdrawn; and later + came the intelligence that the Empress Carlotta had gone home to beg + assistance from Napoleon, the author of all of her husband's troubles. But + the situation forced Napoleon to turn a deaf ear to Carlotta's prayers. + The brokenhearted woman besought him on her knees, but his fear of losing + an army made all pleadings vain. In fact, as I ascertained by the + following cablegram which came into my hands, Napoleon's instructions for + the French evacuation were in Mexico at the very time of this pathetic + scene between him and Carlotta. The despatch was in cipher when I received + it, but was translated by the telegraph operator at my headquarters, who + long before had mastered the key of the French cipher: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "PARIS, January 10, 1867. FRENCH CONSUL, New Orleans, La.<br /> + <br /> "To GENERAL CASTELNAU, at Mexico.<br /> <br /> "Received your + despatch of the 9th December. Do not compel the Emperor to abdicate, but + do not delay the departure of the troops; bring back all those who will + not remain there. Most of the fleet has left.<br /> <br /> "NAPOLEON." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + This meant the immediate withdrawal of the French. The rest of the story—which + has necessarily been but in outline—is soon told. Maximilian, though + deserted, determined to hold out to the last, and with the aid of disloyal + Mexicans stuck to his cause till the spring. When taken prisoner at + Queretaro, he was tried and executed under circumstances that are well + known. From promptings of humanity Secretary Seward tried hard to save the + Imperial prisoner, but without success. The Secretary's plea for mercy was + sent through me at New Orleans, and to make speed I hired a steamer to + proceed with it across the Gulf to Tampico. The document was carried by + Sergeant White, one of my scouts, who crossed the country from Tampico, + and delivered it to Escobedo at Queretaro; but Mr. Seward's + representations were without avail—refused probably because little + mercy had been shown certain Liberal leaders unfortunate enough to fall + into Maximilian's hands during the prosperous days of his Empire. + </p> + <p> + At the close of our war there was little hope for the Republic of Mexico. + Indeed, till our troops were concentrated on the Rio Grande there was + none. Our appearance in such force along the border permitted the Liberal + leaders, refugees from their homes, to establish rendezvous whence they + could promulgate their plans in safety, while the countenance thus given + the cause, when hope was well-nigh gone, incited the Mexican people to + renewed resistance. Beginning again with very scant means, for they had + lost about all, the Liberals saw their cause, under the influence of such + significant and powerful backing, progress and steadily grow so strong + that within two years Imperialism had received its death-blow. I doubt + very much whether such, results could have been achieved without the + presence of an American army on the Rio Grande, which, be it remembered, + was sent there because, in General Grant's words, the French invasion of + Mexico was so closely related to the rebellion as to be essentially a part + of it. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkbelle-grove" id="linkbelle-grove"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb225.jpg (120K)" src="images/pb225.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Belle-Grove House <a href="images/pb225.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch10b" id="linkch10b"></a>CHAPTER X. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + A. J. HAMILTON APPOINTED PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF TEXAS—ASSEMBLES A + CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION—THE TEXANS DISSATISFIED—LAWLESSNESS—OPPRESSIVE + LEGISLATION—EX-CONFEDERATES CONTROLLING LOUISIANA—A + CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION—THE MEETING SUPPRESSED—A BLOODY RIOT—MY + REPORTS OF THE MASSACRE—PORTIONS SUPPRESSED BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON—SUSTAINED + BY A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE—THE RECONSTRUCTION LAWS. + </p> + <p> + Although in 1865-66 much of my attention was directed to international + matters along the Rio Grande, the civil affairs of Texas and Louisiana + required a certain amount of military supervision also in the absence of + regularly established civil authority. At the time of Kirby Smith's + surrender the National Government had formulated no plan with regard to + these or the other States lately in rebellion, though a provisional + Government had been set up in Louisiana as early as 1864. In consequence + of this lack of system, Governor Pendleton Murray, of Texas, who was + elected under Confederate rule, continued to discharge the duties of + Governor till President Johnson, on June 17, in harmony with his amnesty + proclamation of May 29, 1865, appointed A. J. Hamilton provisional + Governor. Hamilton was empowered by the President to call a Constitutional + convention, the delegates to which were to be elected, under certain + prescribed qualifications, for the purpose of organizing the political + affairs of the State, the Governor to be guided by instructions similar to + those given the provisional Governor of North Carolina (W. W. Holden), + when appointed in May. + </p> + <p> + The convening of this body gave rise to much dissatisfaction among the + people of Texas. They had assumed that affairs were to go on as of old, + and that the reintegration of the State was to take place under the + administration of Governor Murray, who, meanwhile, had taken it upon + himself, together with the Legislature, to authorize the election of + delegates to a State Convention, without restriction as to who should be + entitled to vote. Thus encouraged, the element but lately in armed + rebellion was now fully bent on restoring the State to the Union without + any intervention whatever of the Federal Government; but the advent of + Hamilton put an end to such illusions, since his proclamation promptly + disfranchised the element in question, whose consequent disappointment and + chagrin were so great as to render this factor of the community almost + uncontrollable. The provisional Governor at once rescinded the edict of + Governor Murray, prohibited the assembling of his convention, and shortly + after called, one himself, the delegates to which were to b chosen by + voters who could take the amnesty-oath. The proclamation convening this + assemblage also announced the policy that would be pursued in governing + the State until its affairs were satisfactorily reorganized, defined in + brief the course to be followed by the Judiciary, and provided for the + appointment, by the Governor, of county officials to succeed those known + to be disloyal. As this action of Hamilton's disfranchised all who could + not take the amnesty oath, and of course deprived them of the offices, it + met at once with pronounced and serious opposition, and he quickly + realized that he had on his hands an arduous task to protect the colored + people, particularly as in the transition state of society just after the + close of the war there prevailed much lawlessness, which vented itself + chiefly on the freedmen. It was greatly feared that political rights were + to be given those so recently in servitude, and as it was generally + believed that such enfranchisement would precipitate a race war unless the + freedmen were overawed and kept in a state of subjection, acts of + intimidation were soon reported from all parts of the State. + </p> + <p> + Hamilton, an able, determined, and fearless man, tried hard to curb this + terrorism, but public opinion being strong against him, he could + accomplish little without military aid. As department commander, I was + required, whenever called upon, to assist his government, and as these + requisitions for help became necessarily very frequent, the result was + that shortly after he assumed his duties, detachments of troops were + stationed in nearly every county of the State. By such disposition of my + forces fairly good order was maintained under the administration of + Hamilton, and all went well till the inauguration of J. W. Throckmorton, + who, elected Governor in pursuance of an authorization granted by the + convention which Hamilton had called together, assumed the duties of the + office August 9, 1866. + </p> + <p> + One of Governor Throckmorton's first acts was to ask the withdrawal or + non-interference of the military. This was not all granted, but under his + ingenious persuasion President Johnson, on the 13th of August, 1866, + directed that the new State officials be entrusted with the unhampered + control of civil affairs, and this was more than enough to revive the + bulldozing methods that had characterized the beginning of Hamilton's + administration. Oppressive legislation in the shape of certain apprentice + and vagrant laws quickly followed, developing a policy of gross injustice + toward the colored people on the part of the courts, and a reign of + lawlessness and disorder ensued which, throughout the remote districts of + the State at least, continued till Congress, by what are known as the + Reconstruction Acts, took into its own hands the rehabilitation of the + seceded States. + </p> + <p> + In the State of Louisiana a provisional government, chosen by the loyal + element, had been put in operation, as already mentioned, as early as + 1864. This was effected under encouragement given by President Lincoln, + through the medium of a Constitutional convention, which met at New + Orleans in April, 1864, and adjourned in July. The constitution then + agreed upon was submitted to the people, and in September, 1864, was + ratified by a vote of the few loyal residents of the State. + </p> + <p> + The government provided under this constitution being looked upon as + provisional merely, was never recognized by Congress, and in 1865 the + returned Confederates, restored to citizenship by the President's amnesty + proclamation, soon got control of almost all the State. The Legislature + was in their hands, as well as most of the State and municipal offices; + so, when the President, on the 20th of August, 1866, by proclamation, + extended his previous instructions regarding civil affairs in Texas so as + to have them apply to all the seceded States, there at once began in + Louisiana a system of discriminative legislation directed against the + freedmen, that led to flagrant wrongs in the enforcement of labor + contracts, and in the remote parishes to numbers of outrages and murders. + </p> + <p> + To remedy this deplorable condition of things, it was proposed, by those + who had established the government of 1864, to remodel the constitution of + the State; and they sought to do this by reassembling the convention, that + body before its adjournment having provided for reconvening under certain + conditions, in obedience to the call of its president. Therefore, early in + the summer of 1866, many members of this convention met in conference at + New Orleans, and decided that a necessity existed for reconvening the + delegates, and a proclamation was issued accordingly by B. K. Howell, + President-pro-tempore. + </p> + <p> + Mayor John T. Monroe and the other officials of New Orleans looked upon + this proposed action as revolutionary, and by the time the convention + assembled (July 30), such bitterness of feeling prevailed that efforts + were made by the mayor and city police to suppress the meeting. A bloody + riot followed, resulting, in the killing and wounding of about a hundred + and sixty persons. + </p> + <p> + I happened to be absent from the city at the time, returning from Texas, + where I had been called by affairs on the Rio Grande. On my way up from + the mouth of the Mississippi I was met on the night of July 30 by one of + my staff, who reported what had occurred, giving the details of the + massacre—no milder term is fitting—and informing me that, to + prevent further slaughter, General Baird, the senior military officer + present, had assumed control of the municipal government. On reaching the + city I made an investigation, and that night sent the following report of + the affair: + </p> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE GULF,<br /> "NEW ORLEANS, LA., + Aug. 1, 1866.<br /> <br /> "GENERAL U. S. GRANT:<br /> <br /> "You are + doubtless aware of the serious riot which occurred in this city on the + 30th. A political body, styling themselves the Convention of 1864, met on + the 30th, for, as it is alleged, the purpose of remodeling the present + constitution of the State. The leaders were political agitators and + revolutionary men, and the action of the convention was liable to produce + breaches of the public peace. I had made up my mind to arrest the head + men, if the proceedings of the convention were calculated to disturb the + tranquility of the Department; but I had no cause for action until they + committed the overt act. In the meantime official duty called me to Texas, + and the mayor of the city, during my absence suppressed the convention by + the use of the police force, and in so doing attacked the members of the + convention, and a party of two hundred negroes, with fire-arms, clubs, and + knives, in a manner so unnecessary and atrocious as to compel me to say + that it was murder. About forty whites and blacks were thus killed, and + about one hundred and sixty wounded. Everything is now quiet, but I deem + it best to maintain a military supremacy in the city for a few days, until + the affair is fully investigated. I believe the sentiment of the general + community is great regret at this unnecessary cruelty, and that the police + could have made any arrest they saw fit without sacrificing lives.<br /> + <br /> "P. H. SHERIDAN,<br /> "Major-General Commanding." + </p> + <p> + On receiving the telegram, General Grant immediately submitted it to the + President. Much clamor being made at the North for the publication of the + despatch, Mr. Johnson pretended to give it to the newspapers. It appeared + in the issues of August 4, but with this paragraph omitted, viz.: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the proceedings + of the convention were calculated to disturb the tranquility of the + Department, but I had no cause for action until they committed the overt + act. In the mean time official duty called me to Texas, and the mayor of + the city, during my absence, suppressed the convention by the use of the + police force, and in so doing attacked the members of the convention, + and a party of two hundred negroes, with fire-arms, clubs, and knives, + in a manner so unnecessary and atrocious as to compel me to say it was + murder." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Against this garbling of my report—done by the President's own order—I + strongly demurred; and this emphatic protest marks the beginning of Mr. + Johnson's well-known personal hostility toward me. In the mean time I + received (on August 3) the following despatch from General Grant approving + my course: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,<br /> "WAR DEPT., + WASHINGTON, D. C., "August 3, 1866—5 p.m.<br /> <br /> + "MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN,<br /> "Commanding Mil. Div. of the Gulf,<br /> + "New Orleans, La.<br /> <br /> "Continue to enforce martial law, so far as + may be necessary to preserve the peace; and do not allow any of the + civil authorities to act, if you deem such action dangerous to the + public safety. Lose no time in investigating and reporting the causes + that led to the riot, and the facts which occurred.<br /> <br /> "U. S. + GRANT,<br /> "Lieutenant-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In obedience to the President's directions, My report of August 1 was + followed by another, more in detail, which I give in full, since it tells + the whole story of the riot: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE GULF,<br /> "NEW ORLEANS, + LA., August 6, 1866.<br /> <br /> "His EXCELLENCY ANDREW JOHNSON,<br /> + "President United States<br /> <br /> "I have the honor to make the + following reply to your despatch of August 4. A very large number of + colored people marched in procession on Friday night, July twenty-seven + (27), and were addressed from the steps of the City Hall by Dr. Dostie, + ex-Governor Hahn, and others. The speech of Dostie was intemperate in + language and sentiment. The speeches of the others, so far as I can + learn, were characterized by moderation. I have not given you the words + of Dostie's speech, as the version published was denied; but from what I + have learned of the man, I believe they were intemperate.<br /> <br /> + "The convention assembled at twelve (12)M. on the thirtieth (30), the + timid members absenting themselves because the tone of the general + public was ominous of trouble. I think there were about twenty-six (26) + members present. In front of the Mechanics Institute, where the meeting + was held, there were assembled some colored men, women, and children, + perhaps eighteen (18) or twenty (20), and in the Institute a number of + colored men, probably one hundred and fifty (150). Among those outside + and inside there might have been a pistol in the possession of every + tenth (10) man.<br /> <br /> "About one (1) p. m. a procession of say from + sixty (60) to one hundred and thirty (130) colored men marched up + Burgundy Street and across Canal Street toward the convention, carrying + an American flag. These men had about one pistol to every ten men, and + canes and clubs in addition. While crossing Canal Street a row occurred. + There were many spectators on the street, and their manner and tone + toward the procession unfriendly. A shot was fired, by whom I am not + able to state, but believe it to have been by a policeman, or some + colored man in the procession. This led to other shots and a rush after + the procession. On arrival at the front of the Institute there was some + throwing of brickbats by both sides. The police, who had been held well + in hand, were vigorously marched to the scene of disorder. The + procession entered the Institute with the flag, about six (6) or eight + (8) remaining outside. A row occurred between a policeman and one of + these colored men, and a shot was again fired by one of the parties, + which led to an indiscriminate fire on the building through the windows + by the policemen. This had been going on for a short time, when a white + flag was displayed from the windows of the Institute, whereupon the + firing ceased, and the police rushed into the building.<br /> <br /> "From + the testimony of wounded men, and others who were inside the building, + the policemen opened an indiscriminate fire upon the audience until they + had emptied their revolvers, when they retired, and those inside + barricaded the doors. The door was broken in, and the firing again + commenced, when many of the colored and white people either escaped + throughout the door or were passed out by the policemen inside; but as + they came out the policemen who formed the circle nearest the building + fired upon them, and they were again fired upon by the citizens that + formed the outer circle. Many of those wounded and taken prisoners, and + others who were prisoners and not wounded, were fired upon by their + captors and by citizens. The wounded were stabbed while lying on the + ground, and their heads beaten with brickbats. In the yard of the + building, whither some of the colored men had escaped and partially + secreted themselves, they were fired upon and killed or wounded by + policemen. Some were killed and wounded several squares from the scene. + Members of the convention were wounded by the police while in their + hands as prisoners, some of them mortally.<br /> <br /> "The immediate + cause of this terrible affair was the assemblage of this Convention; the + remote cause was the bitter and antagonistic feeling which has been + growing in this community since the advent of the present Mayor, who, in + the organization of his police force, selected many desperate men, and + some of them known murderers. People of clear views were overawed by + want of confidence in the Mayor, and fear of the thugs, many of which he + had selected for his police force. I have frequently been spoken to by + prominent citizens on this subject, and have heard them express fear, + and want of confidence in Mayor Monroe. Ever since the intimation of + this last convention movement I must condemn the course of several of + the city papers for supporting, by their articles, the bitter feeling of + bad men. As to the merciless manner in which the convention was broken + up, I feel obliged to confess strong repugnance.<br /> <br /> "It is + useless to disguise the hostility that exists on the part of a great + many here toward Northern men, and this unfortunate affair has so + precipitated matters that there is now a test of what shall be the + status of Northern men—whether they can live here without being in + constant dread or not, whether they can be protected in life and + property, and have justice in the courts. If this matter is permitted to + pass over without a thorough and determined prosecution of those engaged + in it, we may look out for frequent scenes of the same kind, not only + here, but in other places. No steps have as yet been taken by the civil + authorities to arrest citizens who were engaged in this massacre, or + policemen who perpetrated such cruelties. The members of the convention + have been indicted by the grand jury, and many of them arrested and held + to bail. As to whether the civil authorities can mete out ample justice + to the guilty parties on both sides, I must say it is my opinion, + unequivocally, that they cannot. Judge Abell, whose course I have + closely watched for nearly a year, I now consider one of the most + dangerous men that we have here to the peace and quiet of the city. The + leading men of the convention—King, Cutler, Hahn, and others—have + been political agitators, and are bad men. I regret to say that the + course of Governor Wells has been vacillating, and that during the late + trouble he has shown very little of the man.<br /> <br /> "P. H. SHERIDAN,<br /> + "Major-General Commanding." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Subsequently a military commission investigated the subject of the riot, + taking a great deal of testimony. The commission substantially confirmed + the conclusions given in my despatches, and still later there was an + investigation by a select committee of the House of Representatives, of + which the Honorables Samuel Shellabarger, of Ohio, H. L. Elliot, of + Massachusetts, and B. M. Boyer, of Pennsylvania, were the members. The + majority report of the committee also corroborated, in all essentials, my + reports of the distressing occurrence. The committee likewise called + attention to a violent speech made by Mr. Johnson at St. Louis in + September, 1866, charging the origin of the riot to Congress, and went on + to say of the speech that "it was an unwarranted and unjust expression of + hostile feeling, without pretext or foundation in fact." A list of the + killed and wounded was embraced in the committee's report, and among other + conclusions reached were the following: "That the meeting of July 30 was a + meeting of quiet citizens, who came together without arms and with intent + peaceably to discuss questions of public concern.... There has been no + occasion during our National history when a riot has occurred so destitute + of justifiable cause, resulting in a massacre so inhuman and fiend-like, + as that which took place at New Orleans on the 30th of July last. This + riotous attack upon the convention, with its terrible results of massacre + and murder, was not an accident. It was the determined purpose of the + mayor of the city of New Orleans to break up this convention by armed + force." + </p> + <p> + The statement is also made, that, "He [the President] knew that 'rebels' + and 'thugs' and disloyal men had controlled the election of Mayor Monroe, + and that such men composed chiefly his police force." + </p> + <p> + The committee held that no legal government existed in Louisiana, and + recommended the temporary establishment of a provisional government + therein; the report concluding that "in the meantime the safety of all + Union men within the State demands that such government be formed for + their protection, for the well being of the nation and the permanent peace + of the Republic." + </p> + <p> + The New Orleans riot agitated the whole country, and the official and + other reports served to intensify and concentrate the opposition to + President Johnson's policy of reconstruction, a policy resting exclusively + on and inspired solely by the executive authority—for it was made + plain, by his language and his acts, that he was seeking to rehabilitate + the seceded States under conditions differing not a whit from those + existing before the rebellion; that is to say, without the slightest + constitutional provision regarding the status of the emancipated slaves, + and with no assurances of protection for men who had remained loyal in the + war. + </p> + <p> + In December, 1866, Congress took hold of the subject with such vigor as to + promise relief from all these perplexing disorders, and, after much + investigation and a great deal of debate, there resulted the so-called + "Reconstruction Laws," which, for a clear understanding of the powers + conferred on the military commanders, I deem best to append in full: + </p> + <p> + AN ACT to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States. + </p> + <p> + WHEREAS, no legal State governments or adequate protection for life or + property now exist in the rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina, South + Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and + Arkansas; and whereas, it is necessary that peace and good order should be + enforced in said States until loyal and republican State governments can + be legally established; therefore, + </p> + <p> + BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United + States of America in Congress assembled, That said rebel States shall be + divided into military districts and made subject to the military authority + of the United States as hereinafter prescribed; and for that purpose + Virginia shall constitute the first district; North Carolina and South + Carolina, the second district; Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, the third + district; Mississippi and Arkansas, the fourth district; and Louisiana and + Texas, the fifth district. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the + President to assign to the command of each of said districts an officer of + the army not below the rank of brigadier-general, and to detail a + sufficient military force to enable such officer to perform his duties and + enforce his authority within the district to which he is assigned. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of each + officer assigned as aforesaid to protect all persons in their rights of + person and property, to suppress insurrection, disorder, and violence, and + to punish, or cause to be punished, all disturbers of the public peace and + criminals, and to this end he may allow local civil tribunals to take + jurisdiction of and to try offenders, or, when in his judgment it may be + necessary for the trial of offenders, he shall have power to organize + military commissions or tribunals for that purpose, and all interference, + under cover of State authority, with the exercise of military authority + under this act, shall be null and void. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That all persons put under military + arrest by virtue of this act shall be tried without unnecessary delay, and + no cruel or unjust punishment shall be inflicted; and no sentence of any + military commission or tribunal hereby authorized affecting the life or + liberty of any person, shall be executed until it is approved by the + officer in command of the district; and the laws and regulations for the + government of the army shall not be affected by this act except in so far + as they conflict with its provisions: Provided, That no sentence of death, + under the provisions of this act, shall be carried into effect without the + approval of the President. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That when the people of any one of said + rebel States shall have formed a constitution of government in conformity + with the Constitution of the United States in all respects, framed by a + convention of delegates elected by the male citizens of said State + twenty-one years old and upward, of whatever race, color, or previous + condition, who have been resident in said State for one year previous to + the day of such election, except such as may be disfranchised for + participation in the rebellion, or for felony at common law; and when such + constitution shall provide that the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by + all such persons as have the qualifications herein stated for electors of + delegates; and when such constitution shall be ratified by a majority of + the persons voting on the question of ratification who are qualified as + electors for delegates, and when such constitution shall have been + submitted to Congress for examination and approval, and Congress shall + have approved the same; and when said State, by a vote of its legislature + elected under said constitution, shall have adopted the amendment to the + Constitution of the United States proposed by the Thirty-ninth Congress, + and known as article fourteen; and when said article shall have become a + part of the Constitution of the United States, said State shall be + declared entitled to representation in Congress, and senators and + representatives shall be admitted therefrom on their taking the oath + prescribed by law; and then and thereafter the preceding sections of this + act shall be inoperative in said State: Provided, That no person excluded + from the privilege of holding office by said proposed amendment to the + Constitution of the United States shall be eligible to election as a + member of the convention to frame a constitution for any of said rebel + States, nor shall any such person vote for members of such convention. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That until the people of said rebel + States shall be by law admitted to representation in the Congress of the + United States, any civil government which may exist therein shall be + deemed provisional only, and in all respects subject to the paramount + authority of the United States at any time to abolish, modify, control, or + supersede the same; and in all elections to any office under such + provisional governments all persons shall be entitled to vote, and none + others, who are entitled to vote under the fifth section of this act; and + no person shall be eligible to any office under any such provisional + governments who would be disqualified from holding office under the + provisions of the third article of said constitutional amendment. + </p> + <p> + SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives. + </p> + <p> + LAFAYETTE S. FOSTER, President of the Senate pro tempore. + </p> + <p> + AN ACT supplementary to an act entitled "An act to provide for the more + efficient government of the rebel States," passed March second, eighteen + hundred and sixty-seven, and to facilitate restoration. + </p> + <p> + Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United + States of America in Congress assembled, That before the first day of + September, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, the commanding general in + each district defined by an act entitled "An act to provide for the more + efficient government of the rebel States," passed March second, eighteen + hundred and sixty-seven, shall cause a registration to be made of the male + citizens of the United States, twenty-one years of age and upwards, + resident in each county or parish in the State or States included in his + district, which registration shall include only those persons who are + qualified to vote for delegates by the act aforesaid, and who shall have + taken and subscribed the following oath or affirmation: "I,———, + do solemnly swear (or affirm), in the presence of the Almighty God, that I + am a citizen of the State of ————-; that I have + resided in said State for——- months next preceding this day, + and now reside in the county of ———-, or the parish of + ————, in said State, (as the case may be); that I + am twenty-one years old; that I have not been disfranchised for + participation in any rebellion or civil war against the United States, nor + for felony committed against the laws of any State or of the United + States; that I have never been a member of any State Legislature, nor held + any executive or judicial office in any State, and afterwards engaged in + insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or given aid or + comfort to the enemies thereof; that I have never taken an oath as a + member of Congress of the United States, or as an officer of the United + States, or as a member of any State Legislature, or as an executive or + judicial officer of any State, to support the constitution of the United + States, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the + United States or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I will + faithfully support the Constitution and obey the laws of the United + States, and will, to the best of my ability, encourage others so to do: so + help me God."; which oath or affirmation may be administered by any + registering officer. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That after the completion of the + registration hereby provided for in any State, at such time and places + therein as the commanding general shall appoint and direct, of which at + least thirty days' public notice shall be given, an election shall be held + of delegates to a convention for the purpose of establishing a + constitution and civil government for such State loyal to the Union, said + convention in each State, except Virginia, to consist of the same number + of members as the most numerous branch of the State Legislature of such + State in the year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be apportioned among the + several districts, counties, or parishes of such State by the commanding + general, giving each representation in the ratio of voters registered as + aforesaid as nearly as may be. The convention in Virginia shall consist of + the same number of members as represented the territory now constituting + Virginia in the most numerous branch of the Legislature of said State in + the year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be apportioned as aforesaid. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That at said election the registered + voters of each State shall vote for or against a convention to form a + constitution therefor under this act. Those voting in favor of such a + convention shall have written or printed on the ballots by which they vote + for delegates, as aforesaid, the words "For a convention," and those + voting against such a convention shall have written or printed on such + ballot the words "Against a convention." The persons appointed to + superintend said election, and to make return of the votes given thereat, + as herein provided, shall count and make return of the votes given for and + against a convention; and the commanding general to whom the same shall + have been returned shall ascertain and declare the total vote in each + State for and against a convention. If a majority of the votes given on + that question shall be for a convention, then such convention shall be + held as hereinafter provided; but if a majority of said votes shall, be + against a convention, then no such convention shall be held under this + act: Provided, That such convention shall not be held unless a majority of + all such registered voters shall have voted on the question of holding + such convention. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the commanding general of each + district shall appoint as many boards of registration as may be necessary, + consisting of three loyal officers or persons, to make and complete the + registration, superintend the election, and make return to him of the + votes, list of voters, and of the persons elected as delegates by a + plurality of the votes cast at said election; and upon receiving said + returns he shall open the same, ascertain the persons elected as + delegates, according to the returns of the officers who conducted said + election, and make proclamation thereof; and if a majority of the votes + given on that question shall be for a convention, the commanding general, + within sixty days from the date of election, shall notify the delegates to + assemble in convention, at a time and place to be mentioned in the + notification, and said convention, when organized, shall proceed to frame + a constitution and civil government according to the provisions of this + act, and the act to which it is supplementary; and when the same shall + have been so framed, said constitution shall be submitted by the + convention for ratification to the persons registered under the provisions + of this act at an election to be conducted by the officers or persons + appointed or to be appointed by the commanding general, as hereinbefore + provided, and to be held after the expiration of thirty days from the date + of notice thereof, to be given by said convention; and the returns thereof + shall be made to the commanding general of the district. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That if, according to said returns, the + constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the votes of the + registered electors qualified as herein specified, cast at said election, + at least one-half of all the registered voters voting upon the question of + such ratification, the president of the convention shall transmit a copy + of the same, duly certified, to the President of the United States, who + shall forthwith transmit the same to Congress, if then in session, and if + not in session, then immediately upon its next assembling; and if it shall + moreover appear to Congress that the election was one at which all the + registered and qualified electors in the State had an opportunity to vote + freely, and without restraint, fear, or the influence of fraud, and if the + Congress shall be satisfied that such constitution meets the approval of a + majority of all the qualified electors in the State, and if the said + constitution shall be declared by Congress to be in conformity with the + provisions of the act to which this is supplementary, and the other + provisions of said act shall have been complied with, and the said + constitution shall be approved by Congress, the State shall be declared + entitled to representation, and senators and representatives shall be + admitted therefrom as therein provided. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That all elections in the States + mentioned in the said "Act to provide for the more efficient government of + the rebel States" shall, during the operation of said act, be by ballot; + and all officers making the said registration of voters and conducting + said elections, shall, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, + take and subscribe the oath prescribed by the act approved July second, + eighteen hundred and sixty-two, entitled "An act to prescribe an oath of + office": Provided, That if any person shall knowingly and falsely take and + subscribe any oath in this act prescribed, such person so offending and + being thereof duly convicted, shall be subject to the pains, penalties, + and disabilities which by law are provided for the punishment of the crime + of wilful and corrupt perjury. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 7. And be if further enacted, That all expenses incurred by the + several commanding generals, or by virtue of any orders issued, or + appointments made, by them, under or by virtue of this act, shall be paid + out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the convention for each State + shall prescribe the fees, salary, and compensation to be paid to all + delegates and other officers and agents herein authorized or necessary to + carry into effect the purposes of this act not herein otherwise provided + for, and shall provide for the levy and collection of such taxes on the + property in such State as may be necessary to pay the same. + </p> + <p> + SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the word "article," in the sixth + section of the act to which this is supplementary, shall be construed to + mean, "section." + </p> + <p> + SCHUYLER COLFAX, Speaker of the House of Representatives. + </p> + <p> + B. F. WADE, President of the Senate pro tempore. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch11b" id="linkch11b"></a>CHAPTER XI. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + PASSAGE OF THE RECONSTRUCTION ACT OVER THE PRESIDENT'S VETO—PLACED + IN COMMAND OF THE FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT—REMOVING OFFICERS—MY + REASONS FOR SUCH ACTION—AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA AND TEXAS—REMOVAL + OF GOVERNOR WELLS—REVISION OF THE JURY LISTS—RELIEVED FROM THE + COMMAND OF THE FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT. + </p> + <p> + The first of the Reconstruction laws was passed March 2, 1867, and though + vetoed by the President, such was the unanimity of loyal sentiment and the + urgency demanding the measure, that the bill became a law over the veto + the day the President returned it to Congress. March the 11th this law was + published in General Orders No. 10, from the Headquarters of the Army, the + same order assigning certain officers to take charge of the five military + districts into which the States lately in rebellion were subdivided, I + being announced as the commander of the Fifth Military District, which + embraced Louisiana and Texas, a territory that had formed the main portion + of my command since the close of the war. + </p> + <p> + Between the date of the Act and that of my assignment, the Louisiana + Legislature, then in special session, had rejected a proposed repeal of an + Act it had previously passed providing for an election of certain + municipal officers in New Orleans. This election was set for March 11, but + the mayor and the chief of police, together with General Mower, commanding + the troops in the city, having expressed to me personally their fears that + the public peace would be disturbed by the election, I, in this emergency, + though not yet assigned to the district, assuming the authority which the + Act conferred on district commanders, declared that the election should + not take place; that no polls should be opened on the day fixed; and that + the whole matter would stand postponed till the district commander should + be appointed, or special instructions be had. This, my first official act + under the Reconstruction laws, was rendered necessary by the course of a + body of obstructionists, who had already begun to give unequivocal + indications of their intention to ignore the laws of Congress. + </p> + <p> + A copy of the order embodying the Reconstruction law, together with my + assignment, having reached me a few days after, I regularly assumed + control of the Fifth Military District on March 19, by an order wherein I + declared the State and municipal governments of the district to be + provisional only, and, under the provisions of the sixth section of the + Act, subject to be controlled, modified, superseded, or abolished. I also + announced that no removals from office would be made unless the incumbents + failed to carry out the provisions of the law or impeded reorganization, + or unless willful delays should necessitate a change, and added: "Pending + the reorganization, it is, desirable and intended to create as little + disturbance in the machinery of the various branches of the provisional + governments as possible, consistent with the law of Congress and its + successful execution, but this condition is dependent upon the disposition + shown by the people, and upon the length of time required for + reorganization." + </p> + <p> + Under these limitations Louisiana and Texas retained their former + designations as military districts, the officers in command exercising + their military powers as heretofore. In addition, these officers were to + carry out in their respective commands all provisions of the law except + those specially requiring the action of the district commander, and in + cases of removals from and appointment to office. + </p> + <p> + In the course of legislation the first Reconstruction act, as I have + heretofore noted, had been vetoed. On the very day of the veto, however, + despite the President's adverse action, it passed each House of Congress + by such an overwhelming majority as not only to give it the effect of law, + but to prove clearly that the plan of reconstruction presented was, beyond + question, the policy endorsed by the people of the country. It was, + therefore, my determination to see to the law's zealous execution in my + district, though I felt certain that the President would endeavor to + embarrass me by every means in his power, not only on account of his + pronounced personal hostility, but also because of his determination not + to execute but to obstruct the measures enacted by Congress. + </p> + <p> + Having come to this conclusion, I laid down, as a rule for my guidance, + the principle of non-interference with the provisional State governments, + and though many appeals were made to have me rescind rulings of the + courts, or interpose to forestall some presupposed action to be taken by + them, my invariable reply was that I would not take cognizance of such + matters, except in cases of absolute necessity. The same policy was + announced also in reference to municipal affairs throughout the district, + so long as the action of the local officers did not conflict with the law. + </p> + <p> + In a very short time, however, I was obliged to interfere in municipal + matters in New Orleans, for it had become clearly apparent that several of + the officials were, both by acts of omission and commission, ignoring the + law, so on the 27th of March I removed from office the Mayor, John T. + Monroe; the Judge of the First District Court, E. Abell; and the + Attorney-General of the State, Andrew S. Herron; at the same time + appointing to the respective offices thus vacated Edward Heath, W. W. + Howe, and B. L. Lynch. The officials thus removed had taken upon + themselves from the start to pronounce the Reconstruction acts + unconstitutional, and to advise such a course of obstruction that I found + it necessary at an early dav to replace them by men in sympathy with the + law, in order to make plain my determination to have its provisions + enforced. The President at once made inquiry, through General Grant, for + the cause of the removal, and I replied: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT,<br /> "New Orleans, La., + April 19, 1867.<br /> <br /> "GENERAL: On the 27th day of March last I + removed from office Judge E. Abell, of the Criminal Court of New + Orleans; Andrew S. Herron, Attorney-General of the State of Louisiana; + and John T. Monroe, Mayor of the City of New Orleans. These removals + were made under the powers granted me in what is usually termed the + 'military bill,' passed March 2, 1867, by the Congress of the United + States.<br /> <br /> "I did not deem it necessary to give any reason for + the removal of these men, especially after the investigations made by + the military board on the massacre Of July 30, 1866, and the report of + the congressional committee on the same massacre; but as some inquiry + has been made for the cause of removal, I would respectfully state as + follows:<br /> <br /> "The court over which judge Abell presided is the + only criminal court in the city of New Orleans, and for a period of at + least nine months previous to the riot Of July 30 he had been educating + a large portion of the community to the perpetration of this outrage, by + almost promising no prosecution in his court against the offenders, in + case such an event occurred. The records of his court will show that he + fulfilled his promise, as not one of the guilty has been prosecuted.<br /> + <br /> "In reference to Andrew J. Herron, Attorney-General of the State + of Louisiana, I considered it his duty to indict these men before this + criminal court. This he failed to do, but went so far as to attempt to + impose on the good sense of the whole nation by indicting the victims of + the riot instead of the rioters; in other words, making the innocent + guilty and the guilty innocent. He was therefore, in my belief, an able + coadjutor with judge Abell in bringing on the massacre of July 30.<br /> + <br /> "Mayor Monroe controlled the element engaged in this riot, and + when backed by an attorney-general who would not prosecute the guilty, + and a judge who advised the grand jury to find the innocent guilty and + let the murderers go free, felt secure in engaging his police force in + the riot and massacre.<br /> <br /> "With these three men exercising a + large influence over the worst elements of the population of this city, + giving to those elements an immunity for riot and bloodshed, the + general-in-chief will see how insecurely I felt in letting them occupy + their respective positions in the troubles which might occur in + registration and voting in the reorganization of this State.<br /> <br /> + "I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,<br /> <br /> "P. + H. SHERIDAN,<br /> "Major-General U. S. A.<br /> <br /> <br /> "GENERAL U. + S. GRANT,<br /> "Commanding Armies of the United States,<br /> + "Washington, D. C." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + To General Grant my reasons were satisfactory, but not so to the + President, who took no steps, however, to rescind my action, for he knew + that the removals were commended by well-nigh the entire community in the + city, for it will be understood that Mr. Johnson was, through his friends + and adherents in Louisiana and Texas, kept constantly advised of every + step taken by me. Many of these persons were active and open opponents of + mine, while others were spies, doing their work so secretly and quickly + that sometimes Mr. Johnson knew of my official acts before I could report + them to General Grant. + </p> + <p> + The supplemental Reconstruction act which defined the method of + reconstruction became a law despite the President's veto on March 23. This + was a curative act, authorizing elections and prescribing methods of + registration. When it reached me officially I began measures for carrying + out its provisions, and on the 28th of March issued an order to the effect + that no elections for the State, parish, or municipal officers would be + held in Louisiana until the provisions of the laws of Congress entitled + "An act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States," + and of the act supplemental thereto, should have been complied with. I + also announced that until elections were held in accordance with these + acts, the law of the Legislature of the State providing for the holding + over of those persons whose terms of office otherwise would have expired, + would govern in all cases excepting only those special ones in which I + myself might take action. There was one parish, Livingston, which this + order did no reach in time to prevent the election previously ordered + there, and which therefore took place, but by a supplemental order this + election was declare null and void. + </p> + <p> + In April. I began the work of administering the Supplemental Law, which, + under certain condition of eligibility, required a registration of the + voter of the State, for the purpose of electing delegate to a + Constitutional convention. It therefore became necessary to appoint Boards + of Registration throughout the election districts, and on April 10 the + boards for the Parish of Orleans were given out, those for the other + parishes being appointed ten days later. Before announcing these boards, I + had asked to be advised definitely as to what persons were disfranchised + by the law, and was directed by General Grant to act upon my own + interpretation of it, pending an opinion expected shortly from the + Attorney-General—Mr. Henry Stanbery—so, for the guidance of + the boards, I gave the following instructions: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT.<br /> "New Orleans, La., + April 10, 1867.<br /> <br /> "Special Orders, No. 15.<br /> <br /> "....In + obedience to the directions contained in the first section of the Law of + Congress entitled "An Act supplemental to an Act entitled 'An Act to + provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States'" the + registration of the legal voters, according to that law in the Parish of + Orleans, will be commenced on the 15th instant, and must be completed by + the 15th of May.<br /> <br /> "The four municipal districts of the City of + New Orleans and the Parish of Orleans, right bank (Algiers), will each + constitute a Registration district. Election precincts will remain as at + present constituted.<br /> <br /> "....Each member of the Board of + Registers, before commencing his duties, will file in the office of the + Assistant-Inspector-General at these headquarters, the oath required in + the sixth section of the Act referred to, and be governed in the + execution of his duty by the provisions of the first section of that + Act, faithfully administering the oath therein prescribed to each person + registered.<br /> <br /> "Boards of Registers will immediately select + suitable offices within their respective districts, having reference to + convenience and facility of registration, and will enter upon their + duties on the day designated. Each Board will be entitled to two clerks. + Office-hours for registration will be from 8 o'clock till 12 A. M., and + from 4 till 7 P. M.<br /> <br /> "When elections are ordered, the Board of + Registers for each district will designate the number of polls and the + places where they shall be opened in the election precincts within its + district, appoint the commissioners and other officers necessary for + properly conducting the elections, and will superintend the same.<br /> + <br /> "They will also receive from the commissioners of elections of the + different precincts the result of the vote, consolidate the same, and + forward it to the commanding general.<br /> <br /> "Registers and all + officers connected with elections will be held to a rigid accountability + and will be subject to trial by military commission for fraud, or + unlawful or improper conduct in the performance of their duties. Their + rate of compensation and manner of payment will be in accordance with + the provisions of sections six and seven of the supplemental act.<br /> + <br /> "....Every male citizen of the United States, twenty-one years old + and upward, of whatever race, color, or previous condition, who has been + resident in the State of Louisiana for one year and Parish of Orleans + for three months previous to the date at which he presents himself for + registration, and who has not been disfranchised by act of Congress or + for felony at common law, shall, after having taken and subscribed the + oath prescribed in the first section of the act herein referred to, be + entitled to be, and shall be, registered as a legal voter in the Parish + of Orleans and State of Louisiana.<br /> <br /> "Pending the decision of + the Attorney-General of the United States on the question as to who are + disfranchised by law, registers will give the most rigid interpretation + to the law, and exclude from registration every person about whose right + to vote there may be a doubt. Any person so excluded who may, under the + decision of the Attorney-General, be entitled to vote, shall be + permitted to register after that decision is received, due notice of + which will be given.<br /> <br /> "By command of Major-General P. H. + SHERIDAN,<br /> <br /> "GEO. L. HARTSUFF,<br /> "Assistant + Adjutant-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The parish Boards of Registration were composed of three members each. + Ability to take what was known as the "ironclad oath" was the + qualification exacted of the members, and they were prohibited from + becoming candidates for office. In the execution of their duties they were + to be governed by the provisions of the supplemental act. It was also made + one of their functions to designate the number and location of the + polling-places in the several districts, to appoint commissioners for + receiving the votes and in general to attend to such other matters as were + necessary, in order properly to conduct the voting, and afterward to + receive from the commissioners the result of the vote and forward it to my + headquarters. These registers, and all other officers having to do with + elections, were to be held to a rigid accountability, and be subject to + trial by military commission for fraud or unlawful or improper conduct in + the performance of their duties; and in order to be certain that the + Registration Boards performed their work faithfully and intelligently, + officers of the army were appointed as supervisors. To this end the + parishes were grouped together conveniently in temporary districts, each + officer having from three to five parishes to supervise. The programme + thus mapped out for carrying out the law in Louisiana was likewise adhered + to in Texas, and indeed was followed as a model in some of the other + military districts. + </p> + <p> + Although Military Commissions were fully authorized by the Reconstruction + acts, yet I did not favor their use in governing the district, and + probably would never have convened one had these acts been observed in + good faith. I much preferred that the civil courts, and the State and + municipal authorities already in existence, should perform their functions + without military control or interference, but occasionally, because the + civil authorities neglected their duty, I was obliged to resort to this + means to ensure the punishment Of offenders. At this time the condition of + the negroes in Texas and Louisiana was lamentable, though, in fact, not + worse than that of the few white loyalists who had been true to the Union + during the war. These last were singled out as special objects of attack, + and were, therefore, obliged at all times to be on the alert for the + protection of their lives and property. This was the natural outcome of + Mr. Johnson's defiance of Congress, coupled with the sudden conversion to + his cause of persons in the North—who but a short time before had + been his bitterest enemies; for all this had aroused among the disaffected + element new hopes of power and place, hopes of being at once put in + political control again, with a resumption of their functions in State and + National matters without any preliminary authorization by Congress. In + fact, it was not only hoped, but expected, that things were presently to + go on just as if there had been no war. + </p> + <p> + In the State of Texas there were in 1865 about 200,000 of the colored race—roughly, + a third of the entire population—while in Louisiana there were not + less than 350,000, or more than one-half of all the people in the State. + Until the enactment of the Reconstruction laws these negroes were without + rights, and though they had been liberated by the war, Mr. Johnson's + policy now proposed that they should have no political status at all, and + consequently be at the mercy of a people who, recently their masters, now + seemed to look upon them as the authors of all the misfortunes that had + come upon the land. Under these circumstances the blacks naturally turned + for protection to those who had been the means of their liberation, and it + would have been little less than inhuman to deny them sympathy. Their + freedom had been given them, and it was the plain duty of those in + authority to make it secure, and screen them from the bitter political + resentment that beset them, and to see that they had a fair chance in the + battle of life. Therefore, when outrages and murders grew frequent, and + the aid of the military power was an absolute necessity for the protection + of life, I employed it unhesitatingly—the guilty parties being + brought to trial before military commissions—and for a time, at + least, there occurred a halt in the march of terrorism inaugurated by the + people whom Mr. Johnson had deluded. + </p> + <p> + The first, Military Commission was convened to try the case of John W. + Walker, charged with shooting a negro in the parish of St. John. The + proper civil authorities had made no effort to arrest Walker, and even + connived at his escape, so I had him taken into custody in New Orleans, + and ordered him tried, the commission finding him guilty, and sentencing + him to confinement in the penitentiary for six months. This shooting was + the third occurrence of the kind that had taken place in St. John's + parish, a negro being wounded in each case, and it was plain that the + intention was to institute there a practice of intimidation which should + be effective to subject the freedmen to the will of their late masters, + whether in making labor contracts, or in case these newly enfranchised + negroes should evince a disposition to avail themselves of the privilege + to vote. + </p> + <p> + The trial and conviction of Walker, and of one or two others for similiar + outrages, soon put a stop to every kind of "bull-dozing" in the country + parishes; but about this time I discovered that many members of the police + force in New Orleans were covertly intimidating the freedmen there, and + preventing their appearance at the registration offices, using milder + methods than had obtained in the country, it is true, but none the less + effective. + </p> + <p> + Early in 1866 the Legislature had passed an act which created for the + police of New Orleans a residence qualification, the object of which was + to discharge and exclude from the force ex-Union soldiers. This of course + would make room for the appointment of ex-Confederates, and Mayor Monroe + had not been slow in enforcing the provisions of the law. It was, in fact, + a result of this enactment that the police was so reorganized as to become + the willing and efficient tool which it proved to be in the riot of 1866; + and having still the same personnel, it was now in shape to prevent + registration by threats, unwarranted arrests, and by various other + influences, all operating to keep the timid blacks away from the + registration places. + </p> + <p> + That the police were taking a hand in this practice of repression, I first + discovered by the conduct of the assistant to the chief of the body, and + at once removed the offender, but finding this ineffectual I annulled that + part of the State law fixing the five years' residence restriction, and + restored the two years' qualification, thus enabling Mayor Heath, who by + my appointment had succeeded Monroe, to organize the force anew, and take + about one-half of its members from ex-Union soldiers who when discharged + had settled in New Orleans. This action put an end to intimidation in the + parish of Orleans; and now were put in operation in all sections the + processes provided by the supplemental Reconstruction law for the + summoning of a convention to form a Constitution preparatory to the + readmission of the State, and I was full of hope that there would now be + much less difficulty in administering the trust imposed by Congress. + </p> + <p> + During the two years previous great damage had been done the agricultural + interests of Louisiana by the overflow of the Mississippi, the levees + being so badly broken as to require extensive repairs, and the Legislature + of 1866 had appropriated for the purpose $4,000,000, to be raised by an + issue of bonds. This money was to be disbursed by a Board of Levee + Commissioners then in existence, but the term of service of these + commissioners, and the law creating the board, would expire in the spring + of 1867. In order to overcome this difficulty the Legislature passed a + bill continuing the commissioners in office but as the act was passed + inside of ten days before the adjournment of the Legislature, Governor + Wells pocketed the bill, and it failed to become a law. The Governor then + appointed a board of his own, without any warrant of law whatever. The old + commissioners refused to recognize this new board, and of course a + conflict of authority ensued, which, it was clear, would lead to vicious + results if allowed to continue; so, as the people of the State had no + confidence in either of the boards, I decided to end the contention + summarily by appointing an entirely new commission, which would disburse + the money honestly, and further the real purpose for which it had been + appropriated. When I took this course the legislative board acquiesced, + but Governor Wells immediately requested the President to revoke my order, + which, however, was not done, but meanwhile the Secretary of War directed + me to suspend all proceedings in the matter, and make a report of the + facts. I complied in the following telegram: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT,<br /> "NEW ORLEANS, La., + June 3, 1867.<br /> <br /> "SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the + receipt of your telegram of this date in reference to the Levee + Commissioners in this State.<br /> <br /> "The following were my reasons + for abolishing the two former boards, although I intended that my order + should be sufficiently explanatory:<br /> <br /> "Previous to the + adjournment of the Legislature last winter it passed an act continuing + the old Levee board in office, so that the four millions of dollars + ($4,000,000) in bonds appropriated by the Legislature might be disbursed + by a board of rebellious antecedents.<br /> <br /> "After its adjournment + the Governor of the State appointed a board of his own, in violation of + this act, and made the acknowledgment to me in person that his object + was to disburse the money in the interest of his own party by securing + for it the vote of the employees at the time of election.<br /> <br /> + "The board continued in office by the Legislature refused to turn over + to the Governor's board, and each side appealed to me to sustain it, + which I would not do. The question must then have gone to the courts, + which, according to the Governor's judgment when he was appealing to me + to be sustained, would require one year for decision. Meantime the State + was overflowed, the Levee boards tied up by political chicanery, and + nothing done to relieve the poor people, now fed by the charity of the + Government and charitable associations of the North.<br /> <br /> "To + obviate this trouble, and to secure to the overflowed districts of the + State the immediate relief which the honest disbursement of the four + millions ($4,000,000) would give, my order dissolving both boards was + issued.<br /> <br /> <br /> "I say now, unequivocally, that Governor Wells + is a political trickster and a dishonest man. I have seen him myself, + when I first came to this command, turn out all the Union men who had + supported the Government, and put in their stead rebel soldiers who had + not yet doffed their gray uniform. I have seen him again, during the + July riot of 1866, skulk away where I could not find him to give him a + guard, instead of coming out as a manly representative of the State and + joining those who were preserving the peace. I have watched him since, + and his conduct has been as sinuous as the mark left in the dust by the + movement of a snake.<br /> <br /> "I say again that he is dishonest, and + that dishonesty is more than must be expected of me.<br /> <br /> "P. H. + SHERIDAN,<br /> "Major-General, U. S. A.<br /> <br /> <br /> "Hon. E. M. + STANTON,<br /> "Secretary of War, Washington, D. C." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The same day that I sent my report to the Secretary of War I removed from + office Governor Wells himself, being determined to bear no longer with the + many obstructions he had placed in the way of reorganizing the civil + affairs of the State. I was also satisfied that he was unfit to retain the + place, since he was availing himself of every opportunity to work + political ends beneficial to himself. In this instance Wells protested to + me against his removal, and also appealed to the President for an opinion + of the Attorney-General as to my power in the case; and doubtless he would + have succeeded in retaining his office, but for the fact that the + President had been informed by General James B. Steadman and others placed + to watch me that Wells was wholly unworthy. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "NEW ORLEANS, June 19, 1867.<br /> "ANDREW JOHNSON, President + United States,<br /> "Washington City:<br /> <br /> "Lewis D. Campbell + leaves New Orleans for home this evening. Want of respect for Governor + Wells personally, alone represses the expression of indignation felt by + all honest and sensible men at the unwarranted usurpation of General + Sheridan in removing the civil officers of Louisiana. It is believed + here that you will reinstate Wells. He is a bad man, and has no + influence.<br /> <br /> "I believe Sheridan made the removals to embarrass + you, believing the feeling at the North would sustain him. My conviction + is that on account of the bad character of Wells and Monroe, you ought + not to reinstate any who have been removed, because you cannot reinstate + any without reinstating all, but you ought to prohibit the exercise of + this power in the future.<br /> <br /> "Respectfully yours,<br /> <br /> + "JAMES B. STEADMAN." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + I appointed Mr. Thomas J. Durant as Wells's successor, but he declining, I + then appointed Mr. Benjamin F. Flanders, who, after I had sent a + staff-officer to forcibly eject Wells in case of necessity, took + possession of the Governor's office. Wells having vacated, Governor + Flanders began immediately the exercise of his duties in sympathy with the + views of Congress, and I then notified General Grant that I thought he + need have no further apprehension about the condition of affairs in + Louisiana, as my appointee was a man of such integrity and ability that I + already felt relieved of half my labor. I also stated in the same despatch + that nothing would answer in Louisiana but a bold and firm course, and + that in taking such a one I felt that I was strongly supported; a + statement that was then correct, for up to this period the better classes + were disposed to accept the Congressional plan of reconstruction. + </p> + <p> + During the controversy over the Levee Commissioners, and the + correspondence regarding the removal of Governor Wells, registration had + gone on under the rules laid down for the boards. The date set for closing + the books was the 30th of June, but in the parish of Orleans the time was + extended till the 15th of July. This the President considered too short a + period, and therefore directed the registry lists not to be closed before + the 1st of August, unless there was some good reason to the contrary. This + was plainly designed to keep the books open in order that under the + Attorney-General's interpretation of the Reconstruction laws, published + June 20, many persons who had been excluded by the registration boards + could yet be registered, so I decided to close the registration, unless + required by the President unconditionally, and in specific orders, to + extend the time. My motives were manifold, but the main reasons were that + as two and a half months had been given already, the number of persons + who, under the law, were qualified for registry was about exhausted; and + because of the expense I did not feel warranted in keeping up the boards + longer, as I said, "to suit new issues coming in at the eleventh hour," + which would but open a "broad macadamized road for perjury and fraud." + </p> + <p> + When I thus stated what I intended to do, the opinion of the + Attorney-General had not yet been received. When it did reach me it was + merely in the form of a circular signed by Adjutant-General Townsend, and + had no force of law. It was not even sent as an order, nor was it + accompanied by any instructions, or by anything except the statement that + it was transmitted to the 11 respective military commanders for their + information, in order that there might be uniformity in the execution of + the Reconstruction acts. To adopt Mr. Stanbery's interpretation of the law + and reopen registration accordingly, would defeat the purpose of Congress, + as well as add to my perplexities. Such a course would also require that + the officers appointed by me for the performance of specified duties, + under laws which I was empowered to interpret and enforce, should receive + their guidance and instructions from an unauthorized source, so on + communicating with General Grant as to how I should act, he directed me to + enforce my own construction of the military bill until ordered to do + otherwise. + </p> + <p> + Therefore the registration continued as I had originally directed, and + nothing having been definitely settled at Washington in relation to my + extending the time, on the 10th of July I ordered all the registration + boards to select, immediately, suitable persons to act as commissioners of + election, and at the same time specified the number of each set of + commissioners, designated the polling-places, gave notice that two days + would be allowed for voting, and followed this with an order discontinuing + registration the 31st of July, and then another appointing the 27th and + 28th of September as the time for the election of delegates to the State + convention. + </p> + <p> + In accomplishing the registration there had been little opposition from + the mass of the people, but the press of New Orleans, and the + office-holders and office-seekers in the State generally, antagonized the + work bitterly and violently, particularly after the promulgation of the + opinion of the Attorney-General. These agitators condemned everybody and + everything connected with the Congressional plan of reconstruction; and + the pernicious influence thus exerted was manifested in various ways, but + most notably in the selection of persons to compose the jury lists in the + country parishes it also tempted certain municipal officers in New Orleans + to perform illegal acts that would seriously have affected the credit of + the city had matters not been promptly corrected by the summary removal + from office of the comptroller and the treasurer, who had already issued a + quarter of a million dollars in illegal certificates. On learning of this + unwarranted and unlawful proceeding, Mayor Heath demanded an investigation + by the Common Council, but this body, taking its cue from the evident + intention of the President to render abortive the Reconstruction acts, + refused the mayor's demand. Then he tried to have the treasurer and + comptroller restrained by injunction, but the city attorney, under the + same inspiration as the council, declined to sue out a writ, and the + attorney being supported in this course by nearly all the other officials, + the mayor was left helpless in his endeavors to preserve the city's + credit. Under such circumstances he took the only step left him—recourse + to the military commander; and after looking into the matter carefully I + decided, in the early part of August, to give the mayor officials who + would not refuse to make an investigation of the illegal issue of + certificates, and to this end I removed the treasurer, surveyor, + comptroller, city attorney, and twenty-two of the aldermen; these + officials, and all of their assistants, having reduced the financial + credit of New Orleans to a disordered condition, and also having made + efforts—and being then engaged in such—to hamper the execution + of the Reconstruction laws. + </p> + <p> + This action settled matters in the city, but subsequently I had to remove + some officials in the parishes—among them a justice of the peace and + a sheriff in the parish of Rapides; the justice for refusing to permit + negro witnesses to testify in a certain murder case, and for allowing the + murderer, who had foully killed a colored man, to walk out of his court on + bail in the insignificant sum of five hundred dollars; and the sheriff, + for conniving at the escape from jail of another alleged murderer. + Finding, however, even after these removals, that in the country districts + murderers and other criminals went unpunished, provided the offenses were + against negroes merely (since the jurors were selected exclusively from + the whites, and often embraced those excluded from the exercise of the + election franchise) I, having full authority under the Reconstruction + laws, directed such a revision of the jury lists as would reject from them + every man not eligible for registration as a voter. This order was issued + August 24, and on its promulgation the President relieved me from duty and + assigned General Hancock as my successor. + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT,<br /> "NEW ORLEANS, LA., + August 24, 1867.<br /> <br /> "SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 125.<br /> <br /> "The + registration of voters of the State of Louisiana, according to the law + of Congress, being complete, it is hereby ordered that no person who is + not registered in accordance with said law shall be considered as, a + duly qualified voter of the State of Louisiana. All persons duly + registered as above, and no others, are consequently eligible, under the + laws of the State of Louisiana, to serve as jurors in any of the courts + of the State.<br /> <br /> "The necessary revision of the jury lists will + immediately be made by the proper officers.<br /> <br /> "All the laws of + the State respecting exemptions, etc., from jury duty will remain in + force.<br /> <br /> "By command of Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN.<br /> + <br /> "GEO. L. HARTNUFF, Asst. Adj't-General." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Pending the arrival of General Hancock, I turned over the command of the + district September 1 to General Charles Griffin; but he dying of yellow + fever, General J. A. Mower succeeded him, and retained command till + November 29, on which date General Hancock assumed control. Immediately + after Hancock took charge, he revoked my order of August 24 providing for + a revision of the jury lists; and, in short, President Johnson's policy + now became supreme, till Hancock himself was relieved in March, 1868. + </p> + <p> + My official connection with the reconstruction of Louisiana and Texas + practically closed with this order concerning the jury lists. In my + judgment this had become a necessity, for the disaffected element, + sustained as it was by the open sympathy of the President, had grown so + determined in its opposition to the execution of the Reconstruction acts + that I resolved to remove from place and power all obstacles; for the + summer's experience had convinced me that in no other way could the law be + faithfully administered. + </p> + <p> + The President had long been dissatisfied with my course; indeed, he had + harbored personal enmity against me ever since he perceived that he could + not bend me to an acceptance of the false position in which he had tried + to place me by garbling my report of the riot of 1866. When Mr. Johnson + decided to remove me, General Grant protested in these terms, but to no + purpose: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,<br /> "WASHINGTON, D. + C., August 17, 1867<br /> <br /> "SIR: I am in receipt of your order of + this date directing the assignment of General G. H. Thomas to the + command of the Fifth Military District, General Sheridan to the + Department of the Missouri, and General Hancock to the Department of the + Cumberland; also your note of this date (enclosing these instructions), + saying: 'Before you issue instructions to carry into effect the enclosed + order, I would be pleased to hear any suggestions you may deem necessary + respecting the assignments to which the order refers.'<br /> <br /> "I am + pleased to avail myself of this invitation to urge—earnestly urge—urge + in the name of a patriotic people, who have sacrificed hundreds of + thousands of loyal lives and thousands of millions of treasure to + preserve the integrity and union of this country—that this order + be not insisted on. It is unmistakably the expressed wish of the country + that General Sheridan should not be removed from his present command.<br /> + <br /> "This is a republic where the will of the people is the law of the + land. I beg that their voice may be heard.<br /> <br /> "General Sheridan + has performed his civil duties faithfully and intelligently. His removal + will only be regarded as an effort to defeat the laws of Congress. It + will be interpreted by the unreconstructed element in the South—those + who did all they could to break up this Government by arms, and now wish + to be the only element consulted as to the method of restoring order—as + a triumph. It will embolden them to renewed opposition to the will of + the loyal masses, believing that they have the Executive with them.<br /> + <br /> "The services of General Thomas in battling for the Union entitle + him to some consideration. He has repeatedly entered his protest against + being assigned to either of the five military districts, and especially + to being assigned to relieve General Sheridan.<br /> <br /> "There are + military reasons, pecuniary reasons, and above all, patriotic reasons, + why this should not be insisted upon.<br /> <br /> "I beg to refer to a + letter marked 'private,' which I wrote to the President when first + consulted on the subject of the change in the War Department. It bears + upon the subject of this removal, and I had hoped would have prevented + it.<br /> <br /> "I have the honor to be, with great respect, your + obedient servant,<br /> <br /> "U. S. GRANT,<br /> "General U. S. A., + Secretary of War ad interim.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "His Excellency A. + JOHNSON,<br /> "President of the United States." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + I was ordered to command the Department of the Missouri (General Hancock, + as already noted, finally becoming my successor in the Fifth Military + District), and left New Orleans on the 5th of September. I was not loath + to go. The kind of duty I had been performing in Louisiana and Texas was + very trying under the most favorable circumstances, but all the more so in + my case, since I had to contend against the obstructions which the + President placed in the way from persistent opposition to the acts of + Congress as well as from antipathy to me—which obstructions he + interposed with all the boldness and aggressiveness of his peculiar + nature. + </p> + <p> + On more than one occasion while I was exercising this command, impurity of + motive was imputed to me, but it has never been truthfully shown (nor can + it ever be) that political or corrupt influences of any kind controlled me + in any instance. I simply tried to carry out, without fear or favor, the + Reconstruction acts as they came to me. They were intended to disfranchise + certain persons, and to enfranchise certain others, and, till decided + otherwise, were the laws of the land; and it was my duty to execute them + faithfully, without regard, on the one hand, for those upon whom it was + thought they bore so heavily, nor, on the other, for this or that + political party, and certainly without deference to those persons sent to + Louisiana to influence my conduct of affairs. + </p> + <p> + Some of these missionaries were high officials, both military and civil, + and I recall among others a visit made me in 1866 by a distinguished + friend of the President, Mr. Thomas A. Hendricks. The purpose of his + coming was to convey to me assurances of the very high esteem in which I + was held by the President, and to explain personally Mr. Johnson's plan of + reconstruction, its flawless constitutionality, and so on. But being on + the ground, I had before me the exhibition of its practical working, saw + the oppression and excesses growing out of it, and in the face of these + experiences even Mr. Hendricks's persuasive eloquence was powerless to + convince me of its beneficence. Later General Lovell H. Rousseau came down + on a like mission, but was no more successful than Mr. Hendricks. + </p> + <p> + During the whole period that I commanded in Louisiana and Texas my + position was a most unenviable one. The service was unusual, and the + nature of it scarcely to be understood by those not entirely familiar with + the conditions existing immediately after the war. In administering the + affairs of those States, I never acted except by authority, and always + from conscientious motives. I tried to guard the rights of everybody in + accordance with the law. In this I was supported by General Grant and + opposed by President Johnson. The former had at heart, above every other + consideration, the good of his country, and always sustained me with + approval and kind suggestions. The course pursued by the President was + exactly the opposite, and seems to prove that in the whole matter of + reconstruction he was governed less by patriotic motives than by personal + ambitions. Add to this his natural obstinacy of character and personal + enmity toward me, and no surprise should be occasioned when I say that I + heartily welcomed the order that lifted from me my unsought burden. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch12b" id="linkch12b"></a>CHAPTER XII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + AT FORT LEAVENWORTH—THE TREATY OF MEDICINE LODGE—GOING TO FORT + DODGE—DISCONTENTED INDIANS—INDIAN OUTRAGES—A DELEGATION + OF CHIEFS—TERRIBLE INDIAN RAID—DEATH OF COMSTOCK—VAST + HERDS OF BUFFALO—PREPARING FOR A WINTER CAMPAIGN—MEETING + "BUFFALO BILL"—HE UNDERTAKES A DANGEROUS TASK—FORSYTH'S + GALLANT FIGHT—RESCUED. + </p> + <p> + The headquarters of the military department to which I was assigned when + relieved from duty at New Orleans was at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and on + the 5th of September I started for that post. In due time I reached St. + Louis, and stopped there a day to accept an ovation tendered in approval + of the course I had pursued in the Fifth Military District—a public + demonstration apparently of the most sincere and hearty character. + </p> + <p> + From St. Louis to Leavenworth took but one night, and the next day I + technically complied with my orders far enough to permit General Hancock + to leave the department, so that he might go immediately to New Orleans if + he so desired, but on account of the yellow fever epidemic then + prevailing, he did not reach the city till late in November. + </p> + <p> + My new command was one of the four military departments that composed the + geographical division then commanded by Lieutenant-General Sherman. This + division had been formed in 1866, with a view to controlling the Indians + west of the Missouri River, they having become very restless and + troublesome because of the building of the Pacific railroads through their + hunting-grounds, and the encroachments of pioneers, who began settling in + middle and western Kansas and eastern Colorado immediately after the war. + </p> + <p> + My department embraced the States of Missouri and Kansas, the Indian + Territory, and New Mexico. Part of this section of country—western + Kansas particularly—had been frequently disturbed and harassed + during two or three years past, the savages every now and then massacring + an isolated family, boldly attacking the surveying and construction + parties of the Kansas-Pacific railroad, sweeping down on emigrant trains, + plundering and burning stage-stations and the like along the Smoky Hill + route to Denver and the Arkansas route to New Mexico. + </p> + <p> + However, when I relieved Hancock, the department was comparatively quiet. + Though some military operations had been conducted against the hostile + tribes in the early part of the previous summer, all active work was now + suspended in the attempt to conclude a permanent peace with the Cheyennes, + Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Comanches, in compliance with the act of Congress + creating what was known as the Indian Peace Commission of 1867. + </p> + <p> + Under these circumstances there was little necessity for my remaining at + Leavenworth, and as I was much run down in health from the Louisiana + climate, in which I had been obliged to live continuously for three + summers (one of which brought epidemic cholera, and another a scourge of + yellow fever), I took a leave of absence for a few months, leaving Colonel + A. J. Smith, of the Seventh Cavalry, temporarily in charge of my command. + </p> + <p> + On this account I did not actually go on duty in the department of the + Missouri till March, 1868. On getting back I learned that the negotiations + of the Peace Commissioners held at Medicine Lodge, about seventy miles + south of Fort Larned had resulted in a treaty with the Cheyennes, + Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Comanches, by which agreement it was supposed all + troubles had been settled. The compact, as concluded, contained numerous + provisions, the most important to us being one which practically + relinquished the country between the Arkansas and Platte rivers for white + settlement; another permitted the peaceable construction of the Pacific + railroads through the same region; and a third requiring the tribes + signing the treaty to retire to reservations allotted them in the Indian + Territory. Although the chiefs and head-men were well-nigh unanimous in + ratifying these concessions, it was discovered in the spring of 1868 that + many of the young men were bitterly opposed to what had been done, and + claimed that most of the signatures had been obtained by misrepresentation + and through proffers of certain annuities, and promises of arms and + ammunition to be issued in the spring of 1868. This grumbling was very + general in extent, and during the winter found outlet in occasional + marauding, so, fearing a renewal of the pillaging and plundering at an + early day, to prepare myself for the work evidently ahead the first thing + I did on assuming permanent command was to make a trip to Fort Larned and + Fort Dodge, near which places the bulk of the Indians had congregated on + Pawnee and Walnut creeks. I wanted to get near enough to the camps to find + out for myself the actual state of feeling among the savages, and also to + familiarize myself with the characteristics of the Plains Indians, for my + previous experience had been mainly with mountain tribes on the Pacific + coast. Fort Larned I found too near the camps for my purpose, its + proximity too readily inviting unnecessary "talks," so I remained here but + a day or two, and then went on to Dodge, which, though considerably + farther away from the camps, was yet close enough to enable us to obtain + easily information of all that was going on. + </p> + <p> + It took but a few days at Dodge to discover that great discontent existed + about the Medicine Lodge concessions, to see that the young men were + chafing and turbulent, and that it would require much tact and good + management on the part of the Indian Bureau to persuade the four tribes to + go quietly to their reservations, under an agreement which, when entered + into, many of them protested had not been fully understood. + </p> + <p> + A few hours after my arrival a delegation of prominent chiefs called on me + and proposed a council, where they might discuss their grievances, and + thus bring to the notice of the Government the alleged wrongs done them; + but this I refused, because Congress had delegated to the Peace Commission + the whole matter of treating with them, and a council might lead only to + additional complications. My refusal left them without hope of securing + better terms, or of even delaying matters longer; so henceforth they were + more than ever reckless and defiant. Denunciations of the treaty became + outspoken, and as the young braves grew more and more insolent every day, + it amounted to conviction that, unless by some means the irritation was + allayed, hostilities would surely be upon us when the buffalo returned to + their summer feeding-grounds between the Arkansas and the Platte. + </p> + <p> + The principal sufferers in this event would be the settlers in middle and + western Kansas, who, entirely ignorant of the dangers hanging over them, + were laboring to build up homes in a new country. Hence the maintenance of + peace was much to be desired, if it could be secured without too great + concessions, and although I would not meet the different tribes in a + formal council, yet, to ward off from settlers as much as possible the + horrors of savage warfare, I showed, by resorting to persuasive methods, + my willingness to temporize a good deal. An abundant supply of rations is + usually effective to keep matters quiet in such cases, so I fed them + pretty freely, and also endeavored to control them through certain men + who, I found, because of former associations, had their confidence. These + men, employed as scouts, or interpreters, were Mr. William Comstock, Mr. + Abner S. Grover, and Mr. Richard Parr. They had lived on the Plains for + many years with different tribes of Indians, had trapped and hunted with + them, and knew all the principal chiefs and headmen. Through such + influences, I thought I saw good chances of preserving peace, and of + inducing the discontented to go quietly to their reservations in the + Indian Territory as soon as General Hazen, the representative of the Peace + Commissioners, was ready to conduct them there from Fort Larned. + </p> + <p> + Before returning to Leavenworth I put my mediators (as I may call them) + under charge of an officer of the army, Lieutenant F. W. Beecher, a very + intelligent man, and directed him to send them out to visit among the + different tribes, in order to explain what was intended by the treaty of + Medicine Lodge, and to make every effort possible to avert hostilities. + Under these instructions Comstock and Grover made it their business to go + about among the Cheyennes—the most warlike tribe of all—then + camping about the headwaters of Pawnee and Walnut creeks, and also to the + north and west of Fort Wallace, while Parr spent his time principally with + the Kiowas and Comanches. + </p> + <p> + From the different posts—Wallace, Dodge, and Larned Lieutenant + Beecher kept up communication with all three scouts, and through him I + heard from them at least once a week. Every now and then some trouble + along the railroad or stage routes would be satisfactorily adjusted and + quiet restored, and matters seemed to be going on very well, the warm + weather bringing the grass and buffalo in plenty, and still no outbreak, + nor any act of downright hostility. So I began to hope that we should + succeed in averting trouble till the favorite war season of the Indians + was over, but the early days of August rudely ended our fancied + tranquility. + </p> + <p> + In July the encampments about Fort Dodge began to break up, each band or + tribe moving off to some new location north of the Arkansas, instead of + toward its proper reservation to the south of that river. Then I learned + presently that a party of Cheyennes had made a raid on the Kaws—a + band of friendly Indians living near Council Grove—and stolen their + horses, and also robbed the houses of several white people near Council + Grove. This raid was the beginning of the Indian war of 1868. Immediately + following it, the Comanches and Kiowas came to Fort Larned to receive + their annuities, expecting to get also the arms and ammunition promised + them at Medicine Lodge, but the raid to Council Grove having been reported + to the Indian Department, the issue of arms was suspended till reparation + was made. This action of the Department greatly incensed the savages, and + the agent's offer of the annuities without guns and pistols was insolently + refused, the Indians sulking back to their camps, the young men giving + themselves up to war-dances, and to powwows with "medicine-men," till all + hope of control was gone. + </p> + <p> + Brevet Brigadier-General Alfred Sully, an officer of long experience in + Indian matters, who at this time was in command of the District of the + Arkansas, which embraced Forts Larned and Dodge, having notified me of + these occurrences at Larned, and expressed the opinion that the Indians + were bent on mischief, I directed him there immediately to act against + them. After he reached Larned, the chances for peace appeared more + favorable. The Indians came to see him, and protested that it was only a + few bad young men who had been depredating, and that all would be well and + the young men held in check if the agent would but issue the arms and + ammunition. Believing their promises, Sully thought that the delivery of + the arms would solve all the difficulties, so on his advice the agent + turned them over along with the annuities, the Indians this time + condescendingly accepting. + </p> + <p> + This issue of arms and ammunition was a fatal mistake; Indian diplomacy + had overreached Sully's experience, and even while the delivery was in + progress a party of warriors had already begun a raid of murder and + rapine, which for acts of devilish cruelty perhaps has no parallel in + savage warfare. The party consisted of about two hundred Cheyennes and a + few Arapahoes, with twenty Sioux who had been visiting their friends, the + Cheyennes. As near as could be ascertained, they organized and left their + camps along Pawnee Creek about the 3d of August. Traveling northeast, they + skirted around Fort Harker, and made their first appearance among the + settlers in the Saline Valley, about thirty miles north of that post. + Professing friendship and asking food at the farm-houses, they saw the + unsuspecting occupants comply by giving all they could spare from their + scanty stores. Knowing the Indian's inordinate fondness for coffee, + particularly when well sweetened, they even served him this luxury freely. + With this the demons began their devilish work. Pretending to be indignant + because it was served them in tin cups, they threw the hot contents into + the women's faces, and then, first making prisoners of the men, they, one + after another, ravished the women till the victims became insensible. For + some inexplicable reason the two farmers were neither killed nor carried + off, so after the red fiends had gone, the unfortunate women were brought + in to Fort Harker, their arrival being the first intimation to the + military that hostilities had actually begun. + </p> + <p> + Leaving the Saline, this war-party crossed over to the valley of the + Solomon, a more thickly settled region, and where the people were in + better circumstances, their farms having been started two or three years + before. Unaware of the hostile character of the raiders, the people here + received them in the friendliest way, providing food, and even giving them + ammunition, little dreaming of what was impending. These kindnesses were + requited with murder and pillage, and worse, for all the women who fell + into their hands were subjected to horrors indescribable by words. Here + also the first murders were committed, thirteen men and two women being + killed. Then, after burning five houses and stealing all the horses they + could find, they turned back toward the Saline, carrying away as prisoners + two little girls named Bell, who have never been heard of since. + </p> + <p> + It was probably the intention to finish, as they marched back to the + south, the devilish work begun on the Saline, but before they reached that + valley on the return, the victims left there originally had fled to Fort + Harker, as already explained, and Captain Benteen was now nearing the + little settlement with a troop of cavalry, which he had hurriedly marched + from Fort Zarah. The savages were attacking the house of a Mr. + Schermerhorn, where a few of the settlers had collected for defense, when + Benteen approached. Hearing the firing, the troopers rode toward the sound + at a gallop, but when they appeared in view, coming over the hills, the + Indians fled in all directions, escaping punishment through their usual + tactics of scattering over the Plains, so as to leave no distinctive + trail. + </p> + <p> + When this frightful raid was taking place, Lieutenant Beecher, with his + three scouts—Comstock, Grover, and Parr—was on Walnut Creek. + Indefinite rumors about troubles on the Saline and Solomon reaching him, + he immediately sent Comstock and Grover over to the headwaters of the + Solomon, to the camp of a band of Cheyennes, whose chief was called + "Turkey Leg," to see if any of the raiders belonged there; to learn the + facts, and make explanations, if it was found that the white people had + been at fault. For years this chief had been a special friend of Comstock + and Grover. They had trapped, hunted, and lived with his band, and from + this intimacy they felt confident of being able to get "Turkey Leg" to + quiet his people, if any of them were engaged in the raid; and, at all + events, they expected, through him and his band, to influence the rest of + the Cheyennes. From the moment they arrived in the Indian village, + however, the two scouts met with a very cold reception. Neither friendly + pipe nor food was offered them, and before they could recover from their + chilling reception, they were peremptorily ordered out of the village, + with the intimation that when the Cheyennes were on the war-path the + presence of whites was intolerable. The scouts were prompt to leave, of + course, and for a few miles were accompanied by an escort of seven young + men, who said they were sent with them to protect the two from harm. As + the party rode along over the prairie, such a depth of attachment was + professed for Comstock and Grover that, notwithstanding all the experience + of their past lives, they were thoroughly deceived, and in the midst of a + friendly conversation some of the young warriors fell suddenly to the rear + and treacherously fired on them. + </p> + <p> + At the volley Comstock fell from his horse instantly killed. Grover, badly + wounded in the shoulder, also fell to the ground near Comstock Seeing his + comrade was dead, Grover made use of his friend's body to protect himself, + lying close behind it. Then took place a remarkable contest, Grover, alone + and severely wounded, obstinately fighting the seven Indians, and holding + them at bay for the rest of the day. Being an expert shot, and having a + long-range repeating rifle, he "stood off" the savages till dark. Then + cautiously crawling away on his belly to a deep ravine, he lay close, + suffering terribly from his wound, till the following night, when, setting + out for Fort Wallace, he arrived there the succeeding day, almost crazed + from pain and exhaustion. + </p> + <p> + Simultaneously with the fiendish atrocities committed on the Saline and + Solomon rivers and the attack on Comstock and Grover, the pillaging and + murdering began on the Smoky Hill stage-route, along the upper Arkansas + River and on the headwaters of the Cimarron. That along the Smoky Hill and + north of it was the exclusive work of, the Cheyennes, a part of the + Arapahoes, and the few Sioux allies heretofore mentioned, while the + raiding on the Arkansas and Cimarron was done principally by the Kiowas + under their chief, Satanta, aided by some of the Comanches. The young men + of these tribes set out on their bloody work just after the annuities and + guns were issued at Larned, and as soon as they were well on the road the + rest of the Comanches and Kiowas escaped from the post and fled south of + the Arkansas. They were at once pursued by General Sully with a small + force, but by the time he reached the Cimarron the war-party had finished + its raid on the upper Arkansas, and so many Indians combined against Sully + that he was compelled to withdraw to Fort Dodge, which he reached not + without considerable difficulty, and after three severe fights. + </p> + <p> + These, and many minor raids which followed, made it plain that a general + outbreak was upon us. The only remedy, therefore, was to subjugate the + savages immediately engaged in the forays by forcing the several tribes to + settle down on the reservations set apart by the treaty of Medicine Lodge. + The principal mischief-makers were the Cheyennes. Next in deviltry were + the Kiowas, and then the Arapahoes and Comanches. Some few of these last + two tribes continued friendly, or at least took no active part in the + raiding, but nearly all the young men of both were the constant allies of + the Cheyennes and Kiowas. All four tribes together could put on the + war-path a formidable force of about 6,000 warriors. The subjugation of + this number of savages would be no easy task, so to give the matter my + undivided attention I transferred my headquarters from Leavenworth to Fort + Hays, a military post near which the prosperous town of Hays City now + stands. + </p> + <p> + Fort Hays was just beyond the line of the most advanced settlements, and + was then the terminus of the Kansas-Pacific railroad. For this reason it + could be made a depot of supplies, and was a good point from which to + supervise matters in the section of country to be operated in, which + district is a part of the Great American Plains, extending south from the + Platte River in Nebraska to the Red River in the Indian Territory, and + westward from the line of frontier settlements to the foothills of the + Rocky Mountains, a vast region embracing an area of about 150,000 square + miles. With the exception of a half-dozen military posts and a few + stations on the two overland emigrant routes—the Smoky Hill to + Denver, and the Arkansas to New Mexico—this country was an unsettled + waste known only to the Indians and a few trappers. There were neither + roads nor well-marked trails, and the only timber to be found—which + generally grew only along the streams—was so scraggy and worthless + as hardly to deserve the name. Nor was water by any means plentiful, even + though the section is traversed by important streams, the Republican, the + Smoky Hill, the Arkansas, the Cimarron, and the Canadian all flowing + eastwardly, as do also their tributaries in the main. These feeders are + sometimes long and crooked, but as a general thing the volume of water is + insignificant except after rain-falls. Then, because of unimpeded + drainage, the little streams fill up rapidly with torrents of water, which + quickly flows off or sinks into the sand, leaving only an occasional pool + without visible inlet or outlet. + </p> + <p> + At the period of which I write, in 1868, the Plains were covered with vast + herds of buffalo—the number has been estimated at 3,000,000 head—and + with such means of subsistence as this everywhere at hand, the 6,000 + hostiles were wholly unhampered by any problem of food-supply. The savages + were rich too according to Indian standards, many a lodge owning from + twenty to a hundred ponies; and consciousness of wealth and power, aided + by former temporizing, had made them not only confident but defiant. + Realizing that their thorough subjugation would be a difficult task, I + made up my mind to confine operations during the grazing and hunting + season to protecting the people of the new settlements and on the overland + routes, and then, when winter came, to fall upon the savages relentlessly, + for in that season their ponies would be thin, and weak from lack of food, + and in the cold and snow, without strong ponies to transport their + villages and plunder, their movements would be so much impeded that the + troops could overtake them. + </p> + <p> + At the outbreak of hostilities I had in all, east of New Mexico, a force + of regulars numbering about 2,600 men—1,200 mounted and 1,400 foot + troops. The cavalry was composed of the Seventh and Tenth regiments; the + infantry, of the Third and Fifth regiments and four companies of the + Thirty-Eighth. With these few troops all the posts along the Smoky Hill + and Arkansas had to be garrisoned, emigrant trains escorted, and the + settlements and routes of travel and the construction parties on the + Kansas-Pacific railway protected. Then, too, this same force had to + furnish for the field small movable columns, that were always on the go, + so it will be rightly inferred that every available man was kept busy from + the middle of August till November; especially as during this period the + hostiles attacked over forty widely dispersed places, in nearly all cases + stealing horses, burning houses, and killing settlers. It was of course + impossible to foresee where these descents would be made, but as soon as + an attack was heard of assistance was always promptly rendered, and every + now and then we succeeded in killing a few savages. As a general thing, + though, the raiders escaped before relief arrived, and when they had a few + miles the start, all efforts to catch them were futile. I therefore + discouraged long pursuits, and, in fact, did not approve of making any at + all unless the chances of obtaining paying results were very evident, + otherwise the troops would be worn out by the time the hard work of the + winter was demanded from them. + </p> + <p> + To get ready for a winter campaign of six months gave us much to do. The + thing most needed was more men, so I asked for additional cavalry, and all + that could be spareds—even troops of the Fifth Cavalry—was + sent tome. Believing this reinforcement insufficient, to supplement it I + applied for a regiment of Kansas volunteers, which request being granted, + the organization of the regiment was immediately begun at Topeka. It was + necessary also to provide a large amount of transportation and accumulate + quantities of stores, since the campaign probably would not end till + spring. Another important matter was to secure competent guides for the + different columns of troops, for, as I have said, the section of country + to be operated in was comparatively unknown. + </p> + <p> + In those days the railroad town of Hays City was filled with so called + "Indian scouts," whose common boast was of having slain scores of + redskins, but the real scout—that is, a 'guide and trailer knowing + the habits of the Indians—was very scarce, and it was hard to find + anybody familiar with the country south of the Arkansas, where the + campaign was to be made. Still, about Hays City and the various military + posts there was some good material to select from, and we managed to + employ several men, who, from their experience on the Plains in various + capacities, or from natural instinct and aptitude, soon became excellent + guides and courageous and valuable scouts, some of them, indeed, gaining + much distinction. Mr. William F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill"), whose renown has + since become world-wide, was one of the men thus selected. He received his + sobriquet from his marked success in killing buffaloes for a contractor, + to supply fresh meat to the construction parties, on the Kansas-Pacific + railway. He had given up this business, however, and was now in the employ + of the quartermaster's department of the army, and was first brought to my + notice by distinguishing himself in bringing me an important despatch from + Fort Larned to Fort Hays, a distance of sixty-five miles, through a + section infested with Indians. The despatch informed me that the Indians + near Larned were preparing to decamp, and this intelligence required that + certain orders should be carried to Fort Dodge, ninety-five miles south of + Hays. This too being a particularly dangerous route—several couriers + having been killed on it—it was impossible to get one of the various + "Petes," "Jacks," or "Jims" hanging around Hays City to take my + communication. Cody learning of the strait I was in, manfully came to the + rescue, and proposed to make the trip to Dodge, though he had just + finished his long and perilous ride from Larned. I gratefully accepted his + offer, and after four or five hours' rest he mounted a fresh horse and + hastened on his journey, halting but once to rest on the way, and then + only for an hour, the stop being made at Coon Creek, where he got another + mount from a troop of cavalry. At Dodge he took six hours' sleep, and then + continued on to his own post—Fort Larned—with more despatches. + After resting twelve hours at Larned, he was again in the saddle with + tidings for me at Fort Hays, General Hazen sending him, this time, with + word that the villages had fled to the south of the Arkansas. Thus, in + all, Cody rode about 350 miles in less than sixty hours, and such an + exhibition of endurance and courage was more than enough to convince me + that his services would be extremely valuable in the campaign, so I + retained him at Fort Hays till the battalion of the Fifth Cavalry arrived, + and then made him chief of scouts for that regiment. + </p> + <p> + The information brought me by Cody on his second trip from Larned + indicated where the villages would be found in the winter, and I decided + to move on them about the 1st of November. Only the women and children and + the decrepit old men were with the villages, however enough, presumably, + to look after the plunder most of the warriors remaining north of the + Arkansas to continue their marauding. Many severe fights occurred between + our troops and these marauders, and in these affairs, before November 1 + over a hundred Indians were killed, yet from the ease with which the + escaping savages would disappear only to fall upon remote settlements with + pillage and murder, the results were by no means satisfactory. One of the + most noteworthy of these preliminary affairs was the gallant fight made on + the Republican River the 17th of September by my Aide, Colonel George A. + Forsyth, and party, against about seven hundred Cheyennes and Sioux. + Forsyth, with Lieutenant Beecher, and Doctor J. H. Mooers as surgeon, was + in charge of a company of citizen scouts, mostly expert rifle-shots, but + embracing also a few Indian fighters, among these Grover and Parr. The + company was organized the latter part of August for immediate work in + defense of the settlements, and also for future use in the Indian + Territory when the campaign should open there. About the time the company + had reached its complement—it was limited to forty-seven men and + three officers—a small band of hostiles began depredations near + Sheridan City, one of the towns that grew up over-night on the + Kansas-Pacific railway. Forsyth pursued this party, but failing to + overtake it, made his way into Fort Wallace for rations, intending to + return from there to Fort Hays. Before he started back, however, another + band of Indians appeared near the post and stole some horses from the + stage company. This unexpected raid made Forsyth hot to go for the + marauders, and he telegraphed me for permission, which I as promptly gave + him. He left the post on the 10th of September, the command consisting of + himself, Lieutenant Beecher, Acting Assistant Surgeon Mooers, and the full + strength, forty-seven men, with a few pack mules carrying about ten days' + rations. + </p> + <p> + He headed north toward the Republican River. For the first two days the + trail was indistinct and hard to follow. During the next three it + continued to grow much larger, indicating plainly that the number of + Indians ahead was rapidly increasing. Of course this sign meant a fight as + soon as a large enough force was mustered, but as this was what Forsyth + was after, he pushed ahead with confidence and alacrity. The night of the + 16th of September he encamped on the Arickaree branch of the Republican, + not far from the forks of the river, with the expectation of resuming the + march as usual next day, for the indications were that the main body of + the savages must be still a long way off, though in the preceding + twenty-four hours an occasional Indian had been seen. + </p> + <p> + But the enemy was much nearer than was thought, for at daybreak on the + morning of the 17th he made known his immediate presence by a sudden dash + at Forsyth's horses, a few of which were stampeded and captured before the + scouts could reach them. This dash was made by a small party only to get + the horses, so those engaged in it were soon driven off, but a few minutes + later hundreds of savages—it was afterward learned that seven + hundred warriors took part in the fight—hitherto invisible, showed + themselves on the hills overlooking the camp and so menacingly as to + convince Forsyth that his defense must be one of desperation. The only + place at hand that gave any hope of successful resistance was a small + island in the Arickaree, the channel on one side being about a foot deep + while on the other it was completely dry; so to this position a hurried + retreat was made. All the men and the remaining animals reached the island + in safety, but on account of the heavy fire poured in from the neighboring + hills the packs containing the rations and medicines had to be abandoned. + </p> + <p> + On seeing Forsyth's hasty move, the Indians, thinking they had him, + prepared to overwhelm the scouts by swooping down on one side of the + island with about five hundred mounted warriors, while about two hundred, + covered by the tall grass in the river-bottom attacked the other side, + dismounted. But the brave little band sadly disappointed them. When the + charge came it was met with such a deadly fire that a large number of the + fiends were killed, some of them even after gaining the bank of the + island. This check had the effect of making the savages more wary, but + they were still bold enough to make two more assaults before mid-day. Each + of these ending like the first, the Indians thereafter contented + themselves with shooting all the horses, which had been tied up to some + scraggy little cottonwood-trees, and then proceeded to lay siege to the + party. + </p> + <p> + The first man struck was Forsyth himself. He was hit three times in all—twice + in one leg, both serious wounds, and once on the head, a slight abrasion + of the scalp. A moment later Beecher was killed and Doctor Mooers mortally + wounded: and in addition to these misfortunes the scouts kept getting hit, + till several were killed, and the whole number of casualties had reached + twenty-one in a company of forty-seven. Yet with all this, and despite the + seeming hopelessness of the situation, the survivors kept up their pluck + undiminished, and during a lull succeeding the third repulse dug into the + loose soil till the entire party was pretty well protected by rifle-pits. + Thus covered they stood off the Indians for the next three days, although + of course their condition became deplorable from lack of food, while those + who were hurt suffered indescribable agony, since no means were at hand + for dressing their wounds. + </p> + <p> + By the third day the Indians, seeming to despair of destroying the + beleaguered party before succor might arrive, began to draw off, and on + the fourth wholly disappeared. The men were by this time nearly famished + for food. Even now there was nothing to be had except horse-meat from the + carcasses of the animals killed the first day, and this, though decidedly + unpalatable, not to say disgusting, had to be put up with, and so on such + unwholesome stuff they managed to live for four days longer, at the end of + which time they were rescued by a column of troops under Colonel Bankhead, + which had hastened from Fort Wallace in response to calls for help, + carried there by two brave fellows—Stilwell and Truedell—who, + volunteering to go for relief, had slipped through the Indians, and struck + out for that post in the night after the first day's fight. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch13b" id="linkch13b"></a>CHAPTER XIII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + FITTING OUT THE WINTER EXPEDITION—ACCOMPANYING THE MAIN FORCE—THE + OTHER COLUMNS—STRUCK BY A BLIZZARD—CUSTER'S FIGHT ON THE + WASHITA—DEFEAT AND DEATH OF BLACK KETTLE—MASSACRE OF ELLIOTT'S + PARTY—RELIEF OF COLONEL CRAWFORD. + </p> + <p> + The end of October saw completed the most of my arrangements for the + winter campaign, though the difficulties and hardships to be encountered + had led several experienced officers of the army, and some frontiersmen + like Mr. James Bridger, the famous scout and, guide of earlier days, to + discourage the project. Bridger even went so far as to come out from St. + Louis to dissuade me, but I reasoned that as the soldier was much better + fed and clothed than the Indian, I had one great advantage, and that, in + short, a successful campaign could be made if the operations of the + different columns were energetically conducted. To see to this I decided + to go in person with the main column, which was to push down into the + western part of the Indian Territory, having for its initial objective the + villages which, at the beginning of hostilities, had fled toward the + head-waters of the Red River, and those also that had gone to the same + remote region after decamping from the neighborhood of Larned at the time + that General Hazen sent Buffalo Bill to me with the news. + </p> + <p> + The column which was expected to do the main work was to be composed of + the Nineteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Crawford; + eleven troops of the Seventh United States Cavalry, under General Custer, + and a battalion of five companies of infantry under Brevet Major John H. + Page. To facilitate matters, General Sully, the district commander, was + ordered to rendezvous these troops and establish a supply depot about a + hundred miles south of Fort Dodge, as from such a point operations could + be more readily conducted. He selected for the depot a most suitable place + at the confluence of Beaver and Wolf creeks, and on his arrival there with + Custer's and Page's commands, named the place Camp Supply. + </p> + <p> + In conjunction with the main column, two others also were to penetrate the + Indian Territory. One of these, which was to march east from New Mexico by + way of Fort Bascom was to be composed of six troops of the Third Cavalry + and two companies of infantry, the whole under Colonel A. W. Evans. The + other, consisting of seven troops of the Fifth Cavalry, and commanded by + Brevet Brigadier-General Eugene A. Carr, was to march southeast from Fort + Lyon; the intention being that Evans and Carr should destroy or drive in + toward old Fort Cobb any straggling bands that might be prowling through + the country west of my own line of march; Carr, as he advanced, to be + joined by Brevet Brigadier-General W. H. Penrose, with five troops of + cavalry already in the field southeast of Lyon. The Fort Bascom column, + after establishing a depot of supplies at Monument Creek, was to work down + the main Canadian, and remain out as long as it could feed itself from New + Mexico; Carr, having united with Penrose on the North Canadian, was to + operate toward the Antelope Hills and headwaters of the Red River; while + I, with the main column was to move southward to strike the Indians along + the Washita, or still farther south on branches of the Red River. + </p> + <p> + It was no small nor easy task to outfit all these troops by the time cold + weather set in, and provide for them during the winter, but by the 1st of + November I had enough supplies accumulated at Forts Dodge and Lyon for my + own and Carr's columns, and in addition directed subsistence and forage + for three months to be sent to Fort Gibson for final delivery at Fort + Arbuckle, as I expected to feed the command from this place when we + arrived in the neighborhood of old Fort Cobb, but through some + mismanagement few of these stores got further than Gibson before winter + came on. + </p> + <p> + November 1, all being ready, Colonel Grawford was furnished with competent + guides, and, after sending two troops to Fort Dodge to act as my escort, + with the rest of his regiment he started from Topeka November 5, under + orders to march straight for the rendezvous at the junction of Beaver and + Wolf creeks. He was expected to reach his destination about the 20th, and + there unite with the Seventh Cavalry and the battalion of infantry, which + in the mean time were on the march from Dodge. A few days later Carr and + Evans began their march also, and everything being now in motion, I + decided to go to Camp Supply to give the campaign my personal attention, + determined to prove that operations could be successfully conducted in + spite of winter, and bent on showing the Indians that they were not secure + from punishment because of inclement weather—an ally on which they + had hitherto relied with much assurance. + </p> + <p> + We started from Fort Hays on the 15th of November, and the first night out + a blizzard struck us and carried away our tents; and as the gale was so + violent that they could not be put up again, the rain and snow drenched us + to the skin. Shivering from wet and cold, I took refuge under a wagon, and + there spent such a miserable night that, when at last morning came, the + gloomy predictions of old man Bridger and others rose up before me with + greatly increased force. As we took the road the sleet and snow were still + falling, but we labored on to Dodge that day in spite of the fact that + many of the mules played out on the way. We stayed only one night at + Dodge, and then on the 17th, escorted by a troop of cavalry and Forsyth's + scouts, now under the command of Lieutenant Lewis Pepoon, crossed the + Arkansas and camped the night of the 18th at Bluff Creek, where the two + troops of the Nineteenth Kansas, previously detailed as my escort, were + awaiting our coming. As we were approaching this camp some suspicious + looking objects were seen moving off at a long distance to the east of us, + but as the scouts confidently pronounced them buffalo, we were unaware of + their true character till next morning, when we became satisfied that what + we had seen were Indians, for immediately after crossing Beaver Creek we + struck a trail, leading to the northeast, of a war party that evidently + came up from the head-waters of the Washita River. + </p> + <p> + The evening of November 21 we arrived at the Camp Supply depot, having + traveled all day in another snowstorm that did not end till twenty-four + hours later. General Sully, with Custer's regiment and the infantry + battalion, had reached the place several days before, but the Kansas + regiment had not yet put in an appearance. All hands were hard at work + trying to shelter the stores and troops, but from the trail seen that + morning, believing that an opportunity offered to strike an effective + blow, I directed Custer to call in his working parties and prepare to move + immediately, without waiting for Crawford's regiment, unaccountably + absent. Custer was ready to start by the 23d, and he was then instructed + to march north to where the trail had been seen near Beaver Creek and + follow it on the back track, for, being convinced that the war party had + come from the Washita, I felt certain that this plan would lead directly + to the villages. + </p> + <p> + The difficulties attending a winter campaign were exhibited now with their + full force, as the march had to be conducted through a snow-storm that hid + surrounding objects, and so covered the country as to alter the appearance + of the prominent features, making the task of the guides doubly + troublesome; but in spite of these obstacles fifteen miles had been + traversed when Custer encamped for the night. The next day the storm had + ceased, and the weather was clear and cold. The heavy fall of snow had of + course obliterated the trail in the bottoms, and everywhere on the level; + but, thanks to the wind, that had swept comparatively bare the rough + places and high ground, the general direction could be traced without much + trouble. The day's march, which was through a country abounding with + buffalo, was unattended by any special incident at first, but during the + afternoon, after getting the column across the Canadian River—an + operation which, on account of the wagons, consumed considerable time—Custer's + scouts (friendly Osages) brought back word that, some miles ahead, they + had struck fresh signs, a trail coming into the old one from the north, + which, in their opinion, indicated that the war party was returning to the + villages. + </p> + <p> + On the receipt of this news, Custer, leaving a guard with the wagons, + hastily assembled the rest of his men' and pushing on rapidly, overtook + the scouts and a detailed party from his regiment which had accompanied + them, all halted on the new trail awaiting his arrival. A personal + examination satisfied Custer that the surmises of his scouts were correct; + and also that the fresh trail in the deep snow could at night be followed + with ease. After a short halt for supper and rest the pursuit was resumed, + the Osage scouts in advance, and although the hostile Indians were + presumed to be yet some distance off, every precaution was taken to + prevent detection and to enable our troops to strike them unawares. The + fresh trail, which it was afterward ascertained had been made by raiders + from Black Kettle's village of Cheyennes, and by some Arapahoes, led into + the valley of the Washita, and growing fresher as the night wore on, + finally brought the Osages upon a campfire, still smoldering, which, it + was concluded, had been built by the Indian boys acting as herders of the + ponies during the previous day. It was evident, then, that the village + could be but a few miles off; hence the pursuit was continued with + redoubled caution until, a few hours before dawn of the 27th, as the + leading scouts peered over a rise on the line of march, they discovered a + large body of animals in the valley below. + </p> + <p> + As soon as they reported this discovery, Custer determined to acquaint + himself with the situation by making a reconnoissance in person, + accompanied by his principal officers. So, sending back word to halt the + cavalry, he directed the officers to ride forward with him; then + dismounting, the entire party crept cautiously to a high point which + overlooked the valley, and from where, by the bright moon then shining, + they saw just how the village was situated. Its position was such as to + admit of easy approach from all sides. So, to preclude an escape of the + Indians, Custer decided to attack at daybreak, and from four different + directions. + </p> + <p> + The plan having been fully explained to the officers, the remaining hours + of the night were employed in making the necessary dispositions. Two of + the detachments left promptly, since they had to make a circuitous march + of several miles to Teach the points designated for their attack; the + third started a little later; and then the fourth and last, under Custer + himself, also moved into position. As the first light grew visible in the + east, each column moved closer in to the village, and then, all + dispositions having been made according to the prearranged plan, from + their appointed places the entire force to the opening notes of "Garry + Owen," played by the regimental band as the signal for the attack—dashed + at a gallop into the village. The sleeping and unsuspecting savages were + completely surprised by the onset; yet after the first confusion, during + which the impulse to escape principally actuated them, they seized their + weapons, and from behind logs and trees, or plunging into the stream and + using its steep bank as a breastwork, they poured upon their assailants a + heavy fire, and kept on fighting with every exhibition of desperation. In + such a combat mounted men were useless, so Custer directed his troopers to + fight on, foot, and the Indians were successively driven from one point of + vantage to another, until, finally, by 9 o'clock the entire camp was in + his possession and the victory complete. Black Kettle and over one hundred + of his warriors were killed, and about fifty women and children captured; + but most of the noncombatants, as well as a few warriors and boys, escaped + in the confusion of the fight. Making their way down the river, these + fugitives alarmed the rest of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and also the + Kiowas and Comanches, whose villages were in close proximity—the + nearest not more than two miles off. + </p> + <p> + Then of course all the warriors of these tribes rallied to attack Custer, + who meantime was engaged burning Black Kettle's camp and collecting his + herds of ponies. But these new foes were rather wary and circumspect, + though they already had partial revenge in an unlooked for way by cutting + off Major Elliott and fifteen men, who had gone off in pursuit of a batch + of young warriors when the fight was going on at the village. In fact, the + Indians had killed Elliott's whole party, though neither the fate of the + poor fellows, nor how they happened to be caught, was known till long + afterward. It was then ascertained that the detachment pursued a course + due south, nearly at right angles to the Washita River, and after + galloping a couple of miles over the hills, crossing a small branch of the + Washita on the way, they captured some of the fugitives. In bringing the + prisoners back, Elliott was in turn attacked on the open prairie by a + large number of savages from farther down the Washita, who by this time + were swarming to the aid of Black Kettle's village. The little band fought + its way gallantly to within rifle-range of the small creek referred to, + but could get no farther, for the Indians had taken up a position in the + bed of the stream, and from under cover of its banks Elliott and all his + remaining men were quickly killed. No relief was sent them, for Custer, + not having seen Elliott set out, knew nothing of the direction taken, and, + besides, was busy burning the villages and securing the ponies, and deeply + concerned, too, with defending himself from the new dangers menacing him. + Elliott and his brave little party were thus left to meet their fate + alone. + </p> + <p> + While Custer was burning the lodges and plunder and securing the ponies, + the Indians from the villages down the Washita were gathering constantly + around him till by mid-day they had collected in thousands, and then came + a new problem as to what should be done. If he attacked the other + villages, there was great danger of his being overwhelmed, and should he + start back to Camp Supply by daylight, he would run the risk of losing his + prisoners and the ponies, so, thinking the matter over, he decided to + shoot all the ponies, and keep skirmishing with the savages till + nightfall, and then, under cover of the darkness, return to Camp Supply; a + programme that was carried out successfully, but Custer's course received + some severe criticism because no effort was made to discover what had + become of Elliott. + </p> + <p> + Custer had, in all, two officers and nineteen men killed, and two officers + and eleven men wounded. The blow struck was a most effective one, and, + fortunately, fell on one of the most villianous of the hostile bands that, + without any provocation whatever, had perpetrated the massacres on the + Saline and Solomon, committing atrocities too repulsive for recital, and + whose hands were still red from their bloody work on the recent raid. + Black Kettle, the chief, was an old man, and did not himself go with the + raiders to the Saline and Solomon, and on this account his fate was + regretted by some. But it was old age only that kept him back, for before + the demons set out from Walnut Creek he had freely encouraged them by + "making medicine," and by other devilish incantations that are gone + through with at war and scalp dances. + </p> + <p> + When the horrible work was over he undertook to shield himself by + professions of friendship, but being put to the test by my offering to + feed and care for all of his band who would come in to Fort Dodge and + remain there peaceably, he defiantly refused. The consequence of this + refusal was a merited punishment, only too long delayed. + </p> + <p> + I received the first news of Custer's fight on the Washita on the morning + of November 29. It was brought to me by one of his white scouts, + "California Joe," a noted character, who had been experiencing the ups and + downs of pioneer life ever since crossing the Plains in 1849. Joe was an + invaluable guide and Indian fighter whenever the clause of the statute + prohibiting liquors in the Indian country happened to be in full force. At + the time in question the restriction was by no means a dead letter, and + Joe came through in thirty-six hours, though obliged to keep in hiding + during daylight of the 28th. The tidings brought were joyfully received by + everybody at Camp Supply, and they were particularly agreeable tome, for, + besides being greatly worried about the safety of the command in the + extreme cold and deep snows, I knew that the immediate effect a victory + would be to demoralize the rest of the hostiles, which of course would + greatly facilitate and expedite our ultimate success. Toward evening the + day after Joe arrived the head of Custer's column made its appearance on + the distant hills, the friendly Osage scouts and the Indian prisoners in + advance. As they drew near, the scouts began a wild and picturesque + performance in celebration of the victory, yelling, firing their guns, + throwing themselves on the necks and sides of their horses to exhibit + their skill in riding, and going through all sorts of barbaric evolutions + and gyrations, which were continued till night, when the rejoicings were + ended with the hideous scalp dance. + </p> + <p> + The disappearance of Major Elliott and his party was the only damper upon + our pleasure, and the only drawback to the very successful expedition. + There was no definite information as to the detachment, —and Custer + was able to report nothing more than that he had not seen Elliott since + just before the fight began. His theory was, however, that Elliott and his + men had strayed off on account of having no guide, and would ultimately + come in all right to Camp Supply or make their way back to Fort Dodge; a + very unsatisfactory view of the matter, but as no one knew the direction + Elliott had taken, it was useless to speculate on other suppositions, and + altogether too late to make any search for him. I was now anxious to + follow up Custer's stroke by an immediate move to the south with the + entire column, but the Kansas regiment had not yet arrived. At first its + nonappearance did not worry me much, for I attributed the delay to the bad + weather, and supposed Colonel Crawford had wisely laid up during the worst + storms. Further, waiting, however, would give the Indians a chance to + recover from the recent dispiriting defeat, so I sent out scouting parties + to look Crawford up and hurry him along. After a great deal of searching, + a small detachment of the regiment was found about fifty miles below us on + the North Canadian, seeking our camp. This detachment was in a pretty bad + plight, and when brought in, the officer in charge reported that the + regiment, by not following the advice of the guide sent to conduct it to + Camp Supply, had lost its way. Instead of relying on the guides, Crawford + had undertaken to strike through the canyons of the Cimarron by what + appeared to him a more direct route, and in the deep gorges, filled as + they were with snow, he had been floundering about for days without being + able to extricate his command. Then, too, the men were out of rations, + though they had been able to obtain enough buffalo meat to keep from + starving. As for the horses, since they could get no grass, about seven + hundred of them had already perished from starvation and exposure. + Provisions and guides were immediately sent out to the regiment, but + before the relief could reach Crawford his remaining horses were pretty + much all gone, though the men were brought in without loss of life. Thus, + the regiment being dismounted by this misfortune at the threshold of the + campaign, an important factor of my cavalry was lost to me, though as + foot-troops the Kansas volunteers continued to render very valuable + services till mustered out the next spring. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch14b" id="linkch14b"></a>CHAPTER XIV. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + A WINTER EXPEDITION—HERDS OF BUFFALO—WOLVES—BLIZZARDS—A + TERRIBLE NIGHT—FINDING THE BODIES OF ELLIOTT'S PARTY—THE + ABANDONED INDIAN CAMPS—PUSHING DOWN THE WASHITA—THE CAPTURED + CHIEFS—EVANS'S SUCCESSFUL FIGHT—ESTABLISHING FORT SILL—"CALIFORNIA + JOE"—DUPLICITY OF THE CHEYENNES—ORDERED TO REPAIR TO + WASHINGTON. + </p> + <p> + A few days were necessarily lost setting up and refitting the Kansas + regiment after its rude experience in the Cimarron canyons. This through + with, the expedition, supplied with thirty days' rations, moved out to the + south on the 7th of December, under my personal command. We headed for the + Witchita Mountains, toward which rough region all the villages along the + Washita River had fled after Custer's fight with Black Kettle. My line of + march was by way of Custer's battle-field, and thence down the Washita, + and if the Indians could not sooner be brought to terms, I intended to + follow them into the Witchita Mountains from near old Fort Cobb. The snow + was still deep everywhere, and when we started the thermometer was below + zero, but the sky being clear and the day very bright, the command was in + excellent spirits. The column was made up of ten companies of the Kansas + regiment, dismounted; eleven companies of the Seventh Cavalry, Pepoon's + scouts, and the Osage scouts. In addition to Pepoon's men and the Osages, + there was also "California Joe," and one or two other frontiersmen + besides, to act as guides and interpreters. Of all these the principal + one, the one who best knew the country, was Ben Clark, a young man who had + lived with the Cheyennes during much of his boyhood, and who not only had + a pretty good knowledge of the country, but also spoke fluently the + Cheyenne and Arapahoe dialects, and was an adept in the sign language. + </p> + <p> + The first day we made only about ten miles, which carried us to the south + bank of Wolf Creek. A considerable part of the day was devoted to + straightening out matters in the command, and allowing time for equalizing + the wagon loads, which as a general thing, on a first day's march, are + unfairly distributed. And then there was an abundance of fire-wood at Wolf + Creek; indeed, here and on Hackberry Creek—where I intended to make + my next camp—was the only timber north of the Canadian River; and to + select the halting places near a plentiful supply of wood was almost + indispensable, for as the men were provided with only shelter-tents, good + fires were needed in order to keep warm. + </p> + <p> + The second day, after marching for hours through vast herds of buffalo, we + made Hackberry Creek; but not, however, without several stampedes in the + wagon-train, the buffalo frightening the mules so that it became necessary + to throw out flankers to shoot the leading bulls and thus turn off the + herds. In the wake of every drove invariably followed a band of wolves. + This animal is a great coward usually, but hunger had made these so + ravenous that they would come boldly up to the column, and as quick as a + buffalo was killed, or even disabled, they would fall upon the carcass and + eagerly devour it. Antelope also were very numerous, and as they were + quite tame—being seldom chased—and naturally very inquisitive, + it was not an unfrequent thing to see one of the graceful little creatures + run in among the men and be made a prisoner. Such abundance of game + relieved the monotony of the march to Hackberry Creek, but still, both men + and animals were considerably exhausted by their long tramp, for we made + over thirty miles that day. + </p> + <p> + We camped in excellent shape on the creek and it was well we did, for a + "Norther," or "blizzard," as storms on the Plains are now termed struck us + in the night. During the continuance of these blizzards, which is usually + about three days, the cold wind sweeps over the Plains with great force, + and, in the latitude of the Indian Territory, is weighted with great + quantities of sleet and snow, through which it is often impossible to + travel; indeed, these "Northers" have many times proved fatal to the + unprotected frontiersman. With our numbers the chance of any one's being + lost, and perishing alone (one of the most common dangers in a blizzard), + was avoided; but under any circumstances such a storm could but occasion + intense suffering to all exposed to it, hence it would have been well to + remain in camp till the gale was over, but the time could not be spared. + We therefore resumed the march at an early hour next morning, with the + expectation of making the south bank of the main Canathan and there + passing the night, as Clark assured me that timber was plentiful on that + side of the river. The storm greatly impeded us, however, many of the + mules growing discouraged, and some giving out entirely, so we could not + get to Clark's "good camp," for with ten hours of utmost effort only about + half a day's distance could be covered, when at last, finding the struggle + useless, we were forced to halt for the night in a bleak bottom on the + north bank of the river. But no one could sleep, for the wind swept over + us with unobstructed fury, and the only fuel to be had was a few green + bushes. As night fell a decided change of temperature added much to our + misery, the mercury, which had risen when the "Norther" began, again + falling to zero. It can be easily imagined that under such circumstances + the condition of the men was one of extreme discomfort; in truth, they had + to tramp up and down the camp all night long to keep from freezing. + Anything was a relief to this state of things, so at the first streak of + day we quit the dreadful place and took up the march. + </p> + <p> + A seemingly good point for crossing the Canadian was found a couple of + miles down the stream, where we hoped to get our train over on the ice, + but an experiment proving that it was not strong enough, a ford had to be + made, which was done by marching some of the cavalry through the river, + which was about half a mile wide, to break up the large floes when they + had been cut loose with axes. After much hard work a passage-way was thus + opened, and by noon the command was crossed to the south bank, and after + thawing out and drying our clothes before big fires, we headed for a point + on the Washita, where Clark said there was plenty of wood, and good water + too, to make us comfortable till the blizzard had blown over. + </p> + <p> + We reached the valley of the Washita a little before dark, and camped some + five or six miles above the scene of Custer's fight, where I concluded to + remain at least a day, to rest the command and give it a chance to refit. + In the mean time I visited the battle-field in company with Custer and + several other officers, to see if there was a possibility of discovering + any traces of Elliotts party. On arriving at the site of the village, and + learning from Custer what dispositions had been made in approaching for + the attack, the squadron of the escort was deployed and pushed across the + river at the point where Elliott had crossed. Moving directly to the + south, we had not gone far before we struck his trail, and soon the whole + story was made plain by our finding, on an open level space about two + miles from the destroyed village, the dead and frozen bodies of the entire + party. The poor fellows were all lying within a circle not more than + fifteen or twenty paces in diameter, and the little piles of empty + cartridge shells near each body showed plainly that every man had made a + brave fight. None were scalped, but most of them were otherwise horribly + mutilated, which fiendish work is usually done by the squaws. All had been + stripped of their clothing, but their comrades in the escort were able to + identify the bodies, which being done, we gave them decent burial. Their + fate was one that has overtaken many of our gallant army in their efforts + to protect the frontiersmen's homes and families from savages who give no + quarter, though they have often received it, and where the possibility of + defeat in action carries with it the certainty of death and often of + preceding torture. + </p> + <p> + From the meadow where Elliott was found we rode to the Washita, and then + down the river through the sites of the abandoned villages, that had been + strung along almost continuously for about twelve miles in the timber + skirting the stream. On every hand appeared ample evidence that the + Indians had intended to spend the winter here, for the ground was littered + with jerked meat, bales of buffalo robes, cooking utensils, and all sorts + of plunder usually accumulated in a permanent Indian camp. There were, + also, lying dead near the villages hundreds of ponies, that had been shot + to keep them from falling into our hands, the scant grazing and extreme + cold having made them too weak to be driven along in the flight. The + wholesale slaughter of these ponies was a most cheering indication that + our campaign would be ultimately successful, and we all prayed for at + least a couple of months more of cold weather and plenty of snow. + </p> + <p> + At the Kiowa village we found the body of a white woman—a Mrs. Blynn—and + also that of her child. These captives had been taken by the Kiowas near + Fort Lyon the previous summer, and kept close prisoners until the stampede + began, the poor woman being reserved to gratify the brutal lust of the + chief, Satanta; then, however, Indian vengeance demanded the murder of the + poor creatures, and after braining the little child against a tree, the + mother was shot through the forehead, the weapon, which no doubt brought + her welcome release, having been fired so close that the powder had + horribly disfigured her face. The two bodies were wrapped in blankets and + taken to camp, and afterward carried along in our march, till finally they + were decently interred at Fort Arbuckle.. + </p> + <p> + At an early hour on December 12 the command pulled out from its cosy camp + and pushed down the valley of the Washita, following immediately on the + Indian trail which led in the direction of Fort Cobb, but before going far + it was found that the many deep ravines and canyons on this trail would + delay our train very much, so we moved out of the valley and took the + level prairie on the divide. Here the traveling was good, and a rapid gait + was kept up till mid-day, when, another storm of sleet and snow coming on, + it became extremely difficult for the guides to make out the proper + course; and fearing that we might get lost or caught on the open plain + without wood or water—as we had been on the Canadian—I turned + the command back to the valley, resolved to try no more shortcuts + involving the risk of a disaster to the expedition. But to get back was no + slight task, for a dense fog just now enveloped us, obscuring all + landmarks. However, we were headed right when the fog set in, and we had + the good luck to reach the valley before night-fall, though there was a + great deal of floundering about, and also much disputing among the guides + as to where the river would be found Fortunately we struck the stream + right at a large grove of timber, and established ourselves, admirably. By + dark the ground was covered with twelve or fifteen inches of fresh snow, + and as usual the temperature rose very sensibly while the storm was on, + but after night-fall the snow ceased and the skies cleared up. Daylight + having brought zero weather again, our start on the morning of the 17th + was painful work, many of the men freezing their fingers while handling + the horse equipments, harness, and tents. However, we got off in fairly + good season, and kept to the trail along the Washita notwithstanding the + frequent digging and bridging necessary to get the wagons over ravines. + </p> + <p> + Continuing on this line for three days, we at length came to a point on + the Washita where all signs indicated that we were nearing some of the + villages. Wishing to strike them as soon as possible, we made a very early + start next morning, the 17th. A march of four or five miles brought us to + a difficult ravine, and while we were making preparations to get over, + word was brought that several Indians had appeared in our front bearing a + white flag and making signs that they had a communication to deliver. We + signaled back that they would be received, when one of the party came + forward alone and delivered a letter, which proved to be from General + Hazen, at Fort Cobb. The letter showed that Hazen was carrying on + negotiations with the Indians, and stated that all the tribes between Fort + Cobb and my column were friendly, but the intimation was given that the + Cheyennes and Arapahoes were still hostile, having moved off southward + toward the Red River. It was added that Satanta and Lone Wolf—the + chiefs of the Kiowas—would give information of the whereabouts of + the hostiles; and such a communication coming direct from the + representative of the Indian Department, practically took the Kiowas—the + village at hand was of that tribe—under its protection, and also the + Comanches, who were nearer in to Cobb. Of course, under such circumstances + I was compelled to give up the intended attack, though I afterward + regretted that I had paid any heed to the message, because Satanta and + Lone Wolf proved, by trickery and double dealing, that they had deceived + Hazen into writing the letter. + </p> + <p> + When I informed the Klowas that I would respect Hazen's letter provided + they all came into Fort Cobb and gave themselves up, the two chiefs + promised submission, and, as an evidence of good faith, proposed to + accompany the column to Fort Cobb with a large body of warriors, while + their villages moved to the same point by easy stages, along the opposite + bank of the river—claiming this to be necessary from the poor + condition of the ponies. I had some misgivings as to the sincerity of + Satanta and Lone Wolf, but as I wanted to get the Kiowas where their + surrender would be complete, so that the Cheyennes and Arapahoes could + then be pursued, I agreed to the proposition, and the column moved on. All + went well that day, but the next it was noticed that the warriors were + diminishing, and an investigation showed that a number of them had gone + off on various pretexts—the main one being to help along the women + and children with the villages. With this I suspected that they were + playing me false, and my suspicions grew into certainty when Satanta + himself tried to make his escape by slipping beyond the flank of the + column and putting spurs to his pony. Fortunately, several officers saw + him, and quickly giving chase, overhauled him within a few hundred yards. + I then arrested both him and Lone Wolf and held them as hostages—a + measure that had the effect of bringing back many of the warriors already + beyond our reach. + </p> + <p> + When we arrived at Fort Cobb we found some of the Comanches already there, + and soon after the rest of them, excepting one band, came in to the post. + The Kiowas, however, were not on hand, and there were no signs to indicate + their coming. At the end of two days it was plain enough that they were + acting in bad faith, and would continue to unless strong pressure was + brought to bear. Indeed, they had already started for the Witchita + Mountains, so I put on the screws at once by issuing an order to hang + Satanta and Lone Wolf, if their people did not surrender at Fort Cobb + within forty-eight hours. The two chiefs promised prompt compliance, but + begged for more time, seeking to explain the non-arrival of the women and + children through the weak condition of the ponies; but I was tired of + their duplicity, and insisted on my ultimatum. + </p> + <p> + The order for the execution brought quick fruit. Runners were sent out + with messages, by the two prisoners, appealing to their people to save the + lives of their chiefs, and the result was that the whole tribe came in to + the post within the specified time. The two manacled wretches thus saved + their necks; but it is to be regretted that the execution did not come + off; for some years afterward their devilish propensities led them into + Texas, where both engaged in the most horrible butcheries. + </p> + <p> + The Kiowas were now in our hands, and all the Comanches too, except one + small band, which, after the Custer fight, had fled toward the headwaters + of the Red River. This party was made up of a lot of very bad Indians—outlaws + from the main tribe—and we did not hope to subdue them except by a + fight, and of this they got their fill; for Evans, moving from Monument + Creek toward the western base of the Witchita Mountains on Christmas Day, + had the good fortune to strike their village. In the snow and cold his + approach was wholly unexpected, and he was thus enabled to deal the band a + blow that practically annihilated it. Twenty-five warriors were killed + outright, most of the women and children captured, and all the property + was destroyed. Only a few of the party escaped, and some of these made + their way in to Fort Cobb, to join the rest of their tribe in confinement; + while others, later in the season, surrendered at Fort Bascom. + </p> + <p> + This sudden appearance of Evans in the Red River region also alarmed the + Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and their thoughts now began to turn to + submission. Food was growing scarce with them, too, as there was but + little game to be found either in the Witchita Mountains or on the edge of + the Staked Plains, and the march of Carr's column from Antelope Hills + precluded their returning to where the buffalo ranged. Then, too, many of + their ponies were dead or dying, most of their tepees and robes had been + abandoned, and the women and children, having been kept constantly on the + move in the winter's storms, were complaining bitterly of their + sufferings. + </p> + <p> + In view of this state of things they intimated, through their + Comanche-Apache friends at Fort Cobb, that they would like to make terms. + On receiving their messages I entered into negotiations with Little Robe, + chief of the Cheyennes, and Yellow Bear, chief of the Arapahoes, and + despatched envoys to have both tribes understand clearly that they must + recognize their subjugation by surrendering at once, and permanently + settling on their reservations in the spring. Of course the usual delays + of Indian diplomacy ensued, and it was some weeks before I heard the + result. + </p> + <p> + Then one of my messengers returned with word that Little Robe and Yellow + Bear were on their way to see me. They arrived a few days later, and, + promptly acceding to the terms, promised to bring their people in, but as + many of them would have to come on foot on account of the condition of the + ponies, more time was solicited. Convinced of the sincerity of their + professions I gave them a reasonable extension, and eventually Yellow Bear + made good his word, but Little Robe, in spite of earnest and repeated + efforts, was unable to deliver his people till further operations were + begun against them. + </p> + <p> + While these negotiations were in progess I came to the conclusion that a + permanent military post ought to be established well down on the Kiowa and + Comanche reservation, in order to keep an eye on these tribes in the + future, Fort Cobb, being an unsuitable location, because too far to the + north to protect the Texas frontier, and too far away from where it was + intended to permanently place the Indians. With this purpose in view I had + the country thoroughly explored, and afterward a place was fixed upon not + far from the base of the Witchita Mountains, and near the confluence of + Medicine Bluff and Cash creeks, where building stone and timber could be + obtained in plenty, and to this point I decided to move. The place was + named Camp Sill-now Fort Sill—in honor of my classmate, General + Sill, killed at Stone River; and to make sure of the surrendered Indians, + I required them all, Kiowas, Comanches, and Comanche-Apaches, to accompany + us to the new post, so they could be kept under military control till they + were settled. + </p> + <p> + During the march to the new camp the weather was not so cold as that + experienced in coming down from Camp Supply; still, rains were frequent, + and each was invariably followed by a depression of temperature and high + winds, very destructive to our animals, much weakened by lack of food. The + men fared pretty well, however, for on the rough march along the Washita, + and during our stay at Fort Cobb, they had learned to protect themselves + materially from the cold. For this they had contrived many devices, the + favorite means being dugouts—that is, pits dug in the ground, and + roofed over, with shelter-tents, and having at one end a fire-place and + chimney ingeniously constructed with sod. In these they lived very snugly—four + men in each—and would often amuse themselves by poking their heads + out and barking at the occupants of adjacent huts in imitation of the + prairie-dog, whose comfortable nests had probably suggested the idea of + dugouts. The men were much better off, in fact, than many of the officers, + for the high winds frequently made havoc with our wall-tents. The horses + and mules suffered most of all. They could not be sheltered, and having + neither grain nor grass, the poor beasts were in no condition to stand the + chilling blasts. Still, by cutting down cottonwood-trees, and letting the + animals browse on the small soft branches, we managed to keep them up + till, finally even this wretched food beginning to grow scarce, I had all + except a few of the strongest sent to Fort Arbuckle, near which place we + had been able, fortunately, to purchase some fields of corn from the + half-civilized Chickasaws and Choctaws. + </p> + <p> + Through mismanagement, as previously noted, the greater part of the + supplies which I had ordered hauled to Arbuckle the preceding fall had not + got farther on the way than Fort Gibson, which post was about four hundred + miles off, and the road abominable, particularly east of Arbuckle, where + it ran through a low region called "boggy bottom." All along this route + were abandoned wagons, left sticking in the mud, and hence the + transportation was growing so short that I began to fear trouble in + getting subsistence up for the men. Still, it would not do to withdraw, so + I made a trip to Arbuckle chiefly for the purpose of reorganizing the + transportation, but also with a view to opening a new route to that post, + the road to lie on high ground, so as to avoid the creeks and mud that had + been giving us so much trouble. If such a road could be made, I hoped to + get up enough rations and grain from the cornfields purchased to send out + a formidable expedition against the Cheyennes, so I set out for Arbuckle + accompanied by my quartermaster, Colonel A. J. McGonigle. "California Joe" + also went along to guide us through the scrub-oaks covering the ridge, but + even the most thorough exploration failed to discover any route more + practicable than that already in use; indeed, the high ground was, if + anything, worse than the bottom land, our horses in the springy places and + quicksands often miring to their knees. The ground was so soft and wet, in + fact, that we had to make most of the way on foot, so by the time we + reached Arbuckle I was glad to abandon the new road project. + </p> + <p> + Finding near Arbuckle more fields of corn than those already purchased, I + had them bought also, and ordered more of the horses back there to be fed. + I next directed every available mule to be put to hauling rations, having + discovered that the full capacity of the transportation had not yet been + brought into play in forwarding stores from Gibson, and with this + regulation of the supply question I was ready to return immediately to + Camp Sill. But my departure was delayed by California Joe, who, + notwithstanding the prohibitory laws of the Territory, in some + unaccountable way had got gloriously tipsy, which caused a loss of time + that disgusted me greatly; but as we could not well do without Joe, I put + off starting till the next day, by which time it was thought he would + sober up. But I might just as well have gone at first, for at the end of + the twenty-four hours the incorrigible old rascal was still dead drunk. + How he had managed to get the grog to keep up his spree was a mystery + which we could not solve, though we had had him closely watched, so I cut + the matter short by packing him into my ambulance and carrying him off to + Camp Sill. + </p> + <p> + By the time I got back to Sill, the Arapahoes were all in at the post, or + near at hand. The promised surrender of the Cheyennes was still uncertain + of fulfillment, however, and although Little Robe and his family had + remained with us in evidence of good faith, the messages he sent to his + followers brought no assurance of the tribe's coming in—the runners + invariably returning with requests for more time, and bringing the same + old excuse of inability to move because the ponies were so badly off. But + more time was just what I was determined not to grant, for I felt sure + that if a surrender was not forced before the spring grass came, the + ponies would regain their strength, and then it would be doubtful if the + Cheyennes came in at all. + </p> + <p> + To put an end to these delays, Custer proposed to go out and see the + Cheyennes himself, taking with him for escort only such number of men as + could be fairly well mounted from the few horses not sent back to + Arbuckle. At first I was inclined to disapprove Custer's proposition, but + he urged it so strongly that I finally consented, though with some + misgivings, for I feared that so small a party might tempt the Cheyennes + to forget their pacific professions and seek to avenge the destruction of + Black Kettle's band. However, after obtaining my approval, Custer, with + characteristic energy, made his preparations, and started with three or + four officers and forty picked men, taking along as negotiators Yellow + Bear and Little Robe, who were also to conduct him to the head-waters of + the Red River, where it was supposed the Cheyennes would be found. His + progress was reported by couriers every few days, and by the time he got + to the Witchita foot-hills he had grown so sanguine that he sent + California Joe back to me with word that he was certain of success. Such + hopeful anticipation relieved me greatly, of course, but just about the + time I expected to hear that his mission had been achieved I was + astonished by the party's return. Inquiring as to the trouble, I learned + that out toward the Staked Plains every sign of the Cheyennes had + disappeared. Surprised and disappointed at this, and discouraged by the + loneliness of his situation—for in the whole region not a trace of + animal life was visible, Custer gave up the search, and none too soon, I + am inclined to believe, to save his small party from perishing. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb344" id="linkpb344"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb344.jpg (133K)" src="images/pb344.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb344.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + This failure put a stop to all expeditions till the latter part of + February, by which time I had managed to lay in enough rations to feed the + command for about thirty days; and the horses back at Arbuckle having + picked up sufficiently for field service they were ordered to Sill, and + this time I decided to send Custer out with his own and the Kansas + regiment, with directions to insist on the immediate surrender of the + Cheyennes, or give them a sound thrashing. He was ordered to get + everything ready by March 1, and then move to the mouth of Salt Creek, on + the North Fork of the Red River, at which place I proposed to establish a + new depot for feeding the command. Trains could reach this point from Camp + Supply more readily than from Arbuckle, and wishing to arrange this part + of the programme in person, I decided to return at once to Supply, and + afterward rejoin Custer at Salt Creek, on what, I felt sure, was to be the + final expedition of the campaign. I made the three hundred and sixty miles + from Sill to Supply in seven days, but much to my surprise there found a + despatch from General Grant directing me to repair immediately to + Washington. These orders precluded, of course, my rejoining the command; + but at the appointed time it set out on the march, and within three weeks + brought the campaign to a successful close. + </p> + <p> + In this last expedition, for the first few days Custer's route was by the + same trail he had taken in January—that is to say, along the + southern base of the Witchita Mountains—but this time there was more + to encourage him than before, for, on getting a couple of marches beyond + old Camp Radziminski, on all sides were fresh evidences of Indians, and + every effort was bent to strike them. + </p> + <p> + From day to day the signs grew hotter, and toward the latter part of March + the game was found. The Indians being in a very forlorn condition, Custer + might have destroyed most of the tribe, and certainly all their villages, + but in order to save two white women whom, it was discovered, they held as + captives, he contented himself with the renewal of the Cheyennes' + agreement to come in to Camp Supply. In due time the entire tribe + fulfilled its promise except one small band under "Tall Bull," but this + party received a good drubbing from General Carr on the Republican early + in May. After this fight all the Indians of the southern Plains settled + down on their reservations, and I doubt whether the peace would ever again + have been broken had they not in after years been driven to hostilities by + most unjust treatment. + </p> + <p> + It was the 2d of March that I received at Camp Supply Grant's despatch + directing me to report immediately in Washington. It had been my + intention, as I have said, to join Custer on the North Fork of the Red + River, but this new order required me to recast my plans, so, after + arranging to keep the expedition supplied till the end of the campaign, I + started for Washington, accompanied by three of my staff—Colonels + McGonigle and Crosby, and Surgeon Asch, and Mr. Deb. Randolph Keim, a + representative of the press, who went through the whole campaign, and in + 1870 published a graphic history of it. The day we left Supply we, had + another dose of sleet and snow, but nevertheless we made good time, and by + night-fall reached Bluff Creek. In twenty-four hours more we made Fort + Dodge, and on the 6th of March arrived at Fort Hays. Just south of the + Smoky Hill River, a little before we got to the post, a courier heading + for Fort Dodge passed us at a rapid gait. Suspecting that he had + despatches for me, I directed my outrider to overtake him and find out. + The courier soon turned back, and riding up to my ambulance handed me a + telegram notifying me that General Grant, on the day of his inauguration, + March 4, 1869, had appointed me Lieutenant-General of the Army. When I + reported in Washington, the President desired me to return to New Orleans + and resume command of the Fifth Military District, but this was not at all + to my liking, so I begged off, and was assigned to take charge of the + Division of the Missouri, succeeding General Sherman, who had just been + ordered to assume command of the Army. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch15b" id="linkch15b"></a>CHAPTER XV. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + INSPECTING MILITARY POSTS IN UTAH AND MONTANA—DESIRE TO WITNESS THE + FRANCO-GERMAN WAR—ON A SAND-BAR IN THE MISSOURI—A BEAR HUNT—AN + INDIAN SCARE—MYRIADS OF MOSQUITOES—PERMISSION GIVEN TO VISIT + EUROPE—CALLING ON PRESIDENT GRANT—SAILING FOR LIVERPOOL—ARRIVAL + IN BERLIN. + </p> + <p> + After I had for a year been commanding the Division of the Missouri, which + embraced the entire Rocky Mountain region, I found it necessary to make an + inspection of the military posts in northern Utah and Montana, in order by + personal observation to inform myself of their location and needs, and at + the same time become acquainted with the salient geographical and + topographical features of that section of my division. Therefore in May, + 1870, I started west by the Union-Pacific railroad, and on arriving at + Corinne' Station, the next beyond Ogden, took passage by stage-coach for + Helena, the capital of Montana Territory. Helena is nearly five hundred + miles north of Corinne, and under ordinary conditions the journey was, in + those days, a most tiresome one. As the stage kept jogging on day and + night, there was little chance for sleep, and there being with me a + sufficient number of staff-officers to justify the proceeding, we + chartered the "outfit," stipulating that we were to stop over one night on + the road to get some rest. This rendered the journey more tolerable, and + we arrived at Helena without extraordinary fatigue. + </p> + <p> + Before I left Chicago the newspapers were filled with rumors of impending + war between Germany and France. I was anxious to observe the conflict, if + it was to occur, but reports made one day concerning the beginning of + hostilities would be contradicted the next, and it was not till I reached + Helena that the despatches lost their doubtful character, and later became + of so positive a nature as to make it certain that the two nations would + fight. I therefore decided to cut short my tour of inspection, so that I + could go abroad to witness the war, if the President would approve. This + resolution limited my stay in Helena to a couple of days, which were + devoted to arranging for an exploration of what are now known as the Upper + and the Lower Geyser Basins of the Yellowstone Park. While journeying + between Corinne and Helena I had gained some vague knowledge of these + geysers from an old mountaineer named Atkinson, but his information was + very indefinite, mostly second-hand; and there was such general + uncertainty as to the character of this wonderland that I authorized an + escort of soldiers to go that season from Fort Ellis with a small party, + to make such superficial explorations as to justify my sending an engineer + officer with a well-equipped expedition there next summer to + scientifically examine and report upon the strange country. When the + arrangements for this preliminary expedition were completed I started for + Fort Benton, the head of navigation on the Missouri River, on the way + passing through Fort Shaw, on Sun River. I expected to take at Benton a + steamboat to Fort Stevenson, a military post which had been established + about eighty miles south of Fort Buford, near a settlement of friendly + Mandan and Arickaree Indians, to protect them from the hostile Sioux. From + there I was to make my way overland, first to Fort Totten near Devil's + lake in Dakota, and thence by way of Fort Abercrombie to Saint Cloud, + Minnesota, the terminus of the railroad. + </p> + <p> + Luckily I met with no delay in getting a boat at Benton, and though the + water was extremely low, we steamed down the channel of the Missouri with + but slight detention till we got within fifty miles of Fort Buford. Here + we struck on a sandbar with such force of steam and current as to land us + almost out of the water from stem to midships. This bad luck was + tantalizing, for to land on a bar when your boat is under full headway + down-stream in the Missouri River is no trifling matter, especially if you + want to make time, for the rapid and turbid stream quickly depositing sand + under the hull, makes it commonly a task of several days to get your boat + off again. As from our mishap the loss of much time was inevitable, I sent + a messenger to Fort Buford for a small escort, and for horses to take my + party in to the post. Colonel Morrow, the commandant, came himself to meet + us, bringing a strong party of soldiers and some friendly Indian scouts, + because, he said, there were then in the region around Buford so many + treacherous band of Sioux as to make things exceedingly unsafe. + </p> + <p> + Desiring to reach the post without spending more than one night on the + way, we abandoned our steamer that evening, and set off at an early hour + the next morning. We made camp at the end of the day's march within ten + miles of Buford, and arrived at the post without having had any incident + of moment, unless we may dignify as one a battle with three grizzly bears, + discovered by our friendly Indians the morning of our second day's + journey. While eating our breakfast—a rather slim one, by the way—spread + on a piece of canvas, the Indians, whose bivouac was some distance off, + began shouting excitedly, "Bear! bear!" and started us all up in time to + see, out on the plain some hundreds of yards away, an enormous grizzly and + two almost full-grown cubs. Chances like this for a bear hunt seldom + offered, so there was hurried mounting—the horses being already + saddled—and a quick advance made on the game from many directions, + Lieutenant Townsend, of the escort, and five or six of the Indians going + with me. Alarmed by the commotion, bruin and her cubs turned about, and + with an awkward yet rapid gait headed for a deep ravine, in which there + was brushwood shelter. + </p> + <p> + My party rode directly across the prairie and struck the trail not far + behind the game. Then for a mile or more the chase was kept up, but with + such poor shooting because of the "buck fever" which had seized most of + us, that we failed to bring down any of the grizzlies, though the cubs + grew so tired that the mother was often obliged to halt for their defense, + meanwhile urging them on before her. When the ravine was gained she hid + the cubs away in the thick brushwood, and then coming out where we could + plainly see her, stood on the defense just within the edge of the thicket, + beyond the range of our rifles though, unless we went down into the + canyon, which we would have to do on foot, since the precipitous wall + precluded going on horseback. For an adventure like this I confess I had + little inclination, and on holding a council of war, I found that the + Indians had still less, but Lieutenant Townsend, who was a fine shot, and + had refrained from firing hitherto in the hope that I might bag the game, + relieved the embarrassing situation and saved the credit of the party by + going down alone to attack the enemy. Meanwhile I magnanimously held his + horse, and the Sioux braves did a deal of shouting, which they seemed to + think of great assistance. + </p> + <p> + Townsend, having descended to the bottom of the ravine, approached within + range, when the old bear struck out, dashing into and out of the bushes so + rapidly, however, that he could not get fair aim at her, but the startled + cubs running into full view, he killed one at the first shot and at the + second wounded the other. This terribly enraged the mother, and she now + came boldly out to fight, exposing herself in the open ground so much as + to permit a shot, that brought her down too, with a broken shoulder. Then + the Indians and I, growing very brave, scrambled down to—take part + in the fight. It was left for me to despatch the wounded cub and mother, + and having recovered possession of my nerves, I did the work effectively, + and we carried off with us the skins of the three animals as trophies of + the hunt and evidence of our prowess. + </p> + <p> + As good luck would have it, when we reached Buford we found a steamboat + there unloading stores, and learned that it would be ready to start down + the river the next day. Embarking on her, we got to Stevenson in a few + hours, and finding at the post camp equipage that had been made ready for + our use in crossing overland to Fort Totten, we set out the following + forenoon, taking with us a small escort of infantry, transported in two + light wagons, a couple of Mandans and the post interpreter going along as + mounted guides. + </p> + <p> + To reach water we had to march the first day to a small lake forty miles + off, and the oppressive heat, together with the long distance traveled, + used up one of the teams so much that, when about to start out the second + morning, we found the animals unable to go on with any prospect of + finishing the trip, so I ordered them to be rested forty-eight hours + longer, and then taken back to Stevenson. This diminished the escort by + one-half, yet by keeping the Indians and interpreter on the lookout, and + seeing that our ambulance was kept closed up on the wagon carrying the + rest of the detachment, we could, I thought, stand off any ordinary party + of hostile Indians. + </p> + <p> + About noon I observed that the scouts in advance had left the trail and + begun to reconnoitre a low ridge to their right, the sequel of which was + that in a few minutes they returned to the wagons on a dead run and + reported Sioux just ahead. Looking in the direction indicated, I could + dimly see five or six horsemen riding in a circle, as Indians do when + giving warning to their camp, but as our halt disclosed that we were aware + of their proximity, they darted back again behind the crest of the ridge. + Anticipating from this move an immediate attack, we hastily prepared for + it by unhooking the mules from the wagon and ambulance, so that we could + use the vehicles as a barricade. This done, I told the interpreter to take + the Mandan scouts and go over toward the ridge and reconnoitre again. As + the scouts neared the crest two of them dismounted, and, crawling slowly + on their bellies to the summit, took a hasty look and returned at once to + their horses, coming back with word that in the valley beyond was a camp + of at least a hundred Sioux lodges, and that the Indians were hurriedly + getting ready to attack us. The news was anything but cheering, for with a + village of that size the warriors would number two or three hundred, and + could assail us from every side. + </p> + <p> + Still, nothing could be done, but stand and take what was to come, for + there was no chance of escape—it being supreme folly to undertake in + wagons a race with Indians to Fort Stevenson, sixty miles away. To make + the best of the situation, we unloaded the baggage, distributing and + adjusting the trunks, rolls of bedding, crackerboxes, and everything else + that would stop a bullet, in such manner as to form a square barricade, + two sides of which were the wagons, with the mules haltered to the wheels. + Every man then supplied himself with all the ammunition he could carry, + and the Mandan scouts setting up the depressing wail of the Indian + death-song, we all awaited the attack with the courage of despair. + </p> + <p> + But no attack came; and time slipping by, and we still unmolested, the + interpreter and scouts were sent out to make another reconnoissance. Going + through just such precautions as before in approaching the ridge, their + slow progress kept us in painful suspense; but when they got to the crest + the strain on our nerves was relieved by seeing them first stand up boldly + at full height, and then descend beyond. Quickly returning, they brought + welcome word that the whole thing was a mistake, and no Sioux were there + at all. What had been taken for a hundred Indian lodges turned out to be + the camp of a Government train on its way to Fort Stevenson, and the + officer in charge seeing the scouts before they discovered him, and + believing them to be Sioux, had sent out to bring his herds in. It would + be hard to exaggerate the relief that this discovery gave us, and we all + breathed much easier. The scare was a bad one, and I have no hesitation in + saying that, had we been mounted, it is more than likely that, instead of + showing fight, we would have taken up a lively pace for Fort Stevenson. + </p> + <p> + After reciprocal explanations with the officer in charge of the train, the + march was resumed, and at the close of that day we camped near a small + lake about twenty miles from Fort Totten. From Totten we journeyed on to + Fort Abercrombie. The country between the two posts is low and flat, and I + verily believe was then the favorite abiding-place of the mosquito, no + matter where he most loves to dwell now; for myriads of the pests rose up + out of the tall rank grass—more than I ever saw before or since—and + viciously attacked both men and animals. We ourselves were somewhat + protected by gloves and head-nets, provided us before leaving Totten, but + notwithstanding these our sufferings were well-nigh intolerable; the + annoyance that the poor mules experienced must, therefore, have been + extreme; indeed, they were so terribly stung that the blood fairly + trickled down their sides. Unluckily, we had to camp for one night in this + region; but we partly evaded the ravenous things by banking up our tent + walls with earth, and then, before turning in, sweeping and smoking out + such as had got inside. Yet with all this there seemed hundreds left to + sing and sting throughout the night. The mules being without protection, + we tried hard to save them from the vicious insects by creating a dense + smoke from a circle of smothered fires, within which chain the grateful + brutes gladly stood; but this relief was only partial, so the moment there + was light enough to enable us to hook up we pulled out for Abercrombie in + hot haste. + </p> + <p> + From Abercrombie we drove on to Saint Cloud, the terminus of the railroad, + where, considerably the worse for our hurried trip and truly wretched + experience with the mosquitoes, we boarded the welcome cars. Two days + later we arrived in Chicago, and having meanwhile received word from + General Sherman that there would be no objection to my going to Europe, I + began making arrangements to leave, securing passage by the steamship + Scotia. + </p> + <p> + President Grant invited me to come to see him at Long Branch before I + should sail, and during my brief visit there he asked which army I wished + to accompany, the German or the French. I told him the German, for the + reason that I thought more could be seen with the successful side, and + that the indications pointed to the defeat of the French. My choice + evidently pleased him greatly, as he had the utmost contempt for Louis + Napoleon, and had always denounced him as a usurper and a charlatan. + Before we separated, the President gave me the following letter to the + representatives of our Government abroad, and with it I not only had no + trouble in obtaining permission to go with the Germans, but was specially + favored by being invited to accompany the headquarters of the King of + Prussia: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + <br /> "LONG BRANCH, N. J., July 25, 1870.<br /> <br /> "Lieutenant-General + P. H. Sheridan, of the United State Army, is authorized to visit Europe, + to return at his own pleasure, unless otherwise ordered. He is commended + to the good offices of all representatives of this Government whom he + may meet abroad.<br /> <br /> "To citizens and representatives of other + Governments I introduce General Sheridan as one of the most skillful, + brave and deserving soldiers developed by the great struggle through + which the United States Government has just passed. Attention paid him + will be duly appreciated by the country he has served so faithfully and + efficiently.<br /> <br /> "U. S. GRANT." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Word of my intended trip was cabled to Europe in the ordinary press + despatches, and our Minister to France, Mr. Elihu B. Washburn, being an + intimate friend of mine, and thinking that I might wish to attach myself + to the French army, did me the favor to take preliminary steps for + securing the necessary authority. He went so far as to broach the subject + to the French Minister of War, but in view of the informality of the + request, and an unmistakable unwillingness to grant it being manifested, + Mr. Washburn pursued the matter no further. I did not learn of this kindly + interest in my behalf till after the capitulation of Paris, when Mr. + Washburn told me what he had done of his own motion. Of course I thanked + him gratefully, but even had he succeeded in getting the permission he + sought I should not have accompanied the French army. + </p> + <p> + I sailed from New York July 27, one of my aides-de-camp, General James W. + Forsyth, going with me. We reached Liverpool August 6, and the next day + visited the American Legation in London, where we saw all the officials + except our Minister, Mr. Motley, who, being absent, was represented by Mr. + Moran, the Secretary of the Legation. We left London August 9 for + Brussels, where we were kindly cared for by the American Minister, Mr. + Russell Jones who the same evening saw us off for Germany. Because of the + war we secured transportation only as far as Vera, and here we received + information that the Prussian Minister of War had telegraphed to the + Military Inspector of Railroads to take charge of us on our arrival a + Cologne, and send us down to the headquarter of the Prussian army, but the + Inspector, for some unexplained reason, instead of doing this, sent us on + to Berlin. Here our Minister, Mr. George Bancroft, met us with a telegram + from the German Chancellor, Count Bismarck, saying we were expected to + come direct to the King's headquarters and we learned also that a despatch + had been sent to the Prussian Minister at Brussels directing him to + forward us from Cologne to the army, instead of allowing us to go on to + Berlin, but that we had reached and quit Brussels without the Minister's + knowledge. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch16b" id="linkch16b"></a>CHAPTER XVI. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + LEAVING FOR THE SEAT OF WAR—MEETING WITH PRINCE BISMARCK—HIS + INTEREST IN PUBLIC OPINION IN AMERICA—HIS INCLINATIONS IN EARLY LIFE—PRESENTED + TO THE KING—THE BATTLE OF GRAVELOTTE—THE GERMAN PLAN—ITS + FINAL SUCCESS—SENDING NEWS OF THE VICTORY—MISTAKEN FOR A + FRENCHMAN. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after we arrived in Berlin the Queen sent a messenger offering us + an opportunity to pay our respects, and fixed an hour for the visit, which + was to take place the next day; but as the tenor of the despatch Mr. + Bancroft had received from Count Bismarck indicated that some important + event which it was desired I should witness was about to happen at the + theatre of war, our Minister got us excused from our visit of ceremony, + and we started for the headquarters of the German army that evening—our + stay in the Prussian capital having been somewhat less than a day. + </p> + <p> + Our train was a very long one, of over eighty cars, and though drawn by + three locomotives, its progress to Cologne was very slow and the journey + most tedious. From Cologne we continued on by rail up the valley of the + Rhine to Bingebruck, near Bingen, and thence across through Saarbrucken to + Remilly, where we left the railway and rode in a hay-wagon to + Pont-a-Mousson, arriving there August 17, late in the afternoon. This + little city had been ceded to France at the Peace of Westphalia, and + although originally German, the people had become, in the lapse of so many + years, intensely French in sentiment. The town was so full of officers and + men belonging to the German army that it was difficult to get lodgings, + but after some delay we found quite comfortable quarters at one of the + small hotels, and presently, after we had succeeded in getting a slender + meal, I sent my card to Count von Bismarck, the Chancellor of the North + German Confederation, who soon responded by appointing an hour—about + 9 o'clock the same evening—for an interview. + </p> + <p> + When the Count received me he was clothed in the undress uniform of the + Cuirassier regiment, of which he was the colonel. During the interview + which ensued, he exhibited at times deep anxiety regarding the conflict + now imminent, for it was the night before the battle of Gravelotte, but + his conversation was mostly devoted to the state of public sentiment in + America, about which he seemed much concerned, inquiring repeatedly as to + which side—France or Prussia—was charged with bringing on the + war. Expressing a desire to witness the battle which was expected to occur + the next day, and remarking that I had not had sufficient time to provide + the necessary transportation, he told me to be ready at 4 o'clock in the + morning, and he would take me out in his own carriage and present me to + the King—adding that he would ask one of his own staff-officers, who + he knew had one or two extra horses, to lend me one. As I did not know + just what my status would be, and having explained to the President before + leaving America that I wished to accompany the German army unofficially, I + hardly knew whether to appear in uniform or not, so I spoke of this matter + too, and the Count, after some reflection, thought it best for me to wear + my undress uniform, minus the sword, however, because I was a non + combatant. + </p> + <p> + At 4 o'clock the next morning, the 18th, I repaired to the Chancellor's + quarters. The carriage was at the door, also the saddle-horse, but as no + spare mount could be procured for General Forsyth, he had to seek other + means to reach the battle-field. The carriage was an open one with two + double seats, and in front a single one for a messenger; it had also a + hand-brake attached. + </p> + <p> + Count Bismarck and I occupied the rear seat, and Count Bismarck-Bohlen—the + nephew and aide-decamp to the Chancellor—and Doctor Busch were + seated facing us. The conveyance was strong, serviceable, and comfortable, + but not specially prepossessing, and hitched to it were four stout horses—logy, + ungainly animals, whose clumsy harness indicated that the whole equipment + was meant for heavy work. Two postilions in uniform, in high military + saddles on the nigh horse of each span, completed the establishment. + </p> + <p> + All being ready, we took one of the roads from Pont-a-Mousson to + Rezonville, which is on the direct road from Metz to Chalons, and near the + central point of the field where, on the 16th of August, the battle of + Mars-la-Tour had been fought. It was by this road that the Pomeranians, + numbering about 30,000 men, had been ordered to march to Gravelotte, and + after proceeding a short distance we overtook the column. As this + contingent came from Count Bismarck's own section of Germany, there + greeted us as we passed along, first in the dim light of the morning, and + later in the glow of the rising sun, continuous and most enthusiastic + cheering for the German Chancellor. + </p> + <p> + On the way Count Bismarck again recurred to the state of public opinion in + America with reference to the war. He also talked much about our form of + government, and said that in early life his tendencies were all toward + republicanism, but that family influence had overcome his preferences, and + intimated that, after adopting a political career, he found that Germany + was not sufficiently advanced for republicanism. He said, further, that he + had been reluctant to enter upon this public career, that he had always + longed to be a soldier, but that here again family opposition had turned + him from the field of his choice into the sphere of diplomacy. + </p> + <p> + Not far from Mars-la-Tour we alighted, and in a little while an + aide-de-camp was introduced, who informed me that he was there to conduct + and present me to his Majesty, the King of Prussia. As we were walking + along together, I inquired whether at the meeting I should remove my cap, + and he said no; that in an out-of-door presentation it was not etiquette + to uncover if in uniform. We were soon in presence of the King, where—under + the shade of a clump of second-growth poplar-trees, with which nearly all + the farms in the north of France are here and there dotted—the + presentation was made in the simplest and most agreeable manner. + </p> + <p> + His Majesty, taking my hand in both of his, gave me a thorough welcome, + expressing, like Count Bismarck, though through an interpreter, much + interest as to the sentiment in my own country about the war. At this time + William the First of Prussia was seventy-three years of age, and, dressed + in the uniform of the Guards, he seemed to be the very ideal soldier, and + graced with most gentle and courteous manners. The conversation, which was + brief, as neither of us spoke the other's native tongue, concluded by his + Majesty's requesting me in the most cordial way to accompany his + headquarters during the campaign. Thanking him for his kindness, I + rejoined Count Bismarck's party, and our horses having arrived meantime, + we mounted and moved off to the position selected for the King to witness + the opening of the battle. + </p> + <p> + This place was on some high ground overlooking the villages of Rezonville + and Gravelotte, about the centre of the battlefield of Mars-la-Tour, and + from it most of the country to the east toward Metz could also be seen. + The point chosen was an excellent one for the purpose, though in one + respect disagreeable, since the dead bodies of many of the poor fellows + killed there two days before were yet unburied. In a little while the + King's escort began to remove these dead, however, bearing them away on + stretchers improvised with their rifles, and the spot thus cleared was + much more acceptable. Then, when such unexploded shells as were lying + around loose had been cautiously carried away, the King, his brother, + Prince Frederick Charles Alexander, the chief-of-staff, General von + Moltke, the Minister of War, General von Roon, and Count von Bismarck + assembled on the highest point, and I being asked to join the group, was + there presented to General von Moltke. He spoke our language fluently, and + Bismarck having left the party for a time to go to a neighboring house to + see his son, who had been wounded at Mars-la-Tour, and about whom he was + naturally very anxious, General von Moltke entertained me by explaining + the positions of the different corps, the nature and object of their + movements then taking place, and so on. + </p> + <p> + Before us, and covering Metz, lay the French army, posted on the crest of + a ridge extending north, and about its centre curving slightly westward + toward the German forces. The left of the French position was but a short + distance from the Moselle, and this part of the line was separated from + the Germans by a ravine, the slopes, fairly well wooded, rising quite + sharply; farther north, near the centre, this depression disappeared, + merged in the general swell of the ground, and thence on toward the right + the ground over which an approach to the French line must be made was + essentially a natural open glacis, that could be thoroughly swept by the + fire of the defenders. + </p> + <p> + The line extended some seven or eight miles. To attack this position, + formidable everywhere, except perhaps on the right flank, the Germans were + bringing up the combined forces of the First and Second armies, troops + that within the past fortnight had already successfully met the French in + three pitched battles. On the right was the First Army, under command of + General Von Steinmetz, the victors, August 6, of Spicheren, near Saar, + and, eight days later, of Colombey, to the east of Metz; while the centre + and left were composed of the several corps of the Second Army, commanded + by Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia, a part of whose troops had just + been engaged in the sanguinary battle of Mars-la-Tour, by which Bazaine + was cut off from the Verdun road, and forced back toward Metz. + </p> + <p> + At first the German plan was simply to threaten with their right, while + the corps of the Second Army advanced toward the north, to prevent the + French, of whose intentions there was much doubt, from escaping toward + Chalons; then, as the purposes of the French might be, developed, these + corps were to change direction toward the enemy successively, and seek to + turn his right flank. But the location of this vital turning-point was + very uncertain, and until it was ascertained and carried, late in the + afternoon, the action raged with more or less intensity along the entire + line. + </p> + <p> + But as it is not my purpose to describe in detail the battle of + Gravelotte, nor any other, I will speak of some of its incidents merely. + About noon, after many preliminary skirmishes, the action was begun + according to the plan I have already outlined, the Germans advancing their + left while holding on strongly with their right, and it was this wing (the + First Army) that came under my observation from the place where the King's + headquarters were located. From here we could see, as I have said, the + village of Gravelotte. Before it lay the German troops, concealed to some + extent, especially to the left, by clumps of timber here and there. + Immediately in front of us, however, the ground was open, and the day + being clear and sunny, with a fresh breeze blowing (else the smoke from a + battle between four hundred thousand men would have obstructed the view + altogether), the spectacle presented Was of unsurpassed magnificence and + sublimity. The German artillery opened the battle, and while the air was + filled with shot and shell from hundreds of guns along their entire line, + the German centre and left, in rather open order, moved out to the attack, + and as they went forward the reserves, in close column, took up positions + within supporting distances, yet far enough back to be out of range. + </p> + <p> + The French artillery and mitrailleuses responded vigorously to the Krupps, + and with deadly effect, but as far as we could see the German left + continued its advance, and staff-officers came up frequently to report + that all was going on well at points hidden from our view These reports + were always made to the King first, and whenever anybody arrived with + tidings of the fight we clustered around to hear the news, General Von + Moltke unfolding a map meanwhile, and explaining the situation. This done, + the chief of the staff, while awaiting the next report, would either + return to a seat that had been made for him with some knapsacks, or would + occupy the time walking about, kicking clods of dirt or small stones here + and there, his hands clasped behind his back, his face pale and + thoughtful. He was then nearly seventy years old, but because of his + emaciated figure, the deep wrinkles in his face, and the crow's-feet about + his eyes, he looked even older, his appearance being suggestive of the + practice of church asceticisms rather than of his well-known ardent + devotion to the military profession. + </p> + <p> + By the middle of the afternoon the steady progress of the German left and + centre had driven the French from their more advanced positions from + behind stone walls and hedges, through valleys and hamlets, in the + direction of Metz, but as yet the German right had accomplished little + except to get possession of the village of Gravelotte, forcing the French + across the deep ravine I have mentioned, which runs north and south a + little distance east of ihe town. + </p> + <p> + But it was now time for the German right to move in earnest to carry the + Rozerieulles ridge, on which crest the French had evidently decided to + make an obstinate fight to cover their withdrawal to Metz. As the Germans + moved to the attack here, the French fire became heavy and destructive, so + much so, indeed, as to cause General Von Steinmetz to order some cavalry + belonging to the right wing to make a charge. Crossing the ravine before + described, this body of horse swept up the slope beyond, the front ranks + urged forward by the momentum from behind. The French were posted along a + sunken road, behind stone walls and houses, and as the German cavalry + neared these obstructions it received a dreadful fire without the least + chance of returning it, though still pushed on till the front ranks were + crowded into the deep cut of the road. Here the slaughter was terrible, + for the horsemen could make no further headway; and because of the + blockade behind, of dead and wounded men and animals, an orderly retreat + was impossible, and disaster inevitable. + </p> + <p> + About the time the charge was ordered, the phase of the battle was such + that the King concluded to move his headquarters into the village of + Gravelotte; and just after getting there, we first learned fully of the + disastrous result of the charge which had been entered upon with such + spirit; and so much indignation was expressed against Steinmetz, who, it + was claimed, had made an unnecessary sacrifice of his cavalry, that I + thought he would be relieved on the spot; though this was not done. + </p> + <p> + Followed by a large staff, General Steinmetz appeared in the village + presently, and approached the King. When near, he bowed with great + respect, and I then saw that he was a very old man though his soldierly + figure, bronzed face, and shortcropped hair gave some evidence of vigor + still. When the King spoke to him I was not close enough to learn what was + said; but his Majesty's manner was expressive of kindly feeling, and the + fact that in a few moments the veteran general returned to the command of + his troops, indicated that, for the present at least, his fault had been + overlooked. + </p> + <p> + The King then moved out of the village, and just a little to the east and + north of it the headquarters were located on high, open ground, whence we + could observe the right of the German infantry advancing up the eastern + face of the ravine. The advance, though slow and irregular, resulted in + gradually gaining ground, the French resisting stoutly with a stubborn + musketry fire all along the slopes. Their artillery was silent, however; + and from this fact the German artillery officers grew jubilant, + confidently asserting that their Krupp guns had dismounted the French + batteries and knocked their mitrailleuses to pieces. I did not indulge in + this confidence, however; for, with the excellent field-glass I had, I + could distinctly see long columns of French troops moving to their right, + for the apparent purpose of making a vigorous fight on that flank; and I + thought it more than likely that their artillery would be heard from + before the Germans could gain the coveted ridge. + </p> + <p> + The Germans labored up the glacis slowly at the most exposed places; now + crawling on their bellies, now creeping on hands and knees, but, in the + main, moving with erect and steady bearing. As they approached within + short range, they suddenly found that the French artillery and + mitrallleuses had by no means been silenced—about two hundred pieces + opening on them with fearful effect, while at the same time the whole + crest blazed with a deadly fire from the Chassepot rifles. Resistance like + this was so unexpected by the Germans that it dismayed them; and first + wavering a moment, then becoming panic-stricken, they broke and fled, + infantry, cavalry, and artillery coming down the slope without any + pretence of formation, the French hotly following and pouring in a heavy + and constant fire as the fugitives fled back across the ravine toward + Gravelotte. With this the battle on the right had now assumed a most + serious aspect, and the indications were that the French would attack the + heights of Gravelotte; but the Pomeranian corps coming on the field at + this crisis, was led into action by Von Moltke, himself, and shortly after + the day was decided in favor of the Germans. + </p> + <p> + When the French guns opened fire, it was discovered that the King's + position was within easy range, many of the shells falling near enough to + make the place extremely uncomfortable; so it was suggested that he go to + a less exposed point. At first he refused to listen to this wise counsel, + but yielded finally—leaving the ground with reluctance, however—and + went back toward Rezonville. I waited for Count Bismarck, who did not go + immediately with the King, but remained at Gravelotte, looking after some + of the escort who had been wounded. When he had arranged for their care, + we set out to rejoin the King, and before going far, overtook his Majesty, + who had stopped on the Chalons road, and was surrounded by a throng of + fugitives, whom he was berating in German so energetic as to remind me + forcibly of the "Dutch" swearing that I used to hear in my boyhood in + Ohio. The dressing down finished to his satisfaction, the King resumed his + course toward Re'zonville, halting, however, to rebuke in the same + emphatic style every group of runaways he overtook. + </p> + <p> + Passing through Rezonville, we halted just beyond the village; there a + fire was built, and the King, his brother, Prince Frederick Charles, and + Von Roon were provided with rather uncomfortable seats about it, made by + resting the ends of a short ladder on a couple of boxes. With much anxiety + and not a little depression of spirits news from the battle-field was now + awaited, but the suspense did not last long, for presently came the + cheering intelligence that the French were retiring, being forced back by + the Pomeranian corps, and some of the lately broken right wing + organizations, that had been rallied on the heights of Gravelotte. The + lost ground being thus regained, and the French having been beaten on + their right, it was not long before word came that Bazaine's army was + falling back to Metz, leaving the entire battle-field in possession of the + Germans. + </p> + <p> + During the excitement of the day I had not much felt the want of either + food or water, but now that all was over I was nearly exhausted, having + had neither since early morning. Indeed, all of the party were in like + straits; the immense armies had not only eaten up nearly everything in the + country, but had drunk all the wells dry, too, and there seemed no relief + for us till, luckily, a squad of soldiers came along the road with a small + cask of wine in a cart. One of the staff-officers instantly appropriated + the keg, and proceeded to share his prize most generously. Never had I + tasted anything so refreshing and delicious, but as the wine was the + ordinary sour stuff drunk by the peasantry of northern France, my + appreciation must be ascribed to my famished condition rather than to any + virtues of the beverage itself. + </p> + <p> + After I had thus quenched my thirst the King's, brother called me aside, + and drawing from his coat-tail pocket a piece of stale black bread, + divided it with me, and while munching on this the Prince began talking of + his son—General Prince Frederick Charles, popularly called the Red + Prince—who was in command of the Second Army in this battle—the + German left wing. In recounting his son's professional career the old + man's face was aglow with enthusiasm, and not without good cause, for in + the war between Prussia and Austria in 1866, as well as in the present + campaign, the Red Prince had displayed the highest order of military + genius. + </p> + <p> + The headquarters now became the scene of much bustle, despatches + announcing the victory being sent in all directions. The first one + transmitted was to the Queen, the King directing Count Bismarck to prepare + it for his signature; then followed others of a more official character, + and while these matters were being attended to I thought I would ride into + the village to find, if possible, some water for my horse. Just as I + entered the chief street, however, I was suddenly halted by a squad of + soldiers, who, taking me for a French officer (my coat and forage cap + resembling those of the French), leveled their pieces at me. They were + greatly excited, so much so, indeed, that I thought my hour had come, for + they could not understand English, and I could not speak German, and dare + not utter explanations in French. Fortunately a few disconnected German + words came to me in the emergency. With these I managed to delay my + execution, and one of the party ventured to come up to examine the + "suspect" more closely. The first thing he did was to take off my cap, and + looking it over carefully, his eyes rested on the three stars above the + visor, and, pointing to them, he emphatically pronounced me French. Then + of course they all became excited again, more so than before, even, for + they thought I was trying to practice a ruse, and I question whether I + should have lived to recount the adventure had not an officer belonging to + the King's headquarters been passing by just then, when, hearing the + threatenings and imprecations, he rode up to learn the cause of the + hubbub, and immediately recognized and released me. When he told my wrathy + captors who I was, they were much mortified of course, and made the most + profuse apologies, promising that no such mistake should occur again, and + so on; but not feeling wholly reassured, for my uniform was still liable + to mislead, I was careful to return to headquarters in company with my + deliverer. There I related what had occurred, and after a good laugh all + round, the King provided me with a pass which he said would preclude any + such mishap in the future, and would also permit me to go wherever I + pleased—a favor rarely bestowed. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch17b" id="linkch17b"></a>CHAPTER XVII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + SEARCHING FOR QUARTERS—HUNTING UP PROVISIONS—A SLENDER + BREAKFAST—GOING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD—THE GERMAN ARTILLERY—A + GROUP OF WOUNDED—DINING WITH THE KING—ON THE MARCH—THE + BAVARIANS—KIRSCHWASSER—URGING ON THE TROOPS. + </p> + <p> + While I was absent, as related in the preceding chapter, it had been + decided that the King's quarters should be established for the night in + the village of Rezonville; and as it would be very difficult, at such a + late hour, to billet the whole party regularly, Count Bismarck and I went + off to look for shelter for ourselves. Remembering that I had seen, when + seeking to water my horse, a partly burned barn with some fresh-looking + hay in it, I suggested that we lodge there. He too thought it would answer + our purpose, but on reaching it we found the unburned part of the barn + filled with wounded, and this necessitating a further search we continued + on through the village in quest of some house not yet converted into a + hospital. Such, however, seemed impossible to come upon, so at last the + Count fixed on one whose upper floor, we learned, was unoccupied, though + the lower one was covered with wounded. + </p> + <p> + Mounting a creaky ladder—there was no stairway—to the upper + story, we found a good-sized room with three large beds, one of which the + Chancellor assigned to the Duke of Mecklenburg and aide, and another to + Count Bismarck-Bohlen and me, reserving the remaining one for himself. + Each bed, as is common in Germany and northern France, was provided with a + feather tick, but the night being warm, these spreads were thrown off, and + discovering that they would make a comfortable shakedown on the floor, I + slept there leaving Bismarck-Bohlen unembarrassed by companionship—at + least of a human kind. + </p> + <p> + At daylight I awoke, and seeing that Count Bismarck was already dressed + and about to go down the ladder, I felt obliged to follow his example, so + I too turned out, and shortly descended to the ground-floor, the only + delays of the toilet being those incident to dressing, for there were no + conveniences for morning ablutions. Just outside the door I met the Count, + who, proudly exhibiting a couple of eggs he had bought from the woman of + the house, invited me to breakfast with him, provided we could beg some + coffee from the king's escort. Putting the eggs under my charge, with many + injunctions as to their safe-keeping, he went off to forage for the + coffee, and presently returned, having been moderately successful. One egg + apiece was hardly enough, however, to appease the craving of two strong + men ravenous from long fasting. Indeed, it seemed only to whet the + appetite, and we both set out on an eager expedition for more food. Before + going far I had the good luck to meet a sutler's wagon, and though its + stock was about all sold, there were still left four large bologna + sausages, which I promptly purchased—paying a round sum for them too—and + hastening back found the Count already returned, though without bringing + anything at all to eat; but he had secured a couple of bottles of brandy, + and with a little of this—it was excellent, too—and the + sausages, the slim ration of eggs and coffee was amply reinforced. + </p> + <p> + Breakfast over, the Chancellor invited me to accompany him in a ride to + the battle-field, and I gladly accepted, as I very much desired to pass + over the ground in front of Gravelotte, particularly so to see whether the + Krupp guns had really done the execution that was claimed for them by the + German artillery officers. Going directly through the village of + Gravelotte, following the causeway over which the German cavalry had + passed to make its courageous but futile charge, we soon reached the + ground where the fighting had been the most severe. Here the field was + literally covered with evidences of the terrible strife, the dead and + wounded strewn thick on every side. + </p> + <p> + In the sunken road the carnage had been awful; men and horses having been + slaughtered there by hundreds, helpless before the murderous fire + delivered from behind a high stone wall impracticable to mounted troops. + The sight was sickening to an extreme, and we were not slow to direct our + course elsewhere, going up the glacis toward the French line, the open + ground over which we crossed being covered with thousands of helmets, that + had been thrown off by the Germans during the fight and were still dotting + the field, though details of soldiers from the organizations which had + been engaged here were about to begin to gather up their abandoned + headgear. + </p> + <p> + When we got inside the French works, I was astonished to observe how + little harm had been done the defenses by the German artillery, for + although I had not that serene faith in the effectiveness of their guns + held by German artillerists generally, yet I thought their terrific + cannonade must have left marked results. All I could perceive, however, + was a disabled gun, a broken mitrailleuse, and two badly damaged caissons. + </p> + <p> + Everything else, except a little ammunition in the trenches, had been + carried away, and it was plain to see, from the good shape in which the + French left wing had retired to Metz, that its retreat had been + predetermined by the disasters to the right wing. + </p> + <p> + By this hour the German cavalry having been thrown out to the front well + over toward Metz, we, following it to get a look at the city, rode to a + neighboring summit, supposing it would be a safe point of observation; but + we shortly realized the contrary, for scarcely had we reached the crest + when some of the French pickets, lying concealed about six hundred yards + off, opened fire, making it so very hot for us that, hugging the necks of + our horses, we incontinently fled. Observing what had taken place, a troop + of German cavalry charged the French outpost and drove it far enough away + to make safe our return, and we resumed possession of the point, but only + to discover that the country to the east was so broken and hilly that no + satisfactory view of Metz could be had. + </p> + <p> + Returning to Gravelotte, we next visited that part of the battlefield to + the northeast of the village, and before long Count Bismarck discovered in + a remote place about twenty men dreadfully wounded. These poor fellows had + had no attention whatever, having been overlooked by the hospital corps, + and their condition was most pitiful. Yet there was one very handsome man + in the group—a captain of artillery—who, though shot through + the right breast, was talkative and cheerful, and felt sure of getting + well. Pointing, however, to a comrade lying near, also shot in the breast, + he significantly shook his head; it was easy to see on this man's face the + signs—of fast approaching death. + </p> + <p> + An orderly was at once despatched for a surgeon, Bismarck and I doing what + we could meanwhile to alleviate the intense sufferings of the maimed men, + bringing them water and administering a little brandy, for the Count still + had with him some of the morning's supply. When the surgeons came, we + transferred the wounded to their care, and making our way to Rezonville, + there took the Count's carriage to rejoin the King's headquarters, which + in the mean time had been moved to Pont-a-Mousson. Our route led through + the village of Gorze, and here we found the streets so obstructed with + wagons that I feared it would take us the rest of the day to get through, + for the teamsters would not pay the slightest heed to the cries of our + postilions. The Count was equal to the emergency, however, for, taking a + pistol from behind his cushion, and bidding me keep my seat, he jumped out + and quickly began to clear the street effectively, ordering wagons to the + right and left. Marching in front of the carriage and making way for us + till we were well through the blockade, he then resumed his seat, + remarking, "This is not a very dignified business for the Chancellor of + the German Confederation, but it's the only way to get through." + </p> + <p> + At Pont-a-Mousson I was rejoined by my aide, General Forsyth, and for the + next two days our attention was almost wholly devoted to securing means of + transportation. This was most difficult to obtain, but as I did not wish + to impose on the kindness of the Chancellor longer, we persevered till, + finally, with the help of Count Bismarck-Bohlen, we managed to get + tolerably well equipped with a saddle-horse apiece, and a two-horse + carriage. Here also, on the afternoon of August 21, I had the pleasure of + dining with the King. The dinner was a simple one, consisting of soup, a + joint, and two or three vegetables; the wines vin ordinaire and Burgundy. + There were a good many persons of high rank present, none of whom spoke + English, however, except Bismarck, who sat next the King and acted as + interpreter when his Majesty conversed with me. Little was said of the + events taking place around us, but the King made many inquiries concerning + the war of the rebellion, particularly with reference to Grant's campaign + at Vicksburg; suggested, perhaps, by the fact that there, and in the + recent movements of the German army, had been applied many similar + principles of military science. + </p> + <p> + The French army under Marshal Bazaine having retired into the + fortifications of Metz, that stronghold was speedily invested by Prince + Frederick Charles. Meantime the Third Army, under the Crown Prince of + Prussia—which, after having fought and won the battle of Worth, had + been observing the army of Marshal MacMahon during and after the battle of + Gravelotte—was moving toward Paris by way of Nancy, in conjunction + with an army called the Fourth, which had been organized from the troops + previously engaged around Metz, and on the 22d was directed toward + Bar-le-Duc under the command of the Crown Prince of Saxony. In consequence + of these operations the King decided to move to Commercy, which place we + reached by carriage, traveling on a broad macadamized road lined on both + sides with poplar-trees, and our course leading through a most beautiful + country thickly dotted with prosperous-looking villages. + </p> + <p> + On reaching Commercy, Forsyth and I found that quarters had been already + selected for us, and our names written on the door with chalk the + quartermaster charged with the billeting of the officers at headquarters + having started out in advance to perform this duty and make all needful + preparations for the King before he arrived, which course was usually + pursued thereafter, whenever the royal headquarters took up a new + location. + </p> + <p> + Forsyth and I were lodged with the notary of the village, who over and + over again referred to his good fortune in not having to entertain any of + the Germans. He treated us most hospitably, and next morning, on + departing, we offered compensation by tendering a sum—about what our + bill would have been at a good hotel—to be used for the "benefit of + the wounded or the Church." Under this stipulation the notary accepted, + and we followed that plan of paying for food and lodging afterward, + whenever quartered in private houses. + </p> + <p> + The next day I set out in advance of the headquarters, and reached + Bar-le-Duc about noon, passing on the way the Bavarian contingent of the + Crown Prince's army. These Bavarians were trim-looking soldiers, dressed + in neat uniforms of light blue; they looked healthy and strong, but seemed + of shorter stature than the North Germans I had seen in the armies of + Prince Frederick Charles and General von Steinmetz. When, later in the day + the King arrived, a guard for him was detailed from this Bavarian + contingent; a stroke of policy no doubt, for the South Germans were so + prejudiced against their brothers of the North that no opportunity to + smooth them down was permitted to go unimproved. + </p> + <p> + Bar-le-Duc, which had then a population of about 15,000, is one of the + prettiest towns I saw in France, its quaint and ancient buildings and + beautiful boulevards charming the eye as well as exciting deep interest. + The King and his immediate suite were quartered on one of the best + boulevards in a large building—the Bank of France—the balcony + of which offered a fine opportunity to observe a part of the army of the + Crown Prince the next day on its march toward Vitry. This was the first + time his Majesty had had a chance to see any of these troops—as + hitherto he had accompanied either the army of Prince Frederick Charles, + or that of General Steinmetz—and the cheers with which he was + greeted by the Bavarians left no room for doubting their loyalty to the + Confederation, notwithstanding ancient jealousies. + </p> + <p> + While the troops were passing, Count Bismarck had the kindness to point + out to me the different organizations, giving scraps of their history, and + also speaking concerning the qualifications of the different generals + commanding them. When the review was over we went to the Count's house, + and there, for the first time in my life, I tasted kirschwasser, a very + strong liquor distilled from cherries. Not knowing anything about the + stuff, I had to depend on Bismarck's recommendation, and he proclaiming it + fine, I took quite a generous drink, which nearly strangled me and brought + on a violent fit of coughing. The Chancellor said, however, that this was + in no way due to the liquor, but to my own inexperience, and I was bound + to believe the distinguished statesman, for he proved his words by + swallowing a goodly dose with an undisturbed and even beaming countenance, + demonstrating his assertion so forcibly that I forthwith set out with + Bismarck-Bohlen to lay in a supply for myself. + </p> + <p> + I spent the night in a handsome house, the property of an exceptionally + kind and polite gentleman bearing the indisputably German name of Lager, + but who was nevertheless French from head to foot, if intense hatred of + the Prussians be a sign of Gallic nationality. At daybreak on the 26th + word came for us to be ready to move by the Chalons road at 7 o'clock, but + before we got off, the order was suspended till 2 in the afternoon. In the + interval General von Moltke arrived and held a long conference with the + King, and when we did pull out we traveled the remainder of the afternoon + in company with a part of the Crown Prince's army, which after this + conference inaugurated the series of movements from Bar-le-Duc northward, + that finally compelled the surrender at Sedan. This sudden change of + direction I did not at first understand, but soon learned that it was + because of the movements of Marshal MacMahon, who, having united the + French army beaten at Worth with three fresh corps at Chalons, was + marching to relieve Metz in obedience to orders from the Minister of War + at Paris. + </p> + <p> + As we passed along the column, we noticed that the Crown Prince's troops + were doing their best, the officers urging the men to their utmost + exertions, persuading weary laggards and driving up stragglers. As a + general thing, however, they marched in good shape, notwithstanding the + rapid gait and the trying heat, for at the outset of the campaign the + Prince had divested them of all impedimenta except essentials, and they + were therefore in excellent trim for a forced march. + </p> + <p> + The King traveled further than usual that day—to Clermont—so + we did not get shelter till late, and even then not without some + confusion, for the quartermaster having set out toward Chalons before the + change of programme was ordered, was not at hand to provide for us. I had + extreme good luck, though, in being quartered with a certain apothecary, + who, having lived for a time in the United States, claimed it as a + privilege even to lodge me, and certainly made me his debtor for the most + generous hospitality. It was not so with some of the others, however; and + Count Bismarck was particularly unfortunate, being billeted in a very + small and uncomfortable house, where, visiting him to learn more fully + what was going on, I found him, wrapped in a shabby old dressing-gown, + hard at work. He was established in a very small room, whose only + furnishings consisted of a table—at which he was writing—a + couple of rough chairs, and the universal feather-bed, this time made on + the floor in one corner of the room. On my remarking upon the limited + character of his quarters, the Count replied, with great good-humor, that + they were all right, and that he should get along well enough. Even the + tramp of his clerks in the attic, and the clanking of his orderlies' + sabres below, did not disturb him much; he said, in fact, that he would + have no grievance at all were it not for a guard of Bavarian soldiers + stationed about the house for his safety, he presumed the sentinels from + which insisted on protecting and saluting the Chancellor of the North + German Confederation in and out of season, a proceeding that led to + embarrassment sometimes, as he was much troubled with a severe dysentery. + Notwithstanding his trials, however, and in the midst of the + correspondence on which he was so intently engaged, he graciously took + time to explain that the sudden movement northward from Bar-le-Duc was, as + I have previously recounted, the result of information that Marshal + MacMahon was endeavoring to relieve Metz by marching along the Belgian + frontier; "a blundering manoeuvre," remarked the Chancellor, "which cannot + be accounted for, unless it has been brought about by the political + situation of the French." + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch18b" id="linkch18b"></a>CHAPTER XVIII. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + AFTER MacMAHON—THE BATTLE AT BEAUMONT—THE FRENCH SURPRISED—THE + MARCHING OF THE GERMAN SOLDIERS—THE BATTLE OF SEDAN—GALLANT + CAVALRY CHARGES—DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH—THE SURRENDER OF NAPOLEON—BISMARCK + AND THE KING—DECORATING THE SOLDIERS. + </p> + <p> + All night long the forced march of the army went on through Clermont, and + when I turned out, just after daylight, the columns were still pressing + forward, the men looking tired and much bedraggled, as indeed they had + reason to be, for from recent rains the roads were very sloppy. + Notwithstanding this, however, the troops were pushed ahead with all + possible vigor to intercept MacMahon and force a battle before he could + withdraw from his faulty movement, for which it has since been ascertained + he was not at all responsible. Indeed, those at the royal headquarters + seemed to think of nothing else than to strike MacMahon, for, feeling + pretty confident that Metz could not be relieved, they manifested not the + slightest anxiety on that score. + </p> + <p> + By 8 o'clock, the skies having cleared, the headquarters set out for Grand + Pre', which place we reached early in the afternoon, and that evening I + again had the pleasure of dining with the King. The conversation at table + was almost wholly devoted to the situation, of course, everybody + expressing surprise at the manoeuvre of the French at this time, their + march along the Belgian frontier being credited entirely to Napoleon. Up + to bed-time there was still much uncertainty as to the exact positions of + the French, but next morning intelligence being received which denoted the + probability of a battle, we drove about ten miles, to Buzancy, and there + mounting our horses, rode to the front. + </p> + <p> + The French were posted not far from Buzancy in a strong position, their + right resting near Stonne and the left extending over into the woods + beyond Beaumont. About 10 o'clock the Crown Prince of Saxony advanced + against this line, and while a part of his army turned the French right, + compelling it to fall back rapidly, the German centre and right attacked + with great vigor and much skill, surprising one of the divisions of + General De Failly's corps while the men were in the act of cooking their + breakfast. + </p> + <p> + The French fled precipitately, leaving behind their tents and other camp + equipage, and on inspecting the ground which they had abandoned so + hastily, I noticed on all sides ample evidence that not even the most + ordinary precautions had been taken to secure the division from surprise, + The artillery horses had not been harnessed, and many of them had been + shot down at the picket-rope where they had been haltered the night + before, while numbers of men were lying dead with loaves of bread or other + food instead of their muskets in their hands. + </p> + <p> + Some three thousand prisoners and nearly all the artillery and + mitrailleuses of the division—were captured, while the fugitives + were pursued till they found shelter behind—Douay's corps and the + rest of De Failly's beyond Beaumont. The same afternoon there were several + other severe combats along the Meuse, but I had no chance of witnessing + any of them, and just before night-fall I started back to Buzancy, to + which place the King's headquarters had been brought during the day. + </p> + <p> + The morning of the 31st the King moved to Vendresse. First sending our + carriage back to Grand Pre' for our trunks, Forsyth and I mounted our + horses and rode to the battle-field accompanied by an English nobleman, + the Duke of Manchester. The part of the field we traversed was still + thickly strewn with the dead of both armies, though all the wounded had + been collected in the hospitals. In the village of Beaumont, we stopped to + take a look at several thousand French prisoners, whose worn clothing and + evident dejection told that they had been doing a deal of severe marching + under great discouragements. + </p> + <p> + The King reached the village shortly after, and we all continued on to + Chemery, just beyond where his Majesty alighted from his carriage to + observe his son's troops file past as they came in from the direction of + Stonne. This delay caused us to be as late as 9 o'clock before we got + shelter that night, but as it afforded me the best opportunity I had yet + had for seeing the German soldiers on the march, I did not begrudge the + time. They moved in a somewhat open and irregular column of fours, the + intervals between files being especially intended to give room for a + peculiar swinging gait, with which the men seemed to urge themselves over + the ground with ease and rapidity. There was little or no straggling, and + being strong, lusty young fellows, and lightly equipped—they carried + only needle-guns, ammunition, a very small knapsack, a water-bottle, and a + haversack—they strode by with an elastic step, covering at least + three miles an hour. + </p> + <p> + It having been definitely ascertained that the demoralized French were + retiring to Sedan, on the evening of August 31 the German army began the + work of hemming them in there, so disposing the different corps as to + cover the ground from Donchery around by Raucourt to Carignan. The next + morning this line was to be drawn in closer on Sedan; and the Crown Prince + of Saxony was therefore ordered to take up a position to the north of + Bazeilles, beyond the right bank of the Meuse, while the Crown Prince of + Prussia was to cross his right wing over the Meuse at Remilly, to move on + Bazeilles, his centre meantime marching against a number of little hamlets + still held by the French between there and Donchery. At this + last-mentioned place strong reserves were to be held, and from it the + Eleventh Corps, followed by the Fifth and a division of cavalry, was to + march on St. Menges. + </p> + <p> + Forsyth and I started early next morning, September 1, and in a thick + fog-which, however, subsequently gave place to bright sunshine—we + drove to the village of Chevenges, where, mounting our horses, we rode in + a northeasterly direction to the heights of Frenois and Wadelincourt, + bordering the river Meuse on the left bank, where from the crest we had a + good view of the town of Sedan with its circling fortifications, which, + though extensive, were not so formidable as those around Metz. The King + and his staff were already established on these heights, and at a point so + well chosen that his Majesty could observe the movements of both armies + immediately east and south of Sedan, and also to the northwest toward + Floing and the Belgian frontier. + </p> + <p> + The battle was begun to the east and northeast of Sedan as early as + half-past 4 o'clock by the German right wing—the fighting being + desultory—and near the same hour the Bavarians attacked Bazeilles. + This village, some two miles southeast of Sedan, being of importance, was + defended with great obstinacy, the French contesting from street to street + and house to house the attack of the Bavarians till near 10 o'clock, when, + almost every building being knocked to pieces, they were compelled to + relinquish the place. The possession of this village gave the Germans to + the east of Sedan a continuous line, extending from the Meuse northward + through La Moncelle and Daigny to Givonne, and almost to the Belgian + frontier. + </p> + <p> + While the German centre and right were thus engaged, the left had moved in + accordance with the prescribed plan. Indeed, some of these troops had + crossed the Meuse the night before, and now, at a little after 6 o'clock, + their advance could be seen just north of the village of Floing. Thus far + these columns, under the immediate eye of the Crown Prince of Prussia, had + met with no opposition to their march, and as soon as they got to the high + ground above the village they began extending to the east, to connect with + the Army of the Meuse. This juncture was effected at Illy without + difficulty, and the French army was now completely encompassed. + </p> + <p> + After a severe fight, the Crown Prince drove the French through Floing, + and as the ground between this village and Sedan is an undulating open + plain, everywhere visible, there was then offered a rare opportunity for + seeing the final conflict preceding the surrender. Presently up out of the + little valley where Floing is located came the Germans, deploying just on + the rim of the plateau a very heavy skirmish-line, supported by a line of + battle at close distance. When these skirmishers appeared, the French + infantry had withdrawn within its intrenched lines, but a strong body of + their cavalry, already formed in a depression to the right of the Floing + road, now rode at the Germans in gallant style, going clear through the + dispersed skirmishers to the main line of battle. Here the slaughter of + the French was awful, for in addition to the deadly volleys from the solid + battalions of their enemies, the skirmishers, who had rallied in knots at + advantageous places, were now delivering a severe and effective fire. The + gallant horsemen, therefore, had to retire precipitately, but re-forming + in the depression, they again undertook the hopeless task of breaking the + German infantry, making in all four successive charges. Their ardor and + pluck were of no avail, however, for the Germans, growing stronger every + minute by the accession of troops from Floing, met the fourth attack in + such large force that, even before coming in contact with their + adversaries, the French broke and retreated to the protection of the + intrenchments, where, from the beginning of the combat, had been lying + plenty of idle infantry, some of which at least, it seemed plain to me, + ought to have been thrown into the fight. This action was the last one of + consequence around Sedan, for, though with the contraction of the German + lines their batteries kept cannonading more or less, and the rattle of + musketry continued to be heard here and there, yet the hard fighting of + the day practically ended on the plateau of Floing. + </p> + <p> + By 3 o'clock, the French being in a desperate and hopeless situation, the + King ordered the firing to be stopped, and at once despatched one of his + staff—Colonel von Bronsart—with a demand for a surrender. Just + as this officer was starting off, I remarked to Bismarck that Napoleon + himself would likely be one of the prizes, but the Count, incredulous, + replied, "Oh no; the old fox is too cunning to be caught in such a trap; + he has doubtless slipped off to Paris"—a belief which I found to + prevail pretty generally about headquarters. + </p> + <p> + In the lull that succeeded, the King invited many of those about him to + luncheon, a caterer having provided from some source or other a + substantial meal of good bread, chops and peas, with a bountiful supply of + red and sherry wines. Among those present were Prince Carl, Bismarck, Von + Moltke, Von Roon, the Duke of Weimar, the Duke of Coburg, the Grand-Duke + of Mecklenburg, Count Hatzfeldt, Colonel Walker, of the English army, + General Forsyth, and I. The King was agreeable and gracious at all times, + but on this occasion he was particularly so, being naturally in a happy + frame of mind because this day the war had reached a crisis which presaged + for the near future the complete vanquishment of the French. + </p> + <p> + Between 4 and 5 o'clock Colonel von Bronsart returned from his mission to + Sedan, bringing word to the King that the commanding officer there General + Wimpffen, wished to know, in order that the further effusion of blood + might be spared, upon what terms he might surrender. The Colonel brought + the intelligence also that the French Emperor was in the town. Soon after + Von Bronsart's arrival a French officer approached from Sedan, preceded by + a white flag and two German officers. Coming up the road till within a few + hundred yards of us, they halted; then one of the Germans rode forward to + say that the French officer was Napoleon's adjutant, bearing an autograph + letter from the Emperor to the King of Prussia. At this the King, followed + by Bismarck, Von Moltke, and Von Roon, walked out to the front a little + distance and halted, his Majesty still in advance, the rest of us + meanwhile forming in a line some twenty paces to the rear of the group. + The envoy then approached, at first on horseback, but when within about a + hundred yards he dismounted, and uncovering, came the remaining distance + on foot, bearing high up in his right hand the despatch from Napoleon. The + bearer proved to be General Reille, and as he handed the Emperor's letter + to the King, his Majesty saluted him with the utmost formality and + precision. Napoleon's letter was the since famous one, running so + characteristically, thus: "Not having been able to die in the midst of my + troops, there is nothing left me but to place my sword in your Majesty's + hands." The reading finished, the King returned to his former post, and + after a conference with Bismarck, Von Moltke, and Von Roon, dictated an + answer accepting Napoleon's surrender, and requesting him to designate an + officer with power to treat for the capitulation of the army, himself + naming Von Moltke to represent the Germans. The King then started for + Vendresse, to pass the night. It was after 7 o'clock now, and hence too + late to arrange anything more where we were, so further negotiations were + deferred till later in the evening; and I, wishing to be conveniently near + Bismarck, resolved to take up quarters in Donchery. On our way thither we + were met by the Count's nephew, who assuring us that it would be + impossible to find shelter there in the village, as all the houses were + filled with wounded, Forsyth and I decided to continue on to Chevenge. On + the other hand, Bismarck-Bohlen bore with him one great comfort—some + excellent brandy. Offering the flask to his uncle, he said: "You've had a + hard day of it; won't you refresh yourself?" The Chancellor, without + wasting time to answer, raised the bottle to his lips, exclaiming: "Here's + to the unification of Germany!" which sentiment the gurgling of an + astonishingly long drink seemed to emphasize. The Count then handed the + bottle back to his nephew, who, shaking it, ejaculated, "Why, we can't + pledge you in return—there is nothing left!" to which came the + waggish response, "I beg pardon; it was so dark I couldn't see"; + nevertheless there was a little remaining, as I myself can aver. + </p> + <p> + Having left our carriage at Chevenge, Forsyth and I stopped there to get + it, but a long search proving fruitless, we took lodging in the village at + the house of the cure, resolved to continue the hunt in the morning. But + then we had no better success, so concluding that our vehicle had been + pressed into the hospital service, we at an early hour on the 2d of + September resumed the search, continuing on down the road in the direction + of Sedan. Near the gate of the city we came on the German picket-line, and + one of the Officers, recognizing our uniforms—he having served in + the war of the rebellion—stepped forward and addressed me in good + English. We naturally fell into conversation, and in the midst of it there + came out through the gate an open carriage, or landau, containing two men, + one of whom, in the uniform of a general and smoking a cigarette, we + recognized, when the conveyance drew near, as the Emperor Louis Napoleon. + The landau went on toward Donchery at a leisurely pace, and we, inferring + that there was something more important at hand just then than the + recovery of our trap, followed at a respectful distance. Not quite a mile + from Donchery is a cluster of three or four cottages, and at the first of + these the landau stopped to await, as we afterward ascertained, Count + Bismarck, with whom the diplomatic negotiations were to be settled. Some + minutes elapsed before he came, Napoleon remaining seated in his carriage + meantime, still smoking, and accepting with nonchalance the staring of a + group of German soldiers near by, who were gazing on their fallen foe with + curious and eager interest. + </p> + <p> + Presently a clattering of hoofs was heard, and looking toward the sound, I + perceived the Chancellor cantering down the road. When abreast of the + carriage he dismounted, and walking up to it, saluted the Emperor in a + quick, brusque way that seemed to startle him. After a word or two, the + party moved perhaps a hundred yards further on, where they stopped + opposite the weaver's cottage so famous from that day. This little house + is on the east side of the Donchery road, near its junction with that to + Frenois, and stands about twenty paces back from the highway. In front is + a stone wall covered with creeping vines, and from a gate in this wall + runs to the front door a path, at this time bordered on both sides with + potato vines. + </p> + <p> + The Emperor having alighted at the gate, he and Bismarck walked together + along the narrow path and entered the cottage. Reappearing in about a + quarter of an hour, they came out and seated themselves in the open air, + the weaver having brought a couple of chairs. Here they engaged in an + animated conversation, if much gesticulation is any indication. The talk + lasted fully an hour, Bismarck seeming to do most of it, but at last he + arose, saluted the Emperor, and strode down the path toward his horse. + Seeing me standing near the gate, he joined me for a moment, and asked if + I had noticed how the Emperor started when they first met, and I telling + him that I had, he added, "Well, it must have been due to my manners, not + my words, for these we're, 'I salute your Majesty just as I would my + King.'" Then the Chancellor continued to chat a few minutes longer, + assuring me that nothing further was to be done there, and that we had + better go to the Chateau Bellevue, where, he said, the formal surrender + was to take place. With this he rode off toward Vendresse to communicate + with his sovereign, and Forsyth and I made ready to go to the Chateau + Bellevue. + </p> + <p> + Before we set out, however, a number of officers of the King's suite + arrived at the weaver's cottage, and from them I gathered that there were + differences at the royal headquarters as to whether peace should be made + then at Sedan, or the war continued till the French capital was taken. I + further heard that the military advisers of the King strongly advocated an + immediate move on Paris, while the Chancellor thought it best to make + peace now, holding Alsace and Lorraine, and compelling the payment of an + enormous levy of money; and these rumors were most likely correct, for I + had often heard Bismarck say that France being the richest country in + Europe, nothing could keep her quiet but effectually to empty her pockets; + and besides this, he impressed me as holding that it would be better + policy to preserve the Empire. + </p> + <p> + On our way to the chateau we fell in with a number of artillery officers + bringing up their guns hurriedly to post them closer in to the beleaguered + town on a specially advantageous ridge. Inquiring the cause of this move, + we learned that General Wimpffen had not yet agreed to the terms of + surrender; that it was thought he would not, and that they wanted to be + prepared for any such contingency. And they were preparing with a + vengeance too, for I counted seventy-two Krupp guns in one continuous line + trained on the Chateau Bellevue and Sedan. + </p> + <p> + Napoleon went directly from the weaver's to the Chateau Bellevue, and + about 10 o'clock the King of Prussia arrived from Frenois, accompanied by + a few of his own suite and the Crown Prince with several members of his + staff; and Von Moltke and Wimpffen having settled their points of + difference before the two monarchs met, within the next half-hour the + articles of capitulation were formally signed. + </p> + <p> + On the completion of the surrender—the occasion being justly + considered a great one—the Crown Prince proceeded to distribute + among the officers congregated in the chateau grounds 'the order of the + Iron Cross'—a generous supply of these decorations being carried in + a basket by one of his orderlies, following him about as he walked along. + Meantime the King, leaving Napoleon in the chateau to ruminate on the + fickleness of fortune, drove off to see his own victorious soldiers, who + greeted him with huzzas that rent the air, and must have added to the + pangs of the captive Emperor. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch19b" id="linkch19b"></a>CHAPTER XIX. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + RIDING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD—DESTRUCTION OF BAZEILLES—MISTAKES + OF THE FRENCH—MARSHAL BAZAINE ON TO PARIS—A WEEK IN MEAUX—RHEIMS—ON + THE PICKETLINE-UNDER FIRE—A SURRENDER—AT VERSAILLES—GENERAL + BURNSIDE AND Mr. FORBES IN PARIS. + </p> + <p> + The Crown Prince having got to the bottom of his medal basket-that is to + say, having finished his liberal distribution of decorations to his + officers—Forsyth and I rode off by way of Wadelincourt to Bazeilles + to see what had taken place on that part of the field, and the sight that + met our eyes as we entered the village was truly dreadful to look upon. + Most of the houses had been knocked down or burned the day before, but + such as had been left standing were now in flames, the torch having been + applied because, as it was claimed, Frenchmen concealed in them had fired + on the wounded. The streets were still encumbered with both German and + French dead, and it was evident that of those killed in the houses the + bodies had not been removed, for the air was loaded with odors of burning + flesh. From Bazeille we rode on toward the north about two miles, along + where the fight had been largely an artillery duel, to learn what we could + of the effectiveness of the Krupp gun. Counting all the French dead we + came across killed by artillery, they figured up about three hundred—a + ridiculously small number; in fact, not much more than one dead man for + each Krupp gun on that part of the line. Although the number of dead was + in utter disproportion to the terrific six-hour cannonade, yet small as it + was the torn and mangled bodies made such a horrible sight that we turned + back toward Bazeilles without having gone further than Givonne. + </p> + <p> + At Bazeilles we met the King, accompanied by Bismarck and several of the + staff. They too had been riding over the field, the King making this a + practice, to see that the wounded were not neglected. As I drew up by the + party, Bismarck accosted me with, "Well, General, aren't you hungry? This + is just the place to whet one's appetite—these burning Frenchmen—Ugh!" + and shrugging his shoulders in evident disgust, he turned away to join his + Majesty in further explorations, Forsyth and I continuing on to Chevenges. + Here we got the first inkling of what had become of our carriage since + leaving it two days before: it had been pressed into service to carry + wounded officers from the field during the battle, but afterward released, + and was now safe at the house in Vendresse where we had been quartered the + night of the 31st, so, on hearing this, we settled to go there again to + lodge, but our good friend, the 'cure,' insisting that we should stay with + him, we remained in Chevenges till next morning. + </p> + <p> + On September 3 the King removed from Vendresse to Rethel, where he + remained two days; in the mean while the Germans, 240,000 strong, + beginning their direct march to Paris. The French had little with which to + oppose this enormous force, not more, perhaps, than 50,000 regular troops; + the rest of their splendid army had been lost or captured in battle, or + was cooped up in the fortifications of Metz, Strasburg, and other places, + in consequence of blunders without parallel in history, for which Napoleon + and the Regency in Paris must be held accountable. The first of these + gross faults was the fight at Worth, where MacMahon, before his army was + mobilized, accepted battle with the Crown Prince, pitting 50,000 men + against 175,000; the next was Bazaine's fixing upon Metz as his base, and + stupidly putting himself in position to be driven back to it, when there + was no possible obstacle to his joining forces with MacMahon at Chalons; + while the third and greatest blunder of all was MacMahon's move to relieve + Metz, trying to slip 140,000 men along the Belgian frontier. Indeed, it is + exasperating and sickening to think of all this; to think that Bazaine + carried into Metz—a place that should have been held, if at all, + with not over 25,000 men—an army of 180,000, because it contained, + the excuse was, "an accumulation of stores." With all the resources of + rich France to draw upon, I cannot conceive that this excuse was sincere; + on the contrary, I think that the movement of Bazaine must have been + inspired by Napoleon with a view to the maintenance of his dynasty rather + than for the good of France. + </p> + <p> + As previously stated, Bismarck did not approve of the German army's moving + on Paris after the battle of Sedan. Indeed, I think he foresaw and dreaded + the establishment of a Republic, his idea being that if peace was made + then, the Empire could be continued in the person of the Prince Imperial + who—, coming to the throne under German influences, would be pliable + in his hands. These views found frequent expression in private, and in + public too; I myself particularly remember the Chancellor's speaking thus + most unguardedly at a dinner in Rheims. But he could not prevent the march + to Paris; it was impossible to stop the Germans, flushed with success. "On + to Paris" was written by the soldiers on every door, and every fence-board + along the route to the capital, and the thought of a triumphant march down + the Champs Elysees was uppermost with every German, from the highest to + the lowest grade. + </p> + <p> + The 5th of September we set out for Rheims. There it was said the Germans + would meet with strong resistance, for the French intended to die to the + last man before giving up that city. But this proved all fudge, as is + usual with these "last ditch" promises, the garrison decamping immediately + at the approach of a few Uhlans. So far as I could learn, but a single + casualty happened; this occurred to an Uhlan, wounded by a shot which it + was reported was fired from a house after the town was taken; so, to + punish this breach of faith, a levy of several hundred bottles of + champagne was made, and the wine divided about headquarters, being the + only seizure made in the city, I believe, for though Rheims, the centre of + the champagne district, had its cellars well stocked, yet most of them + being owned by German firms, they received every protection. + </p> + <p> + The land about Rheims is of a white, chalky character, and very poor, but + having been terraced and enriched with fertilizers, it produces the + champagne grape in such abundance that the region, once considered + valueless, and named by the peasantry the "land of the louse," now + supports a dense population. We remained in Rheims eight days, and through + the politeness of the American Consul—Mr. Adolph Gill—had the + pleasure of seeing all the famous wine cellars, and inspecting the + processes followed in champagne making, from the step of pressing the + juice from the grape to that which shows the wine ready for the market. + Mr. Gill also took us to see everything else of special interest about the + city, and there being much to look at—fine old churches, ancient + fortifications, a Roman gateway, etc.—the days slipped by very + quickly, though the incessant rains somewhat interfered with our + enjoyment. + </p> + <p> + For three or four days all sorts of rumors were rife as to what was doing + in Paris, but nothing definite was learned till about the 9th; then Count + Bismarck informed me that the Regency had been overthrown on the 4th, and + that the Empress Eugenie had escaped to Belgium. The King of Prussia + offered her an asylum with the Emperor at Wilhelmshohe, "where she ought + to go," said the Chancellor, "for her proper place is with her husband," + but he feared she would not. On the same occasion he also told me that + Jules Favre—the head of the Provisional Government—had sent + him the suggestion that, the Empire being gone, peace should be made and + the Germans withdrawn, but that he (Bismarck) was now compelled to + recognize the impossibility of doing this till Paris was taken, for + although immediately after the surrender of Sedan he desired peace, the + past few days had made it plain that the troops would not be satisfied + with anything short of Paris, no matter what form of Government the French + should ultimately adopt. + </p> + <p> + The German army having met with no resistance whatever in its march on + Paris, its advance approached the capital rapidly, and by the 14th of + September the royal headquarters moved by a fine macadamized road to the + Chateau Thierry, and on the 5th reached Meaux, about twenty-eight miles + from Paris, where we remained four days awaiting the reconstruction of + some railroad and canal bridges. The town of Meaux has a busy population + of about 10,000 souls, in peaceable times principally occupied in + manufacturing flour for the Paris market, having a fine waterpower for the + many mills. These were kept going day and night to supply the German army; + and it was strange to see with what zeal Frenchmen toiled to fill the + stomachs of their inveterate enemies, and with what alacrity the mayor and + other officials filled requisitions for wine, cheese, suits of livery, + riding-whips, and even squab pigeons. + </p> + <p> + During our stay at Meaux the British Minister Lord Lyons, endeavored to + bring about a cessation of hostilities, to this end sending his secretary + out from Paris with a letter to Count Bismarck, offering to serve as + mediator. The Chancellor would not agree to this, however, for he + conjectured that the action of the British Minister had been inspired by + Jules Favre, who, he thought, was trying to draw the Germans into + negotiations through the medium of a third party only for purposes of + delay. So the next morning Lord Lyons's secretary, Mr. Edward Malet, + returned to Paris empty-handed, except that he bore a communication + positively declining mediation; which message, however, led no doubt to an + interview between Bismarck and Favre a couple of days later. + </p> + <p> + The forenoon of September 19 the King removed to the Chateau Ferrieres—a + castle belonging to the Rothschild family, where Napoleon had spent many + happy days in the time of his prosperity. His Majesty took up his quarters + here at the suggestion of the owner, we were told, so that by the presence + of the King the magnificent chateau and its treasures of art would be + unquestionably protected from all acts of vandalism. + </p> + <p> + All of the people at headquarters except the King's immediate suite were + assigned quarters at Lagny; and while Forsyth and I, accompanied by Sir + Henry Havelock, of the British army, were driving thither, we passed on + the road the representative of the National Defense Government, Jules + Favre, in a carriage heading toward Meaux. Preceded by a flag of truce and + accompanied by a single, companion, be was searching for Count Bismarck, + in conformity, doubtless, with the message the Chancellor had sent to + Paris on the 17th by the British secretary. A half-mile further on we met + Bismarck. He too was traveling toward Meaux, not in the best of humor + either, it appeared, for having missed finding the French envoy at the + rendezvous where they had agreed to meet, he stopped long enough to say + that the "air was full of lies, and that there were many persons with the + army bent on business that did not concern them." + </p> + <p> + The armies of the two Crown Princes were now at the outskirts of Paris. + They had come from Sedan mainly by two routes—the Crown Prince of + Saxony marching by the northern line, through Laon and Soissons, and the + Crown Prince of Prussia by the southern line, keeping his right wing on + the north bank of the Marne, while his left and centre approached the + French capital by roads between that river and the Seine. + </p> + <p> + The march of these armies had been unobstructed by any resistance worth + mentioning, and as the routes of both columns lay through a region teeming + with everything necessary for their support, and rich even in luxuries, it + struck me that such campaigning was more a vast picnic than like actual + war. The country supplied at all points bread, meat, and wine in + abundance, and the neat villages, never more than a mile or two apart, + always furnished shelter; hence the enormous trains required to feed and + provide camp equipage for an army operating in a sparsely settled country + were dispensed with; in truth, about the only impedimenta of the Germans + was their wagons carrying ammunition, pontoon-boats, and the + field-telegraph. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the 20th I started out accompanied by Forsyth and Sir + Henry Havelock, and took the road through Boissy St. George, Boissy St. + Martins and Noisy Le Grand to Brie. Almost every foot of the way was + strewn with fragments of glass from wine bottles, emptied and then broken + by the troops. There was, indeed, so much of this that I refrain from + making any estimate of the number of bottles, lest I be thought to + exaggerate, but the road was literally paved with glass, and the amount of + wine consumed (none was wasted) must have been enormous, far more, even, + than I had seen evidence of at any time before. There were two almost + continuous lines of broken bottles along the roadsides all the way down + from Sedan; but that exhibit was small compared with what we saw about + Brie. + </p> + <p> + At Brie we were taken charge of by the German commandant of the place. He + entertained us most hospitably for an hour or so, and then, accompanied by + a lieutenant, who was to be our guide, I set out ahead of my companions to + gain a point on the picket-line where I expected to get a good look at the + French, for their rifle-pits were but a few hundred yards off across the + Marne, their main line being just behind the rifle-pits. As the lieutenant + and I rode through the village, some soldiers warned us that the adventure + would be dangerous, but that we could probably get to the desired place + unhurt if we avoided the French fire by forcing our horses to a run in + crossing some open streets where we would be exposed. On getting to the + first street my guide galloped ahead to show the way, and as the French + were not on the lookout for anything of the kind at these dangerous + points, only a few stray shots were drawn by the lieutenant, but when I + followed, they were fully up to what was going on, and let fly a volley + every time they saw me in the open. Fortunately, however, in their + excitement they overshot, but when I drew rein alongside of my guide under + protection of the bluff where the German picket was posted, my hair was + all on end, and I was about as badly scared as ever I had been in my life. + As soon as I could recover myself I thought of Havelock and Forsyth, with + the hope that they would not follow; nor did they, for having witnessed my + experience, they wisely concluded that, after all, they did not care so + much to see the French rifle-pits. + </p> + <p> + When I had climbed to the top of the bluff I was much disappointed, for I + could see but little—only the advanced rifle-pits across the river, + and Fort Nogent beyond them, not enough, certainly, to repay a + non-combatant for taking the risk of being killed. The next question was + to return, and deciding to take no more such chances as those we had run + in coming out, I said we would wait till dark, but this proved + unnecessary, for to my utter astonishment my guide informed me that there + was a perfectly safe route by which we might go back. I asked why we had + not taken it in coming, and he replied that he had thought it "too long + and circuitous." To this I could say nothing, but I concluded that that + was not quite the correct reason; the truth is that early that morning the + young fellow had been helping to empty some of the many wine bottles I saw + around Brie, and consequently had a little more "Dutch courage"—was + a little more rash—than would have been the case under other + conditions. + </p> + <p> + I rode back to Brie by the "long and circuitous" route, and inquiring + there for my companions, found Havelock waiting to conduct me to the + village of Villiers, whither, he said, Forsyth had been called to make + some explanation about his passport, which did not appear to be in + satisfactory shape. Accordingly we started for Villiers, and Havelock, + being well mounted on an English "hunter," and wishing to give me an + exhibition of the animal's training and power, led the way across ditches + and fences, but my horse, never having followed "the hounds," was unsafe + to experiment with, so, after trying a low fence or two, I decided to + leave my friend alone in his diversion, and a few moments later, seeing + both horse and rider go down before a ditch and high stone wall, I was + convinced that my resolution was a discreet one. After this mishap, which + luckily resulted in no harm, I hoped Sir Henry would give up the + amusement, but by failure becoming only the more determined, in a second + effort he cleared the wall handsomely and rode across-country to the + villages. Following the road till it passed under a railway bridge, I + there thought I saw a chance to gain Villiers by a short-cut, and changing + my course accordingly, I struck into a large vineyard to the left, and + proceeding a few hundred yards through the vines, came suddenly upon a + German picket-post. The guard immediately leveled their rifles at me, + when, remembering my Rezonville experience of being taken for a French + officer because of my uniform, I hastily flung myself from the saddle in + token of surrender. The action being rightly interpreted, the men held + their fire, and as my next thought was the King's pass I reached under my + coat-skirt for the document, but this motion being taken as a grab for my + pistol, the whole lot of them—some ten in number—again aimed + at me, and with such loud demands for surrender that I threw up my hands + and ran into their ranks. The officer of the guard then coming up, + examined my credentials, and seeing that they were signed by the King of + Prussia, released me and directed the recovery of my horse, which was soon + caught, and I was then conducted to the quarters of the commandant, where + I found Forsyth with his pass properly vised, entirely ignorant of my + troubles, and contentedly regaling himself on cheese and beer. Havelock + having got to the village ahead of me, thanks to his cross-country ride, + was there too, sipping beer with Forsyth; nor was I slow to follow their + example, for the ride of the day, though rather barren in other results, + at any rate had given me a ravenous appetite. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <a name="linkpb426" id="linkpb426"></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:60%;"> + <img alt="pb426.jpg (155K)" src="images/pb426.jpg" style="width:100%;" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="images/pb426.jpg" style="width:100%;" >ENLARGE</a><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + Late that evening, the 20th, we resumed our old quarters at Lagny, and + early next day I made a visit to the royal headquarters at Ferrires, where + I observed great rejoicing going on, the occasion for it being an + important victory gained near Mendon, a French corps of about 30,000 men + under General Ducrot having been beaten by the Fifth Prussian and Second + Bavarian corps. Ducrot had been stubbornly holding ground near Mendon for + two or three days, much to the embarrassment of the Germans too, since he + kept them from closing a gap in their line to the southwest of Paris; but + in the recent fight he had been driven from the field with such heavy loss + as to render impossible his maintaining the gap longer. The Crown Prince + of Prussia was thus enabled to extend his left, without danger, as far as + Bougival, north of Versailles, and eventually met the right of the Crown + Prince of Saxony, already at Denil, north of St. Denis. The unbroken + circle of investment around Paris being well-nigh assured, news of its + complete accomplishment was momentarily expected; therefore everybody was + jubilant on account of the breaking up of Ducrot, but more particularly + because word had been received the same morning that a correspondence had + begun between Bazaine and Prince Frederick Charles, looking to the + capitulation of Metz, for the surrender of that place would permit the + Second Army to join in the siege of Paris. + </p> + <p> + Learning all this, and seeing that the investment was about completed, I + decided to take up my quarters at Versailles, and started for that place + on the 22d, halting at Noisy le Grand to take luncheon with some artillery + officers, whose acquaintance we had made the day of the surrender at + Sedan. During the meal I noticed two American flags flying on a couple of + houses near by. Inquiring the significance of this, I was told that the + flags had been put up to protect the buildings—the owners, two + American citizens, having in a bad fright abandoned their property, and, + instead of remaining outside, gone into Paris,—"very foolishly," + said our hospitable friends, "for here they could have obtained food in + plenty, and been perfectly secure from molestation." + </p> + <p> + We arrived at Versailles about 7 o'clock that evening and settled + ourselves in the Hotel Reservoir, happy to find there two or three + American families, with whom, of course, we quickly made acquaintance. + This American circle was enlarged a few days later by the arrival of + General Wm. B. Hazen, of our army, General Ambrose E. Burnside, and Mr. + Paul Forbes. Burnside and Forbes were hot to see, from the French side, + something of the war, and being almost beside themselves to get into + Paris, a permit was granted them by Count Bismarck, and they set out by + way of Sevres, Forsyth and I accompanying them as far as the Palace of St. + Cloud, which we, proposed to see, though there were strict orders against + its being visited generally. After much trouble we managed, through the + "open sesame" of the King's pass, to gain access to the palace; but to our + great disappointment we found that all the pictures had been cut from the + frames and carried off to Paris, except one portrait, that of Queen + Victoria, against whom the French were much incensed. All other works of + art had been removed, too—a most fortunate circumstance, for the + palace being directly on the German line, was raked by the guns from the + fortress of Mont Valerien, and in a few days burned to the ground. + </p> + <p> + In less than a week Burnside and Forbes returned from Paris. They told us + their experience had been interesting, but were very reticent as to + particulars, and though we tried hard to find out what they had seen or + done, we could get nothing from them beyond the general statement that + they had had a good time, and that General Trochu had been considerate + enough to postpone a sortie, in order to let them return; but this we did + not quite swallow. After a day or two they went into Paris again, and I + then began to suspect that they were essaying the role of mediators, and + that Count Bismarck was feeding their vanity with permits, and receiving + his equivalent by learning the state of affairs within the beleaguered + city. + </p> + <p> + From about the 1st of October on, the Germans were engaged in making their + enveloping lines impenetrable, bringing up their reserves, siege guns, and + the like, the French meanwhile continuing to drill and discipline the + National Guard and relieving the monotony occasionally by a more or less + spirited, but invariably abortive, sortie. The most notable of these was + that made by General Vinoy against the heights of Clamart, the result + being a disastrous repulse by the besiegers. After this, matters settled + down to an almost uninterrupted quietude, only a skirmish here and there; + and it being plain that the Germans did not intend to assault the capital, + but would accomplish its capture by starvation, I concluded to find out + from Count Bismarck about when the end was expected, with the purpose of + spending the interim in a little tour through some portions of Europe + undisturbed by war, returning in season for the capitulation. Count + Bismarck having kindly advised me as to the possible date, + </p> + <p> + Forsyth and I, on the 14th of October, left Versailles, going first direct + to the Chateau Ferrieres to pay our respects to the King, which we did, + and again took luncheon with him. From the chateau we drove to Meaux, and + there spent the night; resuming our journey next morning, we passed + through Epernay, Rheims, and Rethel to Sedan, where we tarried a day, and + finally, on October 18, reached Brussels. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + <a name="linkch20b" id="linkch20b"></a>CHAPTER XX. + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + BRUSSELS—DECIDING TO VISIT EASTERN EUROPE—AUSTRIA—DOWN + THE DANUBE—IN CONSTANTINOPLE—THE LADIES OF THE HAREM—THE + SULTAN—TURKISH SOLDIERS—A BANQUET—A VISIT IN ATHENS—KING + GEORGE OF GREECE—VICTOR EMMANUEL—"BEDEVILED WITH CARES OF + STATE"—DEER SHOOTING—A MILITARY DINNER—RETURN TO + VERSAILLES—GERMANS ENTERING PARIS—CRITICISM ON THE + FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR—CONCLUSION. + </p> + <p> + On reaching Brussels, one of the first things to do was to pay my respects + to the King of Belgium, which I did, accompanied by our Minister, Mr. + Russell Jones. Later I dined with the King and Queen, meeting at the + dinner many notable people, among them the Count and Countess of Flanders. + A day or two in Brussels sufficed to mature our plans for spending the + time up to the approximate date of our return to Paris; and deciding to + visit eastern Europe, we made Vienna our first objective, going there by + way of Dresden. + </p> + <p> + At Vienna our Minister, Mr. John Jay, took charge of us—Forsyth was + still with me—and the few days' sojourn was full of interest. The + Emperor being absent from the capital, we missed seeing him; but the Prime + Minister, Count von Beust, was very polite to us, and at his house we had + the pleasure of meeting at dinner Count Andrassy, the Prime Minister of + Hungary. + </p> + <p> + From Vienna we went to Buda-Pesth, the Hungarian capital; and thence, in a + I small, crowded, and uncomfortable steamboat, down the Danube to + Rustchuck, whence we visited Bucharest—all who travel in eastern + Europe do so—and then directing our course southward, we went first + to Varna, and from that city by steamer through the Black Sea to + Constantinople. + </p> + <p> + We reached the Turkish capital at the time of Ramadan, the period of the + year (about a month) during which the Mohammedans are commanded by the + Koran to keep a rigorous fast every day from sunrise till sunset. All the + followers of the Prophet were therefore busy with their devotions—holding + a revival, as it were; hence there was no chance whatever to be presented + to the Sultan, Abdul Aziz, it being forbidden during the penitential + season for him to receive unbelievers, or in fact any one except the + officials of his household. However, the Grand Vizier brought me many + messages of welcome, and arranged that I should be permitted to see and + salute his Serene Highness on the Esplanade as he rode by on horseback to + the mosque. + </p> + <p> + So, the second day after arrival, the Grand Vizier drove me in a barouche + to the Esplanade, where we took station about midway of its length an hour + or so before the Sultan was to appear. Shortly after we reached the + Esplanade, carriages occupied by the women of the Sultan's harem began to + appear, coming out from the palace grounds and driving up and down the + roadway. Only a few of the women were closely veiled, a majority of them + wearing an apology for veiling, merely a strip of white lace covering the + forehead down to the eyebrows. Some were yellow, and some white-types of + the Mongolian and Caucasian races. Now and then a pretty face was seen, + rarely a beautiful one. Many were plump, even to corpulence, and these + were the closest veiled, being considered the greatest beauties I presume, + since with the Turk obesity is the chief element of comeliness. As the + carriages passed along in review, every now and then an occupant, unable + or unwilling to repress her natural promptings, would indulge in a mild + flirtation, making overtures by casting demure side-glances, throwing us + coquettish kisses, or waving strings of amber beads with significant + gestures, seeming to say: "Why don't you follow?" But this we could not do + if we would, for the Esplanade throughout its entire length was lined with + soldiers, put there especially to guard the harem first, and later, the + Sultan on his pilgrimage to the mosque. + </p> + <p> + But as it was now time for His Serene Highness to make his appearance the + carriages containing his wives drove off into the palace grounds, which + were inclosed by a high wall, leaving the Esplanade wholly unencumbered + except by the soldiers. Down between the two ranks, which were formed + facing each other, came the Sultan on a white steed—a beautiful + Arabian—and having at his side his son, a boy about ten or twelve + years old, who was riding a pony, a diminutive copy of his father's mount, + the two attended by a numerous body-guard, dressed in gorgeous Oriental + uniforms. As the procession passed our carriage, I, as pre-arranged, stood + up and took off my hat, His Serene Highness promptly acknowledging the + salute by raising his hand to the forehead. This was all I saw of him, yet + I received every kindness at his hands, being permitted to see many of his + troops, to inspect all the ordnance, equipment, and other military + establishments about Constantinople, and to meet numbers of the high + functionaries of the Empire. + </p> + <p> + Among other compliments tendered through his direction, and which I gladly + accepted, was a review of all the troops then in Stamboul—about + 6,000—comprising infantry, cavalry, and artillery. + </p> + <p> + They were as fine looking a body of soldiers as I ever saw—well + armed and well clothed, the men all large and of sturdy appearance. + </p> + <p> + After the review we attended a grand military dinner given by the Grand + Vizier. At the hour set for this banquet we presented ourselves at the + palace of the Grand Vizier, and being ushered into a large drawing-room, + found already assembled there the guests invited to meet us. Some few + spoke French, and with these we managed to exchange an occasional remark; + but as the greater number stood about in silence, the affair, thus far, + was undeniably a little stiff. Just before the dinner was announced, all + the Turkish officers went into an adjoining room, and turning their faces + to the east, prostrated themselves to the floor in prayer. Then we were + all conducted to a large salon, where each being provided with a silver + ewer and basin, a little ball of highly perfumed soap and a napkin, set + out on small tables, each guest washed his hands. Adjacent to this salon + was the dining-room, or, rather, the banqueting room, a very large and + artistically frescoed hall, in the centre of which stood a crescent-shaped + table, lighted with beautiful silver candelabra, and tastefully decorated + with flowers and fruits. The viands were all excellent; cooked, evidently, + by a French chef, and full justice was done the dishes, especially by the + Turks, who, of course, had been fasting all day. + </p> + <p> + At the close of the banquet, which consisted of not less than fifteen + courses, we withdrew to a smoking-room, where the coffee was served and + cigarettes and chibouks offered us—the latter a pipe having a long + flexible stem with an amber mouthpiece. I chose the chibouk, and as the + stem of mine was studded with precious stones of enormous value, I thought + I should enjoy it the more; but the tobacco being highly flavored with + some sort of herbs, my smoke fell far short of my anticipations. The + coffee was delicious, however, and I found this to be the case wherever I + went in Constantinople, whether in making calls or at dinner, the custom + of offering coffee and tobacco on these occasions being universal. + </p> + <p> + The temptations to linger at Constantinople were many indeed, not the + least being the delightful climate; and as time pressed, we set out with + much regret on the return journey, stopping a few days at Athens, whence + we made several short excursions into the interior. King George and Queen + Olga made our stay in Athens one of extreme interest and exceeding + pleasure. Throwing aside all ceremony, they breakfasted and dined us + informally, gave us a fine ball, and in addition to these hospitalities + showed us much personal attention, his Majesty even calling upon me, and + the Queen sending her children to see us at our hotel. + </p> + <p> + Of course we visited all that remained of the city's ancient civilization—the + Acropolis, temples, baths, towers, and the like; nor did we omit to view + the spot where St. Paul once instructed the Athenians in lessons of + Christianity. We traveled some little through the country districts + outside of Athens, and I noticed that the peasantry, in point of + picturesqueness of dress and color of complexion, were not unlike the + gypsies we see at times in America. They had also much of the same + shrewdness, and, as far as I could learn, were generally wholly + uneducated, ignorant, indeed, except as to one subject—politics—which + I was told came to them intuitively, they taking to it, and a scramble for + office, as naturally as a duck to water. In fact, this common faculty for + politics seems a connecting link between the ancient and modern Greek. + </p> + <p> + Leaving Athens with the pleasantest recollections, we sailed for Messina, + Sicily, and from there went to Naples, where we found many old friends; + among them Mr. Buchanan Reed, the artist and poet, and Miss Brewster, as + well as a score or more of others of our countrymen, then or since + distinguished, in art and letters at home and abroad. We remained some + days in Naples, and during the time went to Pompeii to witness a special + excavation among the ruins of the buried city, which search was instituted + on account of our visit. A number of ancient household articles were dug + up, and one, a terra cotta lamp bearing upon its crown in bas-relief the + legend of "Leda and the Swan," was presented to me as a souvenir of the + occasion, though it is usual for the Government to place in its museums + everything of such value that is unearthed. + </p> + <p> + From Naples to Rome by rail was our next journey. In the Eternal City we + saw picture-galleries, churches, and ruins in plenty, but all these have + been so well described by hundreds of other travelers that I shall not + linger even to name them. While at Rome we also witnessed an overflow of + the Tiber, that caused great suffering and destroyed much property. The + next stage of our tour took us to Venice, then to Florence—the + capital of Italy—for although the troops of the King of Italy had + taken possession of Rome the preceding September, the Government itself + had not yet removed thither. + </p> + <p> + At Florence, our Minister, Mr. Marsh, though suffering with a lame foot, + took me in charge, and in due course of time I was presented to King + Victor-Emmanuel. His Majesty received me informally at his palace in a + small, stuffy room—his office, no doubt—and an untidy one it + was too. He wore a loose blouse and very baggy trousers; a comfortable + suit, certainly, but not at all conducing to an ideal kingliness of + appearance. + </p> + <p> + His Majesty's hobby was hunting, and no sooner had I made my bow than he + began a conversation on that subject, thrusting his hands nearly up to the + elbows into the pockets of his trousers. He desired to learn about the + large game of America, particularly the buffalo, and when I spoke of the + herds of thousands and thousands I had seen on the plains of western + Kansas, he interrupted me to bemoan the fate which kept him from visiting + America to hunt, even going so far as to say that "he didn't wish to be + King of Italy, anyhow, but would much prefer to pass his days hunting than + be bedeviled with the cares of state." On one of his estates, near Pisa, + he had several large herds of deer, many wild boars, and a great deal of + other game. Of this preserve he was very proud, and before we separated + invited me to go down there to shoot deer, adding that he would be there + himself if he could, but feared that a trip which he had to take to Milan + would interfere, though he wished me to go in any event. + </p> + <p> + I gladly accepted the invitation, and in two or three days was notified + when I would be expected at the estate. At the designated time I was + escorted to Pisa by an aide-de-camp, and from there we drove the few miles + to the King's chateau, where we fortified ourselves for the work in hand + by an elaborate and toothsome breakfast of about ten courses. Then in a + carriage we set out for the King's stand in the hunting-grounds, + accompanied by a crowd of mounted game-keepers, who with great difficulty + controlled the pack of sixty or seventy hounds, the dogs and keepers + together almost driving me to distraction with their yelping and yelling. + On reaching the stand, I was posted within about twenty' yards of a long, + high picket-fence, facing the fence and covered by two trees very close + together. It was from behind these that the King usually shot, and as I + was provided with a double-barreled shot-gun, I thought I could do well, + especially since close in rear of me stood two game-keepers to load and + hand me a second gun when the first was emptied. + </p> + <p> + Meantime the huntsmen and the hounds had made a circuit of the park to + drive up the game. The yelps of the hounds drawing near, I cautiously + looked in the direction of the sound, and the next moment saw a herd of + deer close in to the fence, and coming down at full speed. Without a miss, + I shot the four leading ones as they tried to run the gauntlet, for in + passing between the stand and the fence, the innocent creatures were not + more than ten to fifteen paces from me. At the fourth I stopped, but the + gamekeepers insisted on more butchery, saying, "No one but the King ever + did the like" (I guess no one else had ever had the chance), so, thus + urged, I continued firing till I had slaughtered eleven with eleven shots—an + easy task with a shot-gun and buckshot cartridges. + </p> + <p> + The "hunt" being ended—for with this I had had enough, and no one + else was permitted to do any shooting—the aide-decamp directed the + game to be sent to me in Florence, and we started for the chateau. On the + way back I saw a wild boar the first and only one I ever saw—my + attention being drawn to him by cries from some of the game-keepers. There + was much commotion, the men pointing out the game and shouting excitedly, + "See the wild boar!" otherwise I should not have known what was up, but + now, looking in the indicated direction, I saw scudding over the plain + what appeared to me to be nothing but a halfgrown black pig, or shoat. He + was not in much of a hurry either, and gave no evidence of ferocity, yet + it is said that this insignificant looking animal is dangerous when hunted + with the spear —the customary way. After an early dinner at the + chateau we returned to Florence, and my venison next day arriving, it was + distributed among my American friends in the city. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after the hunt the King returned from Milan, and then honored me + with a military dinner, his Majesty and all the guests, numbering eighty, + appearing in full uniform. The banqueting hall was lighted with hundreds + of wax candles, there was a profusion of beautiful flowers, and to me the + scene altogether was one of unusual magnificence. The table service was + entirely of gold—the celebrated set of the house of Savoy—and + behind the chair of each guest stood a servant in powdered wig and + gorgeous livery of red plush. I sat at the right of the King, who—his + hands resting on his sword, the hilt of which glittered with jewels—sat + through the hour and a half at table without once tasting food or drink, + for it was his rule to eat but two meals in twenty-four hours—breakfast + at noon, and dinner at midnight. The King remained silent most of the + time, but when he did speak, no matter on what subject, he inevitably + drifted back to hunting. He never once referred to the Franco-Prussian + war, nor to the political situation in his own country, then passing + through a crisis. In taking leave of his Majesty I thanked him with deep + gratitude for honoring me so highly, and his response was that if ever he + came to America to hunt buffalo, he should demand my assistance. + </p> + <p> + From Florence I went to Milan and Geneva, then to Nice, Marseilles, and + Bordeaux. Assembled at Bordeaux was a convention which had been called + together by the government of the National Defense for the purpose of + confirming or rejecting the terms of an armistice of twenty-one days, + arranged between Jules Favre and Count Bismarck in negotiations begun at + Versailles the latter part of January. The convention was a large body, + chosen from all parts of France, and was unquestionably the most noisy, + unruly and unreasonable set of beings that I ever saw in a legislative + assembly. The frequent efforts of Thiers, Jules Favre, and other leading + men to restrain the more impetuous were of little avail. When at the + sittings a delegate arose to speak on some question, he was often + violently pulled to his seat and then surrounded by a mob of his + colleagues, who would throw off their coats and gesticulate wildly, as + though about to fight. + </p> + <p> + But the bitter pill of defeat had to be swallowed in some way, so the + convention delegated M. Thiers to represent the executive power of the + country, with authority to construct a ministry three commissioners were + appointed by the Executive, to enter into further negotiations with Count + Bismarck at Versailles and arrange a peace, the terms of which, however, + were to be submitted to the convention for final action. Though there had + been so much discussion, it took but a few days to draw up and sign a + treaty at Versailles, the principal negotiators being Thiers and Jules + Favre for France, and Bismarck on the part of the Germans. The terms + agreed upon provided for the occupation of Paris till ratification should + be had by the convention at Bordeaux; learning of which stipulation from + our Minister, Mr. Washburn, I hurried off to Paris to see the conquerors + make their triumphal entry. + </p> + <p> + In the city the excitement was at fever heat, of course; the entire + population protesting with one voice that they would never, never look + upon the hated Germans marching through their beloved city. No! when the + day arrived they would hide themselves in their houses, or shut their eyes + to such a hateful sight. But by the 1st of March a change had come over + the fickle Parisians, for at an early hour the sidewalks were jammed with + people, and the windows and doors of the houses filled with men, women, + and children eager to get a look at the conquerors. Only a few came in the + morning, however—an advance-guard of perhaps a thousand cavalry and + infantry. The main column marched from the Arc-de-Triomphe toward the + middle of the afternoon. In its composition it represented United Germany—Saxons, + Bavarians, and the Royal Guard of Prussia—and, to the strains of + martial music, moving down the Champ Elysees to the Place de la Concorde, + was distributed thence over certain sections of the city agreed upon + beforehand. Nothing that could be called a disturbance took place during + the march; and though there was a hiss now and then and murmurings of + discontent, yet the most noteworthy mutterings were directed against the + defunct Empire. Indeed, I found everywhere that the national misfortunes + were laid at Napoleon's door—he, by this time, having become a + scapegoat for every blunder of the war. + </p> + <p> + The Emperor William (he had been proclaimed German Emperor at Versailles + the 18th of January) did not accompany his troops into Paris, though he + reviewed them at Long Champs before they started. After the occupation of + the city he still remained at Versailles, and as soon as circumstances + would permit, I repaired to the Imperial headquarters to pay my respects + to his Majesty under his new title and dignities, and to say good-bye. + </p> + <p> + Besides the Emperor, the only persons I me at Versailles were General von + Moltke and Bismarck. His Majesty was in a very agreeable frame of mind, + and as bluff and hearty as usual. His increased rank and power had + effected no noticeable change of any kind in him, and by his genial and + cordial ways he made me think that my presence with the German army had + contributed to his pleasure. Whether this was really so or not, I shall + always believe it true, for his kind words and sincere manner could leave + no other conclusion. + </p> + <p> + General von Moltke was, as usual, quiet and reserved, betraying not the + slightest consciousness of his great ability, nor the least indication of + pride on account of his mighty work. I say this advisedly, for it is an + undoubted fact that it was his marvelous mind that perfected the military + system by which 800,000 men were mobilized with unparalleled celerity and + moved with such certainty of combination that, in a campaign of seven + months, the military power of France was destroyed and her vast resources + sorely crippled. + </p> + <p> + I said good-bye to Count Bismarck, also, for at that busy time the chances + of seeing him again were very remote. The great Chancellor manifested more + joy over the success of the Germans than did anyone else at the Imperial + headquarters. Along with his towering strength of mind and body, his + character partook of much of the enthusiasm and impulsiveness commonly + restricted to younger men, and now in his frank, free way be plainly + showed his light-heartedness and gratification at success. That which for + years his genius had been planning and striving for—permanent + unification of the German States, had been accomplished by the war. It had + welded them together in a compact Empire which no power in Europe could + disrupt, and as such a union was the aim of Bismarck's life, he surely had + a right to feel jubilant. + </p> + <p> + Thanks to the courtesies extended me, I had been able to observe the + principal battles, and study many of the minor details of a war between + two of the greatest military nations of the world, and to examine + critically the methods followed abroad for subsisting, equipping, and + manoeuvring vast bodies of men during a stupendous, campaign. Of course I + found a great deal to interest and instruct me, yet nowadays war is pretty + much the same everywhere, and this one offered no marked exception to my + previous experiences. The methods pursued on the march were the same as we + would employ, with one most important exception. Owing to the density of + population throughout France it was always practicable for the Germans to + quarter their troops in villages, requiring the inhabitants to subsist + both officers and men. Hence there was no necessity for camp and garrison + equipage, nor enormous provision trains, and the armies were unencumbered + by these impedimenta, indispensable when operating in a poor and sparsely + settled country. As I have said before, the only trains were those for + ammunition, pontoon-boats, and the field telegraph, and all these were + managed by special corps. If transportation was needed for other purposes, + it was obtained by requisition from the invaded country, just as food and + forage were secured. Great celerity of combination was therefore possible, + the columns moving in compact order, and as all the roads were broad and + macadamized, there was little or nothing to delay or obstruct the march of + the Germans, except when their enemy offered resistance, but even this was + generally slight and not very frequent, for the French were discouraged by + disaster from the very outset of the campaign + </p> + <p> + The earlier advantages gained by the Germans may be ascribed to the + strikingly prompt mobilization of their armies, one of the most noticeable + features of their perfect military system, devised by almost autocratic + power; their later successes were greatly aided by the blunders of the + French, whose stupendous errors materially shortened the war, though even + if prolonged it could, in my opinion, have had ultimately no other + termination. + </p> + <p> + As I have previously stated, the first of these blunders was the + acceptance of battle by MacMahon at Worth; the second in attaching too + much importance to the fortified position of Metz, resulting in three + battles Colombey, Mars-la-Tour, and Gravelotte—all of which were + lost; and the third, the absurd movement of MacMahon along the Belgian + frontier to relieve Metz, the responsibility for which, I am glad to say, + does not belong to him. + </p> + <p> + With the hemming in of Bazaine at Metz and the capture of MacMahon's army + at Sedan the crisis of the war was passed, and the Germans practically the + victors. The taking of Paris was but a sentiment—the money levy + could have been made and the Rhine provinces held without molesting that + city, and only the political influences consequent upon the changes in the + French Government caused peace to be deferred. + </p> + <p> + I did not have much opportunity to observe the German cavalry, either on + the march or in battle. The only time I saw any of it engaged was in the + unfortunate charge at Gravelotte. That proved its mettle good and + discipline fair, but answered no other purpose. Such of it as was not + attached to the infantry was organized in divisions, and operated in + accordance with the old idea of covering the front and flanks of the army, + a duty which it thoroughly performed. But thus directed it was in no sense + an independent corps, and hence cannot be, said to have accomplished + anything in the campaign, or have had a weight or influence at all + proportionate to its strength. The method of its employment seemed to me a + mistake, for, being numerically superior to the French cavalry, had it + been massed and manoeuvred independently of the infantry, it could easily + have broken up the French communications, and done much other work of + weighty influence in the prosecution of the war. + </p> + <p> + The infantry was as fine as I ever saw, the men young and hardy in + appearance, and marching always with an elastic stride. The infantry + regiment, however, I thought too large—too many men for a colonel to + command unless he has the staff of a general—but this objection may + be counterbalanced by the advantages resulting from associating together + thus intimately the men from the same district, or county as we would call + it; the celerity of mobilization, and, in truth, the very foundation of + the German system, being based on this local or territorial scheme of + recruiting. + </p> + <p> + There was no delay when the call sounded for the march; all turned out + promptly, and while on the road there was very little straggling, only the + sick falling out. But on such fine, smooth roads, and with success + animating the men from the day they struck the first blow, it could hardly + be expected that the columns would not keep well closed up. Then, too, it + must be borne in mind that, as already stated, 'campaigning' in France—that + is, the marching, camping, and subsisting of an army—is an easy + matter, very unlike anything we, had during the war of the rebellion. To + repeat: the country is rich, beautiful, and densely populated, subsistence + abundant, and the roads—all macadamized highways; thus the + conditions; are altogether different from those existing with us. I think + that under the same circumstances our troops would have done as well as + the Germans, marched as admirably, made combinations as quickly and + accurately, and fought with as much success. I can but leave to conjecture + how. the Germans would have got along on bottomless roads—often none + at all—through the swamps and quicksands of northern Virginia, from, + the Wilderness to Petersburg, and from Chattanooga to Atlanta and the sea. + </p> + <p> + Following the operations of the German armies from the battle of + Gravelotte to the siege of Paris, I may, in conclusion, say that I saw no + new military principles developed, whether of strategy or grand tactics, + the movements of the different armies and corps being dictated and + governed by the same general laws that have so long obtained, simplicity + of combination and manoeuvre, and the concentration of a numerically + superior force at the vital point. + </p> + <p> + After my brief trip to Versailles, I remained in Paris till the latter + part of March. In company with Mr. Washburn, I visited the fortifications + for the defense of the city, and found them to be exceptionally heavy; so + strong, indeed, that it would have been very hard to carry the place by a + general assault. The Germans, knowing the character of the works, had + refrained from the sacrifice of life that such an attempt must entail, + though they well knew that many of the forts were manned by unseasoned + soldiers. With only a combat here and there, to tighten their lines or + repulse a sortie, they wisely preferred to wait till starvation should do + the work with little loss and absolute certainty. + </p> + <p> + The Germans were withdrawn from Paris on the 3d of March, and no sooner + were they gone than factional quarrels, which had been going on at + intervals ever since the flight of the Empress and the fall of her regency + on the 4th of September, were renewed with revolutionary methods that + eventually brought about the Commune. Having witnessed one or two of these + outbreaks, and concluding that while such turbulence reigned in the city + it would be of little profit for me to tarry there, I decided to devote + the rest of the time I could be away from home to travel in England, + Ireland, and Scotland. My journeys through those countries were full of + pleasure and instruction, but as nothing I saw or did was markedly + different from what has been so often described by others, I will save the + reader this part of my experience. I returned to America in the fall, + having been absent a little more than a year, and although I saw much + abroad of absorbing interest, both professional and general, yet I came + back to my native land with even a greater love for her, and with + increased admiration for her institutions. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General P. H. 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Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..87fab97 --- /dev/null +++ b/4362-h/images/pb426.jpg diff --git a/4362.txt b/4362.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..790ff49 --- /dev/null +++ b/4362.txt @@ -0,0 +1,20283 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General P. H. Sheridan, +Complete, by General Philip Henry Sheridan + +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: The Memoirs of General P. H. Sheridan, Complete + +Author: General Philip Henry Sheridan + +Release Date: August 16, 2006 [EBook #4362] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRES OF P. H. SHERIDAN, VOLUME 1. + +By Philip Henry Sheridan + + + +PREFACE + +When, yielding to the solicitations of my friends, I finally decided +to write these Memoirs, the greatest difficulty which confronted me +was that of recounting my share in the many notable events of the +last three decades, in which I played a part, without entering too +fully into the history of these years, and at the same time without +giving to my own acts an unmerited prominence. To what extent I have +overcome this difficulty I must leave the reader to judge. + +In offering this record, penned by my own hand, of the events of my +life, and of my participation in our great struggle for national +existence, human liberty, and political equality, I make no +pretension to literary merit; the importance of the subject-matter of +my narrative is my only claim on the reader's attention. + +Respectfully dedicating this work to my comrades in arms during the +War of the Rebellion, I leave it as a heritage to my children, and as +a source of information for the future historian. + +P. H. SHERIDAN. + +Nonguitt, Mass., August 2, 1888 + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRS + +P. H. SHERIDAN. + + + + + + +VOLUME I. + +CHAPTER I. + +ANCESTRY--BIRTH--EARLY EDUCATION--A CLERK IN A GROCERY +STORE--APPOINTMENT--MONROE SHOES--JOURNEY TO WEST POINT--HAZING +--A FISTICUFF BATTLE--SUSPENDED--RETURNS TO CLERKSHIP--GRADUATION. + +My parents, John and Mary Sheridan, came to America in 1830, having +been induced by the representations of my father's uncle, Thomas +Gainor, then living in Albany, N. Y., to try their fortunes in the +New World: They were born and reared in the County Cavan, Ireland, +where from early manhood my father had tilled a leasehold on the +estate of Cherrymoult; and the sale of this leasehold provided him +with means to seek a new home across the sea. My parents were +blood relations--cousins in the second degree--my mother, whose +maiden name was Minor, having descended from a collateral branch of +my father's family. Before leaving Ireland they had two children, +and on the 6th of March, 1831, the year after their arrival in this +country, I was born, in Albany, N. Y., the third child in a family +which eventually increased to six--four boys and two girls. + +The prospects for gaining a livelihood in Albany did not meet the +expectations which my parents had been led to entertain, so in 1832 +they removed to the West, to establish themselves in the village of +Somerset, in Perry County, Ohio, which section, in the earliest days +of the State; had been colonized from Pennsylvania and Maryland. At +this period the great public works of the Northwest--the canals and +macadamized roads, a result of clamor for internal improvements--were +in course of construction, and my father turned his attention to +them, believing that they offered opportunities for a successful +occupation. Encouraged by a civil engineer named Bassett, who had +taken a fancy to him, he put in bids for a small contract on the +Cumberland Road, known as the "National Road," which was then being +extended west from the Ohio River. A little success in this first +enterprise led him to take up contracting as a business, which he +followed on various canals and macadamized roads then building in +different parts of the State of Ohio, with some good fortune for +awhile, but in 1853 what little means he had saved were swallowed up +--in bankruptcy, caused by the failure of the Sciota and Hocking +Valley Railroad Company, for which he was fulfilling a contract at +the time, and this disaster left him finally only a small farm, just +outside the village of Somerset, where he dwelt until his death in +1875. + +My father's occupation kept him away from home much of the time +during my boyhood, and as a consequence I grew up under the sole +guidance and training of my mother, whose excellent common sense and +clear discernment in every way fitted her for such maternal duties. +When old enough I was sent to the village school, which was taught by +an old-time Irish "master"--one of those itinerant dominies of the +early frontier--who, holding that to spare the rod was to spoil the +child, if unable to detect the real culprit when any offense had been +committed, would consistently apply the switch to the whole school +without discrimination. It must be conceded that by this means he +never failed to catch the guilty mischief-maker. The school-year was +divided into terms of three months, the teacher being paid in each +term a certain sum--three dollars, I think, for each pupil-and having +an additional perquisite in the privilege of boarding around at his +option in the different families to which his scholars belonged. +This feature was more than acceptable to the parents at times, for +how else could they so thoroughly learn all the neighborhood gossip? +But the pupils were in almost unanimous opposition, because Mr. +McNanly's unheralded advent at any one's house resulted frequently in +the discovery that some favorite child had been playing "hookey," +which means (I will say to the uninitiated, if any such there be) +absenting one's self from school without permission, to go on a +fishing or a swimming frolic. Such at least was my experience more +than once, for Mr. McNanly particularly favored my mother's house, +because of a former acquaintanceship in Ireland, and many a time a +comparison of notes proved that I had been in the woods with two +playfellows, named Binckly and Greiner, when the master thought I was +home, ill, and my mother, that I was at school, deeply immersed in +study. However, with these and other delinquencies not uncommon +among boys, I learned at McNanly's school, and a little later, under +a pedagogue named Thorn, a smattering of geography and history, and +explored the mysteries of Pike's Arithmetic and Bullions' English +Grammar, about as far as I could be carried up to the age of +fourteen. This was all the education then bestowed upon me, and +this--with the exception of progressing in some of these branches by +voluntary study, and by practical application in others, supplemented +by a few months of preparation after receiving my appointment as a +cadet--was the extent of my learning on entering the Military +Academy. + +When about fourteen years old I began to do something for myself; Mr. +John Talbot, who kept a country store in the village, employing me to +deal out sugar, coffee, and calico to his customers at the munificent +salary of twenty-four dollars a year. After I had gained a +twelve-months' experience with Mr. Talbot my services began to be +sought by, others, and a Mr. David Whitehead secured them by the offer +of sixty dollars a year--Talbot refusing to increase my pay, but not +objecting to my advancement. A few months later, before my year was +up, another chance to increase my salary came about; Mr. Henry Dittoe, +the enterprising man of the village, offering me one hundred and +twenty dollars a year to take a position in the dry-goods store of +Fink & Dittoe. I laid the matter before Mr. Whitehead, and he frankly +advised me to accept, though he cautioned me that I might regret it, +adding that he was afraid Henry (referring to Mr. Dittoe) "had too +many irons in the fire." His warning in regard to the enterprising +merchant proved a prophecy, for "too many irons in the fire" brought +about Mr. Dittoe's bankruptcy, although this misfortune did not befall +him till long after I had left his service. I am glad to say, +however, that his failure was an exceptionally honest one, and due +more to the fact that he was in advance of his surroundings than to +any other cause. + +I remained with Fink & Dittoe until I entered the Military Academy, +principally in charge of the book-keeping, which was no small work +for one of my years, considering that in those days the entire +business of country stores in the West was conducted on the credit +system; the customers, being mostly farmers, never expecting to pay +till the product of their farms could be brought to market; and even +then usually squared the book-accounts by notes of hand, that were +often slow of collection. + +From the time I ceased to attend school my employment had +necessitated, to a certain degree, the application of what I had +learned there, and this practical instruction I reinforced somewhat +by doing considerable reading in a general way, until ultimately I +became quite a local authority in history, being frequently chosen as +arbiter in discussions and disputes that arose in the store. The +Mexican War, then going on, furnished, of course, a never-ending +theme for controversy, and although I was too young to enter the +military service when volunteers were mustering in our section, yet +the stirring events of the times so much impressed and absorbed me +that my sole wish was to become a soldier, and my highest aspiration +to go to West Point as a Cadet from my Congressional district. My +chances for this seemed very remote, however, till one day an +opportunity was thrown in my way by the boy who then held the place +failing to pass his examination. When I learned that by this +occurrence a vacancy existed, I wrote to our representative in +Congress, the Hon. Thomas Ritchey, and asked him for the appointment, +reminding him that we had often met in Fink & Dittoe's store, and +that therefore he must know something of my qualifications. He +responded promptly by enclosing my warrant for the class of 1848; so, +notwithstanding the many romances that have been published about the +matter, to Mr. Ritchey, and to him alone, is due all the credit--if +my career justifies that term--of putting me in the United States +Army. + +At once I set about preparing for the examination which precedes +admission to the Military Academy, studying zealously under the +direction of Mr. William Clark; my old teachers, McNanly and Thorn, +having disappeared from Somerset and sought new fields of usefulness. +The intervening months passed rapidly away, and I fear that I did not +make much progress, yet I thought I should be able to pass the +preliminary examination. That which was to follow worried me more +and gave me many sleepless nights; but these would have been less in +number, I fully believe, had it not been for one specification of my, +outfit which the circular that accompanied my appointment demanded. +This requirement was a pair of "Monroe shoes." Now, out in Ohio, +what "Monroe shoes" were was a mystery--not a shoemaker in my section +having so much as an inkling of the construction of the perplexing +things, until finally my eldest brother brought an idea of them from +Baltimore, when it was found that they were a familiar pattern under +another name. + +At length the time for my departure came, and I set out for West +Point, going by way of Cleveland and across Lake Erie to Buffalo. On +the steamer I fell in with another appointee en route to the academy, +David S. Stanley, also from Ohio; and when our acquaintanceship had +ripened somewhat, and we had begun to repose confidence in each +other, I found out that he had no "Monroe shoes," so I deemed myself +just that much ahead of my companion, although my shoes might not +conform exactly to the regulations in Eastern style and finish. At +Buffalo, Stanley and I separated, he going by the Erie Canal and I by +the railroad, since I wanted to gain time on account of commands to +stop in Albany to see my father's uncle. Here I spent a few days, +till Stanley reached Albany, when we journeyed together down the +river to West Point. The examination began a few days after our +arrival, and I soon found myself admitted to the Corps of Cadets, to +date from July 1, 1848, in a class composed of sixty-three members, +many of whom--for example, Stanley, Slocum, Woods, Kautz, and Crook +--became prominent generals in later years, and commanded divisions, +corps, and armies in the war of the rebellion. + +Quickly following my admission I was broken in by a course of hazing, +with many of the approved methods that the Cadets had handed down +from year to year since the Academy was founded; still, I escaped +excessive persecution, although there were in my day many occurrences +so extreme as to call forth condemnation and an endeavor to suppress +the senseless custom, which an improved civilization has now about +eradicated, not only at West Point, but at other colleges. + +Although I had met the Academic board and come off with fair success, +yet I knew so little of Algebra or any of the higher branches of +mathematics that during my first six months at the Academy I was +discouraged by many misgivings as to the future, for I speedily +learned that at the January examination the class would have to stand +a test much severer than that which had been applied to it on +entering. I resolved to try hard, however, and, besides, good +fortune gave me for a room-mate a Cadet whose education was more +advanced than mine, and whose studious habits and willingness to aid +others benefited me immensely. This room-mate was Henry W. Slocum, +since so signally distinguished in both military and civil capacities +as to win for his name a proud place in the annals of his country. +After taps--that is, when by the regulations of the Academy all the +lights were supposed to be extinguished, and everybody in bed--Slocum +and I would hang a blanket over the one window of our room and +continue our studies--he guiding me around scores of stumbling-blocks +in Algebra and elucidating many knotty points in other branches of +the course with which I was unfamiliar. On account of this +association I went up before the Board in January with less +uneasiness than otherwise would have been the case, and passed the +examination fairly well. When it was over, a self-confidence in my +capacity was established that had not existed hitherto, and at each +succeeding examination I gained a little in order of merit till my +furlough summer came round--that is, when I was half through the +four-year course. + +My furlough in July and August, 1850, was spent at my home in Ohio, +with the exception of a visit or two to other Cadets on furlough in +the State, and at the close of my leave I returned to the Academy in +the full expectation of graduating with my class in 1852. + +A quarrel of a belligerent character in September, ,1851, with Cadet +William R. Terrill, put an end to this anticipation, however, and +threw me back into the class which graduated in 1853. Terrill was a +Cadet Sergeant, and, while my company was forming for parade, having, +given me an order, in what I considered an improper tone, to "dress" +in a certain direction, when I believed I was accurately dressed, I +fancied I had a grievance, and made toward him with a lowered +bayonet, but my better judgment recalled me before actual contact +could take place. Of course Terrill reported me for this, and my ire +was so inflamed by his action that when we next met I attacked him, +and a fisticuff engagement in front of barracks followed, which was +stopped by an officer appearing on the scene. Each of us handed in +an explanation, but mine was unsatisfactory to the authorities, for I +had to admit that I was the assaulting party, and the result was that +I was suspended by the Secretary of War, Mr. Conrad, till August 28, +1852--the Superintendent of the Academy, Captain Brewerton, being +induced to recommend this milder course, he said, by my previous good +conduct. At the time I thought, of course, my suspension a very +unfair punishment, that my conduct was justifiable and the +authorities of the Academy all wrong, but riper experience has led me +to a different conclusion, and as I look back, though the +mortification I then endured was deep and trying, I am convinced that +it was hardly as much as I deserved for such an outrageous breach of +discipline. + +There was no question as to Terrill's irritating tone, but in giving +me the order he was prompted by the duty of his position as a file +closer, and I was not the one to remedy the wrong which I conceived +had been done me, and clearly not justifiable in assuming to correct +him with my own hands. In 1862, when General Buell's army was +assembling at Louisville, Terrill was with it as a brigadier-general +(for, although a Virginian, he had remained loyal), and I then took +the initiative toward a renewal of our acquaintance. Our renewed +friendship was not destined to be of long duration, I am sorry to +say, for a few days later, in the battle of Perryville, while +gallantly fighting for his country, poor Terrill was killed. + +My suspension necessitated my leaving the Academy, and I returned +home in the fall of 1851, much crestfallen. Fortunately, my good +friend Henry Dittoe again gave me employment in keeping the books of +his establishment, and this occupation of my time made the nine +months which were to elapse before I could go back to West Point pass +much more agreeably than they would have done had I been idle. In +August, 1852, I joined the first class at the Academy in accordance +with the order of the War Department, taking my place at the foot of +the class and graduating with it the succeeding June, number +thirty-four in a membership of fifty-two. At the head of this class +graduated James B. McPherson, who was killed in the Atlanta campaign +while commanding the Army of the Tennessee. It also contained such +men as John M. Schofield, who commanded the Army of the Ohio; Joshua +W. Sill, killed as a brigadier in the battle of Stone River; and many +others who, in the war of the rebellion, on one side or the other, +rose to prominence, General John B. Hood being the most distinguished +member of the class among the Confederates. + +At the close of the final examination I made no formal application +for assignment to any particular arm of the service, for I knew that +my standing would not entitle me to one of the existing vacancies, +and that I should be obliged to take a place among the brevet second +lieutenants. When the appointments were made I therefore found +myself attached to the First Infantry, well pleased that I had +surmounted all the difficulties that confront the student at our +national school, and looking forward with pleasant anticipation to +the life before me. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ORDERED TO FORT DUNCAN, TEXAS--"NORTHERS"--SCOUTING +DUTY--HUNTING--NEARLY CAUGHT BY THE INDIANS--A PRIMITIVE HABITATION +--A BRAVE DRUMMERBOY'S DEATH--A MEXICAN BALL. + +On the 1st day of July, 1853, I was commissioned a brevet second +lieutenant in the First Regiment of United States Infantry, then +stationed in Texas. The company to which I was attached was +quartered at Fort Duncan, a military post on the Rio Grande opposite +the little town of Piedras Negras, on the boundary line between the +United States and the Republic of Mexico. + +After the usual leave of three months following graduation from the +Military Academy I was assigned to temporary duty at Newport +Barracks, a recruiting station and rendezvous for the assignment of +young officers preparatory to joining their regiments. Here I +remained from September, 1853, to March, 1854, when I was ordered to +join my company at Fort Duncan. To comply with this order I +proceeded by steamboat down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New +Orleans, thence by steamer across the Gulf of Mexico to Indianola, +Tex., and after landing at that place, continued in a small schooner +through what is called the inside channel on the Gulf coast to Corpus +Christi, the headquarters of Brigadier-General Persifer F. Smith, who +was commanding the Department of Texas. Here I met some of my old +friends from the Military Academy, among them Lieutenant Alfred +Gibbs, who in the last year of the rebellion commanded under me a +brigade of cavalry, and Lieutenant Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, of the +Mounted Rifles, who resigned in 1854 to accept service in the French +Imperial army, but to most of those about headquarters I was an +entire stranger. Among the latter was Captain Stewart Van Vliet, of +the Quartermaster's Department, now on the retired list. With him I +soon came in frequent contact, and, by reason of his connection with +the Quartermaster's Department, the kindly interest he took in +forwarding my business inaugurated between us--a lasting friendship. + +A day or two after my arrival at Corpus Christi a train of Government +wagons, loaded with subsistence stores and quartermaster's supplies, +started for Laredo, a small town on the Rio Grande below Fort Duncan. +There being no other means of reaching my station I put my small +personal possessions, consisting of a trunk, mattress, two blankets, +and a pillow into one of the heavily loaded wagons and proceeded to +join it, sitting on the boxes or bags of coffee and sugar, as I might +choose. The movement of the train was very slow, as the soil was +soft on the newly made and sandy roads. We progressed but a few +miles on our first day's journey, and in the evening parked our train +at a point where there was no wood, a scant supply of water--and that +of bad quality--but an abundance of grass. There being no +comfortable place to sleep in any of the wagons, filled as they were +to the bows with army supplies, I spread my blankets on the ground +between the wheels of one of them, and awoke in the morning feeling +as fresh and bright as would have been possible if all the comforts +of civilization had been at my command. + +It took our lumbering train many days to reach Laredo, a distance of +about one hundred and sixty miles from Corpus Christi. Each march +was but a repetition of the first day's journey, its monotony +occasionally relieved, though, by the passage of immense flocks of +ducks and geese, and the appearance at intervals of herds of deer, +and sometimes droves of wild cattle, wild horses and mules. The +bands of wild horses I noticed were sometimes led by mules, but +generally by stallions with long wavy manes, and flowing tails which +almost touched the ground. + +We arrived at Laredo during one of those severe storms incident to +that section, which are termed "Northers" from the fact that the +north winds culminate occasionally in cold windstorms, frequently +preceded by heavy rains. Generally the blow lasts for three days, +and the cold becomes intense and piercing. While the sudden +depression of the temperature is most disagreeable, and often causes +great suffering, it is claimed that these "Northers" make the climate +more healthy and endurable. They occur from October to May, and in +addition to the destruction which, through the sudden depression of +the temperature, they bring on the herds in the interior, they are +often of sufficient violence to greatly injure the harbors on the +coast. + +The post near Laredo was called Fort McIntosh, and at this period the +troops stationed there consisted of eight companies of the Fifth +Infantry and two of the First, one of the First Artillery, and three +of the Mounted Rifles. Just before the "Norther" began these troops +had completed a redoubt for the defense of the post, with the +exception of the ditches, but as the parapet was built of sand--the +only material about Laredo which could be obtained for its +construction--the severity of the winds was too much for such a +shifting substance, and the work was entirely blown away early in the +storm. + +I was pleasantly and hospitably welcomed by the officers at the post, +all of whom were living in tents, with no furniture except a cot and +trunk, and an improvised bed for a stranger, when one happened to +come along. After I had been kindly taken in by one of the younger +officers, I reported to the commanding officer, and was informed by +him that he would direct the quartermaster to furnish me, as soon as +convenient, with transportation to Fort Duncan, the station of my +company. + +In the course of a day or two, the quartermaster notified me that a +Government six-mule wagon would be placed at my disposal to proceed +to my destination. No better means offering, I concluded to set out +in this conveyance, and, since it was also to carry a quantity of +quartermaster's property for Fort Duncan, I managed to obtain room +enough for my bed in the limited space between the bows and load, +where I could rest tolerably well, and under cover at night, instead +of sleeping on the ground under the wagon, as I had done on the road +from Corpus Christi to Laredo. + +I reached Fort Duncan in March, 1854., and was kindly received by the +commanding officer of the, regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson +Morris, and by the captain of my company ("D"), Eugene E. McLean, and +his charming wife the only daughter of General E. V. Sumner, who was +already distinguished in our service, but much better known in after +years in the operations of the Army of the Potomac, during its early +campaigns in Virginia. Shortly after joining company "D" I was sent +out on scouting duty with another company of the regiment to Camp La +Pena, about sixty or seventy miles east of Fort Duncan, in a section +of country that had for some time past been subjected to raids by the +Lipan and Comanche Indians. Our outpost at La Pena was intended as a +protection against the predatory incursions of these savages, so +almost constant scouting became a daily occupation. This enabled me +soon to become familiar with and make maps of the surrounding +country, and, through constant association with our Mexican guide, to +pick up in a short time quite a smattering of the Spanish language, +which was very useful to one serving on that frontier. + +At that early day western Texas was literally filled with game, and +the region in the immediate vicinity of La Pena contained its full +proportion of deer, antelope, and wild turkeys. The temptation to +hunt was therefore constantly before me, and a desire to indulge in +this pastime, whenever free from the legitimate duty of the camp, +soon took complete possession of me, so expeditions in pursuit of +game were of frequent occurrence. In these expeditions I was always +accompanied by a soldier named Frankman, belonging to "D" company, +who was a fine sportsman, and a butcher by trade. In a short period +I learned from Frankman how to approach and secure the different +species of game, and also how to dress and care for it when killed. +Almost every expedition we made was rewarded with a good supply of +deer, antelope, and wild turkeys, and we furnished the command in +camp with such abundance that it was relieved from the necessity of +drawing its beef ration, much to the discomfiture of the disgruntled +beef contractor. + +The camp at La Pena was on sandy ground, unpleasant for men and +animals, and by my advice it was moved to La Pendencia, not far from +Lake Espantosa. Before removal from our old location, however, early +one bright morning Frankman and I started on one of our customary +expeditions, going down La Pena Creek to a small creek, at the head +of which we had established a hunting rendezvous. After proceeding +along the stream for three or four miles we saw a column of smoke on +the prairie, and supposing it arose from a camp of Mexican rancheros +catching wild horses or wild cattle, and even wild mules, which were +very numerous in that section of country along the Nueces River, we +thought we would join the party and see how much success they were +having, and observe the methods employed in this laborious and +sometimes dangerous vocation. With this object in view, we continued +on until we found it necessary to cross to the other side of the +creek to reach the point indicated by the smoke. Just before +reaching the crossing I discovered moccasin tracks near the water's +edge, and realizing in an instant that the camp we were approaching +might possibly be one of hostile Indians--all Indians in that country +at that time were hostile--Frankman and I backed out silently, and +made eager strides for La Pena, where we had scarcely arrived when +Captain M. E. Van Buren, of the Mounted Rifle regiment, came in with +a small command, and reported that he was out in pursuit of a band of +Comanche Indians, which had been committing depredations up about +Fort Clark, but that he had lost the trail. I immediately informed +him of what had occurred to me during the morning, and that I could +put him on the trail of the Indians he was desirous of punishing. + +We hurriedly supplied with rations his small command of thirteen, +men, and I then conducted him to the point where I had seen the +smoke, and there we found signs indicating it to be the recently +abandoned camp of the Indians he was pursuing, and we also noticed +that prairie rats had formed the principal article of diet at the +meal they had just completed. As they had gone, I could do no more +than put him on the trail made in their departure, which was well +marked; for Indians, when in small parties, and unless pressed, +usually follow each other in single file. Captain Van Buren followed +the trail by Fort Ewell, and well down toward Corpus Christi, day and +night, until the Indians, exhausted and used up, halted, on an open +plain, unsaddled their horses, mounted bareback, and offered battle. +Their number was double that of Van Buren's detachment, but he +attacked them fearlessly, and in the fight was mortally wounded by an +arrow which entered his body in front, just above the sword belt, and +came through the belt behind. The principal chief of the Indians was +killed, and the rest fled. Captain Van Buren's men carried him to +Corpus Christi, where in a few days he died. + +After our removal to La Pendencia a similar pursuit of savages +occurred, but with more fortunate results. Colonel John H. King, now +on the retired list, then a captain in the First Infantry, came to +our camp in pursuit of a marauding band of hostile Indians, and I was +enabled to put him also on the trail. He soon overtook them, and +killing two without loss to himself, the band dispersed like a flock +of quail and left him nothing to follow. He returned to our camp +shortly after, and the few friendly Indian scouts he had with him +held a grand pow-wow and dance over the scalps of the fallen braves. + +Around La Pendencia, as at La Pena, the country abounded in deer, +antelope, wild turkeys, and quail, and we killed enough to supply +abundantly the whole command with the meat portion of the ration. +Some mornings Frankman and I would bring in as many as seven deer, +and our hunting expeditions made me so familiar with the region +between our camp and Fort Duncan, the headquarters of the regiment, +that I was soon enabled to suggest a more direct route of +communication than the circuitous one then traversed, and in +a short time it was established. + +Up to this time I had been on detached duty, but soon my own company +was ordered into the field to occupy a position on Turkey Creek, +about ten or twelve miles west of the Nueces River, on the road from +San Antonio to Fort Duncan, and I was required to join the company. +Here constant work and scouting were necessary, as our camp was +specially located with reference to protecting from Indian raids the +road running from San Antonio to Fort Duncan, and on to the interior +of Mexico. In those days this road was the great line of travel, and +Mexican caravans were frequently passing over it, to and fro, in such +a disorganized condition as often to invite attack from marauding +Comanches and Lipans. Our time, therefore, was incessantly occupied +in scouting, but our labors were much lightened because they were +directed with intelligence and justice by Captain McLean, whose +agreeable manners and upright methods are still so impressed on my +memory that to this day I look back upon my service with "D" Company +of the First Infantry as among those events which I remember with +most pleasure. + +In this manner my first summer of active field duty passed rapidly +away, and in the fall my company returned to Fort Duncan to go into +winter quarters. These quarters, when constructed, consisted of "A" +tents pitched under a shed improvised by the company. With only +these accommodations I at first lived around as best I could until +the command was quartered, and then, requesting a detail of wagons +from the quartermaster, I went out some thirty miles to get poles to +build a more comfortable habitation for myself. In a few days enough +poles for the construction of a modest residence were secured and +brought in, and then the building of my house began. First, the +poles were cut the proper length, planted in a trench around four +sides of a square of very small proportions, and secured at the top +by string-pieces stretched from one angle to another, in which +half-notches hack been made at proper intervals to receive the +uprights. The poles were then made rigid by strips nailed on +half-way to the ground, giving the sides of the structure firmness, +but the interstices were large and frequent; still, with the aid of +some old condemned paulins obtained from the quartermaster, the walls +were covered and the necessity for chinking obviated. This method of +covering the holes in the side walls also possessed the advantage of +permitting some little light to penetrate to the interior of the +house, and avoided the necessity of constructing a window, for which, +by the way, no glass could have been obtained. Next a good large +fire-place and chimney were built in one corner by means of stones +and mud, and then the roof was put on--a thatched one of prairie +grass. The floor was dirt compactly tamped. + +My furniture was very primitive: a chair or two, with about the same +number of camp stools, a cot, and a rickety old bureau that I +obtained in some way not now remembered. My washstand consisted of a +board about three feet long, resting on legs formed by driving sticks +into the ground until they held it at about the proper height from +the floor. This washstand was the most expensive piece of furniture +I owned, the board having cost me three dollars, and even then I +obtained it as a favor, for lumber on the Rio Grande was so scarce in +those days that to possess even the smallest quantity was to indulge +in great luxury. Indeed, about all that reached the post was what +came in the shape of bacon boxes, and the boards from these were +reserved for coffins in which to bury our dead. + +In this rude habitation I spent a happy winter, and was more +comfortably off than many of the officers, who had built none, but +lived in tents and took the chances of "Northers." During this period +our food was principally the soldier's ration: flour, pickled pork, +nasty bacon--cured in the dust of ground charcoal--and fresh beef, of +which we had a plentiful supply, supplemented with game of various +kinds. The sugar, coffee, and smaller parts of the ration were good, +but we had no vegetables, and the few jars of preserves and some few +vegetables kept by the sutler were too expensive to be indulged in. +So during all the period I lived at Fort Duncan and its sub-camps, +nearly sixteen months, fresh vegetables were practically +unobtainable. To prevent scurvy we used the juice of the maguey +plant, called pulque, and to obtain a supply of this anti-scorbutic I +was often detailed to march the company out about forty miles, cut +the plant, load up two or three wagons with the stalks, and carry +them to camp. Here the juice was extracted by a rude press, and put +in bottles until it fermented and became worse in odor than +sulphureted hydrogen. At reveille roll-call every morning this +fermented liquor was dealt out to the company, and as it was my duty, +in my capacity of subaltern, to attend these roll-calls and see that +the men took their ration of pulque, I always began the duty by +drinking a cup of the repulsive stuff myself. Though hard to +swallow, its well-known specific qualities in the prevention and cure +of scurvy were familiar to all, so every man in the command gulped +down his share notwithstanding its vile taste and odor. + +Considering our isolation, the winter passed very pleasantly to us +all. The post was a large one, its officers congenial, and we had +many enjoyable occasions. Dances, races, and horseback riding filled +in much of the time, and occasional raids from Indians furnished more +serious occupation in the way of a scout now and then. The proximity +of the Indians at times rendered the surrounding country somewhat +dangerous for individuals or small parties at a distance from the +fort; but few thought the savages would come near, so many risks were +doubtless run by various officers, who carried the familiar +six-shooter as their only weapon while out horseback riding, until +suddenly we were awakened to the dangers we had been incurring. + +About mid-winter a party of hostile Lipans made a swoop around and +skirting the garrison, killing a herder--a discharged drummer-boy--in +sight of the flag-staff. Of course great excitement followed. +Captain J. G. Walker, of the Mounted Rifles, immediately started with +his company in pursuit of the Indians, and I was directed to +accompany the command. Not far away we found the body of the boy +filled with arrows, and near him the body of a fine looking young +Indian, whom the lad had undoubtedly killed before he was himself +overpowered. We were not a great distance behind the Indians when +the boy's body was discovered, and having good trailers we gained on +them rapidly, with the prospect of overhauling them, but as soon as +they found we were getting near they headed for the Rio Grande, made +the crossing to the opposite bank, and were in Mexico before we could +overtake them. When on the other side of the boundary they grew very +brave, daring us to come over to fight them, well aware all the time +that the international line prevented us from continuing the pursuit. +So we had to return to the post without reward for our exertion +except the consciousness of having made the best effort we could to +catch the murderers. That night, in company with Lieutenant Thomas +G. Williams, I crossed over the river to the Mexican village of +Piedras Negras, and on going to a house where a large baille, or +dance, was going on we found among those present two of the Indians +we had been chasing. As soon as they saw us they strung their bows +for a fight, and we drew our six-shooters, but the Mexicans quickly +closed in around the Indians and forced them out of the house--or +rude jackal--where the "ball" was being held, and they escaped. We +learned later something about the nature of the fight the drummer had +made, and that his death had cost them dear, for, in addition to the +Indian killed and lying by his side, he had mortally wounded another +and seriously wounded a third, with the three shots that he had +fired. + +At this period I took up the notion of making a study of ornithology, +incited to it possibly by the great number of bright-colored birds +that made their winter homes along the Rio Grande, and I spent many a +leisure hour in catching specimens by means of stick traps, with +which I found little difficulty in securing almost every variety of +the feathered tribes. I made my traps by placing four sticks of a +length suited to the size desired so as to form a square, and +building up on them in log-cabin fashion until the structure came +almost to a point by contraction of the corners. Then the sticks +were made secure, the trap placed at some secluded spot, and from the +centre to the outside a trench was dug in the ground, and thinly +covered when a depth had been obtained that would leave an aperture +sufficiently large to admit the class of birds desired. Along this +trench seeds and other food were scattered, which the birds soon +discovered, and of course began to eat, unsuspectingly following the +tempting bait through the gallery till they emerged from its farther +end in the centre of the trap, where they contentedly fed till the +food was all gone. Then the fact of imprisonment first presented +itself, and they vainly endeavored to escape through the interstices +of the cage, never once guided by their instinct to return to liberty +through the route by which they had entered. + +Among the different kinds of birds captured in this way, +mocking-birds, blue-birds, robins, meadow larks, quail, and plover +were the most numerous. They seemed to have more voracious appetites +than other varieties, or else they were more unwary, and consequently +more easily caught. A change of station, however, put an end to my +ornithological plans, and activities of other kinds prevented me from +resuming them in after life. + +There were quite a number of young officers at the post during the +winter, and as our relations with the Mexican commandant at Piedras +Negras were most amicable, we were often invited to dances at his +house. He and his hospitable wife and daughter drummed up the female +portion of the elite of Piedras Negras and provided the house, which +was the official as well as the personal residence of the commandant, +while we--the young officers--furnished the music and such +sweetmeats, candies, &c., for the baille as the country would afford. + +We generally danced in a long hall on a hard dirt floor. The girls +sat on one side of the hall, chaperoned by their mothers or some old +duennas, and the men on the other. When the music struck up each man +asked the lady whom his eyes had already selected to dance with him, +and it was not etiquette for her to refuse--no engagements being +allowed before the music began. When the dance, which was generally +a long waltz, was over, he seated his partner, and then went to a +little counter at the end of the room and bought his dulcinea a plate +of the candies and sweetmeats provided. Sometimes she accepted them, +but most generally pointed to her duenna or chaperon behind, who held +up her apron and caught the refreshments as they were slid into it +from the plate. The greatest decorum was maintained at these dances, +primitively as they were conducted; and in a region so completely cut +off from the world, their influence was undoubtedly beneficial to a +considerable degree in softening the rough edges in a half-breed +population. + +The inhabitants of this frontier of Mexico were strongly marked with +Indian characteristics, particularly with those of the Comanche type, +and as the wild Indian blood predominated, few of the physical traits +of the Spaniard remained among them, and outlawry was common. The +Spanish conquerors had left on the northern border only their +graceful manners and their humility before the cross. The sign of +Christianity was prominently placed at all important points on roads +or trails, and especially where any one had been killed; and as the +Comanche Indians, strong and warlike, had devastated northeastern +Mexico in past years, all along the border, on both sides of the Rio +Grande, the murderous effects of their raids were evidenced by +numberless crosses. For more than a century forays had been made on +the settlements and towns by these bloodthirsty savages, and, the +Mexican Government being too weak to afford protection, property was +destroyed, the women and children carried off or ravished, and the +men compelled to look on in an agony of helplessness till relieved by +death. During all this time, however, the forms and ceremonials of +religion, and the polite manners received from the Spaniards, were +retained, and reverence for the emblems of Christianity was always +uppermost in the mind of even the most ignorant. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ORDERED TO FORT READING, CAL.--A DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING--A RESCUED +SOLDIER--DISCOVERING INDIANS--PRIMITIVE FISHING--A DESERTED +VILLAGE--CAMPING OPPOSITE FORT VANCOUVER. + +In November, 1854, I received my promotion to a second lieutenancy in +the Fourth Infantry, which was stationed in California and Oregon. In +order to join my company at Fort Reading, California, I had to go to +New York as a starting point, and on arrival there, was placed on +duty, in May, 1855, in command of a detachment of recruits at +Bedloe's Island, intended for assignment to the regiments on the +Pacific coast. I think there were on the island (now occupied by the +statue of Liberty Enlightening the World) about three hundred +recruits. For a time I was the only officer with them, but shortly +before we started for California, Lieutenant Francis H. Bates, of the +Fourth Infantry, was placed in command. We embarked for the Pacific +coast in July, 1855, and made the journey without incident via the +Isthmus of Panama, in due time landing our men at Benecia Barracks, +above San Francisco. + +From this point I proceeded to join my company at Fort Reading, and +on reaching that post, found orders directing me to relieve +Lieutenant John B. Hood--afterward well known as a distinguished +general in the Confederate service. Lieutenant Hood was in command +of the personal mounted escort of Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, who +was charged with the duty of making such explorations and surveys as +would determine the practicability of connecting, by railroad, the +Sacramento Valley in California with the Columbia River in Oregon +Territory, either through the Willamette Valley, or (if this route +should prove to be impracticable) by the valley of the Des Chutes +River near the foot-slopes of the Cascade chain. The survey was +being made in accordance with an act of Congress, which provided both +for ascertaining the must practicable and economical route for a +railroad between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean, and for +military and geographical surveys west of the Mississippi River. + +Fort Reading was the starting-point for this exploring expedition, +and there I arrived some four or five days after the party under +Lieutenant Williamson had begun its march. His personal escort +numbered about sixty mounted men, made up of detachments from +companies of the First Dragoons, under command of Lieutenant Hood, +together with about one hundred men belonging to the Fourth Infantry +and Third Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Horatio Gates Gibson, +the present colonel of the Third United States Artillery. Lieutenant +George Crook--now major-general--was the quartermaster and commissary +of subsistence of the expedition. + +The commanding officer at Fort Reading seemed reluctant to let me go +on to relieve Lieutenant Hood, as the country to be passed over was +infested by the Pit River Indians, known to be hostile to white +people and especially to small parties. I was very anxious to +proceed, however, and willing to take the chances; so, consent being +finally obtained, I started with a corporal and two mounted men, +through a wild and uninhabited region, to overtake if possible +Lieutenant Williamson. Being on horseback, and unencumbered by +luggage of any kind except blankets and a little hard bread, coffee +and smoking-tobacco, which were all carried on our riding animals, we +were sanguine of succeeding, for we traversed in one day fully the +distance made in three by Lieutenant Williamson's party on foot. + +The first day we reached the base of Lassan's Butte, where I +determined to spend the night near an isolated cabin, or dugout, that +had been recently constructed by a hardy pioneer. The wind was +blowing a disagreeable gale, which had begun early in the day. This +made it desirable to locate our camp under the best cover we could +find, and I spent some little time in looking about for a +satisfactory place, but nothing better offered than a large fallen +tree, which lay in such a direction that by encamping on its lee side +we would be protected from the fury of the storm. This spot was +therefore fixed upon, and preparation made for spending the night as +comfortably as the circumstances would permit. + +After we had unsaddled I visited the cabin to inquire in regard to +the country ahead, and there found at first only a soldier of +Williamson's party; later the proprietor of the ranch appeared. The +soldier had been left behind by the surveying party on account of +illness, with instructions to make his way back to Fort Reading as +best he could when he recovered. His condition having greatly +improved, however, since he had been left, he now begged me in +beseeching terms to take him along with my party, which I finally +consented to do, provided that if he became unable to keep up with +me, and I should be obliged to abandon him, the responsibility would +be his, not mine. This increased my number to five, and was quite a +reinforcement should we run across any hostile Indians; but it was +also certain to prove an embarrassment should the man again fall ill. + +During the night, notwithstanding the continuance of the storm, I had +a very sound and refreshing sleep behind the protecting log where we +made our camp, and at daylight next morning we resumed our journey, +fortified by a breakfast of coffee and hard bread. I skirted around +the base of Lassan's Butte, thence down Hat Creek, all the time +following the trail made by Lieutenant Williamson's party. About +noon the soldier I had picked up at my first camp gave out, and could +go no farther. As stipulated when I consented to take him along, I +had the right to abandon him, but when it came to the test I could +not make up my mind to do it. Finding a good place not far off the +trail, one of my men volunteered to remain with him until he died; +and we left them there, with a liberal supply of hard bread and +coffee, believing that we would never again see the invalid. My +reinforcement was already gone, and another man with it. + +With my diminished party I resumed the trail and followed it until +about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when we heard the sound of voices, +and the corporal, thinking we were approaching Lieutenant +Williamson's party, was so overjoyed in anticipation of the junction, +that he wanted to fire his musket as an expression of his delight. +This I prevented his doing, however, and we continued cautiously and +slowly on to develop the source of the sounds in front. We had not +gone far before I discovered that the noise came from a band of Pit +River Indians, who had struck the trail of the surveying expedition, +and were following it up, doubtless with evil intent. Dismounting +from my horse I counted the moccasin tracks to ascertain the number +of Indians, discovered it to be about thirty, and then followed on +behind them cautiously, but with little difficulty, as appearances of +speed on their part indicated that they wished to overtake Lieutenant +Williamson's party, which made them less on the lookout than usual +for any possible pursuers. After following the trail until nearly +sundown, I considered it prudent to stop for the night, and drew off +some little distance, where, concealed in a dense growth of timber, +we made our camp. + +As I had with me now only two men, I felt somewhat nervous, so I +allowed no fires to be built, and in consequence our supper consisted +of hard bread only. I passed an anxious night, but beyond our own +solicitude there was nothing to disturb us, the Indians being too +much interested in overtaking the party in front to seek for victims +in the rear, After a hard-bread breakfast we started again on the +trail, and had proceeded but a short distance when, hearing the +voices of the Indians, we at once slackened our speed so as not to +overtake them. + +Most of the trail on which we traveled during the morning ran over an +exceedingly rough lava formation--a spur of the lava beds often +described during the Modoc war of 1873 so hard and flinty that +Williamson's large command made little impression on its surface, +leaving in fact, only indistinct traces of its line of march. By +care and frequent examinations we managed to follow his route through +without much delay, or discovery by the Indians, and about noon, +owing to the termination of the lava formation, we descended into the +valley of Hat Greek, a little below where it emerges from the second +canon and above its confluence with Pit River. As soon as we reached +the fertile soil of the valley, we found Williamson's trail well +defined, deeply impressed in the soft loam, and coursing through +wild-flowers and luxuriant grass which carpeted the ground on every +hand. + +When we struck this delightful locality we traveled with considerable +speed, and after passing over hill and vale for some distance, the +trail becoming more and more distinct all the time, I suddenly saw in +front of me the Pit River Indians. + +This caused a halt, and having hurriedly re-capped our guns and +six-shooters, thus preparing for the worst, I took a look at the band +through my field-glass. They were a half-mile or more in our front +and numbered about thirty individuals, armed with bows and arrows +only. Observing us they made friendly demonstrations, but I had not +implicit faith in a Pit River Indian at that period of the settlement +of our country, and especially in that wild locality, so after a +"council of war" with the corporal and man, I concluded to advance to +a point about two hundred yards distant from the party, when, relying +on the speed of our horses rather than on the peaceable intentions of +the savages, I hoped to succeed in cutting around them and take the +trail beyond. Being on foot they could not readily catch us, and +inasmuch as their arrows were good for a range of only about sixty +yards, I had no fear of any material damage on that score. + +On reaching the place selected for our flank movement we made a dash +to the left of the trail, through the widest part of the valley, and +ran our horses swiftly by, but I noticed that the Indians did not +seem to be disturbed by the manoeuvre and soon realized that this +indifference was occasioned by the knowledge that we could not cross +Hat Creek, a deep stream with vertical banks, too broad to be leaped +by our horses. We were obliged, therefore, to halt, and the Indians +again made demonstrations of friendship, some of them even getting +into the stream to show that they were at the ford. Thus reassured, +we regained our confidence and boldly crossed the river in the midst +of them. After we had gained the bluff on the other side of the +creek, I looked down into the valley of Pit River, and could plainly +see the camp of the surveying party. Its proximity was the influence +which had doubtless caused the peaceable conduct of the Indians. +Probably the only thing that saved us was their ignorance of our +being in their rear, until we stumbled on them almost within sight of +the large party under Williamson. + +The Pit River Indians were very hostile at that time, and for many +succeeding years their treachery and cruelty brought misfortune and +misery to the white settlers who ventured their lives in search of +home and fortune in the wild and isolated section over which these +savages roamed. Not long after Williamson's party passed through +their country, the Government was compelled to send into it a +considerable force for the purpose of keeping them under control. +The outcome of this was a severe fight--resulting in the loss of a +good many lives--between the hostiles and a party of our troops under +Lieutenant George Crook. It finally ended in the establishment of a +military post in the vicinity of the battle-ground, for the permanent +occupation of the country. + +A great load was lifted from my heart when I found myself so near +Williamson's camp, which I joined August 4, 1855, receiving a warm +welcome from the officers. During the afternoon I relieved +Lieutenant Hood of the command of the personal escort, and he was +ordered to return, with twelve of the mounted men, over the trail I +had followed. I pointed out to him on the map the spot where he +would find the two men left on the roadside, and he was directed to +take them into Fort Reading. They were found without difficulty, and +carried in to the post. The sick man--Duryea--whom I had expected +never to see again, afterward became the hospital steward at Fort +Yamhill, Oregon, when I was stationed there. + +The Indians that I had passed at the ford came to the bluff above the +camp, and arranging themselves in a squatting posture, looked down +upon Williamson's party with longing eyes, in expectation of a feast. +They were a pitiable lot, almost naked, hungry and cadaverous. +Indians are always hungry, but these poor creatures were particularly +so, as their usual supply of food had grown very scarce from one +cause and another. + +In prosperity they mainly subsisted on fish, or game killed with the +bow and arrow. When these sources failed they lived on grasshoppers, +and at this season the grasshopper was their principal food. In +former years salmon were very abundant in the streams of the +Sacramento Valley, and every fall they took great quantities of these +fish and dried them for winter use, but alluvial mining had of late +years defiled the water of the different streams and driven the fish +out. On this account the usual supply of salmon was very limited. +They got some trout high up on the rivers, above the sluices and +rockers of the miners, but this was a precarious source from which to +derive food, as their means of taking the trout were very primitive. +They had neither hooks nor lines, but depended entirely on a +contrivance made from long, slender branches of willow, which grew on +the banks of most of the streams. One of these branches would be +cut, and after sharpening the butt-end to a point, split a certain +distance, and by a wedge the prongs divided sufficiently to admit a +fish between. The Indian fisherman would then slyly put the forked +end in the water over his intended victim, and with a quick dart +firmly wedge him between the prongs. When secured there, the work of +landing him took but a moment. When trout were plentiful this +primitive mode of taking them was quite successful, and I have often +known hundreds of pounds to be caught in this way, but when they were +scarce and suspicious the rude method was not rewarded with good +results. + +The band looking down on us evidently had not had much fish or game +to eat for some time, so when they had made Williamson understand +that they were suffering for food he permitted them to come into +camp, and furnished them with a supply, which they greedily swallowed +as fast as it was placed at their service, regardless of possible +indigestion. When they had eaten all they could hold, their +enjoyment was made complete by the soldiers, who gave them a quantity +of strong plug tobacco. This they smoked incessantly, inhaling all +the smoke, so that none of the effect should be lost. When we +abandoned this camp the next day, the miserable wretches remained in +it and collected the offal about the cooks' fires to feast still +more, piecing out the meal, no doubt, with their staple article of +food--grasshoppers. + +On the morning of August 5 Lieutenant Hood started back to Fort +Reading, and Lieutenant Williamson resumed his march for the Columbia +River. Our course was up Pit River, by the lower and upper canons, +then across to the Klamath Lakes, then east, along their edge to the +upper lake. At the middle Klamath Lake, just after crossing Lost +River and the Natural Bridge, we met a small party of citizens from +Jacksonville, Oregon, looking for hostile Indians who had committed +some depredations in their neighborhood. From them we learned that +the Rogue River Indians in southern Oregon were on the war-path, and +that as the "regular troops up there were of no account, the citizens +had taken matters in hand, and intended cleaning up the hostiles." +They swaggered about our camp, bragged a good deal, cursed the +Indians loudly, and soundly abused the Government for not giving them +better protection. It struck me, however, that they had not worked +very hard to find the hostiles; indeed, it could plainly be seen that +their expedition was a town-meeting sort of affair, and that anxiety +to get safe home was uppermost in their thoughts. The enthusiasm +with which they started had all oozed out, and that night they +marched back to Jacksonville. The next day, at the head of the lake, +we came across an Indian village, and I have often wondered since +what would have been the course pursued by these valiant warriors +from Jacksonville had they gone far enough to get into its vicinity. + +When we reached the village the tepees--made of grass--were all +standing, the fires burning and pots boiling--the pots filled with +camas and tula roots--but not an Indian was to be seen. Williamson +directed that nothing in the village should be disturbed; so guards +were placed over it to carry out his instructions and we went into +camp just a little beyond. We had scarcely established ourselves +when a very old Indian rose up from the high grass some distance off, +and with peaceable signs approached our camp, evidently for the +purpose of learning whether or not our intentions were hostile. +Williamson told him we were friendly; that we had passed through his +village without molesting it, that we had put a guard there to secure +the property his people had abandoned in their fright, and that they +might come back in safety. The old man searchingly eyed everything +around for some little time, and gaining confidence from the +peaceable appearance of the men, who were engaged in putting up the +tents and preparing their evening meal, he concluded to accept our +professions of friendship, and bring his people in. Going out about +half a mile from the village he gave a peculiar yell, at which +between three and four hundred Indians arose simultaneously from the +ground, and in answer to his signal came out of the tall grass like a +swarm of locusts and soon overran our camp in search of food, for +like all Indians they were hungry. They too, proved to be Pit +Rivers, and were not less repulsive than those of their tribe we had +met before. They were aware of the hostilities going on between the +Rogue Rivers and the whites, but claimed that they had not taken any +part in them. I question if they had, but had our party been small, +I fear we should have been received at their village in a very +different manner. + +From the upper Klamath Lake we marched over the divide and down the +valley of the Des Chutes River to a point opposite the mountains +called the Three Sisters. Here, on September 23, the party divided, +Williamson and I crossing through the crater of the Three Sisters and +along the western slope of the Cascade Range, until we struck the +trail on McKenzie River, which led us into the Willamette Valley not +far from Eugene City. We then marched down the Willamette Valley to +Portland, Oregon, where we arrived October 9, 1855 + +The infantry portion of the command, escorting Lieutenant Henry L. +Abbot, followed farther down the Des Chutes River, to a point +opposite Mount Hood, from which it came into the Willamette Valley +and then marched to Portland. At Portland we all united, and moving +across the point between the Willamette and Columbia rivers, encamped +opposite Fort Vancouver, on the south bank of the latter stream, on +the farm of an old settler named Switzler, who had located there many +years before. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +"OLD RED"--SKILLFUL SHOOTING--YAKIMA--WAR--A LUDICROUS +MISTAKE--"CUT-MOUTH JOHN'S" ENCOUNTER--FATHER PANDOZA'S +MISSION--A SNOW-STORM--FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION. + +Our camp on the Columbia, near Fort Vancouver, was beautifully +situated on a grassy sward close to the great river; and--as little +duty was required of us after so long a journey, amusement of one +kind or another, and an interchange of visits with the officers at +the post, filled in the time acceptably. We had in camp an old +mountaineer guide who had accompanied us on the recent march, and who +had received the sobriquet of "Old Red," on account of the shocky and +tangled mass of red hair and beard, which covered his head and face +so completely that only his eyes could be seen. His eccentricities +constantly supplied us with a variety of amusements. Among the +pastimes he indulged in was one which exhibited his skill with the +rifle, and at the same time protected the camp from the intrusions +and ravages of a drove of razor-backed hogs which belonged to Mr. +Switzler. These hogs were frequent visitors, and very destructive to +our grassy sward, rooting it up in front of our tents and all about +us; in pursuit of bulbous roots and offal from the camp. Old Red +conceived the idea that it would be well to disable the pigs by +shooting off the tips of their snouts, and he proceeded to put his +conception into execution, and continued it daily whenever the hogs +made their appearance. Of course their owner made a row about it; +but when Old Red daily settled for his fun by paying liberally with +gold-dust from some small bottles of the precious metal in his +possession, Switzler readily became contented, and I think even +encouraged the exhibitions--of skill. + +It was at this period (October, 1855) that the Yakima Indian war +broke out, and I was detached from duty with the exploring party and +required by Major Gabriel J. Rains, then commanding the district, to +join an expedition against the Yakimas. They had some time before +killed their agent, and in consequence a force under Major Granville +O. Haller had been sent out from the Dalles of the Columbia to +chastise them; but the expedition had not been successful; in fact, +it had been driven back, losing a number of men and two mountain +howitzers. + +The object of the second expedition was to retrieve this disaster. +The force was composed of a small body of regular troops, and a +regiment of Oregon mounted volunteers under command of Colonel James +W. Nesmith--subsequently for several years United States Senator from +Oregon. The whole force was under the command of Major Rains, Fourth +Infantry, who, in order that he might rank Nesmith, by some +hocus-pocus had been made a brigadier-general, under an appointment +from the Governor of Washington Territory. + +We started from the Dalles October 30, under conditions that were not +conducive to success. The season was late for operations; and worse +still, the command was not in accord with the commanding officer, +because of general belief in his incompetency, and on account of the +fictitious rank he assumed. On the second day out I struck a small +body of Indians with my detachment of dragoons, but was unable to do +them any particular injury beyond getting possession of a large +quantity of their winter food, which their hurried departure +compelled them to abandon. This food consisted principally of dried +salmon-pulverized and packed in sacks made of grass-dried +huckleberries, and dried camas; the latter a bulbous root about the +size of a small onion, which, when roasted and ground, is made into +bread by the Indians and has a taste somewhat like cooked chestnuts. + +Our objective point was Father Pandoza's Mission, in the Yakima +Valley, which could be reached by two different routes, and though +celerity of movement was essential, our commanding officer +"strategically" adopted the longer route, and thus the Indians had +ample opportunity to get away with their horses, cattle, women and +children, and camp property. + +After the encounter which I just now referred to, the command, which +had halted to learn the results of my chase, resumed its march to and +through the Klikitat canon, and into the lower Yakima Valley, in the +direction of the Yakima River. I had charge at the head of the +column as it passed through the canon, and on entering the valley +beyond, saw in the distance five or six Indian scouts, whom I pressed +very closely, until after a run of several miles they escaped across +the Yakima River. + +The soil in the valley was light and dry, and the movement of animals +over it raised great clouds of dust, that rendered it very difficult +to distinguish friend from foe; and as I was now separated from the +main column a considerable distance, I deemed it prudent to call a +halt until we could discover the direction taken by the principal +body of the Indians. We soon learned that they had gone up the +valley, and looking that way, we discovered a column of alkali dust +approaching us, about a mile distant, interposing between my little +detachment and the point where I knew General Rains intended to +encamp for the night. After hastily consulting with Lieutenant +Edward H. Day, of the Third United States Artillery, who was with me, +we both concluded that the dust was caused by a body of the enemy +which had slipped in between us and our main force. There seemed no +alternative left us but to get back to our friends by charging +through these Indians; and as their cloud of dust was much larger +than ours, this appeared a desperate chance. Preparations to charge +were begun, however, but, much to our surprise, before they were +completed the approaching party halted for a moment and then +commenced to retreat. This calmed the throbbing of our hearts, and +with a wild cheer we started in a hot pursuit, that continued for +about two miles, when to our great relief we discovered that we were +driving into Rains's camp a squadron of Nesmith's battalion of Oregon +volunteers that we had mistaken for Indians, and who in turn believed +us to be the enemy. When camp was reached, we all indulged in a +hearty laugh over the affair, and at the fright each party had given +the other. The explanations which ensued proved that the squadron of +volunteers had separated from the column at the same time that I had +when we debouched from the canon, and had pursued an intermediate +trail through the hills, which brought it into the valley of the +Yakima at a point higher up the river than where I had struck it. + +Next day we resumed our march up the valley, parallel to the Yakima. +About 1 o'clock we saw a large body of Indians on the opposite side +of the river, and the general commanding made up his mind to cross +and attack them. The stream was cold, deep, and swift, still I +succeeded in passing my dragoons over safely, but had hardly got them +well on the opposite bank when the Indians swooped down upon us. +Dismounting my men, we received the savages with a heavy fire, which +brought them to a halt with some damage and more or less confusion. + +General Rains now became very much excited and alarmed about me, and +endeavored to ford the swift river with his infantry and artillery, +but soon had to abandon the attempt, as three or four of the poor +fellows were swept off their feet and drowned. Meantime Nesmith came +up with his mounted force, crossed over, and joined me. + +The Indians now fell back to a high ridge, on the crest of which they +marched and countermarched, threatening to charge down its face. +Most of them were naked, and as their persons were painted in gaudy +colors and decorated with strips of red flannel, red blankets and gay +war-bonnets, their appearance presented a scene of picturesque +barbarism, fascinating but repulsive. As they numbered about six +hundred, the chances of whipping them did not seem overwhelmingly in +our favor, yet Nesmith and I concluded we would give them a little +fight, provided we could engage them without going beyond the ridge. +But all our efforts were in vain, for as we advanced they retreated, +and as we drew back they reappeared and renewed their parade and +noisy demonstrations, all the time beating their drums and yelling +lustily. They could not be tempted into a fight where we desired it, +however, and as we felt unequal to any pursuit beyond the ridge +without the assistance of the infantry and artillery, we re-crossed +the river and encamped with Rains. It soon became apparent that the +noisy demonstrations of the Indians were intended only as a blind to +cover the escape of their women and children to a place of safety in +the mountains. + +Next morning we took up our march without crossing the river; and as +our route would lead us by the point on the opposite bank where the +Indians had made their picturesque display the day before, they at an +early hour came over to our side, and rapidly moved ahead of us to +some distant hills, leaving in our pathway some of the more +venturesome young braves, who attempted, to retard our advance by +opening fire at long range from favorable places where they lay +concealed. This fire did us little harm, but it had the effect of +making our progress so slow that the patience of every one but +General Rains was well-nigh exhausted. + +About 2 o'clock in the afternoon we arrived well up near the base of +the range of hills, and though it was growing late we still had time +to accomplish something, but our commanding officer decided that it +was best to go into camp, and make a systematic attack next morning. +I proposed that he let me charge with my dragoons through the narrow +canon where the river broke through the range, while the infantry +should charge up the hill and drive the enemy from the top down on +the other side. In this way I thought we might possibly catch some +of the fugitives, but his extreme caution led him to refuse the +suggestion, so we pitched our tents out of range of their desultory +fire, but near enough to observe plainly their menacing and +tantalizing exhibitions of contempt. + +In addition to firing occasionally, they called us all sorts of bad +names, made indecent gestures, and aggravated us, so that between 3 +and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, by an inexplicable concert of action, +and with a serious breach of discipline, a large number of the men +and many of the officers broke en masse from the camp with loud yells +and charged the offending savages. As soon as this mob got within +musket-shot they opened fire on the Indians, who ran down the other +face of the ridge without making the slightest resistance. The hill +was readily taken by this unmilitary proceeding, and no one was hurt +on either side, but as Rains would not permit it to be held, a large +bonfire was lighted on the crest in celebration of the victory, and +then all hands marched back to camp, where they had no sooner arrived +and got settled down than the Indians returned to the summit of the +ridge, seemingly to enjoy the fire that had been so generously built +for their benefit, and with renewed taunts and gestures continued to +insult us. + +Our camp that night was strongly picketed, and when we awoke in the +morning the Indians still occupied their position on the hill. At +daylight we advanced against them, two or three companies of infantry +moving forward to drive them from the summit, while our main column +passed through the canon into the upper Yakima Valley led by my +dragoons, who were not allowed to charge into the gorge, as the +celerity of such a movement might cause the tactical combination to +fail. + +As we passed slowly and cautiously through the canon the Indians ran +rapidly away, and when we reached the farther end they had entirely +disappeared from our front, except one old fellow, whose lame horse +prevented him keeping up with the main body. This presented an +opportunity for gaining results which all thought should not be lost, +so our guide, an Indian named "Cut-mouth John," seized upon it, and +giving hot chase, soon, overtook the poor creature, whom he speedily +killed without much danger to himself, for the fugitive was armed +with only an old Hudson's Bay flint-lock horse-pistol which could not +be discharged. + +"Cut-mouth John's" engagement began and ended all the fighting that +took place on this occasion, and much disappointment and discontent +followed, Nesmith's mounted force and my dragoons being particularly +disgusted because they had not been "given a chance." During the +remainder of the day we cautiously followed the retreating foe, and +late in the evening went into camp a short distance from Father +Pandoza's Mission; where we were to await a small column of troops +under command of Captain Maurice Maloney, of the Fourth Infantry, +that was to join us from Steilicom by way of the Natchez Pass, and +from which no tidings had as yet been received. + +Next morning the first thing I saw when I put my head out from my +blankets was "Cut-mouth John," already mounted and parading himself +through the camp. The scalp of the Indian he had despatched the day +before was tied to the cross-bar of his bridle bit, the hair dangling +almost to the ground, and John was decked out in the sacred vestments +of Father Pandoza, having, long before any one was stirring in camp, +ransacked the log-cabin at the Mission in which the good man had +lived. John was at all times a most repulsive looking individual, a +part of his mouth having been shot away in a fight with Indians near +Walla Walla some years before, in which a Methodist missionary had +been killed; but his revolting personal appearance was now worse than +ever, and the sacrilegious use of Father Pandoza's vestments, coupled +with the ghastly scalp that hung from his bridle, so turned opinion +against him that he was soon captured, dismounted, and his parade +brought to an abrupt close, and I doubt whether he ever after quite +reinstated himself in the good graces of the command. + +In the course of the day nearly all the men visited the Mission, but +as it had been plundered by the Indians at the outbreak of +hostilities, when Father Pandoza was carried off, little of value was +left about it except a considerable herd of pigs, which the father +with great difficulty had succeeded in accumulating from a very small +beginning. The pigs had not been disturbed by the Indians, but the +straggling troops soon disposed of them, and then turned their +attention to the cabbages and potatoes in the garden, with the +intention, no doubt, of dining that day on fresh pork and fresh +vegetables instead of on salt junk and hard bread, which formed their +regular diet on the march. In digging up the potatoes some one +discovered half a keg of powder, which had been buried in the garden +by the good father to prevent the hostile Indians from getting it to +use against the whites. As soon as this was unearthed wild +excitement ensued, and a cry arose that Father Pandoza was the person +who furnished powder to the Indians; that here was the proof; that at +last the mysterious means by which the Indians obtained ammunition +was explained--and a rush was made for the mission building. This was +a comfortable log-house of good size, built by the Indians for a +school and church, and attached to one end was the log-cabin +residence of the priest. Its destruction was a matter of but a few +moments. A large heap of dry wood was quickly collected and piled in +the building, matches applied, and the whole Mission, including the +priest's house, was soon enveloped in flames, and burned to the +ground before the officers in camp became aware of the disgraceful +plundering in which their men were engaged. + +The commanding officer having received no news from Captain Maloney +during the day, Colonel Nesmith and I were ordered to go to his +rescue, as it was concluded that he had been surrounded by Indians in +the Natchez Pass. We started early the next morning, the snow +falling slightly as we set out, and soon arrived at the eastern mouth +of the Natchez Pass. On the way we noticed an abandoned Indian +village, which had evidently not been occupied for some time. As we +proceeded the storm increased, and the snow-fall became deeper and +deeper, until finally our horses could not travel through it. In +consequence we were compelled to give up further efforts to advance, +and obliged to turn back to the abandoned village, where we encamped +for the night. Near night-fall the storm greatly increased, and our +bivouac became most uncomfortable; but spreading my blankets on the +snow and covering them with Indian matting, I turned in and slept +with that soundness and refreshment accorded by nature to one +exhausted by fatigue. When I awoke in the morning I found myself +under about two feet of snow, from which I arose with difficulty, yet +grateful that it had kept me warm during the night. + +After a cup of coffee and a little hard bread, it was decided we +should return to the main camp near the Mission, for we were now +confident that Maloney was delayed by the snow, and safe enough on +the other side of the mountains. At all events he was beyond aid +from us, for the impassable snowdrifts could not be overcome with the +means in our possession. It turned out that our suppositions as to +the cause of his delay were correct. He had met with the same +difficulties that confronted us, and had been compelled to go into +camp. + +Meanwhile valuable time had been lost, and the Indians, with their +families and stock, were well on their way to the Okenagan country, a +region into which we could not penetrate in the winter season. No +other course was therefore left but to complete the dismal failure of +the expedition by returning home, and our commander readily gave the +order to march back to the Dalles by the "short" route over the +Yakima Mountains. + +As the storm was still unabated, it was evident our march home would +be a most difficult one, and it was deemed advisable to start back at +once, lest we should be blocked up in the mountains by the snows for +a period beyond which our provisions would not last. Relying on the +fact that the short route to the Dalles would lead us over the range +at its most depressed point, where it was hoped the depth of snow was +not yet so great as to make the route impassable, we started with +Colonel Nesmith's battalion in advance to break the road, followed by +my dragoons. In the valley we made rapid progress, but when we +reached the mountain every step we took up its side showed the snow +to be growing deeper and deeper. At last Nesmith reached the summit, +and there found a depth of about six feet of snow covering the +plateau in every direction, concealing all signs of the trail so +thoroughly that his guides became bewildered and took the wrong +divide. The moment I arrived at the top my guide--Donald Mc Kay--who +knew perfectly the whole Yakima range, discovered Nesmith's mistake. +Word was sent to bring him back, but as he had already nearly crossed +the plateau, considerable delay occurred before he returned. When he +arrived we began anew the work of breaking a road for the foot troops +behind us, my detachment now in advance. The deep snow made our work +extremely laborious, exhausting men and horses almost to the point of +relinquishing the struggle, but our desperate situation required that +we should get down into the valley beyond, or run the chance of +perishing on the mountain in a storm which seemed unending. About +midnight the column reached the valley, very tired and hungry, but +much elated over its escape. We had spent a day of the most intense +anxiety, especially those who had had the responsibility of keeping +to the right trail, and been charged with the hard work of breaking +the road for the infantry and artillery through such a depth of snow. + +Our main difficulties were now over, and in due time we reached the +Dalles, where almost everyone connected with the expedition voted it +a wretched failure; indeed, General Rains himself could not think +otherwise, but he scattered far and wide blame for the failure of his +combinations. This, of course, led to criminations and +recriminations, which eventuated in charges of incompetency preferred +against him by Captain Edward O. C. Ord, of the Third Artillery. +Rains met the charges with counter-charges against Ord, whom he +accused of purloining Father Pandoza's shoes, when the soldiers in +their fury about the ammunition destroyed the Mission. At the time +of its destruction a rumor of this nature was circulated through +camp, started by some wag, no doubt in jest; for Ord, who was +somewhat eccentric in his habits, and had started on the expedition +rather indifferently shod in carpet-slippers, here came out in a +brand-new pair of shoes. Of course there was no real foundation for +such a report, but Rains was not above small things, as the bringing +of this petty accusation attests. Neither party was ever tried, for +General John E. Wool the department commander, had not at command a +sufficient number of officers of appropriate rank to constitute a +court in the case of Rains, and the charges against Ord were very +properly ignored on account of their trifling character. + +Shortly after the expedition returned to the Dalles, my detachment +was sent down to Fort Vancouver, and I remained at that post during +the winter of 1855-'56, till late in March. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN INDIAN CONFEDERATION--MASSACRE AT THE CASCADES OF THE +COLUMBIA--PLAN TO RELIEVE THE BLOCKHOUSE--A HAZARDOUS FLANK +MOVEMENT--A NEW METHOD OF ESTABLISHING GUILT--EXECUTION OF +THE INDIAN MURDERERS. + +The failure of the Haller expedition from lack of a sufficient force, +and of the Rains expedition from the incompetency of its commander, +was a great mortification to the officers and men connected with +them, and, taken together, had a marked effect upon the Indian +situation in Oregon and Washington Territories at that particular +era. Besides, it led to further complications and troubles, for it +had begun to dawn upon the Indians that the whites wanted to come in +and dispossess them of their lands and homes, and the failures of +Haller and Rains fostered the belief with the Indians that they could +successfully resist the pressure of civilization. + +Acting under these influences, the Spokanes, Walla Wallas, Umatillas, +and Nez Perces cast their lot with the hostiles, and all the savage +inhabitants of the region east of the Cascade Range became involved +in a dispute as to whether the Indians or the Government should +possess certain sections of the country, which finally culminated in +the war of 1856. + +Partly to meet the situation that was approaching, the Ninth Infantry +had been sent out from the Atlantic coast to Washington Territory, +and upon its arrival at Fort Vancouver encamped in front of the +officers' quarters, on the beautiful parade-ground of that post, and +set about preparing for the coming campaign. The commander, Colonel +George Wright, who had been promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment +upon its organization the previous year, had seen much active duty +since his graduation over thirty years before, serving with credit in +the Florida and Mexican wars. For the three years previous to his +assignment to the Ninth Infantry he had been stationed on the Pacific +coast, and the experience he had there acquired, added to his +excellent soldierly qualities, was of much benefit in the active +campaigns in which, during the following years, he was to +participate. Subsequently his career was brought to an untimely +close when, nine years after this period, as he was returning to the +scene of his successes, he, in common with many others was drowned by +the wreck of the ill-fated steamer Brother Jonathan. Colonel Wright +took command of the district in place of Rains, and had been at +Vancouver but a short time before he realized that it would be +necessary to fight the confederated tribes east of the Cascade Range +of mountains, in order to disabuse them of the idea that they were +sufficiently strong to cope with the power of the Government. He +therefore at once set about the work of organizing and equipping his +troops for a start in the early spring against the hostile Indians, +intending to make the objective point of his expedition the heart of +the Spokane country on the Upper Columbia River, as the head and +front of the confederation was represented in the person of old +Cammiackan, chief of the Spokanes. + +The regiment moved from Fort Vancouver by boat, March 25, 1856, and +landed at the small town called the Dalles, below the mouth of the +Des Chutes River at the eastern base of the Cascade Range, and just +above where the Columbia River enters those mountains. This +rendezvous was to be the immediate point of departure, and all the +troops composing the expedition were concentrated there. + +On the morning of March 26 the movement began, but the column had +only reached Five Mile Creek when the Yakimas, joined by many young +warriors-free lances from other tribes, made a sudden and unexpected +attack at the Cascades of the Columbia, midway between Vancouver and +the Dalles, killed several citizens, women and children, and took +possession of the Portage by besieging the settlers in their cabins +at the Upper Cascades, and those who sought shelter at the Middle +Cascades in the old military block-house, which had been built some +years before as a place of refuge under just such circumstances. +These points held out, and were not captured, but the landing at the +Lower Cascades fell completely into the hands of the savages. +Straggling settlers from the Lower Cascades made their way down to +Fort Vancouver, distant about thirty-six miles, which they reached +that night; and communicated the condition of affairs. As the +necessity for early relief to the settlers and the re-establishment +of communication with the Dalles were apparent, all the force that +could be spared was ordered out, and in consequence I immediately +received directions to go with my detachment of dragoons, numbering +about forty effective men, to the relief of the middle blockhouse, +which really meant to retake the Cascades. I got ready at once, and +believing that a piece of artillery would be of service to me, asked +for one, but as there proved to be no guns at the post, I should have +been obliged to proceed without one had it not been that the regular +steamer from San Francisco to Portland was lying at the Vancouver +dock unloading military supplies, and the commander, Captain Dall, +supplied me with the steamer's small iron cannon, mounted on a wooden +platform, which he used in firing salutes at different ports on the +arrival and departure of the vessel. Finding at the arsenal a supply +of solid shot that would fit the gun, I had it put upon the steamboat +Belle, employed to carry my command to the scene of operations, and +started up the Columbia River at 2 A.M. on the morning of the 27th. +We reached the Lower Cascades early in the day, where, selecting a +favorable place for the purpose, I disembarked my men and gun on the +north bank of the river, so that I could send back the steamboat to +bring up any volunteer assistance that in the mean time might have +been collected at Vancouver. + +The Columbia River was very high at the time, and the water had +backed up into the slough about the foot of the Lower Cascades to +such a degree that it left me only a narrow neck of firm ground to +advance over toward the point occupied by the Indians. On this neck +of land the hostiles had taken position, as I soon learned by +frequent shots, loud shouting, and much blustering; they, by the most +exasperating yells and indecent exhibitions, daring me to the +contest. + +After getting well in hand everything connected with my little +command, I advanced with five or six men to the edge of a growth of +underbrush to make a reconnoissance. We stole along under cover of +this underbrush until we reached the open ground leading over the +causeway or narrow neck before mentioned, when the enemy opened fire +and killed a soldier near my side by a shot which, just grazing the +bridge of my nose, struck him in the neck, opening an artery and +breaking the spinal cord. He died instantly. The Indians at once +made a rush for the body, but my men in the rear, coming quickly to +the rescue, drove them back; and Captain Doll's gun being now brought +into play, many solid shot were thrown into the jungle where they lay +concealed, with the effect of considerably moderating their +impetuosity. Further skirmishing at long range took place at +intervals during the day, with little gain or loss, however, to +either side, for both parties held positions which could not be +assailed in flank, and only the extreme of rashness in either could +prompt a front attack. My left was protected by the back water +driven into the slough by the high stage of the river, and my right +rested secure on the main stream. Between us was only the narrow +neck of land, to cross which would be certain death. The position of +the Indians was almost the exact counterpart of ours. + +In the evening I sent a report of the situation back to Vancouver by +the steamboat, retaining a large Hudson's Bay bateau which I had +brought up with me. Examining this I found it would carry about +twenty men, and made up my mind that early next morning I would cross +the command to the opposite or south side of the Columbia River, and +make my way up along the mountain base until I arrived abreast the +middle blockhouse, which was still closely besieged, and then at some +favorable point recross to the north bank to its relief, endeavoring +in this manner to pass around and to the rear of the Indians, whose +position confronting me was too strong for a direct attack. This +plan was hazardous, but I believed it could be successfully carried +out if the boat could be taken with me; but should I not be able to +do this I felt that the object contemplated in sending me out would +miserably fail, and the small band cooped up at the block-house would +soon starve or fall a prey to the Indians, so I concluded to risk all +the chances the plan involved. + +On the morning of March 28 the savages were still in my front, and +after giving them some solid shot from Captain Dall's gun we slipped +down to the river-bank, and the detachment crossed by means of the +Hudson's Bay boat, making a landing on the opposite shore at a point +where the south channel of the river, after flowing around Bradford's +Island, joins the main stream. It was then about 9 o'clock, and +everything had thus far proceeded favorably, but examination of the +channel showed that it would be impossible to get the boat up the +rapids along the mainland, and that success could only be assured by +crossing the south channel just below the rapids to the island, along +the shore of which there was every probability we could pull the boat +through the rocks and swift water until the head of the rapids was +reached, from which point to the block-house there was smooth water. +Telling the men of the embarrassment in which I found myself, and +that if I could get enough of them to man the boat and pull it up the +stream by a rope to the shore we would cross to the island and make +the attempt, all volunteered to go, but as ten men seemed sufficient +I selected that number to accompany me. Before starting, however, I +deemed it prudent to find out if possible what was engaging the +attention of the Indians, who had not yet discovered that we had left +their front. I therefore climbed up the side of the abrupt mountain +which skirted the water's edge until I could see across the island. +From this point I observed the Indians running horse-races and +otherwise enjoying themselves behind the line they had held against +me the day before. The squaws decked out in gay colors, and the men +gaudily dressed in war bonnets, made the scene most attractive, but +as everything looked propitious for the dangerous enterprise in hand +I spent little time watching them. Quickly returning to the boat, I +crossed to the island with my ten men, threw ashore the rope attached +to the bow, and commenced the difficult task of pulling her up the +rapids. We got along slowly at first, but soon striking a camp of +old squaws who had been left on the island for safety, and had not +gone over to the mainland to see the races, we utilized them to our +advantage. With unmistakable threats and signs we made them not only +keep quiet, but also give us much needed assistance in pulling +vigorously on the towrope of our boat. + +I was laboring under a dreadful strain of mental anxiety during all +this time, for had the Indians discovered what we were about, they +could easily have come over to the island in their canoes, and, by +forcing us to take up our arms to repel their attack, doubtless would +have obliged the abandonment of the boat, and that essential adjunct +to the final success of my plan would have gone down the rapids. +Indeed, under such circumstances, it would have been impossible for +ten men to hold out against the two or three hundred Indians; but the +island forming an excellent screen to our movements, we were not +discovered, and when we reached the smooth water at the upper end of +the rapids we quickly crossed over and joined the rest of the men, +who in the meantime had worked their way along the south bank of the +river parallel with us. I felt very grateful to the old squaws for +the assistance they rendered. They worked well under compulsion, and +manifested no disposition to strike for higher wages. Indeed, I was +so much relieved when we had crossed over from the island and joined +the rest of the party, that I mentally thanked the squaws one and +all. I had much difficulty in keeping the men on the main shore from +cheering at our success, but hurriedly taking into the bateau all of +them it could carry, I sent the balance along the southern bank, +where the railroad is now built, until both detachments arrived at a +point opposite the block-house, when, crossing to the north bank, I +landed below the blockhouse some little distance, and returned the +boat for the balance of the men, who joined me in a few minutes. + +When the Indians attacked the people at the Cascades on the 26th, +word was sent to Colonel Wright, who had already got out from the +Dalles a few miles on his expedition to the Spokane country. He +immediately turned his column back, and soon after I had landed and +communicated with the beleaguered block-house the advance of his +command arrived under Lieutenant-Colonel Edward J. Steptoe. I +reported to Steptoe, and related what had occurred during the past +thirty-six hours, gave him a description of the festivities that were +going on at the lower Cascades, and also communicated the +intelligence that the Yakimas had been joined by the Cascade Indians +when the place was first attacked. I also told him it was my belief +that when he pushed down the main shore the latter tribe without +doubt would cross over to the island we had just left, while the +former would take to the mountains. Steptoe coincided with me in +this opinion, and informing me that Lieutenant Alexander Piper would +join my detachment with a mountain' howitzer, directed me to convey +the command to the island and gobble up all who came over to it. + +Lieutenant Piper and I landed on the island with the first boatload, +and after disembarking the howitzer we fired two or three shots to +let the Indians know we had artillery with us, then advanced down the +island with the whole of my command, which had arrived in the mean +time; all of the men were deployed as skirmishers except a small +detachment to operate the howitzer. Near the lower end of the island +we met, as I had anticipated, the entire body of Cascade Indianmen, +women, and children--whose homes were in the vicinity of the +Cascades. They were very much frightened and demoralized at the turn +events had taken, for the Yakimas at the approach of Steptoe had +abandoned them, as predicted, and fled to the mountians. The chief +and head-men said they had had nothing to do with the capture of the +Cascades, with the murder of men at the upper landing, nor with the +massacre of men, women, and children near the block-house, and put +all the blame on the Yakimas and their allies. I did not believe +this, however, and to test the truth of their statement formed them +all in line with their muskets in hand. Going up to the first man on +the right I accused him of having engaged in the massacre, but was +met by a vigorous denial. Putting my forefinger into the muzzle of +his gun, I found unmistakable signs of its having been recently +discharged. My finger was black with the stains of burnt powder, and +holding it up to the Indian, he had nothing more to say in the face +of such positive evidence of his guilt. A further examination proved +that all the guns were in the same condition. Their arms were at +once taken possession of, and leaving a small, force to look after +the women and children and the very old men, so that there could be +no possibility of escape, I arrested thirteen of the principal +miscreants, crossed the river to the lower landing, and placed them +in charge of a strong guard. + +Late in the evening the steamboat, which I had sent back to +Vancouver, returned, bringing to my assistance from Vancouver, +Captain Henry D. Wallen's company of the Fourth Infantry and a +company of volunteers hastily organized at Portland, but as the +Cascades had already been retaken, this reinforcement was too late to +participate in the affair. The volunteers from Portland, however, +were spoiling for a fight, and in the absence of other opportunity +desired to shoot the prisoners I held (who, they alleged, had killed +a man named Seymour), and proceeded to make their arrangements to do +so, only desisting on being informed that the Indians were my +prisoners, subject to the orders of Colonel Wright, and would be +protected to the last by my detachment. Not long afterward Seymour +turned up safe and sound, having fled at the beginning of the attack +on the Cascades, and hid somewhere in the thick underbrush until the +trouble was over, and then made his way back to the settlement. The +next day I turned my prisoners over to Colonel Wright, who had them +marched to the upper landing of the Cascades, where, after a trial by +a military commission, nine of them were sentenced to death and duly +hanged. I did not see them executed, but was afterward informed +that, in the absence of the usual mechanical apparatus used on such +occasions, a tree with a convenient limb under which two empty +barrels were placed, one on top of the other, furnished a rude but +certain substitute. In executing the sentence each Indian in turn +was made to stand on the top barrel, and after the noose was adjusted +the lower barrel was knocked away, and the necessary drop thus +obtained. In this way the whole nine were punished. Just before +death they all acknowledged their guilt by confessing their +participation in the massacre at the block-house, and met their doom +with the usual stoicism of their race. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +MISDIRECTED VENGEANCE--HONORABLE MENTION--CHANGE OF COMMAND--EDUCATED +OXEN--FEEDING THE INDIANS--PURCHASING A BURYING-GROUND--KNOWING RATS. + +While still encamped at the lower landing, some three or four days +after the events last recounted, Mr. Joseph Meek, an old frontiersman +and guide for emigrant trains through the mountains, came down from +the Dalles, on his way to Vancouver, and stopped at my camp to +inquire if an Indian named Spencer and his family had passed down to +Vancouver since my arrival at the Cascades. Spencer, the head of the +family, was a very influential, peaceable Chinook chief, whom Colonel +Wright had taken with him from Fort Vancouver as an interpreter and +mediator with the Spokanes and other hostile tribes, against which +his campaign was directed. He was a good, reliable Indian, and on +leaving Vancouver to join Colonel Wright, took his family along, to +remain with relatives and friends at Fort Dalles until the return of +the expedition. When Wright was compelled to retrace his steps on +account of the capture of the Cascades, this family for some reason +known only to Spencer, was started by him down the river to their +home at Vancouver. + +Meek, on seeing the family leave the Dalles, had some misgivings as +to their safe arrival at their destination, because of the excited +condition of the people about the Cascades; but Spencer seemed to +think that his own peaceable and friendly reputation, which was +widespread, would protect them; so he parted from his wife and +children with little apprehension as to their safety. In reply to +Meek's question, I stated that I had not seen Spencer's family, when +he remarked, "Well, I fear that they are gone up," a phrase used in +that country in early days to mean that they had been killed. I +questioned him closely, to elicit further information, but no more +could be obtained; for Meek, either through ignorance or the usual +taciturnity of his class, did not explain more fully, and when the +steamer that had brought the reinforcement started down the river, he +took passage for Vancouver, to learn definitely if the Indian family +had reached that point. I at once sent to the upper landing, distant +about six miles, to make inquiry in regard to the matter, and in a, +little time my messenger returned with the information that the +family had reached that place the day before, and finding that we had +driven the hostiles off, continued their journey on foot toward my +camp, from which point they expected to go by steamer down the river +to Vancouver. + +Their non-arrival aroused in me suspicions of foul play, so with all +the men I could spare, and accompanied by Lieutenant William T. +Welcker, of the Ordnance Corps--a warm and intimate friend--I went in +search of the family, deploying the men as skirmishers across the +valley, and marching them through the heavy forest where the ground +was covered with fallen timber and dense underbrush, in order that no +point might escape our attention. The search was continued between +the base of the mountain and the river without finding any sign of +Spencer's family, until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when we +discovered them between the upper and lower landing, in a small open +space about a mile from the road, all dead--strangled to death with +bits of rope. The party consisted of the mother, two youths, three +girls, and a baby. They had all been killed by white men, who had +probably met the innocent creatures somewhere near the blockhouse, +driven them from the road into the timber, where the cruel murders +were committed without provocation, and for no other purpose than the +gratification of the inordinate hatred of the Indian that has often +existed on the frontier, and which on more than one occasion has +failed to distinguish friend from foe. The bodies lay in a +semicircle, and the bits of rope with which the poor wretches had +been strangled to death were still around their necks. Each piece of +rope--the unwound strand of a heavier piece--was about two feet long, +and encircled the neck of its victim with a single knot, that must +have been drawn tight by the murderers pulling at the ends. As there +had not been quite enough rope to answer for all, the babe was +strangled by means of a red silk handkerchief, taken, doubtless, from +the neck of its mother. It was a distressing sight. A most cruel +outrage had been committed upon unarmed people--our friends and +allies--in a spirit of aimless revenge. The perpetrators were +citizens living near the middle block-house, whose wives and children +had been killed a few days before by the hostiles, but who well knew +that these unoffending creatures had had nothing to do with those +murders. + +In my experience I have been obliged to look upon many cruel scenes +in connection with Indian warfare on the Plains since that day, but +the effect of this dastardly and revolting crime has never been +effaced from my memory. Greater and more atrocious massacres have +been committed often by Indians; their savage nature modifies one's +ideas, however, as to the inhumanity of their acts, but when such +wholesale murder as this is done by whites, and the victims not only +innocent, but helpless, no defense can be made for those who +perpetrated the crime, if they claim to be civilized beings. It is +true the people at the Cascades had suffered much, and that their +wives and children had been murdered before their eyes, but to wreak +vengeance on Spencer's unoffending family, who had walked into their +settlement under the protection of a friendly alliance, was an +unparalleled outrage which nothing can justify or extenuate. With as +little delay as possible after the horrible discovery, I returned to +camp, had boxes made, and next day buried the bodies of these hapless +victims of misdirected vengeance. + +The summary punishment inflicted on the nine Indians, in their trial +and execution, had a most salutary effect on the confederation, and +was the entering wedge to its disintegration; and though Colonel +Wright's campaign continued during the summer and into the early +winter, the subjugation of the allied bands became a comparatively +easy matter after the lesson taught the renegades who were captured +at the Cascades. My detachment did not accompany Colonel Wright, but +remained for some time at the Cascades, and while still there General +Wool came up from San Francisco to take a look into the condition of +things. From his conversation with me in reference to the affair at +the Cascades, I gathered that he was greatly pleased at the service I +had performed, and I afterward found that his report of my conduct +had so favorably impressed General Scott that that distinguished +officer complimented me from the headquarters of the army in general +orders. + +General Wool, while personally supervising matters on the Columbia +River, directed a redistribution to some extent of the troops in the +district, and shortly before his return to San Francisco I was +ordered with my detachment of dragoons to take station on the Grande +Ronde Indian Reservation in Yamhill County, Oregon, about twenty-five +miles southwest of Dayton, and to relieve from duty at that point +Lieutenant William B. Hazen--late brigadier-general and chief signal +officer--who had established a camp there some time before. I +started for my new station on April 21, and marching by way of +Portland and Oregon City, arrived at Hazen's camp April 25. The camp +was located in the Coast range of mountains, on the northeast part of +the reservation, to which last had been added a section of country +that was afterward known as the Siletz reservation. The whole body +of land set aside went under the general name of the "Coast +reservation," from its skirting the Pacific Ocean for some distance +north of Yaquina Bay, and the intention was to establish within its +bounds permanent homes for such Indians as might be removed to it. +In furtherance of this idea, and to relieve northern California and +southwestern Oregon from the roaming, restless bands that kept the +people of those sections in a state of constant turmoil, many of the +different tribes, still under control but liable to take part in +warfare, were removed to the reservation, so that they might be away +from the theatre of hostilities. + +When I arrived I found that the Rogue River Indians had just been +placed upon the reservation, and subsequently the Coquille, Klamath, +Modocs, and remnants of the Chinooks were collected there also, the +home of the latter being in the Willamette Valley. The number all +told amounted to some thousands, scattered over the entire Coast +reservation, but about fifteen hundred were located at the Grande +Ronde under charge of an agent, Mr. John F. Miller, a sensible, +practical man, who left the entire police control to the military, +and attended faithfully to the duty of settling the Indians in the +work of cultivating the soil. + +As the place was to be occupied permanently, Lieutenant Hazen had +begun, before my arrival, the erection of buildings for the shelter +of his command, and I continued the work of constructing the post as +laid out by him. In those days the Government did not provide very +liberally for sheltering its soldiers; and officers and men were +frequently forced to eke out parsimonious appropriations by toilsome +work or go without shelter in most inhospitable regions. Of course +this post was no exception to the general rule, and as all hands were +occupied in its construction, and I the only officer present, I was +kept busily employed in supervising matters, both as commandant and +quartermaster, until July, when Captain D. A. Russell, of the Fourth +Infantry, was ordered to take command, and I was relieved from the +first part of my duties. + +About this time my little detachment parted from me, being ordered to +join a company of the First Dragoons, commanded by Captain Robert +Williams, as it passed up the country from California by way of +Yamhill. I regretted exceedingly to see them go, for their faithful +work and gallant service had endeared every man to me by the +strongest ties. Since I relieved Lieutenant Hood on Pit River, +nearly a twelvemonth before, they had been my constant companions, +and the zeal with which they had responded to every call I made on +them had inspired in my heart a deep affection that years have not +removed. When I relieved Hood--a dragoon officer of their own +regiment--they did not like the change, and I understood that they +somewhat contemptuously expressed this in more ways than one, in +order to try the temper of the new "Leftenant," but appreciative and +unremitting care, together with firm and just discipline, soon +quieted all symptoms of dissatisfaction and overcame all prejudice. +The detachment had been made up of details from the different +companies of the regiment in order to give Williamson a mounted +force, and as it was usual, under such circumstances, for every +company commander to shove into the detail he was called upon to +furnish the most troublesome and insubordinate individuals of his +company, I had some difficulty, when first taking command, in +controlling such a medley of recalcitrants; but by forethought for +them and their wants, and a strict watchfulness for their rights and +comfort, I was able in a short time to make them obedient and the +detachment cohesive. In the past year they had made long and +tiresome marches, forded swift mountain streams, constructed rafts of +logs or bundles of dry reeds to ferry our baggage, swum deep rivers, +marched on foot to save their worn-out and exhausted animals, climbed +mountains, fought Indians, and in all and everything had done the +best they could for the service and their commander. The disaffected +feeling they entertained when I first assumed command soon wore away, +and in its place came a confidence and respect which it gives me the +greatest pleasure to remember, for small though it was, this was my +first cavalry command. They little thought, when we were in the +mountains of California and Oregon--nor did I myself then dream--that +but a few years were to elapse before it would be my lot again to +command dragoons, this time in numbers so vast as of themselves to +compose almost an army. + +Shortly after the arrival of Captain Russell a portion of the Indians +at the Grande Ronde reservation were taken down the coast to the +Siletz reservation, and I was transferred temporarily to Fort +Haskins, on the latter reserve, and assigned to the duty of +completing it and building a blockhouse for the police control of the +Indians placed there. + +While directing this work, I undertook to make a road across the +coast mountains from King's Valley to the Siletz, to shorten the haul +between the two points by a route I had explored. I knew there were +many obstacles in the way, but the gain would be great if we could +overcome them, so I set to work with the enthusiasm of a young +path-finder. The point at which the road was to cross the range was +rough and precipitous, but the principal difficulty in making it would +be from heavy timber on the mountains that had been burned over years +and years before, until nothing was left but limbless trunks of dead +trees--firs and pines--that had fallen from time to time until the +ground was matted with huge logs from five to eight feet in diameter. +These could not be chopped with axes nor sawed by any ordinary means, +therefore we had to burn them into suitable lengths, and drag the +sections to either side of the roadway with from four to six yoke of +oxen. + +The work was both tedious and laborious, but in time perseverance +surmounted all obstacles and the road was finished, though its grades +were very steep. As soon as it was completed, I wished to +demonstrate its value practically, so I started a Government wagon +over it loaded with about fifteen hundred pounds of freight drawn by +six yoke of oxen, and escorted by a small detachment of soldiers. +When it had gone about seven miles the sergeant in charge came back +to the post and reported his inability to get any further. Going out +to the scene of difficulty I found the wagon at the base of a steep +hill, stalled. Taking up a whip myself, I directed the men to lay on +their gads, for each man had supplied himself with a flexible hickory +withe in the early stages of the trip, to start the team, but this +course did not move the wagon nor have much effect on the demoralized +oxen; but following as a last resort an example I heard of on a +former occasion, that brought into use the rough language of the +country, I induced the oxen to move with alacrity, and the wagon and +contents were speedily carried to the summit. The whole trouble was +at once revealed: the oxen had been broken and trained by a man who, +when they were in a pinch, had encouraged them by his frontier +vocabulary, and they could not realize what was expected of them +under extraordinary conditions until they heard familiar and possibly +profanely urgent phrases. I took the wagon to its destination, but +as it was not brought back, even in all the time I was stationed in +that country, I think comment on the success of my road is +unnecessary. + +I spent many happy months at Fort Haskins, remaining there until the +post was nearly completed and its garrison increased by the arrival +of Captain F. T. Dent--a brother-in-law of Captain Ulysses S. Grant +--with his company of the Fourth Infantry, in April, 1857. In the +summer of 1856, and while I was still on duty there, the Coquille +Indians on the Siletz, and down near the Yaquina Bay, became, on +account of hunger and prospective starvation, very much excited and +exasperated, getting beyond the control of their agent, and even +threatening his life, so a detachment of troops was sent out to set +things to rights, and I took command of it. I took with me most of +the company, and arrived at Yaquina Bay in time to succor the agent, +who for some days had been besieged in a log hut by the Indians and +had almost abandoned hope of rescue. + +Having brought with me over the mountains a few head of beef cattle +for the hungry Indians, without thinking of running any great +personal risk I had six beeves killed some little distance from my +camp, guarding the meat with four Soldiers, whom I was obliged to +post as sentinels around the small area on which the carcasses lay. +The Indians soon formed a circle about the sentinels, and impelled by +starvation, attempted to take the beef before it could be equally +divided. This was of course resisted, when they drew their knives +--their guns having been previously taken away from them--and some of +the inferior chiefs gave the signal to attack. The principal chief, +Tetootney John, and two other Indians joined me in the centre of the +circle, and protesting that they would die rather than that the +frenzied onslaught should succeed, harangued the Indians until the +rest of the company hastened up from camp and put an end to the +disturbance. I always felt grateful to Tetootney John for his +loyalty on this occasion, and many times afterward aided his family +with a little coffee and sugar, but necessarily surreptitiously, so +as not to heighten the prejudices that his friendly act had aroused +among his Indian comrades. + +The situation at Yaquina Bay did not seem very safe, notwithstanding +the supply of beef we brought; and the possibility that the starving +Indians might break out was ever present, so to anticipate any +further revolt, I called for more troops. The request was complied +with by sending to my assistance the greater part of my own company +("K")from Fort Yamhill. The men, inspired by the urgency of our +situation, marched more than forty miles a day, accomplishing the +whole distance in so short a period, that I doubt if the record has +ever been beaten. When this reinforcement arrived, the Indians saw +the futility of further demonstrations against their agent, who they +seemed to think was responsible for the insufficiency of food, and +managed to exist with the slender rations we could spare and such +indifferent food as they could pick up, until the Indian Department +succeeded in getting up its regular supplies. In the past the poor +things had often been pinched by hunger and neglect, and at times +their only food was rock oysters, clams and crabs. Great quantities +of these shell-fish could be gathered in the bay near at hand, but +the mountain Indians, who had heretofore lived on the flesh of +mammal, did not take kindly to mollusks, and, indeed, ate the +shell-fish only as a last resort. + +Crab catching at night on the Yaquina Bay by the coast Indians was a +very picturesque scene. It was mostly done by the squaws and +children, each equipped with a torch in one hand, and a sharp-pointed +stick in the other to take and lift the fish into baskets slung on +the back to receive them. I have seen at times hundreds of squaws +and children wading about in Yaquina Bay taking crabs in this manner, +and the reflection by the water of the light from the many torches, +with the movements of the Indians while at work, formed a weird and +diverting picture of which we were never tired. + +Not long after the arrival of the additional troops from Yamhill, it +became apparent that the number of men at Yaquina Bay would have to +be reduced, so in view of this necessity, it was deemed advisable to +build a block-house for the better protection of the agents and I +looked about for suitable ground on which to erect it. Nearly all +around the bay the land rose up from the beach very abruptly, and the +only good site that could be found was some level ground used as the +burial-place of the Yaquina Bay Indians--a small band of fish-eating +people who had lived near this point on the coast for ages. They +were a robust lot, of tall and well-shaped figures, and were called +in the Chinook tongue "salt chuck," which means fish-eaters, or +eaters of food from the salt water. Many of the young men and women +were handsome in feature below the forehead, having fine eyes, +aquiline noses and good mouths, but, in conformity with a +long-standing custom, all had flat heads, which gave them a distorted +and hideous appearance, particularly some of the women, who went to +the extreme of fashion and flattened the head to the rear in a sharp +horizontal ridge by confining it between two boards, one running back +from the forehead at an angle of about forty degrees, and the other up +perpendicularly from the back of the neck. When a head had been +shaped artistically the dusky maiden owner was marked as a belle, and +one could become reconciled to it after a time, but when carelessness +and neglect had governed in the adjustment of the boards, there +probably was nothing in the form of a human being on the face of the +earth that appeared so ugly. + +It was the mortuary ground of these Indians that occupied the only +level spot we could get for the block-house. Their dead were buried +in canoes, which rested in the crotches of forked sticks a few feet +above-ground. The graveyard was not large, containing probably from +forty to fifty canoes in a fair state of preservation. According to +the custom of all Indian tribes on the Pacific coast, when one of +their number died all his worldly effects were buried with him, so +that the canoes were filled with old clothes, blankets, pieces of +calico and the like, intended for the use of the departed in the +happy hunting grounds. + +I made known to the Indians that we would have to take this piece of +ground for the blockhouse. They demurred at first, for there is +nothing more painful to an Indian than disturbing his dead, but they +finally consented to hold a council next day on the beach, and thus +come to some definite conclusion. Next morning they all assembled, +and we talked in the Chinook language all day long, until at last +they gave in, consenting, probably, as much because they could not +help themselves, as for any other reason. It was agreed that on the +following day at 12 o'clock, when the tide was going out, I should +take my men and place the canoes in the bay, and let them float out +on the tide across the ocean to the happy hunting-grounds: + +At that day there existed in Oregon in vast numbers a species of +wood-rat, and our inspection of the graveyard showed that the canoes +were thickly infested with them. They were a light gray animal, +larger than the common gray squirrel, with beautiful bushy tails, +which made them strikingly resemble the squirrel, but in cunning and +deviltry they were much ahead of that quick-witted rodent. I have +known them to empty in one night a keg of spikes in the storehouse in +Yamhill, distributing them along the stringers of the building, with +apparently no other purpose than amusement. We anticipated great fun +watching the efforts of these rats to escape the next day when the +canoes should be launched on the ocean, and I therefore forbade any +of the command to visit the graveyard in the interim, lest the rats +should be alarmed. I well knew that they would not be disturbed by +the Indians, who held the sacred spot in awe. When the work of +taking down the canoes and carrying them to the water began, +expectation was on tiptoe, but, strange as it may seem, not a rat was +to be seen. This unexpected development was mystifying. They had +all disappeared; there was not one in any of the canoes, as +investigation proved, for disappointment instigated a most thorough +search. The Indians said the rats understood Chinook, and that as +they had no wish to accompany the dead across the ocean to the happy +hunting-grounds, they took to the woods for safety. However that may +be, I have no doubt that the preceding visits to the burial-ground, +and our long talk of the day before, with the unusual stir and +bustle, had so alarmed the rats that, impelled, by their suspicious +instincts, they fled a danger, the nature of which they could not +anticipate, but which they felt to be none the less real and +impending. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +LEARNING THE CHINOOK LANGUAGE--STRANGE INDIAN +CUSTOMS--THEIR DOCTORS--SAM PATCH--THE MURDER OF A +WOMAN--IN A TIGHT PLACE--SURPRISING THE INDIANS--CONFLICTING +REPORTS OF THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN--SECESSION QUESTION IN +CALIFORNIA--APPOINTED A CAPTAIN--TRANSFERRED TO THE EAST. + +The troubles at the Siletz and Yaquina Bay were settled without +further excitement by the arrival in due time of plenty of food, and +as the buildings, at Fort Haskins were so near completion that my +services as quartermaster were no longer needed, I was ordered to +join my own company at Fort Yamhill, where Captain Russell was still +in command. I returned to that place in May, 1857, and at a period a +little later, in consequence of the close of hostilities in southern +Oregon, the Klamaths and Modocs were sent back to their own country, +to that section in which occurred, in 1873, the disastrous war with +the latter tribe. This reduced considerably the number of Indians at +the Grande Ronde, but as those remaining were still somewhat unruly, +from the fact that many questions requiring adjustment were +constantly arising between the different bands, the agent and the +officers at the post were kept pretty well occupied. Captain Russell +assigned to me the special work of keeping up the police control, and +as I had learned at an early day to speak Chinook (the "court +language" among the coast tribes) almost as well as the Indians +themselves, I was thereby enabled to steer my way successfully on +many critical occasions. + +For some time the most disturbing and most troublesome element we had +was the Rogue River band. For three or four years they had fought +our troops obstinately, and surrendered at the bitter end in the +belief that they were merely overpowered, not conquered. They openly +boasted to the other Indians that they could whip the soldiers, and +that they did not wish to follow the white man's ways, continuing +consistently their wild habits, unmindful of all admonitions. +Indeed, they often destroyed their household utensils, tepees and +clothing, and killed their horses on the graves of the dead, in the +fulfillment of a superstitious custom, which demanded that they +should undergo, while mourning for their kindred, the deepest +privation in a property sense. Everything the loss of which would +make them poor was sacrificed on the graves of their relatives or +distinguished warriors, and as melancholy because of removal from +their old homes caused frequent deaths, there was no lack of occasion +for the sacrifices. The widows and orphans of the dead warriors were +of course the chief mourners, and exhibited their grief in many +peculiar ways. I remember one in particular which was universally +practiced by the near kinsfolk. They would crop their hair very +close, and then cover the head with a sort of hood or plaster of +black pitch, the composition being clay, pulverized charcoal, and the +resinous gum which exudes from the pine-tree. The hood, nearly an +inch in thickness, was worn during a period of mourning that lasted +through the time it would take nature, by the growth of the hair, +actually to lift from the head the heavy covering of pitch after it +had become solidified and hard as stone. It must be admitted that +they underwent considerable discomfort in memory of their relatives. +It took all the influence we could bring to bear to break up these +absurdly superstitious practices, and it looked as if no permanent +improvement could be effected, for as soon as we got them to discard +one, another would be invented. When not allowed to burn down their +tepees or houses, those poor souls who were in a dying condition +would be carried out to the neighboring hillsides just before +dissolution, and there abandoned to their sufferings, with little or +no attention, unless the placing under their heads of a small stick +of wood--with possibly some laudable object, but doubtless great +discomfort to their victim--might be considered such. + +To uproot these senseless and monstrous practices was indeed most +difficult. The most pernicious of all was one which was likely to +bring about tragic results. They believed firmly in a class of +doctors among their people who professed that they could procure the +illness of an individual at will, and that by certain incantations +they could kill or cure the sick person. Their faith in this +superstition was so steadfast that there was no doubting its +sincerity, many indulging at times in the most trying privations, +that their relatives might be saved from death at the hands of the +doctors. I often talked with them on the subject, and tried to +reason them out of the superstitious belief, defying the doctors to +kill me, or even make me ill; but my talks were unavailing, and they +always met my arguments with the remark that I was a white man, of a +race wholly different from the red man, and that that was the reason +the medicine of the doctors would not affect me. These villainous +doctors might be either men or women, and any one of them finding an +Indian ill, at once averred that his influence was the cause, +offering at the same time to cure the invalid for a fee, which +generally amounted to about all the ponies his family possessed. If +the proposition was accepted and the fee paid over, the family, in +case the man died, was to have indemnity through the death of the +doctor, who freely promised that they might take his life in such +event, relying on his chances of getting protection from the furious +relatives by fleeing to the military post till time had so assuaged +their grief that matters could be compromised or settled by a +restoration of a part of the property, when the rascally leeches +could again resume their practice. Of course the services of a +doctor were always accepted when an Indian fell ill; otherwise the +invalid's death would surely ensue, brought about by the evil +influence that was unpropitiated. Latterly it had become quite the +thing, when a patient died, for the doctor to flee to our camp--it +was so convenient and so much safer than elsewhere--and my cellar was +a favorite place of refuge from the infuriated friends of the +deceased. + +Among the most notable of these doctors was an Indian named Sam +Patch, who several times sought asylum in any cellar, and being a +most profound diplomat, managed on each occasion and with little +delay to negotiate a peaceful settlement and go forth in safety to +resume the practice of his nefarious profession. I often hoped he +would be caught before reaching the post, but he seemed to know +intuitively when the time had come to take leg-bail, for his advent +at the garrison generally preceded by but a few hours the death of +some poor dupe. + +Finally these peculiar customs brought about the punishment of a +noted doctress of the Rogue River tribe, a woman who was constantly +working in this professional way, and who had found a victim of such +prominence among the Rogue Rivers that his unlooked for death brought +down on her the wrath of all. She had made him so ill, they +believed, as to bring him to death's door notwithstanding the many +ponies that had been given her to cease the incantations, and it was +the conviction of all that she had finally caused the man's death +from some ulterior and indiscernible motive. His relatives and +friends then immediately set about requiting her with the just +penalties of a perfidious breach of contract. Their threats induced +her instant flight toward my house for the usual protection, but the +enraged friends of the dead man gave hot chase, and overtook the +witch just inside the limits of the garrison, where, on the +parade-ground, in sight of the officers' quarters, and before any one +could interfere, they killed her. There were sixteen men in pursuit +of the doctress, and sixteen gun-shot wounds were found in her body +when examined by the surgeon of the post. The killing of the woman +was a flagrant and defiant outrage committed in the teeth of the +military authority, yet done so quickly that we could not prevent it. +This necessitated severe measures, both to allay the prevailing +excitement and to preclude the recurrence of such acts. The body was +cared for, and delivered to the relatives the next day for burial, +after which Captain Russell directed me to take such steps as would +put a stop to the fanatical usages that had brought about this +murderous occurrence, for it was now seen that if timely measures were +not taken to repress them, similar tragedies would surely follow. + +Knowing all the men of the Rogue River tribe, and speaking fluently +the Chinook tongue, which they all understood, I went down to their +village the following day, after having sent word to the tribe that I +wished to have a council with them. The Indians all met me in +council, as I had desired, and I then told them that the men who had +taken part in shooting the woman would have to be delivered up for +punishment. They were very stiff with me at the interview, and with +all that talent for circumlocution and diplomacy with which the +Indian is lifted, endeavored to evade my demands and delay any +conclusion. But I was very positive, would hear of no compromise +whatever, and demanded that my terms be at once complied with. No +one was with me but a sergeant of my company, named Miller, who held +my horse, and as the chances of an agreement began to grow remote, I +became anxious for our safety. The conversation waxing hot and the +Indians gathering close in around me, I unbuttoned the flap of my +pistol holster, to be ready for any emergency. When the altercation +became most bitter I put my hand to my hip to draw my pistol, but +discovered it was gone--stolen by one of the rascals surrounding me. +Finding myself unarmed, I modified my tone and manner to correspond +with my helpless condition, thus myself assuming the diplomatic side +in the parley, in order to gain time. As soon as an opportunity +offered, and I could, without too much loss of self-respect, and +without damaging my reputation among the Indians, I moved out to +where the sergeant held my horse, mounted, and crossing the Yamhill +River close by, called back in Chinook from the farther bank that +"the sixteen men who killed the woman must be delivered up, and my +six-shooter also." This was responded to by contemptuous laughter, so +I went back to the military post somewhat crestfallen, and made my +report of the turn affairs had taken, inwardly longing for another +chance to bring the rascally Rogue Rivers to terms. + +When I had explained the situation to Captain Russell, he thought +that we could not, under any circumstances, overlook this defiant +conduct of the Indians, since, unless summarily punished, it would +lead to even more serious trouble in the future. I heartily seconded +this proposition, and gladly embracing the opportunity it offered, +suggested that if he would give me another chance, and let me have +the effective force of the garrison, consisting of about fifty men, I +would chastise the Rogue Rivers without fail, and that the next day +was all the time I required to complete arrangements. He gave me the +necessary authority, and I at once set to work to bring about a +better state of discipline on the reservation, and to put an end to +the practices of the medicine men (having also in view the recovery +of my six-shooter and self-respect), by marching to the village and +taking the rebellious Indians by force. + +In the tribe there was an excellent woman called Tighee Mary (Tighee +in Chinook means chief), who by right of inheritance was a kind of +queen of the Rogue Rivers. Fearing that the insubordinate conduct of +the Indians would precipitate further trouble, she came early the +following morning to see me and tell me of the situation Mary +informed me that she had done all in her power to bring the Indians +to reason, but without avail, and that they were determined to fight +rather than deliver up the sixteen men who had engaged in the +shooting. She also apprised me of the fact that they had taken up a +position on the Yamhill River, on the direct road between the post +and village, where, painted and armed for war, they were awaiting +attack. + +On this information I concluded it would be best to march to the +village by a circuitous route instead of directly, as at first +intended, so I had the ferry-boat belonging to the post floated about +a mile and a half down the Yamhill River and there anchored. At 11 +o'clock that night I marched my fifty men, out of the garrison, in a +direction opposite to that of the point held by the Indians, and soon +reached the river at the ferryboat. Here I ferried the party over +with little delay, and marched them along the side of the mountain, +through underbrush and fallen timber, until, just before daylight, I +found that we were immediately in rear of the village, and thence in +rear, also, of the line occupied by the refractory Indians, who were +expecting to meet me on the direct road from the post. Just at break +of day we made a sudden descent upon the village and took its +occupants completely by surprise, even capturing the chief of the +tribe, "Sam," who was dressed in all his war toggery, fully armed and +equipped, in anticipation of a fight on the road where his comrades +were in position. I at once put Sam under guard, giving orders to +kill him instantly if the Indians fired a shot; then forming my line +on the road beyond the edge of the village, in rear of the force +lying in wait for a front attack, we moved forward. When the hostile +party realized that they were completely cut off from the village, +they came out from their stronghold on the river and took up a line +in my front, distant about sixty yards with the apparent intention of +resisting to the last. + +As is usual with Indians when expecting a fight, they were nearly +naked, fantastically painted with blue clay, and hideously arrayed in +war bonnets. They seemed very belligerent, brandishing their muskets +in the air, dancing on one foot, calling us ugly names, and making +such other demonstrations of hostility, that it seemed at first that +nothing short of the total destruction of the party could bring about +the definite settlement that we were bent on. Still, as it was my +desire to bring them under subjection without loss of life, if +possible, I determined to see what result would follow when they +learned that their chief was at our mercy. So, sending Sam under +guard to the front, where he could be seen, informing them that he +would be immediately shot if they fired upon us, and aided by the +cries and lamentations of the women of the village, who deprecated +any hostile action by either party, I soon procured a parley. + +The insubordinate Indians were under command of "Joe," Sam's brother, +who at last sent me word that he wanted to see me, and we met between +our, respective lines. I talked kindly to him, but was firm in my +demand that the men who killed the woman must be given up and my +six-shooter returned. His reply was he did not think it could be done, +but he would consult his people. After the consultation, he returned +and notified me that fifteen would surrender and the six-shooter +would be restored, and further, that we could kill the sixteenth man, +since the tribe wished to get rid of him anyhow, adding that he was a +bad Indian, whose bullet no doubt had given the woman her death +wound. He said that if I assented to this arrangement, he would +require all of his people except the objectionable man to run to the +right of his line at a preconcerted signal. The bad Indian would be +ordered to stand fast on the extreme left, and we could open fire on +him as his comrades fell away to the right. I agreed to the +proposition, and gave Joe fifteen minutes to execute his part of it. +We then returned to our respective forces, and a few minutes later +the fifteen ran to the right flank as agreed upon, and we opened fire +on the one Indian left standing alone, bringing him down in his +tracks severely wounded by a shot through the shoulder. + +While all this was going on, the other bands of the reservation, +several thousand strong, had occupied the surrounding hills for the +purpose of witnessing the fight, for as the Rogue Rivers had been +bragging for some time that they could whip the soldiers, these other +Indians had come out to see it done. The result, however, +disappointed the spectators, and the Rogue Rivers naturally lost +caste. The fifteen men now came in and laid down their arms +(including my six-shooter) in front of us as agreed, but I compelled +them to take the surrendered guns up again and carry them to the +post, where they were deposited in the block-house for future +security. The prisoners were ironed with ball and chain, and made to +work at the post until their rebellious spirit was broken; and the +wounded man was correspondingly punished after he had fully +recovered. An investigation as to why this man had been selected as +the offering by which Joe and his companions expected to gain +immunity, showed that the fellow was really a most worthless +character, whose death even would have been a benefit to the tribe. +Thus it seemed that they had two purposes in view--the one to +propitiate me and get good terms, the other to rid themselves of a +vagabond member of the tribe. + +The punishment of these sixteen Indians by ball and chain ended all +trouble with the Rogue River tribe. The, disturbances arising from +the incantations of the doctors and doctresses, and the practice of +killing horses and burning all worldly property on the graves of +those who died, were completely suppressed, and we made with little +effort a great stride toward the civilization of these crude and +superstitious people, for they now began to recognize the power of +the Government. In their management afterward a course of justice +and mild force was adopted, and unvaryingly applied. They were +compelled to cultivate their land, to attend church, and to send +their children to school. When I saw them, fifteen years later, +transformed into industrious and substantial farmers, with neat +houses, fine cattle, wagons and horses, carrying their grain, eggs, +and butter to market and bringing home flour, coffee, sugar, and +calico in return, I found abundant confirmation of my early opinion +that the most effectual measures for lifting them from a state of +barbarism would be a practical supervision at the outset, coupled +with a firm control and mild discipline. + +In all that was done for these Indians Captain Russell's judgment and +sound, practical ideas were the inspiration. His true manliness, +honest and just methods, together with the warm-hearted interest he +took in all that pertained to matters of duty to his Government, +could not have produced other than the best results, in what position +soever he might have been placed. As all the lovable traits of his +character were constantly manifested, I became most deeply attached +to him, and until the day of his death in 1864, on the battle-field +of Opequan, in front of Winchester, while gallantly leading his +division under my command, my esteem and affection were sustained and +intensified by the same strong bonds that drew me to him in these +early days in Oregon. + +After the events just narrated I continued on duty at the post of +Yamhill, experiencing the usual routine of garrison life without any +incidents of much interest, down to the breaking out of the war of +the rebellion in April, 1861. The news of the firing on Fort Sumter +brought us an excitement which overshadowed all else, and though we +had no officers at the post who sympathized with the rebellion, there +were several in our regiment--the Fourth Infantry--who did, and we +were considerably exercised as to the course they might pursue, but +naturally far more so concerning the disposition that would be made +of the regiment during the conflict. + +In due time orders came for the regiment to go East, and my company +went off, leaving me, however--a second lieutenant--in command of the +post until I should be relieved by Captain James J. Archer, of the +Ninth Infantry, whose company was to take the place of the old +garrison. Captain Archer, with his company of the Ninth, arrived +shortly after, but I had been notified that he intended to go South, +and his conduct was such after reaching the post that I would not +turn over the command to him for fear he might commit some rebellious +act. Thus a more prolonged detention occurred than I had at first +anticipated. Finally the news came that he had tendered his +resignation and been granted a leave of absence for sixty days. On +July 17 he took his departure, but I continued in command till +September 1, when Captain Philip A. Owen, of the Ninth Infantry, +arrived and, taking charge, gave me my release. + +From the day we received the news of the firing on Sumter until I +started East, about the first of September, 1861, I was deeply +solicitous as to the course of events, and though I felt confident +that in the end the just cause of the Government must triumph, yet +the thoroughly crystallized organization which the Southern +Confederacy quickly exhibited disquieted me very much, for it alone +was evidence that the Southern leaders had long anticipated the +struggle and prepared for it. It was very difficult to obtain direct +intelligence of the progress of the war. Most of the time we were in +the depths of ignorance as to the true condition of affairs, and this +tended to increase our anxiety. Then, too, the accounts of the +conflicts that had taken place were greatly exaggerated by the +Eastern papers, and lost nothing in transition. The news came by the +pony express across the Plains to San Francisco, where it was still +further magnified in republishing, and gained somewhat in Southern +bias. I remember well that when the first reports reached us of, the +battle of Bull Run--that sanguinary engagement--it was stated that +each side had lost forty thousand men in killed and wounded, and none +were reported missing nor as having run away. Week by week these +losses grew less, until they finally shrunk into the hundreds, but +the vivid descriptions of the gory conflict were not toned down +during the whole summer. + +We received our mail at Yamhill only once a week, and then had to +bring it from Portland, Oregon, by express. On the day of the week +that our courier, or messenger, was expected back from Portland, I +would go out early in the morning to a commanding point above the +post, from which I could see a long distance down the road as it ran +through the valley of the Yamhill, and there I would watch with +anxiety for his coming, longing for good news; for, isolated as I had +been through years spent in the wilderness, my patriotism was +untainted by politics, nor had it been disturbed by any discussion of +the questions out of which the war grew, and I hoped for the success +of the Government above all other considerations. I believe I was +also uninfluenced by any thoughts of the promotion that might result +to me from the conflict, but, out of a sincere desire to contribute +as much as I could to the preservation of the Union, I earnestly +wished to be at the seat of war, and feared it might end before I +could get East. In no sense did I anticipate what was to happen to +me afterward, nor that I was to gain any distinction from it. I was +ready to do my duty to the best of my ability wherever I might be +called, and I was young, healthy, insensible to fatigue, and desired +opportunity, but high rank was so distant in our service that not a +dream of its attainment had flitted through my brain. + +During the period running from January to September, 1861, in +consequence of resignations and the addition of some new regiments to +the regular army, I had passed through the grade of first lieutenant +and reached that of captain in the Thirteenth United States Infantry, +of which General W. T. Sherman had recently been made the colonel. +When relieved from further duty at Yamhill by Captain Owen, I left +for the Atlantic coast to join my new regiment. A two days' ride +brought me down to Portland, whence I sailed to San Franciso, and at +that city took passage by steamer for New York via the Isthmus of +Panama, in company with a number of officers who were coming East +under circumstances like my own. + +At this time California was much agitated--on the question of +secession, and the secession element was so strong that considerable +apprehension was felt by the Union people lest the State might be +carried into the Confederacy. As a consequence great distrust +existed in all quarters, and the loyal passengers on the steamer, not +knowing what might occur during our voyage, prepared to meet +emergencies by thoroughly organizing to frustrate any attempt that +might possibly be made to carry us into some Southern port after we +should leave Aspinwall. However, our fears proved groundless; at all +events, no such attempt was made, and we reached New York in safety +in November, 1861. A day or two in New York sufficed to replenish a +most meagre wardrobe, and I then started West to join my new +regiment, stopping a day and a night at the home of my parents in +Ohio, where I had not been since I journeyed from Texas for the +Pacific coast. The headquarters of my regiment were at Jefferson +Barracks, Missouri, to which point I proceeded with no further delay +except a stay in the city of St. Louis long enough to pay my respects +to General H. W. Halleck. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +AUDITING ACCOUNTS--CHIEF QUARTERMASTER AND COMMISSARY OF THE ARMY OF +SOUTHWEST MISSOURI--PREPARING FOR THE PEA RIDGE CAMPAIGN--A +DIFFERENCE WITH GENERAL CURTIS--ORDERED TO THE FRONT--APPOINTED A +COLONEL. + +Some days after I had reached the headquarters of my regiment near +St. Louis, General Halleck sent for me, and when I reported he +informed me that there existed a great deal of confusion regarding +the accounts of some of the disbursing officers in his department, +whose management of its fiscal affairs under his predecessor, General +John C. Fremont, had been very loose; and as the chaotic condition of +things could be relieved only by auditing these accounts, he +therefore had determined to create a board of officers for the +purpose, and intended to make me president of it. The various +transactions in question covered a wide field, for the department +embraced the States of Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Arkansas, +and all of Kentucky west of the Cumberland River. + +The duty was not distasteful, and I felt that I was qualified to +undertake it, for the accounts to be audited belonged exclusively to +the Quartermaster and Subsistence departments, and by recent +experience I had become familiar with the class of papers that +pertained to those branches of the army. Indeed, it was my +familiarity with such transactions, returns, etc., that probably +caused my selection as president of the board. + +I entered upon the work forthwith, and continued at it until the 26th +of December, 1861. At that date I was relieved from the auditing +board and assigned to duty as Chief Commissary of the Army of +Southwest Missouri, commanded by General Samuel R. Curtis. This army +was then organizing at Rolla, Missouri, for the Pea Ridge campaign, +its strength throughout the campaign being in the aggregate about +fifteen thousand men. + +As soon as I received information of my selection for this position, +I went to General Halleck and requested him to assign me as Chief +Quartermaster also. He was reluctant to do so, saying that I could +not perform both duties, but I soon convinced him that I could do +both better than the one, for I reminded him that as Chief +Quartermaster I should control the transportation, and thus obviate +all possible chances of discord between the two staff departments; a +condition which I deemed essential to success, especially as it was +intended that Curtis's army should mainly subsist on the country. +This argument impressed Halleck, and becoming convinced, he promptly +issued the order making me Chief Quartermaster and Chief Commissary +of Subsistence of the Army of Southwest Missouri, and I started for +Rolla to enter upon the work assigned me. + +Having reported to General Curtis, I quickly learned that his system +of supply was very defective, and the transportation without proper +organization, some of the regiments having forty to fifty wagon each, +and others only three or four. I labored day and night to remedy +these and other defects, and with the help of Captain Michael P. +Small, of the Subsistence Department, who was an invaluable +assistant, soon brought things into shape, putting the transportation +in good working order, giving each regiment its proper quota of +wagons, and turning the surplus into the general supply trains of the +army. In accomplishing this I was several times on the verge of +personal conflict with irate regimental commanders, but Colonel G. M. +Dodge so greatly sustained me with General Curtis by strong moral +support, and by such efficient details from his regiment--the Fourth +Iowa Volunteer Infantry--that I still bear him and it great affection +and lasting gratitude. + +On January 26, 1862, General Curtis's army began its march from Rolla +to Springfield, Missouri, by way of Lebanon. The roads were deep +with mud, and so badly cut up that the supply trains in moving +labored under the most serious difficulties, and were greatly +embarrassed by swollen streams. Under these circumstances many +delays occurred, and when we arrived at Lebanon nearly all the +supplies with which we had started had been consumed, and the work of +feeding the troops off the country had to begin at that point. To +get flour, wheat had to be taken from the stacks, threshed, and sent +to the mills to be ground. Wheat being scarce in this region, corn +as a substitute had to be converted into meal by the same laborious +process. In addition, beef cattle had to be secured for the meat +ration. + +By hard work we soon accumulated a sufficient quantity of flour and +corn meal to justify the resumption of our march on Springfield; at +or near which point the enemy was believed to be awaiting us, and the +order was given to move forward, the commanding general cautioning +me, in the event of disaster, to let no salt fall into General +Price's hands. General Curtis made a hobby of this matter of salt, +believing the enemy was sadly in need of that article, and he +impressed me deeply with his conviction that our cause would be +seriously injured by a loss which would inure so greatly and +peculiarly to the enemy's benefit; but we afterward discovered, when +Price abandoned his position, that about all he left behind was salt. + +When we were within about eight miles of Springfield, General Curtis +decided to put his troops in line of battle for the advance on the +town, and directed me to stretch out my supply trains in a long line +of battle, so that in falling back, in case the troops were repulsed, +he could rally the men on the wagons. I did not like the tactics, +but of course obeyed the order. The line moved on Springfield, and +took the town without resistance, the enemy having fled southward, in +the direction of Pea Ridge, the preceding day. Of course our success +relieved my anxiety about the wagons; but fancy has often pictured +since, the stampede of six mule teams that, had we met with any +reverse, would have taken place over the prairies of southwest +Missouri. + +The army set out in pursuit of Price, but I was left at Springfield +to gather supplies from the surrounding country, by the same means +that had been used at Lebanon, and send them forward. To succeed in +this useful and necessary duty required much hard work. To procure +the grain and to run the mills in the country, replacing the +machinery where parts had been carried away, or changing the +principle and running the mills on some different plan when +necessary, and finally forward the product to the army, made a task +that taxed the energy of all engaged in it. Yet, having at command a +very skillful corps of millwrights, machinists, and millers, detailed +principally from the Fourth Iowa and Thirty-sixth Illinois volunteer +regiments, we soon got matters in shape, and were able to send such +large quantities of flour and meal to the front, that only the bacon +and small parts of the ration had to be brought forward from our +depot at Rolla. When things were well systematized, I went forward +myself to expedite the delivery of supplies, and joined the army at +Cross Hollows, just south of Pea Ridge. + +Finding everything working well at Cross Hollows, I returned to +Springfield in a few days to continue the labor of collecting +supplies. On my way back I put the mills at Cassville in good order +to grind the grain in that vicinity, and perfected there a plan for +the general supply from the neighboring district of both the men and +animals of the army, so that there should, be no chance of a failure +of the campaign from bad roads or disaster to my trains. Springfield +thus became the centre of the entire supply section. + +Just after my return to Springfield the battle of Pea Ridge was +fought. The success of the Union troops in this battle was +considerable, and while not of sufficient magnitude to affect the +general cause materially, it was decisive as to that particular +campaign, and resulted in driving all organized Confederate forces +out of the State of Missouri. After Pea Ridge was won, certain +efforts were made to deprive Curtis of the credit due him for the +victory; but, no matter what merit belonged to individual commanders, +I was always convinced that Curtis was deserving of the highest +commendation, not only for the skill displayed on the field, but for +a zeal and daring in campaign which was not often exhibited at that +early period of the war. Especially should this credit be awarded +him, when we consider the difficulties under which he labored, how he +was hampered in having to depend on a sparsely settled country for +the subsistence of his troops. In the reports of the battle that +came to Springfield, much glory was claimed for some other general +officers, but as I had control of the telegraph line from Springfield +east, I detained all despatches until General Curtis had sent in his +official report. He thus had the opportunity of communicating with +his superior in advance of some of his vain subordinates, who would +have laid claim to the credit of the battle had I not thwarted them +by this summary means. + +Not long afterward came the culmination of a little difference that +had arisen between General Curtis and me, brought about, I have since +sometimes thought, by an assistant quartermaster from Iowa, whom I +had on duty with me at Springfield. He coveted my place, and finally +succeeded in getting it. He had been an unsuccessful banker in Iowa, +and early in the war obtained an appointment as assistant +quartermaster of volunteers with the rank of captain. As chief +quartermaster of the army in Missouri, there would be opportunities +for the recuperation of his fortunes which would not offer to one in +a subordinate place; so to gain this position he doubtless intrigued +for it while under my eye, and Curtis was induced to give it to him +as soon as I was relieved. His career as my successor, as well as in +other capacities in which he was permitted to act during the war, was +to say the least not savory. The war over he turned up in Chicago as +president of a bank, which he wrecked; and he finally landed in the +penitentiary for stealing a large sum of money from the United States +Treasury at Washington while employed there as a clerk. The chances +that this man's rascality would be discovered were much less when +chief of the departments of transportation and supply of an army than +they afterward proved to be in the Treasury. I had in my possession +at all times large sums of money for the needs of the army, and among +other purposes for which these funds were to be disbursed was the +purchase of horses and mules. Certain officers and men more devoted +to gain than to the performance of duty (a few such are always to be +found in armies) quickly learned this, and determined to profit by +it. Consequently they began a regular system of stealing horses from +the people of the country and proffering them to me for purchase. It +took but a little time to discover this roguery, and when I became +satisfied of their knavery I brought it to a sudden close by seizing +the horses as captured property, branding them U. S., and refusing to +pay for them. General Curtis, misled by the misrepresentations that +had been made, and without fully knowing the circumstances, or +realizing to what a base and demoralizing state of things this course +was inevitably tending, practically ordered me to make the Payments, +and I refused. The immediate result of this disobedience was a +court-martial to try me; and knowing that my usefulness in that army +was gone, no matter what the outcome of the trial might be, I asked +General Halleck to relieve me from duty with General Curtis and order +me to St. Louis. This was promptly done, and as my connection with +the Army of Southwest Missouri was thus severed before the court +could be convened, my case never came to trial. The man referred to +as being the cause of this condition of affairs was appointed by +General Curtis to succeed me. I turned over to the former all the +funds and property for which I was responsible, also the branded +horses and mules stolen from the people of the country, requiring +receipts for everything. I heard afterward that some of the blooded +stock of southwest Missouri made its way to Iowa in an unaccountable +manner, but whether the administration of my successor was +responsible for it or not I am unable to say. + +On my arrival at St. Louis I felt somewhat forlorn and disheartened +at the turn affairs had taken. I did not know where I should be +assigned, nor what I should be required to do, but these +uncertainties were dispelled in a few days by General Halleck, who, +being much pressed by the Governors of some of the Western States to +disburse money in their sections, sent me out into the Northwest with +a sort of roving commission to purchase horses for the use of the +army. I went to Madison and Racine, Wis., at which places I bought +two hundred horses, which were shipped to St. Louis. At Chicago I +bought two hundred more, and as the prices paid at the latter point +showed that Illinois was the cheapest market--it at that time +producing a surplus over home demands--I determined to make Chicago +the centre of my operations. + +While occupied in this way at Chicago the battle of Shiloh took +place, and the desire for active service with troops became uppermost +in my thoughts, so I returned to St. Louis to see if I could not get +into the field. General Halleck having gone down to the Shiloh +battle-field, I reported to his Assistant Adjutant-General, Colonel +John C. Kelton, and told him of my anxiety to take a hand in active +field-service, adding that I did not wish to join my regiment, which +was still organizing and recruiting at Jefferson Barracks, for I felt +confident I could be more useful elsewhere. Kelton knew that the +purchasing duty was but temporary, and that on its completion, +probably at no distant date, I should have to join my company at the +barracks; so, realizing the inactivity to which that situation of +affairs would subject me, he decided to assume the responsibility of +sending me to report to General Halleck at Shiloh, and gave me an +order to that effect. + +This I consider the turning-point in my military career, and shall +always feel grateful to Colonel Kelton for his kindly act which so +greatly influenced my future. My desire to join the army at Shiloh +had now taken possession of me, and I was bent on getting there by +the first means available. Learning that a hospital-boat under +charge of Dr. Hough was preparing to start for Pittsburg Landing, I +obtained the Doctor's consent to take passage on it, and on the +evening of April 15, I left St. Louis for the scene of military +operations in northeastern Mississippi. + +At Pittsburg Landing I reported to General Halleck, who, after some +slight delay, assigned me to duty as an assistant to Colonel George +Thom, of the topographical engineers. Colonel Thom put me at the +work of getting the trains up from the landing, which involved the +repair of roads for that purpose by corduroying the marshy places. +This was rough, hard work, without much chance of reward, but it, was +near the field of active operations, and I determined to do the best +I could at it till opportunity for something better might arise. + +General Halleck did not know much about taking care of himself in the +field. His camp arrangements were wholly inadequate, and in +consequence he and all the officers about him were subjected to much +unnecessary discomfort and annoyance. Someone suggested to him to +appoint me quartermaster for his headquarters, with a view to +systematizing the establishment and remedying the defects complained +of, and I was consequently assigned to this duty. Shortly after this +assignment I had the satisfaction of knowing that General Halleck was +delighted with the improvements made at headquarters, both in camp +outfit and transportation, and in administration generally. My +popularity grew as the improvements increased, but one trifling +incident came near marring it. There was some hitch about getting +fresh beef for General Halleck's mess, and as by this time everybody +had come to look to me for anything and everything in the way of +comfort, Colonel Joe McKibben brought an order from the General for +me to get fresh beef for the headquarters mess. I was not caterer +for this mess, nor did I belong to it even, so I refused point-blank. +McKibben, disliking to report my disobedience, undertook persuasion, +and brought Colonel Thom to see me to aid in his negotiations, but I +would not give in, so McKibben in the kindness of his heart rode +several miles in order to procure the beef himself, and thus save me +from the dire results which he thought would follow should Halleck +get wind of such downright insubordination. The next day I was made +Commissary of Subsistence for the headquarters in addition to my +other duties, and as this brought me into the line of fresh beef, +General Halleck had no cause thereafter to complain of a scarcity of +that article in his mess. + +My stay at General Halleck's headquarters was exceedingly agreeable, +and my personal intercourse with officers on duty there was not only +pleasant and instructive, but offered opportunities for improvement +and advancement for which hardly any other post could have afforded +like chances. My special duties did not occupy all my time, and +whenever possible I used to go over to General Sherman's division, +which held the extreme right of our line in the advance on Corinth, +to witness the little engagements occurring there continuously during +the slow progress which the army was then making, the enemy being +forced back but a short distance each day. I knew General Sherman +very well. We came from near the same section of country in Ohio, +and his wife and her family had known me from childhood. I was +always kindly received by the General, and one day he asked me if I +would be willing to accept the colonelcy of a certain Ohio regiment +if he secured the appointment. I gladly told him yes, if General +Halleck would let me go; but I was doomed to disappointment, for in +about a week or so afterward General Sherman informed me that the +Governor of Ohio would not consent, having already decided to appoint +some one else. + +A little later Governor Blair, of Michigan, who was with the army +temporarily in the interest of the troops from his State, and who +just at this time was looking around for a colonel for the Second +Michigan Cavalry, and very anxious to get a regular officer, fixed +upon me as the man. The regiment was then somewhat run down by +losses from sickness, and considerably split into factions growing +out of jealousies engendered by local differences previous to +organization, and the Governor desired to bridge over all these +troubles by giving the regiment a commander who knew nothing about +them. I presume that some one said to the Governor about this time, +"Why don't you get Sheridan?" This, however, is only conjecture. I +really do not know how my name was proposed to him, but I have often +been told since that General Gordon Granger, whom I knew slightly +then, and who had been the former colonel of the regiment, first +suggested the appointment. At all events, on the morning of May 27, +1862, Captain Russell A. Alger--recently Governor of Michigan +--accompanied by the quartermaster of the regiment, Lieutenant Frank +Walbridge, arrived at General Halleck's headquarters and delivered to +me this telegram: + +(By Telegraph.) +"MILITARY DEPT OF MICHIGAN, +"ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, +"DETROIT, May 25, 1862. + +GENERAL ORDERS NO. 148. + +"Captain Philip H. Sheridan, U. S. Army, is hereby appointed +Colonel of the Second Regiment Michigan Cavalry, to rank from +this date. + +"Captain Sheridan will immediately assume command of the +regiment. + +"By order of the Commander-in-Chief, +"JNO. ROBERTSON, +"Adjutant-General." + + +I took the order to General Halleck, and said that I would like to +accept, but he was not willing I should do so until the consent of +the War Department could be obtained. I returned to my tent much +disappointed, for in those days, for some unaccountable reason, the +War Department did not favor the appointment of regular officers to +volunteer regiments, and I feared a disapproval at Washington. After +a further consultation with Captain Alger and Lieutenant Walbridge, I +determined to go to the General again and further present the case. +Enlarging on my desire for active service with troops, and urging the +utter lack of such opportunity where I was, I pleaded my cause until +General Halleck finally resolved to take the responsibility of +letting me go without consulting the War Department. When I had +thanked him for the kindness, he said that inasmuch as I was to leave +him, he would inform me that the regiment to which I had just been +appointed was ordered out as part of a column directed to make a raid +to the south of the enemy, then occupying Corinth, and that if I +could turn over my property, it would probably be well for me to join +my command immediately, so that I could go with the expedition. I +returned to my tent, where Alger and Walbridge were still waiting, +and told them of the success of my interview, at the same time +notifying them that I would join the regiment in season to accompany +the expedition of which Halleck had spoken. + +In the course of the afternoon I turned over all my property to my +successor, and about 8 o'clock that evening made my appearance at the +camp of the Second Michigan Cavalry, near Farmington, Mississippi. +The regiment was in a hubbub of excitement making preparations for +the raid, and I had barely time to meet the officers of my command, +and no opportunity at all to see the men, when the trumpet sounded to +horse. Dressed in a coat and trousers of a captain of infantry, but +recast as a colonel of cavalry by a pair of well-worn eagles that +General Granger had kindly given me, I hurriedly placed on my saddle +a haversack, containing some coffee, sugar, bacon, and hard bread, +which had been prepared, and mounting my horse, I reported my +regiment to the brigade commander as ready for duty. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +EXPEDITION TO BOONEVILLE--DESTROYING SUPPLIES--CONFEDERATE +STRAGGLERS--SUCCESS OF THE EXPEDITION--A RECONNOISSANCE--THE +IMPORTANCE OF BODILY SUSTENANCE--THE BATTLE OF BOONEVILLE +--RECOMMENDED FOR APPOINTMENT AS A BRIGADIER-GENERAL. + +The expedition referred to by General Halleck in his parting +conversation was composed of the Second Michigan and Second Iowa +regiments of cavalry, formed into a brigade under command of Colonel +Washington L. Elliott, of the Second Iowa. It was to start on the +night of the 27th of May at 12 o'clock, and proceed by a circuitous +route through Iuka, Miss., to Booneville, a station on the Mobile and +Ohio Railroad, about twenty-two miles below Corinth, and accomplish +all it could in the way of destroying the enemy's supplies and +cutting his railroad communications. + +The weather in that climate was already warm, guides unobtainable, +and both men and horses suffered much discomfort from the heat, and +fatigue from the many delays growing out of the fact that we were in +almost total ignorance of the roads leading to the point that we +desired to reach. In order that we might go light we carried only +sugar, coffee, and salt, depending on the country for meat and bread. +Both these articles were scarce, but I think we got all there was, +for our advent was so unexpected by the people of the region through +which we passed that, supposing us to be Confederate cavalry, they +often gave us all they had, the women and servants contributing most +freely from their, reserve stores. + +Before reaching Booneville I had the advance, but just as we arrived +on the outskirts of the town the brigade was formed with the Second +Iowa on my right, and the whole force moved forward, right in front, +preceded by skirmishers. Here we encountered the enemy, but forced +him back with little resistance. When we had gained possession of +the station, Colonel Elliott directed me to take the left wing of my +regiment, pass to the south, and destroy a bridge or culvert supposed +to be at a little distance below the town on the Mobile and Ohio +Railroad. The right wing, or other half of the regiment, was to be +held in reserve for my support if necessary. I moved rapidly in the +designated direction till I reached the railroad, and then rode down +it for a mile and a half, but found neither bridge nor culvert. I +then learned that there was no bridge of any importance except the +one at Baldwin, nine miles farther down, but as I was aware, from +information recently received, that it was defended by three +regiments and a battery, I concluded that I could best accomplish the +purpose for which I had been detached--crippling the road--by tearing +up the track, bending the rails, and burning the cross-ties. This +was begun with alacrity at four different points, officers and men +vieing with one another in the laborious work of destruction. We had +but few tools, and as the difficulties to overcome were serious, our +progress was slow, until some genius conceived the idea that the +track, rails and ties, might be lifted from its bed bodily, turned +over, and subjected to a high heat; a convenient supply of dry +fence-rails would furnish ample fuel to render the rails useless. +In this way a good deal of the track was effectively broken up, and +communication by rail from Corinth to the south entirely cut off. +While we were still busy in wrecking the road, a dash was made at my +right and rear by a squadron of Confederate cavalry. This was +handsomely met by the reserve under Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of +the Second Michigan, who, dismounting a portion of his command, +received the enemy with such a volley from his Colt's repeating +rifles that the squadron broke and fled in all directions. We were +not molested further, and resumed our work, intending to extend the +break toward Baldwin, but receiving orders from Elliott to return to +Booneville immediately, the men were recalled, and we started to +rejoin the main command. + +In returning to Booneville, I found the railroad track above where I +had struck it blocked by trains that we had thus cut off, and the +woods and fields around the town covered with several thousand +Confederate soldiers. These were mostly convalescents and +disheartened stragglers belonging to General Beauregard's army, and +from them we learned that Corinth was being evacuated. I spent some +little time in an endeavor to get these demoralized men into an open +field, with a view to some future disposition of them; but in the +midst of the undertaking I received another order from Colonel +Elliott to join him at once. The news of the evacuation had also +reached Elliott, and had disclosed a phase of the situation so +different from that under which he had viewed it when we arrived at +Booneville, that he had grown anxious to withdraw, lest we should be +suddenly pounced upon by an overwhelming force from some one of the +columns in retreat. Under such circumstances my prisoners would +prove a decided embarrassment, so I abandoned further attempts to get +them together--not even paroling them, which I thought might have +been done with but little risk. + +In the meantime the captured cars had been fired, and as their +complete destruction was assured by explosions from those containing +ammunition, they needed no further attention, so I withdrew my men +and hastened to join Elliott, taking along some Confederate officers +whom I had retained from among four or five hundred prisoners +captured when making the original dash below the town. + +The losses in my regiment, and, in fact, those of the entire command, +were insignificant. The results of the expedition were important; +the railroad being broken so thoroughly as to cut off all rolling +stock north of Booneville, and to place at the service of General +Halleck's army the cars and locomotives of which the retreating +Confederates were now so much in need. In addition, we burned +twenty-six cars containing ten thousand stand of small arms, three +pieces of artillery, a great quantity of clothing, a heavy supply of +ammunition, and the personal baggage of General Leonidas Polk. A +large number of prisoners, mostly sick and convalescent, also fell +into our hands; but as we could not carry them with us--such a hurried +departure was an immediate necessity, by reason of our critical +situation--the process of paroling them was not completed, and they +doubtless passed back to active service in the Confederacy, properly +enough unrecognized as prisoners of war by their superiors. + +In returning, the column marched back by another indirect route to +its old camp near Farmington, where we learned that the whole army +had moved into and beyond Corinth, in pursuit of Beauregard, on the +13th of May, the very day we had captured Booneville. Although we +had marched about one hundred and eighty miles in four days, we were +required to take part, of course, in the pursuit of the Confederate +army. So, resting but one night in our old camp, we were early in +the saddle again on the morning of the 2d of June. Marching south +through Corinth, we passed on the 4th of June the scene of our late +raid, viewing with much satisfaction, as we took the road toward +Blackland, the still smoldering embers of the burned trains. + +On the 4th of June I was ordered to proceed with my regiment along +the Blackland road to determine the strength of the enemy in that +direction, as it was thought possible we might capture, by a +concerted movement which General John Pope had suggested to General +Halleck, a portion of Beauregard's rear guard. Pushing the +Confederate scouts rapidly in with a running fire for a mile or more, +while we were approaching a little stream, I hoped to gobble the main +body of the enemy's pickets. I therefore directed the sabre +battalion of the regiment, followed by that portion of it armed with +revolving rifles, to dash forward in column, cut off these videttes +before they could cross the stream, and then gather them in. The +pickets fled hastily, however, and a pell-mell pursuit carried us +over the stream at their heels by a little bridge, with no thought of +halting till we gained a hill on the other side, and suddenly found +ourselves almost in the camp of a strong body of artillery and +infantry. Captain Campbell being in advance, hurriedly dismounted +his battalion for a further forward movement on foot, but it was +readily seen that the enemy was present in such heavy force as almost +to ensure our destruction, and I gave orders for a hasty withdrawal. +We withdrew without loss under cover of thick woods, aided much, +however, by the consternation of the Confederates, who had hardly +recovered from their surprise at our sudden appearance in their camp +before we had again placed the stream between them and us by +recrossing the bridge. The reconnoissance was a success in one way +--that is, in finding out that the enemy was at the point supposed by, +General Pope; but it also had a tendency to accelerate Beauregard's +retreat, for in a day or two his whole line fell back as far south as +Guntown, thus rendering abortive the plans for bagging a large +portion of his army. + +General Beauregard's evacuation of Corinth and retreat southward were +accomplished in the face of a largely superior force of Union troops, +and he reached the point where he intended to halt for reorganization +without other loss than that sustained in the destruction of the cars +and supplies at Booneville, and the capture of some stragglers and +deserters that fell into our hands while we were pressing his rear +from General Pope's flank. The number of these was quite large, and +indicated that the enemy was considerably demoralized. Under such +circumstances, an energetic and skillfully directed pursuit might not +have made certain the enemy's destruction, but it would largely have +aided in disintegrating his forces, and I never could quite +understand why it was not ordered. The desultory affairs between +rear and advance guards seemed as a general, thing to have no +particular purpose in view beyond finding out where the enemy was, +and when he was found, since no supporting colums were at hand and no +one in supreme control was present to give directions, our +skirmishing was of little avail and brought but small reward. + +A short time subsequent to these occurrences, Colonel Elliott was +made a brigadier-general, and as General Pope appointed him his +Chief-of-Staff, I, on the 11th of June, 1862, fell in command of the +brigade by seniority. For the rest of the month but little of moment +occurred, and we settled down into camp at Booneville on the 26th of +June, in a position which my brigade had been ordered to take up some +twenty miles, in advance of the main army for the purpose of covering +its front. Although but a few days had elapsed from the date of my +appointment as colonel of the Second Michigan to that of my +succeeding to the command of the brigade, I believe I can say with +propriety that I had firmly established myself in the confidence of +the officers and men of the regiment, and won their regard by +thoughtful care. I had striven unceasingly to have them well fed and +well clothed, had personally looked after the selection of their +camps, and had maintained such a discipline as to allay former +irritation. + +Men who march, scout, and fight, and suffer all the hardships that +fall to the lot of soldiers in the field, in order to do vigorous +work must have the best bodily sustenance, and every comfort that can +be provided. I knew from practical experience on the frontier that +my efforts in this direction would not only be appreciated, but +requited by personal affection and gratitude; and, further, that such +exertions would bring the best results to me. Whenever my authority +would permit I saved my command from needless sacrifices and +unnecessary toil; therefore, when hard or daring work was to be done +I expected the heartiest response, and always got it. Soldiers are +averse to seeing their comrades killed without compensating results, +and none realize more quickly than they the blundering that often +takes place on the field of battle. They want some tangible +indemnity for the loss of life, and as victory is an offset the value +of which is manifest, it not only makes them content to shed their +blood, but also furnishes evidence of capacity in those who command +them. My regiment had lost very few men since coming under my +command, but it seemed, in the eyes of all who belonged to it, that +casualties to the enemy and some slight successes for us had repaid +every sacrifice, and in consequence I had gained not only their +confidence as soldiers, but also their esteem and love as men, and to +a degree far beyond what I then realized. + +As soon as the camp of my brigade was pitched at Booneville, I began +to scout in every direction, to obtain a knowledge of the enemy's +whereabouts and learn the ground about me. My standing in drawing at +the Military Academy had never been so high as to warrant the belief +that I could ever prove myself an expert, but a few practical lessons +in that line were impressed on me there, and I had retained enough to +enable me to make rough maps that could be readily understood, and +which would be suitable to replace the erroneous skeleton outlines of +northern Mississippi, with which at this time we were scantily +furnished; so as soon as possible I compiled for the use of myself +and my regimental commanders an information map of the surrounding +country. This map exhibited such details as country roads, streams, +farmhouses, fields, woods, and swamps, and such other topographical +features as would be useful. I must confess that my crude sketch did +not evidence much artistic merit, but it was an improvement on what +we already possessed in the way of details to guide the command, and +this was what I most needed; for it was of the first importance that +in our exposed condition we should be equipped with a thorough +knowledge of the section in which we were operating, so as to be +prepared to encounter an enemy already indicating recovery from the +disorganizing effects of his recent retreat. + +In the immediate vicinity of Booneville the country was covered with +heavy forests, with here and there clearings or intervening fields +that had been devoted to the cultivation of cotton and corn. The +ground was of a low character, typical of northeastern Mississippi, +and abounded in small creeks that went almost totally dry even in +short periods of drought, but became flooded with muddy water under +the outpouring of rain peculiar to a semi-tropical climate. In such +a region there were many chances of our being surprised, especially +by an enemy who knew the country well, and whose ranks were filled +with local guides; and great precautions as well as the fullest +information were necessary to prevent disaster. I therefore +endeavored to familiarize all with our surroundings, but scarcely had +matters begun to shape themselves as I desired when our annihilation +was attempted by a large force of Confederate cavalry. + +On the morning of July 1, 1862, a cavalry command of between five and +six thousand-men, under the Confederate General James R. Chalmers, +advanced on two roads converging near Booneville. The head of the +enemy's column on the Blackland and Booneville road came in contact +with my pickets three miles and a half west of Booneville. These +pickets, under Lieutenant Leonidas S. Scranton, of the Second +Michigan Cavalry, fell back slowly, taking advantage of every tree or +other cover to fire from till they arrived at the point where the +converging roads joined. At this junction there was a strong +position in the protecting timber, and here Scranton made a firm +stand, being reinforced presently by the few men he had out as +pickets on the road to his left, a second company I had sent him from +camp, and subsequently by three companies more, all now commanded by +Captain Campbell. This force was dismounted and formed in line, and +soon developed that the enemy was present in large numbers. Up to +this time Chalmers had shown only the heads of his columns, and we +had doubts as to his purpose, but now that our resistance forced him +to deploy two regiments on the right and left of the road, it became +apparent that he meant business, and that there was no time to lose +in preparing to repel his attack. + +Full information of the situation was immediately sent me, and I +directed Campbell to hold fast, if possible, till I could support +him, but if compelled to retire he was authorized to do so slowly, +taking advantage of every means that fell in his way to prolong the +fighting. Before this I had stationed one battalion of the Second +Iowa in Booneville, but Colonel Edward Hatch, commanding that +regiment, was now directed to leave one company for the protection of +our camp a little to the north of the station, and take the balance +of the Second Iowa, with the battalion in Booneville except two sabre +companies, and form the whole in rear of Captain Campbell, to protect +his flanks and support him by a charge should the enemy break his +dismounted line. + +While these preparations were being made, the Confederates attempted +to drive Campbell from his position by a direct attack through an +open field. In this they failed, however, for our men, reserving +their fire until the enemy came within about thirty yards, then +opened on him with such a shower of bullets from our Colt's rifles +that it soon became too hot for him, and he was repulsed with +considerable loss. Foiled in this move, Chalmers hesitated to attack +again in front, but began overlapping both flanks of Campbell's line +by force of numbers, compelling Campbell to retire toward a strong +position I had selected in his rear for a line on which to make our +main resistance. As soon as the enemy saw this withdrawing he again +charged in front, but was again as gallantly repelled as in the first +assault, although the encounter was for a short time so desperate as +to have the character of a hand-to-hand conflict, several groups of +friend and foe using on each other the butts of their guns. At this +juncture the timely arrival of Colonel Hatch with the Second Iowa +gave a breathing-spell to Campbell, and made the Confederates so +chary of further direct attacks that he was enabled to retire; and at +the same time I found opportunity to make disposition of the +reinforcement to the best advantage possible, placing the Second Iowa +on the left of the new line and strengthening Campbell on its right +with all the men available. + +In view of his numbers, the enemy soon regained confidence in his +ability to overcome us, and in a little while again began his +flanking movements, his right passing around my left flank some +distance, and approaching our camp and transportation, which I had +forbidden to be moved out to the rear. Fearing that he would envelop +us and capture the camp and transportation, I determined to take the +offensive. Remembering a circuitous wood road that I had become +familiar with while making the map heretofore mentioned, I concluded +that the most effective plan would be to pass a small column around +the enemy's left, by way of this road, and strike his rear by a +mounted charge simultaneously with an advance of our main line on his +front. I knew that the attack in rear would be a most hazardous +undertaking, but in the face of such odds as the enemy had the +condition of affairs was most critical, and could be relieved, only +by a bold and radical change in our tactics; so I at once selected +four sabre companies, two from the Second Michigan and two from the +Second Iowa, and placing Captain Alger, of the former regiment, in +command of them, I informed him that I expected of them the quick and +desperate work that is usually imposed on a forlorn hope. + +To carry out the purpose now in view, I instructed Captain Alger to +follow the wood road as it led around the left of the enemy's +advancing forces, to a point where 'it joined the Blackland road, +about three miles from Booneville, and directed him, upon reaching +the Blackland road, to turn up it immediately, and charge the rear of +the enemy's line. Under no circumstances was he to deploy the +battalion, but charge in column right through whatever he came upon, +and report to me in front of Booneville, if at all possible for him +to get there. If he failed to break through the enemy's line, he was +to go ahead as far as he could, and then if any of his men were left, +and he was able to retreat, he was to do so by the same route he had +taken on his way out. To conduct him on this perilous service I sent +along a thin, sallow, tawny-haired Mississippian named Beene, whom I +had employed as a guide and scout a few days before, on account of +his intimate knowledge of the roads, from the public thoroughfares +down to the insignificant by-paths of the neighboring swamps. With +such guidance I felt sure that the column would get to the desired +point without delay, for there was no danger of its being lost or +misled by taking any of the many by-roads which traversed the dense +forests through which it would be obliged to pass. I also informed +Alger that I should take the reserve and join the main line in front +of Booneville for the purpose of making an advance of my whole force, +and that as a signal he must have his men cheer loudly when he struck +the enemy's rear, in order that my attack might be simultaneous with +his. + +I gave him one hour to go around and come back through the enemy, and +when he started I moved to the front with the balance of the reserve, +to put everything I had into the fight. This meant an inestimable +advantage to the enemy in case of our defeat, but our own safety +demanded the hazard. All along our attenuated line the fighting was +now sharp, and the enemy's firing indicated such numerical strength +that fear of disaster to Alger increased my anxiety terribly as the +time set for his cheering arrived and no sound of it was heard. + +Relying, however, on the fact that Beene's knowledge of the roads +would prevent his being led astray, and confident of Alger's +determination to accomplish the purpose for which he set out, as soon +as the hour was up I ordered my whole line forward. Fortunately, +just as this moment a locomotive and two cars loaded with grain for +my horses ran into Booneville from Corinth. I say fortunately, +because it was well known throughout the command that in the morning, +when I first discovered the large numbers of the enemy, I had called +for assistance; and my troops, now thinking that reinforcements had +arrived by rail from Rienzi, where a division of infantry was +encamped, and inspirated by this belief, advanced with renewed +confidence and wild cheering. Meantime I had the engineer of the +locomotive blow his whistle loudly, so that the enemy might also +learn that a train had come; and from the fact that in a few moments +he began to give way before our small force, I thought that this +strategem had some effect. Soon his men broke, and ran in the utmost +disorder over the country in every direction. I found later, +however, that his precipitous retreat was due to the pressure on his +left from the Second Iowa, in concert with the front attack of the +Second Michigan, and the demoralization wrought in his rear by Alger, +who had almost entirely accomplished the purpose of his expedition, +though he had failed to come through, or so near that I could hear +the signal agreed upon before leaving Booneville. + +After Alger had reached and turned up the Blackland road, the first +thing he came across was the Confederate headquarters; the officers +and orderlies about which he captured and sent back some distance to +a farm-house. Continuing on a gallop, he soon struck the rear of the +enemy's line, but was unable to get through; nor did he get near +enough for me to hear his cheering; but as he had made the distance +he was to travel in the time allotted, his attack and mine were +almost coincident, and the enemy, stampeded by the charges in front +and rear, fled toward Blackland, with little or no attempt to capture +Alger's command, which might readily have been done. Alger's +troopers soon rejoined me at Booneville, minus many hats, having +returned by their original route. They had sustained little loss +except a few men wounded and a few temporarily missing. Among these +was Alger himself, who was dragged from his saddle by the limb of a +tree that, in the excitement of the charge, he was unable to flank. +The missing had been dismounted in one way or another, and run over +by the enemy in his flight; but they all turned up later, none the +worse except for a few scratches and bruises. + +My effective strength in this fight was 827 all told, and Alger's +command comprised ninety officers and men. Chalmers's force was +composed of six regiments and two battalions, and though I have been +unable to find any returns from which to verify his actual numbers, +yet, from the statements of prisoners and from information obtained +from citizens along his line of march, it is safe to say that he had +in the action not less than five-thousand men. Our casualties were +not many--forty-one in all. His loss in killed and wounded was +considerable, his most severely wounded--forty men--falling into our +hands, having been left at farm-houses in the vicinity of the +battlefield. + +The victory in the face of such odds was most gratifying, and as it +justified my disinclination--in fact, refusal--to retire from +Booneville without fighting (for the purpose of saving my +transportation, as directed by superior authority when I applied in +the morning for reinforcements), it was to me particularly grateful. +It was also very valuable in, view of the fact that it increased the +confidence between the officers and men of my brigade and me, and +gave us for the balance of the month not only comparative rest, but +entire immunity from the dangers of a renewed effort to gobble my +isolated outpost. In addition to all this, commendation from my +immediate superiors was promptly tendered through oral and written +congratulations; and their satisfaction at the result of the battle +took definite form a few days later, in the following application for +my promotion, when, by an expedition to Ripley, Miss., most valuable +information as to the enemy's location and plans was captured: + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +"JULY 30, 1862.--3.05 P. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, +"Washington, D. C. + +"Brigadiers scarce; good ones scarce. Asboth goes on the month's +leave you gave him ten months since; Granger has temporary command. +The undersigned respectfully beg that you will obtain the promotion +of Sheridan. He is worth his weight in gold. His Ripley expedition +has brought us captured letters of immense value, as well as +prisoners, showing the rebel plans and dispositions, as you will +learn from District Commander. + +"W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General. +"C. C. SULLIVAN, " " +"G. GRANGER, " " +"W. L. ELLIOTT, " " +"A. ASBOTH, " " " + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +IN CAMP NEAR RIENZI--GENERAL GRANGER--A VALUABLE CAPTURE AT RIPLEY +--RAIDING A CORNFIELD--REPULSING AN ATTACK--PRESENTED WITH THE BLACK +HORSE "RIENZI"--MEETING GENERAL GRANT--APPOINTED A BRIGADIER-GENERAL. + +After the battle of Booneville, it was decided by General Rosecrans, +on the advice of General Granger, that my position at Booneville was +too much exposed, despite the fact that late on the evening of the +fight my force had been increased by the addition of, a battery of +four guns and two companies of infantry, and by the Third Michigan +Cavalry, commanded by Colonel John K. Mizner; so I was directed to +withdraw from my post and go into camp near Rienzi, Mississippi, +where I could equally well cover the roads in front of the army, and +also be near General Asboth's division of infantry, which occupied a +line in rear of the town. This section of country, being higher and +more rolling than that in the neighborhood of Booneville, had many +advantages in the way of better camping-grounds, better grazing and +the like, but I moved with reluctance, because I feared that my +proximity to Asboth would diminish to a certain extent my +independence of command. + +General Asboth was a tall, spare, handsome man, with gray mustache +and a fierce look. He was an educated soldier, of unquestioned +courage, but the responsibilities of outpost duty bore rather heavily +on him, and he kept all hands in a state of constant worry in +anticipation of imaginary attacks. His ideas of discipline were not +very rigid either, and as by this time there had been introduced into +my brigade some better methods than those obtaining when it first +fell to my command, I feared the effect should he, have any control +over it, or meddle with its internal affairs. However, there was +nothing to do but to move to the place designated, but General +Granger, who still commanded the cavalry division to which the +brigade belonged, so arranged matters with General Rosecrans, who had +succeeded to the command of the Army of the Mississippi, that my +independence was to be undisturbed, except in case of a general +attack by the enemy. + +We went into camp near Rienzi, July 22, sending back to the general +field-hospital at Tuscumbia Springs all our sick--a considerable +number--stricken down by the malarial influences around Booneville. +In a few days the fine grazing and abundance of grain for our +exhausted horses brought about their recuperation; and the many large +open fields in the vicinity gave opportunity for drills and parades, +which were much needed. I turned my attention to those disciplinary +measures which, on account of active work in the field, had been +necessarily neglected since the brigade had arrived at Pittsburg +Landing, in April; and besides, we had been busy in collecting +information by scouting parties and otherwise, in prosecution of the +purpose for which we were covering the main army. + +I kept up an almost daily correspondence with General Granger, +concerning the information obtained by scouts and reconnoitring +parties, and he came often to Rienzi to see me in relation to this +and other matters. Previously I had not had much personal +association with Granger. While I was at Halleck's headquarters we +met on one or two occasions, and the day I joined the Second Michigan +at Farmington I saw him for a few moments, but, with such slight +exception, our intercourse had been almost exclusively official. He +had suggested my name, I was told, to Governor Blair, when the +Governor was in search of an officer of the regular army to appoint +to the colonelcy of the Second Michigan Cavalry, but his +recommendation must have been mainly based on the favorable opinions +he had heard expressed by General Halleck and by some of the officers +of his staff, rather than from any personal knowledge of my capacity. +Of course I was very grateful for this, but some of his +characteristics did not impress me favorably, and I sometimes wished +the distance between our camps greater. His most serious failing was +an uncontrollable propensity to interfere with and direct the minor +matters relating to the command, the details for which those under +him were alone responsible. Ill-judged meddling in this respect +often led to differences between us, only temporary it is true, but +most harassing to the subordinate, since I was compelled by the +circumstances of the situation not only invariably to yield my own +judgment, but many a time had to play peacemaker--smoothing down +ruffled feelings, that I knew had been excited by Granger's freaky +and spasmodic efforts to correct personally some trifling fault that +ought to have been left to a regimental or company commander to +remedy. Yet with all these small blemishes Granger had many good +qualities, and his big heart was so full of generous impulses and +good motives as to far outbalance his short-comings; and +not-withstanding the friction and occasional acerbity of our official +intercourse, we maintained friendly relations till his death. + +In pursuance of the fatal mistake made by dispersing Halleck's forces +after the fall of Corinth, General Don Carlos Buell's Army of the +Ohio had been started some time before on its march eastward toward +Chattanooga; and as this movement would be followed of course by a +manoeuvre on the part of the enemy, now at Tupelo under General +Braxton Bragg, either to meet Buell or frustrate his designs by some +counter-operation, I was expected to furnish, by scouting and all +other means available, information as to what was going on within the +Confederate lines. To do the work required, necessitated an increase +of my command, and the Seventh Kansas Cavalry was therefore added to +it, and my picket-line extended so as to cover from Jacinto +southwesterly to a point midway between Rienzi and Booneville, and +then northwesterly to the Hatchie River. Skirmishes between outposts +on this line were of frequent occurrence, with small results to +either side, but they were somewhat annoying, particularly in the +direction of Ripley, where the enemy maintained a considerable +outpost. Deciding to cripple if not capture this outpost, on the +evening of July 27, I sent out an expedition under Colonel Hatch, +which drove the enemy from the town of Ripley and took a few +prisoners, but the most valuable prize was in the shape of a package +of thirty-two private letters, the partial reading of which disclosed +to me the positive transfer from Mississippi of most of Bragg's army, +for the purpose of counteracting Buell's operations in northern +Alabama and East Tennessee. This decisive evidence was of the utmost +importance, and without taking time to read all the letters, I +forwarded them to General Granger July 28, in a despatch which +stated: "I deem it necessary to send them at once; the enemy is +moving in large force on Chattanooga." Other than this the results +of the expedition were few; and the enemy, having fled from Ripley +with but slight resistance, accompanied by almost all the +inhabitants, re-occupied the place next day after our people had +quitted it, and resumed in due time his annoying attacks on our +outposts, both sides trying to achieve something whenever occasion +offered. + +The prevalence of a severe drought had resulted in drying up many of +the streams within the enemy's lines, and, in consequence, he was +obliged to shift his camps often, and send his beef-cattle and mules +near his outposts for water. My scouts kept me well posted in regard +to the movements of both camps and herds; and a favorable opportunity +presenting itself, I sent an expedition on August 14 to gather in +some animals located on Twenty-Mile Creek, a stream always supplied +with water from a source of never-failing, springs. Our side met +with complete success in this instance, and when the expedition +returned, we were all made happy by an abundance of fresh beef, and +by some two hundred captured mules, that we thus added to our trains +at a time when draft animals were much needed. + +Rations for the men were now supplied in fair quantities, and the +only thing required to make us wholly contented was plenty of grain +for our animals. Because of the large number of troops then in West +Tennessee and about Corinth, the indifferent railroad leading down +from Columbus, Ky., was taxed to its utmost capacity to transport +supplies. The quantity of grain received at Corinth from the north +was therefore limited, and before reaching the different outposts, by +passing through intermediate depots of supply, it had dwindled to +insignificance. I had hopes, however, that this condition of things +might be ameliorated before long by gathering a good supply of corn +that was ripening in the neighborhood, and would soon, I thought, be +sufficiently hard to feed to my animals. Not far from my +headquarters there was a particularly fine field, which, with this +end in view, I had carefully protected through the milky stage, to +the evident disappointment of both Asboth's men and mine. They bore +the prohibition well while it affected only themselves, but the trial +was too great when it came to denying their horses; and men whose +discipline kept faith with my guards during the roasting-ear period +now fell from grace. Their horses were growing thin, and few could +withstand the mute appeals of their suffering pets; so at night the +corn, because of individual foraging, kept stealthily and steadily +vanishing, until the field was soon fringed with only earless stalks. +The disappearance was noticed, and the guard increased, but still the +quantity of corn continued to grow less, the more honest troopers +bemoaning the loss, and questioning the honor of those to whose +safekeeping it had been entrusted. Finally, doubtless under the +apprehension that through their irregularities the corn would all +disappear and find its way to the horses in accordance with the +stealthy enterprise of their owners, a general raid was made on the +field in broad daylight, and though the guard drove off the +marauders, I must admit that its efforts to keep them back were so +unsuccessful that my hopes for an equal distribution of the crop were +quickly blasted. One look at the field told that it had been swept +clean of its grain. Of course a great row occurred as to who was to +blame, and many arrests and trials took place, but there had been +such an interchanging of cap numbers and other insignia that it was +next to impossible to identify the guilty, and so much crimination +and acrimony grew out of the affair that it was deemed best to drop +the whole matter. + +On August 27 about half of the command was absent reconnoitring, I +having sent it south toward Tupelo, in the hope of obtaining some +definite information regarding a movement to Holly Springs of the +remainder of the Confederate army, under General Price, when about +mid-day I was suddenly aroused by excited cries and sounds of firing, +and I saw in a moment that the enemy was in my camp. He had come in +on my right flank from the direction of the Hatchie River, pell-mell +with our picket-post stationed about three miles out on the Ripley +road. The whole force of the enemy comprised about eight hundred, +but only his advance entered with my pickets, whom he had charged and +badly stampeded, without, on their part, the pretense of a fight in +behalf of those whom it was their duty to protect until proper +dispositions for defense could be made. The day was excessively hot, +one of those sultry debilitating days that had caused the suspending +of all military exercises; and as most of the men were lounging or +sleeping in their tents, we were literally caught napping. The alarm +spread instantly through the camp, and in a moment the command turned +out for action, somewhat in deshabille it is true, but none the less +effective, for every man had grabbed his rifle and cartridge-box at +the first alarm. Aided by a few shots from Captain Henry Hescock's +battery, we soon drove the intruders from our camp in about the same +disorder in which they had broken in on us. By this time Colonel +Hatch and Colonel Albert L. Lee had mounted two battalions each, and +I moved them out at a lively pace in pursuit, followed by a section +of the battery. No halt was called till we came upon the enemy's +main body, under Colonel Faulkner, drawn up in line of battle near +Newland's store. Opening on him with the two pieces of artillery, I +hurriedly formed line confronting him, and quickly and with but +little resistance drove him in confusion from the field. The sudden +turning of the tables dismayed Faulkner's men, and panic seizing +them, they threw away every loose article of arms or clothing of +which they could dismember themselves, and ran in the wildest +disorder in a mad effort to escape. As the chase went on the panic +increased, the clouds of dust from the road causing an intermingling +of friend and foe. In a little while the affair grew most ludicrous, +Faulkner's hatless and coatless men taking to the woods in such +dispersed order and so demoralized that a good many prisoners were +secured, and those of the enemy who escaped were hunted until dark. +When the recall was sounded, our men came in loaded down with plunder +in the shape of hats, haversacks, blankets, pistols, and shotguns, in +a quantity which amply repaid for the surprise of the morning, but +did not excuse the delinquent commander of our picket-guard, who a +few days later was brought to a realizing sense of his duty by a +court-martial. + +Shortly after this affair Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of the +Second Michigan Cavalry, presented me with the black horse called +Rienzi, since made historical from having been ridden by me in many +battles, conspicuously in the ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek, +which has been celebrated in the poem by T. Buchanan Read. This +horse was of Morgan stock, and then about three years old. He was +jet black, excepting three white feet, sixteen hands high, and +strongly built, with great powers of endurance. He was so active +that he could cover with ease five miles an hour at his natural +walking gait. The gelding had been ridden very seldom; in fact, +Campbell had been unaccustomed to riding till the war broke out, and, +I think, felt some disinclination to mount the fiery colt. Campbell +had an affection for him, however, that never waned, and would often +come to my headquarters to see his favorite, the colt being cared for +there by the regimental farrier, an old man named John Ashley, who +had taken him in charge when leaving Michigan, and had been his groom +ever since. Seeing that I liked the horse--I had ridden him on +several occasions--Campbell presented him to me on one of these +visits, and from that time till the close of the war I rode him +almost continuously, in every campaign and battle in which I took +part, without once finding him overcome by fatigue, though on many +occasions his strength was severely tested by long marches and short +rations. I never observed in him any vicious habit; a nervousness +and restlessness and switch of the tail, when everything about him +was in repose, being the only indication that he might be +untrustworthy. No one but a novice could be deceived by this, +however, for the intelligence evinced in every feature, and his +thoroughbred appearance, were so striking that any person accustomed +to horses could not misunderstand such a noble animal. But Campbell +thought otherwise, at least when the horse was to a certain degree +yet untrained, and could not be pursuaded to ride him; indeed, for +more than a year after he was given to me, Campbell still retained +suspicions of his viciousness, though, along with this mistrust, an +undiminished affection. Although he was several times wounded, this +horse escaped death in action; and living to a ripe old age, died in +1878, attended to the last with all the care and surrounded with +every comfort due the faithful service he had rendered. + +In moving from Corinth east toward Chattanooga, General Buell's army +was much delayed by the requirement that he should repair the Memphis +and Charleston railroad as he progressed. The work of repair obliged +him to march very slowly, and was of but little use when done, for +guerrillas and other bands of Confederates destroyed the road again +as soon as he had passed on. But worst of all, the time thus +consumed gave General Bragg the opportunity to reorganize and +increase his army to such an extent that he was able to contest the +possession of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. Consequently, the +movement of this army through Tennessee and Kentucky toward the Ohio +River--its objective points being Louisville and Cincinnati--was now +well defined, and had already rendered abortive General Buell's +designs on Chattanooga and East Tennessee. Therefore extraordinary +efforts on the part of the Government became necessary, and the +concentration of National troops at Louisville and Cincinnati to meet +the contingency of Bragg's reaching those points was an obvious +requirement. These troops were drawn from all sections in the West +where it was thought they could be spared, and among others I was +ordered to conduct thither--to Louisville or Cincinnati, as +subsequent developments might demand--my regiment, Hescock's battery, +the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, and the Thirty-sixth and +Forty-fourth Illinois regiments of infantry, known as the "Pea Ridge +Brigade." With this column I marched back to Corinth on the 6th of +September, 1862, for the purpose of getting railroad transportation +to Columbus, Kentucky. + +At Corinth I met General Grant, who by this time had been +reestablished in favor and command somewhat, General Halleck having +departed for Washington to assume command of the army as +General-in-Chief. Before and during the activity which followed his +reinstatement, General Grant had become familiar with my services +through the transmission to Washington of information I had furnished +concerning the enemy's movements, and by reading reports of my fights +and skirmishes in front, and he was loth to let me go. Indeed, he +expressed surprise at seeing me in Corinth, and said he had not +expected me to go; he also plainly showed that he was much hurt at +the inconsiderate way in which his command was being depleted. Since +I was of the opinion that the chief field of usefulness and +opportunity was opening up in Kentucky, I did not wish him to retain +me, which he might have done, and I impressed him with my conviction, +somewhat emphatically, I fear. Our conversation ended with my wish +gratified. I afterward learned that General Granger, whom General +Grant did not fancy, had suggested that I should take to Cincinnati +the main portion of Granger's command--the Pea Ridge Brigade--as well +as the Second Michigan Cavalry, of which I was still colonel. +We started that night, going by rail over the Mobile and Ohio road to +Columbus, Ky., where we embarked on steamboats awaiting us. These +boats were five in number, and making one of them my flag-ship, +expecting that we might come upon certain batteries reported to be +located upon the Kentucky shore of the Ohio, I directed the rest to +follow my lead. Just before reaching Caseyville, the captain of a +tin-clad gunboat that was patrolling the river brought me the +information that the enemy was in strong force at Caseyville, and +expressed a fear that my fleet could not pass his batteries. +Accepting the information as correct, I concluded to capture the +place before trying to pass up the river. Pushing in to the bank as +we neared the town, I got the troops ashore and moved on Caseyville, +in the expectation of a bloody fight, but was agreeably surprised +upon reaching the outskirts of the village by an outpouring of its +inhabitants--men, women, and children--carrying the Stars and +Stripes, and making the most loyal professions. Similar +demonstrations of loyalty had been made to the panic-stricken captain +of the gunboat when he passed down the river, but he did not stay to +ascertain their character, neither by landing nor by inquiry, for he +assumed that on the Kentucky bank of the river there could be no +loyalty. The result mortified the captain intensely; and deeming his +convoy of little further use, he steamed toward Cairo in quest of +other imaginary batteries, while I re-embarked at Caseyville, and +continued up the Ohio undisturbed. About three miles below +Cincinnati I received instructions to halt, and next day I was +ordered by Major-General H. G. Wright to take my troops back to +Louisville, and there assume command of the Pea Ridge Brigade, +composed of the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, Thirty-sixth and +Forty-fourth Illinois infantry, and of such other regiments as might +be sent me in advance of the arrival of General Buell's army. +When I reached Louisville I reported to Major-General William Nelson, +who was sick, and who received me as he lay in bed. He asked me why +I did not wear the shoulder-straps of my rank. I answered that I was +the colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry, and had on my appropriate +shoulder-straps. He replied that I was a brigadier-general for the +Booneville fight, July 1, and that I should wear the shoulder-straps +of that grade. I returned to my command and put it in camp; and +as I had no reluctance to wearing the shoulder-straps of a +brigadier-general, I was not long in procuring a pair, particularly +as I was fortified next day by receiving from Washington official +information of my appointment as a brigadier-general, to date from +July 1, 1862, the day of the battle of Booneville. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +GOOD ADVICE FROM GENERAL NELSON--HIS TRAGIC DEATH--PUTTING LOUISVILLE +IN A STATE OF DEFENSE--ASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF THE ELEVENTH +DIVISION--CAPTURE OF CHAPLIN HEIGHTS--BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE--REPORTED +AMONG THE KILLED--A THRILLING INCIDENT--GENERAL BUELL RELIEVED BY +GENERAL ROSECRANS. + +I reported to Major-General Nelson at the Galt House in Louisville, +September 14, 1862, who greeted me in the bluff and hearty fashion of +a sailor--for he had been in the navy till the breaking out of the +war. The new responsibilities that were now to fall upon me by +virtue of increased rank caused in my mind an uneasiness which, I +think, Nelson observed at the interview, and he allayed it by giving +me much good advice, and most valuable information in regard to +affairs in Kentucky, telling me also that he intended I should retain +in my command the Pea Ridge Brigade and Hescock's battery. This +latter assurance relieved me greatly, for I feared the loss of these +troops in the general redistribution which I knew must soon take +place; and being familiar with their valuable service in Missouri, +and having brought them up from Mississippi, I hoped they would +continue with me. He directed me to take position just below the +city with the Pea Ridge Brigade, Hescock's battery, and the Second +Michigan Cavalry, informing me, at the same time, that some of the +new regiments, then arriving under a recent call of the President for +volunteers, would also be assigned to my command. Shortly after the +interview eight new regiments and an additional battery joined me, +thus making good his promise of more troops. + +A few days later came Nelson's tragic end, shocking the whole +country. Those of us in camp outside of the city were startled on +the morning of September 29 by the news that General Jefferson C. +Davis, of the Union Army, had shot General Nelson at the Galt House, +and the wildest rumors in regard to the occurrence came thick and +fast; one to the effect that Nelson was dead, another having it that +he was living and had killed Davis, and still others reflecting on +the loyalty of both, it being supposed by the general public at first +that the difficulty between the two men had grown out of some +political rather than official or personal differences. When the +news came, I rode into the city to the Galt House to learn the +particulars, reaching there about 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Here I +learned that Nelson had been shot by Davis about two hours before, at +the foot of the main stairway leading from the corridor just beyond +the office to the second floor, and that Nelson was already dead. It +was almost as difficult to get reliable particulars of the matter at +the hotel as it had been in my camp, but I gathered that the two men +had met first at an early hour near the counter of the hotel office, +and that an altercation which had begun several days before in +relation to something official was renewed by Davis, who, attempting +to speak to Nelson in regard to the subject-matter of their previous +dispute, was met by an insulting refusal to listen. It now appears +that when Nelson made this offensive remark, Davis threw a small +paper ball that he was nervously rolling between his fingers into +Nelson's face, and that this insult was returned by Nelson slapping +Davis (Killed by a Brother Soldier.--Gen. J. B. Fry.) in the face. +But at the time, exactly what had taken place just before the +shooting was shrouded in mystery by a hundred conflicting stories, +the principal and most credited of which was that Davis had demanded +from Nelson an apology for language used in the original altercation, +and that Nelson's refusal was accompanied by a slap in the face, at +the same moment denouncing Davis as a coward. However this may be, +Nelson, after slapping Davis, moved toward the corridor, from which a +stairway led to the second floor, and just as he was about to ascend, +Davis fired with a pistol that he had obtained from some one near by +after the blow had been struck. The ball entered Nelson's breast +just above the heart, but his great strength enabled him to ascend +the stairway notwithstanding the mortal character of the wound, and +he did not fall till he reached the corridor on the second floor. He +died about half an hour later. The tragedy cast a deep gloom over +all who knew the men, for they both had many warm personal friends; +and affairs at Louisville had hardly recovered as yet from the +confused and discouraging condition which preceded the arrival of +General Buell's army. General Buell reported the killing of Nelson +to the authorities at Washington, and recommended the trial of Davis +by court-martial, but no proceedings were ever instituted against him +in either a civil or military court, so to this day it has not been +determined judicially who was the aggressor. Some months later Davis +was assigned to the command of a division in Buell's army after that +officer had been relieved from its command. + +Two Confederate armies, under General Kirby Smith and General Braxton +Bragg, had penetrated into Kentucky, the one under Smith by the way +of Cumberland Gap, the other and main army under Bragg by way of the +Sequatche Valley, Glasgow, and Mumfordsville. Glasgow was captured +by the enemy on the 17th of September, and as the expectation was +that Buell would reach the place in time to save the town, its loss +created considerable alarm in the North, for fears were now +entertained that Bragg would strike Louisville and capture the city +before Buell could arrive on the ground. It became necessary +therefore to put Louisville in a state of defense, and after the +cordon of principal works had been indicated, my troops threw up in +one night a heavy line of rifle-pits south of the city, from the +Bardstown pike to the river. The apprehended attack by Bragg never +came, however, for in the race that was then going on between him and +Buell on parallel roads, the Army of the Ohio outmarched the +Confederates, its advance arriving at Louisville September 25. + +General Buell immediately set about reorganizing the whole force, and +on September 29 issued an order designating the troops under my +command as the Eleventh Division, Army of the Ohio, and assigning +Brigadier-General J. T. Boyle to command the division, and me to +command one of its brigades. To this I could not object, of course, +for I was a brigadier-general of very recent date, and could hardly +expect more than a brigade. I had learned, however, that at least +one officer to whom a high command had been given--a corps--had not +yet been appointed a general officer by the President, and I +considered it somewhat unfair that I should be relegated to a +brigade, while men who held no commissions at all were being made +chiefs of corps and divisions; so I sought an interview with General +Buell's chief-of-staff, Colonel Fry, and, while not questioning +Buell's good intentions nor his pure motives, insisted that my rights +in the matter should be recognized. That same evening I was assigned +to the command of the Eleventh Division, and began preparing it at +once for a forward movement, which I knew must soon take place in the +resumption of offensive operations by the Army of the Ohio. + +During the interval from September 25 till October 1 there was among +the officers much criticism of General Buell's management of the +recent campaign, which had resulted in his retirement to Louisville; +and he was particularly censured by many for not offering battle to +General Bragg while the two armies were marching parallel to each +other, and so near that an engagement could have been brought on at +any one of several points--notably so at Glasgow, Kentucky, if there +had been a desire to join issue. It was asserted, and by many +conceded, that General Buell had a sufficient force to risk a fight. +He was much blamed for the loss of Mumfordsville also. The capture +of this point, with its garrison, gave Bragg an advantage in the race +toward the Ohio River, which odds would most likely have ensured the +fall of Louisville had they been used with the same energy and skill +that the Confederate commander displayed from Chattanooga to Glasgow; +but something always diverted General Bragg at the supreme moment, +and he failed to utilize the chances falling to him at this time, +for, deflecting his march to the north toward Bardstown, he left open +to Buell the direct road to Louisville by way of Elizabethtown. + +At Bardstown Bragg's army was halted while he endeavored to establish +a Confederate government in Kentucky by arranging for the +installation of a provisional governor at Lexington. Bragg had been +assured that the presence of a Confederate army in Kentucky would so +encourage the secession element that the whole State could be forced +into the rebellion and his army thereby largely increased; but he had +been considerably misled, for he now found that though much latent +sympathy existed for his cause, yet as far as giving active aid was +concerned, the enthusiasm exhibited by the secessionists of Kentucky +in the first year of the war was now replaced by apathy, or at best +by lukewarmness. So the time thus spent in political machinations +was wholly lost to Bragg; and so little reinforcement was added to +his army that it may be said that the recruits gained were not enough +to supply the deficiencies resulting from the recent toilsome marches +of the campaign. + +In the meanwhile Buell had arrived at Louisville, system had been +substituted for the chaos which had previously obtained there, and +orders were issued for an advance upon the enemy with the purpose of +attacking and the hope of destroying him within the limits of the +"blue grass" region, and, failing in that, to drive him from +Kentucky. The army moved October 1, 1862, and my division, now a +part of the Third Corps, commanded by General C. C. Gilbert, marched +directly on Bardstown, where it was thought the enemy would make a +stand, but Bragg's troops retreated toward Perryville, only resisting +sufficiently to enable the forces of General Kirby Smith to be drawn +in closer--they having begun a concentration at Frankfort--so they +could be used in a combined attack on Louisville as soon as the +Confederate commander's political projects were perfected. + +Much time was consumed by Buell's army in its march on Perryville, +but we finally neared it on the evening of October 7. During the +day, Brigadier-General Robert B. Mitchell's division of Gilbert's +corps was in the advance on the Springfield pike, but as the enemy +developed that he was in strong force on the opposite side of a small +stream called Doctor's Creek, a tributary of Chaplin River, my +division was brought up and passed to the front. It was very +difficult to obtain water in this section of Kentucky, as a drought +had prevailed for many weeks, and the troops were suffering so for +water that it became absolutely necessary that we should gain +possession of Doctor's Creek in order to relieve their distress. +Consequently General Gilbert, during the night, directed me to push +beyond Doctor's Creek early the next morning. At daylight on the 8th +I moved out Colonel Dan McCook's brigade and Barnett's battery for +the purpose, but after we had crossed the creek with some slight +skirmishing, I found that we could not hold the ground unless we +carried and occupied a range of hills, called Chaplin Heights, in +front of Chaplin River. As this would project my command in the +direction of Perryville considerably beyond the troops that were on +either flank, I brought up Laiboldt's brigade and Hescock's battery +to strengthen Colonel McCook. Putting both brigades into line we +quickly carried the Heights, much to the surprise of the enemy, I +think, for he did not hold on to the valuable ground as strongly as +he should have done. This success not only ensured us a good supply +of water, but also, later in the day, had an important bearing in the +battle of Perryville. After taking the Heights, I brought up the +rest of my division and intrenched, without much difficulty, by +throwing up a strong line of rifle-pits, although the enemy's +sharpshooters annoyed us enough to make me order Laiboldt's brigade +to drive them in on the main body. This was successfully done in a +few minutes, but in pushing them back to Chaplin River, we discovered +the Confederates forming a line of battle on the opposite bank, with +the apparent purpose of an attack in force, so I withdrew the brigade +to our intrenchments on the crest and there awaited the assault. + +While this skirmishing was going on, General Gilbert--the corps +commander--whose headquarters were located on a hill about a mile +distant to the rear, kept sending me messages by signal not to bring +on an engagement. I replied to each message that I was not bringing +on an engagement, but that the enemy evidently intended to do so, and +that I believed I should shortly be attacked. Soon after returning +to the crest and getting snugly fixed in the rifle-pits, my attention +was called to our left, the high ground we occupied affording me in +that direction an unobstructed view. I then saw General A. McD. +McCook's corps--the First-advancing toward Chaplin River by the +Mackville road, apparently unconscious that the Confederates were +present in force behind the stream. I tried by the use of signal +flags to get information of the situation to these troops, but my +efforts failed, and the leading regiments seemed to approach the +river indifferently prepared to meet the sudden attack that speedily +followed, delivered as it was from the chosen position of the enemy. +The fury of the Confederate assault soon halted this advance force, +and in a short time threw it into confusion, pushed it back a +considerable distance, and ultimately inflicted upon it such loss of +men and guns as to seriously cripple McCook's corps, and prevent for +the whole day further offensive movement on his part, though he +stoutly resisted the enemy's assaults until 4 o'clock in the +afternoon. + +Seeing McCook so fiercely attacked, in order to aid him I advanced +Hescock's battery, supported by six regiments, to a very good +position in front of a belt of timber on my extreme left, where an +enfilading fire could be opened on that portion of the enemy +attacking the right of the First Corps, and also on his batteries +across Chaplin River. But at this juncture he placed two batteries +on my right and began to mass troops behind them, and General +Gilbert, fearing that my intrenched position on the heights might be +carried, directed me to withdraw Hescock and his supports and return +them to the pits. My recall was opportune, for I had no sooner got +back to my original line than the Confederates attacked me furiously, +advancing almost to my intrenchments, notwithstanding that a large +part of the ground over which they had to move was swept by a heavy +fire of canister from both my batteries. Before they had quite +reached us, however, our telling fire made them recoil, and as they +fell back, I directed an advance of my whole division, bringing up my +reserve regiments to occupy the crest of the hills; Colonel William +P. Carlin's brigade of Mitchell's division meanwhile moving forward +on my right to cover that flank. This advance pressed the enemy to +Perryville, but he retired in such good order that we gained nothing +but some favorable ground that enabled me to establish my batteries +in positions where they could again turn their attention to the +Confederates in front of McCook, whose critical condition was shortly +after relieved, however, by a united pressure of Gilbert's corps +against the flank of McCook's assailants, compelling them to retire +behind Chaplin River. + +The battle virtually ended about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, though +more or less desultory firing continued until dark. Considering the +severity of the engagement on McCook's front, and the reverses that +had befallen him, I question if, from that part of the line, much +could have been done toward retrieving the blunders of the day, but +it did seem to me that, had the commander of the army been able to be +present on the field, he could have taken advantage of Bragg's final +repulse, and there would have remained in our hands more than the +barren field. But no attempt was made to do anything more till next +morning, and then we secured little except the enemy's killed and +most severely wounded. + +The operations of my division during the engagement pleased. General +Gilbert very much, and he informed me that he would relax a rigidly +enforced order which General Buell had issued some days before, +sufficiently to permit my trains to come to the front and supply my +almost starving troops with rations. The order in question was one +of those issued, doubtless with a good intent, to secure generally +the safety of our trains, but General Gilbert was not elastic, and on +the march he had construed the order so illiberally that it was next +to impossible to supply the men with food, and they were particularly +short in this respect on the eve of the battle. I had then +endeavored to persuade him to modify his iron-clad interpretation of +the order, but without effect, and the only wagons we could bring up +from the general parks in rear were ambulances and those containing +ammunition. So to gain access to our trains was a great boon, and at +that moment a more welcome result than would have been a complete +victory minus this concession. + +When the battle ceased General Gilbert asked me to join him at +Buell's headquarters, which were a considerable distance to the rear, +so after making some dispositions for the evening I proceeded there +as requested. I arrived just as Buell was about to sit down to his +supper, and noticing that he was lame, then learned that he had been +severely injured by a recent fall from his horse. He kindly invited +me to join him at the table, an invitation which I accepted with +alacrity, enjoying the meal with a relish known only to a very-hungry +man, for I had eaten nothing since morning. Of course the events of +the day were the chief topic of discussion--as they were during my +stay at headquarters--but the conversation indicated that what had +occurred was not fully realized, and I returned to my troops +impressed with the belief that General Buell and his staff-officers +were unconscious of the magnitude of the battle that had just been +fought. + +It had been expected by Buell that he would fight the enemy on the +9th of October, but the Confederates disposed of that proposition by +attacking us on the 8th, thus disarranging a tactical conception +which, with our superior numbers, would doubtless have proved +successful had it not been anticipated by an enterprising foe. +During the battle on the 8th the Second Corps, under General Thomas +L. Crittenden, accompanied by General George H. Thomas, lay idle the +whole day for want of orders, although it was near enough to the +field to take an active part in the fight; and, moreover, a large +part of Gilbert's corps was unengaged during the pressure on McCook. +Had these troops been put in on the enemy's left at any time after he +assaulted McCook, success would have been beyond question; but there +was no one on the ground authorized to take advantage of the +situation, and the battle of Perryville remains in history an example +of lost opportunities. This was due in some measure probably to +General Buell's accident, but is mainly attributable to the fact that +he did not clearly apprehend Bragg's aim, which was to gain time to +withdraw behind Dick's River all the troops he had in Kentucky, for +the Confederate general had no idea of risking the fate of his army +on one general battle at a place or on a day to be chosen by the +Union commander. + +Considering the number of troops actually engaged, the losses to +Buell were severe, amounting to something over five thousand in +killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed were two brigade +commanders of much promise--General James S. Jackson and General +William R. Terrill. McCook's corps lost twelve guns, some of which +were recovered next day. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded we +never learned, but it must have equalled ours; and about four +thousand prisoners, consisting principally of sick and wounded, fell +into our hands. In the first report of the battle sent North to the +newspapers I was reported among the killed; but I was pleased to +notice, when the papers reached us a few days later, that the error +had been corrected before my obituary could be written. + +The enemy retired from our front the night of the 8th, falling back +on Harrodsburg to form a junction with Kirby Smith, and by taking +this line of retreat opened to us the road to Danville and the chance +for a direct march against his depot of supplies at Bryantsville. We +did not take advantage of this opening, however, and late in the day +--on the 9th--my division marched in pursuit, in the direction of +Harrodsburg, which was the apex of a triangle having for its base a +line from Perryville to Danville. The pursuit was slow, very slow, +consuming the evening of the 9th and all of the 10th and 11th. By +cutting across the triangle spoken of above, just south of the apex, +I struck the Harrodsburg-Danville road, near Cave Springs, joining +there Gilbert's left division, which had preceded me and marched +through Harrodsburg. Here we again rested until the intention of the +enemy could be divined, and we could learn on which side of Dick's +River he would give us battle. A reconnoissance sent toward the +Dickville crossing developed to a certainty that we should not have +another engagement, however; for it disclosed the fact that Bragg's +army had disappeared toward Camp Dick Robinson, leaving only a small +rear-guard at Danville, which in turn quickly fled in the direction +of Lancaster, after exchanging a few shots with Hescock's battery. + +While this parting salute of deadly projectiles was going on, a +little, daughter of Colonel William J. Landram, whose home was in +Danville, came running out from his house and planted a small +national flag on one of Hescock's guns. The patriotic act was so +brave and touching that it thrilled all who witnessed the scene; and +until the close of the war, when peace separated the surviving +officers and men of the battery, that little flag was protected and +cherished as a memento of the Perryville campaign. + +Pursuit of the enemy was not continued in force beyond Crab Orchard, +but some portions of the army kept at Bragg's heels until he crossed +the Cumberland River, a part of his troops retiring to Tennessee by +way of Cumberland Gap, but the major portion through Somerset. As +the retreat of Bragg transferred the theatre of operations back to +Tennessee, orders were now issued for a concentration of Buell's army +at Bowling Green, with a view to marching it to Nashville, and my +division moved to that point without noteworthy incident. I reached +Bowling Green with a force much reduced by the losses sustained in +the battle of Perryville and by sickness. I had started from +Louisville on October 1 with twelve regiments of infantry--four old +and eight new ones--and two batteries, but many poor fellows, +overcome by fatigue, and diseases induced by the heat, dust, and +drought of the season, had to be left at roadside hospitals. This +was particularly the case with the new regiments, the men of which, +much depressed by homesickness, and not yet inured to campaigning, +fell easy victims to the hardships of war. + +At Bowling Green General Buell was relieved, General W. S. Rosecrans +succeeding him. The army as a whole did not manifest much regret at +the change of commanders, for the campaign from Louisville on was +looked upon generally as a lamentable failure, yet there were many +who still had the utmost confidence in General Buell, and they +repelled with some asperity the reflections cast upon him by his +critics. These admirers held him blameless throughout for the +blunders of the campaign, but the greater number laid every error at +his door, and even went to the absurdity of challenging his loyalty +in a mild way, but they particularly charged incompetency at +Perryville, where McCook's corps was so badly crippled while nearly +30,000 Union troops were idle on the field, or within striking +distance. With these it was no use to argue that Buell's accident +stood in the way of his activity, nor that he did not know that the +action had assumed the proportions of a battle. The physical +disability was denied or contested, but even granting this, his +detractors claimed that it did not excuse his ignorance of the true +condition of the fight, and finally worsted his champions by pointing +out that Bragg's retreat by way of Harrodsburg beyond Dick's River so +jeopardized the Confederate army, that had a skillful and energetic +advance of the Union troops been made, instead of wasting precious +time in slow and unnecessary tactical manoeuvres, the enemy could +have been destroyed before he could quit the State of Kentucky. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +MOVING TO BOWLING GREEN--JAMES CARD, THE SCOUT AND GUIDE--GENERAL +SILL--COLONEL SCHAEFER--COLONEL G. W. ROBERTS--MOVEMENT ON +MURFREESBORO'--OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF STONE RIVER. + +My division had moved from Crab Orchard to Bowling Green by easy +marches, reaching this place November 1. General Rosecrans assumed +command of the department October 30, at Louisville, and joined the +army November 2. There had been much pressure brought to bear on +General Buell to induce him to take measures looking to the occupancy +of East Tennessee, and the clamor to this end from Washington still +continued; but now that Bragg was south of the Cumberland River, in a +position threatening Nashville, which was garrisoned by but a small +force, it was apparent to every one at all conversant with the +situation that a battle would have to be fought somewhere in Middle +Tennessee. So, notwithstanding the pressure from Washington, the +army was soon put in motion for Nashville, and when we arrived there +my division went into camp north of the river, on a plateau just +outside the little town of Edgefield, until the movements of the +enemy should be further developed. + +While in this camp, on the plantation of Mr. Hobson, there came to my +headquarters one morning an East Tennessean named James Card, who +offered to the Union cause his services in any capacity in which they +might be made useful. This offer, and the relation of his personal +history, were given with such sincerity of speech and manner that in +a short time I became convinced of his honesty of purpose. He was a +small, active, busy man, with a determined way about him, and his +countenance indicated great intelligence. He gave minute information +that was of inestimable value to me regarding East and Middle +Tennessee and northern Georgia, for, with a view to the army's future +movements, I was then making a study of the topography of this +region, and posting myself as to Middle Tennessee, for all knew this +would be the scene of active operations whenever the campaign was +resumed. This man, like most of the East Tennesseans whom I had met, +was intensely loyal and patriotic, and the interview led in a few +days to his employment as a scout and guide, and subsequently to the +engaging in the same capacity of two of his brothers, who were good +men; but not quite as active nor so intelligent as he was. Card had +been a colporter, having pedled books, especially religious tracts, +over all Middle and East Tennessee and Georgia, assisted by his +brothers at times, and was therefore thoroughly familiar with these +regions, their roads and inhabitants. He also preached to country +congregations occasionally, when ministers were scarce, and I have no +doubt often performed the functions of family physician in the +mountain district. Thus his opportunities were great; and the loyal +people in every section of the country being well known to him and +his brothers, the three began, at this time, a system of scouting and +investigation which bore its first-fruits in specifically locating +the different divisions of Bragg's army, with statements of their +strength and condition, and all with so much accuracy that I +thereafter felt reasonably sure that I could at all times procure +such knowledge of the enemy's operations as would well equip me for +any contingency that might arise. + +By the middle of November the enemy, having assembled his forces in +Middle Tennessee, showed considerable boldness, and it became +necessary to rearrange the Union lines; so my troops were moved to +the south side of the river, out on the Murfreesboro' pike, to Mill +Creek, distant from Nashville about seven miles. While we were in +camp on Mill Creek the army was reorganized, and General Joshua W. +Sill, at his own request, was assigned to my division, and took +command of Colonel Nicholas Greusel's brigade. My division became at +the same time the Third Division, Right Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps, +its three brigades of four regiments each being respectively +commanded by General Sill, Colonel Frederick Schaefer and Colonel Dan +McCook; but a few days later Colonel George W. Roberts's brigade, +from the garrison at Nashville, was substituted for McCook's. + +General Sill was a classmate of mine at the Military Academy, having +graduated in 1853. On graduating he was appointed to the Ordnance +Corps, and served in that department at various arsenals and ordnance +depots throughout the country till early in 1861, when he resigned to +accept a professorship of mathematics and civil engineering at the +Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. At the breaking out +of the war he immediately tendered his services to the Government, +and soon rose to the colonelcy of the Thirty-Third Ohio Volunteers, +and afterward to the rank of brigadier-general. I knew him well, and +was glad that he came to my division, though I was very loth to +relieve Colonel Greusel, of the Thirty-Sixth Illinois, who had +already indicated much military skill and bravery, and at the battle +of Perryville had handled his men with the experience of a veteran. +Sill's modesty and courage were exceeded only by a capacity that had +already been demonstrated in many practical ways, and his untimely +death, almost within a month of his joining me, abruptly closed a +career which, had it been prolonged a little more, not only would +have shed additional lustre on his name, but would have been of +marked benefit to his country. + +Colonel Schaefer, of the Second Missouri Infantry, had been absent on +sick-leave during the Kentucky campaign, but about this date he +returned to duty, and by seniority fell in command of the second +brigade. He was of German birth, having come from Baden, where, +prior to 1848, he had been a non-commissioned officer in the service +of his State. He took part as an insurgent in the so-called +revolution which occurred at Baden in that year, and, compelled to +emigrate on the suppression of the insurrection, made his way to this +country and settled in St. Louis. Here the breaking out of the war +found him, and through the personal interest which General Sigel took +in him he was commissioned a colonel of volunteers. He had had a +pretty fair education, a taste for the military profession, and was +of tall and slender build, all of which gave him a student-like +appearance. He was extremely excitable and nervous when anticipating +a crisis, but always calmed down to cool deliberation when the +critical moment came. With such a man I could not be less than well +satisfied, although the officer whom he replaced--Colonel Laiboldt +--had performed efficient service and shown much capacity in the +recent campaign. + +Colonel G. W. Roberts, of the Forty-Second Illinois Infantry, also +came to me in the reorganization. He was an ideal soldier both in +mind and body. He was young, tall, handsome, brave, and dashing, and +possessed a balance-wheel of such good judgment that in his sphere of +action no occasion could arise from which he would not reap the best +results. But he too was destined to lay, down his life within a few +days, and on the same fatal field. His brigade had been performing +garrison duty in Nashville during the siege of that city while +Buell's army was in Kentucky, but disliking the prospect of +inactivity pending the operations opening before us, Roberts had +requested and obtained a transfer to the army in the field. His +brigade relieved Colonel Dan McCook's, the latter reluctantly joining +the garrison at Nashville, every one in it disappointed and disgusted +that the circumstances existing at this time should necessitate their +relegation to the harassing and tantalizing duty of protecting our +depots and line of supply. + +I was fortunate in having such brigade commanders, and no less +favored in the regimental and battery commanders. They all were not +only patriots, but soldiers, and knowing that discipline must be one +of the most potent factors in bringing to a successful termination, +the mighty contest in which our nation was struggling for existence, +they studied and practiced its methods ceaselessly, inspiring with +the same spirit that pervaded themselves the loyal hearts of their +subordinate officers and men. All worked unremittingly in the camp +at Mill Creek in preparing for the storm, which now plainly indicated +its speedy coming. Drills, parades, scouts, foraging expeditions, +picket and guard duty, made up the course in this school of +instruction, supplemented by frequent changes in the locations of the +different brigades, so that the division could have opportunity to +learn to break camp quickly and to move out promptly on the march. +Foraging expeditions were particularly beneficial in this respect, +and when sent out, though absent sometimes for days, the men went +without tents or knapsacks, equipped with only one blanket and their +arms, ammunition, and rations, to teach them to shift for themselves +with slender means in the event of necessity. The number of +regimental and headquarters wagons was cut down to the lowest +possible figure, and everything made compact by turning into the +supply and ammunition trains of the division all surplus +transportation, and restricting the personal baggage of officers to +the fewest effects possible. + +My own staff also was somewhat reorganized and increased at Mill +Creek, and though it had been perfectly satisfactory before, yet, on +account of the changes of troops that had occurred in the command, I +found it necessary to replace valuable officers in some instances, +and secure additional ones in others. The gathering of information +about the enemy was also industriously pursued, and Card and his +brothers were used constantly on expeditions within the Confederate +lines, frequently visiting Murfreesboro', Sparta, Tullahoma, +Shelbyville, and other points. What they learned was reported to +army headquarters, often orally through me or personally communicated +by Card himself, but much was forwarded in official letters, +beginning with November 24, when I transmitted accurate information +of the concentration of Bragg's main force at Tullahoma. Indeed, +Card kept me so well posted as to every movement of the enemy, not +only with reference to the troops in my immediate front, but also +throughout his whole army, that General Rosecrans placed the most +unreserved reliance on all his statements, and many times used them +to check and correct the reports brought in by his own scouts. + +Slight skirmishes took place frequently during this period, and now +and then heavy demonstrations were made in the neighborhood of +Nolensville by reconnoitring parties from both armies, but none of +these ever grew into a battle. These affairs sprung from the desire +of each side to feel his antagonist, and had little result beyond +emphasizing the fact that behind each line of pickets lay a massed +and powerful army busily preparing for the inevitable conflict and +eager for its opening. So it wore on till the evening of December +25, 1862; then came the order to move forward. + +General Rosecrans, in the reorganization of the army, had assigned +Major-General A. McD. McCook to command the right wing, Major-General +George H. Thomas the centre, and Major-General T. L. Crittenden the +left wing. McCook's wing was made up of three divisions, +commanded in order of rank by Brigadier-General Jeff. C. Davis; +Brigadier-General R. W. Johnson, and Brigadier-General P. H. Sheridan. +Although the corps nomenclature established by General Buell was +dropped, the grand divisions into which he had organized the army at +Louisville were maintained, and, in fact, the conditions established +then remained practically unaltered, with the exception of the +interchange of some brigades, the transfer of a few general officers +from one wing or division to another, and the substitution of General +Thomas for Gilbert as a corps commander. The army was thus compact +and cohesive, undisturbed by discord and unembarrassed by jealousies +of any moment; and it may be said that under a commander who, we +believed, had the energy and skill necessary to direct us to success, +a national confidence in our invincibility made us all keen for a +test of strength with the Confederates. We had not long to wait. + +Early on the morning of December 26, 1862, in a heavy rain, the army +marched, the movement being directed on Murfreesboro', where the +enemy had made some preparation to go into winter-quarters, and to +hold which town it was hoped he would accept battle. General Thomas +moved by the Franklin and Wilson pikes, General Crittenden by the +Murfreesboro' pike, through Lavergne, and General McCook by the +Nolensville pike--Davis's division in advance. As McCook's command +neared Nolensville, I received a message from Davis informing me that +the Confederates were in considerable force, posted on a range of +hills in his front, and requesting me to support him in an attack he +was about to make. When the head of my column arrived at Nolensville +I began massing my troops on the right of the road, and by the time +this formation was nearly completed Davis advanced, but not meeting +with sufficient resistance to demand active assistance from me, he +with his own command carried the hills, capturing one piece of +artillery. This position of the Confederates was a strong one, +defending Knob's Gap, through which the Nolensville and Triune pike +passed. On the 27th Johnson's division, followed by mine, advanced +to Triune, and engaged in a severe skirmish near that place, but my +troops were not called into action, the stand made by the enemy being +only for the purpose of gaining time to draw in his outlying troops, +which done, he retired toward Murfreesboro'. I remained inactive at +Triune during the 28th, but early on the 29th moved out by the Bole +Jack road to the support of, Davis in his advance to Stewart's Creek, +and encamped at Wilkinson's crossroads, from which point to +Murfreesboro', distant about six miles, there was a good turnpike. +The enemy had sullenly resisted the progress of Crittenden and McCook +throughout the preceding three days, and as it was thought probable +that he might offer battle at Stewart's Creek, Thomas, in pursuance +of his original instructions looking to just such a contingency, had +now fallen into the centre by way of the Nolensville crossroads. + +On the morning of the 30th I had the advance of McCook's corps on the +Wilkinson pike, Roberts's brigade leading. At first only slight +skirmishing took place, but when we came within about three miles of +Murfreesboro' the resistance of the enemy's pickets grew serious, and +a little further on so strong that I had to put in two regiments to +push them back. I succeeded in driving them about half a mile, when +I was directed by McCook to form line of battle and place my +artillery in position so that I could act in concert with Davis's +division, which he wished to post on my right in the general line he +desired to take up. In obedience to these directions I deployed on +the right of, and oblique to the Wilkinson pike, with a front of four +regiments, a second line of four regiments within short supporting +distance, and a reserve of one brigade in column of regiments to the +rear of my centre. All this time the enemy kept up a heavy artillery +and musketry fire on my skirmishers, he occupying, with his +sharpshooters, beyond some open fields, a heavy belt of timber to my +front and right, where it was intended the left of Davis should +finally rest. To gain this point Davis was ordered to swing his +division into it in conjunction with a wheeling movement of my right +brigade, until our continuous line should face nearly due east. This +would give us possession of the timber referred to, and not only rid +us of the annoying fire from the skirmishers screened by it, but also +place us close in to what was now developing as Bragg's line of +battle. The movement was begun about half-past 2, and was +successfully executed, after a stubborn resistance. In this +preliminary affair the enemy had put in one battery of artillery, +which was silenced in a little while, however, by Bush's and +Hescock's guns. By sundown I had taken up my prescribed position, +facing almost east, my left (Roberts's brigade) resting on the +Wilkinson pike, the right (Sill's brigade) in the timber we had just +gained, and the reserve brigade (Schaefer's) to the rear of my +centre, on some rising ground in the edge of a strip of woods behind +Houghtaling's and Hescock's batteries. Davis's division was placed +in position on my right, his troops thrown somewhat to the rear, so +that his line formed nearly a right angle with mine, while Johnson's +division formed in a very exposed position on the right of Davis, +prolonging the general line just across the Franklin pike. + +The centre, under Thomas, had already formed to my left, the right of +Negley's division joining my left in a cedar thicket near the +Wilkinson pike, while Crittenden's corps was posted on the left of +Thomas, his left resting on Stone River, at a point about two miles +and a half from Murfreesboro'. + +The precision that had characterized every manoeuvre of the past +three days, and the exactness with which each corps and division fell +into its allotted place on the evening of the 30th, indicated that at +the outset of the campaign a well-digested plan of operations had +been prepared for us; and although the scheme of the expected battle +was not known to subordinates of my grade, yet all the movements up +to this time had been so successfully and accurately made as to give +much promise for the morrow, and when night fell there was general +anticipation of the best results to the Union army. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +ASSAULT ON OUR RIGHT FLANK--OCCUPYING A NEW POSITION--THE ENEMY +CHECKED--TERRIBLE LOSS OF OFFICERS--AMMUNITION GIVES OUT +--RECONSTRUCTING THE LINE--COLLECTING THE WOUNDED AND BURYING +THE DEAD--DEALING WITH COWARDS--RESULTS OF THE VICTORY. + +The enemy under Bragg lay between us and stone River in order of +battle, his general line conforming to the course of that stream. In +my immediate front he appeared to be established in strong force in a +dense cedar wood, just beyond an open valley, which varied from two +hundred to four hundred yards in width, the cedars extending the +entire length of the valley. From the events of the day and evening +of the 3oth, it was apparent that the two armies were in close +proximity, and orders received during the night revealed the fact +that Rosecrans intended to attack by throwing his left on the enemy's +right, with the expectation of driving it in toward Murfreesboro', so +that the right of Crittenden's corps could attack Bragg's centre in +reverse, while Thomas supported Crittenden by a simultaneous front +assault; and from the movements of the enemy at daylight next +morning, it was plainly indicated that Bragg had planned to swing his +left on our right by an exactly similar manoeuvre, get possession of +the railroad and the Nashville pike, and if possible cut us off from +our base at Nashville. The conceptions in the minds of the two +generals were almost identical; but Bragg took the initiative, +beginning his movement about an hour earlier than the time set by +Rosecrans, which gained him an immense advantage in execution in the +earlier stages of the action. + +During the evening, feeling keenly all the solicitude which +attends one in anticipation of a battle, I examined my position with +great care, inspecting its whole length several times to remedy any +defects that might exist, and to let the men see that I was alive to +their interests and advantages. After dark, I went back to the rear +of my reserve brigade, and establishing my headquarters behind the +trunk of a large fallen tree, which would shelter me somewhat from +the cold December wind, lay down beside a small camp-fire to get some +rest. + +At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 31st General Sill came back to me +to report that on his front a continuous movement of infantry and +artillery had been going on all night within the Confederate lines, +and that he was convinced that Bragg was massing on our right with +the purpose of making an attack from that direction early in the +morning. After discussing for a few minutes the probabilities of +such a course on the part of the enemy, I thought McCook should be +made acquainted with what was going on, so Sill and I went back to +see him at his headquarters, not far from the Griscom House, where we +found him sleeping on some straw in the angle of a worm-fence. I +waked him up and communicated the intelligence, and our consequent +impressions. He talked the matter over with us for some little time, +but in view of the offensive-defensive part he was to play in the +coming battle, did not seem to think that there was a necessity for +any further dispositions than had already been taken. He said that +he thought Johnson's division would be able to take care of the +right, and seemed confident that the early assault which was to be +made from Rosecrans's left would anticipate and check the designs +which we presaged. We two then returned to my little camp-fire +behind the log, and as we continued talking of what might be expected +from the indications on the right, and Sill becoming more anxious, I +directed two regiments from the reserve to report to him, that they +might be placed within very short supporting distance of his line. +He then rejoined his brigade, better satisfied, but still adhering to +the belief he had expressed when first making his report. + +Long before dawn my division breakfasted, and was assembled under +arms, the infantry in line, the cannoneers at their pieces, but while +we were thus preparing, all the recent signs of activity in the +enemy's camp were hushed, a death-like stillness prevailing in the +cedars to our front. Shortly after daylight General Hardee opened +the engagement, just as Sill had predicted, by a fierce attack on +Johnson's division, the extreme right of the Union line. Immediate +success attending this assault, Hardee extended the attack gradually +along in front of Davis, hip movement taking the form of a wheel to +the right, the pivot being nearly opposite the left of my division. +Johnson's division soon gave way, and two of Davis's brigades were +forced to fall back with it, though stubbornly resisting the +determined and sweeping onset. + +In the meantime the enemy had also attacked me, advancing across an +old cotton-field in Sill's front in heavy masses, which were +furiously opened upon by Bush's battery from Sill's line, and by +Hescock's and Houghtaling's batteries, which had an oblique fire on +the field from a commanding position in rear of my centre. The +effect of this fire on the advancing column was terrible, but it +continued on till it reached the edge of the timber where Sill's +right lay, when my infantry opened at a range of not over fifty +yards. For a short time the Confederates withstood the fire, but +then wavered, broke, and fell back toward their original line. As +they retired, Sill's brigade followed in a spirited charge, driving +them back across the open ground and behind their intrenchments. In +this charge the gallant Sill was killed; a rifle ball passing through +his upper lip and penetrating the brain. Although this was a heavy +loss, yet the enemy's discomfiture was such as to give us an hour's +time, and as Colonel Greusel, Thirty-sixth Illinois, succeeded to +Sill's command, I directed him, as he took charge, to recall the +brigade to its original position, for the turning-column on my +extreme right was now assuming the most menacing attitude, and it was +urgently necessary to prepare for it. + +When that portion of the enemy driven back by Sill recovered from its +repulse it again advanced to the attack, this time directing its +efforts chiefly upon my extreme right, and the front of Woodruff's +brigade of Davis's division, which brigade still held on in its first +position. In front of my centre the Confederates were again driven +back, but as the assault on Woodruff was in conjunction with an +advance of the column that had forced Johnson to retire, Woodruff was +compelled unfortunately to give way, and two regiments on the right +of my line went with him, till they rallied on the two reserve +regiments which, in anticipation of the enemy's initiatory attack I +had sent to Sill's rear before daylight. + +Both Johnson's and Davis's divisions were now practically gone from +our line, having retired with a loss of all formation, and they were +being closely pursued by the enemy, whose columns were following the +arc of a circle that would ultimately carry him in on my rear. In +consequence of the fact that this state of things would soon subject +me to a fire in reverse, I hastily withdrew Sill's brigade and the +reserve regiments supporting it, and ordered Roberts's brigade, which +at the close of the enemy's second repulse had changed front toward +the south and formed in column of regiments, to cover the withdrawal +by a charge on the Confederates as they came into the timber where my +right had originally rested. Roberts made the charge at the proper +time, and was successful in checking the enemy's advance, thus giving +us a breathing-spell, during which I was able to take up a new +position with Schaefer's and Sill's brigades on the commanding ground +to the rear, where Hescock's and Houghtaling's batteries had been +posted all the morning. + +The general course of this new position was at right angles with my +original line, and it took the shape of an obtuse angle, with my +three batteries at the apex. Davis, and Carlin of his division, +endeavored to rally their men here on my right, but their efforts +were practically unavailing,--though the calm and cool appearance of +Carlin, who at the time was smoking a stumpy pipe, had some effect, +and was in strong contrast to the excited manner of Davis, who seemed +overpowered by the disaster that had befallen his command. But few +could be rallied, however, as the men were badly demoralized, and +most of them fell back beyond the Wilkinson pike, where they +reorganized behind the troops of General Thomas. + +At this juncture the enemy's turning-column began advancing again in +concert with Cheatham's division, and as the extreme left of the +Confederates was directed on Griscom's house, and their right on the +Blanton house, my new position was in danger of envelopment. No hope +of stemming the tide at this point seemed probable, but to gain time +I retained my ground as long as possible, and until, under directions +from General McCook, I moved to the front from my left flank and +attached myself to the right of Negley's division, which up to this +hour had been left almost undisturbed by the enemy in the line it had +taken up the night before. Under a heavy fire we succeeded in this +manoeuvre, Schaefer's brigade marching first, then the batteries, and +Roberts's and Sill's brigades following. When my division arrived on +this new ground, I posted Roberts on Negley's right, with Hescock's +and Bush's guns, the brigade and guns occupying a low rocky ridge of +limestone, which faced them toward Murfreesboro', nearly south. The +rest of my division was aligned facing west, along the edge of a +cedar thicket, the rear rank backed up on the right flank of Roberts, +with Houghtaling's battery in the angle. This presented Sill's and +Schaefer's brigades in an almost opposite direction to the line we +had so confidently taken up the night before, and covered Negley's +rear. The enemy, in the meantime, had continued his wheeling +movement till he occupied the ground that my batteries and reserve +brigade had held in the morning, and I had now so changed my position +that the left brigade of my division approached his intrenchments in +front of Stone River, while Sill's and Schaeffer's brigades, by +facing nearly west, confronted the successful troops that had smashed +in our extreme right. + +I had hardly got straightened out in this last place when I was +attacked by Cheatham's'division, which, notwithstanding the +staggering blows it had previously received from Sill and Roberts, +now again moved forward in conjunction with the wheeling movement +under the immediate command of Hardee. One of the most sanguinary +contests of the day now took place. In fulfillment of Bragg's +original design no doubt, Cheatham's division attacked on my left, +while heavy masses under Hardee, covered by batteries posted on the +high ground formerly occupied by my guns, assaulted my right, the +whole force advancing simultaneously. At the same time the enemy +opened an artillery fire from his intrenchments in front of +Murfreesboro', and it seemed that he was present on every side. My +position was strong, however, located in the edge of a dense cedar +thicket and commanding a slight depression of open ground that lay in +my front. My men were in good spirits too, notwithstanding they had +been a good deal hustled around since daylight, with losses that had +told considerably on their numbers. Only a short distance now +separated the contending lines, and as the batteries on each side +were not much more than two hundred yards apart when the enemy made +his assault, the artillery fire was fearful in its effect on the +ranks of both contestants, the enemy's heavy masses staggering under +the torrent of shell and canister from our batteries, while our lines +were thinned by his ricochetting projectiles, that rebounded again +and again over the thinly covered limestone formation and sped on to +the rear of Negley. But all his efforts to dislodge or destroy us +were futile, and for the first time since daylight General Hardee was +seriously checked in the turning movement he had begun for the +purpose of getting possession of the Nashville pike, and though +reinforced until two-fifths of Bragg's army was now at his command, +yet he met with repulse after repulse, which created great gaps in +his lines and taught him that to overwhelm us was hopeless. + +As the enemy was recoiling from his first attack, I received a +message from Rosecrans telling me that he was making new +dispositions, and directing me to hold on where I was until they were +completed. From this I judged that the existing conditions of the +battle would probably require a sacrifice of my command, so I +informed Roberts and Schaefer that we must be prepared to meet the +demand on us by withstanding the assault of the enemy, no matter what +the outcome. Every energy was therefore bent to the simple holding +of our ground, and as ammunition was getting scarce, instructions +were given throughout the command to have it reserve its fire till +the most effective moment. In a little while came a second and a +third assault, and although they were as daring and furious as the +first, yet in each case the Confederates were repulsed, driven back +in confusion, but not without deadly loss to us, for the noble +Roberts was killed, and Colonel Harrington, of the Twenty-Seventh +Illinois, who succeeded to his brigade, was mortally wounded a few +minutes later. I had now on the death-roll three brigade commanders, +and the loss of subordinate officers and men was appalling, but their +sacrifice had accomplished the desired result; they had not fallen in +vain. Indeed, the bravery and tenacity of my division gave to +Rosecrans the time required to make new dispositions, and exacted +from our foes the highest commendations. + +A lull followed the third fierce assault, and an investigation showed +that, with the exception of a few rounds in my brigade, our +ammunition was entirely exhausted; and while it was apparent that the +enemy was reluctant to renew the conflict in my front, yet I was +satisfied I could not hold on much longer without the danger of +ultimate capture, so I prepared to withdraw as soon as the troops of +Rousseau's division, which had been ordered to take up a line on my +right, came into position. Schaefer's and Sill's brigades being +without a cartridge, I directed them to fix bayonets for a charge, +and await any attempt of the enemy to embarrass my retreat, while +Roberts's brigade, offering such resistance as its small quantity of +ammunition would permit, was pulled slowly in toward the Nashville +pike. Eighty of the horses of Houghtaling's battery having been +killed, an attempt was made to bring his guns back by hand over the +rocky ground, but it could not be done, and we had to abandon them. +Hescock also had lost most of his horses, but all his guns were +saved. Bush's battery lost two pieces, the tangled underbrush in the +dense cedars proving an obstacle to getting them away which his +almost superhuman exertions could not surmount. Thus far the bloody +duel had cost me heavily, one-third of my division being killed or +wounded. I had already three brigade commanders killed; a little +later I lost my fourth--Colonel Schaefer. + +The difficulties of withdrawing were very great, as the ground was +exceptionally rocky, and the growth of cedars almost impenetrable for +wheeled carriages. Retiring sullenly under a heavy fire, while the +general line was reformed to my right and rear, my division was at +length drawn through the cedars and debouched into an open space near +the Murfreesboro' pike, behind the right of Palmer's division. Two +regiments of Sill's brigade, however, on account of the conformation +of the ground, were obliged to fall back from the point where +Woodruff's brigade of Davis's division had rallied after the disaster +of the early morning. The division came out of the cedars with +unbroken ranks, thinned by only its killed and wounded--but few +missing. When we came into the open ground, McCook directed +Roberts's brigade--now commanded by Colonel Luther P. Bradley--to +proceed a short distance to the rear on the Nashville pike, to repel +the enemy's threatening attempt at our communications. Willingly and +cheerfully the brigade again entered the fight under these new +conditions, and although it was supplied with but three or four +cartridges to the man now, it charged gallantly and recaptured two +pieces of artillery which the Union troops had had to abandon at that +point. + +Shortly after we debouched from the cedars I was directed by +Rosecrans to send some aid to the right of General Palmer's division; +and two of Schaefer's regiments, having obtained ammunition, were +pushed up on Palmer's right, accompanied by four of Hescock's guns; +but the advance of the enemy here had already been checked by Palmer, +and only a desultory contest ensued. Rosecrans, whom I now met in +the open ground west of the railroad, behind Palmer, directed that my +command should relieve Wood's division, which was required to fall +back and take up the new line that had been marked out while I was +holding on in the cedars. His usually florid face had lost its ruddy +color, and his anxious eyes told that the disasters of the morning +were testing his powers to the very verge of endurance, but he seemed +fully to comprehend what had befallen us. His firmly set lips and, +the calmness with which his instructions were delivered inspired +confidence in all around him; and expressing approbation of what my +division had done, while deliberately directing it to a new point, he +renewed in us all the hope of final victory, though it must be +admitted that at this phase of the battle the chances lay largely +with the enemy. + +Withdrawing the two regiments and Hescock's battery, that I had +posted on the right of Palmer, I moved as directed by Rosecrans into +the position to the east of the railroad, and formed immediately to +the right of Wood, who was now being attacked all along his front, +but more particularly where his right rested near the railroad. +Under a storm of shot and shell that came in torrents my troops took +up the new ground, advancing through a clump of open timber to Wood's +assistance. Forming in line in front of the timber we poured a +telling fire into the enemy's ranks, which were then attacking across +some cleared fields; but when he discovered additional troops +confronting him, he gave up the attempt to carry Wood's position. It +was here that I lost Schaefer, who was killed instantly, making my +fourth brigade commander dead that day. The enemy in front of Wood +having been checked, our whole line east of the railroad executed +undisturbed its retrograde movement to a position about three hundred +yards to its rear. When I fell back to the edge of the clump of +timber, where when first coming on the ground I had formed to help +Wood, I was ordered by Rosecrans to prepare to make a charge should +the enemy again assault us. In anticipation of this work I massed my +troops in close column. The expected attack never came, however, but +the shot and shell of a furious cannonade told with fatal effect upon +men and officers as they lay on their faces hugging the ground. The +torments of this trying situation were almost unbearable, but it was +obvious to all that it was necessary to have at hand a compact body +of troops to repel any assault the enemy might make pending the +reconstruction of the extreme right of our line, and a silent +determination to stay seemed to take hold of each individual soldier; +nor was this grim silence interrupted throughout the cannonade, +except in one instance, when one of the regiments broke out in a +lusty cheer as a startled rabbit in search of a new hiding-place +safely ran the whole length of the line on the backs of the men. + +While my troops were still lying here, General Rosecrans, with a part +of his staff and a few orderlies, rode out on the rearranged line to +supervise its formation and encourage the men, and in prosecution of +these objects moved around the front of my column of attack, within +range of the batteries that were shelling us so viciously. As he +passed to the open ground on my left, I joined him. The enemy seeing +this mounted party, turned his guns upon it, and his accurate aim was +soon rewarded, for a solid shot carried away the head of Colonel +Garesche, the chief-of-staff, and killed or wounded two or three +orderlies. Garesche's appalling death stunned us all, and a +momentary expression of horror spread over Rosecrans's face; but at +such a time the importance of self-control was vital, and he pursued +his course with an appearance of indifference, which, however, those +immediately about him saw was assumed, for undoubtedly he felt most +deeply the death of his friend and trusted staff-officer. + +No other attacks were made on us to the east of the railroad for the +rest of the afternoon, and just before dark I was directed to +withdraw and take up a position along the west side of the Nashville +pike, on the extreme right of our new line, where Roberts's brigade +and the Seventy-third and Eighty-eighth Illinois had already been +placed by McCook. The day had cost me much anxiety and sadness, and +I was sorely disappointed at the general result, though I could not +be other than pleased at the part taken by my command. The loss of +my brigade commanders--Sill, Roberts, Schaefer, and Harrington-and a +large number of regimental and battery officers, with so many of +their men, struck deep into my heart: My thinned ranks told the +woeful tale of the fierce struggles, indescribable by words, through +which my division had passed since 7 o'clock in the morning; and +this, added to our hungry and exhausted condition, was naturally +disheartening. The men had been made veterans, however, by the +fortunes and misfortunes of the day, and as they went into their new +places still confident of final success, it was plain to see that +they felt a self-confidence inspired by the part they had already +played. + +My headquarters were now established on the Nashville pike, about +three miles and a half from Murfreesboro'; my division being aligned +to the west of the pike, bowed out and facing almost west, Cleburn's +division of the Confederates confronting it. Davis's division was +posted on my right, and Walker's brigade of Thomas's corps, which had +reported to me, took up a line that connected my left with Johnson's +division. + +Late in the evening General Rosecrans, accompanied by General McCook, +and several other officers whose names I am now unable to recall, +rode by my headquarters on their way to the rear to look for a new +line of battle--on Overall's creek it was said--that would preserve +our communications with Nashville and offer better facilities for +resistance than the one we were now holding. Considerable time had +elapsed when they returned from this exploration and proceeded to +their respective commands, without intimating to me that anything had +been determined upon by the reconnoissance, but a little later it was +rumored through the different headquarters that while the party was +looking for a new position it discovered the enemy's troops moving +toward our right and rear, the head of his columns being conducted in +the darkness by the aid of torches, and that no alternative was left +us but to hold the lines we then occupied. The torches had been seen +unquestionably, and possibly created some alarm at first in the minds +of the reconnoitring party, but it was soon ascertained that the +lights came from a battalion of the Fourth regular cavalry that was +picketing our flank and happened to be starting its bivouac fires at +the moment. The fires and the supposed movements had no weight, +therefore, in deciding the proposition to take up a line at Overall's +creek, but General Rosecrans, fortunately for the army, decided to +remain where he was. Doubtless reflections during his ride caused +him to realize that the enemy must be quite as much crippled as +himself. If it had been decided to fall back to Overall's creek, we +could have withdrawn without much difficulty very likely, but such a +retrograde movement would have left to the enemy the entire +battle-field of Stone River and ultimately compelled our retreat +to Nashville. + +In the night of December 3rd several slight demonstrations were made +on my front, but from the darkness neither party felt the effect of +the other's fire, and when daylight came again the skirmishers and +lines of battle were in about the same position they had taken up the +evening before. Soon after daybreak it became evident that the +conflict was to be renewed, and a little later the enemy resumed the +offensive by an attack along my left front, especially on Walker's +brigade. His attempt was ineffectual, however, and so easily +repulsed as to demonstrate that the desperate character of his +assaults the day before had nearly exhausted his strength. About 3 +o'clock in the afternoon he made another feeble charge on my front, +but our fire from the barricades and rifle-pits soon demoralized his +advancing lines, which fell back in some confusion, thus enabling us +to pick up about a hundred prisoners. From this time till the +evening of January 3 Bragg's left remained in our front, and +continued to show itself at intervals by weak demonstrations, which +we afterward ascertained were directly intended to cover the +desperate assault he made with Breckenridge on the left of Rosecrans, +an assault that really had in view only a defensive purpose, for +unless Bragg dislodged the troops which were now massing in front of +his right he would be obliged to withdraw General Polk's corps behind +Stone River and finally abandon Murfreesboro'. The sequel proved +this to be the case; and the ill-judged assault led by Breckenridge +ending in entire defeat, Bragg retired from Murfreesboro' the night +of January 3. + +General Rosecrans occupied Murfreesboro' on the 4th and 5th, having +gained a costly victory, which was not decisive enough in its +character to greatly affect the general course of the war, though it +somewhat strengthened and increased our hold on Middle Tennessee. +The enemy in retiring did not fall back very far--only behind Duck +River to Shelbyville and Tullahoma--and but little endeavor was made +to follow him. Indeed, we were not in condition to pursue, even if +it had been the intention at the outset of the campaign. + +As soon as possible after the Confederate retreat I went over the +battle-field to collect such of my wounded as had not been carried +off to the South and to bury my dead. In the cedars and on the +ground where I had been so fiercely assaulted when the battle opened, +on the morning of the 31st, evidences of the bloody struggle appeared +on every hand in the form of broken fire-arms, fragments of +accoutrements, and splintered trees. The dead had nearly all been +left unburied, but as there was likelihood of their mutilation by +roving swine, the bodies had mostly been collected in piles at +different points and inclosed by rail fences. The sad duties of +interment and of caring for the wounded were completed by the 5th, +and on the 6th I moved my division three miles, south of +Murfreesboro' on the Shelbyville pike, going into camp on the banks +of Stone River. Here the condition of my command was thoroughly +looked into, and an endeavor made to correct such defects as had been +disclosed by the recent battle. + +During the engagement there had been little straggling, and my list +of missing was small and legitimate; still, it was known that a very +few had shirked their duty, and an example was necessary. Among this +small number were four officers who, it was charged, had abandoned +their colors and regiments. When their guilt was clearly +established, and as soon as an opportunity occurred, I caused the +whole division to be formed in a hollow square, closed in mass, and +had the four officers marched to the centre, where, telling them that +I would not humiliate any officer or soldier by requiring him to +touch their disgraced swords, I compelled them to deliver theirs up +to my colored servant, who also cut from their coats every insignia +of rank. Then, after there had been read to the command an order +from army headquarters dismissing the four from the service, the +scene was brought to a close by drumming the cowards out of camp. It +was a mortifying spectacle, but from that day no officer in that +division ever abandoned his colors. + +My effective force in the battle of Stone River was 4,154 officers +and men. Of this number I lost 1,633 killed, wounded, and missing, +or nearly 40 per cent. In the remaining years of the war, though +often engaged in most severe contests, I never experienced in any of +my commands so high a rate of casualties. The ratio of loss in the +whole of Rosecrans's army was also high, and Bragg's losses were +almost equally great. Rosecrans carried into the action about 42,000 +officers and men. He lost 13,230, or 31 per cent. Bragg's effective +force was 37,800 officers and men; he lost 10,306, or nearly 28 per +cent. + +Though our victory was dearly bought, yet the importance of gaining +the day at any price was very great, particularly when we consider +what might have been the result had not the gallantry of the army and +the manoeuvring during the early disaster saved us from ultimate +defeat. We had started out from Nashville on an offensive campaign, +probably with no intention of going beyond Murfreesboro', in +midwinter, but still with the expectation of delivering a crushing +blow should the enemy accept our challenge to battle. He met us with +a plan of attack almost the counterpart of our own. In the execution +of his plan he had many advantages, not the least of which was his +intimate knowledge of the ground, and he came near destroying us. +Had he done so, Nashville would probably have fallen; at all events, +Kentucky would have been opened again to his incursions, and the +theatre of war very likely transferred once more to the Ohio River. +As the case now stood, however, Nashville was firmly established as a +base for future operations, Kentucky was safe from the possibility of +being again overrun, and Bragg, thrown on the defensive, was +compelled to give his thoughts to the protection of the interior of +the Confederacy and the security of Chattanooga, rather than indulge +in schemes of conquest north of the Cumberland River. While he still +held on in Middle Tennessee his grasp was so much loosened that only +slight effort would be necessary to push him back into Georgia, and +thus give to the mountain region of East Tennessee an opportunity to +prove its loyalty to the Union. + +The victory quieted the fears of the West and Northwest, destroyed +the hopes of the secession element in Kentucky, renewed the drooping +spirits of the East Tennesseans, and demoralized the disunionists in +Middle Tennessee; yet it was a negative victory so far as concerned +the result on the battle-field. Rosecrans seems to have planned the +battle with the idea that the enemy would continue passive, remain +entirely on the defensive, and that it was necessary only to push +forward our left in order to force the evacuation of Murfreesboro'; +and notwithstanding the fact that on the afternoon of December 30 +McCook received information that the right of Johnson's division. +resting near the Franklin pike, extended only to about the centre of +the Confederate army, it does not appear that attack from that +quarter was at all apprehended by the Union commanders. + +The natural line of retreat of the Confederates was not threatened by +the design of Rosecrans; and Bragg, without risk to his +communications, anticipated it by a counter-attack of like character +from his own left, and demolished his adversary's plan the moment we +were thrown on the defensive. Had Bragg followed up with the spirit +which characterized its beginning the successful attack by Hardee on +our right wing--and there seems no reason why he should not have done +so--the army of Rosecrans still might have got back to Nashville, but +it would have been depleted and demoralized to such a degree as to +unfit it for offensive operations for a long time afterward. Bragg's +intrenchments in front of Stone River were very strong, and there +seems no reason why he should not have used his plain advantage as +explained, but instead he allowed us to gain time, intrench, and +recover a confidence that at first was badly shaken. Finally, to cap +the climax of his errors, he directed Breckenridge to make the +assault from his right flank on January 2, with small chance for +anything but disaster, when the real purpose in view could have been +accomplished without the necessity of any offensive manoeuvre +whatever. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL--THE SECRET EXPEDITION UNDER CARD THE +SCOUT--HIS CAPTURE BY GUERRILLAS--ESCAPE--A REVENGE PARTY--WOMEN +SOLDIERS--A FIGHT WITH SABRES--TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN--A FOOLISH +ADVENTURE. + +On the 6th of January, 1863, my division settled quietly down in its +camp south of Murfreesboro'. Its exhausted condition after the +terrible experiences of the preceding week required attention. It +needed recuperation, reinforcement, and reorganization, and I set +about these matters without delay, in anticipation of active +operations early in the spring. No forward movement was made for +nearly six months, however, and throughout this period drills, +parades, reconnoissances, and foraging expeditions filled in the time +profitably. In addition to these exercises the construction of +permanent fortifications for the security of Murfreesboro' was +undertaken by General Rosecrans, and large details from my troops +were furnished daily for the work. Much attention was also given to +creating a more perfect system of guard and picket duty-a matter that +had hitherto been somewhat neglected in the army, as its constant +activity had permitted scant opportunity for the development of such +a system. It was at this time that I received my appointment as a +major-general of Volunteers. My promotion had been recommended by +General Rosecrans immediately after the battle of Stone River, but +for some reason it was delayed until April, and though a long time +elapsed between the promise and the performance, my gratification was +extreme. + +My scout, Card, was exceedingly useful while encamped near +Murfreesboro, making several trips to East Tennessee within the +enemy's lines to collect information as to the condition of the loyal +people there, and to encourage them with the hope of early +liberation. He also brought back from each trip very accurate +statements as to the strength and doings of the Confederate army, +fixing almost with certainty its numbers and the locations of its +different divisions, and enabling my engineer-officer--Major +Morhardt--to construct good maps of the country in our front. On +these dangerous excursions Card was always accompanied by one of his +brothers, the other remaining with me to be ready for duty if any +accident occurred to those who had gone out, or in case I wanted to +communicate with them. In this way we kept well posted, although the +intelligence these men brought was almost always secured at the risk +of their lives. + +Early in the spring, before the Tullahoma campaign began, I thought +it would be practicable, by sending out a small secret expedition of +but three or four men, to break the Nashville and Chattanooga +railroad between Chattanooga and the enemy's position at Tullahoma by +burning the bridges in Crow Creek valley from its head to Stevenson, +Alabama, and then the great bridge across the Tennessee River at +Bridgeport. Feeling confident that I could persuade Card to +undertake the perilous duty, I broached the contemplated project to +him, and he at once jumped at the opportunity of thus distinguishing +himself, saying that with one of his brothers and three other loyal +East Tennesseeans, whose services he knew could be enlisted, he felt +sure of carrying out the idea, so I gave him authority to choose his +own assistants. In a few days his men appeared at my headquarters, +and when supplied with money in notes of the State Bank of Tennessee, +current everywhere as gold in those days, the party, composed of +Card, the second brother, and the three East Tennesseeans, started on +their precarious enterprise, their course being directed first toward +the Cumberland Mountains, intending to strike the Nashville and +Chattanooga railroad somewhere above Anderson's station. They +expected to get back in about fifteen days, but I looked for some +knowledge of the progress of their adventure before the expiration of +that period, hoping to hear through Confederate sources prisoners and +the like-of the destruction of the bridges. I waited in patience for +such news, but none came, and as the time Card had allotted himself +passed by, I watched anxiously for his return, for, as there was +scarcely a doubt that the expedition had proved a failure, the fate +of the party became a matter of deep concern to Card's remaining +brother and to me. Finally this brother volunteered to go to his +father's house in East Tennessee to get tidings of the party, and I +consented, for the probabilities were that some of them had made +their way to that point, or at least that some information had +reached there about them. As day after day went by, the time fixed +for this brother's return came round, yet he also remained out; but +some days after the lad was due Card himself turned up accompanied by +the brother he had taken with him, soon explained his delay in +getting back, and gave me the story of his adventures while absent. + +After leaving my camp, his party had followed various byways across +the Cumberland Mountains to Crow Creek Valley, as instructed; but +when nearing the railroad above Anderson's Station, they were +captured by some guerrillas prowling about that vicinity, and being +suspected of disloyalty to the Confederacy, were carried to +Chattanooga and imprisoned as Yankee spies. Their prospects now were +decidedly discouraging, for death stared them in the face. +Fortunately, however, some delays occurred relative to the +disposition that should be made of them, and they, meanwhile, +effected their escape from their jailors by way of one of the prison +windows, from which they managed to displace a bar, and by a skiff, +in the darkness of night, crossed the Tennessee River a little below +Chattanooga. From this point the party made their way back to my +camp, traveling only at night, hiding in the woods by day, and for +food depending on loyal citizens that Card had become acquainted with +when preaching and peddling. + +Card's first inquiry after relating his story was for the youngest +brother, whom he had left with me. I told him what I had done, in my +anxiety about himself, and that more than sufficient time had elapsed +for his brother's return. His reply was: "They have caught him. The +poor fellow is dead." His surmise proved correct; for news soon came +that the poor boy had been captured at his father's house, and +hanged. The blow to Card was a severe one, and so hardened his heart +against the guerrillas in the neighborhood of his father's home--for +he knew they were guilty of his brother's murder--that it was with +difficulty I could persuade him to continue in the employment of the +Government, so determined was he to avenge his brother's death at the +first opportunity. Finally, however, I succeeded in quieting the +almost uncontrollable rage that seemed to possess him, and he +remained with me during the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns; but +when we reached Knoxville the next winter, he took his departure, +informing me that he was going for the bushwhackers who had killed +his brother. A short time after he left me, I saw him at the head of +about thirty well-armed East Tennesseeans--refugees. They were +determined-looking men, seeking revenge for the wrongs and sufferings +that had been put upon them in the last two years, and no doubt +wreaked their vengeance right and left on all who had been in any way +instrumental in persecuting them. + +The feeding of our army from the base at Louisville was attended with +a great many difficulties, as the enemy's cavalry was constantly +breaking the railroad and intercepting our communications on the +Cumberland River at different points that were easily accessible to +his then superior force of troopers. The accumulation of reserve +stores was therefore not an easy task, and to get forage ahead a few +days was well-nigh impossible, unless that brought from the North was +supplemented by what we could gather from the country. Corn was +abundant in the region to the south and southwest of Murfreesboro', +so to make good our deficiences in this respect, I employed a brigade +about once a week in the duty of collecting and bringing in forage, +sending out sometimes as many as a hundred and fifty wagons to haul +the grain which my scouts had previously located. In nearly every +one of these expeditions the enemy was encountered, and the wagons +were usually loaded while the skirmishers kept up a running fire, +Often there would occur a respectable brush, with the loss on each +side of a number of killed and wounded. The officer in direct +command always reported to me personally whatever had happened during +the time he was out--the result of his reconnoissance, so to speak, +for that war the real nature of these excursions--and on one occasion +the colonel in command, Colonel Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri, +informed me that he got through without much difficulty; in fact, +that everything had gone all right and been eminently satisfactory, +except that in returning he had been mortified greatly by the conduct +of the two females belonging to the detachment and division train at +my headquarters. These women, he said, had given much annoyance by +getting drunk, and to some extent demoralizing his men. To say that +I was astonished at his statement would be a mild way of putting it, +and had I not known him to be a most upright man and of sound sense, +I should have doubted not only his veracity, but his sanity. +Inquiring who they were and for further details, I was informed that +there certainly were in the command two females, that in some +mysterious manner had attached themselves to the service as soldiers; +that one, an East Tennessee woman, was a teamster in the division +wagon-train and the other a private soldier in a cavalry company +temporarily attached to my headquarters for escort duty. While out +on the foraging expedition these Amazons had secured a supply of +"apple-jack" by some means, got very drunk, and on the return had +fallen into Stone River and been nearly drowned. After they had been +fished from, the water, in the process of resuscitation their sex was +disclosed, though up to this time it appeared to be known only to +each other. The story was straight and the circumstance clear, +so, convinced of Conrad's continued sanity, I directed the +provost-marshal to bring in arrest to my headquarters the two +disturbers of Conrad's peace of mind, After some little search the +East Tennessee woman was found in camp, somewhat the worse for the +experiences of the day before, but awaiting her fate content idly +smoking a cob-pipe. She was brought to me, and put in duress under +charge of the division surgeon until her companion could be secured. +To the doctor she related that the year before she had "refugeed" from +East Tennessee, and on arriving in Louisville assumed men's apparel +and sought and obtained employment as a teamster in the +quartermaster's department. Her features were very large, and so +coarse and masculine was her general appearance that she would readily +have passed as a man, and in her case the deception was no doubt +easily practiced. Next day the "she dragoon" was caught, and proved +to be a rather prepossessing young woman, and though necessarily +bronzed and hardened by exposure, I doubt if, even with these marks of +campaigning, she could have deceived as readily as did her companion. +How the two got acquainted, I never learned, and though they had +joined the army independently of each other, yet an intimacy had +sprung up between them long before the mishaps of the foraging +expedition. They both were forwarded to army headquarters, and, when +provided with clothing suited to their sex, sent back to Nashville, +and thence beyond our lines to Louisville. + +On January 9, by an order from the War Department, the Army of the +Cumberland had been divided into three corps, designated the +Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first. This order did not alter the +composition of the former grand divisions, nor change the commanders, +but the new nomenclature was a decided improvement over the clumsy +designations Right Wing, Centre, and Left Wing, which were well +calculated to lead to confusion sometimes. McCook's wing became the +Twentieth Corps, and my division continued of the same organization, +and held the same number as formerly-the Third Division, Twentieth +Corps. My first brigade was now commanded by Brigadier-General +William H. Lytle, the second by Colonel Bernard Laiboldt, and the +third by Colonel Luther P. Bradley. + +On the 4th of March I was directed to move in light marching order +toward Franklin and join General Gordon Granger, to take part in some +operations which he was projecting against General Earl Van Dorn, +then at Spring Hill. Knowing that my line of march would carry me +through a region where forage was plentiful, I took along a large +train of empty wagons, which I determined to fill with corn and send +back to Murfreesboro', believing that I could successfully cover the +train by Minty's brigade of cavalry, which had joined me for the +purpose of aiding in a reconnoissance toward Shelbyville. In +marching the column I placed a regiment of infantry at its head, then +the wagon-train, then a brigade of infantry--masking the cavalry +behind this brigade. The enemy, discovering that the train was with +us, and thinking he could capture it, came boldly out with his, +cavalry to attack. The head of his column came up to the crossroads +at Versailles, but holding him there, I passed the train and infantry +brigade beyond toward Eagleville, and when my cavalry had been thus +unmasked, Minty, followed by the balance of my division, which was +still behind, charged him with the sabre. Success was immediate and +complete, and pursuit of the routed forces continued through +Unionville, until we fell upon and drove in the Confederate outposts +at Shelbyville. Here the enemy was taken by surprise evidently, +which was most fortunate for us, otherwise the consequences might +have been disastrous. Minty captured in the charge about fifty +prisoners and a few wagons and mules, and thus enabled me to load my +train with corn, and send it back to Murfreesboro' unmolested. In +this little fight the sabre was freely used by both sides, and I do +not believe that during the whole war I again knew of so large a +percentage of wounds by that arm in proportion to the numbers +engaged. + +That night I encamped at Eagleville, and next day reported to Granger +at Franklin, arriving in the midst of much excitement prevailing on +account of the loss of Coburn's brigade, which had been captured the +day before a little distance south of that point, while marching to +form a junction with a column that had been directed on Columbia from +Murfreesboro'. Shortly after Coburn's capture General Granger had +come upon the scene, and the next day he advanced my division and +Minty's troops directly on Spring Hill, with a view to making some +reprisal; but Van Dorn had no intention of accommodating us, and +retired from Spring Hill, offering but little resistance. He +continued to fall back, till finally he got behind Duck River, where +operations against him ceased; for, in consequence of the incessant +rains of the season, the streams had become almost impassable. +Later, I returned by way of Franklin to my old camp at Murfreesboro', +passing over on this march the ground on which the Confederate +General Hood met with such disaster the following year in his attack +on Stanley's corps. + +My command had all returned from the Franklin expedition to +Murfreesboro' and gone into camp on the Salem pike by the latter part +of March, from which time till June it took part in only the little +affairs of outposts occurring every now and then on my own front. In +the meanwhile General Rosecrans had been materially reinforced by the +return of sick and wounded men; his army had become well disciplined, +and was tolerably supplied; and he was repeatedly pressed by the +authorities at Washington to undertake offensive operations. + +During the spring and early summer Rosecrans resisted, with a great +deal of spirit and on various grounds, these frequent urgings, and +out of this grew up an acrimonious correspondence and strained +feeling between him and General Halleck. Early in June, however, +stores had been accumulated and other preparations made for a move +forward, Resecrans seeming to have decided that he could safely risk +an advance, with the prospect of good results. Before finally +deciding, he called upon most of his corps and division commanders +for their opinions on certain propositions which he presented, and +most of them still opposed the projected movement, I among the +number, reasoning that while General Grant was operating against +Vicksburg, it was better to hold Bragg in Middle Tennessee than to +push him so far back into Georgia that interior means of +communication would give the Confederate Government the opportunity +of quickly joining a part of his force to that of General Johnson in +Mississippi. + +At this stage, and in fact prior to it, Rosecrans seemed to manifest +special confidence in me, often discussing his plans with me +independent of the occasions on which he formally referred them for +my views. I recollect that on two different occasions about this +time he unfolded his designs to me in this informal way, outlining +generally how he expected ultimately to force Bragg south of the +Tennessee River, and going into the details of the contemplated move +on Tullahoma. His schemes, to my mind, were not only comprehensive, +but exact, and showed conclusively, what no one doubted then, that +they were original with him. I found in them very little to +criticise unfavorably, if we were to move at all, and Rosecrans +certainly impressed me that he favored an advance at an early day, +though many of his generals were against it until the operations on +the Mississippi River should culminate in something definite. There +was much, fully apparent in the circumstances about his headquarters, +leading to the conviction that Rosecrans originated the Tullahoma +campaign, and the record of his prior performances collaterally +sustains the visible evidence then existing. In my opinion, then, +based on a clear recollection of various occurrences growing out of +our intimacy, he conceived the plan of the Tullahoma campaign and the +one succeeding it; and is therefore entitled to every credit that +attended their execution, no matter what may be claimed for others. + +On the 23d of June Bragg was covering his position north of Duck +River with a front extending from McMinnville, where his cavalry +rested, through Wartrace and Shelbyville to Columbia, his depot being +at Tullahoma. Rosecrans, thinking that Bragg would offer strong +resistance at Shelbyville--which was somewhat protected by a spur +of low mountains or hills, offshoots of the Cumberland Mountains +--decided to turn that place; consequently, he directed the mass +of the Union army on the enemy's right flank, about Manchester. + +On the 26th of June McCook's corps advanced toward Liberty Gap, my +divisions marching on the Shelbyville pike. I had proceeded but a +few miles when I encountered the enemy's pickets, who fell back to +Christiana, about nine miles from Murfreesboro'. Here I was assailed +pretty wickedly by the enemy's sharpshooters and a section of +artillery, but as I was instructed to do nothing more than cover the +road from Eagleville, over which Brannan's division was to approach +Christiana, I made little reply to this severe annoyance, wishing to +conceal the strength of my force. As soon as the head of Brannan's +column arrived I marched across-country to the left, and encamped +that night at the little town of Millersburg, in the vicinity of +Liberty Gap. I was directed to move from Millersburg, on Hoover's +Gap--a pass in the range of hills already referred to, through which +ran the turnpike from Murfreesboro' to Manchester--but heavy rains +had made the country roads almost impassable, and the last of my +division did not reach Hoover's Gap till the morning of June 27, +after its abandonment by the enemy. Continuing on to Fairfield, the +head of my column met, south of that place, a small force of +Confederate infantry and cavalry, which after a slight skirmish +Laiboldt's brigade drove back toward Wartrace. The next morning I +arrived at Manchester, where I remained quiet for the day. Early on +the 29th I marched by the Lynchburg road for Tullahoma, where the +enemy was believed to be in force, and came into position about six +miles from the town. + +By the 31st the whole army had been concentrated, in spite of many +difficulties, and though, on account of the heavy rains that had +fallen almost incessantly since we left Murfreesboro', its movements +had been slow and somewhat inaccurate, yet the precision with which +it took up a line of battle for an attack on Tullahoma showed that +forethought and study had been given to every detail. The enemy had +determined to fall back from Tullahoma at the beginning of the +campaign, however, and as we advanced, his evacuation had so far +progressed that when, on July 1. We reached the earthworks thrown. +up early in the year for the defense of the place, he had almost +wholly disappeared, carrying off all his stores and munitions of war +except some little subsistence and eleven pieces of artillery. A +strong rearguard remained to cover the retreat, and on my front the +usual encounters between advancing and retreating forces took place. +Just before reaching the intrenchments on the Lynchburg road, I came +upon an open space that was covered by a network of fallen trees and +underbrush, which had been slashed all along in front of the enemy's +earthworks. This made our progress very difficult, but I shortly +became satisfied that there were only a few of the enemy within the +works, so moving a battalion of cavalry that had joined me the day +before down the road as rapidly as the obstructions would permit, the +Confederate pickets quickly departed, and we gained possession of the +town. Three siege guns, four caissons, a few stores, and a small +number of prisoners fell into my hands. + +That same evening orders were issued to the army to push on from +Tullahoma in pursuit, for, as it was thought that we might not be +able to cross Elk River on account of its swollen condition, we could +do the enemy some damage by keeping close as possible at his heels. +I marched on the Winchester road at 3 o'clock on the 2d of July and +about 8 o'clock reached Elk River ford. The stream was for the time +truly an impassable torrent, and all hope of crossing by the +Winchester ford had to be abandoned. Deeming that further effort +should be made, however, under guidance of Card, I turned the head of +my column in the direction of Alisona, marching up the river and +nearly parallel with it till I came to Rock Creek. With a little +delay we got across Rock Creek, which was also much swollen, and +finding a short distance above its mouth a ford on Elk River that +Card said was practicable, I determined to attempt it: Some of the +enemy's cavalry were guarding this ford, but after a sharp little +skirmish my battalion of cavalry crossed and took up a strong +position on the other bank. The stream was very high and the current +very swift, the water, tumbling along over its rocky bed in an +immense volume, but still it was fordable for infantry if means could +be devised by which the men could keep their feet. A cable was +stretched across just below the ford as a lifeline for the weaker +ones, and then the men of the entire division having secured their +ammunition by placing the cartridge-boxes on their shoulders, the +column pushed cheerfully into the rushing current. The men as they +entered the water joined each other in sets of four in a close +embrace, which enabled them to retain a foothold and successfully +resist the force of the flood. When they were across I turned the +column down the left bank of Elk River, and driving the enemy from +some slight works near Estelle Springs, regained the Winchester road. + +By this time it was clear that Bragg intended to fall back behind the +Tennessee River, and our only chance of accomplishing anything of +importance was to smash up his rear-guard before it crossed the +Cumberland Mountains, and in pursuance of this idea I was directed to +attack such of his force as was holding on to Winchester. At 4 +o'clock on the morning of July 2 I moved on that town, and when we +got close to it directed my mounted troops to charge a small force of +Confederate cavalry that was picketing their front. The Confederates +resisted but little, and our men went with them in a disorderly chase +through the village to Boiling Fork, a small stream about half a mile +beyond. Here the fleeing pickets, rallying behind a stronger force, +made a stand, and I was directed by McCook to delay till I +ascertained if Davis's division, which was to support me, had made +the crossing of Elk River, and until I could open up communication +with Brannan's division, which was to come in on my left at Decherd. +As soon as I learned that Davis was across I pushed on, but the delay +had permitted the enemy to pull his rear-guard up on the mountain, +and rendered nugatory all further efforts to hurt him materially, our +only returns consisting in forcing him to relinquish a small amount +of transportation and forage at the mouth of the pass just beyond +Cowan, a station on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga +railroad. + +At Cowan, Colonel Watkins, of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, reported to +me with twelve hundred mounted men. Having heard during the night +that the enemy had halted on the mountain near the University--an +educational establishment on the summit--I directed Watkins to make a +reconnoissance and find out the value of the information. He learned +that Wharton's brigade of cavalry was halted at the University to +cover a moderately large force of the enemy's infantry which had not +yet got down the mountain on the other side, so I pushed Watkins out +again on the 5th, supporting him by a brigade of infantry, which I +accompanied myself. We were too late, however, for when we arrived +at the top of the mountain Wharton had disappeared, and though +Watkins pursued to Bridgeport, he was able to do nothing more, and on +his return reported that the last of the enemy had crossed the +Tennessee River and burned the railroad bridge. + +Nothing further could now be done, so I instructed Watkins to rejoin +the division at Cowan, and being greatly fatigued by the hard +campaigning of the previous ten days, I concluded to go back to my +camp in a more comfortable way than on the back of my tired horse. +In his retreat the enemy had not disturbed the railway track at all, +and as we had captured a hand-car at Cowan, I thought I would have it +brought up to the station near the University to carry me down the +mountain to my camp, and, desiring company, I persuasively invited +Colonel Frank T. Sherman to ride with me. I sent for the car by a +courier, and for a long time patiently awaited its arrival, in fact, +until all the returning troops had passed us, but still it did not +come. Thinking it somewhat risky to remain at the station without +protection, Sherman and myself started our horses to Cowan by our +orderlies, and set out on foot to meet the car, trudging along down +the track in momentary expectation of falling in with our private +conveyance. We had not gone very far before night overtook us, and +we then began to realize the dangers surrounding us, for there we +were alone and helpless, tramping on in the darkness over an unknown +railroad track in the enemy's country, liable on the one hand to go +tumbling through some bridge or trestle, and on the other, to +possible capture or death at the hands of the guerrillas then +infesting these mountains. Just after dark we came to a little cabin +near the track, where we made bold to ask for water, notwithstanding +the fact that to disclose ourselves to the inmates might lead to +fatal consequences. The water was kindly given, but the owner and +his family were very much exercised lest some misfortune might befall +us near their house, so they encouraged us to move on with a frankness +inspired by fear of future trouble to themselves. + +At every turn we eagerly hoped to meet the hand-car, but it never +came, and we jolted on from tie to tie for eleven weary miles, +reaching Cowan after midnight, exhausted and sore in every muscle +from frequent falls on the rough, unballasted road-bed. Inquiry. +developed that the car had been well manned, and started to us as +ordered, and nobody could account for its non-arrival. Further +investigation next day showed, however, that when it reached the foot +of the mountain, where the railroad formed a junction, the improvised +crew, in the belief no doubt that the University was on the main line +instead of near the branch to Tracy City, followed the main stem +until it carried them clear across the range down the Crow Creek +Valley, where the party was captured. + +I had reason to remember for many a day this foolish adventure, for +my sore bones and bruised muscles, caused me physical suffering until +I left the Army of the Cumberland the next spring; but I had still +more reason to feel for my captured men, and on this account I have +never ceased to regret that I so thoughtlessly undertook to rejoin my +troops by rail, instead of sticking to my faithful horse. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ORDERED TO OCCUPY BRIDGEPORT--A SPY--THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA +--GENERAL THOMAS--TREATED TO COFFEE--RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. + +The Tullahoma campaign was practically closed by the disappearance of +the enemy from the country north of the Tennessee River. Middle +Tennessee was once more in the possession of the National troops, and +Rosecrans though strongly urged from Washington to continue on, +resisted the pressure until he could repair the Nashville and +Chattanooga railroad, which was of vital importance in supplying his +army from its secondary base at Nashville. As he desired to hold +this road to where it crossed the Tennessee, it was necessary to push +a force beyond the mountains, and after a few days of rest at Cowan +my division was ordered to take station at Stevenson, Alabama, the +junction of the Memphis and Charleston road with the Nashville and +Chattanooga, with instructions to occupy Bridgeport also. + +The enemy had meanwhile concentrated most of his forces at +Chattanooga for the twofold purpose of holding this gateway of the +Cumberland Mountains, and to assume a defensive attitude which would +enable him to take advantage of such circumstances as might arise in +the development of the offensive campaign he knew we must make. The +peculiar topography of the country was much to his advantage, and +while we had a broad river and numerous spurs and ridges of the +Cumberland Mountains to cross at a long distance from our base, he +was backed up on his depots of supply, and connected by interior +lines of railway with the different armies of the Confederacy, so +that he could be speedily reinforced. + +Bridgeport was to be ultimately a sub-depot for storing subsistence +supplies, and one of the points at which our army would cross the +Tennessee, so I occupied it on July 29 with two brigades, retaining +one at Stevenson, however, to protect that railway junction from +raids by way of Caperton's ferry. By the 29th of August a +considerable quantity of supplies had been accumulated, and then +began a general movement of our troops for crossing the river. As +there were not with the army enough pontoons to complete the two +bridges required, I was expected to build one of them of trestles; +and a battalion of the First Michigan Engineers under Colonel Innis +was sent me to help construct the bridge. Early on the 31st I sent +into the neighboring woods about fifteen hundred men with axes and +teams, and by nightfall they had delivered on the riverbank fifteen +hundred logs suitable for a trestle bridge. Flooring had been +shipped to me in advance by rail, but the quantity was insufficient, +and the lack had to be supplied by utilizing planking and +weather-boarding taken from barns and houses in the surrounding +country. The next day Innis's engineers, with the assistance of the +detail that had felled the timber, cut and half-notched the logs, and +put the bridge across; spanning the main channel, which was swimming +deep, with four or five pontoons that had been sent me for this +purpose. On the 2d and 3d of September my division crossed on the +bridge in safety, though we were delayed somewhat because of its +giving way once where the pontoons joined the trestles. We were +followed by a few detachments from other commands, and by nearly +all the transportation of McCook's corps. + +After getting to the south side of the Tennessee River I was ordered +to Valley Head, where McCook's corps was to concentrate. On the 4th +of September I ascended Sand Mountain, but had got only half way +across the plateau, on top, when night came, the march having been a +most toilsome one. The next day we descended to the base, and +encamped near Trenton. On the 10th I arrived at Valley Head, and +climbing Lookout Mountain, encamped on the plateau at Indian Falls. +The following day I went down into Broomtown Valley to Alpine. +The march of McCook's corps from Valley Head to Alpine was in +pursuance of orders directing it to advance on Summerville, the +possession of which place would further threaten the enemy's +communications, it being assumed that Bragg was in full retreat +south, as he had abandoned Chattanooga on the 8th. This assumption +soon proved erroneous, however, and as we, while in Broomtown Valley, +could not communicate directly with Thomas's corps, the scattered +condition of the army began to alarm us all, and McCook abandoned the +advance to Summerville, ordering back to the summit of Lookout +Mountain such of the corps trains as had got down into Broomtown +Valley. + +But before this I had grown uneasy in regard to the disjointed +situation of our army, and, to inform myself of what was going on, +determined to send a spy into the enemy's lines. In passing Valley +Head on the 10th my scout Card, who had been on the lookout for some +one capable to undertake the task, brought me a Union man with whom +he was acquainted, who lived on Sand Mountain, and had been much +persecuted by guerrillas on account of his loyal sentiments. He knew +the country well, and as his loyalty was vouched for I asked him to +go into the enemy's camp, which I believed to be near Lafayette, and, +bring me such information as he could gather. He said such a journey +would be at the risk of his life, and that at best he could not +expect to remain in that section of country if he undertook it, but +that he would run all the chances if I would enable him to emigrate +to the West at the end c f the "job," which I could do by purchasing +the small "bunch" of stock he owned on the mountain. To this I +readily assented, and he started on the delicate undertaking. He +penetrated the enemy's lines with little difficulty, but while +prosecuting his search for information was suspected, and at once +arrested and placed under guard. From this critical situation he +escaped; however, making his way through the enemy's picket-line in +the darkness by crawling on his belly and deceiving the sentinels by +imitating the grunts of the half-wild, sand-colored hogs with which +the country abounded. He succeeded in reaching Rosecrans's +headquarters finally, and there gave the definite information that +Bragg intended to fight, and that he expected to be reinforced by +Longstreet. + +By this time it was clear that Bragg had abandoned Chattanooga with +the sole design of striking us in detail as we followed in pursuit; +and to prevent his achieving this purpose orders came at 12 o'clock, +midnight, for McCook to draw in toward Chattanooga. This could be +done only by recrossing Lookout Mountain, the enemy's army at +Lafayette now interposing between us and Thomas's corps. The +retrograde march began at once. I moved back over the mountain on +the 13th and 14th to Stevens's Mills, and on the 15th and 16th +recrossed through Stevens's Gap, in the Lookout range, and encamped +at its base in McLamore's cove. The march was made with all possible +celerity, for the situation was critical and demanded every exertion. +The ascent and descent of the mountains was extremely exhausting, the +steep grades often rendering it necessary to drag up and let down by +hand both the transportation and artillery. But at last we were in +conjunction with the main army, and my division breathed easier. + +On the 17th I remained in line of battle all day and night in front +of McLamore's cove, the enemy making slight demonstrations against me +from the direction of Lafayette. The main body of the army having +bodily moved to the left meanwhile, I followed it on the 18th, +encamping at Pond Spring. On the 19th I resumed the march to the +left and went into line of battle at Crawfish Springs to cover our +right and rear. Immediately after forming this line, I again became +isolated by the general movement to the left, and in consequence was +directed to advance and hold the ford of Chickamauga Creek at Lee and +Gordon's Mills, thus coming into close communication with the balance +of our forces. I moved into this position rapidly, being compelled, +though, first to drive back the enemy's cavalry skirmishers, who, +having crossed to the west side of the creek, annoyed the right flank +of my column a good deal while en route. + +Upon arrival at Lee and Gordon's Mills I found the ford over +Chickamauga Creek temporarily uncovered, through the hurried movement +of Wood to the assistance of Davis's division. The enemy was already +present in small force, with the evident intention of taking +permanent possession, but my troops at once actively engaged him and +recovered the ford with some slight losses. Scarcely had this been +done when I was directed to assist Crittenden. Leaving Lytle's +brigade at the ford, I proceeded with Bradley's and Laiboldt's to +help Crittenden, whose main line was formed to the east of the +Chattanooga and Lafayette road, its right trending toward a point on +Chickamauga Creek about a mile and a half north of Lee and Gordon's +Mills. By the time I had joined Crittenden with my two brigades, +Davis had been worsted in an attack Rosecrans had ordered him to make +on the left of that portion of the enemy's line which was located +along the west bank of the Chickamauga, the repulse being so severe +that one of Davis's batteries had to be abandoned. Bradley's brigade +arrived on the ground first and was hastily formed and thrown into +the fight, which up to this moment had been very doubtful, fortune +inclining first to one side, then to the other. Bradley's brigade +went in with steadiness, and charging across an open corn-field that +lay in front of the Lafayette road, recovered Davis's guns and forced +the enemy to retire. Meanwhile Laiboldt's brigade had come on the +scene, and forming it on Bradley's right, I found myself at the end +of the contest holding the ground which was Davis's original +position. It was an ugly fight and my loss was heavy, including +Bradley wounded. The temporary success was cheering, and when +Lytle's brigade joined me a little later I suggested to Crittenden +that we attack, but investigation showed that his troops, having been +engaged all day, were not in condition, so the suggestion could not +be carried out. + +The events of the day had indicated that Bragg's main object was to +turn Rosecrans's left; it was therefore still deemed necessary that +the army should continue its flank movement to the left, so orders +came to draw my troops in toward the widow Glenn's house. By +strengthening the skirmish line and shifting my brigades in +succession from right to left until the point designated was reached, +I was able to effect the withdrawal without much difficulty, calling +in my skirmish line after the main force had retired. + +My command having settled down for the night in this new line I rode +to army headquarters, to learn if possible the expectations for the +morrow and hear the result of the battle in General Thomas's front. +Nearly all the superior officers of the army were at headquarters, +and it struck me that much depression prevailed, notwithstanding the +fact that the enemy's attempts during the day to turn our left flank +and also envelop our right had been unsuccessful. It was now +positively known, through prisoners and otherwise, that Bragg had +been reinforced to such an extent as to make him materially outnumber +us, consequently there was much apprehension for the future. + +The necessity of protecting our left was most apparent, and the next +day the drifting in that direction was to be continued. This +movement in the presence of the enemy, who at all points was actively +seeking an opportunity to penetrate our line and interpose a column +between its right and left, was most dangerous. But the necessity +for shifting the army to the left was obvious, hence only the method +by which it was undertaken is open to question. The move was made by +the flank in the face of an exultant foe superior in numbers, and was +a violation of a simple and fundamental military principle. Under +such circumstances columns naturally stretch out into attenuated +lines, organizations become separated, and intervals occur, all of +which we experienced; and had the orders for the movement been +construed properly I doubt if it could have been executed without +serious danger. Necessity knows no law, however, and when all the +circumstances of this battle are fully considered it is possible that +justification may be found for the manoeuvres by which the army was +thus drifted to the left. We were in a bad strait unquestionably, +and under such conditions possibly the exception had to be applied +rather than the rule. + +At daylight on the morning of the 20th a dense fog obscured +everything; consequently both armies were passive so far as fighting +was concerned. Rosecrans took advantage of the inaction to rearrange +his right, and I was pulled back closer to the widow Glenn's house to +a strong position, where I threw together some rails and logs as +barricades, but I was disconnected from the troops on my left by a +considerable interval. Here I awaited the approach of the enemy, but +he did not disturb me, although about 9 o'clock in the forenoon he +had opened on our extreme left with musketry fire and a heavy +cannonade. Two hours later it was discovered by McCook that the +interval between the main army and me was widening, and he ordered me +to send Laiboldt's brigade to occupy a portion of the front that had +been covered by Negley's division. Before getting this brigade into +place, however, two small brigades of Davis's division occupied the +ground, and I directed Laiboldt to form in column of regiments on the +crest of a low ridge in rear of Carlin's brigade, so as to prevent +Davis's right flank from being turned. The enemy was now feeling +Davis strongly, and I was about sending for Lytle's and Bradley's +brigades when I received an order to move these rapidly to the +extreme left of the army to the assistance of General Thomas. I rode +hastily back toward their position, but in the meanwhile, they had +been notified by direct orders from McCook, and were moving out at a +double-quick toward the Lafayette road. By this time the enemy had +assaulted Davis furiously in front and flank, and driven him from his +line, and as the confused mass came back, McCook ordered Laiboldt to +charge by deploying to the front. This he did through Davis's broken +ranks, but failed to check the enemy's heavy lines, and finally +Laiboldt's brigade broke also and fell to the rear. My remaining +troops, headed by Lytle, were now passing along the rear of the +ground where this disaster took place--in column on the road--en +route to Thomas, and as the hundreds of fugitives rushed back, McCook +directed me to throw in Lytle's and Bradley's brigades. This was +hastily done, they being formed to the front under a terrible fire. +Scarcely were they aligned when the same horde of Confederates that +had overwhelmed Davis and Laiboldt poured in upon them a deadly fire +and shivered the two brigades to pieces. We succeeded in rallying +them, however, and by a counter attack regained the ridge that +Laiboldt had been driven from, where we captured the colors of the +Twenty-fourth Alabama. We could not hold the ridge, though, and my +troops were driven back with heavy loss, including General Lytle +killed, past the widow Glenn's house, and till I managed to establish +them in line of battle on a range of low hills behind the Dry Valley +road. + +During these occurrences General Rosecrans passed down the road +behind my line, and sent word that he wished to see me, but affairs +were too critical to admit of my going to him at once, and he rode on +to Chattanooga. It is to be regretted that he did not wait till I +could join him, for the delay would have permitted him to see that +matters were not in quite such bad shape as he supposed; still, there +is no disguising the fact that at this juncture his army was badly +crippled. + +Shortly after my division had rallied on the low hills already +described, I discovered that the enemy, instead of attacking me in +front, was wedging in between my division and the balance of the +army; in short, endeavoring to cut me off from Chattanooga. This +necessitated another retrograde movement, which brought me back to +the southern face of Missionary Ridge, where I was joined by Carlin's +brigade of Davis's division. Still thinking I could join General +Thomas, I rode some distance to the left of my line to look for a way +out, but found that the enemy had intervened so far as to isolate me +effectually. I then determined to march directly to Rossville, and +from there effect a junction with Thomas by the Lafayette road. I +reached Rossville about o'clock in the afternoon, bringing with me +eight guns, forty-six caissons, and a long ammunition train, the +latter having been found in a state of confusion behind the widow +Glenn's when I was being driven back behind the Dry Valley road. + +The head of my column passed through Rossville, appearing upon +Thomas's left about 6 o'clock in the evening, penetrated without any +opposition the right of the enemy's line, and captured several of his +field-hospitals. As soon as I got on the field I informed Thomas of +the presence of my command, and asked for orders. He replied that +his lines were disorganized, and that it would be futile to attack; +that all I could do was to hold on, and aid in covering his +withdrawal to Rossville. + +I accompanied him back to Rossville, and when we reached the skirt of +the little hamlet General Thomas halted and we dismounted. Going +into one of the angles of a worm fence near by I took a rail from the +top and put it through the lower rails at a proper height from the +ground to make a seat, and General Thomas and I sat down while, my +troops were moving by. The General appeared very much exhausted, +seemed to forget what he had stopped for, and said little or nothing +of the incidents of the day. This was the second occasion on which I +had met him in the midst of misfortune, for during the fight in the +cedars at Stone River, when our prospects were most disheartening, we +held a brief conversation respecting the line he was then taking up +for the purpose of helping me. At other times, in periods of +inactivity, I saw but little of him. He impressed me, now as he did +in the cedars, his quiet, unobtrusive: demeanor communicating a +gloomy rather than a hopeful view of the situation. This apparent +depression was due no doubt to the severe trial through which he had +gone in the last forty-eight hours, which, strain had exhausted him +very much both physically and mentally. His success in maintaining +his ground was undoubtedly largely influenced by the fact that +two-thirds of the National forces had been sent to his succor, but his +firm purpose to save the army was the mainstay on which all relied +after Rosecrans left the field. As the command was getting pretty +well past, I rose to go in order to put my troops into camp. This +aroused the General, when, remarking that he had a little flask of +brandy in his saddle-holster, he added that he had just stopped for +the purpose of offering me a drink, as he knew I must be very tired. +He requested one of his staff-officers to get the flask, and after +taking a sip himself, passed it to me. Refreshed by the brandy, I +mounted and rode off to supervise the encamping of my division, by no +means an easy task considering the darkness, and the confusion that +existed among the troops that had preceded us into Rossville. + +This done, I lay down at the foot of a tree, with my saddle for a +pillow, and saddle-blanket for a cover. Some soldiers near me having +built a fire, were making coffee, and I guess I must have been +looking on wistfully, for in a little while they brought me a +tin-cupful of the coffee and a small piece of hard bread, which I +relished keenly, it being the first food that had passed my lips +since the night before. I was very tired, very hungry, and much +discouraged by what had taken place since morning. I had been +obliged to fight my command under the most disadvantageous +circumstances, disconnected, without supports, without even +opportunity to form in line of battle, and at one time contending +against four divisions of the enemy. In this battle of Chickamauga, +out of an effective strength Of 4,000 bayonets, I had lost 1,517 +officers and men, including two brigade commanders. This was not +satisfactory indeed, it was most depressing--and then there was much +confusion prevailing around Rossville; and, this condition of things +doubtless increasing my gloomy reflections, it did not seem to me +that the outlook for the next day was at all auspicious, unless the +enemy was slow to improve his present advantage. Exhaustion soon +quieted all forebodings, though, and I fell into a sound sleep, from +which I was not aroused till daylight. + +On the morning of the 21st the enemy failed to advance, and his +inaction gave us the opportunity for getting the broken and +disorganized army into shape. It took a large part of the day to +accomplish this, and the chances of complete victory would have been +greatly in Bragg's favor if he could have attacked us vigorously at +this time. But he had been badly hurt in the two days' conflict, and +his inactivity on the 21st showed that he too had to go through the +process of reorganization. Indeed, his crippled condition began to +show itself the preceding evening, and I have always thought that, +had General Thomas held on and attacked the Confederate right and +rear from where I made the junction with him on the Lafayette road, +the field of Chickamauga would have been relinquished to us; but it +was fated to be otherwise. + +Rosecrans, McCook, and Crittenden passed out of the battle when they +went back to Chattanooga, and their absence was discouraging to all +aware of it. Doubtless this had much to do with Thomas's final +withdrawal, thus leaving the field to the enemy, though at an immense +cost in killed and wounded. The night of the 21st the army moved +back from Rossville, and my division, as the rearguard of the +Twentieth Corps, got within our lines at Chattanooga about 8 o'clock +the morning of the 22d. Our unmolested retirement from Rossville +lent additional force to the belief that the enemy had been badly +injured, and further impressed me with the conviction that we might +have held on. Indeed, the battle of Chickamauga was somewhat like +that of Stone River, victory resting with the side that had the grit +to defer longest its relinquishment of the field. + +The manoeuvres by which Rosecrans had carried his army over the +Cumberland Mountains, crossed the Tennessee River, and possessed +himself of Chattanooga, merit the highest commendation up to the +abandonment of this town by Bragg on the 8th of September; but I have +always fancied that that evacuation made Rosecrans over-confident, +and led him to think that he could force Bragg south as far as Rome. +After the Union army passed the river and Chattanooga fell into our +hands; we still kept pressing the enemy's communications, and the +configuration of the country necessitated more or less isolation of +the different corps. McCook's corps of three divisions had crossed +two difficult ridges--Sand and Lookout mountains--to Alpine in +Broomtown Valley with intentions against Summerville. Thomas's corps +had marched by the way of Stevens's Gap toward Lafayette, which he +expected to occupy. Crittenden had passed through Chattanooga, at +first directing his march an Ringgold. Thus the corps of the army +were not in conjunction, and between McCook and Thomas there +intervened a positive and aggressive obstacle in the shape of Bragg's +army concentrating and awaiting reinforcement at Lafayette. Under +these circumstances Bragg could have taken the different corps in +detail, and it is strange that he did not, even before receiving his +reinforcements, turn on McCook in Broomtown Valley and destroy him. + +Intelligence that Bragg would give battle began to come to us from +various sources as early as the 10th of September, and on the 11th +McCook found that he could not communicate with Thomas by the direct +road through Broomtown Valley; but we did not begin closing in toward +Chattanooga till the 13th, and even then the Twentieth Corps had +before it the certainty of many delays that must necessarily result +from the circuitous and difficult mountain roads which we would be +obliged to follow. Had the different corps, beginning with McCook's, +been drawn in toward Chattanooga between the 8th and 12th of +September, the objective point of the campaign would have remained in +our hands without the battle of Chickamauga, but, as has been seen, +this was not done. McCook was almost constantly on the march day and +night between the 13th and the 19th, ascending and descending +mountains, his men worried and wearied, so that when they appeared on +the battle-field, their fatigued condition operated greatly against +their efficiency. This delay in concentration was also the original +cause of the continuous shifting toward our left to the support of +Thomas, by which manoeuvre Rosecrans endeavored to protect his +communications with Chattanooga, and out of which grew the intervals +that offered such tempting opportunities to Bragg. In addition to +all this, much transpired on the field of battle tending to bring +about disaster. There did not seem to be any well-defined plan of +action in the fighting; and this led to much independence of judgment +in construing orders among some of the subordinate generals. It also +gave rise to much license in issuing orders: too many people were +giving important directions, affecting the whole army, without +authority from its head. In view, therefore, of all the errors that +were committed from the time Chattanooga fell into our hands after +our first crossing the Tennessee, it was fortunate that the Union +defeat was not more complete, that it left in the enemy's possession +not much more than the barren results arising from the simple holding +of the ground on which the engagement was fought. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +AT CHATTANOOGA--THE ENEMY FORTIFIES LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND MISSIONARY +RIDGE--REORGANIZING THE ARMY--REMOVAL OF GENERAL ROSECRANS +--PUNISHMENT OF DESERTERS--GRANT AT CHATTANOOGA--THE FIGHT ON LOOKOUT +MOUNTAIN--A BRAVE COLOR-BEARER--BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE. + +By 9 o'clock on the morning of September 22 my command took up a +position within the heavy line of intrenchments at Chattanooga, the +greater part of which defenses had been thrown up since the army +commenced arriving there the day before. The enemy, having now +somewhat recovered from the shock of the recent battle, followed +carefully, and soon invested us close into our lines with a parallel +system of rifle-pits. He also began at once to erect permanent lines +of earthworks on Missionary Ridge and to establish himself strongly +on Lookout Mountain. He then sent Wheeler's cavalry north of the +Tennessee, and, aided greatly by the configuration of the ground, +held us in a state of partial siege, which serious rains might +convert into a complete investment. The occupation of Lookout +Mountain broke our direct communication with Bridgeport--our +sub-depot--and forced us to bring supplies by way of the Sequatchie +Valley and Waldron's Ridge of the Cumberland Mountains, over a road +most difficult even in the summer season, but now liable to be +rendered impassable by autumn rains. The distance to Bridgeport by +this circuitous route was sixty miles, and the numerous passes, +coves, and small valleys through which the road ran offered tempting +opportunities, for the destruction of trains, and the enemy was not +slow to take advantage of them. Indeed, the situation was not +promising, and General Rosecrans himself, in communicating with the +President the day succeeding the battle of Chickamauga, expressed +doubts of his ability to hold the gateway of the Cumberland +Mountains. + +The position taken up by my troops inside the lines of Chattanooga +was near the old iron-works, under the shadow of Lookout Mountain. +Here we were exposed to a continual fire from the enemy's batteries +for many days, but as the men were well covered by secure though +simple intrenchments, but little damage was done. My own +headquarters were established on the grounds of Mr. William +Crutchfield, a resident of the place, whose devotion to the Union +cause knew no bounds, and who rendered me--and, in fact, at one time +or another, nearly every general officer in the Army of the +Cumberland--invaluable service in the way of information about the +Confederate army. My headquarters camp frequently received shots +from the point of Lookout Mountain also, but fortunately no +casualties resulted from this plunging fire, though, I am free to +confess, at first our nerves were often upset by the whirring of +twenty-pounder shells dropped inconsiderately into our camp at +untimely hours of the night. + +In a few days rain began to fall, and the mountain roads by which our +supplies came were fast growing impracticable. Each succeeding train +of wagons took longer to make the trip from Bridgeport, and the draft +mules were dying by the hundreds. The artillery horses would soon go +too, and there was every prospect that later the troops would starve +unless something could be done. Luckily for my division, a company +of the Second Kentucky Cavalry had attached itself to my +headquarters, and, though there without authority, had been left +undisturbed in view of a coming reorganization of the army incidental +to the removal of McCook and Crittenden from the command of their +respective corps, a measure that had been determined upon immediately +after the battle of Chickamauga. Desiring to remain with me, Captain +Lowell H. Thickstun, commanding this company, was ready for any duty +I might find, for him, so I ordered him into the Sequatchie Valley +for the purpose of collecting supplies for my troops, and sent my +scout, Card along to guide him to the best locations. The company +hid itself away in a deep cove in the upper end of the valley, and by +keeping very quiet and paying for everything it took from the people, +in a few days was enabled to send me large quantities of corn for my +animals and food for the officers and men, which greatly supplemented +the scanty supplies we were getting from the sub-depot at Bridgeport. +In this way I carried men and animals through our beleaguerment in +pretty fair condition, and of the turkeys, chickens, ducks, and eggs +sent in for the messes of my officers we often had enough to divide +liberally among those at different headquarters. Wheeler's cavalry +never discovered my detached company, yet the chances of its capture +were not small, sometimes giving much uneasiness; still, I concluded +it was better to run all risks than to let the horses die of +starvation in Chattanooga. Later, after the battle of Missionary +Ridge, when I started to Knoxville, the company joined me in +excellent shape, bringing with it an abundance of food, including a +small herd of beef cattle. + +The whole time my line remained near the iron-mills the shelling from +Lookout was kept up, the screeching shots inquisitively asking in +their well-known way, "Where are you? Where are you?" but it is +strange to see how readily, soldiers can become accustomed to the +sound of dangerous missiles under circumstances of familiarity, and +this case was no exception to the rule. Few casualties occurred, and +soon contempt took the place of nervousness, and as we could not +reply in kind on account of the elevation required for our guns, the +men responded by jeers and imprecations whenever a shell fell into +their camp. + +Meantime, orders having been issued for the organization of the army, +additional troops were attached to my command, and it became the +Second Division of the Fourth Army Corps, to which Major-General +Gordon Granger was assigned as commander. This necessitated a change +of position of the division, and I moved to ground behind our works, +with my right resting on Fort Negley and my left extending well over +toward Fort Wood, my front being parallel to Missionary Ridge. My +division was now composed of twenty-five regiments, classified into +brigades and demi-brigades, the former commanded by Brigadier-General +G. D. Wagner, Colonel C. G. Harker, and Colonel F. T. Sherman; the +latter, by Colonels Laiboldt, Miller, Wood, Walworth, and Opdyke. +The demi-brigade was an awkward invention of Granger's; but at this +time it was necessitated--perhaps by the depleted condition of our +regiments, which compelled the massing of a great number of +regimental organizations into a division to give it weight and force. + +On October 16, 1863, General Grant had been assigned to the command +of the "Military Division of the Mississippi," a geographical area +which embraced the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the +Tennessee, thus effecting a consolidation of divided commands which +might have been introduced most profitably at an earlier date. The +same order that assigned General Grant relieved General Rosecrans, +and placed General Thomas in command of the Army of the Cumberland. +At the time of the reception of the order, Rosecrans was busy with +preparations for a movement to open the direct road to Bridgeport +--having received in the interval, since we came back to Chattanooga, +considerable reinforcement by the arrival in his department of the +Eleventh and Twelfth corps, under General Hooker, from the Army of +the Potomac. With this force Rosecrans had already strengthened +certain important points on the railroad between Nashville and +Stevenson, and given orders to Hooker to concentrate at Bridgeport +such portions of his command as were available, and to hold them in +readiness to advance toward Chattanooga. + +On the 19th of October, after turning the command over to Thomas, +General Rosecrans quietly slipped away from the army. He submitted +uncomplainingly to his removal, and modestly left us without fuss or +demonstration; ever maintaining, though, that the battle of +Chickamauga was in effect a victory, as it had ensured us, he said, +the retention of Chattanooga. When his departure became known +deep and almost universal regret was expressed, for he was +enthusiastically esteemed and loved by the Army of the Cumberland, +from the day he assumed command of it until he left it, +notwithstanding the censure poured upon him after the battle of +Chickamauga. + +The new position to which my division had been moved, in consequence +of the reorganization, required little additional labor to strengthen +it, and the routine of fatigue duty and drills was continued as +before, its monotony occasionally broken by the excitement of an +expected attack, or by amusements of various kinds that were +calculated to keep the men in good spirits. Toward this result much +was contributed by Mr. James E. Murdock, the actor, who came down +from the North to recover the body of his son, killed at Chickamauga, +and was quartered with me for the greater part of the time he was +obliged to await the successful conclusion of his sad mission. He +spent days, and even weeks, going about through the division giving +recitations before the camp-fires, and in improvised chapels, which +the men had constructed from refuse lumber and canvas. Suiting his +selections to the occasion, he never failed to excite intense +interest in the breasts of all present, and when circumstances +finally separated him from us, all felt that a debt of gratitude was +due him that could never be paid. The pleasure he gave, and the +confident feeling that was now arising from expected reinforcements, +was darkened, however, by one sad incident. Three men of my division +had deserted their colors at the beginning of the siege and made +their way north. They were soon arrested, and were brought back to +stand trial for the worst offense that can be committed by a soldier, +convicted of the crime, and ordered to be shot. To make the example +effective I paraded the whole division for the execution, and on the +13th of November, in the presence of their former comrades, the +culprits were sent, in accordance with the terms of their sentence, +to render their account to the Almighty. It was the saddest +spectacle I ever witnessed, but there could be no evasion, no +mitigation of the full letter of the law; its timely enforcement was +but justice to the brave spirits who had yet to fight the rebellion +to the end. + +General Grant arrived at Chattanooga on October 23, and began at once +to carry out the plans that had been formed for opening the shorter +or river road to Bridgeport. This object was successfully +accomplished by the moving of Hooker's command to Rankin's and +Brown's ferries in concert with a force from the Army of the +Cumberland which was directed on the same points, so by the 27th of +October direct communication with our depots was established. The +four weeks which followed this cheering result were busy with the +work of refitting and preparing for offensive operations as soon as +General Sherman should reach us with his troops from West Tennessee. +During this period of activity the enemy committed the serious fault +of detaching Longstreet's corps--sending it to aid in the siege of +Knoxville in East Tennessee--an error which has no justification +whatever, unless it be based on the presumption that it was +absolutely necessary that Longstreet should ultimately rejoin Lee's +army in Virginia by way of Knoxville and Lynchburg, with a chance of +picking up Burnside en route. Thus depleted, Bragg still held +Missionary Ridge in strong force, but that part of his line which +extended across the intervening valley to the northerly point of. +Lookout Mountain was much attenuated. + +By the 18th of November General Grant had issued instructions +covering his intended operations. They contemplated that Sherman's +column, which was arriving by the north bank of the Tennessee, should +cross the river on a pontoon bridge just below the mouth of +Chickamauga Creek and carry the northern extremity of Missionary +Ridge as far as the railroad tunnel; that the Army of the Cumberland +--the centre--should co-operate with Sherman; and that Hooker with a +mixed command should continue to hold Lookout Valley and operate on +our extreme right as circumstances might warrant. Sherman crossed on +the 24th to perform his alloted part of the programme, but in the +meantime Grant becoming impressed with the idea that Bragg was +endeavoring to get away, ordered Thomas to make a strong +demonstration in his front, to determine the truth or falsity of the +information that had been received. This task fell to the Fourth +Corps, and at 12 o'clock on the 23d I was notified that Wood's +division would make a reconnoissance to an elevated point in its +front called Orchard Knob, and that I was to support it with my +division and prevent Wood's right flank from being turned by an +advance of the enemy on Moore's road or from the direction of +Rossville. For this duty I marched my division out of the works +about 2 p.m., and took up a position on Bushy Knob. Shortly after we +reached this point Wood's division passed my left flank on its +reconnoissance, and my command, moving in support of it, drove in the +enemy's picket-line. Wood's took possession of Orchard Knob easily, +and mine was halted on a low ridge to the right of the Knob, where I +was directed by General Thomas to cover my front by a strong line of +rifle-pits, and to put in position two batteries of the Fourth +regular artillery that had joined me from the Eleventh Corps. After +dark Wood began to feel uneasy about his right flank, for a gap +existed between it and my left, so I moved in closer to him, taking +up a line where I remained inactive till the 25th, but suffering some +inconvenience from the enemy's shells. + +On the 24th General Sherman made an attack for the purpose of +carrying the north end of Missionary Ridge. His success was not +complete, although at the time it was reported throughout the army to +be so. It had the effect of disconcerting Bragg, however, and caused +him to strengthen his right by withdrawing troops from his left, +which circumstance led Hooker to advance on the northerly face of +Lookout Mountain. At first, with good glasses, we could plainly see +Hooker's troops driving the Confederates up the face of the mountain. +All were soon lost to view in the dense timber, but emerged again on +the open ground, across which the Confederates retreated at a lively +pace, followed by the pursuing line, which was led by a color-bearer, +who, far in advance, was bravely waving on his comrades. The +gallantry of this man elicited much enthusiasm among us all, but as +he was a considerable distance ahead of his comrades I expected to +see his rashness punished at any moment by death or capture. He +finally got quite near the retreating Confederates, when suddenly +they made a dash at him, but he was fully alive to such a move, and +ran back, apparently uninjured, to his friends. About this time a +small squad of men reached the top of Lookout and planted the Stars +and Stripes on its very crest. Just then a cloud settled down on the +mountain, and a heavy bank of fog obscured its whole face. + +After the view was lost the sharp rattle of musketry continued some +time, but practically the fight had been already won by Hooker's men, +the enemy only holding on with a rear-guard to assure his retreat +across Chattanooga Valley to Missionary Ridge. Later we heard very +heavy cannonading, and fearing that Hooker was in trouble I sent a +staff-officer to find out whether he needed assistance, which I +thought could be given by a demonstration toward Rossville. The +officer soon returned with the report that Hooker was all right, that +the cannonading was only a part of a little rear-guard fight, two +sections of artillery making all the noise, the reverberations from +point to point in the adjacent mountains echoing and reechoing till +it seemed that at least fifty guns were engaged. + +On the morning of the 25th of November Bragg's entire army was +holding only the line of Missionary Ridge, and our troops, being now +practically connected from Sherman to Hooker, confronted it with the +Army of the Cumberland in the centre--bowed out along the front of +Wood's division and mine. Early in the day Sherman, with great +determination and persistence, made an attempt to carry the high +ground near the tunnel, first gaining and then losing advantage, but +his attack was not crowned with the success anticipated. Meanwhile +Hooker and Palmer were swinging across Chattanooga Valley, using me +as a pivot for the purpose of crossing Missionary Ridge in the +neighborhood of Rossville. In the early part of the day I had driven +in the Confederate pickets in my front, so as to prolong my line of +battle on that of Wood, the necessity of continuing to refuse my +right having been obviated by the capture of Lookout Mountain and the +advance of Palmer. + +About 2 o'clock orders came to carry the line at the foot of the +ridge, attacking at a signal of six guns. I had few changes or new +dispositions to make. Wagner's brigade, which was next to Wood's +division, was formed in double lines, and Harker's brigade took the +same formation on Wagner's right. Colonel F. T. Sherman's brigade +came on Harker's right, formed in a column of attack, with a front of +three regiments, he having nine. My whole front was covered with a +heavy line of skirmishers. These dispositions made, my right rested +a little distance south of Moore's road, my left joined Wood over +toward Orchard Knob, while my centre was opposite Thurman's house +--the headquarters of General Bragg--on Missionary Ridge. A small +stream of water ran parallel to my front, as far as which the ground +was covered by a thin patch of timber, and beyond the edge of the +timber was an open plain to the foot of Missionary Ridge, varying in +width from four to nine hundred yards. At the foot of the ridge was +the enemy's first line of rifle-pits; at a point midway up its face, +another line, incomplete; and on the crest was a third line, in which +Bragg had massed his artillery. + +The enemy saw we were making dispositions for an attack, and in plain +view of my whole division he prepared himself for resistance, +marching regiments from his left flank with flying colors; and +filling up the spaces not already occupied in his intrenchments. +Seeing the enemy thus strengthening himself, it was plain that we +would have to act quickly if we expected to accomplish much, and I +already began to doubt the feasibility of our remaining in the first +line of rifle-pits when we should have carried them. I discussed the +order with Wagner, Harker, and Sherman, and they were similarly +impressed, so while anxiously awaiting the signal I sent Captain +Ransom of my staff to Granger, who was at Fort Wood, to ascertain if +we were to carry the first line or the ridge beyond. Shortly after +Ransom started the signal guns were fired, and I told my brigade +commanders to go for the ridge. + +Placing myself in front of Harker's brigade, between the line of +battle and the skirmishers, accompanied by only an orderly so as not +to attract the enemy's fire, we moved out. Under a terrible storm of +shot and shell the line pressed forward steadily through the timber, +and as it emerged on the plain took the double-quick and with fixed +bayonets rushed at the enemy's first line. Not a shot was fired from +our line of battle, and as it gained on my skirmishers they melted +into and became one with it, and all three of my brigades went over +the rifle-pits simultaneously. They then lay down on the face of the +ridge, for a breathing-spell and for protection' from the terrible +fire, of canister and musketry pouring over us from the guns on the +crest. At the rifle-pits there had been little use for the bayonet, +for most of the Confederate troops, disconcerted by the sudden rush, +lay close in the ditch and surrendered, though some few fled up the +slope to the next line. The prisoners were directed to move out to +our rear, and as their intrenchments had now come under fire from the +crest, they went with alacrity, and without guard or escort, toward +Chattanooga. + +After a short pause to get breath the ascent of the ridge began, and +I rode, into the ditch of the intrenchments to drive out a few +skulkers who were hiding there. Just at this time I was joined by +Captain Ransom, who, having returned from Granger, told me that we +were to carry only the line at the base, and that in coming back, +when he struck the left of the division, knowing this interpretation +of the order, he in his capacity as an aide-de-camp had directed +Wagner, who was up on the face of the ridge, to return, and that in +consequence Wagner was recalling his men to the base. I could not +bear to order the recall of troops now so gallantly climbing the hill +step by step, and believing we could take it, I immediately rode to +Wagner's brigade and directed it to resume the attack. In the +meantime Harker's and F. T. Sherman's troops were approaching the +partial line of works midway of the ridge, and as I returned to the +centre of their rear, they were being led by many stands of +regimental colors. There seemed to be a rivalry as to which color +should be farthest to the front; first one would go forward a few +feet, then another would come up to it, the color-bearers vying with +one another as to who should be foremost, until finally every +standard was planted on the intermediate works. The enemy's fire +from the crest during the ascent was terrific in the noise made, but +as it was plunging, it over-shot and had little effect on those above +the second line of pits, but was very uncomfortable for those below, +so I deemed it advisable to seek another place, and Wagner's brigade +having reassembled and again pressed up the ridge, I rode up the face +to join my troops. + +As soon as the men saw me, they surged forward and went over the +works on the crest. The parapet of the intrenchment was too high for +my horse to jump, so, riding a short distance to the left, I entered +through a low place in the line. A few Confederates were found +inside, but they turned the butts of their muskets toward me in token +of surrender, for our men were now passing beyond them on both their +flanks. + +The right and right centre of my division gained the summit first, +they being partially sheltered by a depression in the face of the +ridge, the Confederates in their immediate front fleeing down the +southern face. When I crossed the rifle-pits on the top the +Confederates were still holding fast at Bragg's headquarters, and a +battery located there opened fire along the crest; making things most +uncomfortably hot. Seeing the danger to which I was exposed, for I +was mounted, Colonel Joseph Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri, ran up +and begged me to dismount. I accepted his excellent advice, and it +probably saved my life; but poor Conrad was punished for his +solicitude by being seriously wounded in the thigh at the moment he +was thus contributing to my safety. + +Wildly cheering, the men advanced along the ridge toward Bragg's +headquarters, and soon drove the Confederates from this last +position, capturing a number of prisoners, among them Breckenridge's +and Bates's adjutant-generals, and the battery that had made such +stout resistance on the crest-two guns which were named "Lady +Breckenridge" and "Lady Buckner" General Bragg himself having barely +time to escape before his headquarters were taken. + +My whole division had now reached the summit, and Wagner and Harker +--the latter slightly wounded--joined me as I was standing in the +battery just secured. The enemy was rapidly retiring, and though +many of his troops, with disorganized wagon-trains and several pieces +of artillery, could be distinctly seen in much confusion about half a +mile distant in the valley below, yet he was covering them with a +pretty well organized line that continued to give us a desultory +fire. Seeing this, I at once directed Wagner and Harker to take up +the pursuit along Moore's road, which led to Chickamauga Station +--Bragg's depot of supply--and as they progressed, I pushed Sherman's +brigade along the road behind them. Wagner and Harker soon overtook +the rearguard, and a slight skirmish caused it to break, permitting +nine guns and a large number of wagons which were endeavoring to get +away in the stampede to fall into our hands. + +About a mile and a half beyond Missionary Ridge, Moore's road passed +over a second ridge or high range of hills, and here the enemy had +determined to make a stand for that purpose, posting eight pieces of +artillery with such supporting force as he could rally. He was +immediately attacked by Harker and Wagner, but the position was +strong, the ridge being rugged and difficult of ascent, and after the +first onset our men recoiled. A staff-officer from Colonel Wood's +demi-brigade informing me at this juncture that that command was too +weak to carry the position in its front, I ordered the Fifteenth +Indiana and the Twenty-Sixth Ohio to advance to Wood's aid, and then +hastening to the front I found his men clinging to the face of the +ridge, contending stubbornly with the rear-guard of the enemy. +Directing Harker to put Opdyke's demi-brigade in on the right, I +informed Wagner that it was necessary to flank the enemy by carrying +the high bluff on our left where the ridge terminated, that I had +designated the Twenty-Sixth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana for the work, +and that I wished him to join them. + +It was now dusk, but the two regiments engaged in the flanking +movement pushed on to gain the bluff. Just as they reached the crest +of the ridge the moon rose from behind, enlarged by the refraction of +the atmosphere, and as the attacking column passed along the summit +it crossed the moon's disk and disclosed to us below a most +interesting panorama, every figure nearly being thrown out in full +relief. The enemy, now outflanked on left and right, abandoned his +ground, leaving us two pieces of artillery and a number of wagons. +After this ridge was captured I found that no other troops than mine +were pursuing the enemy, so I called a halt lest I might become too +much isolated. Having previously studied the topography of the +country thoroughly, I knew that if I pressed on my line of march +would carry me back to Chickamauga station, where we would be in rear +of the Confederates that had been fighting General Sherman, and that +there was a possibility of capturing them by such action; but I did +not feel warranted in marching there alone, so I rode back to +Missionary Ridge to ask for more troops, and upon arriving there I +found Granger in command, General Thomas having gone back to +Chattanooga. + +Granger was at Braggy's late headquarters in bed. I informed him of +my situation and implored him to follow me up with the Army of the +Cumberland, but he declined, saying that he thought we had done well +enough. I still insisting, he told me finally to push on to the +crossing of Chickamauga Creek, and if I, encountered the enemy he +would order troops to my support. I returned to my division about +12 o'clock at night, got it under way, and reached the crossing, +about half a mile from the station, at 2 o'clock on the morning of +the 26th, and there found the bridge destroyed, but that the creek +was fordable. I did not encounter the enemy in any force, but feared +to go farther without assistance. This I thought I might bring up by +practicing a little deception, so I caused two regiments to simulate +an engagement by opening fire, hoping that this would alarm Granger +and oblige him to respond with troops, but my scheme failed. General +Granger afterward told me that he had heard the volleys, but +suspected their purpose, knowing that they were not occasioned by a +fight, since they were too regular in their delivery. + +I was much disappointed that my pursuit had not been supported, for I +felt that great results were in store for us should the enemy be +vigorously followed. Had the troops under Granger's command been +pushed out with mine when Missionary Ridge was gained, we could have +reached Chickamauga Station by 12 o'clock the night of the 25th; or +had they been sent even later, when I called for them, we could have +got there by daylight and worked incalculable danger to the +Confederates, for the force that had confronted Sherman did not pass +Chickamauga Station in their retreat till after daylight on the +morning of the 26th. + +My course in following so close was dictated by a thorough knowledge +of the topography of the country and a familiarity with its roads, +bypaths, and farm-houses, gained with the assistance of Mr. +Crutchfield; and sure my column was heading in the right direction, +though night had fallen I thought that an active pursuit would almost +certainly complete the destruction of Bragg's army. When General +Grant came by my bivouac at the crossing of Chickamauga Creek on the +26th, he realized what might have been accomplished had the +successful assault on Missionary Ridge been supplemented by vigorous +efforts on the part of some high officers, who were more interested +in gleaning that portion of the battle-field over which my command +had passed than in destroying a panic-stricken enemy. + +Although it cannot be said that the result of the two days' +operations was reached by the methods which General Grant had +indicated in his instructions preceding the battle, yet the general +outcome was unquestionably due to his genius, for the manoeuvring of +Sherman's and Hooker's commands created the opportunity for Thomas's +corps of the Army of the Cumberland to carry the ridge at the centre. +In directing Sherman to attack the north end of the ridge, Grant +disconcerted Bragg--who was thus made to fear the loss of his depot +of supplies at Chickamauga Station--and compelled him to resist +stoutly; and stout resistance to Sherman meant the withdrawal of the +Confederates from Lookout Mountain. While this attack was in process +of execution advantage was taken of it by Hooker in a well-planned +and well-fought battle, but to my mind an unnecessary one, for our +possession of Lookout was the inevitable result that must follow from +Sherman's threatening attitude. The assault on Missionary Ridge by +Granger's and Palmer's corps was not premeditated by Grant, he +directing only the line at its base to be carried, but when this fell +into our hands the situation demanded our getting the one at the top +also. + +I took into the action an effective force of 6,000, and lost 123 +officers and 1,181 men killed and wounded. These casualties speak +louder than words of the character of the fight, and plainly tell +where the enemy struggled most stubbornly for these figures comprise +one-third the casualties of the entire body of Union troops +--Sherman's and all included. My division captured 1,762 prisoners +and, in all, seventeen pieces of artillery. Six of these guns I +turned over with caissons complete; eleven were hauled off the field +and appropriated by an officer of high rank--General Hazen. I have +no disposition to renew the controversy which grew out of this +matter. At the time the occurrence took place I made the charge in a +plain official report, which was accepted as correct by the corps and +army commanders, from General Granger up to General Grant. General +Hazen took no notice of this report then, though well aware of its +existence. Nearly a quarter of a century later, however, he +endeavored to justify his retention of the guns by trying to show +that his brigade was the first to reach the crest of Missionary +Ridge, and that he was therefore entitled to them. This claim of +being the first to mount the ridge is made by other brigades than +Hazen's, with equal if not greater force, so the absurdity of his +deduction is apparent: + +NOTE: In a book published by General Hazen in 1885, he endeavored to +show, by a number of letters from subordinate officers of his +command, written at his solicitation from fifteen to twenty years +after the occurrence, that his brigade was the first to mount +Missionary Ridge, and that it was entitled to possess these guns. +The doubtful character of testimony dimmed by the lapse of many years +has long been conceded, and I am content to let the controversy stand +the test of history, based on the conclusions of General Grant, as he +drew them from official reports made when the circumstances were +fresh in the minds of all. + +General Grant says: "To Sheridan's prompt movement, the Army of the +Cumberland and the nation are indebted for the bulk of the capture of +prisoners, artillery, and small-arms that day. Except for his prompt +pursuit, so much in this way would not have been accomplished." + +General Thomas says: "We captured all their cannon and ammunition +before they could be removed or destroyed. After halting a few +moments to reorganize the troops, who had become somewhat scattered +in the assault of the hill, General Sheridan pushed forward in +pursuit, and drove those in his front who had escaped capture across +Chickamauga Creek." + +REPORT OF COLONEL FRANCIS T. SHERMAN, COMMANDING FIRST BRIGADE: +"When within ten yards of the crest, our men seemed to be thrown +forward as if by some powerful engine, and the old flag was planted +firmly and surely on the last line of works of the enemy, followed by +the men, taking one battery of artillery." + +REPORT OF COLONEL MICHAEL GOODING, TWENTY-SECOND INDIANA: +...."I pushed men up to the second line of works as fast as possible; +on and on, clear to the top, and over the ridge they went, to the +hollow beyond, killing and wounding numbers of the enemy as we +advanced, and leaving the rebel battery in our rear. We captured +great numbers of prisoners, and sent them to the rear without guards, +as we deemed the pursuit of the enemy of greater importance.... +"I cannot give too much praise to Captain Powers, Company "H," +Lieutenant Smith, Company "K," Lieutenant Gooding, Company "A," and +Second Lieutenant Moser, Company "G," for their assistance, and for +the gallant manner in which they encouraged their men up the side of +the mountain, and charging the enemy's works right up to the muzzles +of their guns." + +REPORT OF COLONEL JASON MARSH, SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS: +...."The first on the enemy's works, and almost simultaneously, were +Lieutenant Clement, Company "A," Captain Stegner, Company "I," +Captain Bacon, Company "G," and Captain Leffingwell, with some of +their men. The enemy was still in considerable force behind their +works; but, for some unaccountable reason, they either fled or +surrendered instantly upon the first few of our men reaching them +--not even trying to defend their battery, which was immediately +captured by Captain Stegner." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL PORTER C. OLSON, THIRTY-SIXTH ILLINOIS: +...."In connection with other regiments of this brigade, we assisted +in capturing several pieces of artillery, a number of caissons, and a +great quantity of small-arms." + +REPORT OF COLONEL JOHN Q. LANE: +...."At the house known as Bragg's headquarters, the enemy were +driven from three guns, which fell into our hands." + +REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. D. WAGNER, SECOND BRIGADE: +...."I ordered the command to storm the ridge, bringing up the +Fifteenth Indiana and Ninety-seventh Ohio, which had not yet been +engaged, although suffering from the enemy's artillery. The result +is a matter of history, as we gained the ridge, capturing artillery, +prisoners, and small-arms; to what amount, however, I do not know, as +we pushed on after the enemy as soon as I had re-formed the command. +....Captain Tinney, with his usual gallantry, dashed up the line with +the first troops, and with the aid of an orderly (George Dusenbury, +Fifteenth Indiana), turned the loaded gun of the enemy on his +retreating ranks." + +REPORT OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. HEGLER, FIFTEENTH INDIANA: +...."Our captures amounted to prisoners not counted, representing +many different regiments; several pieces of artillery, and some +wagons." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ELIAS NEFF, FORTIETH INDIANA: +...."As the regiment reached the top of the ridge and swept for. +ward, the right passed through, without stopping to take possession, +the battery at General Bragg's headquarters that had fired so +venomously during the whole contest." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J. MOORE, FIFTY-EIGHTH INDIANA: +...."In passing to the front from Missionary Ridge, we saw several +pieces of artillery which had been abandoned by the enemy, though I +did not leave any one in charge of them." + +REPORT OF MAJOR C, M. HAMMOND, ONE HUNDREDTH ILLINOIS: +...."I immediately organized my regiment, and while so doing +discovered a number of pieces of artillery in a ravine on my left. I +sent Lieutenant Stewart, of Company A, to see if these guns which the +enemy had abandoned could not be turned upon them. He returned and +reported them to be four ten-pound Parrotts and two brass Napoleons; +also that it would require a number of men to place them in position. +I ordered him to report the same to General Wagner, and ask +permission, but before receiving a reply was ordered by you to move +forward my regiment on the left of the Fifty-Eighth Indiana +Volunteers." + +REPORT OF COLONEL CHARLES G. HARKER, THIRD BRIGADE: +...."My right and Colonel Sherman's left interlocked, so to speak, as +we approached the summit, and it was near this point that I saw the +first part of my line gain the crest. This was done by a few brave +men of my own and Colonel Sherman's command driving the enemy from +his intrenchments. The gap thus opened, our men rushed rapidly in, +and the enemy, loth to give up their position, still remained, firing +at my command toward the left, and the battery in front of the house +known as General Bragg's headquarters was still firing at the troops, +and was captured by our men while the gunners were still at their +posts.... +...."We captured and sent to division and corps headquarters 503 +prisoners and a large number of small-arms. In regard to the number +of pieces of artillery, it will probably be difficult to reconcile +the reports of my regimental commanders with the reports of other +regiments and brigades who fought so nobly with my own command, and +who alike are entitled to share the honors and glories of the day. +More anxious to follow the enemy than to appropriate trophies already +secured, we pushed to the front, while the place we occupied on +ascending the hill was soon occupied by other troops, who, I have +learned, claim the artillery as having fallen into their own hands. +It must therefore remain with the division and corps commanders, who +knew the relative position of each brigade and division, to accord to +each the trophies to which they are due. +...."From my personal observation I can claim a battery of six guns +captured by a portion of my brigade." + +REPORT OF COLONEL EMERSON OPDYKE, FIRST DEMI-BRIGADE: +...."My command captured Bragg's headquarters, house, and the six +guns which were near there; one of these I ordered turned upon the +enemy, which was done with effect." + +REPORT OF COLONEL H. C. DUNLAP, THIRD KENTUCKY: +...."The point at which the centre of my regiment reached the crest +was at the stable to the left of the house said to be Bragg's +headquarters, and immediately in front of the road which leads down +the southern slope of the ridge. One piece of the abandoned battery, +was to the left of this point, the remainder to the right, near by." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. A. BULLITT, SIXTY-FIFTH OHIO: +...."The position in which my regiment found itself was immediately +in front of a battery, which belched forth a stream of canister upon +us with terrible rapidity. In addition to this, the enemy, whenever +driven from other points, rallied around this battery, and defended +it with desperation. It cost a struggle to take it; but we finally +succeeded, and the colors of the Sixty-fifth Ohio were the first +planted upon the yet smoking guns. Captain Smith, of my regiment, +was placed in charge of the captured battery, which consisted of 5 +guns, 3 caissons, and 17 horses." + +REPORT OF CAPTAIN E. P. BATES, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH OHIO: +...."Perceiving that the ridge across which my regiment extended was +commanded to the very crest by a battery in front, also by those to +right and left, I directed the men to pass up the gorges on either +side. About forty men, with Captain Parks and Lieutenant Stinger, +passed to the left, the balance to the right, and boldly charged on, +till, foremost with those of other regiments, they stood on the +strongest point of the enemy's works, masters alike of his guns and +position.... Captain Parks reports his skirmish-line to have charged +upon and captured one gun, that otherwise would have been hauled +off." + +REPORT OF COLONEL ALLEN BUCKNER, SEVENTY-NINTH ILLINOIS: +...."The right of the regiment rested on the left of the road, where +it crossed the rebel fortification, leading up the hill toward +Bragg's headquarters. We took a right oblique direction through a +peach orchard until arriving at the woods and logs on the side of the +ridge, when I ordered the men to commence firing, which they did with +good effect, and continued it all the way up until the heights were +gained. At this point the left of the regiment was near the right of +the house, and I claim that my officers and men captured two large +brass pieces, literally punching the cannoniers from their guns. +Privates John Fregan and Jasper Patterson, from Company "A," rushed +down the hill, captured one caisson, with a cannonier and six horses, +and brought them back." + +REPORT OF COLONEL J. R. MILES, TWENTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS: +...."The regiment, without faltering, finally, at about 4.30 P.M., +gained the enemy's works in conjunction with a party of the +Thirty-sixth Illinois, who were immediately on our right. The +regiment, or a portion of it, proceeded to the left, down the ridge, +for nearly or quite a quarter of a mile capturing three or four pieces +of cannon, driving the gunners from them." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ORDERED TO RETURN TO CHATTANOOGA--MARCH TO KNOXVILLE--COLLECTING +SUBSISTENCE STORES--A CLEVER STRATAGEM--A BRIDGE OF WAGONS--LOOKING +OUT FOR THE PERSONAL COMFORT OF THE SOLDIERS-A LEAVE OF ABSENCE +--ORDERED TO WASHINGTON--PARTING WITH SHERIDAN'S DIVISION. + +The day after the battle of Missionary Ridge I was ordered in the +evening to return to Chattanooga, and from the limited supply of +stores to be had there outfit my command to march to the relief of +Knoxville, where General Burnside was still holding out against the +besieging forces of General Longstreet. When we left Murfreesboro' +in the preceding June, the men's knapsacks and extra clothing, as +well as all our camp equipage, had been left behind, and these +articles had not yet reached us, so we were poorly prepared for a +winter campaign in the mountains of East Tennessee. There was but +little clothing to be obtained in Chattanooga, and my command +received only a few overcoats and a small supply of India-rubber +ponchos. We could get no shoes, although we stood in great need of +them, for the extra pair with which each man had started out from +Murfreesboro' was now much the worse for wear. The necessity for +succoring Knoxville was urgent, however, so we speedily refitted as +thoroughly as was possible with the limited means at hand. My +division teams were in very fair condition in consequence of the +forage we had procured in the Sequatchie Valley, so I left the train +behind to bring up clothing when any should arrive in Chattanooga. + +Under these circumstances, on the 29th of November the Fourth Corps +(Granger's) took up the line of march for Knoxville, my men carrying +in their haversacks four days' rations, depending for a further +supply of food on a small steamboat loaded with subsistence stores, +which was to proceed up the Tennessee River and keep abreast of the +column. + +Not far from Philadelphia, Tennessee, the columns of General +Sherman's army, which had kept a greater distance from the river than +Granger's corps, so as to be able to subsist on the country, came in +toward our right and the whole relieving force was directed on +Marysville, about fifteen miles southwest of Knoxville. We got to +Marysville December 5, and learned the same day that Longstreet had +shortly before attempted to take Knoxville by a desperate assault, +but signally failing, had raised the siege and retired toward Bean's +Station on the Rutledge, Rogersville, and Bristol road, leading to +Virginia. From Marysville General Sherman's troops returned to +Chattanooga, while Granger's corps continued on toward Knoxville, to +take part in the pursuit of Longstreet. + +Burnside's army was deficient in subsistence, though not to the +extent that we had supposed before leaving Chattanooga. It had eaten +out the country in the immediate vicinity of Knoxville, however; +therefore my division did not cross the Holstein River, but was +required, in order to maintain itself, to proceed to the region of +the French Broad River. To this end I moved to Sevierville, and +making this village my headquarters, the division was spread out over +the French Broad country, between Big Pigeon and Little Pigeon +rivers, where we soon had all the mills in operation, grinding out +plenty of flour and meal. The whole region was rich in provender +of all kinds, and as the people with rare exceptions were +enthusiastically loyal, we in a little while got more than enough +food for ourselves, and by means of flatboats began sending the +surplus down the river to the troops at Knoxville. + +The intense loyalty of this part of Tennessee exceeded that of any +other section I was in during the war. The people could not do too +much to aid the Union cause, and brought us an abundance of +everything needful. The women were especially loyal, and as many of +their sons and husbands, who had been compelled to "refugee" on +account of their loyal sentiments, returned with us, numbers of the +women went into ecstasies of joy when this part of the Union army +appeared among them. So long as we remained in the French Broad +region, we lived on the fat of the land, but unluckily our stay was +to be of short duration, for Longstreet's activity kept the +department commander in a state of constant alarm. + +Soon after getting the mills well running, and when the shipment of +their surplus product down the river by flatboats had begun, I was +ordered to move to Knoxville, on account of demonstrations by +Longstreet from the direction of Blain's crossroads. On arriving at +Knoxville, an inspection of my command, showed that the shoes of many +of the men were entirely worn out, the poor fellows having been +obliged to protect their feet with a sort of moccasin, made from +their blankets or from such other material as they could procure. +About six hundred of the command were in this condition, plainly not +suitably shod to withstand the frequent storms of sleet and snow. +These men I left in Knoxville to await the arrival of my train, which +I now learned was en route from Chattanooga with shoes, overcoats, +and other clothing, and with the rest of the division proceeded to +Strawberry Plains, which we reached the latter part of December. + +Mid-winter was now upon us, and the weather in this mountain region +of East Tennessee was very cold, snow often falling to the depth of +several inches. The thin and scanty clothing of the men afforded +little protection, and while in bivouac their only shelter was the +ponchos with which they had been provided before leaving Chattanooga; +there was not a tent in the command. Hence great suffering resulted, +which I anxiously hoped would be relieved shortly by the arrival of +my train with supplies. In the course of time the wagons reached +Knoxville, but my troops derived little comfort from this fact, for +the train was stopped by General Foster, who had succeeded Burnside +in command of the department, its contents distributed pro rata to +the different organizations of the entire army, and I received but a +small share. This was very disappointing, not to say exasperating, +but I could not complain of unfairness, for every command in the army +was suffering to the same extent as mine, and yet it did seem that a +little forethought and exertion on the part of some of the other +superior officers, whose transportation was in tolerable condition, +might have ameliorated the situation considerably. I sent the train +back at once for more clothing, and on its return, just before +reaching Knoxville, the quartermaster in charge, Captain Philip +Smith, filled the open spaces in the wagons between the bows and load +with fodder and hay, and by this clever stratagem passed it through +the town safe and undisturbed as a forage train. On Smith's arrival +we lost no time in issuing the clothing, and when it had passed into +the hands of the individual soldiers the danger of its appropriation +for general distribution, like the preceding invoice, was very +remote. + +General Foster had decided by this time to move his troops to +Dandridge for the twofold purpose of threatening the enemy's left and +of getting into a locality where we could again gather subsistence +from the French Broad region. Accordingly we began an advance on the +15th of January, the cavalry having preceded us some time before. +The Twenty-third Corps and Wood's division of the Fourth Corps +crossed the Holstein River by a bridge that had been constructed at +Strawberry Plains. My division being higher up the stream, forded +it, the water very deep and bitter cold, being filled with slushy +ice. Marching by way of New Market, I reached Dandridge on the 17th, +and here on my arrival met General Sturgis, then commanding our +cavalry. He was on the eve of setting out to, "whip the enemy's +cavalry," as he said, and wanted me to go along and see him do it. I +declined, however, for being now the senior officer present, Foster, +Parke, and Granger having remained at Knoxville and Strawberry +Plains, their absence left me in command, and it was necessary that I +should make disposition of the infantry when it arrived. As there +were indications of a considerable force of the enemy on the +Russellville road I decided to place the troops in line of battle, so +as to be prepared for any emergency that might arise in the absence +of the senior officers, and I deemed it prudent to supervise +personally the encamping of the men. This disposition necessarily +required that some of the organizations should occupy very +disagreeable ground, but I soon got all satisfactorily posted with +the exception of General Willich, who expressed some discontent at +being placed beyond the shelter of the timber, but accepted the +situation cheerfully when its obvious necessity was pointed out to +him. + +Feeling that all was secure, I returned to my headquarters in the +village with the idea that we were safely established in ease of +attack, and that the men would now have a good rest if left +undisturbed; and plenty to eat, but hardly had I reached my own camp +when a staff-officer came post-haste from Sturgis with the +information that he was being driven back to my lines, despite the +confident invitation to me (in the morning) to go out and witness the +whipping which was to be given to the enemy's cavalry. Riding to the +front, I readily perceived that the information was correct, and I +had to send a brigade of infantry out to help Sturgis, thus relieving +him from a rather serious predicament. Indeed, the enemy was present +in pretty strong force, both cavalry and infantry, and from his +vicious attack on Sturgis it looked very much as though he intended +to bring on a general engagement. + +Under such circumstances I deemed it advisable that the responsible +commanders of the army should be present, and so informed them. My +communication brought Parke and Granger to the front without delay, +but Foster could not come, since the hardships of the winter had +reopened an old wound received during the Mexican War, and brought on +much suffering. By the time Parke and Granger arrived, however, the +enemy, who it turned out was only making a strong demonstration to +learn the object of our movement on Dandridge, seemed satisfied with +the results of his reconnoissance, and began falling back toward +Bull's Gap. Meanwhile Parke and Granger concluded that Dandridge was +an untenable point, and hence decided to withdraw a part of the army +to Strawberry Plains; and the question of supplies again coming up, +it was determined to send the Fourth Corps to the south side of the +French Broad to obtain subsistence, provided we could bridge the +river so that men could get across the deep and icy stream without +suffering. + +I agreed to undertake the construction of a bridge on condition that +each division should send to the ford twenty-five wagons with which +to make it. This being acceded to, Harker's brigade began the work +next morning at a favorable point a few miles down the river. As my +quota of wagons arrived, they were drawn into the stream one after +another by the wheel team, six men in each wagon, and as they +successively reached the other side of the channel the mules were +unhitched, the pole of each wagon run under the hind axle of the one +just in front, and the tailboards used so as to span the slight space +between them. The plan worked well as long as the material lasted, +but no other wagons than my twenty-five coming on the ground, the +work stopped when the bridge was only half constructed. Informed of +the delay and its cause, in sheer desperation I finished the bridge +by taking from my own division all the wagons needed to make up the +deficiency. + +It was late in the afternoon when the work was finished, and I began +putting over one of my brigades; but in the midst of its crossing +word came that Longstreet's army was moving to attack us, which +caused an abandonment of the foraging project, and orders quickly +followed to retire to Strawberry Plains, the retrograde movement to +begin forthwith. I sent to headquarters information of the plight I +was in--baggage and supplies on the bank and wagons in the stream +--begged to know what was to become of them if we were to hurry off at +a moment's notice, and suggested that the movement be delayed until I +could recover my transportation. Receiving in reply no assurances +that I should be relieved from my dilemma--and, in fact, nothing +satisfactory--I determined to take upon myself the responsibility of +remaining on the ground long enough to get my wagons out of the river; +so I sent out a heavy force to watch for the enemy, and with the +remainder of the command went to work to break up the bridge. Before +daylight next morning I had recovered everything without interference +by Longstreet, who, it was afterward ascertained, was preparing to +move east toward Lynchburg instead of marching to attack us; the small +demonstration against Dandridge, being made simply to deceive us as to +his ultimate object. I marched to Strawberry Plains unmolested, and +by taking the route over Bay's Mountain, a shorter one than that +followed by the main body of our troops, reached the point of +rendezvous as soon as the most of the army, for the road it followed +was not only longer, but badly cut up by trains that had recently +passed over it. + +Shortly after getting into camp, the beef contractor came in and +reported that a detachment of the enemy's cavalry had captured my +herd of beef cattle. This caused me much chagrin at first, but the +commissary of my division soon put in an appearance, and assured me +that the loss would not be very disastrous to us nor of much benefit +to the enemy, since the cattle were so poor and weak that they could +not be driven off. A reconnoissance in force verified the +Commissary's statement. From its inability to travel, the herd, +after all efforts to carry it off had proved ineffectual, had been +abandoned by its captors. + +After the troops from Chattanooga arrived in the vicinity of +Knoxville and General Sherman had returned to Chattanooga, the +operations in East Tennessee constituted a series of blunders, +lasting through the entire winter; a state of affairs doubtless due, +in the main, to the fact that the command of the troops was so +frequently changed. Constant shifting of responsibility from one to +another ensued from the date that General Sherman, after assuring +himself that Knoxville was safe, devolved the command on Burnside. +It had already been intimated to Burnside that he was to be relieved, +and in consequence he was inactive and apathetic, confining his +operations to an aimless expedition whose advance extended only as +far as Blain's crossroads, whence it was soon withdrawn. Meanwhile +General Foster had superseded Burnside, but physical disabilities +rendered him incapable of remaining in the field, and then the chief +authority devolved on Parke. By this time the transmission of power +seemed almost a disease; at any rate it was catching, so, while we +were en route to Dandridge, Parke transferred the command to Granger. +The latter next unloaded it on me, and there is no telling what the +final outcome would have been had I not entered a protest against a +further continuance of the practice, which remonstrance brought +Granger to the front at Dandridge. + +While the events just narrated were taking place, General Grant had +made a visit to Knoxville--about the last of December--and arranged +to open the railroad between there and Chattanooga, with a view to +supplying the troops in East Tennessee by rail in the future, instead +of through Cumberland Gap by a tedious line of wagon-trains. In +pursuance of his plan the railroad had already been opened to Loudon, +but here much delay occurred on account of the long time it took to +rebuild the bridge over the Tennessee. Therefore supplies were still +very scarce, and as our animals were now dying in numbers from +starvation, and the men were still on short allowance, it became +necessary that some of the troops east of Knoxville should get nearer +to their depot, and also be in a position to take part in the coming +Georgia campaign, or render assistance to General Thomas, should +General Johnston (who had succeeded in command of the Confederate +army) make any demonstration against Chattanooga. Hence my division +was ordered to take station at Loudon, Tennessee, and I must confess +that we took the road for that point with few regrets, for a general +disgust prevailed regarding our useless marches during the winter. + +At this time my faithful scout Card and his younger brother left me, +with the determination, as I have heretofore related, to avenge their +brother's death. No persuasion could induce Card to remain longer, +for knowing that my division's next operation would be toward +Atlanta, and being ignorant of the country below Dalton, he +recognized and insisted that his services would then become +practically valueless. + +At Loudon, where we arrived January 27, supplies were more plentiful, +and as our tents and extra clothing reached us there in a few days, +every one grew contented and happy. Here a number of my regiments, +whose terms of service were about to expire, went through the process +of "veteranizing," and, notwithstanding the trials and hardships of +the preceding nine months, they re-enlisted almost to a man. + +When everything was set in motion toward recuperating and refitting +my troops, I availed myself of the opportunity during a lull that +then existed to take a short leave of absence--a privilege I had not +indulged in since entering the service in 1853. This leave I spent +in the North with much benefit to my physical condition, for I was +much run down by fatiguing service, and not a little troubled by +intense pain which I at times still suffered from my experience in +the unfortunate hand-car incident on the Cumberland Mountains the +previous July. I returned from leave the latter part of March, +rejoining my division with the expectation that the campaign in that +section would begin as early as April. + +On the 12th of March, 1864, General Grant was assigned to the command +of the armies of the United States, as general-in-chief. He was +already in Washington, whither he had gone to receive his commission +as lieutenant-general. Shortly after his arrival there, he commenced +to rearrange the different commands in the army to suit the plans +which he intended to enter upon in the spring, and out of this grew a +change in my career. Many jealousies and much ill-feeling, the +outgrowth of former campaigns, existed among officers of high grade +in the Army of the Potomac in the winter of 1864, and several general +officers were to be sent elsewhere in consequence. Among these, +General Alfred Pleasonton was to be relieved from the command of the +cavalry, General Grant having expressed to the President +dissatisfaction that so little had hitherto been accomplished by that +arm of the service, and I was selected as chief of the cavalry corps +of the Army of the Potomac, receiving on the night of the 23d of +March from General Thomas at Chattanooga the following telegram: + +"MARCH 23, 1864. +"MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, Chattanooga + +"Lieutenant-General Grant directs that Major-General Sheridan +immediately repair to Washington and report to the Adjutant-General +of the Army. + +"H. W. HALLECK, +Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +I was not informed of the purpose for which I was to proceed to +Washington, but I conjectured that it meant a severing of my +relations with the Second Division, Fourth Army Corps. I at once set +about obeying the order, and as but little preparation was necessary, +I started for Chattanooga the next day, without taking any formal +leave of the troops I had so long commanded. I could not do it; the +bond existing between them and me had grown to such depth of +attachment that I feared to trust my emotions in any formal parting +from a body of soldiers who, from our mutual devotion, had long +before lost their official designation, and by general consent within +and without the command were called "Sheridan's Division." When I +took the train at the station the whole command was collected on the +hill-sides around to see me off. They had assembled spontaneously, +officers and men, and as the cars moved out for Chattanooga they +waved me farewell with demonstrations of affection. + +A parting from such friends was indeed to be regretted. They had +never given me any trouble, nor done anything that could bring aught +but honor to themselves. I had confidence in them, and I believe +they had in me. They were ever steady, whether in victory or in +misfortune, and as I tried always to be with them, to put them into +the hottest fire if good could be gained, or save them from +unnecessary loss, as occasion required, they amply repaid all my care +and anxiety, courageously and readily meeting all demands in every +emergency that arose. + +In Kentucky, nearly two years before, my lot had been cast with about +half of the twenty-five regiments of infantry that I was just +leaving, the rest joining me after Chickamauga. It was practically a +new arm of the service to me, for although I was an infantry officer, +yet the only large command which up to that time I had controlled was +composed of cavalry, and most of my experience had been gained in +this arm of the service. I had to study hard to be able to master +all the needs of such a force, to feed and clothe it and guard all +its interests. When undertaking these responsibilities I felt that +if I met them faithfully, recompense would surely come through the +hearty response that soldiers always make to conscientious exertion +on the part of their superiors, and not only that more could be +gained in that way than from the use of any species of influence, but +that the reward would be quicker. Therefore I always tried to look +after their comfort personally; selected their camps, and provided +abundantly for their subsistence, and the road they opened for me +shows that my work was not in vain. I regretted deeply to have to +leave such soldiers, and felt that they were sorry I was going, and +even now I could not, if I would, retain other than the warmest +sentiments of esteem and the tenderest affection for the officers and +men of "Sheridan's Division," Army of the Cumberland. + +On reaching Chattanooga I learned from General Thomas the purpose for +which I had been ordered to Washington. I was to be assigned to the +command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The +information staggered me at first, for I knew well the great +responsibilities of such a position; moreover, I was but slightly +acquainted with military operations in Virginia, and then, too, the +higher officers of the Army of the Potomac were little known to me, +so at the moment I felt loth to undergo the trials of the new +position. Indeed, I knew not a soul in Washington except General +Grant and General Halleck, and them but slightly, and no one in +General Meade's army, from the commanding general down, except a few +officers in the lower grades, hardly any of whom I had seen since +graduating at the Military Academy. + +Thus it is not much to be wondered at that General Thomas's +communication momentarily upset me. But there was no help for it, so +after reflecting on the matter a little I concluded to make the best +of the situation. As in Virginia I should be operating in a field +with which I was wholly unfamiliar, and among so many who were +strangers, it seemed to me that it would be advisable to have, as a +chief staff-officer, one who had had service in the East, if an +available man could be found. In weighing all these considerations +in my mind, I fixed upon Captain James W. Forsyth, of the Eighteenth +Infantry, then in the regular brigade at Chattanooga--a dear friend +of mine, who had served in the Army of the Potomac, in the Peninsula +and Antietam campaigns. He at once expressed a desire to accept a +position on my staff, and having obtained by the next day the +necessary authority, he and I started for Washington, accompanied by +Lieutenant T. W. C. Moore, one of my aides, leaving behind Lieutenant +M. V. Sheridan, my other aide, to forward our horses as soon as they +should be sent down to Chattanooga from Loudon, after which he was to +join me. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AT WASHINGTON--MEETING SECRETARY STANTON--INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT +LINCOLN--MADE COMMANDER OF THE CAVALRY CORPS OF THE ARMY OF THE +POTOMAC--ITS OFFICERS--GENERAL MEADE's METHOD OF USING CAVALRY +--OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN--SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.--A DIFFERENCE WITH +GENERAL MEADE--PREPARING TO FIGHT STUART'S CAVALRY. + +Accompanied by Captain Forsyth and Lieutenant Moore, I arrived in +Washington on the morning of April, 4, 1864, and stopped at Willard's +Hotel, where, staying temporarily, were many officers of the Army of +the Potomac en route to their commands from leave at the North. +Among all these, however, I was an entire stranger, and I cannot now +recall that I met a single individual whom I had ever before known. + +With very little delay after reaching my hotel I made my way to +General Halleck's headquarters and reported to that officer, having +learned in the meantime that General Grant was absent from the city. +General Halleck talked to me for a few minutes, outlining briefly the +nature and duties of my new command, and the general military +situation in Virginia. When he had finished all he had to say about +these matters, he took me to the office of the Secretary of War, to +present me to Mr. Stanton. During the ceremony of introduction, I +could feel that Mr. Stanton was eying me closely and searchingly, +endeavoring to form some estimate of one about whom he knew +absolutely nothing, and whose career probably had never been called +to his attention until General Grant decided to order me East, after +my name had been suggested by General Halleck in an interview the two +generals had with Mr. Lincoln. I was rather young in appearance +--looking even under than over thirty-three years--but five feet five +inches in height, and thin almost to emaciation, weighing only one +hundred and fifteen pounds. If I had ever possessed any +self-assertion in manner or speech, it certainly vanished in the +presence of the imperious Secretary, whose name at the time was the +synonym of all that was cold and formal. I never learned what Mr. +Stanton's first impressions of me were, and his guarded and rather +calculating manner gave at this time no intimation that they were +either favorable or unfavorable, but his frequent commendation in +after years indicated that I gained his goodwill before the close of +the war, if not when I first came to his notice; and a more intimate +association convinced me that the cold and cruel characteristics +popularly ascribed to him were more mythical than real. + +When the interview with the Secretary was over, I proceeded with +General Halleck to the White House to pay my respects to the +President. Mr. Lincoln received me very cordially, offering both his +hands, and saying that he hoped I would fulfill the expectations of +General Grant in the new command I was about to undertake, adding +that thus far the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac had not done all +it might have done, and wound up our short conversation by quoting +that stale interrogation so prevalent during the early years of the +war, "Who ever saw a dead cavalryman?" His manner did not impress +me, however, that in asking the question he had meant anything beyond +a jest, and I parted from the President convinced that he did not +believe all that the query implied. + +After taking leave I separated from General Halleck, and on returning +to my hotel found there an order from the War Department assigning me +to the command of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. The next +morning, April 5, as I took the cars for the headquarters of the Army +of the Potomac, General Grant, who had returned to Washington the +previous night from a visit to his family, came aboard the train on +his way to Culpeper Court House, and on the journey down I learned +among other things that he had wisely determined to continue +personally in the field, associating himself with General Meade's +army; where he could supervise its movements directly, and at the +same time escape the annoyances which, should he remain in +Washington, would surely arise from solicitude for the safety of the +Capital while the campaign was in progress. When we reached Brandy +Station, I left the train and reported to General Meade, who told me +that the headquarters of the Cavalry Corps were some distance back +from the Station, and indicated the general locations of the +different divisions of the corps, also giving me, in the short time I +remained with him, much information regarding their composition. + +I reached the Cavalry Corps headquarters on the evening of April 5, +1864, and the next morning issued orders assuming command. General +Pleasonton had but recently been relieved, and many of his +staff-officers were still on duty at the headquarters awaiting the +arrival of the permanent commander. I resolved to retain the most of +these officers on my staff, and although they were all unknown to me +when I decided on this course, yet I never had reason to regret it, +nor to question the selections made by my predecessor. + +The corps consisted of three cavalry divisions and twelve batteries +of horse artillery. Brigadier-General A. T. A. Torbert was in +command of the First Division, which was composed of three brigades; +Brigadier-General D. McM. Gregg, of the Second, consisting of two +brigades; and Brigadier-General J. H. Wilson was afterward assigned +to command the Third, also comprising two brigades: Captain Robinson, +a veteran soldier of the Mexican war, was chief of artillery, and as +such had a general supervision of that arm, though the batteries, +either as units or in sections, were assigned to the different +divisions in campaign. + +Each one of my division commanders was a soldier by profession. +Torbert graduated from the Military Academy in 1855, and was +commissioned in the infantry, in which arm he saw much service on the +frontier, in Florida, and on the Utah expedition. At the beginning +of hostilities in April, 1861, he was made a colonel of New Jersey +volunteers, and from that position was promoted in the fall of 1862 +to be a brigadier-general, thereafter commanding a brigade of +infantry in the Army of the Potomac till, in the redistribution of +generals, after Grant came to the East, he was assigned to the First +Cavalry Division. + +Gregg graduated in 1855 also, and was appointed to the First +Dragoons, with which regiment, up to the breaking out of the war, he +saw frontier service extending from Fort Union, New Mexico, through +to the Pacific coast, and up into Oregon and Washington Territories, +where I knew him slightly. In the fall of 1861 he became colonel of +the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and a year later was made a +brigadier-general. He then succeeded to the command of a division of +cavalry, and continued in that position till the close of his +service, at times temporarily commanding the Cavalry Corps. He was +the only division commander I had whose experience had been almost +exclusively derived from the cavalry arm. + +Wilson graduated in 1860 in the Topographical Engineers, and was +first assigned to duty in Oregon, where he remained till July, 1861. +In the fall of that year his active service in the war began, and he +rose from one position to another, in the East and West, till, while +on General Grant's staff, he was made a brigadier-general in the fall +of 1863 in reward for services performed during the Vicksburg +campaign and for engineer duty at Chattanooga preceding the battle of +Missionary Ridge. At my request he was selected to command the Third +Division. General Grant thought highly of him, and, expecting much +from his active mental and physical ability, readily assented to +assign him in place of General Kilpatrick. The only other general +officers in the corps were Brigadier-General Wesley Merritt, +Brigadier-General George A. Custer, and Brigadier-General Henry E. +Davies, each commanding a brigade. + +In a few days after my arrival at Brandy Station I reviewed my new +command, which consisted of about twelve thousand officers and men, +with the same number of horses in passable trim. Many of the general +officers of the army were present at the review, among them Generals +Meade, Hancock, and Sedgwick. Sedgwick being an old dragoon, came to +renew his former associations with mounted troops, and to encourage +me, as he jestingly said, because of the traditional prejudices the +cavalrymen were supposed to hold against being commanded by an +infantry officer. The corps presented a fine appearance at the +review, and so far as the health and equipment of the men were +concerned the showing was good and satisfactory; but the horses were +thin and very much worn down by excessive and, it seemed to me, +unnecessary picket duty, for the cavalry picket-line almost +completely encircled the infantry and artillery camps of the army, +covering a distance, on a continuous line, of nearly sixty miles, +with hardly a mounted Confederate confronting it at any point. From +the very beginning of the war the enemy had shown more wisdom +respecting his cavalry than we. Instead of wasting its strength by a +policy of disintegration he, at an early day, had organized his +mounted force into compact masses, and plainly made it a favorite; +and, as usual, he was now husbanding the strength of his horses by +keeping them to the rear, so that in the spring he could bring them +out in good condition for the impending campaign. + +Before and at the review I took in this situation, and determined to +remedy it if possible; so in due time I sought an interview with +General Meade and informed him that, as the effectiveness of my +command rested mainly on the strength of its horses, I thought the +duty it was then performing was both burdensome and wasteful. I also +gave him my idea as to what the cavalry should do, the main purport +of which was that it ought to be kept concentrated to fight the +enemy's cavalry. Heretofore, the commander of the Cavalry Corps had +been, virtually, but an adjunct at army headquarters--a sort of chief +of cavalry--and my proposition seemed to stagger General Meade not a +little. I knew that it would be difficult to overcome the recognized +custom of using the cavalry for the protection of trains and the +establishment of cordons around the infantry corps, and so far +subordinating its operations to the movements of the main army that +in name only was it a corps at all, but still I thought it my duty to +try. + +At first General Meade would hardly listen to my proposition, for he +was filled with the prejudices that, from the beginning of the war, +had pervaded the army regarding the importance and usefulness of +cavalry, General Scott then predicting that the contest would be +settled by artillery, and thereafter refusing the services of +regiment after regiment of mounted troops. General Meade deemed +cavalry fit for little more than guard and picket duty, and wanted to +know what would protect the transportation trains and artillery +reserve, cover the front of moving infantry columns, and secure his +flanks from intrusion, if my policy were pursued. I told him that if +he would let me use the cavalry as I contemplated, he need have +little solicitude in these respects, for, with a mass of ten thousand +mounted men, it was my belief that I could make it so lively for the +enemy's cavalry that, so far as attacks from it were concerned, the +flanks and rear of the Army of the Potomac would require little or no +defense, and claimed, further, that moving columns of infantry should +take care of their own fronts. I also told him that it was my object +to defeat the enemy's cavalry in a general combat, if possible, and +by such a result establish a feeling of confidence in my own troops +that would enable us after awhile to march where we pleased, for the +purpose of breaking General Lee's communications and destroying the +resources from which his army was supplied. + +The idea as here outlined was contrary to Meade's convictions, for +though at different times since he commanded the Army of the Potomac +considerable bodies of the cavalry had been massed for some special +occasion, yet he had never agreed to the plan as a permanency, and +could not be bent to it now. He gave little encouragement, +therefore, to what I proposed, yet the conversation was immediately +beneficial in one way, for when I laid before him the true condition +of the cavalry, he promptly relieved it from much of the arduous and +harassing picket service it was performing, thus giving me about two +weeks in which to nurse the horses before the campaign opened. + +The interview also disclosed the fact that the cavalry commander +should be, according to General Meade's views, at his headquarters +practically as one of his staff, through whom he would give detailed +directions as, in his judgment, occasion required. Meade's ideas and +mine being so widely divergent, disagreements arose between us later +during the battles of the Wilderness, which lack of concord ended in +some concessions on his part after the movement toward Spottsylvania +Court House began, and although I doubt that his convictions were +ever wholly changed, yet from that date on, in the organization of +the Army of the Potomac, the cavalry corps became more of a compact +body, with the same privileges and responsibilities that attached to +the other corps--conditions that never actually existed before. + +On the 4th of May the Army of the Potomac moved against Lee, who was +occupying a defensive position on the south bank of the Rapidan. +After detailing the various detachments which I was obliged to supply +for escorts and other mounted duty, I crossed the river with an +effective force of about 10,000 troopers. In the interval succeeding +my assignment to the command of the cavalry, I had taken the pains to +study carefully the topography of the country in eastern Virginia, +and felt convinced that, under the policy Meade intended I should +follow, there would be little opportunity for mounted troops to +acquit themselves well in a region so thickly wooded, and traversed +by so many almost parallel streams; but conscious that he would be +compelled sooner or later either to change his mind or partially give +way to the pressure of events, I entered on the campaign with the +loyal determination to aid zealously in all its plans. + +General Lee's army was located in its winter quarters behind +intrenchments that lay along the Rapidan for a distance of about +twenty miles; extending from Barnett's to Morton's ford. The fords +below Morton's were watched by a few small detachments of Confederate +cavalry, the main body of which, however, was encamped below +Hamilton's crossing, where it could draw supplies from the rich +country along the Rappahannock. Only a few brigades of Lee's +infantry guarded the works along the river, the bulk of it being so +situated that it could be thrown to either flank toward which the +Union troops approached. + +General Grant adopted the plan of moving by his left flank, with the +purpose of compelling Lee to come out from behind his intrenchments +along Mine Run and fight on equal terms. Grant knew well the +character of country through which he would have to pass, but he was +confident that the difficulties of operation in the thickly wooded +region of the Wilderness would be counterbalanced by the facility +with which his position would enable him to secure a new base; and by +the fact that as he would thus cover Washington, there would be +little or no necessity for the authorities there to detach from his +force at some inopportune moment for the protection of that city. + +In the move forward two divisions of my cavalry took the advance, +Gregg crossing the Rapidan at Ely's ford and Wilson at Germania ford. +Torbert's division remained in the rear to cover the trains and +reserve artillery, holding from Rapidan Station to Culpeper, and +thence through Stevensburg to the Rappahannock River. Gregg crossed +the Rapidan before daylight, in advance of the Second Corps, and when +the latter reached Ely's ford, he pushed on to Chancellorsville; +Wilson preceded the Fifth Corps to Germania ford, and when it reached +the river he made the crossing and moved rapidly by Wilderness +Tavern, as far as Parker's Store, from which point he sent a heavy +reconnoissance toward Mine Run, the rest of his division bivouacking +in a strong position. I myself proceeded to Chancellorsville and +fixed my headquarters at that place, whereon the 5th I was joined by +Torbert's division. + +Meanwhile, General Meade had crossed the Rapidan and established his +headquarters not far from Germania ford. From that point he was in +direct communication with Wilson, whose original instructions from me +carried him only as far as Parker's Store, but it being found, during +the night of the 4th, that the enemy was apparently unacquainted with +the occurrences of the day, Meade directed Wilson to advance in the +direction of Craig's Meeting House; leaving one regiment to hold +Parker's Store. Wilson with the second brigade encountered Rosser's +brigade of cavalry just beyond the Meeting House, and drove it back +rapidly a distance of about two miles, holding it there till noon, +while his first brigade was halted on the north side of Robinson's +Run near the junction of the Catharpen and Parker's Store roads. + +Up to this time Wilson had heard nothing of the approach of the Fifth +Corps, and the situation becoming threatening, he withdrew the second +brigade to the position occupied by the first, but scarcely had he +done so when he learned that at an early hour in the forenoon the +enemy's infantry had appeared in his rear at Parker's Store and cut +off his communication with General Meade. Surprised at this, he +determined to withdraw to Todd's Tavern, but before his resolution +could be put into execution the Confederates attacked him with a +heavy force, and at the same time began pushing troops down the +Catharpen road. Wilson was now in a perplexing situation, sandwiched +between the Confederates who had cut him off in the rear at Parker's +store and those occupying the Catharpen road, but he extricated his +command by passing it around the latter force, and reached Todd's +Tavern by crossing the Po River at Corbin's bridge. General Meade +discovering that the enemy had interposed at Parker's store between +Wilson and the Fifth Corps, sent me word to go to Wilson's relief, +and this was the first intimation I received that Wilson had been +pushed out so far, but, surmising that he would retire in the +direction of Todd's Tavern I immediately despatched Gregg's division +there to his relief. Just beyond Todd's Tavern Gregg met Wilson, who +was now being followed by the enemy's cavalry. The pursuing force +was soon checked, and then driven back to Shady Grove Church, while +Wilson's troops fell in behind Gregg's line, somewhat the worse for +their morning's adventure. + +When the Army of the Potomac commenced crossing the Rapidan on the +4th, General J. E. B. Stuart, commanding the Confederate cavalry, +began concentrating his command on the right of Lee's infantry, +bringing it from Hamilton's crossing and other points where it had +been wintering. Stuart's force at this date was a little more than +eight thousand men, organized in two divisions, commanded by Generals +Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee. Hampton's division was composed of +three brigades, commanded by Generals Cordon, Young, and Rosser; +Fitzhugh Lee's division comprised three brigades also, Generals W. H. +F. Lee, Lomax, and Wickham commanding them. + +Information of this concentration, and of the additional fact that +the enemy's cavalry about Hamilton's crossing was all being drawn in, +reached me on the 5th, which obviated all necessity for my moving on +that point as I intended at the onset of the campaign. The +responsibility for the safety of our trains and of the left flank of +the army still continued, however, so I made such dispositions of my +troops as to secure these objects by holding the line of the Brock +road beyond the Furnaces, and thence around to Todd's Tavern and +Piney Branch Church. On the 6th, through some false information, +General Meade became alarmed about his left flank, and sent me the +following note: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"May 6, 1864.--1 o'clock P. M. +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Cavalry Corps + +"Your despatch of 11.45 a.m., received. General Hancock has been +heavily pressed, and his left turned. The major-general commanding +thinks that you had better draw in your cavalry, so as to secure the +protection of the trains. The order requiring an escort for the +wagons to-night has been rescinded. + +"A. A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +On the morning of the 6th Custer's and Devin's brigades had been +severely engaged at the Furnaces before I received the above note. +They had been most successful in repulsing the enemy's attacks, +however, and I felt that the line taken up could be held; but the +despatch from General Humphreys was alarming, so I drew all the +cavalry close in toward Chancellorsville. It was found later that +Hancock's left had not been turned, and the points thus abandoned had +to be regained at a heavy cost in killed and wounded, to both the +cavalry and the infantry. + +On the 7th of May, under directions from headquarters, Army of the +Potomac, the trains were put in motion to go into park at Piney +Branch Church, in anticipation of the movement that was about to be +made for the possession of Spottsylvania Court House. I felt +confident that the order to move the trains there had been given +without a full understanding of the situation, for Piney Branch +Church was now held by the enemy, a condition which had resulted from +the order withdrawing the cavalry on account of the supposed disaster +to Hancock's left the day before; but I thought the best way to +remedy matters was to hold the trains in the vicinity of Aldrich's +till the ground on which it was intended to park them should be +regained. + +This led to the battle of Todd's Tavern, a spirited fight for the +possession of the crossroads at that point, participated in by the +enemy's cavalry and Gregg's division, and two brigades of Torbert's +division, the latter commanded by Merritt, as Torbert became very ill +on the 6th, and had to be sent to the rear. To gain the objective +point--the crossroads--I directed Gregg to assail the enemy on the +Catharpen road with Irvin Gregg's brigade and drive him over Corbin's +bridge, while Merritt attacked him with the Reserve brigade on the +Spottsylvania road in conjunction with Davies's brigade of Gregg's +division, which was to be put in on the Piney Branch Church road, and +unite with Merritt's left. Davies's and Irvin Gregg's brigades on my +right and left flanks met with some resistance, yet not enough to +deter them from, executing their orders. In front of Merritt the +enemy held on more stubbornly, however, and there ensued an +exceedingly severe and, at times, fluctuating fight. Finally the +Confederates gave way, and we pursued them almost to Spottsylvania +Court House; but deeming it prudent to recall the pursuers about +dark, I encamped Gregg's and Merritt's divisions in the open fields +to the east of Todd's Tavern. + +During the preceding three days the infantry corps of the army had +been engaged in the various conflicts known as the battles of the +Wilderness. The success of the Union troops in those battles had not +been all that was desired, and General Grant now felt that it was +necessary to throw himself on Lee's communications if possible, while +preserving his own intact by prolonging the movement to the left. +Therefore, on the evening of the 7th he determined to shift his whole +army toward Spottsylvania Court House, and initiated the movement by +a night march of the infantry to Todd's Tavern. In view of what was +contemplated, I gave orders to Gregg and Merritt to move at daylight +on the morning of the 8th, for the purpose of gaining possession of +Snell's bridge over the Po River, the former by the crossing at +Corbin's bridge and the latter by the Block House. I also directed +Wilson, who was at Alsop's house, to take possession of Spottsylvania +as early as possible on the morning of the 8th, and then move into +position at Snell's bridge conjointly with the other two divisions. +Wilson's orders remained as I had issued them, so he moved +accordingly and got possession of Spottsylvania, driving the enemy's +cavalry a mile beyond, as will be seen by the following despatch sent +me at 9 A. M. of the 8th: + +"HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, +"ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. +"SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, May 8, 1864 9 A. M. +"LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FORSYTH, CHIEF-OF-STAFF, C. C. + +"Have run the enemy's cavalry a mile from Spottsylvania Court House; +have charged them, and drove them through the village; am fighting +now with a considerable force, supposed to be Lee's division. +Everything all right. + +"J. H. WILSON, +"Brigadier-General Commanding. + + +During the night of the 7th General Meade arrived at Todd's Tavern +and modified the orders I had given Gregg and Merritt, directing +Gregg simply to hold Corbin's bridge, and Merritt to move out in +front of the infantry column marching on the Spottsylvania road. +Merritt proceeded to obey, but in advancing, our cavalry and infantry +became intermingled in the darkness, and much confusion and delay was +the consequence. I had not been duly advised of these changes in +Gregg's and Merritt's orders, and for a time I had fears for the +safety of Wilson, but, while he was preparing to move on to form his +junction with Gregg and Merritt at Snell's bridge, the advance of +Anderson (who was now commanding Longstreet's corps) appeared on the +scene and drove him from Spottsylvania. + +Had Gregg and Merritt been permitted to proceed as they were +originally instructed, it is doubtful whether the battles fought at +Spottsylvania would have occurred, for these two divisions would have +encountered the enemy at the Pa River, and so delayed his march as to +enable our infantry to reach Spottsylvania first, and thus force Lee +to take up a line behind the Po. I had directed Wilson to move from +the left by "the Gate" through Spottsylvania to Snell's bridge, while +Gregg and Merritt were to advance to the same point by Shady Grove +and the Block House. There was nothing to prevent at least a partial +success of these operations; that is to say, the concentration of the +three divisions in front of Snell's bridge, even if we could not +actually have gained it. But both that important point and the +bridge on the Block House road were utterly ignored, and Lee's +approach to Spottsylvania left entirely unobstructed, while three +divisions of cavalry remained practically ineffective by reason of +disjointed and irregular instructions. + +On the morning of the 8th, when I found that such orders had been +given, I made some strong remonstrances against the course that had +been pursued, but it was then too late to carry out the combinations +I had projected the night before, so I proceeded to join Merritt on +the Spottsylvania road. On reaching Merritt I found General Warren +making complaint that the cavalry were obstructing his infantry +column, so I drew Merritt off the road, and the leading division of +the Fifth Corps pushed up to the front. It got into line about 11 +o'clock, and advanced to take the village, but it did not go very far +before it struck Anderson's corps, and was hurled back with heavy +loss. This ended all endeavor to take Spottsylvania that day. + +A little before noon General Meade sent for me, and when I reached +his headquarters I found that his peppery temper had got the better +of his good judgment, he showing a disposition to be unjust, laying +blame here and there for the blunders that had been committed. He +was particularly severe on the cavalry, saying, among other things, +that it had impeded the march of the Fifth Corps by occupying the +Spottsylvania road. I replied that if this were true, he himself had +ordered it there without my knowledge. I also told him that he had +broken up my combinations, exposed Wilson's division to disaster, and +kept Gregg unnecessarily idle, and further, repelled his insinuations +by saying that such disjointed operations as he had been requiring of +the cavalry for the last four days would render the corps inefficient +and useless before long. Meade was very much irritated, and I was +none the less so. One word brought on another, until, finally, I +told him that I could whip Stuart if he (Meade) would only let me, +but since he insisted on giving the cavalry directions without +consulting or even notifying me, he could henceforth command the +Cavalry Corps himself--that I would not give it another order. + +The acrimonious interview ended with this remark, and after I left +him he went to General Grant's headquarters and repeated the +conversation to him, mentioning that I had said that I could whip +Stuart. At this General Grant remarked: "Did he say so? Then let him +go out and do it." This intimation was immediately acted upon by +General Meade, and a little later the following order came to me: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC +"May 8th, 1864 1 P. M. + +"GENERAL SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Cavalry Corps. + +"The major-general commanding directs you to immediately concentrate +your available mounted force, and with your ammunition trains and +such supply trains as are filled (exclusive of ambulances) proceed +against the enemy's cavalry, and when your supplies are exhausted, +proceed via New Market and Green Bay to Haxall's Landing on the James +River, there communicating with General Butler, procuring supplies +and return to this army. Your dismounted men will be left with the +train here. + +"A. A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-staff." + + +As soon as the above order was received I issued instructions for the +concentration of the three divisions of cavalry at Aldrich's to +prepare for the contemplated expedition. Three days' rations for the +men were distributed, and half rations of grain for one day were +doled out for the horses. I sent for Gregg, Merritt, and Wilson and +communicated the order to them, saying at the same time, "We are +going out to fight Stuart's cavalry in consequence of a suggestion +from me; we will give him a fair, square fight; we are strong, and I +know we can beat him, and in view of my recent representations to +General Meade I shall expect nothing but success." I also indicated +to my division commanders the line of march I should take--moving in +one column around the right flank of Lee's army to get in its rear +--and stated at the same time that it was my intention to fight Stuart +wherever he presented himself, and if possible go through to Haxall's +Landing; but that if Stuart should successfully interpose between us +and that point we would swing back to the Army of the Potomac by +passing around the enemy's left flank by way of Gordonsville. At +first the proposition seemed to surprise the division commanders +somewhat, for hitherto even the boldest, mounted expeditions had been +confined to a hurried ride through the enemy's country, without +purpose of fighting more than enough to escape in case of +molestation, and here and there to destroy a bridge. Our move would +be a challenge to Stuart for a cavalry duel behind Lee's lines, in +his own country, but the advantages which it was reasonable to +anticipate from the plan being quickly perceived, each division +commander entered into its support unhesitatingly, and at once set +about preparing for the march next day. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE EXPEDITION STARTS--DESTROYING SUPPLIES--OPENING OF THE FIGHT AT +YELLOW TAVERN--GENERAL CUSTER'S BRILLIANT CHARGE--DEATH OF GENERAL +STUART--REMOVING TORPEDOES--EXCITEMENT IN RICHMOND--A NIGHT MARCH +--ENTERPRISING NEWSBOYS--THE EFFECTS OF STUART'S DEFEAT AND DEATH +--END OF THE FIRST EXPEDITION--ITS GREAT SUCCESS AND BENEFICIAL +RESULTS. + +The expedition which resulted in the battle of Yellow Tavern and the +death of General Stuart started from the vicinity of Aldrich's toward +Fredericksburg early on the morning of May 9, 1864, marching on the +plank-road, Merritt's division leading. When the column reached +Tabernacle Church it headed almost due east to the telegraph road, +and thence down that highway to Thornburg, and from that point +through Childsburg to Anderson's crossing of the North Anna River, it +being my desire to put my command south of that stream if possible, +where it could procure forage before it should be compelled to fight. +The corps moved at a walk, three divisions on the same road, making a +column nearly thirteen miles in length, and marched around the right +flank of the enemy unsuspected until my rear guard had passed +Massaponax Church. Although the column was very long, I preferred to +move it all on one road rather than to attempt combinations for +carrying the divisions to any given point by different routes. +Unless the separate commands in an expedition of this nature are very +prompt in movement, and each fully equal to overcoming at once any +obstacle it may meet, combinations rarely work out as expected; +besides, an engagement was at all times imminent, hence it was +specially necessary to keep the whole force well together. + +As soon as the Ny, Po, and Ta rivers were crossed, each of which +streams would have afforded an excellent defensive line to the enemy, +all anxiety as to our passing around Lee's army was removed, and our +ability to cross the North Anna placed beyond doubt. Meanwhile +General Stuart had discovered what we were about, and he set his +cavalry in motion, sending General Fitzhugh Lee to follow and attack +my rear on the Childsburg road, Stuart himself marching by way of +Davenport's bridge, on the North Anna, toward Beaver Dam Station, +near which place his whole command was directed to unite the next +day. + +My column having passed the Ta River, Stuart attacked its rear with +considerable vigor, in the hope that he could delay my whole force +long enough to permit him to get at least a part of his command in my +front; but this scheme was frustrated by Davies's brigade, which I +directed to fight as a rear-guard, holding on at one position and +then at another along the line of march just enough to deter the +enemy from a too rapid advance. Davies performed this responsible +and trying duty with tact and good judgment, following the main +column steadily as it progressed to the south, and never once +permitting Fitzhugh Lee's advance to encroach far enough to compel a +halt of my main body. About dark Merritt's division crossed the +North Anna at Anderson's ford, while Gregg and Wilson encamped on the +north side, having engaged the enemy, who still hung on my rear up to +a late hour at night. + +After Merritt's division passed the river, Custer's brigade proceeded +on to Beaver Dam Station to cut the Virginia Central railroad. +Before reaching the station he met a small force of the enemy, but +this he speedily drove off, recapturing from it about four hundred +Union prisoners, who had been taken recently in the Wilderness and +were being conducted to Richmond. Custer also destroyed the station, +two locomotives, three trains of cars, ninety wagons, from eight to +ten miles of railroad and telegraph lines, some two hundred thousand +pounds of bacon and other supplies, amounting in all to about a +million and a half of rations, and nearly all they medical stores of +General Lee's army, which had been moved from Orange Court House +either because Lee wished to have them directly in his rear or +because he contemplated falling back to the North Anna. + +On the morning of the 10th Gregg and Wilson, while crossing the North +Anna, were again attacked, but were covered by the division on the +south side of the stream; the passage was effected without much loss, +notwithstanding the approach of Stuart on the south bank from the +direction of Davenport's bridge. The possession of Beaver Dam gave +us an important point, as it opened a way toward Richmond by the +Negro-foot road. It also enabled us to obtain forage for our +well-nigh famished animals, and to prepare for fighting the enemy, +who, I felt sure, would endeavor to interpose between my column and +Richmond. + +Stuart had hardly united his troops near Beaver Dam when he realized +that concentrating there was a mistake, so he began making +dispositions for remedying his error, and while we leisurely took the +Negro-foot toad toward Richmond, he changed his tactics and hauled +off from my rear, urging his horses to the death in order to get in +between Richmond and my column. This he effected about 10 o'clock on +the morning of the 11th, concentrating at Yellow Tavern, six miles +from the city, on the Brook turnpike. His change of tactics left my +march on the 10th practically unmolested, and we quietly encamped +that night on the south bank of the South Anna, near Ground Squirrel +Bridge. Here we procured an abundance of forage, and as the distance +traveled that day had been only fifteen to eighteen miles, men and +horses were able to obtain a good rest during the night. + +At 2 o'clock in the morning, May 11, Davies's brigade of Gregg's +division marched for Ashland to cut the Fredericksburg railroad. +Arriving there before the head of the enemy's column, which had to +pass through this same place to reach Yellow Tavern, Davies drove out +a small force occupying the town, burnt a train of cars and a +locomotive, destroyed the railroad for some distance, and rejoined +the main column at Allen's Station on the Fredericksburg and Richmond +railroad. From Allen's Station the whole command moved on Yellow +Tavern, Merritt in the lead, Wilson following, and Gregg in the rear. + +The appearance of Davies's brigade at Ashland in the morning had had +the effect of further mystifying the enemy as to my intentions; and +while he held it incumbent to place himself between me and Richmond, +yet he was still so uncertain of my movements that he committed the +same fault that he did the first day, when he divided his force and +sent a part to follow me on the Childsburg road. He now divided his +command again, sending a portion to hang upon my rear, while he +proceeded with the rest to Yellow Tavern. This separation not only +materially weakened the force which might have been thrown across my +line of march, but it also enabled me to attack with almost my entire +corps, while occupying the pursuers with a small rearguard. + +By forced marches General Stuart succeeded in reaching Yellow Tavern +ahead of me on May 11; and the presence of, his troops, on the +Ashland and Richmond road becoming known to Merritt as he was +approaching the Brook turnpike, this general pressed forward at once +to the attack. Pushing his division to the front, he soon got +possession of the turnpike and drove the enemy back several hundred +yards to the east of it. This success had the effect of throwing the +head of my column to the east of the pike, and I quickly brought up +Wilson and one of Gregg's brigades to take advantage of the situation +by forming a line of battle on that side or the road. Meanwhile the +enemy, desperate but still confident, poured in a heavy fire from his +line and from a battery which enfiladed the Brook road, and made +Yellow Tavern an uncomfortably hot place. Gibbs's and Devin's +brigades, however, held fast there, while Custer, supported by +Chapman's brigade, attacked the enemy's left and battery in a mounted +charge. + +Custer's charge, with Chapman on his flank and the rest of Wilson's +division sustaining him, was brilliantly executed. Beginning at a +walk, he increased his gait to a trot, and then at full speed rushed +at the enemy. At the same moment the dismounted troops along my +whole front moved forward, and as Custer went through the battery, +capturing two of the guns with their cannoneers and breaking up the +enemy's left, Gibbs and Devin drove his centre and right from the +field. Gregg meanwhile, with equal success, charged the force in his +rear-Gordon's brigadeand the engagement ended by giving us complete +control of the road to Richmond. We captured a number of prisoners, +and the casualties on both sides were quite severe, General Stuart +himself falling mortally wounded, and General James B. Gordon, one of +his brigade commanders, being killed. + +After Custer's charge, the Confederate cavalry was badly broken up, +the main portion of it being driven in a rout toward Ashland and a +small part in the direction of Richmond, which latter force finally +rejoined Fitzhugh Lee near Mechanicsville. A reconnoitring party +being now sent up the Brook turnpike toward the city, dashed across +the South Fork of the Chickahominy, drove a small force from the +enemy's exterior intrenchments and went within them. I followed this +party, and after a little exploration found between the two lines of +works a country road that led across to the pike which runs from +Mechanicsville to Richmond. I thought we could go around within the +outer line of works by this country road across to the Mechanicsville +pike on the south side of the Chickahominy, and encamp the next night +at Fair Oaks; so I determined to make the movement after dark, being +influenced in this to some extent by reports received during the +afternoon from colored people, to the effect that General B. F. +Butler's army had reached a small stream on the south side of the +James, about four miles south of Richmond. If I could succeed in +getting through by this road, not only would I have a shorter line of +march to Haxall's landing, but there was also a possibility that I +could help Butler somewhat by joining him so near Richmond. +Therefore, after making the wounded as comfortable as possible, we +commenced the march about 11 o'clock on the night of the 11th, and +massed the command on the plateau south of the Meadow bridge near +daylight on the 12th. + +The enemy, anticipating that I would march by this route, had planted +torpedoes along it, and many of these exploded as the column passed +over them, killing several horses and wounding a few men, but beyond +this we met with no molestation. The torpedoes were loaded shells +planted on each side of the road, and so connected by wires attached +to friction-tubes in the shells, that when a horse's hoof struck a +wire the shell was exploded by the jerk on the improvised lanyard. +After the loss of several horses and the wounding of some of the men +by these torpedoes, I gave directions to have them removed, if +practicable, so about twenty-five of the prisoners were brought up +and made to get down on their knees, feel for the wires in the +darkness, follow them up and unearth the shells. The prisoners +reported the owner of one of the neighboring houses to be the +principal person who had engaged in planting these shells, and I +therefore directed that some of them be carried and placed in the +cellar of his house, arranged to explode if the enemy's column came +that way, while he and his family were brought off as prisoners and +held till after daylight. + +Meanwhile the most intense excitement prevailed in Richmond. The +Confederates, supposing that their capital was my objective point, +were straining every effort to put it in a state of defense, and had +collected between four and five thousand irregular troops, under +General Bragg, besides bringing up three brigades of infantry from +the force confronting General Butler south of the James River, the +alarm being intensified by the retreat, after the defeat at Yellow +Tavern, of Stuart's cavalry, now under General Fitzhugh Lee, by way +of Ashland to Mechanicsville, on the north side of the Chickahominy, +for falling back in that direction, left me between them and +Richmond. + +Our march during the night of the 11th was very tedious, on account +of the extreme darkness and frequent showers of rain; but at daylight +on the 12th the head of my column, under Wilson, reached the +Mechanicsville pike. Here Wilson, encountering the enemy's works and +batteries manned by General Bragg's troops, endeavored to pass. In +this he failed, and as soon as I was notified that it was +impracticable to reach Fair Oaks by passing between the works and the +Chickahominy, Custer's brigade was directed to make the crossing to +the north side of the Chickahominy, at the Meadow bridge. Custer +moved rapidly for the bridge, but found it destroyed, and that the +enemy's cavalry was posted on the north side, in front of +Mechanicsville. When this information came back, I ordered Merritt +to take his whole division and repair the bridge, instructing him +that the crossing must be made at all hazards; for, in view of an +impending attack by the enemy's infantry in Richmond, it was +necessary that I should have the bridge as a means of egress in case +of serious disaster. + +All the time that Merritt was occupied in this important duty, the +enemy gave great annoyance to the working party by sweeping the +bridge with a section of artillery and a fire from the supporting +troops, so a small force was thrown across to drive them away. +When Merritt had passed two regiments over, they attacked, but +were repulsed. The work on the bridge continued, however, +not-withstanding this discomfiture; and when it was finished, Merritt +crossed nearly all his division, dismounted, and again attacked the +enemy, this time carrying the line, of temporary breastworks, built +with logs and rails, and pursuing his broken troops toward Gaines's +Mills. + +While Merritt was engaged in this affair, the Confederates advanced +from behind their works at Richmond, and attacked Wilson and Gregg. +Wilson's troops were driven back in some confusion at first; but +Gregg, in anticipation of attack, had hidden a heavy line of +dismounted men in a bushy ravine on his front, and when the enemy +marched upon it, with much display and under the eye of the President +of the Confederacy, this concealed line opened a destructive fire +with repeating carbines; and at the same time the batteries of +horse-artillery, under Captain Robinson, joining in the contest, +belched forth shot and shell with fatal effect. The galling fire +caused the enemy to falter, and while still wavering Wilson rallied +his men, and turning some of them against the right flank of the +Confederates, broke their line, and compelled them to withdraw for +security behind the heavy works thrown up for the defense of the city +in 1862. + +By destroying the Meadow bridge and impeding my column on the +Mechanicsville, pike, the enemy thought to corner us completely, for +he still maintained the force in Gregg's rear that had pressed it the +day before; but the repulse of his infantry ended all his hopes of +doing us any serious damage on the limited ground between the +defenses of Richmond and the Chickahominy. He felt certain that on +account of the recent heavy rains we could not cross the Chickahominy +except by the Meadow bridge, and it also seemed clear to him that we +could not pass between the river and his intrenchments; therefore he +hoped to ruin us, or at least compel us to return by the same route +we had taken in coming, in which case we would run into Gordon's +brigade, but the signal repulse of Bragg's infantry dispelled these +illusions. + +Even had it not been our good fortune to defeat him, we could have +crossed the Chickahominy if necessary at several points that were +discovered by scouting parties which, while the engagement was going +on, I had sent out to look up fords. This means of getting out from +the circumscribed plateau I did not wish to use, however, unless +there was no alternative, for I wished to demonstrate to the Cavalry +Corps the impossibility of the enemy's destroying or capturing so +large a body of mounted troops. + +The chances of seriously injuring, us were more favorable to the +enemy this time than ever they were afterward, for with the troops +from Richmond, comprising three brigades of veterans and about five +thousand irregulars on my front and right flank, with Gordon's +cavalry in the rear, and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry on my left flank, +holding the Chickahominy and Meadow bridge, I was apparently hemmed +in on every side, but relying on the celerity with which mounted +troops could be moved, I felt perfectly confident that the seemingly +perilous situation could be relieved under circumstances even worse +than those then surrounding us. Therefore, instead of endeavoring to +get away without a fight, I concluded that there would be little +difficulty in withdrawing, even should I be beaten, and none whatever +if I defeated the enemy. + +In accordance with this view I accepted battle; and the complete +repulse of the enemy's infantry, which assailed us from his +intrenchments, and of Gordon's cavalry, which pressed Gregg on the +Brook road, ended the contest in our favor. The rest of the day we +remained on the battle-field undisturbed, and our time was spent in +collecting the wounded, burying the dead, grazing the horses, and +reading the Richmond journals, two small newsboys with commendable +enterprise having come within our lines from the Confederate capital +to sell their papers. They were sharp youngsters, and having come +well supplied, they did a thrifty business. When their stock in +trade was all disposed of they wished to return, but they were so +intelligent and observant that I thought their mission involved other +purposes than the mere sale of newspapers, so they were held till we +crossed the Chickahominy and then turned loose. + +After Merritt had crossed the Chickahominy and reached +Mechanicsville, I sent him orders to push on to Gaines's Mills. Near +the latter place he fell in with the enemy's cavalry again, and +sending me word, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon I crossed the +Chickahominy with Wilson and Gregg, but when we overtook Merritt he +had already brushed the Confederates away, and my whole command went +into camp between Walnut Grove and Gaines's Mills. + +The main purposes of the expedition had now been executed. They were +"to break up General Lee's railroad communications, destroy such +depots of supplies as could be found in his rear, and to defeat +General Stuart's cavalry." Many miles of the Virginia Central and of +the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroads were broken up, and +several of the bridges on each burnt. At Beaver Dam, Ashland, and +other places, about two millions of rations had been captured and +destroyed. The most important of all, however, was the defeat of +Stuart. Since the beginning of the war this general had +distinguished himself by his management of the Confederate mounted +force. Under him the cavalry of Lee's army had been nurtured, and +had acquired such prestige that it thought itself well-nigh +invincible; indeed, in the early years of the war it had proved to be +so. This was now dispelled by the successful march we had made in +Lee's rear; and the discomfiture of Stuart at Yellow Tavern had +inflicted a blow from which entire recovery was impossible. + +In its effect on the Confederate cause the defeat of Stuart was most +disheartening, but his death was even a greater calamity, as is +evidenced by the words of a Confederate writer (Cooke), who says: +"Stuart could be ill spared at this critical moment, and General Lee +was plunged into the deepest melancholy at the intelligence of his +death. When it reached him he retired from those around him, and +remained for some time communing with his own heart and memory. When +one of his staff entered and spoke of Stuart, General Lee said: 'I +can scarcely think of him without weeping.'" + +From the camp near Gaines's Mills I resumed the march to Haxall's +Landing, the point on the James River contemplated in my instructions +where I was to obtain supplies from General Butler. We got to the +James on the 14th with all our wounded and a large number of +prisoners, and camped between Haxall's and Shirley. The prisoners, +as well as the captured guns, were turned over to General Butler's +provost-marshal, and our wounded were quickly and kindly cared for by +his surgeons. Ample supplies, also, in the way of forage and +rations, were furnished us by General Butler, and the work of +refitting for our return to the Army of the Potomac was vigorously +pushed. By the 17th all was ready, and having learned by scouting +parties sent in the direction of Richmond and as far as Newmarket +that the enemy's cavalry was returning to Lee's army I started that +evening on my return march, crossing the Chickahominy at Jones's +bridge, and bivouacking on the 19th near Baltimore crossroads. + +My uncertainty of what had happened to the Army of the Potomac in our +absence, and as to where I should find it, made our getting back a +problem somewhat difficult of solution, particularly as I knew that +reinforcements for Lee had come up from the south to Richmond, and +that most likely some of these troops were being held at different +points on the route to intercept my column. Therefore I determined +to pass the Pamunkey River at the White House, and sent to Fort +Monroe for a pontoon-bridge on which to make the crossing. While +waiting for the pontoons I ordered Custer to proceed with his brigade +to Hanover Station, to destroy the railroad bridge over the South +Anna, a little beyond that place; at the same time I sent Gregg and +Wilson to Cold Harbor, to demonstrate in the direction of Richmond as +far as Mechanicsville, so as to cover Custer's movements. Merritt, +with the remaining brigades of his division, holding fast at +Baltimore crossroads to await events. + +After Gregg and Custer had gone, it was discovered that the railroad +bridge over the Pamunkey, near the White House, had been destroyed +but partially--the cross-ties and stringers being burned in places +only--and that it was practicable to repair it sufficiently to carry +us over. In view of this information General Merritt's two brigades +were at once put on the duty of reconstructing the bridge. By +sending mounted parties through the surrounding country, each man of +which would bring in a board or a plank, Merritt soon accumulated +enough lumber for the flooring, and in one day the bridge was made +practicable. On the 22d Gregg, Wilson, and Custer returned. The +latter had gone on his expedition as far as Hanover Station, +destroyed some commissary stores there, and burned two trestle +bridges over Hanover Creek. This done, he deemed it prudent to +retire to Hanovertown. The next morning he again marched to Hanover +Station, and there ascertained that a strong force of the enemy, +consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, was posted at the +South Anna bridges. These troops had gone there from Richmond en +route to reinforce Lee. In the face of this impediment Custer's +mission could not be executed fully, so he returned to Baltimore +crossroads. + +The whole command was drawn in by noon of the 22d, and that day it +crossed the Pamunkey by Merritt's reconstructed bridge, marching to +Ayletts, on the Mattapony River, the same night. Here I learned from +citizens, and from prisoners taken during the day by scouting parties +sent toward Hanover Court House, that Lee had been, forced from his +position near Spottsylvania Court House and compelled to retire to +the line of the North Anna. I then determined to rejoin the Army of +the Potomac at the earliest moment, which I did by making for +Chesterfield Station, where I reported to General Meade on the 24th +of May. + +Our return to Chesterfield ended the first independent expedition the +Cavalry Corps had undertaken since coming under my command, and our +success was commended highly by Generals Grant and Meade, both +realizing that our operations in the rear of Lee had disconcerted and +alarmed that general so much as to aid materially in forcing his +retrograde march, and both acknowledged that, by drawing off the +enemy's cavalry during the past fortnight, we had enabled them to +move the Army of the Potomac and its enormous trains without +molestation in the manoeuvres that had carried it to the North Anna. +Then, too, great quantities of provisions and munitions of war had +been destroyed--stores that the enemy had accumulated at sub-depots +from strained resources and by difficult means; the railroads that +connected Lee with Richmond broken, the most successful cavalry +leader of the South killed, and in addition to all this there had +been inflicted on the Confederate mounted troops the most thorough +defeat that had yet befallen them in Virginia. + +When the expedition set out the Confederate authorities in Richmond +were impressed, and indeed convinced, that my designs contemplated +the capture of that city, and notwithstanding the loss they sustained +in the defeat and death of Stuart, and their repulse the succeeding +day, they drew much comfort from the fact that I had not entered +their capital. Some Confederate writers have continued to hold this +theory and conviction since the war. In this view they were and are +in error. When Stuart was defeated the main purpose of my +instructions had been carried out, and my thoughts then turned to +joining General Butler to get supplies. I believed that I could do +this by cutting across to the Mechanicsville pike and Fair Oaks on +the south side of the Chickahominy, but the failure of Wilson's +column to get possession of the outwork which commanded the pike +necessitated my crossing at Meadow bridge, and then moving by +Mechanicsville and Gaines's Mills instead of by the shorter route. +Moreover, my information regarding General Butler's position was +incorrect, so that even had I been successful in getting to Fair Oaks +by the direct road I should still have gained nothing thereby, for I +should still have been obliged to continue down the James River to +Haxall's. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +GENERAL WILSON'S ADVANCE TOWARD HANOVER COURT HOUSE--CROSSING THE +PAMUNKEY--ENGAGEMENT OF HAWE'S SHOP--FIGHT AT MATADEQUIN CREEK +--CAPTURE OF COLD HARBOR--THE FIGHT TO RETAIN THE PLACE--MOVEMENTS +OF GENERAL WILSON. + +When I rejoined the Army of the Potomac, near Chesterfield Station, +the heavy battles around Spottsylvania had been fought, and the +complicated manoeuvres by which the whole Union force was swung +across the North Anna were in process of execution. In conjunction +with these manoeuvres Wilson's division was sent to the right flank +of the army, where he made a reconnoissance south of the North Anna +as far as Little River, crossing the former stream near Jericho +Mills. Wilson was to operate from day to day on that flank as it +swung to the south, covering to New Castle ferry each advance of the +infantry and the fords left behind on the march. From the 26th to +the 30th these duties kept Wilson constantly occupied, and also +necessitated a considerable dispersion of his force, but by the 31st +he was enabled to get all his division together again, and crossing +to the south side of the Pamunkey at New Castle ferry, he advanced +toward Hanover Court House. Near Dr Pride's house he encountered a +division of the enemy's cavalry under General W. H. F. Lee, and drove +it back across Mechamp's Creek, thus opening communication with the +right of our infantry resting near Phillips's Mills. Just as this +had been done, a little before dark, Wilson received an order from +General Meade directing him to push on toward Richmond until he +encountered the Confederates in such strength that he could no longer +successfully contend against them, and in compliance with this order +occupied Hanover Court House that same day. Resuming his march at +daylight on June 1, he went ahead on the Ashland road while sending +Chapman's brigade up the south bank of the South Anna to destroy the +bridges on that stream. Chapman having succeeded in this work, +Wilson re-united his whole command and endeavored to hold Ashland, +but finding the Confederate cavalry and infantry there in strong +force, he was obliged to withdraw to Dr. Price's house. Here he +learned that the army had gone to the left toward Cold Harbor, so on +the 2d of June he moved to Hawe's Shop. + +While Wilson was operating thus on the right, I had to cover with +Gregg's and Torbert's divisions the crossing of the army over the +Pamunkey River at and near Hanovertown. Torbert having recovered +from the illness which overtook him in the Wilderness, had now +returned to duty. The march to turn the enemy's right began on the +26th. Torbert and Gregg in advance, to secure the crossings of the +Pamunkey and demonstrate in such manner as to deceive the enemy as +much as possible in the movement, the two cavalry divisions being +supported by General D. A. Russell's division of the Sixth Corps. + +To attain this end in the presence of an ever-watchful foe who had +just recently been reinforced in considerable numbers from Richmond +and further south--almost enough to make up the losses he had +sustained in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania--required the most +vigorous and zealous work on the part of those to whom had been +allotted the task of carrying out the initial manoeuvres. Torbert +started for Taylor's ford on the Pamunkey with directions to +demonstrate heavily at that point till after dark, as if the crossing +was to be made there, and having thus impressed the enemy, he was to +leave a small guard, withdraw quietly, and march to Hanovertown ford, +where the real crossing was to be effected. Meanwhile Gregg marched +to Littlepage's crossing of the Pamunkey, with instructions to make +feints in the same manner as Torbert until after dark, when he was to +retire discreetly, leaving a small force to keep up the +demonstration, and then march rapidly to Hanovertown crossing, taking +with him the pontoon-bridge. + +At the proper hour Russell took up the march and followed the +cavalry. The troops were in motion all night, undergoing the usual +delays incident to night marches, and, early on the morning of the +27th the crossing was made, Custer's brigade of Torbert's division +driving from the ford about one hundred of the enemy's cavalry, and +capturing between thirty and forty prisoners. The remainder of +Torbert's division followed this brigade and advanced to Hanovertown, +where General Gordon's brigade of Confederate cavalry was met. +Torbert attacked this force with Devin's brigade, while he sent +Custer to Hawe's Shop, from which point a road leading to the right +was taken that brought him in rear of the enemy's cavalry; when the +Confederates discovered this manoeuvre, they retired in the direction +of Hanover Court House. Pursuit continued as far as a little stream +called Crump's Creek, and here Torbert was halted, Gregg moving up on +his line meanwhile, and Russell encamping near the crossing of the +river. This completed our task of gaining a foothold south of the +Pamunkey, and on the 28th the main army crossed unharassed and took +up a position behind my line, extending south from the river, with +the Sixth Corps on the right across the Hanover Court House road at +Crump's Creek, the Second Corps on the left of the Sixth, and the +Fifth Corps about two miles in front of Hanovertown, its left +extending to the Tolopotomy. + +There was now much uncertainty in General Grant's mind as to the +enemy's whereabouts, and there were received daily the most +conflicting statements as to the nature of Lee's movements. It +became necessary, therefore, to find out by an actual demonstration +what Lee was doing, and I was required to reconnoitre in the +direction of Mechanicsville. For this purpose I moved Gregg's +division out toward this town by way of Hawe's Shop, and when it had +gone about three-fourths of a mile beyond the Shop the enemy's +cavalry was discovered dismounted and disposed behind a temporary +breastwork of rails and logs. + +This was the first occasion on which, since the battle of Yellow +Tavern, the Confederate troopers had confronted us in large numbers, +their mounted operations, like ours, having been dependent more or +less on the conditions that grew out of the movements in which Lee's +infantry had been engaged since the 14th of May. + +On that date General Lee had foreshadowed his intention of using his +cavalry in connection with the manoeuvres of his infantry by issuing +an order himself, now that Stuart was dead, directing that the "three +divisions of cavalry serving with the army [Lee's] will constitute +separate commands, and will report directly to and receive orders +from the headquarters of the army." The order indicates that since +Stuart's death the Confederate cavalry had been re-organized into +three divisions, that were commanded respectively by General Wade +Hampton, General Fitzhugh Lee, and General W. H. F. Lee, the +additional division organization undoubtedly growing out of the fact, +that General M. C. Butler's brigade of about four thousand men had +joined recently from South Carolina. + +When this force developed in Gregg's front, he attacked the moment +his troops could be dismounted; and the contest became one of +exceeding stubborness, for he found confronting him Hampton's and +Fitzhugh Lee's divisions, supported by what we then supposed to be a +brigade of infantry, but which, it has since been ascertained, was +Butler's brigade of mounted troops; part of them armed with +long-range rifles. The contest between the opposing forces was of +the severest character and continued till late in the evening. The +varying phases of the fight prompted me to reinforce Gregg as much as +possible, so I directed Custer's brigade to report to him, sending, +meanwhile, for the other two brigades of Torbert, but these were not +available at the time--on account of delays which occurred in +relieving them from the line at Crump's Creek--and did not get up +till the fight was over. As soon as Custer joined him, Gregg +vigorously assaulted the Confederate position along his whole front; +and notwithstanding the long-range rifles of the South Carolinians, +who were engaging in their first severe combat it appears, and fought +most desperately, he penetrated their barricades at several points. + +The most determined and obstinate efforts for success were now made +on both sides, as the position at Hawe's Shop had become of very +great importance on account of the designs of both Lee and Grant. +Lee wished to hold this ground while he manoeuvred his army to the +line of the Tolopotomy, where he could cover the roads to Richmond, +while Grant, though first sending me out merely to discover by a +strong reconnoissance the movements of the enemy, saw the value of +the place to cover his new base at the White House, and also to give +us possession of a direct road to Cold Harbor. Hawe's Shop remained +in our possession finally, for late in the evening Custer's brigade +was dismounted and formed in close column in rear of Gregg, and while +it assaulted through an opening near the centre of his line, the +other two brigades advanced and carried the temporary works. The +enemy's dead and many of his wounded fell into our hands; also a +considerable number of prisoners, from whom we learned that +Longstreet's and Ewell's corps were but four miles to the rear. + +The battle was a decidedly severe one, the loss on each side being +heavy in proportion to the number of troops engaged. This fight took +place almost immediately in front of our infantry, which, during the +latter part of the contest, was busily occupied in throwing up +intrenchments. Late in the afternoon I reported to General Meade the +presence of the enemy's infantry, and likewise that Hampton's and +Fitzhugh Lee's divisions were in my front also, and asked, at the +same time; that some of our infantry, which was near at hand, be sent +to my assistance. I could not convince Meade that anything but the +enemy's horse was fighting us, however, and he declined to push out +the foot-troops, who were much wearied by night marches. It has been +ascertained since that Meade's conclusions were correct in so far as +they related to the enemy's infantry; but the five cavalry brigades +far outnumbered my three, and it is to be regretted that so much was +risked in holding a point that commanded the roads to Cold Harbor and +Meadow bridge, when there was at hand a preponderating number of +Union troops which might have been put into action. However, Gregg's +division and Custer's brigade were equal to the situation, all +unaided as they were till dark, when Torbert and Merritt came on the +ground. The contest not only gave us the crossroads, but also +removed our uncertainty regarding Lee's movements, clearly +demonstrating that his army was retiring by its right flank, so that +it might continue to interpose between Grant and the James River; as +well as cover the direct route to Richmond. + +General Lee reported this battle to his Government as a Confederate +victory, but his despatch was sent early in the day, long before the +fight ended, and evidently he could not have known the final result +when he made the announcement, for the fight lasted until dark. +After dark, our own and the Confederate dead having been buried, I +withdrew, and moving to the rear of our infantry, marched all night +and till I reached the vicinity of Old Church, where I had been +instructed to keep a vigilant watch on the enemy with Gregg's and +Torbert's divisions. As soon as I had taken position at Old Church +my pickets were pushed out in the direction of Cold Harbor, and the +fact that the enemy was holding that point in some force was clearly +ascertained. But our occupation of Cold Harbor was of the utmost +importance; indeed, it was absolutely necessary that we should +possess it, to secure our communications with the White House, as +well as to cover the extension of our line to the left toward the +James River. Roads from Bethesda Church, Old Church, and the White +House centred at Cold Harbor, and from there many roads diverged also +toward different crossings of the Chickahominy, which were +indispensable to us. + +The enemy too realized the importance of the place, for as soon as he +found himself compelled to take up the line of the Tolopotomy he +threw a body of troops into Cold Harbor by forced marches, and +followed it up by pushing a part of this force out on the Old Church +road as far as Matadequin Creek, where he established a line of +battle, arranging the front of it parallel to the road along the +south bank of the Pamunkey; this for the purpose of endangering our +trains as they moved back and forth between the army and the White +House. + +Meanwhile I had occupied Old Church and pushed pickets down toward +Cold Harbor. The outposts struck each other just north of Matadequin +Creek, and a spirited fight immediately took place. At first our +pickets were sorely pressed, but Torbert, who was already preparing +to make a reconnoissance, lost no time in reinforcing them on the +north side of the creek with Devin's brigade. The fight then became +general, both sides, dismounted, stubbornly contesting the ground. +Of the Confederates, General Butler's South Carolinians bore the +brunt of the fight, and, strongly posted as they were on the south +bank of the creek, held their ground with the same obstinacy they had +previously shown at Hawe's Shop. Finally, however, Torbert threw +Merritt's and Custer's brigades into the action, and the enemy +retired, we pursuing to within a mile and a half of Cold Harbor and +capturing a number of prisoners. Gregg's division took no part in +the actual fighting, but remained near Old Church observing the roads +on Torberts flanks, one leading toward Bethesda Church on his right, +the other to his left in the direction of the White House. This +latter road Gregg was particularly instructed to keep open, so as to +communicate with General W. F. Smith, who was then debarking his +corps at the White House, and on the morning of the 31st this +general's advance was covered by a brigade which Gregg had sent him +for the purpose. + +Torbert having pursued toward Cold Harbor the troops he fought at +Matadequin Creek, had taken up a position about a mile and a half +from that place, on the Old Church road. The morning of the 31st I +visited him to arrange for his further advance, intending thus to +anticipate an expected attack from Fitzhugh Lee, who was being +reinforced by infantry. I met Torbert at Custer's headquarters, and +found that the two had already been talking over a scheme to capture +Cold Harbor, and when their plan was laid before me it appeared so +plainly feasible that I fully endorsed it, at once giving directions +for its immediate execution, and ordering Gregg to come forward to +Torbert's support with such troops as he could spare from the duty +with which he had been charged. + +Torbert moved out promptly, Merritt's brigade first, followed by +Custer's, on the direct road to Cold Harbor, while Devin's brigade +was detached, and marched by a left-hand road that would bring him in +on the right and rear of the enemy's line, which was posted in front +of the crossroads. Devin was unable to carry his part of the +programme farther than to reach the front of the Confederate right, +and as Merritt came into position to the right of the Old Church road +Torbert was obliged to place a part of Custer's brigade on Merritt's +left so as to connect with Devin. The whole division was now in +line, confronted by Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, supported by Clingman's +brigade from Hoke's division of infantry; and from the Confederate +breastworks, hastily constructed out of logs, rails, and earth, a +heavy fire was already being poured upon us that it seemed impossible +to withstand. None of Gregg's division had yet arrived, and so +stubborn was the enemy's resistance that I began to doubt our ability +to carry the place before reinforcements came up, but just then +Merritt reported that he could turn the enemy's left, and being +directed to execute his proposition, he carried it to a most +successful issue with the First and Second regular cavalry. Just as +these two regiments passed around the enemy's left and attacked his +rear, the remainder of the division assailed him in front. This +manoeuvre of Merritt's stampeded the Confederates, and the defenses +falling into our hands easily, we pushed ahead on the Bottom's bridge +road three-fourths of a mile beyond Cold Harbor. + +Cold Harbor was now mine, but I was about nine miles away from our +nearest infantry, and had been able to bring up only Davies's brigade +of cavalry, which arrived after the fight. My isolated position +therefore made me a little uneasy. I felt convinced that the enemy +would attempt to regain the place, for it was of as much importance +to him as to us, and the presence of his infantry disclosed that he +fully appreciated this. My uneasiness increased as the day grew +late, for I had learned from prisoners that the balance of Hoke's +division was en route to Cold Harbor, and Kershaw near at hand, +interposing between the Union left near Bethesda Church and my +position. In view of this state of affairs, I notified General Meade +that I had taken Cold Harbor, but could not with safety to my command +hold it, and forthwith gave directions to withdraw during the night. +The last of my troops had scarcely pulled out, however, when I +received a despatch from Meade directing me to hold Cold Harbor at +every hazard. General Grant had expected that a severe battle would +have to be fought before we could obtain possession of the place; and +its capture by our cavalry not being anticipated, no preparation had +been made for its permanent occupancy. No time was to be lost, +therefore, if the advantages which possession of Cold Harbor gave us +were to be improved, so at the same hour that Meade ordered me to +hold the place at all hazards the Sixth Corps was started on a forced +march, by Grant's directions, to aid in that object, and on arrival +to relieve my cavalry. + +The moment Meade's order was received, I directed a reoccupation of +Cold Harbor, and although a large portion of Torbert's command was +already well on its way back to the line we held on the morning of +the 31st, this force speedily retraced its steps, and re-entered the +place before daylight; both our departure and return having been +effected without the enemy being aware of our movements. We now +found that the temporary breastworks of rails and logs which the +Confederates had built were of incalculable benefit to us in +furnishing material with which to establish a line of defense, they +being made available by simply reversing them at some points, or at +others wholly reconstructing them to suit the circumstances of the +ground: The troops, without reserves, were then placed behind our +cover dismounted, boxes of ammunition distributed along the line, and +the order passed along that the place must be held. All this was +done in the darkness, and while we were working away at our cover the +enemy could be distinctly heard from our skirmish-line giving +commands and making preparations to attack. + +Just after daylight on the 1st of June the Confederate infantry under +General Kershaw endeavored to drive us out, advancing against my +right from the Bethesda Church road. In his assault he was permitted +to come close up to our works, and when within short range such afire +was opened on him from our horse-artillery and repeating carbines +that he recoiled in confusion after the first onset; still, he seemed +determined to get the place, and after reorganizing, again attacked; +but the lesson of the first repulse was not without effect, and his +feeble effort proved wholly fruitless. After his second failure we +were left undisturbed, and at 9 A.M. I sent the following despatch to +army headquarters: + +"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, +"ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. +"Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864--9 A.M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HUMPHREYS, +"Chief-of-Staff. + +"GENERAL: In obedience to your instructions I am holding Cold Harbor. +I have captured this morning more prisoners; they belong to three +different infantry brigades. The enemy assaulted the right of my +lines this morning, but were handsomely repulsed. I have been very +apprehensive, but General Wright is now coming up. I built slight +works for my men; the enemy came up to them, and were driven back. +General Wright has just arrived. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +About 10 o'clock in the morning the Sixth Corps relieved Torbert and +Davies, having marched all night, and these two generals moving out +toward the Chickahominy covered the left of the infantry line till +Hancock's corps took their place in the afternoon. By this time +Gregg had joined me with his two brigades, and both Torbert and Gregg +were now marched to Prospect Church, from which point I moved them to +a position on the north side of the Chickahominy at Bottom's bridge. +Here the enemy's cavalry confronted us, occupying the south bank of +the stream, with artillery in position at the fords prepared to +dispute our passage; but it was not intended that we should cross; so +Gregg and Torbert lay quiet in camp at Bottom's bridge and at Old +Church without noteworthy event until the 6th of June. + +As before related, Wilson's division struck the enemy's infantry as +well as W. H. F. Lee's cavalry near Ashland on the 1st of June, and +although Chapman destroyed the bridges over the South Anna, which was +his part of the programme, Wilson found it necessary to return to +Price's Store. From this point he continued to cover the right of +the Army of the Potomac, on the 2d of June driving the rear-guard of +the enemy from Hawe's Shop, the scene of the battle of May 28. The +same day he crossed Tolopotomy Creek, and passed around the enemy's +left flank so far that Lee thought his left was turned by a strong +force, and under cover of darkness withdrew from a menacing position +which he was holding in front of the Ninth Corps. This successful +manoeuvre completed, Wilson returned to Hawe's Shop, and on the 4th +went into camp at New Castle ferry, in anticipation of certain +operations of the Cavalry Corps, which were to take place while the +Army of the Potomac was crossing to the south side of the James. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE MOVEMENT TO THE JAMES--THE SECOND EXPEDITION--BATTLE OF +TREVILLIAN STATION--DEFEAT OF GENERAL WADE HAMPTON--MALLORY'S +CROSSROADS--SUFFERING OF THE WOUNDED--SECURING THE TRAINS--GENERAL +GREGG'S STUBBORN FIGHT. + +By the 6th of June General Grant again determined to continue the +movement of the army by its left flank to the south bank of the James +River, his unsuccessful attack on the enemy's works near Cold Harbor +having demonstrated that Lee's position north of the Chickahominy +could not be carried by assault with results that would compensate +for the enormous loss of life which must follow; therefore a further +attempt to fight a decisive battle north of Richmond was abandoned. +In carrying the army to the James River the hazardous manoeuvres +would be hampered by many obstacles, such as the thick timber, +underbrush, and troublesome swamps to be met in crossing the +Chickahominy. Besides, Lee held an interior line, from which all the +direct roads to Richmond could be covered with his infantry, leaving +his cavalry free to confront our advance on the south bank of the +Chickahominy as far down as Jones's bridge, and thence around to +Charles City Court House. In view of these difficulties it became +necessary to draw off the bulk of the enemy's cavalry while the +movement to the James was in process of execution, and General Meade +determined to do this by requiring me to proceed with two divisions +as far as Charlottesville to destroy the railroad bridge over the +Rivanna River near that town, the railroad itself from the Rivanna to +Gordonsville, and, if practicable, from Gordonsville back toward +Hanover Junction also. + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"June 5, 1864. 3.30 P. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Commanding Cavalry Corps. + +"I am directed by the major-general commanding to furnish the +following instructions for your guidance in the execution of the duty +referred to in the order for movements and changes of position +to-night, a copy of which order accompanies this communication. + +"With two divisions of your corps you will move on the morning of the +7th instant to Charlottesville and destroy the railroad bridge over +the Rivanna near that town; you will then thoroughly destroy the +railroad from that point to Gordonsville, and from Gordonsville +toward Hanover Junction, and to the latter point, if practicable. +The chief engineer, Major Duane, will furnish you a canvas +pontoon-train of eight boats. The chief quartermaster will supply you +with such tools, implements, and materials as you may require for the +destruction of the road. Upon the completion of this duty you will +rejoin this army. + +"A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +After Meade's instructions reached me they were somewhat modified by +General Grant, who on the same evening had received information that +General Hunter, commanding the troops in West Virginia, had reached +Staunton and engaged with advantage the Confederate commander, +General Jones, near that place. General Grant informed me orally +that he had directed Hunter to advance as far as Charlottesville, +that he expected me to unite with him there, and that the two +commands, after destroying the James River canal and the Virginia +Central road, were to join the Army of the Potomac in the manner +contemplated in my instructions from General Meade; and that in view +of what was anticipated, it would be well to break up as much of the +railroad as possible on my way westward. A copy of his letter to +Hunter comprised my written instructions. A junction with this +general was not contemplated when the expedition was first conceived, +but became an important though not the paramount object after the +reception of the later information. The diversion of the enemy's +cavalry from the south side of the Chickahominy was its main purpose, +for in the presence of such a force as Lee's contracted lines would +now permit him to concentrate behind the Chickahominy, the +difficulties of crossing that stream would be largely increased if he +also had at hand a strong body of horse, to gain the time necessary +for him to oppose the movement at the different crossings with masses +of his infantry. + +The order calling for two divisions for the expedition, I decided to +take Gregg's and Torbert's, leaving Wilson's behind to continue with +the infantry in its march to the James and to receive instructions +directly from, the headquarters of the army. All my dismounted men +had been sent to the White House some days before, and they were +directed to report to Wilson as they could be provided with mounts. + + + +"COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1964. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER, Commanding Dept West Virginia. + +"General Sheridan leaves here to-morrow morning with instructions to +proceed to Charlottesville, Va., and to commence there the +destruction of the Virginia Central railroad, destroying this way as +much as possible. The complete destruction of this road and of the +canal on James River is of great importance to us. According to the +instructions I sent to General Halleck for your guidance, you will +proceed to Lynchburg and commence there. It would be of great value +to us to get possession of Lynchburg for a single day. But that +point is of so much importance to the enemy, that in attempting to +get it such resistance may be met as to defeat your getting into the +road or canal at all. I see, in looking over the letter to General +Halleck on the subject of your instructions, that it rather indicates +that your route should be from Staunton via Charlottesville. If you +have so understood it, you will be doing just what I want. The +direction I would now give is, that if this letter reaches you in the +valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you immediately turn east by +the most practicable road until you strike the Lynchburg branch of +the Virginia Central road. From there move eastward along the line +of the road, destroying it completely and thoroughly, until you join +General Sheridan. After the work laid out for General Sheridan and +yourself is thoroughly done, proceed to join the Army of the Potomac +by the route laid out in General Sheridan's instructions. If any +portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed back in +your department, you are authorized to send it back. If on receipt +of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem it practicable to +reach that point, you will exercise your judgment about going there. +If you should be on the railroad between Charlottesville and +Lynchburg, it may be practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy +the canal. Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + +Owing to the hard service of the preceding month we had lost many +horses, so the number of dismounted men was large; and my strength +had also been much reduced by killed and wounded during the same +period of activity. The effective mounted force of my two divisions +was therefore much diminished, they mustering only about six thousand +officers and men when concentrated on June 6 at New Castle ferry. +Here they were provided with three days' rations, intended to last +five days, and with two days' grain for the horses. The rations and +forty rounds of ammunition per man were to be carried on the persons +of the troopers, the grain on the pommel of the saddle, and the +reserve ammunition in wagons. One medical wagon and eight ambulances +were also furnished, and one wagon was authorized for each division +and brigade headquarters; enough canvas-covered boats for a small +pontoon-bridge were also provided. + +My instructions permitting latitude in the route I should take, I +decided to march along the north bank of the North Anna River, cross +that stream at Carpenter's ford, strike the Virginia Central railroad +at Trevillian Station, destroy it toward Louisa Court House, march +past Gordonsville, strike the railroad again at Cobham's Station, and +destroy it thence to Charlottesville as we proceeded west. The +success of the last part of this programme would of course depend on +the location of General Hunter when I should arrive in the region +where it would be practicable for us to communicate with each other. + +From my camp at New Castle ferry we crossed the Pamunkey, marched +between Aylett's and Dunkirk on the Mattapony River, and on the 8th +of June encamped at Polecat Station. The next day we resumed the +march along the North Anna--our advance guard skirmishing with a few +mounted men of the enemy, who proved to be irregulars--and bivouacked +on Northeast Creek, near Young's Mills. This day I learned from some +of these irregulars whom we made prisoners that Breckenridge's +division of infantry, en route to the Shenandoah Valley by way of +Gordonsville, was passing slowly up the railroad parallel to me, and +that the enemy's cavalry had left its position on the south side of +the Chickahominy, and was marching on the old Richmond and +Gordonsville road toward Gordonsville, under command of General Wade +Hampton, the information being confirmed by a scouting party sent out +to cut the telegraph wires along the railroad in the night. +Breckenridge had been ordered back to the valley by General Lee as +soon as he heard of Hunter's victory near Staunton, but now that my +expedition had been discovered, the movement of Breckenridge's troops +on the railroad was being timed to correspond with the marches of my +command till Hampton could get more nearly parallel with me. + +On the 10th we resumed the march, passing by Twyman's store, crossing +the North Anna at Carpenter's ford and encamping on the road leading +along the south fork of the North Anna to Trevillian Station. During +the evening and night of the 10th the boldness of the enemy's +scouting parties, with which we had been coming into collision more +or less every day, perceptibly increased, thus indicating the +presence of a large force, and evidencing that his shorter line of +march had enabled him to bring to my front a strong body of cavalry, +although it started from Lee's army nearly two days later than I did +from Grant's. The arrival of this body also permitted Breckenridge +to pass on to Gordonsville, and from there to interpose between +General Hunter and me at either Charlottesville or Waynesboro' as +circumstances might determine. + +On the night of the Loth General Hampton's division camped about +three miles northwest of Trevillian, at a place called Green Spring +Valley and Fitzhugh Lee's division not far from Louisa Court House, +some six miles east of Trevillian. Learning that I was at +Carpenter's ford, Hampton marched his division by way of Trevillian +Station toward Clayton's store, on the road from Trevillian to +Carpenter's ford, intending to attack me at Clayton's. Fitzhugh +Lee's division was to join Hampton at Clayton's store from Louisa +Court House; but on the morning of the 11th the two generals were +separated by several miles. + +At daylight of the 11th my march, to Trevillian Station was resumed +on the direct road to that point, and engaging the enemy's pickets +and advanced parties soon after setting out, we began to drive them +in. Torbert had the lead with Merritt's and Devin's brigades, and as +he pressed back the pickets he came upon the enemy posted behind a +line of barricades in dense timber about three miles from Trevillian. +Meanwhile Custer's brigade had been sent from where we bivouacked, by +a wood road found on our left, to destroy Trevillian Station. In +following this road Custer got to the rear of Hampton's division, +having passed between its right flank and Fitzhugh Lee's division, +which was at the time marching on the road leading from Louisa Court +House to Clayton's store to unite with Hampton. + +Custer, the moment he found himself in Hampton's rear, charged the +led horses, wagons, and caissons found there, getting hold of a vast +number of each, and also of the station itself. The stampede and +havoc wrought by Custer in Hampton's rear compelled him to turn +Rosser's brigade in that direction, and while it attacked Custer on +one side, Fitzhugh Lee's division, which had followed Custer toward +Trevillian, attacked him on the other. There then ensued a desperate +struggle for the possession of the captured property, resulting +finally in its being retaken by the enemy. Indeed, the great number +of horses and vehicles could not be kept on the limited space within +Custer's line, which now formed almost a complete circle; and while +he was endeavoring to remove them to a secure place they, together +with Custer's headquarters wagon and four of his caissons, fell into +the hands of their original owners. + +As soon as the firing told that Custer had struck the enemy's rear, I +directed Torbert to press the line in front of Merritt and Devin, +aided by one brigade of Gregg's division on their left, Gregg's other +brigade in the meantime attacking Fitzhugh Lee on the Louisa Court +House road. The effect of this was to force Hampton back, and his +division was so hard pushed that a portion of it was driven pell-mell +into Custer's lines, leaving there about five hundred prisoners. The +rest of Hampton's men did not rally till they got some distance west +of Trevillian, while, in the meantime, Gregg had driven Fitzhugh Lee +toward Louisa Court House so far that many miles now intervened +between the two Confederate divisions, precluding their union until +about noon the next day, when Fitzhugh Lee effected the junction +after a circuitous march in the night. The defeat of Hampton at the +point where he had determined to resist my further advance, and his +retreat westward, gave me undisturbed possession of the station; and +after destroying the railroad to some extent toward Gordonsville, I +went into camp. + +From prisoners taken during the day, I gathered that General Hunter, +instead of coming toward Charlottesville, as I had reason to expect, +both from the instructions given me and the directions sent him by +General Grant, was in the neighborhood of Lexington--apparently +moving on Lynchburg--and that Breckenridge was at Gordonsville and +Charlottesville. I also heard, from the same source, that Ewell's +corps was on its way to Lynchburg, but this intelligence proved +afterward to be incorrect, for these troops, commanded by General +Early, did not leave Richmond till two days later. + +There was no doubt as to the information about Hunter's general +location, however. He was marching toward Lynchburg, away from +instead of toward me, thus making the junction of our commands beyond +all reasonable probability. So in view of this, I made up my mind to +abandon that part of the scheme, and to return by leisurely marches, +which would keep Hampton's cavalry away from Lee while Grant was +crossing the James River. I was still further influenced to this +course by the burden which was thrown on me in the large number of +wounded--there being about five hundred cases of my own--and the five +hundred prisoners that I would probably be forced to abandon, should +I proceed farther. Besides, the recent battle had reduced my supply +of ammunition to a very small amount--not more than enough for one +more respectable engagement; and as the chances were that I would +have to fight a great deal before I could reach Hunter, now that the +enemy's cavalry and Breckenridge's infantry were between us, the +risks of the undertaking seemed too great to warrant it. + +The morning of June 12 Gregg's division commenced destroying the +railroad to Louisa Court House, and continued the work during the +day, breaking it pretty effectually. While Gregg was thus occupied, +I directed Torbert to make a reconnoissance up the Gordonsville road, +to secure a by-road leading over Mallory's ford, on the North Anna, +to the Catharpen road, as I purposed following that route to +Spottsylvania Court House on my return, and thence via Bowling Green +and Dunkirk to the White House. About a mile beyond Trevillian the +Gordonsville road fork--the left fork leading to Charlottesville--and +about a mile beyond the fork Hampton had taken up and strongly +intrenched a line across both roads, being reinforced by Fitzhugh +Lee, who, as before related, had joined him about noon by a +roundabout march. Torbert soon hotly engaged this line, and by the +impetuosity of his first attack, gained some advantage; but the +appearance of Fitzhugh Lee's troops on the right, and Hampton's +strong resistance in front, rendered futile all efforts to carry the +position; and, although I brought up one of Gregg's brigades to +Torbert's assistance, yet the by-road I coveted was still held by the +enemy when night closed in. + +This engagement, like that off the day before around Trevillian, was +mostly fought dismounted by both sides, as had also been the earlier +fights of the cavalry during the summer in the Wilderness, at Todd's +Tavern, Hawe's Shop, and Matadequin Creek. Indeed, they could hardly +have been fought otherwise than on foot, as there was little chance +for mounted fighting in eastern Virginia, the dense woods, the +armament of both parties, and the practice of barricading making it +impracticable to use the sabre with anything like a large force; and +so with the exception of Yellow Tavern the dismounted method +prevailed in almost every engagement. + +The losses at Mallory's Crossroads were very heavy on both sides. +The character of the fighting, together with the day's results, +demonstrated that it was impossible to make the passage of the North +Anna at Mallory's ford without venturing another battle the next day. +This would consume the little ammunition left, and though we might +gain the road, yet the possibility of having no ammunition whatever +to get back with was too great a hazard, so I gave orders to withdraw +during the night of the 12th. We retired along the same road by +which we had come, taking with us the prisoners, and all of our +wounded who could be moved. Those who could not be transported, some +ninety in number, and all the Confederate wounded in my hands, were +left at Trevillian in hospitals, under charge of one of our surgeons, +with plenty of medical and other stores. + +We recrossed the North Anna at Carpenter's ford the following +morning, and halting there, unsaddled and turned the horses out to +graze, for they were nearly famished, having had neither food nor +water during the preceding forty-eight hours. Late in the afternoon +we saddled up and proceeded to Twyman's Store, while General +Hampton's main body moved down the south bank of the North Anna, with +the purpose of intervening between me and the Army of the Potomac, in +the hope of preventing my return to it; but his movements took no +definite shape beyond watching me, however, till several days later, +near St. Mary's Church, when I was crossing the peninsula to the +James River. + +On the 14th the march was continued, and we reached the Catharpen +road, upon which it was originally intended to move if we had been +able to cross at Mallory's ford, and this conducted me to Shady Grove +Church. The next day we passed over the battle-field of +Spottsylvania Court House. The marks of the recent conflicts about +there were visible on every hand, and in the neighboring houses were +found many Union and Confederate wounded, who had been too severely +hurt to be removed from the field-hospitals at the time of the +battles. Such of our wounded as were able to travel were brought +away. + +On the 16th I marched from Edge Hill on the Ta River through Bowling +Green to Dr. Butler's, on the north side of the Mattapony. When I +arrived here I was unable to ascertain the position of the Army of +the Potomac, and was uncertain whether or not the base at the White +House had been discontinued. I had heard nothing from the army for +nine days except rumors through Southern sources, and under these +circumstances did not like to venture between the Mattapony and +Pamunkey rivers, embarrassed as I was with some four hundred wounded, +five hundred prisoners, and about two thousand negroes that had +joined my column in the hope of obtaining their freedom. I therefore +determined to push down the north bank of the Mattapony far enough to +enable me to send these impediments directly to West Point, where I +anticipated finding some of our gunboats and transports, that could +carry all to the North. Following this plan, we proceeded through +Walkerton to King and Queen Court House, and bivouacked in its +vicinity the night of the 18th. Next day I learned that the depot at +the White House had not yet been broken up entirely, and that +supplies were in store for me there; so after sending the wounded, +prisoners, and negroes to West Point under an escort of two +regiments, I turned back to Dunkirk, on the Mattapony, and crossed to +the south side at a place where the stream was narrow enough to +bridge with my pontoon-boats. + +In returning from Trevillian, as the most of our wounded were hauled +in old buggies, carts, and such other vehicles as could be made +available in the absence of a sufficient number of ambulances, the +suffering was intense, the heat of the season and dusty roads adding +much to the discomfort. Each day we halted many times to dress the +wounds of the injured and to refresh them as much as possible, but +our means for mitigating their distress were limited. The fortitude +and cheerfulness of the poor fellows under such conditions were +remarkable, for no word of complaint was heard. The Confederate +prisoners and colored people being on foot, our marches were +necessarily made short, and with frequent halts also, but they too +suffered considerably from the heat and dust, though at times the +prisoners were relieved by being mounted on the horses of some of our +regiments, the owners meantime marching on foot. Where all the +colored people came from and what started them was inexplicable, but +they began joining us just before we reached Trevillian--men, women, +and children with bundles of all sorts containing their few worldly +goods, and the number increased from day to day until they arrived at +West Point. Probably not one of the poor things had the remotest +idea, when he set out, as to where he would finally land, but to a +man they followed the Yankees in full faith that they would lead to +freedom, no matter what road they took. + +On the morning of the 20th, at an early hour, we resumed our march, +and as the column proceeded sounds of artillery were heard in the +direction of the White House, which fact caused us to quicken the +pace. We had not gone far when despatches from General Abercrombie, +commanding some fragmentary organizations at the White House, +notified me that the place was about to be attacked. I had +previously sent an advance party with orders to move swiftly toward +the cannonading and report to me by couriers the actual condition of +affairs. From this party I soon learned that there was no occasion +to push our jaded animals, since the crisis, if there had been one, +was over and the enemy repulsed, so the increased gait was reduced to +a leisurely march that took us late in the afternoon to the north +bank of the Pamunkey, opposite Abercrombie's camp. When I got to the +river the enemy was holding the bluffs surrounding the White House +farm, having made no effort to penetrate General Abercrombie's line +or do him other hurt than to throw a few shells among the teamsters +there congregated. + +Next day Gregg's division crossed the Pamunkey dismounted, and +Torbert's crossed mounted. As soon as the troops were over, Gregg, +supported by Merritt's brigade, moved out on the road to Tunstall's +Station to attack Hampton, posted an the west side of Black Creek, +Custer's brigade meanwhile moving, mounted, on the road to +Cumberland, and Devin's in like manner on the one to Baltimore +crossroads. This offer of battle was not accepted, however, and +Hampton withdrew from my front, retiring behind the Chickahominy, +where his communications with Lee would be more secure. + +While at the White House I received orders to break up that depot +wholly, and also instructions to move the trains which the Army of +the Potomac had left there across the peninsula to the pontoon-bridge +at Deep Bottom on the James River. These trains amounted to hundreds +of wagons and other vehicles, and knowing full well the dangers which +would attend the difficult problem of getting them over to +Petersburg, I decided to start them with as little delay as +circumstances would permit, and the morning of the 22d sent Torbert's +division ahead to secure Jones's bridge on the Chickahominy, so that +the wagons could be crossed at that point. The trains followed +Torbert, while Gregg's division marched by a road parallel to the one +on which the wagons were moving, and on their right flank, as they +needed to be covered and protected in that direction only. + +The enemy made no effort to attack us while we were moving the trains +that day, and the wagons were all safely parked for the night on the +south side of the Chickahominy, guarded by General Getty, who had +relieved Abercrombie from command of the infantry fragments before we +started off from the White House. + +To secure the crossing at Jones's bridge, Torbert had pushed Devin's +brigade out on the Long Bridge road, on the side of the Chickahominy +where, on the morning of the 23d, he was attacked by Chambliss's +brigade of W. H. F. Lee's division. Devin was driven in some little +distance, but being reinforced by Getty with six companies of colored +troops, he quickly turned the tables on Chambliss and re-established +his picket-posts. From this affair I learned that Chambliss's brigade +was the advance of the Confederate cavalry corps, while Hampton +discovered from it that we were already in possession of the Jones's +bridge crossing of the Chickahominy; and as he was too late to +challenge our passage of the stream at this point he contented +himself with taking up a position that night so as to cover the roads +leading from Long Bridge to Westover, with the purpose of preventing +the trains from following the river road to the pontoon-bridge at +Deep Bottom. + +My instructions required me to cross the trains over the James River +on this pontoon-bridge if practicable, and to reach it I should be +obliged to march through Charles City Court House, and then by +Harrison's Landing and Malvern Hill, the latter point being held by +the enemy. In fact, he held all the ground between Long Bridge on +the Chickahominy and the pontoon-bridge except the Tete de pont at +the crossing. Notwithstanding this I concluded to make the attempt, +for all the delays of ferrying the command and trains would be +avoided if we got through to the bridge; and with this object in view +I moved Torbert's division out on the Charles City road to conduct +the wagons. Just beyond Charles City Court House Torbert encountered +Lomax's brigade, which he drove across Herring Creek on the road to +Westover Church; and reporting the affair to me, I surmised, from the +presence of this force in my front, that Hampton would endeavor to +penetrate to the long column of wagons, so I ordered them to go into +park near Wilcox's landing, and instructed Gregg, whose division had +been marching in the morning along the road leading from Jones's +bridge to St. Mary's Church for the purpose of covering the exposed +flank of the train, to hold fast near the church without fail till +all the transportation had passed Charles City Court House. + +Meanwhile, General Hampton, who had conjectured that I would try to +get the train across the James by the pontoon-bridge at Deep Bottom, +began concentrating all his troops except Lomax's brigade, which was +to confront the head of my column on the river road, in the vicinity +of Nance's Shop. This was discovered by Gregg at an early hour, and +divining this purpose he had prepared to meet it by constructing +hasty cover for his men before receiving my instructions. About 4 +o'clock in the afternoon Hampton got his force in hand, and with +Fitzhugh Lee's division assailed the whole front of Gregg's line, and +his left flank with Chambliss's and Geary's brigades. For two hours +he continued to attack, but made little impression on Gregg--gain at +one point being counterbalanced by failure at another. Because of +the evident strength of Hampton, Gregg had placed all his troops in +line of battle from the first, and on discovery of the enemy's +superior numbers sent message after message to me concerning the +situation, but the messengers never arrived, being either killed or +captured, and I remained in total ignorance till dark of the strait +his division was in. + +Toward night it became clear to Gregg that he could maintain the +unequal contest no longer, and he then decided to retreat, but not +until convinced that the time won had enabled all the trains to pass +Charles City Court House in safety. When he had got all his led +horses fairly on the way, and such of the wounded as could be +transported, he retired by his right flank-in some confusion, it is +true, but stubbornly resisting to Hopewell Church, where Hampton +ceased to press him. + +Gregg's losses were heavy, and he was forced to abandon his dead and +most seriously wounded, but the creditable stand made ensured the +safety of the train, the last wagon of which was now parked at +Wilcox's Landing. His steady, unflinching determination to gain time +for the wagons to get beyond the point of danger was characteristic +of the man, and this was the third occasion on which he had exhibited +a high order of capacity and sound judgment since coming under my +command. The firmness and coolness with which he always met the +responsibilities of a dangerous place were particularly strong points +in Gregg's make-up, and he possessed so much professional though +unpretentious ability, that it is to be regretted he felt obliged a +few months later to quit the service before the close of the war. + +Gregg's fight fully satisfied me that we could not get the trains up +to the pontoon-bridge, for of course Hampton would now throw all his +cavalry in my front, on the river road, where it could be backed up +by Lee's infantry. Meanwhile, General Meade had become assured of +the same thing, and as he was now growing anxious about the fate of +Wilson's division--which, during my absence, had been sent out to +break the enemy's communications south of Petersburg, by destroying +the Southside and Danville railroads--he sent ferryboats to cross me +over the James. During the night of the 24th, and next morning, the +immense train--which ought never to have been left for the cavalry to +escort, after a fatiguing expedition of three weeks--was moved back +through Charles City Court House to Douthard's landing, and there +ferried over the river, followed by my troops in like manner. When +General Hampton discovered this, he moved to Drury's Bluff, and +there, on the morning of the 27th, crossed the James by the +Confederate pontoon-bridge. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +GENERAL WILSON'S RAID--DESTROYING RAILROADS--HIS DISCOMFITURE +--RESULTS OF HIS RAID--REMOUNTS--MOVEMENT TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE +JAMES--DECEIVING LEE--MY ISOLATED POSITION--ESTIMATE OF HANCOCK +--SUCCESS OF THE CAVALRY--THEIR CONSTANT DUTIES. + +While I was absent on the expedition to Trevillian, the movement of +the Army of the Potomac across the James River was effected, and +Wilson, whom I had left behind for the purpose, was engaged in the +duty of covering its front and rear. Late on the night of June 12 +he, with Chapman's brigade, crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, +in advance of the Fifth Corps, and by 7 o'clock next morning had +driven the enemy's pickets up to White Oak bridge, where he waited +for our infantry. When that came up, he pushed on as far as Riddle's +Shop, but late that evening the Confederate infantry forced him to +withdraw to St. Mary's Church; for early in the morning General Lee +had discovered the movement of our army, and promptly threw this +column of infantry south of the Chickahominy to White Oak Swamp, with +the design of covering Richmond. From St. Mary's Church Wilson +guarded all the roads toward White Oak Swamp and Riddle's Shop, +McIntosh's brigade joining him on the 14th, by way of Long Bridge, as +the rear of the Army of the Potomac passed the Chickahominy. In the +performance of this duty Wilson did not have to fight any engagement +of magnitude, for the bulk of the enemy's cavalry had followed me to +Trevillian. During the 15th and 16th Wilson drew his troops in +toward the James River, and next day crossed it on the pontoon-bridge +and camped on the Blackwater, near Mt. Sinai Church. Here he +remained till the 22d of June--the same day I reached the White House +with Gregg and Torbert--when, under orders from General Meade, he set +out to cut the enemy's communications to the south and southwest of +Petersburg. + +His instructions implied that the breaking up of the Petersburg and +Lynchburg, and Richmond and Danville railroads at Burkeville was the +most important part of his mission, and that when the work of +destruction began, it should be continued till he was driven off by +the enemy. Wilson's force consisted of about 5,500 men, General A. +V. Kautz, with the cavalry of the Army of the James, having joined +him for the expedition. In moving out Wilson crossed the Weldon road +near Ream's Station, first destroying it effectually at that point. +About fourteen miles west of Petersburg he struck the Southside +railroad, and broke it up clear to Burkeville, a distance of thirty +miles. Having destroyed everything at Burkeville Junction, he moved +along the Danville road to Staunton River, completely wrecking about +thirty miles of that line also. At Staunton River he found the +railroad bridge strongly guarded, and seeing that he could not burn +it, he began his return march that night, and reached Nottoway River, +some thirty miles south of Petersburg, at noon of the next day--the +28th. + +In this expedition Wilson was closely followed from the start by +Barringer's brigade of W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, but the operations +were not interfered with materially, his success being signal till he +reached the vicinity of Stony Creek depot on his return. At this +point General Hampton, with his own and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, got +between Wilson and the Army of the Potomac, there being behind them +at Ream's Station, at the same time, two brigades of infantry under +General Mahone. A severe battle ensued, resulting in Wilson's +defeat, with the loss of twelve guns and all his wagons. In +consequence of this discomfiture he was obliged to fall back across +the Nottoway River with his own division, and rejoined the army by +way of Peter's bridge on that stream, while Kautz's division, unable +to unite with Wilson after the two commands had become separated in +the fight, made a circuit of the enemy's left, and reached the lines +of our army in the night of the 28th. + +Neither the presence of Hampton's cavalry at Stony Creek depot, nor +the possession of Ream's Station by the Confederate infantry, seems +to have been anticipated by Wilson, for in the report of the +expedition he states: + +"Foreseeing the probability of having to return northward, I wrote to +General Meade the evening before starting that I anticipated no +serious difficulty in executing his orders; but unless General +Sheridan was required to keep Hampton's cavalry engaged, and our +infantry to prevent Lee from making detachments, we should probably +experience great difficulty in rejoining the army. In reply to this +note, General Humphreys, chief-of-staff, informed me it was intended +the Army of the Potomac should cover the Weldon road the next day, +the Southside road the day after, and that Hampton having followed +Sheridan toward Gordonsville, I need not fear any trouble from him." + +I doubt that General Meade's letter of instructions and Wilson's note +of the same evening, warrant what General Wilson here says. It is +true that the Weldon railroad near Ream's Station was not covered by +our infantry, as General Humphreys informed him it would be, but +Wilson is in error when he intimates that he was assured that I would +look after Hampton. I do not think General Meade's instructions are +susceptible of this interpretation. I received no orders requiring +me to detain Hampton. On the contrary, when I arrived at the White +House my instructions required me to break up the depot there, and +then bring the train across the Peninsula as soon as practicable, nor +were these instructions ever modified. I began the duty imposed on +me on the morning of the 23d, totally in the dark as to what was +expected of Wilson, though it seems, from some correspondence between +Generals Grant and Meade, which I never saw till after the war, that +Grant thought Wilson could rely on Hampton's absence from his field +of operations throughout the expedition. + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"June 21, 1864. 9:20 A. M. + +"BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILSON, +"Commanding Third Division Cavalry Corps. + +"The major-general commanding directs that you move your command at +2 A. M. to-morrow, the 22d instant, in execution of the duty assigned +you of destroying certain railroads. Despatches received from the +White House state that Hampton's cavalry was before that place +yesterday evening, and that General Sheridan had also reached there, +hence it is desirable that you should march at the earliest moment. +In passing Petersburg you will endeavor to avoid the observation of +the enemy, and then move by the shortest routes to the intersection +of the Petersburg and Lynchburg, and the Richmond and Danville +railroads, and destroy both these roads to the greatest extent +possible, continuing their destruction until driven from it by such +attacks of the enemy as you can no longer resist. The destruction of +those roads to such an extent that they cannot be used by the enemy +in connection with Richmond during the remainder of the campaign is +an important part of the plan of campaign. The latest information +from Major-General Hunter represents him to be a few miles west of +Lynchburg. He may endeavor to form a junction with this army; you +will communicate with him if practicable, and have delivered to him +verbally the contents of the following copy of a communication from +Lieutenant-General Grant to the major-general commanding this army. +Lieutenant Brooks, who will accompany your expedition part of the +way, should be informed where General Hunter will probably be found. + +"The success of your expedition will depend upon the secrecy with +which it is commenced, and the celerity with which its movements are +conducted; your command will, therefore, have with it the lightest +supplies and smallest number of wheels consistent with the thorough +execution of the duty, the supplies of the section of country you +will operate in being taken into account. Upon the completion of the +work assigned you, you will rejoin this army. + +"The chief quartermaster was directed yesterday to supply you with +the implements and material for the destruction of railroads obtained +for General Sheridan. + +"[Signed] "A. A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY FORCES, +Mount Sinai Church, June 21, 1864--6 P.M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HUMPHREYS," +"Chief-of-Staff. +"The instructions of the major-general commanding, of this date, are +received. I shall march in obedience thereto at 2 A. M. to-morrow. +Before starting I would like to know if our infantry forces cover the +Weldon road. + +"I propose striking the Southside road first at Sutherland Station, +or some point in that vicinity, tearing up the track sufficiently to +delay railroad communication ten or twelve hours. At this place I +shall detach a force to strike the Richmond and Danville road, by a +rapid march, at the nearest point, tearing up the track at every +practicable point between there and Burkeville. + +"From Sutherlands I shall move the main body of my command by the +Great road (breaking the railroad at every convenient point) directly +to Burkeville, which, if we succeed in capturing, will afford us the +opportunity of prosecuting our work with great advantage. As soon as +I have made dispositions for communicating with Hunter and done all +the damage possible, I shall move with all possible rapidity for +Danville and Grenboro'. + +"Circumstances must, however, is a great degree control our movements +after leaving Burkeville. + +"If Sheridan will look after Hampton, I apprehend no difficulty, and +hope to be able to do the enemy great damage. The ammunition issued +to my command is very defective. The implements for destroying roads +have not yet arrived, but I learn from General Ingalls that they will +certainly be here early to-morrow. + +"[Signed] J. H. WILSON, +"Brigadier-General Commanding." + + +The moment I received orders from General Meade to go to the relief +of Wilson, I hastened with Torbert and Gregg by way of Prince George +Court House and Lee's Mills to Ream's Station. Here I found the +Sixth Corps, which Meade had pushed out on his left flank immediately +on hearing of Wilson's mishap, but I was too late to render any +material assistance, Wilson having already disappeared, followed by +the enemy. However, I at once sent out parties to gather +information, and soon learned that Wilson had got safe across the +Nottoway at Peter's bridge and was making for the army by way of +Blunt's bridge, on the Blackwater. + +The benefits derived from this expedition, in the destruction of the +Southside and Danville railroads, were considered by General Grant as +equivalent for the losses sustained in Wilson's defeat, for the +wrecking of the railroads and cars was most complete, occasioning at +this, time serious embarrassment to the Confederate Government; but I +doubt if all this compensated for the artillery and prisoners that +fell into the hands of the enemy in the swamps of Hatcher's Run and +Rowanty Creek. Wilson's retreat from the perilous situation at +Ream's station was a most creditable performance--in the face of two +brigades of infantry and three divisions of cavalry--and in the +conduct of the whole expedition the only criticism that can hold +against him is that he placed too much reliance on meeting our +infantry at Ream's station, seeing that uncontrollable circumstances +might, and did, prevent its being there. He ought to have marched on +the 28th by Jarrett's Station to Peter's bridge, on the Nottoway, and +Blunts bridge on the Blackwater, to the rear of the Army of the +Potomac. + +When the safety of Wilson's command was assured, I was ordered back +to Light House Point, where I had gone into camp after crossing the +James River to rest and recruit my command, now very much reduced in +numbers by reason of casualties to both horses and men. It had been +marching and fighting for fifty consecutive days, and the fatiguing +service had told so fearfully on my animals that the number of +dismounted men in the corps was very large. With the exception of +about four hundred horses that I received at the White House, no +animals were furnished to supply the deficiencies which had arisen +from the wearing marches of the past two months until I got to this +camp at Light House Point; here my needs were so obvious that they +could no longer be neglected. + +I remained at Light House Point from the 2d to the 26th of July, +recuperating the cavalry, the intensely warm weather necessitating +almost an entire suspension of hostilities on the part of the Army of +the Potomac. Meanwhile fifteen hundred horses were sent me here, and +these, with the four hundred already mentioned, were all that my +troops received while I held the personal command of the Cavalry +Corps, from April 6 to August 1, 1864. This was not near enough to +mount the whole command, so I disposed the men who could not be +supplied in a dismounted camp. + +By the 26th of July our strength was pretty well restored, and as +General Grant was now contemplating offensive operations for the +purpose of keeping Lee's army occupied around Richmond, and also of +carrying Petersburg by assault if possible, I was directed to move to +the north side of the James River in conjunction with General +Hancock's corps, and, if opportunity offered, to make a second +expedition against the Virginia Central railroad, and again destroy +the bridges on the North Anna, the Little and the South Anna rivers. + +I started out on the afternoon of the 26th and crossed the Appomattox +at Broadway landing. At Deep Bottom I was joined by Kautz's small +division from the Army of the James, and here massed the whole +command, to allow Hancock's corps to take the lead, it crossing to +the north bank of the James River by the bridge below the mouth of +Bailey's Creek. I moved late in the afternoon, so as not to come +within the enemy's view before dark, and after night-fall Hancock's +corps passed me and began crossing the pontoon-bridge about 2 o'clock +in the morning. + +By daylight Hancock was across, the cavalry following. Soon a +portion of his corps attacked the enemy's works on the east side of +Bailey's Creek, and, aided by the cavalry moving on its right, +captured four pieces of artillery. This opened the way for Hancock +to push out his whole corps, and as he advanced by a wheel, with his +left as a pivot, the cavalry joined in the movement, pressing forward +on the New Market and Central or Charles City roads. + +We did not go far before we found the enemy's infantry posted across +these two roads behind a strong line of intrenchments on the west +bank of Bailey's Creek. His videttes in front of Ruffin's house on +the New Market road were soon driven in on their main line, and the +high ground before the house was immediately occupied by Torbert and +Gregg, supported by Kautz's division. By the time the cavalry line +was formed the Confederate General Kershaw, with his own division of +infantry and those of Wilcox and Heath, advanced to attack us. +Directing the most of his troops against the cavalry, which was still +mounted, Kershaw drove it back some distance over the high ground. +When it reached the eastern face of the ridge, however, it was +quickly dismounted, and the men directed to lie down in line of +battle about fifteen yards from the crest, and here the onset of the +enemy was awaited. When Kershaw's men reached the crest such a +severe fire was opened on them, and at such close quarters, that they +could not withstand it, and gave way in disorder. They were followed +across the plain by the cavalry, and lost about two hundred and fifty +prisoners and two battle-flags. The counter attack against the +infantry by Torbert and Gregg re-established our line and gave us the +victory of Darbytown, but it also demonstrated the fact that General +Lee had anticipated the movement around his left flank by +transferring to the north side of the James a large portion of his +infantry and W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry. + +This development rendered useless any further effort on Hancock's +part or mine to carry out the plan of the expedition, for General +Grant did not intend Hancock to assault the enemy's works unless +there should be found in them but a very thin line of infantry which +could be surprised. In such event, Hancock was to operate so that +the cavalry might turn the Confederates on the Central or Charles +City road, but the continually increasing force of the enemy showed +this to be impracticable. The long front presented by Hancock's +corps and the cavalry deceived General Lee, and he undoubtedly +thought that nearly all of Grant's army had been moved to the north +side of the James River; and to meet the danger he transferred the +most of his own strength to the same side to confront his adversary, +thinning the lines around Petersburg to reinforce those opposing us +on the Central and New Market roads. This was what Grant hoped Lee +would do in case the operations of Hancock and myself became +impracticable, for Grant had an alternative plan for carrying +Petersburg by assault in conjunction with the explosion of a mine +that had been driven under the enemy's works from the front of +Burnside's corps. + +Now that there was no longer a chance for the cavalry to turn the +enemy's left, our attention was directed to keeping up the deception +of Lee, and on the afternoon of the 28th Hancock's corps withdrew to +a line nearer the head of the bridge, the cavalry drawing back to a +position on his right. From now on, all sorts of devices and +stratagems were practiced--anything that would tend to make the +Confederates believe we were being reinforced, while Hancock was +preparing for a rapid return to Petersburg at the proper time. In +order to delude the enemy still more after night-fall of the 28th I +sent one of my divisions to the south side of the James, first +covering the bridgeway with refuse hay to keep the tramp of the horses +from being heard. After daylight the next morning, I marched this +division back again on foot, in full view of the enemy, to create the +impression of a continuous movement large bodies of infantry to the +north side, while the same time Kautz was made to skirmish with the +enemy on our extreme right. These various artifices had the effect +intended, for by the evening of the 29th Lee had transferred all his +infantry to the north bank of the James, except three divisions, and +all his cavalry save one. + +The morning of the 30th had been fixed upon to explode the mine and +assault the enemy's works, so after dark on the evening of the 29th +Hancock hastily but quietly withdrew his corps to the south side to +take part in the engagement which was to succeed the explosion, and I +was directed to follow Hancock. This left me on the north side of +the river confronting two-thirds of Lee's army in a perilous +position, where I could easily be driven into Curl's Neck and my +whole command annihilated. The situation, therefore, was not a +pleasant one to contemplate, but it could not be avoided. Luckily +the enemy did not see fit to attack, and my anxiety was greatly +relieved by getting the whole command safely across the bridge +shortly after daylight, having drawn in the different brigades +successively from my right. By 10 o'clock on the morning of the 30th +my leading division was well over toward the left of our army in +front of Petersburg, marching with the purpose to get around the +enemy's right flank during the operations that were to succeed the +mine explosion, but when I reached General Meade's headquarters I +found that lamentable failure had attended the assault made when the +enemy's works were blown up in the morning. Blunder after blunder +had rendered the assault abortive, and all the opportunities opened +by our expedition to the north side were irretrievably lost, so +General Meade at once arrested the movement of the cavalry. + +In the expedition to Deep Bottom I was under the command of +Major-General Hancock, who, by seniority, was to control my corps as +well as his own until the way was opened for me to get out on the +Virginia Central railroad. If this opportunity was gained, I was to +cut loose and damage Lee's communications with the Shenandoah Valley +in such manner as best suited the conditions, but my return was not to +be jeopardized nor long delayed. This necessitated that Hancock's +line should extend to Bottom's bridge on the Chickahominy. The +enemy's early discovery of the movement and his concentration of +troops on the north side prevented Hancock from accomplishing the +programme laid out for him. Its impracticability was demonstrated +early on the 27th, and Hancock's soldierly instincts told him this the +moment he unexpectedly discovered Kershaw blocking the New Market and +Charles City roads. To Hancock the temptation to assault Kershaw's +position was strong indeed, but if he carried it there would still +remain the dubious problem of holding the line necessary for my safe +return, so with rare judgment he desisted zealously turning to the +alternative proposition--the assault on Petersburg--for more +significant results. This was the only occasion during the war in +which I was associated with Hancock in campaign. Up till then we had +seldom met, and that was the first opportunity I had to observe his +quick apprehension, his physical courage, and the soldierly +personality which had long before established his high reputation. + +On the 1st of August, two days after the mine explosion, I was. +relieved from the personal command of the Cavalry Corps, and ordered +to the Shenandoah Valley, where at a later date Torbert's and +Wilson's divisions joined me. Practically, after I went to the +valley, my command of the Cavalry Corps became supervisory merely. +During the period of my immediate control of the corps, I tried to +carry into effect, as far as possible, the views I had advanced +before and during the opening of the Wilderness campaign, i.e., "that +our cavalry ought to fight the enemy's cavalry, and our infantry the +enemy's infantry"; for there was great danger of breaking the spirit +of the corps if it was to be pitted against the enemy's compact +masses of foot-troops posted behind intrenchments, and unless there +was some adequate tactical or strategical advantage to be gained, +such a use of it would not be justified. Immediately succeeding the +battles of the Wilderness, opportunity offered to put this plan into +execution to some extent, and from that time forward--from the battle +of Yellow Tavern--our success was almost continuous, resulting +finally, before the close of the war, in the nearly total +annihilation of the enemy's cavalry. + +The constant activity of the corps from May 5 till August 1 gave +little opportunity for the various division and brigade commanders to +record its work in detail; so there exists but meagre accounts of the +numerous skirmishes and graver conflicts in which, in addition to the +fights mentioned in this narrative, it engaged. A detailed history +of its performances is not within the province of a work of this +nature; but in review, it can be said, without trespassing on the +reader's time, that the Cavalry Corps led the advance of the Army of +the Potomac into the Wilderness in the memorable campaign of 1864; +that on the expedition by way of Richmond to Haxall's it marked out +the army's line of march to the North Anna; that it again led the +advance to the Tolopotomy, and also to Cold Harbor, holding that +important strategic point at great hazard; and that by the Trevillian +expedition it drew away the enemy's cavalry from the south side of +the Chickahominy, and thereby assisted General Grant materially in +successfully marching to the James River and Petersburg. +Subsequently, Wilson made his march to Staunton bridge, destroying +railroads and supplies of inestimable value, and though this was +neutralized by his disaster near Ream's Station, the temporary +set-back there to one division was soon redeemed by victory over +the Confederate infantry at the battle of Darbytown. + +In the campaign we were almost always on the march, night and day, +often unable to care properly for our wounded, and obliged to bury +our dead where they fell; and innumerable combats attest the part the +cavalry played in Grant's march from the Rapidan to Petersburg. In +nearly all of these our casualties were heavy, particularly so when, +as was often the case, we had to engage the Confederate infantry; but +the enemy returned such a full equivalent in dead and wounded in +every instance, that finally his mounted power, which from the +beginning of the war had been nurtured with a wise appreciation of +its value, was utterly broken. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +GENERAL HUNTER'S SUCCESSFUL MARCH AND SUBSEQUENT RETREAT--GENERAL +JUBAL A. EARLY THREATENS WASHINGTON--CHAMBERSBURG, PA., BURNED +--SELECTED TO OPERATE AGAINST GENERAL EARLY--THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY +--THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. + +When the attempt to take Petersburg in conjunction with the mine +explosion resulted in such a dismal failure, all the operations +contemplated in connection with that project came to a standstill, +and there was every prospect that the intensely hot and sultry +weather would prevent further activity in the Army of the Potomac +till a more propitious season. Just now, however, the conditions +existing in the Shenandoah Valley and along the upper Potomac +demanded the special attention of General Grant, for, notwithstanding +the successful march that Major-General David Hunter had made toward +Lynchburg early in the summer, what he had first gained was +subsequently lost by strategical mistakes, that culminated in +disaster during the retreat he was obliged to make from the vicinity +of Lynchburg to the Kanawha Valley. This route of march uncovered +the lower portion of the Valley of the Shenandoah, and with the +exception of a small force of Union troops under General Franz Sigel +posted aft Martinsburg for the purpose of covering the Baltimore and +Ohio railroad, there was nothing at hand to defend the lower valley. + +The different bodies of Confederates which compelled Hunter's retreat +were under command of General Jubal A. Early, who had been sent to +Lynchburg with Ewell's corps after the defeat of the Confederate +General W. C. Jones near Staunton on the 5th of June, to take command +of the Valley District. When Early had forced Hunter into the +Kanawha region far enough to feel assured that Lynchburg could not +again be threatened from that direction, he united to his own corps +General John C. Breckenridge's infantry division and the cavalry of +Generals J. H. Vaughn, John McCausland. B. T. Johnson, and J. D. +Imboden, which heretofore had been operating in southwest and western +Virginia under General Robert Ransom, Jr., and with the column thus +formed, was ready to turn his attention to the lower Shenandoah +Valley. At Early's suggestion General Lee authorized him to move +north at an opportune moment, cross the upper Potomac into Maryland +and threaten Washington. Indeed, General Lee had foreshadowed such a +course when Early started toward Lynchburg for the purpose of +relieving the pressure in front of Petersburg, but was in some doubt +as to the practicability of the movement later, till persuaded to it +by the representations of Early after that general had driven Hunter +beyond the mountains and found little or nothing opposing except the +small force of Sigel, which he thought he could readily overcome by +celerity of movement. + +By rapid marching Early reached Winchester on the 2d of July, and on +the 4th occupied Martinsburg, driving General Sigel out of that place +the same day that Hunter's troops, after their fatiguing retreat +through the mountains, reached Charlestown, West Virginia. Early was +thus enabled to cross the Potomac without difficulty, when, moving +around Harper's Ferry, through the gaps of the South Mountain, he +found his path unobstructed till he reached the Monocacy, where +Ricketts's division of the Sixth Corps, and some raw troops that had +been collected by General Lew Wallace, met and held the Confederates +till the other reinforcements that had been ordered to the capital +from Petersburg could be brought up. Wallace contested the line of +the Monocacy with obstinacy, but had to retire finally toward +Baltimore. The road was then open to Washington, and Early marched +to the outskirts and began against the capital the demonstrations +which were designed to divert the Army of the Potomac from its main +purpose in front of Petersburg. + +Early's audacity in thus threatening Washington had caused some +concern to the officials in the city, but as the movement was looked +upon by General Grant as a mere foray which could have no decisive +issue, the Administration was not much disturbed till the +Confederates came in close proximity. Then was repeated the alarm +and consternation of two years before, fears for the safety of the +capital being magnified by the confusion and discord existing among +the different generals in Washington and Baltimore; and the imaginary +dangers vanished only with the appearance of General Wright, who, +with the Sixth Corps and one division of the Nineteenth Corps, pushed +out to attack Early as soon as he could get his arriving troops in +hand, but under circumstances that precluded celerity of movement; +and as a consequence the Confederates escaped with little injury, +retiring across the Potomac to Leesburg, unharassed save by some +Union cavalry that had been sent out into Loudoun County by Hunter, +who in the meantime had arrived at Harper's Ferry by the Baltimore +and Ohio railroad. From Leesburg Early retired through Winchester +toward Strasburg, but when the head of his column reached this place +he found that he was being followed by General Crook with the +combined troops of Hunter and Sigel only, Wright having returned to +Washington under orders to rejoin Meade at Petersburg. This +reduction of the pursuing force tempting Early to resume the +offensive, he attacked Crook at Kernstown, and succeeded in +administering such a check as to necessitate this general's retreat +to Martinsburg, and finally to Harper's Ferry. Crook's withdrawal +restored to Early the line of the upper Potomac, so, recrossing this +stream, he advanced again into Maryland, and sending McCausland on to +Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, laid that town in ashes, leaving three +thousand non-combatants without shelter or food. + +When Early fell back from the vicinity of Washington toward +Strasburg, General Grant believed that he would rejoin Lee, but later +manoeuvres of the enemy indicated that Early had given up this idea, +if he ever, entertained it, and intended to remain in the valley, +since it would furnish Lee and himself with subsistence, and also +afford renewed opportunities for threatening Washington. Indeed, the +possession of the Valley of the Shenandoah at this time was of vast +importance to Lee's army, and on every hand there were indications +that the Confederate Government wished to hold it at least until +after the crops could be gathered in to their depots at Lynchburg and +Richmond. Its retention, besides being of great advantage in the +matter of supplies, would also be a menace to the North difficult for +General Grant to explain, and thereby add an element of considerable +benefit to the Confederate cause; so when Early's troops again +appeared at Martinsburg it was necessary for General Grant to +confront them with a force strong enough to put an end to incursions +north of the Potomac, which hitherto had always led to National +discomfiture at some critical juncture, by turning our army in +eastern Virginia from its chief purpose--the destruction of Lee and +the capture of the Confederate capital. + +This second irruption of Early, and his ruthless destruction of +Chambersburg led to many recommendations on the part of General Grant +looking to a speedy elimination of the confusion then existing among +the Union forces along the upper Potomac, but for a time the +authorities at Washington would approve none of his propositions. +The President and Secretary Stanton seemed unwilling to adopt his +suggestions, and one measure which he deemed very important--the +consolidation into a single command of the four geographical +districts into which, to relieve political pressure no doubt, the +territory had been divided--met with serious opposition. Despite +Grant's representations, he could not prevail on the Administration +to approve this measure, but finally the manoeuvres of Early and the +raid to Chambersburg compelled a partial compliance, though Grant had +somewhat circumvented the difficulty already by deciding to appoint a +commander for the forces in the field that were to operate against +Early. + +On the 31st of July General Grant selected me as this commander, and +in obedience to his telegraphic summons I repaired to his +headquarters at City Point. In the interview that followed, he +detailed to me the situation of affairs on the upper Potomac, telling +me that I was to command in the field the troops that were to operate +against Early, but that General Hunter, who was at the head of the +geographical department, would be continued in his position for the +reason that the Administration was reluctant to reconstruct or +consolidate the different districts. After informing me that one +division of the Cavalry Corps would be sent to my new command, he +went on to say that he wanted me to push the enemy as soon as this +division arrived, and if Early retired up the Shenandoah Valley I was +to pursue, but if he crossed the Potomac I was to put myself south of +him and try to compass his destruction. The interview having ended, +I returned to Hancock Station to prepare for my departure, and on the +evening of August 1 I was relieved from immediate duty with the Army +of the Potomac, but not from command of the cavalry as a corps +organization. + +I arrived at Washington on the 4th of August, and the next day +received instructions from General Halleck to report to General Grant +at Monocacy Junction, whither he had gone direct from City Point, in +consequence of a characteristic despatch from the President +indicating his disgust with the confusion, disorder, and helplessness +prevailing along the upper Potomac, and intimating that Grant's +presence there was necessary. + +In company with the Secretary of War I called on the President before +leaving Washington, and during a short conversation Mr. Lincoln +candidly told me that Mr. Stanton had objected to my assignment to +General Hunter's command, because he thought me too young, and that +he himself had concurred with the Secretary; but now, since General +Grant had "ploughed round" the difficulties of the situation by +picking me out to command the "boys in the field," he felt satisfied +with what had been done, and "hoped for the best." Mr. Stanton +remained silent during these remarks, never once indicating whether +he, too, had become reconciled to my selection or not; and although, +after we left the White House, he conversed with me freely in regard +to the campaign I was expected to make, seeking to impress on me the +necessity for success from the political as well as from the military +point of view, yet he utterly ignored the fact that he had taken any +part in disapproving the recommendation of the general-in-chief. + +August 6, I reported to General Grant at the Monocacy, and he there +turned over to me the following instructions, which he had previously +prepared for General Hunter in the expectation that general would +continue to command the department: + +"HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, +"Monocacy Bridge, Md., Aug. 5, 1864. + +"GENERAL: Concentrate all your available force without delay in the +vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards and +garrisons for public property as may be necessary. + +"Use in this concentration the railroad, if by so doing time can be +saved. From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has moved +north of the Potomac in large force, push north, following and +attacking him wherever found; following him, if driven south of the +Potomac, as long as it is safe to do so. If it is ascertained that +the enemy has but a small force north of the Potomac, then push south +the main force, detaching, under a competent commander, a sufficient +force to look after the raiders and drive them to their homes. In +detaching such a force, the brigade of cavalry now en route from +Washington via Rockville may be taken into account. + +"There are now on the way to join you three other brigades of the +best of cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and horses. +These will be instructed, in the absence of further orders, to join +you by the south side of the Potomac. One brigade will probably +start to-morrow. + +"In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, as it is expected you will have +to go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to +invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and stock +wanted for the use of your command. Such as cannot be consumed, +destroy. It is not desirable that the buildings should be destroyed +--they should, rather, be protected; but the people should be informed +that so long as an army can subsist among them recurrences of these +raids must be expected, and we are determined to stop them at all +hazards. + +"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do this +you want to keep him always in sight. Be guided in your course by +the course he takes. + +"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving regular +vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in the country +through which you march. + +"Very respectfully, +"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." + +"Major-General D. HUNTER, +"Commanding Department of West Virginia." + + +When I had read the letter addressed to Hunter, General Grant said I +would be expected to report directly to him, as Hunter had asked that +day to be wholly relieved, not from any chagrin at my assignment to +the control of the active forces of his command, but because he +thought that his fitness for the position he was filling was +distrusted by General Halleck, and he had no wish to cause +embarrassment by remaining where he could but remove me one degree +from the headquarters of the army. The next day Hunter's unselfish +request was complied with, and an order was issued by the President, +consolidating the Middle Department, the Department of Washington, +the Department of the Susquehanna, and the Department of West +Virginia. + +Under this order these four geographical districts constituted the +Middle Military Division, and I was temporarily assigned to command +it. Hunter's men had been bivouacking for some days past in the +vicinity of Monocacy Junction and Frederick, but before General +Grant's instructions were written out, Hunter had conformed to them +by directing the concentration at Halltown, about four miles in front +of Harper's Ferry, of all his force available for field service. +Therefore the different bodies of troops, with the exception of +Averell's cavalry, which had followed McCausland toward Moorefield +after the burning of Chambersburg, were all in motion toward Halltown +on August 6. + +Affairs at Monocacy kept me but an hour or two, and these disposed +of, I continued on to Harper's Ferry by the special train which had +brought me from Washington, that point being intended as my +headquarters while making preparations to advance. The enemy was +occupying Martinsburg, Williamsport, and Shepherdstown at the time; +sending occasional raiding parties into Maryland as far as +Hagerstown. The concentration of my troops at Halltown being an +indication to Early that we intended to renew the offensive, however, +he immediately began counter preparations by drawing in all his +detached columns from the north side of the Potomac, abandoning a +contemplated raid into Maryland, which his success against Crook at +Kernstown had prompted him to project, and otherwise disposing +himself for defense. + +At Harper's Ferry I made my headquarters in the second story of a +small and very dilapidated hotel, and as soon as settled sent for +Lieutenant John R. Meigs, the chief engineer officer of the command, +to study with him the maps of my geographical division. It always +came rather easy to me to learn the geography of a new section, and +its important topographical features as well; therefore I found that, +with the aid of Meigs, who was most intelligent in his profession, +the region in which I was to operate would soon be well fixed in my +mind. Meigs was familiar with every important road and stream, and +with all points worthy of note west of the Blue Ridge, and was +particularly well equipped with knowledge regarding the Shenandoah +Valley, even down to the farmhouses. He imparted with great +readiness what he knew of this, clearly pointing out its +configuration and indicating the strongest points for Confederate +defense, at the same time illustrating scientifically and forcibly +the peculiar disadvantages under which the Union army had hitherto +labored. + +The section that received my closest attention has its northern limit +along the Potomac between McCoy's ferry at the eastern base of the +North Mountain, and Harper's Ferry at the western base of the Blue +Ridge. The southern limit is south of Staunton, on the divide which +separates the waters flowing into the Potomac from those that run to +the James. The western boundary is the eastern slope of the +Alleghany Mountains, the eastern, the Blue Ridge; these two distinct +mountain ranges trending about southwest inclose a stretch of quite +open, undulating country varying in width from the northern to the +southern extremity, and dotted at frequent intervals with patches of +heavy woods: At Martinsburg the valley is about sixty miles broad, +and on an east and west line drawn through Winchester about +forty-five, while at Strasburg it narrows down to about twenty-five. +Just southeast of Strasburg, which is nearly midway between the +eastern and western walls of the valley, rises an abrupt range of +mountains called Massanutten, consisting of several ridges which +extend southward between the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah +River until, losing their identity, they merge into lower but broken +ground between New Market and Harrisonburg. The Massanutten ranges, +with their spurs and hills, divide the Shenandoah Valley into two +valleys, the one next the Blue Ridge being called the Luray, while +that next the North Mountain retains the name of Shenandoah. + +A broad macadamized road, leading south from Williamsport, Maryland, +to Lexington, Virginia, was built at an early day to connect the +interior of the latter State with the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and +along this road are situated the principal towns and villages of the +Shenandoah Valley, with lateral lines of communication extending to +the mountain ranges on the east and west. The roads running toward +the Blue Ridge are nearly all macadamized, and the principal ones +lead to the railroad system of eastern Virginia through Snicker's, +Ashby's Manassas, Chester, Thornton's Swift Run, Brown's and +Rock-fish gaps, tending to an ultimate centre at Richmond. These gaps +are low and easy, offering little obstruction to the march of an army +coming from eastern Virginia, and thus the Union troops operating west +of the Blue Ridge were always subjected to the perils of a flank +attack; for the Confederates could readily be brought by rail to +Gordonsville and Charlottesville, from which points they could move +with such celerity through the Blue Ridge that, on more than one +occasion, the Shenandoah Valley had been the theatre of Confederate +success, due greatly to the advantage of possessing these interior +lines. + +Nature had been very kind to the valley, making it rich and +productive to an exceptional degree, and though for three years +contending armies had been marching up and down it, the fertile soil +still yielded ample subsistence for Early's men, with a large surplus +for the army of Lee. The ground had long been well cleared of +timber, and the rolling surface presented so few obstacles to the +movement of armies that they could march over the country in any +direction almost as well as on the roads, the creeks and rivers being +everywhere fordable, with little or no difficulty beyond that of +leveling the approaches. + +I had opposing me an army largely composed of troops that had +operated in this region hitherto under "Stonewall" Jackson with +marked success, inflicting defeat on the Union forces almost every +time the two armies had come in contact. These men were now commanded +by a veteran officer of the Confederacy-General Jubal A. Early--whose +past services had so signalized his ability that General Lee +specially selected him to take charge of the Valley District, and, +notwithstanding the misfortunes that befell him later, clung to him +till the end, of the war. The Confederate army at this date was +about twenty thousand strong, and consisted of Early's own corps, +with Generals Rodes, Ramseur, and Gordon commanding its divisions; +the infantry of Breckenridge from southwestern Virginia; three +battalions of artillery; and the cavalry brigades of Vaughn, Johnson, +McCausland, and Imboden. This cavalry was a short time afterward +organized into a division under the command of General Lomax. + +After discovering that my troops were massing in front of Harper's +Ferry, Early lost not a moment in concentrating his in the vicinity +of Martinsburg, in positions from which he could continue to obstruct +the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and yet be enabled to retire up the +valley under conditions of safety when I should begin an offensive +campaign. + +When I took command of the Army of the Shenandoah its infantry force +comprised the Sixth Corps, one division of the Nineteenth Corps, and +two divisions from West Virginia. The Sixth Corps was commanded +by Major-General Horatio G. Wright; its three divisions by +Brigadier-Generals David A. Russell, Geo. W. Getty, and James B. +Ricketts. The single division of the Nineteenth Corps had for its +immediate chief Brigadier-General William Dwight, the corps being +commanded by Brigadier-General Wm. H. Emory. The troops from West +Virginia were under Brigadier-General George Crook, with Colonels +Joseph Thoburn and Isaac H. Duval as division commanders, and though +in all not more than one fair-sized division, they had been +designated, on account of the department they belonged to, the Army of +West Virginia. General Torbert's division, then arriving from the +Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, represented the mounted arm +of the service, and in the expectation that Averell would soon join me +with his troopers, I assigned General Torbert as chief of cavalry, and +General Wesley Merritt succeeded to the command of Torbert's division. + +General Wright, the commander of the Sixth Corps, was an officer of +high standing in the Corps of Engineers, and had seen much active +service during the preceding three years. He commanded the +Department of the Ohio throughout the very trying period of the +summer and fall of 1862, and while in that position he, with +other prominent officers, recommended my appointment as a +brigadier-general. In 1863 he rendered valuable service at the battle +of Gettysburg, following which he was assigned to the Sixth Corps, and +commanded it at the capture of the Confederate works at Rappahannock +Station and in the operations at Mine Run. He ranked me as a +major-general of volunteers by nearly a year in date of commission, +but my assignment by the President to the command of the army in the +valley met with Wright's approbation, and, so far as I have ever +known, he never questioned the propriety of the President's action. +The Sixth Corps division commanders, Getty, Russell, and Ricketts, +were all educated soldiers, whose records, beginning with the Mexican +War, had already been illustrated in the war of the rebellion by +distinguished service in the Army of the Potomac. + +General Emory was a veteran, having graduated at the Military Academy +in 1831, the year I was born. In early life he had seen much service +in the Artillery, the Topographical Engineers, and the Cavalry, and +in the war of the rebellion had exhibited the most soldierly +characteristics at Port Hudson and on the Red River campaign. At +this time he had but one division of the Nineteenth Corps present, +which division was well commanded by General Dwight, a volunteer +officer who had risen to the grade of brigadier-general through +constant hard work. Crook was a classmate of mine--at least, we +entered the Military Academy the same year, though he graduated a +year ahead of me. We had known each other as boys before we entered +the army, and later as men, and I placed implicit faith in his +experience and qualifications as a general. + +The transfer of Torbert to the position of chief of cavalry left +Merritt, as I have already said, in command of the First Cavalry +Division. He had been tried in the place before, and from the day he +was selected as one of a number of young men to be appointed general +officers, with the object of giving life to the Cavalry Corps, he +filled the measure of expectation. Custer was one of these young men +too, and though as yet commanding a brigade under Merritt, his +gallant fight at Trevillian Station, as well as a dozen others during +the summer, indicated that he would be equal to the work that was to +fall to him when in a few weeks he should succeed Wilson. But to go +on down the scale of rank, describing the officers who commanded in +the Army of the Shenandoah, would carry me beyond all limit, so I +refrain from the digression with regret that I cannot pay to each his +well-earned tribute. + +The force that I could take with me into the field at this time +numbered about 26,000 men. Within the limits of the geographical +division there was a much greater number of troops than this. +Baltimore, Washington, Harper's Ferry, Hagerstown, Frederick, +Cumberland, and a score of other points; besides the strong +detachments that it took to keep the Baltimore and Ohio railroad open +through the mountains of West Virginia, and escorts for my trains, +absorbed so many men that the column which could be made available +for field operations was small when compared with the showing on +paper. Indeed, it was much less than it ought to have been, but for +me, in the face of the opposition made by different interests +involved, to detach troops from any of the points to which they had +been distributed before I took charge was next to impossible. + +In a few days after my arrival preparations were completed, and I was +ready to make the first move for the possession of the Shenandoah +Valley. For the next five weeks the operations on my part consisted +almost wholly of offensive and defensive manoeuvring for certain +advantages, the enemy confining himself meanwhile to measures +intended to counteract my designs. Upon the advent of Torbert, Early +immediately grew suspicious, and fell back twelve miles south of +Martinsburg, to Bunker Hill and vicinity, where his right flank would +be less exposed, but from which position he could continue to +maintain the break in the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and push +reconnoitring parties through Smithfield to Charlestown. These +reconnoitring parties exhibited considerable boldness at times, but +since they had no purpose in view save to discover whether or not we +were moving, I did not contest any ground with them except about our +outposts. Indeed, I desired that Early might remain at some point +well to the north till I was fully prepared to throw my army on his +right and rear and force a battle, and hence I abstained from +disturbing him by premature activity, for I thought that if I could +beat him at Winchester, or north of it, there would be far greater +chances of weighty results. I therefore determined to bring my +troops, if it were at all possible to do so, into such a position +near that town as to oblige Early to fight. The sequel proved, +however, that he was accurately informed of all my movements. To +anticipate them, therefore, he began his retreat up the valley the +day that I moved out from Halltown, and consequently was able to +place himself south of Winchester before I could get there. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +MOVING ON GENERAL EARLY--GENERAL GRANT'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS +--DESTROYING THE RESOURCES OF THE VALLEY--REASON FOR THE DESTRUCTION +--WITHDRAWAL TO HALLTOWN--ALARM IN THE NORTH OVER THE RETROGRADE +MOVEMENT--RENEWING THE ADVANCE UP THE VALLEY--GENERAL ANDERSON'S +ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO PETERSBURG--STRENGTH OF THE ARMIES. + +For a clear understanding of the operations which preceded the +victories that resulted in almost annihilating General Early's army +in the Shenandoah Valley, it is necessary to describe in considerable +detail the events that took place prior to the 19th of September. My +army marched from Harper's Ferry on the 10th of August, 1864, General +Torbert with Merritt's division of cavalry moving in advance through +Berryville, going into position near White Post. The Sixth Corps, +under General Wright, moved by way of Charlestown and Summit Point to +Clifton; General Emory, with Dwight's division of the Nineteenth +Corps, marched along the Berryville pike through Berryville to the +left of the position of the Sixth Corps at Clifton; General Crook's +command, moving on the Kabletown road, passed through Kabletown to +the vicinity of Berryville, and went into position on the left of +Dwight's division, while Colonel Lowell, with a detached force of two +small regiments of cavalry, marched to Summit Point; so that on the +night of August 10 my infantry occupied a line stretching from +Clifton to Berryville, with Merritt's cavalry at White Post and +Lowell's at Summit Point. The enemy, as stated before, moved at the +same time from Bunker Hill and vicinity, and stretched his line from +where the Winchester and Potomac railroad crosses Opequon Creek to +the point at which the Berryville and Winchester pike crosses the +same stream, thus occupying the west bank to cover Winchester. + +On the morning of the 11th the Sixth Corps was ordered to move across +the country toward the junction of the Berryville-Winchester pike and +the Opequon, and to take the crossing and hold it, Dwight's division +being directed to move through Berryville on the White Post road for +a mile, then file to the right by heads of regiments at deploying +distances, and carry the crossing of Opequon Creek at a ford about +three-fourths of a mile from the left of the Sixth Corps, while Crook +was instructed to move out on the White Post road, a mile and a half +beyond Berryville, then head to the right and secure the ford about a +mile to the left of Dwight; Torbert's orders were to push Merritt's +division up the Millwood pike toward Winchester, attack any force he +might run against, and ascertain the movements of the Confederate +army; and lastly, Lowell received instructions to close in from +Summit Point on the right of the Sixth Corps. + +My object in securing the fords was to further my march on Winchester +from the southeast, since, from all the information gathered during +the 10th, I still thought Early could be brought to a stand at that +point; but in this I was mistaken, as Torbert's reconnoissance +proved, for on the morning of the 11th, when Merritt had driven the +Confederate cavalry, then covering the Millwood pike west of the +Opequon, off toward Kernstown, he found that their infantry and +artillery were retreating south, up the Valley pike. + +As soon as this information was obtained Torbert moved quickly +through the toll-gate on the Front Royal and Winchester road to +Newtown, to strike the enemy's flank and harass him in his retreat, +Lowell following up through Winchester, on the Valley pike; Crook was +turned to the left and ordered to Stony Point, while Emory and +Wright, marching to the left also, were directed to take post on the +night of the 11th between the Millwood and Front Royal roads, within +supporting distance of Crook. Merritt meeting some of the enemy's +cavalry at the tollgate, drove it in the direction of Newtown till it +got inside the line of Gordon's division of infantry, which had been +thrown out and posted behind barricades to cover the flank of the +main force in its retreat. A portion of Merritt's cavalry attacked +this infantry and drove in its skirmish-line, and though not able to +dislodge Gordon, Merritt held the ground gained till night-fall, when +the Confederate infantry moved off under cover of darkness to Hupp's +Hill, between Strasburg and Cedar Creek. + +The next morning Crook marched from Stony Point to Cedar Creek, Emory +followed with Dwight, and the cavalry moved to the same point by way +of Newtown and the Valley pike, the Sixth Corps following the +cavalry. That night Crook was in position at Cedar Creek, on the +left of the Valley pike, Emory on the right of the pike, the Sixth +Corps on the right of Emory, and the cavalry on the flanks. In the +afternoon a heavy skirmish-line had been thrown forward to the +heights on the south side of Cedar Creek, and a brisk affair with the +enemy's pickets took place, the Confederates occupying with their +main force the heights north of Strasburg. On the morning of the +13th my cavalry went out to reconnoitre toward Strasburg, on the +middle road, about two and a half miles west of the Valley pike, and +discovered that Early's infantry was at Fisher's Hill, where he had +thrown up behind Tumbling Run earthworks extending clear across the +narrow valley between the Massanutten and North mountains. On the +left of these works he had Vaughan's, McCausland's, and Johnson's +brigades of cavalry under General Lomax, who at this time relieved +General Ramseur from the command of the Confederate mounted forces. + +Within the past day or two I had received information that a column +of the enemy was moving up from Culpeper Court House and approaching +Front Royal through Chester Gap, and although the intelligence was +unconfirmed, it caused me much solicitude; for there was strong +probability that such a movement would be made, and any considerable +force advancing through Front Royal toward Winchester could fall upon +my rear and destroy my communication with Harper's Ferry, or, moving +along the base of Massanutten Mountain, could attack my flank in +conjunction with the force at Fisher's Hill without a possibility of +my preventing it. + +Neither Wilson's cavalry nor Grower's infantry had yet joined me, and +the necessities, already explained, which obliged me to hold with +string garrisons Winchester and other points heretofore mentioned. +had so depleted my line of battle strength that I knew the enemy +would outnumber me when Anderson's corps should arrive in the valley. +I deemed it advisable, therefore, to act with extreme caution, so, +with the exception of a cavalry reconnoissance on the 13th, I +remained on the defensive, quietly awaiting developments. In the +evening of that day the enemy's skirmishers withdrew to Tumbling Run, +his main force remaining inactive behind the intrenchments at +Fisher's Hill waiting for the arrival of Anderson. + +The rumors in regard to the force advancing from Culpeper kept +increasing every hour, so on the morning of the 14th I concluded to +send a brigade of cavalry to Front Royal to ascertain definitely what +was up. At the same time I crossed the Sixth Corps to the south side +of Cedar Creek, and occupied the heights near Strasburg. That day I +received from the hands of Colonel Chipman, of the Adjutant-General's +Department, the following despatch, to deliver which he had ridden in +great haste from Washington through Snicker's Gap, escorted by a +regiment of cavalry: + +"CITY POINT, August 12, 1864--9 A. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK + +"Inform General Sheridan that it is now certain two (2) divisions of +infantry have gone to Early, and some cavalry and twenty (20) pieces +of artillery. This movement commenced last Saturday night. He must +be cautious, and act now on the defensive until movements here force +them to detach to send this way. Early's force, with this increase, +cannot exceed forty thousand men, but this is too much for General +Sheridan to attack. Send General Sheridan the remaining brigade of +the Nineteenth Corps. + +"I have ordered to Washington all the one-hundred-day men. Their +time will soon be out, but for the present they will do to serve in +the defenses. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + +The despatch explained the movement from Culpeper, and on the morning +of the 15th Merritt's two remaining brigades were sent to Front Royal +to oppose Anderson, and the Sixth Corps withdrawn to the north side +of Cedar Creek, where it would be in a position enabling me either to +confront Anderson or to act defensively, as desired by General Grant. + +To meet the requirements of his instructions I examined the map of +the valley for a defensive line--a position where a smaller number of +troops could hold a larger number--for this information led me to +suppose that Early's force would greatly exceed mine when Anderson's +two divisions of infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had joined him. +I could see but one such position, and that was at Halltown, in front +of Harper's Ferry. Subsequent experience convinced me that there was +no other really defensive line in the Shenandoah Valley, for at +almost any other point the open country and its peculiar topography +invites rather than forbids flanking operations. + +This retrograde movement would also enable me to strengthen my +command by Grower's division of the Nineteenth Corps and Wilson's +cavalry, both of which divisions were marching from Washington by way +of Snicker's Gap. + +After fully considering the matter, I determined to move back to +Halltown, carrying out, as I retired, my instructions to destroy all +the forage and subsistence the country afforded. So Emory was +ordered to retire to Winchester on the night of the 15th, and Wright +and Crook to follow through Winchester to Clifton the next night. + +For the cavalry, in this move to the rear, I gave the following +instructions: + +"....In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, as it is expected you will +have to go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left +to invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and +stock wanted for the use of your command. Such as cannot be +consumed, destroy. It is not desirable that buildings should be +destroyed--they should, rather, be protected; but the people should +be informed that so long as an army can subsist among them, +recurrences of these raids must be expected, and we are determined to +stop them at all hazards...." [Grant's letter of instructions.] + + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +"Cedar Creek, Va., August 16, 1864. + +"GENERAL: In compliance with instructions of the Lieutenant-General +commanding, you will make the necessary arrangements and give the +necessary orders for the destruction of the wheat and hay south of a +line from Millwood to Winchester and Petticoat Gap. You will seize +all mules, horses, and cattle that may be useful to our army. Loyal +citizens can bring in their claims against the Government for this +necessary destruction. No houses will be burned, and officers in +charge of this delicate but necessary duty must inform the people +that the object is to make this valley untenable for the raiding +parties of the rebel army. + +"Very respectfully, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding. + +"BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. T. A. TORBERT, +"Chief of Cavalry, Middle Military Division." + + +During his visit to General Hunter at the Monocacy, General Grant had +not only decided to retain in the Shenandoah Valley a large force +sufficient to defeat Early's army or drive it back to Lee, but he had +furthermore determined to make that sections by the destruction of +its supplies, untenable for continued occupancy by the Confederates. +This would cut off one of Lee's main-stays in the way of subsistence, +and at the same time diminish the number of recruits and conscripts +he received; the valley district while under his control not only +supplying Lee with an abundance of food, but also furnishing him many +men for his regular and irregular forces. Grant's instructions to +destroy the valley began with the letter of August 5 to Hunter, which +was turned over to me, and this was followed at intervals by more +specific directions, all showing the earnestness of his purpose. + + +"CITY POINT, Va., Aug. 16--3:30 P. M., 1864. +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Winchester, Va.: + +"If you can possibly spare a division of cavalry, send them through +Loudoun County to destroy and carry off the crops, animals, negroes, +and all men under fifty years of age capable of bearing arms. In +this way you will get many of Mosby's men. All male citizens under +fifty can fairly be held as prisoners of war, not as citizen +prisoners. If not already soldiers, they will be made so the moment +the rebel army gets hold of them. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"CITY POINT, Aug. 21, 1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Charlestown, Va.: + +"In stripping Loudoun County of supplies, etc., impress from all +loyal persons so that they may receive pay for what is taken from +them. I am informed by the Assistant Secretary of War that Loudoun +County has a large population of Quakers, who are all favorably +disposed to the Union. These people may be exempted from arrest. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +"CITY POINT, Va., Aug. 26,2:30 P. M. 1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Halltown, Va.: + +"Telegraphed you that I had good reason for believing that Fitz Lee +had been ordered back here. I now think it likely that all troops +will be ordered back from the valley except what they believe to be +the minimum number to detain you. My reason for supposing this is +based upon the fact that yielding up the Weldon road seems to be a +blow to the enemy he cannot stand. I think I do not overstate the +loss of the enemy in the last two weeks at 10,000 killed and wounded. +We have lost heavily, mostly in captured when the enemy gained +temporary advantages. Watch closely, and if you find this theory +correct, push with all vigor. Give the enemy no rest, and if it is +possible to follow to the Virginia Central road, follow that far. Do +all the damage to railroads and crops you can. Carry off stock of +all descriptions and negroes, so as to prevent further planting. If +the war is to last another year we want the Shenandoah Valley to +remain a barren waste. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"CITY POINT, Va., Sept. 4,--10 A. M.--1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Charlestown, Va.: + +"In cleaning out the arms-bearing community of Loudoun County and the +subsistence for armies, exercise your own judgment as to who should +be exempt from arrest, and as to who should receive pay for their +stock, grain, etc. It is our interest that that county should not be +capable of subsisting a hostile army, and at the same time we want to +inflict as little hardship upon Union men as possible. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +"CITY POINT, Va., Nov. 9, 1864. +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Cedar Creek, Va.: + +"Do you not think it advisable to notify all citizens living east of +the Blue Ridge to move out north of the Potomac all their stock, +grain, and provisions of every description? There is no doubt about +the necessity of clearing out that country so that it will not +support Mosby's gang. And the question is whether it is not better +that the people should save what they can. So long as the war lasts +they must be prevented from raising another crop, both there and as +high up the valley as we can control. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +He had rightly concluded that it was time to bring the war home to a +people engaged in raising crops from a prolific soil to feed the +country's enemies, and devoting to the Confederacy its best youth. I +endorsed the programme in all its parts, for the stores of meat and +grain that the valley provided, and the men it furnished for Lee's +depleted regiments, were the strongest auxiliaries he possessed in +the whole insurgent section. In war a territory like this is a +factor of great importance, and whichever adversary controls it +permanently reaps all the advantages of its prosperity. Hence, as I +have said, I endorsed Grant's programme, for I do not hold war to +mean simply that lines of men shall engage each other in battle, and +material interests be ignored. This is but a duel, in which one +combatant seeks the other's life; war means much more, and is far +worse than this. Those who rest at home in peace and plenty see but +little of the horrors attending such a duel, and even grow +indifferent to them as the struggle goes on, contenting themselves +with encouraging all who are able-bodied to enlist in the cause, to +fill up the shattered ranks as death thins them. It is another +matter, however, when deprivation and suffering are brought to their +own doors. Then the case appears much graver, for the loss of +property weighs heavy with the most of mankind; heavier often, than +the sacrifices made on the field of battle. Death is popularly +considered the maximum of punishment in war, but it is not; reduction +to poverty brings prayers for peace more surely and more quickly than +does the destruction of human life, as the selfishness of man has +demonstrated in more than one great conflict. + +In the afternoon of the 16th I started back to Winchester, whence I +could better supervise our regressive march. As I was passing +through Newtown, I heard cannonading from the direction of Front +Royal, and on reaching Winchester, Merritt's couriers brought me word +that he had been attacked at the crossing of the Shenandoah by +Kershaw's division of Anderson's corps and two brigades of Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry, but that the attack had been handsomely repulsed, with +a capture of two battle-flags and three hundred prisoners. This was +an absolute confirmation of the despatch from Grant; and I was now +more than satisfied with the wisdom of my withdrawal. + +At daylight of the 17th Emory moved from Winchester to Berryville, +and the same morning Crook and Wright reached Winchester, having +started from Cedar Creek the day before. From Winchester, Crook and +Wright resumed their march toward Clifton, Wright, who had the rear +guard, getting that day as far as the Berryville crossing of the +Opequon, where he was ordered to remain, while Crook went ahead till +he reached the vicinity of Berryville. On the afternoon of the 17th +Lowell with his two regiments of troopers came into Winchester, where +he was joined by Wilson's mounted division, which had come by a rapid +march from Snicker's ferry. In the mean time Merritt, after his +handsome engagement with Kershaw near Front Royal, had been ordered +back to the neighborhood of White Post, so that my cavalry outposts +now extended from this last point around to the west of Winchester. + +During all these operations the enemy had a signal-station on Three +Top Mountain, almost overhanging Strasburg, from which every movement +made by our troops could be plainly seen; therefore, early on the +morning of the 17th he became aware of the fact that we were retiring +down the valley, and at once made after us, and about sundown drove +Torbert out of Winchester, he having been left there-with Wilson and +Lowell, and the Jersey brigade of the Sixth Corps, to develop the +character of the enemy's pursuit. After a severe skirmish Wilson and +Lowell fell back to Summit Point, and the Jersey brigade joined its +corps at the crossing of the Opequon. This affair demonstrated that +Early's whole army had followed us from Fisher's Hill, in concert +with Anderson and Fitzhugh Lee from Front Royal, and the two columns +joined near Winchester the morning of the 18th. + +That day I moved the Sixth Corps by way of Clifton to Flowing Spring, +two and a half miles west of Charlestown, on the Smithfield pike; and +Emory, with Dwight's and Grower's divisions (Grower's having joined +that morning from Washington), to a position about the same distance +south of Charlestown, on the Berryville pike. Following these +movements, Merritt fell back to Berryville, covering the Berryville +pike crossing of the Opequon, and Wilson was stationed at Summit +Point, whence he held a line along the Opequon as far north as the +bridge at Smithfield. Crook continued to hold on near Clifton until +the next day, and was then moved into place on the left of Emory. + +This line was practically maintained till the 21st, when the enemy, +throwing a heavy force across the Opequon by the bridge at +Smithfield, drove in my cavalry pickets to Summit Point, and followed +up with a rapid advance against the position of the Sixth Corps near +Flowing Spring. A sharp and obstinate skirmish with a heavy +picket-line of the Sixth Corps grew out of this manoeuvre, and +resulted very much in our favor, but the quick withdrawal of the +Confederates left no opportunity for a general engagement. It seems +that General Early thought I had taken position near Summit Point, and +that by moving rapidly around through Smithfield he could fall upon my +rear in concert with an attack in front by Anderson, but the warm +reception given him disclosed his error, for he soon discovered that +my line lay in front of Charlestown instead of where he supposed. + +In the manoeuvre Merritt had been attacked in front of Berryville and +Wilson at Summit Point, the former by cavalry and the latter by +Anderson's infantry. The exposed positions of Merritt and Wilson +necessitated their withdrawal if I was to continue to act on the +defensive; so, after the army had moved back to Halltown the +preceding night, without loss or inconvenience, I called them in and +posted them on the right of the infantry. + +My retrograde move from Strasburg to Halltown caused considerable +alarm in the North, as the public was ignorant of the reasons for it; +and in the excited state of mind then prevailing, it was generally +expected that the reinforced Confederate army would again cross the +Potomac, ravage Maryland and Pennsylvania, and possibly capture +Washington. Mutterings of dissatisfaction reached me from many +sources, and loud calls were made for my removal, but I felt +confident that my course would be justified when the true situation +was understood, for I knew that I was complying with my instructions. +Therefore I paid small heed to the adverse criticisms pouring down +from the North almost every day, being fully convinced that the best +course was to bide my time, and wait till I could get the enemy into +a position from which he could not escape without such serious +misfortune as to have some bearing on the general result of the war. +Indeed, at this time I was hoping that my adversary would renew the +boldness he had exhibited the early part of the month, and strike for +the north side of the Potomac, and wrote to General Grant on the 20th +of August that I had purposely left everything in that direction open +to the enemy. + +On the 22d the Confederates moved to Charlestown and pushed well up +to my position at Halltown. Here for the next three days they +skirmished with my videttes and infantry pickets, Emory and Cook +receiving the main attention; but finding that they could make no +impression, and judging it to be an auspicious time to intensify the +scare in the North, on the 25th of August Early despatched Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry to Williamsport, and moved all the rest of his army but +Anderson's infantry and McCausland's cavalry to Kerneysville. This +same day there was sharp picket firing along the whole front of my +infantry line, arising, as afterward ascertained, from a heavy +demonstration by Anderson. During this firing I sent Torbert, with +Merritt's and Wilson's divisions, to Kerrteysville, whence he was to +proceed toward Leetown and learn what had become of Fitz. Lee. + +About a mile from Leetown Torbert met a small force of Confederate +cavalry, and soon after encountering it, stumbled on Breckenridge's +corps of infantry on the march, apparently heading for Shepherdstown. +The surprise was mutual, for Torbert expected to meet only the +enemy's cavalry, while the Confederate infantry column was +anticipating an unobstructed march to the Potomac. Torbert attacked +with such vigor as at first to double up the head of Breckenridge's +corps and throw it into confusion, but when the Confederates realized +that they were confronted only by cavalry, Early brought up the whole +of the four infantry divisions engaged in his manoeuvre, and in a +sharp attack pushed Torbert rapidly back. + +All the advantages which Torbert had gained by surprising the enemy +were nullified by this counter-attack, and he was obliged to withdraw +Wilson's division toward my right, to the neighborhood of Duffield's +Station, Merritt drawing back to the same point by way of the +Shepherdstown ford. Custer's brigade becoming isolated after the +fight while assisting the rear guard, was also obliged to retire, +which it did to Shepherdstown and there halted, picketing the river +to Antietam ford. + +When Torbert reported to me the nature of his encounter, and that a +part of Early's infantry was marching to the north, while Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry had gone toward Martinsburg, I thought that the +Confederate general meditated crossing his cavalry into Maryland, so +I sent Wilson by way of Harper's Ferry to watch his movements from +Boonesboro', and at the same time directed Averell, who had reported +from West Virginia some days before, to take post at Williamsport and +hold the crossing there until he was driven away. I also thought it +possible that Early might cross the Potomac with his whole army, but +the doubts of a movement like this outweighed the probabilities +favoring it. Nevertheless, to meet such a contingency I arranged to +throw my army on his rear should the occasion arise, and deeming my +position at Halltown the most advantageous in which to await +developments, my infantry was retained there. + +If General Early had ever intended to cross the Potomac, Torbert's +discovery of his manoeuvre put an end to his scheme of invasion, for +he well knew that and success he might derive from such a course +would depend on his moving with celerity, and keeping me in ignorance +of his march till it should be well under way; so he settled all the +present uncertainties by retiring with all his troops about +Kerneysville to his old position at Bunker Hill behind the Opequon, +and on the night of the 26th silently withdrew Anderson and +McCausland from my front at Halltown to Stephenson's depot. + +By the 27th all of Early's infantry was in position at Brucetown and +Bunker Hill, his cavalry holding the outposts of Leetown and +Smithfield, and on that day Merritt's division attacked the enemy's +horse at Leetown, and pressed it back through Smithfield to the west +side of the Opequon. This reconnoissance determined definitely that +Early had abandoned the projected movement into Maryland, if he ever +seriously contemplated it; and I marched my infantry out from +Halltown to the front of Charlestown, with the intention of occupying +a line between Clifton and Berryville the moment matters should so +shape themselves that I could do so with advantage. The night of the +28th Wilson joined me near Charlestown from his points of observation +in Maryland, and the next day Averell crossed the Potomac at +Williamsport and advanced to Martinsburg. + +Merritt's possession of Smithfield bridge made Early somewhat uneasy, +since it afforded opportunity for interposing a column between his +right and left flanks, so he concluded to retake the crossing, and, +to this end, on the 29th advanced two divisions of infantry. A +severe fight followed, and Merritt was forced to retire, being driven +through the village toward Charlestown with considerable loss. As +Merritt was nearing my infantry line, I ordered. Ricketts's division +of the Sixth Corps to his relief, and this in a few minutes turned +the tide, the Smithfield crossing of the Opequon being regained, and +afterward held by Lowell's brigade, supported by Ricketts. The next +morning I moved Torbert, with Wilson and Merritt, to Berryville, and +succeeding their occupation of that point there occurred along my +whole line a lull, which lasted until the 3d of September, being +undisturbed except by a combat near Bunker Hill between Averell's +cavalry and a part of McCausland's, supported by Rodes's division of +infantry, in which affair the Confederates were defeated with the +loss of about fifty prisoners and considerable property in the shape +of wagons and beef-cattle. + +Meanwhile Torbert's movement to Berryville had alarmed Early, and as +a counter move on the 2d of September he marched with the bulk of his +army to Summit Point, but while reconnoitring in that region on the +3d he learned of the havoc that Averell was creating in his rear, and +this compelled him to recross to the west side of the Opequon and +mass his troops in the vicinity of Stephenson's depot, whence he +could extend down to Bunker Hill, continue to threaten the Baltimore +and Ohio railroad, and at the same time cover Winchester. + +The same day I was moving my infantry to take up the Clifton-Berryville +line, and that afternoon Wright went into position at Clifton, Crook +occupied Berryville, and Emory's corps came in between them, forming +almost a continuous line. Torbert had moved to White Post meanwhile, +with directions to reconnoitre as far south as the Front Royal Pike. + +My infantry had just got fairly into this position about an hour +before sunset, when along Crook's front a combat took place that at +the time caused me to believe it was Early's purpose to throw a +column between Crook and Torbert, with the intention of isolating the +latter; but the fight really arose from the attempt of General +Anderson to return to Petersburg with Kershaw's division in response +to loud calls from General Lee. Anderson started south on the 3d of +September, and possibly this explains Early's reconnoissance that day +to Summit Point as a covering movement, but his rapid withdrawal left +him in ignorance of my advance, and Anderson marched on heedlessly +toward Berryville, expecting to cross the Blue Ridge through Ashby's +Gap. At Berryville however, he blundered into Crook's lines about +sunset, and a bitter little fight ensued, in which the Confederates +got so much the worst of it that they withdrew toward Winchester. +When General Early received word of this encounter he hurried to +Anderson's assistance with three divisions, but soon perceiving what +was hitherto unknown to him, that my whole army was on a new line, he +decided, after some slight skirmishing, that Anderson must remain at +Winchester until a favorable opportunity offered for him to rejoin +Lee by another route. + +Succeeding the discomfiture of Anderson, some minor operations took +place on the part of, Averell on the right and McIntosh's brigade of +Wilson's division on the left, but from that time until the 19th of +September no engagement of much importance occurred. The line from +Clifton to Berryville was occupied by the Sixth Corps and Grower's +and Dwight's divisions of the Nineteenth, Crook being transferred to +Summit Point, whence I could use him to protect my right flank and my +communication with Harper's Ferry, while the cavalry threatened the +enemy's right flank and line of retreat up the valley. + +The difference of strength between the two armies at this date was +considerably in my favor, but the conditions attending my situation +in a hostile region necessitated so much detached service to protect +trains, and to secure Maryland and Pennsylvania from raids, that my +excess in numbers was almost canceled by these incidental demands +that could not be avoided, and although I knew that I was strong, +yet, in consequence of the injunctions of General Grant, I deemed it +necessary to be very cautious; and the fact that the Presidential +election was impending made me doubly so, the authorities at +Washington having impressed upon me that the defeat of my army might +be followed by the overthrow of the party in power, which event, it +was believed, would at least retard the progress of the war, if, +indeed, it did not lead to the complete abandonment of all coercive +measures. Under circumstances such as these I could not afford to +risk a disaster, to say nothing of the intense disinclination every +soldier has for such results; so, notwithstanding my superior +strength, I determined to take all the time necessary to equip myself +with the fullest information, and then seize an opportunity under +such conditions that I could not well fail of success. + + + + + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRES OF P. H. SHERIDAN, VOLUME 2. + +By Philip Henry Sheridan + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ORGANIZING SCOUTS--MISS REBECCA WRIGHT--IMPORTANT INFORMATION--DECIDE +TO MOVE ON NEWTOWN--MEETING GENERAL GRANT--ORGANIZATION OF THE UNION +ARMY--OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF THE OPEQUON--DEATH OF GENERAL RUSSELL +--A TURNING MOVEMENT--A SUCCESSFUL CAVALRY CHARGE--VICTORY--THREE +LOYAL GIRLS--APPOINTED A BRIGADIER-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR ARMY +--REMARKS ON THE BATTLE. + +While occupying the ground between Clifton and Berryville, referred +to in the last chapter of the preceding volume, I felt the need of an +efficient body of scouts to collect information regarding the enemy, +for the defective intelligence-establishment with which I started out +from Harper's Ferry early in August had not proved satisfactory. I +therefore began to organize my scouts on a system which I hoped would +give better results than bad the method hitherto pursued in the +department, which was to employ on this service doubtful citizens and +Confederate deserters. If these should turn out untrustworthy, the +mischief they might do us gave me grave apprehension, and I finally +concluded that those of our own soldiers who should volunteer for the +delicate and hazardous duty would be the most valuable material, and +decided that they should have a battalion organization and be +commanded by an officer, Major H. K. Young, of the First Rhode Island +Infantry. These men were disguised in Confederate uniforms whenever +necessary, were paid from the Secret-Service Fund in proportion to +the value of the intelligence they furnished, which often stood us in +good stead in checking the forays of Gilmore, Mosby, and other +irregulars. Beneficial results came from the plan in many other ways +too, and particularly so when in a few days two of my scouts put me +in the way of getting news conveyed from Winchester. They had +learned that just outside of my lines, near Millwood, there was +living an old colored man, who had a permit from the Confederate +commander to go into Winchester and return three times a week, for +the purpose of selling vegetables to the inhabitants. The scouts had +sounded this man, and, finding him both loyal and shrewd, suggested +that he might be made useful to us within the enemy's lines; and the +proposal struck me as feasible, provided there could be found in +Winchester some reliable person who would be willing to co-operate +and correspond with me. I asked General Crook, who was acquainted +with many of the Union people of Winchester, if he knew of such a +person, and he recommended a Miss Rebecca Wright, a young lady whom +he had met there before the battle of Kernstown, who, he said, was a +member of the Society of Friends and the teacher of a small private +school. He knew she was faithful and loyal to the Government, and +thought she might be willing to render us assistance, but he could +not be certain of this, for on account of her well known loyalty she +was under constant surveillance. I hesitated at first, but finally +deciding to try it, despatched the two scouts to the old negro's +cabin, and they brought him to my headquarters late that night. I +was soon convinced of the negro's fidelity, and asking him if he was +acquainted with Miss Rebecca Wright, of Winchester, he replied that +he knew her well. There upon I told him what I wished to do, and +after a little persuasion he agreed to carry a letter to her on his +next marketing trip. My message was prepared by writing it on tissue +paper, which was then compressed into a small pellet, and protected +by wrapping it in tin-foil so that it could be safely carried in the +man's mouth. The probability, of his being searched when he came to +the Confederate picketline was not remote, and in such event he was +to swallow the pellet. The letter appealed to Miss Wright's loyalty +and patriotism, and requested her to furnish me with information +regarding the strength and condition of Early's army. The night +before the negro started one of the scouts placed the odd-looking +communication in his hands, with renewed injunctions as to secrecy +and promptitude. Early the next morning it was delivered to Miss +Wright, with an intimation that a letter of importance was enclosed +in the tin-foil, the negro telling her at the same time that she +might expect him to call for a message in reply before his return +home. At first Miss Wright began to open the pellet nervously, but +when told to be careful, and to preserve the foil as a wrapping for +her answer, she proceeded slowly and carefully, and when the note +appeared intact the messenger retired, remarking again that in the +evening he would come for an answer. + +On reading my communication Miss Wright was much startled by the +perils it involved, and hesitatingly consulted her mother, but her +devoted loyalty soon silenced every other consideration, and the +brave girl resolved to comply with my request, notwithstanding it +might jeopardize her life. The evening before a convalescent +Confederate officer had visited her mother's house, and in +conversation about the war had disclosed the fact that Kershaw's +division of infantry and Cutshaw's battalion of artillery had started +to rejoin General Lee. At the time Miss Wright heard this she +attached little if any importance to it, but now she perceived the +value of the intelligence, and, as her first venture, determined to +send it to me at once, which she did with a promise that in the +future she would with great pleasure continue to transmit information +by the negro messenger. + + + +"SEPTEMBER 15, 1864. + +"I learn from Major-General Crook that you are a loyal lady, and +still love the old flag. Can you inform me of the position of +Early's forces, the number of divisions in his army, and the strength +of any or all of them, and his probable or reported intentions? Have +any more troops arrived from Richmond, or are any more coming, or +reported to be coming? + +"You can trust the bearer." + +"I am, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General Commanding." + + + +"SEPTEMBER 16, 1864. + +"I have no communication whatever with the rebels, but will tell you +what I know. The division of General Kershaw, and Cutshaw's +artillery, twelve guns and men, General Anderson commanding, have +been sent away, and no more are expected, as they cannot be spared +from Richmond. I do not know how the troops are situated, but the +force is much smaller than represented. I will take pleasure +hereafter in learning all I can of their strength and position, and +the bearer may call again. + +"Very respectfully yours," +............ + + + +Miss Wright's answer proved of more value to me than she anticipated, +for it not only quieted the conflicting reports concerning Anderson's +corps, but was most important in showing positively that Kershaw was +gone, and this circumstance led, three days later, to the battle of +the Opequon, or Winchester as it has been unofficially called. Word +to the effect that some of Early's troops were under orders to return +to Petersburg, and would start back at the first favorable +opportunity, had been communicated to me already from many sources, +but we had not been able to ascertain the date for their departure. +Now that they had actually started, I decided to wait before offering +battle until Kershaw had gone so far as to preclude his return, +feeling confident that my prudence would be justified by the improved +chances of victory; and then, besides, Mr. Stanton kept reminding me +that positive success was necessary to counteract the political +dissatisfaction existing in some of the Northern States. This course +was advised and approved by General Grant, but even with his powerful +backing it was difficult to resist the persistent pressure of those +whose judgment, warped by their interests in the Baltimore and Ohio +railroad, was often confused and misled by stories of scouts (sent +out from Washington), averring that Kershaw and Fitzhugh Lee had +returned to Petersburg, Breckenridge to southwestern Virginia, and at +one time even maintaining that Early's whole army was east of the +Blue Ridge, and its commander himself at Gordonsville. + +During the inactivity prevailing in my army for the ten days +preceding Miss Wright's communication the infantry was quiet, with +the exception of Getty's division, which made a reconnoissance to the +Opequon, and developed a heavy force of the enemy at Edwards's +Corners. The cavalry, however, was employed a good deal in this +interval skirmishing heavily at times to maintain a space about six +miles in width between the hostile lines, for I wished to control +this ground so that when I was released from the instructions of +August 12, I could move my men into position for attack without the +knowledge of Early. The most noteworthy of these mounted encounters +was that of McIntosh's brigade, which captured the Eighth South +Carolina at Abraham's Creek September 13. + +It was the evening of the 16th of September that I received from Miss +Wright the positive information that Kershaw was in march toward +Front Royal on his way by Chester Gap to Richmond. Concluding that +this was my opportunity, I at once resolved to throw my whole force +into Newtown the next day, but a despatch from General Grant +directing me to meet him at Charlestown, whither he was coming to +consult with me, caused me to defer action until after I should see +him. In our resulting interview at Charlestown, I went over the +situation very thoroughly, and pointed out with so much confidence +the chances of a complete victory should I throw my army across the +Valley pike near Newtown that he fell in with the plan at once, +authorized me to resume the offensive, and to attack Early as soon as +I deemed it most propitious to do so; and although before leaving +City Point he had outlined certain operations for my army, yet he +neither discussed nor disclosed his plans, my knowledge of the +situation striking him as being so much more accurate than his own. + + +[Extract from "Grant's Memoirs," page 328.] + +"....Before starting I had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, +which I had brought with me; but seeing that he was so clear and so +positive in his views, and so confident of success, I said nothing +about this, and did not take it out of my pocket...." + + +The interview over, I returned to my army to arrange for its movement +toward Newtown, but while busy with these preparations, a report came +to me from General Averell which showed that Early was moving with +two divisions of infantry toward Martinsburg. This considerably +altered the state of affairs, and I now decided to change my plan and +attack at once the two divisions remaining about Winchester and +Stephenson's depot, and later, the two sent to Martinsburg; the +disjointed state of the enemy giving me an opportunity to take him in +detail, unless the Martinsburg column should be returned by forced +marches. + +While General Early was in the telegraph office at Martinsburg on the +morning of the 18th, he learned of Grant's visit to me; and +anticipating activity by reason of this circumstance, he promptly +proceeded to withdraw so as to get the two divisions within +supporting distance of Ramseur's, which lay across the Berryville +pike about two miles east of Winchester, between Abraham's Creek and +Red Bud Run, so by the night of the 18th Wharton's division, under +Breckenridge, was at Stephenson's depot, Rodes near there, and +Gordon's at Bunker Hill. At daylight of the 19th these positions of +the Confederate infantry still obtained, with the cavalry of Lomax, +Jackson, and Johnson on the right of Ramseur, while to the left and +rear of the enemy's general line was Fitzhugh Lee, covering from +Stephenson's depot west across the Valley pike to Applepie Ridge. + +My army moved at 3 o'clock that morning. The plan was for Torbert to +advance with Merritt's division of cavalry from Summit Point, carry +the crossings of the Opequon at Stevens's and Lock's fords, and form +a junction near Stephenson's depot, with Averell, who was to move +south from Darksville by the Valley pike. Meanwhile, Wilson was to +strike up the Berryville pike, carry the Berryville crossing of the +Opequon, charge through the gorge or canyon on the road west of the +stream, and occupy the open ground at the head of this defile. +Wilson's attack was to be supported by the Sixth and Nineteenth +corps, which were ordered to the Berryville crossing, and as the +cavalry gained the open ground beyond the gorge, the two infantry +corps, under command of General Wright, were expected to press on +after and occupy Wilson's ground, who was then to shift to the south +bank of Abraham's Creek and cover my left; Crook's two divisions, +having to march from Summit Point, were to follow the Sixth and +Nineteenth corps to the Opcquon, and should they arrive before the +action began, they were to be held in reserve till the proper moment +came, and then, as a turning-column, be thrown over toward the Valley +pike, south of Winchester. + +McIntosh's brigade of Wilson's division drove the enemy's pickets +away from the Berryville crossing at dawn, and Wilson following +rapidly through the gorge with the rest of the division, debouched +from its western extremity with such suddenness as to capture a +small earthwork in front of General Ramseur's main line; and +not-withstanding the Confederate infantry, on recovering from its +astonishment, tried hard to dislodge them, Wilson's troopers +obstinately held the work till the Sixth Corps came up. I followed +Wilson to select the ground on which to form the infantry. The Sixth +Corps began to arrive about 8 o'clock, and taking up the line Wilson +had been holding, just beyond the head of the narrow ravine, the +cavalry was transferred to the south side of Abraham's Creek. + +The Confederate line lay along some elevated ground about two miles +east of Winchester, and extended from Abraham's Creek north across +the Berryville pike, the left being hidden in the heavy timber on Red +Bud Run. Between this line and mine, especially on my right, clumps +of woods and patches of underbrush occurred here and there, but the +undulating ground consisted mainly of open fields, many of which were +covered with standing corn that had already ripened. + +Much time was lost in getting all of the Sixth and Nineteenth corps +through the narrow defile, Grover's division being greatly delayed +there by a train of ammunition wagons, and it was not until late in +the forenoon that the troops intended for the attack could be got +into line ready to advance. General Early was not slow to avail +himself of the advantages thus offered him, and my chances of +striking him in detail were growing less every moment, for Gordon and +Rodes were hurrying their divisions from Stephenson's depot +--across-country on a line that would place Gordon in the woods south +of Red Bud Run, and bring Rodes into the interval between Gordon and +Ramseur. + +When the two corps had all got through the canyon they were formed +with Getty's division of the Sixth to the left of the Berryville +pike, Rickett's division to the right of the pike, and Russell's +division in reserve in rear of the other two. Grover's division of +the Nineteenth Corps came next on the right of Rickett's, with Dwight +to its rear in reserve, while Crook was to begin massing near the +Opequon crossing about the time Wright and Emory were ready to +attack. + +Just before noon the line of Getty, Ricketts, and Grover moved +forward, and as we advanced, the Confederates, covered by some heavy +woods on their right, slight underbrush and corn-fields along their +Centre, and a large body of timber on their left along the Red Bud, +opened fire from their whole front. We gained considerable ground at +first, especially on our left but the desperate resistance which the +right met with demonstrated that the time we had unavoidably lost in +the morning had been of incalculable value to Early, for it was +evident that he had been enabled already to so far concentrate his +troops as to have the different divisions of his army in a connected +line of battle, in good shape to resist. + +Getty and Ricketts made some progress toward Winchester in connection +with Wilson's cavalry, which was beyond the Senseny road on Getty's +left, and as they were pressing back Ramseur's infantry and Lomax's +cavalry Grover attacked from the right with decided effect. Grover +in a few minutes broke up Evans's brigade of Gordon's division, but +his pursuit of Evans destroyed the continuity of my general line, and +increased an interval that had already been made by the deflection of +Ricketts to the left, in obedience to instructions that had been +given him to guide his division on the Berryville pike. As the line +pressed forward, Ricketts observed this widening interval and +endeavored to fill it with the small brigade of Colonel Keifer, but +at this juncture both Gordon and Rodes struck the weak spot where the +right of the Sixth Corps and the left of the Nineteenth should have +been in conjunction, and succeeded in checking my advance by driving +back a part of Ricketts's division, and the most of Grover's. As +these troops were retiring I ordered Russell's reserve division to be +put into action, and just as the flank of the enemy's troops in +pursuit of Grover was presented, Upton's brigade, led in person by +both Russell and Upton, struck it in a charge so vigorous as to drive +the Confederates back in turn to their original ground. + +The success of Russell enabled me to re-establish the right of my +line some little distance in advance of the position from which it +started in the morning, and behind Russell's division (now commanded +by Upton) the broken regiments of Ricketts's division were rallied. +Dwight's division was then brought up on the right, and Grover's men +formed behind it. + +The charge of Russell was most opportune, but it cost many men in +killed and wounded. Among the former was the courageous Russell +himself; killed by a piece of shell that passed through his heart, +although he had previously been struck by a bullet in the left +breast, which wound, from its nature, must have proved mortal, yet of +which he had not spoken. Russell's death oppressed us all with +sadness, and me particularly. In the early days of my army life he +was my captain and friend, and I was deeply indebted to him, not only +for sound advice and good example, but for the inestimable service he +had just performed, and sealed with his life, so it may be inferred +how keenly I felt his loss. + +As my lines were being rearranged, it was suggested to me to put +Crook into the battle, but so strongly had I set my heart on using +him to take possession of the Valley pike and cut off the enemy, that +I resisted this advice, hoping that the necessity for putting him in +would be obviated by the attack near Stephenson's depot that +Torbert's cavalry was to make, and from which I was momentarily +expecting to hear. No news of Torbert's progress came, however, so, +yielding at last, I directed Crook to take post on the right of the +Nineteenth Corps and, when the action was renewed, to push his +command forward as a turning-column in conjunction with Emory. After +some delay in the annoying defile, Crook got his men up, and posting +Colonel Thoburn's division on the prolongation of the Nineteenth +Corps, he formed Colonel Duval's division to the right of Thoburn. +Here I joined Crook, informing him that I had just got word that +Torbert was driving the enemy in confusion along the Martinsburg pike +toward Winchester; at the same time I directed him to attack the +moment all of Duval's men were in line. Wright was instructed to +advance in concert with Crook, by swinging Emory and the right of the +Sixth Corps to the left together in a half-wheel. Then leaving +Crook, I rode along the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, the open ground +over which they were passing affording a rare opportunity to witness +the precision with which the attack was taken up from right to left. +Crook's success began the moment he started to turn the enemy's left; +and assured by the fact that Torbert had stampeded the Confederate +cavalry and thrown Breckenridge's infantry into such disorder that it +could do little to prevent the envelopment of Gordon's left, Crook +pressed forward without even a halt. + +Both Emory and Wright took up the fight as ordered, and as they did +so I sent word to Wilson, in the hope that he could partly perform +the work originally laid out for Crook, to push along the Senseny +road and, if possible, gain the valley pike south of Winchester. I +then returned toward my right flank, and as I reached the Nineteenth +Corps the enemy was contesting the ground in its front with great +obstinacy; but Emory's dogged persistence was at length rewarded with +success, just as Crook's command emerged from the morass of Red Bud +Run, and swept around Gordon, toward the right of Breckenridge, who, +with two of Wharton's brigades, was holding a line at right angles +with the Valley pike for the protection of the Confederate rear. +Early had ordered these two brigades back from Stephenson's depot in +the morning, purposing to protect with them his right flank and line +of retreat, but while they were en route to this end, he was obliged +to recall them to his left to meet Crook's attack. + +To confront Torbert, Patton's brigade of infantry and some of +Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had been left back by Breckenridge, but, with +Averell on the west side of the Valley pike and Merritt on the east, +Torbert began to drive this opposing force toward Winchester the +moment he struck it near Stephenson's depot, keeping it on the go +till it reached the position held by Breckenridge, where it +endeavored to make a stand. + +The ground which Breckenridge was holding was open, and offered an +opportunity such as seldom had been presented during the war for a +mounted attack, and Torbert was not slow to take advantage of it. +The instant Merritt's division could be formed for the charge, it +went at Breckenridge's infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry with such +momentum as to break the Confederate left, just as Averell was +passing around it. Merritt's brigades, led by Custer, Lowell, and +Devin, met from the start with pronounced success, and with sabre or +pistol in hand literally rode down a battery of five guns and took +about 1,200 prisoners. Almost simultaneously with this cavalry +charge, Crook struck Breckenridge's right and Gordon's left, forcing +these divisions to give way, and as they retired, Wright, in a +vigorous attack, quickly broke Rodes up and pressed Ramseur so hard +that the whole Confederate army fell back, contracting its lines +within some breastworks which had been thrown up at a former period +of the war, immediately in front of Winchester. + +Here Early tried hard to stem the tide, but soon Torbert's cavalry +began passing around his left flank, and as Crook, Emory, and Wright +attacked in front, panic took possession of the enemy, his troops, +now fugitives and stragglers, seeking escape into and through +Winchester. + +When this second break occurred, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps were +moved over toward the Millwood pike to help Wilson on the left, but +the day was so far spent that they could render him no assistance, +and Ramseur's division, which had maintained some organization, was +in such tolerable shape as to check him. Meanwhile Torbert passed +around to the west of Winchester to join Wilson, but was unable to do +so till after dark. Crook's command pursued the enemy through the +town to Mill Greek, I going along. + +Just after entering the town, Crook and I met, in the main street, +three young girls, who gave us the most hearty reception. One of +these young women was a Miss Griffith, the other two Miss Jennie and +Miss Susie Meredith. During the day they had been watching the +battle from the roof of the Meredith residence, with tears and +lamentations, they said, in the morning when misfortune appeared to +have overtaken the Union troops, but with unbounded exultation when, +later, the tide set in against the Confederates. Our presence was, +to them, an assurance of victory, and their delight being +irrepressible, they indulged in the most unguarded manifestations and +expressions. When cautioned by Crook, who knew them well, and +reminded that the valley had hitherto been a race-course--one day in +the possession of friends, and the next of enemies--and warned of the +dangers they were incurring by such demonstrations, they assured him +that they had no further fears of that kind now, adding that Early's +army was so demoralized by the defeat it had just sustained that it +would never be in condition to enter Winchester again. As soon as we +had succeeded in calming the excited girls a little I expressed a +desire to find some place where I could write a telegram to General +Grant informing him of the result of the battle, and General Crook +conducted me to the home of Miss Wright, where I met for the first +time the woman who had contributed so much to our success, and on a +desk in her school-room wrote the despatch announcing that we had +sent Early's army whirling up the valley. + +My losses in the battle of the Opequon were heavy, amounting to about +4,500 killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed was General +Russell, commanding a division, and the wounded included Generals +Upton, McIntosh and Chapman, and Colonels Duval and Sharpe. The +Confederate loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners about equaled +mine, General Rodes being of the killed, while Generals Fitzhugh Lee +and York were severely wounded. + +We captured five pieces of artillery and nine battle-flags. The +restoration of the lower valley--from the Potomac to Strasburg--to +the control of the Union forces caused great rejoicing in the North, +and relieved the Administration from further solicitude for the +safety of the Maryland and Pennsylvania borders. The President's +appreciation of the victory was expressed in a despatch so like Mr. +Lincoln that I give a facsimile of it to the reader: + +[In the handwriting of President Lincoln] +"EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT +"WASHINGTON, Sep. 20, 1864 + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN +"WINCHESTER, VA. + +"Have just heard of your great victory. God bless you all, officers +and men. Strongly inclined to come up and see you. + +"A. LINCOLN." + + +This he supplemented by promoting me to the grade of +brigadier-general in the regular army, and assigning me to the +permanent command of the Middle Military Department, and following that +came warm congratulations from Mr. Stanton and from Generals Grant, +Sherman, and Meade. + +The battle was not fought out on the plan in accordance with which +marching orders were issued to my troops, for I then hoped to take +Early in detail, and with Crook's force cut off his retreat. I +adhered to this purpose during the early part of the contest, but was +obliged to abandon the idea because of unavoidable delays by which I +was prevented from getting the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through the +narrow defile and into position early enough to destroy Ramseur while +still isolated. So much delay had not been anticipated, and this +loss of time was taken advantage of by the enemy to recall the troops +diverted to Bunker Hill and Martinsburg on the 17th, thus enabling +him to bring them all to the support of Ramseur before I could strike +with effect. My idea was to attack Ramseur and Wharton, +successively, at a very early hour and before they could get succor, +but I was not in condition to do it till nearly noon, by which time +Gordon and Rodes had been enabled to get upon the ground at a point +from which, as I advanced, they enfiladed my right flank, and gave it +such a repulse that to re-form this part of my line I was obliged to +recall the left from some of the ground it had gained. It was during +this reorganization of my lines that I changed my plan as to Crook, +and moved him from my left to my right. This I did with great +reluctance, for I hoped to destroy Early's army entirely if Crook +continued on his original line of march toward the Valley pike, south +of Winchester; and although the ultimate results did, in a measure +vindicate the change, yet I have always thought that by adhering to +the original plan we might have captured the bulk of Early's army. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +PURSUING EARLY--A SECRET MARCH--FISHER'S HILL--A GREAT SUCCESS +--REMOVAL OF AVERELL--THE RETREAT--CAPTURING AN OLD COMRADE +--THE MURDER OF LIEUTENANT MEIGS. + +The night of the 19th of September I gave orders for following Early +up the valley next morning--the pursuit to begin at daybreak--and in +obedience to these directions Torbert moved Averell out on the Back +road leading to Cedar Creek, and Merritt up the Valley pike toward +Strasburg, while Wilson was directed on Front Royal by way of +Stevensburg. Merritt's division was followed by the infantry, +Emory's and Wright's columns marching abreast in the open country to +the right and left of the pike, and Crook's immediately behind them. +The enemy having kept up his retreat at night, presented no +opposition whatever until the cavalry discovered him posted at +Fisher's Hill, on the first defensive line where he could hope to +make any serious resistance. No effort was made to dislodge him, and +later in the day, after Wright and Emory came up, Torbert shifted +Merritt over toward the Back road till he rejoined Averell. As +Merritt moved to the right, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps crossed +Cedar Creek and took up the ground the cavalry was vacating, Wright +posting his own corps to the west of the Valley pike overlooking +Strasburg, and Emory's on his left so as to extend almost to the road +leading from Strasburg to Front Royal. Crook, as he came up the same +evening, went into position in some heavy timber on the north bank of +Cedar Creek. + +A reconnoissance made pending these movements convinced me that the +enemy's position at Fisher's Hill was so strong that a direct assault +would entail unnecessary destruction of life, and, besides, be of +doubtful result. At the point where Early's troops were in position, +between the Massanutten range and Little North Mountain, the valley +is only about three and a half miles wide. All along the precipitous +bluff which overhangs Tumbling Run on the south side, a heavy line of +earthworks had been constructed when Early retreated to this point in +August, and these were now being strengthened so as to make them +almost impregnable; in fact, so secure did Early consider himself +that, for convenience, his ammunition chests were taken from the +caissons and placed behind the breastworks. Wharton, now in command +of Breckenridge's division--its late commander having gone to +southwest Virginia--held the right of this line, with Gordon next +him; Pegram, commanding Ramseur's old division, joined Gordon. +Ramseur with Rodes's division, was on Pegram's left, while Lomax's +cavalry, now serving as foot-troops, extended the line to the Back +road. Fitzhugh Lee being wounded, his cavalry, under General +Wickham, was sent to Milford to prevent Fisher's Hill from being +turned through the Luray Valley. + +In consequence of the enemy's being so well protected from a direct +assault, I resolved on the night of the 20th to use again a +turning-column against his left, as had been done on the 19th at the +Opequon. To this end I resolved to move Crook, unperceived if possible, +over to the eastern face of Little North Mountain, whence he could +strike the left and rear of the Confederate line, and as he broke it +up, I could support him by a left half-wheel of my whole line of +battle. The execution of this plan would require perfect secrecy, +however, for the enemy from his signal-station on Three Top could +plainly see every movement of our troops in daylight. Hence, to escape +such observation, I marched Crook during the night of the 20th into +some heavy timber north of Cedar Creek, where he lay concealed all day +the 21st. This same day Wright and Emory were moved up closer to the +Confederate works, and the Sixth Corps, after a severe fight, in which +Ricketts's and Getty were engaged, took up some high ground on the +right of the Manassas Gap railroad in plain view of the Confederate +works, and confronting a commanding point where much of Early's +artillery was massed. Soon after General Wright had established this +line I rode with him along it to the westward, and finding that the +enemy was still holding an elevated position further to our right, on +the north side of Tumbling Run, I directed this also to be occupied. +Wright soon carried the point, which gave us an unobstructed view of +the enemy's works and offered good ground for our artillery. It also +enabled me to move the whole of the Sixth Corps to the front till its +line was within about seven hundred yards of the enemy's works; the +Nineteenth Corps, on the morning of the 22d, covering the ground +vacated by the Sixth by moving to the front and extending to the right, +but still keeping its reserves on the railroad. + +In the darkness of the night of the gist, Crook was brought across +Cedar Creek and hidden in a clump of timber behind Hupp's Hill till +daylight of the 22d, when, under cover of the intervening woods and +ravines, he was marched beyond the right of the Sixth Corps and again +concealed not far from the Back road. After Crook had got into this +last position, Ricketts's division was pushed out until it confronted +the left of the enemy's infantry, the rest of the Sixth Corps +extending from Ricketts's left to the Manassas Gap railroad, while +the Nineteenth Corps filled in the space between the left of the +Sixth and the North Fork of the Shenandoah. + +When Ricketts moved out on this new line, in conjunction with +Averell's cavalry on his right, the enemy surmising, from information +secured from his signal-station, no doubt, that my attack was to be +made from Ricketts's front, prepared for it there, but no such +intention ever existed. Ricketts was pushed forward only that he +might readily join Crook's turning-column as it swung into the +enemy's rear. To ensure success, all that I needed now was enough +daylight to complete my arrangements, the secrecy of movement imposed +by the situation consuming many valuable hours. + +While Ricketts was occupying the enemy's attention, Crook, again +moving unobserved into the dense timber on the eastern face of Little +North Mountain, conducted his command south in two parallel columns +until he gained the rear of the enemy's works, when, marching his +divisions by the left flank, he led them in an easterly direction +down the mountain-side. As he emerged from the timber near the base +of the mountain, the Confederates discovered him, of course, and +opened with their batteries, but it was too late--they having few +troops at hand to confront the turning-column. Loudly cheering, +Crook's men quickly crossed the broken stretch in rear of the enemy's +left, producing confusion and consternation at every step. + +About a mile from the mountain's base Crook's left was joined by +Ricketts, who in proper time had begun to swing his division into the +action, and the two commands moved along in rear of the works so +rapidly that, with but slight resistance, the Confederates abandoned +the guns massed near the centre. The swinging movement of Ricketts +was taken up successively from right to left throughout my line, and +in a few minutes the enemy was thoroughly routed, the action, though +brief, being none the less decisive. Lomax's dismounted cavalry gave +way first, but was shortly followed by all the Confederate infantry +in an indescribable panic, precipitated doubtless by fears of being +caught and captured in the pocket formed by Tumbling Run and the +North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The stampede was complete, the +enemy leaving the field without semblance of organization, abandoning +nearly all his artillery and such other property as was in the works, +and the rout extending through the fields and over the roads toward +Woodstock, Wright and Emory in hot pursuit. + +Midway between Fisher's Hill and Woodstock there is some high ground, +where at night-fall a small squad endeavored to stay us with two +pieces of artillery, but this attempt at resistance proved fruitless, +and, notwithstanding the darkness, the guns were soon captured. The +chase was then taken up by Devin's brigade as soon as it could be +passed to the front, and continued till after daylight the next +morning, but the delays incident to a night pursuit made it +impossible for Devin to do more than pick up stragglers. + +Our success was very great, yet I had anticipated results still more +pregnant. Indeed, I had high hopes of capturing almost the whole of +Early's army before it reached New Market, and with this object in +view, during the manoeuvres of the 21st I had sent Torbert up the +Luray Valley with Wilson's division and two of Merritt's brigades, in +the expectation that he would drive Wickham out of the Luray Pass by +Early's right, and by crossing the Massanutten Mountain near New +Market, gain his rear. Torbert started in good season, and after +some slight skirmishing at Gooney Run, got as far as Milford, but +failed to dislodge Wickham. In fact, he made little or no attempt to +force Wickham from his position, and with only a feeble effort +withdrew. I heard nothing at all from Torbert during the 22d, and +supposing that everything was progressing favorably, I was astonished +and chagrined on the morning of the 23d, at Woodstock, to receive the +intelligence that he had fallen back to Front Royal and Buckton ford. +My disappointment was extreme, but there was now no help for the +situation save to renew and emphasize Torbert's orders, and this was +done at once, notwithstanding that I thought, the delay, had so much +diminished the chances of his getting in the rear of Early as to make +such a result a very remote possibility, unless, indeed, far greater +zeal was displayed than had been in the first attempt to penetrate +the Luray Valley. + +The battle of Fisher's Hill was, in a measure, a part of the battle +of the Opequon; that is to say, it was an incident of the pursuit +resulting from that action. In many ways, however, it was much more +satisfactory, and particularly so because the plan arranged on the +evening of the 20th was carried out to the very letter by Generals +Wright, Crook, and Emory, not only in all their preliminary +manoeuvres, but also during the fight itself. The only drawback was +with the cavalry, and to this day I have been unable to account +satisfactorily for Torbert's failure. No doubt, Wickham's position +near Milford was a strong one, but Torbert ought to have made a +fight. Had he been defeated in this, his withdrawal then to await +the result at Fisher's Hill would have been justified, but it does +not appear that he made any serious effort of all to dislodge the +Confederate cavalry: his impotent attempt not only chagrined me very +much, but occasioned much unfavorable comment throughout the army. + +We reached Woodstock early on the morning of the 23d, and halted +there some little time to let the troops recover their organization, +which had been broken in the night march they had just made. When +the commands had closed up we pushed on toward Edinburg, in the hope +of making more captures at Narrow Passage Creek; but the +Confederates, too fleet for us, got away; so General Wright halted +the infantry not far from Edinburg, till rations could be brought the +men. Meanwhile I, having remained at Woodstock, sent Dedin's brigade +to press the enemy under every favorable opportunity, and if possible +prevent him from halting long enough to reorganize. Notwithstanding +Devin's efforts the Confederates managed to assemble a considerable +force to resist him, and being too weak for the rearguard, he awaited +the arrival of Averell, who, I had informed him, would be hurried to +the front with all possible despatch, for I thought that Averell must +be close at hand. It turned out, however, that he was not near by at +all, and, moreover, that without good reason he had refrained from +taking any part whatever in pursuing the enemy in the flight from +Fisher's Hill; and in fact had gone into camp and left to the +infantry the work of pursuit. + +It was nearly noon when Averell came up, and a great deal of precious +time had been lost. We had some hot words, but hoping that he would +retrieve the mistake of the night before, I directed him to proceed +to the front at once, and in conjunction with Devin close with the +enemy. He reached Devin's command about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, +just as this officer was pushing the Confederates so energetically +that they were abandoning Mount Jackson, yet Averell utterly failed +to accomplish anything. Indeed, his indifferent attack was not at +all worthy the excellent soldiers he commanded, and when I learned +that it was his intention to withdraw from the enemy's front, and +this, too, on the indefinite report of a signal-officer that a +"brigade or division" of Confederates was turning his right flank, +and that he had not seriously attempted to verify the information, I +sent him this order: + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +"Woodstock, Va., Sept. 23, 1864 + +"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL AVERELL + +"Your report and report of signal-officer received. I do not want +you to let the enemy bluff you or your command, and I want you to +distinctly understand this note. I do not advise rashness, but I do +desire resolution and actual fighting, with necessary casualties, +before you retire. There must now be no backing or filling by you +without a superior force of the enemy actually engaging you. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +Some little time after this note went to Averell, word was brought me +that he had already carried out the programme indicated when +forwarding the report of the expected turning of his right, and that +he had actually withdrawn and gone into camp near Hawkinsburg. I +then decided to relieve him from the command of his division, which I +did, ordering him to Wheeling, Colonel William H. Powell being +assigned to succeed him. + +The removal of Averell was but the culmination of a series of events +extending back to the time I assumed command of the Middle Military +Division. At the outset, General Grant, fearing discord on account +of Averell's ranking Torbert, authorized me to relieve the former +officer, but I hoped that if any trouble of this sort arose, it could +be allayed, or at least repressed, during the campaign against Early, +since the different commands would often have to act separately. +After that, the dispersion of my army by the return of the Sixth +Corps and Torbert's cavalry to the Army of the Potomac would take +place, I thought, and this would restore matters to their normal +condition; but Averell's dissatisfaction began to show itself +immediately after his arrival at Martinsburg, on the 14th of August, +and, except when he was conducting some independent expedition, had +been manifested on all occasions since. I therefore thought that the +interest of the service would be subserved by removing one whose +growing indifference might render the best-laid plans inoperative. + + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION. +"HARRISONBURG, VA., SEPT. 25, 1864 11:30 P. M. +"LIEUT-GENERAL GRANT, Comd'g, City Point, Va. + +"I have relieved Averell from his command. Instead of following the +enemy when he was broken at Fisher's Hill (so there was not a cavalry +organization left), he went into camp and let me pursue the enemy for +a distance of fifteen miles, with infantry, during the night. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + +The failure of Averell to press the enemy the evening of the 23d gave +Early time to collect his scattered forces and take up a position on +the east side of the North Fork of the Shenandoah, his left resting +on the west side of that stream at Rude's Hill, a commanding point +about two miles south of Mt. Jackson. Along this line he had +constructed some slight works during the night, and at daylight on +the 24th, I moved the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through Mt. Jackson +to attack him, sending Powell's division to pass around his left +flank, toward Timberville, and Devin's brigade across the North Fork, +to move along the base of Peaked Ridge and attack his right. The +country was entirely open, and none of these manoeuvres could be +executed without being observed, so as soon as my advance began, the +enemy rapidly retreated in line of battle up the valley through New +Market, closely followed by Wright and Emory, their artillery on the +pike and their columns on its right and left. Both sides moved with +celerity, the Confederates stimulated by the desire to escape, and +our men animated by the prospect of wholly destroying Early's army. +The stern-chase continued for about thirteen miles, our infantry +often coming within range, yet whenever we began to deploy, the +Confederates increased the distance between us by resorting to a +double quick, evading battle with admirable tact. While all this was +going on, the open country permitted us a rare and brilliant sight, +the bright sun gleaming from the arms and trappings of the thousands +of pursuers and pursued. + +Near New Market, as a last effort to hold the enemy, I pushed Devin's +cavalry--comprising about five hundred men--with two guns right up on +Early's lines, in the hope that the tempting opportunity given him to +capture the guns would stay his retreat long enough to let my +infantry deploy within range, but he refused the bait, and after +momentarily checking Devin he continued on with little loss and in +pretty good order. + +All hope of Torbert's appearing in rear of the Confederates vanished +as they passed beyond New Market. Some six miles south of this place +Early left the Valley Pike and took the road to Keezletown, a move +due in a measure to Powell's march by way of Timberville toward +Lacy's Springs, but mainly caused by the fact that the Keezletown +road ran immediately along the base of Peaked Mountain--a rugged +ridge affording protection to Early's right flank--and led in a +direction facilitating his junction with Kershaw, who had been +ordered back to him from Culpeper the day after the battle of the +Opequon. The chase was kept up on the Keezeltown road till darkness +overtook us, when my weary troops were permitted to go into camp; and +as soon as the enemy discovered by our fires that the pursuit had +stopped, he also bivouacked some five miles farther south toward Port +Republic. + +The next morning Early was joined by Lomax's cavalry from +Harrisonburg, Wickham's and Payne's brigades of cavalry also uniting +with him from the Luray Valley. His whole army then fell back to the +mouth of Brown's Gap to await Kershaw's division and Cutshaw's +artillery, now on their return. + +By the morning of the 25th the main body of the enemy had disappeared +entirely from my front, and the capture of some small, squads of +Confederates in the neighboring hills furnished us the only incidents +of the day. Among the prisoners was a tall and fine looking officer, +much worn with hunger and fatigue. The moment I saw him I recognized +him as a former comrade, George W. Carr, with whom I had served in +Washington Territory. He was in those days a lieutenant in the Ninth +Infantry, and was one of the officers who superintended the execution +of the nine Indians at the Cascades of the Columbia in 1856. Carr +was very much emaciated, and greatly discouraged by the turn events +had recently taken. For old acquaintance sake I gave him plenty to +eat, and kept him in comfort at my headquarters until the next batch +of prisoners was sent to the rear, when he went with them. He had +resigned from the regular army at the commencement of hostilities, +and, full of high anticipation, cast his lot with the Confederacy, +but when he fell into our hands, his bright dreams having been +dispelled by the harsh realities of war, he appeared to think that +for him there was no future. + +Picking up prisoners here and there, my troops resumed their march +directly south on the Valley pike, and when the Sixth and Nineteenth +corps reached Harrisonburg, they went into camp, Powell in the +meanwhile pushing on to Mt. Crawford, and Crook taking up a position +in our rear at the junction of the Keezletown road and the Valley +pike. Late in the afternoon Torbert's cavalry came in from New +Market arriving at that place many hours later than it had been +expected. + +The succeeding day I sent Merritt to Port Republic to occupy the +enemy's attention, while Torbert, with Wilson's division and the +regular brigade, was ordered to Staunton, whence he was to proceed to +Waynesboro' and blow up the railroad bridge. Having done this, +Torbert, as he returned, was to drive off whatever cattle he could +find, destroy all forage and breadstuffs, and burn the mills. He +took possession of Waynesboro' in due time, but had succeeded in only +partially demolishing the railroad bridge when, attacked by Pegram's +division of infantry and Wickham's cavalry, he was compelled to fall +back to Staunton. From the latter place he retired to Bridgewater, +and Spring Hill, on the way, however, fully executing his +instructions regarding the destruction of supplies. + +While Torbert was on this expedition, Merritt had occupied Port +Republic, but he happened to get there the very day that Kershaw's +division was marching from Swift Run Gap to join Early. By accident +Kershaw ran into Merritt shortly after the latter had gained the +village. Kershaw's four infantry brigades attacked at once, and +Merrit, forced out of Port Republic, fell back toward Cross Keys; and +in anticipation that the Confederates could be coaxed to that point, +I ordered the infantry there, but Torbert's attack at Wavnesboro' had +alarmed Early, and in consequence he drew all his forces in toward +Rock-fish Gap. This enabled me to re-establish Merritt at Port +Republic, send the Sixth and Nineteenth corps to the neighborhood of +Mt. Crawford to await the return of Torbert, and to post Crook at +Harrisonburg; these dispositions practically obtained till the 6th of +October, I holding a line across the valley from Port Republic along +North River by Mt. Crawford to the Back road near the mouth of Briery +Branch Gap. + +It was during this period, about dusk on the evening of October 3, +that between Harrisonburg and Dayton my engineer officer, Lieutenant +John R. Meigs, was murdered within my lines. He had gone out with +two topographical assistants to plot the country, and late in the +evening, while riding along the public road on his return to camp, he +overtook three men dressed in our uniform. From their dress, and +also because the party was immediately behind our lines and within a +mile and a half of my headquarters, Meigs and his assistants +naturally thought that they were joining friends, and wholly +unsuspicious of anything to the contrary, rode on with the three men +some little distance; but their perfidy was abruptly discovered by +their suddenly turning upon Meigs with a call for his surrender. It +has been claimed that, refusing to submit, he fired on the +treacherous party, but the statement is not true, for one of the +topographers escaped--the other was captured--and reported a few +minutes later at my headquarters that Meigs was killed without +resistance of any kind whatever, and without even the chance to give +himself up. This man was so cool, and related all the circumstances +of the occurrence with such exactness, as to prove the truthfulness +of his statement. The fact that the murder had been committed inside +our lines was evidence that the perpetrators of the crime, having +their homes in the vicinity, had been clandestinely visiting them, +and been secretly harbored by some of the neighboring residents. +Determining to teach a lesson to these abettors of the foul deed--a +lesson they would never forget--I ordered all the houses within an +area of five miles to be burned. General Custer, who had succeeded +to the command of the Third Cavalry division (General Wilson having +been detailed as chief of cavalry to Sherman's army), was charged +with this duty, and the next morning proceeded to put the order into +execution. The prescribed area included the little village of +Dayton, but when a few houses in the immediate neighborhood of the +scene of the murder had been burned, Custer was directed to cease his +desolating work, but to fetch away all the able-bodied males as +prisoners. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +REASONS FOR NOT PURSUING EARLY THROUGH THE BLUE RIDGE--GENERAL +TORBERT DETAILED TO GIVE GENERAL ROSSER A "DRUBBING"--GENERAL ROSSER +ROUTED--TELEGRAPHED TO MEET STANTON--LONGSTREET'S MESSAGE--RETURN TO +WINCHESTER--THE RIDE TO CEDAR CREEK--THE RETREATING ARMY--RALLYING +THE TROOPS--REFORMING THE LINE--COMMENCING THE ATTACK--DEFEAT OF THE +CONFEDERATES--APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR ARMY--RESULTS +OF THE BATTLE. + +While we lay in camp at Harrisonburg it became necessary to decide +whether or not I would advance to Brown's Gap, and, after driving the +enemy from there, follow him through the Blue Ridge into eastern +Virginia. Indeed, this question began to cause me solicitude as soon +as I knew Early had escaped me at New Market, for I felt certain that +I should be urged to pursue the Confederates toward Charlottesville +and Gordonsville, and be expected to operate on that line against +Richmond. For many reasons I was much opposed to such a plan, but +mainly because its execution would involve the opening of the Orange +and Alexandria railroad. To protect this road against the raids of +the numerous guerrilla bands that infested the region through which +it passed, and to keep it in operation, would require a large force +of infantry, and would also greatly reduce my cavalry; besides, I +should be obliged to leave a force in the valley strong enough to +give security to the line of the upper Potomac and the Baltimore and +Ohio railroad, and this alone would probably take the whole of +Crook's command, leaving me a wholly inadequate number of fighting +men to prosecute a campaign against the city of Richmond. Then, too, +I was in doubt whether the besiegers could hold the entire army at +Petersburg; and in case they could not, a number of troops sufficient +to crush me might be detached by Lee, moved rapidly by rail, and, +after overwhelming me, be quickly returned to confront General Meade. +I was satisfied, moreover, that my transportation could not supply me +further than Harrisonburg, and if in penetrating the Blue Ridge I met +with protracted resistance, a lack of supplies might compel me to +abandon the attempt at a most inopportune time. + +I therefore advised that the Valley campaign be terminated north of +Staunton, and I be permitted to return, carrying out on the way my +original instructions for desolating the Shenandoah country so as to +make it untenable for permanent occupation by the Confederates. I +proposed to detach the bulk of my army when this work of destruction +was completed, and send it by way of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad +through Washington to the Petersburg line, believing that I could +move it more rapidly by that route than by any other. I was +confident that if a movement of this character could be made with +celerity it would culminate in the capture of Richmond and possibly +of General Lee's army, and I was in hopes that General Grant would +take the same view of the matter; but just at this time he was so +pressed by the Government and by public-opinion at the North, that he +advocated the wholly different conception of driving Early into +eastern Virginia, and adhered to this plan with some tenacity. +Considerable correspondence regarding the subject took place between +us, throughout which I stoutly maintained that we should not risk, by +what I held to be a false move, all that my army had gained. I being +on the ground, General Grant left to me the final decision of the +question, and I solved the first step by determining to withdraw down +the valley at least as far as Strasburg, which movement was begun on +the 6th of October. + +The cavalry as it retired was stretched across the country from the +Blue Ridge to the eastern slope of the Alleghanies, with orders to +drive off all stock and destroy all supplies as it moved northward. +The infantry preceded the cavalry, passing down the Valley pike, and +as we marched along the many columns of smoke from burning stacks, +and mills filled with grain, indicated that the adjacent country was +fast losing the features which hitherto had made it a great magazine +of stores for the Confederate armies. + +During the 6th and 7th of October, the enemy's horse followed us up, +though at a respectful distance. This cavalry was now under command +of General T. W. Rosser, who on October 5 had joined Early with an +additional brigade from Richmond. As we proceeded the Confederates +gained confidence, probably on account of the reputation with which +its new commander had been heralded, and on the third day's march had +the temerity to annoy my rear guard considerably. Tired of these +annoyances, I concluded to open the enemy's eyes in earnest, so that +night I told Torbert I expected him either to give Rosser a drubbing +next morning or get whipped himself, and that the infantry would be +halted until the affair was over; I also informed him that I proposed +to ride out to Round Top Mountain to see the fight. When I decided +to have Rosser chastised, Merritt was encamped at the foot of Round +Top, an elevation just north of Tom's Brook, and Custer some six +miles farther north and west, near Tumbling Run. In the night Custer +was ordered to retrace his steps before daylight by the Back road, +which is parallel to and about three miles from the Valley pike, and +attack the enemy at Tom's Brook crossing, while Merritt's +instructions were to assail him on the Valley pike in concert with +Custer. About 7 in the morning, Custer's division encountered Rosser +himself with three brigades, and while the stirring sounds of the +resulting artillery duel were reverberating through the valley +Merritt moved briskly to the front and fell upon Generals Lomax and +Johnson on the Valley pike. Merritt, by extending his right, quickly +established connection with Custer, and the two divisions moved +forward together under Torbert's direction, with a determination to +inflict on the enemy the sharp and summary punishment his rashness +had invited. + +The engagement soon became general across the valley, both sides +fighting mainly mounted. For about two hours the contending lines +struggled with each other along Tom's Brook, the charges and counter +charges at many points being plainly visible from the summit of Round +Top, where I had my headquarters for the time. + +The open country permitting a sabre fight, both sides seemed bent on +using that arm. In the centre the Confederates maintained their +position with much stubbornness, and for a time seemed to have +recovered their former spirit, but at last they began to give way on +both flanks, and as these receded, Merritt and Custer went at the +wavering ranks in a charge along the whole front. The result was a +general smash-up of the entire Confederate line, the retreat quickly +degenerating into a rout the like of which was never before seen. +For twenty-six miles this wild stampede kept up, with our troopers +close at the enemy's heels; and the ludicrous incidents of the chase +never ceased to be amusing topics around the camp-fires of Merritt +and Custer. In the fight and pursuit Torbert took eleven pieces of +artillery, with their caissons, all the wagons and ambulances the +enemy had on the ground, and three hundred prisoners. Some of +Rosser's troopers fled to the mountains by way of Columbia Furnace, +and some up the Valley pike and into the Massamitten Range, +apparently not discovering that the chase had been discontinued till +south of Mount Jackson they rallied on Early's infantry. + +After this catastrophe, Early reported to General Lee that his +cavalry was so badly demoralized that it should be dismounted; and +the citizens of the valley, intensely disgusted with the boasting and +swaggering that had characterized the arrival of the "Laurel Brigade" +in that section, baptized the action (known to us as Tom's Brook) the +"Woodstock Races," and never tired of poking fun at General Rosser +about his precipitate and inglorious flight. (When Rosser arrived +from Richmond with his brigade he was proclaimed as the savior of the +Valley, and his men came all bedecked with laurel branches.) + +On the 10th my army, resuming its retrograde movement, crossed to the +north side of Cedar Creek. The work of repairing the Manassas Gap +branch of the Orange and Alexandria railroad had been begun some days +before, out from Washington, and, anticipating that it would be in +readiness to transport troops by the time they could reach Piedmont, +I directed the Sixth Corps to continue its march toward Front Royal, +expecting to return to the Army of the Potomac by that line. By the +12th, however, my views regarding the reconstruction of this railroad +began to prevail, and the work on it was discontinued. The Sixth +Corps, therefore, abandoned that route, and moved toward Ashby's Gap +with the purpose of marching direct to Washington, but on the 13th I +recalled it to Cedar Creek, in consequence of the arrival of the +enemy's infantry at Fisher's Hill, and the receipt, the night before, +of the following despatch, which again opened the question of an +advance on Gordonsville and Charlottesville: + + +(Cipher.) +"WASHINGTON, October 12, 1864, 12 M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN: + +"Lieutenant-General Grant wishes a position taken far enough south to +serve as a base for further operations upon Gordonsville and +Charlottesville. It must be strongly fortified and provisioned. +Some point in the vicinity of Manassas Gap would seem best suited for +all purposes. Colonel Alexander, of the Engineers, will be sent to +consult with you as soon as you connect with General Augur. + +"H. W. HALLECK, Major-General." + + +As it was well known in Washington that the views expressed in the +above despatch were counter to my convictions, I was the next day +required by the following telegram from Secretary Stanton to repair +to that city: + + +"WASHINGTON, October 13, 1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN +(through General Augur) + +"If you can come here, a consultation on several points is extremely +desirable. I propose to visit General Grant, and would like to see +you first. + +"EDWIN M. STANTON, +"Secretary of War." + + +I got all ready to comply with the terms of Secretary Stanton's +despatch, but in the meantime the enemy appeared in my front in +force, with infantry and cavalry, and attacked Colonel Thoburn, who +had been pushed out toward Strasburg from Crook's command, and also +Custer's division of cavalry on the Back road. As afterward +appeared, this attack was made in the belief that all of my troops +but Crook's had gone to Petersburg. From this demonstration there +ensued near Hupp's Hill a bitter skirmish between Kershaw and +Thoburn, and the latter was finally compelled to withdraw to the +north bank of Cedar Creek. Custer gained better results, however, on +the Back road, with his usual dash driving the enemy's cavalry away +from his front, Merritt's division then joining him and remaining on +the right. + +The day's events pointing to a probability that the enemy intended to +resume the offensive, to anticipate such a contingency I ordered the +Sixth Corps to return from its march toward Ashby's Gap. It reached +me by noon of the 14th, and went into position to the right and rear +of the Nineteenth Corps, which held a line along the north bank of +Cedar Creek, west of the Valley pike. Crook was posted on the left +of the Nineteenth Corps and east of the Valley pike, with Thoburn's +division advanced to a round hill, which commanded the junction of +Cedar Creek and the Shenandoah River, while Torbert retained both +Merritt and Custer on the right of the Sixth Corps, and at the +same time covered with Powell the roads toward Front Royal. My +head-quarters were at the Belle Grove House, which was to the west of +the pike and in rear of the Nineteenth Corps. It was my intention to +attack the enemy as soon as the Sixth Corps reached me, but General +Early having learned from his demonstration that I had not detached as +largely as his previous information had led him to believe, on the +night of the 13th withdrew to Fisher's Hill; so, concluding that he +could not do us serious hurt from there, I changed my mind as to +attacking, deciding to defer such action till I could get to +Washington, and come to some definite understanding about my future +operations. + +To carry out this idea, on the evening of the 15th I ordered all of +the cavalry under General Torbert to accompany me to Front Royal, +again intending to push it thence through Chester Gap to the Virginia +Central railroad at Charlottesville, to destroy the bridge over the +Rivanna River, while I passed through Manassas Gap to Rectortown, and +thence by rail to Washington. On my arrival with the cavalry near +Front Royal on the 16th, I halted at the house of Mrs. Richards, on +the north bank of the river, and there received the following +despatch and inclosure from General Wright, who had been left in +command at Cedar Creek: + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY Division, +"October 16, 1864. + +"GENERAL: + +"I enclose you despatch which explains itself. If the enemy should +be strongly reenforced in cavalry, he might, by turning our right, +give us a great deal of trouble. I shall hold on here until the +enemy's movements are developed, and shall only fear an attack on my +right, which I shall make every preparation for guarding against and +resisting. + +"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +"H. G. WRIGHT, Major-General Commanding. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Middle Military Division." + + +[INCLOSURE.] "To LIEUTENANT-GENERAL EARLY: + +"Be ready to move as soon as my forces join you, and we will crush +Sheridan. + +"LONGSTREET, Lieutenant-General." + + +The message from Longstreet had been taken down as it was being +flagged from the Confederate signal-station on Three Top Mountain, +and afterward translated by our signal officers, who knew the +Confederate signal code. I first thought it a ruse, and hardly worth +attention, but on reflection deemed it best to be on the safe side, +so I abandoned the cavalry raid toward Charlottesville, in order to +give General Wright the entire strength of the army, for it did not +seem wise to reduce his numbers while reinforcement for the enemy +might be near, and especially when such pregnant messages were +reaching Early from one of the ablest of the Confederate generals. +Therefore I sent the following note to General Wright: + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +"Front Royal, October 16, 1864. + +"GENERAL: The cavalry is all ordered back to you; make your position +strong. If Longstreet's despatch is true, he is under the impression +that we have largely detached. I will go over to Augur, and may get +additional news. Close in Colonel Powell, who will be at this point. +If the enemy should make an advance, I know you will defeat him. +Look well to your ground and be well prepared. Get up everything +that can be spared. I will bring up all I can, and will be up on +Tuesday, if not sooner. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT, +"Commanding Sixth Army Corps." + + +At 5 o'clock on the evening of the 16th I telegraphed General Halleck +from Rectortown, giving him the information which had come to me from +Wright, asking if anything corroborative of it had been received from +General Grant, and also saying that I would like to see Halleck; the +telegram ending with the question: "Is it best for me to go to see +you?" Next morning I sent back to Wright all the cavalry except one +regiment, which escorted me through Manassas Gap to the terminus of +the railroad from Washington. I had with me Lieutenant-Colonel James +W. Forsyth, chief-of-staff, and three of my aides, Major George A. +Forsyth, Captain Joseph O'Keefe, and Captain Michael V. Sheridan. I +rode my black horse, Rienzi, and the others their own respective +mounts. + +Before leaving Cedar Creek I had fixed the route of my return to be +by rail from Washington to Martinsburg, and thence by horseback to +Winchester and Cedar Creek, and had ordered three hundred cavalry to +Martinsburg to escort me from that point to the front. At Rectortown +I met General Augur, who had brought a force out from Washington to +reconstruct and protect the line of railroad, and through him +received the following reply from General Halleck: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"WASHINGTON, D.C., October 16 1864 + +"To MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, +"Rectortown, Va. + +General Grant says that Longstreet brought with him no troops from +Richmond, but I have very little confidence in the information +collected at his headquarters. If you can leave your command with +safety, come to Washington, as I wish to give you the views of the +authorities here. + +"H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +In consequence of the Longstreet despatch, I felt a concern about my +absence which I could hardly repress, but after duly considering what +Halleck said, and believing that Longstreet could not unite with +Early before I got back, and that even if he did Wright would be able +to cope with them both, I and my staff, with our horses, took the +cars for Washington, where we arrived on the morning of the 17th at +about 8 o'clock. I proceeded at an early hour to the War Department, +and as soon as I met Secretary Stanton, asked him for a special train +to be ready at 12 o'clock to take me to Martinsburg, saying that in +view of existing conditions I must get back to my army as quickly as +possible. He at once gave the order for the train, and then the +Secretary, Halleck, and I proceeded to hold a consultation in regard +to my operating east of the Blue Ridge. The upshot was that my views +against such a plan were practically agreed to, and two engineer +officers were designated to return with me for the purpose of +reporting on a defensive line in the valley that could be held while +the bulk of my troops were being detached to Petersburg. Colonel +Alexander and Colonel Thom both of the Engineer Corps, reported to +accompany me, and at 12 o'clock we took the train. + +We arrived about dark at Martinsburg, and there found the escort of +three hundred men which I had ordered before leaving Cedar Creek. We +spent that night at Martinsburg, and early next morning mounted and +started up the Valley pike for Winchester, leaving Captain Sheridan +behind to conduct to the army the Commissioners whom the State of New +York had sent down to receive the vote of her troops in the coming +Presidential election. Colonel Alexander was a man of enormous +weight, and Colonel Thom correspondingly light, and as both were +unaccustomed to riding we had to go slowly, losing so much time, in +fact, that we did not reach Winchester till between 3 and 4 o'clock +in the afternoon, though the distance is but twenty-eight miles. As +soon as we arrived at Colonel Edwards's headquarters in the town, +where I intended stopping for the night, I sent a courier to the +front to bring me a report of the condition of affairs, and then took +Colonel Alexander out on the heights about Winchester, in order that +he might overlook the country, and make up his mind as to the utility +of fortifying there. By the time we had completed our survey it was +dark, and just as we reached Colonel Edwards's house on our return a +courier came in from Cedar Creek bringing word that everything was +all right, that the enemy was quiet at Fisher's Hill, and that a +brigade of Grover's division was to make a reconnoissance in the +morning, the 19th, so about 10 o'clock I went to bed greatly +relieved, and expecting to rejoin my headquarters at my leisure next +day. + +Toward 6 o'clock the morning of the 19th, the officer on picket duty +at Winchester came to my room, I being yet in bed, and reported +artillery firing from the direction of Cedar Creek. I asked him if +the firing was continuous or only desultory, to which he replied that +it was not a sustained fire, but rather irregular and fitful. I +remarked: "It's all right; Grover has gone out this morning to make a +reconnoissance, and he is merely feeling the enemy." I tried to go to +sleep again, but grew so restless that I could not, and soon got up +and dressed myself. A little later the picket officer came back and +reported that the firing, which could be distinctly heard from his +line on the heights outside of Winchester, was still going on. I +asked him if it sounded like a battle, and as he again said that it +did not, I still inferred that the cannonading was caused by Grover's +division banging away at the enemy simply to find out what he was up +to. However, I went down-stairs and requested that breakfast be +hurried up, and at the same time ordered the horses to be saddled and +in readiness, for I concluded to go to the front before any further +examinations were made in regard to the defensive line. + +We mounted our horses between half-past 8 and 9, and as we were +proceeding up the street which leads directly through Winchester, +from the Logan residence, where Edwards was quartered, to the Valley +pike, I noticed that there were many women at the windows and doors +of the houses, who kept shaking their skirts at us and who were +otherwise markedly insolent in their demeanor, but supposing this +conduct to be instigated by their well-known and perhaps natural +prejudices, I ascribed to it no unusual significance. On reaching +the edge of the town I halted a moment, and there heard quite +distinctly the sound of artillery firing in an unceasing roar. +Concluding from this that a battle was in progress, I now felt +confident that the women along the street had received intelligence +from the battle, field by the "grape-vine telegraph," and were in +raptures over some good news, while I as yet was utterly ignorant of +the actual situation. Moving on, I put my head down toward the +pommel of my saddle and listened intently, trying to locate and +interpret the sound, continuing in this position till we had crossed +Mill Creek, about half a mile from Winchester. The result of my +efforts in the interval was the conviction that the travel of the +sound was increasing too rapidly to be accounted for by my own rate +of motion, and that therefore my army must be falling back. + +At Mill Creek my escort fell in behind, and we were going ahead at a +regular pace, when, just as we made the crest of the rise beyond the +stream, there burst upon our view the appalling spectacle of a +panic-stricken army-hundreds of slightly wounded men, throngs of others +unhurt but utterly demoralized, and baggage-wagons by the score, all +pressing to the rear in hopeless confusion, telling only too plainly +that a disaster had occurred at the front. On accosting some of the +fugitives, they assured me that the army was broken up, in full +retreat, and that all was lost; all this with a manner true to that +peculiar indifference that takes possession of panic-stricken men. I +was greatly disturbed by the sight, but at once sent word to Colonel +Edwards commanding the brigade in Winchester, to stretch his troops +across the valley, near Mill Creek, and stop all fugitives, directing +also that the transportation be, passed through and parked on the north +side of the town. + +As I continued at a walk a few hundred yards farther, thinking all +the time of Longstreet's telegram to Early, "Be ready when I join +you, and we will crush Sheridan," I was fixing in my mind what I +should do. My first thought was too stop the army in the suburbs of +Winchester as it came back, form a new line, and fight there; but as +the situation was more maturely considered a better conception +prevailed. I was sure the troops had confidence in me, for +heretofore we had been successful; and as at other times they had +seen me present at the slightest sign of trouble or distress, I felt +that I ought to try now to restore their broken ranks, or, failing in +that, to share their fate because of what they had done hitherto. + +About this time Colonel Wood, my chief commissary, arrived from the +front and gave me fuller intelligence, reporting that everything was +gone, my headquarters captured, and the troops dispersed. When I +heard this I took two of my aides-de-camp, Major. George A. Forsyth +and Captain Joseph O'Keefe, and with twenty men from the escort +started for the front, at the same time directing Colonel James W. +Forsyth and Colonels Alexander and Thom to remain behind and do what +they could to stop the runaways. + +For a short distance I traveled on the road, but soon found it so +blocked with wagons and wounded men that my progress was impeded, and +I was forced to take to the adjoining fields to make haste. When +most of the wagons and wounded were past I returned to the road, +which was thickly lined with unhurt men, who, having got far enough +to the rear to be out of danger, had halted, without any +organization, and begun cooking coffee, but when they saw me they +abandoned their coffee, threw up their hats, shouldered their +muskets, and as I passed along turned to follow with enthusiasm and +cheers. To acknowledge this exhibition of feeling I took off my hat, +and with Forsyth and O'Keefe rode some distance in advance of my +escort, while every mounted officer who saw me galloped out on either +side of the pike to tell the men at a distance that I had come back. +In this way the news was spread to the stragglers off the road, when +they, too, turned their faces to the front and marched toward the +enemy, changing in a moment from the depths of depression, to the +extreme of enthusiasm. I already knew that even in the ordinary +condition of mind enthusiasm is a potent element with soldiers, but +what I saw that day convinced me that if it can be excited from a +state of despondency its power is almost irresistible. I said +nothing except to remark as I rode among those on the road: "If I had +been, with you this morning this disaster would not have happened. +We must face the other way; we will go back and recover our camp." + +My first halt was made just north of Newtown, where I met a chaplain +digging his heels into the sides of his jaded horse, and making for +the rear with all possible speed. I drew up for an instant, and +inquired of him how matters were going at the front. He replied, +"Everything is lost; but all will be right when you get there"; yet +notwithstanding this expression of confidence in me, the parson at +once resumed his breathless pace to the rear. At Newtown I was +obliged to make a circuit to the left, to get round the village. I +could not pass through it, the streets were so crowded, but meeting +on this detour Major McKinley, of Crook's staff, he spread the news +of my return through the motley throng there. + +When nearing the Valley pike, just south of Newtown I saw about +three-fourths of a mile west of the pike a body of troops, which +proved to be Ricketts's and Wheaton's divisions of the Sixth Corps, +and then learned that the Nineteenth Corps had halted a little to the +right and rear of these; but I did not stop, desiring to get to the +extreme front. Continuing on parallel with the pike, about midway +between Newtown and Middletown I crossed to the west of it, and a +little later came up in rear of Getty's division of the Sixth Corps. +When I arrived, this division and the cavalry were the only troops in +the presence of and resisting the enemy; they were apparently acting +as a rear-guard at a point about three miles north of the line we +held at Cedar Creek when the battle began. General Torbert was the +first officer to meet me, saying as he rode up, "My God! I am glad +you've come." Getty's division, when I found it, was about a mile +north of Middletown, posted on the reverse slope of some slightly +rising ground, holding a barricade made with fence-rails, and +skirmishing slightly with the enemy's pickets. Jumping my horse over +the line of rails, I rode to the crest of the elevation, and there +taking off my hat, the men rose up from behind their barricade with +cheers of recognition. An officer of the Vermont brigade, Colonel A. +S. Tracy, rode out to the front, and joining me, informed me that +General Louis A. Grant was in command there, the regular division +commander, General Getty, having taken charge of the Sixth Corps in +place of Ricketts, wounded early in the action, while temporarily +commanding the corps. I then turned back to the rear of Getty's +division, and as I came behind it, a line of regimental flags rose up +out of the ground, as it seemed, to welcome me. They were mostly the +colors of Crook's troops, who had been stampeded and scattered in the +surprise of the morning. The color-bearers, having withstood the +panic, had formed behind the troops of Getty. The line with the +colors was largely composed of officers, among whom I recognized +Colonel R. B. Hayes, since president of the United States, one of the +brigade commanders. At the close of this incident I crossed the +little narrow valley, or depression, in rear of Getty's line, and +dismounting on the opposite crest, established that point as my +headquarters. In a few minutes some of my staff joined me, and the +first directions I gave were to have the Nineteenth Corps and the two +divisions of Wright's corps brought to the front, so they could be +formed on Getty's division, prolonged to the right; for I had already +decided to attack the enemy from that line as soon as I could get +matters in shape to take the offensive. Crook met me at this time, +and strongly favored my idea of attacking, but said, however, that +most of his troops were gone. General Wright came up a little later, +when I saw that he was wounded, a ball having grazed the point of his +chin so as to draw the blood plentifully. + +Wright gave me a hurried account of the day's events, and when told +that we would fight the enemy on the line which Getty and the cavalry +were holding, and that he must go himself and send all his staff to +bring up the troops, he zealously fell in with the scheme; and it was +then that the Nineteenth Corps and two divisions of the Sixth were +ordered to the front from where they had been halted to the right and +rear of Getty. + +After this conversation I rode to the east of the Valley pike and to +the left of Getty's division, to a point from which I could obtain a +good view of the front, in the mean time sending Major Forsyth to +communicate with Colonel Lowell (who occupied a position close in +toward the suburbs of Middletown and directly in front of Getty's +left) to learn whether he could hold on there. Lowell replied that +he could. I then ordered Custer's division back to the right flank, +and returning to the place where my headquarters had been established +I met near them Ricketts's division under General Keifer and General +Frank Wheaton's division, both marching to the front. When the men +of these divisions saw me they began cheering and took up the double +quick to the front, while I turned back toward Getty's line to point +out where these returning troops should be placed. Having done this, +I ordered General Wright to resume command of the Sixth Corps, and +Getty, who was temporarily in charge of it, to take command of his +own division. A little later the Nineteenth Corps came up and was +posted between the right of the Sixth Corps and Middle Marsh Brook. + +All this had consumed a great deal of time, and I concluded to visit +again the point to the east of the Valley pike, from where I had +first observed the enemy, to see what he was doing. Arrived there, I +could plainly see him getting ready for attack, and Major Forsyth now +suggested that it would be well to ride along the line of battle +before the enemy assailed us, for although the troops had learned of +my return, but few of them had seen me. Following his suggestion I +started in behind the men, but when a few paces had been taken I +crossed to the front and, hat in hand, passed along the entire length +of the infantry line; and it is from this circumstance that many of +the officers and men who then received me with such heartiness have +since supposed that that was my first appearance on the field. But +at least two hours had elapsed since I reached the ground, for it was +after mid-day, when this incident of riding down the front took +place, and I arrived not later, certainly, than half-past 10 o'clock. + +After re-arranging the line and preparing to attack I returned again +to observe the Confederates, who shortly began to advance on us. The +attacking columns did not cover my entire front, and it appeared that +their onset would be mainly directed against the Nineteenth Corps, +so, fearing that they might be too strong for Emory on account of his +depleted condition (many of his men not having had time to get up +from the rear), and Getty's division being free from assault I +transferred a part of it from the extreme left to the support of the +Nineteenth Corps. The assault was quickly repulsed by Emory, +however, and as the enemy fell back Getty's troops were returned to +their original place. This repulse of the Confederates made me feel +pretty safe from further offensive operations on their part, and I +now decided to suspend the fighting till my thin ranks were further +strengthened by the men who were continually coming up from the rear, +and particularly till Crook's troops could be assembled on the +extreme left. + +In consequence of the despatch already mentioned, "Be ready when I +join you, and we will crush Sheridan," since learned to have been +fictitious, I had been supposing all day that Longstreet's troops +were present, but as no definite intelligence on this point had been +gathered, I concluded, in the lull that now occurred, to ascertain +something positive regarding Longstreet; and Merritt having been +transferred to our left in the morning, I directed him to attack an +exposed battery then at the edge of Middletown, and capture some +prisoners. Merritt soon did this work effectually, concealing his +intention till his troops got close in to the enemy, and then by a +quick dash gobbling up a number of Confederates. When the prisoners +were brought in, I learned from them that the only troops of +Longstreet's in the fight were of Kershaw's division, which had +rejoined Early at Brown's Gap in the latter part of September, and +that the rest of Longstreet's corps was not on the field. The +receipt of this information entirely cleared the way for me to take +the offensive, but on the heels of it came information that +Longstreet was marching by the Front Royal pike to strike my rear at +Winchester, driving Powell's cavalry in as he advanced. This renewed +my uneasiness, and caused me to delay the general attack till after +assurances came from Powell denying utterly the reports as to +Longstreet, and confirming the statements of the prisoners. + +Between half-past and 4 o'clock, I was ready to assail, and decided +to do so by advancing my infantry line in a swinging movement, so as +to gain the Valley pike with my right between Middletown and the +Belle Grove House; and when the order was passed along, the men +pushed steadily forward with enthusiasm and confidence. General +Early's troops extended some little distance beyond our right, and +when my flank neared the overlapping enemy, he turned on it, with the +effect of causing a momentary confusion, but General McMillan quickly +realizing the danger, broke the Confederates at the reentering angle +by a counter charge with his brigade, doing his work so well that the +enemy's flanking troops were cut off from their main body and left to +shift for themselves. Custer, who was just then moving in from the +west side of Middle Marsh Brook, followed McMillan's timely blow with +a charge of cavalry, but before starting out on it, and while his men +were forming, riding at full speed himself, to throw his arms around +my neck. By the time he had disengaged himself from this embrace, +the troops broken by McMillan had gained some little distance to +their rear, but Custer's troopers sweeping across the Middletown +meadows and down toward Cedar Creek, took many of them prisoners +before they could reach the stream--so I forgave his delay. + +My whole line as far as the eye could see was now driving everything +before it, from behind trees, stone walls, and all such sheltering +obstacles, so I rode toward the left to ascertain how matters were +getting on there. As I passed along behind the advancing troops, +first General Grover, and then Colonel Mackenzie, rode up to welcome +me. Both were severely wounded, and I told them to leave the field, +but they implored permission to remain till success was certain. +When I reached the Valley pike Crook had reorganized his men, and as +I desired that they should take part in the fight, for they were the +very same troops that had turned Early's flank at Winchester and at +Fisher's Hill, I ordered them to be pushed forward; and the alacrity +and celerity with which they moved on Middletown demonstrated that +their ill-fortune of the morning had not sprung from lack of valor. + +Meanwhile Lowell's brigade of cavalry, which, it will be remembered, +had been holding on, dismounted, just north of Middletown ever since +the time I arrived from Winchester, fell to the rear for the purpose +of getting their led horses. A momentary panic was created in the +nearest brigade of infantry by this withdrawal of Lowell, but as soon +as his men were mounted they charged the enemy clear up to the stone +walls in the edge of Middletown; at sight of this the infantry +brigade renewed its attack, and the enemy's right gave way. The +accomplished Lowell received his death-wound in this courageous +charge. + +All our troops were now moving on the retreating Confederates, and as +I rode to the front Colonel Gibbs, who succeeded Lowell, made ready +for another mounted charge, but I checked him from pressing the +enemy's right, in the hope that the swinging attack from my right +would throw most of the Confederates to the east of the Valley pike, +and hence off their line of retreat through Strasburg to Fisher's +Hill. The eagerness of the men soon frustrated this anticipation, +however, the left insisting on keeping pace with the centre and +right, and all pushing ahead till we regained our old camps at Cedar +Creek. Beyond Cedar Creek, at Strasburg, the pike makes a sharp turn +to the west toward Fisher's Hill, and here Merritt uniting with +Custer, they together fell on the flank of the retreating columns, +taking many prisoners, wagons, and guns, among the prisoners being +Major-General Ramseur, who, mortally wounded, died the next day. + +When the news of the victory was received, General Grant directed a +salute of one hundred shotted guns to be fired into Petersburg, and +the President at once thanked the army in an autograph letter. A few +weeks after, he promoted me, and I received notice of this in a +special letter from the Secretary of War, saying: + +"--that for the personal gallantry, military skill, and just confidence +in the courage and patriotism of your troops, displayed by you on the +19th day of October at Cedar Run, whereby, under the blessing of +Providence, your routed army was reorganized, a great National +disaster averted, and a brilliant victory achieved over the rebels +for the third time in pitched battle within thirty days, Philip H. +Sheridan is appointed a major-general in the United States Army." + +The direct result of the battle was the recapture of all the +artillery, transportation, and camp equipage we had lost, and in +addition twenty-four pieces of the enemy's artillery, twelve hundred +prisoners, and a number of battle-flags. But more still flowed from +this victory, succeeding as it did the disaster of the morning, for +the reoccupation of our old camps at once re-established a morale +which for some hours had been greatly endangered by ill-fortune. + +It was not till after the battle that I learned fully what had taken +place before my arrival, and then found that the enemy, having +gathered all the strength he could through the return of +convalescents and other absentees, had moved quietly from Fisher's +Hill, in the night of the 18th and early on the morning of the 19th, +to surprise my army, which, it should be remembered, was posted on +the north bank of Cedar Creek, Crook holding on the left of the +Valley pike, with Thoburn's division advanced toward the creek on +Duval's (under Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes) and Kitching's +provisional divisions to the north and rear of Thoburn. The +Nineteenth Corps was on the right of Crook, extending in a +semi-circular line from the pike nearly to Meadow Brook, while the +Sixth Corps lay to the west of the brook in readiness to be used as a +movable column. Merritt's division was to the right and rear of the +Sixth Corps, and about a mile and a half west of Merrit was Custer +covering the fords of Cedar Creek as far west as the Middle road. + +General Early's plan was for one column under General Gordon, +consisting of three divisions of infantry (Gordon's, Ramseur's, and +Pegram's), and Payne's brigade of cavalry to cross the Shenandoah +River directly east of the Confederate works at Fisher's Hill, march +around the northerly face of the Massanutten Mountain, and again +cross the Shenandoah at Bowman's and McInturff's fords. Payne's task +was to capture me at the Belle Grove House. General Early himself, +with Kershaw's and Wharton's divisions, was to move through +Strasburg, Kershaw, accompanied by Early, to cross Cedar Creek at +Roberts's ford and connect with Gordon, while Wharton was to continue +on the Valley pike to Hupp's Hill and join the left of Kershaw, when +the crossing of the Valley pike over Cedar Creek became free. + +Lomax's cavalry, then in the Luray Valley, was ordered to join the +right of Gordon on the field of battle, while Rosser was to carry the +crossing of Cedar Creek on the Back road and attack Custer. Early's +conceptions were carried through in the darkness with little accident +or delay, Kershaw opening the fight by a furious attack on Thoburn's +division, while at dawn and in a dense fog Gordon struck Crook's +extreme left, surprising his pickets, and bursting into his camp with +such suddenness as to stampede Crook's men. Gordon directing his +march on my headquarters (the Belle Grove House), successfully turned +our position as he gained the Valley pike, and General Wright was +thus forced to order the withdrawal of the Nineteenth Corps from its +post at the Cedar Creek crossing, and this enabled Wharton to get +over the stream there unmolested and join Kershaw early in the +action. + +After Crook's troops had been driven from their camps, General Wright +endeavored to form a line with the Sixth Corps to hold the Valley +pike to the left of the Nineteenth, but failing in this he ordered +the withdrawal of the latter corps, Ricketts, temporarily commanding +the Sixth Corps, checking Gordon till Emory had retired. As already +stated, Wharton was thus permitted to cross Cedar Creek on the pike, +and now that Early had a continuous line, he pressed his advantage so +vigorously that the whole Union army was soon driven from its camps +in more or less disorder; and though much disjointed resistance was +displayed, it may be said that no systematic stand was made until +Getty's division, aided by Torbert's cavalry, which Wright had +ordered to the left early in the action, took up the ground where, on +arriving from Winchester, I found them. + +When I left my command on the 16th, little did I anticipate that +anything like this would happen. Indeed, I felt satisfied that Early +was, of himself, too weak to take the offensive, and although I +doubted the Longstreet despatch, yet I was confident that, even +should it prove true, I could get back before the junction could be +made, and at the worst I felt certain that my army was equal to +confronting the forces of Longstreet and Early combined. Still, the +surprise of the morning might have befallen me as well as the general +on whom it did descend, and though it is possible that this could +have been precluded had Powell's cavalry been closed in, as suggested +in my despatch from Front Royal, yet the enemy's desperation might +have prompted some other clever and ingenious scheme for relieving +his fallen fortunes in the Shenandoah Valley. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GENERAL EARLY REORGANIZES HIS FORCES--MOSBY THE GUERRILLA--GENERAL +MERRITT SENT TO OPERATE AGAINST MOSBY--ROSSER AGAIN ACTIVE--GENERAL +CUSTER SURPRISED--COLONEL YOUNG SENT TO CAPTURE GILMORE THE +GUERRILLA--COLONEL YOUNG'S SUCCESS--CAPTURE OF GENERAL KELLY AND +GENERAL CROOK--SPIES--WAS WILKES BOOTH A SPY?--DRIVING THE +CONFEDERATES OUT OF THE VALLEY--THE BATTLE OF WAYNESBORO'--MARCHING +TO JOIN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. + +Early's broken army practically made no halt in its retreat after the +battle of Cedar-Creek until it reached New Market, though at Fisher's +Hill was left a small rear-guard of cavalry, which hastily decamped, +however, when charged by Gibbs's brigade on the morning of the 20th. +Between the date of his signal defeat and the 11th of November, the +enemy's scattered forces had sufficiently reorganized to permit his +again making a reconnoissance in the valley as far north as Cedar +Creek, my army having meanwhile withdrawn to Kernstown, where it had +been finally decided that a defensive line should be held to enable +me to detach troops to General Grant, and where, by reconstructing +the Winchester and Potomac railroad from Stephenson's depot to +Harper's Ferry, my command might be more readily, supplied. Early's +reconnoissance north of Cedar Creek ended in a rapid withdrawal of +his infantry after feeling my front, and with the usual ill-fortune +to his cavalry; Merritt and Custer driving Rosser and Lomax with ease +across Cedar Creek on the Middle and Back roads, while Powell's +cavalry struck McCausland near Stony Point, and after capturing two +pieces of artillery and about three hundred officers and men chased +him into the Luray Valley. + +Early got back to New Market on the 14th of November, and, from lack +of subsistence, being unable to continue demonstrations to prevent my +reinforcement of General Grant, began himself to detach to General +Lee by returning Kershaw's division to Petersburg, as was definitely +ascertained by Torbert in a reconnoissance to Mount Jackson. At this +time General Grant wished me to send him the Sixth Corps, and it was +got ready for the purpose, but when I informed him that Torbert's +reconnoissance had developed the fact that Early still retained four +divisions of infantry and one of cavalry, it was decided, on my +suggestion, to let the Sixth Corps remain till the season should be a +little further advanced, when the inclemency of the weather would +preclude infantry campaigning. These conditions came about early in +December, and by the middle of the month the whole of the Sixth Corps +was at Petersburg; simultaneously with its transfer to that line +Early sending his Second Corps to Lee. + +During the entire campaign I had been annoyed by guerrilla bands +under such partisan chiefs as Mosby, White, Gilmore, McNeil, and +others, and this had considerably depleted my line-of-battle +strength, necessitating as it did large, escorts for my +supply-trains. The most redoubtable of these leaders was Mosby, whose +force was made up from the country around Upperville, east of the Blue +Ridge, to which section he always fled for a hiding-place when he +scented danger. I had not directed any special operations against +these partisans while the campaign was active, but as Mosby's men had +lately killed, within my lines, my chief quartermaster, Colonel Tolles, +and Medical Inspector Ohlenchlager, I concluded to devote particular +attention to these "irregulars" during the lull that now occurred; so +on the 28th of November, I directed General Merritt to march to the +Loudoun Valley and operate against Mosby, taking care to clear the +country of forage and subsistence, so as to prevent the guerrillas from +being harbored there in the future their destruction or capture being +well-nigh impossible, on account of their intimate knowledge of the +mountain region. Merritt carried out his instructions with his usual +sagacity and thoroughness, sweeping widely over each side of his +general line of march with flankers, who burned the grain and brought +in large herds of cattle, hogs and sheep, which were issued to the +troops. + +While Merritt was engaged in this service the Baltimore and Ohio +railroad once more received the attention of the enemy; Rosser, with +two brigades of cavalry, crossing the Great North Mountain, capturing +the post of New Creek, with about five hundred prisoners and seven +guns, destroying all the supplies of the garrison, and breaking up +the railroad track. This slight success of the Confederates in West +Virginia, and the intelligence that they were contemplating further +raids in that section, led me to send, Crook there with one division, +his other troops going to City Point; and, I hoped that all the +threatened places would thus be sufficiently protected, but +negligence at Beverly resulted in the capture of that station by +Rosser on the 11th of January. + +In the meanwhile, Early established himself with Wharton's division +at Staunton in winter quarters, posting his cavalry in that +neighborhood also, except a detachment at New Market, and another +small one at the signal-station on Three Top Mountain. The winter was +a most severe one, snow falling frequently to the depth of several +inches, and the mercury often sinking below zero. The rigor of the +season was very much against the success of any mounted operations, +but General Grant being very desirous to have the railroads broken up +about Gordonsville and Charlottesville, on the 19th of December I +started the cavalry out for that purpose, Torbert, with Merritt and +Powell, marching through Chester Gap, while Custer moved toward +Staunton to make a demonstration in Torbert's favor, hoping to hold +the enemy's troops in the valley. Unfortunately, Custer did not +accomplish all that was expected of him, and being surprised by +Rosser and Payne near Lacy's Springs before reveille, had to abandon +his bivouac and retreat down the valley, with the loss of a number of +prisoners, a few horses, and a good many horse equipments, for, +because of the suddenness of Rosser's attack, many of the men had no +time to saddle up. As soon as Custer's retreat was assured, +Wharton's division of infantry was sent to Charlottesville to check +Torbert, but this had already been done by Lomax, with the assistance +of infantry sent up from Richmond. Indeed, from the very beginning +of the movement the Confederates had been closely observing the +columns of Torbert and Custer, and in consequence of the knowledge +thus derived, Early had marched Lomax to Gordonsville in anticipation +of an attack there, at the same time sending Rosser down the valley +to meet Custer. Torbert in the performance of his task captured two +pieces of artillery from Johnson's and McCausland's brigades, at +Liberty Mills on the Rapidan River, but in the main the purpose of +the raid utterly failed, so by the 27th of December he returned, +many, of his men badly frost-bitten from the extreme cold which had +prevailed. + +This expedition practically closed all operations for the season, and +the cavalry was put into winter cantonment near Winchester. The +distribution of my infantry to Petersburg and West Virginia left with +me in the beginning of the new year, as already stated, but the one +small division of the Nineteenth Corps. On account of this +diminution of force, it became necessary for me to keep thoroughly +posted in regard to the enemy, and I now realized more than I had +done hitherto how efficient my scouts had become since under the +control of Colonel Young; for not only did they bring me almost every +day intelligence from within Early's lines, but they also operated +efficiently against the guerrillas infesting West Virginia. + +Harry Gilmore, of Maryland, was the most noted of these since the +death of McNeil, and as the scouts had reported him in Harrisonburg +the latter part of January, I directed two of the most trustworthy to +be sent to watch his movements and ascertain his purposes. In a few +days these spies returned with the intelligence that Gilmore was on +his way to Moorefield, the centre of a very disloyal section in West +Virginia, about ninety miles southwest of Winchester, where, under +the guise of a camp-meeting, a gathering was to take place, at which +he expected to enlist a number of men, be joined by a party of about +twenty recruits coming from Maryland, and then begin depredations +along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Believing that Gilmore might +be captured, I directed Young to undertake the task, and as a +preliminary step he sent to Moorefield two of his men who early in +the war had "refugeed" from that section and enlisted in one of the +Union regiments from West Virginia. In about a week these men came +back and reported that Gilmore was living at a house between three +and four miles from Moorefield, and gave full particulars as to his +coming and going, the number of men he had about there and where they +rendezvoused. + +With this knowledge at hand I directed Young to take twenty of his +best men and leave that night for Moorefield, dressed in Confederate +uniforms, telling him that I would have about three hundred cavalry +follow in his wake when he had got about fifteen miles start, and +instructing him to pass his party off as a body of recruits for +Gilmore coming from Maryland and pursued by the Yankee cavalry. I +knew this would allay suspicion and provide him help on the road; +and, indeed, as Colonel Whittaker, who alone knew the secret, +followed after the fleeing "Marylanders," he found that their advent +had caused so little remark that the trail would have been lost had +he not already known their destination. Young met with a hearty, +welcome wherever he halted on the way, and as he passed through the +town of Moorefield learned with satisfaction that Gilmore still made +his headquarters at the house where the report of the two scouts had +located him a few days before. Reaching the designated place about +12 o'clock on the night of the 5th of February, Young, under the +representation that he had come directly from Maryland and was being +pursued by the Union cavalry, gained immediate access to Gilmore's +room. He found the bold guerrilla snugly tucked in bed, with two +pistols lying on a chair near by. He was sleeping so soundly that to +arouse him Young had to give him a violent shake. As he awoke and +asked who was disturbing his slumbers, Young, pointing at him a +cocked six-shooter, ordered him to dress without delay, and in answer +to his inquiry, informed him that he was a prisoner to one of +Sheridan's staff. Meanwhile Gilmore's men had learned of his +trouble, but the early appearance of Colonel Whittaker caused them to +disperse; thus the last link between Maryland and the Confederacy was +carried a prisoner to Winchester, whence he was sent to Fort Warren. + +The capture of Gilmore caused the disbandment of the party he had +organized at the "camp-meeting," most of the men he had recruited +returning to their homes discouraged, though some few joined the +bands of Woodson and young Jesse McNeil, which, led by the latter, +dashed into Cumberland, Maryland, at 3 O'clock on the morning of the +21st of February and made a reprisal by carrying off General Crook +and General Kelly, and doing their work so silently and quickly that +they escaped without being noticed, and were some distance on their +way before the colored watchman at the hotel where Crook was +quartered could compose himself enough to give the alarm. A troop of +cavalry gave hot chase from Cumberland, striving to intercept the +party at Moorefield and other points, but all efforts were fruitless, +the prisoners soon being beyond reach. + +Although I had adopted the general rule of employing only soldiers as +scouts, there was an occasional exception to it. I cannot say that +these exceptions proved wholly that an ironclad observance of the +rule would have been best, but I am sure of it in one instance. A +man named Lomas, who claimed to be a Marylander, offered me his +services as a spy, and coming highly recommended from Mr. Stanton, +who had made use of him in that capacity, I employed him. He made +many pretensions, often appearing over anxious to impart information +seemingly intended to impress me with his importance, and yet was +more than ordinarily intelligent, but in spite of that my confidence +in him was by no means unlimited. I often found what he reported to +me as taking place within the Confederate lines corroborated by +Young's men, but generally there were discrepancies in his tales, +which led me to suspect that he was employed by the enemy as well as +by me. I felt, however, that with good watching he could do me +little harm, and if my suspicions were incorrect he might be very +useful, so I held on to him. + +Early in February Lomas was very solicitous for me to employ a man +who, he said, had been with Mosby, but on account of some quarrel in +the irregular camp had abandoned that leader. Thinking that with two +of them I might destroy the railroad bridges east of Lynchburg, I +concluded, after the Mosby man had been brought to my headquarters by +Lomas about 12 o'clock one night, to give him employment, at the same +time informing Colonel Young that I suspected their fidelity, +however, and that he must test it by shadowing their every movement. +When Lomas's companion entered my room he was completely disguised, +but on discarding the various contrivances by which his identity was +concealed he proved to be a rather slender, dark-complexioned, +handsome young man, of easy address and captivating manners. He gave +his name as Renfrew, answered all my questions satisfactorily, and +went into details about Mosby and his men which showed an intimacy +with them at some time. I explained to the two men the work I had +laid out for them, and stated the sum of money I would give to have +it done, but stipulated that in case of failure there would be no +compensation whatever beyond the few dollars necessary for their +expenses. They readily assented, and it was arranged that they +should start the following night. Meanwhile Young had selected his +men to shadow them, and in two days reported my spies as being +concealed at Strasburg, where they remained, without making the +slightest effort to continue on their mission, and were busy, no +doubt, communicating with the enemy, though I was not able to fasten +this on them. On the 16th of February they returned to Winchester, +and reported their failure, telling so many lies about their +hazardous adventure as to remove all remaining doubt as to their +double-dealing. Unquestionably they were spies from the enemy, and +hence liable to the usual penalties of such service; but it struck me +that through them, I might deceive Early as to the time of opening +the spring campaign, I having already received from General Grant an +intimation of what was expected of me. I therefore retained the men +without even a suggestion of my knowledge of their true character, +Young meanwhile keeping close watch over all their doings. + +Toward the last of February General Early had at Staunton two +brigades of infantry under Wharton. All the rest of the infantry +except Echol's brigade, which was in southwestern Virginia, had been +sent to Petersburg during the winter, and Fitz. Lee's two brigades of +cavalry also. Rosser's men were mostly at their homes, where, on +account of a lack of subsistence and forage in the valley, they had +been permitted to go, subject to call. Lomax's cavalry was at +Millboro, west of Staunton, where supplies were obtainable. It was +my aim to get well on the road before Early could collect these +scattered forces, and as many of the officers had been in the habit +of amusing themselves fox-hunting during the latter part of the +winter, I decided to use the hunt as an expedient for stealing a +march on the enemy, and had it given out officially that a grand +fox-chase would take place on the 29th of February. Knowing that +Lomas, and Renfrew would spread the announcement South, they were +permitted to see several red foxes that had been secured, as well as a +large pack of hounds which Colonel Young had collected for the sport, +and were then started on a second expedition to burn the bridges. Of +course, they were shadowed as usual, and two days later, after they had +communicated with friends from their hiding-place, in Newtown, they +were arrested. On the way north to Fort Warren they escaped from their +guards when passing through Baltimore, and I never heard of them again, +though I learned that, after the assassination of, Mr. Lincoln, +Secretary Stanton strongly suspected his friend Lomas of being +associated with the conspirators, and it then occurred to me that the +good-looking Renfrew may have been Wilkes Booth, for he certainly bore +a strong resemblance to Booth's pictures. + +On the 27th of February my cavalry entered upon the campaign which +cleared the Shenandoah Valley of every remnant of organized +Confederates. General Torbert being absent on leave at this time, I +did not recall him, but appointed General Merritt Chief of Cavalry. +for Torbert had disappointed me on two important occasions--in the +Luray Valley during the battle of Fisher's Hill, and on the recent +Gordonsville expedition--and I mistrusted his ability to conduct any +operations requiring much self-reliance. The column was composed of +Custer's and Devin's divisions of cavalry, and two sections of +artillery, comprising in all about 10,000 officers and men. On +wheels we had, to accompany this column, eight ambulances, sixteen +ammunition wagons, a pontoon train for eight canvas boats, and a +small supply-train, with fifteen days' rations of coffee, sugar, and +salt, it being intended to depend on the country for the meat and +bread ration, the men carrying in their haversacks nearly enough to +subsist them till out of the exhausted valley. + +Grant's orders were for me to destroy the Virginia Central railroad +and the James River canal, capture Lynchburg if practicable, and then +join General Sherman in North Carolina wherever he might be found, or +return to Winchester, but as to joining Sherman I was to be governed +by the state of affairs after the projected capture of Lynchburg. +The weather was cold, the valley and surrounding mountains being +still covered with snow; but this was fast disappearing, however, +under the heavy rain that was coming down as the column moved along +up the Valley pike at a steady gait that took us to Woodstock the +first day. The second day we crossed the North Fork of the +Shenandoah on our pontoon-bridge, and by night-fall reached Lacy's +Springs, having seen nothing of the enemy as yet but a few partisans +who hung on our flanks in the afternoon. + +March 1 we encountered General Rosser at Mt. Crawford, he having been +able to call together only some five or six hundred of his troops, +our unsuspected march becoming known to Early only the day before. +Rosser attempted to delay us here, trying to burn the bridges over +the Middle Fork of the Shenandoah, but two regiments from Colonel +Capehart's brigade swam the stream and drove Rosser to Kline's Mills, +taking thirty prisoners and twenty ambulances and wagons. + +Meanwhile General Early was busy at Staunton, but not knowing my +objective point, he had ordered the return of Echol's brigade from +southwestern Virginia for the protection of Lynchburg, directed +Lomax's cavalry to concentrate at Pond Gap for the purpose of +harassing me if I moved toward Lynchburg, and at the same time +marched Wharton's two brigades of infantry, Nelson's artillery, and +Rosser's cavalry to Waynesboro', whither he went also to remain till +the object of my movement was ascertained. + +I entered Staunton the morning of March 2, and finding that Early had +gone to Waynesboro' with his infantry and Rosser, the question at +once arose whether I should continue my march to Lynchburg direct, +leaving my adversary in my rear, or turn east and open the way +through Rockfish Gap to the Virginia Central railroad and James River +canal. I felt confident of the success of the latter plan, for I +knew that Early numbered there not more than two thousand men; so, +influenced by this, and somewhat also by the fact that Early had left +word in Staunton that he would fight at Waynesboro', I directed +Merritt to move toward that place with Custer, to be closely followed +by Devin, who was to detach one brigade to destroy supplies at +Swoope's depot. The by-roads were miry beyond description, rain +having fallen almost incessantly since we left Winchester, but +notwithstanding the down-pour the column pushed on, men and horses +growing almost unrecognizable from the mud covering them from head to +foot. + +General Early was true to the promise made his friends in Staunton, +for when Custer neared Waynesboro' he found, occupying a line of +breastworks on a ridge west of the town, two brigades of infantry, +with eleven pieces of artillery and Rosser's cavalry. Custer, when +developing the position of the Confederates, discovered that their +left was somewhat exposed instead of resting on South River; he +therefore made his dispositions for attack, sending around that flank +the dismounted regiments from Pennington's brigade, while he himself, +with two brigades, partly mounted and partly dismounted, assaulted +along the whole line of breastworks. Pennington's flanking movement +stampeded the enemy in short order, thus enabling Custer to carry the +front with little resistance, and as he did so the Eighth New York +and First Connecticut, in a charge in column, broke through the +opening made by Custer, and continued on through the town of +Waynesboro', never stopping till they crossed South River. There, +finding themselves immediately in the enemy's rear, they promptly +formed as foragers and held the east bank of the stream till all the +Confederates surrendered except Rosser, who succeeded in making his +way back to the valley, and Generals Early, Wharton, Long, and +Lilley, who, with fifteen or twenty men, escaped across the Blue +Ridge. I followed up the victory immediately by despatching Capehart +through Rock-fish Gap, with orders to encamp on the east side of the +Blue Ridge. By reason of this move all the enemy's stores and +transportation fell into our hands, while we captured on the field +seventeen battle flags, sixteen hundred officers and men, and eleven +pieces of artillery. This decisive victory closed hostilities in the +Shenandoah Valley. The prisoners and artillery were sent back to +Winchester next morning, under a guard of 1,500 men, commanded by +Colonel J. H. Thompson, of the First New Hampshire. + +The night of March 2 Custer camped at Brookfield, Devin remaining at +Waynesboro'. The former started for Charlottesville the next morning +early, followed by Devin with but two brigades, Gibbs having been +left behind to blow up the iron railroad bridge across South River. +Because of the incessant rains and spring thaws the roads were very +soft, and the columns cut them up terribly, the mud being thrown by +the sets of fours across the road in ridges as much as two feet high, +making it most difficult to get our wagons along, and distressingly +wearing on the animals toward the middle and rear of the columns. +Consequently I concluded to rest at Charlottesville for a couple of +days and recuperate a little, intending at the same time to destroy, +with small parties, the railroad from that point toward Lynchburg. +Custer reached Charlottesville the 3d, in the afternoon, and was met +at the outskirts by a deputation of its citizens, headed by the +mayor, who surrendered the town with medieval ceremony, formally +handing over the keys of the public buildings and of the University +of Virginia. But this little scene did not delay Custer long enough +to prevent his capturing, just beyond the village, a small body of +cavalry and three pieces of artillery. Gibbs's brigade, which was +bringing up my mud-impeded train, did not arrive until the 5th of +March. In the mean time Young's scouts had brought word that the +garrison of Lynchburg was being increased and the fortifications +strengthened, so that its capture would be improbable. I decided, +however, to move toward the place as far as Amherst Court House, +which is sixteen miles short of the town, so Devin, under Merritt's +supervision, marched along the James River, destroying the canal, +while Custer pushed ahead on the railroad and broke it up. The two +columns were to join at New Market, whence I intended to cross the +James River at some point east of Lynchburg, if practicable, so as to +make my way to Appomattox Court House, and destroy the Southside +railroad as far east as Farmville. Owing to its swollen condition +the river was unfordable but knowing that there was a covered bridge +at Duguidsville, I hoped to secure it by a dash, and cross there, but +the enemy, anticipating this, had filled the bridge with inflammable +material, and just as our troops got within striking distance it +burst into flames. The bridge at Hardwicksville also having been +burned by the enemy, there was now no means of crossing except by +pontoons. But, unfortunately, I had only eight of these, and they +could not be made to span the swollen river. + +Being thus unable to cross until the river should fall, and knowing +that it was impracticable to join General Sherman, and useless to +adhere to my alternative instructions to return to Winchester, I now +decided to destroy still more thoroughly the James River canal and +the Virginia Central railroad and then join General Grant in front of +Petersburg. I was master of the whole country north of the James as +far down as Goochland; hence the destruction of these arteries of +supply could be easily compassed, and feeling that the war was +nearing its end, I desired my cavalry to be in at the death. + +On March 9 the main column started eastward down the James River, +destroying locks, dams, and boats, having been preceded by Colonel +Fitzhugh's brigade of Devin's division in a forced march to Goochland +and Beaver Dam Creek, with orders to destroy everything below +Columbia. I made Columbia on the 10th, and from there sent a +communication to General Grant reporting what had occurred, informing +him of my condition and intention, asking him to send forage and +rations to meet me at the White House, and also a pontoon-bridge to +carry me over the Pamunkey, for in view of the fact that hitherto it +had been impracticable to hold Lee in the trenches around Petersburg, +I regarded as too hazardous a march down the south bank of the +Pamunkey, where the enemy, by sending troops out from Richmond, might +fall upon my flank and rear. It was of the utmost importance that +General Grant should receive these despatches without chance of +failure, in order that I might, depend absolutely on securing +supplies at the White House; therefore I sent the message in +duplicate, one copy overland direct to City Point by two scouts, +Campbell and Rowan, and the other by Fannin and Moore, who were to go +down the James River in a small boat to Richmond, join the troops in +the trenches in front of Petersburg, and, deserting to the Union +lines, deliver their tidings into General Grant's hands. Each set of +messengers got through, but the copy confided to Campbell and Rowan +was first at Grant's headquarters. + +I halted for one day at Columbia to let my trains catch up, for it +was still raining and the mud greatly delayed the teams, fatiguing +and wearying the mules so much that I believe we should have been +forced to abandon most of the wagons except for the invaluable help +given by some two thousand negroes who had attached themselves to the +column: they literally lifted the wagons out of the mud. From +Columbia Merritt, with Devin's division, marched to Louisa Court +House and destroyed the Virginia Central to Frederick's Hall. +Meanwhile Custer was performing similar work from Frederick's Hall to +Beaver Dam Station, and also pursued for a time General Early, who, +it was learned from despatches captured in the telegraph office at +Frederick's Hall, was in the neighborhood with a couple of hundred +men. Custer captured some of these men and two of Early's +staff-officers, but the commander of the Valley District, accompanied +by a single orderly, escaped across the South Anna and next day made +his way to Richmond, the last man of the Confederate army that had so +long contended with us in the Shenandoah Valley. + +At Frederick's Hall, Young's scouts brought me word from Richmond +that General Longstreet was assembling a force there to prevent my +junction with Grant, and that Pickett's division, which had been sent +toward Lynchburg to oppose my march, and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, were +moving east on the Southside railroad, with the object of +circumventing me. Reasoning that Longstreet could interpose +effectually only by getting to the White House ahead of me, I pushed +one column under Custer across the South Anna, by way of Ground +Squirrel bridge, to Ashland, where it united with Merritt, who had +meanwhile marched through Hanover Junction. Our appearance at +Ashland drew the Confederates out in that direction, as was hoped, +so, leaving Colonel Pennington's brigade there to amuse them, the +united command retraced its route to Mount Carmel church to cross the +North Anna. After dark Pennington came away, and all the troops +reached the church by midnight of the 15th. + +Resuming the march at an early hour next morning, we took the road by +way of King William Court House to the White House, where, arriving +on the 18th, we found, greatly to our relief, the supplies which I +had requested to be sent there. In the meanwhile the enemy had +marched to Hanover Court House, but being unable either to cross the +Pamunkey there or forestall me at the White House on the south side +of the river, he withdrew to Richmond without further effort to +impede my column. + +The hardships of this march far exceeded those of any previous +campaigns by the cavalry. Almost incessant rains had drenched us for +sixteen days and nights, and the swollen streams and well-nigh +bottomless roads east of Staunton presented grave difficulties on +every hand, but surmounting them all, we destroyed the enemy's means +of subsistence, in quantities beyond computation, and permanently +crippled the Virginia Central railroad, as well as the James River +canal, and as each day brought us nearer the Army of the Potomac, all +were filled with the comforting reflection that our work in the +Shenandoah Valley had been thoroughly done, and every one was buoyed +up by the cheering thought that we should soon take part in the final +struggle of the war. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +TRANSFERRED TO PETERSBURG--GENERAL RAWLINS CORDIAL WELCOME--GENERAL +GRANT's ORDERS AND PLANS--A TRIP WITH MR. LINCOLN AND GENERAL GRANT +--MEETING GENERAL SHERMAN--OPPOSED TO JOINING THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE +--OPENING OF THE APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGN--GENERAL GRANT AND GENERAL RAWLINS. + +The transfer of my command from the Shenandoah Valley to the field of +operations in front of Petersburg was not anticipated by General +Grant; indeed, the despatch brought from Columbia by my scouts, +asking that supplies be sent me at the White House, was the first +word that reached him concerning the move. In view of my message the +general-in-chief decided to wait my arrival before beginning spring +operations with the investing troops south of the James River, for he +felt the importance of having my cavalry at hand in a campaign which +he was convinced would wind up the war. We remained a few days at +the White House resting and refitting the cavalry, a large amount of +shoeing being necessary; but nothing like enough horses were at hand +to replace those that had died or been disabled on the mud march from +Staunton to the Pamunkey River, so a good many of the men were still +without mounts, and all such were sent by boat to the dismounted camp +near City Point. When all was ready the column set out for Hancock +Station, a point on the military railroad in front of Petersburg, and +arriving there on the 27th of March, was in orders reunited with its +comrades of the Second Division, who had been serving with the Army +of the Potomac since we parted from them the previous August. +General Crook, who had been exchanged within a few days, was now in +command of this Second Division. The reunited corps was to enter +upon the campaign as a separate army, I reporting directly to General +Grant; the intention being thus to reward me for foregoing, of my own +choice, my position as a department commander by joining the armies +at Petersburg. + +Taking the road across the Peninsula, I started from the White House +with Merritt's column on the 25th of March and encamped that night at +Harrison's Landing. Very early next morning, in conformity with a +request from General Grant, I left by boat for City Point, Merritt +meanwhile conducting the column across the James River to the point +of rendezvous, The trip to City Point did not take long, and on +arrival at army headquarters the first person I met was General John +A. Rawlins, General Grant's chief-of-staff. Rawlins was a man of +strong likes and dislikes, and positive always both in speech and +action, exhibiting marked feelings when greeting any one, and on this +occasion met me with much warmth. His demonstrations of welcome +over, we held a few minutes' conversation about the coming campaign, +he taking strong ground against a part of the plan of operations +adopted, namely, that which contemplated my joining General Sherman's +army. His language was unequivocal and vehement, and when he was +through talking, he conducted me to General Grant's quarters, but he +himself did not enter. + +General Grant was never impulsive, and always met his officers in an +unceremonious way, with a quiet "How are you" soon putting one at his +ease, since the pleasant tone in which he spoke gave assurance of +welcome, although his manner was otherwise impassive. When the +ordinary greeting was over, he usually waited for his visitor to open +the conversation, so on this occasion I began by giving him the +details of my march from Winchester, my reasons for not joining +Sherman, as contemplated in my instructions, and the motives which +had influenced me to march to the White House. The other provision +of my orders on setting out from Winchester--the alternative return +to that place--was not touched upon, for the wisdom of having ignored +that was fully apparent. Commenting on this recital of my doings, +the General referred only to the tortuous course of my march from +Waynesboro' down, our sore trials, and the valuable services of the +scouts who had brought him tidings of me, closing with the remark +that it was, rare a department commander voluntarily deprived himself +of independence, and added that I should not suffer for it. Then +turning to the business for which he had called me to City Point, he +outlined what he expected me to do; saying that I was to cut loose +from the Army of the Potomac by passing its left flank to the +southward along the line of the Danville railroad, and after crossing +the Roanoke River, join General Sherman. While speaking, he handed +me a copy of a general letter of instructions that had been drawn up +for the army on the 24th. The letter contained these words +concerning the movements of my command: + +"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now under +General Davies, will move at the same time (29th inst.) by the Weldon +road and the Jerusalem plank-road, turning west from the latter +before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column before +reaching Stony Creek. General Sheridan will then move independently +under other instructions which will be given him. All dismounted +cavalry belonging to the Army of the Potomac, and the dismounted +cavalry from the Middle Military Division not required for guarding +property belonging to their arm of the service, will report to +Brigadier-General Benham to be added to the defenses of City Point." + +When I had gone over the entire letter I showed plainly that I was +dissatisfied with it, for, coupled with what the General had outlined +orally, which I supposed was the "other instructions," I believed it +foreshadowed my junction with General Sherman. Rawlins thought so +too, as his vigorous language had left no room to doubt, so I +immediately began to offer my objections to the programme. These +were, that it would be bad policy to send me down to the Carolinas +with a part of the Army of the Potomac, to come back to crush Lee +after the destruction of General Johnston's army; such a course would +give rise to the charge that his own forces around Petersburg were +not equal to the task, and would seriously affect public opinion in +the North; that in fact my cavalry belonged to the Army of the +Potomac, which army was able unaided to destroy Lee, and I could not +but oppose any dispersion of its strength. + +All this was said in a somewhat emphatic manner, and when I had +finished he quietly told me that the portion of my instructions from +which I so strongly dissented was intended as a "blind" to cover any +check the army in its general move, to the left might meet with, and +prevent that element in the North which held that the war could be +ended only through negotiation, from charging defeat. The fact that +my cavalry was not to ultimately join Sherman was a great relief to +me, and after expressing the utmost confidence in the plans unfolded +for closing the war by directing every effort to the annihilation of +Lee's army, I left him to go to General Ingalls's quarters. On the +way I again met Rawlins, who, when I told him that General Grant had +intimated his intention to modify the written plan of operations so +far as regarded the cavalry, manifested the greatest satisfaction, +and I judged from this that the new view of the matter had not +previously been communicated to the chief-of-staff, though he must +have been acquainted of course with the programme made out on the +24th of March. + +Toward noon General Grant sent for me to accompany him up the river. +When I joined the General he informed me that the President was on +board the boat--the steamer Mary Martin. For some days Mr. Lincoln +had been at City Point, established on the steamer River Queen, +having come down from Washington to be nearer his generals, no doubt, +and also to be conveniently situated for the reception of tidings +from the front when operations began, for he could not endure the +delays in getting news to Washington. This trip up the James had +been projected by General Meade, but on account of demands at the +front he could not go, so the President, General Grant, and I +composed the party. We steamed up to where my cavalry was crossing +on the pontoon-bridge below the mouth of the Dutch Gap canal, and for +a little while watched the column as it was passing over the river, +the bright sunshine presaging good weather, but only to delude, as +was proved by the torrents of rain brought by the succeeding days of +March. On the trip the President was not very cheerful. In fact, he +was dejected, giving no indication of his usual means of diversion, +by which (his quaint stories) I had often heard he could find relief +from his cares. He spoke to me of the impending operations and asked +many questions, laying stress upon the one, "What would be the result +when the army moved out to the left, if the enemy should come down +and capture City Point?" the question being prompted, doubtless, by +the bold assault on our lines and capture of Fort Steadman two days +before by General Gordon. I answered that I did not think it at all +probable that General Lee would undertake such a desperate measure to +relieve the strait he was in; that General Hartranft's successful +check to Gordon had ended, I thought, attacks of such a character; +and in any event General Grant would give Lee all he could attend to +on the left. Mr. Lincoln said nothing about my proposed route of +march, and I doubt if he knew of my instructions, or was in +possession at most of more than a very general outline of the plan of +campaign. It was late when the Mary Martin returned to City Point, +and I spent the night there with General Ingalls. + +The morning of the 27th I went out to Hancock Station to look after +my troops and prepare for moving two days later. In the afternoon I +received a telegram from General Grant, saying: "General Sherman will +be here this evening to spend a few hours. I should like to have you +come down." Sherman's coming was a surprise--at least to me it was +--this despatch being my first intimation of his expected arrival. +Well knowing the zeal and emphasis with which General Sherman would +present his views, there again came into my mind many misgivings with +reference to the movement of the cavalry, and I made haste to start +for Grant's headquarters. I got off a little after 7 o'clock, taking +the rickety military railroad, the rails of which were laid on the +natural surface of the ground, with grading only here and there at +points of absolute necessity, and had not gone far when the +locomotive jumped the track. This delayed my arrival at City Point +till near midnight, but on repairing to the little cabin that +sheltered the general-in-chief, I found him and Sherman still up +talking over the problem whose solution was near at hand. As already +stated, thoughts as to the tenor of my instructions became uppermost +the moment I received the telegram in the afternoon, and they +continued to engross and disturb me all the way down the railroad, +for I feared that the telegram foreshadowed, under the propositions +Sherman would present, a more specific compliance with the written +instructions than General Grant had orally assured me would be +exacted. + +My entrance into the shanty suspended the conversation for a moment +only, and then General Sherman, without prelude, rehearsed his plans +for moving his army, pointing out with every detail how he would come +up through the Carolinas to join the troops besieging Petersburg and +Richmond, and intimating that my cavalry, after striking the +Southside and Danville railroads, could join him with ease. I made +no comments on the projects for moving, his own troops, but as soon +as opportunity offered, dissented emphatically from the proposition +to have me join the Army of the Tennessee, repeating in substance +what I had previously expressed to General Grant. + +My uneasiness made me somewhat too earnest, I fear, but General Grant +soon mollified me, and smoothed matters over by practically repeating +what he had told me in regard to this point at the close of our +interview the day before, so I pursued the subject no further. In a +little while the conference ended, and I again sought lodging at the +hospitable quarters of Ingalls. + +Very early the next morning, while I was still in bed, General +Sherman came to me and renewed the subject of my joining him, but +when he saw that I was unalterably opposed to it the conversation +turned into other channels, and after we had chatted awhile he +withdrew, and later in the day went up the river with the President, +General Grant, and Admiral Porter, I returning to my command at +Hancock Station, where my presence was needed to put my troops in +march next day. + +During the entire winter General Grant's lines fronting Petersburg +had extended south of the Appomattox River, practically from that +stream around to where the Vaughn road crosses Hatcher's Run, and +this was nearly the situation Wilien the cavalry concentrated at +Hancock Station, General Weitzel holding the line north of the +Appomattox, fronting Richmond and Bermuda Hundred. + +The instructions of the 24th of March contemplated that the campaign +should begin with the movement of Warren's corps (the Fifth) at +3 o'clock on the morning of the 29th, and Humphreys's (the Second) at +6; the rest of the infantry holding on in the trenches. The cavalry +was to move in conjunction with Warren and Humphreys, and make its +way out beyond our left as these corps opened the road. + +The night of the 28th I received the following additional +instructions, the general tenor of which again disturbed me, for +although I had been assured that I was not to join General Sherman, +it will be seen that the supplemental directions distinctly present +that alternative, and I therefore feared that during the trip up the +James River on the morning of the 28th General Grant had returned to +his original views: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"City Point, Va., March 28, 1865. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN: + +"The Fifth Army Corps will move by the Vaughn road at 3 A.M. +tomorrow morning. The Second moves at about 9 A.M., having but about +three miles to march to reach the point designated for it to take on +the right of the Fifth Corps, after the latter reaches Dinwiddie +Court House. + +"Move your cavalry at as early an hour as you can, and without being +confined to any particular road or roads. You may go out by the +nearest roads in rear of the Fifth Corps, pass by its left, and +passing near to or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the +enemy as soon as you can. It is not the intention to attack the +enemy in his intrenched position, but to force him out if possible. +Should he come out and attack us, or get himself where he can be +attacked, move in with your entire force in your own way, and with +the full reliance that the army will engage or follow the enemy, as +circumstances will dictate. I shall be on the field, and will +probably be able to communicate with you; should I not do so, and you +find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched line, you may +cut loose and push for the Danville road. If you find it practicable +I would like you to cross the Southside road, between Petersburg and +Burkeville, and destroy it to some extent. I would not advise much +detention, however, until you reach the Danville road, which I would +like you to strike as near to the Appomattox as possible; make your +destruction of that road as complete as possible; you can then pass +on to the Southside road, west of Burkeville, and destroy that in +like manner. + +"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, +which are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may +return to this army, selecting your road farther south, or you may go +on into North Carolina and join General Sherman. Should you select +the latter course, get the information to me as early as possible, so +that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." + + +These instructions did not alter my line of march for the morrow, and +I trusted matters would so come about as not to require compliance +with those portions relative to the railroads and to joining Sherman; +so early on the 29th I moved my cavalry out toward Ream's Station on +the Weldon road, Devin commanding the First Division, with Colonels +Gibbs, Stagg, and Fitzhugh in charge of the brigades; the Third +Division under Custer, Colonels Wells, Capehart and Pennington being +the brigade commanders. These two divisions united were commanded by +Merritt, as they had been since leaving Winchester. Crook headed the +Second Division, his brigades being under General Davies and Colonels +John I. Gregg and Smith. + +Our general direction was westward, over such routes as could be +found, provided they did not embarrass the march of the infantry. +The roads, from the winter's frosts and rains, were in a frightful +state, and when it was sought to avoid a spot which the head of the +column had proved almost bottomless, the bogs and quicksands of the +adjoining fields demonstrated that to make a detour was to go from +bad to worse. In the face of these discouragements we floundered on, +however, crossing on the way a series of small streams swollen to +their banks. Crook and Devin reached the county-seat of Dinwiddie +about 5 o'clock in the evening, having encountered only a small +picket, that at once gave way to our advance. Merritt left Custer at +Malon's crossing of Rowanty Creek to care for the trains containing +our subsistence and the reserve ammunition, these being stuck in the +mire at, intervals all the way back to the Jerusalem plank-road; and +to make any headway at all with the trains, Custer's men often had to +unload the wagons and lift them out of the boggy places. + +Crook and Devin camped near Dinwiddie Court House in such manner as +to cover the Vaughn, Flatfoot, Boydton, and Five Forks roads; for, as +these all intersected at Dinwiddie, they offered a chance for the +enemy's approach toward the rear of the Fifth Corps, as Warren +extended to the left across the Boydton road. Any of these routes +leading to the south or west might also be the one on which, in +conformity with one part of my instructions, I was expected to get +out toward the Danville and Southside railroads, and the Five Forks +road would lead directly to General Lee's right flank, in case +opportunity was found to comply with the other part. The place was, +therefore, of great strategic value, and getting it without cost +repaid us for floundering through the mud. + +Dinwiddie Court House, though a most important point in the campaign, +was far from attractive in feature, being made up of a half-dozen +unsightly houses, a ramshackle tavern propped up on two sides with +pine poles, and the weatherbeaten building that gave official name to +the cross-roads. We had no tents--there were none in the command--so +I took possession of the tavern for shelter for myself and staff, and +just as we had finished looking over its primitive interior a rain +storm set in. + +The wagon containing my mess equipment was back somewhere on the +road, hopelessly stuck in the mud, and hence we had nothing to eat +except some coffee which two young women living at the tavern kindly +made for us; a small quantity of the berry being furnished from the +haversacks of my escort. By the time we got the coffee, rain was +falling in sheets, and the evening bade fair to be a most dismal one; +but songs and choruses set up by some of my staff--the two young +women playing accompaniments on a battered piano--relieved the +situation and enlivened us a little. However, the dreary night +brought me one great comfort; for General Grant, who that day had +moved out to Gravelly Run, sent me instructions to abandon all idea +of the contemplated raid, and directed me to act in concert with the +infantry under his immediate command, to turn, if possible, the right +flank of Lee's army. The despatch made my mind easy with respect to +the objectionable feature of my original instructions, and of course +relieved me also from the anxiety growing out of the letter received +at Hancock Station the night of the 28th; so, notwithstanding the +suspicions excited by some of my staff concerning the Virginia +feather-bed that had been assigned me, I turned in at a late hour and +slept most soundly. + +The night of the 29th the left of General Grant's infantry--Warren's +corps--rested on the Boydton road, not far from its intersection with +the Quaker road. Humphreys's corps was next to Warren; then came +Ord, next Wright, and then Parke, with his right resting on the +Appomattox. The moving of Warren and Humphreys to the left during +the day was early discovered by General Lee. He met it by extending +the right of his infantry on the White Oak road, while drawing in the +cavalry of W. H. F. Lee and Rosser along the south bank of Stony +Creek to cover a crossroads called Five Forks, to anticipate me +there; for assuming that my command was moving in conjunction with +the infantry, with the ultimate purpose of striking the Southside +railroad, Lee made no effort to hold Dinwiddie, which he might have +done with his cavalry, and in this he made a fatal mistake. The +cavalry of Fitz. Lee was ordered at this same time from Sunderland +depot to Five Forks, and its chief placed in command of all the +mounted troops of General Lee's army. + +At daylight on the 30th I proceeded to make dispositions under the +new conditions imposed by my modified instructions, and directed +Merritt to push Devin out as far as the White Oak road to make a +reconnoissance to Five Forks, Crook being instructed to send Davies's +brigade to support Devin. Crook was to hold, with Gregg's brigade, +the Stony Creek crossing of the Boydton plank road, retaining Smith's +near Dinwiddie, for use in any direction required. On the 29th W. H. +F. Lee conformed the march of his cavalry with that of ours, but my +holding Stony Creek in this way forced him to make a detour west of +Chamberlin's Run, in order to get in communication with his friends +at Five Forks. + +The rain that had been falling all night gave no sign of stopping, +but kept pouring down all day long, and the swamps and quicksands +mired the horses, whether they marched in the roads or across the +adjacent fields. Undismayed, nevertheless, each column set out for +its appointed duty, but shortly after the troops began to move I +received from General Grant this despatch, which put a new phase on +matters: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"GRAVELLY RUN, March 30, 1865. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN: + +"The heavy rain of to-day will make it impossible for us to do much +until it dries up a little, or we get roads around our rear repaired. +You may, therefore, leave what cavalry you deem necessary to protect +the left, and hold such positions as you deem necessary for that +purpose, and send the remainder back to Humphrey's Station where they +can get hay and grain. Fifty wagons loaded with forage will be sent +to you in the morning. Send an officer back to direct the wagons +back to where you want them. Report to me the cavalry you will leave +back, and the position you will occupy. Could not your cavalry go +back by the way of Stony Creek depot and destroy or capture the store +of supplies there? + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." + + +When I had read and pondered this, I determined to ride over to +General Grant's headquarters on Gravelly Run, and get a clear idea of +what it was proposed to do, for it seemed to me that a suspension of +operations would be a serious mistake. Mounting a powerful gray +pacing horse called Breckenridge (from its capture from one of +Breckenridge's staff-officers at Missionary Ridge), and that I knew +would carry me through the mud, I set out accompanied by my Assistant +Adjutant-General, Colonel Frederick C. Newhall, and an escort of +about ten or fifteen men. At first we rode north up the Boydton +plank-road, and coming upon our infantry pickets from a direction +where the enemy was expected to appear, they began to fire upon us, +but seeing from our actions that we were friends, they ceased, and +permitted us to pass the outposts. We then struggled on in a +northeasterly direction across-country, till we struck the Vaughn +road. This carried us to army headquarters, which were established +south of Gravelly Run in an old cornfield. I rode to within a few +yards of the front of General Grant's tent, my horse plunging at +every step almost to his knees in the mud, and dismounted near a +camp-fire, apparently a general one, for all the staff-officers were +standing around it on boards and rails placed here and there to keep +them from sinking into the mire. + +Going directly to General Grant's tent, I found him and Rawlins +talking over the question of suspending operations till the weather +should improve. No orders about the matter had been issued yet, +except the despatch to me, and Rawlins, being strongly opposed to the +proposition, was frankly expostulating with General Grant, who, after +greeting me, remarked, in his quiet way: "Well, Rawlins, I think you +had better take command." Seeing that there was a difference up +between Rawlins and his chief, I made the excuse of being wet and +cold, and went outside to the fire. Here General Ingalls met me and +took me to his tent, where I was much more comfortable than when +standing outside, and where a few minutes later we were joined by +General Grant. Ingalls then retired, and General Grant began talking +of our fearful plight, resulting from the rains and mud, and saying +that because of this it seemed necessary to suspend operations. I at +once begged him not to do so, telling him that my cavalry was already +on the move in spite of the difficulties, and that although a +suspension of operations would not be fatal, yet it would give rise +to the very charge of disaster to which he had referred at City +Point, and, moreover, that we would surely be ridiculed, just as +General Burnside's army was after the mud march of 1863. His better +judgment was against suspending operations, but the proposition had +been suggested by all sorts of complaints as to the impossibility of +moving the trains and the like, so it needed little argument to +convince him, and without further discussion he said, in that manner +which with him meant a firmness of purpose that could not be changed +by further complainings, "We will go on." I then told him that I +believed I could break in the enemy's right if he would let me have +the Sixth Corps; but saying that the condition of the roads would +prevent the movement of infantry, he replied that I would have to +seize Five Forks with the cavalry alone. + +On my way back to Dinwiddie I stopped at the headquarters of General +Warren, but the General being asleep, I went to the tent of one of +his staff-officers. Colonel William T. Gentry, an old personal +friend with whom I had served in Oregon. In a few minutes Warren +came in and we had a short conversation, he speaking rather +despondently of the outlook, being influenced no doubt by the +depressing weather. + +From Warren's headquarters I returned, by the Boydton road to +Dinwiddie Court House, fording Gravelly Run with ease. When I got as +far as the Dabney road I sent Colonel Newhall out on it toward Five +Forks, with orders for Merritt to develop the enemy's position and +strength, and then rode on to Dinwiddie to endeavor to get all my +other troops up. Merritt was halted at the intersection of the Five +Forks and Gravelly Church roads when Newhall delivered the orders, +and in compliance moving out Gibbs's brigade promptly, sharp +skirmishing was brought on, Gibbs driving the Confederates to Five +Forks, where he found them behind a line of breastworks running along +the White Oak road. The reconnoissance demonstrating the intention +of the enemy to hold this point, Gibbs was withdrawn. + +That evening, at 7 o'clock, I reported the position of the +Confederate cavalry, and stated that it had been reinforced by +Pickett's division of infantry. On receipt of this despatch, General +Grant offered me the Fifth Corps, but I declined to take it, and +again asked for the Sixth, saying that with it I believed I could +turn the enemy (Pickett's) left, or break through his lines. The +morning of the 31st General Grant replied the the Sixth Corps could +not be taken from its position in the line, and offered me the +Second; but in the mean time circumstances had changed, and no corps +was ordered. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +BATTLE OF DINWIDDIE COURT HOUSE--PICKETT REPULSED--REINFORCED BY THE +FIFTH CORPS--BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--TURNING THE CONFEDERATE LEFT--AN +UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS--RELIEVING GENERAL WARREN--THE WARREN COURT OF +INQUIRY--GENERAL SHERMAN'S OPINION. + +The night of March 30 Merritt, with Devin's division and Davies's +brigade, was camped on the Five Forks road about two miles in front +of Dinwiddie, near J. Boisseau's. Crook, with Smith and Gregg's +brigades, continued to cover Stony Creek, and Custer was still back +at Rowanty Creek, trying to get the trains up. This force had been +counted while crossing the creek on the 29th, the three divisions +numbering 9,000 enlisted men, Crook having 3,300, and Custer and +Devin 5,700. + +During the 30th, the enemy had been concentrating his cavalry, and by +evening General W. H. F. Lee and General Rosser had joined Fitzhugh +Lee near Five Forks. To this force was added, about dark, five +brigades of infantry--three from Pickett's division, and two from +Johnson's--all under command of Pickett. The infantry came by the +White Oak road from the right of General Lee's intrenchments, and +their arrival became positively known to me about dark, the +confirmatory intelligence being brought in then by some of Young's +scouts who had been inside the Confederate lines. + +On the 31st, the rain having ceased, directions were given at an +early hour to both Merritt and Crook to make reconnoissances +preparatory to securing Five Forks, and about 9 o'clock Merritt +started for the crossroads, Davies's brigade supporting him. His +march was necessarily slow because of the mud, and the enemy's +pickets resisted with obstinacy also, but the coveted crossroads fell +to Merritt without much trouble, as the bulk of the enemy was just +then bent on other things. At the same hour that Merritt started, +Crook moved Smith's brigade out northwest from Dinwiddie to +Fitzgerald's crossing of Chamberlain's Creek, to cover Merritt's +left, supporting Smith by placing Gregg to his right and rear. The +occupation of this ford was timely, for Pickett, now in command of +both the cavalry and infantry, was already marching to get in +Merritt's rear by crossing Chamberlain's Creek. + +To hold on to Fitzgerald's ford Smith had to make a sharp fight, but +Mumford's cavalry attacking Devin, the enemy's infantry succeeded in +getting over Chamberlain's Creek at a point higher up than +Fitzgerald's ford, and assailing Davies, forced him back in a +northeasterly direction toward the Dinwiddie and Five Forks road in +company with Devin. The retreat of Davies permitted Pickett to pass +between Crook and Merritt, which he promptly did, effectually +separating them and cutting off both Davies and Devin from the road +to Dinwiddie, so that to get to that point they had to retreat across +the country to B. Boisseau's and then down the Boydton road. + +Gibbs's brigade had been in reserve near the intersection of the Five +Forks and Dabney roads, and directing Merritt to hold on there, I +ordered Gregg's brigade to be mounted and brought to Merritt's aid, +for if Pickett continued in pursuit north of the Five Forks road he +would expose his right and rear, and I determined to attack him, in +such case, from Gibbs's position. Gregg arrived in good season, and +as soon as his men were dismounted on Gibbs's left, Merritt assailed +fiercely, compelling Pickett to halt and face a new foe, thus +interrupting an advance that would finally have carried Pickett into +the rear of Warren's corps. + +It was now about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we were in a critical +situation, but having ordered Merritt to bring Devin and Davies to +Dinwiddie by the Boydton road, staff-officers were sent to hurry +Custer to the same point, for with its several diverging roads the +Court House was of vital importance, and I determined to stay there +at all hazards. At the same time orders were sent to Smith's +brigade, which, by the advance of Pickett past its right flank and +the pressure of W. H. F. Lee on its front, had been compelled to give +up Fitzgerald's crossing, to fall back toward Dinwiddie but to +contest every inch of ground so as to gain time. + +When halted by the attack of Gregg and Gibbs, Pickett, desisting from +his pursuit of Devin, as already stated, turned his undivided +attention to this unexpected force, and with his preponderating +infantry pressed it back on the Five Forks road toward Dinwiddle, +though our men, fighting dismounted behind barricades at different +points, displayed such obstinacy as to make Pickett's progress slow, +and thus give me time to look out a line for defending the Court +House. I selected a place about three-fourths of a mile northwest of +the crossroads, and Custer coming up quickly with Capehart's brigade, +took position on the left of the road to Five Forks in some open +ground along the crest of a gentle ridge. Custer got Capehart into +place just in time to lend a hand to Smith, who, severely pressed, +came back on us here from his retreat along Chamberlain's "bed"--the +vernacular for a woody swamp such as that through which Smith +retired. A little later the brigades of Gregg and Gibbs, falling to +the rear slowly and steadily, took up in the woods a line which +covered the Boydton Road some distance to the right of Capehart, the +intervening gap to be filled with Pennington's brigade. By this time +our horse-artillery, which for two days had been stuck in the mud, +was all up, and every gun was posted in this line. + +It was now near sunset, and the enemy's cavalry thinking the day was +theirs, made a dash at Smith, but just as the assailants appeared in +the open fields, Capehart's men opened so suddenly on their left +flank as to cause it to recoil in astonishment, which permitted Smith +to connect his brigade with Custer unmolested. We were now in good +shape behind the familiar barricades, and having a continuous line, +excepting only the gap to be filled with Pennington, that covered +Dinwiddie and the Boydton Road. My left rested in the woods about +half a mile west of the Court House, and the barricades extended from +this flank in a semicircle through the open fields in a northeasterly +direction, to a piece-of thick timber on the right, near the Boydton +Road. + +A little before the sun went down the Confederate infantry was formed +for the attack, and, fortunately for us, Pennington's brigade came up +and filled the space to which it was assigned between Capehart and +Gibbs, just as Pickett moved out across the cleared fields in front +of Custer, in deep lines that plainly told how greatly we were +outnumbered. + +Accompanied by Generals Merritt and Custer and my staff, I now rode +along the barricades to encourage the men. Our enthusiastic +reception showed that they were determined to stay. The cavalcade +drew the enemy's fire, which emptied several of the saddles--among +others Mr. Theodore Wilson, correspondent of the New York Herald, +being wounded. In reply our horse-artillery opened on the advancing +Confederates, but the men behind the barricades lay still till +Pickett's troops were within short range. Then they opened, Custer's +repeating rifles pouring out such a shower of lead that nothing could +stand up against it. The repulse was very quick, and as the gray +lines retired to the woods from which but a few minutes before they +had so confidently advanced, all danger of their taking Dinwiddie or +marching to the left and rear of our infantry line was over, +at least for the night. The enemy being thus checked, I sent a +staff-officer--Captain Sheridan--to General Grant to report what had +taken place during the afternoon, and to say that I proposed to stay at +Dinwiddie, but if ultimately compelled to abandon the place, I would do +so by retiring on the Vaughn road toward Hatcher's Run, for I then +thought the attack might be renewed next morning. Devin and Davies +joined me about dark, and my troops being now well in hand, I sent a +second staff-officer--Colonel John Kellogg--to explain my situation +more fully, and to assure General Grant that I would hold on at +Dinwiddie till forced to let go. + +By following me to Dinwiddie the enemy's infantry had completely +isolated itself, and hence there was now offered the Union troops a +rare opportunity. Lee was outside of his works, just as we desired, +and the general-in-chief realized this the moment he received the +first report of my situation; General Meade appreciated it too from +the information he got from Captain Sheridan, en route to army +headquarters with the first tidings, and sent this telegram to +General Grant: + +"HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"March 31, 1865. 9:45 p.m. + +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT: + +"Would it not be well for Warren to go down with his whole corps and +smash up the force in front of Sheridan? Humphreys can hold the line +to the Boydton plank-road, and the refusal along with it. Bartlett's +brigade is now on the road from G. Boisseau's, running north, where +it crosses Gravelly Run, he having gone down the White Oak road. +Warren could go at once that way, and take the force threatening +Sheridan in rear at Dinwiddie, and move on the enemy's rear with the +other two. + +"G. G. MEADE, Major-General." + + +An hour later General Grant replied in these words: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"DABNEY'S MILLS, March 311, 1865. 10:15 P. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, +"Commanding Army of the Potomac. + +Let Warren move in the way you propose, and urge him not to stop for +anything. Let Griffin (Griffin had been ordered by Warren to the +Boydton road to protect his rear) go on as he was first directed. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + +These two despatches were the initiatory steps in sending the Fifth +Corps, under Major-General G. K. Warren, to report to me, and when I +received word of its coming and also that Genera Mackenzie's cavalry +from the Army of the James was likewise to be added to my command, +and that discretionary authority was given me to use all my forces +against Pickett, I resolved to destroy him, if it was within the +bounds of possibility, before he could rejoin Lee. + +In a despatch, dated 10:05 p.m., telling me of the coming of Warren +and Mackenzie, General Grant also said that the Fifth Corps should +reach me by 12 o'clock that night, but at that hour not only had none +of the corps arrived, but no report from it, so believing that if it +came all the way down to Dinwiddie the next morning, our opportunity +would be gone, I concluded that it would be best to order Warren to +move in on the enemy's rear while the cavalry attacked in front, and, +therefore, at 3 o'clock in the morning of April 1 sent this despatch +to General Warren: + +"CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, DINWIDDIE C. H., +"April 1, 1865--3. A.M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL WARREN, +"Commanding Fifth Army Corps. + +"I am holding in front of Dinwiddie Court House, on the road leading +to Five Forks, for three-quarters of a mile with General Custer's +division. The enemy are in his immediate front, lying so as to cover +the road just this side of A. Adams's house, which leads across +Chamberlain's bed, or run. I understand you have a division at J.[G] +Boisseau's; if so, you are in rear of the enemy's line and almost on +his flank. I will hold on here. Possibly they may attack Custer at +daylight; if so, attack instantly and in full force. Attack at +daylight anyhow, and I will make an effort to get the road this side +of Adams's house, and if I do, you can capture the whole of them. +Any force moving down the road I am holding, or on the White Oak +road, will be in the enemy's rear, and in all probability get any +force that may escape you by a flank movement. Do not fear my +leaving here. If the enemy remains, I shall fight at daylight. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + +With daylight came a slight fog, but it lifted almost immediately, +and Merritt moved Custer and Devin forward. As these divisions +advanced the enemy's infantry fell back on the Five Forks road, Devin +pressing him along the road, while Custer extended on the left over +toward Chamberlain's Run, Crook being held in watch along Stony +Creek, meanwhile, to be utilized as circumstances might require when +Warren attacked. + +The order of General Meade to Warren the night of March 31--a copy +being sent me also--was positive in its directions, but as midnight +came without a sign of or word from the Fifth Corps, notwithstanding +that was the hour fixed for its arrival, I nevertheless assumed that +there were good reasons for its non-appearance, but never once +doubted that measures would be taken to comply with my despatch Of +3 A. M. and therefore hoped that, as Pickett was falling back slowly +toward Five Forks, Griffin's and Crawford's divisions would come in +on the Confederate left and rear by the Crump road near J.[G] +Boisseau's house. + +But they did not reach there till after the enemy had got by. As a +matter of fact, when Pickett was passing the all-important point +Warren's men were just breaking from the bivouac in which their chief +had placed them the night before, and the head of Griffin's division +did not get to Boisseau's till after my cavalry, which meanwhile had +been joined by Ayres's division of the Fifth Corps by way of the +Boydton and Dabney roads. By reason of the delay in moving Griffin +and Crawford, the enemy having escaped, I massed the Fifth Corps at +J.[G] Boisseau's so that the men could be rested, and directed it to +remain there; General Warren himself had not then come up. General +Mackenzie, who had reported just after daybreak, was ordered at first +to stay at Dinwiddie Court House, but later was brought along the +Five Forks road to Dr. Smith's, and Crook's division was directed to +continue watching the crossings of Stony Creek and Chamberlain's Run. + +That we had accomplished nothing but to oblige our foe to retreat was +to me bitterly disappointing, but still feeling sure that he would +not give up the Five Forks crossroads without a fight, I pressed him +back there with Merritt's cavalry, Custer advancing on the Scott +road, while Devin drove the rearguard along that leading from J.[G] +Boisseau's to Five Forks. + +By 2 o'clock in the afternoon Merritt had forced the enemy inside his +intrenchments, which began with a short return about three-quarters +of a mile east of the Forks and ran along the south side of the White +Oak road to a point about a mile west of the Forks. From the left of +the return over toward Hatcher's Run was posted Mumford's cavalry, +dismounted. In the return itself was Wallace's brigade, and next on +its right came Ransom's, then Stewart's, then Terry's, then Corse's. +On the right of Corse was W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry. Ten +pieces of artillery also were in this line, three on the right of the +works, three near the centre at the crossroads, and four on the left, +in the return. Rosser's cavalry was guarding the Confederate trains +north of Hatcher's Run beyond the crossing of the Ford road. + +I felt certain the enemy would fight at Five Forks--he had to--so, +while we were getting up to his intrenchments, I decided on my plan +of battle. This was to attack his whole front with Merritt's two +cavalry divisions, make a feint of turning his right flank, and with +the Fifth Corps assail his left. As the Fifth Corps moved into +action, its right flank was to be covered by Mackenzie's cavalry, +thus entirely cutting off Pickett's troops from communication with +Lee's right flank, which rested near the Butler house at the junction +of the Claiborne and White Oaks roads. In execution of this plan, +Merritt worked his men close in toward the intrenchments, and while +he was thus engaged, I ordered Warren to bring up the Fifth Corps, +sending the order by my engineer officer, Captain Gillespie, who had +reconnoitred the ground in the neighborhood of Gravelly Run Church, +where the infantry was to form for attack. + +Gillespie delivered the order about 1 o'clock, and when the corps was +put in motion, General Warren joined me at the front. Before he +came, I had received, through Colonel Babcock, authority from General +Grant to relieve him, but I did not wish to do it, particularly on +the eve of battle; so, saying nothing at all about the message +brought me, I entered at once on the plan for defeating Pickett, +telling Warren how the enemy was posted, explaining with considerable +detail, and concluding by stating that I wished his troops to be +formed on the Gravelly Church road, near its junction with the White +Oak road, with two divisions to the front, aligned obliquely to the +White Oak road, and one in reserve, opposite the centre of these two. + +General Warren seemed to understand me clearly, and then left to join +his command, while I turned my attention to the cavalry, instructing +Merritt to begin by making demonstrations as though to turn the +enemy's right, and to assault the front of the works with his +dismounted cavalry as soon as Warren became engaged. Afterward I +rode around to Gravelly Run Church, and found the head of Warren's +column just appearing, while he was sitting under a tree making a +rough sketch of the ground. I was disappointed that more of the +corps was not already up, and as the precious minutes went by without +any apparent effort to hurry the troops on to the field, this +disappointment grew into disgust. At last I expressed to Warren my +fears that the cavalry might expend all their ammunition before the +attack could be made, that the sun would go down before the battle +could be begun, or that troops from Lee's right, which, be it +remembered, was less than three miles away from my right, might, by +striking my rear, or even by threatening it, prevent the attack on +Pickett. + +Warren did not seem to me to be at all solicitous; his manner +exhibited decided apathy, and he remarked with indifference that +"Bobby Lee was always getting people into trouble." With unconcern +such as this, it is no wonder that fully three hours' time was +consumed in marching his corps from J.[G] Boisseau's to Gravelly Run +Church, though the distance was but two miles. However, when my +patience was almost worn out, Warren reported his troops ready, +Ayres's division being formed on the west side of the Gravelly Church +road, Crawford's on the east side, and Griffin in reserve behind the +right of Crawford, a little different from my instructions. The +corps had no artillery present, its batteries, on account of the mud, +being still north of Gravelly Run. Meanwhile Merritt had been busy +working his men close up to the intrenchments from the angle of the +return west, along the White Oak road. + +About 4 o'clock Warren began the attack. He was to assault the left +flank of the Confederate infantry at a point where I knew Pickett's +intrenchments were refused, almost at right angles with the White Oak +road. I did not know exactly how far toward Hatcher's Run this part +of the works extended, for here the videttes of Mumford's cavalry +were covering, but I did know where the refusal began. This return, +then, was the point I wished to assail, believing that if the assault +was made with spirit, the line could be turned. I therefore intended +that Ayres and Crawford should attack the refused trenches squarely, +and when these two divisions and Merritt's cavalry became hotly +engaged, Griffin's division was to pass around the left of the +Confederate line; and I personally instructed Griffin how I wished +him to go in, telling him also that as he advanced, his right flank +would be taken care of by Mackenzie, who was to be pushed over toward +the Ford road and Hatcher's Run. + +The front of the corps was oblique to the White Oak road; and on +getting there, it was to swing round to the left till perpendicular +to the road, keeping closed to the left. Ayres did his part well, +and to the letter, bringing his division square up to the front of +the return near the angle; but Crawford did not wheel to the left, as +was intended. On the contrary, on receiving fire from Mumford's +cavalry, Crawford swerved to the right and moved north from the +return, thus isolating his division from Ayres; and Griffin, +uncertain of the enemy's position, naturally followed Crawford. + +The deflection of this division on a line of march which finally +brought it out on the Ford road near C. Young's house, frustrated the +purpose I had in mind when ordering the attack, and caused a gap +between Ayres and Crawford, of which the enemy quickly took +advantage, and succeeded in throwing a part of Ayres's division into +confusion. At this juncture I sent word to General Warren to have +Crawford recalled; for the direction he was following was not only a +mistaken one, but, in case the assault at the return failed, he ran +great risk of capture. Warren could not be found, so I then sent for +Griffin--first by Colonel Newhall, and then by Colonel Sherman--to +come to the aid of Ayres, who was now contending alone with that part +of the enemy's infantry at the return. By this time Griffin had +observed and appreciated Crawford's mistake, however, and when the +staff-officers reached him, was already faced to the left; so, +marching across Crawford's rear, he quickly joined Ayres, who +meanwhile had rallied his troops and carried the return. + +When Ayres's division went over the flank of the enemy's works, +Devin's division of cavalry, which had been assaulting the front, +went over in company with it; and hardly halting to reform, the +intermingling infantry and dismounted cavalry swept down inside the +intrenchments, pushing to and beyond Five Forks, capturing thousands +of prisoners. The only stand the enemy tried to make was when he +attempted to form near the Ford road. Griffin pressed him so hard +there, however, that he had to give way in short order, and many of +his men, with three pieces of artillery, fell into the hands of +Crawford while on his circuitous march. + +The right of Custer's division gained a foothold on the enemy's works +simultaneously with Devin's, but on the extreme left Custer had a +very severe combat with W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, as well as with +Corse's and Terry's infantry. Attacking Terry and Corse with +Pennington's brigade dismounted, he assailed Lee's cavalry with his +other two brigades mounted, but Lee held on so obstinately that +Custer gained but little ground till our troops, advancing behind the +works, drove Corse and Terry out. Then Lee made no further stand +except at the west side of the Gillian field, where, assisted by +Corse's brigade, he endeavored to cover the retreat, but just before +dark Custer, in concert with some Fifth Corps regiments under Colonel +Richardson, drove ihe last of the enemy westward on the White Oak +road. + +Our success was unqualified; we had overthrown Pickett, taken six +guns, thirteen battle-flags, and nearly six thousand prisoners. When +the battle was practically over, I turned to consider my position +with reference to the main Confederate army. My troops, though +victorious, were isolated from the Army of the Potomac, for on the +31st of March the extreme left of that army had been thrown back +nearly to the Boydton plank-road, and hence there was nothing to +prevent the enemy's issuing from his trenches at the intersection of +the White Oak and Claiborne roads and marching directly on my rear. +I surmised that he might do this that night or early next morning. +It was therefore necessary to protect myself in this critical +situation, and General Warren having sorely disappointed me, both in +the moving of his corps and in its management during the battle, I +felt that he was not the man to rely upon under such circumstances, +and deeming that it was to the best interest of the service as well +as but just to myself, I relieved him, ordering him to report to +General Grant. + +I then put Griffin in command of the Fifth Corps, and directed him to +withdraw from the pursuit as quickly as he could after following the +enemy a short distance, and form in line of battle near Gravelly Run +Church, at right angles with the White Oak road, with Ayres and +Crawford facing toward the enemy at the junction of the White Oak and +Claiborne roads, leaving Bartlett, now commanding Griffin's division, +near the Ford road. Mackenzie also was left on the Ford road at the +crossing of Hatcher's Run, Merritt going into camp on the Widow +Gillian's plantation. As I had been obliged to keep Crook's division +along Stony Creek throughout the day, it had taken no active part in +the battle. + +Years after the war, in 1879, a Court of Inquiry was given General +Warren in relation to his conduct on the day of the battle. He +assumed that the delay in not granting his request for an inquiry, +which was first made at the close of the war, was due to opposition +on my part. In this he was in error; I never opposed the ordering of +the Court, but when it was finally decided to convene it I naturally +asked to be represented by counsel, for the authorization of the +Inquiry was so peculiarly phrased that it made me practically a +respondent. + + +"NEW YORK CITY, May 3, 1880 + +"MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. HANCOCK, U. S. A. +"President Court of Inquiry, Governor's Island. + +"Sir: Since my arrival in this city, under a subpoena to appear and +testify before the Court of which you are president, I have been +indirectly and unofficially informed that the Court some time ago +forwarded an invitation to me (which has not been received) to appear +personally or by counsel, in order to aid it in obtaining a knowledge +as to the facts concerning the movements terminating in the battle of +'Five Forks,' with reference to the direct subjects of its inquiry. +Any invitation of this character I should always and do consider it +incumbent on me to accede to, and do everything in my power in +furtherance of the specific purposes for which courts of inquiry are +by law instituted. + +"The order convening the Court (a copy of which was not received by +me at my division headquarters until two days after the time +appointed for the Court to assemble) contemplates an inquiry based on +the application of Lieutenant Colonel G. K. Warren, Corps of +Engineers, as to his conduct while major-general commanding the Fifth +Army Corps, under my command, in reference to accusations or +imputations assumed in the order to have been made against him, and I +understand through the daily press that my official report of the +battle of Five Forks has been submitted by him as a basis of inquiry. + +"If it is proposed to inquire, either directly or indirectly, as to +any action of mine so far as the commanding general Fifth Army Corps +was concerned, or my motives for such action, I desire to be +specifically informed wherein such action or transaction is alleged +to contain an accusation or imputation to become a subject of +inquiry, so that, knowing what issues are raised, I may intelligently +aid the Court in arriving at the facts. + +"It is a long time since the battle of Five Forks was fought, and +during the time that has elapsed the official reports of that battle +have been received and acknowledged by the Government; but now, when +the memory of events has in many instances grown dim, and three of +the principal actors on that field are dead--Generals Griffin, +Custer, and Devin, whose testimony would have been valuable--an +investigation is ordered which might perhaps do injustice unless the +facts pertinent to the issues are fully developed. + +"My duties are such that it will not be convenient for me to be +present continuously during the sessions of the Court. In order, +however, that everything may be laid before it in my power pertinent +to such specific issues as are legally raised, I beg leave to +introduce Major Asa Bird Gardner as my counsel. + +"Very respectfully, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieut.-General." + + +Briefly stated, in my report of the battle of Five Forks there were +four imputations concerning General Warren. The first implied that +Warren failed to reach me on the 1st of April, when I had reason to +expect him; the second, that the tactical handling of his corps was +unskillful; the third, that he did not exert himself to get his corps +up to Gravelly Run Church; and the fourth, that when portions of his +line gave way he did not exert himself to restore confidence to his +troops. The Court found against him on the first and second counts, +and for him on the third and fourth. This finding was unsatisfactory +to General Warren, for he hoped to obtain such an unequivocal +recognition of his services as to cast discredit on my motives for +relieving him. These were prompted by the conditions alone--by the +conduct of General Warren as described, and my consequent lack of +confidence in him. + +It will be remembered that in my conversation with General Grant on +the 30th, relative to the suspension of operations because of the +mud, I asked him to let me have the Sixth Corps to help me in +breaking in on the enemy's right, but that it could not be sent me; +it will be recalled also that the Fifth Corps was afterward tendered +and declined. From these facts it has been alleged that I was +prejudiced against General Warren, but this is not true. As we had +never been thrown much together I knew but little of him. I had no +personal objection to him, and certainly could have none to his +corps. I was expected to do an extremely dangerous piece of work, +and knowing the Sixth Corps well--my cavalry having campaigned with +it so successfully in the Shenandoah Valley, I naturally preferred +it, and declined the Fifth for no other reason. But the Sixth could +not be given, and the turn of events finally brought me the Fifth +after my cavalry, under the most trying difficulties, had drawn the +enemy from his works, and into such a position as to permit the +realization of General Grant's hope to break up with my force Lee's +right flank. Pickett's isolation offered an opportunity which we +could not afford to neglect, and the destruction of his command would +fill the measure of General Grant's expectations as well as meet my +own desires. The occasion was not an ordinary one, and as I thought +that Warren had not risen to its demand in the battle, I deemed it +injudicious and unsafe under the critical conditions existing to +retain him longer. That I was justified in this is plain to all who +are disposed to be fair-minded, so with the following extract from +General Sherman's review of the proceedings of the Warren Court, and +with which I am convinced the judgment of history will accord, I +leave the subject: + +"....It would be an unsafe and dangerous rule to hold the commander +of an army in battle to a technical adherence to any rule of conduct +for managing his command. He is responsible for results, and holds +the lives and reputations of every officer and soldier under his +orders as subordinate to the great end--victory. The most important +events are usually compressed into an hour, a minute, and he cannot +stop to analyze his reasons. He must act on the impulse, the +conviction, of the instant, and should be sustained in his +conclusions, if not manifestly unjust. The power to command men, and +give vehement impulse to their joint action, is something which +cannot be defined by words, but it is plain and manifest in battles, +and whoever commands an army in chief must choose his subordinates by +reason of qualities which can alone be tested in actual conflict. + +"No one has questioned the patriotism, integrity, and great +intelligence of General Warren. These are attested by a long record +of most excellent service, but in the clash of arms at and near Five +Forks, March 31 and April 1, 1865, his personal activity fell short +of the standard fixed by General Sheridan, on whom alone rested the +great responsibility for that and succeeding days. + +"My conclusion is that General Sheridan was perfectly justified in +his action in this case, and he must be fully and entirely sustained +if the United States expects great victories by her arms in the +future." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +RESULT OF THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--RETREAT OF LEE--AN INTERCEPTED +DESPATCH--AT AMELIA COURT HOUSE--BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--THE +CONFEDERATES' STUBBORN RESISTANCE--A COMPLETE VICTORY--IMPORTANCE OF +THE BATTLE. + +When the news of the battle at Five Forks reached General Grant, he +realized that the decisive character of our victory would necessitate +the immediate abandonment of Richmond and Petersburg by the enemy; +and fearing that Lee would escape without further injury, he issued +orders, the propriety of which must be settled by history, to assault +next morning the whole intrenched line. But Lee could not retreat at +once. He had not anticipated dissster at Five Forks, and hence was +unprepared to withdraw on the moment; and the necessity of getting +off his trains and munitions of war, as well as being obliged to +cover the flight of the Confederate Government, compelled him to hold +on to Richmond and Petersburg till the afternoon of the 2d, though +before that Parke, Ord, and Wright had carried his outer +intrenchments at several points, thus materially shortening the line +of investment. + +The night of the 1st of April, General Humphreys's corps--the Second +--had extended its left toward the White Oak road, and early next +morning, under instructions from General Grant, Miles's division of +that corps reported to me, and supporting him with Ayres's and +Crawford's divisions of the Fifth Corps, I then directed him to +advance toward Petersburg and attack the enemy's works at the +intersection of the Claiborne and White Oak roads. + +Such of the enemy as were still in the works Miles easily forced +across Hatcher's Run, in the direction of Sutherland's depot, but the +Confederates promptly took up a position north of the little stream, +and Miles being anxious to attack, I gave him leave, but just at this +time General Humphreys came up with a request to me from General +Meade to return Miles. On this request I relinquished command of the +division, when, supported by the Fifth Corps it could have broken in +the enemy's right at a vital point; and I have always since regretted +that I did so, for the message Humphreys conveyed was without +authority from General Grant, by whom Miles had been sent to me, but +thinking good feeling a desideratum just then, and wishing to avoid +wrangles, I faced the Fifth Corps about and marched it down to Five +Forks, and out the Ford road to the crossing of Hatcher's Run. After +we had gone, General Grant, intending this quarter of the field to be +under my control, ordered Humphreys with his other two divisions to +move to the right, in toward Petersburg. This left Miles entirely +unsupported, and his gallant attack made soon after was unsuccessful +at first, but about 3 o'clock in the afternoon he carried the point +which covered the retreat from Petersburg and Richmond. + +Merritt had been sent westward, meanwhile, in the direction of Ford's +Station, to break the enemy's horse which had been collecting to the +north of Hatcher's Run. Meeting, with but little opposition, Merritt +drove this cavalry force in a northerly direction toward Scott's +Corners, while the Fifth Corps was pushed toward Sutherland's depot, +in the hope of coming in on the rear of the force that was +confronting Miles when I left him. Crawford and Merritt engaged the +enemy lightly just before night, but his main column, retreating +along the river road south of the Appomattox, had got across Namozine +Creek, and the darkness prevented our doing more than to pick up some +stragglers. The next morning the pursuit was resumed, the cavalry +again in advance, the Fifth Corps keeping up with it all the while, +and as we pressed our adversaries hundreds and hundreds of prisoners, +armed and unarmed, fell into our hands, together with many wagons and +five pieces of artillery. At Deep Creek the rearguard turned on us, +and a severe skirmish took place. Merritt, finding the enemy very +strong, was directed to await the arrival of Crook and for the rear +division of the Fifth Corps; but by the time they reached the creek, +darkness had again come to protect the Confederates, and we had to be +content with meagre results at that point. + +From the beginning it was apparent that Lee, in his retreat, was +making for Amelia Court House, where his columns north and south of +the Appomattox River could join, and where, no doubt, he expected to +meet supplies, so Crook was ordered to march early on April 4 to +strike the Danville railroad, between Jettersville and Burkeville, +and then move south along the railroad toward Jettersville, Merritt +to move toward Amelia Court House, and the Fifth Corps to +Jettersville itself. + +The Fifth Corps got to Jettersville about 5 in the afternoon, and I +immediately intrenched it across the Burkeville road with the +determination to stay there till the main army could come up, for I +hoped we could force Lee to surrender at Amelia Court House, since a +firm hold on Jettersville would cut him off from his line of retreat +toward Burkeville. + +Accompanied only by my escort--the First United States Cavalry, about +two hundred strong--I reached Jettersville some little time before +the Fifth Corps, and having nothing else at hand I at once deployed +this handful of men to cover the crossroads till the arrival of the +corps. Just as the troopers were deploying, a man on a mule, heading +for Burkeville, rode into my pickets. He was arrested, of course, +and being searched there was found in his boots this telegram in +duplicate, signed by Lee's Commissary General. + +"The army is at Amelia Court House, short of provisions. Send +300,000 rations quickly to Burkeville Junction." One copy was +addressed to the supply department at Danville, and the other to that +at Lynchburg. I surmised that the telegraph lines north of +Burkeville had been broken by Crook after the despatches were +written, which would account for their being transmitted by +messenger. There was thus revealed not only the important fact that +Lee was concentrating at Amelia Court House, but also a trustworthy +basis for estimating his troops, so I sent word to Crook to strike up +the railroad toward me, and to Merritt--who, as I have said, had +followed on the heels of the enemy--to leave Mackenzie there and +himself close in on Jettersville. Staff-officers were also +despatched to hurry up Griffin with the Fifth Corps, and his tired men +redoubled their strides. + +My troops too were hard up for rations, for in the pursuit we could +not wait for our trains, so I concluded to secure if possible these +provisions intended for Lee. To this end I directed Young to send +four of his best scouts to Burkeville Junction. There they were to +separate, two taking the railroad toward Lynchburg and two toward +Danville, and as soon as a telegraph station was reached the telegram +was to be transmitted as it had been written and the provisions thus +hurried forward. + +Although the Fifth Corps arrived at Jettersville the evening of April +4, as did also Crook's and Merritt's cavalry, yet none of the army of +the Potomac came up till about 3 o'clock the afternoon of the 5th, +the Second Corps, followed by the Sixth, joining us then. General +Meade arrived at Jettersville an hour earlier, but being ill, +requested me to put his troops in position. The Fifth Corps being +already intrenched across the Amelia Court House road facing north, I +placed the Sixth on its right and the Second on its left as they +reached the ground. + +As the enemy had been feeling us ever since morning--to learn what he +was up to I directed Crook to send Davies's brigade on a +reconnoissance to Paine's crossroads. Davies soon found out that Lee +was trying to escape by that flank, for at the crossroads he found +the Confederate trains and artillery moving rapidly westward. Having +driven away the escort, Davies succeeded in burning nearly two +hundred wagons, and brought off five pieces of artillery. Among +these wagons were some belonging to General, Lee's and to General +Fitzhugh Lee's headquarters. This work through, Davies withdrew and +rejoined Crook, who, with Smith and Gregg, was established near Flat +Creek. + +It being plain that Lee would attempt to escape as soon as his trains +were out of the way, I was most anxious to attack him when the Second +Corps began to arrive, for I felt certain that unless we did so he +would succeed in passing by our left flank, and would thus again make +our pursuit a stern-chase; but General Meade, whose plan of attack +was to advance his right flank on Amelia Court House, objected to +assailing before all his troops were up. + +I then sent despatches to General Grant, explaining what Davies had +done, and telling him that the Second Corps was arriving, and that I +wished he himself was present. I assured him of my confidence in our +capturing Lee if we properly exerted ourselves, and informed him, +finally, that I would put all my cavalry, except Mackenzie, on my +left, and that, with such a disposition of my forces, I could see no +escape for Lee. I also inclosed him this letter, which had just been +captured: + +"AMELIA C. H., April 5, 1865. + +"DEAR MAMMA: + +"Our army is ruined, I fear. We are all safe as yet. Shyron left us +sick. John Taylor is well--saw him yesterday. We are in line of +battle this morning. General Robert Lee is in the field near us. My +trust is still in the justice of our cause, and that of God. General +Hill is killed. I saw Murray a few minutes since. Bernard, Terry +said, was taken prisoner, but may yet get out. I send this by a +negro I see passing up the railroad to Mechlenburg. Love to all. + +"Your devoted son, + +"Wm. B. TAYLOR, Colonel." + + +General Grant, who on the 5th was accompanying General Ord's column +toward Burkeville Junction, did not receive this intelligence till +nearly nightfall, when within about ten miles of the Junction. He +set out for Jettersville immediately, but did not reach us till near +midnight, too late of course to do anything that night. Taking me +with him, we went over to see Meade, whom he then directed to advance +early in the morning on Amelia Court House. In this interview Grant +also stated that the orders Meade had already issued would permit +Lee's escape, and therefore must be changed, for it was not the aim +only to follow the enemy, but to get ahead of him, remarking during +the conversation that, "he had no doubt Lee was moving right then." +On this same occasion Meade expressed a desire to have in the +proposed attack all the troops of the Army of the Potomac under his +own command, and asked for the return of the Fifth Corps. I made no +objections, and it was ordered to report, to him. + +When, on the morning of the 6th, Meade advanced toward Amelia Court +House, he found, as predicted, that Lee was gone. It turned out that +the retreat began the evening of the 5th and continued all night. +Satisfied that this would be the case, I did not permit the cavalry +to participate in Meade's useless advance, but shifted it out toward +the left to the road running from Deatonsville to Rice's station, +Crook leading and Merritt close up. Before long the enemy's trains +were discovered on this road, but Crook could make but little +impression on them, they were so strongly guarded; so, leaving +Stagg's brigade and Miller's battery about three miles southwest of +Deatonsville--where the road forks, with a branch leading north +toward the Appomattox--to harass the retreating column and find a +vulnerable point, I again shifted the rest of the cavalry toward the +left, across-country, but still keeping parallel to the enemy's line +of march. + +Just after crossing Sailor's Greek, a favorable opportunity offering, +both Merritt and Crook attacked vigorously, gained the Rice's Station +road, destroyed several hundred wagons, made many prisoners, and +captured sixteen pieces of artillery. This was important, but more +valuable still was the fact that we were astride the enemy's line of +retreat, and had cut off from joining Longstreet, waiting at Rice's +Station, a corps of Confederate infantry under General Ewell, +composed of Anderson's, Kershaw's, and Custis Lee's divisions. +Stagg's brigade and Miller's battery, which, as I have said, had been +left at the forks of the Deatonsville road, had meanwhile broken in +between the rear of Ewell's column and the head of Gordon's, forcing +Gordon to abandon his march for Rice's Station, and to take the +right-hand road at the forks, on which he was pursued by General +Humphreys. + +The complete isolation of Ewell from Longstreet in his front and +Gordon in his rear led to the battle of Sailor's Creek, one of the +severest conflicts of the war, for the enemy fought with desperation +to escape capture, and we, bent on his destruction, were no less +eager and determined. The capture of Ewell, with six of his generals +and most of his troops, crowned our success, but the fight was so +overshadowed by the stirring events of the surrender three days +later, that the battle has never been accorded the prominence it +deserves. + +The small creek from which the field takes its name flows in a +northwesterly direction across the road leading from Deatonsville to +Rice's Station. By shifting to the left, Merritt gained the Rice's +Station road west of the creek, making havoc of the wagon-trains, +while Crook struck them further on and planted himself square across +the road. This blocked Ewell, who, advancing Anderson to some high +ground west of the creek, posted him behind barricades, with the +intention of making a hard fight there, while the main body should +escape through the woods in a westerly direction to roads that led to +Farmville. This was prevented, however, by Crook forming his +division, two brigades dismounted and one mounted, and at once +assaulting all along Anderson's front and overlapping his right, +while Merritt fiercely attacked to the right of Crook. The enemy +being thus held, enabled the Sixth Corps--which in the meantime I had +sent for--to come upon the ground, and Ewell, still contending with +the cavalry, found himself suddenly beset by this new danger from his +rear. To, meet it, he placed Kershaw to the right and Custis Lee to +the left of the Rice's Station road, facing them north toward and +some little distance from Sailor's Creek, supporting Kershaw with +Commander Tucker's Marine brigade. Ewell's skirmishers held the line +of Sailor's Creek, which runs through a gentle valley, the north +slope of which was cleared ground. + +By General Grant's directions the Sixth Corps had been following my +route of march since the discovery, about 9 o'clock in the morning, +that Lee had decamped from Amelia Court House. Grant had promptly +informed me of this in a note, saying, "The Sixth Corps will go in +with a vim any place you may dictate," so when I sent word to Wright +of the enemy's isolation, and asked him to hurry on with all speed, +his gallant corps came as fast as legs could carry them, he sending +to me successively Major McClellan and Colonel Franklin, of his +staff, to report his approach. + +I was well advised as to the position of the enemy through +information brought me by an intelligent young soldier, William A. +Richardson, Company "A," Second Ohio, who, in one of the cavalry +charges on Anderson, had cleared the barricades and made his way back +to my front through Ewell's line. Richardson had told me just how +the main body of the enemy was posted, so as Seymour's division +arrived I directed General Wright to put it on the right of the road, +while Wheaton's men, coming up all hot and out of breath, promptly +formed on Seymour's left. Both divisions thus aligned faced +southwest toward Sailor's Creek, and the artillery of the corps being +massed to the left and front of the Hibbon house, without waiting for +Getty's division--for I feared that if we delayed longer the enemy +might effect his escape toward Farmville--the general attack was +begun. Seymour and Wheaton, moving forward together, assailed the +enemy's front and left, and Stagg's brigade, too, which in the mean +time had been placed between Wheaton's left and Devin's right, went +at him along with them, Merritt and Crook resuming the fight from +their positions in front of Anderson. The enemy, seeing little +chance of escape, fought like a tiger at bay, but both Seymour and +Wheaton pressed him vigorously, gaining ground at all points except +just to the right of the road, where Seymour's left was checked. +Here the Confederates burst back on us in a counter-charge, surging +down almost to the creek, but the artillery, supported by Getty, who +in the mean time had come on the ground, opened on them so terribly +that this audacious and furious onset was completely broken, though +the gallant fellows fell back to their original line doggedly, and +not until after they had almost gained the creek. Ewell was now +hemmed in on every side, and all those under his immediate command +were captured. Merritt and Crook had also broken up Anderson by this +time, but he himself, and about two thousand disorganized men escaped +by making their way through the woods toward the Appomattox River +before they could be entirely enveloped. Night had fallen when the +fight was entirely over, but Devin was pushed on in pursuit for about +two miles, part of the Sixth Corps following to clinch a victory +which not only led to the annihilation of one corps of Lee's +retreating army, but obliged Longstreet to move up to Farmville, so +as to take a road north of the Appomattox River toward Lynchburg +instead of continuing toward Danville. + +At the close of the battle I sent one of my staff--Colonel Redwood +Price--to General Grant to report what had been done; that we had +taken six generals and from nine to ten thousand prisoners. On his +way Price stopped at the headquarters of General Meade, where he +learned that not the slightest intelligence of the occurrence on my +line had been received, for I not being under Meade's command, he had +paid no attention to my movements. Price gave the story of the +battle, and General Meade, realizing its importance, sent directions +immediately to General Wright to make his report of the engagement to +the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, assuming that Wright was +operating independently of me in the face of Grant's despatch Of +2 o'clock, which said that Wright was following the cavalry and would +"go in with a vim" wherever I dictated. Wright could not do else +than comply with Meade's orders in the case, and I, being then in +ignorance of Meade's reasons for the assumption, could say nothing. +But General Grant plainly intending, and even directing, that the +corps should be under my command, remedied this phase of the matter, +when informed of what had taken place, by requiring Wright to send a +report of the battle through me. What he then did, and what his +intentions and orders were, are further confirmed by a reference to +the episode in his "Memoirs," where he gives his reasons for ordering +the Sixth Corps to abandon the move on Amelia Court House and pass to +the left of the army. On the same page he also says, referring to +the 6th of April: "The Sixth Corps now remained with the cavalry +under Sheridan's direct command until after the surrender." He +unquestionably intended all of this, but his purpose was partly +frustrated by General Meade's action next morning in assuming +direction of the movements of the corps; and before General Grant +became aware of the actual conditions the surrender was at hand. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +LINCOLN'S LACONIC DESPATCH--CAPTURING LEE'S SUPPLIES--DELIGHTED +ENGINEERS--THE CONFEDERATES' LAST EFFORT--A FLAG OF TRUCE--GENERAL +GEARY'S "LAST DITCH" ABSURDITY--MEETING OF GRANT AND LEE--THE +SURRENDER--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL GRANT. + +The first report of the battle of Sailor's Creek that General Grant +received was, as already stated, an oral message carried by Colonel +Price, of my staff. Near midnight I sent a despatch giving the names +of the generals captured. These were Ewell, Kershaw, Barton, Corse, +Dubose, and Custis Lee. In the same despatch I wrote: "If the thing +is pressed, I think that Lee will surrender." When Mr. Lincoln, at +City Point, received this word from General Grant, who was +transmitting every item of news to the President, he telegraphed +Grant the laconic message: "Let the thing be pressed." The morning of +the 7th we moved out at a very early hour, Crook's division marching +toward Farmville in direct pursuit, while Merritt and Mackenzie were +ordered to Prince Edward's Court House to anticipate any effort Lee +might make to escape through that place toward Danville since it had +been discovered that Longstreet had slipped away already from the +front of General Ord's troops at Rice's Station. Crook overtook the +main body of the Confederates at Farmville, and promptly attacked +their trains on the north side of the Appomattox with Gregg's +brigade, which was fiercely turned upon and forced to re-cross the +river with the loss of a number of prisoner's, among them Gregg +himself. When Crook sent word of this fight, it was clear that Lee +had abandoned all effort to escape to the southwest by way of +Danville. Lynchburg was undoubtedly his objective point now; so, +resolving to throw my cavalry again across his path, and hold him +till the infantry could overtake him, I directed everything on +Appomattox depot, recalling Crook the night of the 7th to Prospect +Station, while Merritt camped at Buffalo Creek, and Mackenzie made a +reconnoissance along the Lynchburg railroad. + +At break of day, April 8, Merritt and Mackenzie united with Crook at +Prospect Station, and the cavalry all moved then toward Appomattox +depot. Hardly had it started when one of the scouts--Sergeant White +--informed me that there were four trains of cars at the depot loaded +with supplies for Lee's army; these had been sent from Lynchburg, in +compliance with the telegram of Lee's commissary-general, which +message, it will be remembered, was captured and transmitted to +Lynchburg by two of Young's scouts on the 4th. Sergeant White, who +had been on the lookout for the trains ever since sending the +despatch, found them several miles west of Appomattox depot feeling +their way along, in ignorance of Lee's exact position. As he had the +original despatch with him, and took pains to dwell upon the pitiable +condition of Lee's army, he had little difficulty in persuading the +men in charge of the trains to bring them east of Appomattox Station, +but fearing that the true state of affairs would be learned before +long, and the trains be returned to Lynchburg, he was painfully +anxious to have them cut off by breaking the track west of the +station. + +The intelligence as to the trains was immediately despatched to +Crook, and I pushed on to join him with Merritt's command. Custer +having the advance, moved rapidly, and on nearing the station +detailed two regiments to make a detour southward to strike the +railroad some distance beyond and break the track. These regiments +set off at a gallop, and in short order broke up the railroad enough +to prevent the escape of the trains, Custer meanwhile taking +possession of the station, but none too soon, for almost at the +moment he did so the advance-guard of Lee's army appeared, bent on +securing the trains. Without halting to look after the cars further, +Custer attacked this advance-guard and had a spirited fight, in which +he drove the Confederates away from the station, captured twenty-five +pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and a large park of wagons, +which, in the hope that they would reach Lynchburg next day, were +being pushed ahead of Lee's main body. + +Devin coming up a little before dusk, was put in on the right of +Custer, and one of Crook's brigades was sent to our left and the +other two held in reserve. I then forced the enemy back on the +Appomattox road to the vicinity of the Court House, and that the +Confederates might have no rest, gave orders to continue the +skirmishing throughout the night. Meanwhile the captured trains had +been taken charge of by locomotive engineers, soldiers of the +command, who were delighted evidently to get back at their old +calling. They amused themselves by running the trains to and fro, +creating much confusion, and keeping up such an unearthly screeching +with the whistles that I was on the point of ordering the cars +burned. They finally wearied of their fun, however, and ran the +trains off to the east toward General Ord's column. + +The night of the 8th I made my headquarters at a little frame house +just south of the station. I did not sleep at all, nor did anybody +else, the entire command being up all night long; indeed, there had +been little rest in the cavalry for the past eight days. The +necessity of getting Ord's column up was so obvious now that +staff-officer after staff-officer was sent to him and to General Grant +requesting that the infantry be pushed on, for if it could get to the +front, all knew that the rebellion would be ended on the morrow. +Merritt, Crook, Custer, and Devin were present at frequent intervals +during the night, and everybody was overjoyed at the prospect that +our weary work was about to end so happily. Before sun-up General +Ord arrived, and informed me of the approach of his column, it having +been marching the whole night. As he ranked me, of course I could +give him no orders, so after a hasty consultation as to where his +troops should be placed we separated, I riding to the front to +overlook my line near Appomattox Court House, while he went back to +urge along his weary troops. + +The night before General Lee had held a council with his principal +generals, when it was arranged that in the morning General Gordon +should undertake to break through my cavalry, and when I neared my +troops this movement was beginning, a heavy line of infantry bearing +down on us from the direction of the village. In front of Crook and +Mackenzie firing had already begun, so riding to a slight elevation +where a good view of the Confederates could be had, I there came to +the conclusion that it would be unwise to offer more resistance than +that necessary to give Ord time to form, so I directed Merritt to +fall back, and in retiring to shift Devin and Custer to the right so +as to make room for Ord, now in the woods to my rear. Crook, who +with his own and Mackenzie's divisions was on my extreme left +covering some by-roads, was ordered to hold his ground as long as +practicable without sacrificing his men, and, if forced to retire, to +contest with obstinacy the enemy's advance. + +As already stated, I could not direct General Ord's course, he being +my senior, but hastily galloping back to where he was, at the edge of +the timber, I explained to him what was taking place at the front. +Merritt's withdrawal inspired the Confederates, who forthwith began +to press Crook, their line of battle advancing with confidence till +it reached the crest whence I had reconnoitred them. From this +ground they could see Ord's men emerging from the woods, and the +hopelessness of a further attack being plain, the gray lines +instinctively halted, and then began to retire toward a ridge +immediately fronting Appomattox Court House, while Ord, joined on his +right by the Fifth Corps, advanced on them over the ground that +Merritt had abandoned. + +I now directed my steps toward Merritt, who, having mounted his +troopers, had moved them off to the right, and by the time I reached +his headquarters flag he was ready for work, so a move on the enemy's +left was ordered, and every guidon was bent to the front. As the +cavalry marched along parallel with the Confederate line, and in +toward its left, a heavy fire of artillery opened on us, but this +could not check us at such a time, and we soon reached some high +ground about half a mile from the Court House, and from here I could +see in the low valley beyond the village the bivouac undoubtedly of +Lee's army. The troops did not seem to be disposed in battle order, +but on the other side of the bivouac was a line of battle--a heavy +rear-guard--confronting, presumably, General Meade. + +I decided to attack at once, and formations were ordered at a trot +for a charge by Custer's and Devin's divisions down the slope leading +to the camps. Custer was soon ready, but Devin's division being in +rear its formation took longer, since he had to shift further to the +right; Devin's preparations were, therefore, but partially completed +when an aide-decamp galloped up to with the word from Custer, "Lee +has surrendered; do not charge; the white flag is up." The enemy +perceiving that Custer was forming for attack, had sent the flag out +to his front and stopped the charge just in time. I at once sent +word of the truce to General Ord, and hearing nothing more from +Custer himself, I supposed that he had gone down to the Court House +to join a mounted group of Confederates that I could see near there, +so I, too, went toward them, galloping down a narrow ridge, staff and +orderlies following; but we had not got half way to the Court House +when, from a skirt of timber to our right, not more than three +hundred yards distant, a musketry fire was opened on us. This halted +us, when, waving my hat, I called out to the firing party that we +were under a truce, and they were violating it. This did not stop +them, however, so we hastily took shelter in a ravine so situated as +to throw a ridge between us and the danger. + +We traveled in safety down this depression to its mouth, and thence +by a gentle ascent approached the Court House. I was in advance, +followed by a sergeant carrying my battleflag. When I got within +about a hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's line, which was +immediately in front of the Court House, some of the Confederates +leveled their pieces at us, and I again halted. Their officers kept +their men from firing, however, but meanwhile a single-handed contest +had begun behind me, for on looking back I heard a Confederate +soldier demanding my battle-flag from the color-bearer, thinking, no +doubt, that we were coming in as prisoners. The sergeant had drawn +his sabre and was about to cut the man down, but at a word from me he +desisted and carried the flag back to my staff, his assailant quickly +realizing that the boot was on the other leg. + +These incidents determined me to remain where I was till the return +of a staff-officer whom I had sent over to demand an explanation from +the group of Confederates for which I had been heading. He came back +in a few minutes with apologies for what had occurred, and informed +me that General Gordon and General Wilcox were the superior officers +in the group. As they wished me to join them I rode up with my +staff, but we had hardly met when in front of Merritt firing began. +At the sound I turned to General Gordon, who seemed embarrassed by +the occurrence, and remarked: "General, your men fired on me as I was +coming over here, and undoubtedly they are treating Merritt and +Custer the same way. We might as well let them fight it out." He +replied, "There must be some mistake." I then asked, "Why not send a +staff-officer and have your people cease firing; they are violating +the flag." He answered, "I have no staff-officer to send." Whereupon +I said that I would let him have one of mine, and calling for +Lieutenant Vanderbilt Allen, I directed him to carry General Gordon's +orders to General Geary, commanding a small brigade of South Carolina +cavalry, to discontinue firing. Allen dashed off with the message +and soon delivered it, but was made a prisoner, Geary saying, "I do +not care for white flags: South Carolinians never surrender...." By +this time Merritt's patience being exhausted, he ordered an attack, +and this in short order put an end to General Geary's "last ditch" +absurdity, and extricated Allen from his predicament. + +When quiet was restored Gordon remarked: "General Lee asks for a +suspension of hostilities pending the negotiations which he is having +with General Grant." I rejoined: "I have been constantly informed of +the progress of the negotiations, and think it singular that while +such discussions are going on, General Lee should have continued his +march and attempted to break through my lines this morning. I will +entertain no terms except that General Lee shall surrender to General +Grant on his arrival here. If these terms are not accepted we will +renew hostilities." Gordon replied: "General Lee's army is +exhausted. There is no doubt of his surrender to General Grant." + +It was then that General Ord joined us, and after shaking hands all +around, I related the situation to him, and Gordon went away agreeing +to meet us again in half an hour. When the time was up he came back +accompanied by General Longstreet, who brought with him a despatch, +the duplicate of one that had been sent General Grant through General +Meade's lines back on the road over which Lee had been retreating. + +General Longstreet renewed the assurances that already had been given +by Gordon, and I sent Colonel Newhall with the despatch to find +General Grant and bring him to the front. When Newhall started, +everything on our side of the Appomattox Court House was quiet, for +inevitable surrender was at hand, but Longstreet feared that Meade, +in ignorance of the new conditions on my front might attack the +Confederate rearguard. To prevent this I offered to send Colonel J. +W. Forsyth through the enemy's lines to let Meade know of my +agreement, for he too was suspicious that by a renewed correspondence +Lee was endeavoring to gain time for escape. My offer being +accepted, Forsyth set out accompanied by Colonel Fairfax, of +Longstreet's staff, and had no difficulty in accomplishing his +mission. + +About five or six miles from Appomattox, on the road toward Prospect +Station near its intersection with the Walker's Church road, my +adjutant-general, Colonel Newhall, met General Grant, he having +started from north of the Appomattox River for my front the morning +of April 9, in consequence of the following despatches which had been +sent him the night before, after we had captured Appomattox Station +and established a line intercepting Lee: + +"CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, April 8, 1865--9:20 P. M. + +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +"Commanding Armies of the U. S. + +"General: I marched early this morning from Buffalo Creek and +Prospect Station on Appomattox Station, where my scouts had reported +trains of cars with supplies for Lee's army. A short time before +dark General Custer, who had the advance, made a dash at the station, +capturing four trains of supplies with locomotives. One of the +trains was burned and the others were run back toward Farmville for +security. Custer then pushed on toward Appomattox Court House, +driving the enemy--who kept up a heavy fire of artillery--charging +them repeatedly and capturing, as far as reported, twenty-five pieces +of artillery and a number of prisoners and wagons. The First Cavalry +Division supported him on the right. A reconnoissance sent across +the Appomattox reports the enemy moving on the Cumberland road to +Appomattox Station, where they expect to get supplies. Custer is +still pushing on. If General Gibbon and the Fifth Corps can get up +to-night, we will perhaps finish the job in the morning. I do not +think Lee means to surrender until compelled to do so. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, April 8, 1865--9:40 p.m. + +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. +"Commanding Armies U. S. + +"GENERAL: Since writing the accompanying despatch, General Custer +reports that his command has captured in all thirty-five pieces of +artillery, one thousand prisoners--including one general officer--and +from one hundred and fifty to two hundred wagons. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + +In attempting to conduct the lieutenant-general and staff back by a +short route, Newhall lost his bearings for a time, inclining in +toward the enemy's lines too far, but regained the proper direction +without serious loss of time. General Grant arrived about 1 o'clock +in the afternoon, Ord and I, dismounted, meeting him at the edge of +the town, or crossroads, for it was little more. He remaining +mounted, spoke first to me, saying simply, + +"How are you, Sheridan?" I assured him with thanks that I was +"first-rate," when, pointing toward the village, he asked, "Is +General Lee up there?" and I replied: "There is his army down in that +valley, and he himself is over in that house (designating McLean's +house) waiting to surrender to you." The General then said, "Come, +let us go over," this last remark being addressed to both Ord and me. +We two then mounted and joined him, while our staff-officers +followed, intermingling with those of the general-in-chief as the +cavalcade took its way to McLean's house near by, and where General +Lee had arrived some time before, in consequence of a message from +General Grant consenting to the interview asked for by Lee through +Meade's front that morning--the consent having been carried by +Colonel Babcock. + +When I entered McLean's house General Lee was standing, as was also +his military secretary, Colonel Marshall, his only staff-officer +present. General Lee was dressed in a new uniform and wore a +handsome sword. His tall, commanding form thus set off contrasted +strongly with the short figure of General Grant, clothed as he was in +a soiled suit, without sword or other insignia of his position except +a pair of dingy shoulder-straps. After being presented, Ord and I, +and nearly all of General Grant's staff, withdrew to await the +agreement as to terms, and in a little while Colonel Babcock came to +the door and said, "The surrender had been made; you can come in +again." + +When we re-entered General Grant was writing; and General Lee, having +in his hand two despatches, which I that morning requested might be +returned, as I had no copies of them, addressed me with the remark: +"I am sorry. It is probable that my cavalry at that point of the +line did not fully understand the agreement." These despatches had +been sent in the forenoon, after the fighting had been stopped, +notifying General Lee that some of his cavalry in front of Crook was +violating the suspension of hostilities by withdrawing. About +3 o'clock in the afternoon the terms of surrender were written out +and accepted, and General Lee left the house, as he departed +cordially shaking hands with General Grant. A moment later he +mounted his chunky gray horse, and lifting his hat as he passed out +of the yard, rode off toward his army, his arrival there being +announced to us by cheering, which, as it progressed, varying in +loudness, told he was riding through the bivouac of the Army of +Northern Virginia. + +The surrender of General Lee practically ended the war of the +rebellion. For four years his army had been the main-stay of the +Confederacy; and the marked ability with which he directed its +operations is evidenced both by his frequent successes and the length +of time he kept up the contest. Indeed, it may be said that till +General Grant was matched against him, he never met an opponent he +did not vanquish, for while it is true that defeat was inflicted on +the Confederates at Antietam and Gettysburg, yet the fruits of these +victories were not gathered, for after each of these battles Lee was +left unmolested till he had a chance to recuperate. + +The assignment of General Grant to the command of the Union armies in +the winter of 1863-64 gave presage of success from the start, for his +eminent abilities had already been proved, and besides, he was a +tower of strength to the Government, because he had the confidence of +the people. They knew that henceforth systematic direction would be +given to our armies in every section of the vast territory over which +active operations were being prosecuted, and further, that this +coherence, this harmony of plan, was the one thing needed to end the +war, for in the three preceding years there had been illustrated most +lamentable effects of the absence of system. From the moment he set +our armies in motion simultaneously, in the spring of 1864, it could +be seen that we should be victorious ultimately, for though on +different lines we were checked now and then, yet we were harassing +the Confederacy at so many vital points that plainly it must yield to +our blows. Against Lee's army, the forefront of the Confederacy, +Grant pitted himself; and it may be said that the Confederate +commander was now, for the first time, overmatched, for against all +his devices--the products of a mind fertile in defense--General Grant +brought to bear not only the wealth of expedient which had hitherto +distinguished him, but also an imperturbable tenacity, particularly +in the Wilderness and on the march to the James, without which the +almost insurmountable obstacles of that campaign could not have been +overcome. During it and in the siege of Petersburg he met with many +disappointments--on several occasions the shortcomings of generals, +when at the point of success, leading to wretched failures. But so +far as he was concerned, the only apparent effect of these +discomfitures was to make him all the more determined to discharge +successfully the stupendous trust committed to his care, and to bring +into play the manifold resources of his well ordered military mind. +He guided every subordinate then, and in the last days of the +rebellion, with a fund of common sense and superiority of intellect, +which have left an impress so distinct as to exhibit his great +personality. When his military history is analyzed after the lapse +of years, it will show, even more clearly than now, that during these +as well as in his previous campaigns he was the steadfast Centre +about and on which everything else turned. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +ORDERED TO GREENSBORO', N. C.--MARCH TO THE DAN RIVER--ASSIGNED TO +THE COMMAND WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI--LEAVING WASHINGTON--FLIGHT OF +GENERAL EARLY--MAXIMILIAN--MAKING DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE UPPER RIO +GRANDE--CONFEDERATES JOIN MAXIMILIAN--THE FRENCH INVASION OF MEXICO +AND ITS RELATIONS TO THE REBELLION--ASSISTING THE LIBERALS +--RESTORATION OF THE REPUBLIC. + +The surrender at Appomattox put a stop to all military operations on +the part of General Grant's forces, and the morning of April 10 my +cavalry began its march to Petersburg, the men anticipating that they +would soon be mustered out and returned to their homes. At Nottoway +Court House I heard of the assassination of the President. The first +news came to us the night after the dastardly deed, the telegraph +operator having taken it from the wires while in transmission to +General Meade. The despatch ran that Mr. Lincoln had been, shot at +10 o'clock that morning at Willard's Hotel, but as I could conceive +of nothing to take the President there I set the story down as a +canard, and went to bed without giving it further thought. Next +morning, however, an official telegram confirmed the fact of the +assassination, though eliminating the distorted circumstances that +had been communicated the night before. + +When we reached Petersburg my column was halted, and instructions +given me to march the cavalry and the Sixth Corps to Greensboro', +North Carolina, for the purpose of aiding General Sherman (the +surrender of General Johnston having not yet been effected), so I +made the necessary preparations and moved on the 24th of April, +arriving at South Boston, on the Dan River, the 28th, the Sixth Corps +having reached Danville meanwhile. At South Boston I received a +despatch from General Halleck, who immediately after Lee's surrender +had been assigned to command at Richmond, informing me that General +Johnston had been brought to terms. The necessity for going farther +south being thus obviated we retraced our steps to Petersburg, from +which place I proceeded by steamer to Washington, leaving, the +cavalry to be marched thither by easy stages. + +The day after my arrival in Washington an important order was sent +me, accompanied by the following letter of instructions, transferring +me to a new field of operations: + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES. +"Washington, D. C., May 17, 1865. + +"GENERAL: Under the orders relieving you from the command of the +Middle Military Division and assigning you to command west of the +Mississippi, you will proceed without delay to the West to arrange +all preliminaries for your new field of duties. + +"Your duty is to restore Texas, and that part of Louisiana held by +the enemy, to the Union in the shortest practicable time, in a way +most effectual for securing permanent peace. + +"To do this, you will be given all the troops that can be spared +by Major-General Canby, probably twenty-five thousand men of +all arms; the troops with Major-General J. J. Reynolds, in +Arkansas, say twelve thousand, Reynolds to command; the Fourth +Army Corps, now at Nashville, Tennessee, awaiting orders; and +the Twenty-Fifth Army Corps, now at City Point, Virginia, ready +to embark. + +"I do not wish to trammel you with instructions; I will state, +however, that if Smith holds out, without even an ostensible +government to receive orders from or to report to, he and his men are +not entitled to the considerations due to an acknowledged +belligerent. Theirs are the conditions of outlaws, making war +against the only Government having an existence over the territory +where war is now being waged. + +"You may notify the rebel commander west of the Mississippi--holding +intercourse with him in person, or through such officers of the rank +of major-general as you may select--that he will be allowed to +surrender all his forces on the same terms as were accorded to Lee +and Johnston. If he accedes, proceed to garrison the Red River as +high up as Shreveport, the seaboard at Galveston, Malagorda Bay, +Corpus Christi, and mouth of the Rio Grande. + +"Place a strong force on the Rio Grande, holding it at least to a +point opposite Camargo, and above that if supplies can be procured. + +"In case of an active campaign (a hostile one) I think a heavy force +should be put on the Rio Grande as a first preliminary. Troops for +this might be started at once. The Twenty-Fifth Corps is now +available, and to it should be added a force of white troops, say +those now under Major-General Steele. + +"To be clear on this last point, I think the Rio Grande should be +strongly held, whether the forces in Texas surrender or not, and that +no time should be lost in getting troops there. If war is to be +made, they will be in the right place; if Kirby Smith surrenders, +they will be on the line which is to be strongly garrisoned. + +"Should any force be necessary other than those designated, they can +be had by calling for them on Army Headquarters. + +"U. S. GRANT, +"Lieutenant-General. + +"To MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +"United States Army." + + +On receipt of these instructions I called at once on General Grant, +to see if they were to be considered so pressing as to preclude my +remaining in Washington till after the Grand Review, which was fixed +for the 23d and 24th of May, for naturally I had a strong desire to +head my command on that great occasion. But the General told me that +it was absolutely necessary to go at once to force the surrender of +the Confederates under Kirby Smith. He also told me that the States +lately in rebellion would be embraced in two or three military +departments, the commanders of which would control civil affairs +until Congress took action about restoring them to the Union, since +that course would not only be economical and simple, but would give +the Southern people confidence, and encourage them to go to work, +instead of distracting them with politics. + +At this same interview he informed me that there was an additional +motive in sending me to the new command, a motive not explained by +the instructions themselves, and went on to say that, as a matter of +fact, he looked upon the invasion of Mexico by Maximilian as a part +of the rebellion itself, because of the encouragement that invasion +had received from the Confederacy, and that our success in putting +down secession would never be complete till the French and Austrian +invaders were compelled to quit the territory of our sister republic. +With regard to this matter, though, he said it would be necessary for +me to act with great circumspection, since the Secretary of State, +Mr. Seward, was much opposed to the use of our troops along the +border in any active way that would be likely to involve us in a war +with European powers. + +Under the circumstances, my disappointment at not being permitted to +participate in the review had to be submitted to, and I left +Washington without an opportunity of seeing again in a body the men +who, while under my command, had gone through so many trials and +unremittingly pursued and, assailed the enemy, from the beginning of +the campaign of 1864 till the white flag came into their hands at +Appomattox Court House. + +I went first to St. Louis, and there took the steamboat for New +Orleans, and when near the mouth of the Red River received word from +General Canby that Kirby Smith had surrendered under terms similar to +those accorded Lee and Johnston. But the surrender was not carried +out in good faith, particularly by the Texas troops, though this I +did not learn till some little time afterward when I was informed +that they had marched off to the interior of the State in several +organized bodies, carrying with them their camp equipage, arms, +ammunition, and even some artillery, with the ultimate purpose of +going to Mexico. In consequence of this, and also because of the +desire of the Government to make a strong showing of force in Texas, +I decided to traverse the State with two columns of cavalry, +directing one to San Antonio under Merritt, the other to Houston +under Custer. Both commands were to start from the Red River +--Shreveport and Alexandria--being the respective initial points--and +in organizing the columns, to the mounted force already on the Red +River were added several regiments of cavalry from the east bank of +the Mississippi, and in a singular way one of these fell upon the +trail of my old antagonist, General Early. While crossing the river +somewhere below Vicksburg some of the men noticed a suspicious +looking party being ferried over in a rowboat, behind which two +horses were swimming in tow. Chase was given, and the horses, being +abandoned by the party, fell into the hands of our troopers, who, +however, failed to capture or identify the people in the boat. As +subsequently ascertained, the men were companions of Early, who was +already across the Mississippi, hidden in the woods, on his way with +two or three of these followers to join the Confederates in Texas, +not having heard of Kirby Smith's surrender. A week or two later I +received a letter from Early describing the affair, and the capture +of the horses, for which he claimed pay, on the ground that they were +private property, because he had taken them in battle. The letter +also said that any further pursuit of Early would be useless, as he +"expected to be on the deep blue sea" by the time his communication +reached me. The unfortunate man was fleeing from imaginary dangers, +however, for striking his trail was purely accidental, and no effort +whatever was being made to arrest him personally. Had this been +especially desired it might have been accomplished very readily just +after Lee's surrender, for it was an open secret that Early was then +not far away, pretty badly disabled with rheumatism. + +By the time the two columns were ready to set out for San Antonio and +Houston, General Frank Herron,--with one division of the Thirteenth +Corps, occupied Galveston, and another division under General Fred +Steele had gone to Brazos Santiago, to hold Brownsville and the line +of the Rio Grande, the object being to prevent, as far as possible, +the escaping Confederates from joining Maximilian. With this purpose +in view, and not forgetting Grant's conviction that the French +invasion of Mexico was linked with the rebellion, I asked for an +increase of force to send troops into Texas in fact, to concentrate +at available points in the State an army strong enough to move +against the invaders of Mexico if occasion demanded. The Fourth and +Twenty-fifth army corps being ordered to report to me, accordingly, I +sent the Fourth Corps to Victoria and San Antonio, and the bulk of +the Twenty-fifth to Brownsville. Then came the feeding and caring +for all these troops--a difficult matter--for those at Victoria and +San Antonio had to be provisioned overland from Indianola across the +"hog-wallow prairie," while the supplies for the forces at +Brownsville and along the Rio Grande must come by way of Brazos +Santiago, from which point I was obliged to construct, with the labor +of the men, a railroad to Clarksville, a distance of about eighteen +miles. + +The latter part of June I repaired to Brownsville myself to impress +the Imperialists, as much as possible, with the idea that we intended +hostilities, and took along my chief of scouts--Major Young--and four +of his most trusty men, whom I had had sent from Washington. From +Brownsville I despatched all these men to important points in +northern Mexico, to glean information regarding the movements of the +Imperial forces, and also to gather intelligence about the +ex-Confederates who had crossed the Rio Grande. On information +furnished by these scouts, I caused General Steele to make +demonstrations all along the lower Rio Grande, and at the same time +demanded the return of certain munitions of war that had been turned +over by ex-Confederates to the Imperial General (Mejia) commanding at +Matamoras. These demands, backed up as they were by such a +formidable show of force created much agitation and demoralization +among the Imperial troops, and measures looking to the abandonment of +northern Mexico were forthwith adopted by those in authority--a +policy that would have resulted in the speedy evacuation of the +entire country by Maximilian, had not our Government weakened; +contenting itself with a few pieces of the contraband artillery +varnished over with the Imperial apologies. A golden opportunity was +lost, for we had ample excuse for crossing the boundary, but Mr. +Seward being, as I have already stated, unalterably opposed to any +act likely to involve us in war, insisted on his course of +negotiation with Napoleon. + +As the summer wore away, Maximilian, under Mr. Seward's policy, +gained in strength till finally all the accessible sections of Mexico +were in his possession, and the Republic under President Juarez +almost succumbed. Growing impatient at this, in the latter part of +September I decided to try again what virtue there might be in a +hostile demonstration, and selected the upper Rio Grande for the +scene of my attempt. Merritt's cavalry and the Fourth Corps still +being at San Antonio, I went to that place and reviewed these troops, +and having prepared them with some ostentation for a campaign, of +course it was bruited about that we were going to invade Mexico. +Then, escorted by a regiment of horse I proceeded hastily to Fort +Duncan, on the Rio Grande just opposite the Mexican town of Piedras +Negras. Here I opened communication with President Juarez, through +one of his staff, taking care not to do this in the dark, and the +news, spreading like wildfire, the greatest significance was ascribed +to my action, it being reported most positively and with many +specific details that I was only awaiting the arrival of the troops, +then under marching orders at San Antonio, to cross the Rio Grande in +behalf of the Liberal cause. + +Ample corroboration of the reports then circulated was found in my +inquiries regarding the quantity of forage we could depend upon +getting in Mexico, our arrangements for its purchase, and my sending +a pontoon train to Brownsville, together with which was cited the +renewed activity of the troops along the lower Rio Grande. These +reports and demonstrations resulted in alarming the Imperialists so +much that they withdrew the French and Austrian soldiers from +Matamoras, and practically abandoned the whole of northern Mexico as +far down as Monterey, with the exception of Matamoras, where General +Mejia continued to hang on with a garrison of renegade Mexicans. + +The abandonment of so much territory in northern Mexico encouraged +General Escobedo and other Liberal leaders to such a degree that they +collected a considerable army of their followers at Comargo, Mier, +and other points. At the same time that unknown quantity, Cortinas, +suspended his free-booting for the nonce, and stoutly harassing +Matamoras, succeeded in keeping its Imperial garrison within the +fortifications. Thus countenanced and stimulated, and largely +supplied with arms and ammunition, which we left at convenient places +on our side of the river to fall into their hands, the Liberals, +under General Escobedo--a man of much force of character--were +enabled in northern Mexico to place the affairs of the Republic on a +substantial basis. + +But in the midst of what bade fair to cause a final withdrawal of the +foreigners, we were again checked by our Government, as a result of +representations of the French Minister at Washington. In October, he +wrote to Mr. Seward that the United States troops on the Rio Grande +were acting "in exact opposition to the repeated assurances Your +Excellency has given me concerning the desire of the Cabinet at +Washington to preserve the most strict neutrality in the events now +taking place in Mexico," and followed this statement with an emphatic +protest against our course. Without any investigation whatever by +our State Department, this letter of the French Minister was +transmitted to me, accompanied by directions to preserve a strict +neutrality; so, of course, we were again debarred from anything like +active sympathy. + +After this, it required the patience of Job to abide the slow and +poky methods of our State Department, and, in truth, it was often +very difficult to restrain officers and men from crossing the Rio +Grande with hostile purpose. Within the knowledge of my troops, +there had gone on formerly the transfer of organized bodies of +ex-Confederates to Mexico, in aid of the Imperialists, and at this +period it was known that there was in preparation an immigration +scheme having in view the colonizing, at Cordova and one or two other +places, of all the discontented elements of the defunct Confederacy +--Generals Price, Magruder, Maury, and other high personages being +promoters of the enterprise, which Maximilian took to readily. He +saw in it the possibilities of a staunch support to his throne, and +therefore not only sanctioned the project, but encouraged it with +large grants of land, inspirited the promoters with titles of +nobility, and, in addition, instituted a system of peonage, expecting +that the silver hook thus baited would be largely swallowed by the +Southern people. + +The announcement of the scheme was followed by the appointment of +commissioners in each of the Southern States to send out emigrants; +but before any were deluded into starting, I made to General Grant a +report of what was going on, with the recommendation that measures be +taken, through our State Department, looking to the suppression of +the colony; but, as usual, nothing could be effected through that +channel; so, as an alternative, I published, in April, 1866, by +authority of General Grant, an order prohibiting the embarkation from +ports in Louisiana and Texas, for ports in Mexico, of any person +without a permit from my headquarters. This dampened the ardor of +everybody in the Gulf States who had planned to go to Mexico; and +although the projectors of the Cordova Colonization Scheme--the name +by which it was known--secured a few innocents from other districts, +yet this set-back led ultimately to failure. + +Among the Liberal leaders along the Rio Grande during this period +there sprang up many factional differences from various causes, some +personal, others political, and some, I regret to say, from downright +moral obliquity--as, for example, those between Cortinas and Canales +--who, though generally hostile to the Imperialists, were freebooters +enough to take a shy at each other frequently, and now and then even +to join forces against Escobedo, unless we prevented them by coaxing +or threats. A general who could unite these several factions was +therefore greatly needed, and on my return to New Orleans I so +telegraphed General Grant, and he, thinking General Caravajal (then +in Washington seeking aid for the Republic) would answer the purpose, +persuaded him to report to me in New Orleans. Caravajal promptly +appeared, but he did not impress me very favorably. He was old and +cranky, yet, as he seemed anxious to do his best, I sent him over to +Brownsville, with credentials, authorizing him to cross into Mexico, +and followed him myself by the next boat. When I arrived in +Brownsville, matters in Matamoras had already reached a crisis. +General Mejia, feeling keenly the moral support we were giving the +Liberals, and hard pressed by the harassing attacks of Cortinas and +Canales, had abandoned the place, and Caravajal, because of +his credentials from our side, was in command, much to the +dissatisfaction of both those chiefs whose differences it was +intended he should reconcile. + +The day after I got to Brownsville I visited Matamoras, and had a +long interview with Caravajal. The outcome of this meeting was, on +my part, a stronger conviction than ever that he was unsuitable, and +I feared that either Canales or Cortinas would get possession of the +city. Caravajal made too many professions of what he would do--in +short, bragged too much--but as there was no help for the situation, +I made the best of it by trying to smooth down the ruffled feathers +of Canales and Cortinas. In my interview with Caravajal I +recommended Major Young as a confidential man, whom he could rely +upon as a "go-between" for communicating with our people at +Brownsville, and whom he could trust to keep him informed of the +affairs of his own country as well. + +A day or two afterward I recrossed the Gulf to New Orleans, and then, +being called from my headquarters to the interior of Texas, a +fortnight passed before I heard anything from Brownsville. In the +meanwhile Major Young had come to New Orleans, and organized there a +band of men to act as a body-guard for Caravajal, the old wretch +having induced him to accept the proposition by representing that it +had my concurrence. I at once condemned the whole business, but +Young, having been furnished with seven thousand dollars to recruit +the men and buy their arms, had already secured both, and was so +deeply involved in the transaction, he said, that he could not +withdraw without dishonor, and with tears in his eyes he besought me +to help him. He told me he had entered upon the adventure in the +firm belief that I would countenance it; that the men and their +equipment were on his hands; that he must make good his word at all +hazards; and that while I need not approve, yet I must go far enough +to consent to the departure of the men, and to loan him the money +necessary to provision his party and hire a schooner to carry them to +Brazos. It was hard in deed to resist the appeals of this man, who +had served me so long and so well, and the result of his pleading was +that I gave him permission to sail, and also loaned him the sum asked +for; but I have never ceased to regret my consent, for misfortune +fell upon the enterprise almost from its inception. + +By the time the party got across the Gulf and over to Brownsville, +Caravajal had been deposed by Canales, and the latter would not +accept their services. This left Young with about fifty men to whom +he was accountable, and as he had no money to procure them +subsistence, they were in a bad fix. The only thing left to do was +to tender their services to General Escobedo, and with this in view +the party set out to reach the General's camp, marching up the Rio +Grande on the American side, intending to cross near Ringgold Bar +racks. In advance of them, however, had spread far and wide the +tidings of who they were, what they proposed to do, and where they +were going, and before they could cross into Mexico they were +attacked by a party of ex-Confederates and renegade Mexican +rancheros. Being on American soil, Young forbade his men to return +the fire, and bent all his efforts to getting them over the river; +but in this attempt they were broken up, and became completely +demoralized. A number of the men were drowned while swimming the +river, Young himself was shot and killed, a few were captured, and +those who escaped--about twenty in all--finally joined Escobedo, but +in such a plight as to be of little use. With this distressing +affair came to an end pretty much all open participation of American +sympathizers with the Liberal cause, but the moral support afforded +by the presence of our forces continued, and this was frequently +supplemented with material aid in the shape of munitions of war, +which we liberally supplied, though constrained to do so by the most +secret methods. + +The term of office of Juarez as President of the Mexican Republic +expired in December, 1865, but to meet existing exigencies he had +continued himself in office by proclamation, a course rendered +necessary by the fact that no elections could be held on account of +the Imperial occupation of most of the country. The official who, by +the Mexican Constitution, is designated for the succession in such an +emergency, is the President of the Supreme Court, and the person then +eligible under this provision was General Ortega, but in the interest +of the Imperialists he had absented himself from Mexico, hence the +patriotic course of Juarez in continuing himself at the head of +affairs was a necessity of the situation. This action of the +President gave the Imperialists little concern at first, but with the +revival of the Liberal cause they availed themselves of every means +to divide its supporters, and Ortega, who had been lying low in the +United States, now came forward to claim the Presidency. Though +ridiculously late for such a step, his first act was to issue a +manifesto protesting against the assumption of the executive +authority by Juarez. The protest had little effect, however, and his +next proceeding was to come to New Orleans, get into correspondence +with other disaffected Mexicans, and thus perfect his plans. When he +thought his intrigue ripe enough for action, he sailed for Brazos, +intending to cross the Rio Grande and assert his claims with arms. +While he was scheming in New Orleans, however, I had learned what he +was up to, and in advance of his departure had sent instructions to +have him arrested on American soil. Colonel Sedgwick, commanding at +Brownsville, was now temporary master of Matamoras also, by reason of +having stationed some American troops there for the protection of +neutral merchants, so when Ortega appeared at Brazos, Sedgwick +quietly arrested him and held him till the city of Matamoras was +turned over to General Escobedo, the authorized representative of +Juarez; then Escobedo took charge, of Ortega, and with ease prevented +his further machinations. + +During the winter and spring of 1866 we continued covertly supplying +arms and ammunition to the Liberals--sending as many as 30,000 +muskets from Baton Rouge Arsenal alone--and by mid-summer Juarez, +having organized a pretty good sized army, was in possession of the +whole line of the Rio Grande, and, in fact, of nearly the whole of +Mexico down to San Louis Potosi. Then thick and fast came rumors +pointing to the tottering condition of Maximilian's Empire-first, +that Orizaba and Vera Cruz were being fortified; then, that the +French were to be withdrawn; and later came the intelligence that the +Empress Carlotta had gone home to beg assistance from Napoleon, the +author of all of her husband's troubles. But the situation forced +Napoleon to turn a deaf ear to Carlotta's prayers. The brokenhearted +woman besought him on her knees, but his fear of losing an army made +all pleadings vain. In fact, as I ascertained by the following +cablegram which came into my hands, Napoleon's instructions for the +French evacuation were in Mexico at the very time of this pathetic +scene between him and Carlotta. The despatch was in cipher when I +received it, but was translated by the telegraph operator at my +headquarters, who long before had mastered the key of the French +cipher: + +"PARIS, January 10, 1867. FRENCH CONSUL, New Orleans, La. + +"To GENERAL CASTELNAU, at Mexico. + +"Received your despatch of the 9th December. Do not compel the +Emperor to abdicate, but do not delay the departure of the troops; +bring back all those who will not remain there. Most of the fleet +has left. + +"NAPOLEON." + + +This meant the immediate withdrawal of the French. The rest of the +story--which has necessarily been but in outline--is soon told. +Maximilian, though deserted, determined to hold out to the last, and +with the aid of disloyal Mexicans stuck to his cause till the spring. +When taken prisoner at Queretaro, he was tried and executed under +circumstances that are well known. From promptings of humanity +Secretary Seward tried hard to save the Imperial prisoner, but +without success. The Secretary's plea for mercy was sent through me +at New Orleans, and to make speed I hired a steamer to proceed with +it across the Gulf to Tampico. The document was carried by Sergeant +White, one of my scouts, who crossed the country from Tampico, and +delivered it to Escobedo at Queretaro; but Mr. Seward's +representations were without avail--refused probably because little +mercy had been shown certain Liberal leaders unfortunate enough to +fall into Maximilian's hands during the prosperous days of his +Empire. + +At the close of our war there was little hope for the Republic of +Mexico. Indeed, till our troops were concentrated on the Rio Grande +there was none. Our appearance in such force along the border +permitted the Liberal leaders, refugees from their homes, to +establish rendezvous whence they could promulgate their plans in +safety, while the countenance thus given the cause, when hope was +well-nigh gone, incited the Mexican people to renewed resistance. +Beginning again with very scant means, for they had lost about all, +the Liberals saw their cause, under the influence of such significant +and powerful backing, progress and steadily grow so strong that +within two years Imperialism had received its death-blow. I doubt +very much whether such, results could have been achieved without the +presence of an American army on the Rio Grande, which, be it +remembered, was sent there because, in General Grant's words, the +French invasion of Mexico was so closely related to the rebellion as +to be essentially a part of it. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A. J. HAMILTON APPOINTED PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF TEXAS--ASSEMBLES A +CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION--THE TEXANS DISSATISFIED--LAWLESSNESS +--OPPRESSIVE LEGISLATION--EX-CONFEDERATES CONTROLLING LOUISIANA--A +CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION--THE MEETING SUPPRESSED--A BLOODY RIOT--MY +REPORTS OF THE MASSACRE--PORTIONS SUPPRESSED BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON +--SUSTAINED BY A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE--THE RECONSTRUCTION LAWS. + +Although in 1865-66 much of my attention was directed to +international matters along the Rio Grande, the civil affairs of +Texas and Louisiana required a certain amount of military supervision +also in the absence of regularly established civil authority. At the +time of Kirby Smith's surrender the National Government had +formulated no plan with regard to these or the other States lately in +rebellion, though a provisional Government had been set up in +Louisiana as early as 1864. In consequence of this lack of system, +Governor Pendleton Murray, of Texas, who was elected under +Confederate rule, continued to discharge the duties of Governor till +President Johnson, on June 17, in harmony with his amnesty +proclamation of May 29, 1865, appointed A. J. Hamilton provisional +Governor. Hamilton was empowered by the President to call a +Constitutional convention, the delegates to which were to be elected, +under certain prescribed qualifications, for the purpose of +organizing the political affairs of the State, the Governor to be +guided by instructions similar to those given the provisional +Governor of North Carolina (W. W. Holden), when appointed in May. + +The convening of this body gave rise to much dissatisfaction among +the people of Texas. They had assumed that affairs were to go on as +of old, and that the reintegration of the State was to take place +under the administration of Governor Murray, who, meanwhile, had +taken it upon himself, together with the Legislature, to authorize +the election of delegates to a State Convention, without restriction +as to who should be entitled to vote. Thus encouraged, the element +but lately in armed rebellion was now fully bent on restoring the +State to the Union without any intervention whatever of the Federal +Government; but the advent of Hamilton put an end to such illusions, +since his proclamation promptly disfranchised the element in +question, whose consequent disappointment and chagrin were so great +as to render this factor of the community almost uncontrollable. The +provisional Governor at once rescinded the edict of Governor Murray, +prohibited the assembling of his convention, and shortly after +called, one himself, the delegates to which were to b chosen by +voters who could take the amnesty-oath. The proclamation convening +this assemblage also announced the policy that would be pursued in +governing the State until its affairs were satisfactorily +reorganized, defined in brief the course to be followed by the +Judiciary, and provided for the appointment, by the Governor, of +county officials to succeed those known to be disloyal. As this +action of Hamilton's disfranchised all who could not take the amnesty +oath, and of course deprived them of the offices, it met at once with +pronounced and serious opposition, and he quickly realized that he +had on his hands an arduous task to protect the colored people, +particularly as in the transition state of society just after the +close of the war there prevailed much lawlessness, which vented +itself chiefly on the freedmen. It was greatly feared that political +rights were to be given those so recently in servitude, and as it was +generally believed that such enfranchisement would precipitate a race +war unless the freedmen were overawed and kept in a state of +subjection, acts of intimidation were soon reported from all parts of +the State. + +Hamilton, an able, determined, and fearless man, tried hard to curb +this terrorism, but public opinion being strong against him, he could +accomplish little without military aid. As department commander, I +was required, whenever called upon, to assist his government, and as +these requisitions for help became necessarily very frequent, the +result was that shortly after he assumed his duties, detachments of +troops were stationed in nearly every county of the State. By such +disposition of my forces fairly good order was maintained under the +administration of Hamilton, and all went well till the inauguration +of J. W. Throckmorton, who, elected Governor in pursuance of an +authorization granted by the convention which Hamilton had called +together, assumed the duties of the office August 9, 1866. + +One of Governor Throckmorton's first acts was to ask the withdrawal +or non-interference of the military. This was not all granted, but +under his ingenious persuasion President Johnson, on the 13th of +August, 1866, directed that the new State officials be entrusted with +the unhampered control of civil affairs, and this was more than +enough to revive the bulldozing methods that had characterized the +beginning of Hamilton's administration. Oppressive legislation in +the shape of certain apprentice and vagrant laws quickly followed, +developing a policy of gross injustice toward the colored people on +the part of the courts, and a reign of lawlessness and disorder +ensued which, throughout the remote districts of the State at least, +continued till Congress, by what are known as the Reconstruction +Acts, took into its own hands the rehabilitation of the seceded +States. + +In the State of Louisiana a provisional government, chosen by the +loyal element, had been put in operation, as already mentioned, as +early as 1864. This was effected under encouragement given by +President Lincoln, through the medium of a Constitutional convention, +which met at New Orleans in April, 1864, and adjourned in July. The +constitution then agreed upon was submitted to the people, and in +September, 1864, was ratified by a vote of the few loyal residents of +the State. + +The government provided under this constitution being looked upon as +provisional merely, was never recognized by Congress, and in 1865 the +returned Confederates, restored to citizenship by the President's +amnesty proclamation, soon got control of almost all the State. The +Legislature was in their hands, as well as most of the State and +municipal offices; so, when the President, on the 20th of August, +1866, by proclamation, extended his previous instructions regarding +civil affairs in Texas so as to have them apply to all the seceded +States, there at once began in Louisiana a system of discriminative +legislation directed against the freedmen, that led to flagrant +wrongs in the enforcement of labor contracts, and in the remote +parishes to numbers of outrages and murders. + +To remedy this deplorable condition of things, it was proposed, by +those who had established the government of 1864, to remodel the +constitution of the State; and they sought to do this by reassembling +the convention, that body before its adjournment having provided for +reconvening under certain conditions, in obedience to the call of its +president. Therefore, early in the summer of 1866, many members of +this convention met in conference at New Orleans, and decided that a +necessity existed for reconvening the delegates, and a proclamation +was issued accordingly by B. K. Howell, President-pro-tempore. + +Mayor John T. Monroe and the other officials of New Orleans looked +upon this proposed action as revolutionary, and by the time the +convention assembled (July 30), such bitterness of feeling prevailed +that efforts were made by the mayor and city police to suppress the +meeting. A bloody riot followed, resulting, in the killing and +wounding of about a hundred and sixty persons. + +I happened to be absent from the city at the time, returning from +Texas, where I had been called by affairs on the Rio Grande. On my +way up from the mouth of the Mississippi I was met on the night of +July 30 by one of my staff, who reported what had occurred, giving +the details of the massacre--no milder term is fitting--and informing +me that, to prevent further slaughter, General Baird, the senior +military officer present, had assumed control of the municipal +government. On reaching the city I made an investigation, and that +night sent the following report of the affair: + +"HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE GULF, +"NEW ORLEANS, LA., Aug. 1, 1866. + +"GENERAL U. S. GRANT: + +"You are doubtless aware of the serious riot which occurred in this +city on the 30th. A political body, styling themselves the +Convention of 1864, met on the 30th, for, as it is alleged, the +purpose of remodeling the present constitution of the State. The +leaders were political agitators and revolutionary men, and the +action of the convention was liable to produce breaches of the public +peace. I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the +proceedings of the convention were calculated to disturb the +tranquility of the Department; but I had no cause for action until +they committed the overt act. In the meantime official duty called +me to Texas, and the mayor of the city, during my absence suppressed +the convention by the use of the police force, and in so doing +attacked the members of the convention, and a party of two hundred +negroes, with fire-arms, clubs, and knives, in a manner so +unnecessary and atrocious as to compel me to say that it was murder. +About forty whites and blacks were thus killed, and about one hundred +and sixty wounded. Everything is now quiet, but I deem it best to +maintain a military supremacy in the city for a few days, until the +affair is fully investigated. I believe the sentiment of the general +community is great regret at this unnecessary cruelty, and that the +police could have made any arrest they saw fit without sacrificing +lives. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +On receiving the telegram, General Grant immediately submitted it +to the President. Much clamor being made at the North for the +publication of the despatch, Mr. Johnson pretended to give it to the +newspapers. It appeared in the issues of August 4, but with this +paragraph omitted, viz.: + +"I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the proceedings of +the convention were calculated to disturb the tranquility of the +Department, but I had no cause for action until they committed the +overt act. In the mean time official duty called me to Texas, and +the mayor of the city, during my absence, suppressed the convention +by the use of the police force, and in so doing attacked the members +of the convention, and a party of two hundred negroes, with +fire-arms, clubs, and knives, in a manner so unnecessary and atrocious +as to compel me to say it was murder." + +Against this garbling of my report--done by the President's own order +--I strongly demurred; and this emphatic protest marks the beginning of +Mr. Johnson's well-known personal hostility toward me. In the mean +time I received (on August 3) the following despatch from General Grant +approving my course: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"WAR DEPT., WASHINGTON, D. C., "August 3, 1866--5 p.m. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Mil. Div. of the Gulf, +"New Orleans, La. + +"Continue to enforce martial law, so far as may be necessary to +preserve the peace; and do not allow any of the civil authorities to +act, if you deem such action dangerous to the public safety. Lose no +time in investigating and reporting the causes that led to the riot, +and the facts which occurred. + +"U. S. GRANT, +"Lieutenant-General." + + +In obedience to the President's directions, My report of August 1 was +followed by another, more in detail, which I give in full, since it +tells the whole story of the riot: + +"HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE GULF, +"NEW ORLEANS, LA., August 6, 1866. + +"His EXCELLENCY ANDREW JOHNSON, +"President United States. + +"I have the honor to make the following reply to your despatch of +August 4. A very large number of colored people marched in +procession on Friday night, July twenty-seven (27), and were +addressed from the steps of the City Hall by Dr. Dostie, ex-Governor +Hahn, and others. The speech of Dostie was intemperate in language +and sentiment. The speeches of the others, so far as I can learn, +were characterized by moderation. I have not given you the words of +Dostie's speech, as the version published was denied; but from what I +have learned of the man, I believe they were intemperate. + +"The convention assembled at twelve (12) M. on the thirtieth (30), +the timid members absenting themselves because the tone of the +general public was ominous of trouble. I think there were about +twenty-six (26) members present. In front of the Mechanics +Institute, where the meeting was held, there were assembled some +colored men, women, and children, perhaps eighteen (18) or twenty +(20), and in the Institute a number of colored men, probably one +hundred and fifty (150). Among those outside and inside there might +have been a pistol in the possession of every tenth (10) man. + +"About one (1) p. m. a procession of say from sixty (60) to one +hundred and thirty (130) colored men marched up Burgundy Street and +across Canal Street toward the convention, carrying an American flag. +These men had about one pistol to every ten men, and canes and clubs +in addition. While crossing Canal Street a row occurred. There were +many spectators on the street, and their manner and tone toward the +procession unfriendly. A shot was fired, by whom I am not able to +state, but believe it to have been by a policeman, or some colored +man in the procession. This led to other shots and a rush after the +procession. On arrival at the front of the Institute there was some +throwing of brickbats by both sides. The police, who had been held +well in hand, were vigorously marched to the scene of disorder. The +procession entered the Institute with the flag, about six (6) or +eight (8) remaining outside. A row occurred between a policeman and +one of these colored men, and a shot was again fired by one of the +parties, which led to an indiscriminate fire on the building through +the windows by the policemen. This had been going on for a short +time, when a white flag was displayed from the windows of the +Institute, whereupon the firing ceased, and the police rushed into +the building. + +"From the testimony of wounded men, and others who were inside the +building, the policemen opened an indiscriminate fire upon the +audience until they had emptied their revolvers, when they retired, +and those inside barricaded the doors. The door was broken in, and +the firing again commenced, when many of the colored and white people +either escaped throughout the door or were passed out by the +policemen inside; but as they came out the policemen who formed the +circle nearest the building fired upon them, and they were again +fired upon by the citizens that formed the outer circle. Many of +those wounded and taken prisoners, and others who were prisoners and +not wounded, were fired upon by their captors and by citizens. The +wounded were stabbed while lying on the ground, and their heads +beaten with brickbats. In the yard of the building, whither some of +the colored men had escaped and partially secreted themselves, they +were fired upon and killed or wounded by policemen. Some were killed +and wounded several squares from the scene. Members of the +convention were wounded by the police while in their hands as +prisoners, some of them mortally. + +"The immediate cause of this terrible affair was the assemblage of +this Convention; the remote cause was the bitter and antagonistic +feeling which has been growing in this community since the advent of +the present Mayor, who, in the organization of his police force, +selected many desperate men, and some of them known murderers. +People of clear views were overawed by want of confidence in the +Mayor, and fear of the thugs, many of which he had selected for his +police force. I have frequently been spoken to by prominent citizens +on this subject, and have heard them express fear, and want of +confidence in Mayor Monroe. Ever since the intimation of this last +convention movement I must condemn the course of several of the city +papers for supporting, by their articles, the bitter feeling of bad +men. As to the merciless manner in which the convention was broken +up, I feel obliged to confess strong repugnance. + +"It is useless to disguise the hostility that exists on the part of a +great many here toward Northern men, and this unfortunate affair has +so precipitated matters that there is now a test of what shall be the +status of Northern men--whether they can live here without being in +constant dread or not, whether they can be protected in life and +property, and have justice in the courts. If this matter is +permitted to pass over without a thorough and determined prosecution +of those engaged in it, we may look out for frequent scenes of the +same kind, not only here, but in other places. No steps have as yet +been taken by the civil authorities to arrest citizens who were +engaged in this massacre, or policemen who perpetrated such +cruelties. The members of the convention have been indicted by the +grand jury, and many of them arrested and held to bail. As to +whether the civil authorities can mete out ample justice to the +guilty parties on both sides, I must say it is my opinion, +unequivocally, that they cannot. Judge Abell, whose course I have +closely watched for nearly a year, I now consider one of the most +dangerous men that we have here to the peace and quiet of the city. +The leading men of the convention--King, Cutler, Hahn, and others +--have been political agitators, and are bad men. I regret to say that +the course of Governor Wells has been vacillating, and that during the +late trouble he has shown very little of the man. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +Subsequently a military commission investigated the subject of the +riot, taking a great deal of testimony. The commission substantially +confirmed the conclusions given in my despatches, and still later +there was an investigation by a select committee of the House of +Representatives, of which the Honorables Samuel Shellabarger, of +Ohio, H. L. Elliot, of Massachusetts, and B. M. Boyer, of +Pennsylvania, were the members. The majority report of the committee +also corroborated, in all essentials, my reports of the distressing +occurrence. The committee likewise called attention to a violent +speech made by Mr. Johnson at St. Louis in September, 1866, charging +the origin of the riot to Congress, and went on to say of the speech +that "it was an unwarranted and unjust expression of hostile feeling, +without pretext or foundation in fact." A list of the killed and +wounded was embraced in the committee's report, and among other +conclusions reached were the following: "That the meeting of July 30 +was a meeting of quiet citizens, who came together without arms and +with intent peaceably to discuss questions of public concern.... +There has been no occasion during our National history when a riot +has occurred so destitute of justifiable cause, resulting in a +massacre so inhuman and fiend-like, as that which took place at New +Orleans on the 30th of July last. This riotous attack upon the +convention, with its terrible results of massacre and murder, was not +an accident. It was the determined purpose of the mayor of the city +of New Orleans to break up this convention by armed force." + +The statement is also made, that, "He [the President] knew that +'rebels' and 'thugs' and disloyal men had controlled the election of +Mayor Monroe, and that such men composed chiefly his police force." + +The committee held that no legal government existed in Louisiana, and +recommended the temporary establishment of a provisional government +therein; the report concluding that "in the meantime the safety of +all Union men within the State demands that such government be formed +for their protection, for the well being of the nation and the +permanent peace of the Republic." + +The New Orleans riot agitated the whole country, and the official and +other reports served to intensify and concentrate the opposition to +President Johnson's policy of reconstruction, a policy resting +exclusively on and inspired solely by the executive authority--for it +was made plain, by his language and his acts, that he was seeking to +rehabilitate the seceded States under conditions differing not a whit +from those existing before the rebellion; that is to say, without the +slightest constitutional provision regarding the status of the +emancipated slaves, and with no assurances of protection for men who +had remained loyal in the war. + +In December, 1866, Congress took hold of the subject with such vigor +as to promise relief from all these perplexing disorders, and, after +much investigation and a great deal of debate, there resulted the +so-called "Reconstruction Laws," which, for a clear understanding of +the powers conferred on the military commanders, I deem best to append +in full: + +AN ACT to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel +States. + +WHEREAS, no legal State governments or adequate protection for life +or property now exist in the rebel States of Virginia, North +Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, +Florida, Texas, and Arkansas; and whereas, it is necessary that peace +and good order should be enforced in said States until loyal and +republican State governments can be legally established; therefore, + +BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled, That said rebel +States shall be divided into military districts and made subject to +the military authority of the United States as hereinafter +prescribed; and for that purpose Virginia shall constitute the first +district; North Carolina and South Carolina, the second district; +Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, the third district; Mississippi and +Arkansas, the fourth district; and Louisiana and Texas, the fifth +district. + +SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the +President to assign to the command of each of said districts an +officer of the army not below the rank of brigadier-general, and to +detail a sufficient military force to enable such officer to perform +his duties and enforce his authority within the district to which he +is assigned. + +SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of each +officer assigned as aforesaid to protect all persons in their rights +of person and property, to suppress insurrection, disorder, and +violence, and to punish, or cause to be punished, all disturbers of +the public peace and criminals, and to this end he may allow local +civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of and to try offenders, or, +when in his judgment it may be necessary for the trial of offenders, +he shall have power to organize military commissions or tribunals for +that purpose, and all interference, under cover of State authority, +with the exercise of military authority under this act, shall be null +and void. + +SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That all persons put under +military arrest by virtue of this act shall be tried without +unnecessary delay, and no cruel or unjust punishment shall be +inflicted; and no sentence of any military commission or tribunal +hereby authorized affecting the life or liberty of any person, shall +be executed until it is approved by the officer in command of the +district; and the laws and regulations for the government of the army +shall not be affected by this act except in so far as they conflict +with its provisions: Provided, That no sentence of death, under the +provisions of this act, shall be carried into effect without the +approval of the President. + +SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That when the people of any one of +said rebel States shall have formed a constitution of government in +conformity with the Constitution of the United States in all +respects, framed by a convention of delegates elected by the male +citizens of said State twenty-one years old and upward, of whatever +race, color, or previous condition, who have been resident in said +State for one year previous to the day of such election, except such +as may be disfranchised for participation in the rebellion, or for +felony at common law; and when such constitution shall provide that +the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all such persons as have +the qualifications herein stated for electors of delegates; and when +such constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the persons +voting on the question of ratification who are qualified as electors +for delegates, and when such constitution shall have been submitted +to Congress for examination and approval, and Congress shall have +approved the same; and when said State, by a vote of its legislature +elected under said constitution, shall have adopted the amendment to +the Constitution of the United States proposed by the Thirty-ninth +Congress, and known as article fourteen; and when said article shall +have become a part of the Constitution of the United States, said +State shall be declared entitled to representation in Congress, and +senators and representatives shall be admitted therefrom on their +taking the oath prescribed by law; and then and thereafter the +preceding sections of this act shall be inoperative in said State: +Provided, That no person excluded from the privilege of holding +office by said proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United +States shall be eligible to election as a member of the convention to +frame a constitution for any of said rebel States, nor shall any such +person vote for members of such convention. + +SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That until the people of said +rebel States shall be by law admitted to representation in the +Congress of the United States, any civil government which may exist +therein shall be deemed provisional only, and in all respects subject +to the paramount authority of the United States at any time to +abolish, modify, control, or supersede the same; and in all elections +to any office under such provisional governments all persons shall be +entitled to vote, and none others, who are entitled to vote under the +fifth section of this act; and no person shall be eligible to any +office under any such provisional governments who would be +disqualified from holding office under the provisions of the third +article of said constitutional amendment. + +SCHUYLER COLFAX, +Speaker of the House of Representatives. + +LAFAYETTE S. FOSTER, +President of the Senate pro tempore. + + +AN ACT supplementary to an act entitled "An act to provide for the +more efficient government of the rebel States," passed March second, +eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and to facilitate restoration. + +Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled, That before the first +day of September, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, the commanding +general in each district defined by an act entitled "An act to +provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States," +passed March second, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, shall cause a +registration to be made of the male citizens of the United States, +twenty-one years of age and upwards, resident in each county or +parish in the State or States included in his district, which +registration shall include only those persons who are qualified to +vote for delegates by the act aforesaid, and who shall have taken and +subscribed the following oath or affirmation: "I,------, do +solemnly swear (or affirm), in the presence of the Almighty God, that +I am a citizen of the State of ---------; that I have resided in said +State for----- months next preceding this day, and now reside in the +county of -------, or the parish of --------, in said State, (as the +case may be); that I am twenty-one years old; that I have not been +disfranchised for participation in any rebellion or civil war against +the United States, nor for felony committed against the laws of any +State or of the United States; that I have never been a member of any +State Legislature, nor held any executive or judicial office in any +State, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against +the United States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; +that I have never taken an oath as a member of Congress of the United +States, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any +State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any +State, to support the constitution of the United States, and +afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United +States or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I will +faithfully support the Constitution and obey the laws of the United +States, and will, to the best of my ability, encourage others so to +do: so help me God."; which oath or affirmation may be administered +by any registering officer. + +SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That after the completion of the +registration hereby provided for in any State, at such time and +places therein as the commanding general shall appoint and direct, of +which at least thirty days' public notice shall be given, an election +shall be held of delegates to a convention for the purpose of +establishing a constitution and civil government for such State loyal +to the Union, said convention in each State, except Virginia, to +consist of the same number of members as the most numerous branch of +the State Legislature of such State in the year eighteen hundred and +sixty, to be apportioned among the several districts, counties, or +parishes of such State by the commanding general, giving each +representation in the ratio of voters registered as aforesaid as +nearly as may be. The convention in Virginia shall consist of the +same number of members as represented the territory now constituting +Virginia in the most numerous branch of the Legislature of said State +in the year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be apportioned as +aforesaid. + +SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That at said election the +registered voters of each State shall vote for or against a +convention to form a constitution therefor under this act. Those +voting in favor of such a convention shall have written or printed on +the ballots by which they vote for delegates, as aforesaid, the words +"For a convention," and those voting against such a convention shall +have written or printed on such ballot the words "Against a +convention." The persons appointed to superintend said election, and +to make return of the votes given thereat, as herein provided, shall +count and make return of the votes given for and against a +convention; and the commanding general to whom the same shall have +been returned shall ascertain and declare the total vote in each +State for and against a convention. If a majority of the votes given +on that question shall be for a convention, then such convention +shall be held as hereinafter provided; but if a majority of said +votes shall, be against a convention, then no such convention shall +be held under this act: Provided, That such convention shall not be +held unless a majority of all such registered voters shall have voted +on the question of holding such convention. + +SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the commanding general of +each district shall appoint as many boards of registration as may be +necessary, consisting of three loyal officers or persons, to make and +complete the registration, superintend the election, and make return +to him of the votes, list of voters, and of the persons elected as +delegates by a plurality of the votes cast at said election; and upon +receiving said returns he shall open the same, ascertain the persons +elected as delegates, according to the returns of the officers who +conducted said election, and make proclamation thereof; and if a +majority of the votes given on that question shall be for a +convention, the commanding general, within sixty days from the date +of election, shall notify the delegates to assemble in convention, at +a time and place to be mentioned in the notification, and said +convention, when organized, shall proceed to frame a constitution and +civil government according to the provisions of this act, and the act +to which it is supplementary; and when the same shall have been so +framed, said constitution shall be submitted by the convention for +ratification to the persons registered under the provisions of this +act at an election to be conducted by the officers or persons +appointed or to be appointed by the commanding general, as +hereinbefore provided, and to be held after the expiration of thirty +days from the date of notice thereof, to be given by said convention; +and the returns thereof shall be made to the commanding general of +the district. + +SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That if, according to said +returns, the constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the +votes of the registered electors qualified as herein specified, cast +at said election, at least one-half of all the registered voters +voting upon the question of such ratification, the president of the +convention shall transmit a copy of the same, duly certified, to the +President of the United States, who shall forthwith transmit the same +to Congress, if then in session, and if not in session, then +immediately upon its next assembling; and if it shall moreover appear +to Congress that the election was one at which all the registered and +qualified electors in the State had an opportunity to vote freely, +and without restraint, fear, or the influence of fraud, and if the +Congress shall be satisfied that such constitution meets the approval +of a majority of all the qualified electors in the State, and if the +said constitution shall be declared by Congress to be in conformity +with the provisions of the act to which this is supplementary, and +the other provisions of said act shall have been complied with, and +the said constitution shall be approved by Congress, the State shall +be declared entitled to representation, and senators and +representatives shall be admitted therefrom as therein provided. + +SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That all elections in the States +mentioned in the said "Act to provide for the more efficient +government of the rebel States" shall, during the operation of said +act, be by ballot; and all officers making the said registration of +voters and conducting said elections, shall, before entering upon the +discharge of their duties, take and subscribe the oath prescribed by +the act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, +entitled "An act to prescribe an oath of office": Provided, That if +any person shall knowingly and falsely take and subscribe any oath in +this act prescribed, such person so offending and being thereof duly +convicted, shall be subject to the pains, penalties, and disabilities +which by law are provided for the punishment of the crime of wilful +and corrupt perjury. + +SEC. 7. And be if further enacted, That all expenses incurred by the +several commanding generals, or by virtue of any orders issued, or +appointments made, by them, under or by virtue of this act, shall be +paid out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. + +SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the convention for each State +shall prescribe the fees, salary, and compensation to be paid to all +delegates and other officers and agents herein authorized or +necessary to carry into effect the purposes of this act not herein +otherwise provided for, and shall provide for the levy and collection +of such taxes on the property in such State as may be necessary to +pay the same. + +SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the word "article," in the +sixth section of the act to which this is supplementary, shall be +construed to mean, "section." + +SCHUYLER COLFAX, +Speaker of the House of Representatives. + +B. F. WADE, +President of the Senate pro tempore. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +PASSAGE OF THE RECONSTRUCTION ACT OVER THE PRESIDENT'S VETO--PLACED +IN COMMAND OF THE FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT--REMOVING OFFICERS--MY +REASONS FOR SUCH ACTION--AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA AND TEXAS--REMOVAL OF +GOVERNOR WELLS--REVISION OF THE JURY LISTS--RELIEVED FROM THE COMMAND +OF THE FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT. + +The first of the Reconstruction laws was passed March 2, 1867, and +though vetoed by the President, such was the unanimity of loyal +sentiment and the urgency demanding the measure, that the bill became +a law over the veto the day the President returned it to Congress. +March the 11th this law was published in General Orders No. 10, from +the Headquarters of the Army, the same order assigning certain +officers to take charge of the five military districts into which the +States lately in rebellion were subdivided, I being announced as the +commander of the Fifth Military District, which embraced Louisiana +and Texas, a territory that had formed the main portion of my command +since the close of the war. + +Between the date of the Act and that of my assignment, the Louisiana +Legislature, then in special session, had rejected a proposed repeal +of an Act it had previously passed providing for an election of +certain municipal officers in New Orleans. This election was set for +March 11, but the mayor and the chief of police, together with +General Mower, commanding the troops in the city, having expressed to +me personally their fears that the public peace would be disturbed by +the election, I, in this emergency, though not yet assigned to the +district, assuming the authority which the Act conferred on district +commanders, declared that the election should not take place; that no +polls should be opened on the day fixed; and that the whole matter +would stand postponed till the district commander should be +appointed, or special instructions be had. This, my first official +act under the Reconstruction laws, was rendered necessary by the +course of a body of obstructionists, who had already begun to give +unequivocal indications of their intention to ignore the laws of +Congress. + +A copy of the order embodying the Reconstruction law, together with +my assignment, having reached me a few days after, I regularly +assumed control of the Fifth Military District on March 19, by an +order wherein I declared the State and municipal governments of the +district to be provisional only, and, under the provisions of the +sixth section of the Act, subject to be controlled, modified, +superseded, or abolished. I also announced that no removals from +office would be made unless the incumbents failed to carry out the +provisions of the law or impeded reorganization, or unless willful +delays should necessitate a change, and added: "Pending the +reorganization, it is, desirable and intended to create as little +disturbance in the machinery of the various branches of the +provisional governments as possible, consistent with the law of +Congress and its successful execution, but this condition is +dependent upon the disposition shown by the people, and upon the +length of time required for reorganization." + +Under these limitations Louisiana and Texas retained their former +designations as military districts, the officers in command +exercising their military powers as heretofore. In addition, these +officers were to carry out in their respective commands all +provisions of the law except those specially requiring the action of +the district commander, and in cases of removals from and appointment +to office. + +In the course of legislation the first Reconstruction act, as I have +heretofore noted, had been vetoed. On the very day of the veto, +however, despite the President's adverse action, it passed each House +of Congress by such an overwhelming majority as not only to give it +the effect of law, but to prove clearly that the plan of +reconstruction presented was, beyond question, the policy endorsed by +the people of the country. It was, therefore, my determination to +see to the law's zealous execution in my district, though I felt +certain that the President would endeavor to embarrass me by every +means in his power, not only on account of his pronounced personal +hostility, but also because of his determination not to execute but +to obstruct the measures enacted by Congress. + +Having come to this conclusion, I laid down, as a rule for my +guidance, the principle of non-interference with the provisional +State governments, and though many appeals were made to have me +rescind rulings of the courts, or interpose to forestall some +presupposed action to be taken by them, my invariable reply was that +I would not take cognizance of such matters, except in cases of +absolute necessity. The same policy was announced also in reference +to municipal affairs throughout the district, so long as the action +of the local officers did not conflict with the law. + +In a very short time, however, I was obliged to interfere in +municipal matters in New Orleans, for it had become clearly apparent +that several of the officials were, both by acts of omission and +commission, ignoring the law, so on the 27th of March I removed from +office the Mayor, John T. Monroe; the Judge of the First District +Court, E. Abell; and the Attorney-General of the State, Andrew S. +Herron; at the same time appointing to the respective offices thus +vacated Edward Heath, W. W. Howe, and B. L. Lynch. The officials +thus removed had taken upon themselves from the start to pronounce +the Reconstruction acts unconstitutional, and to advise such a course +of obstruction that I found it necessary at an early dav to replace +them by men in sympathy with the law, in order to make plain my +determination to have its provisions enforced. The President at once +made inquiry, through General Grant, for the cause of the removal, +and I replied: + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +"New Orleans, La., April 19, 1867. + +"GENERAL: On the 27th day of March last I removed from office Judge +E. Abell, of the Criminal Court of New Orleans; Andrew S. Herron, +Attorney-General of the State of Louisiana; and John T. Monroe, Mayor +of the City of New Orleans. These removals were made under the +powers granted me in what is usually termed the 'military bill,' +passed March 2, 1867, by the Congress of the United States. + +"I did not deem it necessary to give any reason for the removal of +these men, especially after the investigations made by the military +board on the massacre Of July 30, 1866, and the report of the +congressional committee on the same massacre; but as some inquiry has +been made for the cause of removal, I would respectfully state as +follows: + +"The court over which judge Abell presided is the only criminal court +in the city of New Orleans, and for a period of at least nine months +previous to the riot Of July 30 he had been educating a large portion +of the community to the perpetration of this outrage, by almost +promising no prosecution in his court against the offenders, in case +such an event occurred. The records of his court will show that he +fulfilled his promise, as not one of the guilty has been prosecuted. + +"In reference to Andrew J. Herron, Attorney-General of the State of +Louisiana, I considered it his duty to indict these men before this +criminal court. This he failed to do, but went so far as to attempt +to impose on the good sense of the whole nation by indicting the +victims of the riot instead of the rioters; in other words, making +the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent. He was therefore, in my +belief, an able coadjutor with judge Abell in bringing on the +massacre of July 30. + +"Mayor Monroe controlled the element engaged in this riot, and when +backed by an attorney-general who would not prosecute the guilty, and +a judge who advised the grand jury to find the innocent guilty and +let the murderers go free, felt secure in engaging his police force +in the riot and massacre. + +"With these three men exercising a large influence over the worst +elements of the population of this city, giving to those elements an +immunity for riot and bloodshed, the general-in-chief will see how +insecurely I felt in letting them occupy their respective positions +in the troubles which might occur in registration and voting in the +reorganization of this State. + +"I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General U. S. A. + + +"GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +"Commanding Armies of the United States, +"Washington, D. C." + + +To General Grant my reasons were satisfactory, but not so to the +President, who took no steps, however, to rescind my action, for he +knew that the removals were commended by well-nigh the entire +community in the city, for it will be understood that Mr. Johnson +was, through his friends and adherents in Louisiana and Texas, kept +constantly advised of every step taken by me. Many of these persons +were active and open opponents of mine, while others were spies, +doing their work so secretly and quickly that sometimes Mr. Johnson +knew of my official acts before I could report them to General Grant. + +The supplemental Reconstruction act which defined the method of +reconstruction became a law despite the President's veto on March 23. +This was a curative act, authorizing elections and prescribing +methods of registration. When it reached me officially I began +measures for carrying out its provisions, and on the 28th of March +issued an order to the effect that no elections for the State, +parish, or municipal officers would be held in Louisiana until the +provisions of the laws of Congress entitled "An act to provide for +the more efficient government of the rebel States," and of the act +supplemental thereto, should have been complied with. I also +announced that until elections were held in accordance with these +acts, the law of the Legislature of the State providing for the +holding over of those persons whose terms of office otherwise would +have expired, would govern in all cases excepting only those special +ones in which I myself might take action. There was one parish, +Livingston, which this order did no reach in time to prevent the +election previously ordered there, and which therefore took place, +but by a supplemental order this election was declare null and void. + +In April. I began the work of administering the Supplemental Law, +which, under certain condition of eligibility, required a +registration of the voter of the State, for the purpose of electing +delegate to a Constitutional convention. It therefore became +necessary to appoint Boards of Registration throughout the election +districts, and on April 10 the boards for the Parish of Orleans were +given out, those for the other parishes being appointed ten days +later. Before announcing these boards, I had asked to be advised +definitely as to what persons were disfranchised by the law, and was +directed by General Grant to act upon my own interpretation of it, +pending an opinion expected shortly from the Attorney-General--Mr. +Henry Stanbery--so, for the guidance of the boards, I gave the +following instructions: + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT. +"New Orleans, La., April 10, 1867. + +"Special Orders, No. 15. + +"....In obedience to the directions contained in the first section of +the Law of Congress entitled "An Act supplemental to an Act entitled +'An Act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel +States'" the registration of the legal voters, according to that law +in the Parish of Orleans, will be commenced on the 15th instant, and +must be completed by the 15th of May. + +"The four municipal districts of the City of New Orleans and the +Parish of Orleans, right bank (Algiers), will each constitute a +Registration district. Election precincts will remain as at present +constituted. + +"....Each member of the Board of Registers, before commencing his +duties, will file in the office of the Assistant-Inspector-General at +these headquarters, the oath required in the sixth section of the Act +referred to, and be governed in the execution of his duty by the +provisions of the first section of that Act, faithfully administering +the oath therein prescribed to each person registered. + +"Boards of Registers will immediately select suitable offices within +their respective districts, having reference to convenience and +facility of registration, and will enter upon their duties on the day +designated. Each Board will be entitled to two clerks. Office-hours +for registration will be from 8 o'clock till 12 A. M., and from 4 +till 7 P. M. + +"When elections are ordered, the Board of Registers for each district +will designate the number of polls and the places where they shall be +opened in the election precincts within its district, appoint the +commissioners and other officers necessary for properly conducting +the elections, and will superintend the same. + +"They will also receive from the commissioners of elections of the +different precincts the result of the vote, consolidate the same, and +forward it to the commanding general. + +"Registers and all officers connected with elections will be held to +a rigid accountability and will be subject to trial by military +commission for fraud, or unlawful or improper conduct in the +performance of their duties. Their rate of compensation and manner +of payment will be in accordance with the provisions of sections six +and seven of the supplemental act. + +"....Every male citizen of the United States, twenty-one years old +and upward, of whatever race, color, or previous condition, who has +been resident in the State of Louisiana for one year and Parish of +Orleans for three months previous to the date at which he presents +himself for registration, and who has not been disfranchised by act +of Congress or for felony at common law, shall, after having taken +and subscribed the oath prescribed in the first section of the act +herein referred to, be entitled to be, and shall be, registered as a +legal voter in the Parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana. + +"Pending the decision of the Attorney-General of the United States on +the question as to who are disfranchised by law, registers will give +the most rigid interpretation to the law, and exclude from +registration every person about whose right to vote there may be a +doubt. Any person so excluded who may, under the decision of the +Attorney-General, be entitled to vote, shall be permitted to register +after that decision is received, due notice of which will be given. + +"By command of Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN, + +"GEO. L. HARTSUFF, +"Assistant Adjutant-General." + + +The parish Boards of Registration were composed of three members +each. Ability to take what was known as the "ironclad oath" was the +qualification exacted of the members, and they were prohibited from +becoming candidates for office. In the execution of their duties +they were to be governed by the provisions of the supplemental act. +It was also made one of their functions to designate the number and +location of the polling-places in the several districts, to appoint +commissioners for receiving the votes and in general to attend to +such other matters as were necessary, in order properly to conduct +the voting, and afterward to receive from the commissioners the +result of the vote and forward it to my headquarters. These +registers, and all other officers having to do with elections, were +to be held to a rigid accountability, and be subject to trial by +military commission for fraud or unlawful or improper conduct in the +performance of their duties; and in order to be certain that the +Registration Boards performed their work faithfully and +intelligently, officers of the army were appointed as supervisors. +To this end the parishes were grouped together conveniently in +temporary districts, each officer having from three to five parishes +to supervise. The programme thus mapped out for carrying out the law +in Louisiana was likewise adhered to in Texas, and indeed was +followed as a model in some of the other military districts. + +Although Military Commissions were fully authorized by the +Reconstruction acts, yet I did not favor their use in governing the +district, and probably would never have convened one had these acts +been observed in good faith. I much preferred that the civil courts, +and the State and municipal authorities already in existence, should +perform their functions without military control or interference, but +occasionally, because the civil authorities neglected their duty, I +was obliged to resort to this means to ensure the punishment Of +offenders. At this time the condition of the negroes in Texas and +Louisiana was lamentable, though, in fact, not worse than that of the +few white loyalists who had been true to the Union during the war. +These last were singled out as special objects of attack, and were, +therefore, obliged at all times to be on the alert for the protection +of their lives and property. This was the natural outcome of Mr. +Johnson's defiance of Congress, coupled with the sudden conversion to +his cause of persons in the North--who but a short time before had +been his bitterest enemies; for all this had aroused among the +disaffected element new hopes of power and place, hopes of being at +once put in political control again, with a resumption of their +functions in State and National matters without any preliminary +authorization by Congress. In fact, it was not only hoped, but +expected, that things were presently to go on just as if there had +been no war. + +In the State of Texas there were in 1865 about 200,000 of the colored +race-roughly, a third of the entire population--while in Louisiana +there were not less than 350,000, or more than one-half of all the +people in the State. Until the enactment of the Reconstruction laws +these negroes were without rights, and though they had been liberated +by the war, Mr. Johnson's policy now proposed that they should have +no political status at all, and consequently be at the mercy of a +people who, recently their masters, now seemed to look upon them as +the authors of all the misfortunes that had come upon the land. +Under these circumstances the blacks naturally turned for protection +to those who had been the means of their liberation, and it would +have been little less than inhuman to deny them sympathy. Their +freedom had been given them, and it was the plain duty of those in +authority to make it secure, and screen them from the bitter +political resentment that beset them, and to see that they had a fair +chance in the battle of life. Therefore, when outrages and murders +grew frequent, and the aid of the military power was an absolute +necessity for the protection of life, I employed it unhesitatingly +--the guilty parties being brought to trial before military +commissions--and for a time, at least, there occurred a halt in the +march of terrorism inaugurated by the people whom Mr. Johnson had +deluded. + +The first, Military Commission was convened to try the case of John +W. Walker, charged with shooting a negro in the parish of St. John. +The proper civil authorities had made no effort to arrest Walker, and +even connived at his escape, so I had him taken into custody in New +Orleans, and ordered him tried, the commission finding him guilty, +and sentencing him to confinement in the penitentiary for six months. +This shooting was the third occurrence of the kind that had taken +place in St. John's parish, a negro being wounded in each case, and +it was plain that the intention was to institute there a practice of +intimidation which should be effective to subject the freedmen to the +will of their late masters, whether in making labor contracts, or in +case these newly enfranchised negroes should evince a disposition to +avail themselves of the privilege to vote. + +The trial and conviction of Walker, and of one or two others for +similar outrages, soon put a stop to every kind of "bull-dozing" in +the country parishes; but about this time I discovered that many +members of the police force in New Orleans were covertly intimidating +the freedmen there, and preventing their appearance at the +registration offices, using milder methods than had obtained in the +country, it is true, but none the less effective. + +Early in 1866 the Legislature had passed an act which created for the +police of New Orleans a residence qualification, the object of which +was to discharge and exclude from the force ex-Union soldiers. This +of course would make room for the appointment of ex-Confederates, and +Mayor Monroe had not been slow in enforcing the provisions of the +law. It was, in fact, a result of this enactment that the police was +so reorganized as to become the willing and efficient tool which it +proved to be in the riot of 1866; and having still the same +personnel, it was now in shape to prevent registration by threats, +unwarranted arrests, and by various other influences, all operating +to keep the timid blacks away from the registration places. + +That the police were taking a hand in this practice of repression, I +first discovered by the conduct of the assistant to the chief of the +body, and at once removed the offender, but finding this ineffectual +I annulled that part of the State law fixing the five years' +residence restriction, and restored the two years' qualification, +thus enabling Mayor Heath, who by my appointment had succeeded +Monroe, to organize the force anew, and take about one-half of its +members from ex-Union soldiers who when discharged had settled in New +Orleans. This action put an end to intimidation in the parish of +Orleans; and now were put in operation in all sections the processes +provided by the supplemental Reconstruction law for the summoning of +a convention to form a Constitution preparatory to the readmission of +the State, and I was full of hope that there would now be much less +difficulty in administering the trust imposed by Congress. + +During the two years previous great damage had been done the +agricultural interests of Louisiana by the overflow of the +Mississippi, the levees being so badly broken as to require extensive +repairs, and the Legislature of 1866 had appropriated for the purpose +$4,000,000, to be raised by an issue of bonds. This money was to be +disbursed by a Board of Levee Commissioners then in existence, but +the term of service of these commissioners, and the law creating the +board, would expire in the spring of 1867. In order to overcome this +difficulty the Legislature passed a bill continuing the commissioners +in office but as the act was passed inside of ten days before the +adjournment of the Legislature, Governor Wells pocketed the bill, and +it failed to become a law. The Governor then appointed a board of +his own, without any warrant of law whatever. The old commissioners +refused to recognize this new board, and of course a conflict of +authority ensued, which, it was clear, would lead to vicious results +if allowed to continue; so, as the people of the State had no +confidence in either of the boards, I decided to end the contention +summarily by appointing an entirely new commission, which would +disburse the money honestly, and further the real purpose for which +it had been appropriated. When I took this course the legislative +board acquiesced, but Governor Wells immediately requested the +President to revoke my order, which, however, was not done, but +meanwhile the Secretary of War directed me to suspend all proceedings +in the matter, and make a report of the facts. I complied in the +following telegram: + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +"NEW ORLEANS, La., June 3, 1867. + +"SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of +this date in reference to the Levee Commissioners in this State. + +"The following were my reasons for abolishing the two former boards, +although I intended that my order should be sufficiently explanatory: + +"Previous to the adjournment of the Legislature last winter it passed +an act continuing the old Levee board in office, so that the four +millions of dollars ($4,000,000) in bonds appropriated by the +Legislature might be disbursed by a board of rebellious antecedents. + +"After its adjournment the Governor of the State appointed a board of +his own, in violation of this act, and made the acknowledgment to me +in person that his object was to disburse the money in the interest +of his own party by securing for it the vote of the employees at the +time of election. + +"The board continued in office by the Legislature refused to turn +over to the Governor's board, and each side appealed to me to sustain +it, which I would not do. The question must then have gone to the +courts, which, according to the Governor's judgment when he was +appealing to me to be sustained, would require one year for decision. +Meantime the State was overflowed, the Levee boards tied up by +political chicanery, and nothing done to relieve the poor people, now +fed by the charity of the Government and charitable associations of +the North. + +"To obviate this trouble, and to secure to the overflowed districts +of the State the immediate relief which the honest disbursement of +the four millions ($4,000,000) would give, my order dissolving both +boards was issued. + +"I say now, unequivocally, that Governor Wells is a political +trickster and a dishonest man. I have seen him myself, when I first +came to this command, turn out all the Union men who had supported +the Government, and put in their stead rebel soldiers who had not yet +doffed their gray uniform. I have seen him again, during the July +riot of 1866, skulk away where I could not find him to give him a +guard, instead of coming out as a manly representative of the State +and joining those who were preserving the peace. I have watched him +since, and his conduct has been as sinuous as the mark left in the +dust by the movement of a snake. + +"I say again that he is dishonest, and that dishonesty is more than +must be expected of me. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General, U. S. A. + +"Hon. E. M. STANTON, +"Secretary of War, Washington, D. C." + + +The same day that I sent my report to the Secretary of War I removed +from office Governor Wells himself, being determined to bear no +longer with the many obstructions he had placed in the way of +reorganizing the civil affairs of the State. I was also satisfied +that he was unfit to retain the place, since he was availing himself +of every opportunity to work political ends beneficial to himself. +In this instance Wells protested to me against his removal, and also +appealed to the President for an opinion of the Attorney-General as +to my power in the case; and doubtless he would have succeeded in +retaining his office, but for the fact that the President had been +informed by General James B. Steadman and others placed to watch me +that Wells was wholly unworthy. + + +"NEW ORLEANS, June 19, 1867. +"ANDREW JOHNSON, President United States, +"Washington City: + +"Lewis D. Campbell leaves New Orleans for home this evening. Want +of respect for Governor Wells personally, alone represses the +expression of indignation felt by all honest and sensible men at the +unwarranted usurpation of General Sheridan in removing the civil +officers of Louisiana. It is believed here that you will reinstate +Wells. He is a bad man, and has no influence. + +"I believe Sheridan made the removals to embarrass you, believing the +feeling at the North would sustain him. My conviction is that on +account of the bad character of Wells and Monroe, you ought not to +reinstate any who have been removed, because you cannot reinstate any +without reinstating all, but you ought to prohibit the exercise of +this power in the future. + +"Respectfully yours, + +"JAMES B. STEADMAN." + + +I appointed Mr. Thomas J. Durant as Wells's successor, but he +declining, I then appointed Mr. Benjamin F. Flanders, who, after I +had sent a staff-officer to forcibly eject Wells in case of +necessity, took possession of the Governor's office. Wells having +vacated, Governor Flanders began immediately the exercise of his +duties in sympathy with the views of Congress, and I then notified +General Grant that I thought he need have no further apprehension +about the condition of affairs in Louisiana, as my appointee was a +man of such integrity and ability that I already felt relieved of +half my labor. I also stated in the same despatch that nothing would +answer in Louisiana but a bold and firm course, and that in taking +such a one I felt that I was strongly supported; a statement that was +then correct, for up to this period the better classes were disposed +to accept the Congressional plan of reconstruction. + +During the controversy over the Levee Commissioners, and the +correspondence regarding the removal of Governor Wells, registration +had gone on under the rules laid down for the boards. The date set +for closing the books was the 30th of June, but in the parish of +Orleans the time was extended till the 15th of July. This the +President considered too short a period, and therefore directed the +registry lists not to be closed before the 1st of August, unless +there was some good reason to the contrary. This was plainly +designed to keep the books open in order that under the +Attorney-General's interpretation of the Reconstruction laws, published +June 20, many persons who had been excluded by the registration boards +could yet be registered, so I decided to close the registration, unless +required by the President unconditionally, and in specific orders, to +extend the time. My motives were manifold, but the main reasons were +that as two and a half months had been given already, the number of +persons who, under the law, were qualified for registry was about +exhausted; and because of the expense I did not feel warranted in +keeping up the boards longer, as I said, "to suit new issues coming in +at the eleventh hour," which would but open a "broad macadamized road +for perjury and fraud." + +When I thus stated what I intended to do, the opinion of the +Attorney-General had not yet been received. When it did reach me it +was merely in the form of a circular signed by Adjutant-General +Townsend, and had no force of law. It was not even sent as an order, +nor was it accompanied by any instructions, or by anything except the +statement that it was transmitted to the 11 respective military +commanders for their information, in order that there might be +uniformity in the execution of the Reconstruction acts. To adopt +Mr. Stanbery's interpretation of the law and reopen registration +accordingly, would defeat the purpose of Congress, as well as add to +my perplexities. Such a course would also require that the officers +appointed by me for the performance of specified duties, under laws +which I was empowered to interpret and enforce, should receive their +guidance and instructions from an unauthorized source, so on +communicating with General Grant as to how I should act, he directed +me to enforce my own construction of the military bill until ordered +to do otherwise. + +Therefore the registration continued as I had originally directed, +and nothing having been definitely settled at Washington in relation +to my extending the time, on the 10th of July I ordered all the +registration boards to select, immediately, suitable persons to act +as commissioners of election, and at the same time specified the +number of each set of commissioners, designated the polling-places, +gave notice that two days would be allowed for voting, and followed +this with an order discontinuing registration the 31st of July, and +then another appointing the 27th and 28th of September as the time +for the election of delegates to the State convention. + +In accomplishing the registration there had been little opposition +from the mass of the people, but the press of New Orleans, and the +office-holders and office-seekers in the State generally, antagonized +the work bitterly and violently, particularly after the promulgation +of the opinion of the Attorney-General. These agitators condemned +everybody and everything connected with the Congressional plan of +reconstruction; and the pernicious influence thus exerted was +manifested in various ways, but most notably in the selection of +persons to compose the jury lists in the country parishes it also +tempted certain municipal officers in New Orleans to perform illegal +acts that would seriously have affected the credit of the city had +matters not been promptly corrected by the summary removal from +office of the comptroller and the treasurer, who had already issued a +quarter of a million dollars in illegal certificates. On learning of +this unwarranted and unlawful proceeding, Mayor Heath demanded an +investigation by the Common Council, but this body, taking its cue +from the evident intention of the President to render abortive the +Reconstruction acts, refused the mayor's demand. Then he tried to +have the treasurer and comptroller restrained by injunction, but the +city attorney, under the same inspiration as the council, declined to +sue out a writ, and the attorney being supported in this course by +nearly all the other officials, the mayor was left helpless in his +endeavors to preserve the city's credit. Under such circumstances he +took the only step left him--recourse to the military commander; and +after looking into the matter carefully I decided, in the early part +of August, to give the mayor officials who would not refuse to make +an investigation of the illegal issue of certificates, and to this +end I removed the treasurer, surveyor, comptroller, city attorney, +and twenty-two of the aldermen; these officials, and all of their +assistants, having reduced the financial credit of New Orleans to a +disordered condition, and also having made efforts--and being then +engaged in such--to hamper the execution of the Reconstruction laws. + +This action settled matters in the city, but subsequently I had to +remove some officials in the parishes--among them a justice of the +peace and a sheriff in the parish of Rapides; the justice for +refusing to permit negro witnesses to testify in a certain murder +case, and for allowing the murderer, who had foully killed a colored +man, to walk out of his court on bail in the insignificant sum of +five hundred dollars; and the sheriff, for conniving at the escape +from jail of another alleged murderer. Finding, however, even after +these removals, that in the country districts murderers and other +criminals went unpunished, provided the offenses were against negroes +merely (since the jurors were selected exclusively from the whites, +and often embraced those excluded from the exercise of the election +franchise) I, having full authority under the Reconstruction laws, +directed such a revision of the jury lists as would reject from them +every man not eligible for registration as a voter. This order was +issued August 24, and on its promulgation the President relieved me +from duty and assigned General Hancock as my successor. + + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +"NEW ORLEANS, LA., August 24, 1867. + +"SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 125. + +"The registration of voters of the State of Louisiana, according to +the law of Congress, being complete, it is hereby ordered that no +person who is not registered in accordance with said law shall be +considered as, a duly qualified voter of the State of Louisiana. All +persons duly registered as above, and no others, are consequently +eligible, under the laws of the State of Louisiana, to serve as +jurors in any of the courts of the State. + +"The necessary revision of the jury lists will immediately be made by +the proper officers. + +"All the laws of the State respecting exemptions, etc., from jury +duty will remain in force. + +"By command of Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN. + +"GEO. L. HARTNUFF, Asst. Adj't-General." + + +Pending the arrival of General Hancock, I turned over the command of +the district September 1 to General Charles Griffin; but he dying of +yellow fever, General J. A. Mower succeeded him, and retained command +till November 29, on which date General Hancock assumed control. +Immediately after Hancock took charge, he revoked my order of August +24 providing for a revision of the jury lists; and, in short, +President Johnson's policy now became supreme, till Hancock himself +was relieved in March, 1868. + +My official connection with the reconstruction of Louisiana and Texas +practically closed with this order concerning the jury lists. In my +judgment this had become a necessity, for the disaffected element, +sustained as it was by the open sympathy of the President, had grown +so determined in its opposition to the execution of the +Reconstruction acts that I resolved to remove from place and power +all obstacles; for the summer's experience had convinced me that in +no other way could the law be faithfully administered. + +The President had long been dissatisfied with my course; indeed, he +had harbored personal enmity against me ever since he perceived that +he could not bend me to an acceptance of the false position in which +he had tried to place me by garbling my report of the riot of 1866. +When Mr. Johnson decided to remove me, General Grant protested in +these terms, but to no purpose: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"WASHINGTON, D. C., August 17, 1867 + +"SIR: I am in receipt of your order of this date directing the +assignment of General G. H. Thomas to the command of the Fifth +Military District, General Sheridan to the Department of the +Missouri, and General Hancock to the Department of the Cumberland; +also your note of this date (enclosing these instructions), saying: +'Before you issue instructions to carry into effect the enclosed +order, I would be pleased to hear any suggestions you may deem +necessary respecting the assignments to which the order refers.' + +"I am pleased to avail myself of this invitation to urge--earnestly +urge--urge in the name of a patriotic people, who have sacrificed +hundreds of thousands of loyal lives and thousands of millions of +treasure to preserve the integrity and union of this country--that +this order be not insisted on. It is unmistakably the expressed wish +of the country that General Sheridan should not be removed from his +present command. + +"This is a republic where the will of the people is the law of the +land. I beg that their voice may be heard. + +"General Sheridan has performed his civil duties faithfully and +intelligently. His removal will only be regarded as an effort to +defeat the laws of Congress. It will be interpreted by the +unreconstructed element in the South--those who did all they could to +break up this Government by arms, and now wish to be the only element +consulted as to the method of restoring order--as a triumph. It will +embolden them to renewed opposition to the will of the loyal masses, +believing that they have the Executive with them. + +"The services of General Thomas in battling for the Union entitle him +to some consideration. He has repeatedly entered his protest against +being assigned to either of the five military districts, and +especially to being assigned to relieve General Sheridan. + +"There are military reasons, pecuniary reasons, and above all, +patriotic reasons, why this should not be insisted upon. + +"I beg to refer to a letter marked 'private,' which I wrote to the +President when first consulted on the subject of the change in the +War Department. It bears upon the subject of this removal, and I had +hoped would have prevented it. + +"I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +"U. S. GRANT, +"General U. S. A., Secretary of War ad interim. + +"His Excellency A. JOHNSON, +"President of the United States." + + +I was ordered to command the Department of the Missouri (General +Hancock, as already noted, finally becoming my successor in the Fifth +Military District), and left New Orleans on the 5th of September. I +was not loath to go. The kind of duty I had been performing in +Louisiana and Texas was very trying under the most favorable +circumstances, but all the more so in my case, since I had to contend +against the obstructions which the President placed in the way from +persistent opposition to the acts of Congress as well as from +antipathy to me--which obstructions he interposed with all the +boldness and aggressiveness of his peculiar nature. + +On more than one occasion while I was exercising this command, +impurity of motive was imputed to me, but it has never been +truthfully shown (nor can it ever be) that political or corrupt +influences of any kind controlled me in any instance. I simply tried +to carry out, without fear or favor, the Reconstruction acts as they +came to me. They were intended to disfranchise certain persons, and +to enfranchise certain others, and, till decided otherwise, were the +laws of the land; and it was my duty to execute them faithfully, +without regard, on the one hand, for those upon whom it was thought +they bore so heavily, nor, on the other, for this or that political +party, and certainly without deference to those persons sent to +Louisiana to influence my conduct of affairs. + +Some of these missionaries were high officials, both military and +civil, and I recall among others a visit made me in 1866 by a +distinguished friend of the President, Mr. Thomas A. Hendricks. The +purpose of his coming was to convey to me assurances of the very high +esteem in which I was held by the President, and to explain +personally Mr. Johnson's plan of reconstruction, its flawless +constitutionality, and so on. But being on the ground, I had before +me the exhibition of its practical working, saw the oppression and +excesses growing out of it, and in the face of these experiences even +Mr. Hendricks's persuasive eloquence was powerless to convince me of +its beneficence. Later General Lovell H. Rousseau came down on a +like mission, but was no more successful than Mr. Hendricks. + +During the whole period that I commanded in Louisiana and Texas my +position was a most unenviable one. The service was unusual, and the +nature of it scarcely to be understood by those not entirely familiar +with the conditions existing immediately after the war. In +administering the affairs of those States, I never acted except by +authority, and always from conscientious motives. I tried to guard +the rights of everybody in accordance with the law. In this I was +supported by General Grant and opposed by President Johnson. The +former had at heart, above every other consideration, the good of his +country, and always sustained me with approval and kind suggestions. +The course pursued by the President was exactly the opposite, and +seems to prove that in the whole matter of reconstruction he was +governed less by patriotic motives than by personal ambitions. Add +to this his natural obstinacy of character and personal enmity toward +me, and no surprise should be occasioned when I say that I heartily +welcomed the order that lifted from me my unsought burden. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AT FORT LEAVENWORTH--THE TREATY OF MEDICINE LODGE--GOING TO FORT +DODGE--DISCONTENTED INDIANS--INDIAN OUTRAGES--A DELEGATION OF CHIEFS +--TERRIBLE INDIAN RAID--DEATH OF COMSTOCK--VAST HERDS OF BUFFALO +--PREPARING FOR A WINTER CAMPAIGN--MEETING "BUFFALO BILL" +--HE UNDERTAKES A DANGEROUS TASK--FORSYTH'S GALLANT FIGHT--RESCUED. + +The headquarters of the military department to which I was assigned +when relieved from duty at New Orleans was at Fort Leavenworth, +Kansas, and on the 5th of September I started for that post. In due +time I reached St. Louis, and stopped there a day to accept an +ovation tendered in approval of the course I had pursued in the Fifth +Military District--a public demonstration apparently of the most +sincere and hearty character. + +From St. Louis to Leavenworth took but one night, and the next day I +technically complied with my orders far enough to permit General +Hancock to leave the department, so that he might go immediately to +New Orleans if he so desired, but on account of the yellow fever +epidemic then prevailing, he did not reach the city till late in +November. + +My new command was one of the four military departments that composed +the geographical division then commanded by Lieutenant-General +Sherman. This division had been formed in 1866, with a view to +controlling the Indians west of the Missouri River, they having +become very restless and troublesome because of the building of the +Pacific railroads through their hunting-grounds, and the +encroachments of pioneers, who began settling in middle and western +Kansas and eastern Colorado immediately after the war. + +My department embraced the States of Missouri and Kansas, the Indian +Territory, and New Mexico. Part of this section of country--western +Kansas particularly--had been frequently disturbed and harassed +during two or three years past, the savages every now and then +massacring an isolated family, boldly attacking the surveying and +construction parties of the Kansas-Pacific railroad, sweeping down on +emigrant trains, plundering and burning stage-stations and the like +along the Smoky Hill route to Denver and the Arkansas route to New +Mexico. + +However, when I relieved Hancock, the department was comparatively +quiet. Though some military operations had been conducted against +the hostile tribes in the early part of the previous summer, all +active work was now suspended in the attempt to conclude a permanent +peace with the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Comanches, in +compliance with the act of Congress creating what was known as the +Indian Peace Commission of 1867. + +Under these circumstances there was little necessity for my remaining +at Leavenworth, and as I was much run down in health from the +Louisiana climate, in which I had been obliged to live continuously +for three summers (one of which brought epidemic cholera, and another +a scourge of yellow fever), I took a leave of absence for a few +months, leaving Colonel A. J. Smith, of the Seventh Cavalry, +temporarily in charge of my command. + +On this account I did not actually go on duty in the department of +the Missouri till March, 1868. On getting back I learned that the +negotiations of the Peace Commissioners held at Medicine Lodge, about +seventy miles south of Fort Larned had resulted in a treaty with the +Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Comanches, by which agreement it +was supposed all troubles had been settled. The compact, as +concluded, contained numerous provisions, the most important to us +being one which practically relinquished the country between the +Arkansas and Platte rivers for white settlement; another permitted +the peaceable construction of the Pacific railroads through the same +region; and a third requiring the tribes signing the treaty to retire +to reservations allotted them in the Indian Territory. Although the +chiefs and head-men were well-nigh unanimous in ratifying these +concessions, it was discovered in the spring of 1868 that many of the +young men were bitterly opposed to what had been done, and claimed +that most of the signatures had been obtained by misrepresentation +and through proffers of certain annuities, and promises of arms and +ammunition to be issued in the spring of 1868. This grumbling was +very general in extent, and during the winter found outlet in +occasional marauding, so, fearing a renewal of the pillaging and +plundering at an early day, to prepare myself for the work evidently +ahead the first thing I did on assuming permanent command was to make +a trip to Fort Larned and Fort Dodge, near which places the bulk of +the Indians had congregated on Pawnee and Walnut creeks. I wanted to +get near enough to the camps to find out for myself the actual state +of feeling among the savages, and also to familiarize myself with the +characteristics of the Plains Indians, for my previous experience had +been mainly with mountain tribes on the Pacific coast. Fort Larned I +found too near the camps for my purpose, its proximity too readily +inviting unnecessary "talks," so I remained here but a day or two, +and then went on to Dodge, which, though considerably farther away +from the camps, was yet close enough to enable us to obtain easily +information of all that was going on. + +It took but a few days at Dodge to discover that great discontent +existed about the Medicine Lodge concessions, to see that the young +men were chafing and turbulent, and that it would require much tact +and good management on the part of the Indian Bureau to persuade the +four tribes to go quietly to their reservations, under an agreement +which, when entered into, many of them protested had not been fully +understood. + +A few hours after my arrival a delegation of prominent chiefs called +on me and proposed a council, where they might discuss their +grievances, and thus bring to the notice of the Government the +alleged wrongs done them; but this I refused, because Congress had +delegated to the Peace Commission the whole matter of treating with +them, and a council might lead only to additional complications. My +refusal left them without hope of securing better terms, or of even +delaying matters longer; so henceforth they were more than ever +reckless and defiant. Denunciations of the treaty became outspoken, +and as the young braves grew more and more insolent every day, it +amounted to conviction that, unless by some means the irritation was +allayed, hostilities would surely be upon us when the buffalo +returned to their summer feeding-grounds between the Arkansas and the +Platte. + +The principal sufferers in this event would be the settlers in middle +and western Kansas, who, entirely ignorant of the dangers hanging +over them, were laboring to build up homes in a new country. Hence +the maintenance of peace was much to be desired, if it could be +secured without too great concessions, and although I would not meet +the different tribes in a formal council, yet, to ward off from +settlers as much as possible the horrors of savage warfare, I showed, +by resorting to persuasive methods, my willingness to temporize a +good deal. An abundant supply of rations is usually effective to +keep matters quiet in such cases, so I fed them pretty freely, and +also endeavored to control them through certain men who, I found, +because of former associations, had their confidence. These men, +employed as scouts, or interpreters, were Mr. William Comstock, Mr. +Abner S. Grover, and Mr. Richard Parr. They had lived on the Plains +for many years with different tribes of Indians, had trapped and +hunted with them, and knew all the principal chiefs and headmen. +Through such influences, I thought I saw good chances of preserving +peace, and of inducing the discontented to go quietly to their +reservations in the Indian Territory as soon as General Hazen, the +representative of the Peace Commissioners, was ready to conduct them +there from Fort Larned. + +Before returning to Leavenworth I put my mediators (as I may call +them) under charge of an officer of the army, Lieutenant F. W. +Beecher, a very intelligent man, and directed him to send them out to +visit among the different tribes, in order to explain what was +intended by the treaty of Medicine Lodge, and to make every effort +possible to avert hostilities. Under these instructions Comstock and +Grover made it their business to go about among the Cheyennes--the +most warlike tribe of all--then camping about the headwaters of +Pawnee and Walnut creeks, and also to the north and west of Fort +Wallace, while Parr spent his time principally with the Kiowas and +Comanches. + +From the different posts--Wallace, Dodge, and Larned Lieutenant +Beecher kept up communication with all three scouts, and through him +I heard from them at least once a week. Every now and then some +trouble along the railroad or stage routes would be satisfactorily +adjusted and quiet restored, and matters seemed to be going on very +well, the warm weather bringing the grass and buffalo in plenty, and +still no outbreak, nor any act of downright hostility. So I began to +hope that we should succeed in averting trouble till the favorite war +season of the Indians was over, but the early days of August rudely +ended our fancied tranquility. + +In July the encampments about Fort Dodge began to break up, each band +or tribe moving off to some new location north of the Arkansas, +instead of toward its proper reservation to the south of that river. +Then I learned presently that a party of Cheyennes had made a raid on +the Kaws--a band of friendly Indians living near Council Grove--and +stolen their horses, and also robbed the houses of several white +people near Council Grove. This raid was the beginning of the Indian +war of 1868. Immediately following it, the Comanches and Kiowas came +to Fort Larned to receive their annuities, expecting to get also the +arms and ammunition promised them at Medicine Lodge, but the raid to +Council Grove having been reported to the Indian Department, the +issue of arms was suspended till reparation was made. This action of +the Department greatly incensed the savages, and the agent's offer of +the annuities without guns and pistols was insolently refused, the +Indians sulking back to their camps, the young men giving themselves +up to war-dances, and to powwows with "medicine-men," till all hope +of control was gone. + +Brevet Brigadier-General Alfred Sully, an officer of long experience +in Indian matters, who at this time was in command of the District of +the Arkansas, which embraced Forts Larned and Dodge, having notified +me of these occurrences at Larned, and expressed the opinion that the +Indians were bent on mischief, I directed him there immediately to +act against them. After he reached Larned, the chances for peace +appeared more favorable. The Indians came to see him, and protested +that it was only a few bad young men who had been depredating, and +that all would be well and the young men held in check if the agent +would but issue the arms and ammunition. Believing their promises, +Sully thought that the delivery of the arms would solve all the +difficulties, so on his advice the agent turned them over along with +the annuities, the Indians this time condescendingly accepting. + +This issue of arms and ammunition was a fatal mistake; Indian +diplomacy had overreached Sully's experience, and even while the +delivery was in progress a party of warriors had already begun a raid +of murder and rapine, which for acts of devilish cruelty perhaps has +no parallel in savage warfare. The party consisted of about two +hundred Cheyennes and a few Arapahoes, with twenty Sioux who had been +visiting their friends, the Cheyennes. As near as could be +ascertained, they organized and left their camps along Pawnee Creek +about the 3d of August. Traveling northeast, they skirted around +Fort Harker, and made their first appearance among the settlers in +the Saline Valley, about thirty miles north of that post. Professing +friendship and asking food at the farm-houses, they saw the +unsuspecting occupants comply by giving all they could spare from +their scanty stores. Knowing the Indian's inordinate fondness for +coffee, particularly when well sweetened, they even served him this +luxury freely. With this the demons began their devilish work. +Pretending to be indignant because it was served them in tin cups, +they threw the hot contents into the women's faces, and then, first +making prisoners of the men, they, one after another, ravished the +women till the victims became insensible. For some inexplicable +reason the two farmers were neither killed nor carried off, so after +the red fiends had gone, the unfortunate women were brought in to +Fort Harker, their arrival being the first intimation to the military +that hostilities had actually begun. + +Leaving the Saline, this war-party crossed over to the valley of the +Solomon, a more thickly settled region, and where the people were in +better circumstances, their farms having been started two or three +years before. Unaware of the hostile character of the raiders, the +people here received them in the friendliest way, providing food, and +even giving them ammunition, little dreaming of what was impending. +These kindnesses were requited with murder and pillage, and worse, +for all the women who fell into their hands were subjected to horrors +indescribable by words. Here also the first murders were committed, +thirteen men and two women being killed. Then, after burning five +houses and stealing all the horses they could find, they turned back +toward the Saline, carrying away as prisoners two little girls named +Bell, who have never been heard of since. + +It was probably the intention to finish, as they marched back to the +south, the devilish work begun on the Saline, but before they reached +that valley on the return, the victims left there originally had fled +to Fort Harker, as already explained, and Captain Benteen was now +nearing the little settlement with a troop of cavalry, which he had +hurriedly marched from Fort Zarah. The savages were attacking the +house of a Mr. Schermerhorn, where a few of the settlers had +collected for defense, when Benteen approached. Hearing the firing, +the troopers rode toward the sound at a gallop, but when they +appeared in view, coming over the hills, the Indians fled in all +directions, escaping punishment through their usual tactics of +scattering over the Plains, so as to leave no distinctive trail. + +When this frightful raid was taking place, Lieutenant Beecher, with +his three scouts--Comstock, Grover, and Parr--was on Walnut Creek. +Indefinite rumors about troubles on the Saline and Solomon reaching +him, he immediately sent Comstock and Grover over to the headwaters +of the Solomon, to the camp of a band of Cheyennes, whose chief was +called "Turkey Leg," to see if any of the raiders belonged there; to +learn the facts, and make explanations, if it was found that the +white people had been at fault. For years this chief had been a +special friend of Comstock and Grover. They had trapped, hunted, and +lived with his band, and from this intimacy they felt confident of +being able to get "Turkey Leg" to quiet his people, if any of them +were engaged in the raid; and, at all events, they expected, through +him and his band, to influence the rest of the Cheyennes. From the +moment they arrived in the Indian village, however, the two scouts +met with a very cold reception. Neither friendly pipe nor food was +offered them, and before they could recover from their chilling +reception, they were peremptorily ordered out of the village, with +the intimation that when the Cheyennes were on the war-path the +presence of whites was intolerable. The scouts were prompt to leave, +of course, and for a few miles were accompanied by an escort of seven +young men, who said they were sent with them to protect the two from +harm. As the party rode along over the prairie, such a depth +of attachment was professed for Comstock and Grover that, +notwithstanding all the experience of their past lives, they were +thoroughly deceived, and in the midst of a friendly conversation some +of the young warriors fell suddenly to the rear and treacherously +fired on them. + +At the volley Comstock fell from his horse instantly killed. Grover, +badly wounded in the shoulder, also fell to the ground near Comstock +Seeing his comrade was dead, Grover made use of his friend's body to +protect himself, lying close behind it. Then took place a remarkable +contest, Grover, alone and severely wounded, obstinately fighting the +seven Indians, and holding them at bay for the rest of the day. +Being an expert shot, and having a long-range repeating rifle, he +"stood off" the savages till dark. Then cautiously crawling away on +his belly to a deep ravine, he lay close, suffering terribly from his +wound, till the following night, when, setting out for Fort Wallace, +he arrived there the succeeding day, almost crazed from pain and +exhaustion. + +Simultaneously with the fiendish atrocities committed on the Saline +and Solomon rivers and the attack on Comstock and Grover, the +pillaging and murdering began on the Smoky Hill stage-route, along +the upper Arkansas River and on the headwaters of the Cimarron. That +along the Smoky Hill and north of it was the exclusive work of, the +Cheyennes, a part of the Arapahoes, and the few Sioux allies +heretofore mentioned, while the raiding on the Arkansas and Cimarron +was done principally by the Kiowas under their chief, Satanta, aided +by some of the Comanches. The young men of these tribes set out on +their bloody work just after the annuities and guns were issued at +Larned, and as soon as they were well on the road the rest of the +Comanches and Kiowas escaped from the post and fled south of the +Arkansas. They were at once pursued by General Sully with a small +force, but by the time he reached the Cimarron the war-party had +finished its raid on the upper Arkansas, and so many Indians combined +against Sully that he was compelled to withdraw to Fort Dodge, which +he reached not without considerable difficulty, and after three +severe fights. + +These, and many minor raids which followed, made it plain that a +general outbreak was upon us. The only remedy, therefore, was to +subjugate the savages immediately engaged in the forays by forcing +the several tribes to settle down on the reservations set apart by +the treaty of Medicine Lodge. The principal mischief-makers were the +Cheyennes. Next in deviltry were the Kiowas, and then the Arapahoes +and Comanches. Some few of these last two tribes continued friendly, +or at least took no active part in the raiding, but nearly all the +young men of both were the constant allies of the Cheyennes and +Kiowas. All four tribes together could put on the war-path a +formidable force of about 6,000 warriors. The subjugation of this +number of savages would be no easy task, so to give the matter my +undivided attention I transferred my headquarters from Leavenworth to +Fort Hays, a military post near which the prosperous town of Hays +City now stands. + +Fort Hays was just beyond the line of the most advanced settlements, +and was then the terminus of the Kansas-Pacific railroad. For this +reason it could be made a depot of supplies, and was a good point +from which to supervise matters in the section of country to be +operated in, which district is a part of the Great American Plains, +extending south from the Platte River in Nebraska to the Red River in +the Indian Territory, and westward from the line of frontier +settlements to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, a vast region +embracing an area of about 150,000 square miles. With the exception +of a half-dozen military posts and a few stations on the two overland +emigrant routes--the Smoky Hill to Denver, and the Arkansas to New +Mexico--this country was an unsettled waste known only to the Indians +and a few trappers. There were neither roads nor well-marked trails, +and the only timber to be found--which generally grew only along the +streams--was so scraggy and worthless as hardly to deserve the name. +Nor was water by any means plentiful, even though the section is +traversed by important streams, the Republican, the Smoky Hill, the +Arkansas, the Cimarron, and the Canadian all flowing eastwardly, as +do also their tributaries in the main. These feeders are sometimes +long and crooked, but as a general thing the volume of water is +insignificant except after rain-falls. Then, because of unimpeded +drainage, the little streams fill up rapidly with torrents of water, +which quickly flows off or sinks into the sand, leaving only an +occasional pool without visible inlet or outlet. + +At the period of which I write, in 1868, the Plains were covered with +vast herds of buffalo--the number has been estimated at 3,000,000 +head--and with such means of subsistence as this everywhere at hand, +the 6,000 hostiles were wholly unhampered by any problem of +food-supply. The savages were rich too according to Indian standards, +many a lodge owning from twenty to a hundred ponies; and +consciousness of wealth and power, aided by former temporizing, had +made them not only confident but defiant. Realizing that their +thorough subjugation would be a difficult task, I made up my mind to +confine operations during the grazing and hunting season to +protecting the people of the new settlements and on the overland +routes, and then, when winter came, to fall upon the savages +relentlessly, for in that season their ponies would be thin, and weak +from lack of food, and in the cold and snow, without strong ponies to +transport their villages and plunder, their movements would be so +much impeded that the troops could overtake them. + +At the outbreak of hostilities I had in all, east of New Mexico, a +force of regulars numbering about 2,600 men--1,200 mounted and 1,400 +foot troops. The cavalry was composed of the Seventh and Tenth +regiments; the infantry, of the Third and Fifth regiments and four +companies of the Thirty-Eighth. With these few troops all the posts +along the Smoky Hill and Arkansas had to be garrisoned, emigrant +trains escorted, and the settlements and routes of travel and the +construction parties on the Kansas-Pacific railway protected. Then, +too, this same force had to furnish for the field small movable +columns, that were always on the go, so it will be rightly inferred +that every available man was kept busy from the middle of August till +November; especially as during this period the hostiles attacked over +forty widely dispersed places, in nearly all cases stealing horses, +burning houses, and killing settlers. It was of course impossible to +foresee where these descents would be made, but as soon as an attack +was heard of assistance was always promptly rendered, and every now +and then we succeeded in killing a few savages. As a general thing, +though, the raiders escaped before relief arrived, and when they had +a few miles the start, all efforts to catch them were futile. I +therefore discouraged long pursuits, and, in fact, did not approve of +making any at all unless the chances of obtaining paying results were +very evident, otherwise the troops would be worn out by the time the +hard work of the winter was demanded from them. + +To get ready for a winter campaign of six months gave us much to do. +The thing most needed was more men, so I asked for additional +cavalry, and all that could be spareds--even troops of the Fifth +Cavalry--was sent tome. Believing this reinforcement insufficient, +to supplement it I applied for a regiment of Kansas volunteers, which +request being granted, the organization of the regiment was +immediately begun at Topeka. It was necessary also to provide a +large amount of transportation and accumulate quantities of stores, +since the campaign probably would not end till spring. Another +important matter was to secure competent guides for the different +columns of troops, for, as I have said, the section of country to be +operated in was comparatively unknown. + +In those days the railroad town of Hays City was filled with so +called "Indian scouts," whose common boast was of having slain scores +of redskins, but the real scout--that is, a 'guide and trailer +knowing the habits of the Indians--was very scarce, and it was hard +to find anybody familiar with the country south of the Arkansas, +where the campaign was to be made. Still, about Hays City and the +various military posts there was some good material to select from, +and we managed to employ several men, who, from their experience on +the Plains in various capacities, or from natural instinct and +aptitude, soon became excellent guides and courageous and valuable +scouts, some of them, indeed, gaining much distinction. Mr. William +F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill"), whose renown has since become world-wide, +was one of the men thus selected. He received his sobriquet from his +marked success in killing buffaloes for a contractor, to supply fresh +meat to the construction parties, on the Kansas-Pacific railway. He +had given up this business, however, and was now in the employ of the +quartermaster's department of the army, and was first brought to my +notice by distinguishing himself in bringing me an important despatch +from Fort Larned to Fort Hays, a distance of sixty-five miles, +through a section infested with Indians. The despatch informed me +that the Indians near Larned were preparing to decamp, and this +intelligence required that certain orders should be carried to Fort +Dodge, ninety-five miles south of Hays. This too being a +particularly dangerous route--several couriers having been killed on +it--it was impossible to get one of the various "Petes," "Jacks," or +"Jims" hanging around Hays City to take my communication. Cody +learning of the strait I was in, manfully came to the rescue, and +proposed to make the trip to Dodge, though he had just finished his +long and perilous ride from Larned. I gratefully accepted his offer, +and after four or five hours' rest he mounted a fresh horse and +hastened on his journey, halting but once to rest on the way, and +then only for an hour, the stop being made at Coon Creek, where he +got another mount from a troop of cavalry. At Dodge he took six +hours' sleep, and then continued on to his own post--Fort Larned +--with more despatches. After resting twelve hours at Larned, he was +again in the saddle with tidings for me at Fort Hays, General Hazen +sending him, this time, with word that the villages had fled to the +south of the Arkansas. Thus, in all, Cody rode about 350 miles in less +than sixty hours, and such an exhibition of endurance and courage was +more than enough to convince me that his services would be extremely +valuable in the campaign, so I retained him at Fort Hays till the +battalion of the Fifth Cavalry arrived, and then made him chief of +scouts for that regiment. + +The information brought me by Cody on his second trip from Larned +indicated where the villages would be found in the winter, and I +decided to move on them about the 1st of November. Only the women +and children and the decrepit old men were with the villages, however +enough, presumably, to look after the plunder most of the warriors +remaining north of the Arkansas to continue their marauding. Many +severe fights occurred between our troops and these marauders, and in +these affairs, before November 1 over a hundred Indians were killed, +yet from the ease with which the escaping savages would disappear +only to fall upon remote settlements with pillage and murder, the +results were by no means satisfactory. One of the most noteworthy of +these preliminary affairs was the gallant fight made on the +Republican River the 17th of September by my Aide, Colonel George A. +Forsyth, and party, against about seven hundred Cheyennes and Sioux. +Forsyth, with Lieutenant Beecher, and Doctor J. H. Mooers as surgeon, +was in charge of a company of citizen scouts, mostly expert +rifle-shots, but embracing also a few Indian fighters, among these +Grover and Parr. The company was organized the latter part of August +for immediate work in defense of the settlements, and also for future +use in the Indian Territory when the campaign should open there. About +the time the company had reached its complement--it was limited to +forty-seven men and three officers--a small band of hostiles began +depredations near Sheridan City, one of the towns that grew up +over-night on the Kansas-Pacific railway. Forsyth pursued this party, +but failing to overtake it, made his way into Fort Wallace for rations, +intending to return from there to Fort Hays. Before he started back, +however, another band of Indians appeared near the post and stole some +horses from the stage company. This unexpected raid made Forsyth hot +to go for the marauders, and he telegraphed me for permission, which I +as promptly gave him. He left the post on the 10th of September, the +command consisting of himself, Lieutenant Beecher, Acting Assistant +Surgeon Mooers, and the full strength, forty-seven men, with a few pack +mules carrying about ten days' rations. + +He headed north toward the Republican River. For the first two days +the trail was indistinct and hard to follow. During the next three +it continued to grow much larger, indicating plainly that the number +of Indians ahead was rapidly increasing. Of course this sign meant a +fight as soon as a large enough force was mustered, but as this was +what Forsyth was after, he pushed ahead with confidence and alacrity. +The night of the 16th of September he encamped on the Arickaree +branch of the Republican, not far from the forks of the river, with +the expectation of resuming the march as usual next day, for the +indications were that the main body of the savages must be still a +long way off, though in the preceding twenty-four hours an occasional +Indian had been seen. + +But the enemy was much nearer than was thought, for at daybreak on +the morning of the 17th he made known his immediate presence by a +sudden dash at Forsyth's horses, a few of which were stampeded and +captured before the scouts could reach them. This dash was made by a +small party only to get the horses, so those engaged in it were soon +driven off, but a few minutes later hundreds of savages--it was +afterward learned that seven hundred warriors took part in the fight +--hitherto invisible, showed themselves on the hills overlooking the +camp and so menacingly as to convince Forsyth that his defense must +be one of desperation. The only place at hand that gave any hope of +successful resistance was a small island in the Arickaree, the +channel on one side being about a foot deep while on the other it was +completely dry; so to this position a hurried retreat was made. All +the men and the remaining animals reached the island in safety, but +on account of the heavy fire poured in from the neighboring hills the +packs containing the rations and medicines had to be abandoned. + +On seeing Forsyth's hasty move, the Indians, thinking they had him, +prepared to overwhelm the scouts by swooping down on one side of the +island with about five hundred mounted warriors, while about two +hundred, covered by the tall grass in the river-bottom attacked the +other side, dismounted. But the brave little band sadly disappointed +them. When the charge came it was met with such a deadly fire that a +large number of the fiends were killed, some of them even after +gaining the bank of the island. This check had the effect of making +the savages more wary, but they were still bold enough to make two +more assaults before mid-day. Each of these ending like the first, +the Indians thereafter contented themselves with shooting +all the horses, which had been tied up to some scraggy little +cottonwood-trees, and then proceeded to lay siege to the party. + +The first man struck was Forsyth himself. He was hit three times in +all--twice in one leg, both serious wounds, and once on the head, a +slight abrasion of the scalp. A moment later Beecher was killed and +Doctor Mooers mortally wounded: and in addition to these misfortunes +the scouts kept getting hit, till several were killed, and the whole +number of casualties had reached twenty-one in a company of +forty-seven. Yet with all this, and despite the seeming hopelessness +of the situation, the survivors kept up their pluck undiminished, and +during a lull succeeding the third repulse dug into the loose soil till +the entire party was pretty well protected by rifle-pits. Thus covered +they stood off the Indians for the next three days, although of course +their condition became deplorable from lack of food, while those who +were hurt suffered indescribable agony, since no means were at hand for +dressing their wounds. + +By the third day the Indians, seeming to despair of destroying the +beleaguered party before succor might arrive, began to draw off, and +on the fourth wholly disappeared. The men were by this time nearly +famished for food. Even now there was nothing to be had except +horse-meat from the carcasses of the animals killed the first day, +and this, though decidedly unpalatable, not to say disgusting, had to +be put up with, and so on such unwholesome stuff they managed to live +for four days longer, at the end of which time they were rescued by a +column of troops under Colonel Bankhead, which had hastened from Fort +Wallace in response to calls for help, carried there by two brave +fellows--Stilwell and Truedell--who, volunteering to go for relief, +had slipped through the Indians, and struck out for that post in the +night after the first day's fight. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII, + +FITTING OUT THE WINTER EXPEDITION--ACCOMPANYING THE MAIN FORCE--THE +OTHER COLUMNS--STRUCK BY A BLIZZARD--CUSTER'S FIGHT ON THE WASHITA +--DEFEAT AND DEATH OF BLACK KETTLE--MASSACRE OF ELLIOTT'S PARTY +--RELIEF OF COLONEL CRAWFORD. + +The end of October saw completed the most of my arrangements for the +winter campaign, though the difficulties and hardships to be +encountered had led several experienced officers of the army, and +some frontiersmen like Mr. James Bridger, the famous scout and, guide +of earlier days, to discourage the project. Bridger even went so far +as to come out from St. Louis to dissuade me, but I reasoned that as +the soldier was much better fed and clothed than the Indian, I had +one great advantage, and that, in short, a successful campaign could +be made if the operations of the different columns were energetically +conducted. To see to this I decided to go in person with the main +column, which was to push down into the western part of the Indian +Territory, having for its initial objective the villages which, at +the beginning of hostilities, had fled toward the head-waters of the +Red River, and those also that had gone to the same remote region +after decamping from the neighborhood of Larned at the time that +General Hazen sent Buffalo Bill to me with the news. + +The column which was expected to do the main work was to be composed +of the Nineteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Colonel +Crawford; eleven troops of the Seventh United States Cavalry, under +General Custer, and a battalion of five companies of infantry under +Brevet Major John H. Page. To facilitate matters, General Sully, the +district commander, was ordered to rendezvous these troops and +establish a supply depot about a hundred miles south of Fort Dodge, +as from such a point operations could be more readily conducted. He +selected for the depot a most suitable place at the confluence of +Beaver and Wolf creeks, and on his arrival there with Custer's and +Page's commands, named the place Camp Supply. + +In conjunction with the main column, two others also were to +penetrate the Indian Territory. One of these, which was to march +east from New Mexico by way of Fort Bascom was to be composed of six +troops of the Third Cavalry and two companies of infantry, the whole +under Colonel A. W. Evans. The other, consisting of seven troops of +the Fifth Cavalry, and commanded by Brevet Brigadier-General Eugene +A. Carr, was to march southeast from Fort Lyon; the intention being +that Evans and Carr should destroy or drive in toward old Fort Cobb +any straggling bands that might be prowling through the country west +of my own line of march; Carr, as he advanced, to be joined by Brevet +Brigadier-General W. H. Penrose, with five troops of cavalry already +in the field southeast of Lyon. The Fort Bascom column, after +establishing a depot of supplies at Monument Creek, was to work down +the main Canadian, and remain out as long as it could feed itself +from New Mexico; Carr, having united with Penrose on the North +Canadian, was to operate toward the Antelope Hills and headwaters of +the Red River; while I, with the main column was to move southward to +strike the Indians along the Washita, or still farther south on +branches of the Red River. + +It was no small nor easy task to outfit all these troops by the time +cold weather set in, and provide for them during the winter, but by +the 1st of November I had enough supplies accumulated at Forts Dodge +and Lyon for my own and Carr's columns, and in addition directed +subsistence and forage for three months to be sent to Fort Gibson for +final delivery at Fort Arbuckle, as I expected to feed the command +from this place when we arrived in the neighborhood of old Fort Cobb, +but through some mismanagement few of these stores got further than +Gibson before winter came on. + +November 1, all being ready, Colonel Grawford was furnished with +competent guides, and, after sending two troops to Fort Dodge to act +as my escort, with the rest of his regiment he started from Topeka +November 5, under orders to march straight for the rendezvous at the +junction of Beaver and Wolf creeks. He was expected to reach his +destination about the 20th, and there unite with the Seventh Cavalry +and the battalion of infantry, which in the mean time were on the +march from Dodge. A few days later Carr and Evans began their march +also, and everything being now in motion, I decided to go to Camp +Supply to give the campaign my personal attention, determined to +prove that operations could be successfully conducted in spite of +winter, and bent on showing the Indians that they were not secure +from punishment because of inclement weather--an ally on which they +had hitherto relied with much assurance. + +We started from Fort Hays on the 15th of November, and the first +night out a blizzard struck us and carried away our tents; and as the +gale was so violent that they could not be put up again, the rain and +snow drenched us to the skin. Shivering from wet and cold, I took +refuge under a wagon, and there spent such a miserable night that, +when at last morning came, the gloomy predictions of old man Bridger +and others rose up before me with greatly increased force. As we +took the road the sleet and snow were still falling, but we labored +on to Dodge that day in spite of the fact that many of the mules +played out on the way. We stayed only one night at Dodge, and then +on the 17th, escorted by a troop of cavalry and Forsyth's scouts, now +under the command of Lieutenant Lewis Pepoon, crossed the Arkansas +and camped the night of the 18th at Bluff Creek, where the two troops +of the Nineteenth Kansas, previously detailed as my escort, were +awaiting our coming. As we were approaching this camp some +suspicious looking objects were seen moving off at a long distance to +the east of us, but as the scouts confidently pronounced them +buffalo, we were unaware of their true character till next morning, +when we became satisfied that what we had seen were Indians, for +immediately after crossing Beaver Creek we struck a trail, leading to +the northeast, of a war party that evidently came up from the +head-waters of the Washita River. + +The evening of November 21st arrived at the Camp Supply depot, having +traveled all day in another snowstorm that did not end till +twenty-four hours later. General Sully, with Custer's regiment and the +infantry battalion, had reached the place several days before, but the +Kansas regiment had not yet put in an appearance. All hands were hard +at work trying to shelter the stores and troops, but from the trail +seen that morning, believing that an opportunity offered to strike an +effective blow, I directed Custer to call in his working parties and +prepare to move immediately, without waiting for Crawford's regiment, +unaccountably absent. Custer was ready to start by the 23d, and he was +then instructed to march north to where the trail had been seen near +Beaver Creek and follow it on the back track, for, being convinced that +the war party had come from the Washita, I felt certain that this plan +would lead directly to the villages. + +The difficulties attending a winter campaign were exhibited now with +their full force, as the march had to be conducted through a +snow-storm that hid surrounding objects, and so covered the country as +to alter the appearance of the prominent features, making the task of +the guides doubly troublesome; but in spite of these obstacles fifteen +miles had been traversed when Custer encamped for the night. The next +day the storm had ceased, and the weather was clear and cold. The +heavy fall of snow had of course obliterated the trail in the bottoms, +and everywhere on the level; but, thanks to the wind, that had swept +comparatively bare the rough places and high ground, the general +direction could be traced without much trouble. The day's march, which +was through a country abounding with buffalo, was unattended by any +special incident at first, but during the afternoon, after getting the +column across the Canadian River--an operation which, on account of the +wagons, consumed considerable time--Custer's scouts (friendly Osages) +brought back word that, some miles ahead, they had struck fresh signs, +a trail coming into the old one from the north, which, in their +opinion, indicated that the war party was returning to the villages. + +On the receipt of this news, Custer, leaving a guard with the wagons, +hastily assembled the rest of his men' and pushing on rapidly, +overtook the scouts and a detailed party from his regiment which had +accompanied them, all halted on the new trail awaiting his arrival. +A personal examination satisfied Custer that the surmises of his +scouts were correct; and also that the fresh trail in the deep snow +could at night be followed with ease. After a short halt for supper +and rest the pursuit was resumed, the Osage scouts in advance, and +although the hostile Indians were presumed to be yet some distance +off, every precaution was taken to prevent detection and to enable +our troops to strike them unawares. The fresh trail, which it was +afterward ascertained had been made by raiders from Black Kettle's +village of Cheyennes, and by some Arapahoes, led into the valley of +the Washita, and growing fresher as the night wore on, finally +brought the Osages upon a campfire, still smoldering, which, it was +concluded, had been built by the Indian boys acting as herders of the +ponies during the previous day. It was evident, then, that the +village could be but a few miles off; hence the pursuit was continued +with redoubled caution until, a few hours before dawn of the 27th, as +the leading scouts peered over a rise on the line of march, they +discovered a large body of animals in the valley below. + +As soon as they reported this discovery, Custer determined to +acquaint himself with the situation by making a reconnoissance in +person, accompanied by his principal officers. So, sending back word +to halt the cavalry, he directed the officers to ride forward with +him; then dismounting, the entire party crept cautiously to a high +point which overlooked the valley, and from where, by the bright moon +then shining, they saw just how the village was situated. Its +position was such as to admit of easy approach from all sides. So, +to preclude an escape of the Indians, Custer decided to attack at +daybreak, and from four different directions. + +The plan having been fully explained to the officers, the remaining +hours of the night were employed in making the necessary +dispositions. Two of the detachments left promptly, since they had +to make a circuitous march of several miles to Teach the points +designated for their attack; the third started a little later; and +then the fourth and last, under Custer himself, also moved into +position. As the first light grew visible in the east, each column +moved closer in to the village, and then, all dispositions having +been made according to the prearranged plan, from their appointed +places the entire force to the opening notes of "Garry Owen," played +by the regimental band as the signal for the attack--dashed at a +gallop into the village. The sleeping and unsuspecting savages were +completely surprised by the onset; yet after the first confusion, +during which the impulse to escape principally actuated them, they +seized their weapons, and from behind logs and trees, or plunging +into the stream and using its steep bank as a breastwork, they poured +upon their assailants a heavy fire, and kept on fighting with every +exhibition of desperation. In such a combat mounted men were +useless, so Custer directed his troopers to fight on, foot, and the +Indians were successively driven from one point of vantage to +another, until, finally, by 9 o'clock the entire camp was in his +possession and the victory complete. Black Kettle and over one +hundred of his warriors were killed, and about fifty women and +children captured; but most of the noncombatants, as well as a few +warriors and boys, escaped in the confusion of the fight. Making +their way down the river, these fugitives alarmed the rest of the +Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and also the Kiowas and Comanches, whose +villages were in close proximity--the nearest not more than two miles +off. + +Then of course all the warriors of these tribes rallied to attack +Custer, who meantime was engaged burning Black Kettle's camp and +collecting his herds of ponies. But these new foes were rather wary +and circumspect, though they already had partial revenge in an +unlooked for way by cutting off Major Elliott and fifteen men, who +had gone off in pursuit of a batch of young warriors when the fight +was going on at the village. In fact, the Indians had killed +Elliott's whole party, though neither the fate of the poor fellows, +nor how they happened to be caught, was known till long afterward. +It was then ascertained that the detachment pursued a course due +south, nearly at right angles to the Washita River, and after +galloping a couple of miles over the hills, crossing a small branch +of the Washita on the way, they captured some of the fugitives. In +bringing the prisoners back, Elliott was in turn attacked on the open +prairie by a large number of savages from farther down the Washita, +who by this time were swarming to the aid of Black Kettle's village. +The little band fought its way gallantly to within rifle-range of the +small creek referred to, but could get no farther, for the Indians +had taken up a position in the bed of the stream, and from under +cover of its banks Elliott and all his remaining men were quickly +killed. No relief was sent them, for Custer, not having seen Elliott +set out, knew nothing of the direction taken, and, besides, was busy +burning the villages and securing the ponies, and deeply concerned, +too, with defending himself from the new dangers menacing him. +Elliott and his brave little party were thus left to meet their fate +alone. + +While Custer was burning the lodges and plunder and securing the +ponies, the Indians from the villages down the Washita were gathering +constantly around him till by mid-day they had collected in +thousands, and then came a new problem as to what should be done. If +he attacked the other villages, there was great danger of his being +overwhelmed, and should he start back to Camp Supply by daylight, he +would run the risk of losing his prisoners and the ponies, so, +thinking the matter over, he decided to shoot all the ponies, and +keep skirmishing with the savages till nightfall, and then, under +cover of the darkness, return to Camp Supply; a programme that was +carried out successfully, but Custer's course received some severe +criticism because no effort was made to discover what had become of +Elliott. + +Custer had, in all, two officers and nineteen men killed, and two +officers and eleven men wounded. The blow struck was a most +effective one, and, fortunately, fell on one of the most villainous of +the hostile bands that, without any provocation whatever, had +perpetrated the massacres on the Saline and Solomon, committing +atrocities too repulsive for recital, and whose hands were still red +from their bloody work on the recent raid. Black Kettle, the chief, +was an old man, and did not himself go with the raiders to the Saline +and Solomon, and on this account his fate was regretted by some. But +it was old age only that kept him back, for before the demons set out +from Walnut Creek he had freely encouraged them by "making medicine," +and by other devilish incantations that are gone through with at war +and scalp dances. + +When the horrible work was over he undertook to shield himself by +professions of friendship, but being put to the test by my offering +to feed and care for all of his band who would come in to Fort Dodge +and remain there peaceably, he defiantly refused. The consequence of +this refusal was a merited punishment, only too long delayed. + +I received the first news of Custer's fight on the Washita on the +morning of November 29. It was brought to me by one of his white +scouts, "California Joe," a noted character, who had been +experiencing the ups and downs of pioneer life ever since crossing +the Plains in 1849. Joe was an invaluable guide and Indian fighter +whenever the clause of the statute prohibiting liquors in the Indian +country happened to be in full force. At the time in question the +restriction was by no means a dead letter, and Joe came through in +thirty-six hours, though obliged to keep in hiding during daylight of +the 28th. The tidings brought were joyfully received by everybody at +Camp Supply, and they were particularly agreeable tome, for, besides +being greatly worried about the safety of the command in the extreme +cold and deep snows, I knew that the immediate effect a victory would +be to demoralize the rest of the hostiles, which of course would +greatly facilitate and expedite our ultimate success. Toward evening +the day after Joe arrived the head of Custer's column made its +appearance on the distant hills, the friendly Osage scouts and the +Indian prisoners in advance. As they drew near, the scouts began a +wild and picturesque performance in celebration of the victory, +yelling, firing their guns, throwing themselves on the necks and +sides of their horses to exhibit their skill in riding, and going +through all sorts of barbaric evolutions and gyrations, which were +continued till night, when the rejoicings were ended with the hideous +scalp dance. + +The disappearance of Major Elliott and his party was the only damper +upon our pleasure, and the only drawback to the very successful +expedition. There was no definite information as to the detachment, +--and Custer was able to report nothing more than that he had not +seen Elliott since just before the fight began. His theory was, +however, that Elliott and his men had strayed off on account of +having no guide, and would ultimately come in all right to Camp +Supply or make their way back to Fort Dodge; a very unsatisfactory +view of the matter, but as no one knew the direction Elliott had +taken, it was useless to speculate on other suppositions, and +altogether too late to make any search for him. I was now anxious to +follow up Custer's stroke by an immediate move to the south with the +entire column, but the Kansas regiment had not yet arrived. At first +its nonappearance did not worry me much, for I attributed the delay +to the bad weather, and supposed Colonel Crawford had wisely laid up +during the worst storms. Further, waiting, however, would give the +Indians a chance to recover from the recent dispiriting defeat, so I +sent out scouting parties to look Crawford up and hurry him along. +After a great deal of searching, a small detachment of the regiment +was found about fifty miles below us on the North Canadian, seeking +our camp. This detachment was in a pretty bad plight, and when +brought in, the officer in charge reported that the regiment, by not +following the advice of the guide sent to conduct it to Camp Supply, +had lost its way. Instead of relying on the guides, Crawford had +undertaken to strike through the canyons of the Cimarron by what +appeared to him a more direct route, and in the deep gorges, filled +as they were with snow, he had been floundering about for days +without being able to extricate his command. Then, too, the men were +out of rations, though they had been able to obtain enough buffalo +meat to keep from starving. As for the horses, since they could get +no grass, about seven hundred of them had already perished from +starvation and exposure. Provisions and guides were immediately sent +out to the regiment, but before the relief could reach Crawford his +remaining horses were pretty much all gone, though the men were +brought in without loss of life. Thus, the regiment being dismounted +by this misfortune at the threshold of the campaign, an important +factor of my cavalry was lost to me, though as foot-troops the Kansas +volunteers continued to render very valuable services till mustered +out the next spring. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A WINTER EXPEDITION--HERDS OF BUFFALO--WOLVES--BLIZZARDS--A TERRIBLE +NIGHT--FINDING THE BODIES OF ELLIOTT'S PARTY--THE ABANDONED INDIAN +CAMPS--PUSHING DOWN THE WASHITA--THE CAPTURED CHIEFS--EVANS'S +SUCCESSFUL FIGHT--ESTABLISHING FORT SILL--"CALIFORNIA JOE"--DUPLICITY +OF THE CHEYENNES--ORDERED TO REPAIR TO WASHINGTON. + +A few days were necessarily lost setting up and refitting the Kansas +regiment after its rude experience in the Cimarron canyons. This +through with, the expedition, supplied with thirty days' rations, +moved out to the south on the 7th of December, under my personal +command. We headed for the Witchita Mountains, toward which rough +region all the villages along the Washita River had fled after +Custer's fight with Black Kettle. My line of march was by way of +Custer's battle-field, and thence down the Washita, and if the +Indians could not sooner be brought to terms, I intended to follow +them into the Witchita Mountains from near old Fort Cobb. The snow +was still deep everywhere, and when we started the thermometer was +below zero, but the sky being clear and the day very bright, the +command was in excellent spirits. The column was made up of ten +companies of the Kansas regiment, dismounted; eleven companies of the +Seventh Cavalry, Pepoon's scouts, and the Osage scouts. In addition +to Pepoon's men and the Osages, there was also "California Joe," and +one or two other frontiersmen besides, to act as guides and +interpreters. Of all these the principal one, the one who best knew +the country, was Ben Clark, a young man who had lived with the +Cheyennes during much of his boyhood, and who not only had a pretty +good knowledge of the country, but also spoke fluently the Cheyenne +and Arapahoe dialects, and was an adept in the sign language. + +The first day we made only about ten miles, which carried us to the +south bank of Wolf Creek. A considerable part of the day was devoted +to straightening out matters in the command, and allowing time for +equalizing the wagon loads, which as a general thing, on a first +day's march, are unfairly distributed. And then there was an +abundance of fire-wood at Wolf Creek; indeed, here and on Hackberry +Creek--where I intended to make my next camp--was the only timber +north of the Canadian River; and to select the halting places near a +plentiful supply of wood was almost indispensable, for as the men +were provided with only shelter-tents, good fires were needed in +order to keep warm. + +The second day, after marching for hours through vast herds of +buffalo, we made Hackberry Creek; but not, however, without several +stampedes in the wagon-train, the buffalo frightening the mules so +that it became necessary to throw out flankers to shoot the leading +bulls and thus turn off the herds. In the wake of every drove +invariably followed a band of wolves. This animal is a great coward +usually, but hunger had made these so ravenous that they would come +boldly up to the column, and as quick as a buffalo was killed, or +even disabled, they would fall upon the carcass and eagerly devour +it. Antelope also were very numerous, and as they were quite tame +--being seldom chased--and naturally very inquisitive, it was not an +unfrequent thing to see one of the graceful little creatures run in +among the men and be made a prisoner. Such abundance of game +relieved the monotony of the march to Hackberry Creek, but still, +both men and animals were considerably exhausted by their long tramp, +for we made over thirty miles that day. + +We camped in excellent shape on the creek and it was well we did, for +a "Norther," or "blizzard," as storms on the Plains are now termed +struck us in the night. During the continuance of these blizzards, +which is usually about three days, the cold wind sweeps over the +Plains with great force, and, in the latitude of the Indian +Territory, is weighted with great quantities of sleet and snow, +through which it is often impossible to travel; indeed, these +"Northers" have many times proved fatal to the unprotected +frontiersman. With our numbers the chance of any one's being lost, +and perishing alone (one of the most common dangers in a blizzard), +was avoided; but under any circumstances such a storm could but +occasion intense suffering to all exposed to it, hence it would have +been well to remain in camp till the gale was over, but the time +could not be spared. We therefore resumed the march at an early hour +next morning, with the expectation of making the south bank of the +main Canathan and there passing the night, as Clark assured me that +timber was plentiful on that side of the river. The storm greatly +impeded us, however, many of the mules growing discouraged, and some +giving out entirely, so we could not get to Clark's "good camp," for +with ten hours of utmost effort only about half a day's distance +could be covered, when at last, finding the struggle useless, we were +forced to halt for the night in a bleak bottom on the north bank of +the river. But no one could sleep, for the wind swept over us with +unobstructed fury, and the only fuel to be had was a few green +bushes. As night fell a decided change of temperature added much to +our misery, the mercury, which had risen when the "Norther" began, +again falling to zero. It can be easily imagined that under such +circumstances the condition of the men was one of extreme discomfort; +in truth, they had to tramp up and down the camp all night long to +keep from freezing. Anything was a relief to this state of things, +so at the first streak of day we quit the dreadful place and took up +the march. + +A seemingly good point for crossing the Canadian was found a couple +of miles down the stream, where we hoped to get our train over on the +ice, but an experiment proving that it was not strong enough, a ford +had to be made, which was done by marching some of the cavalry +through the river, which was about half a mile wide, to break up the +large floes when they had been cut loose with axes. After much hard +work a passage-way was thus opened, and by noon the command was +crossed to the south bank, and after thawing out and drying our +clothes before big fires, we headed for a point on the Washita, where +Clark said there was plenty of wood, and good water too, to make us +comfortable till the blizzard had blown over. + +We reached the valley of the Washita a little before dark, and camped +some five or six miles above the scene of Custer's fight, where I +concluded to remain at least a day, to rest the command and give it a +chance to refit. In the mean time I visited the battle-field in +company with Custer and several other officers, to see if there was a +possibility of discovering any traces of Elliotts party. On arriving +at the site of the village, and learning from Custer what +dispositions had been made in approaching for the attack, the +squadron of the escort was deployed and pushed across the river at +the point where Elliott had crossed. Moving directly to the south, +we had not gone far before we struck his trail, and soon the whole +story was made plain by our finding, on an open level space about two +miles from the destroyed village, the dead and frozen bodies of the +entire party. The poor fellows were all lying within a circle not +more than fifteen or twenty paces in diameter, and the little piles +of empty cartridge shells near each body showed plainly that every +man had made a brave fight. None were scalped, but most of them were +otherwise horribly mutilated, which fiendish work is usually done by +the squaws. All had been stripped of their clothing, but their +comrades in the escort were able to identify the bodies, which being +done, we gave them decent burial. Their fate was one that has +overtaken many of our gallant army in their efforts to protect the +frontiersmen's homes and families from savages who give no quarter, +though they have often received it, and where the possibility of +defeat in action carries with it the certainty of death and often of +preceding torture. + +From the meadow where Elliott was found we rode to the Washita, and +then down the river through the sites of the abandoned villages, that +had been strung along almost continuously for about twelve miles in +the timber skirting the stream. On every hand appeared ample +evidence that the Indians had intended to spend the winter here, for +the ground was littered with jerked meat, bales of buffalo robes, +cooking utensils, and all sorts of plunder usually accumulated in a +permanent Indian camp. There were, also, lying dead near the +villages hundreds of ponies, that had been shot to keep them from +falling into our hands, the scant grazing and extreme cold having +made them too weak to be driven along in the flight. The wholesale +slaughter of these ponies was a most cheering indication that our +campaign would be ultimately successful, and we all prayed for at +least a couple of months more of cold weather and plenty of snow. + +At the Kiowa village we found the body of a white woman--a Mrs. +Blynn--and also that of her child. These captives had been taken by +the Kiowas near Fort Lyon the previous summer, and kept close +prisoners until the stampede began, the poor woman being reserved to +gratify the brutal lust of the chief, Satanta; then, however, Indian +vengeance demanded the murder of the poor creatures, and after +braining the little child against a tree, the mother was shot through +the forehead, the weapon, which no doubt brought her welcome release, +having been fired so close that the powder had horribly disfigured +her face. The two bodies were wrapped in blankets and taken to camp, +and afterward carried along in our march, till finally they were +decently interred at Fort Arbuckle.. + +At an early hour on December 12 the command pulled out from its cosy +camp and pushed down the valley of the Washita, following immediately +on the Indian trail which led in the direction of Fort Cobb, but +before going far it was found that the many deep ravines and canyons +on this trail would delay our train very much, so we moved out of the +valley and took the level prairie on the divide. Here the traveling +was good, and a rapid gait was kept up till mid-day, when, another +storm of sleet and snow coming on, it became extremely difficult for +the guides to make out the proper course; and fearing that we might +get lost or caught on the open plain without wood or water--as we had +been on the Canadian--I turned the command back to the valley, +resolved to try no more shortcuts involving the risk of a disaster to +the expedition. But to get back was no slight task, for a dense fog +just now enveloped us, obscuring all landmarks. However, we were +headed right when the fog set in, and we had the good luck to reach +the valley before night-fall, though there was a great deal of +floundering about, and also much disputing among the guides as to +where the river would be found Fortunately we struck the stream right +at a large grove of timber, and established ourselves, admirably. By +dark the ground was covered with twelve or fifteen inches of fresh +snow, and as usual the temperature rose very sensibly while the storm +was on, but after night-fall the snow ceased and the skies cleared +up. Daylight having brought zero weather again, our start on the +morning of the 17th was painful work, many of the men freezing their +fingers while handling the horse equipments, harness, and tents. +However, we got off in fairly good season, and kept to the trail +along the Washita notwithstanding the frequent digging and bridging +necessary to get the wagons over ravines. + +Continuing on this line for three days, we at length came to a point +on the Washita where all signs indicated that we were nearing some of +the villages. Wishing to strike them as soon as possible, we made a +very early start next morning, the 17th. A march of four or five +miles brought us to a difficult ravine, and while we were making +preparations to get over, word was brought that several Indians had +appeared in our front bearing a white flag and making signs that they +had a communication to deliver. We signaled back that they would be +received, when one of the party came forward alone and delivered a +letter, which proved to be from General Hazen, at Fort Cobb. The +letter showed that Hazen was carrying on negotiations with the +Indians, and stated that all the tribes between Fort Cobb and my +column were friendly, but the intimation was given that the +Cheyennes and Arapahoes were still hostile, having moved off +southward toward the Red River. It was added that Satanta and Lone +Wolf--the chiefs of the Kiowas--would give information of the +whereabouts of the hostiles; and such a communication coming direct +from the representative of the Indian Department, practically took +the Kiowas--the village at hand was of that tribe--under its +protection, and also the Comanches, who were nearer in to Cobb. Of +course, under such circumstances I was compelled to give up the +intended attack, though I afterward regretted that I had paid any +heed to the message, because Satanta and Lone Wolf proved, by +trickery and double dealing, that they had deceived Hazen into +writing the letter. + +When I informed the Klowas that I would respect Hazen's letter +provided they all came into Fort Cobb and gave themselves up, the two +chiefs promised submission, and, as an evidence of good faith, +proposed to accompany the column to Fort Cobb with a large body of +warriors, while their villages moved to the same point by easy +stages, along the opposite bank of the river--claiming this to be +necessary from the poor condition of the ponies. I had some +misgivings as to the sincerity of Satanta and Lone Wolf, but as I +wanted to get the Kiowas where their surrender would be complete, so +that the Cheyennes and Arapahoes could then be pursued, I agreed to +the proposition, and the column moved on. All went well that day, +but the next it was noticed that the warriors were diminishing, and +an investigation showed that a number of them had gone off on various +pretexts--the main one being to help along the women and children +with the villages. With this I suspected that they were playing me +false, and my suspicions grew into certainty when Satanta himself +tried to make his escape by slipping beyond the flank of the column +and putting spurs to his pony. Fortunately, several officers saw +him, and quickly giving chase, overhauled him within a few hundred +yards. I then arrested both him and Lone Wolf and held them as +hostages--a measure that had the effect of bringing back many of the +warriors already beyond our reach. + +When we arrived at Fort Cobb we found some of the Comanches already +there, and soon after the rest of them, excepting one band, came in +to the post. The Kiowas, however, were not on hand, and there were +no signs to indicate their coming. At the end of two days it was +plain enough that they were acting in bad faith, and would continue +to unless strong pressure was brought to bear. Indeed, they had +already started for the Witchita Mountains, so I put on the screws at +once by issuing an order to hang Satanta and Lone Wolf, if their +people did not surrender at Fort Cobb within forty-eight hours. The +two chiefs promised prompt compliance, but begged for more time, +seeking to explain the non-arrival of the women and children through +the weak condition of the ponies; but I was tired of their duplicity, +and insisted on my ultimatum. + +The order for the execution brought quick fruit. Runners were sent +out with messages, by the two prisoners, appealing to their people to +save the lives of their chiefs, and the result was that the whole +tribe came in to the post within the specified time. The two +manacled wretches thus saved their necks; but it is to be regretted +that the execution did not come off; for some years afterward their +devilish propensities led them into Texas, where both engaged in the +most horrible butcheries. + +The Kiowas were now in our hands, and all the Comanches too, except +one small band, which, after the Custer fight, had fled toward the +headwaters of the Red River. This party was made up of a lot of very +bad Indians--outlaws from the main tribe--and we did not hope to +subdue them except by a fight, and of this they got their fill; for +Evans, moving from Monument Creek toward the western base of the +Witchita Mountains on Christmas Day, had the good fortune to strike +their village. In the snow and cold his approach was wholly +unexpected, and he was thus enabled to deal the band a blow that +practically annihilated it. Twenty-five warriors were killed +outright, most of the women and children captured, and all the +property was destroyed. Only a few of the party escaped, and some of +these made their way in to Fort Cobb, to join the rest of their tribe +in confinement; while others, later in the season, surrendered at +Fort Bascom. + +This sudden appearance of Evans in the Red River region also alarmed +the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and their thoughts now began to turn to +submission. Food was growing scarce with them, too, as there was but +little game to be found either in the Witchita Mountains or on the +edge of the Staked Plains, and the march of Carr's column from +Antelope Hills precluded their returning to where the buffalo ranged. +Then, too, many of their ponies were dead or dying, most of their +tepees and robes had been abandoned, and the women and children, +having been kept constantly on the move in the winter's storms, were +complaining bitterly of their sufferings. + +In view of this state of things they intimated, through their +Comanche-Apache friends at Fort Cobb, that they would like to make +terms. On receiving their messages I entered into negotiations with +Little Robe, chief of the Cheyennes, and Yellow Bear, chief of the +Arapahoes, and despatched envoys to have both tribes understand +clearly that they must recognize their subjugation by surrendering at +once, and permanently settling on their reservations in the spring. +Of course the usual delays of Indian diplomacy ensued, and it was +some weeks before I heard the result. + +Then one of my messengers returned with word that Little Robe and +Yellow Bear were on their way to see me. They arrived a few days +later, and, promptly acceding to the terms, promised to bring their +people in, but as many of them would have to come on foot on account +of the condition of the ponies, more time was solicited. Convinced +of the sincerity of their professions I gave them a reasonable +extension, and eventually Yellow Bear made good his word, but Little +Robe, in spite of earnest and repeated efforts, was unable to deliver +his people till further operations were begun against them. + +While these negotiations were in progess I came to the conclusion +that a permanent military post ought to be established well down on +the Kiowa and Comanche reservation, in order to keep an eye on these +tribes in the future, Fort Cobb, being an unsuitable location, +because too far to the north to protect the Texas frontier, and too +far away from where it was intended to permanently place the Indians. +With this purpose in view I had the country thoroughly explored, and +afterward a place was fixed upon not far from the base of the +Witchita Mountains, and near the confluence of Medicine Bluff and +Cash creeks, where building stone and timber could be obtained in +plenty, and to this point I decided to move. The place was named +Camp Sill-now Fort Sill--in honor of my classmate, General Sill, +killed at Stone River; and to make sure of the surrendered Indians, I +required them all, Kiowas, Comanches, and Comanche-Apaches, to +accompany us to the new post, so they could be kept under military +control till they were settled. + +During the march to the new camp the weather was not so cold as that +experienced in coming down from Camp Supply; still, rains were +frequent, and each was invariably followed by a depression of +temperature and high winds, very destructive to our animals, much +weakened by lack of food. The men fared pretty well, however, for on +the rough march along the Washita, and during our stay at Fort Cobb, +they had learned to protect themselves materially from the cold. For +this they had contrived many devices, the favorite means being +dugouts--that is, pits dug in the ground, and roofed over, with +shelter-tents, and having at one end a fire-place and chimney +ingeniously constructed with sod. In these they lived very snugly +--four men in each--and would often amuse themselves by poking their +heads out and barking at the occupants of adjacent huts in imitation +of the prairie-dog, whose comfortable nests had probably suggested +the idea of dugouts. The men were much better off, in fact, than +many of the officers, for the high winds frequently made havoc with +our wall-tents. The horses and mules suffered most of all. They +could not be sheltered, and having neither grain nor grass, the poor +beasts were in no condition to stand the chilling blasts. Still, by +cutting down cottonwood-trees, and letting the animals browse on the +small soft branches, we managed to keep them up till, finally even +this wretched food beginning to grow scarce, I had all except a few +of the strongest sent to Fort Arbuckle, near which place we had been +able, fortunately, to purchase some fields of corn from the +half-civilized Chickasaws and Choctaws. + +Through mismanagement, as previously noted, the greater part of the +supplies which I had ordered hauled to Arbuckle the preceding fall +had not got farther on the way than Fort Gibson, which post was about +four hundred miles off, and the road abominable, particularly east of +Arbuckle, where it ran through a low region called "boggy bottom." +All along this route were abandoned wagons, left sticking in the mud, +and hence the transportation was growing so short that I began to +fear trouble in getting subsistence up for the men. Still, it would +not do to withdraw, so I made a trip to Arbuckle chiefly for the +purpose of reorganizing the transportation, but also with a view to +opening a new route to that post, the road to lie on high ground, so +as to avoid the creeks and mud that had been giving us so much +trouble. If such a road could be made, I hoped to get up enough +rations and grain from the cornfields purchased to send out a +formidable expedition against the Cheyennes, so I set out for +Arbuckle accompanied by my quartermaster, Colonel A. J. McGonigle. +"California Joe" also went along to guide us through the scrub-oaks +covering the ridge, but even the most thorough exploration failed to +discover any route more practicable than that already in use; indeed, +the high ground was, if anything, worse than the bottom land, our +horses in the springy places and quicksands often miring to their +knees. The ground was so soft and wet, in fact, that we had to make +most of the way on foot, so by the time we reached Arbuckle I was +glad to abandon the new road project. + +Finding near Arbuckle more fields of corn than those already +purchased, I had them bought also, and ordered more of the horses +back there to be fed. I next directed every available mule to be put +to hauling rations, having discovered that the full capacity of the +transportation had not yet been brought into play in forwarding +stores from Gibson, and with this regulation of the supply question I +was ready to return immediately to Camp Sill. But my departure was +delayed by California Joe, who, notwithstanding the prohibitory laws +of the Territory, in some unaccountable way had got gloriously tipsy, +which caused a loss of time that disgusted me greatly; but as we +could not well do without Joe, I put off starting till the next day, +by which time it was thought he would sober up. But I might just as +well have gone at first, for at the end of the twenty-four hours the +incorrigible old rascal was still dead drunk. How he had managed to +get the grog to keep up his spree was a mystery which we could not +solve, though we had had him closely watched, so I cut the matter +short by packing him into my ambulance and carrying him off to Camp +Sill. + +By the time I got back to Sill, the Arapahoes were all in at the +post, or near at hand. The promised surrender of the Cheyennes was +still uncertain of fulfillment, however, and although Little Robe and +his family had remained with us in evidence of good faith, the +messages he sent to his followers brought no assurance of the tribe's +coming in--the runners invariably returning with requests for more +time, and bringing the same old excuse of inability to move because +the ponies were so badly off. But more time was just what I was +determined not to grant, for I felt sure that if a surrender was not +forced before the spring grass came, the ponies would regain their +strength, and then it would be doubtful if the Cheyennes came in at +all. + +To put an end to these delays, Custer proposed to go out and see the +Cheyennes himself, taking with him for escort only such number of men +as could be fairly well mounted from the few horses not sent back to +Arbuckle. At first I was inclined to disapprove Custer's +proposition, but he urged it so strongly that I finally consented, +though with some misgivings, for I feared that so small a party might +tempt the Cheyennes to forget their pacific professions and seek to +avenge the destruction of Black Kettle's band. However, after +obtaining my approval, Custer, with characteristic energy, made his +preparations, and started with three or four officers and forty +picked men, taking along as negotiators Yellow Bear and Little Robe, +who were also to conduct him to the head-waters of the Red River, +where it was supposed the Cheyennes would be found. His progress was +reported by couriers every few days, and by the time he got to the +Witchita foot-hills he had grown so sanguine that he sent California +Joe back to me with word that he was certain of success. Such +hopeful anticipation relieved me greatly, of course, but just about +the time I expected to hear that his mission had been achieved I was +astonished by the party's return. Inquiring as to the trouble, I +learned that out toward the Staked Plains every sign of the Cheyennes +had disappeared. Surprised and disappointed at this, and discouraged +by the loneliness of his situation--for in the whole region not a +trace of animal life was visible, Custer gave up the search, and none +too soon, I am inclined to believe, to save his small party from +perishing. + +This failure put a stop to all expeditions till the latter part of +February, by which time I had managed to lay in enough rations to +feed the command for about thirty days; and the horses back at +Arbuckle having picked up sufficiently for field service they were +ordered to Sill, and this time I decided to send Custer out with his +own and the Kansas regiment, with directions to insist on the +immediate surrender of the Cheyennes, or give them a sound thrashing. +He was ordered to get everything ready by March 1, and then move to +the mouth of Salt Creek, on the North Fork of the Red River, at which +place I proposed to establish a new depot for feeding the command. +Trains could reach this point from Camp Supply more readily than from +Arbuckle, and wishing to arrange this part of the programme in +person, I decided to return at once to Supply, and afterward rejoin +Custer at Salt Creek, on what, I felt sure, was to be the final +expedition of the campaign. I made the three hundred and sixty miles +from Sill to Supply in seven days, but much to my surprise there +found a despatch from General Grant directing me to repair +immediately to Washington. These orders precluded, of course, my +rejoining the command; but at the appointed time it set out on the +march, and within three weeks brought the campaign to a successful +close. + +In this last expedition, for the first few days Custer's route was by +the same trail he had taken in January--that is to say, along the +southern base of the Witchita Mountains--but this time there was more +to encourage him than before, for, on getting a couple of marches +beyond old Camp Radziminski, on all sides were fresh evidences of +Indians, and every effort was bent to strike them. + +From day to day the signs grew hotter, and toward the latter part of +March the game was found. The Indians being in a very forlorn +condition, Custer might have destroyed most of the tribe, and +certainly all their villages, but in order to save two white women +whom, it was discovered, they held as captives, he contented himself +with the renewal of the Cheyennes' agreement to come in to Camp +Supply. In due time the entire tribe fulfilled its promise except +one small band under "Tall Bull," but this party received a good +drubbing from General Carr on the Republican early in May. After +this fight all the Indians of the southern Plains settled down on +their reservations, and I doubt whether the peace would ever again +have been broken had they not in after years been driven to +hostilities by most unjust treatment. + +It was the 2d of March that I received at Camp Supply Grant's +despatch directing me to report immediately in Washington. It had +been my intention, as I have said, to join Custer on the North Fork +of the Red River, but this new order required me to recast my plans, +so, after arranging to keep the expedition supplied till the end of +the campaign, I started for Washington, accompanied by three of my +staff--Colonels McGonigle and Crosby, and Surgeon Asch, and Mr. Deb. +Randolph Keim, a representative of the press, who went through the +whole campaign, and in 1870 published a graphic history of it. The +day we left Supply we, had another dose of sleet and snow, but +nevertheless we made good time, and by night-fall reached Bluff +Creek. In twenty-four hours more we made Fort Dodge, and on the 6th +of March arrived at Fort Hays. Just south of the Smoky Hill River, a +little before we got to the post, a courier heading for Fort Dodge +passed us at a rapid gait. Suspecting that he had despatches for me, +I directed my outrider to overtake him and find out. The courier +soon turned back, and riding up to my ambulance handed me a telegram +notifying me that General Grant, on the day of his inauguration, +March 4, 1869, had appointed me Lieutenant-General of the Army. When +I reported in Washington, the President desired me to return to New +Orleans and resume command of the Fifth Military District, but this +was not at all to my liking, so I begged off, and was assigned to +take charge of the Division of the Missouri, succeeding General +Sherman, who had just been ordered to assume command of the Army. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +INSPECTING MILITARY POSTS IN UTAH AND MONTANA--DESIRE TO WITNESS THE +FRANCO-GERMAN WAR--ON A SAND-BAR IN THE MISSOURI--A BEAR HUNT--AN +INDIAN SCARE--MYRIADS OF MOSQUITOES--PERMISSION GIVEN TO VISIT +EUROPE--CALLING ON PRESIDENT GRANT--SAILING FOR LIVERPOOL--ARRIVAL IN +BERLIN. + +After I had for a year been commanding the Division of the Missouri, +which embraced the entire Rocky Mountain region, I found it necessary +to make an inspection of the military posts in northern Utah and +Montana, in order by personal observation to inform myself of their +location and needs, and at the same time become acquainted with the +salient geographical and topographical features of that section of my +division. Therefore in May, 1870, I started west by the +Union-Pacific railroad, and on arriving at Corinne' Station, the next +beyond Ogden, took passage by stage-coach for Helena, the capital of +Montana Territory. Helena is nearly five hundred miles north of +Corinne, and under ordinary conditions the journey was, in those +days, a most tiresome one. As the stage kept jogging on day and +night, there was little chance for sleep, and there being with me a +sufficient number of staff-officers to justify the proceeding, we +chartered the "outfit," stipulating that we were to stop over one +night on the road to get some rest. This rendered the journey more +tolerable, and we arrived at Helena without extraordinary fatigue. + +Before I left Chicago the newspapers were filled with rumors of +impending war between Germany and France. I was anxious to observe +the conflict, if it was to occur, but reports made one day concerning +the beginning of hostilities would be contradicted the next, and it +was not till I reached Helena that the despatches lost their doubtful +character, and later became of so positive a nature as to make it +certain that the two nations would fight. I therefore decided to cut +short my tour of inspection, so that I could go abroad to witness the +war, if the President would approve. This resolution limited my stay +in Helena to a couple of days, which were devoted to arranging for an +exploration of what are now known as the Upper and the Lower Geyser +Basins of the Yellowstone Park. While journeying between Corinne and +Helena I had gained some vague knowledge of these geysers from an old +mountaineer named Atkinson, but his information was very indefinite, +mostly second-hand; and there was such general uncertainty as to the +character of this wonderland that I authorized an escort of soldiers +to go that season from Fort Ellis with a small party, to make such +superficial explorations as to justify my sending an engineer officer +with a well-equipped expedition there next summer to scientifically +examine and report upon the strange country. When the arrangements +for this preliminary expedition were completed I started for Fort +Benton, the head of navigation on the Missouri River, on the way +passing through Fort Shaw, on Sun River. I expected to take at +Benton a steamboat to Fort Stevenson, a military post which had been +established about eighty miles south of Fort Buford, near a +settlement of friendly Mandan and Arickaree Indians, to protect them +from the hostile Sioux. From there I was to make my way overland, +first to Fort Totten near Devil's lake in Dakota, and thence by way +of Fort Abercrombie to Saint Cloud, Minnesota, the terminus of the +railroad. + +Luckily I met with no delay in getting a boat at Benton, and though +the water was extremely low, we steamed down the channel of the +Missouri with but slight detention till we got within fifty miles of +Fort Buford. Here we struck on a sandbar with such force of steam +and current as to land us almost out of the water from stem to +midships. This bad luck was tantalizing, for to land on a bar when +your boat is under full headway down-stream in the Missouri River is +no trifling matter, especially if you want to make time, for the +rapid and turbid stream quickly depositing sand under the hull, makes +it commonly a task of several days to get your boat off again. As +from our mishap the loss of much time was inevitable, I sent a +messenger to Fort Buford for a small escort, and for horses to take +my party in to the post. Colonel Morrow, the commandant, came +himself to meet us, bringing a strong party of soldiers and some +friendly Indian scouts, because, he said, there were then in the +region around Buford so many treacherous band of Sioux as to make +things exceedingly unsafe. + +Desiring to reach the post without spending more than one night on +the way, we abandoned our steamer that evening, and set off at an +early hour the next morning. We made camp at the end of the day's +march within ten miles of Buford, and arrived at the post without +having had any incident of moment, unless we may dignify as one a +battle with three grizzly bears, discovered by our friendly Indians +the morning of our second day's journey. While eating our breakfast +--a rather slim one, by the way--spread on a piece of canvas, the +Indians, whose bivouac was some distance off, began shouting +excitedly, "Bear! bear!" and started us all up in time to see, out on +the plain some hundreds of yards away, an enormous grizzly and two +almost full-grown cubs. Chances like this for a bear hunt seldom +offered, so there was hurried mounting--the horses being already +saddled--and a quick advance made on the game from many directions, +Lieutenant Townsend, of the escort, and five or six of the Indians +going with me. Alarmed by the commotion, bruin and her cubs turned +about, and with an awkward yet rapid gait headed for a deep ravine, +in which there was brushwood shelter. + +My party rode directly across the prairie and struck the trail not +far behind the game. Then for a mile or more the chase was kept up, +but with such poor shooting because of the "buck fever" which had +seized most of us, that we failed to bring down any of the grizzlies, +though the cubs grew so tired that the mother was often obliged to +halt for their defense, meanwhile urging them on before her. When +the ravine was gained she hid the cubs away in the thick brushwood, +and then coming out where we could plainly see her, stood on the +defense just within the edge of the thicket, beyond the range of our +rifles though, unless we went down into the canyon, which we would +have to do on foot, since the precipitous wall precluded going on +horseback. For an adventure like this I confess I had little +inclination, and on holding a council of war, I found that the +Indians had still less, but Lieutenant Townsend, who was a fine shot, +and had refrained from firing hitherto in the hope that I might bag +the game, relieved the embarrassing situation and saved the credit of +the party by going down alone to attack the enemy. Meanwhile I +magnanimously held his horse, and the Sioux braves did a deal of +shouting, which they seemed to think of great assistance. + +Townsend, having descended to the bottom of the ravine, approached +within range, when the old bear struck out, dashing into and out of +the bushes so rapidly, however, that he could not get fair aim at +her, but the startled cubs running into full view, he killed one at +the first shot and at the second wounded the other. This terribly +enraged the mother, and she now came boldly out to fight, exposing +herself in the open ground so much as to permit a shot, that brought +her down too, with a broken shoulder. Then the Indians and I, +growing very brave, scrambled down to--take part in the fight. It +was left for me to despatch the wounded cub and mother, and having +recovered possession of my nerves, I did the work effectively, and we +carried off with us the skins of the three animals as trophies of the +hunt and evidence of our prowess. + +As good luck would have it, when we reached Buford we found a +steamboat there unloading stores, and learned that it would be ready +to start down the river the next day. Embarking on her, we got to +Stevenson in a few hours, and finding at the post camp equipage that +had been made ready for our use in crossing overland to Fort Totten, +we set out the following forenoon, taking with us a small escort of +infantry, transported in two light wagons, a couple of Mandans and +the post interpreter going along as mounted guides. + +To reach water we had to march the first day to a small lake forty +miles off, and the oppressive heat, together with the long distance +traveled, used up one of the teams so much that, when about to start +out the second morning, we found the animals unable to go on with any +prospect of finishing the trip, so I ordered them to be rested +forty-eight hours longer, and then taken back to Stevenson. This +diminished the escort by one-half, yet by keeping the Indians and +interpreter on the lookout, and seeing that our ambulance was kept +closed up on the wagon carrying the rest of the detachment, we could, +I thought, stand off any ordinary party of hostile Indians. + +About noon I observed that the scouts in advance had left the trail +and begun to reconnoitre a low ridge to their right, the sequel of +which was that in a few minutes they returned to the wagons on a dead +run and reported Sioux just ahead. Looking in the direction +indicated, I could dimly see five or six horsemen riding in a circle, +as Indians do when giving warning to their camp, but as our halt +disclosed that we were aware of their proximity, they darted back +again behind the crest of the ridge. Anticipating from this move an +immediate attack, we hastily prepared for it by unhooking the mules +from the wagon and ambulance, so that we could use the vehicles as a +barricade. This done, I told the interpreter to take the Mandan +scouts and go over toward the ridge and reconnoitre again. As the +scouts neared the crest two of them dismounted, and, crawling slowly +on their bellies to the summit, took a hasty look and returned at +once to their horses, coming back with word that in the valley beyond +was a camp of at least a hundred Sioux lodges, and that the Indians +were hurriedly getting ready to attack us. The news was anything but +cheering, for with a village of that size the warriors would number +two or three hundred, and could assail us from every side. + +Still, nothing could be done, but stand and take what was to come, +for there was no chance of escape--it being supreme folly to +undertake in wagons a race with Indians to Fort Stevenson, sixty +miles away. To make the best of the situation, we unloaded the +baggage, distributing and adjusting the trunks, rolls of bedding, +crackerboxes, and everything else that would stop a bullet, in such +manner as to form a square barricade, two sides of which were the +wagons, with the mules haltered to the wheels. Every man then +supplied himself with all the ammunition he could carry, and the +Mandan scouts setting up the depressing wail of the Indian +death-song, we all awaited the attack with the courage of despair. + +But no attack came; and time slipping by, and we still unmolested, +the interpreter and scouts were sent out to make another +reconnoissance. Going through just such precautions as before in +approaching the ridge, their slow progress kept us in painful +suspense; but when they got to the crest the strain on our nerves was +relieved by seeing them first stand up boldly at full height, and +then descend beyond. Quickly returning, they brought welcome word +that the whole thing was a mistake, and no Sioux were there at all. +What had been taken for a hundred Indian lodges turned out to be the +camp of a Government train on its way to Fort Stevenson, and the +officer in charge seeing the scouts before they discovered him, and +believing them to be Sioux, had sent out to bring his herds in. It +would be hard to exaggerate the relief that this discovery gave us, +and we all breathed much easier. The scare was a bad one, and I have +no hesitation in saying that, had we been mounted, it is more than +likely that, instead of showing fight, we would have taken up a +lively pace for Fort Stevenson. + +After reciprocal explanations with the officer in charge of the +train, the march was resumed, and at the close of that day we camped +near a small lake about twenty miles from Fort Totten. From Totten +we journeyed on to Fort Abercrombie. The country between the two +posts is low and flat, and I verily believe was then the favorite +abiding-place of the mosquito, no matter where he most loves to dwell +now; for myriads of the pests rose up out of the tall rank grass +--more than I ever saw before or since--and viciously attacked both +men and animals. We ourselves were somewhat protected by gloves and +head-nets, provided us before leaving Totten, but notwithstanding these +our sufferings were well-nigh intolerable; the annoyance that the poor +mules experienced must, therefore, have been extreme; indeed, they were +so terribly stung that the blood fairly trickled down their sides. +Unluckily, we had to camp for one night in this region; but we partly +evaded the ravenous things by banking up our tent walls with earth, and +then, before turning in, sweeping and smoking out such as had got +inside. Yet with all this there seemed hundreds left to sing and sting +throughout the night. The mules being without protection, we tried +hard to save them from the vicious insects by creating a dense smoke +from a circle of smothered fires, within which chain the grateful +brutes gladly stood; but this relief was only partial, so the moment +there was light enough to enable us to hook up we pulled out for +Abercrombie in hot haste. + +From Abercrombie we drove on to Saint Cloud, the terminus of the +railroad, where, considerably the worse for our hurried trip and +truly wretched experience with the mosquitoes, we boarded the welcome +cars. Two days later we arrived in Chicago, and having meanwhile +received word from General Sherman that there would be no objection +to my going to Europe, I began making arrangements to leave, securing +passage by the steamship Scotia. + +President Grant invited me to come to see him at Long Branch before I +should sail, and during my brief visit there he asked which army I +wished to accompany, the German or the French. I told him the +German, for the reason that I thought more could be seen with the +successful side, and that the indications pointed to the defeat of +the French. My choice evidently pleased him greatly, as he had the +utmost contempt for Louis Napoleon, and had always denounced him as a +usurper and a charlatan. Before we separated, the President gave me +the following letter to the representatives of our Government abroad, +and with it I not only had no trouble in obtaining permission to go +with the Germans, but was specially favored by being invited to +accompany the headquarters of the King of Prussia: + +"LONG BRANCH, N. J., July 25, 1870. + +"Lieutenant-General P. H. Sheridan, of the United State Army, is +authorized to visit Europe, to return at his own pleasure, unless +otherwise ordered. He is commended to the good offices of all +representatives of this Government whom he may meet abroad. + +"To citizens and representatives of other Governments I introduce +General Sheridan as one of the most skillful, brave and deserving +soldiers developed by the great struggle through which the United +States Government has just passed. Attention paid him will be duly +appreciated by the country he has served so faithfully and +efficiently. + +"U. S. GRANT." + + +Word of my intended trip was cabled to Europe in the ordinary press +despatches, and our Minister to France, Mr. Elihu B. Washburn, being +an intimate friend of mine, and thinking that I might wish to attach +myself to the French army, did me the favor to take preliminary steps +for securing the necessary authority. He went so far as to broach +the subject to the French Minister of War, but in view of the +informality of the request, and an unmistakable unwillingness to +grant it being manifested, Mr. Washburn pursued the matter no +further. I did not learn of this kindly interest in my behalf till +after the capitulation of Paris, when Mr. Washburn told me what he +had done of his own motion. Of course I thanked him gratefully, but +even had he succeeded in getting the permission he sought I should +not have accompanied the French army. + +I sailed from New York July 27, one of my aides-de-camp, General +James W. Forsyth, going with me. We reached Liverpool August 6, and +the next day visited the American Legation in London, where we saw +all the officials except our Minister, Mr. Motley, who, being absent, +was represented by Mr. Moran, the Secretary of the Legation. We left +London August 9 for Brussels, where we were kindly cared for by the +American Minister, Mr. Russell Jones who the same evening saw us off +for Germany. Because of the war we secured transportation only as +far as Vera, and here we received information that the Prussian +Minister of War had telegraphed to the Military Inspector of +Railroads to take charge of us on our arrival a Cologne, and send us +down to the headquarter of the Prussian army, but the Inspector, for +some unexplained reason, instead of doing this, sent us on to Berlin. +Here our Minister, Mr. George Bancroft, met us with a telegram from +the German Chancellor, Count Bismarck, saying we were expected to +come direct to the King's headquarters and we learned also that a +despatch had been sent to the Prussian Minister at Brussels directing +him to forward us from Cologne to the army, instead of allowing us to +go on to Berlin, but that we had reached and quit Brussels without +the Minister's knowledge. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +LEAVING FOR THE SEAT OF WAR--MEETING WITH PRINCE BISMARCK--HIS +INTEREST IN PUBLIC OPINION IN AMERICA--HIS INCLINATIONS IN EARLY +LIFE--PRESENTED TO THE KING--THE BATTLE OF GRAVELOTTE--THE GERMAN +PLAN--ITS FINAL SUCCESS--SENDING NEWS OF THE VICTORY--MISTAKEN FOR A +FRENCHMAN. + +Shortly after we arrived in Berlin the Queen sent a messenger +offering us an opportunity to pay our respects, and fixed an hour for +the visit, which was to take place the next day; but as the tenor of +the despatch Mr. Bancroft had received from Count Bismarck indicated +that some important event which it was desired I should witness was +about to happen at the theatre of war, our Minister got us excused +from our visit of ceremony, and we started for the headquarters of +the German army that evening--our stay in the Prussian capital having +been somewhat less than a day. + +Our train was a very long one, of over eighty cars, and though drawn +by three locomotives, its progress to Cologne was very slow and the +journey most tedious. From Cologne we continued on by rail up the +valley of the Rhine to Bingebruck, near Bingen, and thence across +through Saarbrucken to Remilly, where we left the railway and rode in +a hay-wagon to Pont-a-Mousson, arriving there August 17, late in the +afternoon. This little city had been ceded to France at the Peace of +Westphalia, and although originally German, the people had become, in +the lapse of so many years, intensely French in sentiment. The town +was so full of officers and men belonging to the German army that it +was difficult to get lodgings, but after some delay we found quite +comfortable quarters at one of the small hotels, and presently, after +we had succeeded in getting a slender meal, I sent my card to Count +von Bismarck, the Chancellor of the North German Confederation, who +soon responded by appointing an hour--about 9 o'clock the same +evening--for an interview. + +When the Count received me he was clothed in the undress uniform of +the Cuirassier regiment, of which he was the colonel. During the +interview which ensued, he exhibited at times deep anxiety regarding +the conflict now imminent, for it was the night before the battle of +Gravelotte, but his conversation was mostly devoted to the state of +public sentiment in America, about which he seemed much concerned, +inquiring repeatedly as to which side--France or Prussia--was charged +with bringing on the war. Expressing a desire to witness the battle +which was expected to occur the next day, and remarking that I had +not had sufficient time to provide the necessary transportation, he +told me to be ready at 4 o'clock in the morning, and he would take me +out in his own carriage and present me to the King--adding that he +would ask one of his own staff-officers, who he knew had one or two +extra horses, to lend me one. As I did not know just what my status +would be, and having explained to the President before leaving +America that I wished to accompany the German army unofficially, I +hardly knew whether to appear in uniform or not, so I spoke of this +matter too, and the Count, after some reflection, thought it best for +me to wear my undress uniform, minus the sword, however, because I +was a non combatant. + +At 4 o'clock the next morning, the 18th, I repaired to the +Chancellor's quarters. The carriage was at the door, also the +saddle-horse, but as no spare mount could be procured for General +Forsyth, he had to seek other means to reach the battle-field. The +carriage was an open one with two double seats, and in front a single +one for a messenger; it had also a hand-brake attached. + + +Count Bismarck and I occupied the rear seat, and Count +Bismarck-Bohlen--the nephew and aide-decamp to the Chancellor--and +Doctor Busch were seated facing us. The conveyance was strong, +serviceable, and comfortable, but not specially prepossessing, and +hitched to it were four stout horses--logy, ungainly animals, whose +clumsy harness indicated that the whole equipment was meant for heavy +work. Two postilions in uniform, in high military saddles on the nigh +horse of each span, completed the establishment. + +All being ready, we took one of the roads from Pont-a-Mousson to +Rezonville, which is on the direct road from Metz to Chalons, and +near the central point of the field where, on the 16th of August, the +battle of Mars-la-Tour had been fought. It was by this road that the +Pomeranians, numbering about 30,000 men, had been ordered to march to +Gravelotte, and after proceeding a short distance we overtook the +column. As this contingent came from Count Bismarck's own section of +Germany, there greeted us as we passed along, first in the dim light +of the morning, and later in the glow of the rising sun, continuous +and most enthusiastic cheering for the German Chancellor. + +On the way Count Bismarck again recurred to the state of public +opinion in America with reference to the war. He also talked much +about our form of government, and said that in early life his +tendencies were all toward republicanism, but that family influence +had overcome his preferences, and intimated that, after adopting a +political career, he found that Germany was not sufficiently advanced +for republicanism. He said, further, that he had been reluctant to +enter upon this public career, that he had always longed to be a +soldier, but that here again family opposition had turned him from +the field of his choice into the sphere of diplomacy. + +Not far from Mars-la-Tour we alighted, and in a little while an +aide-de-camp was introduced, who informed me that he was there to +conduct and present me to his Majesty, the King of Prussia. As we were +walking along together, I inquired whether at the meeting I should +remove my cap, and he said no; that in an out-of-door presentation it +was not etiquette to uncover if in uniform. We were soon in presence +of the King, where--under the shade of a clump of second-growth +poplar-trees, with which nearly all the farms in the north of France +are here and there dotted--the presentation was made in the simplest +and most agreeable manner. + +His Majesty, taking my hand in both of his, gave me a thorough +welcome, expressing, like Count Bismarck, though through an +interpreter, much interest as to the sentiment in my own country +about the war. At this time William the First of Prussia was +seventy-three years of age, and, dressed in the uniform of the +Guards, he seemed to be the very ideal soldier, and graced with most +gentle and courteous manners. The conversation, which was brief, as +neither of us spoke the other's native tongue, concluded by his +Majesty's requesting me in the most cordial way to accompany his +headquarters during the campaign. Thanking him for his kindness, I +rejoined Count Bismarck's party, and our horses having arrived +meantime, we mounted and moved off to the position selected for the +King to witness the opening of the battle. + +This place was on some high ground overlooking the villages of +Rezonville and Gravelotte, about the centre of the battlefield of +Mars-la-Tour, and from it most of the country to the east toward Metz +could also be seen. The point chosen was an excellent one for the +purpose, though in one respect disagreeable, since the dead bodies of +many of the poor fellows killed there two days before were yet +unburied. In a little while the King's escort began to remove these +dead, however, bearing them away on stretchers improvised with their +rifles, and the spot thus cleared was much more acceptable. Then, +when such unexploded shells as were lying around loose had been +cautiously carried away, the King, his brother, Prince Frederick +Charles Alexander, the chief-of-staff, General von Moltke, the +Minister of War, General von Roon, and Count von Bismarck assembled +on the highest point, and I being asked to join the group, was there +presented to General von Moltke. He spoke our language fluently, and +Bismarck having left the party for a time to go to a neighboring +house to see his son, who had been wounded at Mars-la-Tour, and about +whom he was naturally very anxious, General von Moltke entertained me +by explaining the positions of the different corps, the nature and +object of their movements then taking place, and so on. + +Before us, and covering Metz, lay the French army, posted on the +crest of a ridge extending north, and about its centre curving +slightly westward toward the German forces. The left of the French +position was but a short distance from the Moselle, and this part of +the line was separated from the Germans by a ravine, the slopes, +fairly well wooded, rising quite sharply; farther north, near the +centre, this depression disappeared, merged in the general swell of +the ground, and thence on toward the right the ground over which an +approach to the French line must be made was essentially a natural +open glacis, that could be thoroughly swept by the fire of the +defenders. + +The line extended some seven or eight miles. To attack this +position, formidable everywhere, except perhaps on the right flank, +the Germans were bringing up the combined forces of the First and +Second armies, troops that within the past fortnight had already +successfully met the French in three pitched battles. On the right +was the First Army, under command of General Von Steinmetz, the +victors, August 6, of Spicheren, near Saar, and, eight days later, of +Colombey, to the east of Metz; while the centre and left were +composed of the several corps of the Second Army, commanded by Prince +Frederick Charles of Prussia, a part of whose troops had just been +engaged in the sanguinary battle of Mars-la-Tour, by which Bazaine +was cut off from the Verdun road, and forced back toward Metz. + +At first the German plan was simply to threaten with their right, +while the corps of the Second Army advanced toward the north, to +prevent the French, of whose intentions there was much doubt, from +escaping toward Chalons; then, as the purposes of the French might +be, developed, these corps were to change direction toward the enemy +successively, and seek to turn his right flank. But the location of +this vital turning-point was very uncertain, and until it was +ascertained and carried, late in the afternoon, the action raged with +more or less intensity along the entire line. + +But as it is not my purpose to describe in detail the battle of +Gravelotte, nor any other, I will speak of some of its incidents +merely. About noon, after many preliminary skirmishes, the action +was begun according to the plan I have already outlined, the Germans +advancing their left while holding on strongly with their right, and +it was this wing (the First Army) that came under my observation from +the place where the King's headquarters were located. From here we +could see, as I have said, the village of Gravelotte. Before it lay +the German troops, concealed to some extent, especially to the left, +by clumps of timber here and there. Immediately in front of us, +however, the ground was open, and the day being clear and sunny, with +a fresh breeze blowing (else the smoke from a battle between four +hundred thousand men would have obstructed the view altogether), the +spectacle presented Was of unsurpassed magnificence and sublimity. +The German artillery opened the battle, and while the air was filled +with shot and shell from hundreds of guns along their entire line, +the German centre and left, in rather open order, moved out to the +attack, and as they went forward the reserves, in close column, took +up positions within supporting distances, yet far enough back to be +out of range. + +The French artillery and mitrailleuses responded vigorously to the +Krupps, and with deadly effect, but as far as we could see the German +left continued its advance, and staff-officers came up frequently to +report that all was going on well at points hidden from our view +These reports were always made to the King first, and whenever +anybody arrived with tidings of the fight we clustered around to hear +the news, General Von Moltke unfolding a map meanwhile, and +explaining the situation. This done, the chief of the staff, while +awaiting the next report, would either return to a seat that had been +made for him with some knapsacks, or would occupy the time walking +about, kicking clods of dirt or small stones here and there, his +hands clasped behind his back, his face pale and thoughtful. He was +then nearly seventy years old, but because of his emaciated figure, +the deep wrinkles in his face, and the crow's-feet about his eyes, he +looked even older, his appearance being suggestive of the practice of +church asceticisms rather than of his well-known ardent devotion to +the military profession. + +By the middle of the afternoon the steady progress of the German left +and centre had driven the French from their more advanced positions +from behind stone walls and hedges, through valleys and hamlets, in +the direction of Metz, but as yet the German right had accomplished +little except to get possession of the village of Gravelotte, +forcing the French across the deep ravine I have mentioned, which +runs north and south a little distance east of ihe town. + +But it was now time for the German right to move in earnest to carry +the Rozerieulles ridge, on which crest the French had evidently +decided to make an obstinate fight to cover their withdrawal to Metz. +As the Germans moved to the attack here, the French fire became heavy +and destructive, so much so, indeed, as to cause General Von +Steinmetz to order some cavalry belonging to the right wing to make a +charge. Crossing the ravine before described, this body of horse +swept up the slope beyond, the front ranks urged forward by the +momentum from behind. The French were posted along a sunken road, +behind stone walls and houses, and as the German cavalry neared these +obstructions it received a dreadful fire without the least chance of +returning it, though still pushed on till the front ranks were +crowded into the deep cut of the road. Here the slaughter was +terrible, for the horsemen could make no further headway; and because +of the blockade behind, of dead and wounded men and animals, an +orderly retreat was impossible, and disaster inevitable. + +About the time the charge was ordered, the phase of the battle was +such that the King concluded to move his headquarters into the +village of Gravelotte; and just after getting there, we first learned +fully of the disastrous result of the charge which had been entered +upon with such spirit; and so much indignation was expressed against +Steinmetz, who, it was claimed, had made an unnecessary sacrifice of +his cavalry, that I thought he would be relieved on the spot; though +this was not done. + +Followed by a large staff, General Steinmetz appeared in the village +presently, and approached the King. When near, he bowed with great +respect, and I then saw that he was a very old man though his +soldierly figure, bronzed face, and shortcropped hair gave some +evidence of vigor still. When the King spoke to him I was not close +enough to learn what was said; but his Majesty's manner was +expressive of kindly feeling, and the fact that in a few moments the +veteran general returned to the command of his troops, indicated +that, for the present at least, his fault had been overlooked. + +The King then moved out of the village, and just a little to the east +and north of it the headquarters were located on high, open ground, +whence we could observe the right of the German infantry advancing up +the eastern face of the ravine. The advance, though slow and +irregular, resulted in gradually gaining ground, the French resisting +stoutly with a stubborn musketry fire all along the slopes. Their +artillery was silent, however; and from this fact the German +artillery officers grew jubilant, confidently asserting that their +Krupp guns had dismounted the French batteries and knocked their +mitrailleuses to pieces. I did not indulge in this confidence, +however; for, with the excellent field-glass I had, I could +distinctly see long columns of French troops moving to their right, +for the apparent purpose of making a vigorous fight on that flank; +and I thought it more than likely that their artillery would be heard +from before the Germans could gain the coveted ridge. + +The Germans labored up the glacis slowly at the most exposed places; +now crawling on their bellies, now creeping on hands and knees, but, +in the main, moving with erect and steady bearing. As they +approached within short range, they suddenly found that the French +artillery and mitrallleuses had by no means been silenced--about two +hundred pieces opening on them with fearful effect, while at the same +time the whole crest blazed with a deadly fire from the Chassepot +rifles. Resistance like this was so unexpected by the Germans that +it dismayed them; and first wavering a moment, then becoming +panic-stricken, they broke and fled, infantry, cavalry, and artillery +coming down the slope without any pretence of formation, the French +hotly following and pouring in a heavy and constant fire as the +fugitives fled back across the ravine toward Gravelotte. With this +the battle on the right had now assumed a most serious aspect, and +the indications were that the French would attack the heights of +Gravelotte; but the Pomeranian corps coming on the field at this +crisis, was led into action by Von Moltke, himself, and shortly after +the day was decided in favor of the Germans. + +When the French guns opened fire, it was discovered that the King's +position was within easy range, many of the shells falling near +enough to make the place extremely uncomfortable; so it was suggested +that he go to a less exposed point. At first he refused to listen to +this wise counsel, but yielded finally--leaving the ground with +reluctance, however--and went back toward Rezonville. I waited for +Count Bismarck, who did not go immediately with the King, but +remained at Gravelotte, looking after some of the escort who had been +wounded. When he had arranged for their care, we set out to rejoin +the King, and before going far, overtook his Majesty, who had stopped +on the Chalons road, and was surrounded by a throng of fugitives, +whom he was berating in German so energetic as to remind me forcibly +of the "Dutch" swearing that I used to hear in my boyhood in Ohio. +The dressing down finished to his satisfaction, the King resumed his +course toward Re'zonville, halting, however, to rebuke in the same +emphatic style every group of runaways he overtook. + +Passing through Rezonville, we halted just beyond the village; there +a fire was built, and the King, his brother, Prince Frederick +Charles, and Von Roon were provided with rather uncomfortable seats +about it, made by resting the ends of a short ladder on a couple of +boxes. With much anxiety and not a little depression of spirits news +from the battle-field was now awaited, but the suspense did not last +long, for presently came the cheering intelligence that the French +were retiring, being forced back by the Pomeranian corps, and some of +the lately broken right wing organizations, that had been rallied on +the heights of Gravelotte. The lost ground being thus regained, and +the French having been beaten on their right, it was not long before +word came that Bazaine's army was falling back to Metz, leaving the +entire battle-field in possession of the Germans. + +During the excitement of the day I had not much felt the want of +either food or water, but now that all was over I was nearly +exhausted, having had neither since early morning. Indeed, all of +the party were in like straits; the immense armies had not only eaten +up nearly everything in the country, but had drunk all the wells dry, +too, and there seemed no relief for us till, luckily, a squad of +soldiers came along the road with a small cask of wine in a cart. +One of the staff-officers instantly appropriated the keg, and +proceeded to share his prize most generously. Never had I tasted +anything so refreshing and delicious, but as the wine was the +ordinary sour stuff drunk by the peasantry of northern France, my +appreciation must be ascribed to my famished condition rather than to +any virtues of the beverage itself. + +After I had thus quenched my thirst the King's, brother called me +aside, and drawing from his coat-tail pocket a piece of stale black +bread, divided it with me, and while munching on this the Prince +began talking of his son--General Prince Frederick Charles, popularly +called the Red Prince--who was in command of the Second Army in this +battle--the German left wing. In recounting his son's professional +career the old man's face was aglow with enthusiasm, and not without +good cause, for in the war between Prussia and Austria in 1866, as +well as in the present campaign, the Red Prince had displayed the +highest order of military genius. + +The headquarters now became the scene of much bustle, despatches +announcing the victory being sent in all directions. The first one +transmitted was to the Queen, the King directing Count Bismarck to +prepare it for his signature; then followed others of a more official +character, and while these matters were being attended to I thought I +would ride into the village to find, if possible, some water for my +horse. Just as I entered the chief street, however, I was suddenly +halted by a squad of soldiers, who, taking me for a French officer +(my coat and forage cap resembling those of the French), leveled +their pieces at me. They were greatly excited, so much so, indeed, +that I thought my hour had come, for they could not understand +English, and I could not speak German, and dare not utter +explanations in French. Fortunately a few disconnected German words +came to me in the emergency. With these I managed to delay my +execution, and one of the party ventured to come up to examine the +"suspect" more closely. The first thing he did was to take off my +cap, and looking it over carefully, his eyes rested on the three +stars above the visor, and, pointing to them, he emphatically +pronounced me French. Then of course they all became excited again, +more so than before, even, for they thought I was trying to practice +a ruse, and I question whether I should have lived to recount the +adventure had not an officer belonging to the King's headquarters +been passing by just then, when, hearing the threatenings and +imprecations, he rode up to learn the cause of the hubbub, and +immediately recognized and released me. When he told my wrathy +captors who I was, they were much mortified of course, and made the +most profuse apologies, promising that no such mistake should occur +again, and so on; but not feeling wholly reassured, for my uniform +was still liable to mislead, I was careful to return to headquarters +in company with my deliverer. There I related what had occurred, and +after a good laugh all round, the King provided me with a pass which +he said would preclude any such mishap in the future, and would also +permit me to go wherever I pleased--a favor rarely bestowed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SEARCHING FOR QUARTERS--HUNTING UP PROVISIONS--A SLENDER BREAKFAST +--GOING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD--THE GERMAN ARTILLERY--A GROUP OF WOUNDED +--DINING WITH THE KING--ON THE MARCH--THE BAVARIANS--KIRSCHWASSER +--URGING ON THE TROOPS. + +While I was absent, as related in the preceding chapter, it had been +decided that the King's quarters should be established for the night +in the village of Rezonville; and as it would be very difficult, at +such a late hour, to billet the whole party regularly, Count Bismarck +and I went off to look for shelter for ourselves. Remembering that I +had seen, when seeking to water my horse, a partly burned barn with +some fresh-looking hay in it, I suggested that we lodge there. He +too thought it would answer our purpose, but on reaching it we found +the unburned part of the barn filled with wounded, and this +necessitating a further search we continued on through the village in +quest of some house not yet converted into a hospital. Such, +however, seemed impossible to come upon, so at last the Count fixed +on one whose upper floor, we learned, was unoccupied, though the +lower one was covered with wounded. + +Mounting a creaky ladder--there was no stairway--to the upper story, +we found a good-sized room with three large beds, one of which the +Chancellor assigned to the Duke of Mecklenburg and aide, and another +to Count Bismarck-Bohlen and me, reserving the remaining one for +himself. Each bed, as is common in Germany and northern France, was +provided with a feather tick, but the night being warm, these spreads +were thrown off, and discovering that they would make a comfortable +shakedown on the floor, I slept there leaving Bismarck-Bohlen +unembarrassed by companionship--at least of a human kind. + +At daylight I awoke, and seeing that Count Bismarck was already +dressed and about to go down the ladder, I felt obliged to follow his +example, so I too turned out, and shortly descended to the +ground-floor, the only delays of the toilet being those incident to +dressing, for there were no conveniences for morning ablutions. Just +outside the door I met the Count, who, proudly exhibiting a couple of +eggs he had bought from the woman of the house, invited me to +breakfast with him, provided we could beg some coffee from the king's +escort. Putting the eggs under my charge, with many injunctions as +to their safe-keeping, he went off to forage for the coffee, and +presently returned, having been moderately successful. One egg +apiece was hardly enough, however, to appease the craving of two +strong men ravenous from long fasting. Indeed, it seemed only to +whet the appetite, and we both set out on an eager expedition for +more food. Before going far I had the good luck to meet a sutler's +wagon, and though its stock was about all sold, there were still left +four large bologna sausages, which I promptly purchased--paying a +round sum for them too--and hastening back found the Count already +returned, though without bringing anything at all to eat; but he had +secured a couple of bottles of brandy, and with a little of this--it +was excellent, too--and the sausages, the slim ration of eggs and +coffee was amply reinforced. + +Breakfast over, the Chancellor invited me to accompany him in a ride +to the battle-field, and I gladly accepted, as I very much desired to +pass over the ground in front of Gravelotte, particularly so to see +whether the Krupp guns had really done the execution that was claimed +for them by the German artillery officers. Going directly through +the village of Gravelotte, following the causeway over which the +German cavalry had passed to make its courageous but futile charge, +we soon reached the ground where the fighting had been the most +severe. Here the field was literally covered with evidences of the +terrible strife, the dead and wounded strewn thick on every side. + +In the sunken road the carnage had been awful; men and horses having +been slaughtered there by hundreds, helpless before the murderous +fire delivered from behind a high stone wall impracticable to mounted +troops. The sight was sickening to an extreme, and we were not slow +to direct our course elsewhere, going up the glacis toward the French +line, the open ground over which we crossed being covered with +thousands of helmets, that had been thrown off by the Germans during +the fight and were still dotting the field, though details of +soldiers from the organizations which had been engaged here were +about to begin to gather up their abandoned headgear. + +When we got inside the French works, I was astonished to observe how +little harm had been done the defenses by the German artillery, for +although I had not that serene faith in the effectiveness of their +guns held by German artillerists generally, yet I thought their +terrific cannonade must have left marked results. All I could +perceive, however, was a disabled gun, a broken mitrailleuse, and two +badly damaged caissons. + +Everything else, except a little ammunition in the trenches, had been +carried away, and it was plain to see, from the good shape in which +the French left wing had retired to Metz, that its retreat had been +predetermined by the disasters to the right wing. + +By this hour the German cavalry having been thrown out to the front +well over toward Metz, we, following it to get a look at the city, +rode to a neighboring summit, supposing it would be a safe point of +observation; but we shortly realized the contrary, for scarcely had +we reached the crest when some of the French pickets, lying concealed +about six hundred yards off, opened fire, making it so very hot for +us that, hugging the necks of our horses, we incontinently fled. +Observing what had taken place, a troop of German cavalry charged the +French outpost and drove it far enough away to make safe our return, +and we resumed possession of the point, but only to discover that the +country to the east was so broken and hilly that no satisfactory view +of Metz could be had. + +Returning to Gravelotte, we next visited that part of the battlefield +to the northeast of the village, and before long Count Bismarck +discovered in a remote place about twenty men dreadfully wounded. +These poor fellows had had no attention whatever, having been +overlooked by the hospital corps, and their condition was most +pitiful. Yet there was one very handsome man in the group--a captain +of artillery--who, though shot through the right breast, was +talkative and cheerful, and felt sure of getting well. Pointing, +however, to a comrade lying near, also shot in the breast, he +significantly shook his head; it was easy to see on this man's face +the signs--of fast approaching death. + +An orderly was at once despatched for a surgeon, Bismarck and I doing +what we could meanwhile to alleviate the intense sufferings of the +maimed men, bringing them water and administering a little brandy, +for the Count still had with him some of the morning's supply. When +the surgeons came, we transferred the wounded to their care, and +making our way to Rezonville, there took the Count's carriage to +rejoin the King's headquarters, which in the mean time had been moved +to Pont-a-Mousson. Our route led through the village of Gorze, and +here we found the streets so obstructed with wagons that I feared it +would take us the rest of the day to get through, for the teamsters +would not pay the slightest heed to the cries of our postilions. The +Count was equal to the emergency, however, for, taking a pistol from +behind his cushion, and bidding me keep my seat, he jumped out and +quickly began to clear the street effectively, ordering wagons to the +right and left. Marching in front of the carriage and making way for +us till we were well through the blockade, he then resumed his seat, +remarking, "This is not a very dignified business for the Chancellor +of the German Confederation, but it's the only way to get through." + +At Pont-a-Mousson I was rejoined by my aide, General Forsyth, and for +the next two days our attention was almost wholly devoted to securing +means of transportation. This was most difficult to obtain, but as I +did not wish to impose on the kindness of the Chancellor longer, we +persevered till, finally, with the help of Count Bismarck-Bohlen, we +managed to get tolerably well equipped with a saddle-horse apiece, +and a two-horse carriage. Here also, on the afternoon of August 21, +I had the pleasure of dining with the King. The dinner was a simple +one, consisting of soup, a joint, and two or three vegetables; the +wines vin ordinaire and Burgundy. There were a good many persons of +high rank present, none of whom spoke English, however, except +Bismarck, who sat next the King and acted as interpreter when his +Majesty conversed with me. Little was said of the events taking +place around us, but the King made many inquiries concerning the war +of the rebellion, particularly with reference to Grant's campaign at +Vicksburg; suggested, perhaps, by the fact that there, and in the +recent movements of the German army, had been applied many similar +principles of military science. + +The French army under Marshal Bazaine having retired into the +fortifications of Metz, that stronghold was speedily invested by +Prince Frederick Charles. Meantime the Third Army, under the Crown +Prince of Prussia--which, after having fought and won the battle of +Worth, had been observing the army of Marshal MacMahon during and +after the battle of Gravelotte--was moving toward Paris by way of +Nancy, in conjunction with an army called the Fourth, which had been +organized from the troops previously engaged around Metz, and on the +22d was directed toward Bar-le-Duc under the command of the Crown +Prince of Saxony. In consequence of these operations the King +decided to move to Commercy, which place we reached by carriage, +traveling on a broad macadamized road lined on both sides with +poplar-trees, and our course leading through a most beautiful country +thickly dotted with prosperous-looking villages. + +On reaching Commercy, Forsyth and I found that quarters had been +already selected for us, and our names written on the door with chalk +the quartermaster charged with the billeting of the officers at +headquarters having started out in advance to perform this duty and +make all needful preparations for the King before he arrived, which +course was usually pursued thereafter, whenever the royal +headquarters took up a new location. + +Forsyth and I were lodged with the notary of the village, who over +and over again referred to his good fortune in not having to +entertain any of the Germans. He treated us most hospitably, and +next morning, on departing, we offered compensation by tendering a +sum--about what our bill would have been at a good hotel--to be used +for the "benefit of the wounded or the Church." Under this +stipulation the notary accepted, and we followed that plan of paying +for food and lodging afterward, whenever quartered in private houses. + +The next day I set out in advance of the headquarters, and reached +Bar-le-Duc about noon, passing on the way the Bavarian contingent of +the Crown Prince's army. These Bavarians were trim-looking soldiers, +dressed in neat uniforms of light blue; they looked healthy and +strong, but seemed of shorter stature than the North Germans I had +seen in the armies of Prince Frederick Charles and General von +Steinmetz. When, later in the day the King arrived, a guard for him +was detailed from this Bavarian contingent; a stroke of policy no +doubt, for the South Germans were so prejudiced against their +brothers of the North that no opportunity to smooth them down was +permitted to go unimproved. + +Bar-le-Duc, which had then a population of about 15,000, is one of +the prettiest towns I saw in France, its quaint and ancient buildings +and beautiful boulevards charming the eye as well as exciting deep +interest. The King and his immediate suite were quartered on one of +the best boulevards in a large building--the Bank of France--the +balcony of which offered a fine opportunity to observe a part of the +army of the Crown Prince the next day on its march toward Vitry. +This was the first time his Majesty had had a chance to see any of +these troops--as hitherto he had accompanied either the army of +Prince Frederick Charles, or that of General Steinmetz--and the +cheers with which he was greeted by the Bavarians left no room for +doubting their loyalty to the Confederation, notwithstanding ancient +jealousies. + +While the troops were passing, Count Bismarck had the kindness to +point out to me the different organizations, giving scraps of their +history, and also speaking concerning the qualifications of the +different generals commanding them. When the review was over we went +to the Count's house, and there, for the first time in my life, I +tasted kirschwasser, a very strong liquor distilled from cherries. +Not knowing anything about the stuff, I had to depend on Bismarck's +recommendation, and he proclaiming it fine, I took quite a generous +drink, which nearly strangled me and brought on a violent fit of +coughing. The Chancellor said, however, that this was in no way due +to the liquor, but to my own inexperience, and I was bound to believe +the distinguished statesman, for he proved his words by swallowing a +goodly dose with an undisturbed and even beaming countenance, +demonstrating his assertion so forcibly that I forthwith set out with +Bismarck-Bohlen to lay in a supply for myself. + +I spent the night in a handsome house, the property of an +exceptionally kind and polite gentleman bearing the indisputably +German name of Lager, but who was nevertheless French from head to +foot, if intense hatred of the Prussians be a sign of Gallic +nationality. At daybreak on the 26th word came for us to be ready to +move by the Chalons road at 7 o'clock, but before we got off, the +order was suspended till 2 in the afternoon. In the interval General +von Moltke arrived and held a long conference with the King, and when +we did pull out we traveled the remainder of the afternoon in company +with a part of the Crown Prince's army, which after this conference +inaugurated the series of movements from Bar-le-Duc northward, that +finally compelled the surrender at Sedan. This sudden change of +direction I did not at first understand, but soon learned that it was +because of the movements of Marshal MacMahon, who, having united the +French army beaten at Worth with three fresh corps at Chalons, was +marching to relieve Metz in obedience to orders from the Minister of +War at Paris. + +As we passed along the column, we noticed that the Crown Prince's +troops were doing their best, the officers urging the men to their +utmost exertions, persuading weary laggards and driving up +stragglers. As a general thing, however, they marched in good shape, +notwithstanding the rapid gait and the trying heat, for at the outset +of the campaign the Prince had divested them of all impedimenta +except essentials, and they were therefore in excellent trim for a +forced march. + +The King traveled further than usual that day--to Clermont--so we did +not get shelter till late, and even then not without some confusion, +for the quartermaster having set out toward Chalons before the change +of programme was ordered, was not at hand to provide for us. I had +extreme good luck, though, in being quartered with a certain +apothecary, who, having lived for a time in the United States, +claimed it as a privilege even to lodge me, and certainly made me his +debtor for the most generous hospitality. It was not so with some of +the others, however; and Count Bismarck was particularly unfortunate, +being billeted in a very small and uncomfortable house, where, +visiting him to learn more fully what was going on, I found him, +wrapped in a shabby old dressing-gown, hard at work. He was +established in a very small room, whose only furnishings consisted of +a table--at which he was writing--a couple of rough chairs, and the +universal feather-bed, this time made on the floor in one corner of +the room. On my remarking upon the limited character of his +quarters, the Count replied, with great good-humor, that they were +all right, and that he should get along well enough. Even the tramp +of his clerks in the attic, and the clanking of his orderlies' sabres +below, did not disturb him much; he said, in fact, that he would have +no grievance at all were it not for a guard of Bavarian soldiers +stationed about the house for his safety, he presumed the sentinels +from which insisted on protecting and saluting the Chancellor of the +North German Confederation in and out of season, a proceeding that +led to embarrassment sometimes, as he was much troubled with a severe +dysentery. Notwithstanding his trials, however, and in the midst of +the correspondence on which he was so intently engaged, he graciously +took time to explain that the sudden movement northward from +Bar-le-Duc was, as I have previously recounted, the result of +information that Marshal MacMahon was endeavoring to relieve Metz by +marching along the Belgian frontier; "a blundering manoeuvre," remarked +the Chancellor, "which cannot be accounted for, unless it has been +brought about by the political situation of the French." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AFTER MacMAHON--THE BATTLE AT BEAUMONT--THE FRENCH SURPRISED--THE +MARCHING OF THE GERMAN SOLDIERS--THE BATTLE OF SEDAN--GALLANT CAVALRY +CHARGES--DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH--THE SURRENDER OF NAPOLEON--BISMARCK +AND THE KING--DECORATING THE SOLDIERS. + +All night long the forced march of the army went on through Clermont, +and when I turned out, just after daylight, the columns were still +pressing forward, the men looking tired and much bedraggled, as +indeed they had reason to be, for from recent rains the roads were +very sloppy. Notwithstanding this, however, the troops were pushed +ahead with all possible vigor to intercept MacMahon and force a +battle before he could withdraw from his faulty movement, for which +it has since been ascertained he was not at all responsible. Indeed, +those at the royal headquarters seemed to think of nothing else than +to strike MacMahon, for, feeling pretty confident that Metz could not +be relieved, they manifested not the slightest anxiety on that score. + +By 8 o'clock, the skies having cleared, the headquarters set out for +Grand Pre', which place we reached early in the afternoon, and that +evening I again had the pleasure of dining with the King. The +conversation at table was almost wholly devoted to the situation, of +course, everybody expressing surprise at the manoeuvre of the French +at this time, their march along the Belgian frontier being credited +entirely to Napoleon. Up to bed-time there was still much +uncertainty as to the exact positions of the French, but next morning +intelligence being received which denoted the probability of a +battle, we drove about ten miles, to Buzancy, and there mounting our +horses, rode to the front. + +The French were posted not far from Buzancy in a strong position, +their right resting near Stonne and the left extending over into the +woods beyond Beaumont. About 10 o'clock the Crown Prince of Saxony +advanced against this line, and while a part of his army turned the +French right, compelling it to fall back rapidly, the German centre +and right attacked with great vigor and much skill, surprising one of +the divisions of General De Failly's corps while the men were in the +act of cooking their breakfast. + +The French fled precipitately, leaving behind their tents and other +camp equipage, and on inspecting the ground which they had abandoned +so hastily, I noticed on all sides ample evidence that not even the +most ordinary precautions had been taken to secure the division from +surprise, The artillery horses had not been harnessed, and many of +them had been shot down at the picket-rope where they had been +haltered the night before, while numbers of men were lying dead with +loaves of bread or other food instead of their muskets in their +hands. + +Some three thousand prisoners and nearly all the artillery and +mitrailleuses of the division--were captured, while the fugitives +were pursued till they found shelter behind--Douay's corps and the +rest of De Failly's beyond Beaumont. The same afternoon there were +several other severe combats along the Meuse, but I had no chance of +witnessing any of them, and just before night-fall I started back to +Buzancy, to which place the King's headquarters had been brought +during the day. + +The morning of the 31st the King moved to Vendresse. First sending +our carriage back to Grand Pre' for our trunks, Forsyth and I mounted +our horses and rode to the battle-field accompanied by an English +nobleman, the Duke of Manchester. The part of the field we traversed +was still thickly strewn with the dead of both armies, though all the +wounded had been collected in the hospitals. In the village of +Beaumont, we stopped to take a look at several thousand French +prisoners, whose worn clothing and evident dejection told that they +had been doing a deal of severe marching under great discouragements. + +The King reached the village shortly after, and we all continued on +to Chemery, just beyond where his Majesty alighted from his carriage +to observe his son's troops file past as they came in from the +direction of Stonne. This delay caused us to be as late as 9 o'clock +before we got shelter that night, but as it afforded me the best +opportunity I had yet had for seeing the German soldiers on the +march, I did not begrudge the time. They moved in a somewhat open +and irregular column of fours, the intervals between files being +especially intended to give room for a peculiar swinging gait, with +which the men seemed to urge themselves over the ground with ease and +rapidity. There was little or no straggling, and being strong, lusty +young fellows, and lightly equipped--they carried only needle-guns, +ammunition, a very small knapsack, a water-bottle, and a haversack +--they strode by with an elastic step, covering at least three miles an +hour. + +It having been definitely ascertained that the demoralized French +were retiring to Sedan, on the evening of August 31 the German army +began the work of hemming them in there, so disposing the different +corps as to cover the ground from Donchery around by Raucourt to +Carignan. The next morning this line was to be drawn in closer on +Sedan; and the Crown Prince of Saxony was therefore ordered to take +up a position to the north of Bazeilles, beyond the right bank of the +Meuse, while the Crown Prince of Prussia was to cross his right wing +over the Meuse at Remilly, to move on Bazeilles, his centre meantime +marching against a number of little hamlets still held by the French +between there and Donchery. At this last-mentioned place strong +reserves were to be held, and from it the Eleventh Corps, followed by +the Fifth and a division of cavalry, was to march on St. Menges. + +Forsyth and I started early next morning, September 1, and in a thick +fog-which, however, subsequently gave place to bright sunshine--we +drove to the village of Chevenges, where, mounting our horses, we +rode in a northeasterly direction to the heights of Frenois and +Wadelincourt, bordering the river Meuse on the left bank, where from +the crest we had a good view of the town of Sedan with its circling +fortifications, which, though extensive, were not so formidable as +those around Metz. The King and his staff were already established +on these heights, and at a point so well chosen that his Majesty +could observe the movements of both armies immediately east and south +of Sedan, and also to the northwest toward Floing and the Belgian +frontier. + +The battle was begun to the east and northeast of Sedan as early as +half-past 4 o'clock by the German right wing--the fighting being +desultory--and near the same hour the Bavarians attacked Bazeilles. +This village, some two miles southeast of Sedan, being of importance, +was defended with great obstinacy, the French contesting from street +to street and house to house the attack of the Bavarians till near +10 o'clock, when, almost every building being knocked to pieces, they +were compelled to relinquish the place. The possession of this +village gave the Germans to the east of Sedan a continuous line, +extending from the Meuse northward through La Moncelle and Daigny to +Givonne, and almost to the Belgian frontier. + +While the German centre and right were thus engaged, the left had +moved in accordance with the prescribed plan. Indeed, some of these +troops had crossed the Meuse the night before, and now, at a little +after 6 o'clock, their advance could be seen just north of the +village of Floing. Thus far these columns, under the immediate eye +of the Crown Prince of Prussia, had met with no opposition to their +march, and as soon as they got to the high ground above the village +they began extending to the east, to connect with the Army of the +Meuse. This juncture was effected at Illy without difficulty, and +the French army was now completely encompassed. + +After a severe fight, the Crown Prince drove the French through +Floing, and as the ground between this village and Sedan is an +undulating open plain, everywhere visible, there was then offered a +rare opportunity for seeing the final conflict preceding the +surrender. Presently up out of the little valley where Floing is +located came the Germans, deploying just on the rim of the plateau a +very heavy skirmish-line, supported by a line of battle at close +distance. When these skirmishers appeared, the French infantry had +withdrawn within its intrenched lines, but a strong body of their +cavalry, already formed in a depression to the right of the Floing +road, now rode at the Germans in gallant style, going clear through +the dispersed skirmishers to the main line of battle. Here the +slaughter of the French was awful, for in addition to the deadly +volleys from the solid battalions of their enemies, the skirmishers, +who had rallied in knots at advantageous places, were now delivering +a severe and effective fire. The gallant horsemen, therefore, had to +retire precipitately, but re-forming in the depression, they again +undertook the hopeless task of breaking the German infantry, making +in all four successive charges. Their ardor and pluck were of no +avail, however, for the Germans, growing stronger every minute by the +accession of troops from Floing, met the fourth attack in such large +force that, even before coming in contact with their adversaries, the +French broke and retreated to the protection of the intrenchments, +where, from the beginning of the combat, had been lying plenty of +idle infantry, some of which at least, it seemed plain to me, ought +to have been thrown into the fight. This action was the last one of +consequence around Sedan, for, though with the contraction of the +German lines their batteries kept cannonading more or less, and the +rattle of musketry continued to be heard here and there, yet the hard +fighting of the day practically ended on the plateau of Floing. + +By 3 o'clock, the French being in a desperate and hopeless situation, +the King ordered the firing to be stopped, and at once despatched one +of his staff--Colonel von Bronsart--with a demand for a surrender. +Just as this officer was starting off, I remarked to Bismarck that +Napoleon himself would likely be one of the prizes, but the Count, +incredulous, replied, "Oh no; the old fox is too cunning to be caught +in such a trap; he has doubtless slipped off to Paris"--a belief +which I found to prevail pretty generally about headquarters. + +In the lull that succeeded, the King invited many of those about him +to luncheon, a caterer having provided from some source or other a +substantial meal of good bread, chops and peas, with a bountiful +supply of red and sherry wines. Among those present were Prince +Carl, Bismarck, Von Moltke, Von Roon, the Duke of Weimar, the Duke of +Coburg, the Grand-Duke of Mecklenburg, Count Hatzfeldt, Colonel +Walker, of the English army, General Forsyth, and I. The King was +agreeable and gracious at all times, but on this occasion he was +particularly so, being naturally in a happy frame of mind because +this day the war had reached a crisis which presaged for the near +future the complete vanquishment of the French. + +Between 4 and 5 o'clock Colonel von Bronsart returned from his +mission to Sedan, bringing word to the King that the commanding +officer there General Wimpffen, wished to know, in order that the +further effusion of blood might be spared, upon what terms he might +surrender. The Colonel brought the intelligence also that the French +Emperor was in the town. Soon after Von Bronsart's arrival a French +officer approached from Sedan, preceded by a white flag and two +German officers. Coming up the road till within a few hundred yards +of us, they halted; then one of the Germans rode forward to say that +the French officer was Napoleon's adjutant, bearing an autograph +letter from the Emperor to the King of Prussia. At this the King, +followed by Bismarck, Von Moltke, and Von Roon, walked out to the +front a little distance and halted, his Majesty still in advance, the +rest of us meanwhile forming in a line some twenty paces to the rear +of the group. The envoy then approached, at first on horseback, but +when within about a hundred yards he dismounted, and uncovering, came +the remaining distance on foot, bearing high up in his right hand the +despatch from Napoleon. The bearer proved to be General Reille, and +as he handed the Emperor's letter to the King, his Majesty saluted +him with the utmost formality and precision. Napoleon's letter was +the since famous one, running so characteristically, thus: "Not +having been able to die in the midst of my troops, there is nothing +left me but to place my sword in your Majesty's hands." The reading +finished, the King returned to his former post, and after a +conference with Bismarck, Von Moltke, and Von Roon, dictated an +answer accepting Napoleon's surrender, and requesting him to +designate an officer with power to treat for the capitulation of the +army, himself naming Von Moltke to represent the Germans. The King +then started for Vendresse, to pass the night. It was after +7 o'clock now, and hence too late to arrange anything more where we +were, so further negotiations were deferred till later in the +evening; and I, wishing to be conveniently near Bismarck, resolved to +take up quarters in Donchery. On our way thither we were met by the +Count's nephew, who assuring us that it would be impossible to find +shelter there in the village, as all the houses were filled with +wounded, Forsyth and I decided to continue on to Chevenge. On the +other hand, Bismarck-Bohlen bore with him one great comfort--some +excellent brandy. Offering the flask to his uncle, he said: "You've +had a hard day of it; won't you refresh yourself?" The Chancellor, +without wasting time to answer, raised the bottle to his lips, +exclaiming: "Here's to the unification of Germany!" which sentiment +the gurgling of an astonishingly long drink seemed to emphasize. The +Count then handed the bottle back to his nephew, who, shaking it, +ejaculated, "Why, we can't pledge you in return--there is nothing +left!" to which came the waggish response, "I beg pardon; it was so +dark I couldn't see"; nevertheless there was a little remaining, as I +myself can aver. + +Having left our carriage at Chevenge, Forsyth and I stopped there to +get it, but a long search proving fruitless, we took lodging in the +village at the house of the cure, resolved to continue the hunt in +the morning. But then we had no better success, so concluding that +our vehicle had been pressed into the hospital service, we at an +early hour on the 2d of September resumed the search, continuing on +down the road in the direction of Sedan. Near the gate of the city +we came on the German picket-line, and one of the Officers, +recognizing our uniforms--he having served in the war of the +rebellion--stepped forward and addressed me in good English. We +naturally fell into conversation, and in the midst of it there came +out through the gate an open carriage, or landau, containing two men, +one of whom, in the uniform of a general and smoking a cigarette, we +recognized, when the conveyance drew near, as the Emperor Louis +Napoleon. The landau went on toward Donchery at a leisurely pace, +and we, inferring that there was something more important at hand +just then than the recovery of our trap, followed at a respectful +distance. Not quite a mile from Donchery is a cluster of three or +four cottages, and at the first of these the landau stopped to await, +as we afterward ascertained, Count Bismarck, with whom the diplomatic +negotiations were to be settled. Some minutes elapsed before he +came, Napoleon remaining seated in his carriage meantime, still +smoking, and accepting with nonchalance the staring of a group of +German soldiers near by, who were gazing on their fallen foe with +curious and eager interest. + +Presently a clattering of hoofs was heard, and looking toward the +sound, I perceived the Chancellor cantering down the road. When +abreast of the carriage he dismounted, and walking up to it, saluted +the Emperor in a quick, brusque way that seemed to startle him. +After a word or two, the party moved perhaps a hundred yards further +on, where they stopped opposite the weaver's cottage so famous from +that day. This little house is on the east side of the Donchery +road, near its junction with that to Frenois, and stands about twenty +paces back from the highway. In front is a stone wall covered with +creeping vines, and from a gate in this wall runs to the front door a +path, at this time bordered on both sides with potato vines. + +The Emperor having alighted at the gate, he and Bismarck walked +together along the narrow path and entered the cottage. Reappearing +in about a quarter of an hour, they came out and seated themselves in +the open air, the weaver having brought a couple of chairs. Here +they engaged in an animated conversation, if much gesticulation is +any indication. The talk lasted fully an hour, Bismarck seeming to +do most of it, but at last he arose, saluted the Emperor, and strode +down the path toward his horse. Seeing me standing near the gate, he +joined me for a moment, and asked if I had noticed how the Emperor +started when they first met, and I telling him that I had, he added, +"Well, it must have been due to my manners, not my words, for these +we're, 'I salute your Majesty just as I would my King.'" Then the +Chancellor continued to chat a few minutes longer, assuring me that +nothing further was to be done there, and that we had better go to +the Chateau Bellevue, where, he said, the formal surrender was to +take place. With this he rode off toward Vendresse to communicate +with his sovereign, and Forsyth and I made ready to go to the Chateau +Bellevue. + +Before we set out, however, a number of officers of the King's suite +arrived at the weaver's cottage, and from them I gathered that there +were differences at the royal headquarters as to whether peace should +be made then at Sedan, or the war continued till the French capital +was taken. I further heard that the military advisers of the King +strongly advocated an immediate move on Paris, while the Chancellor +thought it best to make peace now, holding Alsace and Lorraine, and +compelling the payment of an enormous levy of money; and these rumors +were most likely correct, for I had often heard Bismarck say that +France being the richest country in Europe, nothing could keep her +quiet but effectually to empty her pockets; and besides this, he +impressed me as holding that it would be better policy to preserve +the Empire. + +On our way to the chateau we fell in with a number of artillery +officers bringing up their guns hurriedly to post them closer in to +the beleaguered town on a specially advantageous ridge. Inquiring +the cause of this move, we learned that General Wimpffen had not yet +agreed to the terms of surrender; that it was thought he would not, +and that they wanted to be prepared for any such contingency. And +they were preparing with a vengeance too, for I counted seventy-two +Krupp guns in one continuous line trained on the Chateau Bellevue and +Sedan. + +Napoleon went directly from the weaver's to the Chateau Bellevue, and +about 10 o'clock the King of Prussia arrived from Frenois, +accompanied by a few of his own suite and the Crown Prince with +several members of his staff; and Von Moltke and Wimpffen having +settled their points of difference before the two monarchs met, +within the next half-hour the articles of capitulation were formally +signed. + +On the completion of the surrender--the occasion being justly +considered a great one--the Crown Prince proceeded to distribute +among the officers congregated in the chateau grounds 'the order of +the Iron Cross'--a generous supply of these decorations being carried +in a basket by one of his orderlies, following him about as he walked +along. Meantime the King, leaving Napoleon in the chateau to +ruminate on the fickleness of fortune, drove off to see his own +victorious soldiers, who greeted him with huzzas that rent the air, +and must have added to the pangs of the captive Emperor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +RIDING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD--DESTRUCTION OF BAZEILLES--MISTAKES OF +THE FRENCH--MARSHAL BAZAINE ON TO PARIS--A WEEK IN MEAUX--RHEIMS--ON +THE PICKETLINE-UNDER FIRE--A SURRENDER--AT VERSAILLES--GENERAL +BURNSIDE AND Mr. FORBES IN PARIS. + +The Crown Prince having got to the bottom of his medal basket-that is +to say, having finished his liberal distribution of decorations to +his officers--Forsyth and I rode off by way of Wadelincourt to +Bazeilles to see what had taken place on that part of the field, and +the sight that met our eyes as we entered the village was truly +dreadful to look upon. Most of the houses had been knocked down or +burned the day before, but such as had been left standing were now in +flames, the torch having been applied because, as it was claimed, +Frenchmen concealed in them had fired on the wounded. The streets +were still encumbered with both German and French dead, and it was +evident that of those killed in the houses the bodies had not been +removed, for the air was loaded with odors of burning flesh. From +Bazeille we rode on toward the north about two miles, along where the +fight had been largely an artillery duel, to learn what we could of +the effectiveness of the Krupp gun. Counting all the French dead we +came across killed by artillery, they figured up about three hundred +--a ridiculously small number; in fact, not much more than one dead +man for each Krupp gun on that part of the line. Although the number +of dead was in utter disproportion to the terrific six-hour +cannonade, yet small as it was the torn and mangled bodies made such +a horrible sight that we turned back toward Bazeilles without having +gone further than Givonne. + +At Bazeilles we met the King, accompanied by Bismarck and several of +the staff. They too had been riding over the field, the King making +this a practice, to see that the wounded were not neglected. As I +drew up by the party, Bismarck accosted me with, "Well, General, +aren't you hungry? This is just the place to whet one's appetite +--these burning Frenchmen--Ugh!" and shrugging his shoulders in evident +disgust, he turned away to join his Majesty in further explorations, +Forsyth and I continuing on to Chevenges. Here we got the first +inkling of what had become of our carriage since leaving it two days +before: it had been pressed into service to carry wounded officers from +the field during the battle, but afterward released, and was now safe +at the house in Vendresse where we had been quartered the night of the +31st, so, on hearing this, we settled to go there again to lodge, but +our good friend, the cure', insisting that we should stay with him, we +remained in Chevenges till next morning. + +On September 3 the King removed from Vendresse to Rethel, where he +remained two days; in the mean while the Germans, 240,000 strong, +beginning their direct march to Paris. The French had little with +which to oppose this enormous force, not more, perhaps, than 50,000 +regular troops; the rest of their splendid army had been lost or +captured in battle, or was cooped up in the fortifications of Metz, +Strasburg, and other places, in consequence of blunders without +parallel in history, for which Napoleon and the Regency in Paris must +be held accountable. The first of these gross faults was the fight +at Worth, where MacMahon, before his army was mobilized, accepted +battle with the Crown Prince, pitting 50,000 men against 175,000; the +next was Bazaine's fixing upon Metz as his base, and stupidly putting +himself in position to be driven back to it, when there was no +possible obstacle to his joining forces with MacMahon at Chalons; +while the third and greatest blunder of all was MacMahon's move to +relieve Metz, trying to slip 140,000 men along the Belgian frontier. +Indeed, it is exasperating and sickening to think of all this; to +think that Bazaine carried into Metz--a place that should have been +held, if at all, with not over 25,000 men--an army of 180,000, +because it contained, the excuse was, "an accumulation of stores." +With all the resources of rich France to draw upon, I cannot conceive +that this excuse was sincere; on the contrary, I think that the +movement of Bazaine must have been inspired by Napoleon with a view +to the maintenance of his dynasty rather than for the good of France. + +As previously stated, Bismarck did not approve of the German army's +moving on Paris after the battle of Sedan. Indeed, I think he +foresaw and dreaded the establishment of a Republic, his idea being +that if peace was made then, the Empire could be continued in the +person of the Prince Imperial who--, coming to the throne under +German influences, would be pliable in his hands. These views found +frequent expression in private, and in public too; I myself +particularly remember the Chancellor's speaking thus most unguardedly +at a dinner in Rheims. But he could not prevent the march to Paris; +it was impossible to stop the Germans, flushed with success. "On to +Paris" was written by the soldiers on every door, and every +fence-board along the route to the capital, and the thought of a +triumphant march down the Champs Elysees was uppermost with every +German, from the highest to the lowest grade. + +The 5th of September we set out for Rheims. There it was said the +Germans would meet with strong resistance, for the French intended to +die to the last man before giving up that city. But this proved all +fudge, as is usual with these "last ditch" promises, the garrison +decamping immediately at the approach of a few Uhlans. So far as I +could learn, but a single casualty happened; this occurred to an +Uhlan, wounded by a shot which it was reported was fired from a house +after the town was taken; so, to punish this breach of faith, a levy +of several hundred bottles of champagne was made, and the wine +divided about headquarters, being the only seizure made in the city, +I believe, for though Rheims, the centre of the champagne district, +had its cellars well stocked, yet most of them being owned by German +firms, they received every protection. + +The land about Rheims is of a white, chalky character, and very poor, +but having been terraced and enriched with fertilizers, it produces +the champagne grape in such abundance that the region, once +considered valueless, and named by the peasantry the "land of the +louse," now supports a dense population. We remained in Rheims eight +days, and through the politeness of the American Consul--Mr. Adolph +Gill--had the pleasure of seeing all the famous wine cellars, and +inspecting the processes followed in champagne making, from the step +of pressing the juice from the grape to that which shows the wine +ready for the market. Mr. Gill also took us to see everything else +of special interest about the city, and there being much to look at +--fine old churches, ancient fortifications, a Roman gateway, etc. +--the days slipped by very quickly, though the incessant rains +somewhat interfered with our enjoyment. + +For three or four days all sorts of rumors were rife as to what was +doing in Paris, but nothing definite was learned till about the 9th; +then Count Bismarck informed me that the Regency had been overthrown +on the 4th, and that the Empress Eugenie had escaped to Belgium. The +King of Prussia offered her an asylum with the Emperor at +Wilhelmshohe, "where she ought to go," said the Chancellor, "for her +proper place is with her husband," but he feared she would not. On +the same occasion he also told me that Jules Favre--the head of the +Provisional Government--had sent him the suggestion that, the Empire +being gone, peace should be made and the Germans withdrawn, but that +he (Bismarck) was now compelled to recognize the impossibility of +doing this till Paris was taken, for although immediately after the +surrender of Sedan he desired peace, the past few days had made it +plain that the troops would not be satisfied with anything short of +Paris, no matter what form of Government the French should ultimately +adopt. + +The German army having met with no resistance whatever in its march +on Paris, its advance approached the capital rapidly, and by the 14th +of September the royal headquarters moved by a fine macadamized road +to the Chateau Thierry, and on the 5th reached Meaux, about +twenty-eight miles from Paris, where we remained four days awaiting the +reconstruction of some railroad and canal bridges. The town of Meaux +has a busy population of about 10,000 souls, in peaceable times +principally occupied in manufacturing flour for the Paris market, +having a fine waterpower for the many mills. These were kept going day +and night to supply the German army; and it was strange to see with +what zeal Frenchmen toiled to fill the stomachs of their inveterate +enemies, and with what alacrity the mayor and other officials filled +requisitions for wine, cheese, suits of livery, riding-whips, and even +squab pigeons. + +During our stay at Meaux the British Minister Lord Lyons, endeavored +to bring about a cessation of hostilities, to this end sending his +secretary out from Paris with a letter to Count Bismarck, offering to +serve as mediator. The Chancellor would not agree to this, however, +for he conjectured that the action of the British Minister had been +inspired by Jules Favre, who, he thought, was trying to draw the +Germans into negotiations through the medium of a third party only +for purposes of delay. So the next morning Lord Lyons's secretary, +Mr. Edward Malet, returned to Paris empty-handed, except that he bore +a communication positively declining mediation; which message, +however, led no doubt to an interview between Bismarck and Favre a +couple of days later. + +The forenoon of September 19 the King removed to the Chateau +Ferrieres--a castle belonging to the Rothschild family, where +Napoleon had spent many happy days in the time of his prosperity. +His Majesty took up his quarters here at the suggestion of the owner, +we were told, so that by the presence of the King the magnificent +chateau and its treasures of art would be unquestionably protected +from all acts of vandalism. + +All of the people at headquarters except the King's immediate suite +were assigned quarters at Lagny; and while Forsyth and I, accompanied +by Sir Henry Havelock, of the British army, were driving thither, we +passed on the road the representative of the National Defense +Government, Jules Favre, in a carriage heading toward Meaux. +Preceded by a flag of truce and accompanied by a single, companion, +he was searching for Count Bismarck, in conformity, doubtless, with +the message the Chancellor had sent to Paris on the 17th by the +British secretary. A half-mile further on we met Bismarck. He too +was traveling toward Meaux, not in the best of humor either, it +appeared, for having missed finding the French envoy at the +rendezvous where they had agreed to meet, he stopped long enough to +say that the "air was full of lies, and that there were many persons +with the army bent on business that did not concern them." + +The armies of the two Crown Princes were now at the outskirts of +Paris. They had come from Sedan mainly by two routes--the Crown +Prince of Saxony marching by the northern line, through Laon and +Soissons, and the Crown Prince of Prussia by the southern line, +keeping his right wing on the north bank of the Marne, while his left +and centre approached the French capital by roads between that river +and the Seine. + +The march of these armies had been unobstructed by any resistance +worth mentioning, and as the routes of both columns lay through a +region teeming with everything necessary for their support, and rich +even in luxuries, it struck me that such campaigning was more a vast +picnic than like actual war. The country supplied at all points +bread, meat, and wine in abundance, and the neat villages, never more +than a mile or two apart, always furnished shelter; hence the +enormous trains required to feed and provide camp equipage for an +army operating in a sparsely settled country were dispensed with; in +truth, about the only impedimenta of the Germans was their wagons +carrying ammunition, pontoon-boats, and the field-telegraph. + +On the morning of the 20th I started out accompanied by Forsyth and +Sir Henry Havelock, and took the road through Boissy St. George, +Boissy St. Martins and Noisy Le Grand to Brie. Almost every foot of +the way was strewn with fragments of glass from wine bottles, emptied +and then broken by the troops. There was, indeed, so much of this +that I refrain from making any estimate of the number of bottles, +lest I be thought to exaggerate, but the road was literally paved +with glass, and the amount of wine consumed (none was wasted) must +have been enormous, far more, even, than I had seen evidence of at +any time before. There were two almost continuous lines of broken +bottles along the roadsides all the way down from Sedan; but that +exhibit was small compared with what we saw about Brie. + +At Brie we were taken charge of by the German commandant of the +place. He entertained us most hospitably for an hour or so, and +then, accompanied by a lieutenant, who was to be our guide, I set out +ahead of my companions to gain a point on the picket-line where I +expected to get a good look at the French, for their rifle-pits were +but a few hundred yards off across the Marne, their main line being +just behind the rifle-pits. As the lieutenant and I rode through the +village, some soldiers warned us that the adventure would be +dangerous, but that we could probably get to the desired place unhurt +if we avoided the French fire by forcing our horses to a run in +crossing some open streets where we would be exposed. On getting to +the first street my guide galloped ahead to show the way, and as the +French were not on the lookout for anything of the kind at these +dangerous points, only a few stray shots were drawn by the +lieutenant, but when I followed, they were fully up to what was going +on, and let fly a volley every time they saw me in the open. +Fortunately, however, in their excitement they overshot, but when I +drew rein alongside of my guide under protection of the bluff where +the German picket was posted, my hair was all on end, and I was about +as badly scared as ever I had been in my life. As soon as I could +recover myself I thought of Havelock and Forsyth, with the hope that +they would not follow; nor did they, for having witnessed my +experience, they wisely concluded that, after all, they did not care +so much to see the French rifle-pits. + +When I had climbed to the top of the bluff I was much disappointed, +for I could see but little--only the advanced rifle-pits across the +river, and Fort Nogent beyond them, not enough, certainly, to repay a +non-combatant for taking the risk of being killed. The next question +was to return, and deciding to take no more such chances as those we +had run in coming out, I said we would wait till dark, but this +proved unnecessary, for to my utter astonishment my guide informed me +that there was a perfectly safe route by which we might go back. I +asked why we had not taken it in coming, and he replied that he had +thought it "too long and circuitous." To this I could say nothing, +but I concluded that that was not quite the correct reason; the truth +is that early that morning the young fellow had been helping to empty +some of the many wine bottles I saw around Brie, and consequently had +a little more "Dutch courage"--was a little more rash--than would +have been the case under other conditions. + +I rode back to Brie by the "long and circuitous" route, and inquiring +there for my companions, found Havelock waiting to conduct me to the +village of Villiers, whither, he said, Forsyth had been called to +make some explanation about his passport, which did not appear to be +in satisfactory shape. Accordingly we started for Villiers, and +Havelock, being well mounted on an English "hunter," and wishing to +give me an exhibition of the animal's training and power, led the way +across ditches and fences, but my horse, never having followed "the +hounds," was unsafe to experiment with, so, after trying a low fence +or two, I decided to leave my friend alone in his diversion, and a +few moments later, seeing both horse and rider go down before a ditch +and high stone wall, I was convinced that my resolution was a +discreet one. After this mishap, which luckily resulted in no harm, +I hoped Sir Henry would give up the amusement, but by failure +becoming only the more determined, in a second effort he cleared the +wall handsomely and rode across-country to the villages. Following +the road till it passed under a railway bridge, I there thought I saw +a chance to gain Villiers by a short-cut, and changing my course +accordingly, I struck into a large vineyard to the left, and +proceeding a few hundred yards through the vines, came suddenly upon +a German picket-post. The guard immediately leveled their rifles at +me, when, remembering my Rezonville experience of being taken for a +French officer because of my uniform, I hastily flung myself from the +saddle in token of surrender. The action being rightly interpreted, +the men held their fire, and as my next thought was the King's pass I +reached under my coat-skirt for the document, but this motion being +taken as a grab for my pistol, the whole lot of them--some ten in +number--again aimed at me, and with such loud demands for surrender +that I threw up my hands and ran into their ranks. The officer of +the guard then coming up, examined my credentials, and seeing that +they were signed by the King of Prussia, released me and directed the +recovery of my horse, which was soon caught, and I was then conducted +to the quarters of the commandant, where I found Forsyth with his +pass properly vised, entirely ignorant of my troubles, and +contentedly regaling himself on cheese and beer. Havelock having got +to the village ahead of me, thanks to his cross-country ride, was +there too, sipping beer with Forsyth; nor was I slow to follow their +example, for the ride of the day, though rather barren in other +results, at any rate had given me a ravenous appetite. + +Late that evening, the 20th, we resumed our old quarters at Lagny, +and early next day I made a visit to the royal headquarters at +Ferrires, where I observed great rejoicing going on, the occasion for +it being an important victory gained near Mendon, a French corps of +about 30,000 men under General Ducrot having been beaten by the Fifth +Prussian and Second Bavarian corps. Ducrot had been stubbornly +holding ground near Mendon for two or three days, much to the +embarrassment of the Germans too, since he kept them from closing a +gap in their line to the southwest of Paris; but in the recent fight +he had been driven from the field with such heavy loss as to render +impossible his maintaining the gap longer. The Crown Prince of +Prussia was thus enabled to extend his left, without danger, as far +as Bougival, north of Versailles, and eventually met the right of the +Crown Prince of Saxony, already at Denil, north of St. Denis. The +unbroken circle of investment around Paris being well-nigh assured, +news of its complete accomplishment was momentarily expected; +therefore everybody was jubilant on account of the breaking up of +Ducrot, but more particularly because word had been received the same +morning that a correspondence had begun between Bazaine and Prince +Frederick Charles, looking to the capitulation of Metz, for the +surrender of that place would permit the Second Army to join in the +siege of Paris. + +Learning all this, and seeing that the investment was about +completed, I decided to take up my quarters at Versailles, and +started for that place on the 22d, halting at Noisy le Grand to take +luncheon with some artillery officers, whose acquaintance we had made +the day of the surrender at Sedan. During the meal I noticed two +American flags flying on a couple of houses near by. Inquiring the +significance of this, I was told that the flags had been put up to +protect the buildings--the owners, two American citizens, having in a +bad fright abandoned their property, and, instead of remaining +outside, gone into Paris,--"very foolishly," said our hospitable +friends, "for here they could have obtained food in plenty, and been +perfectly secure from molestation." + +We arrived at Versailles about 7 o'clock that evening and settled +ourselves in the Hotel Reservoir, happy to find there two or three +American families, with whom, of course, we quickly made +acquaintance. This American circle was enlarged a few days later by +the arrival of General Wm. B. Hazen, of our army, General Ambrose E. +Burnside, and Mr. Paul Forbes. Burnside and Forbes were hot to see, +from the French side, something of the war, and being almost beside +themselves to get into Paris, a permit was granted them by Count +Bismarck, and they set out by way of Sevres, Forsyth and I +accompanying them as far as the Palace of St. Cloud, which we, +proposed to see, though there were strict orders against its being +visited generally. After much trouble we managed, through the "open +sesame" of the King's pass, to gain access to the palace; but to our +great disappointment we found that all the pictures had been cut from +the frames and carried off to Paris, except one portrait, that of +Queen Victoria, against whom the French were much incensed. All +other works of art had been removed, too--a most fortunate +circumstance, for the palace being directly on the German line, was +raked by the guns from the fortress of Mont Valerien, and in a few +days burned to the ground. + +In less than a week Burnside and Forbes returned from Paris. They +told us their experience had been interesting, but were very reticent +as to particulars, and though we tried hard to find out what they had +seen or done, we could get nothing from them beyond the general +statement that they had had a good time, and that General Trochu had +been considerate enough to postpone a sortie, in order to let them +return; but this we did not quite swallow. After a day or two they +went into Paris again, and I then began to suspect that they were +essaying the role of mediators, and that Count Bismarck was feeding +their vanity with permits, and receiving his equivalent by learning +the state of affairs within the beleaguered city. + +From about the 1st of October on, the Germans were engaged in making +their enveloping lines impenetrable, bringing up their reserves, +siege guns, and the like, the French meanwhile continuing to drill +and discipline the National Guard and relieving the monotony +occasionally by a more or less spirited, but invariably abortive, +sortie. The most notable of these was that made by General Vinoy +against the heights of Clamart, the result being a disastrous repulse +by the besiegers. After this, matters settled down to an almost +uninterrupted quietude, only a skirmish here and there; and it being +plain that the Germans did not intend to assault the capital, but +would accomplish its capture by starvation, I concluded to find out +from Count Bismarck about when the end was expected, with the purpose +of spending the interim in a little tour through some portions of +Europe undisturbed by war, returning in season for the capitulation. +Count Bismarck having kindly advised me as to the possible date. + +Forsyth and I, on the 14th of October, left Versailles, going first +direct to the Chateau Ferrieres to pay our respects to the King, +which we did, and again took luncheon with him. From the chateau we +drove to Meaux, and there spent the night; resuming our journey next +morning, we passed through Epernay, Rheims, and Rethel to Sedan, +where we tarried a day, and finally, on October 18, reached Brussels. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +BRUSSELS--DECIDING TO VISIT EASTERN EUROPE--AUSTRIA--DOWN THE DANUBE +--IN CONSTANTINOPLE--THE LADIES OF THE HAREM--THE SULTAN--TURKISH +SOLDIERS--A BANQUET--A VISIT IN ATHENS--KING GEORGE OF GREECE--VICTOR +EMMANUEL--"BEDEVILED WITH CARES OF STATE"--DEER SHOOTING--A MILITARY +DINNER--RETURN TO VERSAILLES--GERMANS ENTERING PARIS--CRITICISM ON +THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR--CONCLUSION. + +On reaching Brussels, one of the first things to do was to pay my +respects to the King of Belgium, which I did, accompanied by our +Minister, Mr. Russell Jones. Later I dined with the King and Queen, +meeting at the dinner many notable people, among them the Count and +Countess of Flanders. A day or two in Brussels sufficed to mature +our plans for spending the time up to the approximate date of our +return to Paris; and deciding to visit eastern Europe, we made Vienna +our first objective, going there by way of Dresden. + +At Vienna our Minister, Mr. John Jay, took charge of us--Forsyth was +still with me--and the few days' sojourn was full of interest. The +Emperor being absent from the capital, we missed seeing him; but the +Prime Minister, Count von Beust, was very polite to us, and at his +house we had the pleasure of meeting at dinner Count Andrassy, the +Prime Minister of Hungary. + +From Vienna we went to Buda-Pesth, the Hungarian capital; and thence, +in a I small, crowded, and uncomfortable steamboat, down the Danube +to Rustchuck, whence we visited Bucharest--all who travel in eastern +Europe do so--and then directing our course southward, we went first +to Varna, and from that city by steamer through the Black Sea to +Constantinople. + +We reached the Turkish capital at the time of Ramadan, the period of +the year (about a month) during which the Mohammedans are commanded +by the Koran to keep a rigorous fast every day from sunrise till +sunset. All the followers of the Prophet were therefore busy with +their devotions--holding a revival, as it were; hence there was no +chance whatever to be presented to the Sultan, Abdul Aziz, it being +forbidden during the penitential season for him to receive +unbelievers, or in fact any one except the officials of his +household. However, the Grand Vizier brought me many messages of +welcome, and arranged that I should be permitted to see and salute +his Serene Highness on the Esplanade as he rode by on horseback to +the mosque. + +So, the second day after arrival, the Grand Vizier drove me in a +barouche to the Esplanade, where we took station about midway of its +length an hour or so before the Sultan was to appear. Shortly after +we reached the Esplanade, carriages occupied by the women of the +Sultan's harem began to appear, coming out from the palace grounds +and driving up and down the roadway. Only a few of the women were +closely veiled, a majority of them wearing an apology for veiling, +merely a strip of white lace covering the forehead down to the +eyebrows. Some were yellow, and some white-types of the Mongolian +and Caucasian races. Now and then a pretty face was seen, rarely a +beautiful one. Many were plump, even to corpulence, and these were +the closest veiled, being considered the greatest beauties I presume, +since with the Turk obesity is the chief element of comeliness. As +the carriages passed along in review, every now and then an occupant, +unable or unwilling to repress her natural promptings, would indulge +in a mild flirtation, making overtures by casting demure +side-glances, throwing us coquettish kisses, or waving strings of amber +beads with significant gestures, seeming to say: "Why don't you +follow?" But this we could not do if we would, for the Esplanade +throughout its entire length was lined with soldiers, put there +especially to guard the harem first, and later, the Sultan on his +pilgrimage to the mosque. + +But as it was now time for His Serene Highness to make his appearance +the carriages containing his wives drove off into the palace grounds, +which were inclosed by a high wall, leaving the Esplanade wholly +unencumbered except by the soldiers. Down between the two ranks, +which were formed facing each other, came the Sultan on a white +steed--a beautiful Arabian--and having at his side his son, a boy +about ten or twelve years old, who was riding a pony, a diminutive +copy of his father's mount, the two attended by a numerous +body-guard, dressed in gorgeous Oriental uniforms. As the procession +passed our carriage, I, as pre-arranged, stood up and took off my +hat, His Serene Highness promptly acknowledging the salute by raising +his hand to the forehead. This was all I saw of him, yet I received +every kindness at his hands, being permitted to see many of his +troops, to inspect all the ordnance, equipment, and other military +establishments about Constantinople, and to meet numbers of the high +functionaries of the Empire. + +Among other compliments tendered through his direction, and which I +gladly accepted, was a review of all the troops then in Stamboul +--about 6,000--comprising infantry, cavalry, and artillery. + +They were as fine looking a body of soldiers as I ever saw--well +armed and well clothed, the men all large and of sturdy appearance. + +After the review we attended a grand military dinner given by the +Grand Vizier. At the hour set for this banquet we presented +ourselves at the palace of the Grand Vizier, and being ushered into a +large drawing-room, found already assembled there the guests invited +to meet us. Some few spoke French, and with these we managed to +exchange an occasional remark; but as the greater number stood about +in silence, the affair, thus far, was undeniably a little stiff. +Just before the dinner was announced, all the Turkish officers went +into an adjoining room, and turning their faces to the east, +prostrated themselves to the floor in prayer. Then we were all +conducted to a large salon, where each being provided with a silver +ewer and basin, a little ball of highly perfumed soap and a napkin, +set out on small tables, each guest washed his hands. Adjacent to +this salon was the dining-room, or, rather, the banqueting room, a +very large and artistically frescoed hall, in the centre of which +stood a crescent-shaped table, lighted with beautiful silver +candelabra, and tastefully decorated with flowers and fruits. The +viands were all excellent; cooked, evidently, by a French chef, and +full justice was done the dishes, especially by the Turks, who, of +course, had been fasting all day. + +At the close of the banquet, which consisted of not less than fifteen +courses, we withdrew to a smoking-room, where the coffee was served +and cigarettes and chibouks offered us--the latter a pipe having a +long flexible stem with an amber mouthpiece. I chose the chibouk, +and as the stem of mine was studded with precious stones of enormous +value, I thought I should enjoy it the more; but the tobacco being +highly flavored with some sort of herbs, my smoke fell far short of +my anticipations. The coffee was delicious, however, and I found +this to be the case wherever I went in Constantinople, whether in +making calls or at dinner, the custom of offering coffee and tobacco +on these occasions being universal. + +The temptations to linger at Constantinople were many indeed, not the +least being the delightful climate; and as time pressed, we set out +with much regret on the return journey, stopping a few days at +Athens, whence we made several short excursions into the interior. +King George and Queen Olga made our stay in Athens one of extreme +interest and exceeding pleasure. Throwing aside all ceremony, they +breakfasted and dined us informally, gave us a fine ball, and in +addition to these hospitalities showed us much personal attention, +his Majesty even calling upon me, and the Queen sending her children +to see us at our hotel. + +Of course we visited all that remained of the city's ancient +civilization--the Acropolis, temples, baths, towers, and the like; +nor did we omit to view the spot where St. Paul once instructed the +Athenians in lessons of Christianity. We traveled some little +through the country districts outside of Athens, and I noticed that +the peasantry, in point of picturesqueness of dress and color of +complexion, were not unlike the gypsies we see at times in America. +They had also much of the same shrewdness, and, as far as I could +learn, were generally wholly uneducated, ignorant, indeed, except as +to one subject--politics--which I was told came to them intuitively, +they taking to it, and a scramble for office, as naturally as a duck +to water. In fact, this common faculty for politics seems a +connecting link between the ancient and modern Greek. + +Leaving Athens with the pleasantest recollections, we sailed for +Messina, Sicily, and from there went to Naples, where we found many +old friends; among them Mr. Buchanan Reed, the artist and poet, and +Miss Brewster, as well as a score or more of others of our +countrymen, then or since distinguished, in art and letters at home +and abroad. We remained some days in Naples, and during the time +went to Pompeii to witness a special excavation among the ruins of +the buried city, which search was instituted on account of our visit. +A number of ancient household articles were dug up, and one, a terra +cotta lamp bearing upon its crown in bas-relief the legend of "Leda +and the Swan," was presented to me as a souvenir of the occasion, +though it is usual for the Government to place in its museums +everything of such value that is unearthed. + +From Naples to Rome by rail was our next journey. In the Eternal +City we saw picture-galleries, churches, and ruins in plenty, but all +these have been so well described by hundreds of other travelers that +I shall not linger even to name them. While at Rome we also +witnessed an overflow of the Tiber, that caused great suffering and +destroyed much property. The next stage of our tour took us to +Venice, then to Florence--the capital of Italy--for although the +troops of the King of Italy had taken possession of Rome the +preceding September, the Government itself had not yet removed +thither. + +At Florence, our Minister, Mr. Marsh, though suffering with a lame +foot, took me in charge, and in due course of time I was presented to +King Victor-Emmanuel. His Majesty received me informally at his +palace in a small, stuffy room--his office, no doubt--and an untidy +one it was too. He wore a loose blouse and very baggy trousers; a +comfortable suit, certainly, but not at all conducing to an ideal +kingliness of appearance. + +His Majesty's hobby was hunting, and no sooner had I made my bow than +he began a conversation on that subject, thrusting his hands nearly +up to the elbows into the pockets of his trousers. He desired to +learn about the large game of America, particularly the buffalo, and +when I spoke of the herds of thousands and thousands I had seen on +the plains of western Kansas, he interrupted me to bemoan the fate +which kept him from visiting America to hunt, even going so far as to +say that "he didn't wish to be King of Italy, anyhow, but would much +prefer to pass his days hunting than be bedeviled with the cares of +state." On one of his estates, near Pisa, he had several large herds +of deer, many wild boars, and a great deal of other game. Of this +preserve he was very proud, and before we separated invited me to go +down there to shoot deer, adding that he would be there himself if he +could, but feared that a trip which he had to take to Milan would +interfere, though he wished me to go in any event. + +I gladly accepted the invitation, and in two or three days was +notified when I would be expected at the estate. At the designated +time I was escorted to Pisa by an aide-de-camp, and from there we +drove the few miles to the King's chateau, where we fortified +ourselves for the work in hand by an elaborate and toothsome +breakfast of about ten courses. Then in a carriage we set out for +the King's stand in the hunting-grounds, accompanied by a crowd of +mounted game-keepers, who with great difficulty controlled the pack +of sixty or seventy hounds, the dogs and keepers together almost +driving me to distraction with their yelping and yelling. On +reaching the stand, I was posted within about twenty' yards of a +long, high picket-fence, facing the fence and covered by two trees +very close together. It was from behind these that the King usually +shot, and as I was provided with a double-barreled shot-gun, I +thought I could do well, especially since close in rear of me stood +two game-keepers to load and hand me a second gun when the first was +emptied. + +Meantime the huntsmen and the hounds had made a circuit of the park +to drive up the game. The yelps of the hounds drawing near, I +cautiously looked in the direction of the sound, and the next moment +saw a herd of deer close in to the fence, and coming down at full +speed. Without a miss, I shot the four leading ones as they tried +to run the gauntlet, for in passing between the stand and the fence, +the innocent creatures were not more than ten to fifteen paces from +me. At the fourth I stopped, but the gamekeepers insisted on more +butchery, saying, "No one but the King ever did the like" (I guess no +one else had ever had the chance), so, thus urged, I continued firing +till I had slaughtered eleven with eleven shots--an easy task with a +shot-gun and buckshot cartridges. + +The "hunt" being ended--for with this I had had enough, and no one +else was permitted to do any shooting--the aide-decamp directed the +game to be sent to me in Florence, and we started for the chateau. +On the way back I saw a wild boar the first and only one I ever saw +--my attention being drawn to him by cries from some of the +game-keepers. There was much commotion, the men pointing out the game +and shouting excitedly, "See the wild boar!" otherwise I should not +have known what was up, but now, looking in the indicated direction, I +saw scudding over the plain what appeared to me to be nothing but a +halfgrown black pig, or shoat. He was not in much of a hurry either, +and gave no evidence of ferocity, yet it is said that this +insignificant looking animal is dangerous when hunted with the spear +--the customary way. After an early dinner at the chateau we returned +to Florence, and my venison next day arriving, it was distributed among +my American friends in the city. + +Shortly after the hunt the King returned from Milan, and then honored +me with a military dinner, his Majesty and all the guests, numbering +eighty, appearing in full uniform. The banqueting hall was lighted +with hundreds of wax candles, there was a profusion of beautiful +flowers, and to me the scene altogether was one of unusual +magnificence. The table service was entirely of gold--the celebrated +set of the house of Savoy--and behind the chair of each guest stood a +servant in powdered wig and gorgeous livery of red plush. I sat at +the right of the King, who--his hands resting on his sword, the hilt +of which glittered with jewels--sat through the hour and a half at +table without once tasting food or drink, for it was his rule to eat +but two meals in twenty-four hours--breakfast at noon, and dinner at +midnight. The King remained silent most of the time, but when he did +speak, no matter on what subject, he inevitably drifted back to +hunting. He never once referred to the Franco-Prussian war, nor to +the political situation in his own country, then passing through a +crisis. In taking leave of his Majesty I thanked him with deep +gratitude for honoring me so highly, and his response was that if +ever he came to America to hunt buffalo, he should demand my +assistance. + +From Florence I went to Milan and Geneva, then to Nice, Marseilles, +and Bordeaux. Assembled at Bordeaux was a convention which had been +called together by the government of the National Defense for the +purpose of confirming or rejecting the terms of an armistice of +twenty-one days, arranged between Jules Favre and Count Bismarck in +negotiations begun at Versailles the latter part of January. The +convention was a large body, chosen from all parts of France, and was +unquestionably the most noisy, unruly and unreasonable set of beings +that I ever saw in a legislative assembly. The frequent efforts of +Thiers, Jules Favre, and other leading men to restrain the more +impetuous were of little avail. When at the sittings a delegate +arose to speak on some question, he was often violently pulled to his +seat and then surrounded by a mob of his colleagues, who would throw +off their coats and gesticulate wildly, as though about to fight. + +But the bitter pill of defeat had to be swallowed in some way, so the +convention delegated M. Thiers to represent the executive power of +the country, with authority to construct a ministry three +commissioners were appointed by the Executive, to enter into further +negotiations with Count Bismarck at Versailles and arrange a peace, +the terms of which, however, were to be submitted to the convention +for final action. Though there had been so much discussion, it took +but a few days to draw up and sign a treaty at Versailles, the +principal negotiators being Thiers and Jules Favre for France, and +Bismarck on the part of the Germans. The terms agreed upon provided +for the occupation of Paris till ratification should be had by the +convention at Bordeaux; learning of which stipulation from our +Minister, Mr. Washburn, I hurried off to Paris to see the conquerors +make their triumphal entry. + +In the city the excitement was at fever heat, of course; the entire +population protesting with one voice that they would never, never +look upon the hated Germans marching through their beloved city. No! +when the day arrived they would hide themselves in their houses, or +shut their eyes to such a hateful sight. But by the 1st of March a +change had come over the fickle Parisians, for at an early hour the +sidewalks were jammed with people, and the windows and doors of the +houses filled with men, women, and children eager to get a look at +the conquerors. Only a few came in the morning, however--an +advance-guard of perhaps a thousand cavalry and infantry. The main +column marched from the Arc-de-Triomphe toward the middle of the +afternoon. In its composition it represented United Germany--Saxons, +Bavarians, and the Royal Guard of Prussia--and, to the strains of +martial music, moving down the Champ Elysees to the Place de la +Concorde, was distributed thence over certain sections of the city +agreed upon beforehand. Nothing that could be called a disturbance +took place during the march; and though there was a hiss now and then +and murmurings of discontent, yet the most noteworthy mutterings were +directed against the defunct Empire. Indeed, I found everywhere that +the national misfortunes were laid at Napoleon's door--he, by this +time, having become a scapegoat for every blunder of the war. + +The Emperor William (he had been proclaimed German Emperor at +Versailles the 18th of January) did not accompany his troops into +Paris, though he reviewed them at Long Champs before they started. +After the occupation of the city he still remained at Versailles, and +as soon as circumstances would permit, I repaired to the Imperial +headquarters to pay my respects to his Majesty under his new title +and dignities, and to say good-bye. + +Besides the Emperor, the only persons I me at Versailles were General +von Moltke and Bismarck. His Majesty was in a very agreeable frame +of mind, and as bluff and hearty as usual. His increased rank and +power had effected no noticeable change of any kind in him, and by +his genial and cordial ways he made me think that my presence with +the German army had contributed to his pleasure. Whether this was +really so or not, I shall always believe it true, for his kind words +and sincere manner could leave no other conclusion. + +General von Moltke was, as usual, quiet and reserved, betraying not +the slightest consciousness of his great ability, nor the least +indication of pride on account of his mighty work. I say this +advisedly, for it is an undoubted fact that it was his marvelous +mind that perfected the military system by which 800,000 men were +mobilized with unparalleled celerity and moved with such certainty of +combination that, in a campaign of seven months, the military power +of France was destroyed and her vast resources sorely crippled. + +I said good-bye to Count Bismarck, also, for at that busy time the +chances of seeing him again were very remote. The great Chancellor +manifested more joy over the success of the Germans than did anyone +else at the Imperial headquarters. Along with his towering strength +of mind and body, his character partook of much of the enthusiasm and +impulsiveness commonly restricted to younger men, and now in his +frank, free way be plainly showed his light-heartedness and +gratification at success. That which for years his genius had been +planning and striving for--permanent unification of the German +States, had been accomplished by the war. It had welded them +together in a compact Empire which no power in Europe could disrupt, +and as such a union was the aim of Bismarck's life, he surely had a +right to feel jubilant. + +Thanks to the courtesies extended me, I had been able to observe the +principal battles, and study many of the minor details of a war +between two of the greatest military nations of the world, and to +examine critically the methods followed abroad for subsisting, +equipping, and manoeuvring vast bodies of men during a stupendous, +campaign. Of course I found a great deal to interest and instruct +me, yet nowadays war is pretty much the same everywhere, and this one +offered no marked exception to my previous experiences. The methods +pursued on the march were the same as we would employ, with one most +important exception. Owing to the density of population throughout +France it was always practicable for the Germans to quarter their +troops in villages, requiring the inhabitants to subsist both +officers and men. Hence there was no necessity for camp and garrison +equipage, nor enormous provision trains, and the armies were +unencumbered by these impedimenta, indispensable when operating in a +poor and sparsely settled country. As I have said before, the only +trains were those for ammunition, pontoon-boats, and the field +telegraph, and all these were managed by special corps. If +transportation was needed for other purposes, it was obtained by +requisition from the invaded country, just as food and forage were +secured. Great celerity of combination was therefore possible, the +columns moving in compact order, and as all the roads were broad and +macadamized, there was little or nothing to delay or obstruct the +march of the Germans, except when their enemy offered resistance, but +even this was generally slight and not very frequent, for the French +were discouraged by disaster from the very outset of the campaign. + +The earlier advantages gained by the Germans may be ascribed to the +strikingly prompt mobilization of their armies, one of the most +noticeable features of their perfect military system, devised by +almost autocratic power; their later successes were greatly aided by +the blunders of the French, whose stupendous errors materially +shortened the war, though even if prolonged it could, in my opinion, +have had ultimately no other termination. + +As I have previously stated, the first of these blunders was the +acceptance of battle by MacMahon at Worth; the second in attaching +too much importance to the fortified position of Metz, resulting in +three battles Colombey, Mars-la-Tour, and Gravelotte--all of which +were lost; and the third, the absurd movement of MacMahon along the +Belgian frontier to relieve Metz, the responsibility for which, I am +glad to say, does not belong to him. + +With the hemming in of Bazaine at Metz and the capture of MacMahon's +army at Sedan the crisis of the war was passed, and the Germans +practically the victors. The taking of Paris was but a sentiment +--the money levy could have been made and the Rhine provinces held +without molesting that city, and only the political influences +consequent upon the changes in the French Government caused peace to +be deferred. + +I did not have much opportunity to observe the German cavalry, either +on the march or in battle. The only time I saw any of it engaged was +in the unfortunate charge at Gravelotte. That proved its mettle good +and discipline fair, but answered no other purpose. Such of it as +was not attached to the infantry was organized in divisions, and +operated in accordance with the old idea of covering the front and +flanks of the army, a duty which it thoroughly performed. But thus +directed it was in no sense an independent corps, and hence cannot +be, said to have accomplished anything in the campaign, or have had a +weight or influence at all proportionate to its strength. The method +of its employment seemed to me a mistake, for, being numerically +superior to the French cavalry, had it been massed and manoeuvred +independently of the infantry, it could easily have broken up the +French communications, and done much other work of weighty influence +in the prosecution of the war. + +The infantry was as fine as I ever saw, the men young and hardy in +appearance, and marching always with an elastic stride. The infantry +regiment, however, I thought too large--too many men for a colonel to +command unless he has the staff of a general--but this objection may +be counterbalanced by the advantages resulting from associating +together thus intimately the men from the same district, or county as +we would call it; the celerity of mobilization, and, in truth, the +very foundation of the German system, being based on this local or +territorial scheme of recruiting. + +There was no delay when the call sounded for the march; all turned +out promptly, and while on the road there was very little straggling, +only the sick falling out. But on such fine, smooth roads, and with +success animating the men from the day they struck the first blow, it +could hardly be expected that the columns would not keep well closed +up. Then, too, it must be borne in mind that, as already stated, +'campaigning' in France--that is, the marching, camping, and +subsisting of an army--is an easy matter, very unlike anything we, +had during the war of the rebellion. To repeat: the country is rich, +beautiful, and densely populated, subsistence abundant, and the +roads--all macadamized highways; thus the conditions; are altogether +different from those existing with us. I think that under the same +circumstances our troops would have done as well as the Germans, +marched as admirably, made combinations as quickly and accurately, +and fought with as much success. I can but leave to conjecture how. +the Germans would have got along on bottomless roads--often none at +all--through the swamps and quicksands of northern Virginia, from, +the Wilderness to Petersburg, and from Chattanooga to Atlanta and the +sea. + +Following the operations of the German armies from the battle of +Gravelotte to the siege of Paris, I may, in conclusion, say that I +saw no new military principles developed, whether of strategy or +grand tactics, the movements of the different armies and corps being +dictated and governed by the same general laws that have so long +obtained, simplicity of combination and manoeuvre, and the +concentration of a numerically superior force at the vital point. + +After my brief trip to Versailles, I remained in Paris till the +latter part of March. In company with Mr. Washburn, I visited the +fortifications for the defense of the city, and found them to be +exceptionally heavy; so strong, indeed, that it would have been very +hard to carry the place by a general assault. The Germans, knowing +the character of the works, had refrained from the sacrifice of life +that such an attempt must entail, though they well knew that many of +the forts were manned by unseasoned soldiers. With only a combat +here and there, to tighten their lines or repulse a sortie, they +wisely preferred to wait till starvation should do the work with +little loss and absolute certainty. + +The Germans were withdrawn from Paris on the 3d of March, and no +sooner were they gone than factional quarrels, which had been going +on at intervals ever since the flight of the Empress and the fall of +her regency on the 4th of September, were renewed with revolutionary +methods that eventually brought about the Commune. Having witnessed +one or two of these outbreaks, and concluding that while such +turbulence reigned in the city it would be of little profit for me to +tarry there, I decided to devote the rest of the time I could be away +from home to travel in England, Ireland, and Scotland. My journeys +through those countries were full of pleasure and instruction, but as +nothing I saw or did was markedly different from what has been so +often described by others, I will save the reader this part of my +experience. I returned to America in the fall, having been absent a +little more than a year, and although I saw much abroad of absorbing +interest, both professional and general, yet I came back to my native +land with even a greater love for her, and with increased admiration +for her institutions. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General P. H. 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To what extent I have +overcome this difficulty I must leave the reader to judge. + +In offering this record, penned by my own hand, of the events of my +life, and of my participation in our great struggle for national +existence, human liberty, and political equality, I make no +pretension to literary merit; the importance of the subject-matter of +my narrative is my only claim on the reader's attention. + +Respectfully dedicating this work to my comrades in arms during the +War of the Rebellion, I leave it as a heritage to my children, and as +a source of information for the future historian. + +P. H. SHERIDAN. + +Nonguitt, Mass., August 2, 1888 + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRS + +P. H. SHERIDAN. + + + + + + +VOLUME I. + +CHAPTER I. + +ANCESTRY--BIRTH--EARLY EDUCATION--A CLERK IN A GROCERY STORE-- +APPOINTMENT--MONROE SHOES--JOURNEY TO WEST POINT--HAZING--A FISTICUFF +BATTLE--SUSPENDED--RETURNS TO CLERKSHIP--GRADUATION. + +My parents, John and Mary Sheridan, came to America in 1830, having +been induced by the representations of my father's uncle, Thomas +Gainor, then living in Albany, N. Y., to try their fortunes in the +New World: They were born and reared in the County Cavan, Ireland, +where from early manhood my father had tilled a leasehold on the +estate of Cherrymoult; and the sale of this leasehold provided him +with means to seek a new home across the sea. My parents were +blood relations--cousins in the second degree--my mother, whose +maiden name was Minor, having descended from a collateral branch of +my father's family. Before leaving Ireland they had two children, +and on the 6th of March, 1831, the year after their arrival in this +country, I was born, in Albany, N. Y., the third child in a family +which eventually increased to six--four boys and two girls. + +The prospects for gaining a livelihood in Albany did not meet the +expectations which my parents had been led to entertain, so in 1832 +they removed to the West, to establish themselves in the village of +Somerset, in Perry County, Ohio, which section, in the earliest days +of the State; had been colonized from Pennsylvania and Maryland. At +this period the great public works of the Northwest--the canals and +macadamized roads, a result of clamor for internal improvements--were +in course of construction, and my father turned his attention to +them, believing that they offered opportunities for a successful +occupation. Encouraged by a civil engineer named Bassett, who had +taken a fancy to him, he put in bids for a small contract on the +Cumberland Road, known as the "National Road," which was then being +extended west from the Ohio River. A little success in this first +enterprise led him to take up contracting as a business, which he +followed on various canals and macadamized roads then building in +different parts of the State of Ohio, with some good fortune for +awhile, but in 1853 what little means he had saved were swallowed up +--in bankruptcy, caused by the failure of the Sciota and Hocking +Valley Railroad Company, for which he was fulfilling a contract at +the time, and this disaster left him finally only a small farm, just +outside the village of Somerset, where he dwelt until his death in +1875. + +My father's occupation kept him away from home much of the time +during my boyhood, and as a consequence I grew up under the sole +guidance and training of my mother, whose excellent common sense and +clear discernment in every way fitted her for such maternal duties. +When old enough I was sent to the village school, which was taught by +an old-time Irish "master"--one of those itinerant dominies of the +early frontier--who, holding that to spare the rod was to spoil the +child, if unable to detect the real culprit when any offense had been +committed, would consistently apply the switch to the whole school +without discrimination. It must be conceded that by this means he +never failed to catch the guilty mischief-maker. The school-year was +divided into terms of three months, the teacher being paid in each +term a certain sum--three dollars, I think, for each pupil-and having +an additional perquisite in the privilege of boarding around at his +option in the different families to which his scholars belonged. +This feature was more than acceptable to the parents at times, for +how else could they so thoroughly learn all the neighborhood gossip? +But the pupils were in almost unanimous opposition, because Mr. +McNanly's unheralded advent at any one's house resulted frequently in +the discovery that some favorite child had been playing "hookey," +which means (I will say to the uninitiated, if any such there be) +absenting one's self from school without permission, to go on a +fishing or a swimming frolic. Such at least was my experience more +than once, for Mr. McNanly particularly favored my mother's house, +because of a former acquaintanceship in Ireland, and many a time a +comparison of notes proved that I had been in the woods with two +playfellows, named Binckly and Greiner, when the master thought I was +home, ill, and my mother, that I was at school, deeply immersed in +study. However, with these and other delinquencies not uncommon +among boys, I learned at McNanly's school, and a little later, under +a pedagogue named Thorn, a smattering of geography and history, and +explored the mysteries of Pike's Arithmetic and Bullions' English +Grammar, about as far as I could be carried up to the age of +fourteen. This was all the education then bestowed upon me, and +this--with the exception of progressing in some of these branches by +voluntary study, and by practical application in others, supplemented +by a few months of preparation after receiving my appointment as a +cadet--was the extent of my learning on entering the Military +Academy. + +When about fourteen years old I began to do something for myself; Mr. +John Talbot, who kept a country store in the village, employing me to +deal out sugar, coffee, and calico to his customers at the munificent +salary of twenty-four dollars a year. After I had gained a twelve- +months' experience with Mr. Talbot my services began to be sought by, +others, and a Mr. David Whitehead secured them by the offer of sixty +dollars a year--Talbot refusing to increase my pay, but not objecting +to my advancement. A few months later, before my year was up, +another chance to increase my salary came about; Mr. Henry Dittoe, +the enterprising man of the village, offering me one hundred and +twenty dollars a year to take a position in the dry-goods store of +Fink & Dittoe. I laid the matter before Mr. Whitehead, and he +frankly advised me to accept, though he cautioned me that I might +regret it, adding that he was afraid Henry (referring to Mr. Dittoe) +"had too many irons in the fire." His warning in regard to the +enterprising merchant proved a prophecy, for "too many irons in the +fire" brought about Mr. Dittoe's bankruptcy, although this misfortune +did not befall him till long after I had left his service. I am glad +to say, however, that his failure was an exceptionally honest one, +and due more to the fact that he was in advance of his surroundings +than to any other cause. + +I remained with Fink & Dittoe until I entered the Military Academy, +principally in charge of the book-keeping, which was no small work +for one of my years, considering that in those days the entire +business of country stores in the West was conducted on the credit +system; the customers, being mostly farmers, never expecting to pay +till the product of their farms could be brought to market; and even +then usually squared the book-accounts by notes of hand, that were +often slow of collection. + +From the time I ceased to attend school my employment had +necessitated, to a certain degree, the application of what I had +learned there, and this practical instruction I reinforced somewhat +by doing considerable reading in a general way, until ultimately I +became quite a local authority in history, being frequently chosen as +arbiter in discussions and disputes that arose in the store. The +Mexican War, then going on, furnished, of course, a never-ending +theme for controversy, and although I was too young to enter the +military service when volunteers were mustering in our section, yet +the stirring events of the times so much impressed and absorbed me +that my sole wish was to become a soldier, and my highest aspiration +to go to West Point as a Cadet from my Congressional district. My +chances for this seemed very remote, however, till one day an +opportunity was thrown in my way by the boy who then held the place +failing to pass his examination. When I learned that by this +occurrence a vacancy existed, I wrote to our representative in +Congress, the Hon. Thomas Ritchey, and asked him for the appointment, +reminding him that we had often met in Fink & Dittoe's store, and +that therefore he must know something of my qualifications. He +responded promptly by enclosing my warrant for the class of 1848; so, +notwithstanding the many romances that have been published about the +matter, to Mr. Ritchey, and to him alone, is due all the credit--if +my career justifies that term--of putting me in the United States +Army. + +At once I set about preparing for the examination which precedes +admission to the Military Academy, studying zealously under the +direction of Mr. William Clark; my old teachers, McNanly and Thorn, +having disappeared from Somerset and sought new fields of usefulness. +The intervening months passed rapidly away, and I fear that I did not +make much progress, yet I thought I should be able to pass the +preliminary examination. That which was to follow worried me more +and gave me many sleepless nights; but these would have been less in +number, I fully believe, had it not been for one specification of my, +outfit which the circular that accompanied my appointment demanded. +This requirement was a pair of "Monroe shoes." Now, out in Ohio, +what "Monroe shoes" were was a mystery--not a shoemaker in my section +having so much as an inkling of the construction of the perplexing +things, until finally my eldest brother brought an idea of them from +Baltimore, when it was found that they were a familiar pattern under +another name. + +At length the time for my departure came, and I set out for West +Point, going by way of Cleveland and across Lake Erie to Buffalo. On +the steamer I fell in with another appointee en route to the academy, +David S. Stanley, also from Ohio; and when our acquaintanceship had +ripened somewhat, and we had begun to repose confidence in each +other, I found out that he had no "Monroe shoes," so I deemed myself +just that much ahead of my companion, although my shoes might not +conform exactly to the regulations in Eastern style and finish. At +Buffalo, Stanley and I separated, he going by the Erie Canal and I by +the railroad, since I wanted to gain time on account of commands to +stop in Albany to see my father's uncle. Here I spent a few days, +till Stanley reached Albany, when we journeyed together down the +river to West Point. The examination began a few days after our +arrival, and I soon found myself admitted to the Corps of Cadets, to +date from July 1, 1848, in a class composed of sixty-three members, +many of whom--for example, Stanley, Slocum, Woods, Kautz, and Crook- +-became prominent generals in later years, and commanded divisions, +corps, and armies in the war of the rebellion. + +Quickly following my admission I was broken in by a course of hazing, +with many of the approved methods that the Cadets had handed down +from year to year since the Academy was founded; still, I escaped +excessive persecution, although there were in my day many occurrences +so extreme as to call forth condemnation and an endeavor to suppress +the senseless custom, which an improved civilization has now about +eradicated, not only at West Point, but at other colleges. + +Although I had met the Academic board and come off with fair success, +yet I knew so little of Algebra or any of the higher branches of +mathematics that during my first six months at the Academy I was +discouraged by many misgivings as to the future, for I speedily +learned that at the January examination the class would have to stand +a test much severer than that which had been applied to it on +entering. I resolved to try hard, however, and, besides, good +fortune gave me for a room-mate a Cadet whose education was more +advanced than mine, and whose studious habits and willingness to aid +others benefited me immensely. This room-mate was Henry W. Slocum, +since so signally distinguished in both military and civil capacities +as to win for his name a proud place in the annals of his country. +After taps--that is, when by the regulations of the Academy all the +lights were supposed to be extinguished, and everybody in bed--Slocum +and I would hang a blanket over the one window of our room and +continue our studies--he guiding me around scores of stumbling-blocks +in Algebra and elucidating many knotty points in other branches of +the course with which I was unfamiliar. On account of this +association I went up before the Board in January with less +uneasiness than otherwise would have been the case, and passed the +examination fairly well. When it was over, a self-confidence in my +capacity was established that had not existed hitherto, and at each +succeeding examination I gained a little in order of merit till my +furlough summer came round--that is, when I was half through the +four-year course. + +My furlough in July and August, 1850, was spent at my home in Ohio, +with the exception of a visit or two to other Cadets on furlough in +the State, and at the close of my leave I returned to the Academy in +the full expectation of graduating with my class in 1852. + +A quarrel of a belligerent character in September, ,1851, with Cadet +William R. Terrill, put an end to this anticipation, however, and +threw me back into the class which graduated in 1853. Terrill was a +Cadet Sergeant, and, while my company was forming for parade, having, +given me an order, in what I considered an improper tone, to "dress" +in a certain direction, when I believed I was accurately dressed, I +fancied I had a grievance, and made toward him with a lowered +bayonet, but my better judgment recalled me before actual contact +could take place. Of course Terrill reported me for this, and my ire +was so inflamed by his action that when we next met I attacked him, +and a fisticuff engagement in front of barracks followed, which was +stopped by an officer appearing on the scene. Each of us handed in +an explanation, but mine was unsatisfactory to the authorities, for I +had to admit that I was the assaulting party, and the result was that +I was suspended by the Secretary of War, Mr. Conrad, till August 28, +1852--the Superintendent of the Academy, Captain Brewerton, being +induced to recommend this milder course, he said, by my previous good +conduct. At the time I thought, of course, my suspension a very +unfair punishment, that my conduct was justifiable and the +authorities of the Academy all wrong, but riper experience has led me +to a different conclusion, and as I look back, though the +mortification I then endured was deep and trying, I am convinced that +it was hardly as much as I deserved for such an outrageous breach of +discipline. + +There was no question as to Terrill's irritating tone, but in giving +me the order he was prompted by the duty of his position as a file +closer, and I was not the one to remedy the wrong which I conceived +had been done me, and clearly not justifiable in assuming to correct +him with my own hands. In 1862, when General Buell's army was +assembling at Louisville, Terrill was with it as a brigadier-general +(for, although a Virginian, he had remained loyal), and I then took +the initiative toward a renewal of our acquaintance. Our renewed +friendship was not destined to be of long duration, I am sorry to +say, for a few days later, in the battle of Perryville, while +gallantly fighting for his country, poor Terrill was killed. + +My suspension necessitated my leaving the Academy, and I returned +home in the fall of 1851, much crestfallen. Fortunately, my good +friend Henry Dittoe again gave me employment in keeping the books of +his establishment, and this occupation of my time made the nine +months which were to elapse before I could go back to West Point pass +much more agreeably than they would have done had I been idle. In +August, 1852, I joined the first class at the Academy in accordance +with the order of the War Department, taking my place at the foot of +the class and graduating with it the succeeding June, number thirty- +four in a membership of fifty-two. At the head of this class +graduated James B. McPherson, who was killed in the Atlanta campaign +while commanding the Army of the Tennessee. It also contained such +men as John M. Schofield, who commanded the Army of the Ohio; Joshua +W. Sill, killed as a brigadier in the battle of Stone River; and many +others who, in the war of the rebellion, on one side or the other, +rose to prominence, General John B. Hood being the most distinguished +member of the class among the Confederates. + +At the close of the final examination I made no formal application +for assignment to any particular arm of the service, for I knew that +my standing would not entitle me to one of the existing vacancies, +and that I should be obliged to take a place among the brevet second +lieutenants. When the appointments were made I therefore found +myself attached to the First Infantry, well pleased that I had +surmounted all the difficulties that confront the student at our +national school, and looking forward with pleasant anticipation to +the life before me. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ORDERED TO FORT DUNCAN, TEXAS--"NORTHERS"--SCOUTING DUTY--HUNTING-- +NEARLY CAUGHT BY THE INDIANS--A PRIMITIVE HABITATION--A BRAVE +DRUMMERBOYS DEATH--A MEXICAN BALL. + +On the 1st day of July, 1853, I was commissioned a brevet second +lieutenant in the First Regiment of United States Infantry, then +stationed in Texas. The company to which I was attached was +quartered at Fort Duncan, a military post on the Rio Grande opposite +the little town of Piedras Negras, on the boundary line between the +United States and the Republic of Mexico. + +After the usual leave of three months following graduation from the +Military Academy I was assigned to temporary duty at Newport +Barracks, a recruiting station and rendezvous for the assignment of +young officers preparatory to joining their regiments. Here I +remained from September, 1853, to March, 1854, when I was ordered to +join my company at Fort Duncan. To comply with this order I +proceeded by steamboat down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New +Orleans, thence by steamer across the Gulf of Mexico to Indianola, +Tex., and after landing at that place, continued in a small schooner +through what is called the inside channel on the Gulf coast to Corpus +Christi, the headquarters of Brigadier-General Persifer F. Smith, who +was commanding the Department of Texas. Here I met some of my old +friends from the Military Academy, among them Lieutenant Alfred +Gibbs, who in the last year of the rebellion commanded under me a +brigade of cavalry, and Lieutenant Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, of the +Mounted Rifles, who resigned in 1854 to accept service in the French +Imperial army, but to most of those about headquarters I was an +entire stranger. Among the latter was Captain Stewart Van Vliet, of +the Quartermaster's Department, now on the retired list. With him I +soon came in frequent contact, and, by reason of his connection with +the Quartermaster's Department, the kindly interest he took in +forwarding my business inaugurated between us--a lasting friendship. + +A day or two after my arrival at Corpus Christi a train of Government +wagons, loaded with subsistence stores and quartermaster's supplies, +started for Laredo, a small town on the Rio Grande below Fort Duncan. +There being no other means of reaching my station I put my small +personal possessions, consisting of a trunk, mattress, two blankets, +and a pillow into one of the heavily loaded wagons and proceeded to +join it, sitting on the boxes or bags of coffee and sugar, as I might +choose. The movement of the train was very slow, as the soil was +soft on the newly made and sandy roads. We progressed but a few +miles on our first day's journey, and in the evening parked our train +at a point where there was no wood, a scant supply of water--and that +of bad quality--but an abundance of grass. There being no +comfortable place to sleep in any of the wagons, filled as they were +to the bows with army supplies, I spread my blankets on the ground +between the wheels of one of them, and awoke in the morning feeling +as fresh and bright as would have been possible if all the comforts +of civilization had been at my command. + +It took our lumbering train many days to reach Laredo, a distance of +about one hundred and sixty miles from Corpus Christi. Each march +was but a repetition of the first day's journey, its monotony +occasionally relieved, though, by the passage of immense flocks of +ducks and geese, and the appearance at intervals of herds of deer, +and sometimes droves of wild cattle, wild horses and mules. The +bands of wild horses I noticed were sometimes led by mules, but +generally by stallions with long wavy manes, and flowing tails which +almost touched the ground. + +We arrived at Laredo during one of those severe storms incident to +that section, which are termed "Northers" from the fact that the +north winds culminate occasionally in cold windstorms, frequently +preceded by heavy rains. Generally the blow lasts for three days, +and the cold becomes intense and piercing. While the sudden +depression of the temperature is most disagreeable, and often causes +great suffering, it is claimed that these "Northers" make the climate +more healthy and endurable. They occur from October to May, and in +addition to the destruction which, through the sudden depression of +the temperature, they bring on the herds in the interior, they are +often of sufficient violence to greatly injure the harbors on the +coast. + +The post near Laredo was called Fort McIntosh, and at this period the +troops stationed there consisted of eight companies of the Fifth +Infantry and two of the First, one of the First Artillery, and three +of the Mounted Rifles. Just before the "Norther" began these troops +had completed a redoubt for the defense of the post, with the +exception of the ditches, but as the parapet was built of sand--the +only material about Laredo which could be obtained for its +construction--the severity of the winds was too much for such a +shifting substance, and the work was entirely blown away early in the +storm. + +I was pleasantly and hospitably welcomed by the officers at the post, +all of whom were living in tents, with no furniture except a cot and +trunk, and an improvised bed for a stranger, when one happened to +come along. After I had been kindly taken in by one of the younger +officers, I reported to the commanding officer, and was informed by +him that he would direct the quartermaster to furnish me, as soon as +convenient, with transportation to Fort Duncan, the station of my +company. + +In the course of a day or two, the quartermaster notified me that a +Government six-mule wagon would be placed at my disposal to proceed +to my destination. No better means offering, I concluded to set out +in this conveyance, and, since it was also to carry a quantity of +quartermaster's property for Fort Duncan, I managed to obtain room +enough for my bed in the limited space between the bows and load, +where I could rest tolerably well, and under cover at night, instead +of sleeping on the ground under the wagon, as I had done on the road +from Corpus Christi to Laredo. + +I reached Fort Duncan in March, 1854., and was kindly received by the +commanding officer of the, regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson +Morris, and by the captain of my company ("D"), Eugene E. McLean, and +his charming wife the only daughter of General E. V. Sumner, who was +already distinguished in our service, but much better known in after +years in the operations ofthe Army of the Potomac, during its early +campaigns in Virginia. Shortly after joining company "D" I was sent +out on scouting duty with another company of the regiment to Camp La +Pena, about sixty or seventy miles east of Fort Duncan, in a section +of country that had for some time past been subjected to raids by the +Lipan and Comanche Indians. Ournoutpost at La Pena was intended as a +protection against the predatory incursions of these savages, so +almost constant scouting became a daily occupation. This enabled me +soon to become familiar with and make maps of the surrounding +country, and, through constant association with our Mexican guide, to +pick up in a short time quite a smattering of the Spanish language, +which was very useful to one serving on that frontier. + +At that early day western Texas was literally filled with game, and +the region in the immediate vicinity of La Pena contained its full +proportion of deer, antelope, and wild turkeys. The temptation to +hunt was therefore constantly before me, and a desire to indulge in +this pastime, whenever free from the legitimate duty of the camp, +soon took complete possession of me, so expeditions in pursuit of +game were of frequent occurrence. In these expeditions I was always +accompanied by a soldier named Frankman, belonging to "D" company, +who was a fine sportsman, and a butcher by trade. In a short period +I learned from Frankman how to approach and secure the different +species of game, and also how to dress and care for it when killed. +Almost every expedition we made was rewarded with a good supply of +deer, antelope, and wild turkeys, and we furnished the command in +camp with such abundance that it was relieved from the necessity of +drawing its beef ration, much to the discomfiture of the disgruntled +beef contractor. + +The camp at La Pena was on sandy ground, unpleasant for men and +animals, and by my advice it was moved to La Pendencia, not far from +Lake Espantosa. Before removal from our old location, however, early +one bright morning Frankman and I started on one of our customary +expeditions, going down La Pena Creek to a small creek, at the head +of which we had established a hunting rendezvous. After proceeding +along the stream for three or four miles we saw a column of smoke on +the prairie, and supposing it arose from a camp of Mexican rancheros +catching wild horses or wild cattle, and even wild mules, which were +very numerous in that section of country along the Nueces River, we +thought we would join the party and see how much success they were +having, and observe the methods employed in this laborious and +sometimes dangerous vocation. With this object in view, we continued +on until we found it necessary to cross to the other side of the +creek to reach the point indicated by the smoke. Just before +reaching the crossing I discovered moccasin tracks near the water's +edge, and realizing in an instant that the camp we were approaching +might possibly be one of hostile Indians--all Indians in that country +at that time were hostile--Frankman and I backed out silently, and +made eager strides for La Pena, where we had scarcely arrived when +Captain M. E. Van Buren, of the Mounted Rifle regiment, came in with +a small command, and reported that he was out in pursuit of a band of +Comanche Indians, which had been committing depredations up about +Fort Clark, but that he had lost the trail. I immediately informed +him of what had occurred to me during the morning, and that I could +put him on the trail of the Indians he was desirous of punishing. + +We hurriedly supplied with rations his small command of thirteen, +men, and I then conducted him to the point where I had seen the +smoke, and there we found signs indicating it to be the recently +abandoned camp of the Indians he was pursuing, and we also noticed +that prairie rats had formed the principal article of diet at the +meal they had just completed. As they had gone, I could do no more +than put him on the trail made in their departure, which was well +marked; for Indians, when in small parties, and unless pressed, +usually follow each other in single file. Captain Van Buren followed +the trail by Fort Ewell, and well down toward Corpus Christi, day and +night, until the Indians, exhausted and used up, halted, on an open +plain, unsaddled their horses, mounted bareback, and offered battle. +Their number was double that of Van Buren's detachment, but he +attacked them fearlessly, and in the fight was mortally wounded by an +arrow which entered his body in front, just above the sword belt, and +came through the belt behind. The principal chief of the Indians was +killed, and the rest fled. Captain Van Buren's men carried him to +Corpus Christi, where in a few days he died. + +After our removal to La Pendencia a similar pursuit of savages +occurred, but with more fortunate results. Colonel John H. King, now +on the retired list, then a captain in the First Infantry, came to +our camp in pursuit of a marauding band of hostile Indians, and I was +enabled to put him also on the trail. He soon overtook them, and +killing two without loss to himself, the band dispersed like a flock +of quail and left him nothing to follow. He returned to our camp +shortly after, and the few friendly Indian scouts he had with him +held a grand pow-wow and dance over the scalps of the fallen braves. + +Around La Pendencia, as at La Pena, the country abounded in deer, +antelope, wild turkeys, and quail, and we killed enough to supply +abundantly the whole command with the meat portion of the ration. +Some mornings Frankman and I would bring in as many as seven deer, +and our hunting expeditions made me so familiar with the region +between our camp arid Fort Duncan, the headquarters of the regiment, +that I was soon enabled to suggest a more direct route of +communication than the circuitous one then traversed, and in a short +time it was established. + +Up to this time I had been on detached duty, but soon my own company +was ordered into the field to occupy a position on Turkey Creek, +about ten or twelve miles west of the Nueces River, on the road from +San Antonio to Fort Duncan, and I was required to join the company. +Here constant work and scouting were necessary, as our camp was +specially located with reference to protecting from Indian raids the +road running from San Antonio to Fort Duncan, and on to the interior +of Mexico. In those days this road was the great line of travel, and +Mexican caravans were frequently passing over it, to and fro, in such +a disorganized condition as often to invite attack from marauding +Comanches and Lipans. Our time, therefore, was incessantly occupied +in scouting, but our labors were much lightened because they were +directed with intelligence and justice by Captain McLean, whose +agreeable manners and upright methods are still so impressed on my +memory that to this day I look back upon my service with "D" Company +of the First Infantry as among those events which I remember with +most pleasure. + +In this manner my first summer of active field duty passed rapidly +away, and in the fall my company returned to Fort Duncan to go into +winter quarters. These quarters, when constructed, consisted of "A" +tents pitched under a shed improvised by the company. With only +these accommodations I at first lived around as best I could until +the command was quartered, and then, requesting a detail of wagons +from the quartermaster, I went out some thirty miles to get poles to +build a more comfortable habitation for myself. In a few days enough +poles for the construction of a modest residence were secured and +brought in, and then the building of my house began. First, the +poles were cut the proper length, planted in a trench around four +sides of a square of very small proportions, and secured at the top +by string-pieces stretched from one angle to another, in which +half-notches hack been made at proper intervals to receive the +uprights. The poles were then made rigid by strips nailed on +half-way to the ground, giving the sides of the structure firmness, +but the interstices were large and frequent; still, with the aid of +some old condemned paulins obtained from the quartermaster, the walls +were covered and the necessity for chinking obviated. This method of +covering the holes in the side walls also possessed the advantage of +permitting some little light to penetrate to the interior of the +house, and avoided the necessity of constructing a window, for which, +by the way, no glass could have been obtained. Next a good large +fire-place and chimney were built in one corner by means of stones +and mud, and then the roof was put on--a thatched one of prairie +grass. The floor was dirt compactly tamped. + +My furniture was very primitive: a chair or two, with about the same +number of camp stools, a cot, and a rickety old bureau that I +obtained in some way not now remembered. My washstand consisted of a +board about three feet long, resting on legs formed by driving sticks +into the ground until they held it at about the proper height from +the floor. This washstand was the most expensive piece of furniture +I owned, the board having cost me three dollars, and even then I +obtained it as a favor, for lumber on the Rio Grande was so scarce in +those days that to possess even the smallest quantity was to indulge +in great luxury. Indeed, about all that reached the post was what +came in the shape of bacon boxes, and the boards from these were +reserved for coffins in which to bury our dead. + +In this rude habitation I spent a happy winter, and was more +comfortably off than many of the officers, who had built none, but +lived in tents and took the chances of "Northers." During this period +our food was principally the soldier's ration: flour, pickled pork, +nasty bacon--cured in the dust of ground charcoal--and fresh beef, of +which we had a plentiful supply, supplemented with game of various +kinds. The sugar, coffee, and smaller parts of the ration were good, +but we had no vegetables, and the few jars of preserves and some few +vegetables kept by the sutler were too expensive to be indulged in. +So during all the period I lived at Fort Duncan and its sub-camps, +nearly sixteen months, fresh vegetables were practically +unobtainable. To prevent scurvy we used the juice of the maguey +plant, called pulque, and to obtain a supply of this anti-scorbutic I +was often detailed to march the company out about forty miles, cut +the plant, load up two or three wagons with the stalks, and carry +them to camp. Here the juice was extracted by a rude press, and put +in bottles until it fermented and became worse in odor than +sulphureted hydrogen. At reveille roll-call every morning this +fermented liquor was dealt out to the company, and as it was my duty, +in my capacity of subaltern, to attend these roll-calls and see that +the men took their ration of pulque, I always began the duty by +drinking a cup of the repulsive stuff myself. Though hard to +swallow, its well-known specific qualities in the prevention and cure +of scurvy were familiar to all, so every man in the command gulped +down his share notwithstanding its vile taste and odor. + +Considering our isolation, the winter passed very pleasantly to us +all. The post was a large one, its officers congenial, and we had +many enjoyable occasions. Dances, races, and horseback riding filled +in much of the time, and occasional raids from Indians furnished more +serious occupation in the way of a scout now and then. The proximity +of the Indians at times rendered the surrounding country somewhat +dangerous for individuals or small parties at a distance from the +fort; but few thought the savages would come near, so many risks were +doubtless run by various officers, who carried the familiar +six-shooter as their only weapon while out horseback riding, until +suddenly we were awakened to the dangers we had been incurring. + +About mid-winter a party of hostile Lipans made a swoop around and +skirting the garrison, killing a herder--a discharged drummer-boy--in +sight of the flag-staff. Of course great excitement followed. +Captain J. G. Walker, of the Mounted Rifles, immediately started with +his company in pursuit of the Indians, and I was directed to +accompany the command. Not far away we found the body of the boy +filled with arrows, and near him the body of a fine looking young +Indian, whom the lad had undoubtedly killed before he was himself +overpowered. We were not a great distance behind the Indians when +the boy's body was discovered, and having good trailers we gained on +them rapidly, with the prospect of overhauling them, but as soon as +they found we were getting near they headed for the Rio Grande, made +the crossing to the opposite bank, and were in Mexico before we could +overtake them. When on the other side of the boundary they grew very +brave, daring us to come over to fight them, well aware all the time +that the international line prevented us from continuing the pursuit. +So we had to return to the post without reward for our exertion +except the consciousness of having made the best effort we could to +catch the murderers. That night, in company with Lieutenant Thomas +G. Williams, I crossed over the river to the Mexican village of +Piedras Negras, and on going to a house where a large baille, or +dance, was going on we found among those present two of the Indians +we had been chasing. As soon as they saw us they strung their bows +for a fight, and we drew our sixshooters, but the Mexicans quickly +closed in around the Indians and forced them out of the house--or +rude jackal--where the "ball" was being held, and they escaped. We +learned later something about the nature of the fight the drummer had +made, and that his death had cost them dear, for, in addition to the +Indian killed and lying by his side, he had mortally wounded another +and seriously wounded a third, with the three shots that he had +fired. + +At this period I took up the notion of making a study of ornithology, +incited to it possibly by the great number of bright-colored birds +that made their winter homes along the Rio Grande, and I spent many a +leisure hour in catching specimens by means of stick traps, with +which I found little difficulty in securing almost every variety of +the feathered tribes. I made my traps by placing four sticks of a +length suited to the size desired so as to form a square, and +building up on them in log-cabin fashion until the structure came +almost to a point by contraction of the corners. Then the sticks +were made secure, the trap placed at some secluded spot, and from the +centre to the outside a trench was dug in the ground, and thinly +covered when a depth had been obtained that would leave an aperture +sufficiently large to admit the class of birds desired. Along this +trench seeds and other food were scattered, which the birds soon +discovered, and of course began to eat, unsuspectingly following the +tempting bait through the gallery till they emerged from its farther +end in the centre of the trap, where they contentedly fed till the +food was all gone. Then the fact of imprisonment first presented +itself, and they vainly endeavored to escape through the interstices +of the cage, never once guided by their instinct to return to liberty +through the route by which they had entered. + +Among the different kinds of birds captured in this way, mocking- +birds, blue-birds, robins, meadow larks, quail, and plover were the +most numerous. They seemed to have more voracious appetites than +other varieties, or else they were more unwary, and consequently more +easily caught. A change of station, however, put an end to my +ornithological plans, and activities of other kinds prevented me from +resuming them in after life. + +There were quite a number of young officers at the post during the +winter, and as our relations with the Mexican commandant at Piedras +Negras were most amicable, we were often invited to dances at his +house. He and his hospitable wife and daughter drummed up the female +portion of the elite of Piedras Negras and provided the house, which +was the official as well as the personal residence of the commandant, +while we--the young officers--furnished the music and such +sweetmeats, candies, &c., for the baille as the country would afford. + +We generally danced in a long hall on a hard dirt floor. The girls +sat on one side of the hall, chaperoned by their mothers or some old +duennas, and the men on the other. When the music struck up each man +asked the lady whom his eyes had already selected to dance with him, +and it was not etiquette for her to refuse--no engagements being +allowed before the music began. When the dance, which was generally +a long waltz, was over, he seated his partner, and then went to a +little counter at the end of the room and bought his dulcinea a plate +of the candies and sweetmeats provided. Sometimes she accepted them, +but most generally pointed to her duenna or chaperon behind, who held +up her apron and caught the refreshments as they were slid into it +from the plate. The greatest decorum was maintained at these dances, +primitively as they were conducted; and in a region so completely cut +off from the world, their influence was undoubtedly beneficial to a +considerable degree in softening the rough edges in a half-breed +population. + +The inhabitants of this frontier of Mexico were strongly marked with +Indian characteristics, particularly with those of the Comanche type, +and as the wild Indian blood predominated, few of the physical traits +of the Spaniard remained among them, and outlawry was common. The +Spanish conquerors had left on the northern border only their +graceful manners and their humility before the cross. The sign of +Christianity was prominently placed at all important points on roads +or trails, and especially where any one had been killed; and as the +Comanche Indians, strong and warlike, had devastated northeastern +Mexico in past years, all along the border, on both sides of the Rio +Grande, the murderous effects of their raids were evidenced by +numberless crosses. For more than a century forays had been made on +the settlements and towns by these bloodthirsty savages, and, the +Mexican Government being too weak to afford protection, property was +destroyed, the women and children carried off or ravished, and the +men compelled to look on in an agony of helplessness till relieved by +death. During all this time, however, the forms and ceremonials of +religion, and the polite manners received from the Spaniards, were +retained, and reverence for the emblems of Christianity was always +uppermost in the mind of even the most ignorant. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ORDERED TO FORT READING, CAL.--A DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING--A RESCUED +SOLDIER--DISCOVERING INDIANS--PRIMITIVE FISHING--A DESERTED +VILLAGE--CAMPING OPPOSITE FORT VANCOUVER. + +In November, 1854, I received my promotion to a second lieutenancy in +the Fourth Infantry, which was stationed in California and Oregon. In +order to join my company at Fort Reading, California, I had to go to +New York as a starting point, and on arrival there, was placed on +duty, in May, 1855, in command of a detachment of recruits at +Bedloe's Island, intended for assignment to the regiments on the +Pacific coast. I think there were on the island (now occupied by the +statue of Liberty Enlightening the World) about three hundred +recruits. For a time I was the only officer with them, but shortly +before we started for California, Lieutenant Francis H. Bates, of the +Fourth Infantry, was placed in command. We embarked for the Pacific +coast in July, 1855, and made the journey without incident via the +Isthmus of Panama, in due time landing our men at Benecia Barracks, +above San Francisco. + +From this point I proceeded to join my company at Fort Reading, and +on reaching that post, found orders directing me to relieve +Lieutenant John B. Hood--afterward well known as a distinguished +general in the Confederate service. Lieutenant Hood was in command +of the personal mounted escort of Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, who +was charged with the duty of making such explorations and surveys as +would determine the practicability of connecting, by railroad, the +Sacramento Valley in California with the Columbia River in Oregon +Territory, either through the Willamette Valley, or (if this route +should prove to be impracticable) by the valley of the Des Chutes +River near the foot-slopes of the Cascade chain. The survey was +being made in accordance with an act of Congress, which provided both +for ascertaining the must practicable and economical route for a +railroad between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean, and for +military and geographical surveys west of the Mississippi River. + +Fort Reading was the starting-point for this exploring expedition, +and there I arrived some four or five days after the party under +Lieutenant Williamson had begun its march. His personal escort +numbered about sixty mounted men, made up of detachments from +companies of the First Dragoons, under command of Lieutenant Hood, +together with about one hundred men belonging to the Fourth Infantry +arid Third Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Horatio Gates Gibson, +the present colonel of the Third United States Artillery. Lieutenant +George Crook--now major-general--was the quartermaster and commissary +of subsistence of the expedition. + +The commanding officer at Fort Reading seemed reluctant to let me go +on to relieve Lieutenant Hood, as the country to be passed over was +infested by the Pit River Indians, known to be hostile to white +people and especially to small parties. I was very anxious to +proceed, however, and willing to take the chances; so, consent being +finally obtained, I started with a corporal and two mounted men, +through a wild and uninhabited region, to overtake if possible +Lieutenant Williamson. Being on horseback, and unencumbered by +luggage of any kind except blankets and a little hard bread, coffee +and smoking-tobacco, which were all carried on our riding animals, we +were sanguine of succeeding, for we traversed in one day fully the +distance made in three by Lieutenant Williamson's party on foot. + +The first day we reached the base of Lassan's Butte, where I +determined to spend the night near an isolated cabin, or dugout, that +had been recently constructed by a hardy pioneer. The wind was +blowing a disagreeable gale, which had begun early in the day. This +made it desirable to locate our camp under the best cover we could +find, and I spent some little time in looking about for a +satisfactory place, but nothing better offered than a large fallen +tree, which lay in such a direction that by encamping on its lee side +we would be protected from the fury of the storm. This spot was +therefore fixed upon, and preparation made for spending the night as +comfortably as the circumstances would permit. + +After we had unsaddled I visited the cabin to inquire in regard to +the country ahead, and there found at first only a soldier of +Williamson's party; later the proprietor of the ranch appeared. The +soldier had been left behind by the surveying party on account of +illness, with instructions to make his way back to Fort Reading as +best he could when he recovered. His condition having greatly +improved, however, since he had been left, he now begged me in +beseeching terms to take him along with my party, which I finally +consented to do, provided that if he became unable to keep up with +me, and I should be obliged to abandon him, the responsibility would +be his, not mine. This increased my number to five, and was quite a +reinforcement should we run across any hostile Indians; but it was +also certain to prove an embarrassment should the man again fall ill. + +During the night, notwithstanding the continuance of the storm, I had +a very sound and refreshing sleep behind the protecting log where we +made our camp, and at daylight next morning we resumed our journey, +fortified by a breakfast of coffee and hard bread. I skirted around +the base of Lassan's Butte, thence down Hat Creek, all the time +following the trail made by Lieutenant Williamson's party. About +noon the soldier I had picked up at my first camp gave out, and could +go no farther. As stipulated when I consented to take him along, I +had the right to abandon him, but when it came to the test I could +not make up my mind to do it. Finding a good place not far off the +trail, one of my men volunteered to remain with him until he died; +and we left them there, with a liberal supply of hard bread and +coffee, believing that we would never again see the invalid. My +reinforcement was already gone, and another man with it. + +With my diminished party I resumed the trail and followed it until +about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when we heard the sound of voices, +and the corporal, thinking we were approaching Lieutenant +Williamson's party, was so overjoyed in anticipation of the junction, +that he wanted to fire his musket as an expression of his delight. +This I prevented his doing, however, and we continued cautiously and +slowly on to develop the source of the sounds in front. We had not +gone far before I discovered that the noise came from a band of Pit +River Indians, who had struck the trail of the surveying expedition, +and were following it up, doubtless with evil intent. Dismounting +from my horse I counted the moccasin tracks to ascertain the number +of Indians, discovered it to be about thirty, and then followed on +behind them cautiously, but with little difficulty, as appearances of +speed on their part indicated that they wished to overtake Lieutenant +Williamson's party, which made them less on the lookout than usual +for any possible pursuers. After following the trail until nearly +sundown, I considered it prudent to stop for the night, and drew off +some little distance, where, concealed in a dense growth of timber, +we made our camp. + +As I had with me now only two men, I felt somewhat nervous, so I +allowed no fires to be built, and in consequence our supper consisted +of hard bread only. I passed an anxious night, but beyond our own +solicitude there was nothing to disturb us, the Indians being too +much interested in overtaking the party in front to seek for victims +in the rear, After a hard-bread breakfast we started again on the +trail, and had proceeded but a short distance when, hearing the +voices of the Indians, we at once slackened our speed so as not to +overtake them. + +Most of the trail on which we traveled during the morning ran over an +exceedingly rough lava formation--a spur of the lava beds often +described during the Modoc war of 1873 so hard and flinty that +Williamson's large command made little impression on its surface, +leaving in fact, only indistinct traces of its line of march. By +care and frequent examinations we managed to follow his route through +without much delay, or discovery by the Indians, and about noon, +owing to the termination of the lava formation, we descended into the +valley of Hat Greek, a little below where it emerges from the second +canon and above its confluence with Pit River. As soon as we reached +the fertile soil of the valley, we found Williamson's trail well +defined, deeply impressed in the soft loam, and coursing through +wild-flowers and luxuriant grass which carpeted the ground on every +hand. + +When we struck this delightful locality we traveled with considerable +speed, and after passing over hill and vale for some distance, the +trail becoming more and more distinct all the time, I suddenly saw in +front of me the Pit River Indians. + +This caused a halt, and having hurriedly re-capped our guns and +six-shooters, thus preparing for the worst, I took a look at the band +through my field-glass. They were a half-mile or more in our front +and numbered about thirty individuals, armed with bows and arrows +only. Observing us they made friendly demonstrations, but I had not +implicit faith in a Pit River Indian at that period of the settlement +of our country, and especially in that wild locality, so after a +"council of war" with the corporal and man, I concluded to advance to +a point about two hundred yards distant from the party, when, relying +on the speed of our horses rather than on the peaceable intentions of +the savages, I hoped to succeed in cutting around them and take the +trail beyond. Being on foot they could not readily catch us, and +inasmuch as their arrows were good for a range of only about sixty +yards, I had no fear of any material damage on that score. + +On reaching the place selected for our flank movement we made a dash +to the left of the trail, through the widest part of the valley, and +ran our horses swiftly by, but I noticed that the Indians did not +seem to be disturbed by the manoeuvre and soon realized that this +indifference was occasioned by the knowledge that we could not cross +Hat Creek, a deep stream with vertical banks, too broad to be leaped +by our horses. We were obliged, therefore, to halt, and the Indians +again made demonstrations of friendship, some of them even getting +into the stream to show that they were at the ford. Thus reassured, +we regained our confidence and boldly crossed the river in the midst +of them. After we had gained the bluff on the other side of the +creek, I looked down into the valley of Pit River, and could plainly +see the camp of the surveying party. Its proximity was the influence +which had doubtless caused the peaceable conduct of the Indians. +Probably the only thing that saved us was their ignorance of our +being in their rear, until we stumbled on them almost within sight of +the large party under Williamson. + +The Pit River Indians were very hostile at that time, and for many +succeeding years their treachery and cruelty brought misfortune and +misery to the white settlers who ventured their lives in search of +home and fortune in the wild and isolated section over which these +savages roamed. Not long after Williamson's party passed through +their country, the Government was compelled to send into it a +considerable force for the purpose of keeping them under control. +The outcome of this was a severe fight--resulting in the loss of a +good many lives--between the hostiles and a party of our troops under +Lieutenant George Crook. It finally ended in the establishment of a +military post in the vicinity of the battle-ground, for the permanent +occupation of the country. + +A great load was lifted from my heart when I found myself so near +Williamson's camp, which I joined August 4, 1855, receiving a warm +welcome from the officers. During the afternoon I relieved +Lieutenant Hood of the command of the personal escort, and he was +ordered to return, with twelve of the mounted men, over the trail I +had followed. I pointed out to him on the map the spot where he +would find the two men left on the roadside, and he was directed to +take them into Fort Reading. They were found without difficulty, and +carried in to the post. The sick man--Duryea--whom I had expected +never to see again, afterward became the hospital steward at Fort +Yamhill, Oregon, when I was stationed there. + +The Indians that I had passed at the ford came to the bluff above the +camp, and arranging themselves in a squatting posture, looked down +upon Williamson's party with longing eyes, in expectation of a feast. +They were a pitiable lot, almost naked, hungry and cadaverous. +Indians are always hungry, but these poor creatures were particularly +so, as their usual supply of food had grown very scarce from one +cause and another. + +In prosperity they mainly subsisted on fish, or game killed with the +bow and arrow. When these sources failed they lived on grasshoppers, +and at this season the grasshopper was their principal food. In +former years salmon were very abundant in the streams of the +Sacramento Valley, and every fall they took great quantities of these +fish and dried them for winter use, but alluvial mining had of late +years defiled the water of the different streams and driven the fish +out. On this account the usual supply of salmon was very limited. +They got some trout high up on the rivers, above the sluices and +rockers of the miners, but this was a precarious source from which to +derive food, as their means of taking the trout were very primitive. +They had neither hooks nor lines, but depended entirely on a +contrivance made from long, slender branches of willow, which grew on +the banks of most of the streams. One of these branches would be +cut, and after sharpening the butt-end to a point, split a certain +distance, and by a wedge the prongs divided sufficiently to admit a +fish between. The Indian fisherman would then slyly put the forked +end in the water over his intended victim, and with a quick dart +firmly wedge him between the prongs. When secured there, the work of +landing him took but a moment. When trout were plentiful this +primitive mode of taking them was quite successful, and I have often +known hundreds of pounds to be caught in this way, but when they were +scarce and suspicious the rude method was not rewarded with good +results. + +The band looking down on us evidently had not had much fish or game +to eat for some time, so when they had made Williamson understand +that they were suffering for food he permitted them to come into +camp, and furnished them with a supply, which they greedily swallowed +as fast as it was placed at their service, regardless of possible +indigestion. When they had eaten all they could hold, their +enjoyment was made complete by the soldiers, who gave them a quantity +of strong plug tobacco. This they smoked incessantly, inhaling all +the smoke, so that none of the effect should be lost. When we +abandoned this camp the next day, the miserable wretches remained in +it and collected the offal about the cooks' fires to feast still +more, piecing out the meal, no doubt, with their staple article of +food--grasshoppers. + +On the morning of August 5 Lieutenant Hood started back to Fort +Reading, and Lieutenant Williamson resumed his march for the Columbia +River. Our course was up Pit River, by the lower and upper canons, +then across to the Klamath Lakes, then east, along their edge to the +upper lake. At the middle Klamath Lake, just after crossing Lost +River and the Natural Bridge, we met a small party of citizens from +Jacksonville, Oregon, looking for hostile Indians who had committed +some depredations in their neighborhood. From them we learned that +the Rogue River Indians in southern Oregon were on the war-path, and +that as the "regular troops up there were of no account, the citizens +had taken matters in hand, and intended cleaning up the hostiles." +They swaggered about our camp, bragged a good deal, cursed the +Indians loudly, and soundly abused the Government for not giving them +better protection. It struck me, however, that they had not worked +very hard to find the hostiles; indeed, it could plainly be seen that +their expedition was a town-meeting sort of affair, and that anxiety +to get safe home was uppermost in their thoughts. The enthusiasm +with which they started had all oozed out, and that night they +marched back to Jacksonville. The next day, at the head of the lake, +we came across an Indian village, and I have often wondered since +what would have been the course pursued by these valiant warriors +from Jacksonville had they gone far enough to get into its vicinity. + +When we reached the village the tepees--made of grass--were all +standing, the fires burning and pots boiling--the pots filled with +camas and tula roots--but not an Indian was to be seen. Williamson +directed that nothing in the village should be disturbed; so guards +were placed over it to carry out his instructions and we went into +camp just a little beyond. We had scarcely established ourselves +when a very old Indian rose up from the high grass some distance off, +and with peaceable signs approached our camp, evidently for the +purpose of learning whether or not our intentions were hostile. +Williamson told him we were friendly; that we had passed through his +village without molesting it, that we had put a guard there to secure +the property his people had abandoned in their fright, and that they +might come back in safety. The old man searchingly eyed everything +around for some little time, and gaining confidence from the +peaceable appearance of the men, who were engaged in putting up the +tents and preparing their evening meal, he concluded to accept our +professions of friendship, and bring his people in. Going out about +half a mile from the village he gave a peculiar yell, at which +between three and four hundred Indians arose simultaneously from the +ground, and in answer to his signal came out of the tall grass like a +swarm of locusts and soon overran our camp in search of food, for +like all Indians they were hungry. They too, proved to be Pit +Rivers, and were not less repulsive than those of their tribe we had +met before. They were aware of the hostilities going on between the +Rogue Rivers and the whites, but claimed that they had not taken any +part in them. I question if they had, but had our party been small, +I fear we should have been received at their village in a very +different manner. + +From the upper Klamath Lake we marched over the divide and down the +valley of the Des Chutes River to a point opposite the mountains +called the Three Sisters. Here, on September 23, the party divided, +Williamson and I crossing through the crater of the Three Sisters and +along the western slope of the Cascade Range, until we struck the +trail on McKenzie River, which led us into the Willamette Valley not +far from Eugene City. We then marched down the Willamette Valley to +Portland, Oregon, where we arrived October 9, 1855 + +The infantry portion of the command, escorting Lieutenant Henry L. +Abbot, followed farther down the Des Chutes River, to a point +opposite Mount Hood, from which it came into the Willamette Valley +and then marched to Portland. At Portland we all united, and moving +across the point between the Willamette and Columbia rivers, encamped +opposite Fort Vancouver, on the south bank of the latter stream, on +the farm of an old settler named Switzler, who had located there many +years before. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +"OLD RED"--SKILLFUL SHOOTING--YAKIMA--WAR--A LUDICROUS MISTAKE-- +"CUT-MOUTH JOHN'S" ENCOUNTER--FATHER PANDOZA'S MISSION--A SNOW-STORM- +-FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION. + +Our camp on the Columbia, near Fort Vancouver, was beautifully +situated on a grassy sward close to the great river; and--as little +duty was required of us after so long a journey, amusement of one +kind or another, and an interchange of visits with the officers at +the post, filled in the time acceptably. We had in camp an old +mountaineer guide who had accompanied us on the recent march, and who +had received the sobriquet of "Old Red," on account of the shocky and +tangled mass of red hair and beard, which covered his head and face +so completely that only his eyes could be seen. His eccentricities +constantly supplied us with a variety of amusements. Among the +pastimes he indulged in was one which exhibited his skill with the +rifle, and at the same time protected the camp from the intrusions +and ravages of a drove of razor-backed hogs which belonged to Mr. +Switzler. These hogs were frequent visitors, and very destructive to +our grassy sward, rooting it up in front of our tents and all about +us; in pursuit of bulbous roots and offal from the camp. Old Red +conceived the idea that it would be well to disable the pigs by +shooting off the tips of their snouts, and he proceeded to put his +conception into execution, and continued it daily whenever the hogs +made their appearance. Of course their owner made a row about it; +but when Old Red daily settled for his fun by paying liberally with +gold-dust from some small bottles of the precious metal in his +possession, Switzler readily became contented, and I think even +encouraged the exhibitions--of skill. + +It was at this period (October, 1855) that the Yakima Indian war +broke out, and I was detached from duty with the exploring party and +required by Major Gabriel J. Rains, then commanding the district, to +join an expedition against the Yakimas. They had some time before +killed their agent, and in consequence a force under Major Granville +O. Haller had been sent out from the Dalles of the Columbia to +chastise them; but the expedition had not been successful; in fact, +it had been driven back, losing a number of men and two mountain +howitzers. + +The object of the second expedition was to retrieve this disaster. +The force was composed of a small body of regular troops, and a +regiment of Oregon mounted volunteers under command of Colonel James +W. Nesmith--subsequently for several years United States Senator from +Oregon. The whole force was under the command of Major Rains, Fourth +Infantry, who, in order that he might rank Nesmith, by some +hocus-pocus had been made a brigadier-general, under an appointment +from the Governor of Washington Territory. + +We started from the Dalles October 30, under conditions that were not +conducive to success. The season was late for operations; and worse +still, the command was not in accord with the commanding officer, +because of general belief in his incompetency, and on account of the +fictitious rank he assumed. On the second day out I struck a small +body of Indians with my detachment of dragoons, but was unable to do +them any particular injury beyond getting possession of a large +quantity of their winter food, which their hurried departure +compelled them to abandon. This food consisted principally of dried +salmon-pulverized and packed in sacks made of grass-dried +huckleberries, and dried camas; the latter a bulbous root about the +size of a small onion, which, when roasted and ground, is made into +bread by the Indians and has a taste somewhat like cooked chestnuts. + +Our objective point was Father Pandoza's Mission, in the Yakima +Valley, which could be reached by two different routes, and though +celerity of movement was essential, our commanding officer +"strategically" adopted the longer route, and thus the Indians had +ample opportunity to get away with their horses, cattle, women and +children, and camp property. + +After the encounter which I just now referred to, the command, which +had halted to learn the results of my chase, resumed its march to and +through the Klikitat canon, and into the lower Yakima Valley, in the +direction of the Yakima River. I had charge at the head of the +column as it passed through the canon, and on entering the valley +beyond, saw in the distance five or six Indian scouts, whom I pressed +very closely, until after a run of several miles they escaped across +the Yakima River. + +The soil in the valley was light and dry, and the movement of animals +over it raised great clouds of dust, that rendered it very difficult +to distinguish friend from foe; and as I was now separated from the +main column a considerable distance, I deemed it prudent to call a +halt until we could discover the direction taken by the principal +body of the Indians. We soon learned that they had gone up the +valley, and looking that way, we discovered a column of alkali dust +approaching us, about a mile distant, interposing between my little +detachment and the point where I knew General Rains intended to +encamp for the night. After hastily consulting with Lieutenant +Edward H. Day, of the Third United States Artillery, who was with me, +we both concluded that the dust was caused by a body of the enemy +which had slipped in between us and our main force. There seemed no +alternative left us but to get back to our friends by charging +through these Indians; and as their cloud of dust was much larger +than ours, this appeared a desperate chance. Preparations to charge +were begun, however, but, much to our surprise, before they were +completed the approaching party halted for a moment and then +commenced to retreat. This calmed the throbbing of our hearts, and +with a wild cheer we started in a hot pursuit, that continued for +about two miles, when to our great relief we discovered that we were +driving into Rains's camp a squadron of Nesmith's battalion of Oregon +volunteers that we had mistaken for Indians, and who in turn believed +us to be the enemy. When camp was reached, we all indulged in a +hearty laugh ovor the affair, and at the fright each party had given +the other. The explanations which ensued proved that the squadron of +volunteers had separated from the column at the same time that I had +when we debouched from the canon, and had pursued an intermediate +trail through the hills, which brought it into the valley of the +Yakima at a point higher up the river than where I had struck it. + +Next day we resumed our march up the valley, parallel to the Yakima. +About 1 o'clock we saw a large body of Indians on the opposite side +of the river, and the general commanding made up his mind to cross +and attack them. The stream was cold, deep, and swift, still I +succeeded in passing my dragoons over safely, but had hardly got them +well on the opposite bank when the Indians swooped down upon us. +Dismounting my men, we received the savages with a heavy fire, which +brought them to a halt with some damage and more or less confusion. + +General Rains now became very much excited and alarmed about me, and +endeavored to ford the swift river with his infantry and artillery, +but soon had to abandon the attempt, as three or four of the poor +fellows were swept off their feet and drowned. Meantime Nesmith came +up with his mounted force, crossed over, and joined me. + +The Indians now fell back to a high ridge, on the crest of which they +marched and countermarched, threatening to charge down its face. +Most of them were naked, and as their persons were painted in gaudy +colors and decorated with strips of red flannel, red blankets and gay +war-bonnets, their appearance presented a scene of picturesque +barbarism, fascinating but repulsive. As they numbered about six +hundred, the chances of whipping them did not seem overwhelmingly in +our favor, yet Nesmith and I concluded we would give them a little +fight, provided we could engage them without going beyond the ridge. +But all our efforts were in vain, for as we advanced they retreated, +and as we drew back they reappeared and renewed their parade and +noisy demonstrations, all the time beating their drums and yelling +lustily. They could not be tempted into a fight where we desired it, +however, and as we felt unequal to any pursuit beyond the ridge +without the assistance of the infantry and artillery, we re-crossed +the river and encamped with Rains. It soon became apparent that the +noisy demonstrations of the Indians were intended only as a blind to +cover the escape of their women and children to a place of safety in +the mountains. + +Next morning we took up our march without crossing the river; and as +our route would lead us by the point on the opposite bank where the +Indians had made their picturesque display the day before, they at an +early hour came over to our side, and rapidly moved ahead of us to +some distant hills, leaving in our pathway some of the more +venturesome young braves, who attempted, to retard our advance by +opening fire at long range from favorable places where they lay +concealed. This fire did us little harm, but it had the effect of +making our progress so slow that the patience of every one but +General Rains was well-nigh exhausted. + +About 2 o'clock in the afternoon we arrived well up near the base of +the range of hills, and though it was growing late we still had time +to accomplish something, but our commanding officer decided that it +was best to go into camp, and make a systematic attack next morning. +I proposed that he let me charge with my dragoons through the narrow +canon where the river broke through the range, while the infantry +should charge up the hill and drive the enemy from the top down on +the other side. In this way I thought we might possibly catch some +of the fugitives, but his extreme caution led him to refuse the +suggestion, so we pitched our tents out of range of their desultory +fire, but near enough to observe plainly their menacing and +tantalizing exhibitions of contempt. + +In addition to firing occasionally, they called us all sorts of bad +names, made indecent gestures, and aggravated us, so that between 3 +and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, by an inexplicable concert of action, +and with a serious breach of discipline, a large number of the men +and many of the officers broke en masse from the camp with loud yells +and charged the offending savages. As soon as this mob got within +musket-shot they opened fire on the Indians, who ran down the other +face of the ridge without making the slightest resistance. The hill +was readily taken by this unmilitary proceeding, and no one was hurt +on either side, but as Rains would not permit it to be held, a large +bonfire was lighted on the crest in celebration of the victory, and +then all hands marched back to camp, where they had no sooner arrived +and got settled down than the Indians returned to the summit of the +ridge, seemingly to enjoy the fire that had been so generously built +for their benefit, and with renewed taunts and gestures continued to +insult us. + +Our camp that night was strongly picketed, and when we awoke in the +morning the Indians still occupied their position on the hill. At +daylight we advanced against them, two or three companies of infantry +moving forward to drive them from the summit, while our main column +passed through the canon into the upper Yakima Valley led by my +dragoons, who were not allowed to charge into the gorge, as the +celerity of such a movement might cause the tactical combination to +fail. + +As we passed slowly and cautiously through the canon the Indians ran +rapidly away, and when we reached the farther end they had entirely +disappeared from our front, except one old fellow, whose lame horse +prevented him keeping up with the main body. This presented an +opportunity for gaining results which all thought should not be lost, +so our guide, an Indian named "Cut-mouth John," seized upon it, and +giving hot chase, soon, overtook the poor creature, whom he speedily +killed without much danger to himself, for the fugitive was armed +with only an old Hudson's Bay flint-lock horse-pistol which could not +be discharged. + +"Cut-mouth John's" engagement began and ended all the fighting that +took place on this occasion, and much disappointment and discontent +followed, Nesmith's mounted force and my dragoons being particularly +disgusted because they had not been "given a chance." During the +remainder of the day we cautiously followed the retreating foe, and +late in the evening went into camp a short distance from Father +Pandoza's Mission; where we were to await a small column of troops +under command of Captain Maurice Maloney, of the Fourth Infantry, +that was to join us from Steilicom by way of the Natchez Pass, and +from which no tidings had as yet been received. + +Next morning the first thing I saw when I put my head out from my +blankets was "Cut-mouth John," already mounted and parading himself +through the camp. The scalp of the Indian he had despatched the day +before was tied to the cross-bar of his bridle bit, the hair dangling +almost to the ground, and John was decked out in the sacred vestments +of Father Pandoza, having, long before any one was stiring in camp, +ransacked the log-cabin at the Mission in which the good man had +lived. John was at all times a most repulsive looking individual, a +part of his mouth having been shot away in a fight with Indians near +Walla Walla some years before, in which a Methodist missionary had +been killed; but his revolting personal appearance was now worse than +ever, and the sacrilegious use of Father Pandoza's vestments, coupled +with the ghastly scalp that hung from his bridle, so turned opinion +against him that he was soon captured, dismounted, and his parade +brought to an abrupt close, and I doubt whether he ever after quite +reinstated himself in the good graces of the command. + +In the course of the day nearly all the men visited the Mission, but +as it had been plundered by the Indians at the outbreak of +hostilities, when Father Pandoza was carried off, little of value was +left about it except a considerable herd of pigs, which the father +with great difficulty had succeeded in accumulating from a very small +beginning. The pigs had not been disturbed by the Indians, but the +straggling troops soon disposed of them, and then turned their +attention to the cabbages and potatoes in the garden, with the +intention, no doubt, of dining that day on fresh pork and fresh +vegetables instead of on salt junk and hard bread, which formed their +regular diet on the march. In digging up the potatoes some one +discovered half a keg of powder, which had been buried in the garden +by the good father to prevent the hostile Indians from getting it to +use against the whites. As soon as this was unearthed wild +excitement ensued, and a cry arose that Father Pandoza was the person +who furnished powder to the Indians; that here was the proof; that at +last the mysterious means by which the Indians obtained ammunition +was explained--and a rush was made for the mission building. This was +a comfortable log-house of good size, built by the Indians for a +school and church, and attached to one end was the log-cabin +residence of the priest. Its destruction was a matter of but a few +moments. A large heap of dry wood was quickly collected and piled in +the building, matches applied, and the whole Mission, including the +priest's house, was soon enveloped in flames, and burned to the +ground before the officers in camp became aware of the disgraceful +plundering in which their men were engaged. + +The commanding officer having received no news from Captain Maloney +during the day, Colonel Nesmith and I were ordered to go to his +rescue, as it was concluded that he had been surrounded by Indians in +the Natchez Pass. We started early the next morning, the snow +falling slightly as we set out, and soon arrived at the eastern mouth +of the Natchez Pass. On the way we noticed an abandoned Indian +village, which had evidently not been occupied for some time. As we +proceeded the storm increased, and the snow-fall became deeper and +deeper, until finally our horses could not travel through it. In +consequence we were compelled to give up further efforts to advance, +and obliged to turn back to the abandoned village, where we encamped +for the night. Near night-fall the storm greatly increased, and our +bivouac became most uncomfortable; but spreading my blankets on the +snow and covering them with Indian matting, I turned in and slept +with that soundness and refreshment accorded by nature to one +exhausted by fatigue. When I awoke in the morning I found myself +under about two feet of snow, from which I arose with difficulty, yet +grateful that it had kept me warm during the night. + +After a cup of coffee and a little hard bread, it was decided we +should return to the main camp near the Mission, for we were now +confident that Maloney was delayed by the snow, and safe enough on +the other side of the mountains. At all events he was beyond aid +from us, for the impassable snowdrifts could not be overcome with the +means in our possession. It turned out that our suppositions as to +the cause of his delay were correct. He had met with the same +difficulties that confronted us, and had been compelled to go into +camp. + +Meanwhile valuable time had been lost, and the Indians, with their +families and stock, were well on their way to the Okenagan country, a +region into which we could not penetrate in the winter season. No +other course was therefore left but to complete the dismal failure of +the expedition by returning home, and our commander readily gave the +order to march back to the Dalles by the "short" route over the +Yakima Mountains. + +As the storm was still unabated, it was evident our march home would +be a most difficult one, and it was deemed advisable to start back at +once, lest we should be blocked up in the mountains by the snows for +a period beyond which our provisions would not last. Relying on the +fact that the short route to the Dalles would lead us over the range +at its most depressed point, where it was hoped the depth of snow was +not yet so great as to make the route impassable, we started with +Colonel Nesmith's battalion in advance to break the road, followed by +my dragoons. In the valley we made rapid progress, but when we +reached the mountain every step we took up its side showed the snow +to be growing deeper and deeper. At last Nesmith reached the summit, +and there found a depth of about six feet of snow covering the +plateau in every direction, concealing all signs of the trail so +thoroughly that his guides became bewildered and took the wrong +divide. The moment I arrived at the top my guide--Donald Mc Kay--who +knew perfectly the whole Yakima range, discovered Nesmith's mistake. +Word was sent to bring him back, but as he had already nearly crossed +the plateau, considerable delay occurred before he returned. When he +arrived we began anew the work of breaking a road for the foot troops +behind us, my detachment now in advance. The deep snow made our work +extremely laborious, exhausting men and horses almost to the point of +relinquishing the struggle, but our desperate situation required that +we should get down into the valley beyond, or run the chance of +perishing on the mountain in a storm which seemed unending. About +midnight the column reached the valley, very tired and hungry, but +much elated over its escape. We had spent a day of the most intense +anxiety, especially those who had had the responsibility of keeping +to the right trail, and been charged with the hard work of breaking +the road for the infantry and artillery through such a depth of snow. + +Our main difficulties were now over, and in due time we reached the +Dalles, where almost everyone connected with the expedition voted it +a wretched failure; indeed, General Rains himself could not think +otherwise, but he scattered far and wide blame for the failure of his +combinations. This, of course, led to criminations and +recriminations, which eventuated in charges of incompetency preferred +against him by Captain Edward O. C. Ord, of the Third Artillery. +Rains met the charges with counter-charges against Ord, whom he +accused of purloining Father Pandoza's shoes, when the soldiers in +their fury about the ammunition destroyed the Mission. At the time +of its destruction a rumor of this nature was circulated through +camp, started by some wag, no doubt in jest; for Ord, who was +somewhat eccentric in his habits, and had started on the expedition +rather indifferently shod in carpet-slippers, here came out in a +brand-new pair of shoes. Of course there was no real foundation for +such a report, but Rains was not above small things, as the bringing +of this petty accusation attests. Neither party was ever tried, for +General John E. Wool the department commander, had not at command a +sufficient number of officers of appropriate rank to constitute a +court in the case of Rains, and the charges against Ord were very +properly ignored on account of their trifling character. + +Shortly after the expedition returned to the Dalles, my detachment +was sent down to Fort Vancouver, and I remained at that post during +the winter of 1855-'56, till late in March. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN INDIAN CONFEDERATION--MASSACRE AT THE CASCADES OF THE COLUMBIA- +-PLAN TO RELIEVE THE BLOCKHOUSE--A HAZARDOUS FLANK MOVEMENT--A NEW +METHOD OF ESTABLISHING GUILT--EXECUTION OF THE INDIAN MURDERERS. + +The failure of the Haller expedition from lack of a sufficient force, +and of the Rains expedition from the incompetency of its commander, +was a great mortification to the officers and men connected with +them, and, taken together, had a marked effect upon the Indian +situation in Oregon and Washington Territories at that particular +era. Besides, it led to further complications and troubles, for it +had begun to dawn upon the Indians that the whites wanted to come in +and dispossess them of their lands and homes, and the failures of +Haller and Rains fostered the belief with the Indians that they could +successfully resist the pressure of civilization. + +Acting under these influences, the Spokanes, Walla Wallas, Umatillas, +and Nez Perces cast their lot with the hostiles, and all the savage +inhabitants of the region east of the Cascade Range became involved +in a dispute as to whether the Indians or the Government should +possess certain sections of the country, which finally culminated in +the war of 1856. + +Partly to meet the situation that was approaching, the Ninth Infantry +had been sent out from the Atlantic coast to Washington Territory, +and upon its arrival at Fort Vancouver encamped in front of the +officers' quarters, on the beautiful parade-ground of that post, and +set about preparing for the coming campaign. The commander, Colonel +George Wright, who had been promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment +upon its organization the previous year, had seen much active duty +since his graduation over thirty years before, serving with credit in +the Florida and Mexican wars. For the three years previous to his +assignment to the Ninth Infantry he had been stationed on the Pacific +coast, and the experience he had there acquired, added to his +excellent soldierly qualities, was of much benefit in the active +campaigns in which, during the following years, he was to +participate. Subsequently his career was brought to an untimely +close when, nine years after this period, as he was returning to the +scene of his successes, he, in common with many others was drowned by +the wreck of the ill-fated steamer Brother Jonathan. Colonel Wright +took command of the district in place of Rains, and had been at +Vancouver but a short time before he realized that it would be +necessary to fight the confederated tribes east of the Cascade Range +of mountains, in order to disabuse them of the idea that they were +sufficiently strong to cope with the power of the Government. He +therefore at once set about the work of organizing and equipping his +troops for a start in the early spring against the hostile Indians, +intending to make the objective point of his expedition the heart of +the Spokane country on the Upper Columbia River, as the head and +front of the confederation was represented in the person of old +Cammiackan, chief of the Spokanes. + +The regiment moved from Fort Vancouver by boat, March 25, 1856, and +landed at the small town called the Dalles, below the mouth of the +Des Chutes River at the eastern base of the Cascade Range, and just +above where the Columbia River enters those mountains. This +rendezvous was to be the immediate point of departure, and all the +troops composing the expedition were concentrated there. + +On the morning of March 26 the movement began, but the column had +only reached Five Mile Creek when the Yakimas, joined by many young +warriors-free lances from other tribes, made a sudden and unexpected +attack at the Cascades of the Columbia, midway between Vancouver and +the Dalles, killed several citizens, women and children, and took +possession of the Portage by besieging the settlers in their cabins +at the Upper Cascades, and those who sought shelter at the Middle +Cascades in the old military block-house, which had been built some +years before as a place of refuge under just such circumstances. +These points held out, and were not captured, but the landing at the +Lower Cascades fell completely into the hands of the savages. +Straggling settlers from the Lower Cascades made their way down to +Fort Vancouver, distant about thirty-six miles, which they reached +that night; and communicated the condition of affairs. As the +necessity for early relief to the settlers and the re-establishment +of communication with the Dalles were apparent, all the force that +could be spared was ordered out, and in consequence I immediately +received directions to go with my detachment of dragoons, numbering +about forty effective men, to the relief of the middle blockhouse, +which really meant to retake the Cascades. I got ready at once, and +believing that a piece of artillery would be of service to me, asked +for one, but as there proved to be no guns at the post, I should have +been obliged to proceed without one had it not been that the regular +steamer from San Francisco to Portland was lying at the Vancouver +dock unloading military supplies, and the commander, Captain Dall, +supplied me with the steamer's small iron cannon, mounted on a wooden +platform, which he used in firing salutes at different ports on the +arrival and departure of the vessel. Finding at the arsenal a supply +of solid shot that would fit the gun, I had it put upon the steamboat +Belle, employed to carry my command to the scene of operations, and +started up the Columbia River at 2 A.M. on the morning of the 27th. +We reached the Lower Cascades early in the day, where, selecting a +favorable place for the purpose, I disembarked my men and gun on the +north bank of the river, so that I could send back the steamboat to +bring up any volunteer assistance that in the mean time might have +been collected at Vancouver. + +The Columbia River was very high at the time, and the water had +backed up into the slough about the foot of the Lower Cascades to +such a degree that it left me only a narrow neck of firm ground to +advance over toward the point occupied by the Indians. On this neck +of land the hostiles had taken position, as I soon learned by +frequent shots, loud shouting, and much blustering; they, by the most +exasperating yells and indecent exhibitions, daring me to the +contest. + +After getting well in hand everything connected with my little +command, I advanced with five or six men to the edge of a growth of +underbrush to make a reconnoissance. We stole along under cover of +this underbrush until we reached the open ground leading over the +causeway or narrow neck before mentioned, when the enemy opened fire +and killed a soldier near my side by a shot which, just grazing the +bridge of my nose, struck him in the neck, opening an artery and +breaking the spinal cord. He died instantly. The Indians at once +made a rush for the body, but my men in the rear, coming quickly to +the rescue, drove them back; and Captain Doll's gun being now brought +into play, many solid shot were thrown into the jungle where they lay +concealed, with the effect of considerably moderating their +impetuosity. Further skirmishing at long range took place at +intervals during the day, with little gain or loss, however, to +either side, for both parties held positions which could not be +assailed in flank, and only the extreme of rashness in either could +prompt a front attack. My left was protected by the back water +driven into the slough by the high stage of the river, and my right +rested secure on the main stream. Between us was only the narrow +neck of land, to cross which would be certain death. The position of +the Indians was almost the exact counterpart of ours. + +In the evening I sent a report of the situation back to Vancouver by +the steamboat, retaining a large Hudson's Bay bateau which I had +brought up with me. Examining this I found it would carry about +twenty men, and made up my mind that early next morning I would cross +the command to the opposite or south side of the Columbia River, and +make my way up along the mountain base until I arrived abreast the +middle blockhouse, which was still closely besieged, and then at some +favorable point recross to the north bank to its relief, endeavoring +in this manner to pass around and to the rear of the Indians, whose +position confronting me was too strong for a direct attack. This +plan was hazardous, but I believed it could be successfully carried +out if the boat could be taken with me; but should I not be able to +do this I felt that the object contemplated in sending me out would +miserably fail, and the small band cooped up at the block-house would +soon starve or fall a prey to the Indians, so I concluded to risk all +the chances the plan involved. + +On the morning of March 28 the savages were still in my front, and +after giving them some solid shot from Captain Dall's gun we slipped +down to the river-bank, and the detachment crossed by means of the +Hudson's Bay boat, making a landing on the opposite shore at a point +where the south channel of the river, after flowing around Bradford's +Island, joins the main stream. It was then about 9 o'clock, and +everything had thus far proceeded favorably, but examination of the +channel showed that it would be impossible to get the boat up the +rapids along the mainland, and that success could only be assured by +crossing the south channel just below the rapids to the island, along +the shore of which there was every probability we could pull the boat +through the rocks and swift water until the head of the rapids was +reached, from which point to the block-house there was smooth water. +Telling the men of the embarrassment in which I found myself, and +that if I could get enough of them to man the boat and pull it up the +stream by a rope to the shore we would cross to the island and make +the attempt, all volunteered to go, but as ten men seemed sufficient +I selected that number to accompany me. Before starting, however, I +deemed it prudent to find out if possible what was engaging the +attention of the Indians, who had not yet discovered that we had left +their front. I therefore climbed up the side of the abrupt mountain +which skirted the water's edge until I could see across the island. +From this point I observed the Indians running horse-races and +otherwise enjoying themselves behind the line they had held against +me the day before. The squaws decked out in gay colors, and the men +gaudily dressed in war bonnets, made the scene most attractive, but +as everything looked propitious for the dangerous enterprise in hand +I spent little time watching them. Quickly returning to the boat, I +crossed to the island with my ten men, threw ashore the rope attached +to the bow, and commenced the difficult task of pulling her up the +rapids. We got along slowly at first, but soon striking a camp of +old squaws who had been left on the island for safety, and had not +gone over to the mainland to see the races, we utilized them to our +advantage. With unmistakable threats and signs we made them not only +keep quiet, but also give us much needed assistance in pulling +vigorously on the towrope of our boat. + +I was laboring under a dreadful strain of mental anxiety during all +this time, for had the Indians discovered what we were about, they +could easily have come over to the island in their canoes, and, by +forcing us to take up our arms to repel their attack, doubtless would +have obliged the abandonment of the boat, and that essential adjunct +to the final success of my plan would have gone down the rapids. +Indeed, under such circumstances, it would have been impossible for +ten men to hold out against the two or three hundred Indians; but the +island forming an excellent screen to our movements, we were not +discovered, and when we reached the smooth water at the upper end of +the rapids we quickly crossed over and joined the rest of the men, +who in the meantime had worked their way along the south bank of the +river parallel with us. I felt very grateful to the old squaws for +the assistance they rendered. They worked well under compulsion, and +manifested no disposition to strike for higher wages. Indeed, I was +so much relieved when we had crossed over from the island and joined +the rest of the party, that I mentally thanked the squaws one and +all. I had much difficulty in keeping the men on the main shore from +cheering at our success, but hurriedly taking into the bateau all of +them it could carry, I sent the balance along the southern bank, +where the railroad is now built, until both detachments arrived at a +point opposite the block-house, when, crossing to the north bank, I +landed below the blockhouse some little distance, and returned the +boat for the balance of the men, who joined me in a few minutes. + +When the Indians attacked the people at the Cascades on the 26th, +word was sent to Colonel Wright, who had already got out from the +Dalles a few miles on his expedition to the Spokane country. He +immediately turned his column back, and soon after I had landed and +communicated with the beleaguered block-house the advance of his +command arrived under Lieutenant-Colonel Edward J. Steptoe. I +reported to Steptoe, and related what had occurred during the past +thirty-six hours, gave him a description of the festivities that were +going on at the lower Cascades, and also communicated the +intelligence that the Yakimas had been joined by the Cascade Indians +when the place was first attacked. I also told him it was my belief +that when he pushed down the main shore the latter tribe without +doubt would cross over to the island we had just left, while the +former would take to the mountains. Steptoe coincided with me in +this opinion, and informing me that Lieutenant Alexander Piper would +join my detachment with a mountain' howitzer, directed me to convey +the command to the island and gobble up all who came over to it. + +Lieutenant Piper and I landed on the island with the first boatload, +and after disembarking the howitzer we fired two or three shots to +let the Indians know we had artillery with us, then advanced down the +island with the whole of my command, which had arrived in the mean +time; all of the men were deployed as skirmishers except a small +detachment to operate the howitzer. Near the lower end of the island +we met, as I had anticipated, the entire body of Cascade Indianmen, +women, and children--whose homes were in the vicinity of the +Cascades. They were very much frightened and demoralized at the turn +events had taken, for the Yakimas at the approach of Steptoe had +abandoned them, as predicted, and fled to the mountians. The chief +and head-men said they had had nothing to do with the capture of the +Cascades, with the murder of men at the upper landing, nor with the +massacre of men, women, and children near the block-house, and put +all the blame on the Yakimas and their allies. I did not believe +this, however, and to test the truth of their statement formed them +all in line with their muskets in hand. Going up to the first man on +the right I accused him of having engaged in the massacre, but was +met by a vigorous denial. Putting my forefinger into the muzzle of +his gun, I found unmistakable signs of its having been recently +discharged. My finger was black with the stains of burnt powder, and +holding it up to the Indian, he had nothing more to say in the face +of such positive evidence of his guilt. A further examination proved +that all the guns were in the same condition. Their arms were at +once taken possession of, and leaving a small, force to look after +the women and children and the very old men, so that there could be +no possibility of escape, I arrested thirteen of the principal +miscreants, crossed the river to the lower landing, and placed them +in charge of a strong guard. + +Late in the evening the steamboat, which I had sent back to +Vancouver, returned, bringing to my assistance from Vancouver, +Captain Henry D. Wallen's company of the Fourth Infantry and a +company of volunteers hastily organized at Portland, but as the +Cascades had already been retaken, this reinforcement was too late to +participate in the affair. The volunteers from Portland, however, +were spoiling for a fight, and in the absence of other opportunity +desired to shoot the prisoners I held (who, they alleged, had killed +a man named Seymour), and proceeded to make their arrangements to do +so, only desisting on being informed that the Indians were my +prisoners, subject to the orders of Colonel Wright, and would be +protected to the last by my detachment. Not long afterward Seymour +turned up safe and sound, having fled at the beginning of the attack +on the Cascades, and hid somewhere in the thick underbrush until the +trouble was over, and then made his way back to the settlement. The +next day I turned my prisoners over to Colonel Wright, who had them +marched to the upper landing of the Cascades, where, after a trial by +a military commission, nine of them were sentenced to death and duly +hanged. I did not see them executed, but was afterward informed +that, in the absence of the usual mechanical apparatus used on such +occasions, a tree with a convenient limb under which two empty +barrels were placed, one on top of the other, furnished a rude but +certain substitute. In executing the sentence each Indian in turn +was made to stand on the top barrel, and after the noose was adjusted +the lower barrel was knocked away, and the necessary drop thus +obtained. In this way the whole nine were punished. Just before +death they all acknowledged their guilt by confessing their +participation in the massacre at the block-house, and met their doom +with the usual stoicism of their race. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +MISDIRECTED VENGEANCE--HONORABLE MENTION--CHANGE OF COMMAND--EDUCATED +OXEN--FEEDING THE INDIANS--PURCHASING A BURYING-GROUND--KNOWING RATS. + +While still encamped at the lower landing, some three or four days +after the events last recounted, Mr. Joseph Meek, an old frontiersman +and guide for emigrant trains through the mountains, came down from +the Dalles, on his way to Vancouver, and stopped at my camp to +inquire if an Indian named Spencer and his family had passed down to +Vancouver since my arrival at the Cascades. Spencer, the head of the +family, was a very influential, peaceable Chinook chief, whom Colonel +Wright had taken with him from Fort Vancouver as an interpreter and +mediator with the Spokanes and other hostile tribes, against which +his campaign was directed. He was a good, reliable Indian, and on +leaving Vancouver to join Colonel Wright, took his family along, to +remain with relatives and friends at Fort Dalles until the return of +the expedition. When Wright was compelled to retrace his steps on +account of the capture of the Cascades, this family for some reason +known only to Spencer, was started by him down the river to their +home at Vancouver. + +Meek, on seeing the family leave the Dalles, had some misgivings as +to their safe arrival at their destination, because of the excited +condition of the people about the Cascades; but Spencer seemed to +think that his own peaceable and friendly reputation, which was +widespread, would protect them; so he parted from his wife and +children with little apprehension as to their safety. In reply to +Meek's question, I stated that I had not seen Spencer's family, when +he remarked, "Well, I fear that they are gone up," a phrase used in +that country in early days to mean that they had been killed. I +questioned him closely, to elicit further information, but no more +could be obtained; for Meek, either through ignorance or the usual +taciturnity of his class, did not explain more fully, and when the +steamer that had brought the reinforcement started down the river, he +took passage for Vancouver, to learn definitely if the Indian family +had reached that point. I at once sent to the upper landing, distant +about six miles, to make inquiry in regard to the matter, and in a, +little time my messenger returned with the information that the +family had reached that place the day before, and finding that we had +driven the hostiles off, continued their journey on foot toward my +camp, from which point they expected to go by steamer down the river +to Vancouver. + +Their non-arrival aroused in me suspicions of foul play, so with all +the men I could spare, and accompanied by Lieutenant William T. +Welcker, of the Ordnance Corps--a warm and intimate friend--I went in +search of the family, deploying the men as skirmishers across the +valley, and marching them through the heavy forest where the ground +was covered with fallen timber and dense underbrush, in order that no +point might escape our attention. The search was continued between +the base of the mountain and the river without finding any sign of +Spencer's family, until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when we +discovered them between the upper and lower landing, in a small open +space about a mile from the road, all dead--strangled to death with +bits of rope. The party consisted of the mother, two youths, three +girls, and a baby. They had all been killed by white men, who had +probably met the innocent creatures somewhere near the blockhouse, +driven them from the road into the timber, where the cruel murders +were committed without provocation, and for no other purpose than the +gratification of the inordinate hatred of the Indian that has often +existed on the frontier, and which on more than one occasion has +failed to distinguish friend from foe. The bodies lay in a +semicircle, and the bits of rope with which the poor wretches had +been strangled to death were still around their necks. Each piece of +rope--the unwound strand of a heavier piece--was about two feet long, +and encircled the neck of its victim with a single knot, that must +have been drawn tight by the murderers pulling at the ends. As there +had not been quite enough rope to answer for all, the babe was +strangled by means of a red silk handkerchief, taken, doubtless, from +the neck of its mother. It was a distressing sight. A most cruel +outrage had been committed upon unarmed people--our friends and +allies--in a spirit of aimless revenge. The perpetrators were +citizens living near the middle block-house, whose wives and children +had been killed a few days before by the hostiles, but who well knew +that these unoffending creatures had had nothing to do with those +murders. + +In my experience I have been obliged to look upon many cruel scenes +in connection with Indian warfare on the Plains since that day, but +the effect of this dastardly and revolting crime has never been +effaced from my memory. Greater and more atrocious massacres have +been committed often by Indians; their savage nature modifies one's +ideas, however, as to the inhumanity of their acts, but when such +wholesale murder as this is done by whites, and the victims not only +innocent, but helpless, no defense can be made for those who +perpetrated the crime, if they claim to be civilized beings. It is +true the people at the Cascades had suffered much, and that their +wives and children had been murdered before their eyes, but to wreak +vengeance on Spencer's unoffending family, who had walked into their +settlement under the protection of a friendly alliance, was an +unparalleled outrage which nothing can justify or extenuate. With as +little delay as possible after the horrible discovery, I returned to +camp, had boxes made, and next day buried the bodies of these hapless +victims of misdirected vengeance. + +The summary punishment inflicted on the nine Indians, in their trial +and execution, had a most salutary effect on the confederation, and +was the entering wedge to its disintegration; and though Colonel +Wright's campaign continued during the summer and into the early +winter, the subjugation of the allied bands became a comparatively +easy matter after the lesson taught the renegades who were captured +at the Cascades. My detachment did not accompany Colonel Wright, but +remained for some time at the Cascades, and while still there General +Wool came up from San Francisco to take a look into the condition of +things. From his conversation with me in reference to the affair at +the Cascades, I gathered that he was greatly pleased at the service I +had performed, and I afterward found that his report of my conduct +had so favorably impressed General Scott that that distinguished +officer complimented me from the headquarters of the army in general +orders. + +General Wool, while personally supervising matters on the Columbia +River, directed a redistribution to some extent of the troops in the +district, and shortly before his return to San Francisco I was +ordered with my detachment of dragoons to take station on the Grande +Ronde Indian Reservation in Yamhill County, Oregon, about twenty-five +miles southwest of Dayton, and to relieve from duty at that point +Lieutenant William B. Hazen--late brigadier-general and chief signal +officer--who had established a camp there some time before. I +started for my new station on April 21, and marching by way of +Portland and Oregon City, arrived at Hazen's camp April 25. The camp +was located in the Coast range of mountains, on the northeast part of +the reservation, to which last had been added a section of country +that was afterward known as the Siletz reservation. The whole body +of land set aside went under the general name of the "Coast +reservation," from its skirting the Pacific Ocean for some distance +north of Yaquina Bay, and the intention was to establish within its +bounds permanent homes for such Indians as might be removed to it. +In furtherance of this idea, and to relieve northern California and +southwestern Oregon from the roaming, restless bands that kept the +people of those sections in a state of constant turmoil, many of the +different tribes, still under control but liable to take part in +warfare, were removed to the reservation, so that they might be away +from the theatre of hostilities. + +When I arrived I found that the Rogue River Indians had just been +placed upon the reservation, and subsequently the Coquille, Klamath, +Modocs, and remnants of the Chinooks were collected there also, the +home of the latter being in the Willamette Valley. The number all +told amounted to some thousands, scattered over the entire Coast +reservation, but about fifteen hundred were located at the Grande +Ronde under charge of an agent, Mr. John F. Miller, a sensible, +practical man, who left the entire police control to the military, +and attended faithfully to the duty of settling the Indians in the +work of cultivating the soil. + +As the place was to be occupied permanently, Lieutenant Hazen had +begun, before my arrival, the erection of buildings for the shelter +of his command, and I continued the work of constructing the post as +laid out by him. In those days the Government did not provide very +liberally for sheltering its soldiers; and officers and men were +frequently forced to eke out parsimonious appropriations by toilsome +work or go without shelter in most inhospitable regions. Of course +this post was no exception to the general rule, and as all hands were +occupied in its construction, and I the only officer present, I was +kept busily employed in supervising matters, both as commandant and +quartermaster, until July, when Captain D. A. Russell, of the Fourth +Infantry, was ordered to take command, and I was relieved from the +first part of my duties. + +About this time my little detachment parted from me, being ordered to +join a company of the First Dragoons, commanded by Captain Robert +Williams, as it passed up the country from California by way of +Yamhill. I regretted exceedingly to see them go, for their faithful +work and gallant service had endeared every man to me by the +strongest ties. Since I relieved Lieutenant Hood on Pit River, +nearly a twelvemonth before, they had been my constant companions, +and the zeal with which they had responded to every call I made on +them had inspired in my heart a deep affection that years have not +removed. When I relieved Hood--a dragoon officer of their own +regiment--they did not like the change, and I understood that they +somewhat contemptuously expressed this in more ways than one, in +order to try the temper of the new "Leftenant," but appreciative and +unremitting care, together with firm and just discipline, soon +quieted all symptoms of dissatisfaction and overcame all prejudice. +The detachment had been made up of details from the different +companies of the regiment in order to give Williamson a mounted +force, and as it was usual, under such circumstances, for every +company commander to shove into the detail he was called upon to +furnish the most troublesome and insubordinate individuals of his +company, I had some difficulty, when first taking command, in +controlling such a medley of recalcitrants; but by forethought for +them and their wants, and a strict watchfulness for their rights and +comfort, I was able in a short time to make them obedient and the +detachment cohesive. In the past year they had made long and +tiresome marches, forded swift mountain streams, constructed rafts of +logs or bundles of dry reeds to ferry our baggage, swum deep rivers, +marched on foot to save their worn-out and exhausted animals, climbed +mountains, fought Indians, and in all and everything had done the +best they could for the service and their commander. The disaffected +feeling they entertained when I first assumed command soon wore away, +and in its place came a confidence and respect which it gives me the +greatest pleasure to remember, for small though it was, this was my +first cavalry command. They little thought, when we were in the +mountains of California and Oregon--nor did I myself then dream--that +but a few years were to elapse before it would be my lot again to +command dragoons, this time in numbers so vast as of themselves to +compose almost an army. + +Shortly after the arrival of Captain Russell a portion of the Indians +at the Grande Ronde reservation were taken down the coast to the +Siletz reservation, and I was transferred temporarily to Fort +Haskins, on the latter reserve, and assigned to the duty of +completing it and building a blockhouse for the police control of the +Indians placed there. + +While directing this work, I undertook to make a road across the +coast mountains from King's Valley to the Siletz, to shorten the haul +between the two points by a route I had explored. I knew there were +many obstacles in the way, but the gain would be great if we could +overcome them, so I set to work with the enthusiasm of a young path- +finder. The point at which the road was to cross the range was rough +and precipitous, but the principal difficulty in making it would be +from heavy timber on the mountains that had been burned over years +and years before, until nothing was left but limbless trunks of dead +trees--firs and pines--that had fallen from time to time until the +ground was matted with huge logs from five to eight feet in diameter. +These could not be chopped with axes nor sawed by any ordinary means, +therefore we had to burn them into suitable lengths, and drag the +sections to either side of the roadway with from four to six yoke of +oxen. + +The work was both tedious and laborious, but in time perseverance +surmounted all obstacles and the road was finished, though its grades +were very steep. As soon as it was completed, I wished to +demonstrate its value practically, so I started a Government wagon +over it loaded with about fifteen hundred pounds of freight drawn by +six yoke of oxen, and escorted by a small detachment of soldiers. +When it had gone about seven miles the sergeant in charge came back +to the post and reported his inability to get any further. Going out +to the scene of difficulty I found the wagon at the base of a steep +hill, stalled. Taking up a whip myself, I directed the men to lay on +their gads, for each man had supplied himself with a flexible hickory +withe in the early stages of the trip, to start the team, but this +course did not move the wagon nor have much effect on the demoralized +oxen; but following as a last resort an example I heard of on a +former occasion, that brought into use the rough language of the +country, I induced the oxen to move with alacrity, and the wagon and +contents were speedily carried to the summit. The whole trouble was +at once revealed: the oxen had been broken and trained by a man who, +when they were in a pinch, had encouraged them by his frontier +vocabulary, and they could not realize what was expected of them +under extraordinary conditions until they heard familiar and possibly +profanely urgent phrases. I took the wagon to its destination, but +as it was not brought back, even in all the time I was stationed in +that country, I think comment on the success of my road is +unnecessary. + +I spent many happy months at Fort Haskins, remaining there until the +post was nearly completed and its garrison increased by the arrival +of Captain F. T. Dent--a brother-in-law of Captain Ulysses S. Grant-- +with his company of the Fourth Infantry, in April, 1857. In the +summer of 1856, and while I was still on duty there, the Coquille +Indians on the Siletz, and down near the Yaquina Bay, became, on +account of hunger and prospective starvation, very much excited and +exasperated, getting beyond the control of their agent, and even +threatening his life, so a detachment of troops was sent out to set +things to rights, and I took command of it. I took with me most of +the company, and arrived at Yaquina Bay in time to succor the agent, +who for some days had been besieged in a log hut by the Indians and +had almost abandoned hope of rescue. + +Having brought with me over the mountains a few head of beef cattle +for the hungry Indians, without thinking of running any great +personal risk I had six beeves killed some little distance from my +camp, guarding the meat with four Soldiers, whom I was obliged to +post as sentinels around the small area on which the carcasses lay. +The Indians soon formed a circle about the sentinels, and impelled by +starvation, attempted to take the beef before it could be equally +divided. This was of course resisted, when they drew their knives-- +their guns having been previously taken away from them--and some of +the inferior chiefs gave the signal to attack. The principal chief, +Tetootney John, and two other Indians joined me in the centre of the +circle, and protesting that they would die rather than that the +frenzied onslaught should succeed, harangued the Indians until the +rest of the company hastened up from camp and put an end to the +disturbance. I always felt grateful to Tetootney John for his +loyalty on this occasion, and many times afterward aided his family +with a little coffee and sugar, but necessarily surreptitiously, so +as not to heighten the prejudices that his friendly act had aroused +among his Indian comrades. + +The situation at Yaquina Bay did not seem very safe, notwithstanding +the supply of beef we brought; and the possibility that the starving +Indians might break out was ever present, so to anticipate any +further revolt, I called for more troops. The request was complied +with by sending to my assistance the greater part of my own company +("K")from Fort Yamhill. The men, inspired by the urgency of our +situation, marched more than forty miles a day, accomplishing the +whole distance in so short a period, that I doubt if the record has +ever been beaten. When this reinforcement arrived, the Indians saw +the futility of further demonstrations against their agent, who they +seemed to think was responsible for the insufficiency of food, and +managed to exist with the slender rations we could spare and such +indifferent food as they could pick up, until the Indian Department +succeeded in getting up its regular supplies. In the past the poor +things had often been pinched by hunger and neglect, and at times +their only food was rock oysters, clams and crabs. Great quantities +of these shell-fish could be gathered in the bay near at hand, but +the mountain Indians, who had heretofore lived on the flesh of +mammal, did not take kindly to mollusks, and, indeed, ate the shell- +fish only as a last resort. + +Crab catching at night on the Yaquina Bay by the coast Indians was a +very picturesque scene. It was mostly done by the squaws and +children, each equipped with a torch in one hand, and a sharp-pointed +stick in the other to take and lift the fish into baskets slung on +the back to receive them. I have seen at times hundreds of squaws +and children wading about in Yaquina Bay taking crabs in this manner, +and the reflection by the water of the light from the many torches, +with the movements of the Indians while at work, formed a weird and +diverting picture of which we were never tired. + +Not long after the arrival of the additional troops from Yamhill, it +became apparent that the number of men at Yaquina Bay would have to +be reduced, so in view of this necessity, it was deemed advisable to +build a block-house for the better protection of the agents and I +looked about for suitable ground on which to erect it. Nearly all +around the bay the land rose up from the beach very abruptly, and the +only good site that could be found was some level ground used as the +burial-place of the Yaquina Bay Indians--a small band of fish-eating +people who had lived near this point on the coast for ages. They +were a robust lot, of tall and well-shaped figures, and were called +in the Chinook tongue "salt chuck," which means fish-eaters, or +eaters of food from the salt water. Many of the young men and women +were handsome in feature below the forehead, having fine eyes, +aquiline noses and good mouths, but, in conformity with a long- +standing custom, all had flat heads, which gave them a distorted and +hideous appearance, particularly some of the women, who went to the +extreme of fashion and flattened the head to the rear in a sharp +horizontal ridge by confining it between two boards, one running back +from the forehead at an angle of about forty degrees, and the other +up perpendicularly from the back of the neck. When a head had been +shaped artistically the dusky maiden owner was marked as a belle, and +one could become reconciled to it after a time, but when carelessness +and neglect had governed in the adjustment of the boards, there +probably was nothing in the form of a human being on the face of the +earth that appeared so ugly. + +It was the mortuary ground of these Indians that occupied the only +level spot we could get for the block-house. Their dead were buried +in canoes, which rested in the crotches of forked sticks a few feet +above-ground. The graveyard was not large, containing probably from +forty to fifty canoes in a fair state of preservation. According to +the custom of all Indian tribes on the Pacific coast, when one of +their number died all his worldly effects were buried with him, so +that the canoes were filled with old clothes, blankets, pieces of +calico and the like, intended for the use of the departed in the +happy hunting grounds. + +I made known to the Indians that we would have to take this piece of +ground for the blockhouse. They demurred at first, for there is +nothing more painful to an Indian than disturbing his dead, but they +finally consented to hold a council next day on the beach, and thus +come to some definite conclusion. Next morning they all assembled, +and we talked in the Chinook language all day long, until at last +they gave in, consenting, probably, as much because they could not +help themselves, as for any other reason. It was agreed that on the +following day at 12 o'clock, when the tide was going out, I should +take my men and place the canoes in the bay, and let them float out +on the tide across the ocean to the happy hunting-grounds: + +At that day there existed in Oregon in vast numbers a species of +wood-rat, and our inspection of the graveyard showed that the canoes +were thickly infested with them. They were a light gray animal, +larger than the common gray squirrel, with beautiful bushy tails, +which made them strikingly resemble the squirrel, but in cunning and +deviltry they were much ahead of that quick-witted rodent. I have +known them to empty in one night a keg of spikes in the storehouse in +Yamhill, distributing them along the stringers of the building, with +apparently no other purpose than amusement. We anticipated great fun +watching the efforts of these rats to escape the next day when the +canoes should be launched on the ocean, and I therefore forbade any +of the command to visit the graveyard in the interim, lest the rats +should be alarmed. I well knew that they would not be disturbed by +the Indians, who held the sacred spot in awe. When the work of +taking down the canoes and carrying them to the water began, +expectation was on tiptoe, but, strange as it may seem, not a rat was +to be seen. This unexpected development was mystifying. They had +all disappeared; there was not one in any of the canoes, as +investigation proved, for disappointment instigated a most thorough +search. The Indians said the rats understood Chinook, and that as +they had no wish to accompany the dead across the ocean to the happy +hunting-grounds, they took to the woods for safety. However that may +be, I have no doubt that the preceding visits to the burial-ground, +and our long talk of the day before, with the unusual stir and +bustle, had so alarmed the rats that, impelled, by their suspicious +instincts, they fled a danger, the nature of which they could not +anticipate, but which they felt to be none the less real and +impending. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +LEARNING THE CHINOOK LANGUAGE--STRANGE INDIAN CUSTOMS--THEIR DOCTORS- +-SAM PATCH--THE MURDER OF A WOMAN--IN A TIGHT PLACE--SURPRISING THE +INDIANS--CONFLICTING REPORTS OF THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN--SECESSION +QUESTION IN CALIFORNIA--APPOINTED A CAPTAIN--TRANSFERRED TO THE EAST. + +The troubles at the Siletz and Yaquina Bay were settled without +further excitement by the arrival in due time of plenty of food, and +as the buildings, at Fort Haskins were so near completion that my +services as quartermaster were no longer needed, I was ordered to +join my own company at Fort Yamhill, where Captain Russell was still +in command. I returned to that place in May, 1857, and at a period a +little later, in consequence of the close of hostilities in southern +Oregon, the Klamaths and Modocs were sent back to their own country, +to that section in which occurred, in 1873, the disastrous war with +the latter tribe. This reduced considerably the number of Indians at +the Grande Ronde, but as those remaining were still somewhat unruly, +from the fact that many questions requiring adjustment were +constantly arising between the different bands, the agent and the +officers at the post were kept pretty well occupied. Captain Russell +assigned to me the special work of keeping up the police control, and +as I had learned at an early day to speak Chinook (the "court +language" among the coast tribes) almost as well as the Indians +themselves, I was thereby enabled to steer my way successfully on +many critical occasions. + +For some time the most disturbing and most troublesome element we had +was the Rogue River band. For three or four years they had fought +our troops obstinately, and surrendered at the bitter end in the +belief that they were merely overpowered, not conquered. They openly +boasted to the other Indians that they could whip the soldiers, and +that they did not wish to follow the white man's ways, continuing +consistently their wild habits, unmindful of all admonitions. +Indeed, they often destroyed their household utensils, tepees and +clothing, and killed their horses on the graves of the dead, in the +fulfillment of a superstitious custom, which demanded that they +should undergo, while mourning for their kindred, the deepest +privation in a property sense. Everything the loss of which would +make them poor was sacrificed on the graves of their relatives or +distinguished warriors, and as melancholy because of removal from +their old homes caused frequent deaths, there was no lack of occasion +for the sacrifices. The widows and orphans of the dead warriors were +of course the chief mourners, and exhibited their grief in many +peculiar ways. I remember one in particular which was universally +practiced by the near kinsfolk. They would crop their hair very +close, and then cover the head with a sort of hood or plaster of +black pitch, the composition being clay, pulverized charcoal, and the +resinous gum which exudes from the pine-tree. The hood, nearly an +inch in thickness, was worn during a period of mourning that lasted +through the time it would take nature, by the growth of the hair, +actually to lift from the head the heavy covering of pitch after it +had become solidified and hard as stone. It must be admitted that +they underwent considerable discomfort in memory of their relatives. +It took all the influence we could bring to bear to break up these +absurdly superstitious practices, and it looked as if no permanent +improvement could be effected, for as soon as we got them to discard +one, another would be invented. When not allowed to burn down their +tepees or houses, those poor souls who were in a dying condition +would be carried out to the neighboring hillsides just before +dissolution, and there abandoned to their sufferings, with little or +no attention, unless the placing under their heads of a small stick +of wood--with possibly some laudable object, but doubtless great +discomfort to their victim--might be considered such. + +To uproot these senseless and monstrous practices was indeed most +difficult. The most pernicious of all was one which was likely to +bring about tragic results. They believed firmly in a class of +doctors among their people who professed that they could procure the +illness of an individual at will, and that by certain incantations +they could kill or cure the sick person. Their faith in this +superstition was so steadfast that there was no doubting its +sincerity, many indulging at times in the most trying privations, +that their relatives might be saved from death at the hands of the +doctors. I often talked with them on the subject, and tried to +reason them out of the superstitious belief, defying the doctors to +kill me, or even make me ill; but my talks were unavailing, and they +always met my arguments with the remark that I was a white man, of a +race wholly different from the red man, and that that was the reason +the medicine of the doctors would not affect me. These villainous +doctors might be either men or women, and any one of them finding an +Indian ill, at once averred that his influence was the cause, +offering at the same time to cure the invalid for a fee, which +generally amounted to about all the ponies his family possessed. If +the proposition was accepted and the fee paid over, the family, in +case the man died, was to have indemnity through the death of the +doctor, who freely promised that they might take his life in such +event, relying on his chances of getting protection from the furious +relatives by fleeing to the military post till time had so assuaged +their grief that matters could be compromised or settled by a +restoration of a part of the property, when the rascally leeches +could again resume their practice. Of course the services of a +doctor were always accepted when an Indian fell ill; otherwise the +invalid's death would surely ensue, brought about by the evil +influence that was unpropitiated. Latterly it had become quite the +thing, when a patient died, for the doctor to flee to our camp--it +was so convenient and so much safer than elsewhere--and my cellar was +a favorite place of refuge from the infuriated friends of the +deceased. + +Among the most notable of these doctors was an Indian named Sam +Patch, who several times sought asylum in any cellar, and being a +most profound diplomat, managed on each occasion and with little +delay to negotiate a peaceful settlement and go forth in safety to +resume the practice of his nefarious profession. I often hoped he +would be caught before reaching the post, but he seemed to know +intuitively when the time had come to take leg-bail, for his advent +at the garrison generally preceded by but a few hours the death of +some poor dupe. + +Finally these peculiar customs brought about the punishment of a +noted doctress of the Rogue River tribe, a woman who was constantly +working in this professional way, and who had found a victim of such +prominence among the Rogue Rivers that his unlooked for death brought +down on her the wrath of all. She had made him so ill, they +believed, as to bring him to death's door notwithstanding the many +ponies that had been given her to cease the incantations, and it was +the conviction of all that she had finally caused the man's death +from some ulterior and indiscernible motive. His relatives and +friends then immediately set about requiting her with the just +penalties of a perfidious breach of contract. Their threats induced +her instant flight toward my house for the usual protection, but the +enraged friends of the dead man gave hot chase, and overtook the +witch just inside the limits of the garrison, where, on the parade- +ground, in sight of the officers' quarters, and before any one could +interfere, they killed her. There were sixteen men in pursuit of the +doctress, and sixteen gun-shot wounds were found in her body when +examined by the surgeon of the post. The killing of the woman was a +flagrant and defiant outrage committed in the teeth of the military +authority, yet done so quickly that we could not prevent it. This +necessitated severe measures, both to allay the prevailing excitement +and to preclude the recurrence of such acts. The body was cared for, +and delivered to the relatives the next day for burial, after which +Captain Russell directed me to take such steps as would put a stop to +the fanatical usages that had brought about this murderous +occurrence, for it was now seen that if timely measures were not +taken to repress them, similar tragedies would surely follow. + +Knowing all the men of the Rogue River tribe, and speaking fluently +the Chinook tongue, which they all understood, I went down to their +village the following day, after having sent word to the tribe that I +wished to have a council with them. The Indians all met me in +council, as I had desired, and I then told them that the men who had +taken part in shooting the woman would have to be delivered up for +punishment. They were very stiff with me at the interview, and with +all that talent for circumlocution and diplomacy with which the +Indian is lifted, endeavored to evade my demands and delay any +conclusion. But I was very positive, would hear of no compromise +whatever, and demanded that my terms be at once complied with. No +one was with me but a sergeant of my company, named Miller, who held +my horse, and as the chances of an agreement began to grow remote, I +became anxious for our safety. The conversation waxing hot and the +Indians gathering close in around me, I unbuttoned the flap of my +pistol holster, to be ready for any emergency. When the altercation +became most bitter I put my hand to my hip to draw my pistol, but +discovered it was gone--stolen by one of the rascals surrounding me. +Finding myself unarmed, I modified my tone and manner to correspond +with my helpless condition, thus myself assuming the diplomatic side +in the parley, in order to gain time. As soon as an opportunity +offered, and I could, without too much loss of self-respect, and +without damaging my reputation among the Indians, I moved out to +where the sergeant held my horse, mounted, and crossing the Yamhill +River close by, called back in Chinook from the farther bank that +"the sixteen men who killed the woman must be delivered up, and my +six-shooter also." This was responded to by contemptuous laughter, so +I went back to the military post somewhat crestfallen, and made my +report of the turn affairs had taken, inwardly longing for another +chance to bring the rascally Rogue Rivers to terms. + +When I had explained the situation to Captain Russell, he thought +that we could not, under any circumstances, overlook this defiant +conduct of the Indians, since, unless summarily punished, it would +lead to even more serious trouble in the future. I heartily seconded +this proposition, and gladly embracing the opportunity it offered, +suggested that if he would give me another chance, and let me have +the effective force of the garrison, consisting of about fifty men, I +would chastise the Rogue Rivers without fail, and that the next day +was all the time I required to complete arrangements. He gave me the +necessary authority, and I at once set to work to bring about a +better state of discipline on the reservation, and to put an end to +the practices of the medicine men (having also in view the recovery +of my sixshooter and self-respect), by marching to the village and +taking the rebellious Indians by force. + +In the tribe there was an excellent woman called Tighee Mary (Tighee +in Chinook means chief), who by right of inheritance was a kind of +queen of the Rogue Rivers. Fearing that the insubordinate conduct of +the Indians would precipitate further trouble, she came early the +following morning to see me and tell me of the situation Mary +informed me that she had done all in her power to bring the Indians +to reason, but without avail, and that they were determined to fight +rather than deliver up the sixteen men who had engaged in the +shooting. She also apprised me of the fact that they had taken up a +position on the Yamhill River, on the direct road between the post +and village, where, painted and armed for war, they were awaiting +attack. + +On this information I concluded it would be best to march to the +village by a circuitous route instead of directly, as at first +intended, so I had the ferry-boat belonging to the post floated about +a mile and a half down the Yamhill River and there anchored. At 11 +o'clock that night I marched my fifty men, out of the garrison, in a +direction opposite to that of the point held by the Indians, and soon +reached the river at the ferryboat. Here I ferried the party over +with little delay, and marched them along the side of the mountain, +through underbrush and fallen timber, until, just before daylight, I +found that we were immediately in rear of the village, and thence in +rear, also, of the line occupied by the refractory Indians, who were +expecting to meet me on the direct road from the post. Just at break +of day we made a sudden descent upon the village and took its +occupants completely by surprise, even capturing the chief of the +tribe, "Sam," who was dressed in all his war toggery, fully armed and +equipped, in anticipation of a fight on the road where his comrades +were in position. I at once put Sam under guard, giving orders to +kill him instantly if the Indians fired a shot; then forming my line +on the road beyond the edge of the village, in rear of the force +lying in wait for a front attack, we moved forward. When the hostile +party realized that they were completely cut off from the village, +they came out from their stronghold on the river and took up a line +in my front, distant about sixty yards with the apparent intention of +resisting to the last. + +As is usual with Indians when expecting a fight, they were nearly +naked, fantastically painted with blue clay, and hideously arrayed in +war bonnets. They seemed very belligerent, brandishing their muskets +in the air, dancing on one foot, calling us ugly names, and making +such other demonstrations of hostility, that it seemed at first that +nothing short of the total destruction of the party could bring about +the definite settlement that we were bent on. Still, as it was my +desire to bring them under subjection without loss of life, if +possible, I determined to see what result would follow when they +learned that their chief was at our mercy. So, sending Sam under +guard to the front, where he could be seen, informing them that he +would be immediately shot if they fired upon us, and aided by the +cries and lamentations of the women of the village, who deprecated +any hostile action by either party, I soon procured a parley. + +The insubordinate Indians were under command of "Joe," Sam's brother, +who at last sent me word that he wanted to see me, and we met between +our, respective lines. I talked kindly to him, but was firm in my +demand that the men who killed the woman must be given up and my six- +shooter returned. His reply was he did not think it could be done, +but he would consult his people. After the consultation, he returned +and notified me that fifteen would surrender and the six-shooter +would be restored, and further, that we could kill the sixteenth man, +since the tribe wished to get rid of him anyhow, adding that he was a +bad Indian, whose bullet no doubt had given the woman her death +wound. He said that if I assented to this arrangement, he would +require all of his people except the objectionable man to run to the +right of his line at a preconcerted signal. The bad Indian would be +ordered to stand fast on the extreme left, and we could open fire on +him as his comrades fell away to the right. I agreed to the +proposition, and gave Joe fifteen minutes to execute his part of it. +We then returned to our respective forces, and a few minutes later +the fifteen ran to the right flank as agreed upon, and we opened fire +on the one Indian left standing alone, bringing him down in his +tracks severely wounded by a shot through the shoulder. + +While all this was going on, the other bands of the reservation, +several thousand strong, had occupied the surrounding hills for the +purpose of witnessing the fight, for as the Rogue Rivers had been +bragging for some time that they could whip the soldiers, these other +Indians had come out to see it done. The result, however, +disappointed the spectators, and the Rogue Rivers naturally lost +caste. The fifteen men now came in and laid down their arms +(including my six-shooter) in front of us as agreed, but I compelled +them to take the surrendered guns up again and carry them to the +post, where they were deposited in the block-house for future +security. The prisoners were ironed with ball and chain, and made to +work at the post until their rebellious spirit was broken; and the +wounded man was correspondingly punished after he had fully +recovered. An investigation as to why this man had been selected as +the offering by which Joe and his companions expected to gain +immunity, showed that the fellow was really a most worthless +character, whose death even would have been a benefit to the tribe. +Thus it seemed that they had two purposes in view--the one to +propitiate me and get good terms, the other to rid themselves of a +vagabond member of the tribe. + +The punishment of these sixteen Indians by ball and chain ended all +trouble with the Rogue River tribe. The, disturbances arising from +the incantations of the doctors and doctresses, and the practice of +killing horses and burning all worldly property on the graves of +those who died, were completely suppressed, and we made with little +effort a great stride toward the civilization of these crude and +superstitious people, for they now began to recognize the power of +the Government. In their management afterward a course of justice +and mild force was adopted, and unvaryingly applied. They were +compelled to cultivate their land, to attend church, and to send +their children to school. When I saw them, fifteen years later, +transformed into industrious and substantial farmers, with neat +houses, fine cattle, wagons and horses, carrying their grain, eggs, +and butter to market and bringing home flour, coffee, sugar, and +calico in return, I found abundant confirmation of my early opinion +that the most effectual measures for lifting them from a state of +barbarism would be a practical supervision at the outset, coupled +with a firm control and mild discipline. + +In all that was done for these Indians Captain Russell's judgment and +sound, practical ideas were the inspiration. His true manliness, +honest and just methods, together with the warm-hearted interest he +took in all that pertained to matters of duty to his Government, +could not have produced other than the best results, in what position +soever he might have been placed. As all the lovable traits of his +character were constantly manifested, I became most deeply attached +to him, and until the day of his death in 1864, on the battle-field +of Opequan, in front of Winchester, while gallantly leading his +division under my command, my esteem and affection were sustained and +intensified by the same strong bonds that drew me to him in these +early days in Oregon. + +After the events just narrated I continued on duty at the post of +Yamhill, experiencing the usual routine of garrison life without any +incidents of much interest, down to the breaking out of the war of +the rebellion in April, 1861. The news of the firing on Fort Sumter +brought us an excitement which overshadowed all else, and though we +had no officers at the post who sympathized with the rebellion, there +were several in our regiment--the Fourth Infantry--who did, and we +were considerably exercised as to the course they might pursue, but +naturally far more so concerning the disposition that would be made +of the regiment during the conflict. + +In due time orders came for the regiment to go East, and my company +went off, leaving me, however--a second lieutenant--in command of the +post until I should be relieved by Captain James J. Archer, of the +Ninth Infantry, whose company was to take the place of the old +garrison. Captain Archer, with his company of the Ninth, arrived +shortly after, but I had been notified that he intended to go South, +and his conduct was such after reaching the post that I would not +turn over the command to him for fear he might commit some rebellious +act. Thus a more prolonged detention occurred than I had at first +anticipated. Finally the news came that he had tendered his +resignation and been granted a leave of absence for sixty days. On +July 17 he took his departure, but I continued in command till +September 1, when Captain Philip A. Owen, of the Ninth Infantry, +arrived and, taking charge, gave me my release. + +From the day we received the news of the firing on Sumter until I +started East, about the first of September, 1861, I was deeply +solicitous as to the course of events, and though I felt confident +that in the end the just cause of the Government must triumph, yet +the thoroughly crystallized organization which the Southern +Confederacy quickly exhibited disquieted me very much, for it alone +was evidence that the Southern leaders had long anticipated the +struggle and prepared for it. It was very difficult to obtain direct +intelligence of the progress of the war. Most of the time we were in +the depths of ignorance as to the true condition of affairs, and this +tended to increase our anxiety. Then, too, the accounts of the +conflicts that had taken place were greatly exaggerated by the +Eastern papers, and lost nothing in transition. The news came by the +pony express across the Plains to San Francisco, where it was still +further magnified in republishing, and gained somewhat in Southern +bias. I remember well that when the first reports reached us of, the +battle of Bull Run--that sanguinary engagement--it was stated that +each side had lost forty thousand men in killed and wounded, and none +were reported missing nor as having run away. Week by week these +losses grew less, until they finally shrunk into the hundreds, but +the vivid descriptions of the gory conflict were not toned down +during the whole summer. + +We received our mail at Yamhill only once a week, and then had to +bring it from Portland, Oregon, by express. On the day of the week +that our courier, or messenger, was expected back from Portland, I +would go out early in the morning to a commanding point above the +post, from which I could see a long distance down the road as it ran +through the valley of the Yamhill, and there I would watch with +anxiety for his coming, longing for good news; for, isolated as I had +been through years spent in the wilderness, my patriotism was +untainted by politics, nor had it been disturbed by any discussion of +the questions out of which the war grew, and I hoped for the success +of the Government above all other considerations. I believe I was +also uninfluenced by any thoughts of the promotion that might result +to me from the conflict, but, out of a sincere desire to contribute +as much as I could to the preservation of the Union, I earnestly +wished to be at the seat of war, and feared it might end before I +could get East. In no sense did I anticipate what was to happen to +me afterward, nor that I was to gain any distinction from it. I was +ready to do my duty to the best of my ability wherever I might be +called, and I was young, healthy, insensible to fatigue, and desired +opportunity, but high rank was so distant in our service that not a +dream of its attainment had flitted through my brain. + +During the period running from January to September, 1861, in +consequence of resignations and the addition of some new regiments to +the regular army, I had passed through the grade of first lieutenant +and reached that of captain in the Thirteenth United States Infantry, +of which General W. T. Sherman had recently been made the colonel. +When relieved from further duty at Yamhill by Captain Owen, I left +for the Atlantic coast to join my new regiment. A two days' ride +brought me down to Portland, whence I sailed to San Franciso, and at +that city took passage by steamer for New York via the Isthmus of +Panama, in company with a number of officers who were coming East +under circumstances like my own. + +At this time California was much agitated--on the question of +secession, and the secession element was so strong that considerable +apprehension was felt by the Union people lest the State might be +carried into the Confederacy. As a consequence great distrust +existed in all quarters, and the loyal passengers on the steamer, not +knowing what might occur during our voyage, prepared to meet +emergencies by thoroughly organizing to frustrate any attempt that +might possibly be made to carry us into some Southern port after we +should leave Aspinwall. However, our fears proved groundless; at all +events, no such attempt was made, and we reached New York in safety +in November, 1861. A day or two in New York sufficed to replenish a +most meagre wardrobe, and I then started West to join my new +regiment, stopping a day and a night at the home of my parents in +Ohio, where I had not been since I journeyed from Texas for the +Pacific coast. The headquarters of my regiment were at Jefferson +Barracks, Missouri, to which point I proceeded with no further delay +except a stay in the city of St. Louis long enough to pay my respects +to General H. W. Halleck. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +AUDITING ACCOUNTS--CHIEF QUARTERMASTER AND COMMISSARY OF THE ARMY OF +SOUTHWEST MISSOURI--PREPARING FOR THE PEA RIDGE CAMPAIGN--A +DIFFERENCE WITH GENERAL CURTIS--ORDERED TO THE FRONT--APPOINTED A +COLONEL. + +Some days after I had reached the headquarters of my regiment near +St. Louis, General Halleck sent for me, and when I reported he +informed me that there existed a great deal of confusion regarding +the accounts of some of the disbursing officers in his department, +whose management of its fiscal affairs under his predecessor, General +John C. Fremont, had been very loose; and as the chaotic condition of +things could be relieved only by auditing these accounts, he +therefore had determined to create a board of officers for the +purpose, and intended to make me president of it. The various +transactions in question covered a wide field, for the department +embraced the States of Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Arkansas, +and all of Kentucky west of the Cumberland River. + +The duty was not distasteful, and I felt that I was qualified to +undertake it, for the accounts to be audited belonged exclusively to +the Quartermaster and Subsistence departments, and by recent +experience I had become familiar with the class of papers that +pertained to those branches of the army. Indeed, it was my +familiarity with such transactions, returns, etc., that probably +caused my selection as president of the board. + +I entered upon the work forthwith, and continued at it until the 26th +of December, 1861. At that date I was relieved from the auditing +board and assigned to duty as Chief Commissary of the Army of +Southwest Missouri, commanded by General Samuel R. Curtis. This army +was then organizing at Rolla, Missouri, for the Pea Ridge campaign, +its strength throughout the campaign being in the aggregate about +fifteen thousand men. + +As soon as I received information of my selection for this position, +I went to General Halleck and requested him to assign me as Chief +Quartermaster also. He was reluctant to do so, saying that I could +not perform both duties, but I soon convinced him that I could do +both better than the one, for I reminded him that as Chief +Quartermaster I should control the transportation, and thus obviate +all possible chances of discord between the two staff departments; a +condition which I deemed essential to success, especially as it was +intended that Curtis's army should mainly subsist on the country. +This argument impressed Halleck, and becoming convinced, he promptly +issued the order making me Chief Quartermaster and Chief Commissary +of Subsistence of the Army of Southwest Missouri, and I started for +Rolla to enter upon the work assigned me. + +Having reported to General Curtis, I quickly learned that his system +of supply was very defective, and the transportation without proper +organization, some of the regiments having forty to fifty wagon each, +and others only three or four. I labored day and night to remedy +these and other defects, and with the help of Captain Michael P. +Small, of the Subsistence Department, who was an invaluable +assistant, soon brought things into shape, putting the transportation +in good working order, giving each regiment its proper quota of +wagons, and turning the surplus into the general supply trains of the +army. In accomplishing this I was several times on the verge of +personal conflict with irate regimental commanders, but Colonel G. M. +Dodge so greatly sustained me with General Curtis by strong moral +support, and by such efficient details from his regiment--the Fourth +Iowa Volunteer Infantry--that I still bear him and it great affection +and lasting gratitude. + +On January 26, 1862, General Curtis's army began its march from Rolla +to Springfield, Missouri, by way of Lebanon. The roads were deep +with mud, and so badly cut up that the supply trains in moving +labored under the most serious difficulties, and were greatly +embarrassed by swollen streams. Under these circumstances many +delays occurred, and when we arrived at Lebanon nearly all the +supplies with which we had started had been consumed, and the work of +feeding the troops off the country had to begin at that point. To +get flour, wheat had to be taken from the stacks, threshed, and sent +to the mills to be ground. Wheat being scarce in this region, corn +as a substitute had to be converted into meal by the same laborious +process. In addition, beef cattle had to be secured for the meat +ration. + +By hard work we soon accumulated a sufficient quantity of flour and +corn meal to justify the resumption of our march on Springfield; at +or near which point the enemy was believed to be awaiting us, and the +order was given to move forward, the commanding general cautioning +me, in the event of disaster, to let no salt fall into General +Price's hands. General Curtis made a hobby of this matter of salt, +believing the enemy was sadly in need of that article, and he +impressed me deeply with his conviction that our cause would be +seriously injured by a loss which would inure so greatly and +peculiarly to the enemy's benefit; but we afterward discovered, when +Price abandoned his position, that about all he left behind was salt. + +When we were within about eight miles of Springfield, General Curtis +decided to put his troops in line of battle for the advance on the +town, and directed me to stretch out my supply trains in a long line +of battle, so that in falling back, in case the troops were repulsed, +he could rally the men on the wagons. I did not like the tactics, +but of course obeyed the order. The line moved on Springfield, and +took the town without resistance, the enemy having fled southward, in +the direction of Pea Ridge, the preceding day. Of course our success +relieved my anxiety about the wagons; but fancy has often pictured +since, the stampede of six mule teams that, had we met with any +reverse, would have taken place over the prairies of southwest +Missouri. + +The army set out in pursuit of Price, but I was left at Springfield +to gather supplies from the surrounding country, by the same means +that had been used at Lebanon, and send them forward. To succeed in +this useful and necessary duty required much hard work. To procure +the grain and to run the mills in the country, replacing the +machinery where parts had been carried away, or changing the +principle and running the mills on some different plan when +necessary, and finally forward the product to the army, made a task +that taxed the energy of all engaged in it. Yet, having at command a +very skillful corps of millwrights, machinists, and millers, detailed +principally from the Fourth Iowa and Thirty-sixth Illinois volunteer +regiments, we soon got matters in shape, and were able to send such +large quantities of flour and meal to the front, that only the bacon +and small parts of the ration had to be brought forward from our +depot at Rolla. When things were well systematized, I went forward +myself to expedite the delivery of supplies, and joined the army at +Cross Hollows, just south of Pea Ridge. + +Finding everything working well at Cross Hollows, I returned to +Springfield in a few days to continue the labor of collecting +supplies. On my way back I put the mills at Cassville in good order +to grind the grain in that vicinity, and perfected there a plan for +the general supply from the neighboring district of both the men and +animals of the army, so that there should, be no chance of a failure +of the campaign from bad roads or disaster to my trains. Springfield +thus became the centre of the entire supply section. + +Just after my return to Springfield the battle of Pea Ridge was +fought. The success of the Union troops in this battle was +considerable, and while not of sufficient magnitude to affect the +general cause materially, it was decisive as to that particular +campaign, and resulted in driving all organized Confederate forces +out of the State of Missouri. After Pea Ridge was won, certain +efforts were made to deprive Curtis of the credit due him for the +victory; but, no matter what merit belonged to individual commanders, +I was always convinced that Curtis was deserving of the highest +commendation, not only for the skill displayed on the field, but for +a zeal and daring in campaign which was not often exhibited at that +early period of the war. Especially should this credit be awarded +him, when we consider the difficulties under which he labored, how he +was hampered in having to depend on a sparsely settled country for +the subsistence of his troops. In the reports of the battle that +came to Springfield, much glory was claimed for some other general +officers, but as I had control of the telegraph line from Springfield +east, I detained all despatches until General Curtis had sent in his +official report. He thus had the opportunity of communicating with +his superior in advance of some of his vain subordinates, who would +have laid claim to the credit of the battle had I not thwarted them +by this summary means. + +Not long afterward came the culmination of a little difference that +had arisen between General Curtis and me, brought about, I have since +sometimes thought, by an assistant quartermaster from Iowa, whom I +had on duty with me at Springfield. He coveted my place, and finally +succeeded in getting it. He had been an unsuccessful banker in Iowa, +and early in the war obtained an appointment as assistant +quartermaster of volunteers with the rank of captain. As chief +quartermaster of the army in Missouri, there would be opportunities +for the recuperation of his fortunes which would not offer to one in +a subordinate place; so to gain this position he doubtless intrigued +for it while under my eye, and Curtis was induced to give it to him +as soon as I was relieved. His career as my successor, as well as in +other capacities in which he was permitted to act during the war, was +to say the least not savory. The war over he turned up in Chicago as +president of a bank, which he wrecked; and he finally landed in the +penitentiary for stealing a large sum of money from the United States +Treasury at Washington while employed there as a clerk. The chances +that this man's rascality would be discovered were much less when +chief of the departments of transportation and supply of an army than +they afterward proved to be in the Treasury. I had in my possession +at all times large sums of money for the needs of the army, and among +other purposes for which these funds were to be disbursed was the +purchase of horses and mules. Certain officers and men more devoted +to gain than to the performance of duty (a few such are always to be +found in armies) quickly learned this, and determined to profit by +it. Consequently they began a regular system of stealing horses from +the people of the country and proffering them to me for purchase. It +took but a little time to discover this roguery, and when I became +satisfied of their knavery I brought it to a sudden close by seizing +the horses as captured property, branding them U. S., and refusing to +pay for them. General Curtis, misled by the misrepresentations that +had been made, and without fully knowing the circumstances, or +realizing to what a base and demoralizing state of things this course +was inevitably tending, practically ordered me to make the Payments, +and I refused. The immediate result of this disobedience was a +court-martial to try me; and knowing that my usefulness in that army +was gone, no matter what the outcome of the trial might be, I asked +General Halleck to relieve me from duty with General Curtis and order +me to St. Louis. This was promptly done, and as my connection with +the Army of Southwest Missouri was thus severed before the court +could be convened, my case never came to trial. The man referred to +as being the cause of this condition of affairs was appointed by +General Curtis to succeed me. I turned over to the former all the +funds and property for which I was responsible, also the branded +horses and mules stolen from the people of the country, requiring +receipts for everything. I heard afterward that some of the blooded +stock of southwest Missouri made its way to Iowa in an unaccountable +manner, but whether the administration of my successor was +responsible for it or not I am unable to say. + +On my arrival at St. Louis I felt somewhat forlorn and disheartened +at the turn affairs had taken. I did not know where I should be +assigned, nor what I should be required to do, but these +uncertainties were dispelled in a few days by General Halleck, who, +being much pressed by the Governors of some of the Western States to +disburse money in their sections, sent me out into the Northwest with +a sort of roving commission to purchase horses for the use of the +army. I went to Madison and Racine, Wis., at which places I bought +two hundred horses, which were shipped to St. Louis. At Chicago I +bought two hundred more, and as the prices paid at the latter point +showed that Illinois was the cheapest market--it at that time +producing a surplus over home demands--I determined to make Chicago +the centre of my operations. + +While occupied in this way at Chicago the battle of Shiloh took +place, and the desire for active service with troops became uppermost +in my thoughts, so I returned to St. Louis to see if I could not get +into the field. General Halleck having gone down to the Shiloh +battle-field, I reported to his Assistant Adjutant-General, Colonel +John C. Kelton, and told him of my anxiety to take a hand in active +field-service, adding that I did not wish to join my regiment, which +was still organizing and recruiting at Jefferson Barracks, for I felt +confident I could be more useful elsewhere. Kelton knew that the +purchasing duty was but temporary, and that on its completion, +probably at no distant date, I should have to join my company at the +barracks; so, realizing the inactivity to which that situation of +affairs would subject me, he decided to assume the responsibility of +sending me to report to General Halleck at Shiloh, and gave me an +order to that effect. + +This I consider the turning-point in my military career, and shall +always feel grateful to Colonel Kelton for his kindly act which so +greatly influenced my future. My desire to join the army at Shiloh +had now taken possession of me, and I was bent on getting there by +the first means available. Learning that a hospital-boat under +charge of Dr. Hough was preparing to start for Pittsburg Landing, I +obtained the Doctor's consent to take passage on it, and on the +evening of April 15, I left St. Louis for the scene of military +operations in northeastern Mississippi. + +At Pittsburg Landing I reported to General Halleck, who, after some +slight delay, assigned me to duty as an assistant to Colonel George +Thom, of the topographical engineers. Colonel Thom put me at the +work of getting the trains up from the landing, which involved the +repair of roads for that purpose by corduroying the marshy places. +This was rough, hard work, without much chance of reward, but it, was +near the field of active operations, and I determined to do the best +I could at it till opportunity for something better might arise. + +General Halleck did not know much about taking care of himself in the +field. His camp arrangements were wholly inadequate, and in +consequence he and all the officers about him were subjected to much +unnecessary discomfort and annoyance. Someone suggested to him to +appoint me quartermaster for his headquarters, with a view to +systematizing the establishment and remedying the defects complained +of, and I was consequently assigned to this duty. Shortly after this +assignment I had the satisfaction of knowing that General Halleck was +delighted with the improvements made at headquarters, both in camp +outfit and transportation, and in administration generally. My +popularity grew as the improvements increased, but one trifling +incident came near marring it. There was some hitch about getting +fresh beef for General Halleck's mess, and as by this time everybody +had come to look to me for anything and everything in the way of +comfort, Colonel Joe McKibben brought an order from the General for +me to get fresh beef for the headquarters mess. I was not caterer +for this mess, nor did I belong to it even, so I refused point-blank. +McKibben, disliking to report my disobedience, undertook persuasion, +and brought Colonel Thom to see me to aid in his negotiations, but I +would not give in, so McKibben in the kindness of his heart rode +several miles in order to procure the beef himself, and thus save me +from the dire results which be thought would follow should Halleck +get wind of such downright insubordination. The next day I was made +Commissary of Subsistence for the headquarters in addition to my +other duties, and as this brought me into the line of fresh beef, +General Halleck had no cause thereafter to complain of a scarcity of +that article in his mess. + +My stay at General Halleck's headquarters was exceedingly agreeable, +and my personal intercourse with officers on duty there was not only +pleasant and instructive, but offered opportunities for improvement +and advancement for which hardly any other post could have afforded +like chances. My special duties did not occupy all my time, and +whenever possible I used to go over to General Sherman's division, +which held the extreme right of our line in the advance on Corinth, +to witness the little engagements occurring there continuously during +the slow progress which the army was then making, the enemy being +forced back but a short distance each day. I knew General Sherman +very well. We came from near the same section of country in Ohio, +and his wife and her family had known me from childhood. I was +always kindly received by the General, and one day he asked me if I +would be willing to accept the colonelcy of a certain Ohio regiment +if he secured the appointment. I gladly told him yes, if General +Halleck would let me go; but I was doomed to disappointment, for in +about a week or so afterward General Sherman informed me that the +Governor of Ohio would not consent, having already decided to appoint +some one else. + +A little later Governor Blair, of Michigan, who was with the army +temporarily in the interest of the troops from his State, and who +just at this time was looking around for a colonel for the Second +Michigan Cavalry, and very anxious to get a regular officer, fixed +upon me as the man. The regiment was then somewhat run down by +losses from sickness, and considerably split into factions growing +out of jealousies engendered by local differences previous to +organization, and the Governor desired to bridge over all these +troubles by giving the regiment a commander who knew nothing about +them. I presume that some one said to the Governor about this time, +"Why don't you get Sheridan?" This, however, is only conjecture. I +really do not know how my name was proposed to him, but I have often +been told since that General Gordon Granger, whom I knew slightly +then, and who had been the former colonel of the regiment, first +suggested the appointment. At all events, on the morning of May 27, +1862, Captain Russell A. Alger--recently Governor of Michigan-- +accompanied by the quartermaster of the regiment, Lieutenant Frank +Walbridge, arrived at General Halleck's headquarters and delivered to +me this telegram: + +(By Telegraph.) +"MILITARY DEPT OF MICHIGAN, +"ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, +"DETROIT, May 25, 1862. + +GENERAL ORDERS NO. 148. + +"Captain Philip H. Sheridan, U. S. Army, is hereby appointed +Colonel of the Second Regiment Michigan Cavalry, to rank from +this date. + +"Captain Sheridan will immediately assume command of the +regiment. + +"By order of the Commander-in-Chief, +"JNO. ROBERTSON, +"Adjutant-General." + + +I took the order to General Halleck, and said that I would like to +accept, but he was not willing I should do so until the consent of +the War Department could be obtained. I returned to my tent much +disappointed, for in those days, for some unaccountable reason, the +War Department did not favor the appointment of regular officers to +volunteer regiments, and I feared a disapproval at Washington. After +a further consultation with Captain Alger and Lieutenant Walbridge, I +determined to go to the General again and further present the case. +Enlarging on my desire for active service with troops, and urging the +utter lack of such opportunity where I was, I pleaded my cause until +General Halleck finally resolved to take the responsibility of +letting me go without consulting the War Department. When I had +thanked him for the kindness, he said that inasmuch as I was to leave +him, he would inform me that the regiment to which I had just been +appointed was ordered out as part of a column directed to make a raid +to the south of the enemy, then occupying Corinth, and that if I +could turn over my property, it would probably be well for me to join +my command immediately, so that I could go with the expedition. I +returned to my tent, where Alger and Walbridge were still waiting, +and told them of the success of my interview, at the same time +notifying them that I would join the regiment in season to accompany +the expedition of which Halleck had spoken. + +In the course of the afternoon I turned over all my property to my +successor, and about 8 o'clock that evening made my appearance at the +camp of the Second Michigan Cavalry, near Farmington, Mississippi. +The regiment was in a hubbub of excitement making preparations for +the raid, and I had barely time to meet the officers of my command, +and no opportunity at all to see the men, when the trumpet sounded to +horse. Dressed in a coat and trousers of a captain of infantry, but +recast as a colonel of cavalry by a pair of well-worn eagles that +General Granger had kindly given me, I hurriedly placed on my saddle +a haversack, containing some coffee, sugar, bacon, and hard bread, +which had been prepared, and mounting my horse, I reported my +regiment to the brigade commander as ready for duty. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +EXPEDITION TO BOONEVILLE--DESTROYING SUPPLIES--CONFEDERATE +STRAGGLERS--SUCCESS OF THE EXPEDITION--A RECONNOISSANCE--THE +IMPORTANCE OF BODILY SUSTENANCE--THE BATTLE OF BOONEVILLE-- +RECOMMENDED FOR APPOINTMENT AS A BRIGADIER-GENERAL. + +The expedition referred to by General Halleck in his parting +conversation was composed of the Second Michigan and Second Iowa +regiments of cavalry, formed into a brigade under command of Colonel +Washington L. Elliott, of the Second Iowa. It was to start on the +night of the 27th of May at 12 o'clock, and proceed by a circuitous +route through Iuka, Miss., to Booneville, a station on the Mobile and +Ohio Railroad, about twenty-two miles below Corinth, and accomplish +all it could in the way of destroying the enemy's supplies and +cutting his railroad communications. + +The weather in that climate was already warm, guides unobtainable, +and both men and horses suffered much discomfort from the heat, and +fatigue from the many delays growing out of the fact that we were in +almost total ignorance of the roads leading to the point that we +desired to reach. In order that we might go light we carried only +sugar, coffee, and salt, depending on the country for meat and bread. +Both these articles were scarce, but I think we got all there was, +for our advent was so unexpected by the people of the region through +which we passed that, supposing us to be Confederate cavalry, they +often gave us all they had, the women and servants contributing most +freely from their, reserve stores. + +Before reaching Booneville I had the advance, but just as we arrived +on the outskirts of the town the brigade was formed with the Second +Iowa on my right, and the whole force moved forward, right in front, +preceded by skirmishers. Here we encountered the enemy, but forced +him back with little resistance. When we had gained possession of +the station, Colonel Elliott directed me to take the left wing of my +regiment, pass to the south, and destroy a bridge or culvert supposed +to be at a little distance below the town on the Mobile and Ohio +Railroad. The right wing, or other half of the regiment, was to be +held in reserve for my support if necessary. I moved rapidly in the +designated direction till I reached the railroad, and then rode down +it for a mile and a half, but found neither bridge nor culvert. I +then learned that there was no bridge of any importance except the +one at Baldwin, nine miles farther down, but as I was aware, from +information recently received, that it was defended by three +regiments and a battery, I concluded that I could best accomplish the +purpose for which I had been detached--crippling the road--by tearing +up the track, bending the rails, and burning the cross-ties. This +was begun with alacrity at four different points, officers and men +vieing with one another in the laborious work of destruction. We had +but few tools, and as the difficulties to overcome were serious, our +progress was slow, until some genius conceived the idea that the +track, rails and ties, might be lifted from its bed bodily, turned +over, and subjected to a high heat; a convenient supply of dry fence- +rails would furnish ample fuel to render the rails useless. In this +way a good deal of the track was effectively broken up, and +communication by rail from Corinth to the south entirely cut off. +While we were still busy in wrecking the road, a dash was made at my +right and rear by a squadron of Confederate cavalry. This was +handsomely met by the reserve under Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of +the Second Michigan, who, dismounting a portion of his command, +received the enemy with such a volley from his Colt's repeating +rifles that the squadron broke and fled in all directions. We were +not molested further, and resumed our work, intending to extend the +break toward Baldwin, but receiving orders from Elliott to return to +Booneville immediately, the men were recalled, and we started to +rejoin the main command. + +In returning to Booneville, I found the railroad track above where I +had struck it blocked by trains that we had thus cut off, and the +woods and fields around the town covered with several thousand +Confederate soldiers. These were mostly convalescents and +disheartened stragglers belonging to General Beauregard's army, and +from them we learned that Corinth was being evacuated. I spent some +little time in an endeavor to get these demoralized men into an open +field, with a view to some future disposition of them; but in the +midst of the undertaking I received another order from Colonel +Elliott to join him at once. The news of the evacuation had also +reached Elliott, and had disclosed a phase of the situation so +different from that under which he had viewed it when we arrived at +Booneville, that he had grown anxious to withdraw, lest we should be +suddenly pounced upon by an overwhelming force from some one of the +columns in retreat. Under such circumstances my prisoners would +prove a decided embarrassment, so I abandoned further attempts to get +them together--not even paroling them, which I thought might have +been done with but little risk. + +In the meantime the captured cars had been fired, and as their +complete destruction was assured by explosions from those containing +ammunition, they needed no further attention, so I withdrew my men +and hastened to join Elliott, taking along some Confederate officers +whom I had retained from among four or five hundred prisoners +captured when making the original dash below the town. + +The losses in my regiment, and, in fact, those of the entire command, +were insignificant. The results of the expedition were important; +the railroad being broken so thoroughly as to cut off all rolling +stock north of Booneville, and to place at the service of General +Halleck's army the cars and locomotives of which the retreating +Confederates were now so much in need. In addition, we burned +twenty-six cars containing ten thousand stand of small arms, three +pieces of artillery, a great quantity of clothing, a heavy supply of +ammunition, and the personal baggage of General Leonidas Polk. A +large number of prisoners, mostly sick and convalescent, also fell +into our hands; but as we could not carry them with ussuch a hurried +departure was an immediate necessity, by reason of our critical +situation--the process of paroling them was not completed, and they +doubtless passed back to active service in the Confederacy, properly +enough unrecognized as prisoners of war by their superiors. + +In returning, the column marched back by another indirect route to +its old camp near Farmington, where we learned that the whole army +had moved into and beyond Corinth, in pursuit of Beauregard, on the +13th of May, the very day we had captured Booneville. Although we +had marched about one hundred and eighty miles in four days, we were +required to take part, of course, in the pursuit of the Confederate +army. So, resting but one night in our old camp, we were early in +the saddle again on the morning of the 2d of June. Marching south +through Corinth, we passed on the 4th of June the scene of our late +raid, viewing with much satisfaction, as we took the road toward +Blackland, the still smoldering embers of the burned trains. + +On the 4th of June I was ordered to proceed with my regiment along +the Blackland road to determine the strength of the enemy in that +direction, as it was thought possible we might capture, by a +concerted movement which General John Pope had suggested to General +Halleck, a portion of Beauregard's rear guard. Pushing the +Confederate scouts rapidly in with a running fire for a mile or more, +while we were approaching a little stream, I hoped to gobble the main +body of the enemy's pickets. I therefore directed the sabre +battalion of the regiment, followed by that portion of it armed with +revolving rifles, to dash forward in column, cut off these videttes +before they could cross the stream, and then gather them in. The +pickets fled hastily, however, and a pell-mell pursuit carried us +over the stream at their heels by a little bridge, with no thought of +halting till we gained a hill on the other side, and suddenly found +ourselves almost in the camp of a strong body of artillery and +infantry. Captain Campbell being in advance, hurriedly dismounted +his battalion for a further forward movement on foot, but it was +readily seen that the enemy was present in such heavy force as almost +to ensure our destruction, and I gave orders for a hasty withdrawal. +We withdrew without loss under cover of thick woods, aided much, +however, by the consternation of the Confederates, who had hardly +recovered from their surprise at our sudden appearance in their camp +before we had again placed the stream between them and us by +recrossing the bridge. The reconnoissance was a success in one way-- +that is, in finding out that the enemy was at the point supposed by, +General Pope; but it also had a tendency to accelerate Beauregard's +retreat, for in a day or two his whole line fell back as far south as +Guntown, thus rendering abortive the plans for bagging a large +portion of his army. + +General Beauregard's evacuation of Corinth and retreat southward were +accomplished in the face of a largely superior force of Union troops, +and he reached the point where he intended to halt for reorganization +without other loss than that sustained in the destruction of the cars +and supplies at Booneville, and the capture of some stragglers and +deserters that fell into our hands while we were pressing his rear +from General Pope's flank. The number of these was quite large, and +indicated that the enemy was considerably demoralized. Under such +circumstances, an energetic and skillfully directed pursuit might not +have made certain the enemy's destruction, but it would largely have +aided in disintegrating his forces, and I never could quite +understand why it was not ordered. The desultory affairs between +rear and advance guards seemed as a general, thing to have no +particular purpose in view beyond finding out where the enemy was, +and when he was found, since no supporting colums were at hand and no +one in supreme control was present to give directions, our +skirmishing was of little avail and brought but small reward. + +A short time subsequent to these occurrences, Colonel Elliott was +made a brigadier-general, and as General Pope appointed him his +Chief-of-Staff, I, on the 11th of June, 1862, fell in command of the +brigade by seniority. For the rest of the month but little of moment +occurred, and we settled down into camp at Booneville on the 26th of +June, in a position which my brigade had been ordered to take up some +twenty miles, in advance of the main army for the purpose of covering +its front. Although but a few days had elapsed from the date of my +appointment as colonel of the Second Michigan to that of my +succeeding to the command of the brigade, I believe I can say with +propriety that I had firmly established myself in the confidence of +the officers and men of the regiment, and won their regard by +thoughtful care. I had striven unceasingly to have them well fed and +well clothed, had personally looked after the selection of their +camps, and had maintained such a discipline as to allay former +irritation. + +Men who march, scout, and fight, and suffer all the hardships that +fall to the lot of soldiers in the field, in order to do vigorous +work must have the best bodily sustenance, and every comfort that can +be provided. I knew from practical experience on the frontier that +my efforts in this direction would not only be appreciated, but +requited by personal affection and gratitude; and, further, that such +exertions would bring the best results to me. Whenever my authority +would permit I saved my command from needless sacrifices and +unnecessary toil; therefore, when hard or daring work was to be done +I expected the heartiest response, and always got it. Soldiers are +averse to seeing their comrades killed without compensating results, +and none realize more quickly than they the blundering that often +takes place on the field of battle. They want some tangible +indemnity for the loss of life, and as victory is an offset the value +of which is manifest, it not only makes them content to shed their +blood, but also furnishes evidence of capacity in those who command +them. My regiment had lost very few men since coming under my +command, but it seemed, in the eyes of all who belonged to it, that +casualties to the enemy and some slight successes for us had repaid +every sacrifice, and in consequence I had gained not only their +confidence as soldiers, but also their esteem and love as men, and to +a degree far beyond what I then realized. + +As soon as the camp of my brigade was pitched at Booneville, I began +to scout in every direction, to obtain a knowledge of the enemy's +whereabouts and learn the ground about me. My standing in drawing at +the Military Academy had never been so high as to warrant the belief +that I could ever prove myself an expert, but a few practical lessons +in that line were impressed on me there, and I had retained enough to +enable me to make rough maps that could be readily understood, and +which would be suitable to replace the erroneous skeleton outlines of +northern Mississippi, with which at this time we were scantily +furnished; so as soon as possible I compiled for the use of myself +and my regimental commanders an information map of the surrounding +country. This map exhibited such details as country roads, streams, +farmhouses, fields, woods, and swamps, and such other topographical +features as would be useful. I must confess that my crude sketch did +not evidence much artistic merit, but it was an improvement on what +we already possessed in the way of details to guide the command, and +this was what I most needed; for it was of the first importance that +in our exposed condition we should be equipped with a thorough +knowledge of the section in which we were operating, so as to be +prepared to encounter an enemy already indicating recovery from the +disorganizing effects of his recent retreat. + +In the immediate vicinity of Booneville the country was covered with +heavy forests, with here and there clearings or intervening fields +that had been devoted to the cultivation of cotton and corn. The +ground was of a low character, typical of northeastern Mississippi, +and abounded in small creeks that went almost totally dry even in +short periods of drought, but became flooded with muddy water under +the outpouring of rain peculiar to a semi-tropical climate. In such +a region there were many chances of our being surprised, especially +by an enemy who knew the country well, and whose ranks were filled +with local guides; and great precautions as well as the fullest +information were necessary to prevent disaster. I therefore +endeavored to familiarize all with our surroundings, but scarcely had +matters begun to shape themselves as I desired when our annihilation +was attempted by a large force of Confederate cavalry. + +On the morning of July 1, 1862, a cavalry command of between five and +six thousand-men, under the Confederate General James R. Chalmers, +advanced on two roads converging near Booneville. The head of the +enemy's column on the Blackland and Booneville road came in contact +with my pickets three miles and a half west of Booneville. These +pickets, under Lieutenant Leonidas S. Scranton, of the Second +Michigan Cavalry, fell back slowly, taking advantage of every tree or +other cover to fire from till they arrived at the point where the +converging roads joined. At this junction there was a strong +position in the protecting timber, and here Scranton made a firm +stand, being reinforced presently by the few men he had out as +pickets on the road to his left, a second company I had sent him from +camp, and subsequently by three companies more, all now commanded by +Captain Campbell. This force was dismounted and formed in line, and +soon developed that the enemy was present in large numbers. Up to +this time Chalmers had shown only the heads of his columns, and we +had doubts as to his purpose, but now that our resistance forced him +to deploy two regiments on the right and left of the road, it became +apparent that he meant business, and that there was no time to lose +in preparing to repel his attack. + +Full information of the situation was immediately sent me, and I +directed Campbell to hold fast, if possible, till I could support +him, but if compelled to retire he was authorized to do so slowly, +taking advantage of every means that fell in his way to prolong the +fighting. Before this I had stationed one battalion of the Second +Iowa in Booneville, but Colonel Edward Hatch, commanding that +regiment, was now directed to leave one company for the protection of +our camp a little to the north of the station, and take the balance +of the Second Iowa, with the battalion in Booneville except two sabre +companies, and form the whole in rear of Captain Campbell, to protect +his flanks and support him by a charge should the enemy break his +dismounted line. + +While these preparations were being made, the Confederates attempted +to drive Campbell from his position by a direct attack through an +open field. In this they failed, however, for our men, reserving +their fire until the enemy came within about thirty yards, then +opened on him with such a shower of bullets from our Colt's rifles +that it soon became too hot for him, and he was repulsed with +considerable loss. Foiled in this move, Chalmers hesitated to attack +again in front, but began overlapping both flanks of Campbell's line +by force of numbers, compelling Campbell to retire toward a strong +position I had selected in his rear for a line on which to make our +main resistance. As soon as the enemy saw this withdrawing he again +charged in front, but was again as gallantly repelled as in the first +assault, although the encounter was for a short time so desperate as +to have the character of a hand-to-hand conflict, several groups of +friend and foe using on each other the butts of their guns. At this +juncture the timely arrival of Colonel Hatch with the Second Iowa +gave a breathing-spell to Campbell, and made the Confederates so +chary of further direct attacks that he was enabled to retire; and at +the same time I found opportunity to make disposition of the +reinforcement to the best advantage possible, placing the Second Iowa +on the left of the new line and strengthening Campbell on its right +with all the men available. + +In view of his numbers, the enemy soon regained confidence in his +ability to overcome us, and in a little while again began his +flanking movements, his right passing around my left flank some +distance, and approaching our camp and transportation, which I had +forbidden to be moved out to the rear. Fearing that he would envelop +us and capture the camp and transportation, I determined to take the +offensive. Remembering a circuitous wood road that I had become +familiar with while making the map heretofore mentioned, I concluded +that the most effective plan would be to pass a small column around +the enemy's left, by way of this road, and strike his rear by a +mounted charge simultaneously with an advance of our main line on his +front. I knew that the attack in rear would be a most hazardous +undertaking, but in the face of such odds as the enemy had the +condition of affairs was most critical, and could be relieved, only +by a bold and radical change in our tactics; so I at once selected +four sabre companies, two from the Second Michigan and two from the +Second Iowa, and placing Captain Alger, of the former regiment, in +command of them, I informed him that I expected of them the quick and +desperate work that is usually imposed on a forlorn hope. + +To carry out the purpose now in view, I instructed Captain Alger to +follow the wood road as it led around the left of the enemy's +advancing forces, to a point where 'it joined the Blackland road, +about three miles from Booneville, and directed him, upon reaching +the Blackland road, to turn up it immediately, and charge the rear of +the enemy's line. Under no circumstances was he to deploy the +battalion, but charge in column right through whatever he came upon, +and report to me in front of Booneville, if at all possible for him +to get there. If he failed to break through the enemy's line, he was +to go ahead as far as he could, and then if any of his men were left, +and he was able to retreat, he was to do so by the same route he had +taken on his way out. To conduct him on this perilous service I sent +along a thin, sallow, tawny-haired Mississippian named Beene, whom I +had employed as a guide and scout a few days before, on account of +his intimate knowledge of the roads, from the public thoroughfares +down to the insignificant by-paths of the neighboring swamps. With +such guidance I felt sure that the column would get to the desired +point without delay, for there was no danger of its being lost or +misled by taking any of the many by-roads which traversed the dense +forests through which it would be obliged to pass. I also informed +Alger that I should take the reserve and join the main line in front +of Booneville for the purpose of making an advance of my whole force, +and that as a signal he must have his men cheer loudly when he struck +the enemy's rear, in order that my attack might be simultaneous with +his. + +I gave him one hour to go around and come back through the enemy, and +when he started I moved to the front with the balance of the reserve, +to put everything I had into the fight. This meant an inestimable +advantage to the enemy in case of our defeat, but our own safety +demanded the hazard. All along our attenuated line the fighting was +now sharp, and the enemy's firing indicated such numerical strength +that fear of disaster to Alger increased my anxiety terribly as the +time set for his cheering arrived and no sound of it was heard. + +Relying, however, on the fact that Beene's knowledge of the roads +would prevent his being led astray, and confident of Alger's +determination to accomplish the purpose for which he set out, as soon +as the hour was up I ordered my whole line forward. Fortunately, +just as this moment a locomotive and two cars loaded with grain for +my horses ran into Booneville from Corinth. I say fortunately, +because it was well known throughout the command that in the morning, +when I first discovered the large numbers of the enemy, I had called +for assistance; and my troops, now thinking that reinforcements had +arrived by rail from Rienzi, where a division of infantry was +encamped, and inspirated by this belief, advanced with renewed +confidence and wild cheering. Meantime I had the engineer of the +locomotive blow his whistle loudly, so that the enemy might also +learn that a train had come; and from the fact that in a few moments +he began to give way before our small force, I thought that this +strategem had some effect. Soon his men broke, and ran in the utmost +disorder over the country in every direction. I found later, +however, that his precipitous retreat was due to the pressure on his +left from the Second Iowa, in concert with the front attack of the +Second Michigan, and the demoralization wrought in his rear by Alger, +who had almost entirely accomplished the purpose of his expedition, +though he had failed to come through, or so near that I could hear +the signal agreed upon before leaving Booneville. + +After Alger had reached and turned up the Blackland road, the first +thing he came across was the Confederate headquarters; the officers +and orderlies about which he captured and sent back some distance to +a farm-house. Continuing on a gallop, he soon struck the rear of the +enemy's line, but was unable to get through; nor did he get near +enough for me to hear his cheering; but as he had made the distance +he was to travel in the time allotted, his attack and mine were +almost coincident, and the enemy, stampeded by the charges in front +and rear, fled toward Blackland, with little or no attempt to capture +Alger's command, which might readily have been done. Alger's +troopers soon rejoined me at Booneville, minus many hats, having +returned by their original route. They had sustained little loss +except a few men wounded and a few temporarily missing. Among these +was Alger himself, who was dragged from his saddle by the limb of a +tree that, in the excitement of the charge, he was unable to flank. +The missing had been dismounted in one way or another, and run over +by the enemy in his flight; but they all turned up later, none the +worse except for a few scratches and bruises. + +My effective strength in this fight was 827 all told, and Alger's +command comprised ninety officers and men. Chalmers's force was +composed of six regiments and two battalions, and though I have been +unable to find any returns from which to verify his actual numbers, +yet, from the statements of prisoners and from information obtained +from citizens along his line of march, it is safe to say that he had +in the action not less than five-thousand men. Our casualties were +not many--forty-one in all. His loss in killed and wounded was +considerable, his most severely wounded--forty men--falling into our +hands, having been left at farm-houses in the vicinity of the +battlefield. + +The victory in the face of such odds was most gratifying, and as it +justified my disinclination--in fact, refusal--to retire from +Booneville without fighting (for the purpose of saving my +transportation, as directed by superior authority when I applied in +the morning for reinforcements), it was to me particularly grateful. +It was also very valuable in, view of the fact that it increased the +confidence between the officers and men of my brigade and me, and +gave us for the balance of the month not only comparative rest, but +entire immunity from the dangers of a renewed effort to gobble my +isolated outpost. In addition to all this, commendation from my +immediate superiors was promptly tendered through oral and written +congratulations; and their satisfaction at the result of the battle +took definite form a few days later, in the following application for +my promotion, when, by an expedition to Ripley, Miss., most valuable +information as to the enemy's location and plans was captured: + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +"JULY 30, 1862.--3.05 P. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, +"Washington, D. C. + +"Brigadiers scarce; good ones scarce. Asboth goes on the month's +leave you gave him ten months since; Granger has temporary command. +The undersigned respectfully beg that you will obtain the promotion +of Sheridan. He is worth his weight in gold. His Ripley expedition +has brought us captured letters of immense value, as well as +prisoners, showing the rebel plans and dispositions, as you will +learn from District Commander. + +"W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General. +"C. C. SULLIVAN, " " +"G. GRANGER, " " +"W. L. ELLIOTT, " " +"A. ASBOTH, " " " + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +IN CAMP NEAR RIENZI--GENERAL GRANGER--A VALUABLE CAPTURE AT RIPLEY-- +RAIDING A CORNFIELD--REPULSING AN ATTACK--PRESENTED WITH THE BLACK +HORSE "RIENZI"--MEETING GENERAL GRANT--APPOINTED A BRIGADIER-GENERAL. + +After the battle of Booneville, it was decided by General Rosecrans, +on the advice of General Granger, that my position at Booneville was +too much exposed, despite the fact that late on the evening of the +fight my force had been increased by the addition of, a battery of +four guns and two companies of infantry, and by the Third Michigan +Cavalry, commanded by Colonel John K. Mizner; so I was directed to +withdraw from my post and go into camp near Rienzi, Mississippi, +where I could equally well cover the roads in front of the army, and +also be near General Asboth's division of infantry, which occupied a +line in rear of the town. This section of country, being higher and +more rolling than that in the neighborhood of Booneville, had many +advantages in the way of better camping-grounds, better grazing and +the like, but I moved with reluctance, because I feared that my +proximity to Asboth would diminish to a certain extent my +independence of command. + +General Asboth was a tall, spare, handsome man, with gray mustache +and a fierce look. He was an educated soldier, of unquestioned +courage, but the responsibilities of outpost duty bore rather heavily +on him, and he kept all hands in a state of constant worry in +anticipation of imaginary attacks. His ideas of discipline were not +very rigid either, and as by this time there had been introduced into +my brigade some better methods than those obtaining when it first +fell to my command, I feared the effect should he, have any control +over it, or meddle with its internal affairs. However, there was +nothing to do but to move to the place designated, but General +Granger, who still commanded the cavalry division to which the +brigade belonged, so arranged matters with General Rosecrans, who had +succeeded to the command of the Army of the Mississippi, that my +independence was to be undisturbed, except in case of a general +attack by the enemy. + +We went into camp near Rienzi, July 22, sending back to the general +field-hospital at Tuscumbia Springs all our sick--a considerable +number--stricken down by the malarial influences around Booneville. +In a few days the fine grazing arid abundance of grain for our +exhausted horses brought about their recuperation; and the many large +open fields in the vicinity gave opportunity for drills and parades, +which were much needed. I turned my attention to those disciplinary +measures which, on account of active work in the field, had been +necessarily neglected since the brigade had arrived at Pittsburg +Landing, in April; and besides, we had been busy in collecting +information by scouting parties and otherwise, in prosecution of the +purpose for which we were covering the main army. + +I kept up an almost daily correspondence with General Granger, +concerning the, information obtained by scouts and reconnoitring +parties, and he came often to Rienzi to see me in relation to this +and other matters. Previously I had not had much personal +association with Granger. While I was at Halleck's headquarters we +met on one or two occasions, and the day I joined the Second Michigan +at Farmington I saw him for a few moments, but, with such slight +exception, our intercourse had been almost exclusively official. He +had suggested my name, I was told, to Governor Blair, when the +Governor was in search of an officer of the regular army to appoint +to the colonelcy of the Second Michigan Cavalry, but his +recommendation must have been mainly based on the favorable opinions +he had heard expressed by General Halleck and by some of the officers +of his staff, rather than from any personal knowledge of my capacity. +Of course I was very grateful for this, but some of his +characteristics did not impress me favorably, and I sometimes wished +the distance between our camps greater. His most serious failing was +an uncontrollable propensity to interfere with and direct the minor +matters relating to the command, the details for which those under +him were alone responsible. Ill-judged meddling in this respect +often led to differences between us, only temporary it is true, but +most harassing to the subordinate, since I was compelled by the +circumstances of the situation not only invariably to yield my own +judgment, but many a time had to play peacemaker--smoothing down +ruffled feelings, that I knew had been excited by Granger's freaky +and spasmodic efforts to correct personally some trifling fault that +ought to have been left to a regimental or company commander to +remedy. Yet with all these small blemishes Granger had many good +qualities, and his big heart was so full of generous impulses and +good motives as to far outbalance his short-comings; and not- +withstanding the friction and occasional acerbity of our official +intercourse, we maintained friendly relations till his death. + +In pursuance of the fatal mistake made by dispersing Halleck's forces +after the fall of Corinth, General Don Carlos Buell's Army of the +Ohio had been started some time before on its march eastward toward +Chattanooga; and as this movement would be followed of course by a +manoeuvre on the part of the enemy, now at Tupelo under General +Braxton Bragg, either to meet Buell or frustrate his designs by some +counter-operation, I was expected to furnish, by scouting and all +other means available, information as to what was going on within the +Confederate lines. To do the work required, necessitated an increase +of my command, and the Seventh Kansas Cavalry was therefore added to +it, and my picket-line extended so as to cover from Jacinto +southwesterly to a point midway between Rienzi and Booneville, and +then northwesterly to the Hatchie River. Skirmishes between outposts +on this line were of frequent occurrence, with small results to +either side, but they were somewhat annoying, particularly in the +direction of Ripley, where the enemy maintained a considerable +outpost. Deciding to cripple if not capture this outpost, on the +evening of July 27, I sent out an expedition under Colonel Hatch, +which drove the enemy from the town of Ripley and took a few +prisoners, but the most valuable prize was in the shape of a package +of thirty-two private letters, the partial reading of which disclosed +to me the positive transfer from Mississippi of most of Bragg's army, +for the purpose of counteracting Buell's operations in northern +Alabama and East Tennessee. This decisive evidence was of the utmost +importance, and without taking time to read all the letters, I +forwarded them to General Granger July 28, in a despatch which +stated: "I deem it necessary to send them at once; the enemy is +moving in large force on Chattanooga." Other than this the results +of the expedition were few; and the enemy, having fled from Ripley +with but slight resistance, accompanied by almost all the +inhabitants, re-occupied the place next day after our people had +quitted it, and resumed in due time his annoying attacks on our +outposts, both sides trying to achieve something whenever occasion +offered. + +The prevalence of a severe drought had resulted in drying up many of +the streams within the enemy's lines, and, in consequence, he was +obliged to shift his camps often, and send his beef-cattle and mules +near his outposts for water. My scouts kept me well posted in regard +to the movements of both camps and herds; and a favorable opportunity +presenting itself, I sent an expedition on August 14 to gather in +some animals located on Twenty-Mile Creek, a stream always supplied +with water from a source of never-failing, springs. Our side met +with complete success in this instance, and when the expedition +returned, we were all made happy by an abundance of fresh beef, and +by some two hundred captured mules, that we thus added to our trains +at a time when draft animals were much needed. + +Rations for the men were now supplied in fair quantities, and the +only thing required to make us wholly contented was plenty of grain +for our animals. Because of the large number of troops then in West +Tennessee and about Corinth, the indifferent railroad leading down +from Columbus, Ky., was taxed to its utmost capacity to transport +supplies. The quantity of grain received at Corinth from the north +was therefore limited, and before reaching the different outposts, by +passing through intermediate depots of supply, it had dwindled to +insignificance. I had hopes, however, that this condition of things +might be ameliorated before long by gathering a good supply of corn +that was ripening in the neighborhood, and would soon, I thought, be +sufficiently hard to feed to my animals. Not far from my +headquarters there was a particularly fine field, which, with this +end in view, I had carefully protected through the milky stage, to +the evident disappointment of both Asboth's men and mine. They bore +the prohibition well while it affected only themselves, but the trial +was too great when it came to denying their horses; and men whose +discipline kept faith with my guards during the roasting-ear period +now fell from grace. Their horses were growing thin, and few could +withstand the mute appeals of their suffering pets; so at night the +corn, because of individual foraging, kept stealthily and steadily +vanishing, until the field was soon fringed with only earless stalks. +The disappearance was noticed, and the guard increased, but still the +quantity of corn continued to grow less, the more honest troopers +bemoaning the loss, and questioning the honor of those to whose +safekeeping it had been entrusted. Finally, doubtless under the +apprehension that through their irregularities the corn would all +disappear and find its way to the horses in accordance with the +stealthy enterprise of their owners, a general raid was made on the +field in broad daylight, and though the guard drove off the +marauders, I must admit that its efforts to keep them back were so +unsuccessful that my hopes for an equal distribution of the crop were +quickly blasted. One look at the field told that it had been swept +clean of its grain. Of course a great row occurred as to who was to +blame, and many arrests and trials took place, but there had been +such an interchanging of cap numbers and other insignia that it was +next to impossible to identify the guilty, and so much crimination +and acrimony grew out of the affair that it was deemed best to drop +the whole matter. + +On August 27 about half of the command was absent reconnoitring, I +having sent it south toward Tupelo, in the hope of obtaining some +definite information regarding a movement to Holly Springs of the +remainder of the Confederate army, under General Price, when about +mid-day I was suddenly aroused by excited cries and sounds of firing, +and I saw in a moment that the enemy was in my camp. He had come in +on my right flank from the direction of the Hatchie River, pell-mell +with our picket-post stationed about three miles out on the Ripley +road. The whole force of the enemy comprised about eight hundred, +but only his advance entered with my pickets, whom he had charged and +badly stampeded, without, on their part, the pretense of a fight in +behalf of those whom it was their duty to protect until proper +dispositions for defense could be made. The day was excessively hot, +one of those sultry debilitating days that had caused the suspending +of all military exercises; and as most of the men were lounging or +sleeping in their tents, we were literally caught napping. The alarm +spread instantly through the camp, and in a moment the command turned +out for action, somewhat in deshabille it is true, but none the less +effective, for every man had grabbed his rifle and cartridge-box at +the first alarm. Aided by a few shots from Captain Henry Hescock's +battery, we soon drove the intruders from our camp in about the same +disorder in which they had broken in on us. By this time Colonel +Hatch and Colonel Albert L. Lee had mounted two battalions each, and +I moved them out at a lively pace in pursuit, followed by a section +of the battery. No halt was called till we came upon the enemy's +main body, under Colonel Faulkner, drawn up in line of battle near +Newland's store. Opening on him with the two pieces of artillery, I +hurriedly formed line confronting him, and quickly and with but +little resistance drove him in confusion from the field. The sudden +turning of the tables dismayed Faulkner's men, and panic seizing +them, they threw away every loose article of arms or clothing of +which they could dismember themselves, and ran in the wildest +disorder in a mad effort to escape. As the chase went on the panic +increased, the clouds of dust from the road causing an intermingling +of friend and foe. In a little while the affair grew most ludicrous, +Faulkner's hatless and coatless men taking to the woods in such +dispersed order and so demoralized that a good many prisoners were +secured, and those of the enemy who escaped were hunted until dark. +When the recall was sounded, our men came in loaded down with plunder +in the shape of hats, haversacks, blankets, pistols, and shotguns, in +a quantity which amply repaid for the surprise of the morning, but +did not excuse the delinquent commander of our picket-guard, who a +few days later was brought to a realizing sense of his duty by a +court-martial. + +Shortly after this affair Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of the +Second Michigan Cavalry, presented me with the black horse called +Rienzi, since made historical from having been ridden by me in many +battles, conspicuously in the ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek, +which has been celebrated in the poem by T. Buchanan Read. This +horse was of Morgan stock, and then about three years old. He was +jet black, excepting three white feet, sixteen hands high, and +strongly built, with great powers of endurance. He was so active +that he could cover with ease five miles an hour at his natural +walking gait. The gelding had been ridden very seldom; in fact, +Campbell had been unaccustomed to riding till the war broke out, and, +I think, felt some disinclination to mount the fiery colt. Campbell +had an affection for him, however, that never waned, and would often +come to my headquarters to see his favorite, the colt being cared for +there by the regimental farrier, an old man named John Ashley, who +had taken him in charge when leaving Michigan, and had been his groom +ever since. Seeing that I liked the horse--I had ridden him on +several occasions--Campbell presented him to me on one of these +visits, and from that time till the close of the war I rode him +almost continuously, in every campaign and battle in which I took +part, without once finding him overcome by fatigue, though on many +occasions his strength was severely tested by long marches and short +rations. I never observed in him any vicious habit; a nervousness +and restlessness and switch of the tail, when everything about him +was in repose, being the only indication that he might be +untrustworthy. No one but a novice could be deceived by this, +however, for the intelligence evinced in every feature, and his +thoroughbred appearance, were so striking that any person accustomed +to horses could not misunderstand such a noble animal. But Campbell +thought otherwise, at least when the horse was to a certain degree +yet untrained, and could not be pursuaded to ride him; indeed, for +more than a year after he was given to me, Campbell still retained +suspicions of his viciousness, though, along with this mistrust, an +undiminished affection. Although he was several times wounded, this +horse escaped death in action; and living to a ripe old age, died in +1878, attended to the last with all the care and surrounded with +every comfort due the faithful service he had rendered. + +In moving from Corinth east toward Chattanooga, General Buell's army +was much delayed by the requirement that he should repair the Memphis +and Charleston railroad as he progressed. The work of repair obliged +him to march very slowly, and was of but little use when done, for +guerrillas and other bands of Confederates destroyed the road again +as soon as he had passed on. But worst of all, the time thus +consumed gave General Bragg the opportunity to reorganize and +increase his army to such an extent that he was able to contest the +possession of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. Consequently, the +movement of this army through Tennessee and Kentucky toward the Ohio +River--its objective points being Louisville and Cincinnati--was now +well defined, and had already rendered abortive General Buell's +designs on Chattanooga and East Tennessee. Therefore extraordinary +efforts on the part of the Government became necessary, and the +concentration of National troops at Louisville and Cincinnati to meet +the contingency of Bragg's reaching those points was an obvious +requirement. These troops were drawn from all sections in the West +where it was thought they could be spared, and among others I was +ordered to conduct thither--to Louisville or Cincinnati, as +subsequent developments might demand--my regiment, Hescock's battery, +the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, and the Thirty-sixth and Forty- +fourth Illinois regiments of infantry, known as the "Pea Ridge +Brigade." With this column I marched back to Corinth on the 6th of +September, 1862, for the purpose of getting railroad transportation +to Columbus, Kentucky. + +At Corinth I met General Grant, who by this time had been +reestablished in favor and command somewhat, General Halleck having +departed for Washington to assume command of the army as General-in- +Chief. Before and during the activity which followed his +reinstatement, General Grant had become familiar with my services +through the transmission to Washington of information I had furnished +concerning the enemy's movements, and by reading reports of my fights +and skirmishes in front, and he was loth to let me go. Indeed, he +expressed surprise at seeing me in Corinth, and said he had not +expected me to go; he also plainly showed that he was much hurt at +the inconsiderate way in which his command was being depleted. Since +I was of the opinion that the chief field of usefulness and +opportunity was opening up in Kentucky, I did not wish him to retain +me, which he might have done, and I impressed him with my conviction, +somewhat emphatically, I fear. Our conversation ended with my wish +gratified. I afterward learned that General Granger, whom General +Grant did not fancy, had suggested that I should take to Cincinnati +the main portion of Granger's command--the Pea Ridge Brigade--as well +as the Second Michigan Cavalry, of which I was still colonel. +We started that night, going by rail over the Mobile and Ohio road to +Columbus, Ky., where we embarked on steamboats awaiting us. These +boats were five in number, and making one of them my flag-ship, +expecting that we might come upon certain batteries reported to be +located upon the Kentucky shore of the Ohio, I directed the rest to +follow my lead. Just before reaching Caseyville, the captain of a +tin-clad gunboat that was patrolling the river brought me the +information that the enemy was in strong force at Caseyville, and +expressed a fear that my fleet could not pass his batteries. +Accepting the information as correct, I concluded to capture the +place before trying to pass up the river. Pushing in to the bank as +we neared the town, I got the troops ashore and moved on Caseyville, +in the expectation of a bloody fight, but was agreeably surprised +upon reaching the outskirts of the village by an outpouring of its +inhabitants--men, women, and children--carrying the Stars and +Stripes, and making the most loyal professions. Similar +demonstrations of loyalty had been made to the panic-stricken captain +of the gunboat when he passed down the river, but he did not stay to +ascertain their character, neither by landing nor by inquiry, for he +assumed that on the Kentucky bank of the river there could be no +loyalty. The result mortified the captain intensely; and deeming his +convoy of little further use, he steamed toward Cairo in quest of +other imaginary batteries, while I re-embarked at Caseyville, and +continued up the Ohio undisturbed. About three miles below +Cincinnati I received instructions to halt, and next day I was +ordered by Major-General H. G. Wright to take my troops back to +Louisville, and there assume command of the Pea Ridge Brigade, +composed of the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, Thirty-sixth and +Forty-fourth Illinois infantry, and of such other regiments as might +be sent me in advance of the arrival of General Buell's army. +When I reached Louisville I reported to Major-General William Nelson, +who was sick, and who received me as he lay in bed. He asked me why +I did not wear the shoulder-straps of my rank. I answered that I was +the colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry, and had on my appropriate +shoulder-straps. He replied that I was a brigadier-general for the +Booneville fight, July 1, and that I should wear the shoulder-straps +of that grade. I returned to my command and put it in camp; and as I +had no reluctance to wearing the shoulder-straps of a brigadier- +general, I was not long in procuring a pair, particularly as I was +fortified next day by receiving from Washington official information +of my appointment as a brigadier-general, to date from July 1, 1862, +the day of the battle of Booneville + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +GOOD ADVICE FROM GENERAL NELSON--HIS TRAGIC DEATH--PUTTING LOUISVILLE +IN A STATE OF DEFENSE--ASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF THE ELEVENTH +DIVISION--CAPTURE OF CHAPLIN HEIGHTS--BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE--REPORTED +AMONG THE KILLED--A THRILLING INCIDENT--GENERAL BUELL RELIEVED BY +GENERAL ROSECRANS. + +I reported to Major-General Nelson at the Galt House in Louisville, +September 14, 1862, who greeted me in the bluff and hearty fashion of +a sailor--for he had been in the navy till the breaking out of the +war. The new responsibilities that were now to fall upon me by +virtue of increased rank caused in my mind an uneasiness which, I +think, Nelson observed at the interview, and he allayed it by giving +me much good advice, and most valuable information in regard to +affairs in Kentucky, telling me also that he intended I should retain +in my command the Pea Ridge Brigade and Hescock's battery. This +latter assurance relieved me greatly, for I feared the loss of these +troops in the general redistribution which I knew must soon take +place; and being familiar with their valuable service in Missouri, +and having brought them up from Mississippi, I hoped they would +continue with me. He directed me to take position just below the +city with the Pea Ridge Brigade, Hescock's battery, and the Second +Michigan Cavalry, informing me, at the same time, that some of the +new regiments, then arriving under a recent call of the President for +volunteers, would also be assigned to my command. Shortly after the +interview eight new regiments and an additional battery joined me, +thus making good his promise of more troops. + +A few days later came Nelson's tragic end, shocking the whole +country. Those of us in camp outside of the city were startled on +the morning of September 29 by the news that General Jefferson C. +Davis, of the Union Army, had shot General Nelson at the Galt House, +and the wildest rumors in regard to the occurrence came thick and +fast; one to the effect that Nelson was dead, another having it that +he was living and had killed Davis, and still others reflecting on +the loyalty of both, it being supposed by the general public at first +that the difficulty between the two men had grown out of some +political rather than official or personal differences. When the +news came, I rode into the city to the Galt House to learn the +particulars, reaching there about 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Here I +learned that Nelson had been shot by Davis about two hours before, at +the foot of the main stairway leading from the corridor just beyond +the office to the second floor, and that Nelson was already dead. It +was almost as difficult to get reliable particulars of the matter at +the hotel as it had been in my camp, but I gathered that the two men +had met first at an early hour near the counter of the hotel office, +and that an altercation which had begun several days before in +relation to something official was renewed by Davis, who, attempting +to speak to Nelson in regard to the subject-matter of their previous +dispute, was met by an insulting refusal to listen. It now appears +that when Nelson made this offensive remark, Davis threw a small +paper ball that he was nervously rolling between his fingers into +Nelson's face, and that this insult was returned by Nelson slapping +Davis (Killed by a Brother Soldier.--Gen. J. B. Fry.) in the face. +But at the time, exactly what had taken place just before the +shooting was shrouded in mystery by a hundred conflicting stories, +the principal and most credited of which was that Davis had demanded +from Nelson an apology for language used in the original altercation, +and that Nelson's refusal was accompanied by a slap in the face, at +the same moment denouncing Davis as a coward. However this may be, +Nelson, after slapping Davis, moved toward the corridor, from which a +stairway led to the second floor, and just as he was about to ascend, +Davis fired with a pistol that he had obtained from some one near by +after the blow had been struck. The ball entered Nelson's breast +just above the heart, but his great strength enabled him to ascend +the stairway notwithstanding the mortal character of the wound, and +he did not fall till he reached the corridor on the second floor. He +died about half an hour later. The tragedy cast a deep gloom over +all who knew the men, for they both had many warm personal friends; +and affairs at Louisville had hardly recovered as yet from the +confused and discouraging condition which preceded the arrival of +General Buell's army. General Buell reported the killing of Nelson +to the authorities at Washington, and recommended the trial of Davis +by court-martial, but no proceedings were ever instituted against him +in either a civil or military court, so to this day it has not been +determined judicially who was the aggressor. Some months later Davis +was assigned to the command of a division in Buell's army after that +officer had been relieved from its command. + +Two Confederate armies, under General Kirby Smith and General Braxton +Bragg, had penetrated into Kentucky, the one under Smith by the way +of Cumberland Gap, the other and main army under Bragg by way of the +Sequatche Valley, Glasgow, and Mumfordsville. Glasgow was captured +by the enemy on the 17th of September, and as the expectation was +that Buell would reach the place in time to save the town, its loss +created considerable alarm in the North, for fears were now +entertained that Bragg would strike Louisville and capture the city +before Buell could arrive on the ground. It became necessary +therefore to put Louisville in a state of defense, and after the +cordon of principal works had been indicated, my troops threw up in +one night a heavy line of rifle-pits south of the city, from the +Bardstown pike to the river. The apprehended attack by Bragg never +came, however, for in the race that was then going on between him and +Buell on parallel roads, the Army of the Ohio outmarched the +Confederates, its advance arriving at Louisville September 25. + +General Buell immediately set about reorganizing the whole force, and +on September 29 issued an order designating the troops under my +command as the Eleventh Division, Army of the Ohio, and assigning +Brigadier-General J. T. Boyle to command the division, and me to +command one of its brigades. To this I could not object, of course, +for I was a brigadier-general of very recent date, and could hardly +expect more than a brigade. I had learned, however, that at least +one officer to whom a high command had been given--a corps--had not +yet been appointed a general officer by the President, and I +considered it somewhat unfair that I should be relegated to a +brigade, while men who held no commissions at all were being made +chiefs of corps and divisions; so I sought an interview with General +Buell's chief-of-staff, Colonel Fry, and, while not questioning +Buell's good intentions nor his pure motives, insisted that my rights +in the matter should be recognized. That same evening I was assigned +to the command of the Eleventh Division, and began preparing it at +once for a forward movement, which I knew must soon take place in the +resumption of offensive operations by the Army of the Ohio. + +During the interval from September 25 till October 1 there was among +the officers much criticism of General Buell's management of the +recent campaign, which had resulted in his retirement to Louisville; +and he was particularly censured by many for not offering battle to +General Bragg while the two armies were marching parallel to each +other, and so near that an engagement could have been brought on at +any one of several points--notably so at Glasgow, Kentucky, if there +had been a desire to join issue. It was asserted, and by many +conceded, that General Buell had a sufficient force to risk a fight. +He was much blamed for the loss of Mumfordsville also. The capture +of this point, with its garrison, gave Bragg an advantage in the race +toward the Ohio River, which odds would most likely have ensured the +fall of Louisville had they been used with the same energy and skill +that the Confederate commander displayed from Chattanooga to Glasgow; +but something always diverted General Bragg at the supreme moment, +and he failed to utilize the chances falling to him at this time, +for, deflecting his march to the north toward Bardstown, he left open +to Buell the direct road to Louisville by way of Elizabethtown. + +At Bardstown Bragg's army was halted while he endeavored to establish +a Confederate government in Kentucky by arranging for the +installation of a provisional governor at Lexington. Bragg had been +assured that the presence of a Confederate army in Kentucky would so +encourage the secession element that the whole State could be forced +into the rebellion and his army thereby largely increased; but he had +been considerably misled, for he now found that though much latent +sympathy existed for his cause, yet as far as giving active aid was +concerned, the enthusiasm exhibited by the secessionists of Kentucky +in the first year of the war was now replaced by apathy, or at best +by lukewarmness. So the time thus spent in political machinations +was wholly lost to Bragg; and so little reinforcement was added to +his army that it may be said that the recruits gained were not enough +to supply the deficiencies resulting from the recent toilsome marches +of the campaign. + +In the meanwhile Buell had arrived at Louisville, system had been +substituted for the chaos which had previously obtained there, and +orders were issued for an advance upon the enemy with the purpose of +attacking and the hope of destroying him within the limits of the +"blue grass" region, and, failing in that, to drive him from +Kentucky. The army moved October 1, 1862, and my division, now a +part of the Third Corps, commanded by General C. C. Gilbert, marched +directly on Bardstown, where it was thought the enemy would make a +stand, but Bragg's troops retreated toward Perryville, only resisting +sufficiently to enable the forces of General Kirby Smith to be drawn +in closer--they having begun a concentration at Frankfort--so they +could be used in a combined attack on Louisville as soon as the +Confederate commander's political projects were perfected. + +Much time was consumed by Buell's army in its march on Perryville, +but we finally neared it on the evening of October 7. During the +day, Brigadier-General Robert B. Mitchell's division of Gilbert's +corps was in the advance on the Springfield pike, but as the enemy +developed that he was in strong force on the opposite side of a small +stream called Doctor's Creek, a tributary of Chaplin River, my +division was brought up and passed to the front. It was very +difficult to obtain water in this section of Kentucky, as a drought +had prevailed for many weeks, and the troops were suffering so for +water that it became absolutely necessary that we should gain +possession of Doctor's Creek in order to relieve their distress. +Consequently General Gilbert, during the night, directed me to push +beyond Doctor's Creek early the next morning. At daylight on the 8th +I moved out Colonel Dan McCook's brigade and Barnett's battery for +the purpose, but after we had crossed the creek with some slight +skirmishing, I found that we could not hold the ground unless we +carried and occupied a range of hills, called Chaplin Heights, in +front of Chaplin River. As this would project my command in the +direction of Perryville considerably beyond the troops that were on +either flank, I brought up Laiboldt's brigade and Hescock's battery +to strengthen Colonel McCook. Putting both brigades into line we +quickly carried the Heights, much to the surprise of the enemy, I +think, for he did not hold on to the valuable ground as strongly as +he should have done. This success not only ensured us a good supply +of water, but also, later in the day, had an important bearing in the +battle of Perryville. After taking the Heights, I brought up the +rest of my division and intrenched, without much difficulty, by +throwing up a strong line of rifle-pits, although the enemy's +sharpshooters annoyed us enough to make me order Laiboldt's brigade +to drive them in on the main body. This was successfully done in a +few minutes, but in pushing them back to Chaplin River, we discovered +the Confederates forming a line of battle on the opposite bank, with +the apparent purpose of an attack in force, so I withdrew the brigade +to our intrenchments on the crest and there awaited the assault. + +While this skirmishing was going on, General Gilbert--the corps +commander--whose headquarters were located on a hill about a mile +distant to the rear, kept sending me messages by signal not to bring +on an engagement. I replied to each message that I was not bringing +on an engagement, but that the enemy evidently intended to do so, and +that I believed I should shortly be attacked. Soon after returning +to the crest and getting snugly fixed in the rifle-pits, my attention +was called to our left, the high ground we occupied affording me in +that direction an unobstructed view. I then saw General A. McD. +McCook's corps--the First-advancing toward Chaplin River by the +Mackville road, apparently unconscious that the Confederates were +present in force behind the stream. I tried by the use of signal +flags to get information of the situation to these troops, but my +efforts failed, and the leading regiments seemed to approach the +river indifferently prepared to meet the sudden attack that speedily +followed, delivered as it was from the chosen position of the enemy. +The fury of the Confederate assault soon halted this advance force, +and in a short time threw it into confusion, pushed it back a +considerable distance, and ultimately inflicted upon it such loss of +men and guns as to seriously cripple McCook's corps, and prevent for +the whole day further offensive movement on his part, though he +stoutly resisted the enemy's assaults until 4 o'clock in the +afternoon. + +Seeing McCook so fiercely attacked, in order to aid him I advanced +Hescock's battery, supported by six regiments, to a very good +position in front of a belt of timber on my extreme left, where an +enfilading fire could be opened on that portion of the enemy +attacking the right of the First Corps, and also on his batteries +across Chaplin River. But at this juncture he placed two batteries +on my right and began to mass troops behind them, and General +Gilbert, fearing that my intrenched position on the heights might be +carried, directed me to withdraw Hescock and his supports and return +them to the pits. My recall was opportune, for I had no sooner got +back to my original line than the Confederates attacked me furiously, +advancing almost to my intrenchments, notwithstanding that a large +part of the ground over which they had to move was swept by a heavy +fire of canister from both my batteries. Before they had quite +reached us, however, our telling fire made them recoil, and as they +fell back, I directed an advance of my whole division, bringing up my +reserve regiments to occupy the crest of the hills; Colonel William +P. Carlin's brigade of Mitchell's division meanwhile moving forward +on my right to cover that flank. This advance pressed the enemy to +Perryville, but he retired in such good order that we gained nothing +but some favorable ground that enabled me to establish my batteries +in positions where they could again turn their attention to the +Confederates in front of McCook, whose critical condition was shortly +after relieved, however, by a united pressure of Gilbert's corps +against the flank of McCook's assailants, compelling them to retire +behind Chaplin River. + +The battle virtually ended about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, though +more or less desultory firing continued until dark. Considering the +severity of the engagement on McCook's front, and the reverses that +had befallen him, I question if, from that part of the line, much +could have been done toward retrieving the blunders of the day, but +it did seem to me that, had the commander of the army been able to be +present on the field, he could have taken advantage of Bragg's final +repulse, and there would have remained in our hands more than the +barren field. But no attempt was made to do anything more till next +morning, and then we secured little except the enemy's killed and +most severely wounded. + +The operations of my division during the engagement pleased. General +Gilbert very much, and he informed me that he would relax a rigidly +enforced order which General Buell had issued some days before, +sufficiently to permit my trains to come to the front and supply my +almost starving troops with rations. The order in question was one +of those issued, doubtless with a good intent, to secure generally +the safety of our trains, but General Gilbert was not elastic, and on +the march he had construed the order so illiberally that it was next +to impossible to supply the men with food, and they were particularly +short in this respect on the eve of the battle. I had then +endeavored to persuade him to modify his iron-clad interpretation of +the order, but without effect, and the only wagons we could bring up +from the general parks in rear were ambulances and those containing +ammunition. So to gain access to our trains was a great boon, and at +that moment a more welcome result than would have been a complete +victory minus this concession. + +When the battle ceased General Gilbert asked me to join him at +Buell's headquarters, which were a considerable distance to the rear, +so after making some dispositions for the evening I proceeded there +as requested. I arrived just as Buell was about to sit down to his +supper, and noticing that he was lame, then learned that he had been +severely injured by a recent fall from his horse. He kindly invited +me to join him at the table, an invitation which I accepted with +alacrity, enjoying the meal with a relish known only to a very-hungry +man, for I had eaten nothing since morning. Of course the events of +the day were the chief topic of discussion--as they were during my +stay at headquarters--but the conversation indicated that what had +occurred was not fully realized, and I returned to my troops +impressed with the belief that General Buell and his staff-officers +were unconscious of the magnitude of the battle that had just been +fought. + +It had been expected by Buell that he would fight the enemy on the +9th of October, but the Confederates disposed of that proposition by +attacking us on the 8th, thus disarranging a tactical conception +which, with our superior numbers, would doubtless have proved +successful had it not been anticipated by an enterprising foe. +During the battle on the 8th the Second Corps, under General Thomas +L. Crittenden, accompanied by General George H. Thomas, lay idle the +whole day for want of orders, although it was near enough to the +field to take an active part in the fight; and, moreover, a large +part of Gilbert's corps was unengaged during the pressure on McCook. +Had these troops been put in on the enemy's left at any time after he +assaulted McCook, success would have been beyond question; but there +was no one on the ground authorized to take advantage of the +situation, and the battle of Perryville remains in history an example +of lost opportunities. This was due in some measure probably to +General Buell's accident, but is mainly attributable to the fact that +he did not clearly apprehend Bragg's aim, which was to gain time to +withdraw behind Dick's River all the troops he had in Kentucky, for +the Confederate general had no idea of risking the fate of his army +on one general battle at a place or on a day to be chosen by the +Union commander. + +Considering the number of troops actually engaged, the losses to +Buell were severe, amounting to something over five thousand in +killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed were two brigade +commanders of much promise--General James S. Jackson and General +William R. Terrill. McCook's corps lost twelve guns, some of which +were recovered next day. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded we +never learned, but it must have equalled ours; and about four +thousand prisoners, consisting principally of sick and wounded, fell +into our hands. In the first report of the battle sent North to the +newspapers I was reported among the killed; but I was pleased to +notice, when the papers reached us a few days later, that the error +had been corrected before my obituary could be written. + +The enemy retired from our front the night of the 8th, falling back +on Harrodsburg to form a junction with Kirby Smith, and by taking +this line of retreat opened to us the road to Danville and the chance +for a direct march against his depot of supplies at Bryantsville. We +did not take advantage of this opening, however, and late in the day- +-on the 9th--my division marched in pursuit, in the direction of +Harrodsburg, which was the apex of a triangle having for its base a +line from Perryville to Danville. The pursuit was slow, very slow, +consuming the evening of the 9th and all of the 10th and 11th. By +cutting across the triangle spoken of above, just south of the apex, +I struck the Harrodsburg-Danville road, near Cave Springs, joining +there Gilbert's left division, which had preceded me and marched +through Harrodsburg. Here we again rested until the intention of the +enemy could be divined, and we could learn on which side of Dick's +River he would give us battle. A reconnoissance sent toward the +Dickville crossing developed to a certainty that we should not have +another engagement, however; for it disclosed the fact that Bragg's +army had disappeared toward Camp Dick Robinson, leaving only a small +rear-guard at Danville, which in turn quickly fled in the direction +of Lancaster, after exchanging a few shots with Hescock's battery. + +While this parting salute of deadly projectiles was going on, a +little, daughter of Colonel William J. Landram, whose home was in +Danville, came running out from his house and planted a small +national flag on one of Hescock's guns. The patriotic act was so +brave and touching that it thrilled all who witnessed the scene; and +until the close of the war, when peace separated the surviving +officers and men of the battery, that little flag was protected and +cherished as a memento of the Perryville campaign. + +Pursuit of the enemy was not continued in force beyond Crab Orchard, +but some portions of the army kept at Bragg's heels until he crossed +the Cumberland River, a part of his troops retiring to Tennessee by +way of Cumberland Gap, but the major portion through Somerset. As +the retreat of Bragg transferred the theatre of operations back to +Tennessee, orders were now issued for a concentration of Buell's army +at Bowling Green, with a view to marching it to Nashville, and my +division moved to that point without noteworthy incident. I reached +Bowling Green with a force much reduced by the losses sustained in +the battle of Perryville and by sickness. I had started from +Louisville on October 1 with twelve regiments of infantry--four old +and eight new ones--and two batteries, but many poor fellows, +overcome by fatigue, and diseases induced by the heat, dust, and +drought of the season, had to be left at roadside hospitals. This +was particularly the case with the new regiments, the men of which, +much depressed by homesickness, and not yet inured to campaigning, +fell easy victims to the hardships of war. + +At Bowling Green General Buell was relieved, General W. S. Rosecrans +succeeding him. The army as a whole did not manifest much regret at +the change of commanders, for the campaign from Louisville on was +looked upon generally as a lamentable failure, yet there were many +who still had the utmost confidence in General Buell, and they +repelled with some asperity the reflections cast upon him by his +critics. These admirers held him blameless throughout for the +blunders of the campaign, but the greater number laid every error at +his door, and even went to the absurdity of challenging his loyalty +in a mild way, but they particularly charged incompetency at +Perryville, where McCook's corps was so badly crippled while nearly +30,000 Union troops were idle on the field, or within striking +distance. With these it was no use to argue that Buell's accident +stood in the way of his activity, nor that he did not know that the +action had assumed the proportions of a battle. The physical +disability was denied or contested, but even granting this, his +detractors claimed that it did not excuse his ignorance of the true +condition of the fight, and finally worsted his champions by pointing +out that Bragg's retreat by way of Harrodsburg beyond Dick's River so +jeopardized the Confederate army, that had a skillful and energetic +advance of the Union troops been made, instead of wasting precious +time in slow and unnecessary tactical manoeuvres, the enemy could +have been destroyed before he could quit the State of Kentucky. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +MOVING TO BOWLING GREEN--JAMES CARD, THE SCOUT AND GUIDE--GENERAL +SILL--COLONEL SCHAEFER--COLONEL G. W. ROBERTS--MOVEMENT ON +MURFREESBORO'--OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF STONE RIVER. + +My division had moved from Crab Orchard to Bowling Green by easy +marches, reaching this place November 1. General Rosecrans assumed +command of the department October 30, at Louisville, and joined the +army November 2. There had been much pressure brought to bear on +General Buell to induce him to take measures looking to the occupancy +of East Tennessee, and the clamor to this end from Washington still +continued; but now that Bragg was south of the Cumberland River, in a +position threatening Nashville, which was garrisoned by but a small +force, it was apparent to every one at all conversant with the +situation that a battle would have to be fought somewhere in Middle +Tennessee. So, notwithstanding the pressure from Washington, the +army was soon put in motion for Nashville, and when we arrived there +my division went into camp north of the river, on a plateau just +outside the little town of Edgefield, until the movements of the +enemy should be further developed. + +While in this camp, on the plantation of Mr. Hobson, there came to my +headquarters one morning an East Tennessean named James Card, who +offered to the Union cause his services in any capacity in which they +might be made useful. This offer, and the relation of his personal +history, were given with such sincerity of speech and manner that in +a short time I became convinced of his honesty of purpose. He was a +small, active, busy man, with a determined way about him, and his +countenance indicated great intelligence. He gave minute information +that was of inestimable value to me regarding East and Middle +Tennessee and northern Georgia, for, with a view to the army's future +movements, I was then making a study of the topography of this +region, and posting myself as to Middle Tennessee, for all knew this +would be the scene of active operations whenever the campaign was +resumed. This man, like most of the East Tennesseans whom I had met, +was intensely loyal and patriotic, and the interview led in a few +days to his employment as a scout and guide, and subsequently to the +engaging in the same capacity of two of his brothers, who were good +men; but not quite as active nor so intelligent as he was. Card had +been a colporter, having pedled books, especially religious tracts, +over all Middle and East Tennessee and Georgia, assisted by his +brothers at times, and was therefore thoroughly familiar with these +regions, their roads and inhabitants. He also preached to country +congregations occasionally, when ministers were scarce, and I have no +doubt often performed the functions of family physician in the +mountain district. Thus his opportunities were great; and the loyal +people in every section of the country being well known to him and +his brothers, the three began, at this time, a system of scouting and +investigation which bore its first-fruits in specifically locating +the different divisions of Bragg's army, with statements of their +strength and condition, and all with so much accuracy that I +thereafter felt reasonably sure that I could at all times procure +such knowledge of the enemy's operations as would well equip me for +any contingency that might arise. + +By the middle of November the enemy, having assembled his forces in +Middle Tennessee, showed considerable boldness, and it became +necessary to rearrange the Union lines; so my troops were moved to +the south side of the river, out on the Murfreesboro' pike, to Mill +Creek, distant from Nashville about seven miles. While we were in +camp on Mill Creek the army was reorganized, and General Joshua W. +Sill, at his own request, was assigned to my division, and took +command of Colonel Nicholas Greusel's brigade. My division became at +the same time the Third Division, Right Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps, +its three brigades of four regiments each being respectively +commanded by General Sill, Colonel Frederick Schaefer and Colonel Dan +McCook; but a few days later Colonel George W. Roberts's brigade, +from the garrison at Nashville, was substituted for McCook's. + +General Sill was a classmate of mine at the Military Academy, having +graduated in 1853. On graduating he was appointed to the Ordnance +Corps, and served in that department at various arsenals and ordnance +depots throughout the country till early in 1861, when he resigned to +accept a professorship of mathematics and civil engineering at the +Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. At the breaking out +of the war he immediately tendered his services to the Government, +and soon rose to the colonelcy of the Thirty-Third Ohio Volunteers, +and afterward to the rank of brigadier-general. I knew him well, and +was glad that he came to my division, though I was very loth to +relieve Colonel Greusel, of the Thirty-Sixth Illinois, who had +already indicated much military skill and bravery, and at the battle +of Perryville had handled his men with the experience of a veteran. +Sill's modesty and courage were exceeded only by a capacity that had +already been demonstrated in many practical ways, and his untimely +death, almost within a month of his joining me, abruptly closed a +career which, had it been prolonged a little more, not only would +have shed additional lustre on his name, but would have been of +marked benefit to his country. + +Colonel Schaefer, of the Second Missouri Infantry, had been absent on +sick-leave during the Kentucky campaign, but about this date he +returned to duty, and by seniority fell in command of the second +brigade. He was of German birth, having come from Baden, where, +prior to 1848, he had been a non-commissioned officer in the service +of his State. He took part as an insurgent in the so-called +revolution which occurred at Baden in that year, and, compelled to +emigrate on the suppression of the insurrection, made his way to this +country and settled in St. Louis. Here the breaking out of the war +found him, and through the personal interest which General Sigel took +in him he was commissioned a colonel of volunteers. He had had a +pretty fair education, a taste for the military profession, and was +of tall and slender build, all of which gave him a student-like +appearance. He was extremely excitable and nervous when anticipating +a crisis, but always calmed down to cool deliberation when the +critical moment came. With such a man I could not be less than well +satisfied, although the officer whom he replaced--Colonel Laiboldt-- +had performed efficient service and shown much capacity in the recent +campaign. + +Colonel G. W. Roberts, of the Forty-Second Illinois Infantry, also +came to me in the reorganization. He was an ideal soldier both in +mind and body. He was young, tall, handsome, brave, and dashing, and +possessed a balance-wheel of such good judgment that in his sphere of +action no occasion could arise from which he would not reap the best +results. But he too was destined to lay, down his life within a few +days, and on the same fatal field. His brigade had been performing +garrison duty in Nashville during the siege of that city while +Buell's army was in Kentucky, but disliking the prospect of +inactivity pending the operations opening before us, Roberts had +requested and obtained a transfer to the army in the field. His +brigade relieved Colonel Dan McCook's, the latter reluctantly joining +the garrison at Nashville, every one in it disappointed and disgusted +that the circumstances existing at this time should necessitate their +relegation to the harassing and tantalizing duty of protecting our +depots and line of supply. + +I was fortunate in having such brigade commanders, and no less +favored in the regimental and battery commanders. They all were not +only patriots, but soldiers, and knowing that discipline must be one +of the most potent factors in bringing to a successful termination, +the mighty contest in which our nation was struggling for existence, +they studied and practiced its methods ceaselessly, inspiring with +the same spirit that pervaded themselves the loyal hearts of their +subordinate officers and men. All worked unremittingly in the camp +at Mill Creek in preparing for the storm, which now plainly indicated +its speedy coming. Drills, parades, scouts, foraging expeditions, +picket and guard duty, made up the course in this school of +instruction, supplemented by frequent changes in the locations of the +different brigades, so that the division could have opportunity to +learn to break camp quickly and to move out promptly on the march. +Foraging expeditions were particularly beneficial in this respect, +and when sent out, though absent sometimes for days, the men went +without tents or knapsacks, equipped with only one blanket and their +arms, ammunition, and rations, to teach them to shift for themselves +with slender means in the event of necessity. The number of +regimental and headquarters wagons was cut down to the lowest +possible figure, and everything made compact by turning into the +supply and ammunition trains of the division all surplus +transportation, and restricting the personal baggage of officers to +the fewest effects possible. + +My own staff also was somewhat reorganized and increased at Mill +Creek, and though it had been perfectly satisfactory before, yet, on +account of the changes of troops that had occurred in the command, I +found it necessary to replace valuable officers in some instances, +and secure additional ones in others. The gathering of information +about the enemy was also industriously pursued, and Card and his +brothers were used constantly on expeditions within the Confederate +lines, frequently visiting Murfreesboro', Sparta, Tullahoma, +Shelbyville, and other points. What they learned was reported to +army headquarters, often orally through me or personally communicated +by Card himself, but much was forwarded in official letters, +beginning with November 24, when I transmitted accurate information +of the concentration of Bragg's main force at Tullahoma. Indeed, +Card kept me so well posted as to every movement of the enemy, not +only with reference to the troops in my immediate front, but also +throughout his whole army, that General Rosecrans placed the most +unreserved reliance on all his statements, and many times used them +to check and correct the reports brought in by his own scouts. + +Slight skirmishes took place frequently during this period, and now +and then heavy demonstrations were made in the neighborhood of +Nolensville by reconnoitring parties from both armies, but none of +these ever grew into a battle. These affairs sprung from the desire +of each side to feel his antagonist, and had little result beyond +emphasizing the fact that behind each line of pickets lay a massed +and powerful army busily preparing for the inevitable conflict and +eager for its opening. So it wore on till the evening of December +25, 1862; then came the order to move forward. + +General Rosecrans, in the reorganization of the army, had assigned +Major-General A. McD. McCook to command the right wing, Major-General +George H. Thomas the centre, and Major-General T. L. Crittenden the +left wing. McCook's wing was made up of three divisions, commanded +in order of rank by Brigadier-General Jeff. C. Davis; Brigadier- +General R. W. Johnson, and Brigadier-General P. H. Sheridan. +Although the corps nomenclature established by General Buell was +dropped, the grand divisions into which he had organized the army at +Louisville were maintained, and, in fact, the conditions established +then remained practically unaltered, with the exception of the +interchange of some brigades, the transfer of a few general officers +from one wing or division to another, and the substitution of General +Thomas for Gilbert as a corps commander. The army was thus compact +and cohesive, undisturbed by discord and unembarrassed by jealousies +of any moment; and it may be said that under a commander who, we +believed, had the energy and skill necessary to direct us to success, +a national confidence in our invincibility made us all keen for a +test of strength with the Confederates. We had not long to wait. + +Early on the morning of December 26, 1862, in a heavy rain, the army +marched, the movement being directed on Murfreesboro', where the +enemy had made some preparation to go into winter-quarters, and to +hold which town it was hoped he would accept battle. General Thomas +moved by the Franklin and Wilson pikes, General Crittenden by the +Murfreesboro' pike, through Lavergne, and General McCook by the +Nolensville pike--Davis's division in advance. As McCook's command +neared Nolensville, I received a message from Davis informing me that +the Confederates were in considerable force, posted on a range of +hills in his front, and requesting me to support him in an attack he +was about to make. When the head of my column arrived at Nolensville +I began massing my troops on the right of the road, and by the time +this formation was nearly completed Davis advanced, but not meeting +with sufficient resistance to demand active assistance from me, he +with his own command carried the hills, capturing one piece of +artillery. This position of the Confederates was a strong one, +defending Knob's Gap, through which the Nolensville and Triune pike +passed. On the 27th Johnson's division, followed by mine, advanced +to Triune, and engaged in a severe skirmish near that place, but my +troops were not called into action, the stand made by the enemy being +only for the purpose of gaining time to draw in his outlying troops, +which done, he retired toward Murfreesboro'. I remained inactive at +Triune during the 28th, but early on the 29th moved out by the Bole +Jack road to the support of, Davis in his advance to Stewart's Creek, +and encamped at Wilkinson's crossroads, from which point to +Murfreesboro', distant about six miles, there was a good turnpike. +The enemy had sullenly resisted the progress of Crittenden and McCook +throughout the preceding three days, and as it was thought probable +that he might offer battle at Stewart's Creek, Thomas, in pursuance +of his original instructions looking to just such a contingency, had +now fallen into the centre by way of the Nolensville crossroads. + +On the morning of the 3oth I had the advance of McCook's corps on the +Wilkinson pike, Roberts's brigade leading. At first only slight +skirmishing took place, but when we came within about three miles of +Murfreesboro' the resistance of the enemy's pickets grew serious, and +a little further on so strong that I had to put in two regiments to +push them back. I succeeded in driving them about half a mile, when +I was directed by McCook to form line of battle and place my +artillery in position so that I could act in concert with Davis's +division, which he wished to post on my right in the general line he +desired to take up. In obedience to these directions I deployed on +the right of, and oblique to the Wilkinson pike, with a front of four +regiments, a second line of four regiments within short supporting +distance, and a reserve of one brigade in column of regiments to the +rear of my centre. All this time the enemy kept up a heavy artillery +and musketry fire on my skirmishers, he occupying, with his +sharpshooters, beyond some open fields, a heavy belt of timber to my +front and right, where it was intended the left of Davis should +finally rest. To gain this point Davis was ordered to swing his +division into it in conjunction with a wheeling movement of my right +brigade, until our continuous line should face nearly due east. This +would give us possession of the timber referred to, and not only rid +us of the annoying fire from the skirmishers screened by it, but also +place us close in to what was now developing as Bragg's line of +battle. The movement was begun about half-past 2, and was +successfully executed, after a stubborn resistance. In this +preliminary affair the enemy had put in one battery of artillery, +which was silenced in a little while, however, by Bush's and +Hescock's guns. By sundown I had taken up my prescribed position, +facing almost east, my left (Roberts's brigade) resting on the +Wilkinson pike, the right (Sill's brigade) in the timber we had just +gained, and the reserve brigade (Schaefer's) to the rear of my +centre, on some rising ground in the edge of a strip of woods behind +Houghtaling's and Hescock's batteries. Davis's division was placed +in position on my right, his troops thrown somewhat to the rear, so +that his line formed nearly a right angle with mine, while Johnson's +division formed in a very exposed position on the right of Davis, +prolonging the general line just across the Franklin pike. + +The centre, under Thomas, had already formed to my left, the right of +Negley's division joining my left in a cedar thicket near the +Wilkinson pike, while Crittenden's corps was posted on the left of +Thomas, his left resting on Stone River, at a point about two miles +and a half from Murfreesboro'. + +The precision that had characterized every manoeuvre of the past +three days, and the exactness with which each corps and division fell +into its allotted place on the evening of the 30th, indicated that at +the outset of the campaign a well-digested plan of operations had +been prepared for us; and although the scheme of the expected battle +was not known to subordinates of my grade, yet all the movements up +to this time had been so successfully and accurately made as to give +much promise for the morrow, and when night fell there was general +anticipation of the best results to the Union army. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +ASSAULT ON OUR RIGHT FLANK--OCCUPYING A NEW POSITION--THE ENEMY +CHECKED--TERRIBLE LOSS OF OFFICERS--AMMUNITION GIVES OUT-- +RECONSTRUCTING THE LINE--COLLECTING THE WOUNDED AND BURYING THE DEAD- +-DEALING WITH COWARDS--RESULTS OF THE VICTORY. + +The enemy under Bragg lay between us and stone River in order of +battle, his general line conforming to the course of that stream. In +my immediate front he appeared to be established in strong force in a +dense cedar wood, just beyond an open valley, which varied from two +hundred to four hundred yards in width, the cedars extending the +entire length of the valley. From the events of the day and evening +of the 3oth, it was apparent that the two armies were in close +proximity, and orders received during the night revealed the fact +that Rosecrans intended to attack by throwing his left on the enemy's +right, with the expectation of driving it in toward Murfreesboro', so +that the right of Crittenden's corps could attack Bragg's centre in +reverse, while Thomas supported Crittenden by a simultaneous front +assault; and from the movements of the enemy at daylight next +morning, it was plainly indicated that Bragg had planned to swing his +left on our right by an exactly similar manoeuvre, get possession of +the railroad and the Nashville pike, and if possible cut us off from +our base at Nashville. The conceptions in the minds of the two +generals were almost identical; but Bragg took the initiative, +beginning his movement about an hour earlier than the time set by +Rosecrans, which gained him an immense advantage in execution in the +earlier stages of the action. + +During the evening, feeling keenly all the solicitude which +attends one in anticipation of a battle, I examined my position with +great care, inspecting its whole length several times to remedy any +defects that might exist, and to let the men see that I was alive to +their interests and advantages. After dark, I went back to the rear +of my reserve brigade, and establishing my headquarters behind the +trunk of a large fallen tree, which would shelter me somewhat from +the cold December wind, lay down beside a small camp-fire to get some +rest. + +At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 31st General Sill came back to me +to report that on his front a continuous movement of infantry and +artillery had been going on all night within the Confederate lines, +and that he was convinced that Bragg was massing on our right with +the purpose of making an attack from that direction early in the +morning. After discussing for a few minutes the probabilities of +such a course on the part of the enemy, I thought McCook should be +made acquainted with what was going on, so Sill and I went back to +see him at his headquarters, not far from the Griscom House, where we +found him sleeping on some straw in the angle of a worm-fence. I +waked him up and communicated the intelligence, and our consequent +impressions. He talked the matter over with us for some little time, +but in view of the offensive-defensive part he was to play in the +coming battle, did not seem to think that there was a necessity for +any further dispositions than had already been taken. He said that +he thought Johnson's division would be able to take care of the +right, and seemed confident that the early assault which was to be +made from Rosecrans's left would anticipate and check the designs +which we presaged. We two then returned to my little camp-fire +behind the log, and as we continued talking of what might be expected +from the indications on the right, and Sill becoming more anxious, I +directed two regiments from the reserve to report to him, that they +might be placed within very short supporting distance of his line. +He then rejoined his brigade, better satisfied, but still adhering to +the belief he had expressed when first making his report. + +Long before dawn my division breakfasted, and was assembled under +arms, the infantry in line, the cannoneers at their pieces, but while +we were thus preparing, all the recent signs of activity in the +enemy's camp were hushed, a death-like stillness prevailing in the +cedars to our front. Shortly after daylight General Hardee opened +the engagement, just as Sill had predicted, by a fierce attack on +Johnson's division, the extreme right of the Union line. Immediate +success attending this assault, Hardee extended the attack gradually +along in front of Davis, hip movement taking the form of a wheel to +the right, the pivot being nearly opposite the left of my division. +Johnson's division soon gave way, and two of Davis's brigades were +forced to fall back with it, though stubbornly resisting the +determined and sweeping onset. + +In the meantime the enemy had also attacked me, advancing across an +old cotton-field in Sill's front in heavy masses, which were +furiously opened upon by Bush's battery from Sill's line, and by +Hescock's and Houghtaling's batteries, which had an oblique fire on +the field from a commanding position in rear of my centre. The +effect of this fire on the advancing column was terrible, but it +continued on till it reached the edge of the timber where Sill's +right lay, when my infantry opened at a range of not over fifty +yards. For a short time the Confederates withstood the fire, but +then wavered, broke, and fell back toward their original line. As +they retired, Sill's brigade followed in a spirited charge, driving +them back across the open ground and behind their intrenchments. In +this charge the gallant Sill was killed; a rifle ball passing through +his upper lip and penetrating the brain. Although this was a heavy +loss, yet the enemy's discomfiture was such as to give us an hour's +time, and as Colonel Greusel, Thirty-sixth Illinois, succeeded to +Sill's command, I directed him, as he took charge, to recall the +brigade to its original position, for the turning-column on my +extreme right was now assuming the most menacing attitude, and it was +urgently necessary to prepare for it. + +When that portion of the enemy driven back by Sill recovered from its +repulse it again advanced to the attack, this time directing its +efforts chiefly upon my extreme right, and the front of Woodruff's +brigade of Davis's division, which brigade still held on in its first +position. In front of my centre the Confederates were again driven +back, but as the assault on Woodruff was in conjunction with an +advance of the column that had forced Johnson to retire, Woodruff was +compelled unfortunately to give way, and two regiments on the right +of my line went with him, till they rallied on the two reserve +regiments which, in anticipation of the enemy's initiatory attack I +had sent to Sill's rear before daylight. + +Both Johnson's and Davis's divisions were now practically gone from +our line, having retired with a loss of all formation, and they were +being closely pursued by the enemy, whose columns were following the +arc of a circle that would ultimately carry him in on my rear. In +consequence of the fact that this state of things would soon subject +me to a fire in reverse, I hastily withdrew Sill's brigade and the +reserve regiments supporting it, and ordered Roberts's brigade, which +at the close of the enemy's second repulse had changed front toward +the south and formed in column of regiments, to cover the withdrawal +by a charge on the Confederates as they came into the timber where my +right had originally rested. Roberts made the charge at the proper +time, and was successful in checking the enemy's advance, thus giving +us a breathing-spell, during which I was able to take up a new +position with Schaefer's and Sill's brigades on the commanding ground +to the rear, where Hescock's and Houghtaling's batteries had been +posted all the morning. + +The general course of this new position was at right angles with my +original line, and it took the shape of an obtuse angle, with my +three batteries at the apex. Davis, and Carlin of his division, +endeavored to rally their men here on my right, but their efforts +were practically unavailing,--though the calm and cool appearance of +Carlin, who at the time was smoking a stumpy pipe, had some effect, +and was in strong contrast to the excited manner of Davis, who seemed +overpowered by the disaster that had befallen his command. But few +could be rallied, however, as the men were badly demoralized, and +most of them fell back beyond the Wilkinson pike, where they +reorganized behind the troops of General Thomas. + +At this juncture the enemy's turning-column began advancing again in +concert with Cheatham's division, and as the extreme left of the +Confederates was directed on Griscom's house, and their right on the +Blanton house, my new position was in danger of envelopment. No hope +of stemming the tide at this point seemed probable, but to gain time +I retained my ground as long as possible, and until, under directions +from General McCook, I moved to the front from my left flank and +attached myself to the right of Negley's division, which up to this +hour had been left almost undisturbed by the enemy in the line it had +taken up the night before. Under a heavy fire we succeeded in this +manoeuvre, Schaefer's brigade marching first, then the batteries, and +Roberts's and Sill's brigades following. When my division arrived on +this new ground, I posted Roberts on Negley's right, with Hescock's +and Bush's guns, the brigade and guns occupying a low rocky ridge of +limestone, which faced them toward Murfreesboro', nearly south. The +rest of my division was aligned facing west, along the edge of a +cedar thicket, the rear rank backed up on the right flank of Roberts, +with Houghtaling's battery in the angle. This presented Sill's and +Schaefer's brigades in an almost opposite direction to the line we +had so confidently taken up the night before, and covered Negley's +rear. The enemy, in the meantime, had continued his wheeling +movement till he occupied the ground that my batteries and reserve +brigade had held in the morning, and I had now so changed my position +that the left brigade of my division approached his intrenchments in +front of Stone River, while Sill's and Schaeffer's brigades, by +facing nearly west, confronted the successful troops that had smashed +in our extreme right. + +I had hardly got straightened out in this last place when I was +attacked by Cheatham's'division, which, notwithstanding the +staggering blows it had previously received from Sill and Roberts, +now again moved forward in conjunction with the wheeling movement +under the immediate command of Hardee. One of the most sanguinary +contests of the day now took place. In fulfillment of Bragg's +original design no doubt, Cheatham's division attacked on my left, +while heavy masses under Hardee, covered by batteries posted on the +high ground formerly occupied by my guns, assaulted my right, the +whole force advancing simultaneously. At the same time the enemy +opened an artillery fire from his intrenchments in front of +Murfreesboro', and it seemed that he was present on every side. My +position was strong, however, located in the edge of a dense cedar +thicket and commanding a slight depression of open ground that lay in +my front. My men were in good spirits too, notwithstanding they had +been a good deal hustled around since daylight, with losses that had +told considerably on their numbers. Only a short distance now +separated the contending lines, and as the batteries on each side +were not much more than two hundred yards apart when the enemy made +his assault, the artillery fire was fearful in its effect on the +ranks of both contestants, the enemy's heavy masses staggering under +the torrent of shell and canister from our batteries, while our lines +were thinned by his ricochetting projectiles, that rebounded again +and again over the thinly covered limestone formation and sped on to +the rear of Negley. But all his efforts to dislodge or destroy us +were futile, and for the first time since daylight General Hardee was +seriously checked in the turning movement he had begun for the +purpose of getting possession of the Nashville pike, and though +reinforced until two-fifths of Bragg's army was now at his command, +yet he met with repulse after repulse, which created great gaps in +his lines and taught him that to overwhelm us was hopeless. + +As the enemy was recoiling from his first attack, I received a +message from Rosecrans telling me that he was making new +dispositions, and directing me to hold on where I was until they were +completed. From this I judged that the existing conditions of the +battle would probably require a sacrifice of my command, so I +informed Roberts and Schaefer that we must be prepared to meet the +demand on us by withstanding the assault of the enemy, no matter what +the outcome. Every energy was therefore bent to the simple holding +of our ground, and as ammunition was getting scarce, instructions +were given throughout the command to have it reserve its fire till +the most effective moment. In a little while came a second and a +third assault, and although they were as daring and furious as the +first, yet in each case the Confederates were repulsed, driven back +in confusion, but not without deadly loss to us, for the noble +Roberts was killed, and Colonel Harrington, of the Twenty-Seventh +Illinois, who succeeded to his brigade, was mortally wounded a few +minutes later. I had now on the death-roll three brigade commanders, +and the loss of subordinate officers and men was appalling, but their +sacrifice had accomplished the desired result; they had not fallen in +vain. Indeed, the bravery and tenacity of my division gave to +Rosecrans the time required to make new dispositions, and exacted +from our foes the highest commendations. + +A lull followed the third fierce assault, and an investigation showed +that, with the exception of a few rounds in my brigade, our +ammunition was entirely exhausted; and while it was apparent that the +enemy was reluctant to renew the conflict in my front, yet I was +satisfied I could not hold on much longer without the danger of +ultimate capture, so I prepared to withdraw as soon as the troops of +Rousseau's division, which had been ordered to take up a line on my +right, came into position. Schaefer's and Sill's brigades being +without a cartridge, I directed them to fix bayonets for a charge, +and await any attempt of the enemy to embarrass my retreat, while +Roberts's brigade, offering such resistance as its small quantity of +ammunition would permit, was pulled slowly in toward the Nashville +pike. Eighty of the horses of Houghtaling's battery having been +killed, an attempt was made to bring his guns back by hand over the +rocky ground, but it could not be done, and we had to abandon them. +Hescock also had lost most of his horses, but all his guns were +saved. Bush's battery lost two pieces, the tangled underbrush in the +dense cedars proving an obstacle to getting them away which his +almost superhuman exertions could not surmount. Thus far the bloody +duel had cost me heavily, one-third of my division being killed or +wounded. I had already three brigade commanders killed; a little +later I lost my fourth--Colonel Schaefer. + +The difficulties of withdrawing were very great, as the ground was +exceptionally rocky, and the growth of cedars almost impenetrable for +wheeled carriages. Retiring sullenly under a heavy fire, while the +general line was reformed to my right and rear, my division was at +length drawn through the cedars and debouched into an open space near +the Murfreesboro' pike, behind the right of Palmer's division. Two +regiments of Sill's brigade, however, on account of the conformation +of the ground, were obliged to fall back from the point where +Woodruff's brigade of Davis's division had rallied after the disaster +of the early morning. The division came out of the cedars with +unbroken ranks, thinned by only its killed and wounded--but few +missing. When we came into the open ground, McCook directed +Roberts's brigade--now commanded by Colonel Luther P. Bradley--to +proceed a short distance to the rear on the Nashville pike, to repel +the enemy's threatening attempt at our communications. Willingly and +cheerfully the brigade again entered the fight under these new +conditions, and although it was supplied with but three or four +cartridges to the man now, it charged gallantly and recaptured two +pieces of artillery which the Union troops had had to abandon at that +point. + +Shortly after we debouched from the cedars I was directed by +Rosecrans to send some aid to the right of General Palmer's division; +and two of Schaefer's regiments, having obtained ammunition, were +pushed up on Palmer's right, accompanied by four of Hescock's guns; +but the advance of the enemy here had already been checked by Palmer, +and only a desultory contest ensued. Rosecrans, whom I now met in +the open ground west of the railroad, behind Palmer, directed that my +command should relieve Wood's division, which was required to fall +back and take up the new line that had been marked out while I was +holding on in the cedars. His usually florid face had lost its ruddy +color, and his anxious eyes told that the disasters of the morning +were testing his powers to the very verge of endurance, but he seemed +fully to comprehend what had befallen us. His firmly set lips and, +the calmness with which his instructions were delivered inspired +confidence in all around him; and expressing approbation of what my +division had done, while deliberately directing it to a new point, he +renewed in us all the hope of final victory, though it must be +admitted that at this phase of the battle the chances lay largely +with the enemy. + +Withdrawing the two regiments and Hescock's battery, that I had +posted on the right of Palmer, I moved as directed by Rosecrans into +the position to the east of the railroad, and formed immediately to +the right of Wood, who was now being attacked all along his front, +but more particularly where his right rested near the railroad. +Under a storm of shot and shell that came in torrents my troops took +up the new ground, advancing through a clump of open timber to Wood's +assistance. Forming in line in front of the timber we poured a +telling fire into the enemy's ranks, which were then attacking across +some cleared fields; but when he discovered additional troops +confronting him, he gave up the attempt to carry Wood's position. It +was here that I lost Schaefer, who was killed instantly, making my +fourth brigade commander dead that day. The enemy in front of Wood +having been checked, our whole line east of the railroad executed +undisturbed its retrograde movement to a position about three hundred +yards to its rear. When I fell back to the edge of the clump of +timber, where when first coming on the ground I had formed to help +Wood, I was ordered by Rosecrans to prepare to make a charge should +the enemy again assault us. In anticipation of this work I massed my +troops in close column. The expected attack never came, however, but +the shot and shell of a furious cannonade told with fatal effect upon +men and officers as they lay on their faces hugging the ground. The +torments of this trying situation were almost unbearable, but it was +obvious to all that it was necessary to have at hand a compact body +of troops to repel any assault the enemy might make pending the +reconstruction of the extreme right of our line, and a silent +determination to stay seemed to take hold of each individual soldier; +nor was this grim silence interrupted throughout the cannonade, +except in one instance, when one of the regiments broke out in a +lusty cheer as a startled rabbit in search of a new hiding-place +safely ran the whole length of the line on the backs of the men. + +While my troops were still lying here, General Rosecrans, with a part +of his staff and a few orderlies, rode out on the rearranged line to +supervise its formation and encourage the men, and in prosecution of +these objects moved around the front of my column of attack, within +range of the batteries that were shelling us so viciously. As he +passed to the open ground on my left, I joined him. The enemy seeing +this mounted party, turned his guns upon it, and his accurate aim was +soon rewarded, for a solid shot carried away the head of Colonel +Garesche, the chief-of-staff, and killed or wounded two or three +orderlies. Garesche's appalling death stunned us all, and a +momentary expression of horror spread over Rosecrans's face; but at +such a time the importance of self-control was vital, and he pursued +his course with an appearance of indifference, which, however, those +immediately about him saw was assumed, for undoubtedly he felt most +deeply the death of his friend and trusted staff-officer. + +No other attacks were made on us to the east of the railroad for the +rest of the afternoon, and just before dark I was directed to +withdraw and take up a position along the west side of the Nashville +pike, on the extreme right of our new line, where Roberts's brigade +and the Seventy-third and Eighty-eighth Illinois had already been +placed by McCook. The day had cost me much anxiety and sadness, and +I was sorely disappointed at the general result, though I could not +be other than pleased at the part taken by my command. The loss of +my brigade commanders--Sill, Roberts, Schaefer, and Harrington-and a +large number of regimental and battery officers, with so many of +their men, struck deep into my heart: My thinned ranks told the +woeful tale of the fierce struggles, indescribable by words, through +which my division had passed since 7 o'clock in the morning; and +this, added to our hungry and exhausted condition, was naturally +disheartening. The men had been made veterans, however, by the +fortunes and misfortunes of the day, and as they went into their new +places still confident of final success, it was plain to see that +they felt a self-confidence inspired by the part they had already +played. + +My headquarters were now established on the Nashville pike, about +three miles and a half from Murfreesboro'; my division being aligned +to the west of the pike, bowed out and facing almost west, Cleburn's +division of the Confederates confronting it. Davis's division was +posted on my right, and Walker's brigade of Thomas's corps, which had +reported to me, took up a line that con nected my left with Johnson's +division. + +Late in the evening General Rosecrans, accompanied by General McCook, +and several other officers whose names I am now unable to recall, +rode by my headquarters on their way to the rear to look for a new +line of battle--on Overall's creek it was said--that would preserve +our communications with Nashville and offer better facilities for +resistance than the one we were now holding. Considerable time had +elapsed when they returned from this exploration and proceeded to +their respective commands, without intimating to me that anything had +been determined upon by the reconnoissance, but a little later it was +rumored through the different headquarters that while the party was +looking for a new position it discovered the enemy's troops moving +toward our right and rear, the head of his columns being conducted in +the darkness by the aid of torches, and that no alternative was left +us but to hold the lines we then occupied. The torches had been seen +unquestionably, and possibly created some alarm at first in the minds +of the reconnoitring party, but it was soon ascertained that the +lights came from a battalion of the Fourth regular cavalry that was +picketing our flank and happened to be starting its bivouac fires at +the moment. The fires and the supposed movements had no weight, +therefore, in deciding the proposition to take up a line at Overall's +creek, but General Rosecrans, fortunately for the army, decided to +remain where he was. Doubtless reflections during his ride caused +him to realize that the enemy must be quite as much crippled as +himself. If it had been decided to fall back to Overall's creek, we +could have withdrawn without much difficulty very likely, but such a +retrograde movement would have left to the enemy the entire battle- +field of Stone River and ultimately compelled our retreat to +Nashville. + +In the night of December 3rd several slight demonstrations were made +on my front, but from the darkness neither party felt the effect of +the other's fire, and when daylight came again the skirmishers and +lines of battle were in about the same position they had taken up the +evening before. Soon after daybreak it became evident that the +conflict was to be renewed, and a little later the enemy resumed the +offensive by an attack along my left front, especially on Walker's +brigade. His attempt was ineffectual, however, and so easily +repulsed as to demonstrate that the desperate character of his +assaults the day before had nearly exhausted his strength. About 3 +o'clock in the afternoon he made another feeble charge on my front, +but our fire from the barricades and rifle-pits soon demoralized his +advancing lines, which fell back in some confusion, thus enabling us +to pick up about a hundred prisoners. From this time till the +evening of January 3 Bragg's left remained in our front, and +continued to show itself at intervals by weak demonstrations, which +we afterward ascertained were directly intended to cover the +desperate assault he made with Breckenridge on the left of Rosecrans, +an assault that really had in view only a defensive purpose, for +unless Bragg dislodged the troops which were now massing in front of +his right he would be obliged to withdraw General Polk's corps behind +Stone River and finally abandon Murfreesboro'. The sequel proved +this to be the case; and the ill-judged assault led by Breckenridge +ending in entire defeat, Bragg retired from Murfreesboro' the night +of January 3. + +General Rosecrans occupied Murfreesboro' on the 4th and 5th, having +gained a costly victory, which was not decisive enough in its +character to greatly affect the general course of the war, though it +somewhat strengthened and increased our hold on Middle Tennessee. +The enemy in retiring did not fall back very far--only behind Duck +River to Shelbyville and Tullahoma--and but little endeavor was made +to follow him. Indeed, we were not in condition to pursue, even if +it had been the intention at the outset of the campaign. + +As soon as possible after the Confederate retreat I went over the +battle-field to collect such of my wounded as had not been carried +off to the South and to bury my dead. In the cedars and on the +ground where I had been so fiercely assaulted when the battle opened, +on the morning of the 31st, evidences of the bloody struggle appeared +on every hand in the form of broken fire-arms, fragments of +accoutrements, and splintered trees. The dead had nearly all been +left unburied, but as there was likelihood of their mutilation by +roving swine, the bodies had mostly been collected in piles at +different points and inclosed by rail fences. The sad duties of +interment and of caring for the wounded were completed by the 5th, +and on the 6th I moved my division three miles, south of +Murfreesboro' on the Shelbyville pike, going into camp on the banks +of Stone River. Here the condition of my command was thoroughly +looked into, and an endeavor made to correct such defects as had been +disclosed by the recent battle. + +During the engagement there had been little straggling, and my list +of missing was small and legitimate; still, it was known that a very +few had shirked their duty, and an example was necessary. Among this +small number were four officers who, it was charged, had abandoned +their colors and regiments. When their guilt was clearly +established, and as soon as an opportunity occurred, I caused the +whole division to be formed in a hollow square, closed in mass, and +had the four officers marched to the centre, where, telling them that +I would not humiliate any officer or soldier by requiring him to +touch their disgraced swords, I compelled them to deliver theirs up +to my colored servant, who also cut from their coats every insignia +of rank. Then, after there had been read to the command an order +from army headquarters dismissing the four from the service, the +scene was brought to a close by drumming the cowards out of camp. It +was a mortifying spectacle, but from that day no officer in that +division ever abandoned his colors. + +My effective force in the battle of Stone River was 4,154 officers +and men. Of this number I lost 1,633 killed, wounded, and missing, +or nearly 40 per cent. In the remaining years of the war, though +often engaged in most severe contests, I never experienced in any of +my commands so high a rate of casualties. The ratio of loss in the +whole of Rosecrans's army was also high, and Bragg's losses were +almost equally great. Rosecrans carried into the action about 42,000 +officers and men. He lost 13,230, or 31 per cent. Bragg's effective +force was 37,800 officers and men; he lost 10,306, or nearly 28 per +cent. + +Though our victory was dearly bought, yet the importance of gaining +the day at any price was very great, particularly when we consider +what might have been the result had not the gallantry of the army and +the manoeuvring during the early disaster saved us from ultimate +defeat. We had started out from Nashville on an offensive campaign, +probably with no intention of going beyond Murfreesboro', in +midwinter, but still with the expectation of delivering a crushing +blow should the enemy accept our challenge to battle. He met us with +a plan of attack almost the counterpart of our own. In the execution +of his plan he had many advantages, not the least of which was his +intimate knowledge of the ground, and he came near destroying us. +Had he done so, Nashville would probably have fallen; at all events, +Kentucky would have been opened again to his incursions, and the +theatre of war very likely transferred once more to the Ohio River. +As the case now stood, however, Nashville was firmly established as a +base for future operations, Kentucky was safe from the possibility of +being again overrun, and Bragg, thrown on the defensive, was +compelled to give his thoughts to the protection of the interior of +the Confederacy and the security of Chattanooga, rather than indulge +in schemes of conquest north of the Cumberland River. While he still +held on in Middle Tennessee his grasp was so much loosened that only +slight effort would be necessary to push him back into Georgia, and +thus give to the mountain region of East Tennessee an opportunity to +prove its loyalty to the, Union. + +The victory quieted the fears of the West and Northwest, destroyed +the hopes of the secession element in Kentucky, renewed the drooping +spirits of the East Tennesseans, and demoralized the disunionists in +Middle Tennessee; yet it was a negative victory so far as concerned +the result on the battle-field. Rosecrans seems to have planned the +battle with the idea that the enemy would continue passive, remain +entirely on the defensive, and that it was necessary only to push +forward our left in order to force the evacuation of Murfreesboro'; +and notwithstanding the fact that on the afternoon of December 30 +McCook received information that the right of Johnson's division. +resting near the Franklin pike, extended only to about the centre of +the Confederate army, it does not appear that attack from that +quarter was at all apprehended by the Union commanders. + +The natural line of retreat of the Confederates was not threatened by +the design of Rosecrans; and Bragg, without risk to his +communications, anticipated it by a counter-attack of like character +from his own left, and demolished his adversary's plan the moment we +were thrown on the defensive. Had Bragg followed up with the spirit +which characterized its beginning the successful attack by Hardee on +our right wing--and there seems no reason why he should not have done +so--the army of Rosecrans still might have got back to Nashville, but +it would have been depleted and demoralized to such a degree as to +unfit it for offensive operations for a long time afterward. Bragg's +intrenchments in front of Stone River were very strong, and there +seems no reason why he should not have used his plain advantage as +explained, but instead he allowed us to gain time, intrench, and +recover a confidence that at first was badly shaken. Finally, to cap +the climax of his errors, he directed Breckenridge to make the +assault from his right flank on January 2, with small chance for +anything but disaster, when the real purpose in view could have been +accomplished without the necessity of any offensive manoeuvre +whatever. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL--THE SECRET EXPEDITION UNDER CARD THE +SCOUT--HIS CAPTURE BY GUERRILLAS--ESCAPE--A REVENGE PARTY--WOMEN +SOLDIERS--A FIGHT WITH SABRES--TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN--A FOOLISH +ADVENTURE. + +On the 6th of January, 1863, my division settled quietly down in its +camp south of Murfreesboro'. Its exhausted condition after the +terrible experiences of the preceding week required attention. It +needed recuperation, reinforcement, and reorganization, and I set +about these matters without delay, in anticipation of active +operations early in the spring. No forward movement was made for +nearly six months, however, and throughout this period drills, +parades, reconnoissances, and foraging expeditions filled in the time +profitably. In addition to these exercises the construction of +permanent fortifications for the security of Murfreesboro' was +undertaken by General Rosecrans, and large details from my troops +were furnished daily for the work. Much attention was also given to +creating a more perfect system of guard and picket duty-a matter that +had hitherto been somewhat neglected in the army, as its constant +activity had permitted scant opportunity for the development of such +a system. It was at this time that I received my appointment as a +major-general of Volunteers. My promotion had been recommended by +General Rosecrans immediately after the battle of Stone River, but +for some reason it was delayed until April, and though a long time +elapsed between the promise and the performance, my gratification was +extreme. + +My scout, Card, was exceedingly useful while encamped near +Murfreesboro, making several trips to East Tennessee within the +enemy's lines to collect information as to the condition of the loyal +people there, and to encourage them with the hope of early +liberation. He also brought back from each trip very accurate +statements as to the strength and doings of the Confederate army, +fixing almost with certainty its numbers and the locations of its +different divisions, and enabling my engineer-officer--Major +Morhardt--to construct good maps of the country in our front. On +these dangerous excursions Card was always accompanied by one of his +brothers, the other remaining with me to be ready for duty if any +accident occurred to those who had gone out, or in case I wanted to +communicate with them. In this way we kept well posted, although the +intelligence these men brought was almost always secured at the risk +of their lives. + +Early in the spring, before the Tullahoma campaign began, I thought +it would be practicable, by sending out a small secret expedition of +but three or four men, to break the Nashville and Chattanooga +railroad between Chattanooga and the enemy's position at Tullahoma by +burning the bridges in Crow Creek valley from its head to Stevenson, +Alabama, and then the great bridge across the Tennessee River at +Bridgeport. Feeling confident that I could persuade Card to +undertake the perilous duty, I broached the contemplated project to +him, and he at once jumped at the opportunity of thus distinguishing +himself, saying that with one of his brothers and three other loyal +East Tennesseeans, whose services he knew could be enlisted, he felt +sure of carrying out the idea, so I gave him authority to choose his +own assistants. In a few days his men appeared at my headquarters, +and when supplied with money in notes of the State Bank of Tennessee, +current everywhere as gold in those days, the party, composed of +Card, the second brother, and the three East Tennesseeans, started on +their precarious enterprise, their course being directed first toward +the Cumberland Mountains, intending to strike the Nashville and +Chattanooga railroad somewhere above Anderson's station. They +expected to get back in about fifteen days, but I looked for some +knowledge of the progress of their adventure before the expiration of +that period, hoping to hear through Confederate sources prisoners and +the like-of the destruction of the bridges. I waited in patience for +such news, but none came, and as the time Card had allotted himself +passed by, I watched anxiously for his return, for, as there was +scarcely a doubt that the expedition had proved a failure, the fate +of the party became a matter of deep concern to Card's remaining +brother and to me. Finally this brother volunteered to go to his +father's house in East Tennessee to get tidings of the party, and I +consented, for the probabilities were that some of them had made +their way to that point, or at least that some information had +reached there about them. As day after day went by, the time fixed +for this brother's return came round, yet he also remained out; but +some days after the lad was due Card himself turned up accompanied by +the brother he had taken with him, soon explained his delay in +getting back, and gave me the story of his adventures while absent. + +After leaving my camp, his party had followed various byways across +the Cumberland Mountains to Crow Creek Valley, as instructed; but +when nearing the railroad above Anderson's Station, they were +captured by some guerrillas prowling about that vicinity, and being +suspected of disloyalty to the Confederacy, were carried to +Chattanooga and imprisoned as Yankee spies. Their prospects now were +decidedly discouraging, for death stared them in the face. +Fortunately, however, some delays occurred relative to the +disposition that should be made of them, and they, meanwhile, +effected their escape from their jailors by way of one of the prison +windows, from which they managed to displace a bar, and by a skiff, +in the darkness of night, crossed the Tennessee River a little below +Chattanooga. From this point the party made their way back to my +camp, traveling only at night, hiding in the woods by day, and for +food depending on loyal citizens that Card had become acquainted with +when preaching and pedling. + +Card's first inquiry after relating his story was for the youngest +brother, whom he had left with me. I told him what I had done, in my +anxiety about himself, and that more than sufficient time had elapsed +for his brother's return. His reply was: "They have caught him. The +poor fellow is dead." His surmise proved correct; for news soon came +that the poor boy had been captured at his father's house, and +hanged. The blow to Card was a severe one, and so hardened his heart +against the guerrillas in the neighborhood of his father's home--for +he knew they were guilty of his brother's murder--that it was with +difficulty I could persuade him to continue in the employment of the +Government, so determined was he to avenge his brother's death at the +first opportunity. Finally, however, I succeeded in quieting the +almost uncontrollable rage that seemed to possess him, and he +remained with me during the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns; but +when we reached Knoxville the next winter, he took his departure, +informing me that he was going for the bushwhackers who had killed +his brother. A short time after he left me, I saw him at the head of +about thirty well-armed East Tennesseeans--refugees. They were +determined-looking men, seeking revenge for the wrongs and sufferings +that had been put upon them in the last two years, and no doubt +wreaked their vengeance right and left on all who had been in any way +instrumental in persecuting them. + +The feeding of our army from the base at Louisville was attended with +a great many difficulties, as the enemy's cavalry was constantly +breaking the railroad and intercepting our communications on the +Cumberland River at different points that were easily accessible to +his then superior force of troopers. The accumulation of reserve +stores was therefore not an easy task, and to get forage ahead a few +days was well-nigh impossible, unless that brought from the North was +supplemented by what we could gather from the country. Corn was +abundant in the region to the south and southwest of Murfreesboro', +so to make good our deficiences in this respect, I employed a brigade +about once a week in the duty of collecting and bringing in forage, +sending out sometimes as many as a hundred and fifty wagons to haul +the grain which my scouts had previously located. In nearly every +one of these expeditions the enemy was encountered, and the wagons +were usually loaded while the skirmishers kept up a running fire, +Often there would occur a respectable brush, with the loss on each +side of a number of killed and wounded. The officer in direct +command always reported to me personally whatever had happened during +the time he was out--the result of his reconnoissance, so to speak, +for that war the real nature of these excursions--and on one occasion +the colonel in command, Colonel Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri, +informed me that he got through without much difficulty; in fact, +that everything had gone all right and been eminently satisfactory, +except that in returning he had been mortified greatly by the conduct +of the two females belonging to the detachment and division train at +my headquarters. These women, he said, had given much annoyance by +getting drunk, and to some extent demoralizing his men. To say that +I was astonished at his statement would be a mild way of putting it, +and had I not known him to be a most upright man and of sound sense, +I should have doubted not only his veracity, but his sanity. +Inquiring who they were and for further details, I was informed that +there certainly were in the command two females, that in some +mysterious manner had attached themselves to the service as soldiers; +that one, an East Tennessee woman, was a teamster in the division +wagon-train and the other a private soldier in a cavalry company +temporarily attached to my headquarters for escort duty. While out +on the foraging expedition these Amazons had secured a supply of +"apple-jack" by some means, got very drunk, and on the return had +fallen into Stone River and been nearly drowned. After they had been +fished from, the water, in the process of resuscitation their sex was +disclosed, though up to this time it appeared to be known only to +each other. The story was straight and the circumstance clear, so, +convinced of Conrad's continued sanity, I directed the provost- +marshal to bring in arrest to my headquarters the two disturbers of +Conrad's peace of mind, After some little search the East Tennessee +woman was found in camp, somewhat the worse for the experiences of +the day before, but awaiting her fate content idly smoking a cob- +pipe. She was brought to me, and put in duress under charge of the +division surgeon until her companion could be secured. To the doctor +she related that the year before she had "refugeed" from East +Tennessee, and on arriving in Louisville assumed men's apparel and +sought and obtained employment as a teamster in the quartermaster's +department. Her features were very large, and so coarse and +masculine was her general appearance that she would readily have +passed as a man, and in her case the deception was no doubt easily +practiced. Next day the "she dragoon" was caught, and proved to be a +rather prepossessing young woman, and though necessarily bronzed and +hardened by exposure, I doubt if, even with these marks of +campaigning, she could have deceived as readily as did her companion. +How the two got acquainted, I never learned, and though they had +joined the army independently of each other, yet an intimacy had +sprung up between them long before the mishaps of the foraging +expedition. They both were forwarded to army headquarters, and, when +provided with clothing suited to their sex, sent back to Nashville, +and thence beyond our lines to Louisville. + +On January 9, by an order from the War Department, the Army of the +Cumberland had been divided into three corps, designated the +Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first. This order did not alter +the composition of the former grand divisions, nor change the +commanders, but the new nomenclature was a decided improvement over +the clumsy designations Right Wing, Centre, and Left Wing, which were +well calculated to lead to confusion sometimes. McCook's wing became +the Twentieth Corps, and my division continued of the same +organization, and held the same number as formerly-the Third +Division, Twentieth Corps. My first brigade was now commanded by +Brigadier-General William H. Lytle, the second by Colonel Bernard +Laiboldt, and the third by Colonel Luther P. Bradley. + +On the 4th of March I was directed to move in light marching order +toward Franklin and join General Gordon Granger, to take part in some +operations which he was projecting against General Earl Van Dorn, +then at Spring Hill. Knowing that my line of march would carry me +through a region where forage was plentiful, I took along a large +train of empty wagons, which I determined to fill with corn and send +back to Murfreesboro', believing that I could successfully cover the +train by Minty's brigade of cavalry, which had joined me for the +purpose of aiding in a reconnoissance toward Shelbyville. In +marching the column I placed a regiment of infantry at its head, then +the wagon-train, then a brigade of infantry--masking the cavalry +behind this brigade. The enemy, discovering that the train was with +us, and thinking he could capture it, came boldly out with his, +cavalry to attack. The head of his column came up to the crossroads +at Versailles, but holding him there, I passed the train and infantry +brigade beyond toward Eagleville, and when my cavalry had been thus +unmasked, Minty, followed by the balance of my division, which vas +still behind, charged him with the sabre. Success was immediate and +complete, and pursuit of the routed forces continued through +Unionville, until we fell upon and drove in the Confederate outposts +at Shelbyville. Here the enemy was taken by surprise evidently, +which was most fortunate for us, otherwise the consequences might +have been disastrous. Minty captured in the charge about fifty +prisoners and a few wagons and mules, and thus enabled me to load my +train with corn, and send it back to Murfreesboro' unmolested. In +this little fight the sabre was freely used by both sides, and I do +not believe that during the whole war I again knew of so large a +percentage of wounds by that arm in proportion to the numbers +engaged. + +That night I encamped at Eagleville, and next day reported to Granger +at Franklin, arriving in the midst of much excitement prevailing on +account of the loss of Coburn's brigade, which had been captured the +day before a little distance south of that point, while marching to +form a junction with a column that had been directed on Columbia from +Murfreesboro'. Shortly after Coburn's capture General Granger had +come upon the scene, and the next day he advanced my division and +Minty's troops directly on Spring Hill, with a view to making some +reprisal; but Van Dorn had no intention of accommodating us, and +retired from Spring Hill, offering but little resistance. He +continued to fall back, till finally he got behind Duck River, where +operations against him ceased; for, in consequence of the incessant +rains of the season, the streams had become almost impassable. +Later, I returned by way of Franklin to my old camp at Murfreesboro', +passing over on this march the ground on which the Confederate +General Hood met with such disaster the following year in his attack +on Stanley's corps. + +My command had all returned from the Franklin expedition to +Murfreesboro' and gone into camp on the Salem pike by the latter part +of March, from which time till June it took part in only the little +affairs of outposts occurring every now and then on my own front. In +the meanwhile General Rosecrans had been materially reinforced by the +return of sick and wounded men; his army had become well disciplined, +and was tolerably supplied; and he was repeatedly pressed by the +authorities at Washington to undertake offensive operations. + +During the spring and early summer Rosecrans resisted, with a great +deal of spirit and on various grounds, these frequent urgings, and +out of this grew up an acrimonious correspondence and strained +feeling between him and General Halleck. Early in June, however, +stores had been accumulated and other preparations made for a move +forward, Resecrans seeming to have decided that he could safely risk +an advance, with the prospect of good results. Before finally +deciding, he called upon most of his corps and division commanders +for their opinions on certain propositions which he presented, and +most of them still opposed the projected movement, I among the +number, reasoning that while General Grant was operating against +Vicksburg, it was better to hold Bragg in Middle Tennessee than to +push him so far back into Georgia that interior means of +communication would give the Confederate Government the opportunity +of quickly joining a part of his force to that of General Johnson in +Mississippi. + +At this stage, and in fact prior to it, Rosecrans seemed to manifest +special confidence in me, often discussing his plans with me +independent of the occasions on which he formally referred them for +my views. I recollect that on two different occasions about this +time he unfolded his designs to me in this informal way, outlining +generally how he expected ultimately to force Bragg south of the +Tennessee River, and going into the details of the contemplated move +on Tullahoma. His schemes, to my mind, were not only comprehensive, +but exact, and showed conclusively, what no one doubted then, that +they were original with him. I found in them very little to +criticise unfavorably, if we were to move at all, and Rosecrans +certainly impressed me that he favored an advance at an early day, +though many of his generals were against it until the operations on +the Mississippi River should culminate in something definite. There +was much, fully apparent in the circumstances about his headquarters, +leading to the conviction that Rosecrans originated the Tullahoma +campaign, and the record of his prior performances collaterally +sustains the visible evidence then existing. In my opinion, then, +based on a clear recollection of various occurrences growing out of +our intimacy, he conceived the plan of the Tullahoma campaign and the +one succeeding it; and is therefore entitled to every credit that +attended their execution, no matter what may be claimed for others. + +On the 23d of June Bragg was covering his position north of Duck +River with a front extending from McMinnville, where his cavalry +rested, through Wartrace and Shelbyville to Columbia, his depot being +at Tullahoma. Rosecrans, thinking that Bragg would offer strong +resistance at Shelbyville--which was somewhat protected by a spur of +low mountains or hills, offshoots of the Cumberland Mountains-- +decided to turn that place; consequently, he directed the mass of the +Union army on the enemy's right flank, about Manchester. + +On the 26th of June McCook's corps advanced toward Liberty Gap, my +divisions marching on the Shelbyville pike. I had proceeded but a +few miles when I encountered the enemy's pickets, who fell back to +Christiana, about nine miles from Murfreesboro'. Here I was assailed +pretty wickedly by the enemy's sharpshooters and a section of +artillery, but as I was instructed to do nothing more than cover the +road from Eagleville, over which Brannan's division was to approach +Christiana, I made little reply to this severe annoyance, wishing to +conceal the strength of my force. As soon as the head of Brannan's +column arrived I marched across-country to the left, and encamped +that night at the little town of Millersburg, in the vicinity of +Liberty Gap. I was directed to move from Millersburg, on Hoover's +Gap--a pass in the range of hills already referred to, through which +ran the turnpike from Murfreesboro' to Manchester--but heavy rains +had made the country roads almost impassable, and the last of my +division did not reach Hoover's Gap till the morning of June 27, +after its abandonment by the enemy. Continuing on to Fairfield, the +head of my column met, south of that place, a small force of +Confederate infantry and cavalry, which after a slight skirmish +Laiboldt's brigade drove back toward Wartrace. The next morning I +arrived at Manchester, where I remained quiet for the day. Early on +the 29th I marched by the Lynchburg road for Tullahoma, where the +enemy was believed to be in force, and came into position about six +miles from the town. + +By the 31st the whole army had been concentrated, in spite of many +difficulties, and though, on account of the heavy rains that had +fallen almost incessantly since we left Murfreesboro', its movements +had been slow and somewhat inaccurate, yet the precision with which +it took up a line of battle for an attack on Tullahoma showed that +forethought and study had been given to every detail. The enemy had +determined to fall back from Tullahoma at the beginning of the +campaign, however, and as we advanced, his evacuation had so far +progressed that when, on July 1. We reached the earthworks thrown. +up early in the year for the defense of the place, he had almost +wholly disappeared, carrying off all his stores and munitions of war +except some little subsistence and eleven pieces of artillery. A +strong rearguard remained to cover the retreat, and on my front the +usual encounters between advancing and retreating forces took place. +Just before reaching the intrenchments on the Lynchburg road, I came +upon an open space that was covered by a network of fallen trees and +underbrush, which had been slashed all along in front of the enemy's +earthworks. This made our progress very difficult, but I shortly +became satisfied that there were only a few of the enemy within the +works, so moving a battalion of cavalry that had joined me the day +before down the road as rapidly as the obstructions would permit, the +Confederate pickets quickly departed, and we gained possession of the +town. Three siege guns, four caissons, a few stores, and a small +number of prisoners fell into my hands. + +That same evening orders were issued to the army to push on from +Tullahoma in pursuit, for, as it was thought that we might not be +able to cross Elk River on account of its swollen condition, we could +do the enemy some damage by keeping close as possible at his heels. +I marched on the Winchester road at 3 o'clock on the 2d of July and +about 8 o'clock reached Elk River ford. The stream was for the time +truly an impassable torrent, and all hope of crossing by the +Winchester ford had to be abandoned. Deeming that further effort +should be made, however, under guidance of Card, I turned the head of +my column in the direction of Alisona, marching up the river and +nearly parallel with it till I came to Rock Creek. With a little +delay we got across Rock Creek, which was also much swollen, and +finding a short distance above its mouth a ford on Elk River that +Card said was practicable, I determined to attempt it: Some of the +enemy's cavalry were guarding this ford, but after a sharp little +skirmish my battalion of cavalry crossed and took up a strong +position on the other bank. The stream was very high and the current +very swift, the water, tumbling along over its rocky bed in an +immense volume, but still it was fordable for infantry if means could +be devised by which the men could keep their feet. A cable was +stretched across just below the ford as a lifeline for the weaker +ones, and then the men of the entire division having secured their +ammunition by placing the cartridge-boxes on their shoulders, the +column pushed cheerfully into the rushing current. The men as they +entered the water joined each other in sets of four in a close +embrace, which enabled them to retain a foothold and successfully +resist the force of the flood. When they were across I turned the +column down the left bank of Elk River, and driving the enemy from +some slight works near Estelle Springs, regained the Winchester road. + +By this time it was clear that Bragg intended to fall back behind the +Tennessee River, and our only chance of accomplishing anything of +importance was to smash up his rear-guard before it crossed the +Cumberland Mountains, and in pursuance of this idea I was directed to +attack such of his force as was holding on to Winchester. At 4 +o'clock on the morning of July 2 I moved on that town, and when we +got close to it directed my mounted troops to charge a small force of +Confederate cavalry that was picketing their front. The Confederates +resisted but little, and our men went with them in a disorderly chase +through the village to Boiling Fork, a small stream about half a mile +beyond. Here the fleeing pickets, rallying behind a stronger force, +made a stand, and I was directed by McCook to delay till I +ascertained if Davis's division, which was to support me, had made +the crossing of Elk River, and until I could open up communication +with Brannan's division, which was to come in on my left at Decherd. +As soon as I learned that Davis was across I pushed on, but the delay +had permitted the enemy to pull his rear-guard up on the mountain, +and rendered nugatory all further efforts to hurt him materially, our +only returns consisting in forcing him to relinquish a small amount +of transportation and forage at the mouth of the pass just beyond +Cowan, a station on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga +railroad. + +At Cowan, Colonel Watkins, of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, reported to +me with twelve hundred mounted men. Having heard during the night +that the enemy had halted on the mountain near the University--an +educational establishment on the summit--I directed Watkins to make a +reconnoissance and find out the value of the information. He learned +that Wharton's brigade of cavalry was halted at the University to +cover a moderately large force of the enemy's infantry which had not +yet got down the mountain on the other side, so I pushed Watkins out +again on the 5th, supporting him by a brigade of infantry, which I +accompanied myself. We were too late, however, for when we arrived +at the top of the mountain Wharton had disappeared, and though +Watkins pursued to Bridgeport, he was able to do nothing more, and on +his return reported that the last of the enemy had crossed the +Tennessee River and burned the railroad bridge. + +Nothing further could now be done, so I instructed Watkins to rejoin +the division at Cowan, and being greatly fatigued by the hard +campaigning of the previous ten days, I concluded to go back to my +camp in a more comfortable way than on the back of my tired horse. +In his retreat the enemy had not disturbed the railway track at all, +and as we had captured a hand-car at Cowan, I thought I would have it +brought up to the station near the University to carry me down the +mountain to my camp, and, desiring company, I persuasively invited +Colonel Frank T. Sherman to ride with me. I sent for the car by a +courier, and for a long time patiently awaited its arrival, in fact, +until all the returning troops had passed us, but still it did not +come. Thinking it somewhat risky to remain at the station without +protection, Sherman and myself started our horses to Cowan by our +orderlies, and set out on foot to meet the car, trudging along down +the track in momentary expectation of falling in with our private +conveyance. We had not gone very far before night overtook us, and +we then began to realize the dangers surrounding us, for there we +were alone and helpless, tramping on in the darkness over an unknown +railroad track in the enemy's country, liable on the one hand to go +tumbling through some bridge or trestle, and on the other, to +possible capture or death at the hands of the guerrillas then +infesting these mountains. Just after dark we came to a little cabin +near the track, where we made bold to ask for water, notwithstanding +the fact that to disclose ourselves to the inmates might lead to +fatal consequences. The water was kindly given, but the owner and +his family were very much exercised lest some misfortune might befall +us near their house, and be charged to them, so they encouraged us to +move on with a frankness inspired by fear of future trouble to +themselves. + +At every turn we eagerly hoped to meet the hand-car, but it never +came, and we jolted on from tie to tie for eleven weary miles, +reaching Cowan after midnight, exhausted and sore in every muscle +from frequent falls on the rough, unballasted road-bed. Inquiry. +developed that the car had been well manned, and started to us as +ordered, and nobody could account for its non-arrival. Further +investigation next day showed, however, that when it reached the foot +of the mountain, where the railroad formed a junction, the improvised +crew, in the belief no doubt that the University was on the main line +instead of near the branch to Tracy City, followed the main stem +until it carried them clear across the range down the Crow Creek +Valley, where the party was captured. + +I had reason to remember for many a day this foolish adventure, for +my sore bones and bruised muscles, caused me physical suffering until +I left the Army of the Cumberland the next spring; but I had still +more reason to feel for my captured men, and on this account I have +never ceased to regret that I so thoughtlessly undertook to rejoin my +troops by rail, instead of sticking to my faithful horse. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ORDERED TO OCCUPY BRIDGEPORT--A SPY--THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA-- +GENERAL THOMAS--TREATED TO COFFEE--RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. + +The Tullahoma campaign was practically closed by the disappearance of +the enemy from the country north of the Tennessee River. Middle +Tennessee was once more in the possession of the National troops, and +Rosecrans though strongly urged from Washington to continue on, +resisted the pressure until he could repair the Nashville and +Chattanooga railroad, which was of vital importance in supplying his +army from its secondary base at Nashville. As he desired to hold +this road to where it crossed the Tennessee, it was necessary to push +a force beyond the mountains, and after a few days of rest at Cowan +my division was ordered to take station at Stevenson, Alabama, the +junction of the Memphis and Charleston road with the Nashville and +Chattanooga, with instructions to occupy Bridgeport also. + +The enemy had meanwhile concentrated most of his forces at +Chattanooga for the twofold purpose of holding this gateway of the +Cumberland Mountains, and to assume a defensive attitude which would +enable him to take advantage of such circumstances as might arise in +the development of the offensive campaign he knew we must make. The +peculiar topography of the country was much to his advantage, and +while we had a broad river and numerous spurs and ridges of the +Cumberland Mountains to cross at a long distance from our base, he +was backed up on his depots of supply, and connected by interior +lines of railway with the different armies of the Confederacy, so +that he could be speedily reinforced. + +Bridgeport was to be ultimately a sub-depot for storing subsistence +supplies, and one of the points at which our army would cross the +Tennessee, so I occupied it on July 29 with two brigades, retaining +one at Stevenson, however, to protect that railway junction from +raids by way of Caperton's ferry. By the 29th of August a +considerable quantity of supplies had been accumulated, and then +began a general movement of our troops for crossing the river. As +there were not with the army enough pontoons to complete the two +bridges required, I was expected to build one of them of trestles; +and a battalion of the First Michigan Engineers under Colonel Innis +was sent me to help construct the bridge. Early on the 3ist I sent +into the neighboring woods about fifteen hundred men with axes and +teams, and by nightfall they had delivered on the riverbank fifteen +hundred logs suitable for a trestle bridge. Flooring had been +shipped to me in advance by rail, but the quantity was insufficient, +and the lack had to be supplied by utilizing planking and weather- +boarding taken from barns and houses in the surrounding country. The +next day Innis's engineers, with the assistance of the detail that +had felled the timber, cut and half-notched the logs, and put the +bridge across; spanning the main channel, which was swimming deep, +with four or five pontoons that had been sent me for this purpose. +On the 2d and 3d of September my division crossed on the bridge in +safety, though we were delayed somewhat because of its giving way +once where the pontoons joined the trestles. We were followed by a +few detachments from other commands, and by nearly all the +transportation of McCook's corps. + +After getting to the south side of the Tennessee River I was ordered +to Valley Head, where McCook's corps was to concentrate. On the 4th +of September I ascended Sand Mountain, but had got only half way +across the plateau, on top, when night came, the march having been a +most toilsome one. The next day we descended to the base, and +encamped near Trenton. On the 10th I arrived at Valley Head, and +climbing Lookout Mountain, encamped on the plateau at Indian Falls. +The following day I went down into Broomtown Valley to Alpine. +The march of McCook's corps from Valley Head to Alpine was in +pursuance of orders directing it to advance on Summerville, the +possession of which place would further threaten the enemy's +communications, it being assumed that Bragg was in full retreat +south, as he had abandoned Chattanooga on the 8th. This assumption +soon proved erroneous, however, and as we, while in Broomtown Valley, +could not communicate directly with Thomas's corps, the scattered +condition of the army began to alarm us all, and McCook abandoned the +advance to Summerville, ordering back to the summit of Lookout +Mountain such of the corps trains as had got down into Broomtown +Valley. + +But before this I had grown uneasy in regard to the disjointed +situation of our army, and, to inform myself of what was going on, +determined to send a spy into the enemy's lines. In passing Valley +Head on the 10th my scout Card, who had been on the lookout for some +one capable to undertake the task, brought me a Union man with whom +he was acquainted, who lived on Sand Mountain, and had been much +persecuted by guerrillas on account of his loyal sentiments. He knew +the country well, and as his loyalty was vouched for I asked him to +go into the enemy's camp, which I believed to be near Lafayette, and, +bring me such information as he could gather. He said such a journey +would be at the risk of his life, and that at best he could not +expect to remain in that section of country if he undertook it, but +that he would run all the chances if I would enable him to emigrate +to the West at the end c f the "job," which I could do by purchasing +the small "bunch" of stock he owned on the mountain. To this I +readily assented, and he started on the delicate undertaking. He +penetrated the enemy's lines with little difficulty, but while +prosecuting his search for information was suspected, and at once +arrested and placed under guard. From this critical situation he +escaped; however, making his way through the enemy's picket-line in +the darkness by crawling on his belly and deceiving the sentinels by +imitating the grunts of the half-wild, sand-colored hogs with which +the country abounded. He succeeded in reaching Rosecrans's +headquarters finally, and there gave the definite information that +Bragg intended to fight, and that he expected to be reinforced by +Longstreet. + +By this time it was clear that Bragg had abandoned Chattanooga with +the sole design of striking us in detail as we followed in pursuit; +and to prevent his achieving this purpose orders came at 12 o'clock, +midnight, for McCook to draw in toward Chattanooga. This could be +done only by recrossing Lookout Mountain, the enemy's army at +Lafayette now interposing between us and Thomas's corps. The +retrograde march began at once. I moved back over the mountain on +the 13th and 14th to Stevens's Mills, and on the 15th and 16th +recrossed through Stevens's Gap, in the Lookout range, and encamped +at its base in McLamore's cove. The march was made with all possible +celerity, for the situation was critical and demanded every exertion. +The ascent and descent of the mountains was extremely exhausting, the +steep grades often rendering it necessary to drag up and let down by +hand both the transportation and artillery. But at last we were in +conjunction with the main army, and my division breathed easier. + +On the 17th I remained in line of battle all day and night in front +of McLamore's cove, the enemy making slight demonstrations against me +from the direction of Lafayette. The main body of the army having +bodily moved to the left meanwhile, I followed it on the 18th, +encamping at Pond Spring. On the 19th I resumed the march to the +left and went into line of battle at Crawfish Springs to cover our +right and rear. Immediately after forming this line, I again became +isolated by the general movement to the left, and in consequence was +directed to advance and hold the ford of Chickamauga Creek at Lee and +Gordon's Mills, thus coming into close communication with the balance +of our forces. I moved into this position rapidly, being compelled, +though, first to drive back the enemy's cavalry skirmishers, who, +having crossed to the west side of the creek, annoyed the right flank +of my column a good deal while en route. + +Upon arrival at Lee and Gordon's Mills I found the ford over +Chickamauga Creek temporarily uncovered, through the hurried movement +of Wood to the assistance of Davis's division. The enemy was already +present in small force, with the evident intention of taking +permanent possession, but my troops at once actively engaged him and +recovered the ford with some slight losses. Scarcely had this been +done when I was directed to assist Crittenden. Leaving Lytle's +brigade at the ford, I proceeded with Bradley's and Laiboldt's to +help Crittenden, whose main line was formed to the east of the +Chattanooga and Lafayette road, its right trending toward a point on +Chickamauga Creek about a mile and a half north of Lee and Gordon's +Mills. By the time I had joined Crittenden with my two brigades, +Davis had been worsted in an attack Rosecrans had ordered him to make +on the left of that portion of the enemy's line which was located +along the west bank of the Chickamauga, the repulse being so severe +that one of Davis's batteries had to be abandoned. Bradley's brigade +arrived on the ground first and was hastily formed and thrown into +the fight, which up to this moment had been very doubtful, fortune +inclining first to one side, then to the other. Bradley's brigade +went in with steadiness, and charging across an open corn-field that +lay in front of the Lafayette road, recovered Davis's guns and forced +the enemy to retire. Meanwhile Laiboldt's brigade had come on the +scene, and forming it on Bradley's right, I found myself at the end +of the contest holding the ground which was Davis's original +position. It was an ugly fight and my loss was heavy, including +Bradley wounded. The temporary success was cheering, and when +Lytle's brigade joined me a little later I suggested to Crittenden +that we attack, but investigation showed that his troops, having been +engaged all day, were not in condition, so the suggestion could not +be carried out. + +The events of the day had indicated that Bragg's main object was to +turn Rosecrans's left; it was therefore still deemed necessary that +the army should continue its flank movement to the left, so orders +came to draw my troops in toward the widow Glenn's house. By +strengthening the skirmish line and shifting my brigades in +succession from right to left until the point designated was reached, +I was able to effect the withdrawal without much difficulty, calling +in my skirmish line after the main force had retired. + +My command having settled down for the night in this new line I rode +to army headquarters, to learn if possible the expectations for the +morrow and hear the result of the battle in General Thomas's front. +Nearly all the superior officers of the army were at headquarters, +and it struck me that much depression prevailed, notwithstanding the +fact that the enemy's attempts during the day to turn our left flank +and also envelop our right had been unsuccessful. It was now +positively known, through prisoners and otherwise, that Bragg had +been reinforced to such an extent as to make him materially outnumber +us, consequently there was much apprehension for the future. + +The necessity of protecting our left was most apparent, and the next +day the drifting in that direction was to be continued. This +movement in the presence of the enemy, who at all points was actively +seeking an opportunity to penetrate our line and interpose a column +between its right and left, was most dangerous. But the necessity +for shifting the army to the left was obvious, hence only the method +by which it was undertaken is open to question. The move was made by +the flank in the face of an exultant foe superior in numbers, and was +a violation of a simple and fundamental military principle. Under +such circumstauces columns naturally stretch out into attenuated +lines, organizations become separated, and intervals occur, all of +which we experienced; and had the orders for the movement been +construed properly I doubt if it could have been executed without +serious danger. Necessity knows no law, however, and when all the +circumstances of this battle are fully considered it is possible that +justification may be found for the manoeuvres by which the army was +thus drifted to the left. We were in a bad strait unquestionably, +and under such conditions possibly the exception had to be applied +rather than the rule. + +At daylight on the morning of the 20th a dense fog obscured +everything; consequently both armies were passive so far as fighting +was concerned. Rosecrans took advantage of the inaction to rearrange +his right, and I was pulled back closer to the widow Glenn's house to +a strong position, where I threw together some rails and logs as +barricades, but I was disconnected from the troops on my left by a +considerable interval. Here I awaited the approach of the enemy, but +he did not disturb me, although about 9 o'clock in the forenoon he +had opened on our extreme left with musketry fire and a heavy +cannonade. Two hours later it was discovered by McCook that the +interval between the main army and me was widening, and he ordered me +to send Laiboldt's brigade to occupy a portion of the front that had +been covered by Negley's division. Before getting this brigade into +place, however, two small brigades of Davis's division occupied the +ground, and I directed Laiboldt to form in column of regiments on the +crest of a low ridge in rear of Carlin's brigade, so as to prevent +Davis's right flank from being turned. The enemy was now feeling +Davis strongly, and I was about sending for Lytle's and Bradley's +brigades when I received an order to move these rapidly to the, +extreme left of the army to the assistance of General Thomas. I rode +hastily back toward their position, but in the meanwhile, they had +been notified by direct orders from McCook, and were moving out at a +double-quick toward the Lafayette road. By this time the enemy had +assaulted Davis furiously in front and flank, and driven him from his +line, and as the confused mass came back, McCook ordered Laiboldt to +charge by deploying to the front. This he did through Davis's broken +ranks, but failed to check the enemy's heavy lines, and finally +Laiboldt's brigade broke also and fell to the rear. My remaining +troops, headed by Lytle, were now passing along the rear of the +ground where this disaster took place--in column on the road--en +route to Thomas, and as the hundreds of fugitives rushed back, McCook +directed me to throw in Lytle's and Bradley's brigades. This was +hastily done, they being formed to the front under a terrible fire. +Scarcely were they aligned when the same horde of Confederates that +had overwhelmed Davis and Laiboldt poured in upon them a deadly fire +and shivered the two brigades to pieces. We succeeded in rallying +them, however, and by a counter attack regained the ridge that +Laiboldt had been driven from, where we captured the colors of the +Twenty-fourth Alabama. We could not hold the ridge, though, and my +troops were driven back with heavy loss, including General Lytle +killed, past the widow Glenn's house, and till I managed to establish +them in line of battle on a range of low hills behind the Dry Valley +road. + +During these occurrences General Rosecrans passed down the road +behind my line, and sent word that he wished to see me, but affairs +were too critical to admit of my going to him at once, and he rode on +to Chattanooga. It is to be regretted that he did not wait till I +could join him, for the delay would have permitted him to see that +matters were not in quite such bad shape as he supposed; still, there +is no disguising the fact that at this juncture his army was badly +crippled. + +Shortly after my division had rallied on the low hills already +described, I discovered that the enemy, instead of attacking me in +front, was wedging in between my division and the balance of the +army; in short, endeavoring to cut me off from Chattanooga. This +necessitated another retrograde movement, which brought me back to +the southern face of Missionary Ridge, where I was joined by Carlin's +brigade of Davis's division. Still thinking I could join General +Thomas, I rode some distance to the left of my line to look for a way +out, but found that the enemy had intervened so far as to isolate me +effectually. I then determined to march directly to Rossville, and +from there effect a junction with Thomas by the Lafayette road. I +reached Rossville about o'clock in the afternoon, bringing with me +eight guns, forty-six caissons, and a long ammunition train, the +latter having been found in a state of confusion behind the widow +Glenn's when I was being driven back behind the Dry Valley road. + +The head of my column passed through Rossville, appearing upon +Thomas's left about 6 o'clock in the evening, penetrated without any +opposition the right of the enemy's line, and captured several of his +field-hospitals. As soon as I got on the field I informed Thomas of +the presence of my command, and asked for orders. He replied that +his lines were disorganized, and that it would be futile to attack; +that all I could do was to hold on, and aid in covering his +withdrawal to Rossville. + +I accompanied him back to Rossville, and when we reached the skirt of +the little hamlet General Thomas halted and we dismounted. Going +into one of the angles of a worm fence near by I took a rail from the +top and put it through the lower rails at a proper height from the +ground to make a seat, and General Thomas and I sat down while, my +troops were moving by. The General appeared very much exhausted, +seemed to forget what he had stopped for, and said little or nothing +of the incidents of the day. This was the second occasion on which I +had met him in the midst of misfortune, for during the fight in the +cedars at Stone River, when our prospects were most disheartening, we +held a brief conversation respecting the line he was then taking up +for the purpose of helping me. At other times, in periods of +inactivity, I saw but little of him. He impressed me, now as he did +in the cedars, his quiet, unobtrusive: demeanor communicating a +gloomy rather than a hopeful view of the situation. This apparent +depression was due no doubt to the severe trial through which he had +gone in the last forty-eight hours, which, strain had exhausted him +very much both physically and mentally. His success in maintaining +his ground was undoubtedly largely influenced by the fact that two- +thirds of the National forces had been sent to his succor, but his +firm purpose to save the army was the mainstay on which all relied +after Rosecrans left the field. As the command was getting pretty +well past, I rose to go in order to put my troops into camp. This +aroused the General, when, remarking that he had a little flask of +brandy in his saddle-holster, he added that he had just stopped for +the purpose of offering me a drink, as he knew I must be very tired. +He requested one of his staff-officers to get the flask, and after +taking a sip himself, passed it to me. Refreshed by the brandy, I +mounted and rode off to supervise the encamping of my division, by no +means an easy task considering the darkness, and the confusion that +existed among the troops that had preceded us into Rossville. + +This done, I lay down at the foot of a tree, with my saddle for a +pillow, and saddle-blanket for a cover. Some soldiers near me having +built a fire, were making coffee, and I guess I must have been +looking on wistfully, for in a little while they brought me a tin- +cupful of the coffee and a small piece of hard bread, which I +relished keenly, it being the first food that had passed my lips +since the night before. I was very tired, very hungry, and much +discouraged by what had taken place since morning. I had been +obliged to fight my command under the most disadvantageous +circumstances, disconnected, without supports, without even +opportunity to form in line of battle, and at one time contending +against four divisions of the enemy. In this battle of Chickamauga, +out of an effective strength Of 4,000 bayonets, I had lost 1,517 +officers and men, including two brigade commanders. This was not +satisfactory indeed, it was most depressing--and then there was much +confusion prevailing around Rossville; and, this condition of things +doubtless increasing my gloomy reflections, it did not seem to me +that the outlook for the next day was at all auspicious, unless the +enemy was slow to improve his present advantage. Exhaustion soon +quieted all forebodings, though, and I fell into a sound sleep, from +which I was not aroused till daylight. + +On the morning of the 21st the enemy failed to advance, and his +inaction gave us the opportunity for getting the broken and +disorganized army into shape. It took a large part of the day to +accomplish this, and the chances of complete victory would have been +greatly in Bragg's favor if he could have attacked us vigorously at +this time. But he had been badly hurt in the two days' conflict, and +his inactivity on the 21st showed that he too had to go through the +process of reorganization. Indeed, his crippled condition began to +show itself the preceding evening, and I have always thought that, +had General Thomas held on and attacked the Confederate right and +rear from where I made the junction with him on the Lafayette road, +the field of Chickamauga would have been relinquished to us; but it +was fated to be otherwise. + +Rosecrans, McCook, and Crittenden passed out of the battle when they +went back to Chattanooga, and their absence was discouraging to all +aware of it. Doubtless this had much to do with Thomas's final +withdrawal, thus leaving the field to the enemy, though at an immense +cost in killed and wounded. The night of the 21st the army moved +back from Rossville, and my division, as the rearguard of the +Twentieth Corps, got within our lines at Chattanooga about 8 o'clock +the morning of the 22d. Our unmolested retirement from Rossville +lent additional force to the belief that the enemy had been badly +injured, and further impressed me with the conviction that we might +have held on. Indeed, the battle of Chickamauga was somewhat like +that of Stone River, victory resting with the side that had the grit +to defer longest its relinquishment of the field. + +The manoeuvres by which Rosecrans had carried his army over the +Cumberland Mountains, crossed the Tennessee River, and possessed +himself of Chattanooga, merit the highest commendation up to the +abandonment of this town by Bragg on the 8th of September; but I have +always fancied that that evacuation made Rosecrans over-confident, +and led him to think that he could force Bragg south as far as Rome. +After the Union army passed the river and Chattanooga fell into our +hands; we still kept pressing the enemy's communications, and the +configuration of the country necessitated more or less isolation of +the different corps. McCook's corps of three divisions had crossed +two difficult ridges--Sand and Lookout mountains--to Alpine in +Broomtown Valley with intentions against Summerville. Thomas's corps +had marched by the way of Stevens's Gap toward Lafayette, which he +expected to occupy. Crittenden had passed through Chattanooga, at +first directing his march an Ringgold. Thus the corps of the army +were not in conjunction, and between McCook and Thomas there +intervened a positive and aggressive obstacle in the shape of Bragg's +army concentrating and awaiting reinforcement at Lafayette. Under +these circumstances Bragg could have taken the different corps in +detail, and it is strange that he did not, even before receiving his +reinforcements, turn on McCook in Broomtown Valley and destroy him. + +Intelligence that Bragg would give battle began to come to us from +various sources as early as the 10th of September, and on the 11th +McCook found that he could not communicate with Thomas by the direct +road through Broomtown Valley; but we did not begin closing in toward +Chattanooga till the 13th, and even then the Twentieth Corps had +before it the certainty of many delays that must necessarily result +from the circuitous and difficult mountain roads which we would be +obliged to follow. Had the different corps, beginning with McCook's, +been drawn in toward Chattanooga between the 8th and 12th of +September, the objective point of the campaign would have remained in +our hands without the battle of Chickamauga, but, as has been seen, +this was not done. McCook was almost constantly on the march day and +night between the 13th and the 19th, ascending and descending +mountains, his men worried and wearied, so that when they appeared on +the battle-field, their fatigued condition operated greatly against +their efficiency. This delay in concentration was also the original +cause of the continuous shifting toward our left to the support of +Thomas, by which manoeuvre Rosecrans endeavored to protect his +communications with Chattanooga, and out of which grew the intervals +that offered such tempting opportunities to Bragg. In addition to +all this, much transpired on the field of battle tending to bring +about disaster. There did not seem to be any well-defined plan of +action in the fighting; and this led to much independence of judgment +in construing orders among some of the subordinate generals. It also +gave rise to much license in issuing orders: too many people were +giving important directions, affecting the whole army, without +authority from its head. In view, therefore, of all the errors that +were committed from the time Chattanooga fell into our hands after +our first crossing the Tennessee, it was fortunate that the Union +defeat was not more complete, that it left in the enemy's possession +not much more than the barren results arising from the simple holding +of the ground on which the engagement was fought. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +AT CHATTANOOGA--THE ENEMY FORTIFIES LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND MISSIONARY +RIDGE--REORGANIZING THE ARMY--REMOVAL OF GENERAL ROSECRANS-- +PUNISHMENT OF DESERTERS--GRANT AT CHATTANOOGA--THE FIGHT ON LOOKOUT +MOUNTAIN--A BRAVE COLOR-BEARER--BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE. + +By 9 o'clock on the morning of September 22 my command took up a +position within the heavy line of intrenchments at Chattanooga, the +greater part of which defenses had been thrown up since the army +commenced arriving there the day before. The enemy, having now +somewhat recovered from the shock of the recent battle, followed +carefully, and soon invested us close into our lines with a parallel +system of rifle-pits. He also began at once to erect permanent lines +of earthworks on Missionary Ridge and to establish himself strongly +on Lookout Mountain. He then sent Wheeler's cavalry north of the +Tennessee, and, aided greatly by the configuration of the ground, +held us in a state of partial siege, which serious rains might +convert into a complete investment. The occupation of Lookout +Mountain broke our direct communication with Bridgeport-our sub- +depot--and forced us to bring supplies by way of the Sequatchie +Valley and Waldron's Ridge of the Cumberland Mountains, over a road +most difficult even in the summer season, but now liable to be +rendered impassable by autumn rains. The distance to Bridgeport by +this circuitous route was sixty miles, and the numerous passes, +coves, and small valleys through which the road ran offered tempting +opportunities, for the destruction of trains, and the enemy was not +slow to take advantage of them. Indeed, the situation was not +promising, and General Rosecrans himself, in communicating with the +President the day succeeding the battle of Chickamauga, expressed +doubts of his ability to hold the gateway of the Cumberland +Mountains. + +The position taken up by my troops inside the lines of Chattanooga +was near the old iron-works, under the shadow of Lookout Mountain. +Here we were exposed to a continual fire from the enemy's batteries +for many days, but as the men were well covered by secure though +simple intrenchments, but little damage was done. My own +headquarters were established on the grounds of Mr. William +Crutchfield, a resident of the place, whose devotion to the Union +cause knew no bounds, and who rendered me--and, in fact, at one time +or another, nearly every general officer in the Army of the +Cumberland--invaluable service in the way of information about the +Confederate army. My headquarters camp frequently received shots +from the point of Lookout Mountain also, but fortunately no +casualties resulted from this plunging fire, though, I am free to +confess, at first our nerves were often upset by the whirring of +twenty-pounder shells dropped inconsiderately into our camp at +untimely hours of the night. + +In a few days rain began to fali, and the mountain roads by which our +supplies came were fast growing impracticable. Each succeeding train +of wagons took longer to make the trip from Bridgeport, and the draft +mules were dying by the hundreds. The artillery horses would soon go +too, and there was every prospect that later the troops would starve +unless something could be done. Luckily for my division, a company +of the Second Kentucky Cavalry had attached itself to my +headquarters, and, though there without authority, had been left +undisturbed in view of a coming reorganization of the army incidental +to the removal of McCook and Crittenden from the command of their +respective corps, a measure that had been determined upon immediately +after the battle of Chickamauga. Desiring to remain with me, Captain +Lowell H. Thickstun, commanding this company, was ready for any duty +I might find, for him, so I ordered him into the Sequatchie Valley +for the purpose of collecting supplies for my troops, and sent my +scout, Card along to guide him to the best locations. The company +hid itself away in a deep cove in the upper end of the valley, and by +keeping very quiet and paying for everything it took from the people, +in a few days was enabled to send me large quantities of corn for my +animals and food for the officers and men, which greatly supplemented +the scanty supplies we were getting from the sub-depot at Bridgeport. +In this way I carried men and animals through our beleaguerment in +pretty fair condition, and of the turkeys, chickens, ducks, and eggs +sent in for the messes of my officers we often had enough to divide +liberally among those at different headquarters. Wheeler's cavalry +never discovered my detached company, yet the chances of its capture +were not small, sometimes giving much uneasiness; still, I concluded +it was better to run all risks than to let the horses die of +starvation in Chattanooga. Later, after the battle of Missionary +Ridge, when I started to Knoxville, the company joined me in +excellent shape, bringing with it an abundance of food, including a +small herd of beef cattle. + +The whole time my line remained near the iron-mills the shelling from +Lookout was kept up, the screeching shots inquisitively asking in +their well-known way, "Where are you? Where are you?" but it is +strange to see how readily, soldiers can become accustomed to the +sound of dangerous missiles under circumstances of familiarity, and +this case was no exception to the rule. Few casualties occurred, and +soon contempt took the place of nervousness, and as we could not +reply in kind on account of the elevation required for our guns, the +men responded by jeers and imprecations whenever a shell fell into +their camp. + +Meantime, orders having been issued for the organization of the army, +additional troops were attached to my command, and it became the +Second Division of the Fourth Army Corps, to which Major-General +Gordon Granger was assigned as commander. This necessitated a change +of position of the division, and I moved to ground behind our works, +with my right resting on Fort Negley and my left extending well over +toward Fort Wood, my front being parallel to Missionary Ridge. My +division was now composed of twenty-five regiments, classified into +brigades and demi-brigades, the former commanded by Brigadier-General +G. D. Wagner, Colonel C. G. Harker, and Colonel F. T. Sherman; the +latter, by Colonels Laiboldt, Miller, Wood, Walworth, and Opdyke. +The demi-brigade was an awkward invention of Granger's; but at this +time it was necessitated--perhaps by the depleted condition of our +regiments, which compelled the massing of a great number of +regimental organizations into a division to give it weight and force. + +On October 16, 1863, General Grant had been assigned to the command +of the "Military Division of the Mississippi," a geographical area +which embraced the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the +Tennessee, thus effecting a consolidation of divided commands which +might have been introduced most profitably at an earlier date. The +same order that assigned General Grant relieved General Rosecrans, +and placed General Thomas in command of the Army of the Cumberland. +At the time of the reception of the order, Rosecrans was busy with +preparations for a movement to open the direct road to Bridgeport-- +having received in the interval, since we came back to Chattanooga, +considerable reinforcement by the arrival in his department of the +Eleventh and Twelfth corps, under General Hooker, from the Army of +the Potomac. With this force Rosecrans had already strengthened +certain important points on the railroad between Nashville and +Stevenson, and given orders to Hooker to concentrate at Bridgeport +such portions of his command as were available, and to hold them in +readiness to advance toward Chattanooga. + +On the 19th of October, after turning the command over to Thomas, +General Rosecrans quietly slipped away from the army. He submitted +uncomplainingly to his removal, and modestly left us without fuss or +demonstration; ever maintaining, though, that the battle of +Chickamauga was in effect a victory, as it had ensured us, he said, +the retention of Chattanooga. When his departure became known deep +and almost universal regret was expressed, for he was +enthusiastically esteemed and loved by the Army of the Cumberland, +from the day he assumed command of it until he left it, +notwithstanding the censure poured upon him after the battle of +Chickamauga. + +The new position to which my division had been moved, in consequence +of the reorganization, required little additional labor to strengthen +it, and the routine of fatigue duty and drills was continued as +before, its monotony occasionally broken by the excitement of an +expected attack, or by amusements of various kinds that were +calculated to keep the men in good spirits. Toward this result much +was contributed by Mr. James E. Murdock, the actor, who came down +from the North to recover the body of his son, killed at Chickamauga, +and was quartered with me for the greater part of the time he was +obliged to await the successful conclusion of his sad mission. He +spent days, and even weeks, going about through the division giving +recitations before the camp-fires, and in improvised chapels, which +the men had constructed from refuse lumber and canvas. Suiting his +selections to the occasion, he never failed to excite intense +interest in the breasts of all present, and when circumstances +finally separated him from us, all felt that a debt of gratitude was +due him that could never be paid. The pleasure he gave, and the +confident feeling that was now arising from expected reinforcements, +was darkened, however, by one sad incident. Three men of my division +had deserted their colors at the beginning of the siege and made +their way north. They were soon arrested, and were brought back to +stand trial for the worst offense that can be committed by a soldier, +convicted of the crime, and ordered to be shot. To make the example +effective I paraded the whole division for the execution, and on the +13th of November, in the presence of their former comrades, the +culprits were sent, in accordance with the terms of their sentence, +to render their account to the Almighty. It was the saddest +spectacle I ever witnessed, but there could be no evasion, no +mitigation of the full letter of the law; its timely enforcement was +but justice to the brave spirits who had yet to fight the rebellion +to the end. + +General Grant arrived at Chattanooga on October 23, and began at once +to carry out the plans that had been formed for opening the shorter +or river road to Bridgeport. This object was successfully +accomplished by the moving of Hooker's command to Rankin's and +Brown's ferries in concert with a force from the Army of the +Cumberland which was directed on the same points, so by the 27th of +October direct communication with our depots was established. The +four weeks which followed this cheering result were busy with the +work of refitting and preparing for offensive operations as soon as +General Sherman should reach us with his troops from West Tennessee. +During this period of activity the enemy committed the serious fault +of detaching Longstreet's corps--sending it to aid in the siege of +Knoxville in East Tennessee--an error which has no justification +whatever, unless it be based on the presumption that it was +absolutely necessary that Longstreet should ultimately rejoin Lee's +army in Virginia by way of Knoxville and Lynchburg, with a chance of +picking up Burnside en route. Thus depleted, Bragg still held +Missionary Ridge in strong force, but that part of his line which +extended across the intervening valley to the northerly point of. +Lookout Mountain was much attenuated. + +By the 18th of November General Grant had issued instructions +covering his intended operations. They contemplated that Sherman's +column, which was arriving by the north bank of the Tennessee, should +cross the river on a pontoon bridge just below the mouth of +Chickamauga Creek and carry the northern extremity of Missionary +Ridge as far as the railroad tunnel; that the Army of the Cumberland- +-the centre--should co-operate with Sherman; and that Hooker with a +mixed command should continue to hold Lookout Valley and operate on +our extreme right as circumstances might warrant. Sherman crossed on +the 24th to perform his alloted part of the programme, but in the +meantime Grant becoming impressed with the idea that Bragg was +endeavoring to get away, ordered Thomas to make a strong +demonstration in his front, to determine the truth or falsity of the +information that had been received. This task fell to the Fourth +Corps, and at 12 o'clock on the 23d I was notified that Wood's +division would make a reconnoissance to an elevated point in its +front called Orchard Knob, and that I was to support it with my +division and prevent Wood's right flank from being turned by an +advance of the enemy on Moore's road or from the direction of +Rossville. For this duty I marched my division out of the works +about 2 p.m., and took up a position on Bushy Knob. Shortly after we +reached this point Wood's division passed my left flank on its +reconnoissance, and my command, moving in support of it, drove in the +enemy's picket-line. Wood's took possession of Orchard Knob easily, +and mine was halted on a low ridge to the right of the Knob, where I +was directed by General Thomas to cover my front by a strong line of +rifle-pits, and to put in position two batteries of the Fourth +regular artillery that had joined me from the Eleventh Corps. After +dark Wood began to feel uneasy about his right flank, for a gap +existed between it and my left, so I moved in closer to him, taking +up a line where I remained inactive till the 25th, but suffering some +inconvenience from the enemy's shells. + +On the 24th General Sherman made an attack for the purpose of +carrying the north end of Missionary Ridge. His success was not +complete, although at the time it was reported throughout the army to +be so. It had the effect of disconcerting Bragg, however, and caused +him to strengthen his right by withdrawing troops from his left, +which circumstance led Hooker to advance on the northerly face of +Lookout Mountain. At first, with good glasses, we could plainly see +Hooker's troops driving the Confederates up the face of the mountain. +All were soon lost to view in the dense timber, but emerged again on +the open ground, across which the Confederates retreated at a lively +pace, followed by the pursuing line, which was led by a color-bearer, +who, far in advance, was bravely waving on his comrades. The +gallantry of this man elicited much enthusiasm among us all, but as +he was a considerable distance ahead of his comrades I expected to +see his rashness punished at any moment by death or capture. He +finally got quite near the retreating Confederates, when suddenly +they made a dash at him, but he was fully alive to such a move, and +ran back, apparently uninjured, to his friends. About this time a +small squad of men reached the top of Lookout and planted the Stars +and Stripes on its very crest. Just then a cloud settled down on the +mountain, and a heavy bank of fog obscured its whole face. + +After the view was lost the sharp rattle of musketry continued some +time, but practically the fight had been already won by Hooker's men, +the enemy only holding on with a rear-guard to assure his retreat +across Chattanooga Valley to Missionary Ridge. Later we heard very +heavy cannonading, and fearing that Hooker was in trouble I sent a +staff-officer to find out whether he needed assistance, which I +thought could be given by a demonstration toward Rossville. The +officer soon returned with the report that Hooker was all right, that +the cannonading was only a part of a little rear-guard fight, two +sections of artillery making all the noise, the reverberations from +point to point in the adjacent mountains echoing and reechoing till +it seemed that at least fifty guns were engaged. + +On the morning of the 25th of November Bragg's entire army was +holding only the line of Missionary Ridge, and our troops, being now +practically connected from Sherman to Hooker, confronted it with the +Army of the Cumberland in the centre--bowed out along the front of +Wood's division and mine. Early in the day Sherman, with great +determination and persistence, made an attempt to carry the high +ground near the tunnel, first gaining and then losing advantage, but +his attack was not crowned with the success anticipated. Meanwhile +Hooker and Palmer were swinging across Chattanooga Valley, using me +as a pivot for the purpose of crossing Missionary Ridge in the +neighborhood of Rossville. In the early part of the day I had driven +in the Confederate pickets in my front, so as to prolong my line of +battle on that of Wood, the necessity of continuing to refuse my +right having been obviated by the capture of Lookout Mountain and the +advance of Palmer. + +About 2 o'clock orders came to carry the line at the foot of the +ridge, attacking at a signal of six guns. I had few changes or new +dispositions to make. Wagner's brigade, which was next to Wood's +division, was formed in double lines, and Harker's brigade took the +same formation on Wagner's right. Colonel F. T. Sherman's brigade +came on Harker's right, formed in a column of attack, with a front of +three regiments, he having nine. My whole front was covered with a +heavy line of skirmishers. These dispositions made, my right rested +a little distance south of Moore's road, my left joined Wood over +toward Orchard Knob, while my centre was opposite Thurman's house-- +the headquarters of General Bragg--on Missionary Ridge. A small +stream of water ran parallel to my front, as far as which the ground +was covered by a thin patch of timber, and beyond the edge of the +timber was an open plain to the foot of Missionary Ridge, varying in +width from four to nine hundred yards. At the foot of the ridge was +the enemy's first line of rifle-pits; at a point midway up its face, +another line, incomplete; and on the crest was a third line, in which +Bragg had massed his artillery. + +The enemy saw we were making dispositions for an attack, and in plain +view of my whole division he prepared himself for resistance, +marching regiments from his left flank with flying colors; and +filling up the spaces not already occupied in his intrenchments. +Seeing the enemy thus strengthening himself, it was plain that we +would have to act quickly if we expected to accomplish much, and I +already began to doubt the feasibility of our remaining in the first +line of rifle-pits when we should have carried them. I discussed the +order with Wagner, Harker, and Sherman, and they were similarly +impressed, so while anxiously awaiting the signal I sent Captain +Ransom of my staff to Granger, who was at Fort Wood, to ascertain if +we were to carry the first line or the ridge beyond. Shortly after +Ransom started the signal guns were fired, and I told my brigade +commanders to go for the ridge. + +Placing myself in front of Harker's brigade, between the line of +battle and the skirmishers, accompanied by only an orderly so as not +to attract the enemy's fire, we moved out. Under a terrible storm of +shot and shell the line pressed forward steadily through the timber, +and as it emerged on the plain took the double-quick and with fixed +bayonets rushed at the enemy's first line. Not a shot was fired from +our line of battle, and as it gained on my skirmishers they melted +into and became one with it, and all three of my brigades went over +the rifle-pits simultaneously. They then lay down on the face of the +ridge, for a breathing-spell and for protection' from the terrible +fire, of canister and musketry pouring over us from the guns on the +crest. At the rifle-pits there had been little use for the bayonet, +for most of the Confederate troops, disconcerted by the sudden rush, +lay close in the ditch and surrendered, though some few fled up the +slope to the next line. The prisoners were directed to move out to +our rear, and as their intrenchments had now come under fire from the +crest, they went with alacrity, and without guard or escort, toward +Chattanooga. + +After a short pause to get breath the ascent of the ridge began, and +I rode, into the ditch of the intrenchments to drive out a few +skulkers who were hiding there. Just at this time I was joined by +Captain Ransom, who, having returned from Granger, told me that we +were to carry only the line at the base, and that in coming back, +when he struck the left of the division, knowing this interpretation +of the order, he in his capacity as an aide-de-camp had directed +Wagner, who was up on the face of the ridge, to return, and that in +consequence Wagner was recalling his men to the base. I could not +bear to order the recall of troops now so gallantly climbing the hill +step by step, and believing we could take it, I immediately rode to +Wagner's brigade and directed it to resume the attack. In the +meantime Harker's and F. T. Sherman's troops were approaching the +partial line of works midway of the ridge, and as I returned to the +centre of their rear, they were being led by many stands of +regimental colors. There seemed to be a rivalry as to which color +should be farthest to the front; first one would go forward a few +feet, then another would come up to it, the color-bearers vying with +one another as to who should be foremost, until finally every +standard was planted on the intermediate works. The enemy's fire +from the crest during the ascent was terrific in the noise made, but +as it was plunging, it over-shot and had little effect on those above +the second line of pits, but was very uncomfortable for those below, +so I deemed it advisable to seek another place, and Wagner's brigade +having reassembled and again pressed up the ridge, I rode up the face +to join my troops. + +As soon as the men saw me, they surged forward and went over the +works on the crest. The parapet of the intrenchment was too high for +my horse to jump, so, riding a short distance to the left, I entered +through a low place in the line. A few Confederates were found +inside, but they turned the butts of their muskets toward me in token +of surrender, for our men were now passing beyond them on both their +flanks. + +The right and right centre of my division gained the summit first, +they being partially sheltered by a depression in the face of the +ridge, the Confederates in their immediate front fleeing down the +southern face. When I crossed the rifle-pits on the top the +Confederates were still holding fast at Bragg's headquarters, and a +battery located there opened fire along the crest; making things most +uncomfortably hot. Seeing the danger to which I was exposed, for I +was mounted, Colonel Joseph Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri, ran up +and begged me to dismount. I accepted his excellent advice, and it +probably saved my life; but poor Conrad was punished for his +solicitude by being seriously wounded in the thigh at the moment he +was thus contributing to my safety. + +Wildly cheering, the men advanced along the ridge toward Bragg's +headquarters, and soon drove the Confederates from this last +position, capturing a number of prisoners, among them Breckenridge's +and Bates's adjutant-generals, and the battery that had made such +stout resistance on the crest-two guns which were named "Lady +Breckenridge" and "Lady Buckner" General Bragg himself having barely +time to escape before his headquarters were taken. + +My whole division had now reached the summit, and Wagner and Harker-- +the latter slightly wounded--joined me as I was standing in the +battery just secured. The enemy was rapidly retiring, and though +many of his troops, with disorganized wagon-trains and several pieces +of artillery, could be distinctly seen in much confusion about half a +mile distant in the valley below, yet he was covering them with a +pretty well organized line that continued to give us a desultory +fire. Seeing this, I at once directed Wagner and Harker to take up +the pursuit along Moore's road, which led to Chickamauga Station-- +Bragg's depot of supply--and as they progressed, I pushed Sherman's +brigade along the road behind them. Wagner and Harker soon overtook +the rearguard, and a slight skirmish caused it to break, permitting +nine guns and a large number of wagons which were endeavoring to get +away in the stampede to fall into our hands. + +About a mile and a half beyond Missionary Ridge, Moore's road passed +over a second ridge or high range of hills, and here the enemy had +determined to make a stand for that purpose, posting eight pieces of +artillery with such supporting force as he could rally. He was +immediately attacked by Harker and Wagner, but the position was +strong, the ridge being rugged and difficult of ascent, and after the +first onset our men recoiled. A staff-officer from Colonel Wood's +demi-brigade informing me at this juncture that that command was too +weak to carry the position in its front, I ordered the Fifteenth +Indiana and the Twenty-Sixth Ohio to advance to Wood's aid, and then +hastening to the front I found his men clinging to the face of the +ridge, contending stubbornly with the rear-guard of the enemy. +Directing Harker to put Opdyke's demi-brigade in on the right, I +informed Wagner that it was necessary to flank the enemy by carrying +the high bluff on our left where the ridge terminated, that I had +designated the Twenty-Sixth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana for the work, +and that I wished him to join them. + +It was now dusk, but the two regiments engaged in the flanking +movement pushed on to gain the bluff. Just as they reached the crest +of the ridge the moon rose from behind, enlarged by the refraction of +the atmosphere, and as the attacking column passed along the summit +it crossed the moon's disk and disclosed to us below a most +interesting panorama, every figure nearly being thrown out in full +relief. The enemy, now outflanked on left and right, abandoned his +ground, leaving us two pieces of artillery and a number of wagons. +After this ridge was captured I found that no other troops than mine +were pursuing the enemy, so I called a halt lest I might become too +much isolated. Having previously studied the topography of the +country thoroughly, I knew that if I pressed on my line of march +would carry me back to Chickamauga station, where we would be in rear +of the Confederates that had been fighting General Sherman, and that +there was a possibility of capturing them by such action; but I did +not feel warranted in marching there alone, so I rode back to +Missionary Ridge to ask for more troops, and upon arriving there I +found Granger in command, General Thomas having gone back to +Chattanooga. + +Granger was at Braggy's late headquarters in bed. I informed him of +my situation and implored him to follow me up with the Army of the +Cumberland, but he declined, saying that he thought we had done well +enough. I still insisting, he told me finally to push on to the +crossing of Chickamauga Creek, and if I, encountered the enemy he +would order troops to my support. I returned to my division about +12 o'clock at night, got it under way, and reached the crossing, +about half a mile from the station, at 2 o'clock on the morning of +the 26th, and there found the bridge destroyed, but that the creek +was fordable. I did not encounter the enemy in any force, but feared +to go farther without assistance. This I thought I might bring up by +practicing a little deception, so I caused two regiments to simulate +an engagement by opening fire, hoping that this would alarm Granger +and oblige him to respond with troops, but my scheme failed. General +Granger afterward told me that he had heard the volleys, but +suspected their purpose, knowing that they were not occasioned by a +fight, since they were too regular in their delivery. + +I was much disappointed that my pursuit had not been supported, for I +felt that great results were in store for us should the enemy be +vigorously followed. Had the troops under Granger's command been +pushed out with mine when Missionary Ridge was gained, we could have +reached Chickamauga Station by 12 o'clock the night of the 25th; or +had they been sent even later, when I called for them, we could have +got there by daylight and worked incalculable danger to the +Confederates, for the force that had confronted Sherman did not pass +Chickamauga Station in their retreat till after daylight on the +morning of the 26th. + +My course in following so close was dictated by a thorough knowledge +of the topography of the country and a familiarity with its roads, +bypaths, and farm-houses, gained with the assistance of Mr. +Crutchfield; and sure my column was heading in the right direction, +though night had fallen I thought that an active pursuit would almost +certainly complete the destruction of Bragg's army. When General +Grant came by my bivouac at the crossing of Chickamauga Creek on the +26th, he realized what might have been accomplished had the +successful assault on Missionary Ridge been supplemented by vigorous +efforts on the part of some high officers, who were more interested +in gleaning that portion of the battle-field over which my command +had passed than in destroying a panic-stricken enemy. + +Although it cannot be said that the result of the two days' +operations was reached by the methods which General Grant had +indicated in his instructions preceding the battle, yet the general +outcome was unquestionably due to his genius, for the manoeuvring of +Sherman's and Hooker's commands created the opportunity for Thomas's +corps of the Army of the Cumberland to carry the ridge at the centre. +In directing Sherman to attack the north end of the ridge, Grant +disconcerted Bragg--who was thus made to fear the loss of his depot +of supplies at Chickamauga Station--and compelled him to resist +stoutly; and stout resistance to Sherman meant the withdrawal of the +Confederates from Lookout Mountain. While this attack was in process +of execution advantage was taken of it by Hooker in a well-planned +and well-fought battle, but to my mind an unnecessary one, for our +possession of Lookout was the inevitable result that must follow from +Sherman's threatening attitude. The assault on Missionary Ridge by +Granger's and Palmer's corps was not premeditated by Grant, he +directing only the line at its base to be carried, but when this fell +into our hands the situation demanded our getting the one at the top +also. + +I took into the action an effective force of 6,000, and lost 123 +officers and 1,181 men killed and wounded. These casualties speak +louder than words of the character of the fight, and plainly tell +where the enemy struggled most stubbornly for these figures comprise +one-third the casualties of the entire body of Union troops-- +Sherman's and all included. My division captured 1,762 prisoners +and, in all, seventeen pieces of artillery. Six of these guns I +turned over with caissons complete; eleven were hauled off the field +and appropriated by an officer of high rank--General Hazen. I have +no disposition to renew the controversy which grew out of this +matter. At the time the occurrence took place I made the charge in a +plain official report, which was accepted as correct by the corps and +army commanders, from General Granger up to General Grant. General +Hazen took no notice of this report then, though well aware of its +existence. Nearly a quarter of a century later, however, he +endeavored to justify his retention of the guns by trying to show +that his brigade was the first to reach the crest of Missionary +Ridge, and that he was therefore entitled to them. This claim of +being the first to mount the ridge is made by other brigades than +Hazen's, with equal if not greater force, so the absurdity of his +deduction is apparent: + +NOTE: In a book published by General Hazen in 1885, he endeavored to +show, by a number of letters from subordinate officers of his +command, written at his solicitation from fifteen to twenty years +after the occurrence, that his brigade was the first to mount +Missionary Ridge, and that it was entitled to possess these guns. +The doubtful character of testimony dimmed by the lapse of many years +has long been conceded, and I am content to let the controversy stand +the test of history, based on the conclusions of General Grant, as he +drew them from official reports made when the circumstances were +fresh in the minds of all. + +General Grant says: "To Sheridan's prompt movement, the Army of the +Cumberland and the nation are indebted for the bulk of the capture of +prisoners, artillery, and small-arms that day. Except for his prompt +pursuit, so much in this way would not have been accomplished." + +General Thomas says: "We captured all their cannon and ammunition +before they could be removed or destroyed. After halting a few +moments to reorganize the troops, who had become somewhat scattered +in the assault of the hill, General Sheridan pushed forward in +pursuit, and drove those in his front who had escaped capture across +Chickamauga Creek." + +REPORT OF COLONEL FRANCIS T. SHERMAN, COMMANDING FIRST BRIGADE: +"When within ten yards of the crest, our men seemed to be thrown +forward as if by some powerful engine, and the old flag was planted +firmly and surely on the last line of works of the enemy, followed by +the men, taking one battery of artillery." + +REPORT OF COLONEL MICHAEL GOODING, TWENTY-SECOND INDIANA: +...."I pushed men up to the second line of works as fast as possible; +on and on, clear to the top, and over the ridge they went, to the +hollow beyond, killing and wounding numbers of the enemy as we +advanced, and leaving the rebel battery in our rear. We captured +great numbers of prisoners, and sent them to the rear without guards, +as we deemed the pursuit of the enemy of greater importance.... +'I cannot give too much praise to Captain Powers, Company "H," +Lieutenant Smith, Company "K," Lieutenant Gooding, Company "A," and +Second Lieutenant Moser, Company "G," for their assistance, and for +the gallant manner in which they encouraged their men up the side of +the mountain, and charging the enemy's works right up to the muzzles +of their guns.'" + +REPORT OF COLONEL JASON MARSH, SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS: +...."The first on the enemy's works, and almost simultaneously, were +Lieutenant Clement, Company "A," Captain Stegner, Company "I," +Captain Bacon, Company "G," and Captain Leffingwell, with some of +their men. The enemy was still in considerable force behind their +works; but, for some unaccountable reason, they either fled or +surrendered instantly upon the first few of our men reaching them-- +not even trying to defend their battery, which was immediately +captured by Captain Stegner." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL PORTER C. OLSON, THIRTY-SIXTH ILLINOIS: +...."In connection with other regiments of this brigade, we assisted +in capturing several pieces of artillery, a number of caissons, and a +great quantity of small-arms." + +REPORT OF COLONEL JOHN Q. LANE: +...."At the house known as Bragg's headquarters, the enemy were +driven from three guns, which fell into our hands." + +REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. D. WAGNER, SECOND BRIGADE: +...."I ordered the command to storm the ridge, bringing up the +Fifteenth Indiana and Ninety-seventh Ohio, which had not yet been +engaged, although suffering from the enemy's artillery. The result +is a matter of history, as we gained the ridge, capturing artillery, +prisoners, and small-arms; to what amount, however, I do not know, as +we pushed on after the enemy as soon as I had re-formed the command. +....Captain Tinney, with his usual gallantry, dashed up the line with +the first troops, and with the aid of an orderly (George Dusenbury, +Fifteenth Indiana), turned the loaded gun of the enemy on his +retreating ranks." + +REPORT OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. HEGLER, FIFTEENTH INDIANA: +...."Our captures amounted to prisoners not counted, representing +many different regiments; several pieces of artillery, and some +wagons." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ELIAS NEFF, FORTIETH INDIANA: +...."As the regiment reached the top of the ridge and swept for. +ward, the right passed through, without stopping to take possession, +the battery at General Bragg's headquarters that had fired so +venomously during the whole contest." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J. MOORE, FIFTY-EIGHTH INDIANA: +...."In passing to the front from Missionary Ridge, we saw several +pieces of artillery which had been abandoned by the enemy, though I +did not leave any one in charge of them." + +REPORT OF MAJOR C, M. HAMMOND, ONE HUNDREDTH ILLINOIS: +...."I immediately organized my regiment, and while so doing +discovered a number of pieces of artillery in a ravine on my left. I +sent Lieutenant Stewart, of Company A, to see if these guns which the +enemy had abandoned could not be turned upon them. He returned and +reported them to be four ten-pound Parrotts and two brass Napoleons; +also that it would require a number of men to place them in position. +I ordered him to report the same to General Wagner, and ask +permission, but before receiving a reply was ordered by you to move +forward my regiment on the left of the Fifty-Eighth Indiana +Volunteers." + +REPORT OF COLONEL CHARLES G. HARKER, THIRD BRIGADE: +...."My right and Colonel Sherman's left interlocked, so to speak, as +we approached the summit, and it was near this point that I saw the +first part of my line gain the crest. This was done by a few brave +men of my own and Colonel Sherman's command driving the enemy from +his intrenchments. The gap thus opened, our men rushed rapidly in, +and the enemy, loth to give up their position, still remained, firing +at my command toward the left, and the battery in front of the house +known as General Bragg's headquarters was still firing at the troops, +and was captured by our men while the gunners were still at their +posts.... +...."We captured and sent to division and corps headquarters 503 +prisoners and a large number of small-arms. In regard to the number +of pieces of artillery, it will probably be difficult to reconcile +the reports of my regimental commanders with the reports of other +regiments and brigades who fought so nobly with my own command, and +who alike are entitled to share the honors and glories of the day. +More anxious to follow the enemy than to appropriate trophies already +secured, we pushed to the front, while the place we occupied on +ascending the hill was soon occupied by other troops, who, I have +learned, claim the artillery as having fallen into their own hands. +It must therefore remain with the division and corps commanders, who +knew the relative position of each brigade and division, to accord to +each the trophies to which they are due. +...."From my personal observation I can claim a battery of six guns +captured by a portion of my brigade." + +REPORT OF COLONEL EMERSON OPDYKE, FIRST DEMI-BRIGADE: +...."My command captured Bragg's headquarters, house, and the six +guns which were near there; one of these I ordered turned upon the +enemy, which was done with effect." + +REPORT OF COLONEL H. C. DUNLAP, THIRD KENTUCKY: +...."The point at which the centre of my regiment reached the crest +was at the stable to the left of the house said to be Bragg's +headquarters, and immediately in front of the road which leads down +the southern slope of the ridge. One piece of the abandoned battery, +was to the left of this point, the remainder to the right, near by." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. A. BULLITT, SIXTY-FIFTH OHIO: +...."The position in which my regiment found itself was immediately +in front of a battery, which belched forth a stream of canister upon +us with terrible rapidity. In addition to this, the enemy, whenever +driven from other points, rallied around this battery, and defended +it with desperation. It cost a struggle to take it; but we finally +succeeded, and the colors of the Sixty-fifth Ohio were the first +planted upon the yet smoking guns. Captain Smith, of my regiment, +was placed in charge of the captured battery, which consisted of 5 +guns, 3 caissons, and 17 horses." + +REPORT OF CAPTAIN E. P. BATES, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH OHIO: +...."Perceiving that the ridge across which my regiment extended was +commanded to the very crest by a battery in front, also by those to +right and left, I directed the men to pass up the gorges on either +side. About forty men, with Captain Parks and Lieutenant Stinger, +passed to the left, the balance to the right, and boldly charged on, +till, foremost with those of other regiments, they stood on the +strongest point of the enemy's works, masters alike of his guns and +position.... Captain Parks reports his skirmish-line to have charged +upon and captured one gun, that otherwise would have been hauled +off." + +REPORT OF COLONEL ALLEN BUCKNER, SEVENTY-NINTH ILLINOIS: +...."The right of the regiment rested on the left of the road, where +it crossed the rebel fortification, leading up the hill toward +Bragg's headquarters. We took a right oblique direction through a +peach orchard until arriving at the woods and logs on the side of the +ridge, when I ordered the men to commence firing, which they did with +good effect, and continued it all the way up until the heights were +gained. At this point the left of the regiment was near the right of +the house, and I claim that my officers and men captured two large +brass pieces, literally punching the cannoniers from their guns. +Privates John Fregan and Jasper Patterson, from Company "A," rushed +down the hill, captured one caisson, with a cannonier and six horses, +and brought them back." + +REPORT OF COLONEL J. R. MILES, TWENTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS: +...."The regiment, without faltering, finally, at about 4.30 P.M., +gained the enemy's works in conjunction with a party of the Thirty- +sixth Illinois, who were immediately on our right. The regiment, or +a portion of it, proceeded to the left, down the ridge, for nearly or +quite a quarter of a mile capturing three or four pieces of cannon, +driving the gunners from them." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ORDERED TO RETURN TO CHATTANOOGA--MARCH TO KNOXVILLE--COLLECTING +SUBSISTENCE STORES--A CLEVER STRATAGEM--A BRIDGE OF WAGONS--LOOKING +OUT FOR THE PERSONAL COMFORT OF THE SOLDIERS-A LEAVE OF ABSENCE-- +ORDERED TO WASHINGTON--PARTING WITH SHERIDAN'S DIVISION. + +The day after the battle of Missionary Ridge I was ordered in the +evening to return to Chattanooga, and from the limited supply of +stores to be had there outfit my command to march to the relief of +Knoxville, where General Burnside was still holding out against the +besieging forces of General Longstreet. When we left Murfreesboro' +in the preceding June, the men's knapsacks and extra clothing, as +well as all our camp equipage, had been left behind, and these +articles had not yet reached us, so we were poorly prepared for a +winter campaign in the mountains of East Tennessee. There was but +little clothing to be obtained in Chattanooga, and my command +received only a few overcoats and a small supply of India-rubber +ponchos. We could get no shoes, although we stood in great need of +them, for the extra pair with which each man had started out from +Murfreesboro' was now much the worse for wear. The necessity for +succoring Knoxville was urgent, however, so we speedily refitted as +thoroughly as was possible with the limited means at hand. My +division teams were in very fair condition in consequence of the +forage we had procured in the Sequatchie Valley, so I left the train +behind to bring up clothing when any should arrive in Chattanooga. + +Under these circumstances, on the 29th of November the Fourth Corps +(Granger's) took up the line of march for Knoxville, my men carrying +in their haversacks four days' rations, depending for a further +supply of food on a small steamboat loaded with subsistence stores, +which was to proceed up the Tennessee River and keep abreast of the +column. + +Not far from Philadelphia, Tennessee, the columns of General +Sherman's army, which had kept a greater distance from the river than +Granger's corps, so as to be able to subsist on the country, came in +toward our right and the whole relieving force was directed on +Marysville, about fifteen miles southwest of Knoxville. We got to +Marysville December 5, and learned the same day that Longstreet had +shortly before attempted to take Knoxville by a desperate assault, +but signally failing, had raised the siege and retired toward Bean's +Station on the Rutledge, Rogersville, and Bristol road, leading to +Virginia. From Marysville General Sherman's troops returned to +Chattanooga, while Granger's corps continued on toward Knoxville, to +take part in the pursuit of Longstreet. + +Burnside's army was deficient in subsistence, though not to the +extent that we had supposed before leaving Chattanooga. It had eaten +out the country in the immediate vicinity of Knoxville, however; +therefore my division did not cross the Holstein River, but was +required, in order to maintain itself, to proceed to the region of +the French Broad River. To this end I moved to Sevierville, and +making this village my headquarters, the division was spread out over +the French Broad country, between Big Pigeon and Little Pigeon +rivers, where we soon had all the mills in operation, grinding out +plenty of flour and meal. The whole region was rich in provender of +all kinds, and as the people with rare exceptions were +enthusiastically loyal, we in a little while got more than enough +food for ourselves, and by means of flatboats began sending the +surplus down the river to the troops at Knoxville. + +The intense loyalty of this part of Tennessee exceeded that of any +other section I was in during the war. The people could not do too +much to aid the Union cause, and brought us an abundance of +everything needful. The women were especially loyal, and as many of +their sons and husbands, who had been compelled to "refugee" on +account of their loyal sentiments, returned with us, numbers of the +women went into ecstasies of joy when this part of the Union army +appeared among them. So long as we remained in the French Broad +region, we lived on the fat of the land, but unluckily our stay was +to be of short duration, for Longstreet's activity kept the +department commander in a state of constant alarm. + +Soon after getting the mills well running, and when the shipment of +their surplus product down the river by flatboats had begun, I was +ordered to move to Knoxville, on account of demonstrations by +Longstreet from the direction of Blain's crossroads. On arriving at +Knoxville, an inspection of my command, showed that the shoes of many +of the men were entirely worn out, the poor fellows having been +obliged to protect their feet with a sort of moccasin, made from +their blankets or from such other material as they could procure. +About six hundred of the command were in this condition, plainly not +suitably shod to withstand the frequent storms of sleet and snow. +These men I left in Knoxville to await the arrival of my train, which +I now learned was en route from Chattanooga with shoes, overcoats, +and other clothing, and with the rest of the division proceeded to +Strawberry Plains, which we reached the latter part of December. + +Mid-winter was now upon us, and the weather in this mountain region +of East Tennessee was very cold, snow often falling to the depth of +several inches. The thin and scanty clothing of the men afforded +little protection, and while in bivouac their only shelter was the +ponchos with which they had been provided before leaving Chattanooga; +there was not a tent in the command. Hence great suffering resulted, +which I anxiously hoped would be relieved shortly by the arrival of +my train with supplies. In the course of time the wagons reached +Knoxville, but my troops derived little comfort from this fact, for +the train was stopped by General Foster, who had succeeded Burnside +in command of the department, its contents distributed pro rata to +the different organizations of the entire army, and I received but a +small share. This was very disappointing, not to say exasperating, +but I could not complain of unfairness, for every command in the army +was suffering to the same extent as mine, and yet it did seem that a +little forethought and exertion on the part of some of the other +superior officers, whose transportation was in tolerable condition, +might have ameliorated the situation considerably. I sent the train +back at once for more clothing, and on its return, just before +reaching Knoxville, the quartermaster in charge, Captain Philip +Smith, filled the open spaces in the wagons between the bows and load +with fodder and hay, and by this clever stratagem passed it through +the town safe and undisturbed as a forage train. On Smith's arrival +we lost no time in issuing the clothing, and when it had passed into +the hands of the individual soldiers the danger of its appropriation +for general distribution, like the preceding invoice, was very +remote. + +General Foster had decided by this time to move his troops to +Dandridge for the twofold purpose of threatening the enemy's left and +of getting into a locality where we could again gather subsistence +from the French Broad region. Accordingly we began an advance on the +15th of January, the cavalry having preceded us some time before. +The Twenty-third Corps and Wood's division of the Fourth Corps +crossed the Holstein River by a bridge that had been constructed at +Strawberry Plains. My division being higher up the stream, forded +it, the water very deep and bitter cold, being filled with slushy +ice. Marching by way of New Market, I reached Dandridge on the 17th, +and here on my arrival met General Sturgis, then commanding our +cavalry. He was on the eve of setting out to, "whip the enemy's +cavalry," as he said, and wanted me to go along and see him do it. I +declined, however, for being now the senior officer present, Foster, +Parke, and Granger having remained at Knoxville and Strawberry +Plains, their absence left me in command, and it was necessary that I +should make disposition of the infantry when it arrived. As there +were indications of a considerable force of the enemy on the +Russellville road I decided to place the troops in line of battle, so +as to be prepared for any emergency that might arise in the absence +of the senior officers, and I deemed it prudent to supervise +personally the encamping of the men. This disposition necessarily +required that some of the organizations should occupy very +disagreeable ground, but I soon got all satisfactorily posted with +the exception of General Willich, who expressed some discontent at +being placed beyond the shelter of the timber, but accepted the +situation cheerfully when its obvious necessity was pointed out to +him. + +Feeling that all was secure, I returned to my headquarters in the +village with the idea that we were safely established in ease of +attack, and that the men would now have a good rest if left +undisturbed; and plenty to eat, but hardly had I reached my own camp +when a staff-officer came post-haste from Sturgis with the +information that he was being driven back to my lines, despite the +confident invitation to me (in the morning) to go out and witness the +whipping which was to be given to the enemy's cavalry. Riding to the +front, I readily perceived that the information was correct, and I +had to send a brigade of infantry out to help Sturgis, thus relieving +him from a rather serious predicament. Indeed, the enemy was present +in pretty strong force, both cavalry and infantry, and from his +vicious attack on Sturgis it looked very much as though he intended +to bring on a general engagement. + +Under such circumstances I deemed it advisable that the responsible +commanders of the army should be present, and so informed them. My +communication brought Parke and Granger to the front without delay, +but Foster could not come, since the hardships of the winter had +reopened an old wound received during the Mexican War, and brought on +much suffering. By the time Parke and Granger arrived, however, the +enemy, who it turned out was only making a strong demonstration to +learn the object of our movement on Dandridge, seemed satisfied with +the results of his reconnoissance, and began falling back toward +Bull's Gap. Meanwhile Parke and Granger concluded that Dandridge was +an untenable point, and hence decided to withdraw a part of the army +to Strawberry Plains; and the question of supplies again coming up, +it was determined to send the Fourth Corps to the south side of the +French Broad to obtain subsistence, provided we could bridge the +river so that men could get across the deep and icy stream without +suffering. + +I agreed to undertake the construction of a bridge on condition that +each division should send to the ford twenty-five wagons with which +to make it. This being acceded to, Harker's brigade began the work +next morning at a favorable point a few miles down the river. As my +quota of wagons arrived, they were drawn into the stream one after +another by the wheel team, six men in each wagon, and as they +successively reached the other side of the channel the mules were +unhitched, the pole of each wagon run under thre hind axle of the one +just in front, and the tailboards used so as to span the slight space +between them. The plan worked well as long as the material lasted, +but no other wagons than my twenty-five coming on the ground, the +work stopped when the bridge was only half constructed. Informed of +the delay and its cause, in sheer desperation I finished the bridge +by taking from my own division all the wagons needed to make up the +deficiency. + +It was late in the afternoon when the work was finished, and I began +putting over one of my brigades; but in the midst of its crossing +word came that Longstreet's army was moving to attack us, which +caused an abandonment of the foraging project, and orders quickly +followed to retire to Strawberry Plains, the retrograde movement to +begin forthwith. I sent to headquarters information of the plight I +was in--baggage and supplies on the bank and wagons in the stream-- +begged to know what was to become of them if we were to hurry off at +a moment's notice, and suggested that the movement be delayed until I +could recover my transportation. Receiving in reply no assurances +that I should be relieved from my dilemma--and, in fact, nothing +satisfactory--I determined to take upon myself the responsibility of +remaining on the ground long enough to get my wagons out of the +river; so I sent out a heavy force to watch for the enemy, and with +the remainder of the command went to work to break up the bridge. +Before daylight next morning I had recovered everything without +interference by Longstreet, who, it was afterward ascertained, was +preparing to move east toward Lynchburg instead of marching to attack +us; the small demonstration against Dandridge, being made simply to +deceive us as to his ultimate object. I marched to Strawberry Plains +unmolested, and by taking the route over Bay's Mountain, a shorter +one than that followed by the main body of our troops, reached the +point of rendezvous as soon as the most of the army, for the road it +followed was not only longer, but badly cut up by trains that had +recently passed over it. + +Shortly after getting into camp, the beef contractor came in and +reported that a detachment of the enemy's cavalry had captured my +herd of beef cattle. This caused me much chagrin at first, but the +commissary of my division soon put in an appearance, and assured me +that the loss would not be very disastrous to us nor of much benefit +to the enemy, since the cattle were so poor and weak that they could +not be driven off. A reconnoissance in force verified the +Commissary's statement. From its inability to travel, the herd, +after all efforts to carry it off had proved ineffectual, had been +abandoned by its captors. + +After the troops from Chattanooga arrived in the vicinity of +Knoxville and General Sherman had returned to Chattanooga, the +operations in East Tennessee constituted a series of blunders, +lasting through the entire winter; a state of affairs doubtless due, +in the main, to the fact that the command of the troops was so +frequently changed. Constant shifting of responsibility from one to +another ensued from the date that General Sherman, after assuring +himself that Knoxville was safe, devolved the command on Burnside. +It had already been intimated to Burnside that he was to be relieved, +and in consequence he was inactive and apathetic, confining his +operations to an aimless expedition whose advance extended only as +far as Blain's crossroads, whence it was soon withdrawn. Meanwhile +General Foster had superseded Burnside, but physical disabilities +rendered him incapable of remaining in the field, and then the chief +authority devolved on Parke. By this time the transmission of power +seemed almost a disease; at any rate it was catching, so, while we +were en route to Dandridge, Parke transferred the command to Granger. +The latter next unloaded it on me, and there is no telling what the +final outcome would have been had I not entered a protest against a +further continuance of the practice, which remonstrance brought +Granger to the front at Dandridge. + +While the events just narrated were taking place, General Grant had +made a visit to Knoxville--about the last of December--and arranged +to open the railroad between there and Chattanooga, with a view to +supplying the troops in East Tennessee by rail in the future, instead +of through Cumberland Gap by a tedious line of wagon-trains. In +pursuance of his plan the railroad had already been opened to Loudon, +but here much delay occurred on account of the long time it took to +rebuild the bridge over the Tennessee. Therefore supplies were still +very scarce, and as our animals were now dying in numbers from +starvation, and the men were still on short allowance, it became +necessary that some of the troops east of Knoxville should get nearer +to their depot, and also be in a position to take part in the coming +Georgia campaign, or render assistance to General Thomas, should +General Johnston (who had succeeded in command of the Confederate +army) make any demonstration against Chattanooga. Hence my division +was ordered to take station at Loudon, Tennessee, and I must confess +that we took the road for that point with few regrets, for a general +disgust prevailed regarding our useless marches during the winter. + +At this time my faithful scout Card and his younger brother left me, +with the determination, as I have heretofore related, to avenge their +brother's death. No persuasion could induce Card to remain longer, +for knowing that my division's next operation would be toward +Atlanta, and being ignorant of the country below Dalton, he +recognized and insisted that his services would then become +practically valueless. + +At Loudon, where we arrived January 27, supplies were more plentiful, +and as our tents and extra clothing reached us there in a few days, +every one grew contented and happy. Here a number of my regiments, +whose terms of service were about to expire, went through the process +of "veteranizing," and, notwithstanding the trials and hardships of +the preceding nine months, they re-enlisted almost to a man. + +When everything was set in motion toward recuperating and refitting +my troops, I availed myself of the opportunity during a lull that +then existed to take a short leave of absence--a privilege I had not +indulged in since entering the service in 1853. This leave I spent +in the North with much benefit to my physical condition, for I was +much run down by fatiguing service, and not a little troubled by +intense pain which I at times still suffered from my experience in +the unfortunate hand-car incident on the Cumberland Mountains the +previous July. I returned from leave the latter part of March, +rejoining my division with the expectation that the campaign in that +section would begin as early as April. + +On the 12th of March, 1864, General Grant was assigned to the command +of the armies of the United States, as general-in-chief. He was +already in Washington, whither he had gone to receive his commission +as lieutenant-general. Shortly after his arrival there, he commenced +to rearrange the different commands in the army to suit the plans +which he intended to enter upon in the spring, and out of this grew a +change in my career. Many jealousies and much ill-feeling, the +outgrowth of former campaigns, existed among officers of high grade +in the Army of the Potomac in the winter of 1864, and several general +officers were to be sent elsewhere in consequence. Among these, +General Alfred Pleasonton was to be relieved from the command of the +cavalry, General Grant having expressed to the President +dissatisfaction that so little had hitherto been accomplished by that +arm of the service, and I was selected as chief of the cavalry corps +of the Army of the Potomac, receiving on the night of the 23d of +March from General Thomas at Chattanooga the following telegram: + +"MARCH 23, 1864. +"MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, Chattanooga + +"Lieutenant-General Grant directs that Major-General Sheridan +immediately repair to Washington and report to the Adjutant-General +of the Army. + +" H. W. HALLECK, +Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +I was not informed of the purpose for which I was to proceed to +Washington, but I conjectured that it meant a severing of my +relations with the Second Division, Fourth Army Corps. I at once set +about obeying the order, and as but little preparation was necessary, +I started for Chattanooga the next day, without taking any formal +leave of the troops I had so long commanded. I could not do it; the +bond existing between them and me had grown to such depth of +attachment that I feared to trust my emotions in any formal parting +from a body of soldiers who, from our mutual devotion, had long +before lost their official designation, and by general consent within +and without the command were called "Sheridan's Division." When I +took the train at the station the whole command was collected on the +hill-sides around to see me off. They had assembled spontaneously, +officers and men, and as the cars moved out for Chattanooga they +waved me farewell with demonstrations of affection. + +A parting from such friends was indeed to be regretted. They had +never given me any trouble, nor done anything that could bring aught +but honor to themselves. I had confidence in them, and I believe +they had in me. They were ever steady, whether in victory or in +misfortune, and as I tried always to be with them, to put them into +the hottest fire if good could be gained, or save them from +unnecessary loss, as occasion required, they amply repaid all my care +and anxiety, courageously and readily meeting all demands in every +emergency that arose. + +In Kentucky, nearly two years before, my lot had been cast with about +half of the twenty-five regiments of infantry that I was just +leaving, the rest joining me after Chickamauga. It was practically a +new arm of the service to me, for although I was an infantry officer, +yet the only large command which up to that time I had controlled was +composed of cavalry, and most of my experience had been gained in +this arm of the service. I had to study hard to be able to master +all the needs of such a force, to feed and clothe it and guard all +its interests. When undertaking these responsibilities I felt that +if I met them faithfully, recompense would surely come through the +hearty response that soldiers always make to conscientious exertion +on the part of their superiors, and not only that more could be +gained in that way than from the use of any species of influence, but +that the reward would be quicker. Therefore I always tried to look +after their comfort personally; selected their camps, and provided +abundantly for their subsistence, and the road they opened for me +shows that my work was not in vain. I regretted deeply to have to +leave such soldiers, and felt that they were sorry I was going, and +even now I could not, if I would, retain other than the warmest +sentiments of esteem and the tenderest affection for the officers and +men of "Sheridan's Division," Army of the Cumberland. + +On reaching Chattanooga I learned from General Thomas the purpose for +which I had been ordered to Washington. I was to be assigned to the +command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The +information staggered me at first, for I knew well the great +responsibilities of such a position; moreover, I was but slightly +acquainted with military operations in Virginia, and then, too, the +higher officers of the Army of the Potomac were little known to me, +so at the moment I felt loth to undergo the trials of the new +position. Indeed, I knew not a soul in Washington except General +Grant and General Halleck, and them but slightly, and no one in +General Meade's army, from the commanding general down, except a few +officers in the lower grades, hardly any of whom I had seen since +graduating at the Military Academy. + +Thus it is not much to be wondered at that General Thomas's +communication momentarily upset me. But there was no help for it, so +after reflecting on the matter a little I concluded to make the best +of the situation. As in Virginia I should be operating in a field +with which I was wholly unfamiliar, and among so many who were +strangers, it seemed to me that it would be advisable to have, as a +chief staff-officer, one who had had service in the East, if an +available man could be found. In weighing all these considerations +in my mind, I fixed upon Captain James W. Forsyth, of the Eighteenth +Infantry, then in the regular brigade at Chattanooga--a dear friend +of mine, who had served in the Army of the Potomac, in the Peninsula +and Antietam campaigns. He at once expressed a desire to accept a +position on my staff, and having obtained by the next day the +necessary authority, he and I started for Washington, accompanied by +Lieutenant T. W. C. Moore, one of my aides, leaving behind Lieutenant +M. V. Sheridan, my other aide, to forward our horses as soon as they +should be sent down to Chattanooga from Loudon, after which he was to +join me. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AT WASHINGTON--MEETING SECRETARY STANTON--INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT +LINCOLN--MADE COMMANDER OF THE CAVALRY CORPS OF THE ARMY OF THE +POTOMAC--ITS OFFICERS--GENERAL MEADE's METHOD OF USING CAVALRY-- +OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN--SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.--A DIFFERENCE WITH +GENERAL MEADE--PREPARING TO FIGHT STUART'S CAVALRY. + +Accompanied by Captain Forsyth and Lieutenant Moore, I arrived in +Washington on the morning of April, 4, 1864, and stopped at Willard's +Hotel, where, staying temporarily, were many officers of the Army of +the Potomac en route to their commands from leave at the North. +Among all these, however, I was an entire stranger, and I cannot now +recall that I met a single individual whom I had ever before known. + +With very little delay after reaching my hotel I made my way to +General Halleck's headquarters and reported to that officer, having +learned in the meantime that General Grant was absent from the city. +General Halleck talked to me for a few minutes, outlining briefly the +nature and duties of my new command, and the general military +situation in Virginia. When he had finished all he had to say about +these matters, he took me to the office of the Secretary of War, to +present me to Mr. Stanton. During the ceremony of introduction, I +could feel that Mr. Stanton was eying me closely and searchingly, +endeavoring to form some estimate of one about whom he knew +absolutely nothing, and whose career probably had never been called +to his attention until General Grant decided to order me East, after +my name had been suggested by General Halleck in an interview the two +generals had with Mr. Lincoln. I was rather young in appearance-- +looking even under than over thirty-three years--but five feet five +inches in height, and thin almost to emaciation, weighing only one +hundred and fifteen pounds. If I had ever possessed any self- +assertion in manner or speech, it certainly vanished in the presence +of the imperious Secretary, whose name at the time was the synonym of +all that was cold and formal. I never learned what Mr. Stanton's +first impressions of me were, and his guarded and rather calculating +manner gave at this time no intimation that they were either +favorable or unfavorable, but his frequent commendation in after +years indicated that I gained his goodwill before the close of the +war, if not when I first came to his notice; and a more intimate +association convinced me that the cold and cruel characteristics +popularly ascribed to him were more mythical than real. + +When the interview with the Secretary was over, I proceeded with +General Halleck to the White House to pay my respects to the +President. Mr. Lincoln received me very cordially, offering both his +hands, and saying that he hoped I would fulfill the expectations of +General Grant in the new command I was about to undertake, adding +that thus far the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac had not done all +it might have done, and wound up our short conversation by quoting +that stale interrogation so prevalent during the early years of the +war, "Who ever saw a dead cavalryman?" His manner did not impress +me, however, that in asking the question he had meant anything beyond +a jest, and I parted from the President convinced that he did not +believe all that the query implied. + +After taking leave I separated from General Halleck, and on returning +to my hotel found there an order from the War Department assigning me +to the command of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. The next +morning, April 5, as I took the cars for the headquarters of the Army +of the Potomac, General Grant, who had returned to Washington the +previous night from a visit to his family, came aboard the train on +his way to Culpeper Court House, and on the journey down I learned +among other things that he had wisely determined to continue +personally in the field, associating himself with General Meade's +army; where he could supervise its movements directly, and at the +same time escape the annoyances which, should he remain in +Washington, would surely arise from solicitude for the safety of the +Capital while the campaign was in progress. When we reached Brandy +Station, I left the train and reported to General Meade, who told me +that the headquarters of the Cavalry Corps were some distance back +from the Station, and indicated the general locations of the +different divisions of the corps, also giving me, in the short time I +remained with him, much information regarding their composition. + +I reached the Cavalry Corps headquarters on the evening of April 5, +1864, and the next morning issued orders assuming command. General +Pleasonton had but recently been relieved, and many of his staff- +officers were still on duty at the headquarters awaiting the arrival +of the permanent commander. I resolved to retain the most of these +officers on my staff, and although they were all unknown to me when I +decided on this course, yet I never had reason to regret it, nor to +question the selections made by my predecessor. + +The corps consisted of three cavalry divisions and twelve batteries +of horse artillery. Brigadier-General A. T. A. Torbert was in +command of the First Division, which was composed of three brigades; +Brigadier-General D. McM. Gregg, of the Second, consisting of two +brigades; and Brigadier-General J. H. Wilson was afterward assigned +to command the Third, also comprising two brigades: Captain Robinson, +a veteran soldier of the Mexican war, was chief of artillery, and as +such had a general supervision of that arm, though the batteries, +either as units or in sections, were assigned to the different +divisions in campaign. + +Each one of my division commanders was a soldier by profession. +Torbert graduated from the Military Academy in 1855, and was +commissioned in the infantry, in which arm he saw much service on the +frontier, in Florida, and on the Utah expedition. At the beginning +of hostilities in April, 1861, he was made a colonel of New Jersey +volunteers, and from that position was promoted in the fall of 1862 +to be a brigadier-general, thereafter commanding a brigade of +infantry in the Army of the Potomac till, in the redistribution of +generals, after Grant came to the East, he was assigned to the First +Cavalry Division. + +Gregg graduated in 1855 also, and was appointed to the First +Dragoons, with which regiment, up to the breaking out of the war, he +saw frontier service extending from Fort Union, New Mexico, through +to the Pacific coast, and up into Oregon and Washington Territories, +where I knew him slightly. In the fall of 1861 he became colonel of +the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and a year later was made a +brigadier-general. He then succeeded to the command of a division of +cavalry, and continued in that position till the close of his +service, at times temporarily commanding the Cavalry Corps. He was +the only division commander I had whose experience had been almost +exclusively derived from the cavalry arm. + +Wilson graduated in 1860 in the Topographical Engineers, and was +first assigned to duty in Oregon, where he remained till July, 1861. +In the fall of that year his active service in the war began, and he +rose from one position to another, in the East and West, till, while +on General Grant's staff, he was made a brigadier-general in the fall +of 1863 in reward for services performed during the Vicksburg +campaign and for engineer duty at Chattanooga preceding the battle of +Missionary Ridge. At my request he was selected to command the Third +Division. General Grant thought highly of him, and, expecting much +from his active mental and physical ability, readily assented to +assign him in place of General Kilpatrick. The only other general +officers in the corps were Brigadier-General Wesley Merritt, +Brigadier-General George A. Custer, and Brigadier-General Henry E. +Davies, each commanding a brigade. + +In a few days after my arrival at Brandy Station I reviewed my new +command, which consisted of about twelve thousand officers and men, +with the same number of horses in passable trim. Many of the general +officers of the army were present at the review, among them Generals +Meade, Hancock, and Sedgwick. Sedgwick being an old dragoon, came to +renew his former associations with mounted troops, and to encourage +me, as he jestingly said, because of the traditional prejudices the +cavalrymen were supposed to hold against being commanded by an +infantry officer. The corps presented a fine appearance at the +review, and so far as the health and equipment of the men were +concerned the showing was good and satisfactory; but the horses were +thin and very much worn down by excessive and, it seemed to me, +unnecessary picket duty, for the cavalry picket-line almost +completely encircled the infantry and artillery camps of the army, +covering a distance, on a continuous line, of nearly sixty miles, +with hardly a mounted Confederate confronting it at any point. From +the very beginning of the war the enemy had shown more wisdom +respecting his cavalry than we. Instead of wasting its strength by a +policy of disintegration he, at an early day, had organized his +mounted force into compact masses, and plainly made it a favorite; +and, as usual, he was now husbanding the strength of his horses by +keeping them to the rear, so that in the spring he could bring them +out in good condition for the impending campaign. + +Before and at the review I took in this situation, and determined to +remedy it if possible; so in due time I sought an interview with +General Meade and informed him that, as the effectiveness of my +command rested mainly on the strength of its horses, I thought the +duty it was then performing was both burdensome and wasteful. I also +gave him my idea as to what the cavalry should do, the main purport +of which was that it ought to be kept concentrated to fight the +enemy's cavalry. Heretofore, the commander of the Cavalry Corps had +been, virtually, but an adjunct at army headquarters--a sort of chief +of cavalry--and my proposition seemed to stagger General Meade not a +little. I knew that it would be difficult to overcome the recognized +custom of using the cavalry for the protection of trains and the +establishment of cordons around the infantry corps, and so far +subordinating its operations to the movements of the main army that +in name only was it a corps at all, but still I thought it my duty to +try. + +At first General Meade would hardly listen to my proposition, for he +was filled with the prejudices that, from the beginning of the war, +had pervaded the army regarding the importance and usefulness of +cavalry, General Scott then predicting that the contest would be +settled by artillery, and thereafter refusing the services of +regiment after regiment of mounted troops. General Meade deemed +cavalry fit for little more than guard and picket duty, and wanted to +know what would protect the transportation trains and artillery +reserve, cover the front of moving infantry columns, and secure his +flanks from intrusion, if my policy were pursued. I told him that if +he would let me use the cavalry as I contemplated, he need have +little solicitude in these respects, for, with a mass of ten thousand +mounted men, it was my belief that I could make it so lively for the +enemy's cavalry that, so far as attacks from it were concerned, the +flanks and rear of the Army of the Potomac would require little or no +defense, and claimed, further, that moving columns of infantry should +take care of their own fronts. I also told him that it was my object +to defeat the enemy's cavalry in a general combat, if possible, and +by such a result establish a feeling of confidence in my own troops +that would enable us after awhile to march where we pleased, for the +purpose of breaking General Lee's communications and destroying the +resources from which his army was supplied. + +The idea as here outlined was contrary to Meade's convictions, for +though at different times since he commanded the Army of the Potomac +considerable bodies of the cavalry had been massed for some special +occasion, yet he had never agreed to the plan as a permanency, and +could not be bent to it now. He gave little encouragement, +therefore, to what I proposed, yet the conversation was immediately +beneficial in one way, for when I laid before him the true condition +of the cavalry, he promptly relieved it from much of the arduous and +harassing picket service it was performing, thus giving me about two +weeks in which to nurse the horses before the campaign opened. + +The interview also disclosed the fact that the cavalry commander +should be, according to General Meade's views, at his headquarters +practically as one of his staff, through whom he would give detailed +directions as, in his judgment, occasion required. Meade's ideas and +mine being so widely divergent, disagreements arose between us later +during the battles of the Wilderness, which lack of concord ended in +some concessions on his part after the movement toward Spottsylvania +Court House began, and although I doubt that his convictions were +ever wholly changed, yet from that date on, in the organization of +the Army of the Potomac, the cavalry corps became more of a compact +body, with the same privileges and responsibilities that attached to +the other corps--conditions that never actually existed before. + +On the 4th of May the Army of the Potomac moved against Lee, who was +occupying a defensive position on the south bank of the Rapidan. +After detailing the various detachments which I was obliged to supply +for escorts and other mounted duty, I crossed the river with an +effective force of about 10,000 troopers. In the interval succeeding +my assignment to the command of the cavalry, I had taken the pains to +study carefully the topography of the country in eastern Virginia, +and felt convinced that, under the policy Meade intended I should +follow, there would be little opportunity for mounted troops to +acquit themselves well in a region so thickly wooded, and traversed +by so many almost parallel streams; but conscious that he would be +compelled sooner or later either to change his mind or partially give +way to the pressure of events, I entered on the campaign with the +loyal determination to aid zealously in all its plans. + +General Lee's army was located in its winter quarters behind +intrenchments that lay along the Rapidan for a distance of about +twenty miles; extending from Barnett's to Morton's ford. The fords +below Morton's were watched by a few small detachments of Confederate +cavalry, the main body of which, however, was encamped below +Hamilton's crossing, where it could draw supplies from the rich +country along the Rappahannock. Only a few brigades of Lee's +infantry guarded the works along the river, the bulk of it being so +situated that it could be thrown to either flank toward which the +Union troops approached. + +General Grant adopted the plan of moving by his left flank, with the +purpose of compelling Lee to come out from behind his intrenchments +along Mine Run and fight on equal terms. Grant knew well the +character of country through which he would have to pass, but he was +confident that the difficulties of operation in the thickly wooded +region of the Wilderness would be counterbalanced by the facility +with which his position would enable him to secure a new base; and by +the fact that as he would thus cover Washington, there would be +little or no necessity for the authorities there to detach from his +force at some inopportune moment for the protection of that city. + +In the move forward two divisions of my cavalry took the advance, +Gregg crossing the Rapidan at Ely's ford and Wilson at Germania ford. +Torbert's division remained in the rear to cover the trains and +reserve artillery, holding from Rapidan Station to Culpeper, and +thence through Stevensburg to the Rappahannock River. Gregg crossed +the Rapidan before daylight, in advance of the Second Corps, and when +the latter reached Ely's ford, he pushed on to Chancellorsville; +Wilson preceded the Fifth Corps to Germania ford, and when it reached +the river he made the crossing and moved rapidly by Wilderness +Tavern, as far as Parker's Store, from which point he sent a heavy +reconnoissance toward Mine Run, the rest of his division bivouacking +in a strong position. I myself proceeded to Chancellorsville and +fixed my headquarters at that place, whereon the 5th I was joined by +Torbert's division. + +Meanwhile, General Meade had crossed the Rapidan and established his +headquarters not far from Germania ford. From that point he was in +direct communication with Wilson, whose original instructions from me +carried him only as far as Parker's Store, but it being found, during +the night of the 4th, that the enemy was apparently unacquainted with +the occurrences of the day, Meade directed Wilson to advance in the +direction of Craig's Meeting House; leaving one regiment to hold +Parker's Store. Wilson with the second brigade encountered Rosser's +brigade of cavalry just beyond the Meeting House, and drove it back +rapidly a distance of about two miles, holding it there till noon, +while his first brigade was halted on the north side of Robinson's +Run near the junction of the Catharpen and Parker's Store roads. + +Up to this time Wilson had heard nothing of the approach of the Fifth +Corps, and the situation becoming threatening, he withdrew the second +brigade to the position occupied by the first, but scarcely had he +done so when he learned that at an early hour in the forenoon the +enemy's infantry had appeared in his rear at Parker's Store and cut +off his communication with General Meade. Surprised at this, he +determined to withdraw to Todd's Tavern, but before his resolution +could be put into execution the Confederates attacked him with a +heavy force, and at the same time began pushing troops down the +Catharpen road. Wilson was now in a perplexing situation, sandwiched +between the Confederates who had cut him off in the rear at Parker's +store and those occupying the Catharpen road, but he extricated his +command by passing it around the latter force, and reached Todd's +Tavern by crossing the Po River at Corbin's bridge. General Meade +discovering that the enemy had interposed at Parker's store between +Wilson and the Fifth Corps, sent me word to go to Wilson's relief, +and this was the first intimation I received that Wilson had been +pushed out so far, but, surmising that he would retire in the +direction of Todd's Tavern I immediately despatched Gregg's division +there to his relief. Just beyond Todd's Tavern Gregg met Wilson, who +was now being followed by the enemy's cavalry. The pursuing force +was soon checked, and then driven back to Shady Grove Church, while +Wilson's troops fell in behind Gregg's line, somewhat the worse for +their morning's adventure. + +When the Army of the Potomac commenced crossing the Rapidan on the +4th, General J. E. B. Stuart, commanding the Confederate cavalry, +began concentrating his command on the right of Lee's infantry, +bringing it from Hamilton's crossing and other points where it had +been wintering. Stuart's force at this date was a little more than +eight thousand men, organized in two divisions, commanded by Generals +Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee. Hampton's division was composed of +three brigades, commanded by Generals Cordon, Young, and Rosser; +Fitzhugh Lee's division comprised three brigades also, Generals W. H. +F. Lee, Lomax, and Wickham commanding them. + +Information of this concentration, and of the additional fact that +the enemy's cavalry about Hamilton's crossing was all being drawn in, +reached me on the 5th, which obviated all necessity for my moving on +that point as I intended at the onset of the campaign. The +responsibility for the safety of our trains and of the left flank of +the army still continued, however, so I made such dispositions of my +troops as to secure these objects by holding the line of the Brock +road beyond the Furnaces, and thence around to Todd's Tavern and +Piney Branch Church. On the 6th, through some false information, +General Meade became alarmed about his left flank, and sent me the +following note: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"May 6, 1864.--1 o'clock P. M. +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Cavalry Corps + +"Your despatch of 11.45 a.m., received. General Hancock has been +heavily pressed, and his left turned. The major-general commanding +thinks that you had better draw in your cavalry, so as to secure the +protection of the trains. The order requiring an escort for the +wagons to-night has been rescinded. + +"A. A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +On the morning of the 6th Custer's and Devin's brigades had been +severely engaged at the Furnaces before I received the above note. +They had been most successful in repulsing the enemy's attacks, +however, and I felt that the line taken up could be held; but the +despatch from General Humphreys was alarming, so I drew all the +cavalry close in toward Chancellorsville. It was found later that +Hancock's left had not been turned, and the points thus abandoned had +to be regained at a heavy cost in killed and wounded, to both the +cavalry and the infantry. + +On the 7th of May, under directions from headquarters, Army of the +Potomac, the trains were put in motion to go into park at Piney +Branch Church, in anticipation of the movement that was about to be +made for the possession of Spottsylvania Court House. I felt +confident that the order to move the trains there had been given +without a full understanding of the situation, for Piney Branch +Church was now held by the enemy, a condition which had resulted from +the order withdrawing the cavalry on account of the supposed disaster +to Hancock's left the day before; but I thought the best way to +remedy matters was to hold the trains in the vicinity of Aldrich's +till the ground on which it was intended to park them should be +regained. + +This led to the battle of Todd's Tavern, a spirited fight for the +possession of the crossroads at that point, participated in by the +enemy's cavalry and Gregg's division, and two brigades of Torbert's +division, the latter commanded by Merritt, as Torbert became very ill +on the 6th, and had to be sent to the rear. To gain the objective +point--the crossroads--I directed Gregg to assail the enemy on the +Catharpen road with Irvin Gregg's brigade and drive him over Corbin's +bridge, while Merritt attacked him with the Reserve brigade on the +Spottsylvania road in conjunction with Davies's brigade of Gregg's +division, which was to be put in on the Piney Branch Church road, and +unite with Merritt's left. Davies's and Irvin Gregg's brigades on my +right and left flanks met with some resistance, yet not enough to +deter them from, executing their orders. In front of Merritt the +enemy held on more stubbornly, however, and there ensued an +exceedingly severe and, at times, fluctuating fight. Finally the +Confederates gave way, and we pursued them almost to Spottsylvania +Court House; but deeming it prudent to recall the pursuers about +dark, I encamped Gregg's and Merritt's divisions in the open fields +to the east of Todd's Tavern. + +During the preceding three days the infantry corps of the army had +been engaged in the various conflicts known as the battles of the +Wilderness. The success of the Union troops in those battles had not +been all that was desired, and General Grant now felt that it was +necessary to throw himself on Lee's communications if possible, while +preserving his own intact by prolonging the movement to the left. +Therefore, on the evening of the 7th he determined to shift his whole +army toward Spottsylvania Court House, and initiated the movement by +a night march of the infantry to Todd's Tavern. In view of what was +contemplated, I gave orders to Gregg and Merritt to move at daylight +on the morning of the 8th, for the purpose of gaining possession of +Snell's bridge over the Po River, the former by the crossing at +Corbin's bridge and the latter by the Block House. I also directed +Wilson, who was at Alsop's house, to take possession of Spottsylvania +as early as possible on the morning of the 8th, and then move into +position at Snell's bridge conjointly with the other two divisions. +Wilson's orders remained as I had issued them, so he moved +accordingly and got possession of Spottsylvania, driving the enemy's +cavalry a mile beyond, as will be seen by the following despatch sent +me at 9 A. M. of the 8th: + +"HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, +"ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. +"SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, May 8, 1864 9 A. M. +" LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FORSYTH, CHIEF-OF-STAFF, C. C. + +"Have run the enemy's cavalry a mile from Spottsylvania Court House; +have charged them, and drove them through the village; am fighting +now with a considerable force, supposed to be Lee's division. +Everything all right. + +"J. H. WILSON, +"Brigadier-General Commanding. + + +During the night of the 7th General Meade arrived at Todd's Tavern +and modified the orders I had given Gregg and Merritt, directing +Gregg simply to hold Corbin's bridge, and Merritt to move out in +front of the infantry column marching on the Spottsylvania road. +Merritt proceeded to obey, but in advancing, our cavalry and infantry +became intermingled in the darkness, and much confusion and delay was +the consequence. I had not been duly advised of these changes in +Gregg's and Merritt's orders, and for a time I had fears for the +safety of Wilson, but, while he was preparing to move on to form his +junction with Gregg and Merritt at Snell's bridge, the advance of +Anderson (who was now commanding Longstreet's corps) appeared on the +scene and drove him from Spottsylvania. + +Had Gregg and Merritt been permitted to proceed as they were +originally instructed, it is doubtful whether the battles fought at +Spottsylvania would have occurred, for these two divisions would have +encountered the enemy at the Pa River, and so delayed his march as to +enable our infantry to reach Spottsylvania first, and thus force Lee +to take up a line behind the Po. I had directed Wilson to move from +the left by "the Gate" through Spottsylvania to Snell's bridge, while +Gregg and Merritt were to advance to the same point by Shady Grove +and the Block House. There was nothing to prevent at least a partial +success of these operations; that is to say, the concentration of the +three divisions in front of Snell's bridge, even if we could not +actually have gained it. But both that important point and the +bridge on the Block House road were utterly ignored, and Lee's +approach to Spottsylvania left entirely unobstructed, while three +divisions of cavalry remained practically ineffective by reason of +disjointed and irregular instructions. + +On the morning of the 8th, when I found that such orders had been +given, I made some strong remonstrances against the course that had +been pursued, but it was then too late to carry out the combinations +I had projected the night before, so I proceeded to join Merritt on +the Spottsylvania road. On reaching Merritt I found General Warren +making complaint that the cavalry were obstructing his infantry +column, so I drew Merritt off the road, and the leading division of +the Fifth Corps pushed up to the front. It got into line about 11 +o'clock, and advanced to take the village, but it did not go very far +before it struck Anderson's corps, and was hurled back with heavy +loss. This ended all endeavor to take Spottsylvania that day. + +A little before noon General Meade sent for me, and when I reached +his headquarters I found that his peppery temper had got the better +of his good judgment, he showing a disposition to be unjust, laying +blame here and there for the blunders that had been committed. He +was particularly severe on the cavalry, saying, among other things, +that it had impeded the march of the Fifth Corps by occupying the +Spottsylvania road. I replied that if this were true, he himself had +ordered it there without my knowledge. I also told him that he had +broken up my combinations, exposed Wilson's division to disaster, and +kept Gregg unnecessarily idle, and further, repelled his insinuations +by saying that such disjointed operations as he had been requiring of +the cavalry for the last four days would render the corps inefficient +and useless before long. Meade was very much irritated, and I was +none the less so. One word brought on another, until, finally, I +told him that I could whip Stuart if he (Meade) would only let me, +but since he insisted on giving the cavalry directions without +consulting or even notifying me, he could henceforth command the +Cavalry Corps himself--that I would not give it another order. + +The acrimonious interview ended with this remark, and after I left +him he went to General Grant's headquarters and repeated the +conversation to him, mentioning that I had said that I could whip +Stuart. At this General Grant remarked: "Did he say so? Then let him +go out and do it." This intimation was immediately acted upon by +General Meade, and a little later the following order came to me: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC +"May 8th, 1864 1 P. M. + +"GENERAL SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Cavalry Corps. + +"The major-general commanding directs you to immediately concentrate +your available mounted force, and with your ammunition trains and +such supply trains as are filled (exclusive of ambulances) proceed +against the enemy's cavalry, and when your supplies are exhausted, +proceed via New Market and Green Bay to Haxall's Landing on the James +River, there communicating with General Butler, procuring supplies +and return to this army. Your dismounted men will be left with the +train here. + +"A. A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-staff." + + +As soon as the above order was received I issued instructions for the +concentration of the three divisions of cavalry at Aldrich's to +prepare for the contemplated expedition. Three days' rations for the +men were distributed, and half rations of grain for one day were +doled out for the horses. I sent for Gregg, Merritt, and Wilson and +communicated the order to them, saying at the same time, "We are +going out to fight Stuart's cavalry in consequence of a suggestion +from me; we will give him a fair, square fight; we are strong, and I +know we can beat him, and in view of my recent representations to +General Meade I shall expect nothing but success." I also indicated +to my division commanders the line of march I should take--moving in +one column around the right flank of Lee's army to get in its rear-- +and stated at the same time that it was my intention to fight Stuart +wherever he presented himself, and if possible go through to Haxall's +Landing; but that if Stuart should successfully interpose between us +and that point we would swing back to the Army of the Potomac by +passing around the enemy's left flank by way of Gordonsville. At +first the proposition seemed to surprise the division commanders +somewhat, for hitherto even the boldest, mounted expeditions had been +confined to a hurried ride through the enemy's country, without +purpose of fighting more than enough to escape in case of +molestation, and here and there to destroy a bridge. Our move would +be a challenge to Stuart for a cavalry duel behind Lee's lines, in +his own country, but the advantages which it was reasonable to +anticipate from the plan being quickly perceived, each division +commander entered into its support unhesitatingly, and at once set +about preparing for the march next day. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE EXPEDITION STARTS--DESTROYING SUPPLIES--OPENING OF THE FIGHT AT +YELLOW TAVERN--GENERAL CUSTER'S BRILLIANT CHARGE--DEATH OF GENERAL +STUART--REMOVING TORPEDOES--EXCITEMENT IN RICHMOND--A NIGHT MARCH-- +ENTERPRISING NEWSBOYS--THE EFFECTS OF STUART'S DEFEAT AND DEATH--END +OF THE FIRST EXPEDITION--ITS GREAT SUCCESS AND BENEFICIAL RESULTS. + +The expedition which resulted in the battle of Yellow Tavern and the +death of General Stuart started from the vicinity of Aldrich's toward +Fredericksburg early on the morning of May 9, 1864, marching on the +plank-road, Merritt's division leading. When the column reached +Tabernacle Church it headed almost due east to the telegraph road, +and thence down that highway to Thornburg, and from that point +through Childsburg to Anderson's crossing of the North Anna River, it +being my desire to put my command south of that stream if possible, +where it could procure forage before it should be compelled to fight. +The corps moved at a walk, three divisions on the same road, making a +column nearly thirteen miles in length, and marched around the right +flank of the enemy unsuspected until my rear guard had passed +Massaponax Church. Although the column was very long, I preferred to +move it all on one road rather than to attempt combinations for +carrying the divisions to any given point by different routes. +Unless the separate commands in an expedition of this nature are very +prompt in movement, and each fully equal to overcoming at once any +obstacle it may meet, combinations rarely work out as expected; +besides, an engagement was at all times imminent, hence it was +specially necessary to keep the whole force well together. + +As soon as the Ny, Po, and Ta rivers were crossed, each of which +streams would have afforded an excellent defensive line to the enemy, +all anxiety as to our passing around Lee's army was removed, and our +ability to cross the North Anna placed beyond doubt. Meanwhile +General Stuart had discovered what we were about, and he set his +cavalry in motion, sending General Fitzhugh Lee to follow and attack +my rear on the Childsburg road, Stuart himself marching by way of +Davenport's bridge, on the North Anna, toward Beaver Dam Station, +near which place his whole command was directed to unite the next +day. + +My column having passed the Ta River, Stuart attacked its rear with +considerable vigor, in the hope that he could delay my whole force +long enough to permit him to get at least a part of his command in my +front; but this scheme was frustrated by Davies's brigade, which I +directed to fight as a rear-guard, holding on at one position and +then at another along the line of march just enough to deter the +enemy from a too rapid advance. Davies performed this responsible +and trying duty with tact and good judgment, following the main +column steadily as it progressed to the south, and never once +permitting Fitzhugh Lee's advance to encroach far enough to compel a +halt of my main body. About dark Merritt's division crossed the +North Anna at Anderson's ford, while Gregg and Wilson encamped on the +north side, having engaged the enemy, who still hung on my rear up to +a late hour at night. + +After Merritt's division passed the river, Custer's brigade proceeded +on to Beaver Dam Station to cut the Virginia Central railroad. +Before reaching the station he met a small force of the enemy, but +this he speedily drove off, recapturing from it about four hundred +Union prisoners, who had been taken recently in the Wilderness and +were being conducted to Richmond. Custer also destroyed the station, +two locomotives, three trains of cars, ninety wagons, from eight to +ten miles of railroad and telegraph lines, some two hundred thousand +pounds of bacon and other supplies, amounting in all to about a +million and a half of rations, and nearly all they medical stores of +General Lee's army, which had been moved from Orange Court House +either because Lee wished to have them directly in his rear or +because he contemplated falling back to the North Anna. + +On the morning of the 10th Gregg and Wilson, while crossing the North +Anna, were again attacked, but were covered by the division on the +south side of the stream; the passage was effected without much loss, +notwithstanding the approach of Stuart on the south bank from the +direction of Davenport's bridge. The possession of Beaver Dam gave +us an important point, as it opened a way toward Richmond by the +Negro-foot road. It also enabled us to obtain forage for our well- +nigh famished animals, and to prepare for fighting the enemy, who, I +felt sure, would endeavor to interpose between my column and +Richmond. + +Stuart had hardly united his troops near Beaver Dam when he realized +that concentrating there was a mistake, so he began making +dispositions for remedying his error, and while we leisurely took the +Negro-foot toad toward Richmond, he changed his tactics and hauled +off from my rear, urging his horses to the death in order to get in +between Richmond and my column. This he effected about 10 o'clock on +the morning of the 11th, concentrating at Yellow Tavern, six miles +from the city, on the Brook turnpike. His change of tactics left my +march on the 10th practically unmolested, and we quietly encamped +that night on the south bank of the South Anna, near Ground Squirrel +Bridge. Here we procured an abundance of forage, and as the distance +traveled that day had been only fifteen to eighteen miles, men and +horses were able to obtain a good rest during the night. + +At 2 o'clock in the morning, May 11, Davies's brigade of Gregg's +division marched for Ashland to cut the Fredericksburg railroad. +Arriving there before the head of the enemy's column, which had to +pass through this same place to reach Yellow Tavern, Davies drove out +a small force occupying the town, burnt a train of cars and a +locomotive, destroyed the railroad for some distance, and rejoined +the main column at Allen's Station on the Fredericksburg and Richmond +railroad. From Allen's Station the whole command moved on Yellow +Tavern, Merritt in the lead, Wilson following, and Gregg in the rear. + +The appearance of Davies's brigade at Ashland in the morning had had +the effect of further mystifying the enemy as to my intentions; and +while he held it incumbent to place himself between me and Richmond, +yet he was still so uncertain of my movements that he committed the +same fault that he did the first day, when he divided his force and +sent a part to follow me on the Childsburg road. He now divided his +command again, sending a portion to hang upon my rear, while he +proceeded with the rest to Yellow Tavern. This separation not only +materially weakened the force which might have been thrown across my +line of march, but it also enabled me to attack with almost my entire +corps, while occupying the pursuers with a small rearguard. + +By forced marches General Stuart succeeded in reaching Yellow Tavern +ahead of me on May 11; and the presence of, his troops, on the +Ashland and Richmond road becoming known to Merritt as he was +approaching the Brook turnpike, this general pressed forward at once +to the attack. Pushing his division to the front, he soon got +possession of the turnpike and drove the enemy back several hundred +yards to the east of it. This success had the effect of throwing the +head of my column to the east of the pike, and I quickly brought up +Wilson and one of Gregg's brigades to take advantage of the situation +by forming a line of battle on that side or the road. Meanwhile the +enemy, desperate but still confident, poured in a heavy fire from his +line and from a battery which enfiladed the Brook road, and made +Yellow Tavern an uncomfortably hot place. Gibbs's and Devin's +brigades, however, held fast there, while Custer, supported by +Chapman's brigade, attacked the enemy's left and battery in a mounted +charge. + +Custer's charge, with Chapman on his flank and the rest of Wilson's +division sustaining him, was brilliantly executed. Beginning at a +walk, he increased his gait to a trot, and then at full speed rushed +at the enemy. At the same moment the dismounted troops along my +whole front moved forward, and as Custer went through the battery, +capturing two of the guns with their cannoneers and breaking up the +enemy's left, Gibbs and Devin drove his centre and right from the +field. Gregg meanwhile, with equal success, charged the force in his +rear-Gordon's brigadeand the engagement ended by giving us complete +control of the road to Richmond. We captured a number of prisoners, +and the casualties on both sides were quite severe, General Stuart +himself falling mortally wounded, and General James B. Gordon, one of +his brigade commanders, being killed. + +After Custer's charge, the Confederate cavalry was badly broken up, +the main portion of it being driven in a rout toward Ashland and a +small part in the direction of Richmond, which latter force finally +rejoined Fitzhugh Lee near Mechanicsville. A reconnoitring party +being now sent up the Brook turnpike toward the city, dashed across +the South Fork of the Chickahominy, drove a small force from the +enemy's exterior intrenchments and went within them. I followed this +party, and after a little exploration found between the two lines of +works a country road that led across to the pike which runs from +Mechanicsville to Richmond. I thought we could go around within the +outer line of works by this country road across to the Mechanicsville +pike on the south side of the Chickahominy, and encamp the next night +at Fair Oaks; so I determined to make the movement after dark, being +influenced in this to some extent by reports received during the +afternoon from colored people, to the effect that General B. F. +Butler's army had reached a small stream on the south side of the +James, about four miles south of Richmond. If I could succeed in +getting through by this road, not only would I have a shorter line of +march to Haxall's landing, but there was also a possibility that I +could help Butler somewhat by joining him so near Richmond. +Therefore, after making the wounded as comfortable as possible, we +commenced the march about 11 o'clock on the night of the 1lth, and +massed the command on the plateau south of the Meadow bridge near +daylight on the 12th. + +The enemy, anticipating that I would march by this route, had planted +torpedoes along it, and many of these exploded as the column passed +over them, killing several horses and wounding a few men, but beyond +this we met with no molestation. The torpedoes were loaded shells +planted on each side of the road, and so connected by wires attached +to friction-tubes in the shells, that when a horse's hoof struck a +wire the shell was exploded by the jerk on the improvised lanyard. +After the loss of several horses and the wounding of some of the men +by these torpedoes, I gave directions to have them removed, if +practicable, so about twenty-five of the prisoners were brought up +and made to get down on their knees, feel for the wires in the +darkness, follow them up and unearth the shells. The prisoners +reported the owner of one of the neighboring houses to be the +principal person who had engaged in planting these shells, and I +therefore directed that some of them be carried and placed in the +cellar of his house, arranged to explode if the enemy's column came +that way, while he and his family were brought off as prisoners and +held till after daylight. + +Meanwhile the most intense excitement prevailed in Richmond. The +Confederates, supposing that their capital was my objective point, +were straining every effort to put it in a state of defense, and had +collected between four and five thousand irregular troops, under +General Bragg, besides bringing up three brigades of infantry from +the force confronting General Butler south of the James River, the +alarm being intensified by the retreat, after the defeat at Yellow +Tavern, of Stuart's cavalry, now under General Fitzhugh Lee, by way +of Ashland to Mechanicsville, on the north side of the Chickahominy, +for falling back in that direction, left me between them and +Richmond. + +Our march during the night of the 11th was very tedious, on account +of the extreme darkness and frequent showers of rain; but at daylight +on the 12th the head of my column, under Wilson, reached the +Mechanicsville pike. Here Wilson, encountering the enemy's works and +batteries manned by General Bragg's troops, endeavored to pass. In +this he failed, and as soon as I was notified that it was +impracticable to reach Fair Oaks by passing between the works and the +Chickahominy, Custer's brigade was directed to make the crossing to +the north side of the Chickahominy, at the Meadow bridge. Custer +moved rapidly for the bridge, but found it destroyed, and that the +enemy's cavalry was posted on the north side, in front of +Mechanicsville. When this information came back, I ordered Merritt +to take his whole division and repair the bridge, instructing him +that the crossing must be made at all hazards; for, in view of an +impending attack by the enemy's infantry in Richmond, it was +necessary that I should have the bridge as a means of egress in case +of serious disaster. + +All the time that Merritt was occupied in this important duty, the +enemy gave great annoyance to the working party by sweeping the +bridge with a section of artillery and a fire from the supporting +troops, so a small force was thrown across to drive them away. When +Merritt had passed two regiments over, they attacked, but were +repulsed. The work on the, bridge continued, however, not- +withstanding this discomfiture; and when it was finished, Merritt +crossed nearly all his division, dismounted, and again attacked the +enemy, this time carrying the line, of temporary breastworks, built +with logs and rails, and pursuing his broken troops toward Gaines's +Mills. + +While Merritt was engaged in this affair, the Confederates advanced +from behind their works at Richmond, and attacked Wilson and Gregg. +Wilson's troops were driven back in some confusion at first; but +Gregg, in anticipation of attack, had hidden a heavy line of +dismounted men in a bushy ravine on his front, and when the enemy +marched upon it, with much display and under the eye of the President +of the Confederacy, this concealed line opened a destructive fire +with repeating carbines; and at the same time the batteries of horse- +artillery, under Captain Robinson, joining in the contest, belched +forth shot and shell with fatal effect. The galling fire caused the +enemy to falter, and while still wavering Wilson rallied his men, and +turning some of them against the right flank of the Confederates, +broke their line, and compelled them to withdraw for security behind +the heavy works thrown up for the defense of the city in 1862. + +By destroying the Meadow bridge and impeding my column on the +Mechanicsville, pike, the enemy thought to corner us completely, for +he still maintained the force in Gregg's rear that had pressed it the +day before; but the repulse of his infantry ended all his hopes of +doing us any serious damage on the limited ground between the +defenses of Richmond and the Chickahominy. He felt certain that on +account of the recent heavy rains we could not cross the Chickahominy +except by the Meadow bridge, and it also seemed clear to him that we +could not pass between the river and his intrenchments; therefore he +hoped to ruin us, or at least compel us to return by the same route +we had taken in coming, in which case we would run into Gordon's +brigade, but the signal repulse of Bragg's infantry dispelled these +illusions. + +Even had it not been our good fortune to defeat him, we could have +crossed the Chickahominy if necessary at several points that were +discovered by scouting parties which, while the engagement was going +on, I had sent out to look up fords. This means of getting out from +the circumscribed plateau I did not wish to use, however, unless +there was no alternative, for I wished to demonstrate to the Cavalry +Corps the impossibility of the enemy's destroying or capturing so +large a body of mounted troops. + +The chances of seriously injuring, us were more favorable to the +enemy this time than ever they were afterward, for with the troops +from Richmond, comprising three brigades of veterans and about five +thousand irregulars on my front and right flank, with Gordon's +cavalry in the rear, and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry on my left flank, +holding the Chickahominy and Meadow bridge, I was apparently hemmed +in on every side, but relying on the celerity with which mounted +troops could be moved, I felt perfectly confident that the seemingly +perilous situation could be relieved under circumstances even worse +than those then surrounding us. Therefore, instead of endeavoring to +get away without a fight, I concluded that there would be little +difficulty in withdrawing, even should I be beaten, and none whatever +if I defeated the enemy. + +In accordance with this view I accepted battle; and the complete +repulse of the enemy's infantry, which assailed us from his +intrenchments, and of Gordon's cavalry, which pressed Gregg on the +Brook road, ended the contest in our favor. The rest of the day we +remained on the battle-field undisturbed, and our time was spent in +collecting the wounded, burying the dead, grazing the horses, and +reading the Richmond journals, two small newsboys with commendable +enterprise having come within our lines from the Confederate capital +to sell their papers. They were sharp youngsters, and having come +well supplied, they did a thrifty business. When their stock in +trade was all disposed of they wished to return, but they were so +intelligent and observant that I thought their mission involved other +purposes than the mere sale of newspapers, so they were held till we +crossed the Chickahominy and then turned loose. + +After Merritt had crossed the Chickahominy and reached +Mechanicsville, I sent him orders to push on to Gaines's Mills. Near +the latter place he fell in with the enemy's cavalry again, and +sending me word, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon I crossed the +Chickahominy with Wilson and Gregg, but when we overtook Merritt he +had already brushed the Confederates away, and my whole command went +into camp between Walnut Grove and Gaines's Mills. + +The main purposes of the expedition had now been executed. They were +"to break up General Lee's railroad communications, destroy such +depots of supplies as could be found in his rear, and to defeat +General Stuart's cavalry." Many miles of the Virginia Central and of +the, Richmond and Fredericksburg railroads were broken up, and +several of the bridges on each burnt. At Beaver Dam, Ashland, and +other places, about two millions of rations had been captured and +destroyed. The most important of all, however, was the defeat of +Stuart. Since the beginning of the war this general had +distinguished himself by his management of the Confederate mounted +force. Under him the cavalry of Lee's army had been nurtured, and +had acquired such prestige that it thought itself well-nigh +invincible; indeed, in the early years of the war it had proved to be +so. This was now dispelled by the successful march we had made in +Lee's rear; and the discomfiture of Stuart at Yellow Tavern had +inflicted a blow from which entire recovery was impossible. + +In its effect on the Confederate cause the defeat of Stuart was most +disheartening, but his death was even a greater calamity, as is +evidenced by the words of a Confederate writer (Cooke), who says: +"Stuart could be ill spared at this critical moment, and General Lee +was plunged into the deepest melancholy at the intelligence of his +death. When it reached him he retired from those around him, and +remained for some time communing with his own heart and memory. When +one of his staff entered and spoke of Stuart, General Lee said: 'I +can scarcely think of him without weeping.'" + +From the camp near Gaines's Mills I resumed the march to Haxall's +Landing, the point on the James River contemplated in my instructions +where I was to obtain supplies from General Butler. We got to the +James on the 14th with all our wounded and a large number of +prisoners, and camped between Haxall's and Shirley. The prisoners, +as well as the captured guns, were turned over to General Butler's +provost-marshal, and our wounded were quickly and kindly cared for by +his surgeons. Ample supplies, also, in the way of forage and +rations, were furnished us by General Butler, and the work of +refitting for our return to the Army of the Potomac was vigorously +pushed. By the 17th all was ready, and having learned by scouting +parties sent in the direction of Richmond and as far as Newmarket +that the enemy's cavalry was returning to Lee's army I started that +evening on my return march, crossing the Chickahominy at Jones's +bridge, and bivouacking on the 19th near Baltimore crossroads. + +My uncertainty of what had happened to the Army of the Potomac in our +absence, and as to where I should find it, made our getting back a +problem somewhat difficult of solution, particularly as I knew that +reinforcements for Lee had come up from the south to Richmond, and +that most likely some of these troops were being held at different +points on the route to intercept my column. Therefore I determined +to pass the Pamunkey River at the White House, and sent to Fort +Monroe for a pontoon-bridge on which to make the crossing. While +waiting for the pontoons I ordered Custer to proceed with his brigade +to Hanover Station, to destroy the railroad bridge over the South +Anna, a little beyond that place; at the same time I sent Gregg and +Wilson to Cold Harbor, to demonstrate in the direction of Richmond as +far as Mechanicsville, so as to cover Custer's movements. Merritt, +with the remaining brigades of his division, holding fast at +Baltimore crossroads to await events. + +After Gregg and Custer had gone, it was discovered that the railroad +bridge over the Pamunkey, near the White House, had been destroyed +but partially--the cross-ties and stringers being burned in places +only--and that it was practicable to repair it sufficiently to carry +us over. In view of this information General Merritt's two brigades +were at once put on the duty of reconstructing the bridge. By +sending mounted parties through the surrounding country, each man of +which would bring in a board or a plank, Merritt soon accumulated +enough lumber for the flooring, and in one day the bridge was made +practicable. On the 22d Gregg, Wilson, and Custer returned. The +latter had gone on his expedition as far as Hanover Station, +destroyed some commissary stores there, and burned two trestle +bridges over Hanover Creek. This done, he deemed it prudent to +retire to Hanovertown. The next morning he again marched to Hanover +Station, and there ascertained that a strong force of the enemy, +consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, was posted at the +South Anna bridges. These troops had gone there from Richmond en +route to reinforce Lee. In the face of this impediment Custer's +mission could not be executed fully, so he returned to Baltimore +crossroads. + +The whole command was drawn in by noon of the 22d, and that day it +crossed the Pamunkey by Merritt's reconstructed bridge, marching to +Ayletts, on the Mattapony River, the same night. Here I learned from +citizens, and from prisoners taken during the day by scouting parties +sent toward Hanover Court House, that Lee had been, forced from his +position near Spottsylvania Court House and compelled to retire to +the line of the North Anna. I then determined to rejoin the Army of +the Potomac at the earliest moment, which I did by making for +Chesterfield Station, where I reported to General Meade on the 24th +of May. + +Our return to Chesterfield ended the first independent expedition the +Cavalry Corps had undertaken since coming under my command, and our +success was commended highly by Generals Grant and Meade, both +realizing that our operations in the rear of Lee had disconcerted and +alarmed that general so much as to aid materially in forcing his +retrograde march, and both acknowledged that, by drawing off the +enemy's cavalry during the past fortnight, we had enabled them to +move the Army of the Potomac and its enormous trains without +molestation in the manoeuvres that had carried it to the North Anna. +Then, too, great quantities of provisions and munitions of war had +been destroyed--stores that the enemy had accumulated at sub-depots +from strained resources and by difficult means; the railroads that +connected Lee with Richmond broken, the most successful cavalry +leader of the South killed, and in addition to all this there had +been inflicted on the Confederate mounted troops the most thorough +defeat that had yet befallen them in Virginia. + +When the expedition set out the Confederate authorities in Richmond +were impressed, and indeed convinced, that my designs contemplated +the capture of that city, and notwithstanding the loss they sustained +in the defeat and death of Stuart, and their repulse the succeeding +day, they drew much comfort from the fact that I had not entered +their capital. Some Confederate writers have continued to hold this +theory and conviction since the war. In this view they were and are +in error. When Stuart was defeated the main purpose of my +instructions had been carried out, and my thoughts then turned to +joining General Butler to get supplies. I believed that I could do +this by cutting across to the Mechanicsville pike and Fair Oaks on +the south side of the Chickahominy, but the failure of Wilson's +column to get possession of the outwork which commanded the pike +necessitated my crossing at Meadow bridge, and then moving by +Mechanicsville and Gaines's Mills instead of by the shorter route. +Moreover, my information regarding General Butler's position was +incorrect, so that even had I been successful in getting to Fair Oaks +by the direct road I should still have gained nothing thereby, for I +should still have been obliged to continue down the James River to +Haxall's. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +GENERAL WILSON'S ADVANCE TOWARD HANOVER COURT HOUSE--CROSSING THE +PAMUNKEY--ENGAGEMENT OF HAWE'S SHOP--FIGHT AT MATADEQUIN CREEK-- +CAPTURE OF COLD HARBOR--THE FIGHT TO RETAIN THE PLACE--MOVEMENTS OF +GENERAL WILSON. + +When I rejoined the Army of the Potomac, near Chesterfield Station, +the heavy battles around Spottsylvania had been fought, and the +complicated manoeuvres by which the whole Union force was swung +across the North Anna were in process of execution. In conjunction +with these manoeuvres Wilson's division was sent to the right flank +of the army, where he made a reconnoissance south of the North Anna +as far as Little River, crossing the former stream near Jericho +Mills. Wilson was to operate from day to day on that flank as it +swung to the south, covering to New Castle ferry each advance of the +infantry and the fords left behind on the march. From the 26th to +the 30th these duties kept Wilson constantly occupied, and also +necessitated a considerable dispersion of his force, but by the 31st +he was enabled to get all his division together again, and crossing +to the south side of the Pamunkey at New Castle ferry, he advanced +toward Hanover Court House. Near Dr Pride's house he encountered a +division of the enemy's cavalry under General W. H. F. Lee, and drove +it back across Mechamp's Creek, thus opening communication with the +right of our infantry resting near Phillips's Mills. Just as this +had been done, a little before dark, Wilson received an order from +General Meade directing him to push on toward Richmond until he +encountered the Confederates in such strength that he could no longer +successfully contend against them, and in compliance with this order +occupied Hanover Court House that same day. Resuming his march at +daylight on June 1, he went ahead on the Ashland road while sending +Chapman's brigade up the south bank of the South Anna to destroy the +bridges on that stream. Chapman having succeeded in this work, +Wilson re-united his whole command and endeavored to hold Ashland, +but finding the Confederate cavalry and infantry there in strong +force, he was obliged to withdraw to Dr. Price's house. Here he +learned that the army had gone to the left toward Cold Harbor, so on +the 2d of June he moved to Hawe's Shop. + +While Wilson was operating thus on the right, I had to cover with +Gregg's and Torbert's divisions the crossing of the army over the +Pamunkey River at and near Hanovertown. Torbert having recovered +from the illness which overtook him in the Wilderness, had now +returned to duty. The march to turn the enemy's right began on the +26th. Torbert and Gregg in advance, to secure the crossings of the +Pamunkey and demonstrate in such manner as to deceive the enemy as +much as possible in the movement, the two cavalry divisions being +supported by General D. A. Russell's division of the Sixth Corps. + +To attain this end in the presence of an ever-watchful foe who had +just recently been reinforced in considerable numbers from Richmond +and further south--almost enough to make up the losses he had +sustained in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania--required the most +vigorous and zealous work on the part of those to whom had been +allotted the task of carrying out the initial manoeuvres. Torbert +started for Taylor's ford on the Pamunkey with directions to +demonstrate heavily at that point till after dark, as if the crossing +was to be made there, and having thus impressed the enemy, he was to +leave a small guard, withdraw quietly, and march to Hanovertown ford, +where the real crossing was to be effected. Meanwhile Gregg marched +to Littlepage's crossing of the Pamunkey, with instructions to make +feints in the same manner as Torbert until after dark, when he was to +retire discreetly, leaving a small force to keep up the +demonstration, and then march rapidly to Hanovertown crossing, taking +with him the pontoon-bridge. + +At the proper hour Russell took up the march and followed the +cavalry. The troops were in motion all night, undergoing the usual +delays incident to night marches, and, early on the morning of the +27th the crossing was made, Custer's brigade of Torbert's division +driving from the ford about one hundred of the enemy's cavalry, and +capturing between thirty and forty prisoners. The remainder of +Torbert's division followed this brigade and advanced to Hanovertown, +where General Gordon's brigade of Confederate cavalry was met. +Torbert attacked this force with Devin's brigade, while he sent +Custer to Hawe's Shop, from which point a road leading to the right +was taken that brought him in rear of the enemy's cavalry; when the +Confederates discovered this manoeuvre, they retired in the direction +of Hanover Court House. Pursuit continued as far as a little stream +called Crump's Creek, and here Torbert was halted, Gregg moving up on +his line meanwhile, and Russell encamping near the crossing of the +river. This completed our task of gaining a foothold south of the +Pamunkey, and on the 28th the main army crossed unharassed and took +up a position behind my line, extending south from the river, with +the Sixth Corps on the right across the Hanover Court House road at +Crump's Creek, the Second Corps on the left of the Sixth, and the +Fifth Corps about two miles in front of Hanovertown, its left +extending to the Tolopotomy. + +There was now much uncertainty in General Grant's mind as to the +enemy's whereabouts, and there were received daily the most +conflicting statements as to the nature of Lee's movements. It +became necessary, therefore, to find out by an actual demonstration +what Lee was doing, and I was required to reconnoitre in the +direction of Mechanicsville. For this purpose I moved Gregg's +division out toward this town by way of Hawe's Shop, and when it had +gone about three-fourths of a mile beyond the Shop the enemy's +cavalry was discovered dismounted and disposed behind a temporary +breastwork of rails and logs. + +This was the first occasion on which, since the battle of Yellow +Tavern, the Confederate troopers had confronted us in large numbers, +their mounted operations, like ours, having been dependent more or +less on the conditions that grew out of the movements in which Lee's +infantry had been engaged since the 14th of May. + +On that date General Lee had foreshadowed his intention of using his +cavalry in connection with the manoeuvres of his infantry by issuing +an order himself, now that Stuart was dead, directing that the "three +divisions of cavalry serving with the army [Lee's] will constitute +separate commands, and will report directly to and receive orders +from the headquarters of the army." The order indicates that since +Stuart's death the Confederate cavalry had been re-organized into +three divisions, that were commanded respectively by General Wade +Hampton, General Fitzhugh Lee, and General W. H. F. Lee, the +additional division organization undoubtedly growing out of the fact, +that General M. C. Butler's brigade of about four thousand men had +joined recently from South Carolina. + +When this force developed in Gregg's front, he attacked the moment +his troops could be dismounted; and the contest became one of +exceeding stubborness, for he found confronting him Hampton's and +Fitzhugh Lee's divisions, supported by what we then supposed to be a +brigade of infantry, but which, it has since been ascertained, was +Butler's brigade of mounted troops; part of them armed with long- +range rifles. The contest between the opposing forces was of the +severest character and continued till late in the evening. The +varying phases of the fight prompted me to reinforce Gregg as much as +possible, so I directed Custer's brigade to report to him, sending, +meanwhile, for the other two brigades of Torbert, but these were not +available at the time--on account of delays which occurred in +relieving them from the line at Crump's Creek--and did not get up +till the fight was over. As soon as Custer joined him, Gregg +vigorously assaulted the Confederate position along his whole front; +and notwithstanding the long-range rifles of the South Carolinians, +who were engaging in their first severe combat it appears, and fought +most desperately, he penetrated their barricades at several points. + +The most determined and obstinate efforts for success were now made +on both sides, as the position at Hawe's Shop had become of very +great importance on account of the designs of both Lee and Grant. +Lee wished to hold this ground while he manoeuvred his army to the +line of the Tolopotomy, where he could cover the roads to Richmond, +while Grant, though first sending me out merely to discover by a +strong reconnoissance the movements of the enemy, saw the value of +the place to cover his new base at the White House, and also to give +us possession of a direct road to Cold Harbor. Hawe's Shop remained +in our possession finally, for late in the evening Custer's brigade +was dismounted and formed in close column in rear of Gregg, and while +it assaulted through an opening near the centre of his line, the +other two brigades advanced and carried the temporary works. The +enemy's dead and many of his wounded fell into our hands; also a +considerable number of prisoners, from whom we learned that +Longstreet's and Ewell's corps were but four miles to the rear. + +The battle was a decidedly severe one, the loss on each side being +heavy in proportion to the number of troops engaged. This fight took +place almost immediately in front of our infantry, which, during the +latter part of the contest, was busily occupied in throwing up +intrenchments. Late in the afternoon I reported to General Meade the +presence of the enemy's infantry, and likewise that Hampton's and +Fitzhugh Lee's divisions were in my front also, and asked, at the +same time; that some of our infantry, which was near at hand, be sent +to my assistance. I could not convince Meade that anything but the +enemy's horse was fighting us, however, and he declined to push out +the foot-troops, who were much wearied by night marches. It has been +ascertained since that Meade's conclusions were correct in so far as +they related to the enemy's infantry; but the five cavalry brigades +far outnumbered my three, and it is to be regretted that so much was +risked in holding a point that commanded the roads to Cold Harbor and +Meadow bridge, when there was at hand a preponderating number of +Union troops which might have been put into action. However, Gregg's +division and Custer's brigade were equal to the situation, all +unaided as they were till dark, when Torbert and Merritt came on the +ground. The contest not only gave us the crossroads, but also +removed our uncertainty regarding Lee's movements, clearly +demonstrating that his army was retiring by its right flank, so that +it might continue to interpose between Grant and the James River; as +well as cover the direct route to Richmond. + +General Lee reported this battle to his Government as a Confederate +victory, but his despatch was sent early in the day, long before the +fight ended, and evidently he could not have known the final result +when he made the announcement, for the fight lasted until dark. +After dark, our own and the Confederate dead having been buried, I +withdrew, and moving to the rear of our infantry, marched all night +and till I reached the vicinity of Old Church, where I had been +instructed to keep a vigilant watch on the enemy with Gregg's and +Torbert's divisions. As soon as I had taken position at Old Church +my pickets were pushed out in the direction of Cold Harbor, and the +fact that the enemy was holding that point in some force was clearly +ascertained. But our occupation of Cold Harbor was of the utmost +importance; indeed, it was absolutely necessary that we should +possess it, to secure our communications with the White House, as +well as to cover the extension of our line to the left toward the +James River. Roads from Bethesda Church, Old Church, and the White +House centred at Cold Harbor, and from there many roads diverged also +toward different crossings of the Chickahominy, which were +indispensable to us. + +The enemy too realized the importance of the place, for as soon as he +found himself compelled to take up the line of the Tolopotomy he +threw a body of troops into Cold Harbor by forced marches, and +followed it up by pushing a part of this force out on the Old Church +road as far as Matadequin Creek, where he established a line of +battle, arranging the front of it parallel to the road along the +south bank of the Pamunkey; this for the purpose of endangering our +trains as they moved back and forth between the army and the White +House. + +Meanwhile I had occupied Old Church and pushed pickets down toward +Cold Harbor. The outposts struck each other just north of Matadequin +Creek, and a spirited fight immediately took place. At first our +pickets were sorely pressed, but Torbert, who was already preparing +to make a reconnoissance, lost no time in reinforcing them on the +north side of the creek with Devin's brigade. The fight then became +general, both sides, dismounted, stubbornly contesting the ground. +Of the Confederates, General Butler's South Carolinians bore the +brunt of the fight, and, strongly posted as they were on the south +bank of the creek, held their ground with the same obstinacy they had +previously shown at Hawe's Shop. Finally, however, Torbert threw +Merritt's and Custer's brigades into the action, and the enemy +retired, we pursuing to within a mile and a half of Cold Harbor and +capturing a number of prisoners. Gregg's division took no part in +the actual fighting, but remained near Old Church observing the roads +on Torberts flanks, one leading toward Bethesda Church on his right, +the other to his left in the direction of the White House. This +latter road Gregg was particularly instructed to keep open, so as to +communicate with General W. F. Smith, who was then debarking his +corps at the White House, and on the morning of the 3ist this +general's advance was covered by a brigade which Gregg had sent him +for the purpose. + +Torbert having pursued toward Cold Harbor the troops he fought at +Matadequin Creek, had taken up a position about a mile and a half +from that place, on the Old Church road. The morning of the 31st I +visited him to arrange for his further advance, intending thus to +anticipate an expected attack from Fitzhugh Lee, who was being +reinforced by infantry. I met Torbert at Custer's headquarters, and +found that the two had already been talking over a scheme to capture +Cold Harbor, and when their plan was laid before me it appeared so +plainly feasible that I fully endorsed it, at once giving directions +for its immediate execution, and ordering Gregg to come forward to +Torbert's support with such troops as he could spare from the duty +with which he had been charged. + +Torbert moved out promptly, Merritt's brigade first, followed by +Custer's, on the direct road to Cold Harbor, while Devin's brigade +was detached, and marched by a left-hand road that would bring him in +on the right and rear of the enemy's line, which was posted in front +of the crossroads. Devin was unable to carry his part of the +programme farther than to reach the front of the Confederate right, +and as Merritt came into position to the right of the Old Church road +Torbert was obliged to place a part of Custer's brigade on Merritt's +left so as to connect with Devin. The whole division was now in +line, confronted by Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, supported by Clingman's +brigade from Hoke's division of infantry; and from the Confederate +breastworks, hastily constructed out of logs, rails, and earth, a +heavy fire was already being poured upon us that it seemed impossible +to withstand. None of Gregg's division had yet arrived, and so +stubborn was the enemy's resistance that I began to doubt our ability +to carry the place before reinforcements came up, but just then +Merritt reported that he could turn the enemy's left, and being +directed to execute his proposition, he carried it to a most +successful issue with the First and Second regular cavalry. Just as +these two regiments passed around the enemy's left and attacked his +rear, the remainder of the division assailed him in front. This +manoeuvre of Merritt's stampeded the Confederates, and the defenses +falling into our hands easily, we pushed ahead on the Bottom's bridge +road three-fourths of a mile beyond Cold Harbor. + +Cold Harbor was now mine, but I was about nine miles away from our +nearest infantry, and had been able to bring up only Davies's brigade +of cavalry, which arrived after the fight. My isolated position +therefore made me a little uneasy. I felt convinced that the enemy +would attempt to regain the place, for it was of as much importance +to him as to us, and the presence of his infantry disclosed that he +fully appreciated this. My uneasiness increased as the day grew +late, for I had learned from prisoners that the balance of Hoke's +division was en route to Cold Harbor, and Kershaw near at hand, +interposing between the Union left near Bethesda Church and my +position. In view of this state of affairs, I notified General Meade +that I had taken Cold Harbor, but could not with safety to my command +hold it, and forthwith gave directions to withdraw during the night. +The last of my troops had scarcely pulled out, however, when I +received a despatch from Meade directing me to hold Cold Harbor at +every hazard. General Grant had expected that a severe battle would +have to be fought before we could obtain possession of the place; and +its capture by our cavalry not being anticipated, no preparation had +been made for its permanent occupancy. No time was to be lost, +therefore, if the advantages which possession of Cold Harbor gave us +were to be improved, so at the same hour that Meade ordered me to +hold the place at all hazards the Sixth Corps was started on a forced +march, by Grant's directions, to aid in that object, and on arrival +to relieve my cavalry. + +The moment Meade's order was received, I directed a reoccupation of +Cold Harbor, and although a large portion of Torbert's command was +already well on its way back to the line we held on the morning of +the 31st, this force speedily retraced its steps, and re-entered the +place before daylight; both our departure and return having been +effected without the enemy being aware of our movements. We now +found that the temporary breastworks of rails and logs which the +Confederates had built were of incalculable benefit to us in +furnishing material with which to establish a line of defense, they +being made available by simply reversing them at some points, or at +others wholly reconstructing them to suit the circumstances of the +ground: The troops, without reserves, were then placed behind our +cover dismounted, boxes of ammunition distributed along the line, and +the order passed along that the place must be held. All this was +done in the darkness, and while we were working away at our cover the +enemy could be distinctly heard from our skirmish-line giving +commands and making preparations to attack. + +Just after daylight on the 1st of June the Confederate infantry under +General Kershaw endeavored to drive us out, advancing against my +right from the Bethesda Church road. In his assault he was permitted +to come close up to our works, and when within short range such afire +was opened on him from our horse-artillery and repeating carbines +that he recoiled in confusion after the first onset; still, he seemed +determined to get the place, and after reorganizing, again attacked; +but the lesson of the first repulse was not without effect, and his +feeble effort proved wholly fruitless. After his second failure we +were left undisturbed, and at 9 A.M. I sent the following despatch to +army headquarters: + +"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, +"ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. +"Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864--9 A.M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HUMPHREYS, +"Chief-of-Staff. + +"GENERAL: In obedience to your instructions I am holding Cold Harbor. +I have captured this morning more prisoners; they belong to three +different infantry brigades. The enemy assaulted the right of my +lines this morning, but were handsomely repulsed. I have been very +apprehensive, but General Wright is now coming up. I built slight +works for my men; the enemy came up to them, and were driven back. +General Wright has just arrived. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +About 10 o'clock in the morning the Sixth Corps relieved Torbert and +Davies, having marched all night, and these two generals moving out +toward the Chickahominy covered the left of the infantry line till +Hancock's corps took their place in the afternoon. By this time +Gregg had joined me with his two brigades, and both Torbert and Gregg +were now marched to Prospect Church, from which point I moved them to +a position on the north side of the Chickahominy at Bottom's bridge. +Here the enemy's cavalry confronted us, occupying the south bank of +the stream, with artillery in position at the fords prepared to +dispute our passage; but it was not intended that we should cross; so +Gregg and Torbert lay quiet in camp at Bottom's bridge and at Old +Church without noteworthy event until the 6th of June. + +As before related, Wilson's division struck the enemy's infantry as +well as W. H. F. Lee's cavalry near Ashland on the 1st of June, and +although Chapman destroyed the bridges over the South Anna, which was +his part of the programme, Wilson found it necessary to return to +Price's Store. From this point he continued to cover the right of +the Army of the Potomac, on the 2d of June driving the rear-guard of +the enemy from Hawe's Shop, the scene of the battle of May 28. The +same day he crossed Tolopotomy Creek, and passed around the enemy's +left flank so far that Lee thought his left was turned by a strong +force, and under cover of darkness withdrew from a menacing position +which he was holding in front of the Ninth Corps. This successful +manoeuvre completed, Wilson returned to Hawe's Shop, and on the 4th +went into camp at New Castle ferry, in anticipation of certain +operations of the Cavalry Corps, which were to take place while the +Army of the Potomac was crossing to the south side of the James. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE MOVEMENT TO THE JAMES--THE SECOND EXPEDITION--BATTLE OF +TREVILLIAN STATION--DEFEAT OF GENERAL WADE HAMPTON--MALLORY'S +CROSSROADS--SUFFERING OF THE WOUNDED--SECURING THE TRAINS--GENERAL +GREGG'S STUBBORN FIGHT. + +By the 6th of June General Grant again determined to continue the +movement of the army by its left flank to the south bank of the James +River, his unsuccessful attack on the enemy's works near Cold Harbor +having demonstrated that Lee's position north of the Chickahominy +could not be carried by assault with results that would compensate +for the enormous loss of life which must follow; therefore a further +attempt to fight a decisive battle north of Richmond was abandoned. +In carrying the army to the James River the hazardous manoeuvres +would be hampered by many obstacles, such as the thick timber, +underbrush, and troublesome swamps to be met in crossing the +Chickahominy. Besides, Lee held an interior line, from which all the +direct roads to Richmond could be covered with his infantry, leaving +his cavalry free to confront our advance on the south bank of the +Chickahominy as far down as Jones's bridge, and thence around to +Charles City Court House. In view of these difficulties it became +necessary to draw off the bulk of the enemy's cavalry while the +movement to the James was in process of execution, and General Meade +determined to do this by requiring me to proceed with two divisions +as far as Charlottesville to destroy the railroad bridge over the +Rivanna River near that town, the railroad itself from the Rivanna to +Gordonsville, and, if practicable, from Gordonsville back toward +Hanover Junction also. + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"June 5, 1864. 3.30 P. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Commanding Cavalry Corps. + +"I am directed by the major-general commanding to furnish the +following instructions for your guidance in the execution of the duty +referred to in the order for movements and changes of position to- +night, a copy of which order accompanies this communication. + +"With two divisions of your corps you will move on the morning of the +7th instant to Charlottesville and destroy the railroad bridge over +the Rivanna near that town; you will then thoroughly destroy the +railroad from that point to Gordonsville, and from Gordonsville +toward Hanover Junction, and to the latter point, if practicable. +The chief engineer, Major Duane, will furnish you a canvas pontoon- +train of eight boats. The chief quartermaster will supply you with +such tools, implements, and materials as you may require for the +destruction of the road. Upon the completion of this duty you will +rejoin this army. + +"A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +After Meade's instructions reached me they were somewhat modified by +General Grant, who on the same evening had received information that +General Hunter, commanding the troops in West Virginia, had reached +Staunton and engaged with advantage the Confederate commander, +General Jones, near that place. General Grant informed me orally +that he had directed Hunter to advance as far as Charlottesville, +that he expected me to unite with him there, and that the two +commands, after destroying the James River canal and the Virginia +Central road, were to join the Army of the Potomac in the manner +contemplated in my instructions from General Meade; and that in view +of what was anticipated, it would be well to break up as much of the +railroad as possible on my way westward. A copy of his letter to +Hunter comprised my written instructions. A junction with this +general was not contemplated when the expedition was first conceived, +but became an important though not the paramount object after the +reception of the later information. The diversion of the enemy's +cavalry from the south side of the Chickahominy was its main purpose, +for in the presence of such a force as Lee's contracted lines would +now permit him to concentrate behind the Chickahominy, the +difficulties of crossing that stream would be largely increased if he +also had at hand a strong body of horse, to gain the time necessary +for him to oppose the movement at the different crossings with masses +of his infantry. + +The order calling for two divisions for the expedition, I decided to +take Gregg's and Torbert's, leaving Wilson's behind to continue with +the infantry in its march to the James and to receive instructions +directly from, the headquarters of the army. All my dismounted men +had been sent to the White House some days before, and they were +directed to report to Wilson as they could be provided with mounts. + + + +"COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1964. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER, Commanding Dept West Virginia. + +"General Sheridan leaves here to-morrow morning with instructions to +proceed to Charlottesville, Va., and to commence there the +destruction of the Virginia Central railroad, destroying this way as +much as possible. The complete destruction of this road and of the +canal on James River is of great importance to us. According to the +instructions I sent to General Halleck for your guidance, you will +proceed to Lynchburg and commence there. It would be of great value +to us to get possession of Lynchburg for a single day. But that +point is of so much importance to the enemy, that in attempting to +get it such resistance may be met as to defeat your getting into the +road or canal at all. I see, in looking over the letter to General +Halleck on the subject of your instructions, that it rather indicates +that your route should be from Staunton via Charlottesville. If you +have so understood it, you will be doing just what I want. The +direction I would now give is, that if this letter reaches you in the +valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you immediately turn east by +the most practicable road until you strike the Lynchburg branch of +the Virginia Central road. From there move eastward along the line +of the road, destroying it completely and thoroughly, until you join +General Sheridan. After the work laid out for General Sheridan and +yourself is thoroughly done, proceed to join the Army of the Potomac +by the route laid out in General Sheridan's instructions. If any +portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed back in +your department, you are authorized to send it back. If on receipt +of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem it practicable to +reach that point, you will exercise your judgment about going there. +If you should be on the railroad between Charlottesville and +Lynchburg, it may be practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy +the canal. Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + +Owing to the hard service of the preceding month we had lost many +horses, so the number of dismounted men was large; and my strength +had also been much reduced by killed and wounded during the same +period of activity. The effective mounted force of my two divisions +was therefore much diminished, they mustering only about six thousand +officers and men when concentrated on June 6 at New Castle ferry. +Here they were provided with three days' rations, intended to last +five days, and with two days' grain for the horses. The rations and +forty rounds of ammunition per man were to be carried on the persons +of the troopers, the grain on the pommel of the saddle, and the +reserve ammunition in wagons. One medical wagon and eight ambulances +were also furnished, and one wagon was authorized for each division +and brigade headquarters; enough canvas-covered boats for a small +pontoon-bridge were also provided. + +My instructions permitting latitude in the route I should take, I +decided to march along the north bank of the North Anna River, cross +that stream at Carpenter's ford, strike the Virginia Central railroad +at Trevillian Station, destroy it toward Louisa Court House, march +past Gordonsville, strike the railroad again at Cobham's Station, and +destroy it thence to Charlottesville as we proceeded west. The +success of the last part of this programme would of course depend on +the location of General Hunter when I should arrive in the region +where it would be practicable for us to communicate with each other. + +From my camp at New Castle ferry we crossed the Pamunkey, marched +between Aylett's and Dunkirk on the Mattapony River, and on the 8th +of June encamped at Polecat Station. The next day we resumed the +march along the North Anna--our advance guard skirmishing with a few +mounted men of the enemy, who proved to be irregulars--and bivouacked +on Northeast Creek, near Young's Mills. This day I learned from some +of these irregulars whom we made prisoners that Breckenridge's +division of infantry, en route to the Shenandoah Valley by way of +Gordonsville, was passing slowly up the railroad parallel to me, and +that the enemy's cavalry had left its position on the south side of +the Chickahominy, and was marching on the old Richmond and +Gordonsville road toward Gordonsville, under command of General Wade +Hampton, the information being confirmed by a scouting party sent out +to cut the telegraph wires along the railroad in the night. +Breckenridge had been ordered back to the valley by General Lee as +soon as he heard of Hunter's victory near Staunton, but now that my +expedition had been discovered, the movement of Breckenridge's troops +on the railroad was being timed to correspond with the marches of my +command till Hampton could get more nearly parallel with me. + +On the 10th we resumed the march, passing by Twyman's store, crossing +the North Anna at Carpenter's ford and encamping on the road leading +along the south fork of the North Anna to Trevillian Station. During +the evening and night of the Loth the boldness of the enemy's +scouting parties, with which we had been coming into collision more +or less every day, perceptibly increased, thus indicating the +presence of a large force, and evidencing that his shorter line of +march had enabled him to bring to my front a strong body of cavalry, +although it started from Lee's army nearly two days later than I did +from Grant's. The arrival of this body also permitted Breckenridge +to pass on to Gordonsville, and from there to interpose between +General Hunter and me at either Charlottesville or Waynesboro' as +circumstances might determine. + +On the night of the Loth General Hampton's division camped about +three miles northwest of Trevillian, at a place called Green Spring +Valley and Fitzhugh Lee's division not far from Louisa Court House, +some six miles east of Trevillian. Learning that I was at +Carpenter's ford, Hampton marched his division by way of Trevillian +Station toward Clayton's store, on the road from Trevillian to +Carpenter's ford, intending to attack me at Clayton's. Fitzhugh +Lee's division was to join Hampton at Clayton's store from Louisa +Court House; but on the morning of the 11th the two generals were +separated by several miles. + +At daylight of the 11th my march, to Trevillian Station was resumed +on the direct road to that point, and engaging the enemy's pickets +and advanced parties soon after setting out, we began to drive them +in. Torbert had the lead with Merritt's and Devin's brigades, and as +he pressed back the pickets he came upon the enemy posted behind a +line of barricades in dense timber about three miles from Trevillian. +Meanwhile Custer's brigade had been sent from where we bivouacked, by +a wood road found on our left, to destroy Trevillian Station. In +following this road Custer got to the rear of Hampton's division, +having passed between its right flank and Fitzhugh Lee's division, +which was at the time marching on the road leading from Louisa Court +House to Clayton's store to unite with Hampton. + +Custer, the moment he found himself in Hampton's rear, charged the +led horses, wagons, and caissons found there, getting hold of a vast +number of each, and also of the station itself. The stampede and +havoc wrought by Custer in Hampton's rear compelled him to turn +Rosser's brigade in that direction, and while it attacked Custer on +one side, Fitzhugh Lee's division, which had followed Custer toward +Trevillian, attacked him on the other. There then ensued a desperate +struggle for the possession of the captured property, resulting +finally in its being retaken by the enemy. Indeed, the great number +of horses and vehicles could not be kept on the limited space within +Custer's line, which now formed almost a complete circle; and while +he was endeavoring to remove them to a secure place they, together +with Custer's headquarters wagon and four of his caissons, fell into +the hands of their original owners. + +As soon as the firing told that Custer had struck the enemy's rear, I +directed Torbert to press the line in front of Merritt and Devin, +aided by one brigade of Gregg's division on their left, Gregg's other +brigade in the meantime attacking Fitzhugh Lee on the Louisa Court +House road. The effect of this was to force Hampton back, and his +division was so hard pushed that a portion of it was driven pell-mell +into Custer's lines, leaving there about five hundred prisoners. The +rest of Hampton's men did not rally till they got some distance west +of Trevillian, while, in the meantime, Gregg had driven Fitzhugh Lee +toward Louisa Court House so far that many miles now intervened +between the two Confederate divisions, precluding their union until +about noon the next day, when Fitzhugh Lee effected the junction +after a circuitous march in the night. The defeat of Hampton at the +point where he had determined to resist my further advance, and his +retreat westward, gave me undisturbed possession of the station; and +after destroying the railroad to some extent toward Gordonsville, I +went into camp. + +From prisoners taken during the day, I gathered that General Hunter, +instead of coming toward Charlottesville, as I had reason to expect, +both from the instructions given me and the directions sent him by +General Grant, was in the neighborhood of Lexington--apparently +moving on Lynchburg--and that Breckenridge was at Gordonsville and +Charlottesville. I also heard, from the same source, that Ewell's +corps was on its way to Lynchburg, but this intelligence proved +afterward to be incorrect, for these troops, commanded by General +Early, did not leave Richmond till two days later. + +There was no doubt as to the information about Hunter's general +location, however. He was marching toward Lynchburg, away from +instead of toward me, thus making the junction of our commands beyond +all reasonable probability. So in view of this, I made up my mind to +abandon that part of the scheme, and to return by leisurely marches, +which would keep Hampton's cavalry away from Lee while Grant was +crossing the James River. I was still further influenced to this +course by the burden which was thrown on me in the large number of +wounded--there being about five hundred cases of my own--and the five +hundred prisoners that I would probably be forced to abandon, should +I proceed farther. Besides, the recent battle had reduced my supply +of ammunition to a very small amount--not more than enough for one +more respectable engagement; and as the chances were that I would +have to fight a great deal before I could reach Hunter, now that the +enemy's cavalry and Breckenridge's infantry were between us, the +risks of the undertaking seemed too great to warrant it. + +The morning of June 12 Gregg's division commenced destroying the +railroad to Louisa Court House, and continued the work during the +day, breaking it pretty effectually. While Gregg was thus occupied, +I directed Torbert to make a reconnoissance up the Gordonsville road, +to secure a by-road leading over Mallory's ford, on the North Anna, +to the Catharpen road, as I purposed following that route to +Spottsylvania Court House on my return, and thence via Bowling Green +and Dunkirk to the White House. About a mile beyond Trevillian the +Gordonsville road fork--the left fork leading to Charlottesville--and +about a mile beyond the fork Hampton had taken up and strongly +intrenched a line across both roads, being reinforced by Fitzhugh +Lee, who, as before related, had joined him about noon by a +roundabout march. Torbert soon hotly engaged this line, and by the +impetuosity of his first attack, gained some advantage; but the +appearance of Fitzhugh Lee's troops on the right, and Hampton's +strong resistance in front, rendered futile all efforts to carry the +position; and, although I brought up one of Gregg's brigades to +Torbert's assistance, yet the by-road I coveted was still held by the +enemy when night closed in. + +This engagement, like that off the day before around Trevillian, was +mostly fought dismounted by both sides, as had also been the earlier +fights of the cavalry during the summer in the Wilderness, at Todd's +Tavern, Hawe's Shop, and Matadequin Creek. Indeed, they could hardly +have been fought otherwise than on foot, as there was little chance +for mounted fighting in eastern Virginia, the dense woods, the +armament of both parties, and the practice of barricading making it +impracticable to use the sabre with anything like a large force; and +so with the exception of Yellow Tavern the dismounted method +prevailed in almost every engagement. + +The losses at Mallory's Crossroads were very heavy on both sides. +The character of the fighting, together with the day's results, +demonstrated that it was impossible to make the passage of the North +Anna at Mallory's ford without venturing another battle the next day. +This would consume the little ammunition left, and though we might +gain the road, yet the possibility of having no ammunition whatever +to get back with was too great a hazard, so I gave orders to withdraw +during the night of the 12th. We retired along the same road by +which we had come, taking with us the prisoners, and all of our +wounded who could be moved. Those who could not be transported, some +ninety in number, and all the Confederate wounded in my hands, were +left at Trevillian in hospitals, under charge of one of our surgeons, +with plenty of medical and other stores. + +We recrossed the North Anna at Carpenter's ford the following +morning, and halting there, unsaddled and turned the horses out to +graze, for they were nearly famished, having had neither food nor +water during the preceding forty-eight hours. Late in the afternoon +we saddled up and proceeded to Twyman's Store, while General +Hampton's main body moved down the south bank of the North Anna, with +the purpose of intervening between me and the Army of the Potomac, in +the hope of preventing my return to it; but his movements took no +definite shape beyond watching me, however, till several days later, +near St. Mary's Church, when I was crossing the peninsula to the +James River. + +On the 14th the march was continued, and we reached the Catharpen +road, upon which it was originally intended to move if we had been +able to cross at Mallory's ford, and this conducted me to Shady Grove +Church. The next day we passed over the battle-field of +Spottsylvania Court House. The marks of the recent conflicts about +there were visible on every hand, and in the neighboring houses were +found many Union and Confederate wounded, who had been too severely +hurt to be removed from the field-hospitals at the time of the +battles. Such of our wounded as were able to travel were brought +away. + +On the 16th I marched from Edge Hill on the Ta River through Bowling +Green to Dr. Butler's, on the north side of the Mattapony. When I +arrived here I was unable to ascertain the position of the Army of +the Potomac, and was uncertain whether or not the base at the White +House had been discontinued. I had heard nothing from the army for +nine days except rumors through Southern sources, and under these +circumstances did not like to venture between the Mattapony and +Pamunkey rivers, embarrassed as I was with some four hundred wounded, +five hundred prisoners, and about two thousand negroes that had +joined my column in the hope of obtaining their freedom. I therefore +determined to push down the north bank of the Mattapony far enough to +enable me to send these impediments directly to West Point, where I +anticipated finding some of our gunboats and transports, that could +carry all to the North. Following this plan, we proceeded through +Walkerton to King and Queen Court House, and bivouacked in its +vicinity the night of the 18th. Next day I learned that the depot at +the White House had not yet been broken up entirely, and that +supplies were in store for me there; so after sending the wounded, +prisoners, and negroes to West Point under an escort of two +regiments, I turned back to Dunkirk, on the Mattapony, and crossed to +the south side at a place where the stream was narrow enough to +bridge with my pontoon-boats. + +In returning from Trevillian, as the most of our wounded were hauled +in old buggies, carts, and such other vehicles as could be made +available in the absence of a sufficient number of ambulances, the +suffering was intense, the heat of the season and dusty roads adding +much to the discomfort. Each day we halted many times to dress the +wounds of the injured and to refresh them as much as possible, but +our means for mitigating their distress were limited. The fortitude +and cheerfulness of the poor fellows under such conditions were +remarkable, for no word of complaint was heard. The Confederate +prisoners and colored people being on foot, our marches were +necessarily made short, and with frequent halts also, but they too +suffered considerably from the heat and dust, though at times the +prisoners were relieved by being mounted on the horses of some of our +regiments, the owners meantime marching on foot. Where all the +colored people came from and what started them was inexplicable, but +they began joining us just before we reached Trevillian--men, women, +and children with bundles of all sorts containing their few worldly +goods, and the number increased from day to day until they arrived at +West Point. Probably not one of the poor things had the remotest +idea, when he set out, as to where he would finally land, but to a +man they followed the Yankees in full faith that they would lead to +freedom, no matter what road they took. + +On the morning of the 20th, at an early hour, we resumed our march, +and as the column proceeded sounds of artillery were heard in the +direction of the White House, which fact caused us to quicken the +pace. We had not gone far when despatches from General Abercrombie, +commanding some fragmentary organizations at the White House, +notified me that the place was about to be attacked. I had +previously sent an advance party with orders to move swiftly toward +the cannonading and report to me by couriers the actual condition of +affairs. From this party I soon learned that there was no occasion +to push our jaded animals, since the crisis, if there had been one, +was over and the enemy repulsed, so the increased gait was reduced to +a leisurely march that took us late in the afternoon to the north +bank of the Pamunkey, opposite Abercrombie's camp. When I got to the +river the enemy was holding the bluffs surrounding the White House +farm, having made no effort to penetrate General Abercrombie's line +or do him other hurt than to throw a few shells among the teamsters +there congregated. + +Next day Gregg's division crossed the Pamunkey dismounted, and +Torbert's crossed mounted. As soon as the troops were over, Gregg, +supported by Merritt's brigade, moved out on the road to Tunstall's +Station to attack Hampton, posted an the west side of Black Creek, +Custer's brigade meanwhile moving, mounted, on the road to +Cumberland, and Devin's in like manner on the one to Baltimore +crossroads. This offer of battle was not accepted, however, and +Hampton withdrew from my front, retiring behind the Chickahominy, +where his communications with Lee would be more secure. + +While at the White House I received orders to break up that depot +wholly, and also instructions to move the trains which the Army of +the Potomac had left there across the peninsula to the pontoon-bridge +at Deep Bottom on the James River. These trains amounted to hundreds +of wagons and other vehicles, and knowing full well the dangers which +would attend the difficult problem of getting them over to +Petersburg, I decided to start them with as little delay as +circumstances would permit, and the morning of the 22d sent Torbert's +division ahead to secure Jones's bridge on the Chickahominy, so that +the wagons could be crossed at that point. The trains followed +Torbert, while Gregg's division marched by a road parallel to the one +on which the wagons were moving, and on their right flank, as they +needed to be covered and protected in that direction only. + +The enemy made no effort to attack us while we were moving the trains +that day, and the wagons were all safely parked for the night on the +south side of the Chickahominy, guarded by General Getty, who had +relieved Abercrombie from command of the infantry fragments before we +started off from the White House. + +To secure the crossing at Jones's bridge, Torbert had pushed Devin's +brigade out on the Long Bridge road, on the side of the Chickahominy +where, on the morning of the 23d, he was attacked by Chambliss's +brigade of W. H. F. Lee's division. Devin was driven in some little +distance, but being reinforced by Getty with six companies of colored +troops, he quickly turned the tables on Chambliss and re-established +his picketposts. From this affair I learned that Chambliss's brigade +was the advance of the Confederate cavalry corps, while Hampton +discovered from it that we were already in possession of the Jones's +bridge crossing of the Chickahominy; and as he was too late to +challenge our passage of the stream at this point he contented +himself with taking up a position that night so as to cover the roads +leading from Long Bridge to Westover, with the purpose of preventing +the trains from following the river road to the pontoon-bridge at +Deep Bottom. + +My instructions required me to cross the trains over the James River +on this pontoon-bridge if practicable, and to reach it I should be +obliged to march through Charles City Court House, and then by +Harrison's Landing and Malvern Hill, the latter point being held by +the enemy. In fact, he held all the ground between Long Bridge on +the Chickahominy and the pontoon-bridge except the Tete de pont at +the crossing. Notwithstanding this I concluded to make the attempt, +for all the delays of ferrying the command and trains would be +avoided if we got through to the bridge; and with this object in view +I moved Torbert's division out on the Charles City road to conduct +the wagons. Just beyond Charles City Court House Torbert encountered +Lomax's brigade, which he drove across Herring Creek on the road to +Westover Church; and reporting the affair to me, I surmised, from the +presence of this force in my front, that Hampton would endeavor to +penetrate to the long column of wagons, so I ordered them to go into +park near Wilcox's landing, and instructed Gregg, whose division had +been marching in the morning along the road leading from Jones's +bridge to St. Mary's Church for the purpose of covering the exposed +flank of the train, to hold fast near the church without fail till +all the transportation had passed Charles City Court House. + +Meanwhile, General Hampton, who had conjectured that I would try to +get the train across the James by the pontoonbridge at Deep Bottom, +began concentrating all his troops except Lomax's brigade, which was +to confront the head of my column on the river road, in the vicinity +of Nance's Shop. This was discovered by Gregg at an early hour, and +divining this purpose he had prepared to meet it by constructing +hasty cover for his men before receiving my instructions. About 4 +o'clock in the afternoon Hampton got his force in hand, and with +Fitzhugh Lee's division assailed the whole front of Gregg's line, and +his left flank with Chambliss's and Geary's brigades. For two hours +he continued to attack, but made little impression on Gregg--gain at +one point being counterbalanced by failure at another. Because of +the evident strength of Hampton, Gregg had placed all his troops in +line of battle from the first, and on discovery of the enemy's +superior numbers sent message after message to me concerning the +situation, but the messengers never arrived, being either killed or +captured, and I remained in total ignorance till dark of the strait +his division was in. + +Toward night it became clear to Gregg that he could maintain the +unequal contest no longer, and he then decided to retreat, but not +until convinced that the time won had enabled all the trains to pass +Charles City Court House in safety. When he had got all his led +horses fairly on the way, and such of the wounded as could be +transported, he retired by his right flank-in some confusion, it is +true, but stubbornly resisting to Hopewell Church, where Hampton +ceased to press him. + +Gregg's losses were heavy, and he was forced to abandon his dead and +most seriously wounded, but the creditable stand made ensured the +safety of the train, the last wagon of which was now parked at +Wilcox's Landing. His steady, unflinching determination to gain time +for the wagons to get beyond the point of danger was characteristic +of the man, and this was the third occasion on which he had exhibited +a high order of capacity and sound judgment since coming under my +command. The firmness and coolness with which he always met the +responsibilities of a dangerous place were particularly strong points +in Gregg's make-up, and he possessed so much professional though +unpretentious ability, that it is to be regretted he felt obliged a +few months later to quit the service before the close of the war. + +Gregg's fight fully satisfied me that we could not get the trains up +to the pontoon-bridge, for of course Hampton would now throw all his +cavalry in my front, on the river road, where it could be backed up +by Lee's infantry. Meanwhile, General Meade had become assured of +the same thing, and as he was now growing anxious about the fate of +Wilson's division--which, during my absence, had been sent out to +break the enemy's communications south of Petersburg, by destroying +the Southside and Danville railroads--he sent ferryboats to cross me +over the James. During the night'of the 24th, and next morning, the +immense train--which ought never to have been left for the cavalry to +escort, after a fatiguing expedition of three weeks--was moved back +through Charles City Court House to Douthard's landing, and there +ferried over the river, followed by my troops in like manner. When +General Hampton discovered this, he moved to Drury's Bluff, and +there, on the morning of the 27th, crossed the James by the +Confederate pontoon-bridge. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +GENERAL WILSON'S RAID--DESTROYING RAILROADS--HIS DISCOMFITURE-- +RESULTS OF HIS RAID--REMOUNTS--MOVEMENT TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE +JAMES--DECEIVING LEE--MY ISOLATED POSITION--ESTIMATE OF HANCOCK-- +SUCCESS OF THE CAVALRY--THEIR CONSTANT DUTIES. + +While I was absent on the expedition to Trevillian, the movement of +the Army of the Potomac across the James River was effected, and +Wilson, whom I had left behind for the purpose, was engaged in the +duty of covering its front and rear. Late on the night of June 12 +he, with Chapman's brigade, crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, +in advance of the Fifth Corps, and by 7 o'clock next morning had +driven the enemy's pickets up to White Oak bridge, where he waited +for our infantry. When that came up, he pushed on as far as Riddle's +Shop, but late that evening the Confederate infantry forced him to +withdraw to St. Mary's Church; for early in the morning General Lee +had discovered the movement of our army, and promptly threw this +column of infantry south of the Chickahominy to White Oak Swamp, with +the design of covering Richmond. From St. Mary's Church Wilson +guarded all the roads toward White Oak Swamp and Riddle's Shop, +McIntosh's brigade joining him on the 14th, by way of Long Bridge, as +the rear of the Army of the Potomac passed the Chickahominy. In the +performance of this duty Wilson did not have to fight any engagement +of magnitude, for the bulk of the enemy's cavalry had followed me to +Trevillian. During the 15th and 16th Wilson drew his troops in +toward the James River, and next day crossed it on the pontoon-bridge +and camped on the Blackwater, near Mt. Sinai Church. Here he +remained till the 22d of June--the same day I reached the White House +with Gregg and Torbert--when, under orders from General Meade, he set +out to cut the enemy's communications to the south and southwest of +Petersburg. + +His instructions implied that the breaking up of the Petersburg and +Lynchburg, and Richmond and Danville railroads at Burkeville was the +most important part of his mission, and that when the work of +destruction began, it should be continued till he was driven off by +the enemy. Wilson's force consisted of about 5,500 men, General A. +V. Kautz, with the cavalry of the Army of the James, having joined +him for the expedition. In moving out Wilson crossed the Weldon road +near Ream's Station, first destroying it effectually at that point. +About fourteen miles west of Petersburg he struck the Southside +railroad, and broke it up clear to Burkeville, a distance of thirty +miles. Having destroyed everything at Burkeville Junction, he moved +along the Danville road to Staunton River, completely wrecking about +thirty miles of that line also. At Staunton River he found the +railroad bridge strongly guarded, and seeing that he could not burn +it, he began his return march that night, and reached Nottoway River, +some thirty miles south of Petersburg, at noon of the next day--the +28th. + +In this expedition Wilson was closely followcd from the start by +Barringer's brigade of W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, but the operations +were not interfered with materially, his success being signal till he +reached the vicinity of Stony Creek depot on his return. At this +point General Hampton, with his own and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, got +between Wilson and the Army of the Potomac, there being behind them +at Ream's Station, at the same time, two brigades of infantry under +General Mahone. A severe battle ensued, resulting in Wilson's +defeat, with the loss of twelve guns and all his wagons. In +consequence of this discomfiture he was obliged to fall back across +the Nottoway River with his own division, and rejoined the army by +way of Peter's bridge on that stream, while Kautz's division, unable +to unite with Wilson after the two commands had become separated in +the fight, made a circuit of the enemy's left, and reached the lines +of our army in the night of the 28th. + +Neither the presence of Hampton's cavalry at Stony Creek depot, nor +the possession of Ream's Station by the Confederate infantry, seems +to have been anticipated by Wilson, for in the report of the +expedition he states: + +"Foreseeing the probability of having to return northward, I wrote to +General Meade the evening before starting that I anticipated no +serious difficulty in executing his orders; but unless General +Sheridan was required to keep Hampton's cavalry engaged, and our +infantry to prevent Lee from making detachments, we should probably +experience great difficulty in rejoining the army. In reply to this +note, General Humphreys, chief-of-staff, informed me it was intended +the Army of the Potomac should cover the Weldon road the next day, +the Southside road the day after, and that Hampton having followed +Sheridan toward Gordonsville, I need not fear any trouble from him." + +I doubt that General Meade's letter of instructions and Wilson's note +of the same evening, warrant what General Wilson here says. It is +true that the Weldon railroad near Ream's Station was not covered by +our infantry, as General Humphreys informed him it would be, but +Wilson is in error when he intimates that he was assured that I would +look after Hampton. I do not think General Meade's instructions are +susceptible of this interpretation. I received no orders requiring +me to detain Hampton. On the contrary, when I arrived at the White +House my instructions required me to break up the depot there, and +then bring the train across the Peninsula as soon as practicable, nor +were these instructions ever modified. I began the duty imposed on +me on the morning of the 23d, totally in the dark as to what was +expected of Wilson, though it seems, from some correspondence between +Generals Grant and Meade, which I never saw till after the war, that +Grant thought Wilson could rely on Hampton's absence from his field +of operations throughout the expedition. + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"June 21, 1864. 9:20 A. M. + +"BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILSON, +"Commanding Third Division Cavalry Corps. + +"The major-general commanding directs that you move your command at +2 A. M. to-morrow, the 22d instant, in execution of the duty assigned +you of destroying certain railroads. Despatches received from the +White House state that Hampton's cavalry was before that place +yesterday evening, and that General Sheridan had also reached there, +hence it is desirable that you should march at the earliest moment. +In passing Petersburg you will endeavor to avoid the observation of +the enemy, and then move by the shortest routes to the intersection +of the Petersburg and Lynchburg, and the Richmond and Danville +railroads, and destroy both these roads to the greatest extent +possible, continuing their destruction until driven from it by such +attacks of the enemy as you can no longer resist. The destruction of +those roads to such an extent that they cannot be used by the enemy +in connection with Richmond during the remainder of the campaign is +an important part of the plan of campaign. The latest information +from Major-General Hunter represents him to be a few miles west of +Lynchburg. He may endeavor to form a junction with this army; you +will communicate with him if practicable, and have delivered to him +verbally the contents of the following copy of a communication from +Lieutenant-General Grant to the major-general commanding this army. +Lieutenant Brooks, who will accompany your expedition part of the +way, should be informed where General Hunter will probably be found. + +"The success of your expedition will depend upon the secrecy with +which it is commenced, and the celerity with which its movements are +conducted; your command will, therefore, have with it the lightest +supplies and smallest number of wheels consistent with the thorough +execution of the duty, the supplies of the section of country you +will operate in being taken into account. Upon the completion of the +work assigned you, you will rejoin this army. + +"The chief quartermaster was directed yesterday to supply you with +the implements and material for the destruction of railroads obtained +for General Sheridan. + +"[Signed] "A. A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY FORCES, +Mount Sinai Church, June 21, 1864--6 P.M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HUMPHREYS," +"Chief-of-Staff. +"The instructions of the major-general commanding, of this date, are +received. I shall march in obedience thereto at 2 A. M. to-morrow. +Before starting I would like to know if our infantry forces cover the +Weldon road. + +"I propose striking the Southside road first at Sutherland Station, +or some point in that vicinity, tearing up the track sufficiently to +delay railroad communication ten or twelve hours. At this place I +shall detach a force to strike the Richmond and Danville road, by a +rapid march, at the nearest point, tearing up the track at every +practicable point between there and Burkeville. + +"From Sutherlands I shall move the main body of my command by the +Great road (breaking the railroad at every convenient point) directly +to Burkeville, which, if we succeed in capturing, will afford us the +opportunity of prosecuting our work with great advantage. As soon as +I have made dispositions for communicating with Hunter and done all +the damage possible, I shall move with all possible rapidity for +Danville and Grenboro'. + +"Circumstances must, however, is a great degree control our movements +after leaving Burkeville. + +"If Sheridan will look after Hampton, I apprehend no difficulty, and +hope to be able to do the enemy great damage. The ammunition issued +to my command is very defective. The implements for destroying roads +have not yet arrived, but I learn from General Ingalls that they will +certainly be here early to-morrow. + +"[Signed] J. H. WILSON, +"Brigadier-General Commanding." + + +The moment I received orders from General Meade to go to the relief +of Wilson, I hastened with Torbert and Gregg by way of Prince George +Court House and Lee's Mills to Ream's Station. Here I found the +Sixth Corps, which Meade had pushed out on his left flank immediately +on hearing of Wilson's mishap, but I was too late to render any +material assistance, Wilson having already disappeared, followed by +the enemy. However, I at once sent out parties to gather +information, and soon learned that Wilson had got safe across the +Nottoway at Peter's bridge and was making for the army by way of +Blunt's bridge, on the Blackwater. + +The benefits derived from this expedition, in the destruction of the +Southside and Danville railroads, were considered by General Grant as +equivalent for the losses sustained in Wilson's defeat, for the +wrecking of the railroads and cars was most complete, occasioning at +this, time serious embarrassment to the Confederate Government; but I +doubt if all this compensated for the artillery and prisoners that +fell into the hands of the enemy in the swamps of Hatcher's Run and +Rowanty Creek. Wilson's retreat from the perilous situation at +Ream's station was a most creditable performance--in the face of two +brigades of infantry and three divisions of cavalry--and in the +conduct of the whole expedition the only criticism that can hold +against him is that he placed too much reliance on meeting our +infantry at Ream's station, seeing that uncontrollable circumstances +might, and did, prevent its being there. He ought to have marched on +the 28th by Jarrett's Station to Peter's bridge, on the Nottoway, and +Blunts bridge on the Blackwater, to the rear of the Army of the +Potomac. + +When the safety of Wilson's command was assured, I was ordered back +to Light House Point, where I had gone into camp after crossing the +James River to rest and recruit my command, now very much reduced in +numbers by reason of casualties to both horses and men. It had been +marching and fighting for fifty consecutive days, and the fatiguing +service had told so fearfully on my animals that the number of +dismounted men in the corps was very large. With the exception of +about four hundred horses that I received at the White House, no +animals were furnished to supply the deficiencies which had arisen +from the wearing marches of the past two months until I got to this +camp at Light House Point; here my needs were so obvious that they +could no longer be neglected. + +I remained at Light House Point from the 2d to the 26th of July, +recuperating the cavalry, the intensely warm weather necessitating +almost an entire suspension of hostilities on the part of the Army of +the Potomac. Meanwhile fifteen hundred horses were sent me here, and +these, with the four hundred already mentioned, were all that my +troops received while I held the personal command of the Cavalry +Corps, from April 6 to August 1, 1864. This was not near enough to +mount the whole command, so I disposed the men who could not be +supplied in a dismounted camp. + +By the 26th of July our strength was pretty well restored, and as +General Grant was now contemplating offensive operations for the +purpose of keeping Lee's army occupied around Richmond, and also of +carrying Petersburg by assault if possible, I was directed to move to +the north side of the James River in conjunction with General +Hancock's corps, and, if opportunity offered, to make a second +expedition against the Virginia Central railroad, and again destroy +the bridges on the North Anna, the Little and the South Anna rivers. + +I started out on the afternoon of the 26th and crossed the Appomattox +at Broadway landing. At Deep Bottom I was joined by Kautz's small +division from the Army of the James, and here massed the whole +command, to allow Hancock's corps to take the lead, it crossing to +the north bank of the James River by the bridge below the mouth of +Bailey's Creek. I moved late in the afternoon, so as not to come +within the enemy's view before dark, and after night-fall Hancock's +corps passed me and began crossing the pontoon-bridge about 2 o'clock +in the morning. + +By daylight Hancock was across, the cavalry following. Soon a +portion of his corps attacked the enemy's works on the east side of +Bailey's Creek, and, aided by the cavalry moving on its right, +captured four pieces of artillery. This opened the way for Hancock +to push out his whole corps, and as he advanced by a wheel, with his +left as a pivot, the cavalry joined in the movement, pressing forward +on the New Market and Central or Charles City roads. + +We did not go far before we found the enemy's infantry posted across +these two roads behind a strong line of intrenchments on the west +bank of Bailey's Creek. His videttes in front of Ruffin's house on +the New Market road were soon driven in on their main line, and the +high ground before the house was immediately occupied by Torbert and +Gregg, supported by Kautz's division. By the time the cavalry line +was formed the Confederate General Kershaw, with his own division of +infantry and those of Wilcox and Heath, advanced to attack us. +Directing the most of his troops against the cavalry, which was still +mounted, Kershaw drove it back some distance over the high ground. +When it reached the eastern face of the ridge, however, it was +quickly dismounted, and the men directed to lie down in line of +battle about fifteen yards from the crest, and here the onset of the +enemy was awaited. When Kershaw's men reached the crest such a +severe fire was opened on them, and at such close quarters, that they +could not withstand it, and gave way in disorder. They were followed +across the plain by the cavalry, and lost about two hundred and fifty +prisoners and two battle-flags. The counter attack against the +infantry by Torbert and Gregg re-established our line and gave us the +victory of Darbytown, but it also demonstrated the fact that General +Lee had anticipated the movement around his left flank by +transferring to the north side of the James a large portion of his +infantry and W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry. + +This development rendered useless any further effort on Hancock's +part or mine to carry out the plan of the expedition, for General +Grant did not intend Hancock to assault the enemy's works unless +there should be found in them but a very thin line of infantry which +could be surprised. In such event, Hancock was to operate so that +the cavalry might turn the Confederates on the Central or Charles +City road, but the continually increasing force of the enemy showed +this to be impracticable. The long front presented by Hancock's +corps and the cavalry deceived General Lee, and he undoubtedly +thought that nearly all of Grant's army had been moved to the north +side of the James River; and to meet the danger he transferred the +most of his own strength to the same side to confront his adversary, +thinning the lines around Petersburg to reinforce those opposing us +on the Central and New Market roads. This was what Grant hoped Lee +would do in case the operations of Hancock and myself became +impracticable, for Grant had an alternative plan for carrying +Petersburg by assault in conjunction with the explosion of a mine +that had been driven under the enemy's works from the front of +Burnside's corps. + +Now that there was no longer a chance for the cavalry to turn the +enemy's left, our attention was directed to keeping up the deception +of Lee, and on the afternoon of the 28th Hancock's corps withdrew to +a line nearer the head of the bridge, the cavalry drawing back to a +position on his right. From now on, all sorts of devices and +stratagems were practiced--anything that would tend to make the +Confederates believe we were being reinforced, while Hancock was +preparing for a rapid return to Petersburg at the proper time. In +order to delude the enemy still more after night-fall of the 28th I +sent one of my divisions to the south side of the James, first +covering the bridgeway with refuse hay to keep the tram of the horses +from being heard. After daylight the next morning, I marched this +division back again on foot, in full view of the enemy, to create the +impression of a continuous movement large bodies of infantry to the +north side, while the same time Kautz was made to skirmish with the +enemy on our extreme right. These various artifices had the effect +intended, for by the evening of the 29th Lee had transferred all his +infantry to the north bank of the James, except three divisions, and +all his cavalry save one. + +The morning of the 30th had been fixed upon to explode the mine and +assault the enemy's works, so after dark on the evening of the 29th +Hancock hastily but quietly withdrew his corps to the south side to +take part in the engagement which was to succeed the explosion, and I +was directed to follow Hancock. This left me on the north side of +the river confronting two-thirds of Lee's army in a perilous +position, where I could easily be driven into Curl's Neck and my +whole command annihilated. The situation, therefore, was not a +pleasant one to contemplate, but it could not be avoided. Luckily +the enemy did not see fit to attack, and my anxiety was greatly +relieved by getting the whole command safely across the bridge +shortly after daylight, having drawn in the different brigades +successively from my right. By 10 o'clock on the morning of the 3oth +my leading division was well over toward the left of our army in +front of Petersburg, marching with the purpose to get around the +enemy's right flank during the operations that were to succeed the +mine explosion, but when I reached General Meade's headquarters I +found that lamentable failure had attended the assault made when the +enemy's works were blown up in the morning. Blunder after blunder +had rendered the assault abortive, and all the opportunities opened +by our expedition to the north side were irretrievably lost, so +General Meade at once arrested the movement of the cavalry. + +In the expedition to Deep Bottom I was under the command of Major- +General Hancock, who, by seniority, was to control my corps as well +as his own until the way was opened for me to get out on the Virginia +Central railroad. If this opportunity was gained, I was to cut loose +and damage Lee's communications with the Shenandoah Valley in such +manner as best suited the conditions, but my return was not to be +jeopardized nor long delayed. This necessitated that Hancock's line +should extend to Bottom's bridge on the Chickahominy. The enemy's +early discovery of the movement and his concentration of troops on +the north side prevented Hancock from accomplishing the programme +laid out for him. Its impracticability was demonstrated early on the +27th, and Hancock's soldierly instincts told him this the moment he +unexpectedly discovered Kershaw blocking the New Market and Charles +City roads. To Hancock the temptation to assault Kershaw's position +was strong indeed, but if he carried it there would still remain the +dubious problem of holding the line necessary for my safe return, so +with rare judgment he desisted zealously turning to the alternative +proposition--the assault on Petersburg--for more significant results. +This was the only occasion during the war in which I was associated +with Hancock in campaign. Up till then we had seldom met, and that +was the first opportunity I had to observe his quick apprehension, +his physical courage, and the soldierly personality which had long +before established his high reputation. + +On the 1st of August, two days after the mine explosion, I was. +relieved from the personal command of the Cavalry Corps, and ordered +to the Shenandoah Valley, where at a later date Torbert's and +Wilson's divisions joined me. Practically, after I went to the +valley, my command of the Cavalry Corps became supervisory merely. +During the period of my immediate control of the corps, I tried to +carry into effect, as far as possible, the views I had advanced +before and during the opening of the Wilderness campaign, i.e., "that +our cavalry ought to fight the enemy's cavalry, and our infantry the +enemy's infantry"; for there was great danger of breaking the spirit +of the corps if it was to be pitted against the enemy's compact +masses of foot-troops posted behind intrenchments, and unless there +was some adequate tactical or strategical advantage to be gained, +such a use of it would not be justified. Immediately succeeding the +battles of the Wilderness, opportunity offered to put this plan into +execution to some extent, and from that time forward--from the battle +of Yellow Tavern--our success was almost continuous, resulting +finally, before the close of the war, in the nearly total +annihilation of the enemy's cavalry. + +The constant activity of the corps from May 5 till August 1 gave +little opportunity for the various division and brigade commanders to +record its work in detail; so there exists but meagre accounts of the +numerous skirmishes and graver conflicts in which, in addition to the +fights mentioned in this narrative, it engaged. A detailed history +of its performances is not within the province of a work of this +nature; but in review, it can be said, without trespassing on the +reader's time, that the Cavalry Corps led the advance of the Army of +the Potomac into the Wilderness in the memorable campaign of 1864; +that on the expedition by way of Richmond to Haxall's it marked out +the army's line of march to the North Anna; that it again led the +advance to the Tolopotomy, and also to Cold Harbor, holding that +important strategic point at great hazard; and that by the Trevillian +expedition it drew away the enemy's cavalry from the south side of +the Chickahominy, and thereby assisted General Grant materially in +successfully marching to the James River and Petersburg. +Subsequently, Wilson made his march to Staunton bridge, destroying +railroads and supplies of inestimable value, and though this was +neutralized by his disaster near Ream's Station, the temporary set- +back there to one division was soon redeemed by victory over the +Confederate infantry at the battle of Darbytown. + +In the campaign we were almost always on the march, night and day, +often unable to care properly for our wounded, and obliged to bury +our dead where they fell; and innumerable combats attest the part the +cavalry played in Grant's march from the Rapidan to Petersburg. In +nearly all of these our casualties were heavy, particularly so when, +as was often the case, we had to engage the Confederate infantry; but +the enemy returned such a full equivalent in dead and wounded in +every instance, that finally his mounted power, which from the +beginning of the war had been nurtured with a wise appreciation of +its value, was utterly broken. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +GENERAL HUNTER'S SUCCESSFUL MARCH AND SUBSEQUENT RETREAT--GENERAL +JUBAL A. EARLY THREATENS WASHINGTON--CHAMBERSBURG, PA., BURNED-- +SELECTED TO OPERATE AGAINST GENERAL EARLY--THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY-- +THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. + +When the attempt to take Petersburg in conjunction with the mine +explosion resulted in such a dismal failure, all the operations +contemplated in connection with that project came to a standstill, +and there was every prospect that the intensely hot and sultry +weather would prevent further activity in the Army of the Potomac +till a more propitious season. Just now, however, the conditions +existing in the Shenandoah Valley and along the upper Potomac +demanded the special attention of General Grant, for, notwithstanding +the successful march that Major-General David Hunter had made toward +Lynchburg early in the summer, what he had first gained was +subsequently lost by strategical mistakes, that culminated in +disaster during the retreat he was obliged to make from the vicinity +of Lynchburg to the Kanawha Valley. This route of march uncovered +the lower portion of the Valley of the Shenandoah, and with the +exception of a small force of Union troops under General Franz Sigel +posted aft Martinsburg for the purpose of covering the Baltimore and +Ohio railroad, there was nothing at hand to defend the lower valley. + +The different bodies of Confederates which compelled Hunter's retreat +were under command of General Jubal A. Early, who had been sent to +Lynchburg with Ewell's corps after the defeat of the Confederate +General W. C. Jones near Staunton on the 5th of June, to take command +of the Valley District. When Early had forced Hunter into the +Kanawha region far enough to feel assured that Lynchburg could not +again be threatened from that direction, he united to his own corps +General John C. Breckenridge's infantry division and the cavalry of +Generals J. H. Vaughn, John McCausland. B. T. Johnson, and J. D. +Imboden, which heretofore had been operating in southwest and western +Virginia under General Robert Ransom, Jr., and with the column thus +formed, was ready to turn his attention to the lower Shenandoah +Valley. At Early's suggestion General Lee authorized him to move +north at an opportune moment, cross the upper Potomac into Maryland +and threaten Washington. Indeed, General Lee had foreshadowed such a +course when Early started toward Lynchburg for the purpose of +relieving the pressure in front of Petersburg, but was in some doubt +as to the practicability of the movement later, till persuaded to it +by the representations of Early after that general had driven Hunter +beyond the mountains and found little or nothing opposing except the +small force of Sigel, which he thought he could readily overcome by +celerity of movement. + +By rapid marching Early reached Winchester on the 2d of July, and on +the 4th occupied Martinsburg, driving General Sigel out of that place +the same day that Hunter's troops, after their fatiguing retreat +through the mountains, reached Charlestown, West Virginia. Early was +thus enabled to cross the Potomac without difficulty, when, moving +around Harper's Ferry, through the gaps of the South Mountain, he +found his path unobstructed till he reached the Monocacy, where +Ricketts's division of the Sixth Corps, and some raw troops that had +been collected by General Lew Wallace, met and held the Confederates +till the other reinforcements that had been ordered to the capital +from Petersburg could be brought up. Wallace contested the line of +the Monocacy with obstinacy, but had to retire finally toward +Baltimore. The road was then open to Washington, and Early marched +to the outskirts and began against the capital the demonstrations +which were designed to divert the Army of the Potomac from its main +purpose in front of Petersburg. + +Early's audacity in thus threatening Washington had caused some +concern to the officials in the city, but as the movement was looked +upon by General Grant as a mere foray which could have no decisive +issue, the Administration was not much disturbed till the +Confederates came in close proximity. Then was repeated the alarm +and consternation of two years before, fears for the safety of the +capital being magnified by the confusion and discord existing among +the different generals in Washington and Baltimore; and the imaginary +dangers vanished only with the appearance of General Wright, who, +with the Sixth Corps and one division of the Nineteenth Corps, pushed +out to attack Early as soon as he could get his arriving troops in +hand, but under circumstances that precluded celerity of movement; +and as a consequence the Confederates escaped with little injury, +retiring across the Potomac to Leesburg, unharassed save by some +Union cavalry that had been sent out into Loudoun County by Hunter, +who in the meantime had arrived at Harper's Ferry by the Baltimore +and Ohio railroad. From Leesburg Early retired through Winchester +toward Strasburg, but when the head of his column reached this place +he found that he was being followed by General Crook with the +combined troops of Hunter and Sigel only, Wright having returned to +Washington under orders to rejoin Meade at Petersburg. This +reduction of the pursuing force tempting Early to resume the +offensive, he attacked Crook at Kernstown, and succeeded in +administering such a check as to necessitate this general's retreat +to Martinsburg, and finally to Harper's Ferry. Crook's withdrawal +restored to Early the line of the upper Potomac, so, recrossing this +stream, he advanced again into Maryland, and sending McCausland on to +Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, laid that town in ashes, leaving three +thousand non-combatants without shelter or food. + +When Early fell back from the vicinity of Washington toward +Strasburg, General Grant believed that he would rejoin Lee, but later +manoeuvres of the enemy indicated that Early had given up this idea, +if he ever, entertained it, and intended to remain in the valley, +since it would furnish Lee and himself with subsistence, and also +afford renewed opportunities for threatening Washington. Indeed, the +possession of the Valley of the Shenandoah at this time was of vast +importance to Lee's army, and on every hand there were indications +that the Confederate Government wished to hold it at least until +after the crops could be gathered in to their depots at Lynchburg and +Richmond. Its retention, besides being of great advantage in the +matter of supplies, would also be a menace to the North difficult for +General Grant to explain, and thereby add an element of considerable +benefit to the Confederate cause; so when Early's troops again +appeared at Martinsburg it was necessary for General Grant to +confront them with a force strong enough to put an end to incursions +north of the Potomac, which hitherto had always led to National +discomfiture at some critical juncture, by turning our army in +eastern Virginia from its chief purpose--the destruction of Lee and +the capture of the Confederate capital. + +This second irruption of Early, and his ruthless destruction of +Chambersburg led to many recommendations on the part of General Grant +looking to a speedy elimination of the confusion then existing among +the Union forces along the upper Potomac, but for a time the +authorities at Washington would approve none of his propositions. +The President and Secretary Stanton seemed unwilling to adopt his +suggestions, and one measure which he deemed very important--the +consolidation into a single command of the four geographical +districts into which, to relieve political pressure no doubt, the +territory had been divided--met with serious opposition. Despite +Grant's representations, he could not prevail on the Administration +to approve this measure, but finally the manoeuvres of Early and the +raid to Chambersburg compelled a partial compliance, though Grant had +somewhat circumvented the difficulty already by deciding to appoint a +commander for the forces in the field that were to operate against +Early. + +On the 31st of July General Grant selected me as this commander, and +in obedience to his telegraphic summons I repaired to his +headquarters at City Point. In the interview that followed, he +detailed to me the situation of affairs on the upper Potomac, telling +me that I was to command in the field the troops that were to operate +against Early, but that General Hunter, who was at the head of the +geographical department, would be continued in his position for the +reason that the Administration was reluctant to reconstruct or +consolidate the different districts. After informing me that one +division of the Cavalry Corps would be sent to my new command, he +went on to say that he wanted me to push the enemy as soon as this +division arrived, and if Early retired up the Shenandoah Valley I was +to pursue, but if he crossed the Potomac I was to put myself south of +him and try to compass his destruction. The interview having ended, +I returned to Hancock Station to prepare for my departure, and on the +evening of August 1 I was relieved from immediate duty with the Army +of the Potomac, but not from command of the cavalry as a corps +organization. + +I arrived at Washington on the 4th of August, and the next day +received instructions from General Halleck to report to General Grant +at Monocacy Junction, whither he had gone direct from City Point, in +consequence of a characteristic despatch from the President +indicating his disgust with the confusion, disorder, and helplessness +prevailing along the upper Potomac, and intimating that Grant's +presence there was necessary. + +In company with the Secretary of War I called on the President before +leaving Washington, and during a short conversation Mr. Lincoln +candidly told me that Mr. Stanton had objected to my assignment to +General Hunter's command, because he thought me too young, and that +he himself had concurred with the Secretary; but now, since General +Grant had "ploughed round" the difficulties of the situation by +picking me out to command the "boys in the field," he felt satisfied +with what had been done, and "hoped for the best." Mr. Stanton +remained silent during these remarks, never once indicating whether +he, too, had become reconciled to my selection or not; and although, +after we left the White House, he conversed with me freely in regard +to the campaign I was expected to make, seeking to impress on me the +necessity for success from the political as well as from the military +point of view, yet he utterly ignored the fact that he had taken any +part in disapproving the recommendation of the general-in-chief. + +August 6, I reported to General Grant at the Monocacy, and he there +turned over to me the following instructions, which he had previously +prepared for General Hunter in the expectation that general would +continue to command the department: + +"HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, +"Monocacy Bridge, Md., Aug. 5, 1864. + +"GENERAL: Concentrate all your available force without delay in the +vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards and +garrisons for public property as may be necessary. + +"Use in this concentration the railroad, if by so doing time can be +saved. From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has moved +north of the Potomac in large force, push north, following and +attacking him wherever found; following him, if driven south of the +Potomac, as long as it is safe to do so. If it is ascertained that +the enemy has but a small force north of the Potomac, then push south +the main force, detaching, under a competent commander, a sufficient +force to look after the raiders and drive them to their homes. In +detaching such a force, the brigade of cavalry now en route from +Washington via Rockville may be taken into account. + +"There are now on the way to join you three other brigades of the +best of cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and horses. +These will be instructed, in the absence of further orders, to join +you by the south side of the Potomac. One brigade will probably +start to-morrow. + +"In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, as it is expected you will have +to go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to +invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and stock +wanted for the use of your command. Such as cannot be consumed, +destroy. It is not desirable that the buildings should be destroyed- +-they should, rather, be protected; but the people should be informed +that so long as an army can subsist among them recurrences of these +raids must be expected, and we are determined to stop them at all +hazards. + +"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do this +you want to keep him always in sight. Be guided in your course by +the course he takes. + +"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving regular +vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in the country +through which you march. + +"Very respectfully, +"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." + +"Major-General D. HUNTER, +"Commanding Department of West Virginia." + + +When I had read the letter addressed to Hunter, General Grant said I +would be expected to report directly to him, as Hunter had asked that +day to be wholly relieved, not from any chagrin at my assignment to +the control of the active forces of his command, but because he +thought that his fitness for the position he was filling was +distrusted by General Halleck, and he had no wish to cause +embarrassment by remaining where he could but remove me one degree +from the headquarters of the army. The next day Hunter's unselfish +request was complied with, and an order was issued by the President, +consolidating the Middle Department, the Department of Washington, +the Department of the Susquehanna, and the Department of West +Virginia. + +Under this order these four geographical districts constituted the +Middle Military Division, and I was temporarily assigned to command +it. Hunter's men had been bivouacking for some days past in the +vicinity of Monocacy Junction and Frederick, but before General +Grant's instructions were written out, Hunter had conformed to them +by directing the concentration at Halltown, about four miles in front +of Harper's Ferry, of all his force available for field service. +Therefore the different bodies of troops, with the exception of +Averell's cavalry, which had followed McCausland toward Moorefield +after the burning of Chambersburg, were all in motion toward Halltown +on August 6. + +Affairs at Monocacy kept me but an hour or two, and these disposed +of, I continued on to Harper's Ferry by the special train which had +brought me from Washington, that point being intended as my +headquarters while making preparations to advance. The enemy was +occupying Martinsburg, Williamsport, and Shepherdstown at the time; +sending occasional raiding parties into Maryland as far as +Hagerstown. The concentration of my troops at Halltown being an +indication to Early that we intended to renew the offensive, however, +he immediately began counter preparations by drawing in all his +detached columns from the north side of the Potomac, abandoning a +contemplated raid into Maryland, which his success against Crook at +Kernstown had prompted him to project, and otherwise disposing +himself for defense. + +At Harper's Ferry I made my headquarters in the second story of a +small and very dilapidated hotel, and as soon as settled sent for +Lieutenant John R. Meigs, the chief engineer officer of the command, +to study with him the maps of my geographical division. It always +came rather easy to me to learn the geography of a new section, and +its important topographical features as well; therefore I found that, +with the aid of Meigs, who was most intelligent in his profession, +the region in which I was to operate would soon be well fixed in my +mind. Meigs was familiar with every important road and stream, and +with all points worthy of note west of the Blue Ridge, and was +particularly well equipped with knowledge regarding the Shenandoah +Valley, even down to the farmhouses. He imparted with great +readiness what he knew of this, clearly pointing out its +configuration and indicating the strongest points for Confederate +defense, at the same time illustrating scientifically and forcibly +the peculiar disadvantages under which the Union army had hitherto +labored. + +The section that received my closest attention has its northern limit +along the Potomac between McCoy's ferry at the eastern base of the +North Mountain, and Harper's Ferry at the western base of the Blue +Ridge. The southern limit is south of Staunton, on the divide which +separates the waters flowing into the Potomac from those that run to +the James. The western boundary is the eastern slope of the +Alleghany Mountains, the eastern, the Blue Ridge; these two distinct +mountain ranges trending about southwest inclose a stretch of quite +open, undulating country varying in width from the northern to the +southern extremity, and dotted at frequent intervals with patches of +heavy woods: At Martinsburg the valley is about sixty miles broad, +and on an east and west line drawn through Winchester about forty- +five, while at Strasburg it narrows down to about twenty-five. Just +southeast of Strasburg, which is nearly midway between the eastern +and western walls of the valley, rises an abrupt range of mountains +called Massanutten, consisting of several ridges which extend +southward between the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River +until, losing their identity, they merge into lower but broken ground +between New Market and Harrisonburg. The Massanutten ranges, with +their spurs and hills, divide the Shenandoah Valley into two valleys, +the one next the Blue Ridge being called the Luray, while that next +the North Mountain retains the name of Shenandoah. + +A broad macadamized road, leading south from Williamsport, Maryland, +to Lexington, Virginia, was built at an early day to connect the +interior of the latter State with the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and +along this road are situated the principal towns and villages of the +Shenandoah Valley, with lateral lines of communication extending to +the mountain ranges on the east and west. The roads running toward +the Blue Ridge are nearly all macadamized, and the principal ones +lead to the railroad system of eastern Virginia through Snicker's, +Ashby's Manassas, Chester, Thornton's Swift Run, Brown's and Rock- +fish gaps, tending to an ultimate centre at Richmond. These gaps are +low and easy, offering little obstruction to the march of an army +coming from eastern Virginia, and thus the Union troops operating +west of the Blue Ridge were always subjected to the perils of a flank +attack; for the Confederates could readily be brought by rail to +Gordonsville and Charlottesville, from which points they could move +with such celerity through the Blue Ridge that, on more than one +occasion, the Shenandoah Valley had been the theatre of Confederate +success, due greatly to the advantage of possessing these interior +lines. + +Nature had been very kind to the valley, making it rich and +productive to an exceptional degree, and though for three years +contending armies had been marching up and down it, the fertile soil +still yielded ample subsistence for Early's men, with a large surplus +for the army of Lee. The ground had long been well cleared of +timber, and the rolling surface presented so few obstacles to the +movement of armies that they could march over the country in any +direction almost as well as on the roads, the creeks and rivers being +everywhere fordable, with little or no difficulty beyond that of +leveling the approaches. + +I had opposing me an army largely composed of troops that had +operated in this region hitherto under "Stonewall" Jackson with +marked success, inflicting defeat on the Union forces almost every +time the two armies had come in contact. These men were now commanded +by a veteran officer of the Confederacy-General Jubal A. Early--whose +past services had so signalized his ability that General Lee +specially selected him to take charge of the Valley District, and, +notwithstanding the misfortunes that befell him later, clung to him +till the end, of the war. The Confederate army at this date was +about twenty thousand strong, and consisted of Early's own corps, +with Generals Rodes, Ramseur, and Gordon commanding its divisions; +the infantry of Breckenridge from southwestern Virginia; three +battalions of artillery; and the cavalry brigades of Vaughn, Johnson, +McCausland, and Imboden. This cavalry was a short time afterward +organized into a division under the command of General Lomax. + +After discovering that my troops were massing in front of Harper's +Ferry, Early lost not a moment in concentrating his in the vicinity +of Martinsburg, in positions from which he could continue to obstruct +the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and yet be enabled to retire up the +valley under conditions of safety when I should begin an offensive +campaign. + +When I took command of the Army of the Shenandoah its infantry force +comprised the Sixth Corps, one division of the Nineteenth Corps, and +two divisions from West Virginia. The Sixth Corps was commanded by +Major-General Horatio G. Wright; its three divisions by Brigadier- +Generals David A. Russell, Geo. W. Getty, and James B. Ricketts. +The single division of the Nineteenth Corps had for its immediate +chief Brigadier-General William Dwight, the corps being commanded by +Brigadier-General Wm. H. Emory. The troops from West Virginia were +under Brigadier-General George Crook, with Colonels Joseph Thoburn +and Isaac H. Duval as division commanders, and though in all not more +than one fair-sized division, they had been designated, on account of +the department they belonged to, the Army of West Virginia. General +Torbert's division, then arriving from the Cavalry Corps of the Army +of the Potomac, represented the mounted arm of the service, and in +the expectation that Averell would soon join me with his troopers, I +assigned General Torbert as chief of cavalry, and General Wesley +Merritt succeeded to the command of Torbert's division. + +General Wright, the commander of the Sixth Corps, was an officer of +high standing in the Corps of Engineers, and had seen much active +service during the preceding three years. He commanded the +Department of the Ohio throughout the very trying period of the +summer and fall of 1862, and while in that position he, with other +prominent officers, recommended my appointment as a brigadier- +general. In 1863 he rendered valuable service at the battle of +Gettysburg, following which he was assigned to the Sixth Corps, and +commanded it at the capture of the Confederate works at Rappahannock +Station and in the operations at Mine Run. He ranked me as a major- +general of volunteers by nearly a year in date of commission, but my +assignment by the President to the command of the army in the valley +met with Wright's approbation, and, so far as I have ever known, he +never questioned the propriety of the President's action. The Sixth +Corps division commanders, Getty, Russell, and Ricketts, were all +educated soldiers, whose records, beginning with the Mexican War, had +already been illustrated in the war of the rebellion by distinguished +service in the Army of the Potomac. + +General Emory was a veteran, having graduated at the Military Academy +in 1831, the year I was born. In early life he had seen much service +in the Artillery, the Topographical Engineers, and the Cavalry, and +in the war of the rebellion had exhibited the most soldierly +characteristics at Port Hudson and on the Red River campaign. At +this time he had but one division of the Nineteenth Corps present, +which division was well commanded by General Dwight, a volunteer +officer who had risen to the grade of brigadier-general through +constant hard work. Crook was a classmate of mine--at least, we +entered the Military Academy the same year, though he graduated a +year ahead of me. We had known each other as boys before we entered +the army, and later as men, and I placed implicit faith in his +experience and qualifications as a general. + +The transfer of Torbert to the position of chief of cavalry left +Merritt, as I have already said, in command of the First Cavalry +Division. He had been tried in the place before, and from the day he +was selected as one of a number of young men to be appointed general +officers, with the object of giving life to the Cavalry Corps, he +filled the measure of expectation. Custer was one of these young men +too, and though as yet commanding a brigade under Merritt, his +gallant fight at Trevillian Station, as well as a dozen others during +the summer, indicated that he would be equal to the work that was to +fall to him when in a few weeks he should succeed Wilson. But to go +on down the scale of rank, describing the officers who commanded in +the Army of the Shenandoah, would carry me beyond all limit, so I +refrain from the digression with regret that I cannot pay to each his +well-earned tribute. + +The force that I could take with me into the field at this time +numbered about 26,000 men. Within the limits of the geographical +division there was a much greater number of troops than this. +Baltimore, Washington, Harper's Ferry, Hagerstown, Frederick, +Cumberland, and a score of other points; besides the strong +detachments that it took to keep the Baltimore and Ohio railroad open +through the mountains of West Virginia, and escorts for my trains, +absorbed so many men that the column which could be made available +for field operations was small when compared with the showing on +paper. Indeed, it was much less than it ought to have been, but for +me, in the face of the opposition made by different interests +involved, to detach troops from any of the points to which they had +been distributed before I took charge was next to impossible. + +In a few days after my arrival preparations were completed, and I was +ready to make the first move for the possession of the Shenandoah +Valley. For the next five weeks the operations on my part consisted +almost wholly of offensive and defensive manoeuvring for certain +advantages, the enemy confining himself meanwhile to measures +intended to counteract my designs. Upon the advent of Torbert, Early +immediately grew suspicious, and fell back twelve miles south of +Martinsburg, to Bunker Hill and vicinity, where his right flank would +be less exposed, but from which position he could continue to +maintain the break in the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and push +reconnoitring parties through Smithfield to Charlestown. These +reconnoitring parties exhibited considerable boldness at times, but +since they had no purpose in view save to discover whether or not we +were moving, I did not contest any ground with them except about our +outposts. Indeed, I desired that Early might remain at some point +well to the north till I was fully prepared to throw my army on his +right and rear and force a battle, and hence I abstained from +disturbing him by premature activity, for I thought that if I could +beat him at Winchester, or north of it, there would be far greater +chances of weighty results. I therefore determined to bring my +troops, if it were at all possible to do so, into such a position +near that town as to oblige Early to fight. The sequel proved, +however, that he was accurately informed of all my movements. To +anticipate them, therefore, he began his retreat up the valley the +day that I moved out from Halltown, and consequently was able to +place himself south of Winchester before I could get there. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +MOVING ON GENERAL EARLY--GENERAL GRANT'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS-- +DESTROYING THE RESOURCES OF THE VALLEY--REASON FOR THE DESTRUCTION-- +WITHDRAWAL TO HALLTOWN--ALARM IN THE NORTH OVER THE RETROGRADE +MOVEMENT--RENEWING THE ADVANCE UP THE VALLEY--GENERAL ANDERSON'S +ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO PETERSBURG--STRENGTH OF THE ARMIES. + +For a clear understanding of the operations which preceded the +victories that resulted in almost annihilating General Early's army +in the Shenandoah Valley, it is necessary to describe in considerable +detail the events that took place prior to the 19th of September. My +army marched from Harper's Ferry on the 10th of August, 1864, General +Torbert with Merritt's division of cavalry moving in advance through +Berryville, going into position near White Post. The Sixth Corps, +under General Wright, moved by way of Charlestown and Summit Point to +Clifton; General Emory, with Dwight's division of the Nineteenth +Corps, marched along the Berryville pike through Berryville to the +left of the position of the Sixth Corps at Clifton; General Crook's +command, moving on the Kabletown road, passed through Kabletown to +the vicinity of Berryville, and went into position on the left of +Dwight's division, while Colonel Lowell, with a detached force of two +small regiments of cavalry, marched to Summit Point; so that on the +night of August 10 my infantry occupied a line stretching from +Clifton to Berryville, with Merritt's cavalry at White Post and +Lowell's at Summit Point. The enemy, as stated before, moved at the +same time from Bunker Hill and vicinity, and stretched his line from +where the Winchester and Potomac railroad crosses Opequon Creek to +the point at which the Berryville and Winchester pike crosses the +same stream, thus occupying the west bank to cover Winchester. + +On the morning of the 11th the Sixth Corps was ordered to move across +the country toward the junction of the Berryville-Winchester pike and +the Opequon, and to take the crossing and hold it, Dwight's division +being directed to move through Berryville on the White Post road for +a mile, then file to the right by heads of regiments at deploying +distances, and carry the crossing of Opequon Creek at a ford about +three-fourths of a mile from the left of the Sixth Corps, while Crook +was instructed to move out on the White Post road, a mile and a half +beyond Berryville, then head to the right and secure the ford about a +mile to the left of Dwight; Torbert's orders were to push Merritt's +division up the Millwood pike toward Winchester, attack any force he +might run against, and ascertain the movements of the Confederate +army; and lastly, Lowell received instructions to close in from +Summit Point on the right of the Sixth Corps. + +My object in securing the fords was to further my march on Winchester +from the southeast, since, from all the information gathered during +the 10th, I still thought Early could be brought to a stand at that +point; but in this I was mistaken, as Torbert's reconnoissance +proved, for on the morning of the 11th, when Merritt had driven the +Confederate cavalry, then covering the Millwood pike west of the +Opequon, off toward Kernstown, he found that their infantry and +artillery were retreating south, up the Valley pike. + +As soon as this information was obtained Torbert moved quickly +through the toll-gate on the Front Royal and Winchester road to +Newtown, to strike the enemy's flank and harass him in his retreat, +Lowell following up through Winchester, on the Valley pike; Crook was +turned to the left and ordered to Stony Point, while Emory and +Wright, marching to the left also, were directed to take post on the +night of the 11th between the Millwood and Front Royal roads, within +supporting distance of Crook. Merritt meeting some of the enemy's +cavalry at the tollgate, drove it in the direction of Newtown till it +got inside the line of Gordon's division of infantry, which had been +thrown out and posted behind barricades to cover the flank of the +main force in its retreat. A portion of Merritt's cavalry attacked +this infantry and drove in its skirmish-line, and though not able to +dislodge Gordon, Merritt held the ground gained till night-fall, when +the Confederate infantry moved off under cover of darkness to Hupp's +Hill, between Strasburg and Cedar Creek + +The next morning Crook marched from Stony Point to Cedar Creek, Emory +followed with Dwight, and the cavalry moved to the same point by way +of Newtown and the Valley pike, the Sixth Corps following the +cavalry. That night Crook was in position at Cedar Creek, on the +left of the Valley pike, Emory on the right of the pike, the Sixth +Corps on the right of Emory, and the cavalry on the flanks. In the +afternoon a heavy skirmish-line had been thrown forward to the +heights on the south side of Cedar Creek, and a brisk affair with the +enemy's pickets took place, the Confederates occupying with their +main force the heights north of Strasburg. On the morning of the +13th my cavalry went out to reconnoitre toward Strasburg, on the +middle road, about two and a half miles west of the Valley pike, and +discovered that Early's infantry was at Fisher's Hill, where he had +thrown up behind Tumbling Run earthworks extending clear across the +narrow valley between the Massanutten and North mountains. On the +left of these works he had Vaughan's, McCausland's, and Johnson's +brigades of cavalry under General Lomax, who at this time relieved +General Ramseur from the command of the Confederate mounted forces. + +Within the past day or two I had received information that a column +of the enemy was moving up from Culpeper Court House and approaching +Front Royal through Chester Gap, and although the intelligence was +unconfirmed, it caused me much solicitude; for there was strong +probability that such a movement would be made, and any considerable +force advancing through Front Royal toward Winchester could fall upon +my rear and destroy my communication with Harper's Ferry, or, moving +along the base of Massanutten Mountain, could attack my flank in +conjunction with the force at Fisher's Hill without a possibility of +my preventing it. + +Neither Wilson's cavalry nor Grower's infantry had yet joined me, and +the necessities, already explained, which obliged me to hold with +string garrisons Winchester and other points heretofore mentioned. +had so depleted my line of battle strength that I knew the enemy +would outnumber me when Anderson's corps should arrive in the valley. +I deemed it advisable, therefore, to act with extreme caution, so, +with the exception of a cavalry reconnoissance on the 13th, I +remained on the defensive, quietly awaiting developments. In the +evening of that day the enemy's skirmishers withdrew to Tumbling Run, +his main force remaining inactive behind the intrenchments at +Fisher's Hill waiting for the arrival of Anderson. + +The rumors in regard to the force advancing from Culpeper kept +increasing every hour, so on the morning of the 14th I concluded to +send a brigade of cavalry to Front Royal to ascertain definitely what +was up. At the same time I crossed the Sixth Corps to the south side +of Cedar Creek, and occupied the heights near Strasburg. That day I +received from the hands of Colonel Chipman, of the Adjutant-General's +Department, the following despatch, to deliver which he had ridden in +great haste from Washington through Snicker's Gap, escorted by a +regiment of cavalry: + +"CITY POINT, August 12, 1864--9 A. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK + +"Inform General Sheridan that it is now certain two (2) divisions of +infantry have gone to Early, and some cavalry and twenty (20) pieces +of artillery. This movement commenced last Saturday night. He must +be cautious, and act now on the defensive until movements here force +them to detach to send this way. Early's force, with this increase, +cannot exceed forty thousand men, but this is too much for General +Sheridan to attack. Send General Sheridan the remaining brigade of +the Nineteenth Corps. + +"I have ordered to Washington all the one-hundred-day men. Their +time will soon be out, but for the present they will do to serve in +the defenses. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + +The despatch explained the movement from Culpeper, and on the morning +of the 15th Merritt's two remaining brigades were sent to Front Royal +to oppose Anderson, and the Sixth Corps withdrawn to the north side +of Cedar Creek, where it would be in a position enabling me either to +confront Anderson or to act defensively, as desired by General Grant. + +To meet the requirements of his instructions I examined the map of +the valley for a defensive line--a position where a smaller number of +troops could hold a larger number--for this information led me to +suppose that Early's force would greatly exceed mine when Anderson's +two divisions of infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had joined him. +I could see but one such position, and that was at Halltown, in front +of Harper's Ferry. Subsequent experience convinced me that there was +no other really defensive line in the Shenandoah Valley, for at +almost any other point the open country and its peculiar topography +invites rather than forbids flanking operations. + +This retrograde movement would also enable me to strengthen my +command by Grower's division of the Nineteenth Corps and Wilson's +cavalry, both of which divisions were marching from Washington by way +of Snicker's Gap. + +After fully considering the matter, I determined to move back to +Halltown, carrying out, as I retired, my instructions to destroy all +the forage and subsistence the country afforded. So Emory was +ordered to retire to Winchester on the night of the 15th, and Wright +and Crook to follow through Winchester to Clifton the next night. + +For the cavalry, in this move to the rear, I gave the following +instructions: + +"....In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, as it is expected you will +have to go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left +to invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and +stock wanted for the use of your command. Such as cannot be +consumed, destroy. It is not desirable that buildings should be +destroyed--they should, rather, be protected; but the people should +be informed that so long as an army can subsist among them, +recurrences of these raids must be expected, and we are determined to +stop them at all hazards...." [Grant's letter of instructions.] + + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +"Cedar Creek, Va., August 16, 1864. + +"GENERAL: In compliance with instructions of the Lieutenant-General +commanding, you will make the necessary arrangements and give the +necessary orders for the destruction of the wheat and hay south of a +line from Millwood to Winchester and Petticoat Gap. You will seize +all mules, horses, and cattle that may be useful to our army. Loyal +citizens can bring in their claims against the Government for this +necessary destruction. No houses will be burned, and officers in +charge of this delicate but necessary duty must inform the people +that the object is to make this valley untenable for the raiding +parties of the rebel army. + +"Very respectfully, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding. + +"BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. T. A. TORBERT, +"Chief of Cavalry, Middle Military Division." + + +During his visit to General Hunter at the Monocacy, General Grant had +not only decided to retain in the Shenandoah Valley a large force +sufficient to defeat Early's army or drive it back to Lee, but he had +furthermore determined to make that sections by the destruction of +its supplies, untenable for continued occupancy by the Confederates. +This would cut off one of Lee's main-stays in the way of subsistence, +and at the same time diminish the number of recruits and conscripts +he received; the valley district while under his control not only +supplying Lee with an abundance of food, but also furnishing him many +men for his regular and irregular forces. Grant's instructions to +destroy the valley began with the letter of August 5 to Hunter, which +was turned over to me, and this was followed at intervals by more +specific directions, all showing the earnestness of his purpose. + + +"CITY POINT, Va., Aug. 16--3:30 P. M., 1864. +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Winchester, Va.: + +"If you can possibly spare a division of cavalry, send them through +Loudoun County to destroy and carry off the crops, animals, negroes, +and all men under fifty years of age capable of bearing arms. In +this way you will get many of Mosby's men. All male citizens under +fifty can fairly be held as prisoners of war, not as citizen +prisoners. If not already soldiers, they will be made so the moment +the rebel army gets hold of them. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"CITY POINT, Aug. 21, 1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Charlestown, Va.: + +"In stripping Loudoun County of supplies, etc., impress from all +loyal persons so that they may receive pay for what is taken from +them. I am informed by the Assistant Secretary of War that Loudoun +County has a large population of Quakers, who are all favorably +disposed to the Union. These people may be exempted from arrest. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +"CITY POINT, Va., Aug. 26,2:30 P. M. 1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Halltown, Va.: + +"Telegraphed you that I had good reason for believing that Fitz Lee +had been ordered back here. I now think it likely that all troops +will be ordered back from the valley except what they believe to be +the minimum number to detain you. My reason for supposing this is +based upon the fact that yielding up the Weldon road seems to be a +blow to the enemy he cannot stand. I think I do not overstate the +loss of the enemy in the last two weeks at 10,000 killed and wounded. +We have lost heavily, mostly in captured when the enemy gained +temporary advantages. Watch closely, and if you find this theory +correct, push with all vigor. Give the enemy no rest, and if it is +possible to follow to the Virginia Central road, follow that far. Do +all the damage to railroads and crops you can. Carry off stock of +all descriptions and negroes, so as to prevent further planting. If +the war is to last another year we want the Shenandoah Valley to +remain a barren waste. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"CITY POINT, Va., Sept. 4,--10 A. M.--1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Charlestown, Va.: + +"In cleaning out the arms-bearing community of Loudoun County and the +subsistence for armies, exercise your own judgment as to who should +be exempt from arrest, and as to who should receive pay for their +stock, grain, etc. It is our interest that that county should not be +capable of subsisting a hostile army, and at the same time we want to +inflict as little hardship upon Union men as possible. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +"CITY POINT, Va., Nov. 9, 1864. +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Cedar Creek, Va.: + +"Do you not think it advisable to notify all citizens living east of +the Blue Ridge to move out north of the Potomac all their stock, +grain, and provisions of every description? There is no doubt about +the necessity of clearing out that country so that it will not +support Mosby's gang. And the question is whether it is not better +that the people should save what they can. So long as the war lasts +they must be prevented from raising another crop, both there and as +high up the valley as we can control. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +He had rightly concluded that it was time to bring the war home to a +people engaged in raising crops from a prolific soil to feed the +country's enemies, and devoting to the Confederacy its best youth. I +endorsed the programme in all its parts, for the stores of meat and +grain that the valley provided, and the men it furnished for Lee's +depleted regiments, were the strongest auxiliaries he possessed in +the whole insurgent section. In war a territory like this is a +factor of great importance, and whichever adversary controls it +permanently reaps all the advantages of its prosperity. Hence, as I +have said, I endorsed Grant's programme, for I do not hold war to +mean simply that lines of men shall engage each other in battle, and +material interests be ignored. This is but a duel, in which one +combatant seeks the other's life; war means much more, and is far +worse than this. Those who rest at home in peace and plenty see but +little of the horrors attending such a duel, and even grow +indifferent to them as the struggle goes on, contenting themselves +with encouraging all who are able-bodied to enlist in the cause, to +fill up the shattered ranks as death thins them. It is another +matter, however, when deprivation and suffering are brought to their +own doors. Then the case appears much graver, for the loss of +property weighs heavy with the most of mankind; heavier often, than +the sacrifices made on the field of battle. Death is popularly +considered the maximum of punishment in war, but it is not; reduction +to poverty brings prayers for peace more surely and more quickly than +does the destruction of human life, as the selfishness of man has +demonstrated in more than one great conflict. + +In the afternoon of the 16th I started back to Winchester, whence I +could better supervise our regressive march. As I was passing +through Newtown, I heard cannonading from the direction of Front +Royal, and on reaching Winchester, Merritt's couriers brought me word +that he had been attacked at the crossing of the Shenandoah by +Kershaw's division of Anderson's corps and two brigades of Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry, but that the attack had been handsomely repulsed, with +a capture of two battle-flags and three hundred prisoners. This was +an absolute confirmation of the despatch from Grant; and I was now +more than satisfied with the wisdom of my withdrawal. + +At daylight of the 17th Emory moved from Winchester to Berryville, +and the same morning Crook and Wright reached Winchester, having +started from Cedar Creek the day before. From Winchester, Crook and +Wright resumed their march toward Clifton, Wright, who had the rear +guard, getting that day as far as the Berryville crossing of the +Opequon, where he was ordered to remain, while Crook went ahead till +he reached the vicinity of Berryville. On the afternoon of the 17th +Lowell with his two regiments of troopers came into Winchester, where +he was joined by Wilson's mounted division, which had come by a rapid +march from Snicker's ferry. In the mean time Merritt, after his +handsome engagement with Kershaw near Front Royal, had been ordered +back to the neighborhood of White Post, so that my cavalry outposts +now extended from this last point around to the west of Winchester. + +During all these operations the enemy had a signal-station on Three +Top Mountain, almost overhanging Strasburg, from which every movement +made by our troops could be plainly seen; therefore, early on the +morning of the 17th he became aware of the fact that we were retiring +down the valley, and at once made after us, and about sundown drove +Torbert out of Winchester, he having been left there-with Wilson and +Lowell, and the Jersey brigade of the Sixth Corps, to develop the +character of the enemy's pursuit. After a severe skirmish Wilson and +Lowell fell back to Summit Point, and the Jersey brigade joined its +corps at the crossing of the Opequon. This affair demonstrated that +Early's whole army had followed us from Fisher's Hill, in concert +with Anderson and Fitzhugh Lee from Front Royal, and the two columns +joined near Winchester the morning of the 18th. + +That day I moved the Sixth Corps by way of Clifton to Flowing Spring, +two and a half miles west of Charlestown, on the Smithfield pike; and +Emory, with Dwight's and Grower's divisions (Grower's having joined +that morning from Washington), to a position about the same distance +south of Charlestown, on the Berryville pike. Following these +movements, Merritt fell back to Berryville, covering the Berryville +pike crossing of the Opequon, and Wilson was stationed at Summit +Point, whence he held a line along the Opequon as far north as the +bridge at Smithfield. Crook continued to hold on near Clifton until +the next day, and was then moved into place on the left of Emory. + +This line was practically maintained till the 21st, when the enemy, +throwing a heavy force across the Opequon by the bridge at +Smithfield, drove in my cavalry pickets to Summit Point, and followed +up with a rapid advance against the position of the Sixth Corps near +Flowing Spring. A sharp and obstinate skirmish with a heavy picket- +line of the Sixth Corps grew out of this manoeuvre, and resulted very +much in our favor, but the quick withdrawal of the Confederates left +no opportunity for a general engagement. It seems that General Early +thought I had taken position near Summit Point, and that by moving +rapidly around through Smithfield he could fall upon my rear in +concert with an attack in front by Anderson, but the warm reception +given him disclosed his error, for he soon discovered that my line +lay in front of Charlestown instead of where he supposed. + +In the manoeuvre Merritt had been attacked in front of Berryville and +Wilson at Summit Point, the former by cavalry and the latter by +Anderson's infantry. The exposed positions of Merritt and Wilson +necessitated their withdrawal if I was to continue to act on the +defensive; so, after the army had moved back to Halltown the +preceding night, without loss or inconvenience, I called them in and +posted them on the right of the infantry. + +My retrograde move from Strasburg to Halltown caused considerable +alarm in the North, as the public was ignorant of the reasons for it; +and in the excited state of mind then prevailing, it was generally +expected that the reinforced Confederate army would again cross the +Potomac, ravage Maryland and Pennsylvania, and possibly capture +Washington. Mutterings of dissatisfaction reached me from many +sources, and loud calls were made for my removal, but I felt +confident that my course would be justified when the true situation +was understood, for I knew that I was complying with my instructions. +Therefore I paid small heed to the adverse criticisms pouring down +from the North almost every day, being fully convinced that the best +course was to bide my time, and wait till I could get the enemy into +a position from which he could not escape without such serious +misfortune as to have some bearing on the general result of the war. +Indeed, at this time I was hoping that my adversary would renew the +boldness he had exhibited the early part of the month, and strike for +the north side of the Potomac, and wrote to General Grant on the 20th +of August that I had purposely left everything in that direction open +to the enemy. + +On the 22d the Confederates moved to Charlestown and pushed well up +to my position at Halltown. Here for the next three days they +skirmished with my videttes and infantry pickets, Emory and Cook +receiving the main attention; but finding that they could make no +impression, and judging it to be an auspicious time to intensify the +scare in the North, on the 25th of August Early despatched Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry to Williamsport, and moved all the rest of his army but +Anderson's infantry and McCausland's cavalry to Kerneysville. This +same day there was sharp picket firing along the whole front of my +infantry line, arising, as afterward ascertained, from a heavy +demonstration by Anderson. During this firing I sent Torbert, with +Merritt's and Wilson's divisions, to Kerrteysville, whence he was to +proceed toward Leetown and learn what had become of Fitz. Lee. + +About a mile from Leetown Torbert met a small force of Confederate +cavalry, and soon after encountering it, stumbled on Breckenridge's +corps of infantry on the march, apparently heading for Shepherdstown. +The surprise was mutual, for Torbert expected to meet only the +enemy's cavalry, while the Confederate infantry column was +anticipating an unobstructed march to the Potomac. Torbert attacked +with such vigor as at first to double up the head of Breckenridge's +corps and throw it into confusion, but when the Confederates realized +that they were confronted only by cavalry, Early brought up the whole +of the four infantry divisions engaged in his manoeuvre, and in a +sharp attack pushed Torbert rapidly back. + +All the advantages which Torbert had gained by surprising the enemy +were nullified by this counter-attack, and he was obliged to withdraw +Wilson's division toward my right, to the neighborhood of Duffield's +Station, Merritt drawing back to the same point by way of the +Shepherdstown ford. Custer's brigade becoming isolated after the +fight while assisting the rear guard, was also obliged to retire, +which it did to Shepherdstown and there halted, picketing the river +to Antietam ford. + +When Torbert reported to me the nature of his encounter, and that a +part of Early's infantry was marching to the north, while Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry had gone toward Martinsburg, I thought that the +Confederate general meditated crossing his cavalry into Maryland, so +I sent Wilson by way of Harper's Ferry to watch his movements from +Boonesboro', and at the same time directed Averell, who had reported +from West Virginia some days before, to take post at Williamsport and +hold the crossing there until he was driven away. I also thought it +possible that Early might cross the Potomac with his whole army, but +the doubts of a movement like this outweighed the probabilities +favoring it. Nevertheless, to meet such a contingency I arranged to +throw my army on his rear should the occasion arise, and deeming my +position at Halltown the most advantageous in which to await +developments, my infantry was retained there. + +If General Early had ever intended to cross the Potomac, Torbert's +discovery of his manoeuvre put an end to his scheme of invasion, for +he well knew that and success he might derive from such a course +would depend on his moving with celerity, and keeping me in ignorance +of his march till it should be well under way; so he settled all the +present uncertainties by retiring with all his troops about +Kerneysville to his old position at Bunker Hill behind the Opequon, +and on the night of the 26th silently withdrew Anderson and +McCausland from my front at Halltown to Stephenson's depot. + +By the 27th all of Early's infantry was in position at Brucetown and +Bunker Hill, his cavalry holding the outposts of Leetown and +Smithfield, and on that day Merritt's division attacked the enemy's +horse at Leetown, and pressed it back through Smithfield to the west +side of the Opequon. This reconnoissance determined definitely that +Early had abandoned the projected movement into Maryland, if he ever +seriously contemplated it; and I marched my infantry out from +Halltown to the front of Charlestown, with the intention of occupying +a line between Clifton and Berryville the moment matters should so +shape themselves that I could do so with advantage. The night of the +28th Wilson joined me near Charlestown from his points of observation +in Maryland, and the next day Averell crossed the Potomac at +Williamsport and advanced to Martinsburg. + +Merritt's possession of Smithfield bridge made Early somewhat uneasy, +since it afforded opportunity for interposing a column between his +right and left flanks, so he concluded to retake the crossing, and, +to this end, on the 29th advanced two divisions of infantry. A +severe fight followed, and Merritt was forced to retire, being driven +through the village toward Charlestown with considerable loss. As +Merritt was nearing my infantry line, I ordered. Ricketts's division +of the Sixth Corps to his relief, and this in a few minutes turned +the tide, the Smithfield crossing of the Opequon being regained, and +afterward held by Lowell's brigade, supported by Ricketts. The next +morning I moved Torbert, with Wilson and Merritt, to Berryville, and +succeeding their occupation of that point there occurred along my +whole line a lull, which lasted until the 3d of September, being +undisturbed except by a combat near Bunker Hill between Averell's +cavalry and a part of McCausland's, supported by Rodes's division of +infantry, in which affair the Confederates were defeated with the +loss of about fifty prisoners and considerable property in the shape +of wagons and beef-cattle. + +Meanwhile Torbert's movement to Berryville had alarmed Early, and as +a counter move on the 2d of September he marched with the bulk of his +army to Summit Point, but while reconnoitring in that region on the +3d he learned of the havoc that Averell was creating in his rear, and +this compelled him to recross to the west side of the Opequon and +mass his troops in the vicinity of Stephenson's depot, whence he +could extend down to Bunker Hill, continue to threaten the Baltimore +and Ohio railroad, and at the same time cover Winchester. + +The same day I was moving my infantry to take up the Clifton- +Berryville line, and that afternoon Wright went into position at +Clifton, Crook occupied Berryville, and Emory's corps came in between +them, forming almost a continuous line. Torbert had moved to White +Post meanwhile, with directions to reconnoitre as far south as the +Front Royal Pike. + +My infantry had just got fairly into this position about an hour +before sunset, when along Crook's front a combat took place that at +the time caused me to believe it was Early's purpose to throw a +column between Crook and Torbert, with the intention of isolating the +latter; but the fight really arose from the attempt of General +Anderson to return to Petersburg with Kershaw's division in response +to loud calls from General Lee. Anderson started south on the 3d of +September, and possibly this explains Early's reconnoissance that day +to Summit Point as a covering movement, but his rapid withdrawal left +him in ignorance of my advance, and Anderson marched on heedlessly +toward Berryville, expecting to cross the Blue Ridge through Ashby's +Gap. At Berryville however, he blundered into Crook's lines about +sunset, and a bitter little fight ensued, in which the Confederates +got so much the worst of it that they withdrew toward Winchester. +When General Early received word of this encounter he hurried to +Anderson's assistance with three divisions, but soon perceiving what +was hitherto unknown to him, that my whole army was on a new line, he +decided, after some slight skirmishing, that Anderson must remain at +Winchester until a favorable opportunity offered for him to rejoin +Lee by another route. + +Succeeding the discomfiture of Anderson, some minor operations took +place on the part of, Averell on the right and McIntosh's brigade of +Wilson's division on the left, but from that time until the 19th of +September no engagement of much importance occurred. The line from +Clifton to Berryville was occupied by the Sixth Corps and Grower's +and Dwight's divisions of the Nineteenth, Crook being transferred to +Summit Point, whence I could use him to protect my right flank and my +communication with Harper's Ferry, while the cavalry threatened the +enemy's right flank and line of retreat up the valley. + +The difference of strength between the two armies at this date was +considerably in my favor, but the conditions attending my situation +in a hostile region necessitated so much detached service to protect +trains, and to secure Maryland and Pennsylvania from raids, that my +excess in numbers was almost canceled by these incidental demands +that could not be avoided, and although I knew that I was strong, +yet, in consequence of the injunctions of General Grant, I deemed it +necessary to be very cautious; and the fact that the Presidential +election was impending made me doubly so, the authorities at +Washington having impressed upon me that the defeat of my army might +be followed by the overthrow of the party in power, which event, it +was believed, would at least retard the progress of the war, if, +indeed, it did not lead to the complete abandonment of all coercive +measures. Under circumstances such as these I could not afford to +risk a disaster, to say nothing of the intense disinclination every +soldier has for such results; so, notwithstanding my superior +strength, I determined to take all the time necessary to equip myself +with the fullest information, and then seize an opportunity under +such conditions that I could not well fail of success. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg of Personal Memoirs of P. H. Sheridan, v1 +By Philip Henry Sheridan + + + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRES OF P. H. SHERIDAN, VOLUME 2. + +By Philip Henry Sheridan + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ORGANIZING SCOUTS--MISS REBECCA WRIGHT--IMPORTANT INFORMATION--DECIDE +TO MOVE ON NEWTOWN--MEETING GENERAL GRANT--ORGANIZATION OF THE UNION +ARMY--OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF THE OPEQUON--DEATH OF GENERAL RUSSELL- +-A TURNING MOVEMENT--A SUCCESSFUL CAVALRY CHARGE--VICTORY--THREE +LOYAL GIRLS--APPOINTED A BRIGADIER-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR ARMY-- +REMARKS ON THE BATTLE. + +While occupying the ground between Clifton and Berryville, referred +to in the last chapter of the preceding volume, I felt the need of an +efficient body of scouts to collect information regarding the enemy, +for the defective intelligence-establishment with which I started out +from Harper's Ferry early in August had not proved satisfactory. I +therefore began to organize my scouts on a system which I hoped would +give better results than bad the method hitherto pursued in the +department, which was to employ on this service doubtful citizens and +Confederate deserters. If these should turn out untrustworthy, the +mischief they might do us gave me grave apprehension, and I finally +concluded that those of our own soldiers who should volunteer for the +delicate and hazardous duty would be the most valuable material, and +decided that they should have a battalion organization and be +commanded by an officer, Major H. K. Young, of the First Rhode Island +Infantry. These men were disguised in Confederate uniforms whenever +necessary, were paid from the Secret-Service Fund in proportion to +the value of the intelligence they furnished, which often stood us in +good stead in checking the forays of Gilmore, Mosby, and other +irregulars. Beneficial results came from the plan in many other ways +too, and particularly so when in a few days two of my scouts put me +in the way of getting news conveyed from Winchester. They had +learned that just outside of my lines, near Millwood, there was +living an old colored man, who had a permit from the Confederate +commander to go into Winchester and return three times a week, for +the purpose of selling vegetables to the inhabitants. The scouts had +sounded this man, and, finding him both loyal and shrewd, suggested +that he might be made useful to us within the enemy's lines; and the +proposal struck me as feasible, provided there could be found in +Winchester some reliable person who would be willing to co-operate +and correspond with me. I asked General Crook, who was acquainted +with many of the Union people of Winchester, if he knew of such a +person, and he recommended a Miss Rebecca Wright, a young lady whom +he had met there before the battle of Kernstown, who, he said, was a +member of the Society of Friends and the teacher of a small private +school. He knew she was faithful and loyal to the Government, and +thought she might be willing to render us assistance, but he could +not be certain of this, for on account of her well known loyalty she +was under constant surveillance. I hesitated at first, but finally +deciding to try it, despatched the two scouts to the old negro's +cabin, and they brought him to my headquarters late that night. I +was soon convinced of the negro's fidelity, and asking him if he was +acquainted with Miss Rebecca Wright, of Winchester, he replied that +he knew her well. There upon I told him what I wished to do, and +after a little persuasion he agreed to carry a letter to her on his +next marketing trip. My message was prepared by writing it on tissue +paper, which was then compressed into a small pellet, and protected +by wrapping it in tin-foil so that it could be safely carried in the +man's mouth. The probability, of his being searched when he came to +the Confederate picket-line was not remote, and in such event he was +to swallow the pellet. The letter appealed to Miss Wright's loyalty +and patriotism, and requested her to furnish me with information +regarding the strength and condition of Early's army. The night +before the negro started one of the scouts placed the odd-looking +communication in his hands, with renewed injunctions as to secrecy +and promptitude. Early the next morning it was delivered to Miss +Wright, with an intimation that a letter of importance was enclosed +in the tin-foil, the negro telling her at the same time that she +might expect him to call for a message in reply before his return +home. At first Miss Wright began to open the pellet nervously, but +when told to be careful, and to preserve the foil as a wrapping for +her answer, she proceeded slowly and carefully, and when the note +appeared intact the messenger retired, remarking again that in the +evening he would come for an answer. + +On reading my communication Miss Wright was much startled by the +perils it involved, and hesitatingly consulted her mother, but her +devoted loyalty soon silenced every other consideration, and the +brave girl resolved to comply with my request, notwithstanding it +might jeopardize her life. The evening before a convalescent +Confederate officer had visited her mother's house, and in +conversation about the war had disclosed the fact that Kershaw's +division of infantry and Cutshaw's battalion of artillery had started +to rejoin General Lee. At the time Miss Wright heard this she +attached little if any importance to it, but now she perceived the +value of the intelligence, and, as her first venture, determined to +send it to me at once, which she did with a promise that in the +future she would with great pleasure continue to transmit information +by the negro messenger. + + + +"SEPTEMBER 15, 1864. + +"I learn from Major-General Crook that you are a loyal lady, and +still love the old flag. Can you inform me of the position of +Early's forces, the number of divisions in his army, and the strength +of any or all of them, and his probable or reported intentions? Have +any more troops arrived from Richmond, or are any more coming, or +reported to be coming? + +"You can trust the bearer." + +"I am, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General Commanding." + + + +"SEPTEMBER 16, 1864. + +"I have no communication whatever with the rebels, but will tell you +what I know. The division of General Kershaw, and Cutshaw's +artillery, twelve guns and men, General Anderson commanding, have +been sent away, and no more are expected, as they cannot be spared +from Richmond. I do not know how the troops are situated, but the +force is much smaller than represented. I will take pleasure +hereafter in learning all I can of their strength and position, and +the bearer may call again. + +"Very respectfully yours," +............ + + + +Miss Wright's answer proved of more value to me than she anticipated, +for it not only quieted the conflicting reports concerning Anderson's +corps, but was most important in showing positively that Kershaw was +gone, and this circumstance led, three days later, to the battle of +the Opequon, or Winchester as it has been unofficially called. Word +to the effect that some of Early's troops were under orders to return +to Petersburg, and would start back at the first favorable +opportunity, had been communicated to me already from many sources, +but we had not been able to ascertain the date for their departure. +Now that they had actually started, I decided to wait before offering +battle until Kershaw had gone so far as to preclude his return, +feeling confident that my prudence would be justified by the improved +chances of victory; and then, besides, Mr. Stanton kept reminding me +that positive success was necessary to counteract the political +dissatisfaction existing in some of the Northern States. This course +was advised and approved by General Grant, but even with his powerful +backing it was difficult to resist the persistent pressure of those +whose judgment, warped by their interests in the Baltimore and Ohio +railroad, was often confused and misled by stories of scouts (sent +out from Washington), averring that Kershaw and Fitzhugh Lee had +returned to Petersburg, Breckenridge to southwestern Virginia, and at +one time even maintaining that Early's whole army was east of the +Blue Ridge, and its commander himself at Gordonsville. + +During the inactivity prevailing in my army for the ten days +preceding Miss Wright's communication the infantry was quiet, with +the exception of Getty's division, which made a reconnoissance to the +Opequon, and developed a heavy force of the enemy at Edwards's +Corners. The cavalry, however, was employed a good deal in this +interval skirmishing heavily at times to maintain a space about six +miles in width between the hostile lines, for I wished to control +this ground so that when I was released from the instructions of +August 12, I could move my men into position for attack without the +knowledge of Early. The most noteworthy of these mounted encounters +was that of McIntosh's brigade, which captured the Eighth South +Carolina at Abraham's Creek September 13. + +It was the evening of the 16th of September that I received from Miss +Wright the positive information that Kershaw was in march toward +Front Royal on his way by Chester Gap to Richmond. Concluding that +this was my opportunity, I at once resolved to throw my whole force +into Newtown the next day, but a despatch from General Grant +directing me to meet him at Charlestown, whither he was coming to +consult with me, caused me to defer action until after I should see +him. In our resulting interview at Charlestown, I went over the +situation very thoroughly, and pointed out with so much confidence +the chances of a complete victory should I throw my army across the +Valley pike near Newtown that he fell in with the plan at once, +authorized me to resume the offensive, and to attack Early as soon as +I deemed it most propitious to do so; and although before leaving +City Point he had outlined certain operations for my army, yet he +neither discussed nor disclosed his plans, my knowledge of the +situation striking him as being so much more accurate than his own. + + +[Extract from Grant's Memoirs," page 328.] + +"....Before starting I had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, +which I had brought with me; but seeing that he was so clear and so +positive in his views, and so confident of success, I said nothing +about this, and did not take it out of my pocket...." + + + +The interview over, I returned to my army to arrange for its movement +toward Newtown, but while busy with these preparations, a report came +to me from General Averell which showed that Early was moving with +two divisions of infantry toward Martinsburg. This considerably +altered the state of affairs, and I now decided to change my plan and +attack at once the two divisions remaining about Winchester and +Stephenson's depot, and later, the two sent to Martinsburg; the +disjointed state of the enemy giving me an opportunity to take him in +detail, unless the Martinsburg column should be returned by forced +marches. + +While General Early was in the telegraph office at Martinsburg on the +morning of the 18th, he learned of Grant's visit to me; and +anticipating activity by reason of this circumstance, he promptly +proceeded to withdraw so as to get the two divisions within +supporting distance of Ramseur's, which lay across the Berryville +pike about two miles east of Winchester, between Abraham's Creek and +Red Bud Run, so by the night of the 18th Wharton's division, under +Breckenridge, was at Stephenson's depot, Rodes near there, and +Gordon's at Bunker Hill. At daylight of the 19th these positions of +the Confederate infantry still obtained, with the cavalry of Lomax, +Jackson, and Johnson on the right of Ramseur, while to the left and +rear of the enemy's general line was Fitzhugh Lee, covering from +Stephenson's depot west across the Valley pike to Applepie Ridge. + +My army moved at 3 o'clock that morning. The plan was for Torbert to +advance with Merritt's division of cavalry from Summit Point, carry +the crossings of the Opequon at Stevens's and Lock's fords, and form +a junction near Stephenson's depot, with Averell, who was to move +south from Darksville by the Valley pike. Meanwhile, Wilson was to +strike up the Berryville pike, carry the Berryville crossing of the +Opequon, charge through the gorge or canyon on the road west of the +stream, and occupy the open ground at the head of this defile. +Wilson's attack was to be supported by the Sixth and Nineteenth +corps, which were ordered to the Berryville crossing, and as the +cavalry gained the open ground beyond the gorge, the two infantry +corps, under command of General Wright, were expected to press on +after and occupy Wilson's ground, who was then to shift to the south +bank of Abraham's Creek and cover my left; Crook's two divisions, +having to march from Summit Point, were to follow the Sixth and +Nineteenth corps to the Opcquon, and should they arrive before the +action began, they were to be held in reserve till the proper moment +came, and then, as a turning-column, be thrown over toward the Valley +pike, south of Winchester. + +McIntosh's brigade of Wilson's division drove the enemy's pickets +away from the Berryville crossing at dawn, and Wilson following +rapidly through the gorge with the rest of the division, debouched +from its western extremity with such suddenness as to capture a small +earthwork in front of General Ramseur's main line; and not- +withstanding the Confederate infantry, on recovering from its +astonishment, tried hard to dislodge them, Wilson's troopers +obstinately held the work till the Sixth Corps came up. I followed +Wilson to select the ground on which to form the infantry. The Sixth +Corps began to arrive about 8 o'clock, and taking up the line Wilson +had been holding, just beyond the head of the narrow ravine, the +cavalry was transferred to the south side of Abraham's Creek. + +The Confederate line lay along some elevated ground about two miles +east of Winchester, and extended from Abraham's Creek north across +the Berryville pike, the left being hidden in the heavy timber on Red +Bud Run. Between this line and mine, especially on my right, clumps +of woods and patches of underbrush occurred here and there, but the +undulating ground consisted mainly of open fields, many of which were +covered with standing corn that had already ripened. + +Much time was lost in getting all of the Sixth and Nineteenth corps +through the narrow defile, Grover's division being greatly delayed +there by a train of ammunition wagons, and it was not until late in +the forenoon that the troops intended for the attack could be got +into line ready to advance. General Early was not slow to avail +himself of the advantages thus offered him, and my chances of +striking him in detail were growing less every moment, for Gordon and +Rodes were hurrying their divisions from Stephenson's depot--across- +country on a line that would place Gordon in the woods south of Red +Bud Run, and bring Rodes into the interval between Gordon and +Ramseur. + +When the two corps had all got through the canyon they were formed +with Getty's division of the Sixth to the left of the Berryville +pike, Rickett's division to the right of the pike, and Russell's +division in reserve in rear of the other two. Grover's division of +the Nineteenth Corps came next on the right of Rickett's, with Dwight +to its rear in reserve, while Crook was to begin massing near the +Opequon crossing about the time Wright and Emory were ready to +attack. + +Just before noon the line of Getty, Ricketts, and Grover moved +forward, and as we advanced, the Confederates, covered by some heavy +woods on their right, slight underbrush and corn-fields along their +Centre, and a large body of timber on their left along the Red Bud, +opened fire from their whole front. We gained considerable ground at +first, especially on our left but the desperate resistance which the +right met with demonstrated that the time we had unavoidably lost in +the morning had been of incalculable value to Early, for it was +evident that he had been enabled already to so far concentrate his +troops as to have the different divisions of his army in a connected +line of battle, in good shape to resist. + +Getty and Ricketts made some progress toward Winchester in connection +with Wilson's cavalry, which was beyond the Senseny road on Getty's +left, and as they were pressing back Ramseur's infantry and Lomax's +cavalry Grover attacked from the right with decided effect. Grover +in a few minutes broke up Evans's brigade of Gordon's division, but +his pursuit of Evans destroyed the continuity of my general line, and +increased an interval that had already been made by the deflection of +Ricketts to the 1eft, in obedience to instructions that had been +given him to guide his division on the Berryville pike. As the line +pressed forward, Ricketts observed this widening interval and +endeavored to fill it with the small brigade of Colonel Keifer, but +at this juncture both Gordon and Rodes struck the weak spot where the +right of the Sixth Corps and the left of the Nineteenth should have +been in conjunction, and succeeded in checking my advance by driving +back a part of Ricketts's division, and the most of Grover's. As +these troops were retiring I ordered Russell's reserve division to be +put into action, and just as the flank of the enemy's troops in +pursuit of Grover was presented, Upton's brigade, led in person by +both Russell and Upton, struck it in a charge so vigorous as to drive +the Confederates back in turn to their original ground. + +The success of Russell enabled me to re-establish the right of my +line some little distance in advance of the position from which it +started in the morning, and behind Russell's division (now commanded +by Upton) the broken regiments of Ricketts's division were rallied. +Dwight's division was then brought up on the right, and Grover's men +formed behind it. + +The charge of Russell was most opportune, but it cost many men in +killed and wounded. Among the former was the courageous Russell +himself; killed by a piece of shell that passed through his heart, +although he had previously been struck by a bullet in the left +breast, which wound, from its nature, must have proved mortal, yet of +which he had not spoken. Russell's death oppressed us all with +sadness, and me particularly. In the early days of my army life he +was my captain and friend, and I was deeply indebted to him, not only +for sound advice and good example, but for the inestimable service he +had just performed, and sealed with his life, so it may be inferred +how keenly I felt his loss. + +As my lines were being rearranged, it was suggested to me to put +Crook into the battle, but so strongly had I set my heart on using +him to take possession of the Valley pike and cut off the enemy, that +I resisted this advice, hoping that the necessity for putting him in +would be obviated by the attack near Stephenson's depot that +Torbert's cavalry was to make, and from which I was momentarily +expecting to hear. No news of Torbert's progress came, however, so, +yielding at last, I directed Crook to take post on the right of the +Nineteenth Corps and, when the action was renewed, to push his +command forward as a turning-column in conjunction with Emory. After +some delay in the annoying defile, Crook got his men up, and posting +Colonel Thoburn's division on the prolongation of the Nineteenth +Corps, he formed Colonel Duval's division to the right of Thoburn. +Here I joined Crook, informing him that I had just got word that +Torbert was driving the enemy in confusion along the Martinsburg pike +toward Winchester; at the same time I directed him to attack the +moment all of Duval's men were in line. Wright was instructed to +advance in concert with Crook, by swinging Emory and the right of the +Sixth Corps to the left together in a half-wheel. Then leaving +Crook, I rode along the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, the open ground +over which they were passing affording a rare opportunity to witness +the precision with which the attack was taken up from right to left. +Crook's success began the moment he started to turn the enemy's left; +and assured by the fact that Torbert had stampeded the Confederate +cavalry and thrown Breckenridge's infantry into such disorder that it +could do little to prevent the envelopment of Gordon's left, Crook +pressed forward without even a halt. + +Both Emory and Wright took up the fight as ordered, and as they did +so I sent word to Wilson, in the hope that he could partly perform +the work originally laid out for Crook, to push along the Senseny +road and, if possible, gain the valley pike south of Winchester. I +then returned toward my right flank, and as I reached the Nineteenth +Corps the enemy was contesting the ground in its front with great +obstinacy; but Emory's dogged persistence was at length rewarded with +success, just as Crook's command emerged from the morass of Red Bud +Run, and swept around Gordon, toward the right of Breckenridge, who, +with two of Wharton's brigades, was holding a line at right angles +with the Valley pike for the protection of the Confederate rear. +Early had ordered these two brigades back from Stephenson's depot in +the morning, purposing to protect with them his right flank and line +of retreat, but while they were en route to this end, he was obliged +to recall them to his left to meet Crook's attack. + +To confront Torbert, Patton's brigade of infantry and some of +Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had been left back by Breckenridge, but, with +Averell on the west side of the Valley pike and Merritt on the east, +Torbert began to drive this opposing force toward Winchester the +moment he struck it near Stephenson's depot, keeping it on the go +till it reached the position held by Breckenridge, where it +endeavored to make a stand. + +The ground which Breckenridge was holding was open, and offered an +opportunity such as seldom had been presented during the war for a, +mounted attack, and Torbert was not slow to take advantage of it. +The instant Merritt's division could be formed for the charge, it +went at Breckenridge's infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry with such +momentum as to break the Confederate left, just as Averell was +passing around it. Merritt's brigades, led by Custer, Lowell, and +Devin, met from the start with pronounced success, and with sabre or +pistol in hand literally rode down a battery of five guns and took +about 1,200 prisoners. Almost simultaneously with this cavalry +charge, Crook struck Breckenridge's right and Gordon's left, forcing +these divisions to give way, and as they retired, Wright, in a +vigorous attack, quickly broke Rodes up and pressed Ramseur so hard +that the whole Confederate army fell back, contracting its lines +within some breastworks which had been thrown up at a former period +of the war, immediately in front of Winchester. + +Here Early tried hard to stem the tide, but soon Torbert's cavalry +began passing around his left flank, and as Crook, Emory, and Wright +attacked in front, panic took possession of the enemy, his troops, +now fugitives and stragglers, seeking escape into and through +Winchester. + +When this second break occurred, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps were +moved over toward the Millwood pike to help Wilson on the left, but +the day was so far spent that they could render him no assistance, +and Ramseur's division, which had maintained some organization, was +in such tolerable shape as to check him. Meanwhile Torbert passed +around to the west of Winchester to join Wilson, but was unable to do +so till after dark. Crook's command pursued the enemy through the +town to Mill Greek, I going along. + +Just after entering the town, Crook and I met, in the main street, +three young girls, who gave us the most hearty reception. One of +these young women was a Miss Griffith, the other two Miss Jennie and +Miss Susie Meredith. During the day they had been watching the +battle from the roof of the Meredith residence, with tears and +lamentations, they said, in the morning when misfortune appeared to +have overtaken the Union troops, but with unbounded exultation when, +later, the, tide set in against the Confederates. Our presence was, +to them, an assurance of victory, and their delight being +irrepressible, they indulged in the most unguarded manifestations and +expressions. When cautioned by Crook, who knew them well, and +reminded that the valley had hitherto been a race-course--one day in +the'possession of friends, and the next of enemies--and warned of the +dangers they were incurring by such demonstrations, they assured him +that they had no further fears of that kind now, adding that Early's +army was so demoralized by the defeat it had just sustained that it +would never be in condition to enter Winchester again. As soon as we +had succeeded in calming the excited girls a little I expressed a +desire to find some place where I could write a telegram to General +Grant informing him of the result of the battle, and General Crook +conducted me to the home of Miss Wright, where I met for the first +time the woman who had contributed so much to our success, and on a +desk in her school-room wrote the despatch announcing that we had +sent Early's army whirling up the valley. + +My losses in the battle of the Opequon were heavy, amounting to about +4,500 killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed was General +Russell, commanding a division, and the wounded included Generals +Upton, McIntosh and Chapman, and Colonels Duval and Sharpe. The +Confederate loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners about equaled +mine, General Rodes being of the killed, while Generals Fitzhugh Lee +and York were severely wounded. + +We captured five pieces of artillery and nine battle-flags. The +restoration of the lower valley--from the Potomac to Strasburg--to +the control of the Union forces caused great rejoicing in the North, +and relieved the Administration from further solicitude for the +safety of the Maryland and Pennsylvania borders. The President's +appreciation of the victory was expressed in a despatch so like Mr. +Lincoln that I give a facsimile of it to the reader: + +[In the handwriting of President Lincoln] +"EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT +"WASHINGTON, Sep. 20, 1864 + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN +"WINCHESTER, VA. + +"Have just heard of your geat victory. God bless you all, officers +and men. Strongly inclined to come up and see you. + +"A. LINCOLN." + + +This he supplemented by promoting me to the grade of brigadier- +general in the regular army, and assigning me to the permanent +command of the Middle Military Department, and following that came +warm congratulations from Mr. Stanton and from Generals Grant, +Sherman, and Meade. + +The battle was not fought out on the plan in accordance with which +marching orders were issued to my troops, for I then hoped to take +Early in detail, and with Crook's force cut off his retreat. I +adhered to this purpose during the early part of the contest, but was +obliged to abandon the idea because of unavoidable delays by which I +was prevented from getting the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through the +narrow defile and into position early enough to destroy Ramseur while +still isolated. So much delay had not been anticipated, and this +loss of time was taken advantage of by the enemy to recall the troops +diverted to Bunker Hill and Martinsburg on the 17th, thus enabling +him to bring them all to the support of Ramseur before I could strike +with effect. My idea was to attack Ramseur and Wharton, +successively, at a very early hour and before they could get succor, +but I was not in condition to do it till nearly noon, by which time +Gordon and Rodes had been enabled to get upon the ground at a point +from which, as I advanced, they enfiladed my right flank, and gave it +such a repulse that to re-form this part of my line I was obliged to +recall the left from some of the ground it had gained. It was during +this reorganization of my lines that I changed my plan as to Crook, +and moved him from my left to my right. This I did with great +reluctance, for I hoped to destroy Early's army entirely if Crook +continued on his original line of march toward the Valley pike, south +of Winchester; and although the ultimate results did, in a measure +vindicate the change, yet I have always thought that by adhering to +the original plan we might have captured the bulk of Early's army. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +PURSUING EARLY--A SECRET MARCH--FISHER'S HILL--A GREAT SUCCESS-- +REMOVAL OF AVERELL--THE RETREAT--CAPTURING AN OLD COMRADE--THE MURDER +OF LIEUTENANT MEIGS. + +The night of the 19th of September I gave orders for following Early +up the valley next morning--the pursuit to begin at daybreak--and in +obedience to these directions Torbert moved Averell out on the Back +road leading to Cedar Creek, and Merritt up the Valley pike toward +Strasburg, while Wilson was directed on Front Royal by way of +Stevensburg. Merritt's division was followed by the infantry, +Emory's and Wright's columns marching abreast in the open country to +the right and left of the pike, and Crook's immediately behind them. +The enemy having kept up his retreat at night, presented no +opposition whatever until the cavalry discovered him posted at +Fisher's Hill, on the first defensive line where he could hope to +make any serious resistance. No effort was made to dislodge him, and +later in the day, after Wright and Emory came up, Torbert shifted +Merritt over toward the Back road till he rejoined Averell. As +Merritt moved to the right, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps crossed +Cedar Creek and took up the ground the cavalry was vacating, Wright +posting his own corps to the west of the Valley pike overlooking +Strasburg, and Emory's on his left so as to extend almost to the road +leading from Strasburg to Front Royal. Crook, as he came up the same +evening, went into position in some heavy timber on the north bank of +Cedar Creek. + +A reconnoissance made pending these movements convinced me that the +enemy's position at Fisher's Hill was so strong that a direct assault +would entail unnecessary destruction of life, and, besides, be of +doubtful result. At the point where Early's troops were in position, +between the Massanutten range and Little North Mountain, the valley +is only about three and a half miles wide. All along the precipitous +bluff which overhangs Tumbling Run on the south side, a heavy line of +earthworks had been constructed when Early retreated to this point in +August, and these were now being strengthened so as to make them +almost impregnable; in fact, so secure did Early consider himself +that, for convenience, his ammunition chests were taken from the +caissons and placed behind the breastworks. Wharton, now in command +of Breckenridge's division--its late commander having gone to +southwest Virginia--held the right of this line, with Gordon next +him; Pegram, commanding Ramseur's old division, joined Gordon. +Ramseur with Rodes's division, was on Pegram's left, while Lomax's +cavalry, now serving as foot-troops, extended the line to the Back +road. Fitzhugh Lee being wounded, his cavalry, under General +Wickham, was sent to Milford to prevent Fisher's Hill from being +turned through the Luray Valley. + +In consequence of the enemy's being so well protected from a direct +assault, I resolved on the night of the 20th to use again a turning- +column against his left, as had been done on the 19th at the Opequon. +To this end I resolved to move Crook, unperceived if possible, over +to the eastern face of Little North Mountain, whence he could strike +the left and rear of the Confederate line, and as he broke it up, I +could support him by a left half-wheel of my whole line of battle. +The execution of this plan would require perfect secrecy, however, +for the enemy from his signal-station on Three Top could plainly see +every movement of our troops in daylight. Hence, to escape such +observation, I marched Crook during the night of the 20th into some +heavy timber north of Cedar Creek, where he lay concealed all day the +21st. This same day Wright and Emory were moved up closer to the +Confederate works, and the Sixth Corps, after a severe fight, in +which Ricketts's and Getty were engaged, took up some high ground on +the right of the Manassas Gap railroad in plain view of the +Confederate works, and confronting a commanding point where much of +Early's artillery was massed. Soon after General Wright had +established this line I rode with him along it to the westward, and +finding that the enemy was still holding an elevated position further +to our right, on the north side of Tumbling Run, I directed this also +to be occupied. Wright soon carried the point, which gave us an +unobstructed view of the enemy's works and offered good ground for +our artillery. It also enabled me to move the whole of the Sixth +Corps to the front till its line was within about seven hundred yards +of the enemy's works; the Nineteenth Corps, on the morning of the +22d, covering the ground vacated by the Sixth by moving to the front +and extending to the right, but still keeping its reserves on the +railroad. + +In the darkness of the night of the gist, Crook was brought across +Cedar Creek and hidden in a clump of timber behind Hupp's Hill till +daylight of the 22d, when, under cover of the intervening woods and +ravines, he was marched beyond the right of the Sixth Corps and again +concealed not far from the Back road. After Crook had got into this +last position, Ricketts's division was pushed out until it confronted +the left of the enemy's infantry, the rest of the Sixth Corps +extending from Ricketts's left to the Manassas Gap railroad, while +the Nineteenth Corps filled in the space between the left of the +Sixth and the North Fork of the Shenandoah. + +When Ricketts moved out on this new line, in conjunction with +Averell's cavalry on his right, the enemy surmising, from information +secured from his signal-station, no doubt, that my attack was to be +made from Ricketts's front, prepared for it there, but no such +intention ever existed. Ricketts was pushed forward only that he +might readily join Crook's turning-column as it swung into the +enemy's rear. To ensure success, all that I needed now was enough +daylight to complete my arrangements, the secrecy of movement imposed +by the situation consuming many valuable hours. + +While Ricketts was occupying the enemy's attention, Crook, again +moving unobserved into the dense timber on the eastern face of Little +North Mountain, conducted his command south in two parallel columns +until he gained the rear of the enemy's works, when, marching his +divisions by the left flank, he led them in an easterly direction +down the mountain-side. As he emerged from the timber near the base +of the mountain, the Confederates discovered him, of course, and +opened with their batteries, but it was too late--they having few +troops at hand to confront the turning-column. Loudly cheering, +Crook's men quickly crossed the broken stretch in rear of the enemy's +left, producing confusion and consternation at every step. + +About a mile from the mountain's base Crook's left was joined by +Ricketts, who in proper time had begun to swing his division into the +action, and the two commands moved along in rear of the works so +rapidly that, with but slight resistance, the Confederates abandoned +the guns massed near the centre. The swinging movement of Ricketts +was taken up successively from right to left throughout my line, and +in a few minutes the enemy was thoroughly routed, the action, though +brief, being none the less decisive. Lomax's dismounted cavalry gave +way first, but was shortly followed by all the Confederate infantry +in an indescribable panic, precipitated doubtless by fears of being +caught and captured in the pocket formed by Tumbling Run and the +North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The stampede was complete, the +enemy leaving the field without semblance of organization, abandoning +nearly all his artillery and such other property as was in the works, +and the rout extending through the fields and over the roads toward +Woodstock, Wright and Emory in hot pursuit. + +Midway between Fisher's Hill and Woodstock there is some high ground, +where at night-fall a small squad endeavored to stay us with two +pieces of artillery, but this attempt at resistance proved fruitless, +and, notwithstanding the darkness, the guns were soon captured. The +chase was then taken up by Devin's brigade as soon as it could be +passed to the front, and continued till after daylight the next +morning, but the delays incident to a night pursuit made it +impossible for Devin to do more than pick up stragglers. + +Our success was very great, yet I had anticipated results still more +pregnant. Indeed, I had high hopes of capturing almost the whole of +Early's army before it reached New Market, and with this object in +view, during the manoeuvres of the 21st I had sent Torbert up the +Luray Valley with Wilson's division and two of Merritt's brigades, in +the expectation that he would drive Wickham out of the Luray Pass by +Early's right, and by crossing the Massanutten Mountain near New +Market, gain his rear. Torbert started in good season, and after +some slight skirmishing at Gooney Run, got as far as Milford, but +failed to dislodge Wickham. In fact, he made little or no attempt to +force Wickham from his position, and with only a feeble effort +withdrew. I heard nothing at all from Torbert during the 22d, and +supposing that everything was progressing favorably, I was astonished +and chagrined on the morning of the 23d, at Woodstock, to receive the +intelligence that he had fallen back to Front Royal and Buckton ford. +My disappointment was extreme, but there was now no help for the +situation save to renew and emphasize Torbert's orders, and this was +done at once, notwithstanding that I thought, the delay, had so much +diminished the chances of his getting in the rear of Early as to make +such a result a very remote possibility, unless, indeed, far greater +zeal was displayed than had been in the first attempt to penetrate +the Luray Valley. + +The battle of Fisher's Hill was, in a measure, a part of the battle +of the Opequon; that is to say, it was an incident of the pursuit +resulting from that action. In many ways, however, it was much more +satisfactory, and particularly so because the plan arranged on the +evening of the 20th was carried out to the very letter by Generals +Wright, Crook, and Emory, not only in all their preliminary +manoeuvres, but also during the fight itself. The only drawback was +with the cavalry, and to this day I have been unable to account +satisfactorily for Torbert's failure. No doubt, Wickham's position +near Milford was a strong one, but Torbert ought to have made a +fight. Had he been defeated in this, his withdrawal then to await +the result at Fisher's Hill would have been justified, but it does +not appear that he made any serious effort of all to dislodge the +Confederate cavalry: his impotent attempt not only chagrined me very +much, but occasioned much unfavorable comment throughout the army. + +We reached Woodstock early on the morning of the 23d, and halted +there some little time to let the troops recover their organization, +which had been broken in the night march they had just made. When +the commands had closed up we pushed on toward Edinburg, in the hope +of making more captures at Narrow Passage Creek; but the +Confederates, too fleet for us, got away; so General Wright halted +the infantry not far from Edinburg, till rations could be brought the +men. Meanwhile I, having remained at Woodstock, sent Dedin's brigade +to press the enemy under every favorable opportunity, and if possible +prevent him from halting long enough to reorganize. Notwithstanding +Devin's efforts the Confederates managed to assemble a considerable +force to resist him, and being too weak for the rearguard, he awaited +the arrival of Averell, who, I had informed him, would be hurried to +the front with all possible despatch, for I thought that Averell must +be close at hand. It turned out, however, that he was not near by at +all, and, moreover, that without good reason he had refrained from +taking any part whatever in pursuing the enemy in the flight from +Fisher's Hill; and in fact had gone into camp and left to the +infantry the work of pursuit. + +It was nearly noon when Averell came up, and a great deal of precious +time had been lost. We had some hot words, but hoping that he would +retrieve the mistake of the night before, I directed him to proceed +to the front at once, and in conjunction with Devin close with the +enemy. He reached Devin's command about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, +just as this officer was pushing the Confederates so energetically +that they were abandoning Mount Jackson, yet Averell utterly failed +to accomplish anything. Indeed, his indifferent attack was not at +all worthy the excellent soldiers he commanded, and when I learned +that it was his intention to withdraw from the enemy's front, and +this, too, on the indefinite report of a signal-officer that a +"brigade or division" of Confederates was turning his right flank, +and that he had not seriously attempted to verify the information, I +sent him this order: + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +"Woodstock, Va., Sept. 23, 1864 + +"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL AVERELL + +"Your report and report of signal-officer received. I do not want +you to let the enemy bluff you or your command, and I want you to +distinctly understand this note. I do not advise rashness, but I do +desire resolution and actual fighting, with necessary casualties, +before you retire. There must now be no backing or filling by you +without a superior force of the enemy actually engaging you. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding.' + + +Some little time after this note went to Averell, word was brought me +that he had already carried out the programme indicated when +forwarding the report of the expected turning of his right, and that +he had actually withdrawn and gone into camp near Hawkinsburg. I +then decided to relieve him from the command of his division, which I +did, ordering him to Wheeling, Colonel William H. Powell being +assigned to succeed him. + +The removal of Averell was but the culmination of a series of events +extending back to the time I assumed command of the Middle Military +Division. At the outset, General Grant, fearing discord on account +of Averell's ranking Torbert, authorized me to relieve the former +officer, but I hoped that if any trouble of this sort arose, it could +be allayed, or at least repressed, during the campaign against Early, +since the different commands would often have to act separately. +After that, the dispersion of my army by the return of the Sixth +Corps and Torbert's cavalry to the Army of the Potomac would take +place, I thought, and this would restore matters to their normal +condition; but Averell's dissatisfaction began to show itself +immediately after his arrival at Martinsburg, on the 14th of August, +and, except when he was conducting some independent expedition, had +been manifested on all occasions since. I therefore thought that the +interest of the service would be subserved by removing one whose +growing indifference might render the best-laid plans inoperative. + + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION. +"HARRISONBURG, VA., SEPT. 25, 1864 11:30 P. M. +"LIEUT-GENERAL GRANT, Comd'g, City Point, Va. + +"I have relieved Averell from his command. Instead of following the +enemy when he was broken at Fisher's Hill (so there was not a cavalry +organization left), he went into camp and let me pursue the enemy for +a distance of fifteen miles, with infantry, during the night. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + +The failure of Averell to press the enemy the evening of the 23d gave +Early time to collect his scattered forces and take up a position on +the east side of the North Fork of the Shenandoah, his left resting +on the west side of that stream at Rude's Hill, a commanding point +about two miles south of Mt. Jackson. Along this line he had +constructed some slight works during the night, and at daylight on +the 24th, I moved the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through Mt. Jackson +to attack him, sending Powell's division to pass around his left +flank, toward Timberville, and Devin's brigade across the North Fork, +to move along the base of Peaked Ridge and attack his right. The +country was entirely open, and none of these manoeuvres could be +executed without being observed, so as soon as my advance began, the +enemy rapidly retreated in line of battle up the valley through New +Market, closely followed by Wright and Emory, their artillery on the +pike and their columns on its right and left. Both sides moved with +celerity, the Confederates stimulated by the desire to escape, and +our men animated by the prospect of wholly destroying Early's army. +The stern-chase continued for about thirteen miles, our infantry +often coming within range, yet whenever we began to deploy, the +Confederates increased the distance between us by resorting to a +double quick, evading battle with admirable tact. While all this was +going on, the open country permitted us a rare and brilliant sight, +the bright sun gleaming from the arms and trappings of the thousands +of pursuers and pursued. + +Near New Market, as a last effort to hold the enemy, I pushed Devin's +cavalry--comprising about five hundred men--with two guns right up on +Early's lines, in the hope that the tempting opportunity given him to +capture the guns would stay his retreat long enough to let my +infantry deploy within range, but he refused the bait, and after +momentarily checking Devin he continued on with little loss and in +pretty good order. + +All hope of Torbert's appearing in rear of the Confederates vanished +as they passed beyond New Market. Some six miles south of this place +Early left the Valley Pike and took the road to Keezletown, a move +due in a measure to Powell's march by way of Timberville toward +Lacy's Springs, but mainly caused by the fact that the Keezletown +road ran immediately along the base of Peaked Mountain--a rugged +ridge affording protection to Early's right flank--and led in a +direction facilitating his junction with Kershaw, who had been +ordered back to him from Culpeper the day after the battle of the +Opequon. The chase was kept up on the Keezeltown road till darkness +overtook us, when my weary troops were permitted to go into camp; and +as soon as the enemy discovered by our fires that the pursuit had +stopped, he also bivouacked some five miles farther south toward Port +Republic. + +The next morning Early was joined by Lomax's cavalry from +Harrisonburg, Wickham's and Payne's brigades of cavalry also uniting +with him from the Luray Valley. His whole army then fell back to the +mouth of Brown's Gap to await Kershaw's division and Cutshaw's +artillery, now on their return. + +By the morning of the 25th the main body of the enemy had disappeared +entirely from my front, and the capture of some small, squads of +Confederates in the neighboring hills furnished us the only incidents +of the day. Among the prisoners was a tall and fine looking officer, +much worn with hunger and fatigue. The moment I saw him I recognized +him as a former comrade, George W. Carr, with whom I had served in +Washington Territory. He was in those days a lieutenant in the Ninth +Infantry, and was one of the officers who superintended the execution +of the nine Indians at the Cascades of the Columbia in 1856. Carr +was very much emaciated, and greatly discouraged by the turn events +had recently taken. For old acquaintance sake I gave him plenty to +eat, and kept him in comfort at my headquarters until the next batch +of prisoners was sent to the rear, when he went with them. He had +resigned from the regular army at the commencement of hostilities, +and, full of high anticipation, cast his lot with the Confederacy, +but when he fell into our hands, his bright dreams having been +dispelled by the harsh realities of war, he appeared to think that +for him there was no future. + +Picking up prisoners here and there, my troops resumed their march +directly south on the Valley pike, and when the Sixth and Nineteenth +corps reached Harrisonburg, they went into camp, Powell in the +meanwhile pushing on to Mt. Crawford, and Crook taking up a position +in our rear at the junction of the Keezletown road and the Valley +pike. Late in the afternoon Torbert's cavalry came in from New +Market arriving at that place many hours later than it had been +expected. + +The succeeding day I sent Merritt to Port Republic to occupy the +enemy's attention, while Torbert, with Wilson's division and the +regular brigade, was ordered to Staunton, whence he was to proceed to +Waynesboro' and blow up the railroad bridge. Having done this, +Torbert, as he returned, was to drive off whatever cattle he could +find, destroy all forage and breadstuffs, and burn the mills. He +took possession of Waynesboro' in due time, but had succeeded in only +partially demolishing the railroad bridge when, attacked by Pegram's +division of infantry and Wickham's cavalry, he was compelled to fall +back to Staunton. From the latter place he retired to Bridgewater, +and Spring Hill, on the way, however, fully executing his +instructions regarding the destruction of supplies. + +While Torbert was on this expedition, Merritt had occupied Port +Republic, but he happened to get there the very day that Kershaw's +division was marching from Swift Run Gap to join Early. By accident +Kershaw ran into Merritt shortly after the latter had gained the +village. Kershaw's four infantry brigades attacked at once, and +Merrit, forced out of Port Republic, fell back toward Cross Keys; and +in anticipation that the Confederates could be coaxed to that point, +I ordered the infantry there, but Torbert's attack at Wavnesboro' had +alarmed Early, and in consequence he drew all his forces in toward +Rock-fish Gap. This enabled me to re-establish Merritt at Port +Republic, send the Sixth and Nineteenth corps to the neighborhood of +Mt. Crawford to await the return of Torbert, and to post Crook at +Harrisonburg; these dispositions practically obtained till the 6th of +October, I holding a line across the valley from Port Republic along +North River by Mt. Crawford to the Back road near the mouth of Briery +Branch Gap. + +It was during this period, about dusk on the evening of October 3, +that between Harrisonburg and Dayton my engineer officer, Lieutenant +John R. Meigs, was murdered within my lines. He had gone out with +two topographical assistants to plot the country, and late in the +evening, while riding along the public road on his return to camp, he +overtook three men dressed in our uniform. From their dress, and +also because the party was immediately behind our lines and within a +mile and a half of my headquarters, Meigs and his assistants +naturally thought that they were joining friends, and wholly +unsuspicious of anything to the contrary, rode on with the three men +some little distance; but their perfidy was abruptly discovered by +their suddenly turning upon Meigs with a call for his surrender. It +has been claimed that, refusing to submit, he fired on the +treacherous party, but the statement is not true, for one of the +topographers escaped--the other was captured--and reported a few +minutes later at my headquarters that Meigs was killed without +resistance of any kind whatever, and without even the chance to give +himself up. This man was so cool, and related all the circumstances +of the occurrence with such exactness, as to prove the truthfulness +of his statement. The fact that the murder had been committed inside +our lines was evidence that the perpetrators of the crime, having +their homes in the vicinity, had been clandestinely visiting them, +and been secretly harbored by some of the neighboring residents. +Determining to teach a lesson to these abettors of the foul deed--a +lesson they would never forget--I ordered all the houses within an +area of five miles to be burned. General Custer, who had succeeded +to the command of the Third Cavalry division (General Wilson having +been detailed as chief of cavalry to Sherman's army), was charged +with this duty, and the next morning proceeded to put the order into +execution. The prescribed area included the little village of +Dayton, but when a few houses in the immediate neighborhood of the +scene of the murder had been burned, Custer was directed to cease his +desolating work, but to fetch away all the able-bodied males as +prisoners. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +REASONS FOR NOT PURSUING EARLY THROUGH THE BLUE RIDGE--GENERAL +TORBERT DETAILED TO GIVE GENERAL ROSSER A "DRUBBING"--GENERAL ROSSER +ROUTED--TELEGRAPHED TO MEET STANTON--LONGSTREET'S MESSAGE--RETURN TO +WINCHESTER--THE RIDE TO CEDAR CREEK--THE RETREATING ARMY--RALLYING +THE TROOPS--REFORMING THE LINE--COMMENCING THE ATTACK--DEFEAT OF THE +CONFEDERATES--APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR ARMY--RESULTS +OF THE BATTLE. + +While we lay in camp at Harrisonburg it became necessary to decide +whether or not I would advance to Brown's Gap, and, after driving the +enemy from there, follow him through the Blue Ridge into eastern +Virginia. Indeed, this question began to cause me solicitude as soon +as I knew Early had escaped me at New Market, for I felt certain that +I should be urged to pursue the Confederates toward Charlottesville +and Gordonsville, and be expected to operate on that line against +Richmond. For many reasons I was much opposed to such a plan, but +mainly because its execution would involve the opening of the Orange +and Alexandria railroad. To protect this road against the raids of +the numerous guerrilla bands that infested the region through which +it passed, and to keep it in operation, would require a large force +of infantry, and would also greatly reduce my cavalry; besides, I +should be obliged to leave a force in the valley strong enough to +give security to the line of the upper Potomac and the Baltimore and +Ohio railroad, and this alone would probably take the whole of +Crook's command, leaving me a wholly inadequate number of fighting +men to prosecute a campaign against the city of Richmond. Then, too, +I was in doubt whether the besiegers could hold the entire army at +Petersburg; and in case they could not, a number of troops sufficient +to crush me might be detached by Lee, moved rapidly by rail, and, +after overwhelming me, be quickly returned to confront General Meade. +I was satisfied, moreover, that my transportation could not supply me +further than Harrisonburg, and if in penetrating the Blue Ridge I met +with protracted resistance, a lack of supplies might compel me to +abandon the attempt at a most inopportune time. + +I therefore advised that the Valley campaign be terminated north of +Staunton, and I be permitted to return, carrying out on the way my +original instructions for desolating the Shenandoah country so as to +make it untenable for permanent occupation by the Confederates. I +proposed to detach the bulk of my army when this work of destruction +was completed, and send it by way of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad +through Washington to the Petersburg line, believing that I could +move it more rapidly by that route than by any other. I was +confident that if a movement of this character could be made with +celerity it would culminate in the capture of Richmond and possibly +of General Lee's army, and I was in hopes that General Grant would +take the same view of the matter; but just at this time he was so +pressed by the Government and by public-opinion at the North, that he +advocated the wholly different conception of driving Early into +eastern Virginia, and adhered to this plan with some tenacity. +Considerable correspondence regarding the subject took place between +us, throughout which I stoutly maintained that we should not risk, by +what I held to be a false move, all that my army had gained. I being +on the ground, General Grant left to me the final decision of the +question, and I solved the first step by determining to withdraw down +the valley at least as far as Strasburg, which movement was begun on +the 6th of October. + +The cavalry as it retired was stretched across the country from the +Blue Ridge to the eastern slope of the Alleghanies, with orders to +drive off all stock and destroy all supplies as it moved northward. +The infantry preceded the cavalry, passing down the Valley pike, and +as we marched along the many columns of smoke from burning stacks, +and mills filled with grain, indicated that the adjacent country was +fast losing the features which hitherto had made it a great magazine +of stores for the Confederate armies. + +During the 6th and 7th of October, the enemy's horse followed us up, +though at a respectful distance. This cavalry was now under command +of General T. W. Rosser, who on October 5 had joined Early with an +additional brigade from Richmond. As we proceeded the Confederates +gained confidence, probably on account of the reputation with which +its new commander had been heralded, and on the third day's march had +the temerity to annoy my rear guard considerably. Tired of these +annoyances, I concluded to open the enemy's eyes in earnest, so that +night I told Torbert I expected him either to give Rosser a drubbing +next morning or get whipped himself, and that the infantry would be +halted until the affair was over; I also informed him that I proposed +to ride out to Round Top Mountain to see the fight. When I decided +to have Rosser chastised, Merritt was encamped at the foot of Round +Top, an elevation just north of Tom's Brook, and Custer some six +miles farther north and west, near Tumbling Run. In the night Custer +was ordered to retrace his steps before daylight by the Back road, +which is parallel to and about three miles from the Valley pike, and +attack the enemy at Tom's Brook crossing, while Merritt's +instructions were to assail him on the Valley pike in concert with +Custer. About 7 in the morning, Custer's division encountered Rosser +himself with three brigades, and while the stirring sounds of the +resulting artillery duel were reverberating through the valley +Merritt moved briskly to the front and fell upon Generals Lomax and +Johnson on the Valley pike. Merritt, by extending his right, quickly +established connection with Custer, and the two divisions moved +forward together under Torbert's direction, with a determination to +inflict on the enemy the sharp and summary punishment his rashness +had invited. + +The engagement soon became general across the valley, both sides +fighting mainly mounted. For about two hours the contending lines +struggled with each other along Tom's Brook, the charges and counter +charges at many points being plainly visible from the summit of Round +Top, where I had my headquarters for the time. + +The open country permitting a sabre fight, both sides seemed bent on +using that arm. In the centre the Confederates maintained their +position with much stubbornness, and for a time seemed to have +recovered their former spirit, but at last they began to give way on +both flanks, and as these receded, Merritt and Custer went at the +wavering ranks in a charge along the whole front. The result was a +general smash-up of the entire Confederate line, the retreat quickly +degenerating into a rout the like of which was never before seen. +For twenty-six miles this wild stampede kept up, with our troopers +close at the enemy's heels; and the ludicrous incidents of the chase +never ceased to be amusing topics around the camp-fires of Merritt +and Custer. In the fight and pursuit Torbert took eleven pieces of +artillery, with their caissons, all the wagons and ambulances the +enemy had on the ground, and three hundred prisoners. Some of +Rosser's troopers fled to the mountains by way of Columbia Furnace, +and some up the Valley pike and into the Massamitten Range, +apparently not discovering that the chase had been discontinued till +south of Mount Jackson they rallied on Early's infantry. + +After this catastrophe, Early reported to General Lee that his +cavalry was so badly demoralized that it should be dismounted; and +the citizens of the valley, intensely disgusted with the boasting and +swaggering that had characterized the arrival of the "Laurel Brigade" +in that section, baptized the action (known to us as Tom's Brook) the +"Woodstock Races," and never tired of poking fun at General Rosser +about his precipitate and inglorious flight. (When Rosser arrived +from Richmond with his brigade he was proclaimed as the savior of the +Valley, and his men came all bedecked with laurel branches.) + +On the 10th my army, resuming its retrograde movement, crossed to the +north side of Cedar Creek. The work of repairing the Manassas Gap +branch of the Orange and Alexandria railroad had been begun some days +before, out from Washington, and, anticipating that it would be in +readiness to transport troops by the time they could reach Piedmont, +I directed the Sixth Corps to continue its march toward Front Royal, +expecting to return to the Army of the Potomac by that line. By the +12th, however, my views regarding the reconstruction of this railroad +began to prevail, and the work on it was discontinued. The Sixth +Corps, therefore, abandoned that route, and moved toward Ashby's Gap +with the purpose of marching direct to Washington, but on the 13th I +recalled it to Cedar Creek, in consequence of the arrival of the +enemy's infantry at Fisher's Hill, and the receipt, the night before, +of the following despatch, which again opened the question of an +advance on Gordonsville and Charlottesville: + + +(Cipher.) +"WASHINGTON, October 12, 1864, 12 M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN: + +"Lieutenant-General Grant wishes a position taken far enough south to +serve as a base for further operations upon Gordonsville and +Charlottesville. It must be strongly fortified and provisioned. +Some point in the vicinity of Manassas Gap would seem best suited for +all purposes. Colonel Alexander, of the Engineers, will be sent to +consult with you as soon as you connect with General Augur. + +"H. W. HALLECK, Major-General." + + +As it was well known in Washington that the views expressed in the +above despatch were counter to my convictions, I was the next day +required by the following telegram from Secretary Stanton to repair +to that city: + + +"WASHINGTON, October 13, 1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN +(through General Augur) + +"If you can come here, a consultation on several points is extremely +desirable. I propose to visit General Grant, and would like to see +you first. + +"EDWIN M. STANTON, +"Secretary of War." + + +I got all ready to comply with the terms of Secretary Stanton's +despatch, but in the meantime the enemy appeared in my front in +force, with infantry and cavalry, and attacked Colonel Thoburn, who +had been pushed out toward Strasburg from Crook's command, and also +Custer's division of cavalry on the Back road. As afterward +appeared, this attack was made in the belief that all of my troops +but Crook's had gone to Petersburg. From this demonstration there +ensued near Hupp's Hill a bitter skirmish between Kershaw and +Thoburn, and the latter was finally compelled to withdraw to the +north bank of Cedar Creek. Custer gained better results, however, on +the Back road, with his usual dash driving the enemy's cavalry away +from his front, Merritt's division then joining him and remaining on +the right. + +The day's events pointing to a probability that the enemy intended to +resume the offensive, to anticipate such a contingency I ordered the +Sixth Corps to return from its march toward Ashby's Gap. It reached +me by noon of the 14th, and went into position to the right and rear +of the Nineteenth Corps, which held a line along the north bank of +Cedar Creek, west of the Valley pike. Crook was posted on the left +of the Nineteenth Corps and east of the Valley pike, with Thoburn's +division advanced to a round hill, which commanded the junction of +Cedar Creek and the Shenandoah River, while Torbert retained both +Merritt and Custer on the right of the Sixth Corps, and at the same +time covered with Powell the roads toward Front Royal. My head- +quarters were at the Belle Grove House, which was to the west of the +pike and in rear of the Nineteenth Corps. It was my intention to +attack the enemy as soon as the Sixth Corps reached me, but General +Early having learned from his demonstration that I had not detached +as largely as his previous information had led him to believe, on the +night of the 13th withdrew to Fisher's Hill; so, concluding that he +could not do us serious hurt from there, I changed my mind as to +attacking, deciding to defer such action till I could get to +Washington, and come to some definite understanding about my future +operations. + +To carry out this idea, on the evening of the 15th I ordered all of +the cavalry under General Torbert to accompany me to Front Royal, +again intending to push it thence through Chester Gap to the Virginia +Central railroad at Charlottesville, to destroy the bridge over the +Rivanna River, while I passed through Manassas Gap to Rectortown, and +thence by rail to Washington. On my arrival with the cavalry near +Front Royal on the 16th, I halted at the house of Mrs. Richards, on +the north bank of the river, and there received the following +despatch and inclosure from General Wright, who had been left in +command at Cedar Creek: + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY Division, +"October 16, 1864. + +"GENERAL: + +"I enclose you despatch which explains itself. If the enemy should +be strongly reenforced in cavalry, he might, by turning our right, +give us a great deal of trouble. I shall hold on here until the +enemy's movements are developed, and shall only fear an attack on my +right, which I shall make every preparation for guarding against and +resisting. + +"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +"H. G. WRIGHT, Major-General Commanding. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Middle Military Division." + + +[INCLOSURE.] "To LIEUTENANT-GENERAL EARLY: + +"Be ready to move as soon as my forces join you, and we will crush +Sheridan. + +"LONGSTREET, Lieutenant-General." + + +The message from Longstreet had been taken down as it was being +flagged from the Confederate signal-station on Three Top Mountain, +and afterward translated by our signal officers, who knew the +Confederate signal code. I first thought it a ruse, and hardly worth +attention, but on reflection deemed it best to be on the safe side, +so I abandoned the cavalry raid toward Charlottesville, in order to +give General Wright the, entire strength of the army, for it did not +seem wise to reduce his numbers while reinforcement for the enemy +might be near, and especially when such pregnant messages were +reaching Early from one of the ablest of the Confederate generals. +Therefore I sent the following note to General Wright: + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +"Front Royal, October 16, 1864. + +"GENERAL: The cavalry is all ordered back to you; make your position +strong. If Longstreet's despatch is true, he is under the impression +that we have largely detached. I will go over to Augur, and may get +additional news. Close in Colonel Powell, who will be at this point. +If the enemy should make an advance, I know you will defeat him. +Look well to your ground and be well prepared. Get up everything +that can be spared. I will bring up all I can, and will be up on +Tuesday, if not sooner. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT, +"Commanding Sixth Army Corps." + + +At 5 o'clock on the evening of the 16th I telegraphed General Halleck +from Rectortown, giving him the information which had come to me from +Wright, asking if anything corroborative of it had been received from +General Grant, and also saying that I would like to see Halleck; the +telegram ending with the question: "Is it best for me to go to see +you?" Next morning I sent back to Wright all the cavalry except one +regiment, which escorted me through Manassas Gap to the terminus of +the railroad from Washington. I had with me Lieutenant-Colonel James +W. Forsyth, chief-of-staff, and three of my aides, Major George A. +Forsyth, Captain Joseph O'Keefe, and Captain Michael V. Sheridan. I +rode my black horse, Rienzi, and the others their own respective +mounts. + +Before leaving Cedar Creek I had fixed the route of my return to be +by rail from Washington to Martinsburg, and thence by horseback to +Winchester and Cedar Creek, and had ordered three hundred cavalry to +Martinsburg to escort me from that point to the front. At Rectortown +I met General Augur, who had brought a force out from Washington to +reconstruct and protect the line of railroad, and through him +received the following reply from General Halleck: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"WASHINGTON, D.C., October 16 1864 + +"To MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, +"Rectortown, Va. + +General Grant says that Longstreet brought with him no troops from +Richmond, but I have very little confidence in the information +collected at his headquarters. If you can leave your command with +safety, come to Washington, as I wish to give you the views of the +authorities here. + +"H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +In consequence of the Longstreet despatch, I felt a concern about my +absence which I could hardly repress, but after duly considering what +Halleck said, and believing that Longstreet could not unite with +Early before I got back, and that even if he did Wright would be able +to cope with them both, I and my staff, with our horses, took the +cars for Washington, where we arrived on the morning of the 17th at +about 8 o'clock. I proceeded at an early hour to the War Department, +and as soon as I met Secretary Stanton, asked him for a special train +to be ready at 12 o'clock to take me to Martinsburg, saying that in +view of existing conditions I must get back to my army as quickly as +possible. He at once gave the order for the train, and then the +Secretary, Halleck, and I proceeded to hold a consultation in regard +to my operating east of the Blue Ridge. The upshot was that my views +against such a plan were practically agreed to, and two engineer +officers were designated to return with me for the purpose of +reporting on a defensive line in the valley that could be held while +the bulk of my troops were being detached to Petersburg. Colonel +Alexander and Colonel Thom both of the Engineer Corps, reported to +accompany me, and at 12 o'clock we took the train. + +We arrived about dark at Martinsburg, and there found the escort of +three hundred men which I had ordered before leaving Cedar Creek. We +spent that night at Martinsburg, and early next morning mounted and +started up the Valley pike for Winchester, leaving Captain Sheridan +behind to conduct to the army the Commissioners whom the State of New +York had sent down to receive the vote of her troops in the coming +Presidential election. Colonel Alexander was a man of enormous +weight, and Colonel Thom correspondingly light, and as both were +unaccustomed to riding we had to go slowly, losing so much time, in +fact, that we did not reach Winchester till between 3 and 4 o'clock +in the afternoon, though the distance is but twenty-eight miles. As +soon as we arrived at Colonel Edwards's headquarters in the town, +where I intended stopping for the night, I sent a courier to the +front to bring me a report of the condition of affairs, and then took +Colonel Alexander out on the heights about Winchester, in order that +he might overlook the country, and make up his mind as to the utility +of fortifying there. By the time we had completed our survey it was +dark, and just as we reached Colonel Edwards's house on our return a +courier came in from Cedar Creek bringing word that everything was +all right, that the enemy was quiet at Fisher's Hill, and that a +brigade of Grover's division was to make a reconnoissance in the +morning, the 19th, so about 10 o'clock I went to bed greatly +relieved, and expecting to rejoin my headquarters at my leisure next +day. + +Toward 6 o'clock the morning of the 19th, the officer on picket duty +at Winchester came to my room, I being yet in bed, and reported +artillery firing from the direction of Cedar Creek. I asked him if +the firing was continuous or only desultory, to which he replied that +it was not a sustained fire, but rather irregular and fitful. I +remarked: "It's all right; Grover has gone out this morning to make a +reconnoissance, and he is merely feeling the enemy." I tried to go to +sleep again, but grew so restless that I could not, and soon got up +and dressed myself. A little later the picket officer came back and +reported that the firing, which could be distinctly heard from his +line on the heights outside of Winchester, was still going on. I +asked him if it sounded like a battle, and as he again said that it +did not, I still inferred that the cannonading was caused by Grover's +division banging away at the enemy simply to find out what he was up +to. However, I went down-stairs and requested that breakfast be +hurried up, and at the same time ordered the horses to be saddled and +in readiness, for I concluded to go to the front before any further +examinations were made in regard to the defensive line. + +We mounted our horses between half-past 8 and 9, and as we were +proceeding up the street which leads directly through Winchester, +from the Logan residence, where Edwards was quartered, to the Valley +pike, I noticed that there were many women at the windows and doors +of the houses, who kept shaking their skirts at us and who were +otherwise markedly insolent in their demeanor, but supposing this +conduct to be instigated by their well-known and perhaps natural +prejudices, I ascribed to it no unusual significance. On reaching +the edge of the town I halted a moment, and there heard quite +distinctly the sound of artillery firing in an unceasing roar. +Concluding from this that a battle was in progress, I now felt +confident that the women along the street had received intelligence +from the battle, field by the "grape-vine telegraph," and were in +raptures over some good news, while I as yet was utterly ignorant of +the actual situation. Moving on, I put my head down toward the +pommel of my saddle and listened intently, trying to locate and +interpret the sound, continuing in this position till we had crossed +Mill Creek, about half a mile from Winchester. The result of my +efforts in the interval was the conviction that the travel of the +sound was increasing too rapidly to be accounted for by my own rate +of motion, and that therefore my army must be falling back. + +At Mill Creek my escort fell in behind, and we were going ahead at a +regular pace, when, just as we made the crest of the rise beyond the +stream, there burst upon our view the appalling spectacle of a panic- +stricken army-hundreds of slightly wounded men, throngs of others +unhurt but utterly demoralized, and baggage-wagons by the score, all +pressing to the rear in hopeless confusion, telling only too plainly +that a disaster had occurred at the front. On accosting some of the +fugitives, they assured me that the army was broken up, in full +retreat, and that all was lost; all this with a manner true to that +peculiar indifference that takes possession of panic-stricken men. I +was greatly disturbed by the, sight, but at once sent word to Colonel +Edwards commanding the brigade in Winchester, to stretch his troops +across the valley, near Mill Creek, and stop all fugitives, directing +also that the transportation be, passed through and parked on the +north side of the town. + +As I continued at a walk a few hundred yards farther, thinking all +the time of Longstreet's telegram to Early, "Be ready when I join +you, and we will crush Sheridan," I was fixing in my mind what I +should do. My first thought was too stop the army in the suburbs of +Winchester as it came back, form a new line, and fight there; but as +the situation was more maturely considered a better conception +prevailed. I was sure the troops had confidence in me, for +heretofore we had been successful; and as at other times they had +seen me present at the slightest sign of trouble or distress, I felt +that I ought to try now to restore their broken ranks, or, failing in +that, to share their fate because of what they had done hitherto. + +About this time Colonel Wood, my chief commissary, arrived from the +front and gave me fuller intelligence, reporting that everything was +gone, my headquarters captured, and the troops dispersed. When I +heard this I took two of my aides-de-camp, Major. George A. Forsyth +and Captain Joseph O'Keefe, and with twenty men from the escort +started for the front, at the same time directing Colonel James W. +Forsyth and Colonels Alexander and Thom to remain behind and do what +they could to stop the runaways. + +For a short distance I traveled on the road, but soon found it so +blocked with wagons and wounded men that my progress was impeded, and +I was forced to take to the adjoining fields to make haste. When +most of the wagons and wounded were past I returned to the road, +which was thickly lined with unhurt men, who, having got far enough +to the rear to be out of danger, had halted, without any +organization, and begun cooking coffee, but when they saw me they +abandoned their coffee, threw up their hats, shouldered their +muskets, and as I passed along turned to follow with enthusiasm and +cheers. To acknowledge this exhibition of feeling I took off my hat, +and with Forsyth and O'Keefe rode some distance in advance of my +escort, while every mounted officer who saw me galloped out on either +side of the pike to tell the men at a distance that I had come back. +In this way the news was spread to the stragglers off the road, when +they, too, turned their faces to the front and marched toward the +enemy, changing in a moment from the depths of depression, to the +extreme of enthusiasm. I already knew that even in the ordinary +condition of mind enthusiasm is a potent element with soldiers, but +what I saw that day convinced me that if it can be excited from a +state of despondency its power is almost irresistible. I said +nothing except to remark as I rode among those on the road: "If I had +been, with you this morning this disaster would not have happened. +We must face the other way; we will go back and recover our camp." + +My first halt was made just north of Newtown, where I met a chaplain +digging his heels into the sides of his jaded horse, and making for +the rear with all possible speed. I drew up for an instant, and +inquired of him how matters were going at the front. He replied, +"Everything is lost; but all will be right when you get there"; yet +notwithstanding this expression of confidence in me, the parson at +once resumed his breathless pace to the rear. At Newtown I was +obliged to make a circuit to the left, to get round the village. I +could not pass through it, the streets were so crowded, but meeting +on this detour Major McKinley, of Crook's staff, he spread the news +of my return through the motley throng there. + +When nearing the Valley pike, just south of Newtown I saw about +three-fourths of a mile west of the pike a body of troops, which +proved to be Ricketts's and Wheaton's divisions of the Sixth Corps, +and then learned that the Nineteenth Corps had halted a little to the +right and rear of these; but I did not stop, desiring to get to the +extreme front. Continuing on parallel with the pike, about midway +between Newtown and Middletown I crossed to the west of it, and a +little later came up in rear of Getty's division of the Sixth Corps. +When I arrived, this division and the cavalry were the only troops in +the presence of and resisting the enemy; they were apparently acting +as a rear-guard at a point about three miles north of the line we +held at Cedar Creek when the battle began. General Torbert was the +first officer to meet me, saying as he rode up, "My God! I am glad +you've come." Getty's division, when I found it, was about a mile +north of Middletown, posted on the reverse slope of some slightly +rising ground, holding a barricade made with fence-rails, and +skirmishing slightly with the enemy's pickets. Jumping my horse over +the line of rails, I rode to the crest of the elevation, and there +taking off my hat, the men rose up from behind their barricade with +cheers of recognition. An officer of the Vermont brigade, Colonel A. +S. Tracy, rode out to the front, and joining me, informed me that +General Louis A. Grant was in command there, the regular division +commander, General Getty, having taken charge of the Sixth Corps in +place of Ricketts, wounded early in the action, while temporarily +commanding the corps. I then turned back to the rear of Getty's +division, and as I came behind it, a line of regimental flags rose up +out of the ground, as it seemed, to welcome me. They were mostly the +colors of Crook's troops, who had been stampeded and scattered in the +surprise of the morning. The color-bearers, having withstood the +panic, had formed behind the troops of Getty. The line with the +colors was largely composed of officers, among whom I recognized +Colonel R. B. Hayes, since president of the United States, one of the +brigade commanders. At the close of this incident I crossed the +little narrow valley, or depression, in rear of Getty's line, and +dismounting on the opposite crest, established that point as my +headquarters. In a few minutes some of my staff joined me, and the +first directions I gave were to have the Nineteenth Corps and the two +divisions of Wright's corps brought to the front, so they could be +formed on Getty's division, prolonged to the right; for I had already +decided to attack the enemy from that line as soon as I could get +matters in shape to take the offensive. Crook met me at this time, +and strongly favored my idea of attacking, but said, however, that +most of his troops were gone. General Wright came up a little later, +when I saw that he was wounded, a ball having grazed the point of his +chin so as to draw the blood plentifully. + +Wright gave me a hurried account of the day's events, and when told +that we would fight the enemy on the line which Getty and the cavalry +were holding, and that he must go himself and send all his staff to +bring up the troops, he zealously fell in with the scheme; and it was +then that the Nineteenth Corps and two divisions of the Sixth were +ordered to the front from where they had been halted to the right and +rear of Getty. + +After this conversation I rode to the east of the Valley pike and to +the left of Getty's division, to a point from which I could obtain a +good view of the front, in the mean time sending Major Forsyth to +communicate with Colonel Lowell (who occupied a position close in +toward the suburbs of Middletown and directly in front of Getty's +left) to learn whether he could hold on there. Lowell replied that +he could. I then ordered Custer's division back to the right flank, +and returning to the place where my headquarters had been established +I met near them Ricketts's division under General Keifer and General +Frank Wheaton's division, both marching to the front. When the men +of these divisions saw me they began cheering and took up the double +quick to the front, while I turned back toward Getty's line to point +out where these returning troops should be placed. Having done this, +I ordered General Wright to resume command of the Sixth Corps, and +Getty, who was temporarily in charge of it, to take command of his +own division. A little later the Nineteenth Corps came up and was +posted between the right of the Sixth Corps and Middle Marsh Brook. + +All this had consumed a great deal of time, and I concluded to visit +again the point to the east of the Valley pike, from where I had +first observed the enemy, to see what he was doing. Arrived there, I +could plainly see him getting ready for attack, and Major Forsyth now +suggested that it would be well to ride along the line of battle +before the enemy assailed us, for although the troops had learned of +my return, but few of them had seen me. Following his suggestion I +started in behind the men, but when a few paces had been taken I +crossed to the front and, hat in hand, passed along the entire length +of the infantry line; and it is from this circumstance that many of +the officers and men who then received me with such heartiness have +since supposed that that was my first appearance on the field. But +at least two hours had elapsed since I reached the ground, for it was +after mid-day, when this incident of riding down the front took +place, and I arrived not later, certainly, than half-past 10 o'clock. + +After re-arranging the line and preparing to attack I returned again +to observe the Confederates, who shortly began to advance on us. The +attacking columns did not cover my entire front, and it appeared that +their onset would be mainly directed against the Nineteenth Corps, +so, fearing that they might be too strong for Emory on account of his +depleted condition (many of his men not having had time to get up +from the rear), and Getty's division being free from assault I +transferred a part of it from the extreme left to the support of the +Nineteenth Corps. The assault was quickly repulsed by Emory, +however, and as the enemy fell back Getty's troops were returned to +their original place. This repulse of the Confederates made me feel +pretty safe from further offensive operations on their part, and I +now decided to suspend the fighting till my thin ranks were further +strengthened by the men who were continually coming up from the rear, +and particularly till Crook's troops could be assembled on the +extreme left. + +In consequence of the despatch already mentioned, "Be ready when I +join you, and we will crush Sheridan," since learned to have been +fictitious, I had been supposing all day that Longstreet's troops +were present, but as no definite intelligence on this point had been +gathered, I concluded, in the lull that now occurred, to ascertain +something positive regarding Longstreet; and Merritt having been +transferred to our left in the morning, I directed him to attack an +exposed battery then at the edge of Middletown, and capture some +prisoners. Merritt soon did this work effectually, concealing his +intention till his troops got close in to the enemy, and then by a +quick dash gobbling up a number of Confederates. When the prisoners +were brought in, I learned from them that the only troops of +Longstreet's in the fight were of Kershaw's division, which had +rejoined Early at Brown's Gap in the latter part of September, and +that the rest of Longstreet's corps was not on the field. The +receipt of this information entirely cleared the way for me to take +the offensive, but on the heels of it came information that +Longstreet was marching by the Front Royal pike to strike my rear at +Winchester, driving Powell's cavalry in as he advanced. This renewed +my uneasiness, and caused me to delay the general attack till after +assurances came from Powell denying utterly the reports as to +Longstreet, and confirming the statements of the prisoners. + +Between half-past and 4 o'clock, I was ready to assail, and decided +to do so by advancing my infantry line in a swinging movement, so as +to gain the Valley pike with my right between Middletown and the +Belle Grove House; and when the order was passed along, the men +pushed steadily forward with enthusiasm and confidence. General +Early's troops extended some little distance beyond our right, and +when my flank neared the overlapping enemy, he turned on it, with the +effect of causing a momentary confusion, but General McMillan quickly +realizing the danger, broke the Confederates at the reentering angle +by a counter charge with his brigade, doing his work so well that the +enemy's flanking troops were cut off from their main body and left to +shift for themselves. Custer, who was just then moving in from the +west side of Middle Marsh Brook, followed McMillan's timely blow with +a charge of cavalry, but before starting out on it, and while his men +were forming, riding at full speed himself, to throw his arms around +my neck. By the time he had disengaged himself from this embrace, +the troops broken by McMillan had gained some little distance to +their rear, but Custer's troopers sweeping across the Middletown +meadows and down toward Cedar Creek, took many of them prisoners +before they could reach the stream--so I forgave his delay. + +My whole line as far as the eye could see was now driving everything +before it, from behind trees, stone walls, and all such sheltering +obstacles, so I rode toward the left to ascertain how matters were +getting on there. As I passed along behind the advancing troops, +first General Grover, and then Colonel Mackenzie, rode up to welcome +me. Both were severely wounded, and I told them to leave the field, +but they implored permission to remain till success was certain. +When I reached the Valley pike Crook had reorganized his men, and as +I desired that they should take part in the fight, for they were the +very same troops that had turned Early's flank at Winchester and at +Fisher's Hill, I ordered them to be pushed forward; and the alacrity +and celerity with which they moved on Middletown demonstrated that +their ill-fortune of the morning had not sprung from lack of valor. + +Meanwhile Lowell's brigade of cavalry, which, it will be remembered, +had been holding on, dismounted, just north of Middletown ever since +the time I arrived from Winchester, fell to the rear for the purpose +of getting their led horses. A momentary panic was created in the +nearest brigade of infantry by this withdrawal of Lowell, but as soon +as his men were mounted they charged the enemy clear up to the stone +walls in the edge of Middletown; at sight of this the infantry +brigade renewed its attack, and the enemy's right gave way. The +accomplished Lowell received his death-wound in this courageous +charge. + +All our troops were now moving on the retreating Confederates, and as +I rode to the front Colonel Gibbs, who succeeded Lowell, made ready +for another mounted charge, but I checked him from pressing the +enemy's right, in the hope that the swinging attack from my right +would throw most of the Confederates to the east of the Valley pike, +and hence off their line of retreat through Strasburg to Fisher's +Hill. The eagerness of the men soon frustrated this anticipation, +however, the left insisting on keeping pace with the centre and +right, and all pushing ahead till we regained our old camps at Cedar +Creek. Beyond Cedar Creek, at Strasburg, the pike makes a sharp turn +to the west toward Fisher's Hill, and here Merritt uniting with +Custer, they together fell on the flank of the retreating columns, +taking many prisoners, wagons, and guns, among the prisoners being +Major-General Ramseur, who, mortally wounded, died the next day. + +When the news of the victory was received, General Grant directed a +salute of one hundred shotted guns to be fired into Petersburg, and +the President at once thanked the army in an autograph letter. A few +weeks after, he promoted me, and I received notice of this in a +special letter from the Secretary of War, saying: + +"--that for the personal gallantry, military skill, and just confidence +in the courage and patriotism of your troops, displayed by you on the +19th day of October at Cedar Run, whereby, under the blessing of +Providence, your routed army was reorganized, a great National +disaster averted, and a brilliant victory achieved over the rebels +for the third time in pitched battle within thirty days, Philip H. +Sheridan is appointed a major-general in the United States Army." + +The direct result of the battle was the recapture of all the +artillery, transportation, and camp equipage we had lost, and in +addition twenty-four pieces of the enemy's artillery, twelve hundred +prisoners, and a number of battle-flags. But more still flowed from +this victory, succeeding as it did the disaster of the morning, for +the reoccupation of our old camps at once re-established a morale +which for some hours had been greatly endangered by ill-fortune. + +It was not till after the battle that I learned fully what had taken +place before my arrival, and then found that the enemy, having +gathered all the strength he could through the return of +convalescents and other absentees, had moved quietly from Fisher's +Hill, in the night of the 18th and early on the morning of the 19th, +to surprise my army, which, it should be remembered, was posted on +the north bank of Cedar Creek, Crook holding on the left of the +Valley pike, with Thoburn's division advanced toward the creek on +Duval's (under Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes) and Kitching's +provisional divisions to the north and rear of Thoburn. The +Nineteenth Corps was on the right of Crook, extending in a semi- +circular line from the pike nearly to Meadow Brook, while the Sixth +Corps lay to the west of the brook in readiness to be used as a +movable column. Merritt's division was to the right and rear of the +Sixth Corps, and about a mile and a half west of Merrit was Custer +covering the fords of Cedar Creek as far west as the Middle road. + +General Early's plan was for one column under General Gordon, +consisting of three divisions of infantry (Gordon's, Ramseur's, and +Pegram's), and Payne's brigade of cavalry to cross the Shenandoah +River directly east of the Confederate works at Fisher's Hill, march +around the northerly face of the Massanutten Mountain, and again +cross the Shenandoah at Bowman's and McInturff's fords. Payne's task +was to capture me at the Belle Grove House. General Early himself, +with Kershaw's and Wharton's divisions, was to move through +Strasburg, Kershaw, accompanied by Early, to cross Cedar Creek at +Roberts's ford and connect with Gordon, while Wharton was to continue +on the Valley pike to Hupp's Hill and join the left of Kershaw, when +the crossing of the Valley pike over Cedar Creek became free. + +Lomax's cavalry, then in the Luray Valley, was ordered to join the +right of Gordon on the field of battle, while Rosser was to carry the +crossing of Cedar Creek on the Back road and attack Custer. Early's +conceptions were carried through in the darkness with little accident +or delay, Kershaw opening the fight by a furious attack on Thoburn's +division, while at dawn and in a dense fog Gordon struck Crook's +extreme left, surprising his pickets, and bursting into his camp with +such suddenness as to stampede Crook's men. Gordon directing his +march on my headquarters (the Belle Grove House), successfully turned +our position as he gained the Valley pike, and General Wright was +thus forced to order the withdrawal of the Nineteenth Corps from its +post at the Cedar Creek crossing, and this enabled Wharton to get +over the stream there unmolested and join Kershaw early in the +action. + +After Crook's troops had been driven from their camps, General Wright +endeavored to form a line with the Sixth Corps to hold the Valley +pike to the left of the Nineteenth, but failing in this he ordered +the withdrawal of the latter corps, Ricketts, temporarily commanding +the Sixth Corps, checking Gordon till Emory had retired. As already +stated, Wharton was thus permitted to cross Cedar Creek on the pike, +and now that Early had a continuous line, he pressed his advantage so +vigorously that the whole Union army was soon driven from its camps +in more or less disorder; and though much disjointed resistance was +displayed, it may be said that no systematic stand was made until +Getty's division, aided by Torbert's cavalry, which Wright had +ordered to the left early in the action, took up the ground where, on +arriving from Winchester, I found them. + +When I left my command on the 16th, little did I anticipate that +anything like this would happen. Indeed, I felt satisfied that Early +was, of himself, too weak to take the offensive, and although I +doubted the Longstreet despatch, yet I was confident that, even +should it prove true, I could get back before the junction could be +made, and at the worst I felt certain that my army was equal to +confronting the forces of Longstreet and Early combined. Still, the +surprise of the morning might have befallen me as well as the general +on whom it did descend, and though it is possible that this could +have been precluded had Powell's cavalry been closed in, as suggested +in my despatch from Front Royal, yet the enemy's desperation might +have prompted some other clever and ingenious scheme for relieving +his fallen fortunes in the Shenandoah Valley. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GENERAL EARLY REORGANIZES HIS FORCES--MOSBY THE GUERRILLA--GENERAL +MERRITT SENT TO OPERATE AGAINST MOSBY--ROSSER AGAIN ACTIVE--GENERAL +CUSTER SURPRISED--COLONEL YOUNG SENT TO CAPTURE GILMORE THE +GUERRILLA--COLONEL YOUNG'S SUCCESS--CAPTURE OF GENERAL KELLY AND +GENERAL CROOK--SPIES--WAS WILKES BOOTH A SPY?--DRIVING THE +CONFEDERATES OUT OF THE VALLEY--THE BATTLE OF WAYNESBORO'--MARCHING +TO JOIN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. + +Early's broken army practically made no halt in its retreat after the +battle of Cedar-Creek until it reached New Market, though at Fisher's +Hill was left a small rear-guard of cavalry, which hastily decamped, +however, when charged by Gibbs's brigade on the morning of the 20th. +Between the date of his signal defeat and the 11th of November, the +enemy's scattered forces had sufficiently reorganized to permit his +again making a reconnoissance in the valley as far north as Cedar +Creek, my army having meanwhile withdrawn to Kernstown, where it had +been finally decided that a defensive line should be held to enable +me to detach troops to General Grant, and where, by reconstructing +the Winchester and Potomac railroad from Stephenson's depot to +Harper's Ferry, my command might be more readily, supplied. Early's +reconnoissance north of Cedar Creek ended in a rapid withdrawal of +his infantry after feeling my front, and with the usual ill-fortune +to his cavalry; Merritt and Custer driving Rosser and Lomax with ease +across Cedar Creek on the Middle and Back roads, while Powell's +cavalry struck McCausland near Stony Point, and after capturing two +pieces of artillery and about three hundred officers and men chased +him into the Luray Valley. + +Early got back to New Market on the 14th of November, and, from lack +of subsistence, being unable to continue demonstrations to prevent my +reinforcement of General Grant, began himself to detach to General +Lee by returning Kershaw's division to Petersburg, as was definitely +ascertained by Torbert in a reconnoissance to Mount Jackson. At this +time General Grant wished me to send him the Sixth Corps, and it was +got ready for the purpose, but when I informed him that Torbert's +reconnoissance had developed the fact that Early still retained four +divisions of infantry and one of cavalry, it was decided, on my +suggestion, to let the Sixth Corps remain till the season should be a +little further advanced, when the inclemency of the weather would +preclude infantry campaigning. These conditions came about early in +December, and by the middle of the month the whole of the Sixth Corps +was at Petersburg; simultaneously with its transfer to that line +Early sending his Second Corps to Lee. + +During the entire campaign I had been annoyed by guerrilla bands +under such partisan chiefs as Mosby, White, Gilmore, McNeil, and +others, and this had considerably depleted my line-of-battle +strength, necessitating as it did large, escorts for my supply- +trains. The most redoubtable of these leaders was Mosby, whose force +was made up from the country around Upperville, east of the Blue +Ridge, to which section he always fled for a hiding-place when he +scented danger. I had not directed any special operations against +these partisans while the campaign was active, but as Mosby's men had +lately killed, within my lines, my chief quartermaster, Colonel +Tolles, and Medical Inspector Ohlenchlager, I concluded to devote +particular attention to these "irregulars" during the lull that now +occurred; so on the 28th of November, I directed General Merritt to +march to the Loudoun Valley and operate against Mosby, taking care to +clear the country of forage and subsistence, so as to prevent the +guerrillas from being harbored there in the future their destruction +or capture being well-nigh impossible, on account of their intimate +knowledge of the mountain region. Merritt carried out his +instructions with his usual sagacity and thoroughness, sweeping +widely over each side of his general line of march with flankers, who +burned the grain and brought in large herds of cattle, hogs and +sheep, which were issued to the troops. + +While Merritt was engaged in this service the Baltimore and Ohio +railroad once more received the attention of the enemy; Rosser, with +two brigades of cavalry, crossing the Great North Mountain, capturing +the post of New Creek, with about five hundred prisoners and seven +guns, destroying all the supplies of the garrison, and breaking up +the railroad track. This slight success of the Confederates in West +Virginia, and the intelligence that they were contemplating further +raids in that section, led me to send, Crook there with one division, +his other troops going to City Point; and, I hoped that all the +threatened places would thus be sufficiently protected, but +negligence at Beverly resulted in the capture of that station by +Rosser on the 11th of January. + +In the meanwhile, Early established himself with Wharton's division +at Staunton in winter quarters, posting his cavalry in that +neighborhood also, except a detachment at New Market, and another +small one at the signalstation on Three Top Mountain. The winter was +a most severe one, snow falling frequently to the depth of several +inches, and the mercury often sinking below zero. The rigor of the +season was very much against the success of any mounted operations, +but General Grant being very desirous to have the railroads broken up +about Gordonsville and Charlottesville, on the 19th of December I +started the cavalry out for that purpose, Torbert, with Merritt and +Powell, marching through Chester Gap, while Custer moved toward +Staunton to make a demonstration in Torbert's favor, hoping to hold +the enemy's troops in the valley. Unfortunately, Custer did not +accomplish all that was expected of him, and being surprised by +Rosser and Payne near Lacy's Springs before reveille, had to abandon +his bivouac and retreat down the valley, with the loss of a number of +prisoners, a few horses, and a good many horse equipments, for, +because of the suddenness of Rosser's attack, many of the men had no +time to saddle up. As soon as Custer's retreat was assured, +Wharton's division of infantry was sent to Charlottesville to check +Torbert, but this had already been done by Lomax, with the assistance +of infantry sent up from Richmond. Indeed, from the very beginning +of the movement the Confederates had been closely observing the +columns of Torbert and Custer, and in consequence of the knowledge +thus derived, Early had marched Lomax to Gordonsville in anticipation +of an attack there, at the same time sending Rosser down the valley +to meet Custer. Torbert in the performance of his task captured two +pieces of artillery from Johnson's and McCausland's brigades, at +Liberty Mills on the Rapidan River, but in the main the purpose of +the raid utterly failed, so by the 27th of December he returned, +many, of his men badly frost-bitten from the extreme cold which had +prevailed. + +This expedition practically closed all operations for the season, and +the cavalry was put into winter cantonment near Winchester. The +distribution of my infantry to Petersburg and West Virginia left with +me in the beginning of the new year, as already stated, but the one +small division of the Nineteenth Corps. On account of this +diminution of force, it became necessary for me to keep thoroughly +posted in regard to the enemy, and I now realized more than I had +done hitherto how efficient my scouts had become since under the +control of Colonel Young; for not only did they bring me almost every +day intelligence from within Early's lines, but they also operated +efficiently against the guerrillas infesting West Virginia. + +Harry Gilmore, of Maryland, was the most noted of these since the +death of McNeil, and as the scouts had reported him in Harrisonburg +the latter part of January, I directed two of the most trustworthy to +be sent to watch his movements and ascertain his purposes. In a few +days these spies returned with the intelligence that Gilmore was on +his way to Moorefield, the centre of a very disloyal section in West +Virginia, about ninety miles southwest of Winchester, where, under +the guise of a camp-meeting, a gathering was to take place, at which +he expected to enlist a number of men, be joined by a party of about +twenty recruits coming from Maryland, and then begin depredations +along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Believing that Gilmore might +be captured, I directed Young to undertake the task, and as a +preliminary step he sent to Moorefield two of his men who early in +the war had "refugeed" from that section and enlisted in one of the +Union regiments from West Virginia. In about a week these men came +back and reported that Gilmore was living at a house between three +and four miles from Moorefield, and gave full particulars as to his +coming and going, the number of men he had about there and where they +rendezvoused. + +With this knowledge at hand I directed Young to take twenty of his +best men and leave that night for Moorefield, dressed in Confederate +uniforms, telling him that I would have about three hundred cavalry +follow in his wake when he had got about fifteen miles start, and +instructing him to pass his party off as a body of recruits for +Gilmore coming from Maryland and pursued by the Yankee cavalry. I +knew this would allay suspicion and provide him help on the road; +and, indeed, as Colonel Whittaker, who alone knew the secret, +followed after the fleeing "Marylanders," he found that their advent +had caused so little remark that the trail would have been lost had +he not already known their destination. Young met with a hearty, +welcome wherever he halted on the way, and as he passed through the +town of Moorefield learned with satisfaction that Gilmore still made +his headquarters at the house where the report of the two scouts had +located him a few days before. Reaching the designated place about +12 o'clock on the night of the 5th of February, Young, under the +representation that he had come directly from Maryland and was being +pursued by the Union cavalry, gained immediate access to Gilmore's +room. He found the bold guerrilla snugly tucked in bed, with two +pistols lying on a chair near by. He was sleeping so soundly that to +arouse him Young had to give him a violent shake. As he awoke and +asked who was disturbing his slumbers, Young, pointing at him a +cocked six-shooter, ordered him to dress without delay, and in answer +to his inquiry, informed him that he was a prisoner to one of +Sheridan's staff. Meanwhile Gilmore's men had learned of his +trouble, but the early appearance of Colonel Whittaker caused them to +disperse; thus the last link between Maryland and the Confederacy was +carried a prisoner to Winchester, whence he was sent to Fort Warren. + +The capture of Gilmore caused the disbandment of the party he had +organized at the "camp-meeting," most of the men he had recruited +returning to their homes discouraged, though some few joined the +bands of Woodson and young Jesse McNeil, which, led by the latter, +dashed into Cumberland, Maryland, at 3 O'clock on the morning of the +21st of February and made a reprisal by carrying off General Crook +and General Kelly, and doing their work so silently and quickly that +they escaped without being noticed, and were some distance on their +way before the colored watchman at the hotel where Crook was +quartered could compose himself enough to give the alarm. A troop of +cavalry gave hot chase from Cumberland, striving to intercept the +party at Moorefield and other points, but all efforts were fruitless, +the prisoners soon being beyond reach. + +Although I had adopted the general rule of employing only soldiers as +scouts, there was an occasional exception to it. I cannot say that +these exceptions proved wholly that an ironclad observance of the +rule would have been best, but I am sure of it in one instance. A +man named Lomas, who claimed to be a Marylander, offered me his +services as a spy, and coming highly recommended from Mr. Stanton, +who had made use of him in that capacity, I employed him. He made +many pretensions, often appearing over anxious to impart information +seemingly intended to impress me with his importance, and yet was +more than ordinarily intelligent, but in spite of that my confidence +in him was by no means unlimited. I often found what he reported to +me as taking place within the Confederate lines corroborated by +Young's men, but generally there were discrepancies in his tales, +which led me to suspect that he was employed by the enemy as well as +by me. I felt, however, that with good watching he could do me +little harm, and if my suspicions were incorrect he might be very +useful, so I held on to him. + +Early in February Lomas was very solicitous for me to employ a man +who, he said, had been with Mosby, but on account of some quarrel in +the irregular camp had abandoned that leader. Thinking that with two +of them I might destroy the railroad bridges east of Lynchburg, I +concluded, after the Mosby man had been brought to my headquarters by +Lomas about 12 o'clock one night, to give him employment, at the same +time informing Colonel Young that I suspected their fidelity, +however, and that he must test it by shadowing their every movement. +When Lomas's companion entered my room he was completely disguised, +but on discarding the various contrivances by which his identity was +concealed he proved to be a rather slender, dark-complexioned, +handsome young man, of easy address and captivating manners. He gave +his name as Renfrew, answered all my questions satisfactorily, and +went into details about Mosby and his men which showed an intimacy +with them at some time. I explained to the two men the work I had +laid out for them, and stated the sum of money I would give to have +it done, but stipulated that in case of failure there would be no +compensation whatever beyond the few dollars necessary for their +expenses. They readily assented, and it was arranged that they +should start the following night. Meanwhile Young had selected his +men to shadow them, and in two days reported my spies as being +concealed at Strasburg, where they remained, without making the +slightest effort to continue on their mission, and were busy, no +doubt, communicating with the enemy, though I was not able to fasten +this on them. On the 16th of February they returned to Winchester, +and reported their failure, telling so many lies about their +hazardous adventure as to remove all remaining doubt as to their +double-dealing. Unquestionably they were spies from the enemy, and +hence liable to the usual penalties of such service; but it struck me +that through them, I might deceive Early as to the time of opening +the spring campaign, I having already received from General Grant an +intimation of what was expected of me. I therefore retained the men +without even a suggestion of my knowledge of their true character, +Young meanwhile keeping close watch over all their doings. + +Toward the last of February General Early had at Staunton two +brigades of infantry under Wharton. All the rest of the infantry +except Echol's brigade, which was in southwestern Virginia, had been +sent to Petersburg during the winter, and Fitz. Lee's two brigades of +cavalry also. Rosser's men were mostly at their homes, where, on +account of a lack of subsistence and forage in the valley, they had +been permitted to go, subject to call. Lomax's cavalry was at +Millboro', west of Staunton, where supplies were obtainable. It was +my aim to get well on the road before Early could collect these +scattered forces, and as many of the officers had been in the habit +of amusing themselves fox-hunting during the latter part of the +winter, I decided to use the hunt as an expedient for stealing a +march on the enemy, and had it given out officially that a grand fox- +chase would take place on the 29th of February. Knowing that Lomas, +and Renfrew would spread the announcement South, they were permitted +to see several red foxes that had been secured, as well as a large +pack of hounds which Colonel Young had collected for the sport, and +were then started on a second expedition to burn the bridges. Of +course, they were shadowed as usual, and two days later, after they +had communicated with friends from their hiding-place, in Newtown, +they were arrested. On the way north to Fort Warren they escaped +from their guards when passing through Baltimore, and I never heard +of them again, though I learned that, after the assassination of, Mr. +Lincoln, Secretary Stanton strongly suspected his friend Lomas of +being associated with the conspirators, and it then occurred to me +that the good-looking Renfrew may have been Wilkes Booth, for he +certainly bore a strong resemblance to Booth's pictures. + +On the 27th of February my cavalry entered upon the campaign which +cleared the Shenandoah Valley of every remnant of organized +Confederates. General Torbert being absent on leave at this time, I +did not recall him, but appointed General Merritt Chief of Cavalry. +for Torbert had disappointed me on two important occasions--in the +Luray Valley during the battle of Fisher's Hill, and on the recent +Gordonsville expedition--and I mistrusted his ability to conduct any +operations requiring much self-reliance. The column was composed of +Custer's and Devin's divisions of cavalry, and two sections of +artillery, comprising in all about 10,000 officers and men. On +wheels we had, to accompany this column, eight ambulances, sixteen +ammunition wagons, a pontoon train for eight canvas boats, and a +small supply-train, with fifteen days' rations of coffee, sugar, and +salt, it being intended to depend on the country for the meat and +bread ration, the men carrying in their haversacks nearly enough to +subsist them till out of the exhausted valley. + +Grant's orders were for me to destroy the Virginia Central railroad +and the James River canal, capture Lynchburg if practicable, and then +join General Sherman in North Carolina wherever he might be found, or +return to Winchester, but as to joining Sherman I was to be governed +by the state of affairs after the projected capture of Lynchburg. +The weather was cold, the valley and surrounding mountains being +still covered with snow; but this was fast disappearing, however, +under the heavy rain that was coming down as the column moved along +up the Valley pike at a steady gait that took us to Woodstock the +first day. The second day we crossed the North Fork of the +Shenandoah on our pontoon-bridge, and by night-fall reached Lacy's +Springs, having seen nothing of the enemy as yet but a few partisans +who hung on our flanks in the afternoon. + +March 1 we encountered General Rosser at Mt. Crawford, he having been +able to call together only some five or six hundred of his troops, +our unsuspected march becoming known to Early only the day before. +Rosser attempted to delay us here, trying to burn the bridges over +the Middle Fork of the Shenandoah, but two regiments from Colonel +Capehart's brigade swam the stream and drove Rosser to Kline's Mills, +taking thirty prisoners and twenty ambulances and wagons. + +Meanwhile General Early was busy at Staunton, but not knowing my +objective point, he had ordered the return of Echol's brigade from +southwestern Virginia for the protection of Lynchburg, directed +Lomax's cavalry to concentrate at Pond Gap for the purpose of +harassing me if I moved toward Lynchburg, and at the same time +marched Wharton's two brigades of infantry, Nelson's artillery, and +Rosser's cavalry to Waynesboro', whither he went also to remain till +the object of my movement was ascertained. + +I entered Staunton the morning of March 2, and finding that Early had +gone to Waynesboro' with his infantry and Rosser, the question at +once arose whether I should continue my march to Lynchburg direct, +leaving my adversary in my rear, or turn east and open the way +through Rockfish Gap to the Virginia Central railroad and James River +canal. I felt confident of the success of the latter plan, for I +knew that Early numbered there not more than two thousand men; so, +influenced by this, and somewhat also by the fact that Early had left +word in Staunton that he would fight at Waynesboro', I directed +Merritt to move toward that place with Custer, to be closely followed +by Devin, who was to detach one brigade to destroy supplies at +Swoope's'depot. The by-roads were miry beyond description, rain +having fallen almost incessantly since we left Winchester, but +notwithstanding the down-pour the column pushed on, men and horses +growing almost unrecognizable from the mud covering them from head to +foot. + +General Early was true to the promise made his friends in Staunton, +for when Custer neared Waynesboro' he found, occupying a line of +breastworks on a ridge west of the town, two brigades of infantry, +with eleven pieces of artillery and Rosser's cavalry. Custer, when +developing the position of the Confederates, discovered that their +left was somewhat exposed instead of resting on South River; he +therefore made his dispositions for attack, sending around that flank +the dismounted regiments from Pennington's brigade, while he himself, +with two brigades, partly mounted and partly dismounted, assaulted +along the whole line of breastworks. Pennington's flanking movement +stampeded the enemy in short order, thus enabling Custer to carry the +front with little resistance, and as he did so the Eighth New York +and First Connecticut, in a charge in column, broke through the +opening made by Custer, and continued on through the town of +Waynesboro', never stopping till they crossed South River. There, +finding themselves immediately in the enemy's rear, they promptly +formed as foragers and held the east bank of the stream till all the +Confederates surrendered except Rosser, who succeeded in making his +way back to the valley, and Generals Early, Wharton, Long, and +Lilley, who, with fifteen or twenty men, escaped across the Blue +Ridge. I followed up the victory immediately by despatching Capehart +through Rock-fish Gap, with orders to encamp on the east side of the +Blue Ridge. By reason of this move all the enemy's stores and +transportation fell into our hands, while we captured on the field +seventeen battle flags, sixteen hundred officers and men, and eleven +pieces of artillery. This decisive victory closed hostilities in the +Shenandoah Valley. The prisoners and artillery were sent back to +Winchester next morning, under a guard of 1,500 men, commanded by +Colonel J. H. Thompson, of the First New Hampshire. + +The night of March 2 Custer camped at Brookfield, Devin remaining at +Waynesboro'. The former started for Charlottesville the next morning +early, followed by Devin with but two brigades, Gibbs having been +left behind to blow up the iron railroad bridge across South River. +Because of the incessant rains and spring thaws the roads were very +soft, and the columns cut them up terribly, the mud being thrown by +the sets of fours across the road in ridges as much as two feet high, +making it most difficult to get our wagons along, and distressingly +wearing on the animals toward the middle and rear of the columns. +Consequently I concluded to rest at Charlottesville for a couple of +days and recuperate a little, intending at the same time to destroy, +with small parties, the railroad from that point toward Lynchburg. +Custer reached Charlottesville the 3d, in the afternoon, and was met +at the outskirts by a deputation of its citizens, headed by the +mayor, who surrendered the town with medieval ceremony, formally +handing over the keys of the public buildings and of the University +of Virginia. But this little scene did not delay Custer long enough +to prevent his capturing, just beyond the village, a small body of +cavalry and three pieces of artillery. Gibbs's brigade, which was +bringing up my mud-impeded train, did not arrive until the 5th of +March. In the mean time Young's scouts had brought word that the +garrison of Lynchburg was being increased and the fortifications +strengthened, so that its capture would be improbable. I decided, +however, to move toward the place as far as Amherst Court House, +which is sixteen miles short of the town, so Devin, under Merritt's +supervision, marched along the James River, destroying the canal, +while Custer pushed ahead on the railroad and broke it up. The two +columns were to join at New Market, whence I intended to cross the +James River at some point east of Lynchburg, if practicable, so as to +make my way to Appomattox Court House, and destroy the Southside +railroad as far east as Farmville. Owing to its swollen condition +the river was unfordable but knowing that there was a covered bridge +at Duguidsville, I hoped to secure it by a dash, and cross there, but +the enemy, anticipating this, had filled the bridge with inflammable +material, and just as our troops got within striking distance it +burst into flames. The bridge at Hardwicksville also having been +burned by the enemy, there was now no means of crossing except by +pontoons. but, unfortunately, I had only eight of these, and they +could not be made to span the swollen river. + +Being thus unable to cross until the river should fall, and knowing +that it was impracticable to join General Sherman, and useless to +adhere to my alternative instructions to return to Winchester, I now +decided to destroy still more thoroughly the James River canal and +the Virginia Central railroad and then join General Grant in front of +Petersburg. I was master of the whole country north of the James as +far down as Goochland; hence the destruction of these arteries of +supply could be easily compassed, and feeling that the war was +nearing its end, I desired my cavalry to be in at the death. + +On March 9 the main column started eastward down the James River, +destroying locks, dams, and boats, having been preceded by Colonel +Fitzhugh's brigade of Devin's division in a forced march to Goochland +and Beaver Dam Creek, with orders to destroy everything below +Columbia. I made Columbia on the 10th, and from there sent a +communication to General Grant reporting what had occurred, informing +him of my condition and intention, asking him to send forage and +rations to meet me at the White House, and also a pontoon-bridge to +carry me over the Pamunkey, for in view of the fact that hitherto it +had been impracticable to hold Lee in the trenches around Petersburg, +I regarded as too hazardous a march down the south bank of the +Pamunkey, where the enemy, by sending troops out from Richmond, might +fall upon my flank and rear. It was of the utmost importance that +General Grant should receive these despatches without chance of +failure, in order that I might, depend absolutely on securing +supplies at the White House; therefore I sent the message in +duplicate, one copy overland direct to City Point by two scouts, +Campbell and Rowan, and the other by Fannin and Moore, who were to go +down the James River in a small boat to Richmond, join the troops in +the trenches in front of Petersburg, and, deserting to the Union +lines, deliver their tidings into General Grant's hands. Each set of +messengers got through, but the copy confided to Campbell and Rowan +was first at Grant's headquarters. + +I halted for one day at Columbia to let my trains catch up, for it +was still raining and the mud greatly delayed the teams, fatiguing +and wearying the mules so much that I believe we should have been +forced to abandon most of the wagons except for the invaluable help +given by some two thousand negroes who had attached themselves to the +column: they literally lifted the wagons out of the mud. From +Columbia Merritt, with Devin's division, marched to Louisa Court +House and destroyed the Virginia Central to Frederick's Hall. +Meanwhile Custer was performing similar work from Frederick's Hall to +Beaver Dam Station, and also pursued for a time General Early, who, +it was learned from despatches captured in the telegraph office at +Frederick's Hall, was in the neighborhood with a couple of hundred +men. Custer captured some of these men and two of Early's staff- +officers, but the commander of the Valley District, accompanied by a +single orderly, escaped across the South Anna and next day made his +way to Richmond, the last man of the Confederate army that had so +long contended with us in the Shenandoah Valley. + +At Frederick's Hall, Young's scouts brought me word from Richmond +that General Longstreet was assembling a force there to prevent my +junction with Grant, and that Pickett's division, which had been sent +toward Lynchburg to oppose my march, and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, were +moving east on the Southside railroad, with the object of +circumventing me. Reasoning that Longstreet could interpose +effectually only by getting to the White House ahead of me, I pushed +one column under Custer across the South Anna, by way of Ground +Squirrel bridge, to Ashland, where it united with Merritt, who had +meanwhile marched through Hanover Junction. Our appearance at +Ashland drew the Confederates out in that direction, as was hoped, +so, leaving Colonel Pennington's brigade there to amuse them, the +united command retraced its route to Mount Carmel church to cross the +North Anna. After dark Pennington came away, and all the troops +reached the church by midnight of the 15th. + +Resuming the march at an early hour next morning, we took the road by +way of King William Court House to the White House, where, arriving +on the 18th, we found, greatly to our relief, the supplies which I +had requested to be sent there. In the meanwhile the enemy had +marched to Hanover Court House, but being unable either to cross the +Pamunkey there or forestall me at the White House on the south side +of the river, he withdrew to Richmond without further effort to +impede my column. + +The hardships of this march far exceeded those of any previous +campaigns by the cavalry. Almost incessant rains had drenched us for +sixteen days and nights, and the swollen streams and well-nigh +bottomless roads east of Staunton presented grave difficulties on +every hand, but surmounting them all, we destroyed the enemy's means +of subsistence, in quantities beyond computation, and permanently +crippled the Virginia Central railroad, as well as the James River +canal, and as each day brought us nearer the Army of the Potomac, all +were filled with the comforting reflection that our work in the +Shenandoah Valley had been thoroughly done, and every one was buoyed +up by the cheering thought that we should soon take part in the final +struggle of the war. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +TRANSFERRED TO PETERSBURG--GENERAL RAWLINS CORDIAL WELCOME--GENERAL +GRANT's ORDERS AND PLANS--A TRIP WITH MR. LINCOLN AND GENERAL GRANT-- +MEETING GENERAL SHERMAN--OPPOSED TO JOINING THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE +--OPENING OF THE APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGN--GENERAL GRANT AND GENERAL +RAWLINS. + +The transfer of my command from the Shenandoah Valley to the field of +operations in front of Petersburg was not anticipated by General +Grant; indeed, the despatch brought from Columbia by my scouts, +asking that supplies be sent me at the White House, was the first +word that reached him concerning the move. In view of my message the +general-in-chief decided to wait my arrival before beginning spring +operations with the investing troops south of the James River, for he +felt the importance of having my cavalry at hand in a campaign which +he was convinced would wind up the war. We remained a few days at +the White House resting and refitting the cavalry, a large amount of +shoeing being necessary; but nothing like enough horses were at hand +to replace those that had died or been disabled on the mud march from +Staunton to the Pamunkey River, so a good many of the men were still +without mounts, and all such were sent by boat to the dismounted camp +near City Point. When all was ready the column set out for Hancock +Station, a point on the military railroad in front of Petersburg, and +arriving there on the 27th of March, was in orders reunited with its +comrades of the Second Division, who had been serving with the Army +of the Potomac since we parted from them the previous August. +General Crook, who had been exchanged within a few days, was now in +command of this Second Division. The reunited corps was to enter +upon the campaign as a separate army, I reporting directly to General +Grant; the intention being thus to reward me for foregoing, of my own +choice, my position as a department commander by joining the armies +at Petersburg. + +Taking the road across the Peninsula, I started from the White House +with Merritt's column on the 25th of March and encamped that night at +Harrison's Landing. Very early next morning, in conformity with a +request from General Grant, I left by boat for City Point, Merritt +meanwhile conducting the column across the James River to the point +of rendezvous, The trip to City Point did not take long, and on +arrival at army headquarters the first person I met was General John +A. Rawlins, General Grant's chief-of-staff. Rawlins was a man of +strong likes and dislikes, and positive always both in speech and +action, exhibiting marked feelings when greeting any one, and on this +occasion met me with much warmth. His demonstrations of welcome +over, we held a few minutes' conversation about the coming campaign, +he taking strong ground against a part of the plan of operations +adopted, namely, that which contemplated my joining General Sherman's +army. His language was unequivocal and vehement, and when he was +through talking, he conducted me to General Grant's quarters, but he +himself did not enter. + +General Grant was never impulsive, and always met his officers in an +unceremonious way, with a quiet "How are you" soon putting one at his +ease, since the pleasant tone in which he spoke gave assurance of +welcome, although his manner was otherwise impassive. When the +ordinary greeting was over, he usually waited for his visitor to open +the conversation, so on this occasion I began by giving him the +details of my march from Winchester, my reasons for not joining +Sherman, as contemplated in my instructions, and the motives which +had influenced me to march to the White House. The other provision +of my orders on setting out from Winchester--the alternative return +to that place--was not touched upon, for the wisdom of having ignored +that was fully apparent. Commenting on this recital of my doings, +the General referred only to the tortuous course of my march from +Waynesboro' down, our sore trials, and the valuable services of the +scouts who had brought him tidings of me, closing with the remark +that it was, rare a department commander voluntarily deprived himself +of independence, and added that I should not suffer for it. Then +turning to the business for which he had called rne to City Point, he +outlined what he expected me to do; saying that I was to cut loose +from the Army of the Potomac by passing its left flank to the +southward along the line of the Danville railroad, and after crossing +the Roanoke River, join General Sherman. While speaking, he handed +me a copy of a general letter of instructions that had been drawn up +for the army on the 24th. The letter contained these words +concerning the movements of my command: + +"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now under +General Davies, will move at the same time (29th inst.) by the Weldon +road and the Jerusalem plank-road, turning west from the latter +before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column before +reaching Stony Creek. General Sheridan will then move independently +under other instructions which will be given him. All dismounted +cavalry belonging to the Army of the Potomac, and the dismounted +cavalry from the Middle Military Division not required for guarding +property belonging to their arm of the service, will report to +Brigadier-General Benham to be added to the defenses of City Point." + +When I had gone over the entire letter I showed plainly that I was +dissatisfied with it, for, coupled with what the General had outlined +orally, which I supposed was the "other instructions," I believed it +foreshadowed my junction with General Sherman. Rawlins thought so +too, as his vigorous language had left no room to doubt, so I +immediately began to offer my objections to the programme. These +were, that it would be bad policy to send me down to the Carolinas +with a part of the Army of the Potomac, to come back to crush Lee +after the destruction of General Johnston's army; such a course would +give rise to the charge that his own forces around Petersburg were +not equal to the task, and would seriously affect public opinion in +the North; that in fact my cavalry belonged to the Army of the +Potomac, which army was able unaided to destroy Lee, and I could not +but oppose any dispersion of its strength. + +All this was said in a somewhat emphatic manner, and when I had +finished he quietly told me that the portion of my instructions from +which I so strongly dissented was intended as a "blind" to cover any +check the army in its general move, to the left might meet with, and +prevent that element in the North which held that the war could be +ended only through negotiation, from charging defeat. The fact that +my cavalry was not to ultimately join Sherman was a great relief to +me, and after expressing the utmost confidence in the plans unfolded +for closing the war by directing every effort to the annihilation of +Lee's army, I left him to go to General Ingalls's quarters. On the +way I again met Rawlins, who, when I told him that General Grant had +intimated his intention to modify the written plan of operations so +far as regarded the cavalry, manifested the greatest satisfaction, +and I judged from this that the new view of the matter had not +previously been communicated to the chief-of-staff, though he must +have been acquainted of course with the programme made out on the +24th of March. + +Toward noon General Grant sent for me to accompany him up the river. +When I joined the General he informed me that the President was on +board the boat--the steamer Mary Martin. For some days Mr. Lincoln +had been at City Point, established on the steamer River Queen, +having come down from Washington to be nearer his generals, no doubt, +and also to be conveniently situated for the reception of tidings +from the front when operations began, for he could not endure the +delays in getting news to Washington. This trip up the James had +been projected by General Meade, but on account of demands at the +front he could not go, so the President, General Grant, and I +composed the party. We steamed up to where my cavalry was crossing +on the pontoon-bridge below the mouth of the Dutch Gap canal, and for +a little while watched the column as it was passing over the river, +the bright sunshine presaging good weather, but only to delude, as +was proved by the torrents of rain brought by the succeeding days of +March. On the trip the President was not very cheerful. In fact, he +was dejected, giving no indication of his usual means of diversion, +by which (his quaint stories) I had often heard he could find relief +from his cares. He spoke to me of the impending operations and asked +many questions, laying stress upon the one, "What would be the result +when the army moved out to the left, if the enemy should come down +and capture City Point?" the question being prompted, doubtless, by +the bold assault on our lines and capture of Fort Steadman two days +before by General Gordon. I answered that I did not think it at all +probable that General Lee would undertake such a desperate measure to +relieve the strait he was in; that General Hartranft's successful +check to Gordon had ended, I thought, attacks of such a character; +and in any event General Grant would give Lee all he could attend to +on the left. Mr. Lincoln said nothing about my proposed route of +march, and I doubt if he knew of my instructions, or was in +possession at most of more than a very general outline of the plan of +campaign. It was late when the Mary Martin returned to City Point, +and I spent the night there with General Ingalls. + +The morning of the 27th I went out to Hancock Station to look after +my troops and prepare for moving two days later. In the afternoon I +received a telegram from General Grant, saying: "General Sherman will +be here this evening to spend a few hours. I should like to have you +come down." Sherman's coming was a surprise--at least to me it was-- +this despatch being my first intimation of his expected arrival. +Well knowing the zeal and emphasis with which General Sherman would +present his views, there again came into my mind many misgivings with +reference to the movement of the cavalry, and I made haste to start +for Grant's headquarters. I got off a little after 7 o'clock, taking +the rickety military railroad, the rails of which were laid on the +natural surface of the ground, with grading only here and there at +points of absolute necessity, and had not gone far when the +locomotive jumped the track. This delayed my arrival at City Point +till near midnight, but on repairing to the little cabin that +sheltered the general-in-chief, I found him and Sherman still up +talking over the problem whose solution was near at hand. As already +stated, thoughts as to the tenor of my instructions became uppermost +the moment I received the telegram in the afternoon, and they +continued to engross and disturb me all the way down the railroad, +for I feared that the telegram foreshadowed, under the propositions +Sherman would present, a more specific compliance with the written +instructions than General Grant had orally assured me would be +exacted. + +My entrance into the shanty suspended the conversation for a moment +only, and then General Sherman, without prelude, rehearsed his plans +for moving his army, pointing out with every detail how he would come +up through the Carolinas to join the troops besieging Petersburg and +Richmond, and intimating that my cavalry, after striking the +Southside and Danville railroads, could join him with ease. I made +no comments on the projects for moving, his own troops, but as soon +as opportunity offered, dissented emphatically from the proposition +to have me join the Army of the Tennessee, repeating in substance +what I had previously expressed to General Grant. + +My uneasiness made me somewhat too earnest, I fear, but General Grant +soon mollified me, and smoothed matters over by practically repeating +what he had told me in regard to this point at the close of our +interview the day before, so I pursued the subject no further. In a +little while the conference ended, and I again sought lodging at the +hospitable quarters of Ingalls. + +Very early the next morning, while I was still in bed, General +Sherman came to me and renewed the subject of my joining him, but +when he saw that I was unalterably opposed to it the conversation +turned into other channels, and after we had chatted awhile he +withdrew, and later in the day went up the river with the President, +General Grant, and Admiral Porter, I returning to my command at +Hancock Station, where my presence was needed to put my troops in +march next day. + +During the entire winter General Grant's lines fronting Petersburg +had extended south of the Appomattox River, practically from that +stream around to where the Vaughn road crosses Hatcher's Run, and +this was nearly the situation Wilien the cavalry concentrated at +Hancock Station, General Weitzel holding the line north of the +Appomattox, fronting Richmond and Bermuda Hundred. + +The instructions of the 24th of March contemplated that the campaign +should begin with the movement of Warren's corps (the Fifth) at +3 o'clock on the morning of the 29th, and Humphreys's (the Second) at +6; the rest of the infantry holding on in the trenches. The cavalry +was to move in conjunction with Warren and Humphreys, and make its +way out beyond our left as these corps opened the road. + +The night of the 28th I received the following additional +instructions, the general tenor of which again disturbed me, for +although I had been assured that I was not to join General Sherman, +it will be seen that the supplemental directions distinctly present +that alternative, and I therefore feared that during the trip up the +James River on the morning of the 28th General Grant had returned to +his original views: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"City Point, Va., March 28, 1865. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN: + +"The Fifth Army Corps will move by the Vaughn road at 3 A.M. +tomorrow morning. The Second moves at about 9 A.M., having but about +three miles to march to reach the point designated for it to take on +the right of the Fifth Corps, after the latter reaches Dinwiddie +Court House. + +"Move your cavalry at as early an hour as you can, and without being +confined to any particular road or roads. You may go out by the +nearest roads in rear of the Fifth Corps, pass by its left, and +passing near to or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the +enemy as soon as you can. It is not the intention to attack the +enemy in his intrenched position, but to force him out if possible. +Should he come out and attack us, or get himself where he can be +attacked, move in with your entire force in your own way, and with +the full reliance that the army will engage or follow the enemy, as +circumstances will dictate. I shall be on the field, and will +probably be able to communicate with you; should I not do so, and you +find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched line, you may +cut loose and push for the Danville road. If you find it practicable +I would like you to cross the Southside road, between Petersburg and +Burkeville, and destroy it to some extent. I would not advise much +detention, however, until you reach the Danville road, which I would +like you to strike as near to the Appomattox as possible; make your +destruction of that road as complete as possible; you can then pass +on to the Southside road, west of Burkeville, and destroy that in +like manner. + +"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, +which are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may +return to this army, selecting your road farther south, or you may go +on into North Carolina and join General Sherman. Should you select +the latter course, get the information to me as early as possible, so +that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." + + +These instructions did not alter my line of march for the morrow, and +I trusted matters would so come about as not to require compliance +with those portions relative to the railroads and to joining Sherman; +so early on the 29th I moved my cavalry out toward Ream's Station on +the Weldon road, Devin commanding the First Division, with Colonels +Gibbs, Stagg, and Fitzhugh in charge of the brigades; the Third +Division under Custer, Colonels Wells, Capehart and Pennington being +the brigade commanders. These two divisions united were commanded by +Merritt, as they had been since leaving Winchester. Crook headed the +Second Division, his brigades being under General Davies and Colonels +John I. Gregg and Smith. + +Our general direction was westward, over such routes as could be +found, provided they did not embarrass the march of the infantry. +The roads, from the winter's frosts and rains, were in a frightful +state, and when it was sought to avoid a spot which the head of the +column had proved almost bottomless, the bogs and quicksands of the +adjoining fields demonstrated that to make a detour was to go from +bad to worse. In the face of these discouragements we floundered on, +however, crossing on the way a series of small streams swollen to +their banks. Crook and Devin reached the county-seat of Dinwiddie +about 5 o'clock in the evening, having encountered only a small +picket, that at once gave way to our advance. Merritt left Custer at +Malon's crossing of Rowanty Creek to care for the trains containing +our subsistence and the reserve ammunition, these being stuck in the +mire at, intervals all the way back to the Jerusalem plank-road; and +to make any headway at all with the trains, Custer's men often had to +unload the wagons and lift them out of the boggy places. + +Crook and Devin camped near Dinwiddie Court House in such manner as +to cover the Vaughn, Flatfoot, Boydton, and Five Forks roads; for, as +these all intersected at Dinwiddie, they offered a chance for the +enemy's approach toward the rear of the Fifth Corps, as Warren +extended to the left across the Boydton road. Any of these routes +leading to the south or west might also be the one on which, in +conformity with one part of my instructions, I was expected to get +out toward the Danville and Southside railroads, and the Five Forks +road would lead directly to General Lee's right flank, in case +opportunity was found to comply with the other part. The place was, +therefore, of great strategic value, and getting it without cost +repaid us for floundering through the mud. + +Dinwiddie Court House, though a most important point in the campaign, +was far from attractive in feature, being made up of a half-dozen +unsightly houses, a ramshackle tavern propped up on two sides with +pine poles, and the weatherbeaten building that gave official name to +the cross-roads. We had no tents--there were none in the command--so +I took possession of the tavern for shelter for myself and staff, and +just as we had finished looking over its primitive interior a rain +storm set in. + +The wagon containing my mess equipment was back somewhere on the +road, hopelessly stuck in the mud, and hence we had nothing to eat +except some coffee which two young women living at the tavern kindly +made for us; a small quantity of the berry being furnished from the +haversacks of my escort. By the time we got the coffee, rain was +falling in sheets, and the evening bade fair to be a most dismal one; +but songs and choruses set up by some of my staff--the two young +women playing accompaniments on a battered piano--relieved the +situation and enlivened us a little. However, the dreary night +brought me one great comfort; for General Grant, who that day had +moved out to Gravelly Run, sent me instructions to abandon all idea +of the contemplated raid, and directed me to act in concert with the +infantry under his immediate command, to turn, if possible, the right +flank of Lee's army. The despatch made my mind easy with respect to +the objectionable feature of my original instructions, and of course +relieved me also from the anxiety growing out of the letter received +at Hancock Station the night of the 28th; so, notwithstanding the +suspicions excited by some of my staff concerning the Virginia +feather-bed that had been assigned me, I turned in at a late hour and +slept most soundly. + +The night of the 29th the left of General Grant's infantry--Warren's +corps--rested on the Boydton road, not far from its intersection with +the Quaker road. Humphreys's corps was next to Warren; then came +Ord, next Wright, and then Parke, with his right resting on the +Appomattox. The moving of Warren and Humphreys to the left during +the day was early discovered by General Lee. He met it by extending +the right of his infantry on the White Oak road, while drawing in the +cavalry of W. H. F. Lee and Rosser along the south bank of Stony +Creek to cover a crossroads called Five Forks, to anticipate me +there; for assuming that my command was moving in conjunction with +the infantry, with the ultimate purpose of striking the Southside +railroad, Lee made no effort to hold Dinwiddie, which he might have +done with his cavalry, and in this he made a fatal mistake. The +cavalry of Fitz. Lee was ordered at this same time from Sunderland +depot to Five Forks, and its chief placed in command of all the +mounted troops of General Lee's army. + +At daylight on ttie 3oth I proceeded to make dispositions under the +new conditions imposed by my modified instructions, and directed +Merritt to push Devin out as far as the White Oak road to make a +reconnoissance to Five Forks, Crook being instructed to send Davies's +brigade to support Devin. Crook was to hold, with Gregg's brigade, +the Stony Creek crossing of the Boydton plank road, retaining Smith's +near Dinwiddie, for use in any direction required. On the 29th W. H. +F. Lee conformed the march of his cavalry with that of ours, but my +holding Stony Creek in this way forced him to make a detour west of +Chamberlin's Run, in order to get in communication with his friends +at Five Forks. + +The rain that had been falling all night gave no sign of stopping, +but kept pouring down all day long, and the swamps and quicksands +mired the horses, whether they marched in the roads or across the +adjacent fields. Undismayed, nevertheless, each column set out for +its appointed duty, but shortly after the troops began to move I +received from General Grant this despatch, which put a new phase on +matters: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"GRAVELLY RUN, March 30, 1865. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN: + +"The heavy rain of to-day will make it impossible for us to do much +until it dries up a little, or we get roads around our rear repaired. +You may, therefore, leave what cavalry you deem necessary to protect +the left, and hold such positions as you deem necessary for that +purpose, and send the remainder back to Humphrey's Station where they +can get hay and grain. Fifty wagons loaded with forage will be sent +to you in the morning. Send an officer back to direct the wagons +back to where you want them. Report to me the cavalry you will leave +back, and the position you will occupy. Could not your cavalry go +back by the way of Stony Creek depot and destroy or capture the store +of supplies there? + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." + + +When I had read and pondered this, I determined to ride over to +General Grant's headquarters on Gravelly Run, and get a clear idea of +what it was proposed to do, for it seemed to me that a suspension of +operations would be a serious mistake. Mounting a powerful gray +pacing horse called Breckenridge (from its capture from one of +Breckenridge's staff-officers at Missionary Ridge), and that I knew +would carry me through the mud, I set out accompanied by my Assistant +Adjutant-General, Colonel Frederick C. Newhall, and an escort of +about ten or fifteen men. At first we rode north up the Boydton +plank-road, and coming upon our infantry pickets from a direction +where the enemy was expected to appear, they began to fire upon us, +but seeing from our actions that we were friends, they ceased, and +permitted us to pass the outposts. We then struggled on in a +northeasterly direction across-country, till we struck the Vaughn +road. This carried us to army headquarters, which were established +south of Gravelly Run in an old cornfield. I rode to within a few +yards of the front of General Grant's tent, my horse plunging at +every step almost to his knees in the mud, and dismounted near a +camp-fire, apparently a general one, for all the staff-officers were +standing around it on boards and rails placed here and there to keep +them from sinking into the mire. + +Going directly to General Grant's tent, I found him and Rawlins +talking over the question of suspending operations till the weather +should improve. No orders about the matter had been issued yet, +except the despatch to me, and Rawlins, being strongly opposed to the +proposition, was frankly expostulating with General Grant, who, after +greeting me, remarked, in his quiet way: "Well, Rawlins, I think you +had better take command." Seeing that there was a difference up +between Rawlins and his chief, I made the excuse of being wet and +cold, and went outside to the fire. Here General Ingalls met me and +took me to his tent, where I was much more comfortable than when +standing outside, and where a few minutes later we were joined by +General Grant. Ingalls then retired, and General Grant began talking +of our fearful plight, resulting from the rains and mud, and saying +that because of this it seemed necessary to suspend operations. I at +once begged him not to do so, telling him that my cavalry was already +on the move in spite of the difficulties, and that although a +suspension of operations would not be fatal, yet it would give rise +to the very charge of disaster to which he had referred at City +Point, and, moreover, that we would surely be ridiculed, just as +General Burnside's army was after the mud march of 1863. His better +judgment was against suspending operations, but the proposition had +been suggested by all sorts of complaints as to the impossibility of +moving the trains and the like, so it needed little argument to +convince him, and without further discussion he said, in that manner +which with him meant a firmness of purpose that could not be changed +by further complainings, "We will go on." I then told him that I +believed I could break in the enemy's right if he would let me have +the Sixth Corps; but saying that the condition of the roads would +prevent the movement of infantry, he replied that I would have to +seize Five Forks with the cavalry alone. + +On my way back to Dinwiddie I stopped at the headquarters of General +Warren, but the General being asleep, I went to the tent of one of +his staff-officers. Colonel William T. Gentry, an old personal +friend with whom I had served in Oregon. In a few minutes Warren +came in and we had a short conversation, he speaking rather +despondently of the outlook, being influenced no doubt by the +depressing weather. + +From Warren's headquarters I returned, by the Boydton road to +Dinwiddie Court House, fording Gravelly Run with ease. When I got as +far as the Dabney road I sent Colonel Newhall out on it toward Five +Forks, with orders for Merritt to develop the enemy's position and +strength, and then rode on to Dinwiddie to endeavor to get all my +other troops up. Merritt was halted at the intersection of the Five +Forks and Gravelly Church roads when Newhall delivered the orders, +and in compliance moving out Gibbs's brigade promptly, sharp +skirmishing was brought on, Gibbs driving the Confederates to Five +Forks, where he found them behind a line of breastworks running along +the White Oak road. The reconnoissance demonstrating the intention +of the enemy to hold this point, Gibbs was withdrawn. + +That evening, at 7 o'clock, I reported the position of the +Confederate cavalry, and stated that it had been reinforced by +Pickett's division of infantry. On receipt of this despatch, General +Grant offered me the Fifth Corps, but I declined to take it, and +again asked for the Sixth, saying that with it I believed I could +turn the enemy (Pickett's) left, or break through his lines. The +morning of the 31st General Grant replied the the Sixth Corps could +not be taken from its position in the line, and offered me the +Second; but in the mean time circumstances had changed, and no corps +was ordered. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +BATTLE OF DINWIDDIE COURT HOUSE--PICKETT REPULSED--REINFORCED BY THE +FIFTH CORPS--BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--TURNING THE CONFEDERATE LEFT--AN +UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS--RELIEVING GENERAL WARREN--THE WARREN COURT OF +INQUIRY--GENERAL SHERMAN'S OPINION. + +The night of March 30 Merritt, with Devin's division and Davies's +brigade, was camped on the Five Forks road about two miles in front +of Dinwiddie, near J. Boisseau's. Crook, with Smith and Gregg's +brigades, continued to cover Stony Creek, and Custer was still back +at Rowanty Creek, trying to get the trains up. This force had been +counted while crossing the creek on the 29th, the three divisions +numbering 9,000 enlisted men, Crook having 3,300, and Custer and +Devin 5,700. + +During the 30th, the enemy had been concentrating his cavalry, and by +evening General W. H. F. Lee and General Rosser had joined Fitzhugh +Lee near Five Forks. To this force was added, about dark, five +brigades of infantry--three from Pickett's division, and two from +Johnson's--all under command of Pickett. The infantry came by the +White Oak road from the right of General Lee's intrenchments, and +their arrival became positively known to me about dark, the +confirmatory intelligence being brought in then by some of Young's +scouts who had been inside the Confederate lines. + +On the 31st, the rain having ceased, directions were given at an +early hour to both Merritt and Crook to make reconnoissances +preparatory to securing Five Forks, and about 9 o'clock Merritt +started for the crossroads, Davies's brigade supporting him. His +march was necessarily slow because of the mud, and the enemy's +pickets resisted with obstinacy also, but the coveted crossroads fell +to Merritt without much trouble, as the bulk of the enemy was just +then bent on other things. At the same hour that Merritt started, +Crook moved Smith's brigade out northwest from Dinwiddie to +Fitzgerald's crossing of Chamberlain's Creek, to cover Merritt's +left, supporting Smith by placing Gregg to his right and rear. The +occupation of this ford was timely, for Pickett, now in command of +both the cavalry and infantry, was already marching to get in +Merritt's rear by crossing Chamberlain's Creek. + +To hold on to Fitzgerald's ford Smith had to make a sharp fight, but +Mumford's cavalry attacking Devin, the enemy's infantry succeeded in +getting over Chamberlain's Creek at a point higher up than +Fitzgerald's ford, and assailing Davies, forced him back in a +northeasterly direction toward the Dinwiddie and Five Forks road in +company with Devin. The retreat of Davies permitted Pickett to pass +between Crook and Merritt, which he promptly did, effectually +separating them and cutting off both Davies and Devin from the road +to Dinwiddie, so that to get to that point they had to retreat across +the country to B. Boisseau's and then down the Boydton road. + +Gibbs's brigade had been in reserve near the intersection of the Five +Forks and Dabney roads, and directing Merritt to hold on there, I +ordered Gregg's brigade to be mounted and brought to Merritt's aid, +for if Pickett continued in pursuit north of the Five Forks road he +would expose his right and rear, and I determined to attack him, in +such case, from Gibbs's position. Gregg arrived in good season, and +as soon as his men were dismounted on Gibbs's left, Merritt assailed +fiercely, compelling Pickett to halt and face a new foe, thus +interrupting an advance that would finally have carried Pickett into +the rear of Warren's corps. + +It was now about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we were in a critical +situation, but having ordered Merritt to bring Devin and Davies to +Dinwiddie by the Boydton road, staff-officers were sent to hurry +Custer to the same point, for with its several diverging roads the +Court House was of vital importance, and I determined to stay there +at all hazards. At the same time orders were sent to Smith's +brigade, which, by the advance of Pickett past its right flank and +the pressure of W. H. F. Lee on its front, had been compelled to give +up Fitzgerald's crossing, to fall back toward Dinwiddie but to +contest every inch of ground so as to gain time. + +When halted by the attack of Gregg and Gibbs, Pickett, desisting from +his pursuit of Devin, as already stated, turned his undivided +attention to this unexpected force, and with his preponderating +infantry pressed it back on the Five Forks road toward Dinwiddle, +though our men, fighting dismounted behind barricades at different +points, displayed such obstinacy as to make Pickett's progress slow, +and thus give me time to look out a line for defending the Court +House. I selected a place about three-fourths of a mile northwest of +the crossroads, and Custer coming up quickly with Capehart's brigade, +took position on the left of the road to Five Forks in some open +ground along the crest of a gentle ridge. Custer got Capehart into +place just in time to lend a hand to Smith, who, severely pressed, +came back on us here from his retreat along Chamberlain's "bed"--the +vernacular for a woody swamp such as that through which Smith +retired. A little later the brigades of Gregg and Gibbs, falling to +the rear slowly and steadily, took up in the woods a line which +covered the Boydton Road some distance to the right of Capehart, the +intervening gap to be filled with Pennington's brigade. By this time +our horse-artillery, which for two days had been stuck in the mud, +was all up, and every gun was posted in this line. + +It was now near sunset, and the enemy's cavalry thinking the day was +theirs, made a dash at Smith, but just as the assailants appeared in +the open fields, Capehart's men opened so suddenly on their left +flank as to cause it to recoil in astonishment, which permitted Smith +to connect his brigade with Custer unmolested. We were now in good +shape behind the familiar barricades, and having a continuous line, +excepting only the gap to be filled with Pennington, that covered +Dinwiddie and the Boydton Road. My left rested in the woods about +half a mile west of the Court House, and the barricades extended from +this flank in a semicircle through the open fields in a northeasterly +direction, to a piece-of thick timber on the right, near the Boydton +Road. + +A little before the sun went down the Confederate infantry was formed +for the attack, and, fortunately for us, Pennington's brigade came up +and filled the space to which it was assigned between Capehart and +Gibbs, just as Pickett moved out across the cleared fields in front +of Custer, in deep lines that plainly told how greatly we were +outnumbered. + +Accompanied by Generals Merritt and Custer and my staff, I now rode +along the barricades to encourage the men. Our enthusiastic +reception showed that they were determined to stay. The cavalcade +drew the enemy's fire, which emptied several of the saddles--among +others Mr. Theodore Wilson, correspondent of the New York Herald, +being wounded. In reply our horse-artillery opened on the advancing +Confederates, but the men behind the barricades lay still till +Pickett's troops were within short range. Then they opened, Custer's +repeating rifles pouring out such a shower of lead that nothing could +stand up against it. The repulse was very quick, and as the gray +lines retired to the woods from which but a few minutes before they +had so confidently advanced, all danger of their taking Dinwiddie or +marching to the left and rear of our infantry line was over, at least +for the night. The enemy being thus checked, I sent a staff-officer- +-Captain Sheridan--to General Grant to report what had taken place +during the afternoon, and to say that I proposed to stay at +Dinwiddie, but if ultimately compelled to abandon the place, I would +do so by retiring on the Vaughn road toward Hatcher's Run, for I then +thought the attack might be renewed next morning. Devin and Davies +joined me about dark, and my troops being now well in hand, I sent a +second staff-officer--Colonel John Kellogg--to explain my situation +more fully, and to assure General Grant that I would hold on at +Dinwiddie till forced to let go. + +By following me to Dinwiddie the enemy's infantry had completely +isolated itself, and hence there was now offered the Union troops a +rare opportunity. Lee was outside of his works, just as we desired, +and the general-in-chief realized this the moment he received the +first report of my situation; General Meade appreciated it too from +the information he got from Captain Sheridan, en route to army +headquarters with the first tidings, and sent this telegram to +General Grant: + +"HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"March 31, 1865. 9:45 p.m. + +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT: + +"Would it not be well for Warren to go down with his whole corps and +smash up the force in front of Sheridan? Humphreys can hold the line +to the Boydton plank-road, and the refusal along with it. Bartlett's +brigade is now on the road from G. Boisseau's, running north, where +it crosses Gravelly Run, he having gone down the White Oak road. +Warren could go at once that way, and take the force threatening +Sheridan in rear at Dinwiddie, and move on the enemy's rear with the +other two. + +"G. G. MEADE, Major-General." + + +An hour later General Grant replied in these words: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"DABNEY'S MILLS, March 311, 1865. 10:15 P. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, +"Commanding Army of the Potomac. + +Let Warren move in the way you propose, and urge him not to stop for +anything. Let Griffin (Griffin had been ordered by Warren to the +Boydton road to protect his rear) go on as he was first directed. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + +These two despatches were the initiatory steps in sending the Fifth +Corps, under Major-General G. K. Warren, to report to me, and when I +received word of its coming and also that Genera Mackenzie's cavalry +from the Army of the James was likewise to be added to my command, +and that discretionary authority was given me to use all my forces +against Pickett, I resolved to destroy him, if it was within the +bounds of possibility, before he could rejoin Lee. + +In a despatch, dated 10:05 p.m., telling me of the coming of Warren +and Mackenzie, General Grant also said that the Fifth Corps should +reach me by 12 o'clock that night, but at that hour not only had none +of the corps arrived, but no report from it, so believing that if it +came all the way down to Dinwiddie the next morning, our opportunity +would be gone, I concluded that it would be best to order Warren to +move in on the enemy's rear while the cavalry attacked in front, and, +therefore, at 3 o'clock in the morning of April 1 sent this despatch +to General Warren: + +"CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, DINWIDDIE C. H., +"April 1, 1865--3. A.M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL WARREN, +"Commanding Fifth Army Corps. + +"I am holding in front of Dinwiddie Court House, on the road leading +to Five Forks, for three-quarters of a mile with General Custer's +division. The enemy are in his immediate front, lying so as to cover +the road just this side of A. Adams's house, which leads across +Chamberlain's bed, or run. I understand you have a division at J.[G] +Boisseau's; if so, you are in rear of the enemy's line and almost on +his flank. I will hold on here. Possibly they may attack Custer at +daylight; if so, attack instantly and in full force. Attack at +daylight anyhow, and I will make an effort to get the road this side +of Adams's house, and if I do, you can capture the whole of them. +Any force moving down the road I am holding, or on the White Oak +road, will be in the enemy's rear, and in all probability get any +force that may escape you by a flank movement. Do not fear my +leaving here. If the enemy remains, I shall fight at daylight. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + +With daylight came a slight fog, but it lifted almost immediately, +and Merritt moved Custer and Devin forward. As these divisions +advanced the enemy's infantry fell back on the Five Forks road, Devin +pressing him along the road, while Custer extended on the left over +toward Chamberlain's Run, Crook being held in watch along Stony +Creek, meanwhile, to be utilized as circumstances might require when +Warren attacked. + +The order of General Meade to Warren the night of March 31--a copy +being sent me also--was positive in its directions, but as midnight +came without a sign of or word from the Fifth Corps, notwithstanding +that was the hour fixed for its arrival, I nevertheless assumed that +there were good reasons for its non-appearance, but never once +doubted that measures would be taken to comply with my despatch Of +3 A. M. and therefore hoped that, as Pickett was falling back slowly +toward Five Forks, Griffin's and Crawford's divisions would come in +on the Confederate left and rear by the Crump road near J.[G] +Boisseau's house. + +But they did not reach there till after the enemy had got by. As a +matter of fact, when Pickett was passing the all-important point +Warren's men were just breaking from the bivouac in which their chief +had placed them the night before, and the head of Griffin's division +did not get to Boisseau's till after my cavalry, which meanwhile had +been joined by Ayres's division of the Fifth Corps by way of the +Boydton and Dabney roads. By reason of the delay in moving Griffin +and Crawford, the enemy having escaped, I massed the Fifth Corps at +J.[G] Boisseau's so that the men could be rested, and directed it to +remain there; General Warren himself had not then come up. General +Mackenzie, who had reported just after daybreak, was ordered at first +to stay at Dinwiddie Court House, but later was brought along the +Five Forks road to Dr. Smith's, and Crook's division was directed to +continue watching the crossings of Stony Creek and Chamberlain's Run. + +That we had accomplished nothing but to oblige our foe to retreat was +to me bitterly disappointing, but still feeling sure that he would +not give up the Five Forks crossroads without a fight, I pressed him +back there with Merritt's cavalry, Custer advancing on the Scott +road, while Devin drove the rearguard along that leading from J.[G] +Boisseau's to Five Forks. + +By 2 o'clock in the afternoon Merritt had forced the enemy inside his +intrenchments, which began with a short return about three-quarters +of a mile east of the Forks and ran along the south side of the White +Oak road to a point about a mile west of the Forks. From the left of +the return over toward Hatcher's Run was posted Mumford's cavalry, +dismounted. In the return itself was Wallace's brigade, and next on +its right came Ransom's, then Stewart's, then Terry's, then Corse's. +On the right of Corse was W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry. Ten +pieces of artillery also were in this line, three on the right of the +works, three near the centre at the crossroads, and four on the left, +in the return. Rosser's cavalry was guarding the Confederate trains +north of Hatcher's Run beyond the crossing of the Ford road. + +I felt certain the enemy would fight at Five Forks--he had to--so, +while we were getting up to his intrenchments, I decided on my plan +of battle. This was to attack his whole front with Merritt's two +cavalry divisions, make a feint of turning his right flank, and with +the Fifth Corps assail his left. As the Fifth Corps moved into +action, its right flank was to be covered by Mackenzie's cavalry, +thus entirely cutting off Pickett's troops from communication with +Lee's right flank, which rested near the Butler house at the junction +of the Claiborne and White Oaks roads. In execution of this plan, +Merritt worked his men close in toward the intrenchments, and while +he was thus engaged, I ordered Warren to bring up the Fifth Corps, +sending the order by my engineer officer, Captain Gillespie, who had +reconnoitred the ground in the neighborhood of Gravelly Run Church, +where the infantry was to form for attack. + +Gillespie delivered the order about 1 o'clock, and when the corps was +put in motion, General Warren joined me at the front. Before he +came, I had received, through Colonel Babcock, authority from General +Grant to relieve him, but I did not wish to do it, particularly on +the eve of battle; so, saying nothing at all about the message +brought me, I entered at once on the plan for defeating Pickett, +telling Warren how the enemy was posted, explaining with considerable +detail, and concluding by stating that I wished his troops to be +formed on the Gravelly Church road, near its junction with the White +Oak road, with two divisions to the front, aligned obliquely to the +White Oak road, and one in reserve, opposite the centre of these two. + +General Warren seemed to understand me clearly, and then left to join +his command, while I turned my attention to the cavalry, instructing +Merritt to begin by making demonstrations as though to turn the +enemy's right, and to assault the front of the works with his +dismounted cavalry as soon as Warren became engaged. Afterward I +rode around to Gravelly Run Church, and found the head of Warren's +column just appearing, while he was sitting under a tree making a +rough sketch of the ground. I was disappointed that more of the +corps was not already up, and as the precious minutes went by without +any apparent effort to hurry the troops on to the field, this +disappointment grew into disgust. At last I expressed to Warren my +fears that the cavalry might expend all their ammunition before the +attack could be made, that the sun would go down before the battle +could be begun, or that troops from Lee's right, which, be it +remembered, was less than three miles away from my right, might, by +striking my rear, or even by threatening it, prevent the attack on +Pickett. + +Warren did not seem to me to be at all solicitous; his manner +exhibited decided apathy, and he remarked with indifference that +"Bobby Lee was always getting people into trouble." With unconcern +such as this, it is no wonder that fully three hours' time was +consumed in marching his corps from J.[G] Boisseau's to Gravelly Run +Church, though the distance was but two miles. However, when my +patience was almost worn out, Warren reported his troops ready, +Ayres's division being formed on the west side of the Gravelly Church +road, Crawford's on the east side, and Griffin in reserve behind the +right of Crawford, a little different from my instructions. The +corps had no artillery present, its batteries, on account of the mud, +being still north of Gravelly Run. Meanwhile Merritt had been busy +working his men close up to the intrenchments from the angle of the +return west, along the White Oak road. + +About 4 o'clock Warren began the attack. He was to assault the left +flank of the Confederate infantry at a point where I knew Pickett's +intrenchments were refused, almost at right angles with the White Oak +road. I did not know exactly how far toward Hatcher's Run this part +of the works extended, for here the videttes of Mumford's cavalry +were covering, but I did know where the refusal began. This return, +then, was the point I wished to assail, believing that if the assault +was made with spirit, the line could be turned. I therefore intended +that Ayres and Crawford should attack the refused trenches squarely, +and when these two divisions and Merritt's cavalry became hotly +engaged, Griffin's division was to pass around the left of the +Confederate line; and I personally instructed Griffin how I wished +him to go in, telling him also that as he advanced, his right flank +would be taken care of by Mackenzie, who was to be pushed over toward +the Ford road and Hatcher's Run. + +The front of the corps was oblique to the White Oak road; and on +getting there, it was to swing round to the left till perpendicular +to the road, keeping closed to the left. Ayres did his part well, +and to the letter, bringing his division square up to the front of +the return near the angle; but Crawford did not wheel to the left, as +was intended. On the contrary, on receiving fire from Mumford's +cavalry, Crawford swerved to the right and moved north from the +return, thus isolating his division from Ayres; and Griffin, +uncertain of the enemy's position, naturally followed Crawford. + +The deflection of this division on a line of march which finally +brought it out on the Ford road near C. Young's house, frustrated the +purpose I had in mind when ordering the attack, and caused a gap +between Ayres and Crawford, of which the enemy quickly took +advantage, and succeeded in throwing a part of Ayres's division into +confusion. At this juncture I sent word to General Warren to have +Crawford recalled; for the direction he was following was not only a +mistaken one, but, in case the assault at the return failed, he ran +great risk of capture. Warren could not be found, so I then sent for +Griffin--first by Colonel Newhall, and then by Colonel Sherman--to +come to the aid of Ayres, who was now contending alone with that part +of the enemy's infantry at the return. By this time Griffin had +observed and appreciated Crawford's mistake, however, and when the +staff-officers reached him, was already faced to the left; so, +marching across Crawford's rear, he quickly joined Ayres, who +meanwhile had rallied his troops and carried the return. + +When Ayres's division went over the flank of the enemy's works, +Devin's division of cavalry, which had been assaulting the front, +went over in company with it; and hardly halting to reform, the +intermingling infantry and dismounted cavalry swept down inside the +intrenchments, pushing to and beyond Five Forks, capturing thousands +of prisoners. The only stand the enemy tried to make was when he +attempted to form near the Ford road. Griffin pressed him so hard +there, however, that he had to give way in short order, and many of +his men, with three pieces of artillery, fell into the hands of +Crawford while on his circuitous march. + +The right of Custer's division gained a foothold on the enemy's works +simultaneously with Devin's, but on the extreme left Custer had a +very severe combat with W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, as well as with +Corse's and Terry's infantry. Attacking Terry and Corse with +Pennington's brigade dismounted, he assailed Lee's cavalry with his +other two brigades mounted, but Lee held on so obstinately that +Custer gained but little ground till our troops, advancing behind the +works, drove Corse and Terry out. Then Lee made no further stand +except at the west side of the Gillian field, where, assisted by +Corse's brigade, he endeavored to cover the retreat, but just before +dark Custer, in concert with some Fifth Corps regiments under Colonel +Richardson, drove ihe last of the enemy westward on the White Oak +road. + +Our success was unqualified; we had overthrown Pickett, taken six +guns, thirteen battle-flags, and nearly six thousand prisoners. When +the battle was practically over, I turned to consider my position +with reference to the main Confederate army. My troops, though +victorious, were isolated from the Army of the Potomac, for on the +31st of March the extreme left of that army had been thrown back +nearly to the Boydton plank-road, and hence there was nothing to +prevent the enemy's issuing from his trenches at the intersection of +the White Oak and Claiborne roads and marching directly on my rear. +I surmised that he might do this that night or early next morning. +It was therefore necessary to protect myself in this critical +situation, and General Warren having sorely disappointed me, both in +the moving of his corps and in its management during the battle, I +felt that he was not the man to rely upon under such circumstances, +and deeming that it was to the best interest of the service as well +as but just to myself, I relieved him, ordering him to report to +General Grant. + +I then put Griffin in command of the Fifth Corps, and directed him to +withdraw from the pursuit as quickly as he could after following the +enemy a short distance, and form in line of battle near Gravelly Run +Church, at right angles with the White Oak road, with Ayres and +Crawford facing toward the enemy at the junction of the White Oak and +Claiborne roads, leaving Bartlett, now commanding Griffin's division, +near the Ford road. Mackenzie also was left on the Ford road at the +crossing of Hatcher's Run, Merritt going into camp on the Widow +Gillian's plantation. As I had been obliged to keep Crook's division +along Stony Creek throughout the day, it had taken no active part in +the battle. + +Years after the war, in 1879, a Court of Inquiry was given General +Warren in relation to his conduct on the day of the battle. He +assumed that the delay in not granting his request for an inquiry, +which was first made at the close of the war, was due to opposition +on my part. In this he was in error; I never opposed the ordering of +the Court, but when it was finally decided to convene it I naturally +asked to be represented by counsel, for the authorization of the +Inquiry was so peculiarly phrased that it made me practically a +respondent. + + +"NEW YORK CITY, May 3, 1880 + +"MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. HANCOCK, U. S. A. +"President Court of Inquiry, Governor's Island. + +"Sir: Since my arrival in this city, under a subpoena to appear and +testify before the Court of which you are president, I have been +indirectly and unofficially informed that the Court some time ago +forwarded an invitation to me (which has not been received) to appear +personally or by counsel, in order to aid it in obtaining a knowledge +as to the facts concerning the movements terminating in the battle of +'Five Forks,' with reference to the direct subjects of its inquiry. +Any invitation of this character I should always and do consider it +incumbent on me to accede to, and do everything in my power in +furtherance of the specific purposes for which courts of inquiry are +by law instituted. + +"The order convening the Court (a copy of which was not received by +me at my division headquarters until two days after the time +appointed for the Court to assemble) contemplates an inquiry based on +the application of Lieutenant Colonel G. K. Warren, Corps of +Engineers, as to his conduct while major-general commanding the Fifth +Army Corps, under my command, in reference to accusations or +imputations assumed in the order to have been made against him, and I +understand through the daily press that my official report of the +battle of Five Forks has been submitted by him as a basis of inquiry. + +"If it is proposed to inquire, either directly or indirectly, as to +any action of mine so far as the commanding general Fifth Army Corps +was concerned, or my motives for such action, I desire to be +specifically informed wherein such action or transaction is alleged +to contain an accusation or imputation to become a subject of +inquiry, so that, knowing what issues are raised, I may intelligently +aid the Court in arriving at the facts. + +"It is a long time since the battle of Five Forks was fought, and +during the time that has elapsed the official reports of that battle +have been received and acknowledged by the Government; but now, when +the memory of events has in many instances grown dim, and three of +the principal actors on that field are dead--Generals Griffin, +Custer, and Devin, whose testimony would have been valuable--an +investigation is ordered which might perhaps do injustice unless the +facts pertinent to the issues are fully developed. + +"My duties are such that it will not be convenient for me to be +present continuously during the sessions of the Court. In order, +however, that everything may be laid before it in my power pertinent +to such specific issues as are legally raised, I beg leave to +introduce Major Asa Bird Gardner as my counsel. + +"Very respectfully, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieut.-General." + + +Briefly stated, in my report of the battle of Five Forks there were +four imputations concerning General Warren. The first implied that +Warren failed to reach me on the 1st of April, when I had reason to +expect him; the second, that the tactical handling of his corps was +unskillful; the third, that he did not exert himself to get his corps +up to Gravelly Run Church; and the fourth, that when portions of his +line gave way he did not exert himself to restore confidence to his +troops. The Court found against him on the first and second counts, +and for him on the third and fourth. This finding was unsatisfactory +to General Warren, for he hoped to obtain such an unequivocal +recognition of his services as to cast discredit on my motives for +relieving him. These were prompted by the conditions alone--by the +conduct of General Warren as described, and my consequent lack of +confidence in him. + +It will be remembered that in my conversation with General Grant on +the 30th, relative to the suspension of operations because of the +mud, I asked him to let me have the Sixth Corps to help me in +breaking in on the enemy's right, but that it could not be sent me; +it will be recalled also that the Fifth Corps was afterward tendered +and declined. From these facts it has been alleged that I was +prejudiced against General Warren, but this is not true. As we had +never been thrown much together I knew but little of him. I had no +personal objection to him, and certainly could have none to his +corps. I was expected to do an extremely dangerous piece of work, +and knowing the Sixth Corps well--my cavalry having campaigned with +it so successfully in the Shenandoah Valley, I naturally preferred +it, and declined the Fifth for no other reason. But the Sixth could +not be given, and the turn of events finally brought me the Fifth +after my cavalry, under the most trying difficulties, had drawn the +enemy from his works, and into such a position as to permit the +realization of General Grant's hope to break up with my force Lee's +right flank. Pickett's isolation offered an opportunity which we +could not afford to neglect, and the destruction of his command would +fill the measure of General Grant's expectations as well as meet my +own desires. The occasion was not an ordinary one, and as I thought +that Warren had not risen to its demand in the battle, I deemed it +injudicious and unsafe under the critical conditions existing to +retain him longer. That I was justified in this is plain to all who +are disposed to be fair-minded, so with the following extract from +General Sherman's review of the proceedings of the Warren Court, and +with which I am convinced the judgment of history will accord, I +leave the subject: + +"....It would be an unsafe and dangerous rule to hold the commander +of an army in battle to a technical adherence to any rule of conduct +for managing his command. He is responsible for results, and holds +the lives and reputations of every officer and soldier under his +orders as subordinate to the great end--victory. The most important +events are usually compressed into an hour, a minute, and he cannot +stop to analyze his reasons. He must act on the impulse, the +conviction, of the instant, and should be sustained in his +conclusions, if not manifestly unjust. The power to command men, and +give vehement impulse to their joint action, is something which +cannot be defined by words, but it is plain and manifest in battles, +and whoever commands an army in chief must choose his subordinates by +reason of qualities which can alone be tested in actual conflict. + +"No one has questioned the patriotism, integrity, and great +intelligence of General Warren. These are attested by a long record +of most excellent service, but in the clash of arms at and near Five +Forks, March 31 and April 1, 1865, his personal activity fell short +of the standard fixed by General Sheridan, on whom alone rested the +great responsibility for that and succeeding days. + +"My conclusion is that General Sheridan was perfectly justified in +his action in this case, and he must be fully and entirely sustained +if the United States expects great victories by her arms in the +future." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +RESULT OF THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--RETREAT OF LEE--AN INTERCEPTED +DESPATCH--AT AMELIA COURT HOUSE--BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--THE +CONFEDERATES' STUBBORN RESISTANCE--A COMPLETE VICTORY--IMPORTANCE OF +THE BATTLE. + +When the news of the battle at Five Forks reached General Grant, he +realized that the decisive character of our victory would necessitate +the immediate abandonment of Richmond and Petersburg by the enemy; +and fearing that Lee would escape without further injury, he issued +orders, the propriety of which must be settled by history, to assault +next morning the whole intrenched line. But Lee could not retreat at +once. He had not anticipated, dissster at Five Forks, and hence was +unprepared to withdraw on the moment; and the necessity of getting +off his trains and munitions of war, as well as being obliged to +cover the flight of the Confederate Government, compelled him to hold +on to Richmond and Petersburg till the afternoon of the 2d, though +before that Parke, Ord, and Wright had carried his outer +intrenchments at several points, thus materially shortening the line +of investment. + +The night of the 1st of April, General Humphreys's corps-the Second- +had extended its left toward the White Oak road, and early next +morning, under instructions from General Grant, Miles's division of +that corps reported to me, and supporting him with Ayres's and +Crawford's divisions of the Fifth Corps, I then directed him to +advance toward Petersburg and attack the enemy's works at the +intersection of the Claiborne and White Oak roads. + +Such of the enemy as were still in the works Miles easily forced +across Hatcher's Run, in the direction of Sutherland's depot, but the +Confederates promptly took up a position north of the little stream, +and Miles being anxious to attack, I gave him leave, but just at this +time General Humphreys came up with a request to me from General +Meade to return Miles. On this request I relinquished command of the +division, when, supported by the Fifth Corps it could have broken in +the enemy's right at a vital point; and I have always since regretted +that I did so, for the message Humphreys conveyed was without +authority from General Grant, by whom Miles had been sent to me, but +thinking good feeling a desideratum just then, and wishing to avoid +wrangles, I faced the Fifth Corps about and marched it down to Five +Forks, and out the Ford road to the crossing of Hatcher's Run. After +we had gone, General Grant, intending this quarter of the field to be +under my control, ordered Humphreys with his other two divisions to +move to the right, in toward Petersburg. This left Miles entirely +unsupported, and his gallant attack made soon after was unsuccessful +at first, but about 3 o'clock in the afternoon he carried the point +which covered the retreat from Petersburg and Richmond. + +Merritt had been sent westward, meanwhile, in the direction of Ford's +Station, to break the enemy's horse which had been collecting to the +north of Hatcher's Run. Meeting, with but little opposition, Merritt +drove this cavalry force in a northerly direction toward Scott's +Corners, while the Fifth Corps was pushed toward Sutherland's depot, +in the hope of coming in on the rear of the force that was +confronting Miles when I left him. Crawford and Merritt engaged the +enemy lightly just before night, but his main column, retreating +along the river road south of the Appomattox, had got across Namozine +Creek, and the darkness prevented our doing more than to pick up some +stragglers. The next morning the pursuit was resumed, the cavalry +again in advance, the Fifth Corps keeping up with it all the while, +and as we pressed our adversaries hundreds and hundreds of prisoners, +armed and unarmed, fell into our hands, together with many wagons and +five pieces of artillery. At Deep Creek the rearguard turned on us, +and a severe skirmish took place. Merritt, finding the enemy very +strong, was directed to await the arrival of Crook and for the rear +division of the Fifth Corps; but by the time they reached the creek, +darkness had again come to protect the Confederates, and we had to be +content with meagre results at that point. + +From the beginning it was apparent that Lee, in his retreat, was +making for Amelia Court House, where his columns north and south of +the Appomattox River could join, and where, no doubt, he expected to +meet supplies, so Crook was ordered to march early on April 4 to +strike the Danville railroad, between Jettersville and Burkeville, +and then move south along the railroad toward Jettersville, Merritt +to move toward Amelia Court House, and the Fifth Corps to +Jettersville itself. + +The Fifth Corps got to Jettersville about 5 in the afternoon, and I +immediately intrenched it across the Burkeville road with the +determination to stay there till the main army could come up, for I +hoped we could force Lee to surrender at Amelia Court House, since a +firm hold on Jettersville would cut him off from his line of retreat +toward Burkeville. + +Accompanied only by my escort--the First United States Cavalry, about +two hundred strong--I reached Jettersville some little time before +the Fifth Corps, and having nothing else at hand I at once deployed +this handful of men to cover the crossroads till the arrival of the +corps. Just as the troopers were deploying, a man on a mule, heading +for Burkeville, rode into my pickets. He was arrested, of course, +and being searched there was found in his boots this telegram in +duplicate, signed by Lee's Commissary General. + +"The army is at Amelia Court House, short of provisions. Send +300,000 rations quickly to Burkeville Junction." One copy was +addressed to the supply department at Danville, and the other to that +at Lynchburg. I surmised that the telegraph lines north of +Burkeville had been broken by Crook after the despatches were +written, which would account for their being transmitted by +messenger. There was thus revealed not only the important fact that +Lee was concentrating at Amelia Court House, but also a trustworthy +basis for estimating his troops, so I sent word to Crook to strike up +the railroad toward me, and to Merritt--who, as I have said, had +followed on the heels of the enemy--to leave Mackenzie there and +himself close in on Jettersville. Staff-officers were also +despatched to hurry up Griffin with the Fifth Corps, and his tired men +redoubled their strides. + +My troops too were hard up for rations, for in the pursuit we could +not wait for our trains, so I concluded to secure if possible these +provisions intended for Lee. To this end I directed Young to send +four of his best scouts to Burkeville Junction. There they were to +separate, two taking the railroad toward Lynchburg and two toward +Danville, and as soon as a telegraph station was reached the telegram +was to be transmitted as it had been written and the provisions thus +hurried forward. + +Although the Fifth Corps arrived at Jettersville the evening of April +4, as did also Crook's and Merritt's cavalry, yet none of the army of +the Potomac came up till about 3 o'clock the afternoon of the 5th, +the Second Corps, followed by the Sixth, joining us then. General +Meade arrived at Jettersville an hour earlier, but being ill, +requested me to put his troops in position. The Fifth Corps being +already intrenched across the Amelia Court House road facing north, I +placed the Sixth on its right and the Second on its left as they +reached the ground. + +As the enemy had been feeling us ever since morning--to learn what he +was up to I directed Crook to send Davies's brigade on a +reconnoissance to Paine's crossroads. Davies soon found out that Lee +was trying to escape by that flank, for at the crossroads he found +the Confederate trains and artillery moving rapidly westward. Having +driven away the escort, Davies succeeded in burning nearly two +hundred wagons, and brought off five pieces of artillery. Among +these wagons were some belonging to General, Lee's and to General +Fitzhugh Lee's headquarters. This work through, Davies withdrew and +rejoined Crook, who, with Smith and Gregg, was established near Flat +Creek. + +It being plain that Lee would attempt to escape as soon as his trains +were out of the way, I was most anxious to attack him when the Second +Corps began to arrive, for I felt certain that unless we did so he +would succeed in passing by our left flank, and would thus again make +our pursuit a stern-chase; but General Meade, whose plan of attack +was to advance his right flank on Amelia Court House, objected to +assailing before all his troops were up. + +I then sent despatches to General Grant, explaining what Davies had +done, and telling him that the Second Corps was arriving, and that I +wished he himself was present. I assured him of my confidence in our +capturing Lee if we properly exerted ourselves, and informed him, +finally, that I would put all my cavalry, except Mackenzie, on my +left, and that, with such a disposition of my forces, I could see no +escape for Lee. I also inclosed him this letter, which had just been +captured: + +"AMELIA C. H., April 5, 1865. + +"DEAR MAMMA: + +"Our army is ruined, I fear. We are all safe as yet. Shyron left us +sick. John Taylor is well--saw him yesterday. We are in line of +battle this morning. General Robert Lee is in the field near us. My +trust is still in the justice of our cause, and that of God. General +Hill is killed. I saw Murray a few minutes since. Bernard, Terry +said, was taken prisoner, but may yet get out. I send this by a +negro I see passing up the railroad to Mechlenburg. Love to all. + +"Your devoted son, + +"Wm. B. TAYLOR, Colonel." + + +General Grant, who on the 5th was accompanying General Ord's column +toward Burkeville Junction, did not receive this intelligence till +nearly nightfall, when within about ten miles of the Junction. He +set out for Jettersville immediately, but did not reach us till near +midnight, too late of course to do anything that night. Taking me +with him, we went over to see Meade, whom he then directed to advance +early in the morning on Amelia Court House. In this interview Grant +also stated that the orders Meade had already issued would permit +Lee's escape, and therefore must be changed, for it was not the aim +only to follow the enemy, but to get ahead of him, remarking during +the conversation that, "he had no doubt Lee was moving right then." +On this same occasion Meade expressed a desire to have in the +proposed attack all the troops of the Army of the Potomac under his +own command, and asked for the return of the Fifth Corps. I made no +objections, and it was ordered to report, to him. + +When, on the morning of the 6th, Meade advanced toward Amelia Court +House, he found, as predicted, that Lee was gone. It turned out that +the retreat began the evening of the 5th and continued all night. +Satisfied that this would be the case, I did not permit the cavalry +to participate in Meade's useless advance, but shifted it out toward +the left to the road running from Deatonsville to Rice's station, +Crook leading and Merritt close up. Before long the enemy's trains +were discovered on this road, but Crook could make but little +impression on them, they were so strongly guarded; so, leaving +Stagg's brigade and Miller's battery about three miles southwest of +Deatonsville--where the road forks, with a branch leading north +toward the Appomattox--to harass the retreating column and find a +vulnerable point, I again shifted the rest of the cavalry toward the +left, across-country, but still keeping parallel to the enemy's line +of march. + +Just after crossing Sailor's Greek, a favorable opportunity offering, +both Merritt and Crook attacked vigorously, gained the Rice's Station +road, destroyed several hundred wagons, made many prisoners, and +captured sixteen pieces of artillery. This was important, but more +valuable still was the fact that we were astride the enemy's line of +retreat, and had cut off from joining Longstreet, waiting at Rice's +Station, a corps of Confederate infantry under General Ewell, +composed of Anderson's, Kershaw's, and Custis Lee's divisions. +Stagg's brigade and Miller's battery, which, as I have said, had been +left at the forks of the Deatonsville road, had meanwhile broken in +between the rear of Ewell's column and the head of Gordon's, forcing +Gordon to abandon his march for Rice's Station, and to take the +right-hand road at the forks, on which he was pursued by General +Humphreys. + +The complete isolation of Ewell from Longstreet in his front and +Gordon in his rear led to the battle of Sailor's Creek, one of the +severest conflicts of the war, for the enemy fought with desperation +to escape capture, and we, bent on his destruction, were no less +eager and determined. The capture of Ewell, with six of his generals +and most of his troops, crowned our success, but the fight was so +overshadowed by the stirring events of the surrender three days +later, that the battle has never been accorded the prominence it +deserves. + +The small creek from which the field takes its name flows in a +northwesterly direction across the road leading from Deatonsville to +Rice's Station. By shifting to the left, Merritt gained the Rice's +Station road west of the creek, making havoc of the wagon-trains, +while Crook struck them further on and planted himself square across +the road. This blocked Ewell, who, advancing Anderson to some high +ground west of the creek, posted him behind barricades, with the +intention of making a hard fight there, while the main body should +escape through the woods in a westerly direction to roads that led to +Farmville. This was prevented, however, by Crook forming his +division, two brigades dismounted and one mounted, and at once +assaulting all along Anderson's front and overlapping his right, +while Merritt fiercely attacked to the right of Crook. The enemy +being thus held, enabled the Sixth Corps--which in the meantime I had +sent for--to come upon the ground, and Ewell, still contending with +the cavalry, found himself suddenly beset by this new danger from his +rear. To, meet it, he placed Kershaw to the right and Custis Lee to +the left of the Rice's Station road, facing them north toward and +some little distance from Sailor's Creek, supporting Kershaw with +Commander Tucker's Marine brigade. Ewell's skirmishers held the line +of Sailor's Creek, which runs through a gentle valley, the north +slope of which was cleared ground. + +By General Grant's directions the Sixth Corps had been following my +route of march since the discovery, about 9 o'clock in the morning, +that Lee had decamped from Amelia Court House. Grant had promptly +informed me of this in a note, saying, "The Sixth Corps will go in +with a vim any place you may dictate," so when I sent word to Wright +of the enemy's isolation, and asked him to hurry on with all speed, +his gallant corps came as fast as legs could carry them, he sending +to me successively Major McClellan and Colonel Franklin, of his +staff, to report his approach. + +I was well advised as to the position of the enemy through +information brought me by an intelligent young soldier, William A. +Richardson, Company "A," Second Ohio, who, in one of the cavalry +charges on Anderson, had cleared the barricades and made his way back +to my front through Ewell's line. Richardson had told me just how +the main body of the enemy was posted, so as Seymour's division +arrived I directed General Wright to put it on the right of the road, +while Wheaton's men, coming up all hot and out of breath, promptly +formed on Seymour's left. Both divisions thus aligned faced +southwest toward Sailor's Creek, and the artillery of the corps being +massed to the left and front of the Hibbon house, without waiting for +Getty's division--for I feared that if we delayed longer the enemy +might effect his escape toward Farmville--the general attack was +begun. Seymour and Wheaton, moving forward together, assailed the +enemy's front and left, and Stagg's brigade, too, which in the mean +time had been placed between Wheaton's left and Devin's right, went +at him along with them, Merritt and Crook resuming the fight from +their positions in front of Anderson. The enemy, seeing little +chance of escape, fought like a tiger at bay, but both Seymour and +Wheaton pressed him vigorously, gaining ground at all points except +just to the right of the road, where Seymour's left was checked. +Here the Confederates burst back on us in a counter-charge, surging +down almost to the creek, but the artillery, supported by Getty, who +in the mean time had come on the ground, opened on them so terribly +that this audacious and furious onset was completely broken, though +the gallant fellows fell back to their original line doggedly, and +not until after they had almost gained the creek. Ewell was now +hemmed in on every side, and all those under his immediate command +were captured. Merritt and Crook had also broken up Anderson by this +time, but he himself, and about two thousand disorganized men escaped +by making their way through the woods toward the Appomattox River +before they could be entirely enveloped. Night had fallen when the +fight was entirely over, but Devin was pushed on in pursuit for about +two miles, part of the Sixth Corps following to clinch a victory +which not only led to the annihilation of one corps of Lee's +retreating army, but obliged Longstreet to move up to Farmville, so +as to take a road north of the Appomattox River toward Lynchburg +instead of continuing toward Danville. + +At the close of the battle I sent one of my staff--Colonel Redwood +Price--to General Grant to report what had been done; that we had +taken six generals and from nine to ten thousand prisoners. On his +way Price stopped at the headquarters of General Meade, where he +learned that not the slightest intelligence of the occurrence on my +line had been received, for I not being under Meade's command, he had +paid no attention to my movements. Price gave the story of the +battle, and General Meade, realizing its importance, sent directions +immediately to General Wright to make his report of the engagement to +the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, assuming that Wright was +operating independently of me in the face of Grant's despatch Of +2 o'clock, which said that Wright was following the cavalry and would +"go in with a vim" wherever I dictated. Wright could not do else +than comply with Meade's orders in the case, and I, being then in +ignorance of Meade's reasons for the assumption, could say nothing. +But General Grant plainly intending, and even directing, that the +corps should be under my command, remedied this phase of the matter, +when informed of what had taken place, by requiring Wright to send a +report of the battle through me. What he then did, and what his +intentions and orders were, are further confirmed by a reference to +the episode in his "Memoirs," where he gives his reasons for ordering +the Sixth Corps to abandon the move on Amelia Court House and pass to +the left of the army. On the same page he also says, referring to +the 6th of April: "The Sixth Corps now remained with the cavalry +under Sheridan's direct command until after the surrender." He +unquestionably intended all of this, but his purpose was partly +frustrated by General Meade's action next morning in assuming +direction of the movements of the corps; and before General Grant +became aware of the actual conditions the surrender was at hand. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +LINCOLN'S LACONIC DESPATCH--CAPTURING LEE'S SUPPLIES--DELIGHTED +ENGINEERS--THE CONFEDERATES' LAST EFFORT--A FLAG OF TRUCE--GENERAL +GEARY'S "LAST DITCH" ABSURDITY--MEETING OF GRANT AND LEE--THE +SURRENDER--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL GRANT. + +The first report of the battle of Sailor's Creek that General Grant +received was, as already stated, an oral message carried by Colonel +Price, of my staff. Near midnight I sent a despatch giving the names +of the generals captured. These were Ewell, Kershaw, Barton, Corse, +Dubose, and Custis Lee. In the same despatch I wrote: "If the thing +is pressed, I think that Lee will surrender." When Mr. Lincoln, at +City Point, received this word from General Grant, who was +transmitting every item of news to the President, he telegraphed +Grant the laconic message: "Let the thing be pressed." The morning of +the 7th we moved out at a very early hour, Crook's division marching +toward Farmville in direct pursuit, while Merritt and Mackenzie were +ordered to Prince Edward's Court House to anticipate any effort Lee +might make to escape through that place toward Danville since it had +been discovered that Longstreet had slipped away already from the +front of General Ord's troops at Rice's Station. Crook overtook the +main body of the Confederates at Farmville, and promptly attacked +their trains on the north side of the Appomattox with Gregg's +brigade, which was fiercely turned upon and forced to re-cross the +river with the loss of a number of prisoner's, among them Gregg +himself. When Crook sent word of this fight, it was clear that Lee +had abandoned all effort to escape to the southwest by way of +Danville. Lynchburg was undoubtedly his objective point now; so, +resolving to throw my cavalry again across his path, and hold him +till the infantry could overtake him, I directed everything on +Appomattox depot, recalling Crook the night of the 7th to Prospect +Station, while Merritt camped at Buffalo Creek, and Mackenzie made a +reconnoissance along the Lynchburg railroad. + +At break of day, April 8, Merritt and Mackenzie united with Crook at +Prospect Station, and the cavalry all moved then toward Appomattox +depot. Hardly had it started when one of the scouts--Sergeant White- +-informed me that there were four trains of cars at the depot loaded +with supplies for Lee's army; these had been sent from Lynchburg, in +compliance with the telegram of Lee's commissary-general, which +message, it will be remembered, was captured and transmitted to +Lynchburg by two of Young's scouts on the 4th. Sergeant White, who +had been on the lookout for the trains ever since sending the +despatch, found them several miles west of Appomattox depot feeling +their way along, in ignorance of Lee's exact position. As he had the +original despatch with him, and took pains to dwell upon the pitiable +condition of Lee's army, he had little difficulty in persuading the +men in charge of the trains to bring them east of Appomattox Station, +but fearing that the true state of affairs would be learned before +long, and the trains be returned to Lynchburg, he was painfully +anxious to have them cut off by breaking the track west of the +station. + +The intelligence as to the trains was immediately despatched to +Crook, and I pushed on to join him with Merritt's command. Custer +having the advance, moved rapidly, and on nearing the station +detailed two regiments to make a detour southward to strike the +railroad some distance beyond and break the track. These regiments +set off at a gallop, and in short order broke up the railroad enough +to prevent the escape of the trains, Custer meanwhile taking +possession of the station, but none too soon, for almost at the +moment he did so the advance-guard of Lee's army appeared, bent on +securing the trains. Without halting to look after the cars further, +Custer attacked this advance-guard and had a spirited fight, in which +he drove the Confederates away from the station, captured twenty-five +pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and a large park of wagons, +which, in the hope that they would reach Lynchburg next day, were +being pushed ahead of Lee's main body. + +Devin coming up a little before dusk, was put in on the right of +Custer, and one of Crook's brigades was sent to our left and the +other two held in reserve. I then forced the enemy back on the +Appomattox road to the vicinity of the Court House, and that the +Confederates might have no rest, gave orders to continue the +skirmishing throughout the night. Meanwhile the captured trains had +been taken charge of by locomotive engineers, soldiers of the +command, who were delighted evidently to get back at their old +calling. They amused themselves by running the trains to and fro, +creating much confusion, and keeping up such an unearthly screeching +with the whistles that I was on the point of ordering the cars +burned. They finally wearied of their fun, however, and ran the +trains off to the east toward General Ord's column. + +The night of the 8th I made my headquarters at a little frame house +just south of the station. I did not sleep at all, nor did anybody +else, the entire command being up all night long; indeed, there had +been little rest in the, cavalry for the past eight days. The +necessity of getting Ord's column up was so obvious now that staff- +officer after staff-officer was sent to him and to General Grant +requesting that the infantry be pushed on, for if it could get to the +front, all knew that the rebellion would be ended on the morrow. +Merritt, Crook, Custer, and Devin were present at frequent intervals +during the night, and everybody was overjoyed at the prospect that +our weary work was about to end so happily. Before sun-up General +Ord arrived, and informed me of the approach of his column, it having +been marching the whole night. As he ranked me, of course I could +give him no orders, so after a hasty consultation as to where his +troops should be placed we separated, I riding to the front to +overlook my line near Appomattox Court House, while he went back to +urge along his weary troops. + +The night before General Lee had held a council with his principal +generals, when it was arranged that in the morning General Gordon +should undertake to break through my cavalry, and when I neared my +troops this movement was beginning, a heavy line of infantry bearing +down on us from the direction of the village. In front of Crook and +Mackenzie firing had already begun, so riding to a slight elevation +where a good view of the Confederates could be had, I there came to +the conclusion that it would be unwise to offer more resistance than +that necessary to give Ord time to form, so I directed Merritt to +fall back, and in retiring to shift Devin and Custer to the right so +as to make room for Ord, now in the woods to my rear. Crook, who +with his own and Mackenzie's divisions was on my extreme left +covering some by-roads, was ordered to hold his ground as long as +practicable without sacrificing his men, and, if forced to retire, to +contest with obstinacy the enemy's advance. + +As already stated, I could not direct General Ord's course, he being +my senior, but hastily galloping back to where he was, at the edge of +the timber, I explained to him what was taking place at the front. +Merritt's withdrawal inspired the Confederates, who forthwith began +to press Crook, their line of battle advancing with confidence till +it reached the crest whence I had reconnoitred them. From this +ground they could see Ord's men emerging from the woods, and the +hopelessness of a further attack being plain, the gray lines +instinctively halted, and then began to retire toward a ridge +immediately fronting Appomattox Court House, while Ord, joined on his +right by the Fifth Corps, advanced on them over the ground that +Merritt had abandoned. + +I now directed my steps toward Merritt, who, having mounted his +troopers, had moved them off to the right, and by the time I reached +his headquarters flag he was ready for work, so a move on the enemy's +left was ordered, and every guidon was bent to the front. As the +cavalry marched along parallel with the Confederate line, and in +toward its left, a heavy fire of artillery opened on us, but this +could not check us at such a time, and we soon reached some high +ground about half a mile from the Court House, and from here I could +see in the low valley beyond the village the bivouac undoubtedly of +Lee's army. The troops did not seem to be disposed in battle order, +but on the other side of the bivouac was a line of battle--a heavy +rear-guard--confronting, presumably, General Meade. + +I decided to attack at once, and formations were ordered at a trot +for a charge by Custer's and Devin's divisions down the slope leading +to the camps. Custer was soon ready, but Devin's division being in +rear its formation took longer, since he had to shift further to the +right; Devin's preparations were, therefore, but partially completed +when an aide-decamp galloped up to with the word from Custer, "Lee +has surrendered; do not charge; the white flag is up." The enemy +perceiving that Custer was forming for attack, had sent the flag out +to his front and stopped the charge just in time. I at once sent +word of the truce to General Ord, and hearing nothing more from +Custer himself, I supposed that he had gone down to the Court House +to join a mounted group of Confederates that I could see near there, +so I, too, went toward them, galloping down a narrow ridge, staff and +orderlies following; but we had not got half way to the Court House +when, from a skirt of timber to our right, not more than three +hundred yards distant, a musketry fire was opened on us. This halted +us, when, waving my hat, I called out to the firing party that we +were under a truce, and they were violating it. This did not stop +them, however, so we hastily took shelter in a ravine so situated as +to throw a ridge between us and the danger. + +We traveled in safety down this depression to its mouth, and thence +by a gentle ascent approached the Court House. I was in advance, +followed by a sergeant carrying my battleflag. When I got within +about a hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's line, which was +immediately in front of the Court House, some of the Confederates +leveled their pieces at us, and I again halted. Their officers kept +their men from firing, however, but meanwhile a single-handed contest +had begun behind me, for on looking back I heard a Confederate +soldier demanding my battle-flag from the color-bearer, thinking, no +doubt, that we were coming in as prisoners. The sergeant had drawn +his sabre and was about to cut the man down, but at a word from me he +desisted and carried the flag back to my staff, his assailant quickly +realizing that the boot was on the other leg. + +These incidents determined me to remain where I was till the return +of a staff-officer whom I had sent over to demand an explanation from +the group of Confederates for which I had been heading. He came back +in a few minutes with apologies for what had occurred, and informed +me that General Gordon and General Wilcox were the superior officers +in the group. As they wished me to join them I rode up with my +staff, but we had hardly met when in front of Merritt firing began. +At the sound I turned to General Gordon, who seemed embarrassed by +the occurrence, and remarked: "General, your men fired on me as I was +coming over here, and undoubtedly they are treating Merritt and +Custer the same way. We might as well let them fight it out." He +replied, "There must be some mistake." I then asked, "Why not send a +staff-officer and have your people cease firing; they are violating +the flag." He answered, "I have no staff-officer to send." Whereupon +I said that I would let him have one of mine, and calling for +Lieutenant Vanderbilt Allen, I directed him to carry General Gordon's +orders to General Geary, commanding a small brigade of South Carolina +cavalry, to discontinue firing. Allen dashed off with the message +and soon delivered it, but was made a prisoner, Geary saying, "I do +not care for white flags: South Carolinians never surrender...." By +this time Merritt's patience being exhausted, he ordered an attack, +and this in short order put an end to General Geary's "last ditch" +absurdity, and extricated Allen from his predicament. + +When quiet was restored Gordon remarked: "General Lee asks for a +suspension of hostilities pending the negotiations which he is having +with General Grant." I rejoined: "I have been constantly informed of +the progress of the negotiations, and think it singular that while +such discussions are going on, General Lee should have continued his +march and attempted to break through my lines this morning. I will +entertain no terms except that General Lee shall surrender to General +Grant on his arrival here. If these terms are not accepted we will +renew hostilities." Gordon replied: "General Lee's army is +exhausted. There is no doubt of his surrender to General Grant." + +It was then that General Ord joined us, and after shaking hands all +around, I related the situation to him, and Gordon went away agreeing +to meet us again in half an hour. When the time was up he came back +accompanied by General Longstreet, who brought with him a despatch, +the duplicate of one that had been sent General Grant through General +Meade's lines back on the road over which Lee had been retreating. + +General Longstreet renewed the assurances that already had been given +by Gordon, and I sent Colonel Newhall with the despatch to find +General Grant and bring him to the front. When Newhall started, +everything on our side of the Appomattox Court House was quiet, for +inevitable surrender was at hand, but Longstreet feared that Meade, +in ignorance of the new conditions on my front might attack the +Confederate rearguard. To prevent this I offered to send Colonel J. +W. Forsyth through the enemy's lines to let Meade know of my +agreement, for he too was suspicious that by a renewed correspondence +Lee was endeavoring to gain time for escape. My offer being +accepted, Forsyth set out accompanied by Colonel Fairfax, of +Longstreet's staff, and had no difficulty in accomplishing his +mission. + +About five or six miles from Appomattox, on the road toward Prospect +Station near its intersection with the Walker's Church road, my +adjutant-general, Colonel Newhall, met General Grant, he having +started from north of the Appomattox River for my front the morning +of April 9, in consequence of the following despatches which had been +sent him the night before, after we had captured Appomattox Station +and established a line intercepting Lee: + +"CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, April 8, 1865--9:20 P. M. + +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +"Commanding Armies of the U. S. + +"General: I marched early this morning from Buffalo Creek and +Prospect Station on Appomattox Station, where my scouts had reported +trains of cars with supplies for Lee's army. A short time before +dark General Custer, who had the advance, made a dash at the station, +capturing four trains of supplies with locomotives. One of the +trains was burned and the others were run back toward Farmville for +security. Custer then pushed on toward Appomattox Court House, +driving the enemy--who kept up a heavy fire of artillery--charging +them repeatedly and capturing, as far as reported, twenty-five pieces +of artillery and a number of prisoners and wagons. The First Cavalry +Division supported him on the right. A reconnoissance sent across +the Appomattox reports the enemy moving on the Cumberland road to +Appomattox Station, where they expect to get supplies. Custer is +still pushing on. If General Gibbon and the Fifth Corps can get up +to-night, we will perhaps finish the job in the morning. I do not +think Lee means to surrender until compelled to do so. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, April 8, 1865--9:40 p.m. + +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. +"Commanding Armies U. S. + +"GENERAL: Since writing tne accompanying despatch, General Custer +reports that his command has captured in all thirty-five pieces of +artillery, one thousand prisoners--including one general officer--and +from one hundred and fifty to two hundred wagons. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + +In attempting to conduct the lieutenant-general and staff back by a +short route, Newhall lost his bearings for a time, inclining in +toward the enemy's lines too far, but regained the proper direction +without serious loss of time. General Grant arrived about 1 o'clock +in the afternoon, Ord and I, dismounted, meeting him at the edge of +the town, or crossroads, for it was little more. He remaining +mounted, spoke first to me, saying simply, + +"How are you, Sheridan?" I assured him with thanks that I was +"first-rate," when, pointing toward the village, he asked, "Is +General Lee up there?" and I replied: "There is his army down in that +valley, and he himself is over in that house (designating McLean's +house) waiting to surrender to you." The General then said, "Come, +let us go over," this last remark being addressed to both Ord and me. +We two then mounted and joined him, while our staff-officers +followed, intermingling with those of the general-in-chief as the +cavalcade took its way to McLean's house near by, and where General +Lee had arrived some time before, in consequence of a message from +General Grant consenting to the interview asked for by Lee through +Meade's front that morning--the consent having been carried by +Colonel Babcock. + +When I entered McLean's house General Lee was standing, as was also +his military secretary, Colonel Marshall, his only staff-officer +present. General Lee was dressed in a new uniform and wore a +handsome sword. His tall, commanding form thus set off contrasted +strongly with the short figure of General Grant, clothed as he was in +a soiled suit, without sword or other insignia of his position except +a pair of dingy shoulder-straps. After being presented, Ord and I, +and nearly all of General Grant's staff, withdrew to await the +agreement as to terms, and in a little while Colonel Babcock came to +the door and said, "The surrender had been made; you can come in +again." + +When we re-entered General Grant was writing; and General Lee, having +in his hand two despatches, which I that morning requested might be +returned, as I had no copies of them, addressed me with the remark: +"I am sorry. It is probable that my cavalry at that point of the +line did not fully understand the agreement." These despatches had +been sent in the forenoon, after the fighting had been stopped, +notifying General Lee that some of his cavalry in front of Crook was +violating the suspension of hostilities by withdrawing. About +3 o'clock in the afternoon the terms of surrender were written out +and accepted, and General Lee left the house, as he departed +cordially shaking hands with General Grant. A moment later he +mounted his chunky gray horse, and lifting his hat as he passed out +of the yard, rode off toward his army, his arrival there being +announced to us by cheering, which, as it progressed, varying in +loudness, told he was riding through the bivouac of the Army of +Northern Virginia. + +The surrender of General Lee practically ended the war of the +rebellion. For four years his army had been the main-stay of the +Confederacy; and the marked ability with which he directed its +operations is evidenced both by his frequent successes and the length +of time he kept up the contest. Indeed, it may be said that till +General Grant was matched against him, he never met an opponent he +did not vanquish, for while it is true that defeat was inflicted on +the Confederates at Antietam and Gettysburg, yet the fruits of these +victories were not gathered, for after each of these battles Lee was +left unmolested till he had a chance to recuperate. + +The assignment of General Grant to the command of the Union armies in +the winter of 1863-64 gave presage of success from the start, for his +eminent abilities had already been proved, and besides, he was a +tower of strength to the Government, because he had the confidence of +the people. They knew that henceforth systematic direction would be +given to our armies in every section of the vast territory over which +active operations were being prosecuted, and further, that this +coherence, this harmony of plan, was the one thing needed to end the +war, for in the three preceding years there had been illustrated most +lamentable effects of the absence of system. From the moment he set +our armies in motion simultaneously, in the spring of 1864, it could +be seen that we should be victorious ultimately, for though on +different lines we were checked now and then, yet we were harassing +the Confederacy at so many vital points that plainly it must yield to +our blows. Against Lee's army, the forefront of the Confederacy, +Grant pitted himself; and it may be said that the Confederate +commander was now, for the first time, overmatched, for against all +his devices--the products of a mind fertile in defense--General Grant +brought to bear not only the wealth of expedient which had hitherto +distinguished him, but also an imperturbable tenacity, particularly +in the Wilderness and on the march to the James, without which the +almost insurmountable obstacles of that campaign could not have been +overcome. During it and in the siege of Petersburg he met with many +disappointments--on several occasions the shortcomings of generals, +when at the point of success, leading to wretched failures. But so +far as he was concerned, the only apparent effect of these +discomfitures was to make him all the more determined to discharge +successfully the stupendous trust committed to his care, and to bring +into play the manifold resources of his well ordered military mind. +He guided every subordinate then, and in the last days of the +rebellion, with a fund of common sense and superiority of intellect, +which have left an impress so distinct as to exhibit his great +personality. When his military history is analyzed after the lapse +of years, it will show, even more clearly than now, that during these +as well as in his previous campaigns he was the steadfast Centre +about and on which everything else turned. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +ORDERED TO GREENSBORO', N. C.--MARCH TO THE DAN RIVER--ASSIGNED TO +THE COMMAND WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI--LEAVING WASHINGTON--FLIGHT OF +GENERAL EARLY--MAXIMILIAN--MAKING DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE UPPER RIO +GRANDE--CONFEDERATES JOIN MAXIMILIAN--THE FRENCH INVASION OF MEXICO +AND ITS RELATIONS TO THE REBELLION--ASSISTING THE LIBERALS-- +RESTORATION OF THE REPUBLIC. + +The surrender at Appomattox put a stop to all military operations on +the part of General Grant's forces, and the morning of April 10 my +cavalry began its march to Petersburg, the men anticipating that they +would soon be mustered out and returned to their homes. At Nottoway +Court House I heard of the assassination of the President. The first +news came to us the night after the dastardly deed, the telegraph +operator having taken it from the wires while in transmission to +General Meade. The despatch ran that Mr. Lincoln had been, shot at +10 o'clock that morning at Willard's Hotel, but as I could conceive +of nothing to take the President there I set the story down as a +canard, and went to bed without giving it further thought. Next +morning, however, an official telegram confirmed the fact of the +assassination, though eliminating the distorted circumstances that +had been communicated the night before. + +When we reached Petersburg my column was halted, and instructions +given me to march the cavalry and the Sixth Corps to Greensboro', +North Carolina, for the purpose of aiding General Sherman (the +surrender of General Johnston having not yet been effected), so I +made the necessary preparations and moved on the 24th of April, +arriving at South Boston, on the Dan River, the 28th, the Sixth Corps +having reached Danville meanwhile. At South Boston I received a +despatch from General Halleck, who immediately after Lee's surrender +had been assigned to command at Richmond, informing me that General +Johnston had been brought to terms. The necessity for going farther +south being thus obviated we retraced our steps to Petersburg, from +which place I proceeded by steamer to Washington, leaving, the +cavalry to be marched thither by easy stages. + +The day after my arrival in Washington an important order was sent +me, accompanied by the following letter of instructions, transferring +me to a new field of operations: + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES. +"Washington, D. C., May 17, 1865. + +"GENERAL: Under the orders relieving you from the command of the +Middle Military Division and assigning you to command west of the +Mississippi, you will proceed without delay to the West to arrange +all preliminaries for your new field of duties. + +"Your duty is to restore Texas, and that part of Louisiana held by +the enemy, to the Union in the shortest practicable time, in a way +most effectual for securing permanent peace. + +"To do this, you will be given all the troops that can be spared +by Major-General Canby, probably twenty-five thousand men of +all arms; the troops with Major-General J. J. Reynolds, in Arkansas, +say twelve thousand, Reynolds to command; the Fourth +Army Corps, now at Nashville, Tennessee, awaiting orders; and +the Twenty-Fifth Army Corps, now at City Point, Virginia, ready +to embark. + +"I do not wish to trammel you with instructions; I will state, +however, that if Smith holds out, without even an ostensible +government to receive orders from or to report to, he and his men are +not entitled to the considerations due to an acknowledged +belligerent. Theirs are the conditions of outlaws, making war +against the only Government having an existence over the territory +where war is now being waged. + +"You may notify the rebel commander west of the Mississippi--holding +intercourse with him in person, or through such officers of the rank +of major-general as you may select--that he will be allowed to +surrender all his forces on the same terms as were accorded to Lee +and Johnston. If he accedes, proceed to garrison the Red River as +high up as Shreveport, the seaboard at Galveston, Malagorda Bay, +Corpus Christi, and mouth of the Rio Grande. + +"Place a strong force on the Rio Grande, holding it at least to a +point opposite Camargo, and above that if supplies can be procured. + +"In case of an active campaign (a hostile one) I think a heavy force +should be put on the Rio Grande as a first preliminary. Troops for +this might be started at once. The Twenty-Fifth Corps is now +available, and to it should be added a force of white troops, say +those now under Major-General Steele. + +"To be clear on this last point, I think the Rio Grande should be +strongly held, whether the forces in Texas surrender or not, and that +no time should be lost in getting troops there. If war is to be +made, they will be in the right place; if Kirby Smith surrenders, +they will be on the line which is to be strongly garrisoned. + +"Should any force be necessary other than those designated, they can +be had by calling for them on Army Headquarters. + +"U. S. GRANT, +"Lieutenant-General. + +"To MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +"United States Army." + + +On receipt of these instructions I called at once on General Grant, +to see if they were to be considered so pressing as to preclude my +remaining in Washington till after the Grand Review, which was fixed +for the 23d and 24th of May, for naturally I had a strong desire to +head my command on that great occasion. But the General told me that +it was absolutely necessary to go at once to force the surrender of +the Confederates under Kirby Smith. He also told me that the States +lately in rebellion would be embraced in two or three military +departments, the commanders of which would control civil affairs +until Congress took action about restoring them to the Union, since +that course would not only be economical and simple, but would give +the Southern people confidence, and encourage them to go to work, +instead of distracting them with politics. + +At this same interview he informed me that there was an additional +motive in sending me to the new command, a motive not explained by +the instructions themselves, and went on to say that, as a matter of +fact, he looked upon the invasion of Mexico by Maximilian as a part +of the rebellion itself, because of the encouragement that invasion +had received from the Confederacy, and that our success in putting +down secession would never be complete till the French and Austrian +invaders were compelled to quit the territory of our sister republic. +With regard to this matter, though, he said it would be necessary for +me to act with great circumspection, since the Secretary of State, +Mr. Seward, was much opposed to the use of our troops along the +border in any active way that would be likely to involve us in a war +with European powers. + +Under the circumstances, my disappointment at not being permitted to +participate in the review had to be submitted to, and I left +Washington without an opportunity of seeing again in a body the men +who, while under my command, had gone through so many trials and +unremittingly pursued and, assailed the enemy, from the beginning of +the campaign of 1864 till the white flag came into their hands at +Appomattox Court House. + +I went first to St. Louis, and there took the steamboat for New +Orleans, and when near the mouth of the Red River received word from +General Canby that Kirby Smith had surrendered under terms similar to +those accorded Lee and Johnston. But the surrender was not carried +out in good faith, particularly by the Texas troops, though this I +did not learn till some little time afterward when I was informed +that they had marched off to the interior of the State in several +organized bodies, carrying with them their camp equipage, arms, +ammunition, and even some artillery, with the ultimate purpose of +going to Mexico. In consequence of this, and also because of the +desire of the Government to make a strong showing of force in Texas, +I decided to traverse the State with two columns of cavalry, +directing one to San Antonio under Merritt, the other to Houston +under Custer. Both commands were to start from the Red River-- +Shreveport and Alexandria--being the respective initial points--and +in organizing the columns, to the mounted force already on the Red +River were added several regiments of cavalry from the east bank of +the, Mississippi, and in a singular way one of these fell upon the +trail of my old antagonist, General Early. While crossing the river +somewhere below Vicksburg some of the men noticed a suspicious +looking party being ferried over in a rowboat, behind which two +horses were swimming in tow. Chase was given, and the horses, being +abandoned by the party, fell into the hands of our troopers, who, +however, failed to capture or identify the people in the boat. As +subsequently ascertained, the men were companions of Early, who was +already across the Mississippi, hidden in the woods, on his way with +two or three of these followers to join the Confederates in Texas, +not having heard of Kirby Smith's surrender. A week or two later I +received a letter from Early describing the affair, and the capture +of the horses, for which he claimed pay, on the ground that they were +private property, because he had taken them in battle. The letter +also said that any further pursuit of Early would be useless, as he +"expected to be on the deep blue sea" by the time his communication +reached me. The unfortunate man was fleeing from imaginary dangers, +however, for striking his trail was purely accidental, and no effort +whatever was being made to arrest him personally. Had this been +especially desired it might have been accomplished very readily just +after Lee's surrender, for it was an open secret that Early was then +not far away, pretty badly disabled with rheumatism. + +By the time the two columns were ready to set out for San Antonio and +Houston, General Frank Herron,--with one division of the Thirteenth +Corps, occupied Galveston, and another division under General Fred +Steele had gone to Brazos Santiago, to hold Brownsville and the line +of the Rio Grande, the object being to prevent, as far as possible, +the escaping Confederates from joining Maximilian. With this purpose +in view, and not forgetting Grant's conviction that the French +invasion of Mexico was linked with the rebellion, I asked for an +increase of force to send troops into Texas in fact, to concentrate +at available points in the State an army strong enough to move +against the invaders of Mexico if occasion demanded. The Fourth and +Twenty-fifth army corps being ordered to report to me, accordingly, I +sent the Fourth Corps to Victoria and San Antonio, and the bulk of +the Twenty-fifth to Brownsville. Then came the feeding and caring +for all these troops--a difficult matter--for those at Victoria and +San Antonio had to be provisioned overland from Indianola across the +"hog-wallow prairie," while the supplies for the forces at +Brownsville and along the Rio Grande must come by way of Brazos +Santiago, from which point I was obliged to construct, with the labor +of the men, a railroad to Clarksville, a distance of about eighteen +miles. + +The latter part of June I repaired to Brownsville myself to impress +the Imperialists, as much as possible, with the idea that we intended +hostilities, and took along my chief of scouts--Major Young--and four +of his most trusty men, whom I had had sent from Washington. From +Brownsville I despatched all these men to important points in +northern Mexico, to glean information regarding the movements of the +Imperial forces, and also to gather intelligence about the ex- +Confederates who had crossed the Rio Grande. On information +furnished by these scouts, I caused General Steele to make +demonstrations all along the lower Rio Grande, and at the same time +demanded the return of certain munitions of war that had been turned +over by ex-Confederates to the Imperial General (Mejia) commanding at +Matamoras. These demands, backed up as they were by such a +formidable show of force created much agitation and demoralization +among the Imperial troops, and measures looking to the abandonment of +northern Mexico were forthwith adopted by those in authority--a +policy that would have resulted in the speedy evacuation of the +entire country by Maximilian, had not our Government weakened; +contenting itself with a few pieces of the contraband artillery +varnished over with the Imperial apologies. A golden opportunity was +lost, for we had ample excuse for crossing the boundary, but Mr. +Seward being, as I have already stated, unalterably opposed to any +act likely to involve us in war, insisted on his course of +negotiation with Napoleon. + +As the summer wore away, Maximilian, under Mr. Seward's policy, +gained in strength till finally all the accessible sections of Mexico +were in his possession, and the Republic under President Juarez +almost succumbed. Growing impatient at this, in the latter part of +September I decided to try again what virtue there might be in a +hostile demonstration, and selected the upper Rio Grande for the +scene of my attempt. Merritt's cavalry and the Fourth Corps still +being at San Antonio, I went to that place and reviewed these troops, +and having prepared them with some ostentation for a campaign, of +course it was bruited about that we were going to invade Mexico. +Then, escorted by a regiment of horse I proceeded hastily to Fort +Duncan, on the Rio Grande just opposite the Mexican town of Piedras +Negras. Here I opened communication with President Juarez, through +one of his staff, taking care not to do this in the dark, and the +news, spreading like wildfire, the greatest significance was ascribed +to my action, it being reported most positively and with many +specific details that I was only awaiting the arrival of the troops, +then under marching orders at San Antonio, to cross the Rio Grande in +behalf of the Liberal cause. + +Ample corroboration of the reports then circulated was found in my +inquiries regarding the quantity of forage we could depend upon +getting in Mexico, our arrangements for its purchase, and my sending +a pontoon train to Brownsville, together with which was cited the +renewed activity of the troops along the lower Rio Grande. These +reports and demonstrations resulted in alarming the Imperialists so +much that they withdrew the French and Austrian soldiers from +Matamoras, and practically abandoned the whole of northern Mexico as +far down as Monterey, with the exception of Matamoras, where General +Mejia continued to hang on with a garrison of renegade Mexicans. + +The abandonment of so much territory in northern Mexico encouraged +General Escobedo and other Liberal leaders to such a degree that they +collected a considerable army of their followers at Comargo, Mier, +and other points. At the same time that unknown quantity, Cortinas, +suspended his free-booting for the nonce, and stoutly harassing +Matamoras, succeeded in keeping its Imperial garrison within the +fortifications. Thus countenanced and stimulated, and largely +supplied with arms and ammunition, which we left at convenient places +on our side of the river to fall into their hands, the Liberals, +under General Escobedo--a man of much force of character--were +enabied in northern Mexico to place the affairs of the Republic on a +substantial basis. + +But in the midst of what bade fair to cause a final withdrawal of the +foreigners, we were again checked by our Government, as a result of +representations of the French Minister at Washington. In October, he +wrote to Mr. Seward that the United States troops on the Rio Grande +were acting "in exact opposition to the repeated assurances Your +Excellency has given me concerning the desire of the Cabinet at +Washington to preserve the most strict neutrality in the events now +taking place in Mexico," and followed this statement with an emphatic +protest against our course. Without any investigation whatever by +our State Department, this letter of the French Minister was +transmitted to me, accompanied by directions to preserve a strict +neutrality; so, of course, we were again debarred from anything like +active sympathy. + +After this, it required the patience of Job to abide the slow and +poky methods of our State Department, and, in truth, it was often +very difficult to restrain officers and men from crossing the Rio +Grande with hostile purpose. Within the knowledge of my troops, +there had gone on formerly the transfer of organized bodies of ex- +Confederates to Mexico, in aid of the Imperialists, and at this +period it was known that there was in preparation an immigration +scheme having in view the colonizing, at Cordova and one or two other +places, of all the discontented elements of the defunct Confederacy-- +Generals Price, Magruder, Maury, and other high personages being +promoters of the enterprise, which Maximilian took to readily. He +saw in it the possibilities of a staunch support to his throne, and +therefore not only sanctioned the project, but encouraged it with +large grants of land, inspirited the promoters with titles of +nobility, and, in addition, instituted a system of peonage, expecting +that the silver hook thus baited would be largely swallowed by the +Southern people. + +The announcement of the scheme was followed by the appointment of +commissioners in each of the Southern States to send out emigrants; +but before any were deluded into starting, I made to General Grant a +report of what was going on, with the recommendation that measures be +taken, through our State Department, looking to the suppression of +the colony; but, as usual, nothing could be effected through that +channel; so, as an alternative, I published, in April, 1866, by +authority of General Grant, an order prohibiting the embarkation from +ports in Louisiana and Texas, for ports in Mexico, of any person +without a permit from my headquarters. This dampened the ardor of +everybody in the Gulf States who had planned to go to Mexico; and +although the projectors of the Cordova Colonization Scheme--the name +by which it was known--secured a few innocents from other districts, +yet this set-back led ultimately to failure. + +Among the Liberal leaders along the Rio Grande during this period +there sprang up many factional differences from various causes, some +personal, others political, and some, I regret to say, from downright +moral obliquity--as, for example, those between Cortinas and Canales- +-who, though generally hostile to the Imperialists, were freebooters +enough to take a shy at each other frequently, and now and then even +to join forces against Escobedo, unless we prevented them by coaxing +or threats. A general who could unite these several factions was +therefore greatly needed, and on my return to New Orleans I so +telegraphed General Grant, and he, thinking General Caravajal (then +in Washington seeking aid for the Republic) would answer the purpose, +persuaded him to report to me in New Orleans. Caravajal promptly +appeared, but he did not impress me very favorably. He was old and +cranky, yet, as he seemed anxious to do his best, I sent him over to +Brownsville, with credentials, authorizing him to cross into Mexico, +and followed him myself by the next boat. When I arrived in +Brownsville, matters in Matamoras had already reached a crisis. +General Mejia, feeling keenly the moral support we were giving the +Liberals, and hard pressed by the harassing attacks of Cortinas and +Canales, had abandoned the place, and Caravajal, because of his +credentials from our side, was in command, much to the +dissatisfaction of both those chiefs whose differences it was +intended he should reconcile. + +The, day after I got to Brownsville I visited Matamoras, and had a +long interview with Caravajal. The outcome of this meeting was, on +my part, a stronger conviction than ever that he was unsuitable, and +I feared that either Canales or Cortinas would get possession of the +city. Caravajal made too many professions of what he would do--in +short, bragged too much--but as there was no help for the situation, +I made the best of it by trying to smooth down the ruffled feathers +of Canales and Cortinas. In my interview with Caravajal I +recommended Major Young as a confidential man, whom he could rely +upon as a "go-between" for communicating with our people at +Brownsville, and whom he could trust to keep him informed of the +affairs of his own country as well. + +A day or two afterward I recrossed the Gulf to New Orleans, and then, +being called from my headquarters to the interior of Texas, a +fortnight passed before I heard anything from Brownsville. In the +meanwhile Major Young had come to New Orleans, and organized there a +band of men to act as a body-guard for Caravajal, the old wretch +having induced him to accept the proposition by representing that it +had my concurrence. I at once condemned the whole business, but +Young, having been furnished with seven thousand dollars to recruit +the men and buy their arms, had already secured both, and was so +deeply involved in the transaction, he said, that he could not +withdraw without dishonor, and with tears in his eyes he besought me +to help him. He told me he had entered upon the adventure in the +firm belief that I would countenance it; that the men and their +equipment were on his hands; that he must make good his word at all +hazards; and that while I need not approve, yet I must go far enough +to consent to the departure of the men, and to loan him the money +necessary to provision his party and hire a schooner to carry them to +Brazos. It was hard in deed to resist the appeals of this man, who +had served me so long and so well, and the result of his pleading was +that I gave him permission to sail, and also loaned him the sum asked +for; but I have never ceased to regret my consent, for misfortune +fell upon the enterprise almost from its inception. + +By the time the party got across the Gulf and over to Brownsville, +Caravajal had been deposed by Canales, and the latter would not +accept their services. This left Young with about fifty men to whom +he was accountable, and as he had no money to procure them +subsistence, they were in a bad fix. The only thing left to do was +to tender their services to General Escobedo, and with this in view +the party set out to reach the General's camp, marching up the Rio +Grande on the American side, intending to cross near Ringgold Bar +racks. In advance of them, however, had spread far and wide the +tidings of who they were, what they proposed to do, and where they +were going, and before they could cross into Mexico they were +attacked by a party of ex-Confederates and renegade Mexican +rancheros. Being on American soil, Young forbade his men to return +the fire, and bent all his efforts to getting them over the river; +but in this attempt they were broken up, and became completely +demoralized. A number of the men were drowned while swimming the +river, Young himself was shot and killed, a few were captured, and +those who escaped--about twenty in all--finally joined Escobedo, but +in such a plight as to be of little use. With this distressing +affair came to an end pretty much all open participation of American +sympathizers with the Liberal cause, but the moral support afforded +by the presence of our forces continued, and this was frequently +supplemented with material aid in the shape of munitions of war, +which we liberally supplied, though constrained to do so by the most +secret methods. + +The term of office of Juarez as President of the Mexican Republic +expired in December, 1865, but to meet existing exigencies he had +continued himself in office by proclamation, a course rendered +necessary by the fact that no elections could be held on account of +the Imperial occupation of most of the country. The official who, by +the Mexican Constitution, is designated for the succession in such an +emergency, is the President of the Supreme Court, and the person then +eligible under this provision was General Ortega, but in the interest +of the Imperialists he had absented himself from Mexico, hence the +patriotic course of Juarez in continuing himself at the head of +affairs was a necessity of the situation. This action of the +President gave the Imperialists little concern at first, but with the +revival of the Liberal cause they availed themselves of every means +to divide its supporters, and Ortega, who had been lying low in the +United States, now came forward to claim the Presidency. Though +ridiculously late for such a step, his first act was to issue a +manifesto protesting against the assumption of the executive +authority by Juarez. The protest had little effect, however, and his +next proceeding was to come to New Orleans, get into correspondence +with other disaffected Mexicans, and thus perfect his plans. When he +thought his intrigue ripe enough for action, he sailed for Brazos, +intending to cross the Rio Grande and assert his claims with arms. +While he was scheming in New Orleans, however, I had learned what he +was up to, and in advance of his departure had sent instructions to +have him arrested on American soil. Colonel Sedgwick, commanding at +Brownsville, was now temporary master of Matamoras also, by reason of +having stationed some American troops there for the protection of +neutral merchants, so when Ortega appeared at Brazos, Sedgwick +quietly arrested him and held him till the city of Matamoras was +turned over to General Escobedo, the authorized representative of +Juarez; then Escobedo took charge, of Ortega, and with ease prevented +his further machinations. + +During the winter and spring of 1866 we continued covertly supplying +arms and ammunition to the Liberals--sending as many as 30,000 +muskets from Baton Rouge Arsenal alone--and by mid-summer Juarez, +having organized a pretty good sized army, was in possession of the +whole line of the Rio Grande, and, in fact, of nearly the whole of +Mexico down to San Louis Potosi. Then thick and fast came rumors +pointing to the tottering condition of Maximilian's Empire-first, +that Orizaba and Vera Cruz were being fortified; then, that the +French were to be withdrawn; and later came the intelligence that the +Empress Carlotta had gone home to beg assistance from Napoleon, the +author of all of her husband's troubles. But the situation forced +Napoleon to turn a deaf ear to Carlotta's prayers. The brokenhearted +woman besought him on her knees, but his fear of losing an army made +all pleadings vain. In fact, as I ascertained by the following +cablegram which came into my hands, Napoleon's instructions for the +French evacuation were in Mexico at the very time of this pathetic +scene between him and Carlotta. The despatch was in cipher when I +received it, but was translated by the telegraph operator at my +headquarters, who long before had mastered the key of the French +cipher: + +"PARIS, January 10, 1867. FRENCH CONSUL, New Orleans, La. + +"To GENERAL CASTELNAU, at Mexico. + +"Received your despatch of the 9th December. Do not compel the +Emperor to abdicate, but do not delay the departure of the troops; +bring back all those who will not remain there. Most of the fleet +has left. + +"NAPOLEON." + + +This meant the immediate withdrawal of the French. The rest of the +story--which has necessarily been but in outline--is soon told. +Maximilian, though deserted, determined to hold out to the last, and +with the aid of disloyal Mexicans stuck to his cause till the spring. +When taken prisoner at Queretaro, he was tried and executed under +circumstances that are well known. From promptings of humanity +Secretary Seward tried hard to save the Imperial prisoner, but +without success. The Secretary's plea for mercy was sent through me +at New Orleans, and to make speed I hired a steamer to proceed with +it across the Gulf to Tampico. The document was carried by Sergeant +White, one of my scouts, who crossed the country from Tampico, and +delivered it to Escobedo at Queretaro; but Mr. Seward's +representations were without avail--refused probably because little +mercy had been shown certain Liberal leaders unfortunate enough to +fall into Maximilian's hands during the prosperous days of his +Empire. + +At the close of our war there was little hope for the Republic of +Mexico. Indeed, till our troops were concentrated on the Rio Grande +there was none. Our appearance in such force along the border +permitted the Liberal leaders, refugees from their homes, to +establish rendezvous whence they could promulgate their plans in +safety, while the countenance thus given the cause, when hope was +well-nigh gone, incited the Mexican people to renewed resistance. +Beginning again with very scant means, for they had lost about all, +the Liberals saw their cause, under the influence of such significant +and powerful backing, progress and steadily grow so strong that +within two years Imperialism had received its death-blow. I doubt +very much whether such, results could have been achieved without the +presence of an American army on the Rio Grande, which, be it +remembered, was sent there because, in General Grant's words, the +French invasion of Mexico was so closely related to the rebellion as +to be essentially a part of it. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A. J. HAMILTON APPOINTED PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF TEXAS--ASSEMBLES A +CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION--THE TEXANS DISSATISFIED--LAWLESSNESS-- +OPPRESSIVE LEGISLATION--EX-CONFEDERATES CONTROLLING LOUISIANA--A +CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION--THE MEETING SUPPRESSED--A BLOODY RIOT--MY +REPORTS OF THE MASSACRE--PORTIONS SUPPRESSED BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON-- +SUSTAINED BY A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE--THE RECONSTRUCTION LAWS. + +Although in 1865-66 much of my attention was directed to +international matters along the Rio Grande, the civil affairs of +Texas and Louisiana required a certain amount of military supervision +also in the absence of regularly established civil authority. At the +time of Kirby Smith's surrender the National Government had +formulated no plan with regard to these or the other States lately in +rebellion, though a provisional Government had been set up in +Louisiana as early as 1864. In consequence of this lack of system, +Governor Pendleton Murray, of Texas, who was elected under +Confederate rule, continued to discharge the duties of Governor till +President Johnson, on June 17, in harmony with his amnesty +proclamation of May 29, 1865, appointed A. J. Hamilton provisional +Governor. Hamilton was empowered by the President to call a +Constitutional convention, the delegates to which were to be elected, +under certain prescribed qualifications, for the purpose of +organizing the political affairs of the State, the Governor to be +guided by instructions similar to those given the provisional +Governor of North Carolina (W. W. Holden), when appointed in May. + +The convening of this body gave rise to much dissatisfaction among +the people of Texas. They had assumed that affairs were to go on as +of old, and that the reintegration of the State was to take place +under the administration of Governor Murray, who, meanwhile, had +taken it upon himself, together with the Legislature, to authorize +the election of delegates to a State Convention, without restriction +as to who should be entitled to vote. Thus encouraged, the element +but lately in armed rebellion was now fully bent on restoring the +State to the Union without any intervention whatever of the Federal +Government; but the advent of Hamilton put an end to such illusions, +since his proclamation promptly disfranchised the element in +question, whose consequent disappointment and chagrin were so great +as to render this factor of the community almost uncontrollable. The +provisional Governor at once rescinded the edict of Governor Murray, +prohibited the assembling of his convention, and shortly after +called, one himself, the delegates to which were to b chosen by +voters who could take the amnesty-oath. The proclamation convening +this assemblage also announced the policy that would be pursued in +governing the State until its affairs were satisfactorily +reorganized, defined in brief the course to be followed by the +Judiciary, and provided for the appointment, by the Governor, of +county officials to succeed those known to be disloyal. As this +action of Hamilton's disfranchised all who could not take the amnesty +oath, and of course deprived them of the offices, it met at once with +pronounced and serious opposition, and he quickly realized that he +had on his hands an arduous task to protect the colored people, +particularly as in the transition state of society just after the +close of the war there prevailed much lawlessness, which vented +itself chiefly on the freedmen. It was greatly feared that political +rights were to be given those so recently in servitude, and as it was +generally believed that such enfranchisement would precipitate a race +war unless the freedmen were overawed and kept in a state of +subjection, acts of intimidation were soon reported from all parts of +the State. + +Hamilton, an able, determined, and fearless man, tried hard to curb +this terrorism, but public opinion being strong against him, he could +accomplish little without military aid. As department commander, I +was required, whenever called upon, to assist his government, and as +these requisitions for help became necessarily very frequent, the +result was that shortly after he assumed his duties, detachments of +troops were stationed in nearly every county of the State. By such +disposition of my forces fairly good order was maintained under the +administration of Hamilton, and all went well till the inauguration +of J. W. Throckmorton, who, elected Governor in pursuance of an +authorization granted by the convention which Hamilton had called +together, assumed the duties of the office August 9, 1866. + +One of Governor Throckmorton's first acts was to ask the withdrawal +or non-interference of the military. This was not all granted, but +under his ingenious persuasion President Johnson, on the 13th of +August, 1866, directed that the new State officials be entrusted with +the unhampered control of civil affairs, and this was more than +enough to revive the bulldozing methods that had characterized the +beginning of Hamilton's administration. Oppressive legislation in +the shape of certain apprentice and vagrant laws quickly followed, +developing a policy of gross injustice toward the colored people on +the part of the courts, and a reign of lawlessness and disorder +ensued which, throughout the remote districts of the State at least, +continued till Congress, by what are known as the Reconstruction +Acts, took into its own hands the rehabilitation of the seceded +States. + +In the State of Louisiana a provisional government, chosen by the +loyal element, had been put in operation, as already mentioned, as +early as 1864. This was effected under encouragement given by +President Lincoln, through the medium of a Constitutional convention, +which met at New Orleans in April, 1864, and adjourned in July. The +constitution then agreed upon was submitted to the people, and in +September, 1864, was ratified by a vote of the few loyal residents of +the State. + +The government provided under this constitution being looked upon as +provisional merely, was never recognized by Congress, and in 1865 the +returned Confederates, restored to citizenship by the President's +amnesty proclamation, soon got control of almost all the State. The +Legislature was in their hands, as well as most of the State and +municipal offices; so, when the President, on the 20th of August, +1866, by proclamation, extended his previous instructions regarding +civil affairs in Texas so as to have them apply to all the seceded +States, there at once began in Louisiana a system of discriminative +legislation directed against the freedmen, that led to flagrant +wrongs in the enforcement of labor contracts, and in the remote +parishes to numbers of outrages and murders. + +To remedy this deplorable condition of things, it was proposed, by +those who had established the government of 1864, to remodel the +constitution of the State; and they sought to do this by reassembling +the convention, that body before its adjournment having provided for +reconvening under certain conditions, in obedience to the call of its +president. Therefore, early in the summer of 1866, many members of +this convention met in conference at New Orleans, and decided that a +necessity existed for reconvening the delegates, and a proclamation +was issued accordingly by B. K. Howell, President-pro-tempore. + +Mayor John T. Monroe and the other officials of New Orleans looked +upon this proposed action as revolutionary, and by the time the +convention assembled (July 30), such bitterness of feeling prevailed +that efforts were made by the mayor and city police to suppress the +meeting. A bloody riot followed, resulting, in the killing and +wounding of about a hundred and sixty persons. + +I happened to be absent from the city at the time, returning from +Texas, where I had been called by affairs on the Rio Grande. On my +way up from the mouth of the Mississippi I was met on the night of +July 30 by one of my staff, who reported what had occurred, giving +the details of the massacre--no milder term is fitting--and informing +me that, to prevent further slaughter, General Baird, the senior +military officer present, had assumed control of the municipal +government. On reaching the city I made an investigation, and that +night sent the following report of the affair: + +"HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE GULF, +"NEW ORLEANS, LA., Aug. 1, 1866. + +"GENERAL U. S. GRANT: + +"You are doubtless aware of the serious riot which occurred in this +city on the 30th. A political body, styling themselves the +Convention of 1864, met on the 30th, for, as it is alleged, the +purpose of remodeling the present constitution of the State. The +leaders were political agitators and revolutionary men, and the +action of the convention was liable to produce breaches of the public +peace. I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the +proceedings of the convention were calculated to disturb the +tranquility of the Department; but I had no cause for action until +they committed the overt act. In the meantime official duty called +me to Texas, and the mayor of the city, during my absence suppressed +the convention by the use of the police force, and in so doing +attacked the members of the convention, and a party of two hundred +negroes, with fire-arms, clubs, and knives, in a manner so +unnecessary and atrocious as to compel me to say that it was murder. +About forty whites and blacks were thus killed, and about one hundred +and sixty wounded. Everything is now quiet, but I deem it best to +maintain a military supremacy in the city for a few days, until the +affair is fully investigated. I believe the sentiment of the general +community is great regret at this unnecessary cruelty, and that the +police could have made any arrest they saw fit without sacrificing +lives. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +On receiving the telegram, General. Grant immediately submitted. it +to the President. Much clamor being made at the North for the +publication of the despatch, Mr. Johnson pretended to give it to the +newspapers. It appeared in the issues of August 4, but with this +paragraph omitted, viz.: + +"I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the proceedings of +the convention were calculated to disturb the tranquility of the +Department, but I had no cause for action until they committed the +overt act. In the mean time official duty called me to Texas, and +the mayor of the city, during my absence, suppressed the convention +by the use of the police force, and in so doing attacked the members +of the convention, and a party of two hundred negroes, with fire- +arms, clubs, and knives, in a manner so unnecessary and atrocious as +to compel me to say it was murder." + +Against this garbling of my report-done by the President's own order- +I strongly demurred; and this emphatic protest marks the beginning of +Mr. Johnson's well-known personal hostility toward me. In the mean +time I received (on August 3) the following despatch from General +Grant approving my course: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"WAR DEPT., WASHINGTON, D. C., "August 3, 1866--5 p.m. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Mil. Div. of the Gulf, +"New Orleans, La. + +"Continue to enforce martial law, so far as may be necessary to +preserve the peace; and do not allow any of the civil authorities to +act, if you deem such action dangerous to the public safety. Lose no +time in investigating and reporting the causes that led to the riot, +and the facts which occurred. + +"U. S. GRANT, +"Lieutenant-General." + + +In obedience to the President's directions, My report of August 1 was +followed by another, more in detail, which I give in full, since it +tells the whole story of the riot: + +"HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE GULF, +"NEW ORLEANS, LA., August 6, 1866. + +"His EXCELLENCY ANDREW JOHNSON, +"President United States + +"I have the honor to make the following reply to your despatch of +August 4. A very large number of colored people marched in +procession on Friday night, July twenty-seven (27), and were +addressed from the steps of the City Hall by Dr. Dostie, ex-Governor +Hahn, and others. The speech of Dostie was intemperate in language +and sentiment. The speeches of the others, so far as I can learn, +were characterized by moderation. I have not given you the words of +Dostie's speech, as the version published was denied; but from what I +have learned of the man, I believe they were intemperate. + +"The convention assembled at twelve (12) M. on the thirtieth (30), +the timid members absenting themselves because the tone of the +general public was ominous of trouble. I think there were about +twenty-six (26) members present. In front of the Mechanics +Institute, where the meeting was held, there were assembled some +colored men, women, and children, perhaps eighteen (18) or twenty +(20), and in the Institute a number of colored men, probably one +hundred and fifty (150). Among those outside and inside there might +have been a pistol in the possession of every tenth (10) man. + +"About one (1) p. m. a procession of say from sixty (60) to one +hundred and thirty (130) colored men marched up Burgundy Street and +across Canal Street toward the convention, carrying an American flag. +These men had about one pistol to every ten men, and canes and clubs +in addition. While crossing Canal Street a row occurred. There were +many spectators on the street, and their manner and tone toward the +procession unfriendly. A shot was fired, by whom I am not able to +state, but believe it to have been by a policeman, or some colored +man in the procession. This led to other shots and a rush after the +procession. On arrival at the front of the Institute there was some +throwing of brickbats by both sides. The police, who had been held +well in hand, were vigorously marched to the scene of disorder. The +procession entered the Institute with the flag, about six (6) or +eight (8) remaining outside. A row occurred between a policeman and +one of these colored men, and a shot was again fired by one of the +parties, which led to an indiscriminate fire on the building through +the windows by the policemen. This had been going on for a short +time, when a white flag was displayed from the windows of the +Institute, whereupon the firing ceased, and the police rushed into +the building. + +"From the testimony of wounded men, and others who were inside the +building, the policemen opened an indiscriminate fire upon the +audience until they had emptied their revolvers, when they retired, +and those inside barricaded the doors. The door was broken in, and +the firing again commenced, when many of the colored and white people +either escaped throughout the door or were passed out by the +policemen inside; but as they came out the policemen who formed the +circle nearest the building fired upon them, and they were again +fired upon by the citizens that formed the outer circle. Many of +those wounded and taken prisoners, and others who were prisoners and +not wounded, were fired upon by their captors and by citizens. The +wounded were stabbed while lying on the grgund, and their heads +beaten with brickbats. In the yard of the building, whither some of +the colored men had escaped and partially secreted themselves, they +were fired upon and killed or wounded by policemen. Some were killed +and wounded several squares from the scene. Members of the +convention were wounded by the police while in their hands as +prisoners, some of them mortally. + +"The immediate cause of this terrible affair was the assemblage of +this Convention; the remote cause was the bitter and antagonistic +feeling which has been growing in this community since the advent of +the present Mayor, who, in the organization of his police force, +selected many desperate men, and some of them known murderers. +People of clear views were overawed by want of confidence in the +Mayor, and fear of the thugs, many of which he had selected for his +police force. I have frequently been spoken to by prominent citizens +on this subject, and have heard them express fear, and want of +confidence in Mayor Monroe. Ever since the intimation of this last +convention movement I must condemn the course of several of the city +papers for supporting, by their articles, the bitter feeling of bad +men. As to the merciless manner in which the convention was broken +up, I feel obliged to confess strong repugnance. + +"It is useless to disguise the hostility that exists on the part of a +great many here toward Northern men, and this unfortunate affair has +so precipitated matters that there is now a test of what shall be the +status of Northern men--whether they can live here without being in +constant dread or not, whether they can be protected in life and +property, and have justice in the courts. If this matter is +permitted to pass over without a thorough and determined prosecution +of those engaged in it, we may look out for frequent scenes of the +same kind, not only here, but in other places. No steps have as yet +been taken by the civil authorities to arrest citizens who were +engaged in this massacre, or policemen who perpetrated such +cruelties. The members of the convention have been indicted by the +grand jury, and many of them arrested and held to bail. As to +whether the civil authorities can mete out ample justice to the +guilty parties on both sides, I must say it is my opinion, +unequivocally, that they cannot. Judge Abell, whose course I have +closely watched for nearly a year, I now consider one of the most +dangerous men that we have here to the peace and quiet of the city. +The leading men of the convention--King, Cutler, Hahn, and others-- +have been political agitators, and are bad men. I regret to say that +the course of Governor Wells has been vacillating, and that during +the late trouble he has shown very little of the man. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +Subsequently a military commission investigated the subject of the +riot, taking a great deal of testimony. The commission substantially +confirmed the conclusions given in my despatches, and still later +there was an investigation by a select committee of the House of +Representatives, of which the Honorables Samuel Shellabarger, of +Ohio, H. L. Elliot, of Massachusetts, and B. M. Boyer, of +Pennsylvania, were the members. The majority report of the committee +also corroborated, in all essentials, my reports of the distressing +occurrence. The committee likewise called attention to a violent +speech made by Mr. Johnson at St. Louis in September, 1866, charging +the origin of the riot to Congress, and went on to say of the speech +that "it was an unwarranted and unjust expression of hostile feeling, +without pretext or foundation in fact." A list of the killed and +wounded was embraced in the committee's report, and among other +conclusions reached were the following: "That the meeting of July 30 +was a meeting of quiet citizens, who came together without arms and +with intent peaceably to discuss questions of public concern.... +There has been no occasion during our National history when a riot +has occurred so destitute of justifiable cause, resulting in a +massacre so inhuman and fiend-like, as that which took place at New +Orleans on the 30th of July last. This riotous attack upon the +convention, with its terrible results of massacre and murder, was not +an accident. It was the determined purpose of the mayor of the city +of New Orleans to break up this convention by armed force." + +The statement is also made, that, "He [the President] knew that +'rebels' and 'thugs' and disloyal men had controlled the election of +Mayor Monroe, and that such men composed chiefly his police force." + +The committee held that no legal government existed in Louisiana, and +recommended the temporary establishment of a provisional government +therein; the report concluding that "in the meantime the safety of +all Union men within the State demands that such government be formed +for their protection, for the well being of the nation and the +permanent peace of the Republic." + +The New Orleans riot agitated the whole country, and the official and +other reports served to intensify and concentrate the opposition to +President Johnson's policy of reconstruction, a policy resting +exclusively on and inspired solely by the executive authority--for it +was made plain, by his language and his acts, that he was seeking to +rehabilitate the seceded States under conditions differing not a whit +from those existing before the rebellion; that is to say, without the +slightest constitutional provision regarding the status of the +emancipated slaves, and with no assurances of protection for men who +had remained loyal in the war. + +In December, 1866, Congress took hold of the subject with such vigor +as to promise relief from all these perplexing disorders, and, after +much investigation and a great deal of debate, there resulted the so- +called "Reconstruction Laws," which, for a clear understanding of the +powers conferred on the military commanders, I deem best to append in +full: + +AN ACT to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel +States. + +WHEREAS, no legal State governments or adequate protection for life +or property now exist in the rebel States of Virginia, North +Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, +Florida, Texas, and Arkansas; and whereas, it is necessary that peace +and good order should be enforced in said States until loyal and +republican State governments can be legally established; therefore, + +BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled, That said rebel +States shall be divided into military districts and made subject to +the military authority of the United States as hereinafter +prescribed; and for that purpose Virginia shall constitute the first +district; North Carolina and South Carolina, the second district; +Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, the third district; Mississippi and +Arkansas, the fourth district; and Louisiana and Texas, the fifth +district. + +SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the +President to assign to the command of each of said districts an +officer of the army not below the rank of brigadier-general, and to +detail a sufficient military force to enable such officer to perform +his duties and enforce his authority within the district to which he +is assigned. + +SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of each +officer assigned as aforesaid to protect all persons in their rights +of person and property, to suppress insurrection, disorder, and +violence, and to punish, or cause to be punished, all disturbers of +the public peace and criminals, and to this end he may allow local +civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of and to try offenders, or, +when in his judgment it may be necessary for the trial of offenders, +he shall have power to organize military commissions or tribunals for +that purpose, and all interference, under cover of State authority, +with the exercise of military authority under this act, shall be null +and void. + +SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That all persons put under +military arrest by virtue of this act shall be tried without +unnecessary delay, and no cruel or unjust punishment shall be +inflicted; and no sentence of any military commission or tribunal +hereby authorized affecting the life or liberty of any person, shall +be executed untill it is approved by the officer in command of the +district; and the laws and regulations for the government of the army +shall not be affected by this act except in so far as they conflict +with its provisions: Provided, That no sentence of death, under the +provisions of this act, shall be carried into effect without the +approval of the President. + +SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That when the people of any one of +said rebel States shall have formed a constitution of government in +conformity with the Constitution of the United States in all +respects, framed by a convention of delegates elected by the male +citizens of said State twenty-one years old and upward, of whatever +race, color, or previous condition, who have been resident in said +State for one year previous to the day of such election, except such +as may be disfranchised for participation in the rebellion, or for +felony at common law; and when such constitution shall provide that +the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all such persons as have +the qualifications herein stated for electors of delegates; and when +such constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the persons +voting on the question of ratification who are qualified as electors +for delegates, and when such constitution shall have been submitted +to Congress for examination and approval, and Congress shall have +approved the same; and when said State, by a vote of its legislature +elected under said constitution, shall have adopted the amendment to +the Constitution of the United States proposed by the Thirty-ninth +Congress, and known as article fourteen; and when said article shall +have become a part of the Constitution of the United States, said +State shall be declared entitled to representation in Congress, and +senators and representatives shall be admitted therefrom on their +taking the oath prescribed by law; and then and thereafter the +preceding sections of this act shall be inoperative in said State: +Provided, That no person excluded from the privilege of holding +office by said proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United +States shall be eligible to election as a member of the convention to +frame a constitution for any of said rebel States, nor shall any such +person vote for members of such convention. + +SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That until the people of said +rebel States shall be by law admitted to representation in the +Congress of the United States, any civil government which may exist +therein shall be deemed provisional only, and in all respects subject +to the paramount authority of the United States at any time to +abolish, modify, control, or supersede the same; and in all elections +to any office under such provisional governments all persons shall be +entitled to vote, and none others, who are entitled to vote under the +fifth section of this act; and no person shall be eligible to any +office under any such provisional governments who would be +disqualified from holding office under the provisions of the third +article of said constitutional amendment. + +SCHUYLER COLFAX, +Speaker of the House of Representatives. + +LAFAYETTE S. FOSTER, +President of the Senate pro tempore. + + +AN ACT supplementary to an act entitled "An act to provide for the +more efficient government of the rebel States," passed March second, +eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and to facilitate restoration. + +Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled, That before the first +day of September, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, the commanding +general in each district defined by an act entitled "An act to +provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States," +passed March second, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, shall cause a +registration to be made of the male citizens of the United States, +twenty-one years of age and upwards, resident in each county or +parish in the State or States included in his district, which +registration shall include only those persons who are qualified to +vote for delegates by the act aforesaid, and who shall have taken and +subscribed the following oath or affirmation: "I,------, do +solemnly swear (or affirm), in the presence of the Almighty God, that +I am a citizen of the State of ---------; that I have resided in said +State for----- months next preceding this day, and now reside in the +county of -------, or the parish of --------, in said State, (as the +case may be); that I am twenty-one years old; that I have not been +disfranchised for participation in any rebellion or civil war against +the United States, nor for felony committed against the laws of any +State or of the United States; that I have never been a member of any +State Legislature, nor held any executive or judicial office in any +State, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against +the United States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; +that I have never taken an oath as a member of Congress of the United +States, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any +State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any +State, to support the constitution of the United States, and +afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United +States or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I will +faithfully support the Constitution and obey the laws of the United +States, and will, to the best of my ability, encourage others so to +do: so help me God."; which oath or affirmation may be administered +by any registering officer. + +SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That after the completion of the +registration hereby provided for in any State, at such time and +places therein as the commanding general shall appoint and direct, of +which at least thirty days' public notice shall be given, an election +shall be held of delegates to a convention for the purpose of +establishing a constitution and civil government for such State loyal +to the Union, said convention in each State, except Virginia, to +consist of the same number of members as the most numerous branch of +the State Legislature of such State in the year eighteen hundred and +sixty, to be apportioned among the several districts, counties, or +parishes of such State by the commanding general, giving each +representation in the ratio of voters registered as aforesaid as +nearly as may be. The convention in Virginia shall consist of the +same number of members as represented the territory now constituting +Virginia in the most numerous branch of the Legislature of said State +in the year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be apportioned as +aforesaid. + +SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That at said election the +registered voters of each State shall vote for or against a +convention to form a constitution therefor under this act. Those +voting in favor of such a convention shall have written or printed on +the ballots by which they vote for delegates, as aforesaid, the words +"For a convention," and those voting against such a convention shall +have written or printed on such ballot the words "Against a +convention." The persons appointed to superintend said election, and +to make return of the votes given thereat, as herein provided, shall +count and make return of the votes given for and against a +convention; and the commanding general to whom the same shall have +been returned shall ascertain and declare the total vote in each +State for and against a convention. If a majority of the votes given +on that question shall be for a convention, then such convention +shall be held as hereinafter provided; but if a majority of said +votes shall, be against a convention, then no such convention shall +be held under this act: Provided, That such convention shall not be +held unless a majority of all such registered voters shall have voted +on the question of holding such convention. + +SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the commanding general of +each district shall appoint as many boards of registration as may be +necessary, consisting of three loyal officers or persons, to make and +complete the registration, superintend the election, and make return +to him of the votes, list of voters, and of the persons elected as +delegates by a plurality of the votes cast at said election; and upon +receiving said returns he shall open the same, ascertain the persons +elected as delegates, according to the returns of the officers who +conducted said election, and make proclamation thereof; and if a +majority of the votes given on that question shall be for a +convention, the commanding general, within sixty days from the date +of election, shall notify the delegates to assemble in convention, at +a time and place to be mentioned in the notification, and said +convention, when organized, shall proceed to frame a constitution and +civil government according to the provisions of this act, and the act +to which it is supplementary; and when the same shall have been so +framed, said constitution shall be submitted by the convention for +ratification to the persons registered under the provisions of this +act at an election to be conducted by the officers or persons +appointed or to be appointed by the commanding general, as +hereinbefore provided, and to be held after the expiration of thirty +days from the date of notice thereof, to be given by said convention; +and the returns thereof shall be made to the commanding general of +the district. + +SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That if, according to said +returns, the constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the +votes of the registered electors qualified as herein specified, cast +at said election, at least one-half of all the registered voters +voting upon the question of such ratification, the president of the +convention shall transmit a copy of the same, duly certified, to the +President of the United States, who shall forthwith transmit the same +to Congress, if then in session, and if not in session, then +immediately upon its next assembling; and if it shall moreover appear +to Congress that the election was one at which all the registered and +qualified electors in the State had an opportunity to vote freely, +and without restraint, fear, or the influence of fraud, and if the +Congress shall be satisfied that such constitution meets the approval +of a majority of all the qualified electors in the State, and if the +said constitution shall be declared by Congress to be in conformity +with the provisions of the act to which this is supplementary, and +the other provisions of said act shall have been complied with, and +the said constitution shall be approved by Congress, the State shall +be declared entitled to representation, and senators and +representatives shall be admitted therefrom as therein provided. + +SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That all elections in the States +mentioned in the said "Act to provide for the more efficient +government of the rebel States" shall, during the operation of said +act, be by ballot; and all officers making the said registration of +voters and conducting said elections, shall, before entering upon the +discharge of their duties, take and subscribe the oath prescribed by +the act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, +entitled "An act to prescribe an oath of office": Provided, That if +any person shall knowingly and falsely take and subscribe any oath in +this act prescribed, such person so offending and being thereof duly +convicted, shall be subject to the pains, penalties, and disabilities +which by law are provided for the punishment of the crime of wilful +and corrupt perjury. + +SEC. 7. And be if further enacted, That all expenses incurred by the +several commanding generals, or by virtue of any orders issued, or +appointments made, by them, under or by virtue of this act, shall be +paid out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. + +SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the convention for each State +shall prescribe the fees, salary, and compensation to be paid to all +delegates and other officers and agents herein authorized or +necessary to carry into effect the purposes of this act not herein +otherwise provided for, and shall provide for the levy and collection +of such taxes on the property in such State as may be necessary to +pay the same. + +SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the word "article," in the +sixth section of the act to which this is supplementary, shall be +construed to mean, "section." + +SCHUYLER COLFAX, +Speaker of the House of Representatives. + +B. F. WADE, +President of the Senate pro tempore. + + + + +CHAPTER X1. + +PASSAGE OF THE RECONSTRUCTION ACT OVER THE PRESIDENT'S VETO--PLACED +IN COMMAND OF THE FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT--REMOVING OFFICERS--MY +REASONS FOR SUCH ACTION--AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA AND TEXAS--REMOVAL OF +GOVERNOR WELLS--REVISION OF THE JURY LISTS--RELIEVED FROM THE COMMAND +OF THE FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT. + +The first of the Reconstruction laws was passed March 2, 1867, and +though vetoed by the President, such was the unanimity of loyal +sentiment and the urgency demanding the measure, that the bill became +a law over the veto the day the President returned it to Congress. +March the 11th this law was published in General Orders No. 10, from +the Headquarters of the Army, the same order assigning certain +officers to take charge of the five military districts into which the +States lately in rebellion were subdivided, I being announced as the +commander of the Fifth Military District, which embraced Louisiana +and Texas, a territory that had formed the main portion of my command +since the close of the war. + +Between the date of the Act and that of my assignment, the Louisiana +Legislature, then in special session, had rejected a proposed repeal +of an Act it had previously passed providing for an election of +certain municipal officers in New Orleans. This election was set for +March 11, but the mayor and the chief of police, together with +General Mower, commanding the troops in the city, having expressed to +me personally their fears that the public peace would be disturbed by +the election, I, in this emergency, though not yet assigned to the +district, assuming the authority which the Act conferred on district +commanders, declared that the election should not take place; that no +polls should be opened on the day fixed; and that the whole matter +would stand postponed till the district commander should be +appointed, or special instructions be had. This, my first official +act under the Reconstruction laws, was rendered necessary by the +course of a body of obstructionists, who had already begun to give +unequivocal indications of their intention to ignore the laws of +Congress. + +A copy of the order embodying the Reconstruction law, together with +my assignment, having reached me a few days after, I regularly +assumed control of the Fifth Military District on March 19, by an +order wherein I declared the State and municipal governments of the +district to be provisional only, and, under the provisions of the +sixth section of the Act, subject to be controlled, modified, +superseded, or abolished. I also announced that no removals from +office would be made unless the incumbents failed to carry out the +provisions of the law or impeded reorganization, or unless willful +delays should necessitate a change, and added: "Pending the +reorganization, it is, desirable and intended to create as little +disturbance in the machinery of the various branches of the +provisional governments as possible, consistent with the law of +Congress and its successful execution, but this condition is +dependent upon the disposition shown by the people, and upon the +length of time required for reorganization." + +Under these limitations Louisiana and Texas retained their former +designations as military districts, the officers in command +exercising their military powers as heretofore. In addition, these +officers were to carry out in their respective commands all +provisions of the law except those specially requiring the action of +the district commander, and in cases of removals from and appointment +to office. + +In the course of legislation the first Reconstruction act, as I have +heretofore noted, had been vetoed. On the very day of the veto, +however, despite the President's adverse action, it passed each House +of Congress by such an overwhelming majority as not only to give it +the effect of law, but to prove clearly that the plan of +reconstruction presented was, beyond question, the policy endorsed by +the people of the country. It was, therefore, my determination to +see to the law's zealous execution in my district, though I felt +certain that the President would endeavor to embarrass me by every +means in his power, not only on account of his pronounced personal +hostility, but also because of his determination not to execute but +to obstruct the measures enacted by Congress. + +Having come to this conclusion, I laid down, as a rule for my +guidance, the principle of non-interference with the provisional +State governments, and though many appeals were made to have me +rescind rulings of the courts, or interpose to forestall some +presupposed action to be taken by them, my invariable reply was that +I would not take cognizance of such matters, except in cases of +absolute necessity. The same policy was announced also in reference +to municipal affairs throughout the district, so long as the action +of the local officers did not conflict with the law. + +In a very short time, however, I was obliged to interfere in +municipal matters in New Orleans, for it had become clearly apparent +that several of the officials were, both by acts of omission and +commission, ignoring the law, so on the 27th of March I removed from +office the Mayor, John T. Monroe; the Judge of the First District +Court, E. Abell; and the Attorney-General of the State, Andrew S. +Herron; at the same time appointing to the respective offices thus +vacated Edward Heath, W. W. Howe, and B. L. Lynch. The officials +thus removed had taken upon themselves from the start to pronounce +the Reconstruction acts unconstitutional, and to advise such a course +of obstruction that I found it necessary at an early dav to replace +them by men in sympathy with the law, in order to make plain my +determination to have its provisions enforced. The President at once +made inquiry, through General Grant, for the cause of the removal, +and I replied: + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +"New Orleans, La., April 19, 1867. + +"GENERAL: On the 27th day of March last I removed from office Judge +E. Abell, of the Criminal Court of New Orleans; Andrew S. Herron, +Attorney-General of the State of Louisiana; and John T. Monroe, Mayor +of the City of New Orleans. These removals were made under the +powers granted me in what is usually termed the 'military bill,' +passed March 2, 1867, by the Congress of the United States. + +"I did not deem it necessary to give any reason for the removal of +these men, especially after the investigations made by the military +board on the massacre Of July 30, 1866, and the report of the +congressional committee on the same massacre; but as some inquiry has +been made for the cause of removal, I would respectfully state as +follows: + +"The court over which judge Abell presided is the only criminal court +in the city of New Orleans, and for a period of at least nine months +previous to the riot Of July 30 he had been educating a large portion +of the community to the perpetration of this outrage, by almost +promising no prosecution in his court against the offenders, in case +such an event occurred. The records of his court will show that he +fulfilled his promise, as not one of the guilty has been prosecuted. + +"In reference to Andrew J. Herron, Attorney-General of the State of +Louisiana, I considered it his duty to indict these men before this +criminal court. This he failed to do, but went so far as to attempt +to impose on the good sense of the whole nation by indicting the +victims of the riot instead of the rioters; in other words, making +the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent. He was therefore, in my +belief, an able coadjutor with judge Abell in bringing on the +massacre of July 30. + +"Mayor Monroe controlled the element engaged in this riot, and when +backed by an attorney-general who would not prosecute the guilty, and +a judge who advised the grand jury to find the innocent guilty and +let the murderers go free, felt secure in engaging his police force +in the riot and massacre. + +"With these three men exercising a large influence over the worst +elements of the population of this city, giving to those elements an +immunity for riot and bloodshed, the general-in-chief will see how +insecurely I felt in letting them occupy their respective positions +in the troubles which might occur in registration and voting in the +reorganization of this State. + +"I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General U. S. A. + + +"GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +"Commanding Armies of the United States, +"Washington, D. C." + + +To General Grant my reasons were satisfactory, but not so to the +President, who took no steps, however, to rescind my action, for he +knew that the removals were commended by well-nigh the entire +community in the city, for it will be understood that Mr. Johnson +was, through his friends and adherents in Louisiana and Texas, kept +constantly advised of every step taken by me. Many of these persons +were active and open opponents of mine, while others were spies, +doing their work so secretly and quickly that sometimes Mr. Johnson +knew of my official acts before I could report them to General Grant. + +The supplemental Reconstruction act which defined the method of +reconstruction became a law despite the President's veto on March 23. +This was a curative act, authorizing elections and prescribing +methods of registration. When it reached me officially I began +measures for carrying out its provisions, and on the 28th of March +issued an order to the effect that no elections for the State, +parish, or municipal officers would be held in Louisiana until the +provisions of the laws of Congress entitled "An act to provide for +the more efficient government of the rebel States," and of the act +supplemental thereto, should have been complied with. I also +announced that until elections were held in accordance with these +acts, the law of the Legislature of the State providing for the +holding over of those persons whose terms of office otherwise would +have expired, would govern in all cases excepting only those special +ones in which I myself might take action. There was one parish, +Livingston, which this order did no reach in time to prevent the +election previously ordered there, and which therefore took place, +but by a supplemental order this election was declare null and void. + +In April. I began the work of administering the Supplemental Law, +which, under certain condition of eligibility, required a +registration of the voter of the State, for the purpose of electing +delegate to a Constitutional convention. It therefore became +necessary to appoint Boards of Registration throughout the election +districts, and on April 10 the boards for the Parish of Orleans were +given out, those for the other parishes being appointed ten days +later. Before announcing these boards, I had asked to be advised +definitely as to what persons were disfranchised by the law, and was +directed by General Grant to act upon my own interpretation of it, +pending an opinion expected shortly from the Attorney-General--Mr. +Henry Stanbery--so, for the guidance of the boards, I gave the +following instructions: + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT. +"New Orleans, La., April 10, 1867. + +"Special Orders, No. 15. + +"....In obedience to the directions contained in the first section of +the Law of Congress entitled "An Act supplemental to an Act entitled +'An Act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel +States'" the registration of the legal voters, according to that law +in the Parish of Orleans, will be commenced on the 15th instant, and +must be completed by the 15th of May. + +"The four municipal districts of the City of New Orleans and the +Parish of Orleans, right bank (Algiers), will each constitute a +Registration district. Election precincts will remain as at present +constituted. + +"....Each member of the Board of Registers, before commencing his +duties, will file in the office of the Assistant-Inspector-General at +these headquarters, the oath required in the sixth section of the Act +referred to, and be governed in the execution of his duty by the +provisions of the first section of that Act, faithfully administering +the oath therein prescribed to each person registered. + +"Boards of Registers will immediately select suitable offices within +their respective districts, having reference to convenience and +facility of registration, and will enter upon their duties on the day +designated. Each Board will be entitled to two clerks. Office-hours +for registration will be from 8 o'clock till 12 A. M., and from 4 +till 7 P. M. + +"When elections are ordered, the Board of Registers for each district +will designate the number of polls and the places where they shall be +opened in the election precincts within its district, appoint the +commissioners and other officers necessary for properly conducting +the elections, and will superintend the same. + +"They will also receive from the commissioners of elections of the +different precincts the result of the vote, consolidate the same, and +forward it to the commanding general. + +"Registers and all officers connected with elections will be held to +a rigid accountability and will be subject to trial by military +commission for fraud, or unlawful or improper conduct in the +performance of their duties. Their rate of compensation and manner +of payment will be in accordance with the provisions of sections six +and seven of the supplemental act. + +"....Every male citizen of the United States, twenty-one years old +and upward, of whatever race, color, or previous condition, who has +been resident in the State of Louisiana for one year and Parish of +Orleans for three months previous to the date at which he presents +himself for registration, and who has not been disfranchised by act +of Congress or for felony at common law, shall, after having taken +and subscribed the oath prescribed in the first section of the act +herein referred to, be entitled to be, and shall be, registered as a +legal voter in the Parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana. + +"Pending the decision of the Attorney-General of the United States on +the question as to who are disfranchised by law, registers will give +the most rigid interpretation to the law, and exclude from +registration every person about whose right to vote there may be a +doubt. Any person so excluded who may, under the decision of the +Attorney-General, be entitled to vote, shall be permitted to register +after that decision is received, due notice of which will be given. + +"By command of Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN, + +"GEO. L. HARTSUFF, +"Assistant Adjutant-General." + + +The parish Boards of Registration were composed of three members +each. Ability to take what was known as the "ironclad oath" was the +qualification exacted of the members, and they were prohibited from +becoming candidates for office. In the execution of their duties +they were to be governed by the provisions of the supplemental act. +It was also made one of their functions to designate the number and +location of the polling-places in the several districts, to appoint +commissioners for receiving the votes and in general to attend to +such other matters as were necessary, in order properly to conduct +the voting, and afterward to receive from the commissioners the +result of the vote and forward it to my headquarters. These +registers, and all other officers having to do with elections, were +to be held to a rigid accountability, and be subject to trial by +military commission for fraud or unlawful or improper conduct in the +performance of their duties; and in order to be certain that the +Registration Boards performed their work faithfully and +intelligently, officers of the army were appointed as supervisors. +To this end the parishes were grouped together conveniently in +temporary districts, each officer having from three to five parishes +to supervise. The programme thus mapped out for carrying out the law +in Louisiana was likewise adhered to in Texas, and indeed was +followed as a model in some of the other military districts. + +Although Military Commissions were fully authorized by the +Reconstruction acts, yet I did not favor their use in governing the +district, and probably would never have convened one had these acts +been observed in good faith. I much preferred that the civil courts, +and the State and municipal authorities already in existence, should +perform their functions without military control or interference, but +occasionally, because the civil authorities neglected their duty, I +was obliged to resort to this means to ensure the punishment Of +offenders. At this time the condition of the negroes in Texas and +Louisiana was lamentable, though, in fact, not worse than that of the +few white loyalists who had been true to the Union during the war. +These last were singled out as special objects of attack, and were, +therefore, obliged at all times to be on the alert for the protection +of their lives and property. This was the natural outcome of Mr. +Johnson's defiance of Congress, coupled with the sudden conversion to +his cause of persons in the North--who but a short time before had +been his bitterest enemies; for all this had aroused among the +disaffected element new hopes of power and place, hopes of being at +once put in political control again, with a resumption of their +functions in State and National matters without any preliminary +authorization by Congress. In fact, it was not only hoped, but +expected, that things were presently to go on just as if there had +been no war. + +In the State of Texas there were in 1865 about 200,000 of the colored +race-roughly, a third of the entire population--while in Louisiana +there were not less than 350,000, or more than one-half of all the +people in the State. Until the enactment of the Reconstruction laws +these negroes were without rights, and though they had been liberated +by the war, Mr. Johnson's policy now proposed that they should have +no political status at all, and consequently be at the mercy of a +people who, recently their masters, now seemed to look upon them as +the authors of all the misfortunes that had come upon the land. +Under these circumstances the blacks naturally turned for protection +to those who had been the means of their liberation, and it would +have been little less than inhuman to deny them sympathy. Their +freedom had been given them, and it was the plain duty of those in +authority to make it secure, and screen them from the bitter +political resentment that beset them, and to see that they had a fair +chance in the battle of life. Therefore, when outrages and murders +grew frequent, and the aid of the military power was an absolute +necessity for the protection of life, I employed it unhesitatingly-- +the guilty parties being brought to trial before military +commissions--and for a time, at least, there occurred a halt in the +march of terrorism inaugurated by the people whom Mr. Johnson had +deluded. + +The first, Military Commission was convened to try the case of John +W. Walker, charged with shooting a negro in the parish of St. John. +The proper civil authorities had made no effort to arrest Walker, and +even connived at his escape, so I had him taken into custody in New +Orleans, and ordered him tried, the commission finding him guilty, +and sentencing him to confinement in the penitentiary for six months. +This shooting was the third occurrence of the kind that had taken +place in St. John's parish, a negro being wounded in each case, and +it was plain that the intention was to institute there a practice of +intimidation which should be effective to subject the freedmen to the +will of their late masters, whether in making labor contracts, or in +case these newly enfranchised negroes should evince a disposition to +avail themselves of the privilege to vote. + +The trial and conviction of Walker, and of one or two others for +similiar outrages, soon put a stop to every kind of "bull-dozing" in +the country parishes; but about this time I discovered that many +members of the police force in New Orleans were covertly intimidating +the freedmen there, and preventing their appearance at the +registration offices, using milder methods than had obtained in the +country, it is true, but none the less effective. + +Early in 1866 the Legislature had passed an act which created for the +police of New Orleans a residence qualification, the object of which +was to discharge and exclude from the force ex-Union soldiers. This +of course would make room for the appointment of ex-Confederates, and +Mayor Monroe had not been slow in enforcing the provisions of the +law. It was, in fact, a result of this enactment that the police was +so reorganized as to become the willing and efficient tool which it +proved to be in the riot of 1866; and having still the same +personnel, it was now in shape to prevent registration by threats, +unwarranted arrests, and by various other influences, all operating +to keep the timid blacks away from the registration places. + +That the police were taking a hand in this practice of repression, I +first discovered by the conduct of the assistant to the chief of the +body, and at once removed the offender, but finding this ineffectual +I annulled that part of the State law fixing the five years' +residence restriction, and restored the two years' qualification, +thus enabling Mayor Heath, who by my appointment had succeeded +Monroe, to organize the force anew, and take about one-half of its +members from ex-Union soldiers who when discharged had settled in New +Orleans. This action put an end to intimidation in the parish of +Orleans; and now were put in operation in all sections the processes +provided by the supplemental Reconstruction law for the summoning of +a convention to form a Constitution preparatory to the readmission of +the State, and I was full of hope that there would now be much less +difficulty in administering the trust imposed by Congress. + +During the two years previous great damage had been done the +agricultural interests of Louisiana by the overflow of the +Mississippi, the levees being so badly broken as to require extensive +repairs, and the Legislature of 1866 had appropriated for the purpose +$4,000,000, to be raised by an issue of bonds. This money was to be +disbursed by a Board of Levee Commissioners then in existence, but +the term of service of these commissioners, and the law creating the +board, would expire in the spring of 1867. In order to overcome this +difficulty the Legislature passed a bill continuing the commissioners +in office but as the act was passed inside of ten days before the +adjournment of the Legislature, Governor Wells pocketed the bill, and +it failed to become a law. The Governor then appointed a board of +his own, without any warrant of law whatever. The old commissioners +refused to recognize this new board, and of course a conflict of +authority ensued, which, it was clear, would lead to vicious results +if allowed to continue; so, as the people of the State had no +confidence in either of the boards, I decided to end the contention +summarily by appointing an entirely new commission, which would +disburse the money honestly, and further the real purpose for which +it had been appropriated. When I took this course the legislative +board acquiesced, but Governor Wells immediately requested the +President to revoke my order, which, however, was not done, but +meanwhile the Secretary of War directed me to suspend all proceedings +in the matter, and make a report of the facts. I complied in the +following telegram: + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +"NEW ORLEANS, La., June 3, 1867. + +"SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of +this date in reference to the Levee Commissioners in this State. + +"The following were my reasons for abolishing the two former boards, +although I intended that my order should be sufficiently explanatory: + +"Previous to the adjournment of the Legislature last winter it passed +an act continuing the old Levee board in office, so that the four +millions of dollars ($4,000,000) in bonds appropriated by the +Legislature might be disbursed by a board of rebellious antecedents. + +"After its adjournment the Governor of the State appointed a board of +his own, in violation of this act, and made the acknowledgment to me +in person that his object was to disburse the money in the interest +of his own party by securing for it the vote of the employees at the +time of election. + +"The board continued in office by the Legislature refused to turn +over to the Governor's board, and each side appealed to me to sustain +it, which I would not do. The question must then have gone to the +courts, which, according to the Governor's judgment when he was +appealing to me to be sustained, would require one year for decision. +Meantime the State was overflowed, the Levee boards tied up by +political chicanery, and nothing done to relieve the poor people, now +fed by the charity of the Government and charitable associations of +the North. + +"To obviate this trouble, and to secure to the overflowed districts +of the State the immediate relief which the honest disbursement of +the four millions ($4,000,000) would give, my order dissolving both +boards was issued. + +"I say now, unequivocally, that Governor Wells is a political +trickster and a dishonest man. I have seen him myself, when I first +came to this command, turn out all the Union men who had supported +the Government, and put in their stead rebel soldiers who had not yet +doffed their gray uniform. I have seen him again, during the July +riot of 1866, skulk away where I could not find him to give him a +guard, instead of coming out as a manly representative of the State +and joining those who were preserving the peace. I have watched him +since, and his conduct has been as sinuous as the mark left in the +dust by the movement of a snake. + +"I say again that he is dishonest, and that dishonesty is more than +must be expected of me. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General, U. S. A. + +"Hon. E. M. STANTON, +"Secretary of War, Washington, D. C." + + +The same day that I sent my report to the Secretary of War I removed +from office Governor Wells himself, being determined to bear no +longer with the many obstructions he had placed in the way of +reorganizing the civil affairs of the State. I was also satisfied +that he was unfit to retain the place, since he was availing himself +of every opportunity to work political ends beneficial to himself. +In this instance Wells protested to me against his removal, and also +appealed to the President for an opinion of the Attorney-General as +to my power in the case; and doubtless he would have succeeded in +retaining his office, but for the fact that the President had been +informed by General James B. Steadman and others placed to watch me +that Wells was wholly unworthy. + + +"NEW ORLEANS, June 19, 1867. +"ANDREW JOHNSON, President United States, +"Washington City: + +"Lewis D. Campbell leaves New Orleans for home this evening. Want +of respect for Governor Wells personally, alone represses the +expression of indignation felt by all honest and sensible men at the +unwarranted usurpation of General Sheridan in removing the civil +officers of Louisiana. It is believed here that you will reinstate +Wells. He is a bad man, and has no influence. + +"I believe Sheridan made the removals to embarrass you, believing the +feeling at the North would sustain him. My conviction is that on +account of the bad character of Wells and Monroe, you ought not to +reinstate any who have been removed, because you cannot reinstate any +without reinstating all, but you ought to prohibit the exercise of +this power in the future. + +"Respectfully yours, + +"JAMES B. STEADMAN." + + +I appointed Mr. Thomas J. Durant as Wells's successor, but he +declining, I then appointed Mr. Benjamin F. Flanders, who, after I +had sent a staff-officer to forcibly eject Wells in case of +necessity, took possession of the Governor's office. Wells having +vacated, Governor Flanders began immediately the exercise of his +duties in sympathy with the views of Congress, and I then notified +General Grant that I thought he need have no further apprehension +about the condition of affairs in Louisiana, as my appointee was a +man of such integrity and ability that I already felt relieved of +half my labor. I also stated in the same despatch that nothing would +answer in Louisiana but a bold and firm course, and that in taking +such a one I felt that I was strongly supported; a statement that was +then correct, for up to this period the better classes were disposed +to accept the Congressional plan of reconstruction. + +During the controversy over the Levee Commissioners, and the +correspondence regarding the removal of Governor Wells, registration +had gone on under the rules laid down for the boards. The date set +for closing the books was the 3oth of June, but in the parish of +Orleans the time was extended till the 15th of July. This the +President considered too short a period, and therefore directed the +registry lists not to be closed before the 1st of August, unless +there was some good reason to the contrary. This was plainly +designed to keep the books open in order that under the Attorney- +General's interpretation of the Reconstruction laws, published June +20, many persons who had been excluded by the registration boards +could yet be registered, so I decided to close the registration, +unless required by the President unconditionally, and in specific +orders, to extend the time. My motives were manifold, but the main +reasons were that as two and a half months had been given already, +the number of persons who, under the law, were qualified for registry +was about exhausted; and because of the expense I did not feel +warranted in keeping up the boards longer, as I said, "to suit new +issues coming in at the eleventh hour," which would but open a "broad +macadamized road for perjury and fraud." + +When I thus stated what I intended to do, the opinion of the +Attorney-General had not yet been received. When it did reach me it +was merely in the form of a circular signed by Adjutant-General +Townsend, and had no force of law. It was not even sent as an order, +nor was it accompanied by any instructions, or by anything except the +statement that it was transmitted to the 11 respective military +commanders for their information, in order that there might be +uniformity in the execution of the Reconstruction acts. To adopt +Mr. Stanbery's interpretation of the law and reopen registration +accordingly, would defeat the purpose of Congress, as well as add to +my perplexities. Such a course would also require that the officers +appointed by me for the performance of specified duties, under laws +which I was empowered to interpret and enforce, should receive their +guidance and instructions from an unauthorized source, so on +communicating with General Grant as to how I should act, he directed +me to enforce my own construction of the military bill until ordered +to do otherwise. + +Therefore the registration continued as I had originally directed, +and nothing having been definitely settled at Washington in relation +to my extending the time, on the 10th of July I ordered all the +registration boards to select, immediately, suitable persons to act +as commissioners of election, and at the same time specified the +number of each set of commissioners, designated the polling-places, +gave notice that two days would be allowed for voting, and followed +this with an order discontinuing registration the 31st of July, and +then another appointing the 27th and 28th of September as the time +for the election of delegates to the State convention. + +In accomplishing the registration there had been little opposition +from the mass of the people, but the press of New Orleans, and the +office-holders and office-seekers in the State generally, antagonized +the work bitterly and violently, particularly after the promulgation +of the opinion of the Attorney-General. These agitators condemned +everybody and everything connected with the Congressional plan of +reconstruction; and the pernicious influence thus exerted was +manifested in various ways, but most notably in the selection of +persons to compose the jury lists in the country parishes it also +tempted certain municipal officers in New Orleans to perform illegal +acts that would seriously have affected the credit of the city had +matters not been promptly corrected by the summary removal from +office of the comptroller and the treasurer, who had already issued a +quarter of a million dollars in illegal certificates. On learning of +this unwarranted and unlawful proceeding, Mayor Heath demanded an +investigation by the Common Council, but this body, taking its cue +from the evident intention of the President to render abortive the +Reconstruction acts, refused the mayor's demand. Then he tried to +have the treasurer and comptroller restrained by injunction, but the +city attorney, under the same inspiration as the council, declined to +sue out a writ, and the attorney being supported in this course by +nearly all the other officials, the mayor was left helpless in his +endeavors to preserve the city's credit. Under such circumstances he +took the only step left him--recourse to the military commander; and +after looking into the matter carefully I decided, in the early part +of August, to give the mayor officials who would not refuse to make +an investigation of the illegal issue of certificates, and to this +end I removed the treasurer, surveyor, comptroller, city attorney, +and twenty-two of the aldermen; these officials, and all of their +assistants, having reduced the financial credit of New Orleans to a +disordered condition, and also having made efforts--and being then +engaged in such--to hamper the execution of the Reconstruction laws. + +This action settled matters in the city, but subsequently I had to +remove some officials in the parishes--among them a justice of the +peace and a sheriff in the parish of Rapides; the justice for +refusing to permit negro witnesses to testify in a certain murder +case, and for allowing the murderer, who had foully killed a colored +man, to walk out of his court on bail in the insignificant sum of +five hundred dollars; and the sheriff, for conniving at the escape +from jail of another alleged murderer. Finding, however, even after +these removals, that in the country districts murderers and other +criminals went unpunished, provided the offenses were against negroes +merely (since the jurors were selected exclusively from the whites, +and often embraced those excluded from the exercise of the election +franchise) I, having full authority under the Reconstruction laws, +directed such a revision of the jury lists as would reject from them +every man not eligible for registration as a voter. This order was +issued August 24, and on its promulgation the President relieved me +from duty and assigned General Hancock as my successor. + + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +"NEW ORLEANS, LA., August 24, 1867. + +"SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 125. + +"The registration of voters of the State of Louisiana, according to +the law of Congress, being complete, it is hereby ordered that no +person who is not registered in accordance with said law shall be +considered as, a duly qualified voter of the State of Louisiana. All +persons duly registered as above, and no others, are consequently +eligible, under the laws of the State of Louisiana, to serve as +jurors in any of the courts of the State. + +"The necessary revision of the jury lists will immediately be made by +the proper officers. + +"All the laws of the State respecting exemptions, etc., from jury +duty will remain in force. + +"By command of Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN. + +"GEO. L. HARTNUFF, Asst. Adj't-General." + + +Pending the arrival of General Hancock, I turned over the command of +the district September 1 to General Charles Griffin; but he dying of +yellow fever, General J. A. Mower succeeded him, and retained command +till November 29, on which date General Hancock assumed control. +Immediately after Hancock took charge, he revoked my order of August +24 providing for a revision of the jury lists; and, in short, +President Johnson's policy now became supreme, till Hancock himself +was relieved in March, 1868. + +My official connection with the reconstruction of Louisiana and Texas +practically closed with this order concerning the jury lists. In my +judgment this had become a necessity, for the disaffected element, +sustained as it was by the open sympathy of the President, had grown +so determined in its opposition to the execution of the +Reconstruction acts that I resolved to remove from place and power +all obstacles; for the summer's experience had convinced me that in +no other way could the law be faithfully administered. + +The President had long been dissatisfied with my course; indeed, he +had harbored personal enmity against me ever since he perceived that +he could not bend me to an acceptance of the false position in which +he had tried to place me by garbling my report of the riot of 1866. +When Mr. Johnson decided to remove me, General Grant protested in +these terms, but to no purpose: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"WASHINGTON, D. C., August 17, 1867 + +"SIR: I am in receipt of your order of this date directing the +assignment of General G. H. Thomas to the command of the Fifth +Military District, General Sheridan to the Department of the +Missouri, and General Hancock to the Department of the Cumberland; +also your note of this date (enclosing these instructions), saying: +'Before you issue instructions to carry into effect the enclosed +order, I would be pleased to hear any suggestions you may deem +necessary respecting the assignments to which the order refers.' + +"I am pleased to avail myself of this invitation to urge--earnestly +urge--urge in the name of a patriotic people, who have sacrificed +hundreds of thousands of loyal lives and thousands of millions of +treasure to preserve the integrity and union of this country--that +this order be not insisted on. It is unmistakably the expressed wish +of the country that General Sheridan should not be removed from his +present command. + +"This is a republic where the will of the people is the law of the +land. I beg that their voice may be heard. + +"General Sheridan has performed his civil duties faithfully and +intelligently. His removal will only be regarded as an effort to +defeat the laws of Congress. It will be interpreted by the +unreconstructed element in the South--those who did all they could to +break up this Government by arms, and now wish to be the only element +consulted as to the method of restoring order--as a triumph. It will +embolden them to renewed opposition to the will of the loyal masses, +believing that they have the Executive with them. + +"The services of General Thomas in battling for the Union entitle him +to some consideration. He has repeatedly entered his protest against +being assigned to either of the five military districts, and +especially to being assigned to relieve General Sheridan. + +"There are military reasons, pecuniary reasons, and above all, +patriotic reasons, why this should not be insisted upon. + +"I beg to refer to a letter marked 'private,' which I wrote to the +President when first consulted on the subject of the change in the +War Department. It bears upon the subject of this removal, and I had +hoped would have prevented it. + +"I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +"U. S. GRANT, +"General U. S. A., Secretary of War ad interim. + +"His Excellency A. JOHNSON, +"President of the United States." + + +I was ordered to command the Department of the Missouri (General +Hancock, as already noted, finally becoming my successor in the Fifth +Military District), and left New Orleans on the 5th of September. I +was not loath to go. The kind of duty I had been performing in +Louisiana and Texas was very trying under the most favorable +circumstances, but all the more so in my case, since I had to contend +against the obstructions which the President placed in the way from +persistent opposition to the acts of Congress as well as from +antipathy to me--which obstructions he interposed with all the +boldness and aggressiveness of his peculiar nature. + +On more than one occasion while I was exercising this command, +impurity of motive was imputed to me, but it has never been +truthfully shown (nor can it ever be) that political or corrupt +influences of any kind controlled me in any instance. I simply tried +to carry out, without fear or favor, the Reconstruction acts as they +came to me. They were intended to disfranchise certain persons, and +to enfranchise certain others, and, till decided otherwise, were the +laws of the land; and it was my duty to execute them faithfully, +without regard, on the one hand, for those upon whom it was thought +they bore so heavily, nor, on the other, for this or that political +party, and certainly without deference to those persons sent to +Louisiana to influence my conduct of affairs. + +Some of these missionaries were high officials, both military and +civil, and I recall among others a visit made me in 1866 by a +distinguished friend of the President, Mr. Thomas A. Hendricks. The +purpose of his coming was to convey to me assurances of the very high +esteem in which I was held by the President, and to explain +personally Mr. Johnson's plan of reconstruction, its flawless +constitutionality, and so on. But being on the ground, I had before +me the exhibition of its practical working, saw the oppression and +excesses growing out of it, and in the face of these experiences even +Mr. Hendricks's persuasive eloquence was powerless to convince me of +its beneficence. Later General Lovell H. Rousseau came down on a +like mission, but was no more successful than Mr. Hendricks. + +During the whole period that I commanded in Louisiana and Texas my +position was a most unenviable one. The service was unusual, and the +nature of it scarcely to be understood by those not entirely familiar +with the conditions existing immediately after the war. In +administering the affairs of those States, I never acted except by +authority, and always from conscientious motives. I tried to guard +the rights of everybody in accordance with the law. In this I was +supported by General Grant and opposed by President Johnson. The +former had at heart, above every other consideration, the good of his +country, and always sustained me with approval and kind suggestions. +The course pursued by the President was exactly the opposite, and +seems to prove that in the whole matter of reconstruction he was +governed less by patriotic motives than by personal ambitions. Add +to this his natural obstinacy of character and personal enmity toward +me, and no surprise should be occasioned when I say that I heartily +welcomed the order that lifted from me my unsought burden. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AT FORT LEAVENWORTH--THE TREATY OF MEDICINE LODGE--GOING TO FORT +DODGE--DISCONTENTED INDIANS--INDIAN OUTRAGES--A DELEGATION OF CHIEFS- +-TERRIBLE INDIAN RAID--DEATH OF COMSTOCK--VAST HERDS OF BUFFALO--PRE +PARING FOR A WINTER CAMPAIGN--MEETING "BUFFALO BILL"--HE UNDERTAKES A +DANGEROUS TASK--FORSYTH'S GALLANT FIGHT--RESCUED. + +The headquarters of the military department to which I was assigned +when relieved from duty at New Orleans was at Fort Leavenworth, +Kansas, and on the 5th of September I started for that post. In due +time I reached St. Louis, and stopped there a day to accept an +ovation tendered in approval of the course I had pursued in the Fifth +Military District--a public demonstration apparently of the most +sincere and hearty character. + +From St. Louis to Leavenworth took but one night, and the next day I +technically complied with my orders far enough to permit General +Hancock to leave the department, so that he might go immediately to +New Orleans if he so desired, but on account of the yellow fever +epidemic then prevailing, he did not reach the city till late in +November. + +My new command was one of the four military departments that composed +the geographical division then commanded by Lieutenant-General +Sherman. This division had been formed in 1866, with a view to +controlling the Indians west of the Missouri River, they having +become very restless and troublesome because of the building of the +Pacific railroads through their hunting-grounds, and the +encroachments of pioneers, who began settling in middle and western +Kansas and eastern Colorado immediately after the war. + +My department embraced the States of Missouri and Kansas, the Indian +Territory, and New Mexico. Part of this section of country--western +Kansas particularly--had been frequently disturbed and harassed +during two or three years past, the savages every now and then +massacring an isolated family, boldly attacking the surveying and +construction parties of the Kansas-Pacific railroad, sweeping down on +emigrant trains, plundering and burning stage-stations and the like +along the Smoky Hill route to Denver and the Arkansas route to New +Mexico. + +However, when I relieved Hancock, the department was comparatively +quiet. Though some military operations had been conducted against +the hostile tribes in the early part of the previous summer, all +active work was now suspended in the attempt to conclude a permanent +peace with the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Comanches, in +compliance with the act of Congress creating what was known as the +Indian Peace Commission of 1867. + +Under these circumstances there was little necessity for my remaining +at Leavenworth, and as I was much run down in health from the +Louisiana climate, in which I had been obliged to live continuously +for three summers (one of which brought epidemic cholera, and another +a scourge of yellow fever), I took a leave of absence for a few +months, leaving Colonel A. J. Smith, of the Seventh Cavalry, +temporarily in charge of my command. + +On this account I did not actually go on duty in the department of +the Missouri till March, 1868. On getting back I learned that the +negotiations of the Peace Commissioners held at Medicine Lodge, about +seventy miles south of Fort Larned had resulted in a treaty with the +Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Comanches, by which agreement it +was supposed all troubles had been settled. The compact, as +concluded, contained numerous provisions, the most important to us +being one which practically relinquished the country between the +Arkansas and Platte rivers for white settlement; another permitted +the peaceable construction of the Pacific railroads through the same +region; and a third requiring the tribes signing the treaty to retire +to reservations allotted them in the Indian Territory. Although the +chiefs and head-men were well-nigh unanimous in ratifying these +concessions, it was discovered in the spring of 1868 that many of the +young men were bitterly opposed to what had been done, and claimed +that most of the signatures had been obtained by misrepresentation +and through proffers of certain annuities, and promises of arms and +ammunition to be issued in the spring of 1868. This grumbling was +very general in extent, and during the winter found outlet in +occasional marauding, so, fearing a renewal of the pillaging and +plundering at an early day, to prepare myself for the work evidently +ahead the first thing I did on assuming permanent command was to make +a trip to Fort Larned and Fort Dodge, near which places the bulk of +the Indians had congregated on Pawnee and Walnut creeks. I wanted to +get near enough to the camps to find out for myself the actual state +of feeling among the savages, and also to familiarize myself with the +characteristics of the Plains Indians, for my previous experience had +been mainly with mountain tribes on Ehe Pacific coast. Fort Larned I +found too near the camps for my purpose, its proximity too readily +inviting unnecessary "talks," so I remained here but a day or two, +and then went on to Dodge, which, though considerably farther away +from the camps, was yet close enough to enable us to obtain easily +information of all that was going on. + +It took but a few days at Dodge to discover that great discontent +existed about the Medicine Lodge concessions, to see that the young +men were chafing and turbulent, and that it would require much tact +and good management on the part of the Indian Bureau to persuade the +four tribes to go quietly to their reservations, under an agreement +which, when entered into, many of them protested had not been fully +understood. + +A few hours after my arrival a delegation of prominent chiefs called +on me and proposed a council, where they might discuss their +grievances, and thus bring to the notice of the Government the +alleged wrongs done them; but this I refused, because Congress had +delegated to the Peace Commission the whole matter of treating with +them, and a council might lead only to additional complications. My +refusal left them without hope of securing better terms, or of even +delaying matters longer; so henceforth they were more than ever +reckless and defiant. Denunciations of the treaty became outspoken, +and as the young braves grew more and more insolent every day, it +amounted to conviction that, unless by some means the irritation was +allayed, hostilities would surely be upon us when the buffalo +returned to their summer feeding-grounds between the Arkansas and the +Platte. + +The principal sufferers in this event would be the settlers in middle +and western Kansas, who, entirely ignorant of the dangers hanging +over them, were laboring to build up homes in a new country. Hence +the maintenance of peace was much to be desired, if it could be +secured without too great concessions, and although I would not meet +the different tribes in a formal council, yet, to ward off from +settlers as much as possible the horrors of savage warfare, I showed, +by resorting to persuasive methods, my willingness to temporize a +good deal. An abundant supply of rations is usually effective to +keep matters quiet in such cases, so I fed them pretty freely, and +also endeavored to control them through certain men who, I found, +because of former associations, had their confidence. These men, +employed as scouts, or interpreters, were Mr. William Comstock, Mr. +Abner S. Grover, and Mr. Richard Parr. They had lived on the Plains +for many years with different tribes of Indians, had trapped and +hunted with them, and knew all the principal chiefs and headmen. +Through such influences, I thought I saw good chances of preserving +peace, and of inducing the discontented to go quietly to their +reservations in the Indian Territory as soon as General Hazen, the +representative of the Peace Commissioners, was ready to conduct them +there from Fort Larned. + +Before returning to Leavenworth I put my mediators (as I may call +them) under charge of an officer of the army, Lieutenant F. W. +Beecher, a very intelligent man, and directed him to send them out to +visit among the different tribes, in order to explain what was +intended by the treaty of Medicine Lodge, and to make every effort +possible to avert hostilities. Under these instructions Comstock and +Grover made it their business to go about among the Cheyennes--the +most warlike tribe of all--then camping about the headwaters of +Pawnee and Walnut creeks, and also to the north and west of Fort +Wallace, while Parr spent his time principally with the Kiowas and +Comanches. + +From the different posts--Wallace, Dodge, and Larned Lieutenant +Beecher kept up communication with all three scouts, and through him +I heard from them at least once a week. Every now and then some +trouble along the railroad or stage routes would be satisfactorily +adjusted and quiet restored, and matters seemed to be going on very +well, the warm weather bringing the grass and buffalo in plenty, and +still no outbreak, nor any act of downright hostility. So I began to +hope that we should succeed in averting trouble till the favorite war +season of the Indians was over, but the early days of August rudely +ended our fancied tranquility. + +In July the encampments about Fort Dodge began to break up, each band +or tribe moving off to some new location north of the Arkansas, +instead of toward its proper reservation to the south of that river. +Then I learned presently that a party of Cheyennes had made a raid on +the Kaws--a band of friendly Indians living near Council Grove--and +stolen their horses, and also robbed the houses of several white +people near Council Grove. This raid was the beginning of the Indian +war of 1868. Immediately following it, the Comanches and Kiowas came +to Fort Larned to receive their annuities, expecting to get also the +arms and ammunition promised them at Medicine Lodge, but the raid to +Council Grove having been reported to the Indian Department, the +issue of arms was suspended till reparation was made. This action of +the Department greatly incensed the savages, and the agent's offer of +the annuities without guns and pistols was insolently refused, the +Indians sulking back to their camps, the young men giving themselves +up to war-dances, and to powwows with "medicine-men," till all hope +of control was gone. + +Brevet Brigadier-General Alfred Sully, an officer of long experience +in Indian matters, who at this time was in command of the District of +the Arkansas, which embraced Forts Larned and Dodge, having notified +me of these occurrences at Larned, and expressed the opinion that the +Indians were bent on mischief, I directed him there immediately to +act against them. After he reached Larned, the chances for peace +appeared more favorable. The Indians came to see him, and protested +that it was only a few bad young men who had been depredating, and +that all would be well and the young men held in check if the agent +would but issue the arms and ammunition. Believing their promises, +Sully thought that the delivery of the arms would solve all the +difficulties, so on his advice the agent turned them over along with +the annuities, the Indians this time condescendingly accepting. + +This issue of arms and ammunition was a fatal mistake; Indian +diplomacy had overreached Sully's experience, and even while the +delivery was in progress a party of warriors had already begun a raid +of murder and rapine, which for acts of devilish cruelty perhaps has +no parallel in savage warfare. The party consisted of about two +hundred Cheyennes and a few Arapahoes, with twenty Sioux who had been +visiting their friends, the Cheyennes. As near as could be +ascertained, they organized and left their camps along Pawnee Creek +about the 3d of August. Traveling northeast, they skirted around +Fort Harker, and made their first appearance among the settlers in +the Saline Valley, about thirty miles north of that post. Professing +friendship and asking food at the farm-houses, they saw the +unsuspecting occupants comply by giving all they could spare from +their scanty stores. Knowing the Indian's inordinate fondness for +coffee, particularly when well sweetened, they even served him this +luxury freely. With this the demons began their devilish work. +Pretending to be indignant because it was served them in tin cups, +they threw the hot contents into the women's faces, and then, first +making prisoners of the men, they, one after another, ravished the +women till the victims became insensible. For some inexplicable +reason the two farmers were neither killed nor carried off, so after +the red fiends had gone, the unfortunate women were brought in to +Fort Harker, their arrival being the first intimation to the military +that hostilities had actually begun. + +Leaving the Saline, this war-party crossed over to the valley of the +Solomon, a more thickly settled region, and where the people were in +better circumstances, their farms having been started two or three +years before. Unaware of the hostile character of the raiders, the +people here received them in the friendliest way, providing food, and +even giving them ammunition, little dreaming of what was impending. +These kindnesses were requited with murder and pillage, and worse, +for all the women who fell into their hands were subjected to horrors +indescribable by words. Here also the first murders were committed, +thirteen men and two women being killed. Then, after burning five +houses and stealing all the horses they could find, they turned back +toward the Saline, carrying away as prisoners two little girls named +Bell, who have never been heard of since. + +It was probably the intention to finish, as they marched back to the +south, the devilish work begun on the Saline, but before they reached +that valley on the return, the victims left there originally had fled +to Fort Harker, as already explained, and Captain Benteen was now +nearing the little settlement with a troop of cavalry, which he had +hurriedly marched from Fort Zarah. The savages were attacking the +house of a Mr. Schermerhorn, where a few of the settlers had +collected for defense, when Benteen approached. Hearing the firing, +the troopers rode toward the sound at a gallop, but when they +appeared in view, coming over the hills, the Indians fled in all +directions, escaping punishment through their usual tactics of +scattering over the Plains, so as to leave no distinctive trail. + +When this frightful raid was taking place, Lieutenant Beecher, with +his three scouts--Comstock, Grover, and Parr--was on Walnut Creek. +Indefinite rumors about troubles on the Saline and Solomon reaching +him, he immediately sent Comstock and Grover over to the headwaters +of the Solomon, to the camp of a band of Cheyennes, whose chief was +called "Turkey Leg," to see if any of the raiders belonged there; to +learn the facts, and make explanations, if it was found that the +white people had been at fault. For years this chief had been a +special friend of Comstock and Grover. They had trapped, hunted, and +lived with his band, and from this intimacy they felt confident of +being able to get "Turkey Leg" to quiet his people, if any of them +were engaged in the raid; and, at all events, they expected, through +him and his band, to influence the rest of the Cheyennes. From the +moment they arrived in the Indian village, however, the two scouts +met with a very cold reception. Neither friendly pipe nor food was +offered them, and before they could recover from their chilling +reception, they were peremptorily ordered out of the village, with +the intimation that when the Cheyennes were on the war-path the +presence of whites was intolerable. The scouts were prompt to leave, +of course, and for a few miles were accompanied by an escort of seven +young men, who said they were sent with them to protect the two from +harm. As the party rode along over the prairie, such a depth of +attachment was professed for Comstock and Grover that, +notwithstanding all the experience of their past lives, they were +thoroughly deceived, and in the midst of a friendly conversation some +of the young warriors fell suddenly to the rear and treacherously +fired on them. + +At the volley Comstock fell from his horse instantly killed. Grover, +badly wounded in the shoulder, also fell to the ground near Comstock +Seeing his comrade was dead, Grover made use of his friend's body to +protect himself, lying close behind it. Then took place a remarkable +contest, Grover, alone and severely wounded, obstinately fighting the +seven Indians, and holding them at bay for the rest of the day. +Being an expert shot, and having a long-range repeating rifle, he +"stood off" the savages till dark. Then cautiously crawling away on +his belly to a deep ravine, he lay close, suffering terribly from his +wound, till the following night, when, setting out for Fort Wallace, +he arrived there the succeeding day, almost crazed from pain and +exhaustion. + +Simultaneously with the fiendish atrocities committed on the Saline +and Solomon rivers and the attack on Comstock and Grover, the +pillaging and murdering began on the Smoky Hill stage-route, along +the upper Arkansas River and on the headwaters of the Cimarron. That +along the Smoky Hill and north of it was the exclusive work of, the +Cheyennes, a part of the Arapahoes, and the few Sioux allies +heretofore mentioned, while the raiding on the Arkansas and Cimarron +was done principally by the Kiowas under their chief, Satanta, aided +by some of the Comanches. The young men of these tribes set out on +their bloody work just after the annuities and guns were issued at +Larned, and as soon as they were well on the road the rest of the +Comanches and Kiowas escaped from the post and fled south of the +Arkansas. They were at once pursued by General Sully with a small +force, but by the time he reached the Cimarron the war-party had +finished its raid on the upper Arkansas, and so many Indians combined +against Sully that he was compelled to withdraw to Fort Dodge, which +he reached not without considerable difficulty, and after three +severe fights. + +These, and many minor raids which followed, made it plain that a +general outbreak was upon us. The only remedy, therefore, was to +subjugate the savages immediately engaged in the forays by forcing +the several tribes to settle down on the reservations set apart by +the treaty of Medicine Lodge. The principal mischief-makers were the +Cheyennes. Next in deviltry were the Kiowas, and then the Arapahoes +and Comanches. Some few of these last two tribes continued friendly, +or at least took no active part in the raiding, but nearly all the +young men of both were the constant allies of the Cheyennes and +Kiowas. All four tribes together could put on the war-path a +formidable force of about 6,000 warriors. The subjugation of this +number of savages would be no easy task, so to give the matter my +undivided attention I transferred my headquarters from Leavenworth to +Fort Hays, a military post near which the prosperous town of Hays +City now stands. + +Fort Hays was just beyond the line of the most advanced settlements, +and was then the terminus of the Kansas-Pacific railroad. For this +reason it could be made a depot of supplies, and was a good point +from which to supervise matters in the section of country to be +operated in, which district is a part of the Great American Plains, +extending south from the Platte River in Nebraska to the Red River in +the Indian Territory, and westward from the line of frontier +settlements to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, a vast region +embracing an area of about 150,000 square miles. With the exception +of a half-dozen military posts and a few stations on the two overland +emigrant routes--the Smoky Hill to Denver, and the Arkansas to New +Mexico--this country was an unsettled waste known only to the Indians +and a few trappers. There were neither roads nor well-marked trails, +and the only timber to be found--which generally grew only along the +streams--was so scraggy and worthless as hardly to deserve the name. +Nor was water by any means plentiful, even though the section is +traversed by important streams, the Republican, the Smoky Hill, the +Arkansas, the Cimarron, and the Canadian all flowing eastwardly, as +do also their tributaries in the main. These feeders are sometimes +long and crooked, but as a general thing the volume of water is +insignificant except after rain-falls. Then, because of unimpeded +drainage, the little streams fill up rapidly with torrents of water, +which quickly flows off or sinks into the sand, leaving only an +occasional pool without visible inlet or outlet. + +At the period of which I write, in 1868, the Plains were covered with +vast herds of buffalo--the number has been estimated at 3,000,000 +head--and with such means of subsistence as this everywhere at hand, +the 6,000 hostiles were wholly unhampered by any problem of food- +supply. The savages were rich too according to Indian standards, +many a lodge owning from twenty to a hundred ponies; and +consciousness of wealth and power, aided by former temporizing, had +made them not only confident but defiant. Realizing that their +thorough subjugation would be a difficult task, I made up my mind to +confine operations during the grazing and hunting season to +protecting the people of the new settlements and on the overland +routes, and then, when winter came, to fall upon the savages +relentlessly, for in that season their ponies would be thin, and weak +from lack of food, and in the cold and snow, without strong ponies to +transport their villages and plunder, their movements would be so +much impeded that the troops could overtake them. + +At the outbreak of hostilities I had in all, east of New Mexico, a +force of regulars numbering about 2,600 men--1,200 mounted and 1,400 +foot troops. The cavalry was composed of the Seventh and Tenth +regiments; the infantry, of the Third and Fifth regiments and four +companies of the Thirty-Eighth. With these few troops all the posts +along the Smoky Hill and Arkansas had to be garrisoned, emigrant +trains escorted, and the settlements and routes of travel and the +construction parties on the Kansas-Pacific railway protected. Then, +too, this same force had to furnish for the field small movable +columns, that were always on the go, so it will be rightly inferred +that every available man was kept busy from the middle of August till +November; especially as during this period the hostiles attacked over +forty widely dispersed places, in nearly all cases stealing horses, +burning houses, and killing settlers. It was of course impossible to +foresee where these descents would be made, but as soon as an attack +was heard of assistance was always promptly rendered, and every now +and then we succeeded in killing a few savages. As a general thing, +though, the raiders escaped before relief arrived, and when they had +a few miles the start, all efforts to catch them were futile. I +therefore discouraged long pursuits, and, in fact, did not approve of +making any at all unless the chances of obtaining paying results were +very evident, otherwise the troops would be worn out by the time the +hard work of the winter was demanded from them. + +To get ready for a winter campaign of six months gave us much to do. +The thing most needed was more men, so I asked for additional +cavalry, and all that could be spareds--even troops of the Fifth +Cavalry--was sent tome. Believing this reinforcement insufficient, +to supplement it I applied for a regiment of Kansas volunteers, which +request being granted, the organization of the regiment was +immediately begun at Topeka. It was necessary also to provide a +large amount of transportation and accumulate quantities of stores, +since the campaign probably would not end till spring. Another +important matter was to secure competent guides for the different +columns of troops, for, as I have said, the section of country to be +operated in was comparatively unknown. + +In those days the railroad town of Hays City was filled with so +called "Indian scouts," whose common boast was of having slain scores +of redskins, but the real scout--that is, a 'guide and trailer +knowing the habits of the Indians--was very scarce, and it was hard +to find anybody familiar with the country south of the Arkansas, +where the campaign was to be made. Still, about Hays City and the +various military posts there was some good material to select from, +and we managed to employ several men, who, from their experience on +the Plains in various capacities, or from natural instinct and +aptitude, soon became excellent guides and courageous and valuable +scouts, some of them, indeed, gaining much distinction. Mr. William +F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill"), whose renown has since become world-wide, +was one of the men thus selected. He received his sobriquet from his +marked success in killing buffaloes for a contractor, to supply fresh +meat to the construction parties, on the Kansas-Pacific railway. He +had given up this business, however, and was now in the employ of the +quartermaster's department of the army, and was first brought to my +notice by distinguishing himself in bringing me an important despatch +from Fort Larned to Fort Hays, a distance of sixty-five miles, +through a section infested with Indians. The despatch informed me +that the Indians near Larned were preparing to decamp, and this +intelligence required that certain orders should be carried to Fort +Dodge, ninety-five miles south of Hays. This too being a +particularly dangerous route--several couriers having been killed on +it--it was impossible to get one of the various "Petes," "Jacks," or +"Jims" hanging around Hays City to take my communication. Cody +learning of the strait I was in, manfully came to the rescue, and +proposed to make the trip to Dodge, though he had just finished his +long and perilous ride from Larned. I gratefully accepted his offer, +and after four or five hours' rest he mounted a fresh horse and +hastened on his journey, halting but once to rest on the way, and +then only for an hour, the stop being made at Coon Creek, where he +got another mount from a troop of cavalry. At Dodge he took six +hours' sleep, and then continued on to his own post--Fort Larned-- +with more despatches. After resting twelve hours at Larned, he was +again in the saddle with tidings for me at Fort Hays, General Hazen +sending him, this time, with word that the villages had fled to the +south of the Arkansas. Thus, in all, Cody rode about 350 miles in +less than sixty hours, and such an exhibition of endurance and +courage was more than enough to convince me that his services would +be extremely valuable in the campaign, so I retained him at Fort Hays +till the battalion of the Fifth Cavalry arrived, and then made him +chief of scouts for that regiment. + +The information brought me by Cody on his second trip from Larned +indicated where the villages would be found in the winter, and I +decided to move on them about the 1st of November. Only the women +and children and the decrepit old men were with the villages, however +enough, presumably, to look after the plunder most of the warriors +remaining north of the Arkansas to continue their marauding. Many +severe fights occurred between our troops and these marauders, and in +these affairs, before November 1 over a hundred Indians were killed, +yet from the ease with which the escaping savages would disappear +only to fall upon remote settlements with pillage and murder, the +results were by no means satisfactory. One of the most noteworthy of +these preliminary affairs was the gallant fight made on the +Republican River the 17th of September by my Aide, Colonel George A. +Forsyth, and party, against about seven hundred Cheyennes and Sioux. +Forsyth, with Lieutenant Beecher, and Doctor J. H. Mooers as surgeon, +was in charge of a company of citizen scouts, mostly expert rifle- +shots, but embracing also a few Indian fighters, among these Grover +and Parr. The company was organized the latter part of August for +immediate work in defense of the settlements, and also for future use +in the Indian Territory when the campaign should open there. About +the time the company had reached its complement--it was limited to +forty-seven men and three officers--a small band of hostiles began +depredations near Sheridan City, one of the towns that grew up over- +night on the Kansas-Pacific railway. Forsyth pursued this party, but +failing to overtake it, made his way into Fort Wallace for rations, +intending to return from there to Fort Hays. Before he started back, +however, another band of Indians appeared near the post and stole +some horses from the stage company. This unexpected raid made +Forsyth hot to go for the marauders, and he telegraphed me for +permission, which I as promptly gave him. He left the post on the +10th of September, the command consisting of himself, Lieutenant +Beecher, Acting Assistant Surgeon Mooers, and the full strength, +forty-seven men, with a few pack mules carrying about ten days' +rations. + +He headed north toward the Republican River. For the first two days +the trail was indistinct and hard to follow. During the next three +it continued to grow much larger, indicating plainly that the number +of Indians ahead was rapidly increasing. Of course this sign meant a +fight as soon as a large enough force was mustered, but as this was +what Forsyth was after, he pushed ahead with confidence and alacrity. +The night of the 16th of September he encamped on the Arickaree +branch of the Republican, not far from the forks of the river, with +the expectation of resuming the march as usual next day, for the +indications were that the main body of the savages must be still a +long way off, though in the preceding twenty-four hours an occasional +Indian had been seen. + +But the enemy was much nearer than was thought, for at daybreak on +the morning of the 17th he made known his immediate presence by a +sudden dash at Forsyth's horses, a few of which were stampeded and +captured before the scouts could reach them. This dash was made by a +small party only to get the horses, so those engaged in it were soon +driven off, but a few minutes later hundreds of savages--it was +afterward learned that seven hundred warriors took part in the fight- +-hitherto invisible, showed themselves on the hills overlooking the +camp and so menacingly as to convince Forsyth that his defense must +be one of desperation. The only place at hand that gave any hope of +successful resistance was a small island in the Arickaree, the +channel on one side being about a foot deep while on the other it was +completely dry; so to this position a hurried retreat was made. All +the men and the remaining animals reached the island in safety, but +on account of the heavy fire poured in from the neighboring hills the +packs containing the rations and medicines had to be abandoned. + +On seeing Forsyth's hasty move, the Indians, thinking they had him, +prepared to overwhelm the scouts by swooping down on one side of the +island with about five hundred mounted warriors, while about two +hundred, covered by the tall grass in the river-bottom attacked the +other side, dismounted. But the brave little band sadly disappointed +them. When the charge came it was met with such a deadly fire that a +large number of the fiends were killed, some of them even after +gaining the bank of the island. This check had the effect of making +the savages more wary, but they were still bold enough to make two +more assaults before mid-day. Each of these ending like the first, +the Indians thereafter contented themselves with shooting all the +horses, which had been tied up to some scraggy little cottonwood- +trees, and then proceeded to lay siege to the party. + +The first man struck was Forsyth himself. He was hit three times in +all--twice in one leg, both serious wounds, and once on the head, a +slight abrasion of the scalp. A moment later Beecher was killed and +Doctor Mooers mortally wounded: and in addition to these misfortunes +the scouts kept getting hit, till several were killed, and the whole +number of casualties had reached twenty-one in a company of forty- +seven. Yet with all this, and despite the seeming hopelessness of +the situation, the survivors kept up their pluck undiminished, and +during a lull succeeding the third repulse dug into the loose soil +till the entire party was pretty well protected by rifle-pits. Thus +covered they stood off the Indians for the next three days, although +of course their condition became deplorable from lack of food, while +those who were hurt suffered indescribable agony, since no means were +at hand for dressing their wounds. + +By the third day the Indians, seeming to despair of destroying the +beleaguered party before succor might arrive, began to draw off, and +on the fourth wholly disappeared. The men were by this time nearly +famished for food. Even now there was nothing to be had except +horse-meat from the carcasses of the animals killed the first day, +and this, though decidedly unpalatable, not to say disgusting, had to +be put up with, and so on such unwholesome stuff they managed to live +for four days longer, at the end of which time they were rescued by a +column of troops under Colonel Bankhead, which had hastened from Fort +Wallace in response to calls for help, carried there by two brave +fellows--Stilwell and Truedell--who, volunteering to go for relief, +had slipped through the Indians, and struck out for that post in the +night after the first day's fight. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII, + +FITTING OUT THE WINTER EXPEDITION--ACCOMPANYING THE MAIN FORCE--THE +OTHER COLUMNS--STRUCK BY A BLIZZARD--CUSTER'S FIGHT ON THE WASHITA-- +DEFEAT AND DEATH OF BLACK KETTLE--MASSACRE OF ELLIOTT'S PARTY--RELIEF +OF COLONEL CRAWFORD. + +The end of October saw completed the most of my arrangements for the +winter campaign, though the difficulties and hardships to be +encountered had led several experienced officers of the army, and +some frontiersmen like Mr. James Bridger, the famous scout and, guide +of earlier days, to discourage the project. Bridger even went so far +as to come out from St. Louis to dissuade me, but I reasoned that as +the soldier was much better fed and clothed than the Indian, I had +one great advantage, and that, in short, a successful campaign could +be made if the operations of the different columns were energetically +conducted. To see to this I decided to go in person with the main +column, which was to push down into the western part of the Indian +Territory, having for its initial objective the villages which, at +the beginning of hostilities, had fled toward the head-waters of the +Red River, and those also that had gone to the same remote region +after decamping from the neighborhood of Larned at the time that +General Hazen sent Buffalo Bill to me with the news. + +The column which was expected to do the main work was to be composed +of the Nineteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Colonel +Crawford; eleven troops of the Seventh United States Cavalry, under +General Custer, and a battalion of five companies of infantry under +Brevet Major John H. Page. To facilitate matters, General Sully, the +district commander, was ordered to rendezvous these troops and +establish a supply depot about a hundred miles south of Fort Dodge, +as from such a point operations could be more readily conducted. He +selected for the depot a most suitable place at the confluence of +Beaver and Wolf creeks, and on his arrival there with Custer's and +Page's commands, named the place Camp Supply. + +In conjunction with the main column, two others also were to +penetrate the Indian Territory. One of these, which was to march +east from New Mexico by way of Fort Bascom was to be composed of six +troops of the Third Cavalry and two companies of infantry, the whole +under Colonel A. W. Evans. The other, consisting of seven troops of +the Fifth Cavalry, and commanded by Brevet Brigadier-General Eugene +A. Carr, was to march southeast from Fort Lyon; the intention being +that Evans and Carr should destroy or drive in toward old Fort Cobb +any straggling bands that might be prowling through the country west +of my own line of march; Carr, as he advanced, to be joined by Brevet +Brigadier-General W. H. Penrose, with five troops of cavalry already +in the field southeast of Lyon. The Fort Bascom column, after +establishing a deepot of supplies at Monument Creek, was to work down +the main Canadian, and remain out as long as it could feed itself +from New Mexico; Carr, having united with Penrose on the North +Canadian, was to operate toward the Antelope Hills and headwaters of +the Red River; while I, with the main column was to move southward to +strike the Indians along the Washita, or still farther. south on +branches of the Red River. + +It was no small nor easy task to outfit all these troops by the time +cold weather set in, and provide for them during the winter, but by +the 1st of November I had enough supplies accumulated at Forts Dodge +and Lyon for my own and Carr's columns, and in addition directed +subsistence and forage for three months to be sent to Fort Gibson for +final delivery at Fort Arbuckle, as I expected to feed the command +from this place when we arrived in the neighborhood of old Fort Cobb, +but through some mismanagement few of these stores got further than +Gibson before winter came on. + +November 1, all being ready, Colonel Grawford was furnished with +competent guides, and, after sending two troops to Fort Dodge to act +as my escort, with the rest of his regiment he started from Topeka +November 5, under orders to march straight for the rendezvous at the +junction of Beaver and Wolf creeks. He was expected to reach his +destination about the 20th, and there unite with the Seventh Cavalry +and the battalion of infantry, which in the mean time were on the +march from Dodge. A few days later Carr and Evans began their march +also, and everything being now in motion, I decided to go to Camp +Supply to give the campaign my personal attention, determined to +prove that operations could be successfully conducted in spite of +winter, and bent on showing the Indians that they were not secure +from punishment because of inclement weather--an ally on which they +had hitherto relied with much assurance. + +We started from Fort Hays on the 15th of November, and the first +night out a blizzard struck us and carried away our tents; and as the +gale was so violent that they could not be put up again, the rain and +snow drenched us to the skin. Shivering from wet and cold, I took +refuge under a wagon, and there spent such a miserable night that, +when at last morning came, the gloomy predictions of old man Bridger +and others rose up before me with greatly increased force. As we +took the road the sleet and snow were still falling, but we labored +on to Dodge that day in spite of the fact that many of the mules +played out on the way. We stayed only one night at Dodge, and then +on the 17th, escorted by a troop of cavalry and Forsyth's scouts, now +under the command of Lieutenant Lewis Pepoon, crossed the Arkansas +and camped the night of the 18th at Bluff Creek, where the two troops +of the Nineteenth Kansas, previously detailed as my escort, were +awaiting our coming. As we were approaching this camp some +suspicious looking objects were seen moving off at a long distance to +the east of us, but as the scouts confidently pronounced them +buffalo, we were unaware of their true character till next morning, +when we became satisfied that what we had seen were Indians, for +immediately after crossing Beaver Creek we struck a trail, leading to +the northeast, of a war party that evidently came up from the head- +waters of the Washita River. + +The evening of November 21we arrived at the Camp Supply depot, having +traveled all day in another snowstorm that did not end till twenty- +four hours later. General Sully, with Custer's regiment and the +infantry battalion, had reached the place several days before, but +the Kansas regiment had not yet put in an appearance. All hands were +hard at work trying to shelter the stores and troops, but from the +trail seen that morning, believing that an opportunity offered to +strike an effective blow, I directed Custer to call in his working +parties and prepare to move immediately, without waiting for +Crawford's regiment, unaccountably absent. Custer was ready to start +by the 23d, and he was then instructed to march north to where the +trail had been seen near Beaver Creek and follow it on the back +track, for, being convinced that the war party had come from the +Washita, I felt certain that this plan would lead directly to the +villages. + +The difficulties attending a winter campaign were exhibited now with +their full force, as the march had to be conducted through a snow- +storm that hid surrounding objects, and so covered the country as to +alter the appearance of the prominent features, making the task of +the guides doubly troublesome; but in spite of these obstacles +fifteen miles had been traversed when Custer encamped for the night. +The next day the storm had ceased, and the weather was clear and +cold. The heavy fall of snow had of course obliterated the trail in +the bottoms, and everywhere on the level; but, thanks to the wind, +that had swept comparatively bare the rough places and high ground, +the general direction could be traced without much trouble. The +day's march, which was through a country abounding with buffalo, was +unattended by any special incident at first, but during the +afternoon, after getting the column across the Canadian River--an +operation which, on account of the wagons, consumed considerable +time--Custer's scouts (friendly Osages) brought back word that, some +miles ahead, they had struck fresh signs, a trail coming into the old +one from the north, which, in their opinion, indicated that the war +party was returning to the villages. + +On the receipt of this news, Custer, leaving a guard with the wagons, +hastily assembled the rest of his men' and pushing on rapidly, +overtook the scouts and a detailed party from his regiment which had +accompanied them, all halted on the new trail awaiting his arrival. +A personal examination satisfied Custer that the surmises of his +scouts were correct; and also that the fresh trail in the deep snow +could at night be followed with ease. After a short halt for supper +and rest the pursuit was resumed, the Osage scouts in advance, and +although the hostile Indians were presumed to be yet some distance +off, every precaution was taken to prevent detection and to enable +our troops to strike them unawares. The fresh trail, which it was +afterward ascertained had been made by raiders from Black Kettle's +village of Cheyennes, and by some Arapahoes, led into the valley of +the Washita, and growing fresher as the night wore on, finally +brought the Osages upon a campfire, still smoldering, which, it was +concluded, had been built by the Indian boys acting as herders of the +ponies during the previous day. It was evident, then, that the +village could be but a few miles off; hence the pursuit was continued +with redoubled caution until, a few hours before dawn of the 27th, as +the leading scouts peered over a rise on the line of march, they +discovered a large body of animals in the valley below. + +As soon as they reported this discovery, Custer determined to +acquaint himself with the situation by making a reconnoissance in +person, accompanied by his principal officers. So, sending back word +to halt the cavalry, he directed the officers to ride forward with +him; then dismounting, the entire party crept cautiously to a high +point which overlooked the valley, and from where, by the bright moon +then shining, they saw just how the village was situated. Its +position was such as to admit of easy approach from all sides. So, +to preclude an escape of the Indians, Custer decided to attack at +daybreak, and from four different directions. + +The plan having been fully explained to the officers, the remaining +hours of the night were employed in making the necessary +dispositions. Two of the detachments left promptly, since they had +to make a circuitous march of several miles to Teach the points +designated for their attack; the third started a little later; and +then the fourth and last, under Custer himself, also moved into +position. As the first light grew visible in the east, each column +moved closer in to the village, and then, all dispositions having +been made according to the prearranged plan, from their appointed +places the entire force to the opening notes of "Garry Owen," played +by the regimental band as the signal for the attack--dashed at a +gallop into the village. The sleeping and unsuspecting savages were +completely surprised by the onset; yet after the first confusion, +during which the impulse to escape principally actuated them, they +seized their weapons, and from behind logs and trees, or plunging +into the stream and using its steep bank as a breastwork, they poured +upon their assailants a heavy fire, and kept on fighting with every +exhibition of desperation. In such a combat mounted men were +useless, so Custer directed his troopers to fight on, foot, and the +Indians were successively driven from one point of vantage to +another, until, finally, by 9 o'clock the entire camp was in his +possession and the victory complete. Black Kettle and over one +hundred of his warriors were killed, and about fifty women and +children captured; but most of the noncombatants, as well as a few +warriors and boys, escaped in the confusion of the fight. Making +their way down the river, these fugitives alarmed the rest of the +Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and also the Kiowas and Comanches, whose +villages were in close proximity--the nearest not more than two miles +off. + +Then of course all the warriors of these tribes rallied to attack +Custer, who meantime was engaged burning Black Kettle's camp and +collecting his herds of ponies. But these new foes were rather wary +and circumspect, though they already had partial revenge in an +unlooked for way by cutting off Major Elliott and fifteen men, who +had gone off in pursuit of a batch of young warriors when the fight +was going on at the village. In fact, the Indians had killed +Elliott's whole party, though neither the fate of the poor fellows, +nor how they happened to be caught, was known till long afterward. +It was then ascertained that the detachment pursued a course due +south, nearly at right angles to the Washita River, and after +galloping a couple of miles over the hills, crossing a small branch +of the Washita on the way, they captured some of the fugitives. In +bringing the prisoners back, Elliott was in turn attacked on the open +prairie by a large number of savages from farther down the Washita, +who by this time were swarming to the aid of Black Kettle's village. +The little band fought its way gallantly to within rifle-range of the +small creek referred to, but could get no farther, for the Indians +had taken up a position in the bed of the stream, and from under +cover of its banks Elliott and all his remaining men were quickly +killed. No relief was sent them, for Custer, not having seen Elliott +set out, knew nothing of the direction taken, and, besides, was busy +burning the villages and securing the ponies, and deeply concerned, +too, with defending himself from the new dangers menacing him. +Elliott and his brave little party were thus left to meet their fate +alone. + +While Custer was burning the lodges and plunder and securing the +ponies, the Indians from the villages down the Washita were gathering +constantly around him till by mid-day they had collected in +thousands, and then came a new problem as to what should be done. If +he attacked the other villages, there was great danger of his being +overwhelmed, and should he start back to Camp Supply by daylight, he +would run the risk of losing his prisoners and the ponies, so, +thinking the matter over, he decided to shoot all the ponies, and +keep skirmishing with the savages till nightfall, and then, under +cover of the darkness, return to Camp Supply; a programme that was +carried out successfully, but Custer's course received some severe +criticism because no effort was made to discover what had become of +Elliott. + +Custer had, in all, two officers and nineteen men killed, and two +officers and eleven men wounded. The blow struck was a most +effective one, and, fortunately, fell on one of the most villanous of +the hostile bands that, without any provocation whatever, had +perpetrated the massacres on the Saline and Solomon, committing +atrocities too repulsive for recital, and whose hands were still red +from their bloody work on the recent raid. Black Kettle, the chief, +was an old man, and did not himself go with the raiders to the Saline +and Solomon, and on this account his fate was regretted by some. But +it was old age only that kept him back, for before the demons set out +from Walnut Creek he had freely encouraged them by "making medicine," +and by other devilish incantations that are gone through with at war +and scalp dances. + +When the horrible work was over he undertook to shield himself by +professions of friendship, but being put to the test by my offering +to feed and care for all of his band who would come in to Fort Dodge +and remain there peaceably, he defiantly refused. The consequence of +this refusal was a merited punishment, only too long delayed. + +I received the first news of Custer's fight on the Washita on the +morning of November 29. It was brought to me by one of his white +scouts, "California Joe," a noted character, who had been +experiencing the ups and downs of pioneer life ever since crossing +the Plains in 1849. Joe was an invaluable guide and Indian fighter +whenever the clause of the statute prohibiting liquors in the Indian +country happened to be in full force. At the time in question the +restriction was by no means a dead letter, and Joe came through in +thirty-six hours, though obliged to keep in hiding during daylight of +the 28th. The tidings brought were joyfully received by everybody at +Camp Supply, and they were particularly agreeable tome, for, besides +being greatly worried about the safety of the command in the extreme +cold and deep snows, I knew that the immediate effect a victory would +be to demoralize the rest of the hostiles, which of course would +greatly facilitate and expedite our ultimate success. Toward evening +the day after Joe arrived the head of Custer's column made its +appearance on the distant hills, the friendly Osage scouts and the +Indian prisoners in advance. As they drew near, the scouts began a +wild and picturesque performance in celebration of the victory, +yelling, firing their guns, throwing themselves on the necks and +sides of their horses to exhibit their skill in riding, and going +through all sorts of barbaric evolutions and gyrations, which were +continued till night, when the rejoicings were ended with the hideous +scalp dance. + +The disappearance of Major Elliott and his party was the only damper +upon our pleasure, and the only drawback to the very successful +expedition. There was no definite information as to the detachment, +--and Custer was able to report nothing more than that he had not +seen Elliott since just before the fight began. His theory was, +however, that Elliott and his men had strayed off on account of +having no guide, and would ultimately come in all right to Camp +Supply or make their way back to Fort Dodge; a very unsatisfactory +view of the matter, but as no one knew the direction Elliott had +taken, it was useless to speculate on other suppositions, and +altogether too late to make any search for him. I was now anxious to +follow up Custer's stroke by an immediate move to the south with the +entire column, but the Kansas regiment had not yet arrived. At first +its nonappearance did not worry me much, for I attributed the delay +to the bad weather, and supposed Colonel Crawford had wisely laid up +during the worst storms. Further, waiting, however, would give the +Indians a chance to recover from the recent dispiriting defeat, so I +sent out scouting parties to look Crawford up and hurry him along. +After a great deal of searching, a small detachment of the regiment +was found about fifty miles below us on the North Canadian, seeking +our camp. This detachment was in a pretty bad plight, and when +brought in, the officer in charge reported that the regiment, by not +following the advice of the guide sent to conduct it to Camp Supply, +had lost its way. Instead of relying on the guides, Crawford had +undertaken to strike through the canyons of the Cimarron by what +appeared to him a more direct route, and in the deep gorges, filled +as they were with snow, he had been floundering about for days +without being able to extricate his command. Then, too, the men were +out of rations, though they had been able to obtain enough buffalo +meat to keep from starving. As for the horses, since they could get +no grass, about seven hundred of them had already perished from +starvation and exposure. Provisions and guides were immediately sent +out to the regiment, but before the relief could reach Crawford his +remaining horses were pretty much all gone, though the men were +brought in without loss of life. Thus, the regiment being dismounted +by this misfortune at the threshold of the campaign, an important +factor of my cavalry was lost to me, though as foot-troops the Kansas +volunteers continued to render very valuable services till mustered +out the next spring. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A WINTER EXPEDITION--HERDS OF BUFFALO--WOLVES--BLIZZARDS--A TERRIBLE +NIGHT--FINDING THE BODIES OF ELLIOTT'S PARTY--THE ABANDONED INDIAN +CAMPS--PUSHING DOWN THE WASHITA--THE CAPTURED CHIEFS--EVANS'S +SUCCESSFUL FIGHT--ESTABLISHING FORT SILL--"CALIFORNIA JOE"--DUPLICITY +OF THE CHEYENNES--ORDERED TO REPAIR TO WASHINGTON. + +A few days were necessarily lost setting up and refitting the Kansas +regiment after its rude experience in the Cimarron canyons. This +through with, the expedition, supplied with thirty days' rations, +moved out to the south on the 7th of December, under my personal +command. We headed for the Witchita Mountains, toward which rough +region all the villages along the Washita River had fled after +Custer' s fight with Black Kettle. My line of march was by way of +Custer's battle-field, and thence down the Washita, and if the +Indians could not sooner be brought to terms, I intended to follow +them into the Witchita Mountains from near old Fort Cobb. The snow +was still deep everywhere, and when we started the thermometer was +below zero, but the sky being clear and the day very bright, the +command was in excellent spirits. The column was made up of ten +companies of the Kansas regiment, dismounted; eleven companies of the +Seventh Cavalry, Pepoon's scouts, and the Osage scouts. In addition +to Pepoon's men and the Osages, there was also "California Joe," and +one or two other frontiersmen besides, to act as guides and +interpreters. Of all these the principal one, the one who best knew +the country, was Ben Clark, a young man who had lived with the +Cheyennes during much of his boyhood, and who not only had a pretty +good knowledge of the country, but also spoke fluently the Cheyenne +and Arapahoe dialects, and was an adept in the sign language. + +The first day we made only about ten miles, which carried us to the +south bank of Wolf Creek. A considerable part of the day was devoted +to straightening out matters in the command, and allowing time for +equalizing the wagon loads, which as a general thing, on a first +day's march, are unfairly distributed. And then there was an +abundance of fire-wood at Wolf Creek; indeed, here and on Hackberry +Creek--where I intended to make my next camp--was the only timber +north of the Canadian River; and to select the halting places near a +plentiful supply of wood was almost indispensable, for as the men +were provided with only shelter-tents, good fires were needed in +order to keep warm. + +The second day, after marching for hours through vast herds of +buffalo, we made Hackberry Creek; but not, however, without several +stampedes in the wagon-train, the buffalo frightening the mules so +that it became necessary to throw out flankers to shoot the leading +bulls and thus turn off the herds. In the wake of every drove +invariably followed a band of wolves. This animal is a great coward +usually, but hunger had made these so ravenous that they would come +boldly up to the column, and as quick as a buffalo was killed, or +even disabled, they would fall upon the carcass and eagerly devour +it. Antelope also were very numerous, and as they were quite tame-- +being seldom chased--and naturally very inquisitive, it was not an +unfrequent thing to see one of the graceful little creatures run in +among the men and be made a prisoner. Such abundance of game +relieved the monotony of the march to Hackberry Creek, but still, +both men and animals were considerably exhausted by their long tramp, +for we made over thirty miles that day. + +We camped in excellent shape on the creek and it was well we did, for +a "Norther," or "blizzard," as storms on the Plains are now termed +struck us in the night. During the continuance of these blizzards, +which is usually about three days, the cold wind sweeps over the +Plains with great force, and, in the latitude of the Indian +Territory, is weighted with great quantities of sleet and snow, +through which it is often impossible to travel; indeed, these +"Northers" have many times proved fatal to the unprotected +frontiersman. With our numbers the chance of any one's being lost, +and perishing alone (one of the most common dangers in a blizzard), +was avoided; but under any circumstances such a storm could but +occasion intense suffering to all exposed to it, hence it would have +been well to remain in camp till the gale was over, but the time +could not be spared. We therefore resumed the march at an early hour +next morning, with the expectation of making the south bank of the +main Canathan and there passing the night, as Clark assured me that +timber was plentiful on that side of the river. The storm greatly +impeded us, however, many of the mules growing discouraged, and some +giving out entirely, so we could not get to Clark's "good camp," for +with ten hours of utmost effort only about half a day's distance +could be covered, when at last, finding the struggle useless, we were +forced to halt for the night in a bleak bottom on the north bank of +the river. But no one could sleep, for the wind swept over us with +unobstructed fury, and the only fuel to be had was a few green +bushes. As night fell a decided change of temperature added much to +our misery, the mercury, which had risen when the "Norther" began, +again falling to zero. It can be easily imagined that under such +circumstances the condition of the men was one of extreme discomfort; +in truth, they had to tramp up and down the camp all night long to +keep from freezing. Anything was a relief to this state of things, +so at the first streak of day we quit the dreadful place and took up +the march. + +A seemingly good point for crossing the Canadian was found a couple +of miles down the stream, where we hoped to get our train over on the +ice, but an experiment proving that it was not strong enough, a ford +had to be made, which was done by marching some of the cavalry +through the river, which was about half a mile wide, to break up the +large floes when they had been cut loose with axes. After much hard +work a passage-way was thus opened, and by noon the command was +crossed to the south bank, and after thawing out and drying our +clothes before big fires, we headed for a point on the Washita, where +Clark said there was plenty of wood, and good water too, to make us +comfortable till the blizzard had blown over. + +We reached the valley of the Washita a little before dark, and camped +some five or six miles above the scene of Custer's fight, where I +concluded to remain at least a day, to rest the command and give it a +chance to refit. In the mean time I visited the battle-field in +company with Custer and several other officers, to see if there was a +possibility of discovering any traces of Elliotts party. On arriving +at the site of the village, and learning from Custer what +dispositions had been made in approaching for the attack, the +squadron of the escort was deployed and pushed across the river at +the point where Elliott had crossed. Moving directly to the south, +we had not gone far before we struck his trail, and soon the whole +story was made plain by our finding, on an open level space about two +miles from the destroyed village, the dead and frozen bodies of the +entire party. The poor fellows were all lying within a circle not +more than fifteen or twenty paces in diameter, and the little piles +of empty cartridge shells near each body showed plainly that every +man had made a brave fight. None were scalped, but most of them were +otherwise horribly mutilated, which fiendish work is usually done by +the squaws. All had been stripped of their clothing, but their +comrades in the escort were able to identify the bodies, which being +done, we gave them decent burial. Their fate was one that has +overtaken many of our gallant army in their efforts to protect the +frontiersmen's homes and families from savages who give no quarter, +though they have often received it, and where the possibility of +defeat in action carries with it the certainty of death and often of +preceding torture. + +From the meadow where Elliott was found we rode to the Washita, and +then down the river through the sites of the abandoned villages, that +had been strung along almost continuously for about twelve miles in +the timber skirting the stream. On every hand appeared ample +evidence that the Indians had intended to spend the winter here, for +the ground was littered with jerked meat, bales of buffalo robes, +cooking utensils, and all sorts of plunder usually accumulated in a +permanent Indian camp. There were, also, lying dead near the +villages hundreds of ponies, that had been shot to keep them from +falling into our hands, the scant grazing and extreme cold having +made them too weak to be driven along in the flight. The wholesale +slaughter of these ponies was a most cheering indication that our +campaign would be ultimately successful, and we all prayed for at +least a couple of months more of cold weather and plenty of snow. + +At the Kiowa village we found the body of a white woman--a Mrs. +Blynn--and also that of her child. These captives had been taken by +the Kiowas near Fort Lyon the previous summer, and kept close +prisoners until the stampede began, the poor woman being reserved to +gratify the brutal lust of the chief, Satanta; then, however, Indian +vengeance demanded the murder of the poor creatures, and after +braining the little child against a tree, the mother was shot through +the forehead, the weapon, which no doubt brought her welcome release, +having been fired so close that the powder had horribly disfigured +her face. The two bodies were wrapped in blankets and taken to camp, +and afterward carried along in our march, till finally they were +decently interred at Fort Arbuckle.. + +At an early hour on December 12 the command pulled out from its cosy +camp and pushed down the valley of the Washita, following immediately +on the Indian trail which led in the direction of Fort Cobb, but +before going far it was found that the many deep ravines and canyons +on this trail would delay our train very much, so we moved out of the +valley and took the level prairie on the divide. Here the traveling +was good, and a rapid gait was kept up till mid-day, when, another +storm of sleet and snow coming on, it became extremely difficult for +the guides to make out the proper course; and fearing that we might +get lost or caught on the open plain without wood or water--as we had +been on the Canadian--I turned the command back to the valley, +resolved to try no more shortcuts involving the risk of a disaster to +the expedition. But to get back was no slight task, for a dense fog +just now enveloped us, obscuring all landmarks. However, we were +headed right when the fog set in, and we had the good luck to reach +the valley before night-fall, though there was a great deal of +floundering about, and also much disputing among the guides as to +where the river would be found Fortunately we struck the stream right +at a large grove of timber, and established ourselves, admirably. By +dark the ground was covered with twelve or fifteen inches of fresh +snow, and as usual the temperature rose very sensibly while the storm +was on, but after night-fall the snow ceased and the skies cleared +up. Daylight having brought zero weather again, our start on the +morning of the 17th was painful work, many of the men freezing their +fingers while handling the horse equipments, harness, and tents. +However, we got off in fairly good season, and kept to the trail +along the Washita notwithstanding the frequent digging and bridging +necessary to get the wagons over ravines. + +Continuing on this line for three days, we at length came to a point +on the Washita where all signs indicated that we were nearing some of +the villages. Wishing to strike them as soon as possible, we made a +very early start next morning, the 17th. A march of four or five +miles brought us to a difficult ravine, and while we were making +preparations to get over, word was brought that several Indians had +appeared in our front bearing a white flag and making signs that they +had a communication to deliver. We signaled back that they would be +received, when one of the party came forward alone and delivered a +letter, which proved to be from General Hazen, at Fort Cobb. The +letter showed that Hazen was carrying on negotiations with the +Indians, and stated that all the tribes between Fort Cobb and my +column were friendly, but the intimation was given that the +Cheyennes and Arapahoes were still hostile, having moved off +southward toward, the Red River. It was added that Satanta and Lone +Wolf--the chiefs of the Kiowas--would give information of the +whereabouts of the hostiles; and such a communication coming direct +from the representative of the Indian Department, practically took +the Kiowas--the village at hand was of that tribe--under its +protection, and also the Comanches, who were nearer in to Cobb. Of +course, under such circumstances I was compelled to give up the +intended attack, though I afterward regretted that I had paid any +heed to the message, because Satanta and Lone Wolf proved, by +trickery and double dealing, that they had deceived Hazen into +writing the letter. + +When I informed the Klowas that I would respect Hazen's letter +provided they all came into Fort Cobb and gave themselves up, the two +chiefs promised submission, and, as an evidence of good faith, +proposed to accompany the column to Fort Cobb with a large body of +warriors, while their villages moved to the same point by easy +stages, along the opposite bank of the river--claiming this to be +necessary from the poor condition of the ponies. I had some +misgivings as to the sincerity of Satanta and Lone Wolf, but as I +wanted to get the Kiowas where their surrender would be complete, so +that the Cheyennes and Arapahoes could then be pursued, I agreed to +the proposition, and the column moved on. All went well that day, +but the next it was noticed that the warriors were diminishing, and +an investigation showed that a number of them had gone off on various +pretexts--the main one being to help along the women and children +with the villages. With this I suspected that they were playing me +false, and my suspicions grew into certainty when Satanta himself +tried to make his escape by slipping beyond the flank of the column +and putting spurs to his pony. Fortunately, several officers saw +him, and quickly giving chase, overhauled him within a few hundred +yards. I then arrested both him and Lone Wolf and held them as +hostages--a measure that had the effect of bringing back many of the +warriors already beyond our reach. + +When we arrived at Fort Cobb we found some of the Comanches already +there, and soon after the rest. of them, excepting one band, came in +to the post. The Kiowas, however, were not on hand, and there were +no signs to indicate their coming. At the end of two days it was +plain enough that they were acting in bad faith, and would continue +to unless strong pressure was brought to bear. Indeed, they had +already started for the Witchita Mountains, so I put on the screws at +once by issuing an order to hang Satanta and Lone Wolf, if their +people did not surrender at Fort Cobb within forty-eight hours. The +two chiefs promised prompt compliance, but begged for more time, +seeking to explain the non-arrival of the women and children through +the weak condition of the ponies; but I was tired of their duplicity, +and insisted on my ultimatum. + +The order for the execution brought quick fruit. Runners were sent +out with messages, by the two prisoners, appealing to their people to +save the lives of their chiefs, and the result was that the whole +tribe came in to the post within the specified time. The two +manacled wretches thus saved their necks; but it is to be regretted +that the execution did not come off; for some years afterward their +devilish propensities led them into Texas, where both engaged in the +most horrible butcheries. + +The Kiowas were now in our hands, and all the Comanches too, except +one small band, which, after the Custer fight, had fled toward the +headwaters of the Red River. This party was made up of a lot of very +bad Indians--outlaws from the main tribe--and we did not hope to +subdue them except by a fight, and of this they got their fill; for +Evans, moving from Monument Creek toward the western base of the +Witchita Mountains on Christmas Day, had the good fortune to strike +their village. In the snow and cold his approach was wholly +unexpected, and he was thus enabled to deal the band a blow that +practically annihilated it. Twenty-five warriors were killed +outright, most of the women and children captured, and all the +property was destroyed. Only a few of the party escaped, and some of +these made their way in to Fort Cobb, to join the rest of their tribe +in confinement; while others, later in the season, surrendered at +Fort Bascom. + +This sudden appearance of Evans in the Red River region also alarmed +the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and their thoughts now began to turn to +submission. Food was growing scarce with them, too, as there was but +little game to be found either in the Witchita Mountains or on the +edge of the Staked Plains, and the march of Carr's column from +Antelope Hills precluded their returning to where the buffalo ranged. +Then, too, many of their ponies were dead or dying, most of their +tepees and robes had been abandoned, and the women and children, +having been kept constantly on the move in the winter's storms, were +complaining bitterly of their sufferings. + +In view of this state of things they intimated, through their +Comanche-Apache friends at Fort Cobb, that they would like to make +terms. On receiving their messages I entered into negotiations with +Little Robe, chief of the Cheyennes, and Yellow Bear, chief of the +Arapahoes, and despatched envoys to have both tribes understand +clearly that they must recognize their subjugation by surrendering at +once, and permanently settling on their reservations in the spring. +Of course the usual delays of Indian diplomacy ensued, and it was +some weeks before I heard the result. + +Then one of my messengers returned with word that Little Robe and +Yellow Bear were on their way to see me. They arrived a few days +later, and, promptly acceding to the terms, promised to bring their +people in, but as many of them would have to come on foot on account +of the condition of the ponies, more time was solicited. Convinced +of the sincerity of their professions I gave them a reasonable +extension, and eventually Yellow Bear made good his word, but Little +Robe, in spite of earnest and repeated efforts, was unable to deliver +his people till further operations were begun against them. + +While these negotiations were in progess I came to the conclusion +that a permanent military post ought to be established well down on +the Kiowa and Comanche reservation, in order to keep an eye on these +tribes in the future, Fort Cobb, being an unsuitable location, +because too far to the north to protect the Texas frontier, and too +far away from where it was intended to permanently place the Indians. +With this purpose in view I had the country thoroughly explored, and +afterward a place was fixed upon not far from the base of the +Witchita Mountains, and near the confluence of Medicine Bluff and +Cash creeks, where building stone and timber could be obtained in +plenty, and to this point I decided to move. The place was named +Camp Sill-now Fort Sill--in honor of my classmate, General Sill, +killed at Stone River; and to make sure of the surrendered Indians, I +required them all, Kiowas, Comanches, and Comanche-Apaches, to +accompany us to the new post, so they could be kept under military +control till they were settled. + +During the march to the new camp the weather was not so cold as that +experienced in coming down from Camp Supply; still, rains were +frequent, and each was invariably followed by a depression of +temperature and high winds, very destructive to our animals, much +weakened by lack of food. The men fared pretty well, however, for on +the rough march along the Washita, and during our stay at Fort Cobb, +they had learned to protect themselves materially from the cold. For +this they had contrived many devices, the favorite means being +dugouts--that is, pits dug in the ground, and roofed over, with +shelter-tents, and having at one end a fire-place and chimney +ingeniously constructed with sod. In these they lived very snugly-- +four men in each--and would often amuse themselves by poking their +heads out and barking at the occupants of adjacent huts in imitation +of the prairie-dog, whose comfortable nests had probably suggested +the idea of dugouts. The men were much better off, in fact, than +many of the officers, for the high winds frequently made havoc with +our wall-tents. The horses and mules suffered most of all. They +could not be sheltered, and having neither grain nor grass, the poor +beasts were in no condition to stand the chilling blasts. Still, by +cutting down cottonwood-trees, and letting the animals browse on the +small soft branches, we managed to keep them up till, finally even +this wretched food beginning to grow scarce, I had all except a few +of the strongest sent to Fort Arbuckle, near which place we had been +able, fortunately, to purchase some fields of corn from the half- +civilized Chickasaws and Choctaws. + +Through mismanagement, as previously noted, the greater part of the +supplies which I had ordered hauled to Arbuckle the preceding fall +had not got farther on the way than Fort Gibson, which post was about +four hundred miles off, and the road abominable, particularly east of +Arbuckle, where it ran through a low region called "boggy bottom." +All along this route were abandoned wagons, left sticking in the mud, +and hence the transportation was growing so short that I began to +fear trouble in getting subsistence up for the men. Still, it would +not do to withdraw, so I made a trip to Arbuckle chiefly for the +purpose of reorganizing the transportation, but also with a view to +opening a new route to that post, the road to lie on high ground, so +as to avoid the creeks and mud that had been giving us so much +trouble. If such a road could be made, I hoped to get up enough +rations and grain from the cornfields purchased to send out a +formidable expedition against the Cheyennes, so I set out for +Arbuckle accompanied by my quartermaster, Colonel A. J. McGonigle. +"California Joe" also went along to guide us through the scrub-oaks +covering the ridge, but even the most thorough exploration failed to +discover any route more practicable than that already in use; indeed, +the high ground was, if anything, worse than the bottom land, our +horses in the springy places and quicksands often miring to their +knees. The ground was so soft and wet, in fact, that we had to make +most of the way on foot, so by the time we reached Arbuckle I was +glad to abandon the new road project. + +Finding near Arbuckle more fields of corn than those already +purchased, I had them bought also, and ordered more of the horses +back there to be fed. I next directed every available mule to be put +to hauling rations, having discovered that the full capacity of the +transportation had not yet been brought into play in forwarding +stores from Gibson, and with this regulation of the supply question I +was ready to return immediately to Camp Sill. But my departure was +delayed by California Joe, who, notwithstanding the prohibitory laws +of the Territory, in some unaccountable way had got gloriously tipsy, +which caused a loss of time that disgusted me greatly; but as we +could not well do without Joe, I put off starting till the next day, +by which time it was thought he would sober up. But I might just as +well have gone at first, for at the end of the twenty-four hours the +incorrigible old rascal was still dead drunk. How he had managed to +get the grog to keep up his spree was a mystery which we could not +solve, though we had had him closely watched, so I cut the matter +short by packing him into my ambulance and carrying him off to Camp +Sill. + +By the time I got back to Sill, the Arapahoes were all in at the +post, or near at hand. The promised surrender of the Cheyennes was +still uncertain of fulfillment, however, and although Little Robe and +his family had remained with us in evidence of good faith, the +messages he sent to his followers brought no assurance of the tribe's +coming in--the runners invariably returning with requests for more +time, and bringing the same old excuse of inability to move because +the ponies were so badly off. But more time was just what I was +determined not to grant, for I felt sure that if a surrender was not +forced before the spring grass came, the ponies would regain their +strength, and then it would be doubtful if the Cheyennes came in at +all. + +To put an end to these delays, Custer proposed to go out and see the +Cheyennes himself, taking with him for escort only such number of men +as could be fairly well mounted from the few horses not sent back to +Arbuckle. At first I was inclined to disapprove Custer's +proposition, but he urged it so strongly that I finally consented, +though with some misgivings, for I feared that so small a party might +tempt the Cheyennes to forget their pacific professions and seek to +avenge the destruction of Black Kettle's band. However, after +obtaining my approval, Custer, with characteristic energy, made his +preparations, and started with three or four officers and forty +picked men, taking along as negotiators Yellow Bear and Little Robe, +who were also to conduct him to the head-waters of the Red River, +where it was supposed the Cheyennes would be found. His progress was +reported by couriers every few days, and by the time he got to the +Witchita foot-hills he had grown so sanguine that he sent California +Joe back to me with word that he was certain of success. Such +hopeful anticipation relieved me greatly, of course, but just about +the time I expected to hear that his mission had been achieved I was +astonished by the party's return. Inquiring as to the trouble, I +learned that out toward the Staked Plains every sign of the Cheyennes +had disappeared. Surprised and disappointed at this, and discouraged +by the loneliness of his situation--for in the whole region not a +trace of animal life was visible, Custer gave up the search, and none +too soon, I am inclined to believe, to save his small party from +perishing. + +This failure put a stop to all expeditions till the latter part of +February, by which time I had managed to lay in enough rations to +feed the command for about thirty days; and the horses back at +Arbuckle having picked up sufficiently for field service they were +ordered to Sill, and this time I decided to send Custer out with his +own and the Kansas regiment, with directions to insist on the +immediate surrender of the Cheyennes, or give them a sound thrashing. +He was ordered to get everything ready by March 1, and then move to +the mouth of Salt Creek, on the North Fork of the Red River, at which +place I proposed to establish a new depot for feeding the command. +Trains could reach this point from Camp Supply more readily than from +Arbuckle, and wishing to arrange this part of the programme in +person, I decided to return at once to Supply, and afterward rejoin +Custer at Salt Creek, on what, I felt sure, was to be the final +expedition of the campaign. I made the three hundred and sixty miles +from Sill to Supply in seven days, but much to my surprise there +found a despatch from General Grant directing me to repair +immediately to Washington. These orders precluded, of course, my +rejoining the command; but at the appointed time it set out on the +march, and within three weeks brought the campaign to a successful +close. + +In this last expedition, for the first few days Custer's route was by +the same trail he had taken in January--that is to say, along the +southern base of the Witchita Mountains--but this time there was more +to encourage him than before, for, on getting a couple of marches +beyond old Camp Radziminski, on all sides were fresh evidences of +Indians, and every effort was bent to strike them. + +From day to day the signs grew hotter, and toward the latter part of +March the game was found. The Indians being in a very forlorn +condition, Custer might have destroyed most of the tribe, and +certainly all their villages, but in order to save two white women +whom, it was discovered, they held as captives, he contented himself +with the renewal of the Cheyennes' agreement to come in to Camp +Supply. In due time the entire tribe fulfilled its promise except +one small band under "Tall Bull," but this party received a good +drubbing from General Carr on the Republican early in May. After +this fight all the Indians of the southern Plains settled down on +their reservations, and I doubt whether the peace would ever again +have been broken had they not in after years been driven to +hostilities by most unjust treatment. + +It was the 2d of March that I received at Camp Supply Grant's +despatch directing me to report immediately in Washington. It had +been my intention, as I have said, to join Custer on the North Fork +of the Red River, but this new order required me to recast my plans, +so, after arranging to keep the expedition supplied till the end of +the campaign, I started for Washington, accompanied by three of my +staff--Colonels McGonigle and Crosby, and Surgeon Asch, and Mr. Deb. +Randolph Keim, a representative of the press, who went through the +whole campaign, and in 1870 published a graphic history of it. The +day we left Supply we, had another dose of sleet and snow, but +nevertheless we made good time, and by night-fall reached Bluff +Creek. In twenty-four hours more we made Fort Dodge, and on the 6th +of March arrived at Fort Hays. Just south of the Smoky Hill River, a +little before we got to the post, a courier heading for Fort Dodge +passed us at a rapid gait. Suspecting that he had despatches for me, +I directed my outrider to overtake him and find out. The courier +soon turned back, and riding up to my ambulance handed me a telegram +notifying me that General Grant, on the day of his inauguration, +March 4, 1869, had appointed me Lieutenant-General of the Army. When +I reported in Washington, the President desired me to return to New +Orleans and resume command of the Fifth Military District, but this +was not at all to my liking, so I begged off, and was assigned to +take charge of the Division of the Missouri, succeeding General +Sherman, who had just been ordered to assume command of the Army. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +INSPECTING MILITARY POSTS IN UTAH AND MONTANA--DESIRE TO WITNESS THE +FRANCO-GERMAN WAR--ON A SAND-BAR IN THE MISSOURI--A BEAR HUNT--AN +INDIAN SCARE--MYRIADS OF MOSQUITOES--PERMISSION GIVEN TO VISIT +EUROPE--CALLING ON PRESIDENT GRANT--SAILING FOR LIVERPOOL--ARRIVAL IN +BERLIN. + +After I had for a year been commanding the Division of the Missouri, +which embraced the entire Rocky Mountain region, I found it necessary +to make an inspection of the military posts in northern Utah and +Montana, in order by personal observation to inform myself of their +location and needs, and at the same time become acquainted with the +salient geographical and topographical features of that section of my +division. Therefore in May, 1870, I started west by the Union- +Pacific railroad, and on arriving at Corinne' Station, the next +beyond Ogden, took passage by stage-coach for Helena, the capital of +Montana Territory. Helena is nearly five hundred miles north of +Corinne, and under ordinary conditions the journey was, in those +days, a most tiresome one. As the stage kept jogging on day and +night, there was little chance for sleep, and there being with me a +sufficient number of staff-officers to justify the proceeding, we +chartered the "outfit," stipulating that we were to stop over one +night on the road to get some rest. This rendered the journey more +tolerable, and we arrived at Helena without extraordinary fatigue. + +Before I left Chicago the newspapers were filled with rumors of +impending war between Germany and France. I was anxious to observe +the conflict, if it was to occur, but reports made one day concerning +the beginning of hostilities would be contradicted the next, and it +was not till I reached Helena that the despatches lost their doubtful +character, and later became of so positive a nature as to make it +certain that the two nations would fight. I therefore decided to cut +short my tour of inspection, so that I could go abroad to witness the +war, if the President would approve. This resolution limited my stay +in Helena to a couple of days, which were devoted to arranging for an +exploration of what are now known as the Upper and the Lower Geyser +Basins of the Yellowstone Park. While journeying between Corinne and +Helena I had gained some vague knowledge of these geysers from an old +mountaineer named Atkinson, but his information was very indefinite, +mostly second-hand; and there was such general uncertainty as to the +character of this wonderland that I authorized an escort of soldiers +to go that season from Fort Ellis with a small party, to make such +superficial explorations as to justify my sending an engineer officer +with a well-equipped expedition there next summer to scientifically +examine and report upon the strange country. When the arrangements +for this preliminary expedition were completed I started for Fort +Benton, the head of navigation on the Missouri River, on the way +passing through Fort Shaw, on Sun River. I expected to take at +Benton a steamboat to Fort Stevenson, a military post which had been +established about eighty miles south of Fort Buford, near a +settlement of friendly Mandan and Arickaree Indians, to protect them +from the hostile Sioux. From there I was to make my way overland, +first to Fort Totten near Devil's lake in Dakota, and thence by way +of Fort Abercrombie to Saint Cloud, Minnesota, the terminus of the +rallroad. + +Luckily I met with no delay in getting a boat at Benton, and though +the water was extremely low, we steamed down the channel of the +Missouri with but slight detention till we got within fifty miles of +Fort Buford. Here we struck on a sandbar with such force of steam +and current as to land us almost out of the water from stem to +midships. This bad luck was tantalizing, for to land on a bar when +your boat is under full headway down-stream in the Missouri River is +no trifling matter, especially if you want to make time, for the +rapid and turbid stream quickly depositing sand under the hull, makes +it commonly a task of several days to get your boat off again. As +from our mishap the loss of much time was inevitable, I sent a +messenger to Fort Buford for a small escort, and for horses to take +my party in to the post. Colonel Morrow, the commandant, came +himself to meet us, bringing a strong party of soldiers and some +friendly Indian scouts, because, he said, there were then in the +region around Buford so many treacherous band of Sioux as to make +things exceedingly unsafe. + +Desiring to reach the post without spending more than one night on +the way, we abandoned our steamer that evening, and set off at an +early hour the next morning. We made camp at the end of the day's +march within ten miles of Buford, and arrived at the post without +having had any incident of moment, unless we may dignify as one a +battle with three grizzly bears, discovered by our friendly Indians +the morning of our second day's journey. While eating our breakfast- +-a rather slim one, by the way--spread on a piece of canvas, the +Indians, whose bivouac was some distance off, began shouting +excitedly, "Bear! bear!" and started us all up in time to see, out on +the plain some hundreds of yards away, an enormous grizzly and two +almost full-grown cubs. Chances like this for a bear hunt seldom +offered, so there was hurried mounting--the horses being already +saddled--and a quick advance made on the game from many directions, +Lieutenant Townsend, of the escort, and five or six of the Indians +going with me. Alarmed by the commotion, bruin and her cubs turned +about, and with an awkward yet rapid gait headed for a deep ravine, +in which there was brushwood shelter. + +My party rode directly across the prairie and struck the trail not +far behind the game. Then for a mile or more the chase was kept up, +but with such poor shooting because of the "buck fever" which had +seized most of us, that we failed to bring down any of the grizzlies, +though the cubs grew so tired that the mother was often obliged to +halt for their defense, meanwhile urging them on before her. When +the ravine was gained she hid the cubs away in the thick brushwood, +and then coming out where we could plainly see her, stood on the +defense just within the edge of the thicket, beyond the range of our +rifles though, unless we went down into the canyon, which we would +have to do on foot, since the precipitous wall precluded going on +horseback. For an adventure like this I confess I had little +inclination, and on holding a council of war, I found that the +Indians had still less, but Lieutenant Townsend, who was a fine shot, +and had refrained from firing hitherto in the hope that I might bag +the game, relieved the embarrassing situation and saved the credit of +the party by going down alone to attack the enemy. Meanwhile I +magnanimously held his horse, and the Sioux braves did a deal of +shouting, which they seemed to think of great assistance. + +Townsend, having descended to the bottom of the ravine, approached +within range, when the old bear struck out, dashing into and out of +the bushes so rapidly, however, that he could not get fair aim at +her, but the startled cubs running into full view, he killed one at +the first shot and at the second wounded the other. This terribly +enraged the mother, and she now came boldly out to fight, exposing +herself in the open ground so much as to permit a shot, that brought +her down too, with a broken shoulder. Then the Indians and I, +growing very brave, scrambled down to--take part in the fight. It +was left for me to despatch the wounded cub and mother, and having +recovered possession of my nerves, I did the work effectively, and we +carried off with us the skins of the three animals as trophies of the +hunt and evidence of our prowess. + +As good luck would have it, when we reached Buford we found a +steamboat there unloading stores, and learned that it would be ready +to start down the river the next day. Embarking on her, we got to +Stevenson in a few hours, and finding at the post camp equipage that +had been made ready for our use in crossing overland to Fort Totten, +we set out the following forenoon, taking with us a small escort of +infantry, transported in two light wagons, a couple of Mandans and +the post interpreter going along as mounted guides. + +To reach water we had to march the first day to a small lake forty +miles off, and the oppressive heat, together with the long distance +traveled, used up one of the teams so much that, when about to start +out the second morning, we found the animals unable to go on with any +prospect of finishing the trip, so I ordered them to be rested forty- +eight hours longer, and then taken back to Stevenson. This +diminished the escort by one-half, yet by keeping the Indians and +interpreter on the lookout, and seeing that our ambulance was kept +closed up on the wagon carrying the rest of the detachment, we could, +I thought, stand off any ordinary party of hostile Indians. + +About noon I observed that the scouts in advance had left the trail +and begun to reconnoitre a low ridge to their right, the sequel of +which was that in a few minutes they returned to the wagons on a dead +run and reported Sioux just ahead. Looking in the direction +indicated, I could dimly see five or six horsemen riding in a circle, +as Indians do when giving warning to their camp, but as our halt +disclosed that we were aware of their proximity, they darted back +again behind the crest of the ridge. Anticipating from this move an +immediate attack, we hastily prepared for it by unhooking the mules +from the wagon and ambulance, so that we could use the vehicles as a +barricade. This done, I told the interpreter to take the Mandan +scouts and go over toward the ridge and reconnoitre again. As the +scouts neared the crest two of them dismounted, and, crawling slowly +on their bellies to the summit, took a hasty look and returned at +once to their horses, coming back with word that in the valley beyond +was a camp of at least a hundred Sioux lodges, and that the Indians +were hurriedly getting ready to attack us. The news was anything but +cheering, for with a village of that size the warriors would number +two or three hundred, and could assail us from every side. + +Still, nothing could be done, but stand and take what was to come, +for there was no chance of escape--it being supreme folly to +undertake in wagons a race with Indians to Fort Stevenson, sixty +miles away. To make the best of the situation, we unloaded the +baggage, distributing and adjusting the trunks, rolls of bedding, +crackerboxes, and everything else that would stop a bullet, in such +manner as to form a square barricade, two sides of which were the +wagons, with the mules haltered to the wheels. Every man then +supplied himself with all the ammunition he could carry, and the +Mandan scouts setting up the depressing wail of the Indian death- +song, we all awaited the attack with the courage of despair. + +But no attack came; and time slipping by, and we still unmolested, +the interpreter and scouts were sent out to make another +reconnoissance. Going through just such precautions as before in +approaching the ridge, their slow progress kept us in painful +suspense; but when they got to the crest the strain on our herves was +relieved by seeing them first stand up boldly at full height, and +then descend beyond. Quickly returning, they brought welcome word +that the whole thing was a mistake, and no Sioux were there at all. +What had been taken for a hundred Indian lodges turned out to be the +camp of a Government train on its way to Fort Stevenson, and the +officer in charge seeing the scouts before they discovered him, and +believing them to be Sioux, had sent out to bring his herds in. It +would be hard to exaggerate the relief that this discovery gave us, +and we all breathed much easier. The scare was a bad one, and I have +no hesitation in saying that, had we been mounted, it is more than +likely that, instead of showing fight, we would have taken up a +lively pace for Fort Stevenson. + +After reciprocal explanations with the officer in charge of the +train, the march was resumed, and at the close of that day we camped +near a small lake about twenty miles from Fort Totten. From Totten +we journeyed on to Fort Abercrombie. The country between the two +posts is low and flat, and I verily believe was then the favorite +abiding-place of the mosquito, no matter where he most loves to dwell +now; for myriads of the pests rose up out of the tall rank grass-- +more than I ever saw before or since--and viciously attacked both men +and animals. We ourselves were somewhat protected by gloves and +head-nets, provided us before leaving Totten, but notwithstanding +these our sufferings were well-nigh intolerable; the annoyance that +the poor mules experienced must, therefore, have been extreme; +indeed, they were so terribly stung that the blood fairly trickled +down their sides. Unluckily, we had to camp for one night in this +region; but we partly evaded the ravenous things by banking up our +tent walls with earth, and then, before turning in, sweeping and +smoking out such as had got inside. Yet with all this there seemed +hundreds left to sing and sting throughout the night. The mules +being without protection, we tried hard to save them from the vicious +insects by creating a dense smoke from a circle of smothered fires, +within which chain the grateful brutes gladly stood; but this relief +was only partial, so the moment there was light enough to enable us +to hook up we pulled out for Abercrombie in hot haste. + +From Abercrombie we drove on to Saint Cloud, the terminus of the +railroad, where, considerably the worse for our hurried trip and +truly wretched experience with the mosquitoes, we boarded the welcome +cars. Two days later we arrived in Chicago, and having meanwhile +received word from General Sherman that there would be no objection +to my going to Europe, I began making arrangements to leave, securing +passage by the steamship Scotia. + +President Grant invited me to come to see him at Long Branch before I +should sail, and during my brief visit there he asked which army I +wished to accompany, the German or the French. I told him the +German, for the reason that I thought more could be seen with the +successful side, and that the indications pointed to the defeat of +the French. My choice evidently pleased him greatly, as he had the +utmost contempt for Louis Napoleon, and had always denounced him as a +usurper and a charlatan. Before we separated, the President gave me +the following letter to the representatives of our Government abroad, +and with it I not only had no trouble in obtaining permission to go +with the Germans, but was specially favored by being invited to +accompany the headquarters of the King of Prussia: + +"LONG BRANCH, N. J., July 25, 1870. + +"Lieutenant-General P. H. Sheridan, of the United State Army, is +authorized to visit Europe, to return at his own pleasure, unless +otherwise ordered. He is commended to the good offices of all +representatives of this Government whom he may meet abroad. + +"To citizens and representatives of other Governments I introduce +General Sheridan as one of the most skillful, brave and deserving +soldiers developed by the great struggle through which the United +States Government has just passed. Attention paid him will be duly +appreciated by the country he has served so faithfully and +efficiently. + +"U. S. GRANT." + + +Word of my intended trip was cabled to Europe in the ordinary press +despatches, and our Minister to France, Mr. Elihu B. Washburn, being +an intimate friend of mine, and thinking that I might wish to attach +myself to the French army, did me the favor to take preliminary steps +for securing the necessary authority. He went so far as to broach +the subject to the French Minister of War, but in view of the +informality of the request, and an unmistakable unwillingness to +grant it being manifested, Mr. Washburn pursued the matter no +further. I did not learn of this kindly interest in my behalf till +after the capitulation of Paris, when Mr. Washburn told me what he +had done of his own motion. Of course I thanked him gratefully, but +even had he succeeded in getting the permission he sought I should +not have accompanied the French army. + +I sailed from New York July 27, one of my aides-de-camp, General +James W. Forsyth, going with me. We reached Liverpool August 6, and +the next day visited the American Legation in London, where we saw +all the officials except our Minister, Mr. Motley, who, being absent, +was represented by Mr. Moran, the Secretary of the Legation. We left +London August 9 for Brussels, where we were kindly cared for by the +American Minister, Mr. Russell Jones who the same evening saw us off +for Germany. Because of the war we secured transportation only as +far as Vera, and here we received information that the Prussian +Minister of War had telegraphed to the Military Inspector of +Railroads to take charge of us on our arrival a Cologne, and send us +down to the headquarter of the Prussian army, but the Inspector, for +some unexplained reason, instead of doing this, sent us on to Berlin. +Here our Minister, Mr. George Bancroft, met us with a telegram from +the German Chancellor, Count Bismarck, saying we were expected to +come direct to the King's headquarters and we learned also that a +despatch had been sent to the Prussian Minister at Brussels directing +him to forward us from Cologne to the army, instead of allowing us to +go on to Berlin, but that we had reached and quit Brussels without +the Minister's knowledge. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +LEAVING FOR THE SEAT OF WAR--MEETING WITH PRINCE BISMARCK--HIS +INTEREST IN PUBLIC OPINION IN AMERICA--HIS INCLINATIONS IN EARLY +LIFE--PRESENTED TO THE KING--THE BATTLE OF GRAVELOTTE--THE GERMAN +PLAN--ITS FINAL SUCCESS--SENDING NEWS OF THE VICTORY--MISTAKEN FOR A +FRENCHMAN. + +Shortly after we arrived in Berlin the Queen sent a messenger +offering us an opportunity to pay our respects, and fixed an hour for +the visit, which was to take place the next day; but as the tenor of +the despatch Mr. Bancroft had received from Count Bismarck indicated +that some important event which it was desired I should witness was +about to happen at the theatre of war, our Minister got us excused +from our visit of ceremony, and we started for the headquarters of +the German army that evening--our stay in the Prussian capital having +been somewhat less than a day. + +Our train was a very long one, of over eighty cars, and though drawn +by three locomotives, its progress to Cologne was very slow and the +journey most tedious. From Cologne we continued on by rail up the +valley of the Rhine to Bingebruck, near Bingen, and thence across +through Saarbrucken to Remilly, where we left the railway and rode in +a hay-wagon to Pont-a-Mousson, arriving there August 17, late in the +afternoon. This little city had been ceded to France at the Peace of +Westphalia, and although originally German, the people had become, in +the lapse of so many years, intensely French in sentiment. The town +was so full of officers and men belonging to the German army that it +was difficult to get lodgings, but after some delay we found quite +comfortable quarters at one of the small hotels, and presently, after +we had succeeded in getting a slender meal, I sent my card to Count +von Bismarck, the Chancellor of the North German Confederation, who +soon responded by appointing an hour--about 9 o'clock the same +evening--for an interview. + +When the Count received me he was clothed in the undress uniform of +the Cuirassier regiment, of which he was the colonel. During the +interview which ensued, he exhibited at times deep anxiety regarding +the conflict now imminent, for it was the night before the battle of +Gravelotte, but his conversation was mostly devoted to the state of +public sentiment in America, about which he seemed much concerned, +inquiring repeatedly as to which side--France or Prussia--was charged +with bringing on the war. Expressing a desire to witness the battle +which was expected to occur the next day, and remarking that I had +not had sufficient time to provide the necessary transportation, he +told me to be ready at 4 o'clock in the morning, and he would take me +out in his own carriage and present me to the King--adding that he +would ask one of his own staff-officers, who he knew had one or two +extra horses, to lend me one. As I did not know just what my status +would be, and having explained to the President before leaving +America that I wished to accompany the German army unofficially, I +hardly knew whether to appear in uniform or not, so I spoke of this +matter too, and the Count, after some reflection, thought it best for +me to wear my undress uniform, minus the sword, however, because I +was a non combatant. + +At 4 o'clock the next morning, the 18th, I repaired to the +Chancellor's quarters. The carriage was at the door, also the +saddle-horse, but as no spare mount could be procured for General +Forsyth, he had to seek other means to reach the battle-field. The +carriage was an open one with two double seats, and in front a single +one for a messenger; it had also a hand-brake attached. + + +Count Bismarck and I occupied the rear seat, and Count Bismarck- +Bohlen--the nephew and aide-decamp to the Chancellor--and Doctor +Busch were seated facing us. The conveyance was strong, serviceable, +and comfortable, but not specially prepossessing, and hitched to it +were four stout horses--logy, ungainly animals, whose clumsy harness +indicated that the whole equipment was meant for heavy work. Two +postilions in uniform, in high military saddles on the nigh horse of +each span, completed the establishment. + +All being ready, we took one of the roads from Pont-a-Mousson to +Rezonville, which is on the direct road from Metz to Chalons, and +near the central point of the field where, on the 16th of August, the +battle of Mars-la-Tour had been fought. It was by this road that the +Pomeranians, numbering about 30,000 men, had been ordered to march to +Gravelotte, and after proceeding a short distance we overtook the +column. As this contingent came from Count Bismarck's own section of +Germany, there greeted us as we passed along, first in the dim light +of the morning, and later in the glow of the rising sun, continuous +and most enthusiastic cheering for the German Chancellor. + +On the way Count Bismarck again recurred to the state of public +opinion in America with reference to the war. He also talked much +about our form of government, and said that in early life his +tendencies were all toward republicanism, but that family influence +had overcome his preferences, and intimated that, after adopting a +political career, he found that Germany was not sufficiently advanced +for republicanism. He said, further, that he had been reluctant to +enter upon this public career, that he had always longed to be a +soldier, but that here again family opposition had turned him from +the field of his choice into the sphere of diplomacy. + +Not far from Mars-la-Tour we alighted, and in a little while an aide- +de-camp was introduced, who informed me that he was there to conduct +and present me to his Majesty, the King of Prussia. As we were +walking along together, I inquired whether at the meeting I should +remove my cap, and he said no; that in an out-of-door presentation it +was not etiquette to uncover if in uniform. We were soon in presence +of the King, where--under the shade of a clump of second-growth +poplar-trees, with which nearly all the farms in the north of France +are here and there dotted--the presentation was made in the simplest +and most agreeable manner. + +His Majesty, taking my hand in both of his, gave me a thorough +welcome, expressing, like Count Bismarck, though through an +interpreter, much interest as to the sentiment in my own country +about the war. At this time William the First of Prussia was +seventy-three years of age, and, dressed in the uniform of the +Guards, he seemed to be the very ideal soldier, and graced with most +gentle and courteous manners. The conversation, which was brief, as +neither of us spoke the other's native tongue, concluded by his +Majesty's requesting me in the most cordial way to accompany his +headquarters during the campaign. Thanking him for his kindness, I +rejoined Count Bismarck's party, and our horses having arrived +meantime, we mounted and moved off to the position selected for the +King to witness the opening of the battle. + +This place was on some high ground overlooking the villages of +Rezonville and Gravelotte, about the centre of the battlefield of +Mars-la-Tour, and from it most of the country to the east toward Metz +could also be seen. The point chosen was an excellent one for the +purpose, though in one respect disagreeable, since the dead bodies of +many of the poor fellows killed there two days before were yet +unburied. In a little while the King's escort began to remove these +dead, however, bearing them away on stretchers improvised with their +rifles, and the spot thus cleared was much more acceptable. Then, +when such unexploded shells as were lying around loose had been +cautiously carried away, the King, his brother, Prince Frederick +Charles Alexander, the chief-of-staff, General von Moltke, the +Minister of War, General von Roon, and Count von Bismarck assembled +on the highest point, and I being asked to join the group, was there +presented to General von Moltke. He spoke our language fluently, and +Bismarck having left the party for a time to go to a neighboring +house to see his son, who had been wounded at Mars-la-Tour, and about +whom he was naturally very anxious, General von Moltke entertained me +by explaining the positions of the different corps, the nature and +object of their movements then taking place, and so on. + +Before us, and covering Metz, lay the French army, posted on the +crest of a ridge extending north, and about its centre curving +slightly westward toward the German forces. The left of the French +position was but a short distance from the Moselle, and this part of +the line was separated from the Germans by a ravine, the slopes, +fairly well wooded, rising quite sharply; farther north, near the +centre, this depression disappeared, merged in the general swell of +the ground, and thence on toward the right the ground over which an +approach to the French line must be made was essentially a natural +open glacis, that could be thoroughly swept by the fire of the +defenders. + +The line extended some seven or eight miles. To attack this +position, formidable everywhere, except perhaps on the right flank, +the Germans were bringing up the combined forces of the First and +Second armies, troops that within the past fortnight had already +successfully met the French in three pitched battles. On the right +was the First Army, under command of General Von Steinmetz, the +victors, August 6, of Spicheren, near Saar, and, eight days later, of +Colombey, to the east of Metz; while the centre and left were +composed of the several corps of the Second Army, commanded by Prince +Frederick Charles of Prussia, a part of whose troops had just been +engaged in the sanguinary battle of Mars-la-Tour, by which Bazaine +was cut off from the Verdun road, and forced back toward Metz. + +At first the German plan was simply to threaten with their right, +while the corps of the Second Army advanced toward the north, to +prevent the French, of whose intentions there was much doubt, from +escaping toward Chalons; then, as the purposes of the French might +be, developed, these corps were to change direction toward the enemy +successively, and seek to turn his right flank. But the location of +this vital turning-point was very uncertain, and until it was +ascertained and carried, late in the afternoon, the action raged with +more or less intensity along the entire line. + +But as it is not my purpose to describe in detail the battle of +Gravelotte, nor any other, I will speak of some of its incidents +merely. About noon, after many preliminary skirmishes, the action +was begun according to the plan I have already outlined, the Germans +advancing their left while holding on strongly with their right, and +it was this wing (the First Army) that came under my observation from +the place where the King's headquarters were located. From here we +could see, as I have said, the village of Gravelotte. Before it lay +the German troops, concealed to some extent, especially to the left, +by clumps of timber here and there. Immediately in front of us, +however, the ground was open, and the day being clear and sunny, with +a fresh breeze blowing (else the smoke from a battle between four +hundred thousand men would have obstructed the view altogether), the +spectacle presented Was of unsurpassed magnificence and sublimity. +The German artillery opened the battle, and while the air was filled +with shot and shell from hundreds of guns along their entire line, +the German centre and left, in rather open order, moved out to the +attack, and as they went forward the reserves, in close column, took +up positions within supporting distances, yet far enough back to be +out of range. + +The French artillery and mitrailleuses responded vigorously to the +Krupps, and with deadly effect, but as far as we could see the German +left continued its advance, and staff-officers came up frequently to +report that all was going on well at points hidden from our view +These reports were always made to the King first, and whenever +anybody arrived with tidings of the fight we clustered around to hear +the news, General Von Moltke unfolding a map meanwhile, and +explaining the situation. This done, the chief of the staff, while +awaiting the next report, would either return to a seat that had been +made for him with some knapsacks, or would occupy the time walking +about, kicking clods of dirt or small stones here and there, his +hands clasped behind his back, his face pale and thoughtful. He was +then nearly seventy years old, but because of his emaciated figure, +the deep wrinkles in his face, and the crow's-feet about his eyes, he +looked even older, his appearance being suggestive of the practice of +church asceticisms rather than of his well-known ardent devotion to +the military profession. + +By the middle of the afternoon the steady progress of the German left +and centre had driven the French from their more advanced positions +from behind stone walls and hedges, through valleys and hamlets, in +the direction of Metz, but as yet the German right had accomplished +little except to get possession of the village of Gravelotte, +forcing the French across the deep ravine I have mentioned, which +runs north and south a little distance east of ihe town. + +But it was now time for the German right to move in earnest to carry +the Rozerieulles ridge, on which crest the French had evidently +decided to make an obstinate fight to cover their withdrawal to Metz. +As the Germans moved to the attack here, the French fire became heavy +and destructive, so much so, indeed, as to cause General Von +Steinmetz to order some cavalry belonging to the right wing to make a +charge. Crossing the ravine before described, this body of horse +swept up the slope beyond, the front ranks urged forward by the +momentum from behind. The French were posted along a sunken road, +behind stone walls and houses, and as the German cavalry neared these +obstructions it received a dreadful fire without the least chance of +returning it, though still pushed on till the front ranks were +crowded into the deep cut of the road. Here the slaughter was +terrible, for the horsemen could make no further headway; and because +of the blockade behind, of dead and wounded men and animals, an +orderly retreat was impossible, and disaster inevitable. + +About the time the charge was ordered, the phase of the battle was +such that the King concluded to move his headquarters into the +village of Gravelotte; and just after getting there, we first learned +fully of the disastrous result of the charge which had been entered +upon with such spirit; and so much indignation was expressed against +Steinmetz, who, it was claimed, had made an unnecessary sacrifice of +his cavalry, that I thought he would be relieved on the spot; though +this was not done. + +Followed by a large staff, General Steinmetz appeared in the village +presently, and approached the King. When near, he bowed with great +respect, and I then saw that he was a very old man though his +soldierly figure, bronzed face, and shortcropped hair gave some +evidence of vigor still. When the King spoke to him I was not close +enough to learn what was said; but his Majesty's manner was +expressive of kindly feeling, and the fact that in a few moments the +veteran general returned to the command of his troops, indicated +that, for the present at least, his fault had been overlooked. + +The King then moved out of the village, and just a little to the east +and north of it the headquarters were located on high, open ground, +whence we could observe the right of the German infantry advancing up +the eastern face of the ravine. The advance, though slow and +irregular, resulted in gradually gaining ground, the French resisting +stoutly with a stubborn musketry fire all along the slopes. Their +artillery was silent, however; and from this fact the German +artillery officers grew jubilant, confidently asserting that their +Krupp guns had dismounted the French batteries and knocked their +mitrailleuses to pieces. I did not indulge in this confidence, +however; for, with the excellent field-glass I had, I could +distinctly see long columns of French troops moving to their right, +for the apparent purpose of making a vigorous fight on that flank; +and I thought it more than likely that their artillery would be heard +from before the Germans could gain the coveted ridge. + +The Germans labored up the glacis slowly at the most exposed places; +now crawling on their bellies, now creeping on hands and knees, but, +in the main, moving with erect and steady bearing. As they +approached within short range, they suddenly found that the French +artillery and mitrallleuses had by no means been silenced--about two +hundred pieces opening on them with fearful effect, while at the same +time the whole crest blazed with a deadly fire from the Chassepot +rifles. Resistance like this was so unexpected by the Germans that +it dismayed them; and first wavering a moment, then becoming panic- +stricken, they broke and fled, infantry, cavalry, and artillery +coming down the slope without any pretence of formation, the French +hotly following and pouring in a heavy and constant fire as the +fugitives fled back across the ravine toward Gravelotte. With this +the battle on the right had now assumed a most serious aspect, and +the indications were that the French would attack the heights of +Gravelotte; but the Pomeranian corps coming on the field at this +crisis, was led into action by Von Moltke, himself, and shortly after +the day was decided in favor of the Germans. + +When the French guns opened fire, it was discovered that the King's +position was within easy range, many of the shells falling near +enough to make the place extremely uncomfortable; so it was suggested +that he go to a less exposed point. At first he refused to listen to +this wise counsel, but yielded finally--leaving the ground with +reluctance, however--and went back toward Rezonville. I waited for +Count Bismarck, who did not go immediately with the King, but +remained at Gravelotte, looking after some of the escort who had been +wounded. When he had arranged for their care, we set out to rejoin +the King, and before going far, overtook his Majesty, who had stopped +on the Chalons road, and was surrounded by a throng of fugitives, +whom he was berating in German so energetic as to remind me forcibly +of the "Dutch" swearing that I used to hear in my boyhood in Ohio. +The dressing down finished to his satisfaction, the King resumed his +course toward Re'zonville, halting, however, to rebuke in the same +emphatic style every group of runaways he overtook. + +Passing through Rezonville, we halted just beyond the village; there +a fire was built, and the King, his brother, Prince Frederick +Charles, and Von Roon were provided with rather uncomfortable seats +about it, made by resting the ends of a short ladder on a couple of +boxes. With much anxiety and not a little depression of spirits news +from the battle-field was now awaited, but the suspense did not last +long, for presently came the cheering intelligence that the French +were retiring, being forced back by the Pomeranian corps, and some of +the lately broken right wing organizations, that had been rallied on +the heights of Gravelotte. The lost ground being thus regained, and +the French having been beaten on their right, it was not long before +word came that Bazaine's army was falling back to Metz, leaving the +entire battle-field in possession of the Germans. + +During the excitement of the day I had not much felt the want of +either food or water, but now that all was over I was nearly +exhausted, having had neither since early morning. Indeed, all of +the party were in like straits; the immense armies had not only eaten +up nearly everything in the country, but had drunk all the wells dry, +too, and there seemed no relief for us till, luckily, a squad of +soldiers came along the road with a small cask of wine in a cart. +One of the staff-officers instantly appropriated the keg, and +proceeded to share his prize most generously. Never had I tasted +anything so refreshing and delicious, but as the wine was the +ordinary sour stuff drunk by the peasantry of northern France, my +appreciation must be ascribed to my famished condition rather than to +any virtues of the beverage itself. + +After I had thus quenched my thirst the King's, brother called me +aside, and drawing from his coat-tail pocket a piece of stale black +bread, divided it with me, and while munching on this the Prince +began talking of his son--General Prince Frederick Charles, popularly +called the Red Prince--who was in command of the Second Army in this +battle--the German left wing. In recounting his son's professional +career the old man's face was aglow with enthusiasm, and not without +good cause, for in the war between Prussia and Austria in 1866, as +well as in the present campaign, the Red Prince had displayed the +highest order of military genius. + +The headquarters now became the scene of much bustle, despatches +announcing the victory being sent in all directions. The first one +transmitted was to the Queen, the King directing Count Bismarck to +prepare it for his signature; then followed others of a more official +character, and while these matters were being attended to I thought I +would ride into the village to find, if possible, some water for my +horse. Just as I entered the chief street, however, I was suddenly +halted by a squad of soldiers, who, taking me for a French officer +(my coat and forage cap resembling those of the French), leveled +their pieces at me. They were greatly excited, so much so, indeed, +that I thought my hour had come, for they could not understand +English, and I could not speak German, and dare not utter +explanations in French. Fortunately a few disconnected German words +came to me in the emergency. With these I managed to delay my +execution, and one of the party ventured to come up to examine the +"suspect" more closely. The first thing he did was to take off my +cap, and looking it over carefully, his eyes rested on the three +stars above the visor, and, pointing to them, he emphatically +pronounced me French. Then of course they all became excited again, +more so than before, even, for they thought I was trying to practice +a ruse, and I question whether I should have lived to recount the +adventure had not an officer belonging to the King's headquarters +been passing by just then, when, hearing the threatenings and +imprecations, he rode up to learn the cause of the hubbub, and +immediately recognized and released me. When he told my wrathy +captors who I was, they were much mortified of course, and made the +most profuse apologies, promising that no such mistake should occur +again, and so on; but not feeling wholly reassured, for my uniform +was still liable to mislead, I was careful to return to headquarters +in company with my deliverer. There I related what had occurred, and +after a good laugh all round, the King provided me with a pass which +he said would preclude any such mishap in the future, and would also +permit me to go wherever I pleased--a favor rarely bestowed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SEARCHING FOR QUARTERS--HUNTING UP PROVISIONS--A SLENDER BREAKFAST-- +GOING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD--THE GERMAN ARTILLERY--A GROUP OF WOUNDED- +-DINING WITH THE KING--ON THE MARCH--THE BAVARIANS--KIRSCHWASSER-- +URGING ON THE TROOPS. + +While I was absent, as related in the preceding chapter, it had been +decided that the King's quarters should be established for the night +in the village of Rezonville; and as it would be very difficult, at +such a late hour, to billet the whole party regularly, Count Bismarck +and I went off to look for shelter for ourselves. Remembering that I +had seen, when seeking to water my horse, a partly burned barn with +some fresh-looking hay in it, I suggested that we lodge there. He +too thought it would answer our purpose, but on reaching it we found +the unburned part of the barn filled with wounded, and this +necessitating a further search we continued on through the village in +quest of some house not yet converted into a hospital. Such, +however, seemed impossible to come upon, so at last the Count fixed +on one whose upper floor, we learned, was unoccupied, though the +lower one was covered with wounded. + +Mounting a creaky ladder--there was no stairway--to the upper story, +we found a good-sized room with three large beds, one of which the +Chancellor assigned to the Duke of Mecklenburg and aide, and another +to Count Bismarck-Bohlen and me, reserving the remaining one for +himself. Each bed, as is common in Germany and northern France, was +provided with a feather tick, but the night being warm, these spreads +were thrown off, and discovering that they would make a comfortable +shakedown on the floor, I slept there leaving Bismarck-Bohlen +unembarrassed by companionship--at least of a human kind. + +At daylight I awoke, and seeing that Count Bismarck was already +dressed and about to go down the ladder, I felt obliged to follow his +example, so I too turned out, and shortly descended to the ground-- +floor, the only delays of the toilet being those incident to +dressing, for there were no conveniences for morning ablutions. Just +outside the door I met the Count, who, proudly exhibiting a couple of +eggs he had bought from the woman of the house, invited me to +breakfast with him, provided we could beg some coffee from the king's +escort. Putting the eggs under my charge, with many injunctions as +to their safe-keeping, he went off to forage for the coffee, and +presently returned, having been moderately successful. One egg +apiece was hardly enough, however, to appease the craving of two +strong men ravenous from long fasting. Indeed, it seemed only to +whet the appetite, and we both set out on an eager expedition for +more food. Before going far I had the good luck to meet a sutler's +wagon, and though its stock was about all sold, there were still left +four large bologna sausages, which I promptly purchased--paying a +round sum for them too--and hastening back found the Count already +returned, though without bringing anything at all to eat; but he had +secured a couple of bottles of brandy, and with a little of this--it +was excellent, too--and the sausages, the slim ration of eggs and +coffee was amply reinforced. + +Breakfast over, the Chancellor invited me to accompany him in a ride +to the battle-field, and I gladly accepted, as I very much desired to +pass over the ground in front of Gravelotte, particularly so to see +whether the Krupp guns had really done the execution that was claimed +for them by the German artillery officers. Going directly through +the village of Gravelotte, following the causeway over which the +German cavalry had passed to make its courageous but futile charge, +we soon reached the ground where the fighting had been the most +severe. Here the field was literally covered with evidences of the +terrible strife, the dead and wounded strewn thick on every side. + +In the sunken road the carnage had been awful; men and horses having +been slaughtered there by hundreds, helpless before the murderous +fire delivered from behind a high stone wall impracticable to mounted +troops. The sight was sickening to an extreme, and we were not slow +to direct our course elsewhere, going up the glacis toward the French +line, the open ground over which we crossed being covered with +thousands of helmets, that had been thrown off by the Germans during +the fight and were still dotting the field, though details of +soldiers from the organizations which had been engaged here were +about to begin to gather up their abandoned headgear. + +When we got inside the French works, I was astonished to observe how +little harm had been done the defenses by the German artillery, for +although I had not that serene faith in the effectiveness of their +guns held by German artillerists generally, yet I thought their +terrific cannonade must have left marked results. All I could +perceive, however, was a disabled gun, a broken mitrailleuse, and two +badly damaged caissons. + +Everything else, except a little ammunition in the trenches, had been +carried away, and it was plain to see, from the good shape in which +the French left wing had retired to Metz, that its retreat had been +predetermined by the disasters to the right wing. + +By this hour the German cavalry having been thrown out to the front +well over toward Metz, we, following it to get a look at the city, +rode to a neighboring summit, supposing it would be a safe point of +observation; but we shortly realized the contrary, for scarcely had +we reached the crest when some of the French pickets, lying concealed +about six hundred yards off, opened fire, making it so very hot for +us that, hugging the necks of our horses, we incontinently fled. +Observing what had taken place, a troop of German cavalry charged the +French outpost and drove it far enough away to make safe our return, +and we resumed possession of the point, but only to discover that the +country to the east was so broken and hilly that no satisfactory view +of Metz could be had. + +Returning to Gravelotte, we next visited that part of the battlefield +to the northeast of the village, and before long Count Bismarck +discovered in a remote place about twenty men dreadfully wounded. +These poor fellows had had no attention whatever, having been +overlooked by the hospital corps, and their condition was most +pitiful. Yet there was one very handsome man in the group--a captain +of artillery--who, though shot through the right breast, was +talkative and cheerful, and felt sure of getting well. Pointing, +however, to a comrade lying near, also shot in the breast, he +significantly shook his head; it was easy to see on this man's face +the signs--of fast approaching death. + +An orderly was at once despatched for a surgeon, Bismarck and I doing +what we could meanwhile to alleviate the intense sufferings of the +maimed men, bringing them water and administering a little brandy, +for the Count still had with him some of the morning's supply. When +the surgeons came, we transferred the wounded to their care, and +making our way to Rezonville, there took the Count's carriage to +rejoin the King's headquarters, which in the mean time had been moved +to Pont-a-Mousson. Our route led through the village of Gorze, and +here we found the streets so obstructed with wagons that I feared it +would take us the rest of the day to get through, for the teamsters +would not pay the slightest heed to the cries of our postilions. The +Count was equal to the emergency, however, for, taking a pistol from +behind his cushion, and bidding me keep my seat, he jumped out and +quickly began to clear the street effectively, ordering wagons to the +right and left. Marching in front of the carriage and making way for +us till we were well through the blockade, he then resumed his seat, +remarking, "This is not a very dignified business for the Chancellor +of the German Confederation, but it's the only way to get through." + +At Pont-a-Mousson I was rejoined by my aide, General Forsyth, and for +the next two days our attention was almost wholly devoted to securing +means of transportation. This was most difficult to obtain, but as I +did not wish to impose on the kindness of the Chancellor longer, we +persevered till, finally, with the help of Count Bismarck-Bohlen, we +managed to get tolerably well equipped with a saddle-horse apiece, +and a two-horse carriage. Here also, on the afternoon of August 21, +I had the pleasure of dining with the King. The dinner was a simple +one, consisting of soup, a joint, and two or three vegetables; the +wines vin ordinaire and Burgundy. There were a good many persons of +high rank present, none of whom spoke English, however, except +Bismarck, who sat next the King and acted as interpreter when his +Majesty conversed with me. Little was said of the events taking +place around us, but the King made many inquiries concerning the war +of the rebellion, particularly with reference to Grant's campaign at +Vicksburg; suggested, perhaps, by the fact that there, and in the +recent movements of the German army, had been applied many similar +principles of military science. + +The French army under Marshal Bazaine having retired into the +fortifications of Metz, that stronghold was speedily invested by +Prince Frederick Charles. Meantime the Third Army, under the Crown +Prince of Prussia--which, after having fought and won the battle of +Worth, had been observing the army of Marshal MacMahon during and +after the battle of Gravelotte--was moving toward Paris by way of +Nancy, in conjunction with an army called the Fourth, which had been +organized from the troops previously engaged around Metz, and on the +22d was directed toward Bar-le-Duc under the command of the Crown +Prince of Saxony. In consequence of these operations the King +decided to move to Commercy, which place we reached by carriage, +traveling on a broad macadamized road lined on both sides with +poplar-trees, and our course leading through a most beautiful country +thickly dotted with prosperous-looking villages. + +On reaching Commercy, Forsyth and I found that quarters had been +already selected for us, and our names written on the door with chalk +the quartermaster charged with the billeting of the officers at +headquarters having started out in advance to perform this duty and +make all needful preparations for the King before he arrived, which +course was usually pursued thereafter, whenever the royal +headquarters took up a new location. + +Forsyth and I were lodged with the notary of the village, who over +and over again referred to his good fortune in not having to +entertain any of the Germans. He treated us most hospitably, and +next morning, on departing, we offered compensation by tendering a +sum--about what our bill would have been at a good hotel--to be used +for the "benefit of the wounded or the Church." Under this +stipulation the notary accepted, and we followed that plan of paying +for food and lodging afterward, whenever quartered in private houses. + +The next day I set out in advance of the headquarters, and reached +Bar-le-Duc about noon, passing on the way the Bavarian contingent of +the Crown Prince's army. These Bavarians were trim-looking soldiers, +dressed in neat uniforms of light blue; they looked healthy and +strong, but seemed of shorter stature than the North Germans I had +seen in the armies of Prince Frederick Charles and General von +Steinmetz. When, later in the day the King arrived, a guard for him +was detailed from this Bavarian contingent; a stroke of policy no +doubt, for the South Germans were so prejudiced against their +brothers of the North that no opportunity to smooth them down was +permitted to go unimproved. + +Bar-le-Duc, which had then a population of about 15,000, is one of +the prettiest towns I saw in France, its quaint and ancient buildings +and beautiful boulevards charming the eye as well as exciting deep +interest. The King and his immediate suite were quartered on one of +the best boulevards in a large building--the Bank of France--the +balcony of which offered a fine opportunity to observe a part of the +army of the Crown Prince the next day on its march toward Vitry. +This was the first time his Majesty had had a chance to see any of +these troops--as hitherto he had accompanied either the army of +Prince Frederick Charles, or that of General Steinmetz--and the +cheers with which he was greeted by the Bavarians left no room for +doubting their loyalty to the Confederation, notwithstanding ancient +jealousies. + +While the troops were passing, Count Bismarck had the kindness to +point out to me the different organizations, giving scraps of their +history, and also speaking concerning the qualifications of the +different generals commanding them. When the review was over we went +to the Count's house, and there, for the first time in my life, I +tasted kirschwasser, a very strong liquor distilled from cherries. +Not knowing anything about the stuff, I had to depend on Bismarck's +recommendation, and he proclaiming it fine, I took quite a generous +drink, which nearly strangled me and brought on a violent fit of +coughing. The Chancellor said, however, that this was in no way due +to the liquor, but to my own inexperience, and I was bound to believe +the distinguished statesman, for he proved his words by swallowing a +goodly dose with an undisturbed and even beaming countenance, +demonstrating his assertion so forcibly that I forthwith set out with +Bismarck-Bohlen to lay in a supply for myself. + +I spent the night in a handsome house, the property of an +exceptionally kind and polite gentleman bearing the indisputably +German name of Lager, but who was nevertheless French from head to +foot, if intense hatred of the Prussians be a sign of Gallic +nationality. At daybreak on the 26th word came for us to be ready to +move by the Chalons road at 7 o'clock, but before we got off, the +order was suspended till 2 in the afternoon. In the interval General +von Moltke arrived and held a long conference with the King, and when +we did pull out we traveled the remainder of the afternoon in company +with a part of the Crown Prince's army, which after this conference +inaugurated the series of movements from Bar-le-Duc northward, that +finally compelled the surrender at Sedan. This sudden change of +direction I did not at first understand, but soon learned that it was +because of the movements of Marshal MacMahon, who, having united the +French army beaten at Worth with three fresh corps at Chalons, was +marching to relieve Metz in obedience to orders from the Minister of +War at Paris. + +As we passed along the column, we noticed that the Crown Prince's +troops were doing their best, the officers urging the men to their +utmost exertions, persuading weary laggards and driving up +stragglers. As a general thing, however, they marched in good shape, +notwithstanding the rapid gait and the trying heat, for at the outset +of the campaign the Prince had divested them of all impedimenta +except essentials, and they were therefore in excellent trim for a +forced march. + +The King traveled further than usual that day--to Clermont--so we did +not get shelter till late, and even then not without some confusion, +for the quartermaster having set out toward Chalons before the change +of programme was ordered, was not at hand to provide for us. I had +extreme good luck, though, in being quartered with a certain +apothecary, who, having lived for a time in the United States, +claimed it as a privilege even to lodge me, and certainly made me his +debtor for the most generous hospitality. It was not so with some of +the others, however; and Count Bismarck was particularly unfortunate, +being billeted in a very small and uncomfortable house, where, +visiting him to learn more fully what was going on, I found him, +wrapped in a shabby old dressing-gown, hard at work. He was +established in a very small room, whose only furnishings consisted of +a table--at which he was writing--a couple of rough chairs, and the +universal feather-bed, this time made on the floor in one corner of +the room. On my remarking upon the limited character of his +quarters, the Count replied, with great good-humor, that they were +all right, and that he should get along well enough. Even the tramp +of his clerks in the attic, and the clanking of his orderlies' sabres +below, did not disturb him much; he said, in fact, that he would have +no grievance at all were it not for a guard of Bavarian soldiers +stationed about the house for his safety, he presumed the sentinels +from which insisted on protecting and saluting the Chancellor of the +North German Confederation in and out of season, a proceeding that +led to embarrassment sometimes, as he was much troubled with a severe +dysentery. Notwithstanding his trials, however, and in the midst of +the correspondence on which he was so intently engaged, he graciously +took time to explain that the sudden movement northward from Bar-le- +Duc was, as I have previously recounted, the result of information +that Marshal MacMahon was endeavoring to relieve Metz by marching +along the Belgian frontier; "a blundering manoeuvre," remarked the +Chancellor, "which cannot be accounted for, unless it has been +brought about by the political situation of the French." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AFTER MacMAHON--THE BATTLE AT BEAUMONT--THE FRENCH SURPRISED--THE +MARCHING OF THE GERMAN SOLDIERS--THE BATTLE OF SEDAN--GALLANT CAVALRY +CHARGES--DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH--THE SURRENDER OF NAPOLEON--BISMARCK +AND THE KING--DECORATING THE SOLDIERS. + +All night long the forced march of the army went on through Clermont, +and when I turned out, just after daylight, the columns were still +pressing forward, the men looking tired and much bedraggled, as +indeed they had reason to be, for from recent rains the roads were +very sloppy. Notwithstanding this, however, the troops were pushed +ahead with all possible vigor to intercept MacMahon and force a +battle before he could withdraw from his faulty movement, for which +it has since been ascertained he was not at all responsible. Indeed, +those at the royal headquarters seemed to think of nothing else than +to strike MacMahon, for, feeling pretty confident that Metz could not +be relieved, they manifested not the slightest anxiety on that score. + +By 8 o'clock, the skies having cleared, the headquarters set out for +Grand Pre', which place we reached early in the afternoon, and that +evening I again had the pleasure of dining with the King. The +conversation at table was almost wholly devoted to the situation, of +course, everybody expressing surprise at the manoeuvre of the French +at this time, their march along the Belgian frontier being credited +entirely to Napoleon. Up to bed-time there was still much +uncertainty as to the exact positions of the French, but next morning +intelligence being received which denoted the probability of a +battle, we drove about ten miles, to Buzancy, and there mounting our +horses, rode to the front. + +The French were posted not far from Buzancy in a strong position, +their right resting near Stonne and the left extending over into the +woods beyond Beaumont. About 10 o'clock the Crown Prince of Saxony +advanced against this line, and while a part of his army turned the +French right, compelling it to fall back rapidly, the German centre +and right attacked with great vigor and much skill, surprising one of +the divisions of General De Failly's corps while the men were in the +act of cooking their breakfast. + +The French fled precipitately, leaving behind their tents and other +camp equipage, and on inspecting the ground which they had abandoned +so hastily, I noticed on all sides ample evidence that not even the +most ordinary precautions had been taken to secure the division from +surprise, The artillery horses had not been harnessed, and many of +them had been shot down at the picketrope where they had been +haltered the night before, while numbers of men were lying dead with +loaves of bread or other food instead of their muskets in their +hands. + +Some three thousand prisoners and nearly all the artillery and +mitrailleuses of the division--were captured, while the fugitives +were pursued till they found shelter behind--Douay's corps and the +rest of De Failly's beyond Beaumont. The same afternoon there were +several other severe combats along the Meuse, but I had no chance of +witnessing any of them, and just before night-fall I started back to +Buzancy, to which place the King's headquarters had been brought +during the day. + +The morning of the 31st the King moved to Vendresse. First sending +our carriage back to Grand Pre' for our trunks, Forsyth and I mounted +our horses and rode to the battle-field accompanied by an English +nobleman, the Duke of Manchester. The part of the field we traversed +was still thickly strewn with the dead of both armies, though all the +wounded had been collected in the hospitals. In the village of +Beaumont, we stopped to take a look at several thousand French +prisoners, whose worn clothing and evident dejection told that they +had been doing a deal of severe marching under great discouragements. + +The King reached the village shortly after, and we all continued on +to Chemery, just beyond where his Majesty alighted from his carriage +to observe his son's troops file past as they came in from the +direction of Stonne. This delay caused us to be as late as 9 o'clock +before we got shelter that night, but as it afforded me the best +opportunity I had yet had for seeing the German soldiers on the +march, I did not begrudge the time. They moved in a somewhat open +and irregular column of fours, the intervals between files being +especially intended to give room for a peculiar swinging gait, with +which the men seemed to urge themselves over the ground with ease and +rapidity. There was little or no straggling, and being strong, lusty +young fellows, and lightly equipped--they carried only needle-guns, +ammunition, a very small knapsack, a water-bottle, and a haversack- +they strode by with an elastic step, covering at least three miles an +hour. + +It having been definitely ascertained that the demoralized French +were retiring to Sedan, on the evening of August 31 the German army +began the work of hemming them in there, so disposing the different +corps as to cover the ground from Donchery around by Raucourt to +Carignan. The next morning this line was to be drawn in closer on +Sedan; and the Crown Prince of Saxony was therefore ordered to take +up a position to the north of Bazeilles, beyond the right bank of the +Meuse, while the Crown Prince of Prussia was to cross his right wing +over the Meuse at Remilly, to move on Bazeilles, his centre meantime +marching against a number of little hamlets still held by the French +between there and Donchery. At this last-mentioned place strong +reserves were to be held, and from it the Eleventh Corps, followed by +the Fifth and a division of cavalry, was to march on St. Menges. + +Forsyth and I started early next morning, September 1, and in a thick +fog-which, however, subsequently gave place to bright sunshine--we +drove to the village of Chevenges, where, mounting our horses, we +rode in a northeasterly direction to the heights of Frenois and +Wadelincourt, bordering the river Meuse on the left bank, where from +the crest we had a good view of the town of Sedan with its circling +fortifications, which, though extensive, were not so formidable as +those around Metz. The King and his staff were already established +on these heights, and at a point so well chosen that his Majesty +could observe the movements of both armies immediately east and south +of Sedan, and also to the northwest toward Floing and the Belgian +frontier. + +The battle was begun to the east and northeast of Sedan as early as +half-past 4 o'clock by the German right wing--the fighting being +desultory--and near the same hour the Bavarians attacked Bazeilles. +This village, some two miles southeast of Sedan, being of importance, +was defended with great obstinacy, the French contesting from street +to street and house to house the attack of the Bavarians till near +10 o'clock, when, almost every building being knocked to pieces, they +were compelled to relinquish the place. The possession of this +village gave the Germans to the east of Sedan a continuous line, +extending from the Meuse northward through La Moncelle and Daigny to +Givonne, and almost to the Belgian frontier. + +While the German centre and right were thus engaged, the left had +moved in accordance with the prescribed plan. Indeed, some of these +troops had crossed the Meuse the night before, and now, at a little +after 6 o'clock, their advance could be seen just north of the +village of Floing. Thus far these columns, under the immediate eye +of the Crown Prince of Prussia, had met with no opposition to their +march, and as soon as they got to the high ground above the village +they began extending to the east, to connect with the Army of the +Meuse. This juncture was effected at Illy without difficulty, and +the French army was now completely encompassed. + +After a severe fight, the Crown Prince drove the French through +Floing, and as the ground between this village and Sedan is an +undulating open plain, everywhere visible, there was then offered a +rare opportunity for seeing the final conflict preceding the +surrender. Presently up out of the little valley where Floing is +located came the Germans, deploying just on the rim of the plateau a +very heavy skirmish-line, supported by a line of battle at close +distance. When these skirmishers appeared, the French infantry had +withdrawn within its intrenched lines, but a strong body of their +cavalry, already formed in a depression to the right of the Floing +road, now rode at the Germans in gallant style, going clear through +the dispersed skirmishers to the main line of battle. Here the +slaughter of the French was awful, for in addition to the deadly +volleys from the solid battalions of their enemies, the skirmishers, +who had rallied in knots at advantageous places, were now delivering +a severe and effective fire. The gallant horsemen, therefore, had to +retire precipitately, but re-forming in the depression, they again +undertook the hopeless task of breaking the German infantry, making +in all four successive charges. Their ardor and pluck were of no +avail, however, for the Germans, growing stronger every minute by the +accession of troops from Floing, met the fourth attack in such large +force that, even before coming in contact with their adversaries, the +French broke and retreated to the protection of the intrenchments, +where, from the beginning of the combat, had been lying plenty of +idle infantry, some of which at least, it seemed plain to me, ought +to have been thrown into the fight. This action was the last one of +consequence around Sedan, for, though with the contraction of the +German lines their batteries kept cannonading more or less, and the +rattle of musketry continued to be heard here and there, yet the hard +fighting of the day practically ended on the plateau of Floing. + +By 3 o'clock, the French being in a desperate and hopeless situation, +the King ordered the firing to be stopped, and at once despatched one +of his staff--Colonel von Bronsart--with a demand for a surrender. +Just as this officer was starting off, I remarked to Bismarck that +Napoleon himself would likely be one of the prizes, but the Count, +incredulous, replied, "Oh no; the old fox is too cunning to be caught +in such a trap; he has doubtless slipped off to Paris"--a belief +which I found to prevail pretty generally about headquarters. + +In the lull that succeeded, the King invited many of those about him +to luncheon, a caterer having provided from some source or other a +substantial meal of good bread, chops and peas, with a bountiful +supply of red and sherry wines. Among those present were Prince +Carl, Bismarck, Von Moltke, Von Roon, the Duke of Weimar, the Duke of +Coburg, the Grand-Duke of Mecklenburg, Count Hatzfeldt, Colonel +Walker, of the English army, General Forsyth, and I. The King was +agreeable and gracious at all times, but on this occasion he was +particularly so, being naturally in a happy frame of mind because +this day the war had reached a crisis which presaged for the near +future the complete vanquishment of the French. + +Between 4 and 5 o'clock Colonel von Bronsart returned from his +mission to Sedan, bringing word to the King that the commanding +officer there General Wimpffen, wished to know, in order that the +further effusion of blood might be spared, upon what terms he might +surrender. The Colonel brought the intelligence also that the French +Emperor was in the town. Soon after Von Bronsart's arrival a French +officer approached from Sedan, preceded by a white flag and two +German officers. Coming up the road till within a few hundred yards +of us, they halted; then one of the Germans rode forward to say that +the French officer was Napoleon's adjutant, bearing an autograph +letter from the Emperor to the King of Prussia. At this the King, +followed by Bismarck, Von Moltke, and Von Roon, walked out to the +front a little distance and halted, his Majesty still in advance, the +rest of us meanwhile forming in a line some twenty paces to the rear +of the group. The envoy then approached, at first on horseback, but +when within about a hundred yards he dismounted, and uncovering, came +the remaining distance on foot, bearing high up in his right hand the +despatch from Napoleon. The bearer proved to be General Reille, and +as he handed the Emperor's letter to the King, his Majesty saluted +him with the utmost formality and precision. Napoleon's letter was +the since famous one, running so characteristically, thus: "Not +having been able to die in the midst of my troops, there is nothing +left me but to place my sword in your Majesty's hands." The reading +finished, the King returned to his former post, and after a +conference with Bismarck, Von Moltke, and Von Roon, dictated an +answer accepting Napoleon's surrender, and requesting him to +designate an officer with power to treat for the capitulation of the +army, himself naming Von Moltke to represent the Germans. The King +then started for Vendresse, to pass the night. It was after +7 o'clock now, and hence too late to arrange anything more where we +were, so further negotiations were deferred till later in the +evening; and I, wishing to be conveniently near Bismarck, resolved to +take up quarters in Donchery. On our way thither we were met by the +Count's nephew, who assuring us that it would be impossible to find +shelter there in the village, as all the houses were filled with +wounded, Forsyth and I decided to continue on to Chevenge. On the +other hand, Bismarck-Bohlen bore with him one great comfort--some +excellent brandy. Offering the flask to his uncle, he said: "You've +had a hard day of it; won't you refresh yourself?" The Chancellor, +without wasting time to answer, raised the bottle to his lips, +exclaiming: "Here's to the unification of Germany!" which sentiment +the gurgling of an astonishingly long drink seemed to emphasize. The +Count then handed the bottle back to his nephew, who, shaking it, +ejaculated, "Why, we can't pledge you in return--there is nothing +left!" to which came the waggish response, "I beg pardon; it was so +dark I couldn't see"; nevertheless there was a little remaining, as I +myself can aver. + +Having left our carriage at Chevenge, Forsyth and I stopped there to +get it, but a long search proving fruitless, we took lodging in the +village at the house of the cure, resolved to continue the hunt in +the morning. But then we had no better success, so concluding that +our vehicle had been pressed into the hospital service, we at an +early hour on the 2d of September resumed the search, continuing on +down the road in the direction of Sedan. Near the gate of the city +we came on the German picket-line, and one of the Officers, +recognizing our uniforms--he having served in the war of the +rebellion--stepped forward and addressed me in good English. We +naturally fell into conversation, and in the midst of it there came +out through the gate an open carriage, or landau, containing two men, +one of whom, in the uniform of a general and smoking a cigarette, we +recognized, when the conveyance drew near, as the Emperor Louis +Napoleon. The landau went on toward Donchery at a leisurely pace, +and we, inferring that there was something more important at hand +just then than the recovery of our trap, followed at a respectful +distance. Not quite a mile from Donchery is a cluster of three or +four cottages, and at the first of these the landau stopped to await, +as we afterward ascertained, Count Bismarck, with whom the diplomatic +negotiations were to be settled. Some minutes elapsed before he +came, Napoleon remaining seated in his carriage meantime, still +smoking, and accepting with nonchalance the staring of a group of +German soldiers near by, who were gazing on their fallen foe with +curious and eager interest. + +Presently a clattering of hoofs was heard, and looking toward the +sound, I perceived the Chancellor cantering down the road. When +abreast of the carriage he dismounted, and walking up to it, saluted +the Emperor in a quick, brusque way that seemed to startle him. +After a word or two, the party moved perhaps a hundred yards further +on, where they stopped opposite the weaver's cottage so famous from +that day. This little house is on the east side of the Donchery +road, near its junction with that to Frenois, and stands about twenty +paces back from the highway. In front is a stone wall covered with +creeping vines, and from a gate in this wall runs to the front door a +path, at this time bordered on both sides with potato vines. + +The Emperor having alighted at the gate, he and Bismarck walked +together along the narrow path and entered the cottage. Reappearing +in about a quarter of an hour, they came out and seated themselves in +the open air, the weaver having brought a couple of chairs. Here +they engaged in an animated conversation, if much gesticulation is +any indication. The talk lasted fully an hour, Bismarck seeming to +do most of it, but at last he arose, saluted the Emperor, and strode +down the path toward his horse. Seeing me standing near the gate, he +joined me for a moment, and asked if I had noticed how the Emperor +started when they first met, and I telling him that I had, he added, +"Well, it must have been due to my manners, not my words, for these +we're, 'I salute your Majesty just as I would my King.'" Then the +Chancellor continued to chat a few minutes longer, assuring me that +nothing further was to be done there, and that we had better go to +the Chateau Bellevue, where, he said, the formal surrender was to +take place. With this he rode off toward Vendresse to communicate +with his sovereign, and Forsyth and I made ready to go to the Chateau +Bellevue. + +Before we set out, however, a number of officers of the King's suite +arrived at the weaver's cottage, and from them I gathered that there +were differences at the royal headquarters as to whether peace should +be made then at Sedan, or the war continued till the French capital +was taken. I further heard that the military advisers of the King +strongly advocated an immediate move on Paris, while the Chancellor +thought it best to make peace now, holding Alsace and Lorraine, and +compelling the payment of an enormous levy of money; and these rumors +were most likely correct, for I had often heard Bismarck say that +France being the richest country in Europe, nothing could keep her +quiet but effectually to empty her pockets; and besides this, he +impressed me as holding that it would be better policy to preserve +the Empire. + +On our way to the chateau we fell in with a number of artillery +officers bringing up their guns hurriedly to post them closer in to +the beleaguered town on a specially advantageous ridge. Inquiring +the cause of this move, we learned that General Wimpffen had not yet +agreed to the terms of surrender; that it was thought he would not, +and that they wanted to be prepared for any such contingency. And +they were preparing with a vengeance too, for I counted seventy-two +Krupp guns in one continuous line trained on the Chateau Bellevue and +Sedan. + +Napoleon went directly from the weaver's to the Chateau Bellevue, and +about 10 o'clock the King of Prussia arrived from Frenois, +accompanied by a few of his own suite and the Crown Prince with +several members of his staff; and Von Moltke and Wimpffen having +settled their points of difference before the two monarchs met, +within the next half-hour the articles of capitulation were formally +signed. + +On the completion of the surrender--the occasion being justly +considered a great one--the Crown Prince proceeded to distribute +among the officers congregated in the chateau grounds 'the order of +the Iron Cross'--a generous supply of these decorations being carried +in a basket by one of his orderlies, following him about as he walked +along. Meantime the King, leaving Napoleon in the chateau to +ruminate on the fickleness of fortune, drove off to see his own +victorious soldiers, who greeted him with huzzas that rent the air, +and must have added to the pangs of the captive Emperor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +RIDING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD--DESTRUCTION OF BAZEILLES--MISTAKES OF +THE FRENCH--MARSHAL BAZAINE ON TO PARIS--A WEEK IN MEAUX--RHEIMS--ON +THE PICKETLINE-UNDER FIRE--A SURRENDER--AT VERSAILLES--GENERAL +BURNSIDE AND Mr. FORBES IN PARIS. + +The Crown Prince having got to the bottom of his medal basket-that is +to say, having finished his liberal distribution of decorations to +his officers--Forsyth and I rode off by way of Wadelincourt to +Bazeilles to see what had taken place on that part of the field, and +the sight that met our eyes as we entered the village was truly +dreadful to look upon. Most of the houses had been knocked down or +burned the day before, but such as had been left standing were now in +flames, the torch having been applied because, as it was claimed, +Frenchmen concealed in them had fired on the wounded. The streets +were still encumbered with both German and French dead, and it was +evident that of those killed in the houses the bodies had not been +removed, for the air was loaded with odors of burning flesh. From +Bazeille we rode on toward the north about two miles, along where the +fight had been largely an artillery duel, to learn what we could of +the effectiveness of the Krupp gun. Counting all the French dead we +came across killed by artillery, they figured up about three hundred- +-a ridiculously small number; in fact, not much more than one dead +man for each Krupp gun on that part of the line. Although the number +of dead was in utter disproportion to the terrific six-hour +cannonade, yet small as it was the torn and mangled bodies made such +a horrible sight that we turned back toward Bazeilles without having +gone further than Givonne. + +At Bazeilles we met the King, accompanied by Bismarck and several of +the staff. They too had been riding over the field, the King making +this a practice, to see that the wounded were not neglected. As I +drew up by the party, Bismarck accosted me with, "Well, General, +aren't you hungry? This is just the place to whet one's appetite-- +these burning Frenchmen--Ugh!" and shrugging his shoulders in evident +disgust, he turned away to join his Majesty in further explorations, +Forsyth and I continuing on to Chevenges. Here we got the first +inkling of what had become of our carriage since leaving it two days +before: it had been pressed into service to carry wounded officers +from the field during the battle, but afterward released, and was now +safe at the house in Vendresse where we had been quartered the night +of the 31st, so, on hearing this, we settled to go there again to +lodge, but our good friend, the cure', insisting that we should stay +with him, we remained in Chevenges till next morning. + +On September 3 the King removed from Vendresse to Rethel, where he +remained two days; in the mean while the Germans, 240,000 strong, +beginning their direct march to Paris. The French had little with +which to oppose this enormous force, not more, perhaps, than 50,000 +regular troops; the rest of their splendid army had been lost or +captured in battle, or was cooped up in the fortifications of Metz, +Strasburg, and other places, in consequence of blunders without +parallel in history, for which Napoleon and the Regency in Paris must +be held accountable. The first of these gross faults was the fight +at Worth, where MacMahon, before his army was mobilized, accepted +battle with the Crown Prince, pitting 50,000 men against 175,000; the +next was Bazaine's fixing upon Metz as his base, and stupidly putting +himself in position to be driven back to it, when there was no +possible obstacle to his joining forces with MacMahon at Chalons; +while the third and greatest blunder of all was MacMahon's move to +relieve Metz, trying to slip 140,000 men along the Belgian frontier. +Indeed, it is exasperating and sickening to think of all this; to +think that Bazaine carried into Metz--a place that should have been +held, if at all, with not over 25,000 men--an army of 180,000, +because it contained, the excuse was, "an accumulation of stores." +With all the resources of rich France to draw upon, I cannot conceive +that this excuse was sincere; on the contrary, I think that the +movement of Bazaine must have been inspired by Napoleon with a view +to the maintenance of his dynasty rather than for the good of France. + +As previously stated, Bismarck did not approve of the German army's +moving on Paris after the battle of Sedan. Indeed, I think he +foresaw and dreaded the establishment of a Republic, his idea being +that if peace was made then, the Empire could be continued in the +person of the Prince Imperial who--, coming to the throne under +German influences, would be pliable in his hands. These views found +frequent expression in private, and in public too; I myself +particularly remember the Chancellor's speaking thus most unguardedly +at a dinner in Rheims. But he could not prevent the march to Paris; +it was impossible to stop the Germans, flushed with success. "On to +Paris" was written by the soldiers on every door, and every fence- +board along the route to the capital, and the thought of a triumphant +march down the Champs Elysees was uppermost with every German, from +the highest to the lowest grade. + +The 5th of September we set out for Rheims. There it was said the +Germans would meet with strong resistance, for the French intended to +die to the last man before giving up that city. But this proved all +fudge, as is usual with these "last ditch" promises, the garrison +decamping immediately at the approach of a few Uhlans. So far as I +could learn, but a single casualty happened; this occurred to an +Uhlan, wounded by a shot which it was reported was fired from a house +after the town was taken; so, to punish this breach of faith, a levy +of several hundred bottles of champagne was made, and the wine +divided about headquarters, being the only seizure made in the city, +I believe, for though Rheims, the centre of the champagne district, +had its cellars well stocked, yet most of them being owned by German +firms, they received every protection. + +The land about Rheims is of a white, chalky character, and very poor, +but having been terraced and enriched with fertilizers, it produces +the champagne grape in such abundance that the region, once +considered valueless, and named by the peasantry the "land of the +louse," now supports a dense population. We remained in Rheims eight +days, and through the politeness of the American Consul--Mr. Adolph +Gill--had the pleasure of seeing all the famous wine cellars, and +inspecting the processes followed in champagne making, from the step +of pressing the juice from the grape to that which shows the wine +ready for the market. Mr. Gill also took us to see everything else +of special interest about the city, and there being much to look at-- +fine old churches, ancient fortifications, a Roman gateway, etc.--the +days slipped by very quickly, though the incessant rains somewhat +interfered with our enjoyment. + +For three or four days all sorts of rumors were rife as to what was +doing in Paris, but nothing definite was learned till about the 9th; +then Count Bismarck informed me that the Regency had been overthrown +on the 4th, and that the Empress Eugenie had escaped to Belgium. The +King of Prussia offered her an asylum with the Emperor at +Wilhelmshohe, "where she ought to go," said the Chancellor, "for her +proper place is with her husband," but he feared she would not. On +the same occasion he also told me that Jules Favre--the head of the +Provisional Government--had sent him the suggestion that, the Empire +being gone, peace should be made and the Germans withdrawn, but that +he (Bismarck) was now compelled to recognize the impossibility of +doing this till Paris was taken, for although immediately after the +surrender of Sedan he desired peace, the past few days had made it +plain that the troops would not be satisfied with anything short of +Paris, no matter what form of Government the French should ultimately +adopt. + +The German army having met with no resistance whatever in its march +on Paris, its advance approached the capital rapidly, and by the 14th +of September the royal headquarters moved by a fine macadamized road +to the Chateau Thierry, and on the 5th reached Meaux, about twenty- +eight miles from Paris, where we remained four days awaiting the +reconstruction of some railroad and canal bridges. The town of Meaux +has a busy population of about 10,000 souls, in peaceable times +principally occupied in manufacturing flour for the Paris market, +having a fine waterpower for the many mills. These were kept going +day and night to supply the German army; and it was strange to see +with what zeal Frenchmen toiled to fill the stomachs of their +inveterate enemies, and with what alacrity the mayor and other. +officials filled requisitions for wine, cheese, suits of livery, +riding-whips, and even squab pigeons. + +During our stay at Meaux the British Minister Lord Lyons, endeavored +to bring about a cessation of hostilities, to this end sending his +secretary out from Paris with a letter to Count Bismarck, offering to +serve as mediator. The Chancellor would not agree to this, however, +for he conjectured that the action of the British Minister had been +inspired by Jules Favre, who, he thought, was trying to draw the +Germans into negotiations through the medium of a third party only +for purposes of delay. So the next morning Lord Lyons's secretary, +Mr. Edward Malet, returned to Paris empty-handed, except that he bore +a communication positively declining mediation; which message, +however, led no doubt to an interview between Bismarck and Favre a +couple of days later. + +The forenoon of September 19 the King removed to the Chateau +Ferrieres--a castle belonging to the Rothschild family, where +Napoleon had spent many happy days in the time of his prosperity. +His Majesty took up his quarters here at the suggestion of the owner, +we were told, so that by the presence of the King the magnificent +chateau and its treasures of art would be unquestionably protected +from all acts of vandalism. + +All of the people at headquarters except the King's immediate suite +were assigned quarters at Lagny; and while Forsyth and I, accompanied +by Sir Henry Havelock, of the British army, were driving thither, we +passed on the road the representative of the National Defense +Government, Jules Favre, in a carriage heading toward Meaux. +Preceded by a flag of truce and accompanied by a single, companion, +be was searching for Count Bismarck, in conformity, doubtless, with +the message the Chancellor had sent to Paris on the 17th by the +British secretary. A half-mile further on we met Bismarck. He too +was traveling toward Meaux, not in the best of humor either, it +appeared, for having missed finding the French envoy at the +rendezvous where they had agreed to meet, he stopped long enough to +say that the "air was full of lies, and that there were many persons +with the army bent on business that did not concern them." + +The armies of the two Crown Princes were now at the outskirts of +Paris. They had come from Sedan mainly by two routes--the Crown +Prince of Saxony marching by the northern line, through Laon and +Soissons, and the Crown Prince of Prussia by the southern line, +keeping his right wing on the north bank of the Marne, while his left +and centre approached the French capital by roads between that river +and the Seine. + +The march of these armies had been unobstructed by any resistance +worth mentioning, and as the routes of both columns lay through a +region teeming with everything necessary for their support, and rich +even in luxuries, it struck me that such campaigning was more a vast +picnic than like actual war. The country supplied at all points +bread, meat, and wine in abundance, and the neat villages, never more +than a mile or two apart, always furnished shelter; hence the +enormous trains required to feed and provide camp equipage for an +army operating in a sparsely settled country were dispensed with; in +truth, about the only impedimenta of the Germans was their wagons +carrying ammunition, pontoon-boats, and the field-telegraph. + +On the morning of the 20th I started out accompanied by Forsyth and +Sir Henry Havelock, and took the road through Boissy St. George, +Boissy St. Martins and Noisy Le Grand to Brie. Almost every foot of +the way was strewn with fragments of glass from wine bottles, emptied +and then broken by the troops. There was, indeed, so much of this +that I refrain from making any estimate of the number of bottles, +lest I be thought to exaggerate, but the road was literally paved +with glass, and the amount of wine consumed (none was wasted) must +have been enormous, far more, even, than I had seen evidence of at +any time before. There were two almost continuous lines of broken +bottles along the roadsides all the way down from Sedan; but that +exhibit was small compared with what we saw about Brie. + +At Brie we were taken charge of by the German commandant of the +place. He entertained us most hospitably for an hour or so, and +then, accompanied by a lieutenant, who was to be our guide, I set out +ahead of my companions to gain a point on the picket-line where I +expected to get a good look at the French, for their rifle-pits were +but a few hundred yards off across the Marne, their main line being +just behind the rifle-pits. As the lieutenant and I rode through the +village, some soldiers warned us that the adventure would be +dangerous, but that we could probably get to the desired place unhurt +if we avoided the French fire by forcing our horses to a run in +crossing some open streets where we would be exposed. On getting to +the first street my guide galloped ahead to show the way, and as the +French were not on the lookout for anything of the kind at these +dangerous points, only a few stray shots were drawn by the +lieutenant, but when I followed, they were fully up to what was going +on, and let fly a volley every time they saw me in the open. +Fortunately, however, in their excitement they overshot, but when I +drew rein alongside of my guide under protection of the bluff where +the German picket was posted, my hair was all on end, and I was about +as badly scared as ever I had been in my life. As soon as I could +recover myself I thought of Havelock and Forsyth, with the hope that +they would not follow; nor did they, for having witnessed my +experience, they wisely concluded that, after all, they did not care +so much to see the French rifle-pits. + +When I had climbed to the top of the bluff I was much disappointed, +for I could see but little--only the advanced rifle-pits across the +river, and Fort Nogent beyond them, not enough, certainly, to repay a +non-combatant for taking the risk of being killed. The next question +was to return, and deciding to take no more such chances as those we +had run in coming out, I said we would wait till dark, but this +proved unnecessary, for to my utter astonishment my guide informed me +that there was a perfectly safe route by which we might go back. I +asked why we had not taken it in coming, and he replied that he had +thought it "too long and circuitous." To this I could say nothing, +but I concluded that that was not quite the correct reason; the truth +is that early that morning the young fellow had been helping to empty +some of the many wine bottles I saw around Brie, and consequently had +a little more "Dutch courage"--was a little more rash--than would +have been the case under other conditions. + +I rode back to Brie by the "long and circuitous" route, and inquiring +there for my companions, found Havelock waiting to conduct me to the +village of Villiers, whither, he said, Forsyth had been called to +make some explanation about his passport, which did not appear to be +in satisfactory shape. Accordingly we started for Villiers, and +Havelock, being well mounted on an English "hunter," and wishing to +give me an exhibition of the animal's training and power, led the way +across ditches and fences, but my horse, never having followed "the +hounds," was unsafe to experiment with, so, after trying a low fence +or two, I decided to leave my friend alone in his diversion, and a +few moments later, seeing both horse and rider go down before a ditch +and high stone wall, I was convinced that my resolution was a +discreet one. After this mishap, which luckily resulted in no harm, +I hoped Sir Henry would give up the amusement, but by failure +becoming only the more determined, in a second effort he cleared the +wall handsomely and rode across-country to the villages. Following +the road till it passed under a railway bridge, I there thought I saw +a chance to gain Villiers by a short-cut, and changing my course +accordingly, I struck into a large vineyard to the left, and +proceeding a few hundred yards through the vines, came suddenly upon +a German picket-post. The guard immediately leveled their rifles at +me, when, remembering my Rezonville experience of being taken for a +French officer because of my uniform, I hastily flung myself from the +saddle in token of surrender. The action being rightly interpreted, +the men held their fire, and as my next thought was the King's pass I +reached under my coat-skirt for the document, but this motion being +taken as a grab for my pistol, the whole lot of them--some ten in +number--again aimed at me, and with such loud demands for surrender +that I threw up my hands and ran into their ranks. The officer of +the guard then coming up, examined my credentials, and seeing that +they were signed by the King of Prussia, released me and directed the +recovery of my horse, which was soon caught, and I was then conducted +to the quarters of the commandant, where I found Forsyth with his +pass properly vised, entirely ignorant of my troubles, and +contentedly regaling himself on cheese and beer. Havelock having got +to the village ahead of me, thanks to his cross-country ride, was +there too, sipping beer with Forsyth; nor was I slow to follow their +example, for the ride of the day, though rather barren in other +results, at any rate had given me a ravenous appetite. + +Late that evening, the 20th, we resumed our old quarters at Lagny, +and early next day I made a visit to the royal headquarters at +Ferrires, where I observed great rejoicing going on, the occasion for +it being an important victory gained near Mendon, a French corps of +about 30,000 men under General Ducrot having been beaten by the Fifth +Prussian and Second Bavarian corps. Ducrot had been stubbornly +holding ground near Mendon for two or three days, much to the +embarrassment of the Germans too, since he kept them from closing a +gap in their line to the southwest of Paris; but in the recent fight +he had been driven from the field with such heavy loss as to render +impossible his maintaining the gap longer. The Crown Prince of +Prussia was thus enabled to extend his left, without danger, as far +as Bougival, north of Versailles, and eventually met the right of the +Crown Prince of Saxony, already at Denil, north of St. Denis. The +unbroken circle of investment around Paris being well-nigh assured, +news of its complete accomplishment was momentarily expected; +therefore everybody was jubilant on account of the breaking up of +Ducrot, but more particularly because word had been received the same +morning that a correspondence had begun between Bazaine and Prince +Frederick Charles, looking to the capitulation of Metz, for the +surrender of that place would permit the Second Army to join in the +siege of Paris. + +Learning all this, and seeing that the investment was about +completed, I decided to take up my quarters at Versailles, and +started for that place on the 22d, halting at Noisy le Grand to take +luncheon with some artillery officers, whose acquaintance we had made +the day of the surrender at Sedan. During the meal I noticed two +American flags flying on a couple of houses near by. Inquiring the +significance of this, I was told that the flags had been put up to +protect the buildings--the owners, two American citizens, having in a +bad fright abandoned their property, and, instead of remaining +outside, gone into Paris,--"very foolishly," said our hospitable +friends, "for here they could have obtained food in plenty, and been +perfectly secure from molestation." + +We arrived at Versailles about 7 o'clock that evening and settled +ourselves in the Hotel Reservoir, happy to find there two or three +American families, with whom, of course, we quickly made +acquaintance. This American circle was enlarged a few days later by +the arrival of General Wm. B. Hazen, of our army, General Ambrose E. +Burnside, and Mr. Paul Forbes. Burnside and Forbes were hot to see, +from the French side, something of the war, and being almost beside +themselves to get into Paris, a permit was granted them by Count +Bismarck, and they set out by way of Sevres, Forsyth and I +accompanying them as far as the Palace of St. Cloud, which we, +proposed to see, though there were strict orders against its being +visited generally. After much trouble we managed, through the "open +sesame" of the King's pass, to gain access to the palace; but to our +great disappointment we found that all the pictures had been cut from +the frames and carried off to Paris, except one portrait, that of +Queen Victoria, against whom the French were much incensed. All +other works of art had been removed, too--a most fortunate +circumstance, for the palace being directly on the German line, was +raked by the guns from the fortress of Mont Valerien, and in a few +days burned to the ground. + +In less than a week Burnside and Forbes returned from Paris. They +told us their experience had been interesting, but were very reticent +as to particulars, and though we tried hard to find out what they had +seen or done, we could get nothing from them beyond the general +statement that they had had a good time, and that General Trochu had +been considerate enough to postpone a sortie, in order to let them +return; but this we did not quite swallow. After a day or two they +went into Paris again, and I then began to suspect that they were +essaying the role of mediators, and that Count Bismarck was feeding +their vanity with permits, and receiving his equivalent by learning +the state of affairs within the beleaguered city. + +From about the 1st of October on, the Germans were engaged in making +their enveloping lines impenetrable, bringing up their reserves, +siege guns, and the like, the French meanwhile continuing to drill +and discipline the National Guard and relieving the monotony +occasionally by a more or less spirited, but invariably abortive, +sortie. The most notable of these was that made by General Vinoy +against the heights of Clamart, the result being a disastrous repulse +by the besiegers. After this, matters settled down to an almost +uninterrupted quietude, only a skirmish here and there; and it being +plain that the Germans did not intend to assault the capital, but +would accomplish its capture by starvation, I concluded to find out +from Count Bismarck about when the end was expected, with the purpose +of spending the interim in a little tour through some portions of +Europe undisturbed by war, returning in season for the capitulation. +Count Bismarck having kindly advised me as to the possible date, + +Forsyth and I, on the 14th of October, left Versailles, going first +direct to the Chateau Ferrieres to pay our respects to the King, +which we did, and again took luncheon with him. From the chateau we +drove to Meaux, and there spent the night; resuming our journey next +morning, we passed through Epernay, Rheims, and Rethel to Sedan, +where we tarried a day, and finally, on October 18, reached Brussels. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +BRUSSELS--DECIDING TO VISIT EASTERN EUROPE--AUSTRIA--DOWN THE DANUBE- +-IN CONSTANTINOPLE--THE LADIES OF THE HAREM--THE SULTAN--TURKISH +SOLDIERS--A BANQUET--A VISIT IN ATHENS--KING GEORGE OF GREECE--VICTOR +EMMANUEL--"BEDEVILED WITH CARES OF STATE"--DEER SHOOTING--A MILITARY +DINNER--RETURN TO VERSAILLES--GERMANS ENTERING PARIS--CRITICISM ON +THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR--CONCLUSION. + +On reaching Brussels, one of the first things to do was to pay my +respects to the King of Belgium, which I did, accompanied by our +Minister, Mr. Russell Jones. Later I dined with the King and Queen, +meeting at the dinner many notable people, among them the Count and +Countess of Flanders. A day or two in Brussels sufficed to mature +our plans for spending the time up to the approximate date of our +return to Paris; and deciding to visit eastern Europe, we made Vienna +our first objective, going there by way of Dresden. + +At Vienna our Minister, Mr. John Jay, took charge of us--Forsyth was +still with me--and the few days' sojourn was full of interest. The +Emperor being absent from the capital, we missed seeing him; but the +Prime Minister, Count von Beust, was very polite to us, and at his +house we had the pleasure of meeting at dinner Count Andrassy, the +Prime Minister of Hungary. + +From Vienna we went to Buda-Pesth, the Hungarian capital; and thence, +in a I small, crowded, and uncomfortable steamboat, down the Danube +to Rustchuck, whence we visited Bucharest--all who travel in eastern +Europe do so--and then directing our course southward, we went first +to Varna, and from that city by steamer through the Black Sea to +Constantinople. + +We reached the Turkish capital at the time of Ramadan, the period of +the year (about a month) during which the Mohammedans are commanded +by the Koran to keep a rigorous fast every day from sunrise till +sunset. All the followers of the Prophet were therefore busy with +their devotions--holding a revival, as it were; hence there was no +chance whatever to be presented to the Sultan, Abdul Aziz, it being +forbidden during the penitential season for him to receive +unbelievers, or in fact any one except the officials of his +household. However, the Grand Vizier brought me many messages of +welcome, and arranged that I should be permitted to see and salute +his Serene Highness on the Esplanade as he rode by on horseback to +the mosque. + +So, the second day after arrival, the Grand Vizier drove me in a +barouche to the Esplanade, where we took station about midway of its +length an hour or so before the Sultan was to appear. Shortly after +we reached the Esplanade, carriages occupied by the women of the +Sultan's harem began to appear, coming out from the palace grounds +and driving up and down the roadway. Only a few of the women were +closely veiled, a majority of them wearing an apology for veiling, +merely a strip of white lace covering the forehead down to the +eyebrows. Some were yellow, and some white-types of the Mongolian +and Caucasian races. Now and then a pretty face was seen, rarely a +beautiful one. Many were plump, even to corpulence, and these were +the closest veiled, being considered the greatest beauties I presume, +since with the Turk obesity is the chief element of comeliness. As +the carriages passed along in review, every now and then an occupant, +unable or unwilling to repress her natural promptings, would indulge +in a mild flirtation, making overtures by casting demure side- +glances, throwing us coquettish kisses, or waving strings of amber +beads with significant gestures, seeming to say: "Why don't you +follow?" But this we could not do if we would, for the Esplanade +throughout its entire length was lined with soldiers, put there +especially to guard the harem first, and later, the Sultan on his +pilgrimage to the mosque. + +But as it was now time for His Serene Highness to make his appearance +the carriages containing his wives drove off into the palace grounds, +which were inclosed by a high wall, leaving the Esplanade wholly +unencumbered except by the soldiers. Down between the two ranks, +which were formed facing each other, came the Sultan on a white +steed--a beautiful Arabian--and having at his side his son, a boy +about ten or twelve years old, who was riding a pony, a diminutive +copy of his father's mount, the two attended by a numerous body- +guard, dressed in gorgeous Oriental uniforms. As the procession +passed our carriage, I, as pre-arranged, stood up and took off my +hat, His Serene Highness promptly acknowledging the salute by raising +his hand to the forehead. This was all I saw of him, yet I received +every kindness at his hands, being permitted to see many of his +troops, to inspect all the ordnance, equipment, and other military +establishments about Constantinople, and to meet numbers of the high +functionaries of the Empire. + +Among other compliments tendered through his direction, and which I +gladly accepted, was a review of all the troops then in Stamboul- +about 6,000--comprising infantry, cavalry, and artillery. + +They were as fine looking a body of soldiers as I ever saw--well +armed and well clothed, the men all large and of sturdy appearance. + +After the review we attended a grand military dinner given by the +Grand Vizier. At the hour set for this banquet we presented +ourselves at the palace of the Grand Vizier, and being ushered into a +large drawing-room, found already assembled there the guests invited +to meet us. Some few spoke French, and with these we managed to +exchange an occasional remark; but as the greater number stood about +in silence, the affair, thus far, was undeniably a little stiff. +Just before the dinner was announced, all the Turkish officers went +into an adjoining room, and turning their faces to the east, +prostrated themselves to the floor in prayer. Then we were all +conducted to a large salon, where each being provided with a silver +ewer and basin, a little ball of highly perfumed soap and a napkin, +set out on small tables, each guest washed his hands. Adjacent to +this salon was the dining-room, or, rather, the banqueting room, a +very large and artistically frescoed hall, in the centre of which +stood a crescent-shaped table, lighted with beautiful silver +candelabra, and tastefully decorated with flowers and fruits. The +viands were all excellent; cooked, evidently, by a French chef, and +full justice was done the dishes, especially by the Turks, who, of +course, had been fasting all day. + +At the close of the banquet, which consisted of not less than fifteen +courses, we withdrew to a smoking-room, where the coffee was served +and cigarettes and chibouks offered us--the latter a pipe having a +long flexible stem with an amber mouthpiece. I chose the chibouk, +and as the stem of mine was studded with precious stones of enormous +value, I thought I should enjoy it the more; but the tobacco being +highly flavored with some sort of herbs, my smoke fell far short of +my anticipations. The coffee was delicious, however, and I found +this to be the case wherever I went in Constantinople, whether in +making calls or at dinner, the custom of offering coffee and tobacco +on these occasions being universal. + +The temptations to linger at Constantinople were many indeed, not the +least being the delightful climate; and as time pressed, we set out +with much regret on the return journey, stopping a few days at +Athens, whence we made several short excursions into the interior. +King George and Queen Olga made our stay in Athens one of extreme +interest and exceeding pleasure. Throwing aside all ceremony, they +breakfasted and dined us informally, gave us a fine ball, and in +addition to these hospitalities showed us much personal attention, +his Majesty even calling upon me, and the Queen sending her children +to see us at our hotel. + +Of course we visited all that remained of the city's ancient +civilization--the Acropolis, temples, baths, towers, and the like; +nor did we oinit to view the spot where St. Paul once instructed the +Athenians in lessons of Christianity. We traveled some little +through the country districts outside of Athens, and I noticed that +the peasantry, in point of picturesqueness of dress and color of +complexion, were not unlike the gypsies we see at times in America. +They had also much of the same shrewdness, and, as far as I could +learn, were generally wholly uneducated, ignorant, indeed, except as +to one subject--politics--which I was told came to them intuitively, +they taking to it, and a scramble for office, as naturally as a duck +to water. In fact, this common faculty for politics seems a +connecting link between the ancient and modern Greek. + +Leaving Athens with the pleasantest recollections, we sailed for +Messina, Sicily, and from there went to Naples, where we found many +old friends; among them Mr. Buchanan Reed, the artist and poet, and +Miss Brewster, as well as a score or more of others of our +countrymen, then or since distinguished, in art and letters at home +and abroad. We remained some days in Naples, and during the time +went to Pompeii to witness a special excavation among the ruins of +the buried city, which search was instituted on account of our visit. +A number of ancient household articles were dug up, and one, a terra +cotta lamp bearing upon its crown in bas-relief the legend of "Leda +and the Swan," was presented to me as a souvenir of the occasion, +though it is usual for the Government to place in its museums +everything of such value that is unearthed. + +From Naples to Rome by rail was our next journey. In the Eternal +City we saw picture-galleries, churches, and ruins in plenty, but all +these have been so well described by hundreds of other travelers that +I shall not linger even to name them. While at Rome we also +witnessed an overflow of the Tiber, that caused great suffering and +destroyed much property. The next stage of our tour took us to +Venice, then to Florence--the capital of Italy--for although the +troops of the King of Italy had taken possession of Rome the +preceding September, the Government itself had not yet removed +thither. + +At Florence, our Minister, Mr. Marsh, though suffering with a lame +foot, took me in charge, and in due course of time I was presented to +King Victor-Emmanuel. His Majesty received me informally at his +palace in a small, stuffy room--his office, no doubt--and an untidy +one it was too. He wore a loose blouse and very baggy trousers; a +comfortable suit, certainly, but not at all conducing to an ideal +kingliness of appearance. + +His Majesty's hobby was hunting, and no sooner had I made my bow than +he began a conversation on that subject, thrusting his hands nearly +up to the elbows into the pockets of his trousers. He desired to +learn about the large game of America, particularly the buffalo, and +when I spoke of the herds of thousands and thousands I had seen on +the plains of western Kansas, he interrupted me to bemoan the fate +which kept him from visiting America to hunt, even going so far as to +say that "he didn't wish to be King of Italy, anyhow, but would much +prefer to pass his days hunting than be bedeviled with the cares of +state." On one of his estates, near Pisa, he had several large herds +of deer, many wild boars, and a great deal of other game. Of this +preserve he was very proud, and before we separated invited me to go +down there to shoot deer, adding that he would be there himself if he +could, but feared that a trip which he had to take to Milan would +interfere, though he wished me to go in any event. + +I gladly accepted the invitation, and in two or three days was +notified when I would be expected at the estate. At the designated +time I was escorted to Pisa by an aide-de-camp, and from there we +drove the few miles to the King's chateau, where we fortified +ourselves for the work in hand by an elaborate and toothsome +breakfast of about ten courses. Then in a carriage we set out for +the King's stand in the hunting-grounds, accompanied by a crowd of +mounted game-keepers, who with great difficulty controlled the pack +of sixty or seventy hounds, the dogs and keepers together almost +driving me to distraction with their yelping and yelling. On +reaching the stand, I was posted within about twenty' yards of a +long, high picket-fence, facing the fence and covered by two trees +very close together. It was from behind these that the King usually +shot, and as I was provided with a double-barreled shot-gun, I +thought I could do well, especially since close in rear of me stood +two game-keepers to load and hand me a second gun when the first was +emptied. + +Meantime the huntsmen and the hounds had made a circuit of the park +to drive up the game. The yelps of the hounds drawing near, I +cautiously looked in the direction of the sound, and the next moment +saw a herd of deer close in to the fence, and coming down at full +speed. Without a miss, I shot the four leading ones as they tried +to run the gauntlet, for in passing between the stand and the fence, +the innocent creatures were not more than ten to fifteen paces from +me. At the fourth I stopped, but the gamekeepers insisted on more +butchery, saying, "No one but the King ever did the like" (I guess no +one else had ever had the chance), so, thus urged, I continued firing +till I had slaughtered eleven with eleven shots--an easy task with a +shot-gun and buckshot cartridges. + +The "hunt" being ended--for with this I had had enough, and no one +else was permitted to do any shooting--the aide-decamp directed the +game to be sent to me in Florence, and we started for the chateau. +On the way back I saw a wild boar the first and only one I ever saw-- +my attention being drawn to him by cries from some of the game- +keepers. There was much commotion, the men pointing out the game and +shouting excitedly, "See the wild boar!" otherwise I should not have +known what was up, but now, looking in the indicated direction, I saw +scudding over the plain what appeared to me to be nothing but a +halfgrown black pig, or shoat. He was not in much of a hurry either, +and gave no evidence of ferocity, yet it is said that this +insignificant looking animal is dangerous when hunted with the spear +--the customary way. After an early dinner at the chateau we +returned to Florence, and my venison next day arriving, it was +distributed among my American friends in the city. + +Shortly after the hunt the King returned from Milan, and then honored +me with a military dinner, his Majesty and all the guests, numbering +eighty, appearing in full uniform. The banqueting hall was lighted +with hundreds of wax candles, there was a profusion of beautiful +flowers, and to me the scene altogether was one of unusual +magnificence. The table service was entirely of gold--the celebrated +set of the house of Savoy--and behind the chair of each guest stood a +servant in powdered wig and gorgeous livery of red plush. I sat at +the right of the King, who--his hands resting on his sword, the hilt +of which glittered with jewels--sat through the hour and a half at +table without once tasting food or drink, for it was his rule to eat +but two meals in twenty-four hours--breakfast at noon, and dinner at +midnight. The King remained silent most of the time, but when he did +speak, no matter on what subject, he inevitably drifted back to +hunting. He never once referred to the Franco-Prussian war, nor to +the political situation in his own country, then passing through a +crisis. In taking leave of his Majesty I thanked him with deep +gratitude for honoring me so highly, and his response was that if +ever he came to America to hunt buffalo, he should demand my +assistance. + +From Florence I went to Milan and Geneva, then to Nice, Marseilles, +and Bordeaux. Assembled at Bordeaux was a convention which had been +called together by the government of the National Defense for the +purpose of confirming or rejecting the terms of an armistice of +twenty-one days, arranged between Jules Favre and Count Bismarck in +negotiations begun at Versailles the latter part of January. The +convention was a large body, chosen from all parts of France, and was +unquestionably the most noisy, unruly and unreasonable set of beings +that I ever saw in a legislative assembly. The frequent efforts of +Thiers, Jules Favre, and other leading men to restrain the more +impetuous were of little avail. When at the sittings a delegate +arose to speak on some question, he was often violently pulled to his +seat and then surrounded by a mob of his colleagues, who would throw +off their coats and gesticulate wildly, as though about to fight. + +But the bitter pill of defeat had to be swallowed in some way, so the +convention delegated M. Thiers to represent the executive power of +the country, with authority to construct a ministry three +commissioners were appointed by the Executive, to enter into further +negotiations with Count Bismarck at Versailles and arrange a peace, +the terms of which, however, were to be submitted to the convention +for final action. Though there had been so much discussion, it took +but a few days to draw up and sign a treaty at Versailles, the +principal negotiators being Thiers and Jules Favre for France, and +Bismarck on the part of the Germans. The terms agreed upon provided +for the occupation of Paris till ratification should be had by the +convention at Bordeaux; learning of which stipulation from our +Minister, Mr. Washburn, I hurried off to Paris to see the conquerors +make their triumphal entry. + +In the city the excitement was at fever heat, of course; the entire +population protesting with one voice that they would never, never +look upon the hated Germans marching through their beloved city. No! +when the day arrived they would hide themselves in their houses, or +shut their eyes to such a hateful sight. But by the 1st of March a +change had come over the fickle Parisians, for at an early hour the +sidewalks were jammed with people, and the windows and doors of the +houses filled with men, women, and children eager to get a look at +the conquerors. Only a few came in the morning, however--an advance- +-guard of perhaps a thousand cavalry and infantry. The main column +marched from the Arc-de-Triomphe toward the middle of the afternoon. +In its composition it represented United Germany--Saxons, Bavarians, +and the Royal Guard of Prussia--and, to the strains of martial music, +moving down the Champ Elysees to the Place de la Concorde, was +distributed thence over certain sections of the city agreed upon +beforehand. Nothing that could be called a disturbance took place +during the march; and though there was a hiss now and then and +murmurings of discontent, yet the most noteworthy mutterings were +directed against the defunct Empire. Indeed, I found everywhere that +the national misfortunes were laid at Napoleon's door--he, by this +time, having become a scapegoat for every blunder of the war. + +The Emperor William (he had been proclaimed German Emperor at +Versailles the 18th of January) did not accompany his troops into +Paris, though he reviewed them at Long Champs before they started. +After the occupation of the city he still remained at Versailles, and +as soon as circumstances would permit, I repaired to the Imperial +headquarters to pay my respects to his Majesty under his new title +and dignities, and to say good-bye. + +Besides the Emperor, the only persons I me at Versailles were General +von Moltke and Bismarck. His Majesty was in a very agreeable frame +of mind, and as bluff and hearty as usual. His increased rank and +power had effected no noticeable change of any kind in him, and by +his genial and cordial ways he made me think that my presence with +the German army had contributed to his pleasure. Whether this was +really so or not, I shall always believe it true, for his kind words +and sincere manner could leave no other conclusion. + +General von Moltke was, as usual, quiet and reserved, betraying not +the slightest consciousness of his great ability, nor the least +indication of pride on account of his mighty work. I say this +advisedly, for it is an undoubted fact that it was. his marvelous +mind that perfected the military system by which 800,000 men were +mobilized with unparalleled celerity and moved with such certainty of +combination that, in a campaign of seven months, the military power +of France was destroyed and her vast resources sorely crippled. + +I said good-bye to Count Bismarck, also, for at that busy time the +chances of seeing him again were very remote. The great Chancellor +manifested more joy over the success of the Germans than did anyone +else at the Imperial headquarters. Along with his towering strength +of mind and body, his character partook of much of the enthusiasm and +impulsiveness commonly restricted to younger men, and now in his +frank, free way be plainly showed his light-heartedness and +gratification at success. That which for years his genius had been +planning and striving for--permanent unification of the German +States, had been accomplished by the war. It had welded them +together in a compact Empire which no power in Europe could disrupt, +and as such a union was the aim of Bismarck's life, he surely had a +right to feel jubilant. + +Thanks to the courtesies extended me, I had been able to observe the +principal battles, and study many of the minor details of a war +between two of the greatest military nations of the world, and to +examine critically the methods followed abroad for subsisting, +equipping, and manoeuvring vast bodies of men during a stupendous, +campaign. Of course I found a great deal to interest and instruct +me, yet nowadays war is pretty much the same everywhere, and this one +offered no marked exception to my previous experiences. The methods +pursued on the march were the same as we would employ, with one most +important exception. Owing to the density of population throughout +France it was always practicable for the Germans to quarter their +troops in villages, requiring the inhabitants to subsist both +officers and men. Hence there was no necessity for camp and garrison +equipage, nor enormous provision trains, and the armies were +unencumbered by these impedimenta, indispensable when operating in a +poor and sparsely settled country. As I have said before, the only +trains were those for ammunition, pontoon-boats, and the field +telegraph, and all these were managed by special corps. If +transportation was needed for other purposes, it was obtained by +requisition from the invaded country, just as food and forage were +secured. Great celerity of combination was therefore possible, the +columns moving in compact order, and as all the roads were broad and +macadamized, there was little or nothing to delay or obstruct the +march of the Germans, except when their enemy offered resistance, but +even this was generally slight and not very frequent, for the French +were discouraged by disaster from the very outset of the campaign + +The earlier advantages gained bythe Germans may be ascribed to the +strikingly prompt mobilization of their armies, one of the most +noticeable features of their perfect military system, devised by +almost autocratic power; their later successes were greatly aided by +the blunders of the French, whose stupendous errors materially +shortened the war, though even if prolonged it could, in my opinion, +have had ultimately no other termination. + +As I have previously stated, the first of these blunders was the +acceptance of battle by MacMahon at Worth; the second in attaching +too much importance to the fortified position of Metz, resulting in +three battles Colombey, Mars-la-Tour, and Gravelotte--all of which +were lost; and the third, the absurd movement of MacMahon along the +Belgian frontier to relieve Metz, the responsibility for which, I am +glad to say, does not belong to him. + +With the hemming in of Bazaine at Metz and the capture of MacMahon's +army at Sedan the crisis of the war was passed, and the Germans +practically the victors. The taking of Paris was but a sentiment-- +the money levy could have been made and the Rhine provinces held +without molesting that city, and only the political influences +consequent upon the changes in the French Government caused peace to +be deferred. + +I did not have much opportunity to observe the German cavalry, either +on the march or in battle. The only time I saw any of it engaged was +in the unfortunate charge at Gravelotte. That proved its mettle good +and discipline fair, but answered no other purpose. Such of it as +was not attached to the infantry was organized in divisions, and +operated in accordance with the old idea of covering the front and +flanks of the army, a duty which it thoroughly performed. But thus +directed it was in no sense an independent corps, and hence cannot +be, said to have accomplished anything in the campaign, or have had a +weight or influence at all proportionate to its strength. The method +of its employment seemed to me a mistake, for, being numerically +superior to the French cavalry, had it been massed and manoeuvred +independently of the infantry, it could easily have broken up the +French communications, and done much other work of weighty influence +in the prosecution of the war. + +The infantry was as fine as I ever saw, the men young and hardy in +appearance, and marching always with an elastic stride. The infantry +regiment, however, I thought too large--too many men for a colonel to +command unless he has the staff of a general--but this objection may +be counterbalanced by the advantages resulting from associating +together thus intimately the men from the same district, or county as +we would call it; the celerity of mobilization, and, in truth, the +very foundation of the German system, being based on this local or +territorial scheme of recruiting. + +There was no delay when the call sounded for the march; all turned +out promptly, and while on the road there was very little straggling, +only the sick falling out. But on such fine, smooth roads, and with +success animating the men from the day they struck the first blow, it +could hardly be expected that the columns would not keep well closed +up. Then, too, it must be borne in mind that, as already stated, +'campaigning' in France--that is, the marching, camping, and +subsisting of an army--is an easy matter, very unlike anything we, +had during the war of the rebellion. To repeat: the country is rich, +beautiful, and densely populated, subsistence abundant, and the +roads--all macadamized highways; thus the conditions; are altogether +different from those existing with us. I think that under the same +circumstances our troops would have done as well as the Germans, +marched as admirably, made combinations as quickly and accurately, +and fought with as much success. I can but leave to conjecture how. +the Germans would have got along on bottomless roads--often none at +all--through the swamps and quicksands of northern Virginia, from, +the Wilderness to Petersburg, and from Chattanooga to Atlanta and the +sea. + +Following the operations of the German armies from the battle of +Gravelotte to the siege of Paris, I may, in conclusion, say that I +saw no new military principles developed, whether of strategy or +grand tactics, the movements of the different armies and corps being +dictated and governed by the same general laws that have so long +obtained, simplicity of combination and manoeuvre, and the +concentration of a numerically superior force at the vital point. + +After my brief trip to Versailles, I remained in Paris till the +latter part of March. In company with Mr. Washburn, I visited the +fortifications for the defense of the city, and found them to be +exceptionally heavy; so strong, indeed, that it would have been very +hard to carry the place by a general assault. The Germans, knowing +the character of the works, had refrained from the sacrifice of life +that such an attempt must entail, though they well knew that many of +the forts were manned by unseasoned soldiers. With only a combat +here and there, to tighten their lines or repulse a sortie, they +wisely preferred to wait till starvation should do the work with +little loss and absolute certainty. + +The Germans were withdrawn from Paris on the 3d of March, and no +sooner were they gone than factional quarrels, which had been going +on at intervals ever since the flight of the Empress and the fall of +her regency on the 4th of September, were renewed with revolutionary +methods that eventually brought about the Commune. Having witnessed +one or two of these outbreaks, and concluding that while such +turbulence reigned in the city it would be of little profit for me to +tarry there, I decided to devote the rest of the time I could be away +from home to travel in England, Ireland, and Scotland. My journeys +through those countries were full of pleasure and instruction, but as +nothing I saw or did was markedly different from what has been so +often described by others, I will save the reader this part of my +experience. I returned to America in the fall, having been absent a +little more than a year, and although I saw much abroad of absorbing +interest, both professional and general, yet I came back to my native +land with even a greater love for her, and with increased admiration +for her institutions. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext Personal Memoirs of Sheridan, Entire +By Philip Henry Sheridan + diff --git a/old/3shdn10.zip b/old/3shdn10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..739cc99 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/3shdn10.zip diff --git a/old/3shdn11h.zip b/old/3shdn11h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..04394e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/3shdn11h.zip diff --git a/old/orig4362-h.zip b/old/orig4362-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3bfad09 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig4362-h.zip diff --git a/old/orig4362-h/4362-h.htm b/old/orig4362-h/4362-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e84122e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig4362-h/4362-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,568 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN, Complete</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { + text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 95% } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + +<h2><a href="#contents">MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN</a></h2> +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General P. H. Sheridan, +Complete, by General Philip Henry Sheridan + +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.net + + +Title: The Memoirs of General P. H. Sheridan, Complete + +Author: General Philip Henry Sheridan + +Release Date: August 16, 2006 [EBook #4362] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br><br> + + + +<h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF +<br> +<br>P. H. SHERIDAN</h1> + + +<br><br> + +<center><h2>Complete</h2></center> + + +<a name="contents"></a> +<br><br> + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> + + +<tr><td><a href="p1.htm"><b>Part 1.</b></a> </td><td> Chapter </td><td> I. </td><td> to </td><td> VIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p2.htm"><b>Part 2.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> IX.</td><td> to </td><td> XV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p3.htm"><b>Part 3.</b></a></td><td> Chapter</td><td> XVI. </td><td>to </td><td> XXIV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p4.htm"><b>Part 4.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> I. </td><td> to </td><td> V.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p5.htm"><b>Part 5.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> VI.</td><td> to </td><td> XI.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p6.htm"><b>Part 6.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> XII.</td><td> to </td><td> XX.</td></tr> + + + +</table> +</center> + + + + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center><img alt="Cover.jpg (168K)" src="images/BookCover.jpg" height="963" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Spines.jpg (76K)" src="images/Spines.jpg" height="1425" width="597"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Titlepage.jpg (28K)" src="images/Titlepage.jpg" height="1039" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> + +<a name="Frontpiece"></a> +<br><br> + +<center><img alt="Frontpiece.jpg (70K)" src="images/Frontpiece.jpg" height="1007" width="541"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<center><img alt="Frontpiece2.jpg (99K)" src="images/Frontpiece2.jpg" height="927" width="650"> +</center> + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> + + +<tr><td><a href="p1.htm"><b>Part 1.</b></a> </td><td> Chapter </td><td> I. </td><td> to </td><td> VIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p2.htm"><b>Part 2.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> IX.</td><td> to </td><td> XV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p3.htm"><b>Part 3.</b></a></td><td> Chapter</td><td> XVI. </td><td>to </td><td> XXIV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p4.htm"><b>Part 4.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> I. </td><td> to </td><td> V.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p5.htm"><b>Part 5.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> VI.</td><td> to </td><td> XI.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p6.htm"><b>Part 6.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> XII.</td><td> to </td><td> XX.</td></tr> + + + +</table> +</center> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General P. 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margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + +<h2><a href="#contents">MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN</a></h2> +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General P. H. Sheridan, +Complete, by General Philip Henry Sheridan + +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.net + + +Title: The Memoirs of General P. H. Sheridan, Complete + +Author: General Philip Henry Sheridan + +Release Date: August 16, 2006 [EBook #4362] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br><br> + + + +<h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF +<br> +<br>P. H. SHERIDAN</h1> + + +<br><br> + +<center><h2>Complete</h2></center> + + +<a name="contents"></a> +<br><br> + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> + + +<tr><td><a href="p1.htm"><b>Part 1.</b></a> </td><td> Chapter </td><td> I. </td><td> to </td><td> VIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p2.htm"><b>Part 2.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> IX.</td><td> to </td><td> XV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p3.htm"><b>Part 3.</b></a></td><td> Chapter</td><td> XVI. </td><td>to </td><td> XXIV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p4.htm"><b>Part 4.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> I. </td><td> to </td><td> V.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p5.htm"><b>Part 5.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> VI.</td><td> to </td><td> XI.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p6.htm"><b>Part 6.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> XII.</td><td> to </td><td> XX.</td></tr> + + + +</table> +</center> + + + + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br> +<center><img alt="Cover.jpg (168K)" src="images/BookCover.jpg" height="963" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Spines.jpg (76K)" src="images/Spines.jpg" height="1425" width="597"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Titlepage.jpg (28K)" src="images/Titlepage.jpg" height="1039" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> + +<a name="Frontpiece"></a> +<br><br> + +<center><img alt="Frontpiece.jpg (70K)" src="images/Frontpiece.jpg" height="1007" width="541"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<center><img alt="Frontpiece2.jpg (99K)" src="images/Frontpiece2.jpg" height="927" width="650"> +</center> + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> + + +<tr><td><a href="p1.htm"><b>Part 1.</b></a> </td><td> Chapter </td><td> I. </td><td> to </td><td> VIII.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p2.htm"><b>Part 2.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> IX.</td><td> to </td><td> XV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p3.htm"><b>Part 3.</b></a></td><td> Chapter</td><td> XVI. </td><td>to </td><td> XXIV.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p4.htm"><b>Part 4.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> I. </td><td> to </td><td> V.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p5.htm"><b>Part 5.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> VI.</td><td> to </td><td> XI.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="p6.htm"><b>Part 6.</b></a></td><td> Chapter </td><td> XII.</td><td> to </td><td> XX.</td></tr> + + + +</table> +</center> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General P. H. Sheridan, +Complete, by General Philip Henry Sheridan + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN *** + +***** This file should be named 4362-h.htm or 4362-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.net/4/3/6/4362/ + +Produced by David Widger + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + http://www.gutenberg.net/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + http://www.gutenberg.net/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + http://www.gutenberg.net/GUTINDEX.ALL + + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/orig4362-h/p1.htm b/old/orig4362-h/p1.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..22365ad --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig4362-h/p1.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3132 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN, Vol. I., Part 1</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { + text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 95% } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p2.htm">Next Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + + + +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<center><h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF + +<br>P. H. SHERIDAN</h1></center> + + +<br><br> + +<center><h2>VOLUME I.</h2></center> + +<center><h2>Part 1.</h2></center> +<br><br> + + + + +<br><hr> +<br> + + + +<br><br> + + +<center><img alt="Cover.jpg (168K)" src="images/Cover.jpg" height="963" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Spines.jpg (76K)" src="images/Spines.jpg" height="1425" width="597"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Titlepage.jpg (28K)" src="images/Titlepage.jpg" height="1039" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> + +<a name="Frontpiece"></a> +<br><br> + +<center><img alt="Frontpiece.jpg (70K)" src="images/Frontpiece.jpg" height="1007" width="541"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + +<a href="#ch1">CHAPTER I.</a><br> +Ancestry—Birth—Early Education—A Clerk in a <br> +Grocery Store—Appointment—Monroe Shoes—Journey <br> +to West Point—Hazing—A Fisticuff Battle Suspended<br> +—Returns to Clerkship—Graduation<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch2">CHAPTER II.</a><br> +Ordered to Fort Duncan, Texas—"Northers"—Scouting <br> +Duty—Hunting—Nearly Caught by the Indians—<br> +A Primitive Habitation—A Brave Drummer Boy's Death<br> +—A Mexican Ball<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch3">CHAPTER III.</a><br> +Ordered to Fort Reading, Cal.—A Dangerous Undertaking<br> +—A Rescued Soldier—Discovering Indians<br> +—Primitive Fishing—A Deserted Village<br> +—Camping Opposite Fort Vancouver<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch4">CHAPTER IV.</a><br> +"Old Red"—Skillful Shooting—The Yalima War<br> +—A Ludicrous Mistake—Cut-mouth John's Encounter<br> +—Father Pandoza's Mission—A Snow-Storm <br> +—Failure of the Expedition<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch5">CHAPTER V.</a><br> +An Indian Confederation—Massacre at the Cascades <br> +of the Columbia—Plan to Relieve the Block-House<br> +—A Hazardous Movement— A New Method of Establishing <br> +Guilt—Execution of the Indian Murderers<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch6">CHAPTER VI.</a><br> +Misdirected Vengeance — Honorable Mention <br> +—A Change of Command—Educated Oxen—Feeding <br> +the Indians—Purchasing a Burying-Ground<br> +—Knowing Rats<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch7">CHAPTER VII.</a><br> +Learning the Chinook Language—Strange Indian Customs<br> +—Their Doctors—Sam Patch—The Murder of a Woman<br> +—In a Tight Place—Surprising the Indians<br> +—Conflicting Reports of the Battle of Bull Run<br> +—Secession Question in California—Appointed<br> +a Captain—Transferred to the East<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch8">CHAPTER VIII.</a><br> +Auditing Accounts—Chief Quartermaster and Commissary <br> +of the Army of Southwest Missouri—Preparing for <br> +the Pea Ridge Campaign—A Difference with General <br> +Curtis—Ordered to the Front—Appointed a Colonel<br> +<br> +<br> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS </h2> + + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + +<a href="#Frontpiece">Steel Portrait—General P. H. Sheridan</a> <br> +<br> + +<a href="#p048">Lieutenant Williamson's Trail from Fort Reading, Cal., <br> +to Fort Vancouver </a> <br><br> +<a href="#p077">Lieutenant Sheridan's Fight at the Cascades<br> +of the Columbia in 1856</a> <br> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br> +<br> + +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><h2>VOLUME I.</h2></center> + +<center><h2>PART 1.</h2></center> +<br><br> +<center><h3>By Philip Henry Sheridan</h3></center> +<br><br> + + + +<center><h2>PREFACE</h2></center> +<br> +<p>When, yielding to the solicitations of my friends, I finally decided +to write these Memoirs, the greatest difficulty which confronted me +was that of recounting my share in the many notable events of the +last three decades, in which I played a part, without entering too +fully into the history of these years, and at the same time without +giving to my own acts an unmerited prominence. To what extent I have +overcome this difficulty I must leave the reader to judge.</p> + +<p>In offering this record, penned by my own hand, of the events of my +life, and of my participation in our great struggle for national +existence, human liberty, and political equality, I make no +pretension to literary merit; the importance of the subject-matter of +my narrative is my only claim on the reader's attention.</p> + +<p>Respectfully dedicating this work to my comrades in arms during the +War of the Rebellion, I leave it as a heritage to my children, and as +a source of information for the future historian.</p> + +<p>P. H. SHERIDAN.</p> + +<p>Nonguitt, Mass., August 2, 1888</p> + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<center><h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS</h1></center> +<br> +<center><h2>P. H. SHERIDAN.</h2></center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<center><h2>PART I.</h2></center> +<br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch1"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2></center> +<br> +<p>ANCESTRY—BIRTH—EARLY EDUCATION—A CLERK IN A GROCERY +STORE—APPOINTMENT—MONROE SHOES—JOURNEY TO WEST +POINT—HAZING—A FISTICUFF BATTLE—SUSPENDED—RETURNS TO CLERKSHIP—GRADUATION.</p> + +<p>My parents, John and Mary Sheridan, came to America in 1830, having +been induced by the representations of my father's uncle, Thomas +Gainor, then living in Albany, N. Y., to try their fortunes in the +New World: They were born and reared in the County Cavan, Ireland, +where from early manhood my father had tilled a leasehold on the +estate of Cherrymoult; and the sale of this leasehold provided him +with means to seek a new home across the sea. My parents were +blood relations—cousins in the second degree—my mother, whose +maiden name was Minor, having descended from a collateral branch of +my father's family. Before leaving Ireland they had two children, +and on the 6th of March, 1831, the year after their arrival in this +country, I was born, in Albany, N. Y., the third child in a family +which eventually increased to six—four boys and two girls.</p> + +<p>The prospects for gaining a livelihood in Albany did not meet the +expectations which my parents had been led to entertain, so in 1832 +they removed to the West, to establish themselves in the village of +Somerset, in Perry County, Ohio, which section, in the earliest days +of the State; had been colonized from Pennsylvania and Maryland. At +this period the great public works of the Northwest—the canals and +macadamized roads, a result of clamor for internal improvements—were +in course of construction, and my father turned his attention to +them, believing that they offered opportunities for a successful +occupation. Encouraged by a civil engineer named Bassett, who had +taken a fancy to him, he put in bids for a small contract on the +Cumberland Road, known as the "National Road," which was then being +extended west from the Ohio River. A little success in this first +enterprise led him to take up contracting as a business, which he +followed on various canals and macadamized roads then building in +different parts of the State of Ohio, with some good fortune for +awhile, but in 1853 what little means he had saved were swallowed up +—in bankruptcy, caused by the failure of the Sciota and Hocking +Valley Railroad Company, for which he was fulfilling a contract at +the time, and this disaster left him finally only a small farm, just +outside the village of Somerset, where he dwelt until his death in +1875.</p> + +<p>My father's occupation kept him away from home much of the time +during my boyhood, and as a consequence I grew up under the sole +guidance and training of my mother, whose excellent common sense and +clear discernment in every way fitted her for such maternal duties. +When old enough I was sent to the village school, which was taught by +an old-time Irish "master"—one of those itinerant dominies of the +early frontier—who, holding that to spare the rod was to spoil the +child, if unable to detect the real culprit when any offense had been +committed, would consistently apply the switch to the whole school +without discrimination. It must be conceded that by this means he +never failed to catch the guilty mischief-maker. The school-year was +divided into terms of three months, the teacher being paid in each +term a certain sum—three dollars, I think, for each pupil-and having +an additional perquisite in the privilege of boarding around at his +option in the different families to which his scholars belonged. +This feature was more than acceptable to the parents at times, for +how else could they so thoroughly learn all the neighborhood gossip? +But the pupils were in almost unanimous opposition, because Mr. +McNanly's unheralded advent at any one's house resulted frequently in +the discovery that some favorite child had been playing "hookey," +which means (I will say to the uninitiated, if any such there be) +absenting one's self from school without permission, to go on a +fishing or a swimming frolic. Such at least was my experience more +than once, for Mr. McNanly particularly favored my mother's house, +because of a former acquaintanceship in Ireland, and many a time a +comparison of notes proved that I had been in the woods with two +playfellows, named Binckly and Greiner, when the master thought I was +home, ill, and my mother, that I was at school, deeply immersed in +study. However, with these and other delinquencies not uncommon +among boys, I learned at McNanly's school, and a little later, under +a pedagogue named Thorn, a smattering of geography and history, and +explored the mysteries of Pike's Arithmetic and Bullions' English +Grammar, about as far as I could be carried up to the age of +fourteen. This was all the education then bestowed upon me, and +this—with the exception of progressing in some of these branches by +voluntary study, and by practical application in others, supplemented +by a few months of preparation after receiving my appointment as a +cadet—was the extent of my learning on entering the Military +Academy.</p> + +<p>When about fourteen years old I began to do something for myself; Mr. +John Talbot, who kept a country store in the village, employing me to +deal out sugar, coffee, and calico to his customers at the munificent +salary of twenty-four dollars a year. After I had gained a +twelve-months' experience with Mr. Talbot my services began to be sought by, +others, and a Mr. David Whitehead secured them by the offer of sixty +dollars a year—Talbot refusing to increase my pay, but not objecting +to my advancement. A few months later, before my year was up, +another chance to increase my salary came about; Mr. Henry Dittoe, +the enterprising man of the village, offering me one hundred and +twenty dollars a year to take a position in the dry-goods store of +Fink & Dittoe. I laid the matter before Mr. Whitehead, and he +frankly advised me to accept, though he cautioned me that I might +regret it, adding that he was afraid Henry (referring to Mr. Dittoe) +"had too many irons in the fire." His warning in regard to the +enterprising merchant proved a prophecy, for "too many irons in the +fire" brought about Mr. Dittoe's bankruptcy, although this misfortune +did not befall him till long after I had left his service. I am glad +to say, however, that his failure was an exceptionally honest one, +and due more to the fact that he was in advance of his surroundings +than to any other cause.</p> + +<p>I remained with Fink & Dittoe until I entered the Military Academy, +principally in charge of the book-keeping, which was no small work +for one of my years, considering that in those days the entire +business of country stores in the West was conducted on the credit +system; the customers, being mostly farmers, never expecting to pay +till the product of their farms could be brought to market; and even +then usually squared the book-accounts by notes of hand, that were +often slow of collection.</p> + +<p>From the time I ceased to attend school my employment had +necessitated, to a certain degree, the application of what I had +learned there, and this practical instruction I reinforced somewhat +by doing considerable reading in a general way, until ultimately I +became quite a local authority in history, being frequently chosen as +arbiter in discussions and disputes that arose in the store. The +Mexican War, then going on, furnished, of course, a never-ending +theme for controversy, and although I was too young to enter the +military service when volunteers were mustering in our section, yet +the stirring events of the times so much impressed and absorbed me +that my sole wish was to become a soldier, and my highest aspiration +to go to West Point as a Cadet from my Congressional district. My +chances for this seemed very remote, however, till one day an +opportunity was thrown in my way by the boy who then held the place +failing to pass his examination. When I learned that by this +occurrence a vacancy existed, I wrote to our representative in +Congress, the Hon. Thomas Ritchey, and asked him for the appointment, +reminding him that we had often met in Fink & Dittoe's store, and +that therefore he must know something of my qualifications. He +responded promptly by enclosing my warrant for the class of 1848; so, +notwithstanding the many romances that have been published about the +matter, to Mr. Ritchey, and to him alone, is due all the credit—if +my career justifies that term—of putting me in the United States +Army.</p> + +<p>At once I set about preparing for the examination which precedes +admission to the Military Academy, studying zealously under the +direction of Mr. William Clark; my old teachers, McNanly and Thorn, +having disappeared from Somerset and sought new fields of usefulness. +The intervening months passed rapidly away, and I fear that I did not +make much progress, yet I thought I should be able to pass the +preliminary examination. That which was to follow worried me more +and gave me many sleepless nights; but these would have been less in +number, I fully believe, had it not been for one specification of my, +outfit which the circular that accompanied my appointment demanded. +This requirement was a pair of "Monroe shoes." Now, out in Ohio, +what "Monroe shoes" were was a mystery—not a shoemaker in my section +having so much as an inkling of the construction of the perplexing +things, until finally my eldest brother brought an idea of them from +Baltimore, when it was found that they were a familiar pattern under +another name.</p> + +<p>At length the time for my departure came, and I set out for West +Point, going by way of Cleveland and across Lake Erie to Buffalo. On +the steamer I fell in with another appointee en route to the academy, +David S. Stanley, also from Ohio; and when our acquaintanceship had +ripened somewhat, and we had begun to repose confidence in each +other, I found out that he had no "Monroe shoes," so I deemed myself +just that much ahead of my companion, although my shoes might not +conform exactly to the regulations in Eastern style and finish. At +Buffalo, Stanley and I separated, he going by the Erie Canal and I by +the railroad, since I wanted to gain time on account of commands to +stop in Albany to see my father's uncle. Here I spent a few days, +till Stanley reached Albany, when we journeyed together down the +river to West Point. The examination began a few days after our +arrival, and I soon found myself admitted to the Corps of Cadets, to +date from July 1, 1848, in a class composed of sixty-three members, +many of whom—for example, Stanley, Slocum, Woods, Kautz, and +Crook—became prominent generals in later years, and commanded divisions, +corps, and armies in the war of the rebellion.</p> + +<p>Quickly following my admission I was broken in by a course of hazing, +with many of the approved methods that the Cadets had handed down +from year to year since the Academy was founded; still, I escaped +excessive persecution, although there were in my day many occurrences +so extreme as to call forth condemnation and an endeavor to suppress +the senseless custom, which an improved civilization has now about +eradicated, not only at West Point, but at other colleges.</p> + +<p>Although I had met the Academic board and come off with fair success, +yet I knew so little of Algebra or any of the higher branches of +mathematics that during my first six months at the Academy I was +discouraged by many misgivings as to the future, for I speedily +learned that at the January examination the class would have to stand +a test much severer than that which had been applied to it on +entering. I resolved to try hard, however, and, besides, good +fortune gave me for a room-mate a Cadet whose education was more +advanced than mine, and whose studious habits and willingness to aid +others benefited me immensely. This room-mate was Henry W. Slocum, +since so signally distinguished in both military and civil capacities +as to win for his name a proud place in the annals of his country. +After taps—that is, when by the regulations of the Academy all the +lights were supposed to be extinguished, and everybody in bed—Slocum +and I would hang a blanket over the one window of our room and +continue our studies—he guiding me around scores of stumbling-blocks +in Algebra and elucidating many knotty points in other branches of +the course with which I was unfamiliar. On account of this +association I went up before the Board in January with less +uneasiness than otherwise would have been the case, and passed the +examination fairly well. When it was over, a self-confidence in my +capacity was established that had not existed hitherto, and at each +succeeding examination I gained a little in order of merit till my +furlough summer came round—that is, when I was half through the +four-year course.</p> + +<p>My furlough in July and August, 1850, was spent at my home in Ohio, +with the exception of a visit or two to other Cadets on furlough in +the State, and at the close of my leave I returned to the Academy in +the full expectation of graduating with my class in 1852.</p> + +<p>A quarrel of a belligerent character in September 1851, with Cadet +William R. Terrill, put an end to this anticipation, however, and +threw me back into the class which graduated in 1853. Terrill was a +Cadet Sergeant, and, while my company was forming for parade, having, +given me an order, in what I considered an improper tone, to "dress" +in a certain direction, when I believed I was accurately dressed, I +fancied I had a grievance, and made toward him with a lowered +bayonet, but my better judgment recalled me before actual contact +could take place. Of course Terrill reported me for this, and my ire +was so inflamed by his action that when we next met I attacked him, +and a fisticuff engagement in front of barracks followed, which was +stopped by an officer appearing on the scene. Each of us handed in +an explanation, but mine was unsatisfactory to the authorities, for I +had to admit that I was the assaulting party, and the result was that +I was suspended by the Secretary of War, Mr. Conrad, till August 28, +1852—the Superintendent of the Academy, Captain Brewerton, being +induced to recommend this milder course, he said, by my previous good +conduct. At the time I thought, of course, my suspension a very +unfair punishment, that my conduct was justifiable and the +authorities of the Academy all wrong, but riper experience has led me +to a different conclusion, and as I look back, though the +mortification I then endured was deep and trying, I am convinced that +it was hardly as much as I deserved for such an outrageous breach of +discipline.</p> + +<p>There was no question as to Terrill's irritating tone, but in giving +me the order he was prompted by the duty of his position as a file +closer, and I was not the one to remedy the wrong which I conceived +had been done me, and clearly not justifiable in assuming to correct +him with my own hands. In 1862, when General Buell's army was +assembling at Louisville, Terrill was with it as a brigadier-general +(for, although a Virginian, he had remained loyal), and I then took +the initiative toward a renewal of our acquaintance. Our renewed +friendship was not destined to be of long duration, I am sorry to +say, for a few days later, in the battle of Perryville, while +gallantly fighting for his country, poor Terrill was killed.</p> + +<p>My suspension necessitated my leaving the Academy, and I returned +home in the fall of 1851, much crestfallen. Fortunately, my good +friend Henry Dittoe again gave me employment in keeping the books of +his establishment, and this occupation of my time made the nine +months which were to elapse before I could go back to West Point pass +much more agreeably than they would have done had I been idle. In +August, 1852, I joined the first class at the Academy in accordance +with the order of the War Department, taking my place at the foot of +the class and graduating with it the succeeding June, number +thirty-four in a membership of fifty-two. At the head of this class +graduated James B. McPherson, who was killed in the Atlanta campaign +while commanding the Army of the Tennessee. It also contained such +men as John M. Schofield, who commanded the Army of the Ohio; Joshua +W. Sill, killed as a brigadier in the battle of Stone River; and many +others who, in the war of the rebellion, on one side or the other, +rose to prominence, General John B. Hood being the most distinguished +member of the class among the Confederates.</p> + +<p>At the close of the final examination I made no formal application +for assignment to any particular arm of the service, for I knew that +my standing would not entitle me to one of the existing vacancies, +and that I should be obliged to take a place among the brevet second +lieutenants. When the appointments were made I therefore found +myself attached to the First Infantry, well pleased that I had +surmounted all the difficulties that confront the student at our +national school, and looking forward with pleasant anticipation to +the life before me.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch2"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>ORDERED TO FORT DUNCAN, TEXAS—"NORTHERS"—SCOUTING +DUTY—HUNTING—NEARLY CAUGHT BY THE INDIANS—A PRIMITIVE HABITATION—A BRAVE +DRUMMERBOY'S DEATH—A MEXICAN BALL.</p> + +<p>On the 1st day of July, 1853, I was commissioned a brevet second +lieutenant in the First Regiment of United States Infantry, then +stationed in Texas. The company to which I was attached was +quartered at Fort Duncan, a military post on the Rio Grande opposite +the little town of Piedras Negras, on the boundary line between the +United States and the Republic of Mexico.</p> + +<p>After the usual leave of three months following graduation from the +Military Academy I was assigned to temporary duty at Newport +Barracks, a recruiting station and rendezvous for the assignment of +young officers preparatory to joining their regiments. Here I +remained from September, 1853, to March, 1854, when I was ordered to +join my company at Fort Duncan. To comply with this order I +proceeded by steamboat down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New +Orleans, thence by steamer across the Gulf of Mexico to Indianola, +Tex., and after landing at that place, continued in a small schooner +through what is called the inside channel on the Gulf coast to Corpus +Christi, the headquarters of Brigadier-General Persifer F. Smith, who +was commanding the Department of Texas. Here I met some of my old +friends from the Military Academy, among them Lieutenant Alfred +Gibbs, who in the last year of the rebellion commanded under me a +brigade of cavalry, and Lieutenant Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, of the +Mounted Rifles, who resigned in 1854 to accept service in the French +Imperial army, but to most of those about headquarters I was an +entire stranger. Among the latter was Captain Stewart Van Vliet, of +the Quartermaster's Department, now on the retired list. With him I +soon came in frequent contact, and, by reason of his connection with +the Quartermaster's Department, the kindly interest he took in +forwarding my business inaugurated between us—a lasting friendship.</p> + +<p>A day or two after my arrival at Corpus Christi a train of Government +wagons, loaded with subsistence stores and quartermaster's supplies, +started for Laredo, a small town on the Rio Grande below Fort Duncan. +There being no other means of reaching my station I put my small +personal possessions, consisting of a trunk, mattress, two blankets, +and a pillow into one of the heavily loaded wagons and proceeded to +join it, sitting on the boxes or bags of coffee and sugar, as I might +choose. The movement of the train was very slow, as the soil was +soft on the newly made and sandy roads. We progressed but a few +miles on our first day's journey, and in the evening parked our train +at a point where there was no wood, a scant supply of water—and that +of bad quality—but an abundance of grass. There being no +comfortable place to sleep in any of the wagons, filled as they were +to the bows with army supplies, I spread my blankets on the ground +between the wheels of one of them, and awoke in the morning feeling +as fresh and bright as would have been possible if all the comforts +of civilization had been at my command.</p> + +<p>It took our lumbering train many days to reach Laredo, a distance of +about one hundred and sixty miles from Corpus Christi. Each march +was but a repetition of the first day's journey, its monotony +occasionally relieved, though, by the passage of immense flocks of +ducks and geese, and the appearance at intervals of herds of deer, +and sometimes droves of wild cattle, wild horses and mules. The +bands of wild horses I noticed were sometimes led by mules, but +generally by stallions with long wavy manes, and flowing tails which +almost touched the ground.</p> + +<p>We arrived at Laredo during one of those severe storms incident to +that section, which are termed "Northers" from the fact that the +north winds culminate occasionally in cold windstorms, frequently +preceded by heavy rains. Generally the blow lasts for three days, +and the cold becomes intense and piercing. While the sudden +depression of the temperature is most disagreeable, and often causes +great suffering, it is claimed that these "Northers" make the climate +more healthy and endurable. They occur from October to May, and in +addition to the destruction which, through the sudden depression of +the temperature, they bring on the herds in the interior, they are +often of sufficient violence to greatly injure the harbors on the +coast.</p> + +<p>The post near Laredo was called Fort McIntosh, and at this period the +troops stationed there consisted of eight companies of the Fifth +Infantry and two of the First, one of the First Artillery, and three +of the Mounted Rifles. Just before the "Norther" began these troops +had completed a redoubt for the defense of the post, with the +exception of the ditches, but as the parapet was built of sand—the +only material about Laredo which could be obtained for its +construction—the severity of the winds was too much for such a +shifting substance, and the work was entirely blown away early in the +storm.</p> + +<p>I was pleasantly and hospitably welcomed by the officers at the post, +all of whom were living in tents, with no furniture except a cot and +trunk, and an improvised bed for a stranger, when one happened to +come along. After I had been kindly taken in by one of the younger +officers, I reported to the commanding officer, and was informed by +him that he would direct the quartermaster to furnish me, as soon as +convenient, with transportation to Fort Duncan, the station of my +company.</p> + +<p>In the course of a day or two, the quartermaster notified me that a +Government six-mule wagon would be placed at my disposal to proceed +to my destination. No better means offering, I concluded to set out +in this conveyance, and, since it was also to carry a quantity of +quartermaster's property for Fort Duncan, I managed to obtain room +enough for my bed in the limited space between the bows and load, +where I could rest tolerably well, and under cover at night, instead +of sleeping on the ground under the wagon, as I had done on the road +from Corpus Christi to Laredo.</p> + +<p>I reached Fort Duncan in March, 1854., and was kindly received by the +commanding officer of the regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson +Morris, and by the captain of my company ("D"), Eugene E. McLean, and +his charming wife the only daughter of General E. V. Sumner, who was +already distinguished in our service, but much better known in after +years in the operations of the Army of the Potomac, during its early +campaigns in Virginia. Shortly after joining company "D" I was sent +out on scouting duty with another company of the regiment to Camp La +Pena, about sixty or seventy miles east of Fort Duncan, in a section +of country that had for some time past been subjected to raids by the +Lipan and Comanche Indians. Our outpost at La Pena was intended as a +protection against the predatory incursions of these savages, so +almost constant scouting became a daily occupation. This enabled me +soon to become familiar with and make maps of the surrounding +country, and, through constant association with our Mexican guide, to +pick up in a short time quite a smattering of the Spanish language, +which was very useful to one serving on that frontier.</p> + +<p>At that early day western Texas was literally filled with game, and +the region in the immediate vicinity of La Pena contained its full +proportion of deer, antelope, and wild turkeys. The temptation to +hunt was therefore constantly before me, and a desire to indulge in +this pastime, whenever free from the legitimate duty of the camp, +soon took complete possession of me, so expeditions in pursuit of +game were of frequent occurrence. In these expeditions I was always +accompanied by a soldier named Frankman, belonging to "D" company, +who was a fine sportsman, and a butcher by trade. In a short period +I learned from Frankman how to approach and secure the different +species of game, and also how to dress and care for it when killed. +Almost every expedition we made was rewarded with a good supply of +deer, antelope, and wild turkeys, and we furnished the command in +camp with such abundance that it was relieved from the necessity of +drawing its beef ration, much to the discomfiture of the disgruntled +beef contractor.</p> + +<p>The camp at La Pena was on sandy ground, unpleasant for men and +animals, and by my advice it was moved to La Pendencia, not far from +Lake Espantosa. Before removal from our old location, however, early +one bright morning Frankman and I started on one of our customary +expeditions, going down La Pena Creek to a small creek, at the head +of which we had established a hunting rendezvous. After proceeding +along the stream for three or four miles we saw a column of smoke on +the prairie, and supposing it arose from a camp of Mexican rancheros +catching wild horses or wild cattle, and even wild mules, which were +very numerous in that section of country along the Nueces River, we +thought we would join the party and see how much success they were +having, and observe the methods employed in this laborious and +sometimes dangerous vocation. With this object in view, we continued +on until we found it necessary to cross to the other side of the +creek to reach the point indicated by the smoke. Just before +reaching the crossing I discovered moccasin tracks near the water's +edge, and realizing in an instant that the camp we were approaching +might possibly be one of hostile Indians—all Indians in that country +at that time were hostile—Frankman and I backed out silently, and +made eager strides for La Pena, where we had scarcely arrived when +Captain M. E. Van Buren, of the Mounted Rifle regiment, came in with +a small command, and reported that he was out in pursuit of a band of +Comanche Indians, which had been committing depredations up about +Fort Clark, but that he had lost the trail. I immediately informed +him of what had occurred to me during the morning, and that I could +put him on the trail of the Indians he was desirous of punishing.</p> + +<p>We hurriedly supplied with rations his small command of thirteen, +men, and I then conducted him to the point where I had seen the +smoke, and there we found signs indicating it to be the recently +abandoned camp of the Indians he was pursuing, and we also noticed +that prairie rats had formed the principal article of diet at the +meal they had just completed. As they had gone, I could do no more +than put him on the trail made in their departure, which was well +marked; for Indians, when in small parties, and unless pressed, +usually follow each other in single file. Captain Van Buren followed +the trail by Fort Ewell, and well down toward Corpus Christi, day and +night, until the Indians, exhausted and used up, halted, on an open +plain, unsaddled their horses, mounted bareback, and offered battle. +Their number was double that of Van Buren's detachment, but he +attacked them fearlessly, and in the fight was mortally wounded by an +arrow which entered his body in front, just above the sword belt, and +came through the belt behind. The principal chief of the Indians was +killed, and the rest fled. Captain Van Buren's men carried him to +Corpus Christi, where in a few days he died.</p> + +<p>After our removal to La Pendencia a similar pursuit of savages +occurred, but with more fortunate results. Colonel John H. King, now +on the retired list, then a captain in the First Infantry, came to +our camp in pursuit of a marauding band of hostile Indians, and I was +enabled to put him also on the trail. He soon overtook them, and +killing two without loss to himself, the band dispersed like a flock +of quail and left him nothing to follow. He returned to our camp +shortly after, and the few friendly Indian scouts he had with him +held a grand pow-wow and dance over the scalps of the fallen braves.</p> + +<p>Around La Pendencia, as at La Pena, the country abounded in deer, +antelope, wild turkeys, and quail, and we killed enough to supply +abundantly the whole command with the meat portion of the ration. +Some mornings Frankman and I would bring in as many as seven deer, +and our hunting expeditions made me so familiar with the region +between our camp and Fort Duncan, the headquarters of the regiment, +that I was soon enabled to suggest a more direct route of +communication than the circuitous one then traversed, and in a short +time it was established.</p> + +<p>Up to this time I had been on detached duty, but soon my own company +was ordered into the field to occupy a position on Turkey Creek, +about ten or twelve miles west of the Nueces River, on the road from +San Antonio to Fort Duncan, and I was required to join the company. +Here constant work and scouting were necessary, as our camp was +specially located with reference to protecting from Indian raids the +road running from San Antonio to Fort Duncan, and on to the interior +of Mexico. In those days this road was the great line of travel, and +Mexican caravans were frequently passing over it, to and fro, in such +a disorganized condition as often to invite attack from marauding +Comanches and Lipans. Our time, therefore, was incessantly occupied +in scouting, but our labors were much lightened because they were +directed with intelligence and justice by Captain McLean, whose +agreeable manners and upright methods are still so impressed on my +memory that to this day I look back upon my service with "D" Company +of the First Infantry as among those events which I remember with +most pleasure.</p> + +<p>In this manner my first summer of active field duty passed rapidly +away, and in the fall my company returned to Fort Duncan to go into +winter quarters. These quarters, when constructed, consisted of "A" +tents pitched under a shed improvised by the company. With only +these accommodations I at first lived around as best I could until +the command was quartered, and then, requesting a detail of wagons +from the quartermaster, I went out some thirty miles to get poles to +build a more comfortable habitation for myself. In a few days enough +poles for the construction of a modest residence were secured and +brought in, and then the building of my house began. First, the +poles were cut the proper length, planted in a trench around four +sides of a square of very small proportions, and secured at the top +by string-pieces stretched from one angle to another, in which +half-notches hack been made at proper intervals to receive the +uprights. The poles were then made rigid by strips nailed on +half-way to the ground, giving the sides of the structure firmness, +but the interstices were large and frequent; still, with the aid of +some old condemned paulins obtained from the quartermaster, the walls +were covered and the necessity for chinking obviated. This method of +covering the holes in the side walls also possessed the advantage of +permitting some little light to penetrate to the interior of the +house, and avoided the necessity of constructing a window, for which, +by the way, no glass could have been obtained. Next a good large +fire-place and chimney were built in one corner by means of stones +and mud, and then the roof was put on—a thatched one of prairie +grass. The floor was dirt compactly tamped.</p> + +<p>My furniture was very primitive: a chair or two, with about the same +number of camp stools, a cot, and a rickety old bureau that I +obtained in some way not now remembered. My washstand consisted of a +board about three feet long, resting on legs formed by driving sticks +into the ground until they held it at about the proper height from +the floor. This washstand was the most expensive piece of furniture +I owned, the board having cost me three dollars, and even then I +obtained it as a favor, for lumber on the Rio Grande was so scarce in +those days that to possess even the smallest quantity was to indulge +in great luxury. Indeed, about all that reached the post was what +came in the shape of bacon boxes, and the boards from these were +reserved for coffins in which to bury our dead.</p> + +<p>In this rude habitation I spent a happy winter, and was more +comfortably off than many of the officers, who had built none, but +lived in tents and took the chances of "Northers." During this period +our food was principally the soldier's ration: flour, pickled pork, +nasty bacon—cured in the dust of ground charcoal—and fresh beef, of +which we had a plentiful supply, supplemented with game of various +kinds. The sugar, coffee, and smaller parts of the ration were good, +but we had no vegetables, and the few jars of preserves and some few +vegetables kept by the sutler were too expensive to be indulged in. +So during all the period I lived at Fort Duncan and its sub-camps, +nearly sixteen months, fresh vegetables were practically +unobtainable. To prevent scurvy we used the juice of the maguey +plant, called pulque, and to obtain a supply of this anti-scorbutic I +was often detailed to march the company out about forty miles, cut +the plant, load up two or three wagons with the stalks, and carry +them to camp. Here the juice was extracted by a rude press, and put +in bottles until it fermented and became worse in odor than +sulphureted hydrogen. At reveille roll-call every morning this +fermented liquor was dealt out to the company, and as it was my duty, +in my capacity of subaltern, to attend these roll-calls and see that +the men took their ration of pulque, I always began the duty by +drinking a cup of the repulsive stuff myself. Though hard to +swallow, its well-known specific qualities in the prevention and cure +of scurvy were familiar to all, so every man in the command gulped +down his share notwithstanding its vile taste and odor.</p> + +<p>Considering our isolation, the winter passed very pleasantly to us +all. The post was a large one, its officers congenial, and we had +many enjoyable occasions. Dances, races, and horseback riding filled +in much of the time, and occasional raids from Indians furnished more +serious occupation in the way of a scout now and then. The proximity +of the Indians at times rendered the surrounding country somewhat +dangerous for individuals or small parties at a distance from the +fort; but few thought the savages would come near, so many risks were +doubtless run by various officers, who carried the familiar +six-shooter as their only weapon while out horseback riding, until +suddenly we were awakened to the dangers we had been incurring.</p> + +<p>About mid-winter a party of hostile Lipans made a swoop around and +skirting the garrison, killing a herder—a discharged drummer-boy—in +sight of the flag-staff. Of course great excitement followed. +Captain J. G. Walker, of the Mounted Rifles, immediately started with +his company in pursuit of the Indians, and I was directed to +accompany the command. Not far away we found the body of the boy +filled with arrows, and near him the body of a fine looking young +Indian, whom the lad had undoubtedly killed before he was himself +overpowered. We were not a great distance behind the Indians when +the boy's body was discovered, and having good trailers we gained on +them rapidly, with the prospect of overhauling them, but as soon as +they found we were getting near they headed for the Rio Grande, made +the crossing to the opposite bank, and were in Mexico before we could +overtake them. When on the other side of the boundary they grew very +brave, daring us to come over to fight them, well aware all the time +that the international line prevented us from continuing the pursuit. +So we had to return to the post without reward for our exertion +except the consciousness of having made the best effort we could to +catch the murderers. That night, in company with Lieutenant Thomas +G. Williams, I crossed over the river to the Mexican village of +Piedras Negras, and on going to a house where a large baille, or +dance, was going on we found among those present two of the Indians +we had been chasing. As soon as they saw us they strung their bows +for a fight, and we drew our six-shooters, but the Mexicans quickly +closed in around the Indians and forced them out of the house—or +rude jackal—where the "ball" was being held, and they escaped. We +learned later something about the nature of the fight the drummer had +made, and that his death had cost them dear, for, in addition to the +Indian killed and lying by his side, he had mortally wounded another +and seriously wounded a third, with the three shots that he had +fired.</p> + +<p>At this period I took up the notion of making a study of ornithology, +incited to it possibly by the great number of bright-colored birds +that made their winter homes along the Rio Grande, and I spent many a +leisure hour in catching specimens by means of stick traps, with +which I found little difficulty in securing almost every variety of +the feathered tribes. I made my traps by placing four sticks of a +length suited to the size desired so as to form a square, and +building up on them in log-cabin fashion until the structure came +almost to a point by contraction of the corners. Then the sticks +were made secure, the trap placed at some secluded spot, and from the +centre to the outside a trench was dug in the ground, and thinly +covered when a depth had been obtained that would leave an aperture +sufficiently large to admit the class of birds desired. Along this +trench seeds and other food were scattered, which the birds soon +discovered, and of course began to eat, unsuspectingly following the +tempting bait through the gallery till they emerged from its farther +end in the centre of the trap, where they contentedly fed till the +food was all gone. Then the fact of imprisonment first presented +itself, and they vainly endeavored to escape through the interstices +of the cage, never once guided by their instinct to return to liberty +through the route by which they had entered.</p> + +<p>Among the different kinds of birds captured in this way, +mocking-birds, blue-birds, robins, meadow larks, quail, and plover were the +most numerous. They seemed to have more voracious appetites than +other varieties, or else they were more unwary, and consequently more +easily caught. A change of station, however, put an end to my +ornithological plans, and activities of other kinds prevented me from +resuming them in after life.</p> + +<p>There were quite a number of young officers at the post during the +winter, and as our relations with the Mexican commandant at Piedras +Negras were most amicable, we were often invited to dances at his +house. He and his hospitable wife and daughter drummed up the female +portion of the elite of Piedras Negras and provided the house, which +was the official as well as the personal residence of the commandant, +while we—the young officers—furnished the music and such +sweetmeats, candies, etc., for the baille as the country would afford.</p> + +<p>We generally danced in a long hall on a hard dirt floor. The girls +sat on one side of the hall, chaperoned by their mothers or some old +duennas, and the men on the other. When the music struck up each man +asked the lady whom his eyes had already selected to dance with him, +and it was not etiquette for her to refuse—no engagements being +allowed before the music began. When the dance, which was generally +a long waltz, was over, he seated his partner, and then went to a +little counter at the end of the room and bought his dulcinea a plate +of the candies and sweetmeats provided. Sometimes she accepted them, +but most generally pointed to her duenna or chaperon behind, who held +up her apron and caught the refreshments as they were slid into it +from the plate. The greatest decorum was maintained at these dances, +primitively as they were conducted; and in a region so completely cut +off from the world, their influence was undoubtedly beneficial to a +considerable degree in softening the rough edges in a half-breed +population.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of this frontier of Mexico were strongly marked with +Indian characteristics, particularly with those of the Comanche type, +and as the wild Indian blood predominated, few of the physical traits +of the Spaniard remained among them, and outlawry was common. The +Spanish conquerors had left on the northern border only their +graceful manners and their humility before the cross. The sign of +Christianity was prominently placed at all important points on roads +or trails, and especially where any one had been killed; and as the +Comanche Indians, strong and warlike, had devastated northeastern +Mexico in past years, all along the border, on both sides of the Rio +Grande, the murderous effects of their raids were evidenced by +numberless crosses. For more than a century forays had been made on +the settlements and towns by these bloodthirsty savages, and, the +Mexican Government being too weak to afford protection, property was +destroyed, the women and children carried off or ravished, and the +men compelled to look on in an agony of helplessness till relieved by +death. During all this time, however, the forms and ceremonials of +religion, and the polite manners received from the Spaniards, were +retained, and reverence for the emblems of Christianity was always +uppermost in the mind of even the most ignorant.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch3"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>ORDERED TO FORT READING, CAL.—A DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING—A RESCUED +SOLDIER—DISCOVERING INDIANS—PRIMITIVE FISHING—A DESERTED +VILLAGE—CAMPING OPPOSITE FORT VANCOUVER.</p> + +<p>In November, 1854, I received my promotion to a second lieutenancy in +the Fourth Infantry, which was stationed in California and Oregon. In +order to join my company at Fort Reading, California, I had to go to +New York as a starting point, and on arrival there, was placed on +duty, in May, 1855, in command of a detachment of recruits at +Bedloe's Island, intended for assignment to the regiments on the +Pacific coast. I think there were on the island (now occupied by the +statue of Liberty Enlightening the World) about three hundred +recruits. For a time I was the only officer with them, but shortly +before we started for California, Lieutenant Francis H. Bates, of the +Fourth Infantry, was placed in command. We embarked for the Pacific +coast in July, 1855, and made the journey without incident via the +Isthmus of Panama, in due time landing our men at Benecia Barracks, +above San Francisco.</p> + +<p>From this point I proceeded to join my company at Fort Reading, and +on reaching that post, found orders directing me to relieve +Lieutenant John B. Hood—afterward well known as a distinguished +general in the Confederate service. Lieutenant Hood was in command +of the personal mounted escort of Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, who +was charged with the duty of making such explorations and surveys as +would determine the practicability of connecting, by railroad, the +Sacramento Valley in California with the Columbia River in Oregon +Territory, either through the Willamette Valley, or (if this route +should prove to be impracticable) by the valley of the Des Chutes +River near the foot-slopes of the Cascade chain. The survey was +being made in accordance with an act of Congress, which provided both +for ascertaining the must practicable and economical route for a +railroad between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean, and for +military and geographical surveys west of the Mississippi River.</p> + +<p>Fort Reading was the starting-point for this exploring expedition, +and there I arrived some four or five days after the party under +Lieutenant Williamson had begun its march. His personal escort +numbered about sixty mounted men, made up of detachments from +companies of the First Dragoons, under command of Lieutenant Hood, +together with about one hundred men belonging to the Fourth Infantry +and Third Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Horatio Gates Gibson, +the present colonel of the Third United States Artillery. Lieutenant +George Crook—now major-general—was the quartermaster and commissary +of subsistence of the expedition.</p> + +<p>The commanding officer at Fort Reading seemed reluctant to let me go +on to relieve Lieutenant Hood, as the country to be passed over was +infested by the Pit River Indians, known to be hostile to white +people and especially to small parties. I was very anxious to +proceed, however, and willing to take the chances; so, consent being +finally obtained, I started with a corporal and two mounted men, +through a wild and uninhabited region, to overtake if possible +Lieutenant Williamson. Being on horseback, and unencumbered by +luggage of any kind except blankets and a little hard bread, coffee +and smoking-tobacco, which were all carried on our riding animals, we +were sanguine of succeeding, for we traversed in one day fully the +distance made in three by Lieutenant Williamson's party on foot.</p> + +<p>The first day we reached the base of Lassan's Butte, where I +determined to spend the night near an isolated cabin, or dugout, that +had been recently constructed by a hardy pioneer. The wind was +blowing a disagreeable gale, which had begun early in the day. This +made it desirable to locate our camp under the best cover we could +find, and I spent some little time in looking about for a +satisfactory place, but nothing better offered than a large fallen +tree, which lay in such a direction that by encamping on its lee side +we would be protected from the fury of the storm. This spot was +therefore fixed upon, and preparation made for spending the night as +comfortably as the circumstances would permit.</p> + +<p>After we had unsaddled I visited the cabin to inquire in regard to +the country ahead, and there found at first only a soldier of +Williamson's party; later the proprietor of the ranch appeared. The +soldier had been left behind by the surveying party on account of +illness, with instructions to make his way back to Fort Reading as +best he could when he recovered. His condition having greatly +improved, however, since he had been left, he now begged me in +beseeching terms to take him along with my party, which I finally +consented to do, provided that if he became unable to keep up with +me, and I should be obliged to abandon him, the responsibility would +be his, not mine. This increased my number to five, and was quite a +reinforcement should we run across any hostile Indians; but it was +also certain to prove an embarrassment should the man again fall ill.</p> + +<p>During the night, notwithstanding the continuance of the storm, I had +a very sound and refreshing sleep behind the protecting log where we +made our camp, and at daylight next morning we resumed our journey, +fortified by a breakfast of coffee and hard bread. I skirted around +the base of Lassan's Butte, thence down Hat Creek, all the time +following the trail made by Lieutenant Williamson's party. About +noon the soldier I had picked up at my first camp gave out, and could +go no farther. As stipulated when I consented to take him along, I +had the right to abandon him, but when it came to the test I could +not make up my mind to do it. Finding a good place not far off the +trail, one of my men volunteered to remain with him until he died; +and we left them there, with a liberal supply of hard bread and +coffee, believing that we would never again see the invalid. My +reinforcement was already gone, and another man with it.</p> + +<p>With my diminished party I resumed the trail and followed it until +about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when we heard the sound of voices, +and the corporal, thinking we were approaching Lieutenant +Williamson's party, was so overjoyed in anticipation of the junction, +that he wanted to fire his musket as an expression of his delight. +This I prevented his doing, however, and we continued cautiously and +slowly on to develop the source of the sounds in front. We had not +gone far before I discovered that the noise came from a band of Pit +River Indians, who had struck the trail of the surveying expedition, +and were following it up, doubtless with evil intent. Dismounting +from my horse I counted the moccasin tracks to ascertain the number +of Indians, discovered it to be about thirty, and then followed on +behind them cautiously, but with little difficulty, as appearances of +speed on their part indicated that they wished to overtake Lieutenant +Williamson's party, which made them less on the lookout than usual +for any possible pursuers. After following the trail until nearly +sundown, I considered it prudent to stop for the night, and drew off +some little distance, where, concealed in a dense growth of timber, +we made our camp.</p> + +<p>As I had with me now only two men, I felt somewhat nervous, so I +allowed no fires to be built, and in consequence our supper consisted +of hard bread only. I passed an anxious night, but beyond our own +solicitude there was nothing to disturb us, the Indians being too +much interested in overtaking the party in front to seek for victims +in the rear, After a hard-bread breakfast we started again on the +trail, and had proceeded but a short distance when, hearing the +voices of the Indians, we at once slackened our speed so as not to +overtake them.</p> + +<p>Most of the trail on which we traveled during the morning ran over an +exceedingly rough lava formation—a spur of the lava beds often +described during the Modoc war of 1873 so hard and flinty that +Williamson's large command made little impression on its surface, +leaving in fact, only indistinct traces of its line of march. By +care and frequent examinations we managed to follow his route through +without much delay, or discovery by the Indians, and about noon, +owing to the termination of the lava formation, we descended into the +valley of Hat Greek, a little below where it emerges from the second +canon and above its confluence with Pit River. As soon as we reached +the fertile soil of the valley, we found Williamson's trail well +defined, deeply impressed in the soft loam, and coursing through +wild-flowers and luxuriant grass which carpeted the ground on every +hand.</p> + +<p>When we struck this delightful locality we traveled with considerable +speed, and after passing over hill and vale for some distance, the +trail becoming more and more distinct all the time, I suddenly saw in +front of me the Pit River Indians.</p> + +<p>This caused a halt, and having hurriedly re-capped our guns and +six-shooters, thus preparing for the worst, I took a look at the band +through my field-glass. They were a half-mile or more in our front +and numbered about thirty individuals, armed with bows and arrows +only. Observing us they made friendly demonstrations, but I had not +implicit faith in a Pit River Indian at that period of the settlement +of our country, and especially in that wild locality, so after a +"council of war" with the corporal and man, I concluded to advance to +a point about two hundred yards distant from the party, when, relying +on the speed of our horses rather than on the peaceable intentions of +the savages, I hoped to succeed in cutting around them and take the +trail beyond. Being on foot they could not readily catch us, and +inasmuch as their arrows were good for a range of only about sixty +yards, I had no fear of any material damage on that score.</p> + +<p>On reaching the place selected for our flank movement we made a dash +to the left of the trail, through the widest part of the valley, and +ran our horses swiftly by, but I noticed that the Indians did not +seem to be disturbed by the manoeuvre and soon realized that this +indifference was occasioned by the knowledge that we could not cross +Hat Creek, a deep stream with vertical banks, too broad to be leaped +by our horses. We were obliged, therefore, to halt, and the Indians +again made demonstrations of friendship, some of them even getting +into the stream to show that they were at the ford. Thus reassured, +we regained our confidence and boldly crossed the river in the midst +of them. After we had gained the bluff on the other side of the +creek, I looked down into the valley of Pit River, and could plainly +see the camp of the surveying party. Its proximity was the influence +which had doubtless caused the peaceable conduct of the Indians. +Probably the only thing that saved us was their ignorance of our +being in their rear, until we stumbled on them almost within sight of +the large party under Williamson.</p> + +<p>The Pit River Indians were very hostile at that time, and for many +succeeding years their treachery and cruelty brought misfortune and +misery to the white settlers who ventured their lives in search of +home and fortune in the wild and isolated section over which these +savages roamed. Not long after Williamson's party passed through +their country, the Government was compelled to send into it a +considerable force for the purpose of keeping them under control. +The outcome of this was a severe fight—resulting in the loss of a +good many lives—between the hostiles and a party of our troops under +Lieutenant George Crook. It finally ended in the establishment of a +military post in the vicinity of the battle-ground, for the permanent +occupation of the country.</p> + +<p>A great load was lifted from my heart when I found myself so near +Williamson's camp, which I joined August 4, 1855, receiving a warm +welcome from the officers. During the afternoon I relieved +Lieutenant Hood of the command of the personal escort, and he was +ordered to return, with twelve of the mounted men, over the trail I +had followed. I pointed out to him on the map the spot where he +would find the two men left on the roadside, and he was directed to +take them into Fort Reading. They were found without difficulty, and +carried in to the post. The sick man—Duryea—whom I had expected +never to see again, afterward became the hospital steward at Fort +Yamhill, Oregon, when I was stationed there.</p> + +<p>The Indians that I had passed at the ford came to the bluff above the +camp, and arranging themselves in a squatting posture, looked down +upon Williamson's party with longing eyes, in expectation of a feast. +They were a pitiable lot, almost naked, hungry and cadaverous. +Indians are always hungry, but these poor creatures were particularly +so, as their usual supply of food had grown very scarce from one +cause and another.</p> + +<p>In prosperity they mainly subsisted on fish, or game killed with the +bow and arrow. When these sources failed they lived on grasshoppers, +and at this season the grasshopper was their principal food. In +former years salmon were very abundant in the streams of the +Sacramento Valley, and every fall they took great quantities of these +fish and dried them for winter use, but alluvial mining had of late +years defiled the water of the different streams and driven the fish +out. On this account the usual supply of salmon was very limited. +They got some trout high up on the rivers, above the sluices and +rockers of the miners, but this was a precarious source from which to +derive food, as their means of taking the trout were very primitive. +They had neither hooks nor lines, but depended entirely on a +contrivance made from long, slender branches of willow, which grew on +the banks of most of the streams. One of these branches would be +cut, and after sharpening the butt-end to a point, split a certain +distance, and by a wedge the prongs divided sufficiently to admit a +fish between. The Indian fisherman would then slyly put the forked +end in the water over his intended victim, and with a quick dart +firmly wedge him between the prongs. When secured there, the work of +landing him took but a moment. When trout were plentiful this +primitive mode of taking them was quite successful, and I have often +known hundreds of pounds to be caught in this way, but when they were +scarce and suspicious the rude method was not rewarded with good +results.</p> + +<p>The band looking down on us evidently had not had much fish or game +to eat for some time, so when they had made Williamson understand +that they were suffering for food he permitted them to come into +camp, and furnished them with a supply, which they greedily swallowed +as fast as it was placed at their service, regardless of possible +indigestion. When they had eaten all they could hold, their +enjoyment was made complete by the soldiers, who gave them a quantity +of strong plug tobacco. This they smoked incessantly, inhaling all +the smoke, so that none of the effect should be lost. When we +abandoned this camp the next day, the miserable wretches remained in +it and collected the offal about the cooks' fires to feast still +more, piecing out the meal, no doubt, with their staple article of +food—grasshoppers.</p> + +<p>On the morning of August 5 Lieutenant Hood started back to Fort +Reading, and Lieutenant Williamson resumed his march for the Columbia +River. Our course was up Pit River, by the lower and upper canons, +then across to the Klamath Lakes, then east, along their edge to the +upper lake. At the middle Klamath Lake, just after crossing Lost +River and the Natural Bridge, we met a small party of citizens from +Jacksonville, Oregon, looking for hostile Indians who had committed +some depredations in their neighborhood. From them we learned that +the Rogue River Indians in southern Oregon were on the war-path, and +that as the "regular troops up there were of no account, the citizens +had taken matters in hand, and intended cleaning up the hostiles." +They swaggered about our camp, bragged a good deal, cursed the +Indians loudly, and soundly abused the Government for not giving them +better protection. It struck me, however, that they had not worked +very hard to find the hostiles; indeed, it could plainly be seen that +their expedition was a town-meeting sort of affair, and that anxiety +to get safe home was uppermost in their thoughts. The enthusiasm +with which they started had all oozed out, and that night they +marched back to Jacksonville. The next day, at the head of the lake, +we came across an Indian village, and I have often wondered since +what would have been the course pursued by these valiant warriors +from Jacksonville had they gone far enough to get into its vicinity.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p048"></a><img alt="p048.jpg (55K)" src="images/p048.jpg" height="1029" width="395"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>When we reached the village the tepees—made of grass—were all +standing, the fires burning and pots boiling—the pots filled with +camas and tula roots—but not an Indian was to be seen. Williamson +directed that nothing in the village should be disturbed; so guards +were placed over it to carry out his instructions and we went into +camp just a little beyond. We had scarcely established ourselves +when a very old Indian rose up from the high grass some distance off, +and with peaceable signs approached our camp, evidently for the +purpose of learning whether or not our intentions were hostile. +Williamson told him we were friendly; that we had passed through his +village without molesting it, that we had put a guard there to secure +the property his people had abandoned in their fright, and that they +might come back in safety. The old man searchingly eyed everything +around for some little time, and gaining confidence from the +peaceable appearance of the men, who were engaged in putting up the +tents and preparing their evening meal, he concluded to accept our +professions of friendship, and bring his people in. Going out about +half a mile from the village he gave a peculiar yell, at which +between three and four hundred Indians arose simultaneously from the +ground, and in answer to his signal came out of the tall grass like a +swarm of locusts and soon overran our camp in search of food, for +like all Indians they were hungry. They too, proved to be Pit +Rivers, and were not less repulsive than those of their tribe we had +met before. They were aware of the hostilities going on between the +Rogue Rivers and the whites, but claimed that they had not taken any +part in them. I question if they had, but had our party been small, +I fear we should have been received at their village in a very +different manner.</p> + +<p>From the upper Klamath Lake we marched over the divide and down the +valley of the Des Chutes River to a point opposite the mountains +called the Three Sisters. Here, on September 23, the party divided, +Williamson and I crossing through the crater of the Three Sisters and +along the western slope of the Cascade Range, until we struck the +trail on McKenzie River, which led us into the Willamette Valley not +far from Eugene City. We then marched down the Willamette Valley to +Portland, Oregon, where we arrived October 9, 1855.</p> + +<p>The infantry portion of the command, escorting Lieutenant Henry L. +Abbot, followed farther down the Des Chutes River, to a point +opposite Mount Hood, from which it came into the Willamette Valley +and then marched to Portland. At Portland we all united, and moving +across the point between the Willamette and Columbia rivers, encamped +opposite Fort Vancouver, on the south bank of the latter stream, on +the farm of an old settler named Switzler, who had located there many +years before.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch4"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>"OLD RED"—SKILLFUL SHOOTING—YAKIMA—WAR—A LUDICROUS +MISTAKE—"CUT-MOUTH JOHN'S" ENCOUNTER—FATHER PANDOZA'S +MISSION—A SNOW-STORM—FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION.</p> + +<p>Our camp on the Columbia, near Fort Vancouver, was beautifully +situated on a grassy sward close to the great river; and—as little +duty was required of us after so long a journey, amusement of one +kind or another, and an interchange of visits with the officers at +the post, filled in the time acceptably. We had in camp an old +mountaineer guide who had accompanied us on the recent march, and who +had received the sobriquet of "Old Red," on account of the shocky and +tangled mass of red hair and beard, which covered his head and face +so completely that only his eyes could be seen. His eccentricities +constantly supplied us with a variety of amusements. Among the +pastimes he indulged in was one which exhibited his skill with the +rifle, and at the same time protected the camp from the intrusions +and ravages of a drove of razor-backed hogs which belonged to Mr. +Switzler. These hogs were frequent visitors, and very destructive to +our grassy sward, rooting it up in front of our tents and all about +us; in pursuit of bulbous roots and offal from the camp. Old Red +conceived the idea that it would be well to disable the pigs by +shooting off the tips of their snouts, and he proceeded to put his +conception into execution, and continued it daily whenever the hogs +made their appearance. Of course their owner made a row about it; +but when Old Red daily settled for his fun by paying liberally with +gold-dust from some small bottles of the precious metal in his +possession, Switzler readily became contented, and I think even +encouraged the exhibitions—of skill.</p> + +<p>It was at this period (October, 1855) that the Yakima Indian war +broke out, and I was detached from duty with the exploring party and +required by Major Gabriel J. Rains, then commanding the district, to +join an expedition against the Yakimas. They had some time before +killed their agent, and in consequence a force under Major Granville +O. Haller had been sent out from the Dalles of the Columbia to +chastise them; but the expedition had not been successful; in fact, +it had been driven back, losing a number of men and two mountain +howitzers.</p> + +<p>The object of the second expedition was to retrieve this disaster. +The force was composed of a small body of regular troops, and a +regiment of Oregon mounted volunteers under command of Colonel James +W. Nesmith—subsequently for several years United States Senator from +Oregon. The whole force was under the command of Major Rains, Fourth +Infantry, who, in order that he might rank Nesmith, by some +hocus-pocus had been made a brigadier-general, under an appointment +from the Governor of Washington Territory.</p> + +<p>We started from the Dalles October 30, under conditions that were not +conducive to success. The season was late for operations; and worse +still, the command was not in accord with the commanding officer, +because of general belief in his incompetency, and on account of the +fictitious rank he assumed. On the second day out I struck a small +body of Indians with my detachment of dragoons, but was unable to do +them any particular injury beyond getting possession of a large +quantity of their winter food, which their hurried departure +compelled them to abandon. This food consisted principally of dried +salmon-pulverized and packed in sacks made of grass-dried +huckleberries, and dried camas; the latter a bulbous root about the +size of a small onion, which, when roasted and ground, is made into +bread by the Indians and has a taste somewhat like cooked chestnuts.</p> + +<p>Our objective point was Father Pandoza's Mission, in the Yakima +Valley, which could be reached by two different routes, and though +celerity of movement was essential, our commanding officer +"strategically" adopted the longer route, and thus the Indians had +ample opportunity to get away with their horses, cattle, women and +children, and camp property.</p> + +<p>After the encounter which I just now referred to, the command, which +had halted to learn the results of my chase, resumed its march to and +through the Klikitat canon, and into the lower Yakima Valley, in the +direction of the Yakima River. I had charge at the head of the +column as it passed through the canon, and on entering the valley +beyond, saw in the distance five or six Indian scouts, whom I pressed +very closely, until after a run of several miles they escaped across +the Yakima River.</p> + +<p>The soil in the valley was light and dry, and the movement of animals +over it raised great clouds of dust, that rendered it very difficult +to distinguish friend from foe; and as I was now separated from the +main column a considerable distance, I deemed it prudent to call a +halt until we could discover the direction taken by the principal +body of the Indians. We soon learned that they had gone up the +valley, and looking that way, we discovered a column of alkali dust +approaching us, about a mile distant, interposing between my little +detachment and the point where I knew General Rains intended to +encamp for the night. After hastily consulting with Lieutenant +Edward H. Day, of the Third United States Artillery, who was with me, +we both concluded that the dust was caused by a body of the enemy +which had slipped in between us and our main force. There seemed no +alternative left us but to get back to our friends by charging +through these Indians; and as their cloud of dust was much larger +than ours, this appeared a desperate chance. Preparations to charge +were begun, however, but, much to our surprise, before they were +completed the approaching party halted for a moment and then +commenced to retreat. This calmed the throbbing of our hearts, and +with a wild cheer we started in a hot pursuit, that continued for +about two miles, when to our great relief we discovered that we were +driving into Rains's camp a squadron of Nesmith's battalion of Oregon +volunteers that we had mistaken for Indians, and who in turn believed +us to be the enemy. When camp was reached, we all indulged in a +hearty laugh over the affair, and at the fright each party had given +the other. The explanations which ensued proved that the squadron of +volunteers had separated from the column at the same time that I had +when we debouched from the canon, and had pursued an intermediate +trail through the hills, which brought it into the valley of the +Yakima at a point higher up the river than where I had struck it.</p> + +<p>Next day we resumed our march up the valley, parallel to the Yakima. +About 1 o'clock we saw a large body of Indians on the opposite side +of the river, and the general commanding made up his mind to cross +and attack them. The stream was cold, deep, and swift, still I +succeeded in passing my dragoons over safely, but had hardly got them +well on the opposite bank when the Indians swooped down upon us. +Dismounting my men, we received the savages with a heavy fire, which +brought them to a halt with some damage and more or less confusion.</p> + +<p>General Rains now became very much excited and alarmed about me, and +endeavored to ford the swift river with his infantry and artillery, +but soon had to abandon the attempt, as three or four of the poor +fellows were swept off their feet and drowned. Meantime Nesmith came +up with his mounted force, crossed over, and joined me.</p> + +<p>The Indians now fell back to a high ridge, on the crest of which they +marched and countermarched, threatening to charge down its face. +Most of them were naked, and as their persons were painted in gaudy +colors and decorated with strips of red flannel, red blankets and gay +war-bonnets, their appearance presented a scene of picturesque +barbarism, fascinating but repulsive. As they numbered about six +hundred, the chances of whipping them did not seem overwhelmingly in +our favor, yet Nesmith and I concluded we would give them a little +fight, provided we could engage them without going beyond the ridge. +But all our efforts were in vain, for as we advanced they retreated, +and as we drew back they reappeared and renewed their parade and +noisy demonstrations, all the time beating their drums and yelling +lustily. They could not be tempted into a fight where we desired it, +however, and as we felt unequal to any pursuit beyond the ridge +without the assistance of the infantry and artillery, we re-crossed +the river and encamped with Rains. It soon became apparent that the +noisy demonstrations of the Indians were intended only as a blind to +cover the escape of their women and children to a place of safety in +the mountains.</p> + +<p>Next morning we took up our march without crossing the river; and as +our route would lead us by the point on the opposite bank where the +Indians had made their picturesque display the day before, they at an +early hour came over to our side, and rapidly moved ahead of us to +some distant hills, leaving in our pathway some of the more +venturesome young braves, who attempted, to retard our advance by +opening fire at long range from favorable places where they lay +concealed. This fire did us little harm, but it had the effect of +making our progress so slow that the patience of every one but +General Rains was well-nigh exhausted.</p> + +<p>About 2 o'clock in the afternoon we arrived well up near the base of +the range of hills, and though it was growing late we still had time +to accomplish something, but our commanding officer decided that it +was best to go into camp, and make a systematic attack next morning. +I proposed that he let me charge with my dragoons through the narrow +canon where the river broke through the range, while the infantry +should charge up the hill and drive the enemy from the top down on +the other side. In this way I thought we might possibly catch some +of the fugitives, but his extreme caution led him to refuse the +suggestion, so we pitched our tents out of range of their desultory +fire, but near enough to observe plainly their menacing and +tantalizing exhibitions of contempt.</p> + +<p>In addition to firing occasionally, they called us all sorts of bad +names, made indecent gestures, and aggravated us, so that between 3 +and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, by an inexplicable concert of action, +and with a serious breach of discipline, a large number of the men +and many of the officers broke en masse from the camp with loud yells +and charged the offending savages. As soon as this mob got within +musket-shot they opened fire on the Indians, who ran down the other +face of the ridge without making the slightest resistance. The hill +was readily taken by this unmilitary proceeding, and no one was hurt +on either side, but as Rains would not permit it to be held, a large +bonfire was lighted on the crest in celebration of the victory, and +then all hands marched back to camp, where they had no sooner arrived +and got settled down than the Indians returned to the summit of the +ridge, seemingly to enjoy the fire that had been so generously built +for their benefit, and with renewed taunts and gestures continued to +insult us.</p> + +<p>Our camp that night was strongly picketed, and when we awoke in the +morning the Indians still occupied their position on the hill. At +daylight we advanced against them, two or three companies of infantry +moving forward to drive them from the summit, while our main column +passed through the canon into the upper Yakima Valley led by my +dragoons, who were not allowed to charge into the gorge, as the +celerity of such a movement might cause the tactical combination to +fail.</p> + +<p>As we passed slowly and cautiously through the canon the Indians ran +rapidly away, and when we reached the farther end they had entirely +disappeared from our front, except one old fellow, whose lame horse +prevented him keeping up with the main body. This presented an +opportunity for gaining results which all thought should not be lost, +so our guide, an Indian named "Cut-mouth John," seized upon it, and +giving hot chase, soon, overtook the poor creature, whom he speedily +killed without much danger to himself, for the fugitive was armed +with only an old Hudson's Bay flint-lock horse-pistol which could not +be discharged.</p> + +<p>"Cut-mouth John's" engagement began and ended all the fighting that +took place on this occasion, and much disappointment and discontent +followed, Nesmith's mounted force and my dragoons being particularly +disgusted because they had not been "given a chance." During the +remainder of the day we cautiously followed the retreating foe, and +late in the evening went into camp a short distance from Father +Pandoza's Mission; where we were to await a small column of troops +under command of Captain Maurice Maloney, of the Fourth Infantry, +that was to join us from Steilicom by way of the Natchez Pass, and +from which no tidings had as yet been received.</p> + +<p>Next morning the first thing I saw when I put my head out from my +blankets was "Cut-mouth John," already mounted and parading himself +through the camp. The scalp of the Indian he had despatched the day +before was tied to the cross-bar of his bridle bit, the hair dangling +almost to the ground, and John was decked out in the sacred vestments +of Father Pandoza, having, long before any one was stirring in camp, +ransacked the log-cabin at the Mission in which the good man had +lived. John was at all times a most repulsive looking individual, a +part of his mouth having been shot away in a fight with Indians near +Walla Walla some years before, in which a Methodist missionary had +been killed; but his revolting personal appearance was now worse than +ever, and the sacrilegious use of Father Pandoza's vestments, coupled +with the ghastly scalp that hung from his bridle, so turned opinion +against him that he was soon captured, dismounted, and his parade +brought to an abrupt close, and I doubt whether he ever after quite +reinstated himself in the good graces of the command.</p> + +<p>In the course of the day nearly all the men visited the Mission, but +as it had been plundered by the Indians at the outbreak of +hostilities, when Father Pandoza was carried off, little of value was +left about it except a considerable herd of pigs, which the father +with great difficulty had succeeded in accumulating from a very small +beginning. The pigs had not been disturbed by the Indians, but the +straggling troops soon disposed of them, and then turned their +attention to the cabbages and potatoes in the garden, with the +intention, no doubt, of dining that day on fresh pork and fresh +vegetables instead of on salt junk and hard bread, which formed their +regular diet on the march. In digging up the potatoes some one +discovered half a keg of powder, which had been buried in the garden +by the good father to prevent the hostile Indians from getting it to +use against the whites. As soon as this was unearthed wild +excitement ensued, and a cry arose that Father Pandoza was the person +who furnished powder to the Indians; that here was the proof; that at +last the mysterious means by which the Indians obtained ammunition +was explained—and a rush was made for the mission building. This was +a comfortable log-house of good size, built by the Indians for a +school and church, and attached to one end was the log-cabin +residence of the priest. Its destruction was a matter of but a few +moments. A large heap of dry wood was quickly collected and piled in +the building, matches applied, and the whole Mission, including the +priest's house, was soon enveloped in flames, and burned to the +ground before the officers in camp became aware of the disgraceful +plundering in which their men were engaged.</p> + +<p>The commanding officer having received no news from Captain Maloney +during the day, Colonel Nesmith and I were ordered to go to his +rescue, as it was concluded that he had been surrounded by Indians in +the Natchez Pass. We started early the next morning, the snow +falling slightly as we set out, and soon arrived at the eastern mouth +of the Natchez Pass. On the way we noticed an abandoned Indian +village, which had evidently not been occupied for some time. As we +proceeded the storm increased, and the snow-fall became deeper and +deeper, until finally our horses could not travel through it. In +consequence we were compelled to give up further efforts to advance, +and obliged to turn back to the abandoned village, where we encamped +for the night. Near night-fall the storm greatly increased, and our +bivouac became most uncomfortable; but spreading my blankets on the +snow and covering them with Indian matting, I turned in and slept +with that soundness and refreshment accorded by nature to one +exhausted by fatigue. When I awoke in the morning I found myself +under about two feet of snow, from which I arose with difficulty, yet +grateful that it had kept me warm during the night.</p> + +<p>After a cup of coffee and a little hard bread, it was decided we +should return to the main camp near the Mission, for we were now +confident that Maloney was delayed by the snow, and safe enough on +the other side of the mountains. At all events he was beyond aid +from us, for the impassable snowdrifts could not be overcome with the +means in our possession. It turned out that our suppositions as to +the cause of his delay were correct. He had met with the same +difficulties that confronted us, and had been compelled to go into +camp.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile valuable time had been lost, and the Indians, with their +families and stock, were well on their way to the Okenagan country, a +region into which we could not penetrate in the winter season. No +other course was therefore left but to complete the dismal failure of +the expedition by returning home, and our commander readily gave the +order to march back to the Dalles by the "short" route over the +Yakima Mountains.</p> + +<p>As the storm was still unabated, it was evident our march home would +be a most difficult one, and it was deemed advisable to start back at +once, lest we should be blocked up in the mountains by the snows for +a period beyond which our provisions would not last. Relying on the +fact that the short route to the Dalles would lead us over the range +at its most depressed point, where it was hoped the depth of snow was +not yet so great as to make the route impassable, we started with +Colonel Nesmith's battalion in advance to break the road, followed by +my dragoons. In the valley we made rapid progress, but when we +reached the mountain every step we took up its side showed the snow +to be growing deeper and deeper. At last Nesmith reached the summit, +and there found a depth of about six feet of snow covering the +plateau in every direction, concealing all signs of the trail so +thoroughly that his guides became bewildered and took the wrong +divide. The moment I arrived at the top my guide—Donald Mc Kay—who +knew perfectly the whole Yakima range, discovered Nesmith's mistake. +Word was sent to bring him back, but as he had already nearly crossed +the plateau, considerable delay occurred before he returned. When he +arrived we began anew the work of breaking a road for the foot troops +behind us, my detachment now in advance. The deep snow made our work +extremely laborious, exhausting men and horses almost to the point of +relinquishing the struggle, but our desperate situation required that +we should get down into the valley beyond, or run the chance of +perishing on the mountain in a storm which seemed unending. About +midnight the column reached the valley, very tired and hungry, but +much elated over its escape. We had spent a day of the most intense +anxiety, especially those who had had the responsibility of keeping +to the right trail, and been charged with the hard work of breaking +the road for the infantry and artillery through such a depth of snow.</p> + +<p>Our main difficulties were now over, and in due time we reached the +Dalles, where almost everyone connected with the expedition voted it +a wretched failure; indeed, General Rains himself could not think +otherwise, but he scattered far and wide blame for the failure of his +combinations. This, of course, led to criminations and +recriminations, which eventuated in charges of incompetency preferred +against him by Captain Edward O. C. Ord, of the Third Artillery. +Rains met the charges with counter-charges against Ord, whom he +accused of purloining Father Pandoza's shoes, when the soldiers in +their fury about the ammunition destroyed the Mission. At the time +of its destruction a rumor of this nature was circulated through +camp, started by some wag, no doubt in jest; for Ord, who was +somewhat eccentric in his habits, and had started on the expedition +rather indifferently shod in carpet-slippers, here came out in a +brand-new pair of shoes. Of course there was no real foundation for +such a report, but Rains was not above small things, as the bringing +of this petty accusation attests. Neither party was ever tried, for +General John E. Wool the department commander, had not at command a +sufficient number of officers of appropriate rank to constitute a +court in the case of Rains, and the charges against Ord were very +properly ignored on account of their trifling character.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the expedition returned to the Dalles, my detachment +was sent down to Fort Vancouver, and I remained at that post during +the winter of 1855-'56, till late in March.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch5"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>AN INDIAN CONFEDERATION—MASSACRE AT THE CASCADES OF THE +COLUMBIA—PLAN TO RELIEVE THE BLOCKHOUSE—A HAZARDOUS FLANK MOVEMENT—A NEW +METHOD OF ESTABLISHING GUILT—EXECUTION OF THE INDIAN MURDERERS.</p> + +<p>The failure of the Haller expedition from lack of a sufficient force, +and of the Rains expedition from the incompetency of its commander, +was a great mortification to the officers and men connected with +them, and, taken together, had a marked effect upon the Indian +situation in Oregon and Washington Territories at that particular +era. Besides, it led to further complications and troubles, for it +had begun to dawn upon the Indians that the whites wanted to come in +and dispossess them of their lands and homes, and the failures of +Haller and Rains fostered the belief with the Indians that they could +successfully resist the pressure of civilization.</p> + +<p>Acting under these influences, the Spokanes, Walla Wallas, Umatillas, +and Nez Perces cast their lot with the hostiles, and all the savage +inhabitants of the region east of the Cascade Range became involved +in a dispute as to whether the Indians or the Government should +possess certain sections of the country, which finally culminated in +the war of 1856.</p> + +<p>Partly to meet the situation that was approaching, the Ninth Infantry +had been sent out from the Atlantic coast to Washington Territory, +and upon its arrival at Fort Vancouver encamped in front of the +officers' quarters, on the beautiful parade-ground of that post, and +set about preparing for the coming campaign. The commander, Colonel +George Wright, who had been promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment +upon its organization the previous year, had seen much active duty +since his graduation over thirty years before, serving with credit in +the Florida and Mexican wars. For the three years previous to his +assignment to the Ninth Infantry he had been stationed on the Pacific +coast, and the experience he had there acquired, added to his +excellent soldierly qualities, was of much benefit in the active +campaigns in which, during the following years, he was to +participate. Subsequently his career was brought to an untimely +close when, nine years after this period, as he was returning to the +scene of his successes, he, in common with many others was drowned by +the wreck of the ill-fated steamer Brother Jonathan. Colonel Wright +took command of the district in place of Rains, and had been at +Vancouver but a short time before he realized that it would be +necessary to fight the confederated tribes east of the Cascade Range +of mountains, in order to disabuse them of the idea that they were +sufficiently strong to cope with the power of the Government. He +therefore at once set about the work of organizing and equipping his +troops for a start in the early spring against the hostile Indians, +intending to make the objective point of his expedition the heart of +the Spokane country on the Upper Columbia River, as the head and +front of the confederation was represented in the person of old +Cammiackan, chief of the Spokanes.</p> + +<p>The regiment moved from Fort Vancouver by boat, March 25, 1856, and +landed at the small town called the Dalles, below the mouth of the +Des Chutes River at the eastern base of the Cascade Range, and just +above where the Columbia River enters those mountains. This +rendezvous was to be the immediate point of departure, and all the +troops composing the expedition were concentrated there.</p> + +<p>On the morning of March 26 the movement began, but the column had +only reached Five Mile Creek when the Yakimas, joined by many young +warriors-free lances from other tribes, made a sudden and unexpected +attack at the Cascades of the Columbia, midway between Vancouver and +the Dalles, killed several citizens, women and children, and took +possession of the Portage by besieging the settlers in their cabins +at the Upper Cascades, and those who sought shelter at the Middle +Cascades in the old military block-house, which had been built some +years before as a place of refuge under just such circumstances. +These points held out, and were not captured, but the landing at the +Lower Cascades fell completely into the hands of the savages. +Straggling settlers from the Lower Cascades made their way down to +Fort Vancouver, distant about thirty-six miles, which they reached +that night; and communicated the condition of affairs. As the +necessity for early relief to the settlers and the re-establishment +of communication with the Dalles were apparent, all the force that +could be spared was ordered out, and in consequence I immediately +received directions to go with my detachment of dragoons, numbering +about forty effective men, to the relief of the middle blockhouse, +which really meant to retake the Cascades. I got ready at once, and +believing that a piece of artillery would be of service to me, asked +for one, but as there proved to be no guns at the post, I should have +been obliged to proceed without one had it not been that the regular +steamer from San Francisco to Portland was lying at the Vancouver +dock unloading military supplies, and the commander, Captain Dall, +supplied me with the steamer's small iron cannon, mounted on a wooden +platform, which he used in firing salutes at different ports on the +arrival and departure of the vessel. Finding at the arsenal a supply +of solid shot that would fit the gun, I had it put upon the steamboat +Belle, employed to carry my command to the scene of operations, and +started up the Columbia River at 2 A.M. on the morning of the 27th. +We reached the Lower Cascades early in the day, where, selecting a +favorable place for the purpose, I disembarked my men and gun on the +north bank of the river, so that I could send back the steamboat to +bring up any volunteer assistance that in the mean time might have +been collected at Vancouver.</p> + +<p>The Columbia River was very high at the time, and the water had +backed up into the slough about the foot of the Lower Cascades to +such a degree that it left me only a narrow neck of firm ground to +advance over toward the point occupied by the Indians. On this neck +of land the hostiles had taken position, as I soon learned by +frequent shots, loud shouting, and much blustering; they, by the most +exasperating yells and indecent exhibitions, daring me to the +contest.</p> + +<p>After getting well in hand everything connected with my little +command, I advanced with five or six men to the edge of a growth of +underbrush to make a reconnoissance. We stole along under cover of +this underbrush until we reached the open ground leading over the +causeway or narrow neck before mentioned, when the enemy opened fire +and killed a soldier near my side by a shot which, just grazing the +bridge of my nose, struck him in the neck, opening an artery and +breaking the spinal cord. He died instantly. The Indians at once +made a rush for the body, but my men in the rear, coming quickly to +the rescue, drove them back; and Captain Doll's gun being now brought +into play, many solid shot were thrown into the jungle where they lay +concealed, with the effect of considerably moderating their +impetuosity. Further skirmishing at long range took place at +intervals during the day, with little gain or loss, however, to +either side, for both parties held positions which could not be +assailed in flank, and only the extreme of rashness in either could +prompt a front attack. My left was protected by the back water +driven into the slough by the high stage of the river, and my right +rested secure on the main stream. Between us was only the narrow +neck of land, to cross which would be certain death. The position of +the Indians was almost the exact counterpart of ours.</p> + +<p>In the evening I sent a report of the situation back to Vancouver by +the steamboat, retaining a large Hudson's Bay bateau which I had +brought up with me. Examining this I found it would carry about +twenty men, and made up my mind that early next morning I would cross +the command to the opposite or south side of the Columbia River, and +make my way up along the mountain base until I arrived abreast the +middle blockhouse, which was still closely besieged, and then at some +favorable point recross to the north bank to its relief, endeavoring +in this manner to pass around and to the rear of the Indians, whose +position confronting me was too strong for a direct attack. This +plan was hazardous, but I believed it could be successfully carried +out if the boat could be taken with me; but should I not be able to +do this I felt that the object contemplated in sending me out would +miserably fail, and the small band cooped up at the block-house would +soon starve or fall a prey to the Indians, so I concluded to risk all +the chances the plan involved.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p077"></a><img alt="p077.jpg (31K)" src="images/p077.jpg" height="353" width="535"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>On the morning of March 28 the savages were still in my front, and +after giving them some solid shot from Captain Dall's gun we slipped +down to the river-bank, and the detachment crossed by means of the +Hudson's Bay boat, making a landing on the opposite shore at a point +where the south channel of the river, after flowing around Bradford's +Island, joins the main stream. It was then about 9 o'clock, and +everything had thus far proceeded favorably, but examination of the +channel showed that it would be impossible to get the boat up the +rapids along the mainland, and that success could only be assured by +crossing the south channel just below the rapids to the island, along +the shore of which there was every probability we could pull the boat +through the rocks and swift water until the head of the rapids was +reached, from which point to the block-house there was smooth water. +Telling the men of the embarrassment in which I found myself, and +that if I could get enough of them to man the boat and pull it up the +stream by a rope to the shore we would cross to the island and make +the attempt, all volunteered to go, but as ten men seemed sufficient +I selected that number to accompany me. Before starting, however, I +deemed it prudent to find out if possible what was engaging the +attention of the Indians, who had not yet discovered that we had left +their front. I therefore climbed up the side of the abrupt mountain +which skirted the water's edge until I could see across the island. +From this point I observed the Indians running horse-races and +otherwise enjoying themselves behind the line they had held against +me the day before. The squaws decked out in gay colors, and the men +gaudily dressed in war bonnets, made the scene most attractive, but +as everything looked propitious for the dangerous enterprise in hand +I spent little time watching them. Quickly returning to the boat, I +crossed to the island with my ten men, threw ashore the rope attached +to the bow, and commenced the difficult task of pulling her up the +rapids. We got along slowly at first, but soon striking a camp of +old squaws who had been left on the island for safety, and had not +gone over to the mainland to see the races, we utilized them to our +advantage. With unmistakable threats and signs we made them not only +keep quiet, but also give us much needed assistance in pulling +vigorously on the towrope of our boat.</p> + +<p>I was laboring under a dreadful strain of mental anxiety during all +this time, for had the Indians discovered what we were about, they +could easily have come over to the island in their canoes, and, by +forcing us to take up our arms to repel their attack, doubtless would +have obliged the abandonment of the boat, and that essential adjunct +to the final success of my plan would have gone down the rapids. +Indeed, under such circumstances, it would have been impossible for +ten men to hold out against the two or three hundred Indians; but the +island forming an excellent screen to our movements, we were not +discovered, and when we reached the smooth water at the upper end of +the rapids we quickly crossed over and joined the rest of the men, +who in the meantime had worked their way along the south bank of the +river parallel with us. I felt very grateful to the old squaws for +the assistance they rendered. They worked well under compulsion, and +manifested no disposition to strike for higher wages. Indeed, I was +so much relieved when we had crossed over from the island and joined +the rest of the party, that I mentally thanked the squaws one and +all. I had much difficulty in keeping the men on the main shore from +cheering at our success, but hurriedly taking into the bateau all of +them it could carry, I sent the balance along the southern bank, +where the railroad is now built, until both detachments arrived at a +point opposite the block-house, when, crossing to the north bank, I +landed below the blockhouse some little distance, and returned the +boat for the balance of the men, who joined me in a few minutes.</p> + +<p>When the Indians attacked the people at the Cascades on the 26th, +word was sent to Colonel Wright, who had already got out from the +Dalles a few miles on his expedition to the Spokane country. He +immediately turned his column back, and soon after I had landed and +communicated with the beleaguered block-house the advance of his +command arrived under Lieutenant-Colonel Edward J. Steptoe. I +reported to Steptoe, and related what had occurred during the past +thirty-six hours, gave him a description of the festivities that were +going on at the lower Cascades, and also communicated the +intelligence that the Yakimas had been joined by the Cascade Indians +when the place was first attacked. I also told him it was my belief +that when he pushed down the main shore the latter tribe without +doubt would cross over to the island we had just left, while the +former would take to the mountains. Steptoe coincided with me in +this opinion, and informing me that Lieutenant Alexander Piper would +join my detachment with a mountain' howitzer, directed me to convey +the command to the island and gobble up all who came over to it.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Piper and I landed on the island with the first boatload, +and after disembarking the howitzer we fired two or three shots to +let the Indians know we had artillery with us, then advanced down the +island with the whole of my command, which had arrived in the mean +time; all of the men were deployed as skirmishers except a small +detachment to operate the howitzer. Near the lower end of the island +we met, as I had anticipated, the entire body of Cascade Indianmen, +women, and children—whose homes were in the vicinity of the +Cascades. They were very much frightened and demoralized at the turn +events had taken, for the Yakimas at the approach of Steptoe had +abandoned them, as predicted, and fled to the mountians. The chief +and head-men said they had had nothing to do with the capture of the +Cascades, with the murder of men at the upper landing, nor with the +massacre of men, women, and children near the block-house, and put +all the blame on the Yakimas and their allies. I did not believe +this, however, and to test the truth of their statement formed them +all in line with their muskets in hand. Going up to the first man on +the right I accused him of having engaged in the massacre, but was +met by a vigorous denial. Putting my forefinger into the muzzle of +his gun, I found unmistakable signs of its having been recently +discharged. My finger was black with the stains of burnt powder, and +holding it up to the Indian, he had nothing more to say in the face +of such positive evidence of his guilt. A further examination proved +that all the guns were in the same condition. Their arms were at +once taken possession of, and leaving a small, force to look after +the women and children and the very old men, so that there could be +no possibility of escape, I arrested thirteen of the principal +miscreants, crossed the river to the lower landing, and placed them +in charge of a strong guard.</p> + +<p>Late in the evening the steamboat, which I had sent back to +Vancouver, returned, bringing to my assistance from Vancouver, +Captain Henry D. Wallen's company of the Fourth Infantry and a +company of volunteers hastily organized at Portland, but as the +Cascades had already been retaken, this reinforcement was too late to +participate in the affair. The volunteers from Portland, however, +were spoiling for a fight, and in the absence of other opportunity +desired to shoot the prisoners I held (who, they alleged, had killed +a man named Seymour), and proceeded to make their arrangements to do +so, only desisting on being informed that the Indians were my +prisoners, subject to the orders of Colonel Wright, and would be +protected to the last by my detachment. Not long afterward Seymour +turned up safe and sound, having fled at the beginning of the attack +on the Cascades, and hid somewhere in the thick underbrush until the +trouble was over, and then made his way back to the settlement. The +next day I turned my prisoners over to Colonel Wright, who had them +marched to the upper landing of the Cascades, where, after a trial by +a military commission, nine of them were sentenced to death and duly +hanged. I did not see them executed, but was afterward informed +that, in the absence of the usual mechanical apparatus used on such +occasions, a tree with a convenient limb under which two empty +barrels were placed, one on top of the other, furnished a rude but +certain substitute. In executing the sentence each Indian in turn +was made to stand on the top barrel, and after the noose was adjusted +the lower barrel was knocked away, and the necessary drop thus +obtained. In this way the whole nine were punished. Just before +death they all acknowledged their guilt by confessing their +participation in the massacre at the block-house, and met their doom +with the usual stoicism of their race.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch6"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>MISDIRECTED VENGEANCE—HONORABLE MENTION—CHANGE OF COMMAND—EDUCATED +OXEN—FEEDING THE INDIANS—PURCHASING A BURYING-GROUND—KNOWING RATS.</p> + +<p>While still encamped at the lower landing, some three or four days +after the events last recounted, Mr. Joseph Meek, an old frontiersman +and guide for emigrant trains through the mountains, came down from +the Dalles, on his way to Vancouver, and stopped at my camp to +inquire if an Indian named Spencer and his family had passed down to +Vancouver since my arrival at the Cascades. Spencer, the head of the +family, was a very influential, peaceable Chinook chief, whom Colonel +Wright had taken with him from Fort Vancouver as an interpreter and +mediator with the Spokanes and other hostile tribes, against which +his campaign was directed. He was a good, reliable Indian, and on +leaving Vancouver to join Colonel Wright, took his family along, to +remain with relatives and friends at Fort Dalles until the return of +the expedition. When Wright was compelled to retrace his steps on +account of the capture of the Cascades, this family for some reason +known only to Spencer, was started by him down the river to their +home at Vancouver.</p> + +<p>Meek, on seeing the family leave the Dalles, had some misgivings as +to their safe arrival at their destination, because of the excited +condition of the people about the Cascades; but Spencer seemed to +think that his own peaceable and friendly reputation, which was +widespread, would protect them; so he parted from his wife and +children with little apprehension as to their safety. In reply to +Meek's question, I stated that I had not seen Spencer's family, when +he remarked, "Well, I fear that they are gone up," a phrase used in +that country in early days to mean that they had been killed. I +questioned him closely, to elicit further information, but no more +could be obtained; for Meek, either through ignorance or the usual +taciturnity of his class, did not explain more fully, and when the +steamer that had brought the reinforcement started down the river, he +took passage for Vancouver, to learn definitely if the Indian family +had reached that point. I at once sent to the upper landing, distant +about six miles, to make inquiry in regard to the matter, and in a +little time my messenger returned with the information that the +family had reached that place the day before, and finding that we had +driven the hostiles off, continued their journey on foot toward my +camp, from which point they expected to go by steamer down the river +to Vancouver.</p> + +<p>Their non-arrival aroused in me suspicions of foul play, so with all +the men I could spare, and accompanied by Lieutenant William T. +Welcker, of the Ordnance Corps—a warm and intimate friend—I went in +search of the family, deploying the men as skirmishers across the +valley, and marching them through the heavy forest where the ground +was covered with fallen timber and dense underbrush, in order that no +point might escape our attention. The search was continued between +the base of the mountain and the river without finding any sign of +Spencer's family, until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when we +discovered them between the upper and lower landing, in a small open +space about a mile from the road, all dead—strangled to death with +bits of rope. The party consisted of the mother, two youths, three +girls, and a baby. They had all been killed by white men, who had +probably met the innocent creatures somewhere near the blockhouse, +driven them from the road into the timber, where the cruel murders +were committed without provocation, and for no other purpose than the +gratification of the inordinate hatred of the Indian that has often +existed on the frontier, and which on more than one occasion has +failed to distinguish friend from foe. The bodies lay in a +semicircle, and the bits of rope with which the poor wretches had +been strangled to death were still around their necks. Each piece of +rope—the unwound strand of a heavier piece—was about two feet long, +and encircled the neck of its victim with a single knot, that must +have been drawn tight by the murderers pulling at the ends. As there +had not been quite enough rope to answer for all, the babe was +strangled by means of a red silk handkerchief, taken, doubtless, from +the neck of its mother. It was a distressing sight. A most cruel +outrage had been committed upon unarmed people—our friends and +allies—in a spirit of aimless revenge. The perpetrators were +citizens living near the middle block-house, whose wives and children +had been killed a few days before by the hostiles, but who well knew +that these unoffending creatures had had nothing to do with those +murders.</p> + +<p>In my experience I have been obliged to look upon many cruel scenes +in connection with Indian warfare on the Plains since that day, but +the effect of this dastardly and revolting crime has never been +effaced from my memory. Greater and more atrocious massacres have +been committed often by Indians; their savage nature modifies one's +ideas, however, as to the inhumanity of their acts, but when such +wholesale murder as this is done by whites, and the victims not only +innocent, but helpless, no defense can be made for those who +perpetrated the crime, if they claim to be civilized beings. It is +true the people at the Cascades had suffered much, and that their +wives and children had been murdered before their eyes, but to wreak +vengeance on Spencer's unoffending family, who had walked into their +settlement under the protection of a friendly alliance, was an +unparalleled outrage which nothing can justify or extenuate. With as +little delay as possible after the horrible discovery, I returned to +camp, had boxes made, and next day buried the bodies of these hapless +victims of misdirected vengeance.</p> + +<p>The summary punishment inflicted on the nine Indians, in their trial +and execution, had a most salutary effect on the confederation, and +was the entering wedge to its disintegration; and though Colonel +Wright's campaign continued during the summer and into the early +winter, the subjugation of the allied bands became a comparatively +easy matter after the lesson taught the renegades who were captured +at the Cascades. My detachment did not accompany Colonel Wright, but +remained for some time at the Cascades, and while still there General +Wool came up from San Francisco to take a look into the condition of +things. From his conversation with me in reference to the affair at +the Cascades, I gathered that he was greatly pleased at the service I +had performed, and I afterward found that his report of my conduct +had so favorably impressed General Scott that that distinguished +officer complimented me from the headquarters of the army in general +orders.</p> + +<p>General Wool, while personally supervising matters on the Columbia +River, directed a redistribution to some extent of the troops in the +district, and shortly before his return to San Francisco I was +ordered with my detachment of dragoons to take station on the Grande +Ronde Indian Reservation in Yamhill County, Oregon, about twenty-five +miles southwest of Dayton, and to relieve from duty at that point +Lieutenant William B. Hazen—late brigadier-general and chief signal +officer—who had established a camp there some time before. I +started for my new station on April 21, and marching by way of +Portland and Oregon City, arrived at Hazen's camp April 25. The camp +was located in the Coast range of mountains, on the northeast part of +the reservation, to which last had been added a section of country +that was afterward known as the Siletz reservation. The whole body +of land set aside went under the general name of the "Coast +reservation," from its skirting the Pacific Ocean for some distance +north of Yaquina Bay, and the intention was to establish within its +bounds permanent homes for such Indians as might be removed to it. +In furtherance of this idea, and to relieve northern California and +southwestern Oregon from the roaming, restless bands that kept the +people of those sections in a state of constant turmoil, many of the +different tribes, still under control but liable to take part in +warfare, were removed to the reservation, so that they might be away +from the theatre of hostilities.</p> + +<p>When I arrived I found that the Rogue River Indians had just been +placed upon the reservation, and subsequently the Coquille, Klamath, +Modocs, and remnants of the Chinooks were collected there also, the +home of the latter being in the Willamette Valley. The number all +told amounted to some thousands, scattered over the entire Coast +reservation, but about fifteen hundred were located at the Grande +Ronde under charge of an agent, Mr. John F. Miller, a sensible, +practical man, who left the entire police control to the military, +and attended faithfully to the duty of settling the Indians in the +work of cultivating the soil.</p> + +<p>As the place was to be occupied permanently, Lieutenant Hazen had +begun, before my arrival, the erection of buildings for the shelter +of his command, and I continued the work of constructing the post as +laid out by him. In those days the Government did not provide very +liberally for sheltering its soldiers; and officers and men were +frequently forced to eke out parsimonious appropriations by toilsome +work or go without shelter in most inhospitable regions. Of course +this post was no exception to the general rule, and as all hands were +occupied in its construction, and I the only officer present, I was +kept busily employed in supervising matters, both as commandant and +quartermaster, until July, when Captain D. A. Russell, of the Fourth +Infantry, was ordered to take command, and I was relieved from the +first part of my duties.</p> + +<p>About this time my little detachment parted from me, being ordered to +join a company of the First Dragoons, commanded by Captain Robert +Williams, as it passed up the country from California by way of +Yamhill. I regretted exceedingly to see them go, for their faithful +work and gallant service had endeared every man to me by the +strongest ties. Since I relieved Lieutenant Hood on Pit River, +nearly a twelvemonth before, they had been my constant companions, +and the zeal with which they had responded to every call I made on +them had inspired in my heart a deep affection that years have not +removed. When I relieved Hood—a dragoon officer of their own +regiment—they did not like the change, and I understood that they +somewhat contemptuously expressed this in more ways than one, in +order to try the temper of the new "Leftenant," but appreciative and +unremitting care, together with firm and just discipline, soon +quieted all symptoms of dissatisfaction and overcame all prejudice. +The detachment had been made up of details from the different +companies of the regiment in order to give Williamson a mounted +force, and as it was usual, under such circumstances, for every +company commander to shove into the detail he was called upon to +furnish the most troublesome and insubordinate individuals of his +company, I had some difficulty, when first taking command, in +controlling such a medley of recalcitrants; but by forethought for +them and their wants, and a strict watchfulness for their rights and +comfort, I was able in a short time to make them obedient and the +detachment cohesive. In the past year they had made long and +tiresome marches, forded swift mountain streams, constructed rafts of +logs or bundles of dry reeds to ferry our baggage, swum deep rivers, +marched on foot to save their worn-out and exhausted animals, climbed +mountains, fought Indians, and in all and everything had done the +best they could for the service and their commander. The disaffected +feeling they entertained when I first assumed command soon wore away, +and in its place came a confidence and respect which it gives me the +greatest pleasure to remember, for small though it was, this was my +first cavalry command. They little thought, when we were in the +mountains of California and Oregon—nor did I myself then dream—that +but a few years were to elapse before it would be my lot again to +command dragoons, this time in numbers so vast as of themselves to +compose almost an army.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the arrival of Captain Russell a portion of the Indians +at the Grande Ronde reservation were taken down the coast to the +Siletz reservation, and I was transferred temporarily to Fort +Haskins, on the latter reserve, and assigned to the duty of +completing it and building a blockhouse for the police control of the +Indians placed there.</p> + +<p>While directing this work, I undertook to make a road across the +coast mountains from King's Valley to the Siletz, to shorten the haul +between the two points by a route I had explored. I knew there were +many obstacles in the way, but the gain would be great if we could +overcome them, so I set to work with the enthusiasm of a young +path-finder. The point at which the road was to cross the range was rough +and precipitous, but the principal difficulty in making it would be +from heavy timber on the mountains that had been burned over years +and years before, until nothing was left but limbless trunks of dead +trees—firs and pines—that had fallen from time to time until the +ground was matted with huge logs from five to eight feet in diameter. +These could not be chopped with axes nor sawed by any ordinary means, +therefore we had to burn them into suitable lengths, and drag the +sections to either side of the roadway with from four to six yoke of +oxen.</p> + +<p>The work was both tedious and laborious, but in time perseverance +surmounted all obstacles and the road was finished, though its grades +were very steep. As soon as it was completed, I wished to +demonstrate its value practically, so I started a Government wagon +over it loaded with about fifteen hundred pounds of freight drawn by +six yoke of oxen, and escorted by a small detachment of soldiers. +When it had gone about seven miles the sergeant in charge came back +to the post and reported his inability to get any further. Going out +to the scene of difficulty I found the wagon at the base of a steep +hill, stalled. Taking up a whip myself, I directed the men to lay on +their gads, for each man had supplied himself with a flexible hickory +withe in the early stages of the trip, to start the team, but this +course did not move the wagon nor have much effect on the demoralized +oxen; but following as a last resort an example I heard of on a +former occasion, that brought into use the rough language of the +country, I induced the oxen to move with alacrity, and the wagon and +contents were speedily carried to the summit. The whole trouble was +at once revealed: the oxen had been broken and trained by a man who, +when they were in a pinch, had encouraged them by his frontier +vocabulary, and they could not realize what was expected of them +under extraordinary conditions until they heard familiar and possibly +profanely urgent phrases. I took the wagon to its destination, but +as it was not brought back, even in all the time I was stationed in +that country, I think comment on the success of my road is +unnecessary.</p> + +<p>I spent many happy months at Fort Haskins, remaining there until the +post was nearly completed and its garrison increased by the arrival +of Captain F. T. Dent—a brother-in-law of Captain Ulysses S. +Grant—with his company of the Fourth Infantry, in April, 1857. In the +summer of 1856, and while I was still on duty there, the Coquille +Indians on the Siletz, and down near the Yaquina Bay, became, on +account of hunger and prospective starvation, very much excited and +exasperated, getting beyond the control of their agent, and even +threatening his life, so a detachment of troops was sent out to set +things to rights, and I took command of it. I took with me most of +the company, and arrived at Yaquina Bay in time to succor the agent, +who for some days had been besieged in a log hut by the Indians and +had almost abandoned hope of rescue.</p> + +<p>Having brought with me over the mountains a few head of beef cattle +for the hungry Indians, without thinking of running any great +personal risk I had six beeves killed some little distance from my +camp, guarding the meat with four Soldiers, whom I was obliged to +post as sentinels around the small area on which the carcasses lay. +The Indians soon formed a circle about the sentinels, and impelled by +starvation, attempted to take the beef before it could be equally +divided. This was of course resisted, when they drew their +knives—their guns having been previously taken away from them—and some of +the inferior chiefs gave the signal to attack. The principal chief, +Tetootney John, and two other Indians joined me in the centre of the +circle, and protesting that they would die rather than that the +frenzied onslaught should succeed, harangued the Indians until the +rest of the company hastened up from camp and put an end to the +disturbance. I always felt grateful to Tetootney John for his +loyalty on this occasion, and many times afterward aided his family +with a little coffee and sugar, but necessarily surreptitiously, so +as not to heighten the prejudices that his friendly act had aroused +among his Indian comrades.</p> + +<p>The situation at Yaquina Bay did not seem very safe, notwithstanding +the supply of beef we brought; and the possibility that the starving +Indians might break out was ever present, so to anticipate any +further revolt, I called for more troops. The request was complied +with by sending to my assistance the greater part of my own company +("K")from Fort Yamhill. The men, inspired by the urgency of our +situation, marched more than forty miles a day, accomplishing the +whole distance in so short a period, that I doubt if the record has +ever been beaten. When this reinforcement arrived, the Indians saw +the futility of further demonstrations against their agent, who they +seemed to think was responsible for the insufficiency of food, and +managed to exist with the slender rations we could spare and such +indifferent food as they could pick up, until the Indian Department +succeeded in getting up its regular supplies. In the past the poor +things had often been pinched by hunger and neglect, and at times +their only food was rock oysters, clams and crabs. Great quantities +of these shell-fish could be gathered in the bay near at hand, but +the mountain Indians, who had heretofore lived on the flesh of +mammal, did not take kindly to mollusks, and, indeed, ate the +shell-fish only as a last resort.</p> + +<p>Crab catching at night on the Yaquina Bay by the coast Indians was a +very picturesque scene. It was mostly done by the squaws and +children, each equipped with a torch in one hand, and a sharp-pointed +stick in the other to take and lift the fish into baskets slung on +the back to receive them. I have seen at times hundreds of squaws +and children wading about in Yaquina Bay taking crabs in this manner, +and the reflection by the water of the light from the many torches, +with the movements of the Indians while at work, formed a weird and +diverting picture of which we were never tired.</p> + +<p>Not long after the arrival of the additional troops from Yamhill, it +became apparent that the number of men at Yaquina Bay would have to +be reduced, so in view of this necessity, it was deemed advisable to +build a block-house for the better protection of the agents and I +looked about for suitable ground on which to erect it. Nearly all +around the bay the land rose up from the beach very abruptly, and the +only good site that could be found was some level ground used as the +burial-place of the Yaquina Bay Indians—a small band of fish-eating +people who had lived near this point on the coast for ages. They +were a robust lot, of tall and well-shaped figures, and were called +in the Chinook tongue "salt chuck," which means fish-eaters, or +eaters of food from the salt water. Many of the young men and women +were handsome in feature below the forehead, having fine eyes, +aquiline noses and good mouths, but, in conformity with a +long-standing custom, all had flat heads, which gave them a distorted and +hideous appearance, particularly some of the women, who went to the +extreme of fashion and flattened the head to the rear in a sharp +horizontal ridge by confining it between two boards, one running back +from the forehead at an angle of about forty degrees, and the other +up perpendicularly from the back of the neck. When a head had been +shaped artistically the dusky maiden owner was marked as a belle, and +one could become reconciled to it after a time, but when carelessness +and neglect had governed in the adjustment of the boards, there +probably was nothing in the form of a human being on the face of the +earth that appeared so ugly.</p> + +<p>It was the mortuary ground of these Indians that occupied the only +level spot we could get for the block-house. Their dead were buried +in canoes, which rested in the crotches of forked sticks a few feet +above-ground. The graveyard was not large, containing probably from +forty to fifty canoes in a fair state of preservation. According to +the custom of all Indian tribes on the Pacific coast, when one of +their number died all his worldly effects were buried with him, so +that the canoes were filled with old clothes, blankets, pieces of +calico and the like, intended for the use of the departed in the +happy hunting grounds.</p> + +<p>I made known to the Indians that we would have to take this piece of +ground for the blockhouse. They demurred at first, for there is +nothing more painful to an Indian than disturbing his dead, but they +finally consented to hold a council next day on the beach, and thus +come to some definite conclusion. Next morning they all assembled, +and we talked in the Chinook language all day long, until at last +they gave in, consenting, probably, as much because they could not +help themselves, as for any other reason. It was agreed that on the +following day at 12 o'clock, when the tide was going out, I should +take my men and place the canoes in the bay, and let them float out +on the tide across the ocean to the happy hunting-grounds:</p> + +<p>At that day there existed in Oregon in vast numbers a species of +wood-rat, and our inspection of the graveyard showed that the canoes +were thickly infested with them. They were a light gray animal, +larger than the common gray squirrel, with beautiful bushy tails, +which made them strikingly resemble the squirrel, but in cunning and +deviltry they were much ahead of that quick-witted rodent. I have +known them to empty in one night a keg of spikes in the storehouse in +Yamhill, distributing them along the stringers of the building, with +apparently no other purpose than amusement. We anticipated great fun +watching the efforts of these rats to escape the next day when the +canoes should be launched on the ocean, and I therefore forbade any +of the command to visit the graveyard in the interim, lest the rats +should be alarmed. I well knew that they would not be disturbed by +the Indians, who held the sacred spot in awe. When the work of +taking down the canoes and carrying them to the water began, +expectation was on tiptoe, but, strange as it may seem, not a rat was +to be seen. This unexpected development was mystifying. They had +all disappeared; there was not one in any of the canoes, as +investigation proved, for disappointment instigated a most thorough +search. The Indians said the rats understood Chinook, and that as +they had no wish to accompany the dead across the ocean to the happy +hunting-grounds, they took to the woods for safety. However that may +be, I have no doubt that the preceding visits to the burial-ground, +and our long talk of the day before, with the unusual stir and +bustle, had so alarmed the rats that, impelled, by their suspicious +instincts, they fled a danger, the nature of which they could not +anticipate, but which they felt to be none the less real and +impending.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch7"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>LEARNING THE CHINOOK LANGUAGE—STRANGE INDIAN CUSTOMS—THEIR DOCTORS +—SAM PATCH—THE MURDER OF A WOMAN—IN A TIGHT PLACE—SURPRISING THE +INDIANS—CONFLICTING REPORTS OF THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN—SECESSION +QUESTION IN CALIFORNIA—APPOINTED A CAPTAIN—TRANSFERRED TO THE EAST.</p> + +<p>The troubles at the Siletz and Yaquina Bay were settled without +further excitement by the arrival in due time of plenty of food, and +as the buildings, at Fort Haskins were so near completion that my +services as quartermaster were no longer needed, I was ordered to +join my own company at Fort Yamhill, where Captain Russell was still +in command. I returned to that place in May, 1857, and at a period a +little later, in consequence of the close of hostilities in southern +Oregon, the Klamaths and Modocs were sent back to their own country, +to that section in which occurred, in 1873, the disastrous war with +the latter tribe. This reduced considerably the number of Indians at +the Grande Ronde, but as those remaining were still somewhat unruly, +from the fact that many questions requiring adjustment were +constantly arising between the different bands, the agent and the +officers at the post were kept pretty well occupied. Captain Russell +assigned to me the special work of keeping up the police control, and +as I had learned at an early day to speak Chinook (the "court +language" among the coast tribes) almost as well as the Indians +themselves, I was thereby enabled to steer my way successfully on +many critical occasions.</p> + +<p>For some time the most disturbing and most troublesome element we had +was the Rogue River band. For three or four years they had fought +our troops obstinately, and surrendered at the bitter end in the +belief that they were merely overpowered, not conquered. They openly +boasted to the other Indians that they could whip the soldiers, and +that they did not wish to follow the white man's ways, continuing +consistently their wild habits, unmindful of all admonitions. +Indeed, they often destroyed their household utensils, tepees and +clothing, and killed their horses on the graves of the dead, in the +fulfillment of a superstitious custom, which demanded that they +should undergo, while mourning for their kindred, the deepest +privation in a property sense. Everything the loss of which would +make them poor was sacrificed on the graves of their relatives or +distinguished warriors, and as melancholy because of removal from +their old homes caused frequent deaths, there was no lack of occasion +for the sacrifices. The widows and orphans of the dead warriors were +of course the chief mourners, and exhibited their grief in many +peculiar ways. I remember one in particular which was universally +practiced by the near kinsfolk. They would crop their hair very +close, and then cover the head with a sort of hood or plaster of +black pitch, the composition being clay, pulverized charcoal, and the +resinous gum which exudes from the pine-tree. The hood, nearly an +inch in thickness, was worn during a period of mourning that lasted +through the time it would take nature, by the growth of the hair, +actually to lift from the head the heavy covering of pitch after it +had become solidified and hard as stone. It must be admitted that +they underwent considerable discomfort in memory of their relatives. +It took all the influence we could bring to bear to break up these +absurdly superstitious practices, and it looked as if no permanent +improvement could be effected, for as soon as we got them to discard +one, another would be invented. When not allowed to burn down their +tepees or houses, those poor souls who were in a dying condition +would be carried out to the neighboring hillsides just before +dissolution, and there abandoned to their sufferings, with little or +no attention, unless the placing under their heads of a small stick +of wood—with possibly some laudable object, but doubtless great +discomfort to their victim—might be considered such.</p> + +<p>To uproot these senseless and monstrous practices was indeed most +difficult. The most pernicious of all was one which was likely to +bring about tragic results. They believed firmly in a class of +doctors among their people who professed that they could procure the +illness of an individual at will, and that by certain incantations +they could kill or cure the sick person. Their faith in this +superstition was so steadfast that there was no doubting its +sincerity, many indulging at times in the most trying privations, +that their relatives might be saved from death at the hands of the +doctors. I often talked with them on the subject, and tried to +reason them out of the superstitious belief, defying the doctors to +kill me, or even make me ill; but my talks were unavailing, and they +always met my arguments with the remark that I was a white man, of a +race wholly different from the red man, and that that was the reason +the medicine of the doctors would not affect me. These villainous +doctors might be either men or women, and any one of them finding an +Indian ill, at once averred that his influence was the cause, +offering at the same time to cure the invalid for a fee, which +generally amounted to about all the ponies his family possessed. If +the proposition was accepted and the fee paid over, the family, in +case the man died, was to have indemnity through the death of the +doctor, who freely promised that they might take his life in such +event, relying on his chances of getting protection from the furious +relatives by fleeing to the military post till time had so assuaged +their grief that matters could be compromised or settled by a +restoration of a part of the property, when the rascally leeches +could again resume their practice. Of course the services of a +doctor were always accepted when an Indian fell ill; otherwise the +invalid's death would surely ensue, brought about by the evil +influence that was unpropitiated. Latterly it had become quite the +thing, when a patient died, for the doctor to flee to our camp—it +was so convenient and so much safer than elsewhere—and my cellar was +a favorite place of refuge from the infuriated friends of the +deceased.</p> + +<p>Among the most notable of these doctors was an Indian named Sam +Patch, who several times sought asylum in any cellar, and being a +most profound diplomat, managed on each occasion and with little +delay to negotiate a peaceful settlement and go forth in safety to +resume the practice of his nefarious profession. I often hoped he +would be caught before reaching the post, but he seemed to know +intuitively when the time had come to take leg-bail, for his advent +at the garrison generally preceded by but a few hours the death of +some poor dupe.</p> + +<p>Finally these peculiar customs brought about the punishment of a +noted doctress of the Rogue River tribe, a woman who was constantly +working in this professional way, and who had found a victim of such +prominence among the Rogue Rivers that his unlooked for death brought +down on her the wrath of all. She had made him so ill, they +believed, as to bring him to death's door notwithstanding the many +ponies that had been given her to cease the incantations, and it was +the conviction of all that she had finally caused the man's death +from some ulterior and indiscernible motive. His relatives and +friends then immediately set about requiting her with the just +penalties of a perfidious breach of contract. Their threats induced +her instant flight toward my house for the usual protection, but the +enraged friends of the dead man gave hot chase, and overtook the +witch just inside the limits of the garrison, where, on the +parade-ground, in sight of the officers' quarters, and before any one could +interfere, they killed her. There were sixteen men in pursuit of the +doctress, and sixteen gun-shot wounds were found in her body when +examined by the surgeon of the post. The killing of the woman was a +flagrant and defiant outrage committed in the teeth of the military +authority, yet done so quickly that we could not prevent it. This +necessitated severe measures, both to allay the prevailing excitement +and to preclude the recurrence of such acts. The body was cared for, +and delivered to the relatives the next day for burial, after which +Captain Russell directed me to take such steps as would put a stop to +the fanatical usages that had brought about this murderous +occurrence, for it was now seen that if timely measures were not +taken to repress them, similar tragedies would surely follow.</p> + +<p>Knowing all the men of the Rogue River tribe, and speaking fluently +the Chinook tongue, which they all understood, I went down to their +village the following day, after having sent word to the tribe that I +wished to have a council with them. The Indians all met me in +council, as I had desired, and I then told them that the men who had +taken part in shooting the woman would have to be delivered up for +punishment. They were very stiff with me at the interview, and with +all that talent for circumlocution and diplomacy with which the +Indian is lifted, endeavored to evade my demands and delay any +conclusion. But I was very positive, would hear of no compromise +whatever, and demanded that my terms be at once complied with. No +one was with me but a sergeant of my company, named Miller, who held +my horse, and as the chances of an agreement began to grow remote, I +became anxious for our safety. The conversation waxing hot and the +Indians gathering close in around me, I unbuttoned the flap of my +pistol holster, to be ready for any emergency. When the altercation +became most bitter I put my hand to my hip to draw my pistol, but +discovered it was gone—stolen by one of the rascals surrounding me. +Finding myself unarmed, I modified my tone and manner to correspond +with my helpless condition, thus myself assuming the diplomatic side +in the parley, in order to gain time. As soon as an opportunity +offered, and I could, without too much loss of self-respect, and +without damaging my reputation among the Indians, I moved out to +where the sergeant held my horse, mounted, and crossing the Yamhill +River close by, called back in Chinook from the farther bank that +"the sixteen men who killed the woman must be delivered up, and my +six-shooter also." This was responded to by contemptuous laughter, so +I went back to the military post somewhat crestfallen, and made my +report of the turn affairs had taken, inwardly longing for another +chance to bring the rascally Rogue Rivers to terms.</p> + +<p>When I had explained the situation to Captain Russell, he thought +that we could not, under any circumstances, overlook this defiant +conduct of the Indians, since, unless summarily punished, it would +lead to even more serious trouble in the future. I heartily seconded +this proposition, and gladly embracing the opportunity it offered, +suggested that if he would give me another chance, and let me have +the effective force of the garrison, consisting of about fifty men, I +would chastise the Rogue Rivers without fail, and that the next day +was all the time I required to complete arrangements. He gave me the +necessary authority, and I at once set to work to bring about a +better state of discipline on the reservation, and to put an end to +the practices of the medicine men (having also in view the recovery +of my six-shooter and self-respect), by marching to the village and +taking the rebellious Indians by force.</p> + +<p>In the tribe there was an excellent woman called Tighee Mary (Tighee +in Chinook means chief), who by right of inheritance was a kind of +queen of the Rogue Rivers. Fearing that the insubordinate conduct of +the Indians would precipitate further trouble, she came early the +following morning to see me and tell me of the situation Mary +informed me that she had done all in her power to bring the Indians +to reason, but without avail, and that they were determined to fight +rather than deliver up the sixteen men who had engaged in the +shooting. She also apprised me of the fact that they had taken up a +position on the Yamhill River, on the direct road between the post +and village, where, painted and armed for war, they were awaiting +attack.</p> + +<p>On this information I concluded it would be best to march to the +village by a circuitous route instead of directly, as at first +intended, so I had the ferry-boat belonging to the post floated about +a mile and a half down the Yamhill River and there anchored. At 11 +o'clock that night I marched my fifty men, out of the garrison, in a +direction opposite to that of the point held by the Indians, and soon +reached the river at the ferryboat. Here I ferried the party over +with little delay, and marched them along the side of the mountain, +through underbrush and fallen timber, until, just before daylight, I +found that we were immediately in rear of the village, and thence in +rear, also, of the line occupied by the refractory Indians, who were +expecting to meet me on the direct road from the post. Just at break +of day we made a sudden descent upon the village and took its +occupants completely by surprise, even capturing the chief of the +tribe, "Sam," who was dressed in all his war toggery, fully armed and +equipped, in anticipation of a fight on the road where his comrades +were in position. I at once put Sam under guard, giving orders to +kill him instantly if the Indians fired a shot; then forming my line +on the road beyond the edge of the village, in rear of the force +lying in wait for a front attack, we moved forward. When the hostile +party realized that they were completely cut off from the village, +they came out from their stronghold on the river and took up a line +in my front, distant about sixty yards with the apparent intention of +resisting to the last.</p> + +<p>As is usual with Indians when expecting a fight, they were nearly +naked, fantastically painted with blue clay, and hideously arrayed in +war bonnets. They seemed very belligerent, brandishing their muskets +in the air, dancing on one foot, calling us ugly names, and making +such other demonstrations of hostility, that it seemed at first that +nothing short of the total destruction of the party could bring about +the definite settlement that we were bent on. Still, as it was my +desire to bring them under subjection without loss of life, if +possible, I determined to see what result would follow when they +learned that their chief was at our mercy. So, sending Sam under +guard to the front, where he could be seen, informing them that he +would be immediately shot if they fired upon us, and aided by the +cries and lamentations of the women of the village, who deprecated +any hostile action by either party, I soon procured a parley.</p> + +<p>The insubordinate Indians were under command of "Joe," Sam's brother, +who at last sent me word that he wanted to see me, and we met between +our respective lines. I talked kindly to him, but was firm in my +demand that the men who killed the woman must be given up and my +six-shooter returned. His reply was he did not think it could be done, +but he would consult his people. After the consultation, he returned +and notified me that fifteen would surrender and the six-shooter +would be restored, and further, that we could kill the sixteenth man, +since the tribe wished to get rid of him anyhow, adding that he was a +bad Indian, whose bullet no doubt had given the woman her death +wound. He said that if I assented to this arrangement, he would +require all of his people except the objectionable man to run to the +right of his line at a preconcerted signal. The bad Indian would be +ordered to stand fast on the extreme left, and we could open fire on +him as his comrades fell away to the right. I agreed to the +proposition, and gave Joe fifteen minutes to execute his part of it. +We then returned to our respective forces, and a few minutes later +the fifteen ran to the right flank as agreed upon, and we opened fire +on the one Indian left standing alone, bringing him down in his +tracks severely wounded by a shot through the shoulder.</p> + +<p>While all this was going on, the other bands of the reservation, +several thousand strong, had occupied the surrounding hills for the +purpose of witnessing the fight, for as the Rogue Rivers had been +bragging for some time that they could whip the soldiers, these other +Indians had come out to see it done. The result, however, +disappointed the spectators, and the Rogue Rivers naturally lost +caste. The fifteen men now came in and laid down their arms +(including my six-shooter) in front of us as agreed, but I compelled +them to take the surrendered guns up again and carry them to the +post, where they were deposited in the block-house for future +security. The prisoners were ironed with ball and chain, and made to +work at the post until their rebellious spirit was broken; and the +wounded man was correspondingly punished after he had fully +recovered. An investigation as to why this man had been selected as +the offering by which Joe and his companions expected to gain +immunity, showed that the fellow was really a most worthless +character, whose death even would have been a benefit to the tribe. +Thus it seemed that they had two purposes in view—the one to +propitiate me and get good terms, the other to rid themselves of a +vagabond member of the tribe.</p> + +<p>The punishment of these sixteen Indians by ball and chain ended all +trouble with the Rogue River tribe. The disturbances arising from +the incantations of the doctors and doctresses, and the practice of +killing horses and burning all worldly property on the graves of +those who died, were completely suppressed, and we made with little +effort a great stride toward the civilization of these crude and +superstitious people, for they now began to recognize the power of +the Government. In their management afterward a course of justice +and mild force was adopted, and unvaryingly applied. They were +compelled to cultivate their land, to attend church, and to send +their children to school. When I saw them, fifteen years later, +transformed into industrious and substantial farmers, with neat +houses, fine cattle, wagons and horses, carrying their grain, eggs, +and butter to market and bringing home flour, coffee, sugar, and +calico in return, I found abundant confirmation of my early opinion +that the most effectual measures for lifting them from a state of +barbarism would be a practical supervision at the outset, coupled +with a firm control and mild discipline.</p> + +<p>In all that was done for these Indians Captain Russell's judgment and +sound, practical ideas were the inspiration. His true manliness, +honest and just methods, together with the warm-hearted interest he +took in all that pertained to matters of duty to his Government, +could not have produced other than the best results, in what position +soever he might have been placed. As all the lovable traits of his +character were constantly manifested, I became most deeply attached +to him, and until the day of his death in 1864, on the battle-field +of Opequan, in front of Winchester, while gallantly leading his +division under my command, my esteem and affection were sustained and +intensified by the same strong bonds that drew me to him in these +early days in Oregon.</p> + +<p>After the events just narrated I continued on duty at the post of +Yamhill, experiencing the usual routine of garrison life without any +incidents of much interest, down to the breaking out of the war of +the rebellion in April, 1861. The news of the firing on Fort Sumter +brought us an excitement which overshadowed all else, and though we +had no officers at the post who sympathized with the rebellion, there +were several in our regiment—the Fourth Infantry—who did, and we +were considerably exercised as to the course they might pursue, but +naturally far more so concerning the disposition that would be made +of the regiment during the conflict.</p> + +<p>In due time orders came for the regiment to go East, and my company +went off, leaving me, however—a second lieutenant—in command of the +post until I should be relieved by Captain James J. Archer, of the +Ninth Infantry, whose company was to take the place of the old +garrison. Captain Archer, with his company of the Ninth, arrived +shortly after, but I had been notified that he intended to go South, +and his conduct was such after reaching the post that I would not +turn over the command to him for fear he might commit some rebellious +act. Thus a more prolonged detention occurred than I had at first +anticipated. Finally the news came that he had tendered his +resignation and been granted a leave of absence for sixty days. On +July 17 he took his departure, but I continued in command till +September 1, when Captain Philip A. Owen, of the Ninth Infantry, +arrived and, taking charge, gave me my release.</p> + +<p>From the day we received the news of the firing on Sumter until I +started East, about the first of September, 1861, I was deeply +solicitous as to the course of events, and though I felt confident +that in the end the just cause of the Government must triumph, yet +the thoroughly crystallized organization which the Southern +Confederacy quickly exhibited disquieted me very much, for it alone +was evidence that the Southern leaders had long anticipated the +struggle and prepared for it. It was very difficult to obtain direct +intelligence of the progress of the war. Most of the time we were in +the depths of ignorance as to the true condition of affairs, and this +tended to increase our anxiety. Then, too, the accounts of the +conflicts that had taken place were greatly exaggerated by the +Eastern papers, and lost nothing in transition. The news came by the +pony express across the Plains to San Francisco, where it was still +further magnified in republishing, and gained somewhat in Southern +bias. I remember well that when the first reports reached us of, the +battle of Bull Run—that sanguinary engagement—it was stated that +each side had lost forty thousand men in killed and wounded, and none +were reported missing nor as having run away. Week by week these +losses grew less, until they finally shrunk into the hundreds, but +the vivid descriptions of the gory conflict were not toned down +during the whole summer.</p> + +<p>We received our mail at Yamhill only once a week, and then had to +bring it from Portland, Oregon, by express. On the day of the week +that our courier, or messenger, was expected back from Portland, I +would go out early in the morning to a commanding point above the +post, from which I could see a long distance down the road as it ran +through the valley of the Yamhill, and there I would watch with +anxiety for his coming, longing for good news; for, isolated as I had +been through years spent in the wilderness, my patriotism was +untainted by politics, nor had it been disturbed by any discussion of +the questions out of which the war grew, and I hoped for the success +of the Government above all other considerations. I believe I was +also uninfluenced by any thoughts of the promotion that might result +to me from the conflict, but, out of a sincere desire to contribute +as much as I could to the preservation of the Union, I earnestly +wished to be at the seat of war, and feared it might end before I +could get East. In no sense did I anticipate what was to happen to +me afterward, nor that I was to gain any distinction from it. I was +ready to do my duty to the best of my ability wherever I might be +called, and I was young, healthy, insensible to fatigue, and desired +opportunity, but high rank was so distant in our service that not a +dream of its attainment had flitted through my brain.</p> + +<p>During the period running from January to September, 1861, in +consequence of resignations and the addition of some new regiments to +the regular army, I had passed through the grade of first lieutenant +and reached that of captain in the Thirteenth United States Infantry, +of which General W. T. Sherman had recently been made the colonel. +When relieved from further duty at Yamhill by Captain Owen, I left +for the Atlantic coast to join my new regiment. A two days' ride +brought me down to Portland, whence I sailed to San Franciso, and at +that city took passage by steamer for New York via the Isthmus of +Panama, in company with a number of officers who were coming East +under circumstances like my own.</p> + +<p>At this time California was much agitated—on the question of +secession, and the secession element was so strong that considerable +apprehension was felt by the Union people lest the State might be +carried into the Confederacy. As a consequence great distrust +existed in all quarters, and the loyal passengers on the steamer, not +knowing what might occur during our voyage, prepared to meet +emergencies by thoroughly organizing to frustrate any attempt that +might possibly be made to carry us into some Southern port after we +should leave Aspinwall. However, our fears proved groundless; at all +events, no such attempt was made, and we reached New York in safety +in November, 1861. A day or two in New York sufficed to replenish a +most meagre wardrobe, and I then started West to join my new +regiment, stopping a day and a night at the home of my parents in +Ohio, where I had not been since I journeyed from Texas for the +Pacific coast. The headquarters of my regiment were at Jefferson +Barracks, Missouri, to which point I proceeded with no further delay +except a stay in the city of St. Louis long enough to pay my respects +to General H. W. Halleck.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch8"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>AUDITING ACCOUNTS—CHIEF QUARTERMASTER AND COMMISSARY OF THE ARMY OF +SOUTHWEST MISSOURI—PREPARING FOR THE PEA RIDGE CAMPAIGN—A +DIFFERENCE WITH GENERAL CURTIS—ORDERED TO THE FRONT—APPOINTED A +COLONEL.</p> + +<p>Some days after I had reached the headquarters of my regiment near +St. Louis, General Halleck sent for me, and when I reported he +informed me that there existed a great deal of confusion regarding +the accounts of some of the disbursing officers in his department, +whose management of its fiscal affairs under his predecessor, General +John C. Fremont, had been very loose; and as the chaotic condition of +things could be relieved only by auditing these accounts, he +therefore had determined to create a board of officers for the +purpose, and intended to make me president of it. The various +transactions in question covered a wide field, for the department +embraced the States of Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Arkansas, +and all of Kentucky west of the Cumberland River.</p> + +<p>The duty was not distasteful, and I felt that I was qualified to +undertake it, for the accounts to be audited belonged exclusively to +the Quartermaster and Subsistence departments, and by recent +experience I had become familiar with the class of papers that +pertained to those branches of the army. Indeed, it was my +familiarity with such transactions, returns, etc., that probably +caused my selection as president of the board.</p> + +<p>I entered upon the work forthwith, and continued at it until the 26th +of December, 1861. At that date I was relieved from the auditing +board and assigned to duty as Chief Commissary of the Army of +Southwest Missouri, commanded by General Samuel R. Curtis. This army +was then organizing at Rolla, Missouri, for the Pea Ridge campaign, +its strength throughout the campaign being in the aggregate about +fifteen thousand men.</p> + +<p>As soon as I received information of my selection for this position, +I went to General Halleck and requested him to assign me as Chief +Quartermaster also. He was reluctant to do so, saying that I could +not perform both duties, but I soon convinced him that I could do +both better than the one, for I reminded him that as Chief +Quartermaster I should control the transportation, and thus obviate +all possible chances of discord between the two staff departments; a +condition which I deemed essential to success, especially as it was +intended that Curtis's army should mainly subsist on the country. +This argument impressed Halleck, and becoming convinced, he promptly +issued the order making me Chief Quartermaster and Chief Commissary +of Subsistence of the Army of Southwest Missouri, and I started for +Rolla to enter upon the work assigned me.</p> + +<p>Having reported to General Curtis, I quickly learned that his system +of supply was very defective, and the transportation without proper +organization, some of the regiments having forty to fifty wagon each, +and others only three or four. I labored day and night to remedy +these and other defects, and with the help of Captain Michael P. +Small, of the Subsistence Department, who was an invaluable +assistant, soon brought things into shape, putting the transportation +in good working order, giving each regiment its proper quota of +wagons, and turning the surplus into the general supply trains of the +army. In accomplishing this I was several times on the verge of +personal conflict with irate regimental commanders, but Colonel G. M. +Dodge so greatly sustained me with General Curtis by strong moral +support, and by such efficient details from his regiment—the Fourth +Iowa Volunteer Infantry—that I still bear him and it great affection +and lasting gratitude.</p> + +<p>On January 26, 1862, General Curtis's army began its march from Rolla +to Springfield, Missouri, by way of Lebanon. The roads were deep +with mud, and so badly cut up that the supply trains in moving +labored under the most serious difficulties, and were greatly +embarrassed by swollen streams. Under these circumstances many +delays occurred, and when we arrived at Lebanon nearly all the +supplies with which we had started had been consumed, and the work of +feeding the troops off the country had to begin at that point. To +get flour, wheat had to be taken from the stacks, threshed, and sent +to the mills to be ground. Wheat being scarce in this region, corn +as a substitute had to be converted into meal by the same laborious +process. In addition, beef cattle had to be secured for the meat +ration.</p> + +<p>By hard work we soon accumulated a sufficient quantity of flour and +corn meal to justify the resumption of our march on Springfield; at +or near which point the enemy was believed to be awaiting us, and the +order was given to move forward, the commanding general cautioning +me, in the event of disaster, to let no salt fall into General +Price's hands. General Curtis made a hobby of this matter of salt, +believing the enemy was sadly in need of that article, and he +impressed me deeply with his conviction that our cause would be +seriously injured by a loss which would inure so greatly and +peculiarly to the enemy's benefit; but we afterward discovered, when +Price abandoned his position, that about all he left behind was salt.</p> + +<p>When we were within about eight miles of Springfield, General Curtis +decided to put his troops in line of battle for the advance on the +town, and directed me to stretch out my supply trains in a long line +of battle, so that in falling back, in case the troops were repulsed, +he could rally the men on the wagons. I did not like the tactics, +but of course obeyed the order. The line moved on Springfield, and +took the town without resistance, the enemy having fled southward, in +the direction of Pea Ridge, the preceding day. Of course our success +relieved my anxiety about the wagons; but fancy has often pictured +since, the stampede of six mule teams that, had we met with any +reverse, would have taken place over the prairies of southwest +Missouri.</p> + +<p>The army set out in pursuit of Price, but I was left at Springfield +to gather supplies from the surrounding country, by the same means +that had been used at Lebanon, and send them forward. To succeed in +this useful and necessary duty required much hard work. To procure +the grain and to run the mills in the country, replacing the +machinery where parts had been carried away, or changing the +principle and running the mills on some different plan when +necessary, and finally forward the product to the army, made a task +that taxed the energy of all engaged in it. Yet, having at command a +very skillful corps of millwrights, machinists, and millers, detailed +principally from the Fourth Iowa and Thirty-sixth Illinois volunteer +regiments, we soon got matters in shape, and were able to send such +large quantities of flour and meal to the front, that only the bacon +and small parts of the ration had to be brought forward from our +depot at Rolla. When things were well systematized, I went forward +myself to expedite the delivery of supplies, and joined the army at +Cross Hollows, just south of Pea Ridge.</p> + +<p>Finding everything working well at Cross Hollows, I returned to +Springfield in a few days to continue the labor of collecting +supplies. On my way back I put the mills at Cassville in good order +to grind the grain in that vicinity, and perfected there a plan for +the general supply from the neighboring district of both the men and +animals of the army, so that there should, be no chance of a failure +of the campaign from bad roads or disaster to my trains. Springfield +thus became the centre of the entire supply section.</p> + +<p>Just after my return to Springfield the battle of Pea Ridge was +fought. The success of the Union troops in this battle was +considerable, and while not of sufficient magnitude to affect the +general cause materially, it was decisive as to that particular +campaign, and resulted in driving all organized Confederate forces +out of the State of Missouri. After Pea Ridge was won, certain +efforts were made to deprive Curtis of the credit due him for the +victory; but, no matter what merit belonged to individual commanders, +I was always convinced that Curtis was deserving of the highest +commendation, not only for the skill displayed on the field, but for +a zeal and daring in campaign which was not often exhibited at that +early period of the war. Especially should this credit be awarded +him, when we consider the difficulties under which he labored, how he +was hampered in having to depend on a sparsely settled country for +the subsistence of his troops. In the reports of the battle that +came to Springfield, much glory was claimed for some other general +officers, but as I had control of the telegraph line from Springfield +east, I detained all despatches until General Curtis had sent in his +official report. He thus had the opportunity of communicating with +his superior in advance of some of his vain subordinates, who would +have laid claim to the credit of the battle had I not thwarted them +by this summary means.</p> + +<p>Not long afterward came the culmination of a little difference that +had arisen between General Curtis and me, brought about, I have since +sometimes thought, by an assistant quartermaster from Iowa, whom I +had on duty with me at Springfield. He coveted my place, and finally +succeeded in getting it. He had been an unsuccessful banker in Iowa, +and early in the war obtained an appointment as assistant +quartermaster of volunteers with the rank of captain. As chief +quartermaster of the army in Missouri, there would be opportunities +for the recuperation of his fortunes which would not offer to one in +a subordinate place; so to gain this position he doubtless intrigued +for it while under my eye, and Curtis was induced to give it to him +as soon as I was relieved. His career as my successor, as well as in +other capacities in which he was permitted to act during the war, was +to say the least not savory. The war over he turned up in Chicago as +president of a bank, which he wrecked; and he finally landed in the +penitentiary for stealing a large sum of money from the United States +Treasury at Washington while employed there as a clerk. The chances +that this man's rascality would be discovered were much less when +chief of the departments of transportation and supply of an army than +they afterward proved to be in the Treasury. I had in my possession +at all times large sums of money for the needs of the army, and among +other purposes for which these funds were to be disbursed was the +purchase of horses and mules. Certain officers and men more devoted +to gain than to the performance of duty (a few such are always to be +found in armies) quickly learned this, and determined to profit by +it. Consequently they began a regular system of stealing horses from +the people of the country and proffering them to me for purchase. It +took but a little time to discover this roguery, and when I became +satisfied of their knavery I brought it to a sudden close by seizing +the horses as captured property, branding them U. S., and refusing to +pay for them. General Curtis, misled by the misrepresentations that +had been made, and without fully knowing the circumstances, or +realizing to what a base and demoralizing state of things this course +was inevitably tending, practically ordered me to make the Payments, +and I refused. The immediate result of this disobedience was a +court-martial to try me; and knowing that my usefulness in that army +was gone, no matter what the outcome of the trial might be, I asked +General Halleck to relieve me from duty with General Curtis and order +me to St. Louis. This was promptly done, and as my connection with +the Army of Southwest Missouri was thus severed before the court +could be convened, my case never came to trial. The man referred to +as being the cause of this condition of affairs was appointed by +General Curtis to succeed me. I turned over to the former all the +funds and property for which I was responsible, also the branded +horses and mules stolen from the people of the country, requiring +receipts for everything. I heard afterward that some of the blooded +stock of southwest Missouri made its way to Iowa in an unaccountable +manner, but whether the administration of my successor was +responsible for it or not I am unable to say.</p> + +<p>On my arrival at St. Louis I felt somewhat forlorn and disheartened +at the turn affairs had taken. I did not know where I should be +assigned, nor what I should be required to do, but these +uncertainties were dispelled in a few days by General Halleck, who, +being much pressed by the Governors of some of the Western States to +disburse money in their sections, sent me out into the Northwest with +a sort of roving commission to purchase horses for the use of the +army. I went to Madison and Racine, Wis., at which places I bought +two hundred horses, which were shipped to St. Louis. At Chicago I +bought two hundred more, and as the prices paid at the latter point +showed that Illinois was the cheapest market—it at that time +producing a surplus over home demands—I determined to make Chicago +the centre of my operations.</p> + +<p>While occupied in this way at Chicago the battle of Shiloh took +place, and the desire for active service with troops became uppermost +in my thoughts, so I returned to St. Louis to see if I could not get +into the field. General Halleck having gone down to the Shiloh +battle-field, I reported to his Assistant Adjutant-General, Colonel +John C. Kelton, and told him of my anxiety to take a hand in active +field-service, adding that I did not wish to join my regiment, which +was still organizing and recruiting at Jefferson Barracks, for I felt +confident I could be more useful elsewhere. Kelton knew that the +purchasing duty was but temporary, and that on its completion, +probably at no distant date, I should have to join my company at the +barracks; so, realizing the inactivity to which that situation of +affairs would subject me, he decided to assume the responsibility of +sending me to report to General Halleck at Shiloh, and gave me an +order to that effect.</p> + +<p>This I consider the turning-point in my military career, and shall +always feel grateful to Colonel Kelton for his kindly act which so +greatly influenced my future. My desire to join the army at Shiloh +had now taken possession of me, and I was bent on getting there by +the first means available. Learning that a hospital-boat under +charge of Dr. Hough was preparing to start for Pittsburg Landing, I +obtained the Doctor's consent to take passage on it, and on the +evening of April 15, I left St. Louis for the scene of military +operations in northeastern Mississippi.</p> + +<p>At Pittsburg Landing I reported to General Halleck, who, after some +slight delay, assigned me to duty as an assistant to Colonel George +Thom, of the topographical engineers. Colonel Thom put me at the +work of getting the trains up from the landing, which involved the +repair of roads for that purpose by corduroying the marshy places. +This was rough, hard work, without much chance of reward, but it, was +near the field of active operations, and I determined to do the best +I could at it till opportunity for something better might arise.</p> + +<p>General Halleck did not know much about taking care of himself in the +field. His camp arrangements were wholly inadequate, and in +consequence he and all the officers about him were subjected to much +unnecessary discomfort and annoyance. Someone suggested to him to +appoint me quartermaster for his headquarters, with a view to +systematizing the establishment and remedying the defects complained +of, and I was consequently assigned to this duty. Shortly after this +assignment I had the satisfaction of knowing that General Halleck was +delighted with the improvements made at headquarters, both in camp +outfit and transportation, and in administration generally. My +popularity grew as the improvements increased, but one trifling +incident came near marring it. There was some hitch about getting +fresh beef for General Halleck's mess, and as by this time everybody +had come to look to me for anything and everything in the way of +comfort, Colonel Joe McKibben brought an order from the General for +me to get fresh beef for the headquarters mess. I was not caterer +for this mess, nor did I belong to it even, so I refused point-blank. +McKibben, disliking to report my disobedience, undertook persuasion, +and brought Colonel Thom to see me to aid in his negotiations, but I +would not give in, so McKibben in the kindness of his heart rode +several miles in order to procure the beef himself, and thus save me +from the dire results which be thought would follow should Halleck +get wind of such downright insubordination. The next day I was made +Commissary of Subsistence for the headquarters in addition to my +other duties, and as this brought me into the line of fresh beef, +General Halleck had no cause thereafter to complain of a scarcity of +that article in his mess.</p> + +<p>My stay at General Halleck's headquarters was exceedingly agreeable, +and my personal intercourse with officers on duty there was not only +pleasant and instructive, but offered opportunities for improvement +and advancement for which hardly any other post could have afforded +like chances. My special duties did not occupy all my time, and +whenever possible I used to go over to General Sherman's division, +which held the extreme right of our line in the advance on Corinth, +to witness the little engagements occurring there continuously during +the slow progress which the army was then making, the enemy being +forced back but a short distance each day. I knew General Sherman +very well. We came from near the same section of country in Ohio, +and his wife and her family had known me from childhood. I was +always kindly received by the General, and one day he asked me if I +would be willing to accept the colonelcy of a certain Ohio regiment +if he secured the appointment. I gladly told him yes, if General +Halleck would let me go; but I was doomed to disappointment, for in +about a week or so afterward General Sherman informed me that the +Governor of Ohio would not consent, having already decided to appoint +some one else.</p> + +<p>A little later Governor Blair, of Michigan, who was with the army +temporarily in the interest of the troops from his State, and who +just at this time was looking around for a colonel for the Second +Michigan Cavalry, and very anxious to get a regular officer, fixed +upon me as the man. The regiment was then somewhat run down by +losses from sickness, and considerably split into factions growing +out of jealousies engendered by local differences previous to +organization, and the Governor desired to bridge over all these +troubles by giving the regiment a commander who knew nothing about +them. I presume that some one said to the Governor about this time, +"Why don't you get Sheridan?" This, however, is only conjecture. I +really do not know how my name was proposed to him, but I have often +been told since that General Gordon Granger, whom I knew slightly +then, and who had been the former colonel of the regiment, first +suggested the appointment. At all events, on the morning of May 27, +1862, Captain Russell A. Alger—recently Governor of +Michigan—accompanied by the quartermaster of the regiment, Lieutenant Frank +Walbridge, arrived at General Halleck's headquarters and delivered to +me this telegram:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>(By Telegraph.) +<br>"MILITARY DEPT OF MICHIGAN, +<br>"ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, +<br>"DETROIT, May 25, 1862. +<br> +<br>GENERAL ORDERS NO. 148. +<br> +<br>"Captain Philip H. Sheridan, U. S. Army, is hereby appointed +Colonel of the Second Regiment Michigan Cavalry, to rank from +this date. +<br> +<br>"Captain Sheridan will immediately assume command of the +regiment. +<br> +<br>"By order of the Commander-in-Chief, +<br>"JNO. ROBERTSON, +<br>"Adjutant-General." +</blockquote> +<p> +I took the order to General Halleck, and said that I would like to +accept, but he was not willing I should do so until the consent of +the War Department could be obtained. I returned to my tent much +disappointed, for in those days, for some unaccountable reason, the +War Department did not favor the appointment of regular officers to +volunteer regiments, and I feared a disapproval at Washington. After +a further consultation with Captain Alger and Lieutenant Walbridge, I +determined to go to the General again and further present the case. +Enlarging on my desire for active service with troops, and urging the +utter lack of such opportunity where I was, I pleaded my cause until +General Halleck finally resolved to take the responsibility of +letting me go without consulting the War Department. When I had +thanked him for the kindness, he said that inasmuch as I was to leave +him, he would inform me that the regiment to which I had just been +appointed was ordered out as part of a column directed to make a raid +to the south of the enemy, then occupying Corinth, and that if I +could turn over my property, it would probably be well for me to join +my command immediately, so that I could go with the expedition. I +returned to my tent, where Alger and Walbridge were still waiting, +and told them of the success of my interview, at the same time +notifying them that I would join the regiment in season to accompany +the expedition of which Halleck had spoken.</p> + +<p>In the course of the afternoon I turned over all my property to my +successor, and about 8 o'clock that evening made my appearance at the +camp of the Second Michigan Cavalry, near Farmington, Mississippi. +The regiment was in a hubbub of excitement making preparations for +the raid, and I had barely time to meet the officers of my command, +and no opportunity at all to see the men, when the trumpet sounded to +horse. Dressed in a coat and trousers of a captain of infantry, but +recast as a colonel of cavalry by a pair of well-worn eagles that +General Granger had kindly given me, I hurriedly placed on my saddle +a haversack, containing some coffee, sugar, bacon, and hard bread, +which had been prepared, and mounting my horse, I reported my +regiment to the brigade commander as ready for duty.</p> + + + +<br><br> + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p2.htm">Next Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + + +</body> +</html> + + + diff --git a/old/orig4362-h/p2.htm b/old/orig4362-h/p2.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a85f203 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig4362-h/p2.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3189 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>The Memoirs of General Philip H. Sheridan, +Vol. I., Part 2</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { + text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 95% } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p1.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p3.htm">Next Part</a> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + +<br><br> + +<center><h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF + +<br>P. H. SHERIDAN</h1></center> +<br><br> + + <center><h2>VOLUME I.</h2></center> +<br> +<center><h2>Part 2</h2></center> +<br><br> + + +<br> +<br><hr> + + + + + +<br><br> + + +<center><img alt="Cover.jpg (168K)" src="images/Cover.jpg" height="963" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Spines.jpg (76K)" src="images/Spines.jpg" height="1425" width="597"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Titlepage.jpg (28K)" src="images/Titlepage.jpg" height="1039" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> + +<a name="Frontpiece"></a> +<br><br> + +<center><img alt="Frontpiece.jpg (70K)" src="images/Frontpiece.jpg" height="1007" width="541"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + +<br> +<a href="#ch9">CHAPTER IX.</a><br> +Expedition to Booneville—Destroying Supplies<br> +—Confederate Stragglers—Success of the Expedition<br> +—A Reconnoissance—The Importance of Bodily <br> +Sustenance—The Battle of Booneville—Recommended <br> +for Appointment as a Brigadier-General<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch10">CHAPTER X.</a><br> +In Camp near Rienzi—General Granger—A Valuable <br> +Capture at Ripley—Raiding a Corn—Field—Repulsing <br> +an Attack—Presented with the Black Horse "Rienzi" <br> +—Meeting General Grant—Appointed a Brigadier-General<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch11">CHAPTER XI.</a><br> +Good Advice from General Nelson—His Tragic Death <br> +—Putting Louisville in a State of Defense— <br> +Assigned to the Command of the Eleventh Division <br> +—Capture of Chaplin Heights—Battle of Perryville<br> +—Reported Among the Killed—A Thrilling Incident<br> +—General Buell Relieved by General Rosecrans<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch12">CHAPTER XII.</a><br> +Moving to Bowling Green—James Card, the Scout and <br> +Guide—General Sill—Colonel Schaefer—Colonel <br> +G. W. Roberts—Movement on Murfreesboro'<br> +—Opening of the Battle of Stone River<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch13">CHAPTER XIII.</a><br> +Assault on our Right Flank—Occupying a New Position <br> +—The Enemy Checked — Terrible Loss of Officers<br> +—Ammunition Gives Out—Reconstructing the Line<br> +—Collecting the Wounded and Burying the Dead<br> +—Dealing with Cowards—Results of the Victory<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch14">CHAPTER XIV.</a><br> +Appointed a Major-General—The Secret Expedition <br> +under Card the Scout—His Capture by Guerrillas<br> +—Escape—A Revenge Party—Women Soldiers<br> +—A Fight with Sabres—Tullahoma Campaign<br> +—A Foolish Adventure<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch15">CHAPTER XV.</a><br> +Ordered to Occupy Bridgeport—A Spy—The Battle of <br> +Chickamauga—General Thomas—Treated to Coffee <br> +—Results of the Battle<br> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> + + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS </h2> + <br> +<a href="#Frontpiece">Steel Portrait—General P. H. Sheridan</a> <br> +<a href="#rienzi">General Sheridan's War Horse "Rienzi"</a> <br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>MAPS</h2> +<br> +<a href="#p146">Northeastern Mississippi</a> <br> +<a href="#p157">Battle of Booneville</a> <br> +<a href="#p200">Map Showing the Field of Operations of the Army of the Cumberland<br> +in 1862 and 1863</a> <br> +<a href="#p238">Battle—field of Stone River</a> <br> +<a href="#p285">Positions of General Sheridan's Division <br> +in the Battle of Chickamauga</a> <br> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br> +<br> +<br><br><br><br><br> + +<h2>VOLUME I.</h2> +<h2>Part 2.</h2> + + +<br><br> +<center><h3>By Philip Henry Sheridan</h3></center> +<br><br> + + + + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch9"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>EXPEDITION TO BOONEVILLE—DESTROYING SUPPLIES—CONFEDERATE +STRAGGLERS—SUCCESS OF THE EXPEDITION—A RECONNOISSANCE—THE +IMPORTANCE OF BODILY SUSTENANCE—THE BATTLE OF +BOONEVILLE—RECOMMENDED FOR APPOINTMENT AS A BRIGADIER-GENERAL.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p146"></a><img alt="p146.jpg (56K)" src="images/p146.jpg" height="514" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The expedition referred to by General Halleck in his parting +conversation was composed of the Second Michigan and Second Iowa +regiments of cavalry, formed into a brigade under command of Colonel +Washington L. Elliott, of the Second Iowa. It was to start on the +night of the 27th of May at 12 o'clock, and proceed by a circuitous +route through Iuka, Miss., to Booneville, a station on the Mobile and +Ohio Railroad, about twenty-two miles below Corinth, and accomplish +all it could in the way of destroying the enemy's supplies and +cutting his railroad communications.</p> + +<p>The weather in that climate was already warm, guides unobtainable, +and both men and horses suffered much discomfort from the heat, and +fatigue from the many delays growing out of the fact that we were in +almost total ignorance of the roads leading to the point that we +desired to reach. In order that we might go light we carried only +sugar, coffee, and salt, depending on the country for meat and bread. +Both these articles were scarce, but I think we got all there was, +for our advent was so unexpected by the people of the region through +which we passed that, supposing us to be Confederate cavalry, they +often gave us all they had, the women and servants contributing most +freely from their reserve stores.</p> + +<p>Before reaching Booneville I had the advance, but just as we arrived +on the outskirts of the town the brigade was formed with the Second +Iowa on my right, and the whole force moved forward, right in front, +preceded by skirmishers. Here we encountered the enemy, but forced +him back with little resistance. When we had gained possession of +the station, Colonel Elliott directed me to take the left wing of my +regiment, pass to the south, and destroy a bridge or culvert supposed +to be at a little distance below the town on the Mobile and Ohio +Railroad. The right wing, or other half of the regiment, was to be +held in reserve for my support if necessary. I moved rapidly in the +designated direction till I reached the railroad, and then rode down +it for a mile and a half, but found neither bridge nor culvert. I +then learned that there was no bridge of any importance except the +one at Baldwin, nine miles farther down, but as I was aware, from +information recently received, that it was defended by three +regiments and a battery, I concluded that I could best accomplish the +purpose for which I had been detached—crippling the road—by tearing +up the track, bending the rails, and burning the cross-ties. This +was begun with alacrity at four different points, officers and men +vieing with one another in the laborious work of destruction. We had +but few tools, and as the difficulties to overcome were serious, our +progress was slow, until some genius conceived the idea that the +track, rails and ties, might be lifted from its bed bodily, turned +over, and subjected to a high heat; a convenient supply of dry +fence-rails would furnish ample fuel to render the rails useless. In this +way a good deal of the track was effectively broken up, and +communication by rail from Corinth to the south entirely cut off. +While we were still busy in wrecking the road, a dash was made at my +right and rear by a squadron of Confederate cavalry. This was +handsomely met by the reserve under Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of +the Second Michigan, who, dismounting a portion of his command, +received the enemy with such a volley from his Colt's repeating +rifles that the squadron broke and fled in all directions. We were +not molested further, and resumed our work, intending to extend the +break toward Baldwin, but receiving orders from Elliott to return to +Booneville immediately, the men were recalled, and we started to +rejoin the main command.</p> + +<p>In returning to Booneville, I found the railroad track above where I +had struck it blocked by trains that we had thus cut off, and the +woods and fields around the town covered with several thousand +Confederate soldiers. These were mostly convalescents and +disheartened stragglers belonging to General Beauregard's army, and +from them we learned that Corinth was being evacuated. I spent some +little time in an endeavor to get these demoralized men into an open +field, with a view to some future disposition of them; but in the +midst of the undertaking I received another order from Colonel +Elliott to join him at once. The news of the evacuation had also +reached Elliott, and had disclosed a phase of the situation so +different from that under which he had viewed it when we arrived at +Booneville, that he had grown anxious to withdraw, lest we should be +suddenly pounced upon by an overwhelming force from some one of the +columns in retreat. Under such circumstances my prisoners would +prove a decided embarrassment, so I abandoned further attempts to get +them together—not even paroling them, which I thought might have +been done with but little risk.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the captured cars had been fired, and as their +complete destruction was assured by explosions from those containing +ammunition, they needed no further attention, so I withdrew my men +and hastened to join Elliott, taking along some Confederate officers +whom I had retained from among four or five hundred prisoners +captured when making the original dash below the town.</p> + +<p>The losses in my regiment, and, in fact, those of the entire command, +were insignificant. The results of the expedition were important; +the railroad being broken so thoroughly as to cut off all rolling +stock north of Booneville, and to place at the service of General +Halleck's army the cars and locomotives of which the retreating +Confederates were now so much in need. In addition, we burned +twenty-six cars containing ten thousand stand of small arms, three +pieces of artillery, a great quantity of clothing, a heavy supply of +ammunition, and the personal baggage of General Leonidas Polk. A +large number of prisoners, mostly sick and convalescent, also fell +into our hands; but as we could not carry them with us—such a hurried +departure was an immediate necessity, by reason of our critical +situation—the process of paroling them was not completed, and they +doubtless passed back to active service in the Confederacy, properly +enough unrecognized as prisoners of war by their superiors.</p> + +<p>In returning, the column marched back by another indirect route to +its old camp near Farmington, where we learned that the whole army +had moved into and beyond Corinth, in pursuit of Beauregard, on the +13th of May, the very day we had captured Booneville. Although we +had marched about one hundred and eighty miles in four days, we were +required to take part, of course, in the pursuit of the Confederate +army. So, resting but one night in our old camp, we were early in +the saddle again on the morning of the 2d of June. Marching south +through Corinth, we passed on the 4th of June the scene of our late +raid, viewing with much satisfaction, as we took the road toward +Blackland, the still smoldering embers of the burned trains.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of June I was ordered to proceed with my regiment along +the Blackland road to determine the strength of the enemy in that +direction, as it was thought possible we might capture, by a +concerted movement which General John Pope had suggested to General +Halleck, a portion of Beauregard's rear guard. Pushing the +Confederate scouts rapidly in with a running fire for a mile or more, +while we were approaching a little stream, I hoped to gobble the main +body of the enemy's pickets. I therefore directed the sabre +battalion of the regiment, followed by that portion of it armed with +revolving rifles, to dash forward in column, cut off these videttes +before they could cross the stream, and then gather them in. The +pickets fled hastily, however, and a pell-mell pursuit carried us +over the stream at their heels by a little bridge, with no thought of +halting till we gained a hill on the other side, and suddenly found +ourselves almost in the camp of a strong body of artillery and +infantry. Captain Campbell being in advance, hurriedly dismounted +his battalion for a further forward movement on foot, but it was +readily seen that the enemy was present in such heavy force as almost +to ensure our destruction, and I gave orders for a hasty withdrawal. +We withdrew without loss under cover of thick woods, aided much, +however, by the consternation of the Confederates, who had hardly +recovered from their surprise at our sudden appearance in their camp +before we had again placed the stream between them and us by +recrossing the bridge. The reconnoissance was a success in one +way—that is, in finding out that the enemy was at the point supposed by, +General Pope; but it also had a tendency to accelerate Beauregard's +retreat, for in a day or two his whole line fell back as far south as +Guntown, thus rendering abortive the plans for bagging a large +portion of his army.</p> + +<p>General Beauregard's evacuation of Corinth and retreat southward were +accomplished in the face of a largely superior force of Union troops, +and he reached the point where he intended to halt for reorganization +without other loss than that sustained in the destruction of the cars +and supplies at Booneville, and the capture of some stragglers and +deserters that fell into our hands while we were pressing his rear +from General Pope's flank. The number of these was quite large, and +indicated that the enemy was considerably demoralized. Under such +circumstances, an energetic and skillfully directed pursuit might not +have made certain the enemy's destruction, but it would largely have +aided in disintegrating his forces, and I never could quite +understand why it was not ordered. The desultory affairs between +rear and advance guards seemed as a general, thing to have no +particular purpose in view beyond finding out where the enemy was, +and when he was found, since no supporting colums were at hand and no +one in supreme control was present to give directions, our +skirmishing was of little avail and brought but small reward.</p> + +<p>A short time subsequent to these occurrences, Colonel Elliott was +made a brigadier-general, and as General Pope appointed him his +Chief-of-Staff, I, on the 11th of June, 1862, fell in command of the +brigade by seniority. For the rest of the month but little of moment +occurred, and we settled down into camp at Booneville on the 26th of +June, in a position which my brigade had been ordered to take up some +twenty miles, in advance of the main army for the purpose of covering +its front. Although but a few days had elapsed from the date of my +appointment as colonel of the Second Michigan to that of my +succeeding to the command of the brigade, I believe I can say with +propriety that I had firmly established myself in the confidence of +the officers and men of the regiment, and won their regard by +thoughtful care. I had striven unceasingly to have them well fed and +well clothed, had personally looked after the selection of their +camps, and had maintained such a discipline as to allay former +irritation.</p> + +<p>Men who march, scout, and fight, and suffer all the hardships that +fall to the lot of soldiers in the field, in order to do vigorous +work must have the best bodily sustenance, and every comfort that can +be provided. I knew from practical experience on the frontier that +my efforts in this direction would not only be appreciated, but +requited by personal affection and gratitude; and, further, that such +exertions would bring the best results to me. Whenever my authority +would permit I saved my command from needless sacrifices and +unnecessary toil; therefore, when hard or daring work was to be done +I expected the heartiest response, and always got it. Soldiers are +averse to seeing their comrades killed without compensating results, +and none realize more quickly than they the blundering that often +takes place on the field of battle. They want some tangible +indemnity for the loss of life, and as victory is an offset the value +of which is manifest, it not only makes them content to shed their +blood, but also furnishes evidence of capacity in those who command +them. My regiment had lost very few men since coming under my +command, but it seemed, in the eyes of all who belonged to it, that +casualties to the enemy and some slight successes for us had repaid +every sacrifice, and in consequence I had gained not only their +confidence as soldiers, but also their esteem and love as men, and to +a degree far beyond what I then realized.</p> + +<p>As soon as the camp of my brigade was pitched at Booneville, I began +to scout in every direction, to obtain a knowledge of the enemy's +whereabouts and learn the ground about me. My standing in drawing at +the Military Academy had never been so high as to warrant the belief +that I could ever prove myself an expert, but a few practical lessons +in that line were impressed on me there, and I had retained enough to +enable me to make rough maps that could be readily understood, and +which would be suitable to replace the erroneous skeleton outlines of +northern Mississippi, with which at this time we were scantily +furnished; so as soon as possible I compiled for the use of myself +and my regimental commanders an information map of the surrounding +country. This map exhibited such details as country roads, streams, +farmhouses, fields, woods, and swamps, and such other topographical +features as would be useful. I must confess that my crude sketch did +not evidence much artistic merit, but it was an improvement on what +we already possessed in the way of details to guide the command, and +this was what I most needed; for it was of the first importance that +in our exposed condition we should be equipped with a thorough +knowledge of the section in which we were operating, so as to be +prepared to encounter an enemy already indicating recovery from the +disorganizing effects of his recent retreat.</p> + +<p>In the immediate vicinity of Booneville the country was covered with +heavy forests, with here and there clearings or intervening fields +that had been devoted to the cultivation of cotton and corn. The +ground was of a low character, typical of northeastern Mississippi, +and abounded in small creeks that went almost totally dry even in +short periods of drought, but became flooded with muddy water under +the outpouring of rain peculiar to a semi-tropical climate. In such +a region there were many chances of our being surprised, especially +by an enemy who knew the country well, and whose ranks were filled +with local guides; and great precautions as well as the fullest +information were necessary to prevent disaster. I therefore +endeavored to familiarize all with our surroundings, but scarcely had +matters begun to shape themselves as I desired when our annihilation +was attempted by a large force of Confederate cavalry.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p157"></a><img alt="p157.jpg (23K)" src="images/p157.jpg" height="345" width="535"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>On the morning of July 1, 1862, a cavalry command of between five and +six thousand-men, under the Confederate General James R. Chalmers, +advanced on two roads converging near Booneville. The head of the +enemy's column on the Blackland and Booneville road came in contact +with my pickets three miles and a half west of Booneville. These +pickets, under Lieutenant Leonidas S. Scranton, of the Second +Michigan Cavalry, fell back slowly, taking advantage of every tree or +other cover to fire from till they arrived at the point where the +converging roads joined. At this junction there was a strong +position in the protecting timber, and here Scranton made a firm +stand, being reinforced presently by the few men he had out as +pickets on the road to his left, a second company I had sent him from +camp, and subsequently by three companies more, all now commanded by +Captain Campbell. This force was dismounted and formed in line, and +soon developed that the enemy was present in large numbers. Up to +this time Chalmers had shown only the heads of his columns, and we +had doubts as to his purpose, but now that our resistance forced him +to deploy two regiments on the right and left of the road, it became +apparent that he meant business, and that there was no time to lose +in preparing to repel his attack.</p> + +<p>Full information of the situation was immediately sent me, and I +directed Campbell to hold fast, if possible, till I could support +him, but if compelled to retire he was authorized to do so slowly, +taking advantage of every means that fell in his way to prolong the +fighting. Before this I had stationed one battalion of the Second +Iowa in Booneville, but Colonel Edward Hatch, commanding that +regiment, was now directed to leave one company for the protection of +our camp a little to the north of the station, and take the balance +of the Second Iowa, with the battalion in Booneville except two sabre +companies, and form the whole in rear of Captain Campbell, to protect +his flanks and support him by a charge should the enemy break his +dismounted line.</p> + +<p>While these preparations were being made, the Confederates attempted +to drive Campbell from his position by a direct attack through an +open field. In this they failed, however, for our men, reserving +their fire until the enemy came within about thirty yards, then +opened on him with such a shower of bullets from our Colt's rifles +that it soon became too hot for him, and he was repulsed with +considerable loss. Foiled in this move, Chalmers hesitated to attack +again in front, but began overlapping both flanks of Campbell's line +by force of numbers, compelling Campbell to retire toward a strong +position I had selected in his rear for a line on which to make our +main resistance. As soon as the enemy saw this withdrawing he again +charged in front, but was again as gallantly repelled as in the first +assault, although the encounter was for a short time so desperate as +to have the character of a hand-to-hand conflict, several groups of +friend and foe using on each other the butts of their guns. At this +juncture the timely arrival of Colonel Hatch with the Second Iowa +gave a breathing-spell to Campbell, and made the Confederates so +chary of further direct attacks that he was enabled to retire; and at +the same time I found opportunity to make disposition of the +reinforcement to the best advantage possible, placing the Second Iowa +on the left of the new line and strengthening Campbell on its right +with all the men available.</p> + +<p>In view of his numbers, the enemy soon regained confidence in his +ability to overcome us, and in a little while again began his +flanking movements, his right passing around my left flank some +distance, and approaching our camp and transportation, which I had +forbidden to be moved out to the rear. Fearing that he would envelop +us and capture the camp and transportation, I determined to take the +offensive. Remembering a circuitous wood road that I had become +familiar with while making the map heretofore mentioned, I concluded +that the most effective plan would be to pass a small column around +the enemy's left, by way of this road, and strike his rear by a +mounted charge simultaneously with an advance of our main line on his +front. I knew that the attack in rear would be a most hazardous +undertaking, but in the face of such odds as the enemy had the +condition of affairs was most critical, and could be relieved, only +by a bold and radical change in our tactics; so I at once selected +four sabre companies, two from the Second Michigan and two from the +Second Iowa, and placing Captain Alger, of the former regiment, in +command of them, I informed him that I expected of them the quick and +desperate work that is usually imposed on a forlorn hope.</p> + +<p>To carry out the purpose now in view, I instructed Captain Alger to +follow the wood road as it led around the left of the enemy's +advancing forces, to a point where 'it joined the Blackland road, +about three miles from Booneville, and directed him, upon reaching +the Blackland road, to turn up it immediately, and charge the rear of +the enemy's line. Under no circumstances was he to deploy the +battalion, but charge in column right through whatever he came upon, +and report to me in front of Booneville, if at all possible for him +to get there. If he failed to break through the enemy's line, he was +to go ahead as far as he could, and then if any of his men were left, +and he was able to retreat, he was to do so by the same route he had +taken on his way out. To conduct him on this perilous service I sent +along a thin, sallow, tawny-haired Mississippian named Beene, whom I +had employed as a guide and scout a few days before, on account of +his intimate knowledge of the roads, from the public thoroughfares +down to the insignificant by-paths of the neighboring swamps. With +such guidance I felt sure that the column would get to the desired +point without delay, for there was no danger of its being lost or +misled by taking any of the many by-roads which traversed the dense +forests through which it would be obliged to pass. I also informed +Alger that I should take the reserve and join the main line in front +of Booneville for the purpose of making an advance of my whole force, +and that as a signal he must have his men cheer loudly when he struck +the enemy's rear, in order that my attack might be simultaneous with +his.</p> + +<p>I gave him one hour to go around and come back through the enemy, and +when he started I moved to the front with the balance of the reserve, +to put everything I had into the fight. This meant an inestimable +advantage to the enemy in case of our defeat, but our own safety +demanded the hazard. All along our attenuated line the fighting was +now sharp, and the enemy's firing indicated such numerical strength +that fear of disaster to Alger increased my anxiety terribly as the +time set for his cheering arrived and no sound of it was heard.</p> + +<p>Relying, however, on the fact that Beene's knowledge of the roads +would prevent his being led astray, and confident of Alger's +determination to accomplish the purpose for which he set out, as soon +as the hour was up I ordered my whole line forward. Fortunately, +just as this moment a locomotive and two cars loaded with grain for +my horses ran into Booneville from Corinth. I say fortunately, +because it was well known throughout the command that in the morning, +when I first discovered the large numbers of the enemy, I had called +for assistance; and my troops, now thinking that reinforcements had +arrived by rail from Rienzi, where a division of infantry was +encamped, and inspirated by this belief, advanced with renewed +confidence and wild cheering. Meantime I had the engineer of the +locomotive blow his whistle loudly, so that the enemy might also +learn that a train had come; and from the fact that in a few moments +he began to give way before our small force, I thought that this +strategem had some effect. Soon his men broke, and ran in the utmost +disorder over the country in every direction. I found later, +however, that his precipitous retreat was due to the pressure on his +left from the Second Iowa, in concert with the front attack of the +Second Michigan, and the demoralization wrought in his rear by Alger, +who had almost entirely accomplished the purpose of his expedition, +though he had failed to come through, or so near that I could hear +the signal agreed upon before leaving Booneville.</p> + +<p>After Alger had reached and turned up the Blackland road, the first +thing he came across was the Confederate headquarters; the officers +and orderlies about which he captured and sent back some distance to +a farm-house. Continuing on a gallop, he soon struck the rear of the +enemy's line, but was unable to get through; nor did he get near +enough for me to hear his cheering; but as he had made the distance +he was to travel in the time allotted, his attack and mine were +almost coincident, and the enemy, stampeded by the charges in front +and rear, fled toward Blackland, with little or no attempt to capture +Alger's command, which might readily have been done. Alger's +troopers soon rejoined me at Booneville, minus many hats, having +returned by their original route. They had sustained little loss +except a few men wounded and a few temporarily missing. Among these +was Alger himself, who was dragged from his saddle by the limb of a +tree that, in the excitement of the charge, he was unable to flank. +The missing had been dismounted in one way or another, and run over +by the enemy in his flight; but they all turned up later, none the +worse except for a few scratches and bruises.</p> + +<p>My effective strength in this fight was 827 all told, and Alger's +command comprised ninety officers and men. Chalmers's force was +composed of six regiments and two battalions, and though I have been +unable to find any returns from which to verify his actual numbers, +yet, from the statements of prisoners and from information obtained +from citizens along his line of march, it is safe to say that he had +in the action not less than five-thousand men. Our casualties were +not many—forty-one in all. His loss in killed and wounded was +considerable, his most severely wounded—forty men—falling into our +hands, having been left at farm-houses in the vicinity of the +battlefield.</p> + +<p>The victory in the face of such odds was most gratifying, and as it +justified my disinclination—in fact, refusal—to retire from +Booneville without fighting (for the purpose of saving my +transportation, as directed by superior authority when I applied in +the morning for reinforcements), it was to me particularly grateful. +It was also very valuable in, view of the fact that it increased the +confidence between the officers and men of my brigade and me, and +gave us for the balance of the month not only comparative rest, but +entire immunity from the dangers of a renewed effort to gobble my +isolated outpost. In addition to all this, commendation from my +immediate superiors was promptly tendered through oral and written +congratulations; and their satisfaction at the result of the battle +took definite form a few days later, in the following application for +my promotion, when, by an expedition to Ripley, Miss., most valuable +information as to the enemy's location and plans was captured:</p> + + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +<br>"JULY 30, 1862.—3.05 P. M. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, +<br>"Washington, D. C. +<br> +<br>"Brigadiers scarce; good ones scarce. Asboth goes on the month's +leave you gave him ten months since; Granger has temporary command. +The undersigned respectfully beg that you will obtain the promotion +of Sheridan. He is worth his weight in gold. His Ripley expedition +has brought us captured letters of immense value, as well as +prisoners, showing the rebel plans and dispositions, as you will +learn from District Commander. +<br> +<br>"W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General. +<br>"C. C. SULLIVAN, " " +<br>"G. GRANGER, " " +<br>"W. L. ELLIOTT, " " +<br>"A. ASBOTH, " " " +</blockquote> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch10"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>IN CAMP NEAR RIENZI—GENERAL GRANGER—A VALUABLE CAPTURE AT +RIPLEY—RAIDING A CORNFIELD—REPULSING AN ATTACK—PRESENTED WITH THE BLACK +HORSE "RIENZI"—MEETING GENERAL GRANT—APPOINTED A BRIGADIER-GENERAL.</p> + +<p>After the battle of Booneville, it was decided by General Rosecrans, +on the advice of General Granger, that my position at Booneville was +too much exposed, despite the fact that late on the evening of the +fight my force had been increased by the addition of, a battery of +four guns and two companies of infantry, and by the Third Michigan +Cavalry, commanded by Colonel John K. Mizner; so I was directed to +withdraw from my post and go into camp near Rienzi, Mississippi, +where I could equally well cover the roads in front of the army, and +also be near General Asboth's division of infantry, which occupied a +line in rear of the town. This section of country, being higher and +more rolling than that in the neighborhood of Booneville, had many +advantages in the way of better camping-grounds, better grazing and +the like, but I moved with reluctance, because I feared that my +proximity to Asboth would diminish to a certain extent my +independence of command.</p> + +<p>General Asboth was a tall, spare, handsome man, with gray mustache +and a fierce look. He was an educated soldier, of unquestioned +courage, but the responsibilities of outpost duty bore rather heavily +on him, and he kept all hands in a state of constant worry in +anticipation of imaginary attacks. His ideas of discipline were not +very rigid either, and as by this time there had been introduced into +my brigade some better methods than those obtaining when it first +fell to my command, I feared the effect should he, have any control +over it, or meddle with its internal affairs. However, there was +nothing to do but to move to the place designated, but General +Granger, who still commanded the cavalry division to which the +brigade belonged, so arranged matters with General Rosecrans, who had +succeeded to the command of the Army of the Mississippi, that my +independence was to be undisturbed, except in case of a general +attack by the enemy.</p> + +<p>We went into camp near Rienzi, July 22, sending back to the general +field-hospital at Tuscumbia Springs all our sick—a considerable +number—stricken down by the malarial influences around Booneville. +In a few days the fine grazing and abundance of grain for our +exhausted horses brought about their recuperation; and the many large +open fields in the vicinity gave opportunity for drills and parades, +which were much needed. I turned my attention to those disciplinary +measures which, on account of active work in the field, had been +necessarily neglected since the brigade had arrived at Pittsburg +Landing, in April; and besides, we had been busy in collecting +information by scouting parties and otherwise, in prosecution of the +purpose for which we were covering the main army.</p> + +<p>I kept up an almost daily correspondence with General Granger, +concerning the information obtained by scouts and reconnoitring +parties, and he came often to Rienzi to see me in relation to this +and other matters. Previously I had not had much personal +association with Granger. While I was at Halleck's headquarters we +met on one or two occasions, and the day I joined the Second Michigan +at Farmington I saw him for a few moments, but, with such slight +exception, our intercourse had been almost exclusively official. He +had suggested my name, I was told, to Governor Blair, when the +Governor was in search of an officer of the regular army to appoint +to the colonelcy of the Second Michigan Cavalry, but his +recommendation must have been mainly based on the favorable opinions +he had heard expressed by General Halleck and by some of the officers +of his staff, rather than from any personal knowledge of my capacity. +Of course I was very grateful for this, but some of his +characteristics did not impress me favorably, and I sometimes wished +the distance between our camps greater. His most serious failing was +an uncontrollable propensity to interfere with and direct the minor +matters relating to the command, the details for which those under +him were alone responsible. Ill-judged meddling in this respect +often led to differences between us, only temporary it is true, but +most harassing to the subordinate, since I was compelled by the +circumstances of the situation not only invariably to yield my own +judgment, but many a time had to play peacemaker—smoothing down +ruffled feelings, that I knew had been excited by Granger's freaky +and spasmodic efforts to correct personally some trifling fault that +ought to have been left to a regimental or company commander to +remedy. Yet with all these small blemishes Granger had many good +qualities, and his big heart was so full of generous impulses and +good motives as to far outbalance his short-comings; and +not-withstanding the friction and occasional acerbity of our official +intercourse, we maintained friendly relations till his death.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of the fatal mistake made by dispersing Halleck's forces +after the fall of Corinth, General Don Carlos Buell's Army of the +Ohio had been started some time before on its march eastward toward +Chattanooga; and as this movement would be followed of course by a +manoeuvre on the part of the enemy, now at Tupelo under General +Braxton Bragg, either to meet Buell or frustrate his designs by some +counter-operation, I was expected to furnish, by scouting and all +other means available, information as to what was going on within the +Confederate lines. To do the work required, necessitated an increase +of my command, and the Seventh Kansas Cavalry was therefore added to +it, and my picket-line extended so as to cover from Jacinto +southwesterly to a point midway between Rienzi and Booneville, and +then northwesterly to the Hatchie River. Skirmishes between outposts +on this line were of frequent occurrence, with small results to +either side, but they were somewhat annoying, particularly in the +direction of Ripley, where the enemy maintained a considerable +outpost. Deciding to cripple if not capture this outpost, on the +evening of July 27, I sent out an expedition under Colonel Hatch, +which drove the enemy from the town of Ripley and took a few +prisoners, but the most valuable prize was in the shape of a package +of thirty-two private letters, the partial reading of which disclosed +to me the positive transfer from Mississippi of most of Bragg's army, +for the purpose of counteracting Buell's operations in northern +Alabama and East Tennessee. This decisive evidence was of the utmost +importance, and without taking time to read all the letters, I +forwarded them to General Granger July 28, in a despatch which +stated: "I deem it necessary to send them at once; the enemy is +moving in large force on Chattanooga." Other than this the results +of the expedition were few; and the enemy, having fled from Ripley +with but slight resistance, accompanied by almost all the +inhabitants, re-occupied the place next day after our people had +quitted it, and resumed in due time his annoying attacks on our +outposts, both sides trying to achieve something whenever occasion +offered.</p> + +<p>The prevalence of a severe drought had resulted in drying up many of +the streams within the enemy's lines, and, in consequence, he was +obliged to shift his camps often, and send his beef-cattle and mules +near his outposts for water. My scouts kept me well posted in regard +to the movements of both camps and herds; and a favorable opportunity +presenting itself, I sent an expedition on August 14 to gather in +some animals located on Twenty-Mile Creek, a stream always supplied +with water from a source of never-failing, springs. Our side met +with complete success in this instance, and when the expedition +returned, we were all made happy by an abundance of fresh beef, and +by some two hundred captured mules, that we thus added to our trains +at a time when draft animals were much needed.</p> + +<p>Rations for the men were now supplied in fair quantities, and the +only thing required to make us wholly contented was plenty of grain +for our animals. Because of the large number of troops then in West +Tennessee and about Corinth, the indifferent railroad leading down +from Columbus, Ky., was taxed to its utmost capacity to transport +supplies. The quantity of grain received at Corinth from the north +was therefore limited, and before reaching the different outposts, by +passing through intermediate depots of supply, it had dwindled to +insignificance. I had hopes, however, that this condition of things +might be ameliorated before long by gathering a good supply of corn +that was ripening in the neighborhood, and would soon, I thought, be +sufficiently hard to feed to my animals. Not far from my +headquarters there was a particularly fine field, which, with this +end in view, I had carefully protected through the milky stage, to +the evident disappointment of both Asboth's men and mine. They bore +the prohibition well while it affected only themselves, but the trial +was too great when it came to denying their horses; and men whose +discipline kept faith with my guards during the roasting-ear period +now fell from grace. Their horses were growing thin, and few could +withstand the mute appeals of their suffering pets; so at night the +corn, because of individual foraging, kept stealthily and steadily +vanishing, until the field was soon fringed with only earless stalks. +The disappearance was noticed, and the guard increased, but still the +quantity of corn continued to grow less, the more honest troopers +bemoaning the loss, and questioning the honor of those to whose +safekeeping it had been entrusted. Finally, doubtless under the +apprehension that through their irregularities the corn would all +disappear and find its way to the horses in accordance with the +stealthy enterprise of their owners, a general raid was made on the +field in broad daylight, and though the guard drove off the +marauders, I must admit that its efforts to keep them back were so +unsuccessful that my hopes for an equal distribution of the crop were +quickly blasted. One look at the field told that it had been swept +clean of its grain. Of course a great row occurred as to who was to +blame, and many arrests and trials took place, but there had been +such an interchanging of cap numbers and other insignia that it was +next to impossible to identify the guilty, and so much crimination +and acrimony grew out of the affair that it was deemed best to drop +the whole matter.</p> + +<p>On August 27 about half of the command was absent reconnoitring, I +having sent it south toward Tupelo, in the hope of obtaining some +definite information regarding a movement to Holly Springs of the +remainder of the Confederate army, under General Price, when about +mid-day I was suddenly aroused by excited cries and sounds of firing, +and I saw in a moment that the enemy was in my camp. He had come in +on my right flank from the direction of the Hatchie River, pell-mell +with our picket-post stationed about three miles out on the Ripley +road. The whole force of the enemy comprised about eight hundred, +but only his advance entered with my pickets, whom he had charged and +badly stampeded, without, on their part, the pretense of a fight in +behalf of those whom it was their duty to protect until proper +dispositions for defense could be made. The day was excessively hot, +one of those sultry debilitating days that had caused the suspending +of all military exercises; and as most of the men were lounging or +sleeping in their tents, we were literally caught napping. The alarm +spread instantly through the camp, and in a moment the command turned +out for action, somewhat in deshabille it is true, but none the less +effective, for every man had grabbed his rifle and cartridge-box at +the first alarm. Aided by a few shots from Captain Henry Hescock's +battery, we soon drove the intruders from our camp in about the same +disorder in which they had broken in on us. By this time Colonel +Hatch and Colonel Albert L. Lee had mounted two battalions each, and +I moved them out at a lively pace in pursuit, followed by a section +of the battery. No halt was called till we came upon the enemy's +main body, under Colonel Faulkner, drawn up in line of battle near +Newland's store. Opening on him with the two pieces of artillery, I +hurriedly formed line confronting him, and quickly and with but +little resistance drove him in confusion from the field. The sudden +turning of the tables dismayed Faulkner's men, and panic seizing +them, they threw away every loose article of arms or clothing of +which they could dismember themselves, and ran in the wildest +disorder in a mad effort to escape. As the chase went on the panic +increased, the clouds of dust from the road causing an intermingling +of friend and foe. In a little while the affair grew most ludicrous, +Faulkner's hatless and coatless men taking to the woods in such +dispersed order and so demoralized that a good many prisoners were +secured, and those of the enemy who escaped were hunted until dark. +When the recall was sounded, our men came in loaded down with plunder +in the shape of hats, haversacks, blankets, pistols, and shotguns, in +a quantity which amply repaid for the surprise of the morning, but +did not excuse the delinquent commander of our picket-guard, who a +few days later was brought to a realizing sense of his duty by a +court-martial.</p> + +<p>Shortly after this affair Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of the +Second Michigan Cavalry, presented me with the black horse called +Rienzi, since made historical from having been ridden by me in many +battles, conspicuously in the ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek, +which has been celebrated in the poem by T. Buchanan Read. This +horse was of Morgan stock, and then about three years old. He was +jet black, excepting three white feet, sixteen hands high, and +strongly built, with great powers of endurance. He was so active +that he could cover with ease five miles an hour at his natural +walking gait. The gelding had been ridden very seldom; in fact, +Campbell had been unaccustomed to riding till the war broke out, and, +I think, felt some disinclination to mount the fiery colt. Campbell +had an affection for him, however, that never waned, and would often +come to my headquarters to see his favorite, the colt being cared for +there by the regimental farrier, an old man named John Ashley, who +had taken him in charge when leaving Michigan, and had been his groom +ever since. Seeing that I liked the horse—I had ridden him on +several occasions—Campbell presented him to me on one of these +visits, and from that time till the close of the war I rode him +almost continuously, in every campaign and battle in which I took +part, without once finding him overcome by fatigue, though on many +occasions his strength was severely tested by long marches and short +rations. I never observed in him any vicious habit; a nervousness +and restlessness and switch of the tail, when everything about him +was in repose, being the only indication that he might be +untrustworthy. No one but a novice could be deceived by this, +however, for the intelligence evinced in every feature, and his +thoroughbred appearance, were so striking that any person accustomed +to horses could not misunderstand such a noble animal. But Campbell +thought otherwise, at least when the horse was to a certain degree +yet untrained, and could not be pursuaded to ride him; indeed, for +more than a year after he was given to me, Campbell still retained +suspicions of his viciousness, though, along with this mistrust, an +undiminished affection. Although he was several times wounded, this +horse escaped death in action; and living to a ripe old age, died in +1878, attended to the last with all the care and surrounded with +every comfort due the faithful service he had rendered.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="rienzi"></a><img alt="p179-Rienzi.jpg (110K)" src="images/p179-Rienzi.jpg" height="435" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>In moving from Corinth east toward Chattanooga, General Buell's army +was much delayed by the requirement that he should repair the Memphis +and Charleston railroad as he progressed. The work of repair obliged +him to march very slowly, and was of but little use when done, for +guerrillas and other bands of Confederates destroyed the road again +as soon as he had passed on. But worst of all, the time thus +consumed gave General Bragg the opportunity to reorganize and +increase his army to such an extent that he was able to contest the +possession of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. Consequently, the +movement of this army through Tennessee and Kentucky toward the Ohio +River—its objective points being Louisville and Cincinnati—was now +well defined, and had already rendered abortive General Buell's +designs on Chattanooga and East Tennessee. Therefore extraordinary +efforts on the part of the Government became necessary, and the +concentration of National troops at Louisville and Cincinnati to meet +the contingency of Bragg's reaching those points was an obvious +requirement. These troops were drawn from all sections in the West +where it was thought they could be spared, and among others I was +ordered to conduct thither—to Louisville or Cincinnati, as +subsequent developments might demand—my regiment, Hescock's battery, +the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, and the Thirty-sixth and +Forty-fourth Illinois regiments of infantry, known as the "Pea Ridge +Brigade." With this column I marched back to Corinth on the 6th of +September, 1862, for the purpose of getting railroad transportation +to Columbus, Kentucky.</p> + +<p>At Corinth I met General Grant, who by this time had been +reestablished in favor and command somewhat, General Halleck having +departed for Washington to assume command of the army as +General-in-Chief. Before and during the activity which followed his +reinstatement, General Grant had become familiar with my services +through the transmission to Washington of information I had furnished +concerning the enemy's movements, and by reading reports of my fights +and skirmishes in front, and he was loth to let me go. Indeed, he +expressed surprise at seeing me in Corinth, and said he had not +expected me to go; he also plainly showed that he was much hurt at +the inconsiderate way in which his command was being depleted. Since +I was of the opinion that the chief field of usefulness and +opportunity was opening up in Kentucky, I did not wish him to retain +me, which he might have done, and I impressed him with my conviction, +somewhat emphatically, I fear. Our conversation ended with my wish +gratified. I afterward learned that General Granger, whom General +Grant did not fancy, had suggested that I should take to Cincinnati +the main portion of Granger's command—the Pea Ridge Brigade—as well +as the Second Michigan Cavalry, of which I was still colonel. +We started that night, going by rail over the Mobile and Ohio road to +Columbus, Ky., where we embarked on steamboats awaiting us. These +boats were five in number, and making one of them my flag-ship, +expecting that we might come upon certain batteries reported to be +located upon the Kentucky shore of the Ohio, I directed the rest to +follow my lead. Just before reaching Caseyville, the captain of a +tin-clad gunboat that was patrolling the river brought me the +information that the enemy was in strong force at Caseyville, and +expressed a fear that my fleet could not pass his batteries. +Accepting the information as correct, I concluded to capture the +place before trying to pass up the river. Pushing in to the bank as +we neared the town, I got the troops ashore and moved on Caseyville, +in the expectation of a bloody fight, but was agreeably surprised +upon reaching the outskirts of the village by an outpouring of its +inhabitants—men, women, and children—carrying the Stars and +Stripes, and making the most loyal professions. Similar +demonstrations of loyalty had been made to the panic-stricken captain +of the gunboat when he passed down the river, but he did not stay to +ascertain their character, neither by landing nor by inquiry, for he +assumed that on the Kentucky bank of the river there could be no +loyalty. The result mortified the captain intensely; and deeming his +convoy of little further use, he steamed toward Cairo in quest of +other imaginary batteries, while I re-embarked at Caseyville, and +continued up the Ohio undisturbed. About three miles below +Cincinnati I received instructions to halt, and next day I was +ordered by Major-General H. G. Wright to take my troops back to +Louisville, and there assume command of the Pea Ridge Brigade, +composed of the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, Thirty-sixth and +Forty-fourth Illinois infantry, and of such other regiments as might +be sent me in advance of the arrival of General Buell's army. +When I reached Louisville I reported to Major-General William Nelson, +who was sick, and who received me as he lay in bed. He asked me why +I did not wear the shoulder-straps of my rank. I answered that I was +the colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry, and had on my appropriate +shoulder-straps. He replied that I was a brigadier-general for the +Booneville fight, July 1, and that I should wear the shoulder-straps +of that grade. I returned to my command and put it in camp; and as I +had no reluctance to wearing the shoulder-straps of a +brigadier-general, I was not long in procuring a pair, particularly as I was +fortified next day by receiving from Washington official information +of my appointment as a brigadier-general, to date from July 1, 1862, +the day of the battle of Booneville</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch11"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>GOOD ADVICE FROM GENERAL NELSON—HIS TRAGIC DEATH—PUTTING LOUISVILLE +IN A STATE OF DEFENSE—ASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF THE ELEVENTH +DIVISION—CAPTURE OF CHAPLIN HEIGHTS—BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE—REPORTED +AMONG THE KILLED—A THRILLING INCIDENT—GENERAL BUELL RELIEVED BY +GENERAL ROSECRANS.</p> + +<p>I reported to Major-General Nelson at the Galt House in Louisville, +September 14, 1862, who greeted me in the bluff and hearty fashion of +a sailor—for he had been in the navy till the breaking out of the +war. The new responsibilities that were now to fall upon me by +virtue of increased rank caused in my mind an uneasiness which, I +think, Nelson observed at the interview, and he allayed it by giving +me much good advice, and most valuable information in regard to +affairs in Kentucky, telling me also that he intended I should retain +in my command the Pea Ridge Brigade and Hescock's battery. This +latter assurance relieved me greatly, for I feared the loss of these +troops in the general redistribution which I knew must soon take +place; and being familiar with their valuable service in Missouri, +and having brought them up from Mississippi, I hoped they would +continue with me. He directed me to take position just below the +city with the Pea Ridge Brigade, Hescock's battery, and the Second +Michigan Cavalry, informing me, at the same time, that some of the +new regiments, then arriving under a recent call of the President for +volunteers, would also be assigned to my command. Shortly after the +interview eight new regiments and an additional battery joined me, +thus making good his promise of more troops.</p> + +<p>A few days later came Nelson's tragic end, shocking the whole +country. Those of us in camp outside of the city were startled on +the morning of September 29 by the news that General Jefferson C. +Davis, of the Union Army, had shot General Nelson at the Galt House, +and the wildest rumors in regard to the occurrence came thick and +fast; one to the effect that Nelson was dead, another having it that +he was living and had killed Davis, and still others reflecting on +the loyalty of both, it being supposed by the general public at first +that the difficulty between the two men had grown out of some +political rather than official or personal differences. When the +news came, I rode into the city to the Galt House to learn the +particulars, reaching there about 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Here I +learned that Nelson had been shot by Davis about two hours before, at +the foot of the main stairway leading from the corridor just beyond +the office to the second floor, and that Nelson was already dead. It +was almost as difficult to get reliable particulars of the matter at +the hotel as it had been in my camp, but I gathered that the two men +had met first at an early hour near the counter of the hotel office, +and that an altercation which had begun several days before in +relation to something official was renewed by Davis, who, attempting +to speak to Nelson in regard to the subject-matter of their previous +dispute, was met by an insulting refusal to listen. It now appears +that when Nelson made this offensive remark, Davis threw a small +paper ball that he was nervously rolling between his fingers into +Nelson's face, and that this insult was returned by Nelson slapping +Davis (Killed by a Brother Soldier.—Gen. J. B. Fry.) in the face. +But at the time, exactly what had taken place just before the +shooting was shrouded in mystery by a hundred conflicting stories, +the principal and most credited of which was that Davis had demanded +from Nelson an apology for language used in the original altercation, +and that Nelson's refusal was accompanied by a slap in the face, at +the same moment denouncing Davis as a coward. However this may be, +Nelson, after slapping Davis, moved toward the corridor, from which a +stairway led to the second floor, and just as he was about to ascend, +Davis fired with a pistol that he had obtained from some one near by +after the blow had been struck. The ball entered Nelson's breast +just above the heart, but his great strength enabled him to ascend +the stairway notwithstanding the mortal character of the wound, and +he did not fall till he reached the corridor on the second floor. He +died about half an hour later. The tragedy cast a deep gloom over +all who knew the men, for they both had many warm personal friends; +and affairs at Louisville had hardly recovered as yet from the +confused and discouraging condition which preceded the arrival of +General Buell's army. General Buell reported the killing of Nelson +to the authorities at Washington, and recommended the trial of Davis +by court-martial, but no proceedings were ever instituted against him +in either a civil or military court, so to this day it has not been +determined judicially who was the aggressor. Some months later Davis +was assigned to the command of a division in Buell's army after that +officer had been relieved from its command.</p> + +<p>Two Confederate armies, under General Kirby Smith and General Braxton +Bragg, had penetrated into Kentucky, the one under Smith by the way +of Cumberland Gap, the other and main army under Bragg by way of the +Sequatche Valley, Glasgow, and Mumfordsville. Glasgow was captured +by the enemy on the 17th of September, and as the expectation was +that Buell would reach the place in time to save the town, its loss +created considerable alarm in the North, for fears were now +entertained that Bragg would strike Louisville and capture the city +before Buell could arrive on the ground. It became necessary +therefore to put Louisville in a state of defense, and after the +cordon of principal works had been indicated, my troops threw up in +one night a heavy line of rifle-pits south of the city, from the +Bardstown pike to the river. The apprehended attack by Bragg never +came, however, for in the race that was then going on between him and +Buell on parallel roads, the Army of the Ohio outmarched the +Confederates, its advance arriving at Louisville September 25.</p> + +<p>General Buell immediately set about reorganizing the whole force, and +on September 29 issued an order designating the troops under my +command as the Eleventh Division, Army of the Ohio, and assigning +Brigadier-General J. T. Boyle to command the division, and me to +command one of its brigades. To this I could not object, of course, +for I was a brigadier-general of very recent date, and could hardly +expect more than a brigade. I had learned, however, that at least +one officer to whom a high command had been given—a corps—had not +yet been appointed a general officer by the President, and I +considered it somewhat unfair that I should be relegated to a +brigade, while men who held no commissions at all were being made +chiefs of corps and divisions; so I sought an interview with General +Buell's chief-of-staff, Colonel Fry, and, while not questioning +Buell's good intentions nor his pure motives, insisted that my rights +in the matter should be recognized. That same evening I was assigned +to the command of the Eleventh Division, and began preparing it at +once for a forward movement, which I knew must soon take place in the +resumption of offensive operations by the Army of the Ohio.</p> + +<p>During the interval from September 25 till October 1 there was among +the officers much criticism of General Buell's management of the +recent campaign, which had resulted in his retirement to Louisville; +and he was particularly censured by many for not offering battle to +General Bragg while the two armies were marching parallel to each +other, and so near that an engagement could have been brought on at +any one of several points—notably so at Glasgow, Kentucky, if there +had been a desire to join issue. It was asserted, and by many +conceded, that General Buell had a sufficient force to risk a fight. +He was much blamed for the loss of Mumfordsville also. The capture +of this point, with its garrison, gave Bragg an advantage in the race +toward the Ohio River, which odds would most likely have ensured the +fall of Louisville had they been used with the same energy and skill +that the Confederate commander displayed from Chattanooga to Glasgow; +but something always diverted General Bragg at the supreme moment, +and he failed to utilize the chances falling to him at this time, +for, deflecting his march to the north toward Bardstown, he left open +to Buell the direct road to Louisville by way of Elizabethtown.</p> + +<p>At Bardstown Bragg's army was halted while he endeavored to establish +a Confederate government in Kentucky by arranging for the +installation of a provisional governor at Lexington. Bragg had been +assured that the presence of a Confederate army in Kentucky would so +encourage the secession element that the whole State could be forced +into the rebellion and his army thereby largely increased; but he had +been considerably misled, for he now found that though much latent +sympathy existed for his cause, yet as far as giving active aid was +concerned, the enthusiasm exhibited by the secessionists of Kentucky +in the first year of the war was now replaced by apathy, or at best +by lukewarmness. So the time thus spent in political machinations +was wholly lost to Bragg; and so little reinforcement was added to +his army that it may be said that the recruits gained were not enough +to supply the deficiencies resulting from the recent toilsome marches +of the campaign.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile Buell had arrived at Louisville, system had been +substituted for the chaos which had previously obtained there, and +orders were issued for an advance upon the enemy with the purpose of +attacking and the hope of destroying him within the limits of the +"blue grass" region, and, failing in that, to drive him from +Kentucky. The army moved October 1, 1862, and my division, now a +part of the Third Corps, commanded by General C. C. Gilbert, marched +directly on Bardstown, where it was thought the enemy would make a +stand, but Bragg's troops retreated toward Perryville, only resisting +sufficiently to enable the forces of General Kirby Smith to be drawn +in closer—they having begun a concentration at Frankfort—so they +could be used in a combined attack on Louisville as soon as the +Confederate commander's political projects were perfected.</p> + +<p>Much time was consumed by Buell's army in its march on Perryville, +but we finally neared it on the evening of October 7. During the +day, Brigadier-General Robert B. Mitchell's division of Gilbert's +corps was in the advance on the Springfield pike, but as the enemy +developed that he was in strong force on the opposite side of a small +stream called Doctor's Creek, a tributary of Chaplin River, my +division was brought up and passed to the front. It was very +difficult to obtain water in this section of Kentucky, as a drought +had prevailed for many weeks, and the troops were suffering so for +water that it became absolutely necessary that we should gain +possession of Doctor's Creek in order to relieve their distress. +Consequently General Gilbert, during the night, directed me to push +beyond Doctor's Creek early the next morning. At daylight on the 8th +I moved out Colonel Dan McCook's brigade and Barnett's battery for +the purpose, but after we had crossed the creek with some slight +skirmishing, I found that we could not hold the ground unless we +carried and occupied a range of hills, called Chaplin Heights, in +front of Chaplin River. As this would project my command in the +direction of Perryville considerably beyond the troops that were on +either flank, I brought up Laiboldt's brigade and Hescock's battery +to strengthen Colonel McCook. Putting both brigades into line we +quickly carried the Heights, much to the surprise of the enemy, I +think, for he did not hold on to the valuable ground as strongly as +he should have done. This success not only ensured us a good supply +of water, but also, later in the day, had an important bearing in the +battle of Perryville. After taking the Heights, I brought up the +rest of my division and intrenched, without much difficulty, by +throwing up a strong line of rifle-pits, although the enemy's +sharpshooters annoyed us enough to make me order Laiboldt's brigade +to drive them in on the main body. This was successfully done in a +few minutes, but in pushing them back to Chaplin River, we discovered +the Confederates forming a line of battle on the opposite bank, with +the apparent purpose of an attack in force, so I withdrew the brigade +to our intrenchments on the crest and there awaited the assault.</p> + +<p>While this skirmishing was going on, General Gilbert—the corps +commander—whose headquarters were located on a hill about a mile +distant to the rear, kept sending me messages by signal not to bring +on an engagement. I replied to each message that I was not bringing +on an engagement, but that the enemy evidently intended to do so, and +that I believed I should shortly be attacked. Soon after returning +to the crest and getting snugly fixed in the rifle-pits, my attention +was called to our left, the high ground we occupied affording me in +that direction an unobstructed view. I then saw General A. McD. +McCook's corps—the First-advancing toward Chaplin River by the +Mackville road, apparently unconscious that the Confederates were +present in force behind the stream. I tried by the use of signal +flags to get information of the situation to these troops, but my +efforts failed, and the leading regiments seemed to approach the +river indifferently prepared to meet the sudden attack that speedily +followed, delivered as it was from the chosen position of the enemy. +The fury of the Confederate assault soon halted this advance force, +and in a short time threw it into confusion, pushed it back a +considerable distance, and ultimately inflicted upon it such loss of +men and guns as to seriously cripple McCook's corps, and prevent for +the whole day further offensive movement on his part, though he +stoutly resisted the enemy's assaults until 4 o'clock in the +afternoon.</p> + +<p>Seeing McCook so fiercely attacked, in order to aid him I advanced +Hescock's battery, supported by six regiments, to a very good +position in front of a belt of timber on my extreme left, where an +enfilading fire could be opened on that portion of the enemy +attacking the right of the First Corps, and also on his batteries +across Chaplin River. But at this juncture he placed two batteries +on my right and began to mass troops behind them, and General +Gilbert, fearing that my intrenched position on the heights might be +carried, directed me to withdraw Hescock and his supports and return +them to the pits. My recall was opportune, for I had no sooner got +back to my original line than the Confederates attacked me furiously, +advancing almost to my intrenchments, notwithstanding that a large +part of the ground over which they had to move was swept by a heavy +fire of canister from both my batteries. Before they had quite +reached us, however, our telling fire made them recoil, and as they +fell back, I directed an advance of my whole division, bringing up my +reserve regiments to occupy the crest of the hills; Colonel William +P. Carlin's brigade of Mitchell's division meanwhile moving forward +on my right to cover that flank. This advance pressed the enemy to +Perryville, but he retired in such good order that we gained nothing +but some favorable ground that enabled me to establish my batteries +in positions where they could again turn their attention to the +Confederates in front of McCook, whose critical condition was shortly +after relieved, however, by a united pressure of Gilbert's corps +against the flank of McCook's assailants, compelling them to retire +behind Chaplin River.</p> + +<p>The battle virtually ended about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, though +more or less desultory firing continued until dark. Considering the +severity of the engagement on McCook's front, and the reverses that +had befallen him, I question if, from that part of the line, much +could have been done toward retrieving the blunders of the day, but +it did seem to me that, had the commander of the army been able to be +present on the field, he could have taken advantage of Bragg's final +repulse, and there would have remained in our hands more than the +barren field. But no attempt was made to do anything more till next +morning, and then we secured little except the enemy's killed and +most severely wounded.</p> + +<p>The operations of my division during the engagement pleased. General +Gilbert very much, and he informed me that he would relax a rigidly +enforced order which General Buell had issued some days before, +sufficiently to permit my trains to come to the front and supply my +almost starving troops with rations. The order in question was one +of those issued, doubtless with a good intent, to secure generally +the safety of our trains, but General Gilbert was not elastic, and on +the march he had construed the order so illiberally that it was next +to impossible to supply the men with food, and they were particularly +short in this respect on the eve of the battle. I had then +endeavored to persuade him to modify his iron-clad interpretation of +the order, but without effect, and the only wagons we could bring up +from the general parks in rear were ambulances and those containing +ammunition. So to gain access to our trains was a great boon, and at +that moment a more welcome result than would have been a complete +victory minus this concession.</p> + +<p>When the battle ceased General Gilbert asked me to join him at +Buell's headquarters, which were a considerable distance to the rear, +so after making some dispositions for the evening I proceeded there +as requested. I arrived just as Buell was about to sit down to his +supper, and noticing that he was lame, then learned that he had been +severely injured by a recent fall from his horse. He kindly invited +me to join him at the table, an invitation which I accepted with +alacrity, enjoying the meal with a relish known only to a very-hungry +man, for I had eaten nothing since morning. Of course the events of +the day were the chief topic of discussion—as they were during my +stay at headquarters—but the conversation indicated that what had +occurred was not fully realized, and I returned to my troops +impressed with the belief that General Buell and his staff-officers +were unconscious of the magnitude of the battle that had just been +fought.</p> + +<p>It had been expected by Buell that he would fight the enemy on the +9th of October, but the Confederates disposed of that proposition by +attacking us on the 8th, thus disarranging a tactical conception +which, with our superior numbers, would doubtless have proved +successful had it not been anticipated by an enterprising foe. +During the battle on the 8th the Second Corps, under General Thomas +L. Crittenden, accompanied by General George H. Thomas, lay idle the +whole day for want of orders, although it was near enough to the +field to take an active part in the fight; and, moreover, a large +part of Gilbert's corps was unengaged during the pressure on McCook. +Had these troops been put in on the enemy's left at any time after he +assaulted McCook, success would have been beyond question; but there +was no one on the ground authorized to take advantage of the +situation, and the battle of Perryville remains in history an example +of lost opportunities. This was due in some measure probably to +General Buell's accident, but is mainly attributable to the fact that +he did not clearly apprehend Bragg's aim, which was to gain time to +withdraw behind Dick's River all the troops he had in Kentucky, for +the Confederate general had no idea of risking the fate of his army +on one general battle at a place or on a day to be chosen by the +Union commander.</p> + +<p>Considering the number of troops actually engaged, the losses to +Buell were severe, amounting to something over five thousand in +killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed were two brigade +commanders of much promise—General James S. Jackson and General +William R. Terrill. McCook's corps lost twelve guns, some of which +were recovered next day. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded we +never learned, but it must have equalled ours; and about four +thousand prisoners, consisting principally of sick and wounded, fell +into our hands. In the first report of the battle sent North to the +newspapers I was reported among the killed; but I was pleased to +notice, when the papers reached us a few days later, that the error +had been corrected before my obituary could be written.</p> + +<p>The enemy retired from our front the night of the 8th, falling back +on Harrodsburg to form a junction with Kirby Smith, and by taking +this line of retreat opened to us the road to Danville and the chance +for a direct march against his depot of supplies at Bryantsville. We +did not take advantage of this opening, however, and late in the +day—on the 9th—my division marched in pursuit, in the direction of +Harrodsburg, which was the apex of a triangle having for its base a +line from Perryville to Danville. The pursuit was slow, very slow, +consuming the evening of the 9th and all of the 10th and 11th. By +cutting across the triangle spoken of above, just south of the apex, +I struck the Harrodsburg-Danville road, near Cave Springs, joining +there Gilbert's left division, which had preceded me and marched +through Harrodsburg. Here we again rested until the intention of the +enemy could be divined, and we could learn on which side of Dick's +River he would give us battle. A reconnoissance sent toward the +Dickville crossing developed to a certainty that we should not have +another engagement, however; for it disclosed the fact that Bragg's +army had disappeared toward Camp Dick Robinson, leaving only a small +rear-guard at Danville, which in turn quickly fled in the direction +of Lancaster, after exchanging a few shots with Hescock's battery.</p> + +<p>While this parting salute of deadly projectiles was going on, a +little, daughter of Colonel William J. Landram, whose home was in +Danville, came running out from his house and planted a small +national flag on one of Hescock's guns. The patriotic act was so +brave and touching that it thrilled all who witnessed the scene; and +until the close of the war, when peace separated the surviving +officers and men of the battery, that little flag was protected and +cherished as a memento of the Perryville campaign.</p> + +<p>Pursuit of the enemy was not continued in force beyond Crab Orchard, +but some portions of the army kept at Bragg's heels until he crossed +the Cumberland River, a part of his troops retiring to Tennessee by +way of Cumberland Gap, but the major portion through Somerset. As +the retreat of Bragg transferred the theatre of operations back to +Tennessee, orders were now issued for a concentration of Buell's army +at Bowling Green, with a view to marching it to Nashville, and my +division moved to that point without noteworthy incident. I reached +Bowling Green with a force much reduced by the losses sustained in +the battle of Perryville and by sickness. I had started from +Louisville on October 1 with twelve regiments of infantry—four old +and eight new ones—and two batteries, but many poor fellows, +overcome by fatigue, and diseases induced by the heat, dust, and +drought of the season, had to be left at roadside hospitals. This +was particularly the case with the new regiments, the men of which, +much depressed by homesickness, and not yet inured to campaigning, +fell easy victims to the hardships of war.</p> + +<p>At Bowling Green General Buell was relieved, General W. S. Rosecrans +succeeding him. The army as a whole did not manifest much regret at +the change of commanders, for the campaign from Louisville on was +looked upon generally as a lamentable failure, yet there were many +who still had the utmost confidence in General Buell, and they +repelled with some asperity the reflections cast upon him by his +critics. These admirers held him blameless throughout for the +blunders of the campaign, but the greater number laid every error at +his door, and even went to the absurdity of challenging his loyalty +in a mild way, but they particularly charged incompetency at +Perryville, where McCook's corps was so badly crippled while nearly +30,000 Union troops were idle on the field, or within striking +distance. With these it was no use to argue that Buell's accident +stood in the way of his activity, nor that he did not know that the +action had assumed the proportions of a battle. The physical +disability was denied or contested, but even granting this, his +detractors claimed that it did not excuse his ignorance of the true +condition of the fight, and finally worsted his champions by pointing +out that Bragg's retreat by way of Harrodsburg beyond Dick's River so +jeopardized the Confederate army, that had a skillful and energetic +advance of the Union troops been made, instead of wasting precious +time in slow and unnecessary tactical manoeuvres, the enemy could +have been destroyed before he could quit the State of Kentucky.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p200"></a><img alt="p200.jpg (120K)" src="images/p200.jpg" height="764" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p200.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch12"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>MOVING TO BOWLING GREEN—JAMES CARD, THE SCOUT AND GUIDE—GENERAL +SILL—COLONEL SCHAEFER—COLONEL G. W. ROBERTS—MOVEMENT ON +MURFREESBORO'—OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF STONE RIVER.</p> + +<p>My division had moved from Crab Orchard to Bowling Green by easy +marches, reaching this place November 1. General Rosecrans assumed +command of the department October 30, at Louisville, and joined the +army November 2. There had been much pressure brought to bear on +General Buell to induce him to take measures looking to the occupancy +of East Tennessee, and the clamor to this end from Washington still +continued; but now that Bragg was south of the Cumberland River, in a +position threatening Nashville, which was garrisoned by but a small +force, it was apparent to every one at all conversant with the +situation that a battle would have to be fought somewhere in Middle +Tennessee. So, notwithstanding the pressure from Washington, the +army was soon put in motion for Nashville, and when we arrived there +my division went into camp north of the river, on a plateau just +outside the little town of Edgefield, until the movements of the +enemy should be further developed.</p> + +<p>While in this camp, on the plantation of Mr. Hobson, there came to my +headquarters one morning an East Tennessean named James Card, who +offered to the Union cause his services in any capacity in which they +might be made useful. This offer, and the relation of his personal +history, were given with such sincerity of speech and manner that in +a short time I became convinced of his honesty of purpose. He was a +small, active, busy man, with a determined way about him, and his +countenance indicated great intelligence. He gave minute information +that was of inestimable value to me regarding East and Middle +Tennessee and northern Georgia, for, with a view to the army's future +movements, I was then making a study of the topography of this +region, and posting myself as to Middle Tennessee, for all knew this +would be the scene of active operations whenever the campaign was +resumed. This man, like most of the East Tennesseans whom I had met, +was intensely loyal and patriotic, and the interview led in a few +days to his employment as a scout and guide, and subsequently to the +engaging in the same capacity of two of his brothers, who were good +men; but not quite as active nor so intelligent as he was. Card had +been a colporter, having pedled books, especially religious tracts, +over all Middle and East Tennessee and Georgia, assisted by his +brothers at times, and was therefore thoroughly familiar with these +regions, their roads and inhabitants. He also preached to country +congregations occasionally, when ministers were scarce, and I have no +doubt often performed the functions of family physician in the +mountain district. Thus his opportunities were great; and the loyal +people in every section of the country being well known to him and +his brothers, the three began, at this time, a system of scouting and +investigation which bore its first-fruits in specifically locating +the different divisions of Bragg's army, with statements of their +strength and condition, and all with so much accuracy that I +thereafter felt reasonably sure that I could at all times procure +such knowledge of the enemy's operations as would well equip me for +any contingency that might arise.</p> + +<p>By the middle of November the enemy, having assembled his forces in +Middle Tennessee, showed considerable boldness, and it became +necessary to rearrange the Union lines; so my troops were moved to +the south side of the river, out on the Murfreesboro' pike, to Mill +Creek, distant from Nashville about seven miles. While we were in +camp on Mill Creek the army was reorganized, and General Joshua W. +Sill, at his own request, was assigned to my division, and took +command of Colonel Nicholas Greusel's brigade. My division became at +the same time the Third Division, Right Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps, +its three brigades of four regiments each being respectively +commanded by General Sill, Colonel Frederick Schaefer and Colonel Dan +McCook; but a few days later Colonel George W. Roberts's brigade, +from the garrison at Nashville, was substituted for McCook's.</p> + +<p>General Sill was a classmate of mine at the Military Academy, having +graduated in 1853. On graduating he was appointed to the Ordnance +Corps, and served in that department at various arsenals and ordnance +depots throughout the country till early in 1861, when he resigned to +accept a professorship of mathematics and civil engineering at the +Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. At the breaking out +of the war he immediately tendered his services to the Government, +and soon rose to the colonelcy of the Thirty-Third Ohio Volunteers, +and afterward to the rank of brigadier-general. I knew him well, and +was glad that he came to my division, though I was very loth to +relieve Colonel Greusel, of the Thirty-Sixth Illinois, who had +already indicated much military skill and bravery, and at the battle +of Perryville had handled his men with the experience of a veteran. +Sill's modesty and courage were exceeded only by a capacity that had +already been demonstrated in many practical ways, and his untimely +death, almost within a month of his joining me, abruptly closed a +career which, had it been prolonged a little more, not only would +have shed additional lustre on his name, but would have been of +marked benefit to his country.</p> + +<p>Colonel Schaefer, of the Second Missouri Infantry, had been absent on +sick-leave during the Kentucky campaign, but about this date he +returned to duty, and by seniority fell in command of the second +brigade. He was of German birth, having come from Baden, where, +prior to 1848, he had been a non-commissioned officer in the service +of his State. He took part as an insurgent in the so-called +revolution which occurred at Baden in that year, and, compelled to +emigrate on the suppression of the insurrection, made his way to this +country and settled in St. Louis. Here the breaking out of the war +found him, and through the personal interest which General Sigel took +in him he was commissioned a colonel of volunteers. He had had a +pretty fair education, a taste for the military profession, and was +of tall and slender build, all of which gave him a student-like +appearance. He was extremely excitable and nervous when anticipating +a crisis, but always calmed down to cool deliberation when the +critical moment came. With such a man I could not be less than well +satisfied, although the officer whom he replaced—Colonel +Laiboldt—had performed efficient service and shown much capacity in the recent +campaign.</p> + +<p>Colonel G. W. Roberts, of the Forty-Second Illinois Infantry, also +came to me in the reorganization. He was an ideal soldier both in +mind and body. He was young, tall, handsome, brave, and dashing, and +possessed a balance-wheel of such good judgment that in his sphere of +action no occasion could arise from which he would not reap the best +results. But he too was destined to lay, down his life within a few +days, and on the same fatal field. His brigade had been performing +garrison duty in Nashville during the siege of that city while +Buell's army was in Kentucky, but disliking the prospect of +inactivity pending the operations opening before us, Roberts had +requested and obtained a transfer to the army in the field. His +brigade relieved Colonel Dan McCook's, the latter reluctantly joining +the garrison at Nashville, every one in it disappointed and disgusted +that the circumstances existing at this time should necessitate their +relegation to the harassing and tantalizing duty of protecting our +depots and line of supply.</p> + +<p>I was fortunate in having such brigade commanders, and no less +favored in the regimental and battery commanders. They all were not +only patriots, but soldiers, and knowing that discipline must be one +of the most potent factors in bringing to a successful termination, +the mighty contest in which our nation was struggling for existence, +they studied and practiced its methods ceaselessly, inspiring with +the same spirit that pervaded themselves the loyal hearts of their +subordinate officers and men. All worked unremittingly in the camp +at Mill Creek in preparing for the storm, which now plainly indicated +its speedy coming. Drills, parades, scouts, foraging expeditions, +picket and guard duty, made up the course in this school of +instruction, supplemented by frequent changes in the locations of the +different brigades, so that the division could have opportunity to +learn to break camp quickly and to move out promptly on the march. +Foraging expeditions were particularly beneficial in this respect, +and when sent out, though absent sometimes for days, the men went +without tents or knapsacks, equipped with only one blanket and their +arms, ammunition, and rations, to teach them to shift for themselves +with slender means in the event of necessity. The number of +regimental and headquarters wagons was cut down to the lowest +possible figure, and everything made compact by turning into the +supply and ammunition trains of the division all surplus +transportation, and restricting the personal baggage of officers to +the fewest effects possible.</p> + +<p>My own staff also was somewhat reorganized and increased at Mill +Creek, and though it had been perfectly satisfactory before, yet, on +account of the changes of troops that had occurred in the command, I +found it necessary to replace valuable officers in some instances, +and secure additional ones in others. The gathering of information +about the enemy was also industriously pursued, and Card and his +brothers were used constantly on expeditions within the Confederate +lines, frequently visiting Murfreesboro', Sparta, Tullahoma, +Shelbyville, and other points. What they learned was reported to +army headquarters, often orally through me or personally communicated +by Card himself, but much was forwarded in official letters, +beginning with November 24, when I transmitted accurate information +of the concentration of Bragg's main force at Tullahoma. Indeed, +Card kept me so well posted as to every movement of the enemy, not +only with reference to the troops in my immediate front, but also +throughout his whole army, that General Rosecrans placed the most +unreserved reliance on all his statements, and many times used them +to check and correct the reports brought in by his own scouts.</p> + +<p>Slight skirmishes took place frequently during this period, and now +and then heavy demonstrations were made in the neighborhood of +Nolensville by reconnoitring parties from both armies, but none of +these ever grew into a battle. These affairs sprung from the desire +of each side to feel his antagonist, and had little result beyond +emphasizing the fact that behind each line of pickets lay a massed +and powerful army busily preparing for the inevitable conflict and +eager for its opening. So it wore on till the evening of December +25, 1862; then came the order to move forward.</p> + +<p>General Rosecrans, in the reorganization of the army, had assigned +Major-General A. McD. McCook to command the right wing, Major-General +George H. Thomas the centre, and Major-General T. L. Crittenden the +left wing. McCook's wing was made up of three divisions, commanded +in order of rank by Brigadier-General Jeff. C. Davis; +Brigadier-General R. W. Johnson, and Brigadier-General P. H. Sheridan. +Although the corps nomenclature established by General Buell was +dropped, the grand divisions into which he had organized the army at +Louisville were maintained, and, in fact, the conditions established +then remained practically unaltered, with the exception of the +interchange of some brigades, the transfer of a few general officers +from one wing or division to another, and the substitution of General +Thomas for Gilbert as a corps commander. The army was thus compact +and cohesive, undisturbed by discord and unembarrassed by jealousies +of any moment; and it may be said that under a commander who, we +believed, had the energy and skill necessary to direct us to success, +a national confidence in our invincibility made us all keen for a +test of strength with the Confederates. We had not long to wait.</p> + +<p>Early on the morning of December 26, 1862, in a heavy rain, the army +marched, the movement being directed on Murfreesboro', where the +enemy had made some preparation to go into winter-quarters, and to +hold which town it was hoped he would accept battle. General Thomas +moved by the Franklin and Wilson pikes, General Crittenden by the +Murfreesboro' pike, through Lavergne, and General McCook by the +Nolensville pike—Davis's division in advance. As McCook's command +neared Nolensville, I received a message from Davis informing me that +the Confederates were in considerable force, posted on a range of +hills in his front, and requesting me to support him in an attack he +was about to make. When the head of my column arrived at Nolensville +I began massing my troops on the right of the road, and by the time +this formation was nearly completed Davis advanced, but not meeting +with sufficient resistance to demand active assistance from me, he +with his own command carried the hills, capturing one piece of +artillery. This position of the Confederates was a strong one, +defending Knob's Gap, through which the Nolensville and Triune pike +passed. On the 27th Johnson's division, followed by mine, advanced +to Triune, and engaged in a severe skirmish near that place, but my +troops were not called into action, the stand made by the enemy being +only for the purpose of gaining time to draw in his outlying troops, +which done, he retired toward Murfreesboro'. I remained inactive at +Triune during the 28th, but early on the 29th moved out by the Bole +Jack road to the support of, Davis in his advance to Stewart's Creek, +and encamped at Wilkinson's crossroads, from which point to +Murfreesboro', distant about six miles, there was a good turnpike. +The enemy had sullenly resisted the progress of Crittenden and McCook +throughout the preceding three days, and as it was thought probable +that he might offer battle at Stewart's Creek, Thomas, in pursuance +of his original instructions looking to just such a contingency, had +now fallen into the centre by way of the Nolensville crossroads.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 30th I had the advance of McCook's corps on the +Wilkinson pike, Roberts's brigade leading. At first only slight +skirmishing took place, but when we came within about three miles of +Murfreesboro' the resistance of the enemy's pickets grew serious, and +a little further on so strong that I had to put in two regiments to +push them back. I succeeded in driving them about half a mile, when +I was directed by McCook to form line of battle and place my +artillery in position so that I could act in concert with Davis's +division, which he wished to post on my right in the general line he +desired to take up. In obedience to these directions I deployed on +the right of, and oblique to the Wilkinson pike, with a front of four +regiments, a second line of four regiments within short supporting +distance, and a reserve of one brigade in column of regiments to the +rear of my centre. All this time the enemy kept up a heavy artillery +and musketry fire on my skirmishers, he occupying, with his +sharpshooters, beyond some open fields, a heavy belt of timber to my +front and right, where it was intended the left of Davis should +finally rest. To gain this point Davis was ordered to swing his +division into it in conjunction with a wheeling movement of my right +brigade, until our continuous line should face nearly due east. This +would give us possession of the timber referred to, and not only rid +us of the annoying fire from the skirmishers screened by it, but also +place us close in to what was now developing as Bragg's line of +battle. The movement was begun about half-past 2, and was +successfully executed, after a stubborn resistance. In this +preliminary affair the enemy had put in one battery of artillery, +which was silenced in a little while, however, by Bush's and +Hescock's guns. By sundown I had taken up my prescribed position, +facing almost east, my left (Roberts's brigade) resting on the +Wilkinson pike, the right (Sill's brigade) in the timber we had just +gained, and the reserve brigade (Schaefer's) to the rear of my +centre, on some rising ground in the edge of a strip of woods behind +Houghtaling's and Hescock's batteries. Davis's division was placed +in position on my right, his troops thrown somewhat to the rear, so +that his line formed nearly a right angle with mine, while Johnson's +division formed in a very exposed position on the right of Davis, +prolonging the general line just across the Franklin pike.</p> + +<p>The centre, under Thomas, had already formed to my left, the right of +Negley's division joining my left in a cedar thicket near the +Wilkinson pike, while Crittenden's corps was posted on the left of +Thomas, his left resting on Stone River, at a point about two miles +and a half from Murfreesboro'.</p> + +<p>The precision that had characterized every manoeuvre of the past +three days, and the exactness with which each corps and division fell +into its allotted place on the evening of the 30th, indicated that at +the outset of the campaign a well-digested plan of operations had +been prepared for us; and although the scheme of the expected battle +was not known to subordinates of my grade, yet all the movements up +to this time had been so successfully and accurately made as to give +much promise for the morrow, and when night fell there was general +anticipation of the best results to the Union army.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch13"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>ASSAULT ON OUR RIGHT FLANK—OCCUPYING A NEW POSITION—THE ENEMY +CHECKED—TERRIBLE LOSS OF OFFICERS—AMMUNITION GIVES +OUT—RECONSTRUCTING THE LINE—COLLECTING THE WOUNDED AND BURYING THE +DEAD—DEALING WITH COWARDS—RESULTS OF THE VICTORY.</p> + +<p>The enemy under Bragg lay between us and stone River in order of +battle, his general line conforming to the course of that stream. In +my immediate front he appeared to be established in strong force in a +dense cedar wood, just beyond an open valley, which varied from two +hundred to four hundred yards in width, the cedars extending the +entire length of the valley. From the events of the day and evening +of the 30th, it was apparent that the two armies were in close +proximity, and orders received during the night revealed the fact +that Rosecrans intended to attack by throwing his left on the enemy's +right, with the expectation of driving it in toward Murfreesboro', so +that the right of Crittenden's corps could attack Bragg's centre in +reverse, while Thomas supported Crittenden by a simultaneous front +assault; and from the movements of the enemy at daylight next +morning, it was plainly indicated that Bragg had planned to swing his +left on our right by an exactly similar manoeuvre, get possession of +the railroad and the Nashville pike, and if possible cut us off from +our base at Nashville. The conceptions in the minds of the two +generals were almost identical; but Bragg took the initiative, +beginning his movement about an hour earlier than the time set by +Rosecrans, which gained him an immense advantage in execution in the +earlier stages of the action.</p> + +<p>During the evening, feeling keenly all the solicitude which +attends one in anticipation of a battle, I examined my position with +great care, inspecting its whole length several times to remedy any +defects that might exist, and to let the men see that I was alive to +their interests and advantages. After dark, I went back to the rear +of my reserve brigade, and establishing my headquarters behind the +trunk of a large fallen tree, which would shelter me somewhat from +the cold December wind, lay down beside a small camp-fire to get some +rest.</p> + +<p>At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 31st General Sill came back to me +to report that on his front a continuous movement of infantry and +artillery had been going on all night within the Confederate lines, +and that he was convinced that Bragg was massing on our right with +the purpose of making an attack from that direction early in the +morning. After discussing for a few minutes the probabilities of +such a course on the part of the enemy, I thought McCook should be +made acquainted with what was going on, so Sill and I went back to +see him at his headquarters, not far from the Griscom House, where we +found him sleeping on some straw in the angle of a worm-fence. I +waked him up and communicated the intelligence, and our consequent +impressions. He talked the matter over with us for some little time, +but in view of the offensive-defensive part he was to play in the +coming battle, did not seem to think that there was a necessity for +any further dispositions than had already been taken. He said that +he thought Johnson's division would be able to take care of the +right, and seemed confident that the early assault which was to be +made from Rosecrans's left would anticipate and check the designs +which we presaged. We two then returned to my little camp-fire +behind the log, and as we continued talking of what might be expected +from the indications on the right, and Sill becoming more anxious, I +directed two regiments from the reserve to report to him, that they +might be placed within very short supporting distance of his line. +He then rejoined his brigade, better satisfied, but still adhering to +the belief he had expressed when first making his report.</p> + +<p>Long before dawn my division breakfasted, and was assembled under +arms, the infantry in line, the cannoneers at their pieces, but while +we were thus preparing, all the recent signs of activity in the +enemy's camp were hushed, a death-like stillness prevailing in the +cedars to our front. Shortly after daylight General Hardee opened +the engagement, just as Sill had predicted, by a fierce attack on +Johnson's division, the extreme right of the Union line. Immediate +success attending this assault, Hardee extended the attack gradually +along in front of Davis, hip movement taking the form of a wheel to +the right, the pivot being nearly opposite the left of my division. +Johnson's division soon gave way, and two of Davis's brigades were +forced to fall back with it, though stubbornly resisting the +determined and sweeping onset.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the enemy had also attacked me, advancing across an +old cotton-field in Sill's front in heavy masses, which were +furiously opened upon by Bush's battery from Sill's line, and by +Hescock's and Houghtaling's batteries, which had an oblique fire on +the field from a commanding position in rear of my centre. The +effect of this fire on the advancing column was terrible, but it +continued on till it reached the edge of the timber where Sill's +right lay, when my infantry opened at a range of not over fifty +yards. For a short time the Confederates withstood the fire, but +then wavered, broke, and fell back toward their original line. As +they retired, Sill's brigade followed in a spirited charge, driving +them back across the open ground and behind their intrenchments. In +this charge the gallant Sill was killed; a rifle ball passing through +his upper lip and penetrating the brain. Although this was a heavy +loss, yet the enemy's discomfiture was such as to give us an hour's +time, and as Colonel Greusel, Thirty-sixth Illinois, succeeded to +Sill's command, I directed him, as he took charge, to recall the +brigade to its original position, for the turning-column on my +extreme right was now assuming the most menacing attitude, and it was +urgently necessary to prepare for it.</p> + +<p>When that portion of the enemy driven back by Sill recovered from its +repulse it again advanced to the attack, this time directing its +efforts chiefly upon my extreme right, and the front of Woodruff's +brigade of Davis's division, which brigade still held on in its first +position. In front of my centre the Confederates were again driven +back, but as the assault on Woodruff was in conjunction with an +advance of the column that had forced Johnson to retire, Woodruff was +compelled unfortunately to give way, and two regiments on the right +of my line went with him, till they rallied on the two reserve +regiments which, in anticipation of the enemy's initiatory attack I +had sent to Sill's rear before daylight.</p> + +<p>Both Johnson's and Davis's divisions were now practically gone from +our line, having retired with a loss of all formation, and they were +being closely pursued by the enemy, whose columns were following the +arc of a circle that would ultimately carry him in on my rear. In +consequence of the fact that this state of things would soon subject +me to a fire in reverse, I hastily withdrew Sill's brigade and the +reserve regiments supporting it, and ordered Roberts's brigade, which +at the close of the enemy's second repulse had changed front toward +the south and formed in column of regiments, to cover the withdrawal +by a charge on the Confederates as they came into the timber where my +right had originally rested. Roberts made the charge at the proper +time, and was successful in checking the enemy's advance, thus giving +us a breathing-spell, during which I was able to take up a new +position with Schaefer's and Sill's brigades on the commanding ground +to the rear, where Hescock's and Houghtaling's batteries had been +posted all the morning.</p> + +<p>The general course of this new position was at right angles with my +original line, and it took the shape of an obtuse angle, with my +three batteries at the apex. Davis, and Carlin of his division, +endeavored to rally their men here on my right, but their efforts +were practically unavailing,—though the calm and cool appearance of +Carlin, who at the time was smoking a stumpy pipe, had some effect, +and was in strong contrast to the excited manner of Davis, who seemed +overpowered by the disaster that had befallen his command. But few +could be rallied, however, as the men were badly demoralized, and +most of them fell back beyond the Wilkinson pike, where they +reorganized behind the troops of General Thomas.</p> + +<p>At this juncture the enemy's turning-column began advancing again in +concert with Cheatham's division, and as the extreme left of the +Confederates was directed on Griscom's house, and their right on the +Blanton house, my new position was in danger of envelopment. No hope +of stemming the tide at this point seemed probable, but to gain time +I retained my ground as long as possible, and until, under directions +from General McCook, I moved to the front from my left flank and +attached myself to the right of Negley's division, which up to this +hour had been left almost undisturbed by the enemy in the line it had +taken up the night before. Under a heavy fire we succeeded in this +manoeuvre, Schaefer's brigade marching first, then the batteries, and +Roberts's and Sill's brigades following. When my division arrived on +this new ground, I posted Roberts on Negley's right, with Hescock's +and Bush's guns, the brigade and guns occupying a low rocky ridge of +limestone, which faced them toward Murfreesboro', nearly south. The +rest of my division was aligned facing west, along the edge of a +cedar thicket, the rear rank backed up on the right flank of Roberts, +with Houghtaling's battery in the angle. This presented Sill's and +Schaefer's brigades in an almost opposite direction to the line we +had so confidently taken up the night before, and covered Negley's +rear. The enemy, in the meantime, had continued his wheeling +movement till he occupied the ground that my batteries and reserve +brigade had held in the morning, and I had now so changed my position +that the left brigade of my division approached his intrenchments in +front of Stone River, while Sill's and Schaeffer's brigades, by +facing nearly west, confronted the successful troops that had smashed +in our extreme right.</p> + +<p>I had hardly got straightened out in this last place when I was +attacked by Cheatham's'division, which, notwithstanding the +staggering blows it had previously received from Sill and Roberts, +now again moved forward in conjunction with the wheeling movement +under the immediate command of Hardee. One of the most sanguinary +contests of the day now took place. In fulfillment of Bragg's +original design no doubt, Cheatham's division attacked on my left, +while heavy masses under Hardee, covered by batteries posted on the +high ground formerly occupied by my guns, assaulted my right, the +whole force advancing simultaneously. At the same time the enemy +opened an artillery fire from his intrenchments in front of +Murfreesboro', and it seemed that he was present on every side. My +position was strong, however, located in the edge of a dense cedar +thicket and commanding a slight depression of open ground that lay in +my front. My men were in good spirits too, notwithstanding they had +been a good deal hustled around since daylight, with losses that had +told considerably on their numbers. Only a short distance now +separated the contending lines, and as the batteries on each side +were not much more than two hundred yards apart when the enemy made +his assault, the artillery fire was fearful in its effect on the +ranks of both contestants, the enemy's heavy masses staggering under +the torrent of shell and canister from our batteries, while our lines +were thinned by his ricochetting projectiles, that rebounded again +and again over the thinly covered limestone formation and sped on to +the rear of Negley. But all his efforts to dislodge or destroy us +were futile, and for the first time since daylight General Hardee was +seriously checked in the turning movement he had begun for the +purpose of getting possession of the Nashville pike, and though +reinforced until two-fifths of Bragg's army was now at his command, +yet he met with repulse after repulse, which created great gaps in +his lines and taught him that to overwhelm us was hopeless.</p> + +<p>As the enemy was recoiling from his first attack, I received a +message from Rosecrans telling me that he was making new +dispositions, and directing me to hold on where I was until they were +completed. From this I judged that the existing conditions of the +battle would probably require a sacrifice of my command, so I +informed Roberts and Schaefer that we must be prepared to meet the +demand on us by withstanding the assault of the enemy, no matter what +the outcome. Every energy was therefore bent to the simple holding +of our ground, and as ammunition was getting scarce, instructions +were given throughout the command to have it reserve its fire till +the most effective moment. In a little while came a second and a +third assault, and although they were as daring and furious as the +first, yet in each case the Confederates were repulsed, driven back +in confusion, but not without deadly loss to us, for the noble +Roberts was killed, and Colonel Harrington, of the Twenty-Seventh +Illinois, who succeeded to his brigade, was mortally wounded a few +minutes later. I had now on the death-roll three brigade commanders, +and the loss of subordinate officers and men was appalling, but their +sacrifice had accomplished the desired result; they had not fallen in +vain. Indeed, the bravery and tenacity of my division gave to +Rosecrans the time required to make new dispositions, and exacted +from our foes the highest commendations.</p> + +<p>A lull followed the third fierce assault, and an investigation showed +that, with the exception of a few rounds in my brigade, our +ammunition was entirely exhausted; and while it was apparent that the +enemy was reluctant to renew the conflict in my front, yet I was +satisfied I could not hold on much longer without the danger of +ultimate capture, so I prepared to withdraw as soon as the troops of +Rousseau's division, which had been ordered to take up a line on my +right, came into position. Schaefer's and Sill's brigades being +without a cartridge, I directed them to fix bayonets for a charge, +and await any attempt of the enemy to embarrass my retreat, while +Roberts's brigade, offering such resistance as its small quantity of +ammunition would permit, was pulled slowly in toward the Nashville +pike. Eighty of the horses of Houghtaling's battery having been +killed, an attempt was made to bring his guns back by hand over the +rocky ground, but it could not be done, and we had to abandon them. +Hescock also had lost most of his horses, but all his guns were +saved. Bush's battery lost two pieces, the tangled underbrush in the +dense cedars proving an obstacle to getting them away which his +almost superhuman exertions could not surmount. Thus far the bloody +duel had cost me heavily, one-third of my division being killed or +wounded. I had already three brigade commanders killed; a little +later I lost my fourth—Colonel Schaefer.</p> + +<p>The difficulties of withdrawing were very great, as the ground was +exceptionally rocky, and the growth of cedars almost impenetrable for +wheeled carriages. Retiring sullenly under a heavy fire, while the +general line was reformed to my right and rear, my division was at +length drawn through the cedars and debouched into an open space near +the Murfreesboro' pike, behind the right of Palmer's division. Two +regiments of Sill's brigade, however, on account of the conformation +of the ground, were obliged to fall back from the point where +Woodruff's brigade of Davis's division had rallied after the disaster +of the early morning. The division came out of the cedars with +unbroken ranks, thinned by only its killed and wounded—but few +missing. When we came into the open ground, McCook directed +Roberts's brigade—now commanded by Colonel Luther P. Bradley—to +proceed a short distance to the rear on the Nashville pike, to repel +the enemy's threatening attempt at our communications. Willingly and +cheerfully the brigade again entered the fight under these new +conditions, and although it was supplied with but three or four +cartridges to the man now, it charged gallantly and recaptured two +pieces of artillery which the Union troops had had to abandon at that +point.</p> + +<p>Shortly after we debouched from the cedars I was directed by +Rosecrans to send some aid to the right of General Palmer's division; +and two of Schaefer's regiments, having obtained ammunition, were +pushed up on Palmer's right, accompanied by four of Hescock's guns; +but the advance of the enemy here had already been checked by Palmer, +and only a desultory contest ensued. Rosecrans, whom I now met in +the open ground west of the railroad, behind Palmer, directed that my +command should relieve Wood's division, which was required to fall +back and take up the new line that had been marked out while I was +holding on in the cedars. His usually florid face had lost its ruddy +color, and his anxious eyes told that the disasters of the morning +were testing his powers to the very verge of endurance, but he seemed +fully to comprehend what had befallen us. His firmly set lips and, +the calmness with which his instructions were delivered inspired +confidence in all around him; and expressing approbation of what my +division had done, while deliberately directing it to a new point, he +renewed in us all the hope of final victory, though it must be +admitted that at this phase of the battle the chances lay largely +with the enemy.</p> + +<p>Withdrawing the two regiments and Hescock's battery, that I had +posted on the right of Palmer, I moved as directed by Rosecrans into +the position to the east of the railroad, and formed immediately to +the right of Wood, who was now being attacked all along his front, +but more particularly where his right rested near the railroad. +Under a storm of shot and shell that came in torrents my troops took +up the new ground, advancing through a clump of open timber to Wood's +assistance. Forming in line in front of the timber we poured a +telling fire into the enemy's ranks, which were then attacking across +some cleared fields; but when he discovered additional troops +confronting him, he gave up the attempt to carry Wood's position. It +was here that I lost Schaefer, who was killed instantly, making my +fourth brigade commander dead that day. The enemy in front of Wood +having been checked, our whole line east of the railroad executed +undisturbed its retrograde movement to a position about three hundred +yards to its rear. When I fell back to the edge of the clump of +timber, where when first coming on the ground I had formed to help +Wood, I was ordered by Rosecrans to prepare to make a charge should +the enemy again assault us. In anticipation of this work I massed my +troops in close column. The expected attack never came, however, but +the shot and shell of a furious cannonade told with fatal effect upon +men and officers as they lay on their faces hugging the ground. The +torments of this trying situation were almost unbearable, but it was +obvious to all that it was necessary to have at hand a compact body +of troops to repel any assault the enemy might make pending the +reconstruction of the extreme right of our line, and a silent +determination to stay seemed to take hold of each individual soldier; +nor was this grim silence interrupted throughout the cannonade, +except in one instance, when one of the regiments broke out in a +lusty cheer as a startled rabbit in search of a new hiding-place +safely ran the whole length of the line on the backs of the men.</p> + +<p>While my troops were still lying here, General Rosecrans, with a part +of his staff and a few orderlies, rode out on the rearranged line to +supervise its formation and encourage the men, and in prosecution of +these objects moved around the front of my column of attack, within +range of the batteries that were shelling us so viciously. As he +passed to the open ground on my left, I joined him. The enemy seeing +this mounted party, turned his guns upon it, and his accurate aim was +soon rewarded, for a solid shot carried away the head of Colonel +Garesche, the chief-of-staff, and killed or wounded two or three +orderlies. Garesche's appalling death stunned us all, and a +momentary expression of horror spread over Rosecrans's face; but at +such a time the importance of self-control was vital, and he pursued +his course with an appearance of indifference, which, however, those +immediately about him saw was assumed, for undoubtedly he felt most +deeply the death of his friend and trusted staff-officer.</p> + +<p>No other attacks were made on us to the east of the railroad for the +rest of the afternoon, and just before dark I was directed to +withdraw and take up a position along the west side of the Nashville +pike, on the extreme right of our new line, where Roberts's brigade +and the Seventy-third and Eighty-eighth Illinois had already been +placed by McCook. The day had cost me much anxiety and sadness, and +I was sorely disappointed at the general result, though I could not +be other than pleased at the part taken by my command. The loss of +my brigade commanders—Sill, Roberts, Schaefer, and Harrington-and a +large number of regimental and battery officers, with so many of +their men, struck deep into my heart: My thinned ranks told the +woeful tale of the fierce struggles, indescribable by words, through +which my division had passed since 7 o'clock in the morning; and +this, added to our hungry and exhausted condition, was naturally +disheartening. The men had been made veterans, however, by the +fortunes and misfortunes of the day, and as they went into their new +places still confident of final success, it was plain to see that +they felt a self-confidence inspired by the part they had already +played.</p> + +<p>My headquarters were now established on the Nashville pike, about +three miles and a half from Murfreesboro'; my division being aligned +to the west of the pike, bowed out and facing almost west, Cleburn's +division of the Confederates confronting it. Davis's division was +posted on my right, and Walker's brigade of Thomas's corps, which had +reported to me, took up a line that connected my left with Johnson's +division.</p> + +<p>Late in the evening General Rosecrans, accompanied by General McCook, +and several other officers whose names I am now unable to recall, +rode by my headquarters on their way to the rear to look for a new +line of battle—on Overall's creek it was said—that would preserve +our communications with Nashville and offer better facilities for +resistance than the one we were now holding. Considerable time had +elapsed when they returned from this exploration and proceeded to +their respective commands, without intimating to me that anything had +been determined upon by the reconnoissance, but a little later it was +rumored through the different headquarters that while the party was +looking for a new position it discovered the enemy's troops moving +toward our right and rear, the head of his columns being conducted in +the darkness by the aid of torches, and that no alternative was left +us but to hold the lines we then occupied. The torches had been seen +unquestionably, and possibly created some alarm at first in the minds +of the reconnoitring party, but it was soon ascertained that the +lights came from a battalion of the Fourth regular cavalry that was +picketing our flank and happened to be starting its bivouac fires at +the moment. The fires and the supposed movements had no weight, +therefore, in deciding the proposition to take up a line at Overall's +creek, but General Rosecrans, fortunately for the army, decided to +remain where he was. Doubtless reflections during his ride caused +him to realize that the enemy must be quite as much crippled as +himself. If it had been decided to fall back to Overall's creek, we +could have withdrawn without much difficulty very likely, but such a +retrograde movement would have left to the enemy the entire +battle-field of Stone River and ultimately compelled our retreat to +Nashville.</p> + +<p>In the night of December 3rd several slight demonstrations were made +on my front, but from the darkness neither party felt the effect of +the other's fire, and when daylight came again the skirmishers and +lines of battle were in about the same position they had taken up the +evening before. Soon after daybreak it became evident that the +conflict was to be renewed, and a little later the enemy resumed the +offensive by an attack along my left front, especially on Walker's +brigade. His attempt was ineffectual, however, and so easily +repulsed as to demonstrate that the desperate character of his +assaults the day before had nearly exhausted his strength. About 3 +o'clock in the afternoon he made another feeble charge on my front, +but our fire from the barricades and rifle-pits soon demoralized his +advancing lines, which fell back in some confusion, thus enabling us +to pick up about a hundred prisoners. From this time till the +evening of January 3 Bragg's left remained in our front, and +continued to show itself at intervals by weak demonstrations, which +we afterward ascertained were directly intended to cover the +desperate assault he made with Breckenridge on the left of Rosecrans, +an assault that really had in view only a defensive purpose, for +unless Bragg dislodged the troops which were now massing in front of +his right he would be obliged to withdraw General Polk's corps behind +Stone River and finally abandon Murfreesboro'. The sequel proved +this to be the case; and the ill-judged assault led by Breckenridge +ending in entire defeat, Bragg retired from Murfreesboro' the night +of January 3.</p> + +<p>General Rosecrans occupied Murfreesboro' on the 4th and 5th, having +gained a costly victory, which was not decisive enough in its +character to greatly affect the general course of the war, though it +somewhat strengthened and increased our hold on Middle Tennessee. +The enemy in retiring did not fall back very far—only behind Duck +River to Shelbyville and Tullahoma—and but little endeavor was made +to follow him. Indeed, we were not in condition to pursue, even if +it had been the intention at the outset of the campaign.</p> + +<p>As soon as possible after the Confederate retreat I went over the +battle-field to collect such of my wounded as had not been carried +off to the South and to bury my dead. In the cedars and on the +ground where I had been so fiercely assaulted when the battle opened, +on the morning of the 31st, evidences of the bloody struggle appeared +on every hand in the form of broken fire-arms, fragments of +accoutrements, and splintered trees. The dead had nearly all been +left unburied, but as there was likelihood of their mutilation by +roving swine, the bodies had mostly been collected in piles at +different points and inclosed by rail fences. The sad duties of +interment and of caring for the wounded were completed by the 5th, +and on the 6th I moved my division three miles, south of +Murfreesboro' on the Shelbyville pike, going into camp on the banks +of Stone River. Here the condition of my command was thoroughly +looked into, and an endeavor made to correct such defects as had been +disclosed by the recent battle.</p> + +<p>During the engagement there had been little straggling, and my list +of missing was small and legitimate; still, it was known that a very +few had shirked their duty, and an example was necessary. Among this +small number were four officers who, it was charged, had abandoned +their colors and regiments. When their guilt was clearly +established, and as soon as an opportunity occurred, I caused the +whole division to be formed in a hollow square, closed in mass, and +had the four officers marched to the centre, where, telling them that +I would not humiliate any officer or soldier by requiring him to +touch their disgraced swords, I compelled them to deliver theirs up +to my colored servant, who also cut from their coats every insignia +of rank. Then, after there had been read to the command an order +from army headquarters dismissing the four from the service, the +scene was brought to a close by drumming the cowards out of camp. It +was a mortifying spectacle, but from that day no officer in that +division ever abandoned his colors.</p> + +<p>My effective force in the battle of Stone River was 4,154 officers +and men. Of this number I lost 1,633 killed, wounded, and missing, +or nearly 40 per cent. In the remaining years of the war, though +often engaged in most severe contests, I never experienced in any of +my commands so high a rate of casualties. The ratio of loss in the +whole of Rosecrans's army was also high, and Bragg's losses were +almost equally great. Rosecrans carried into the action about 42,000 +officers and men. He lost 13,230, or 31 per cent. Bragg's effective +force was 37,800 officers and men; he lost 10,306, or nearly 28 per +cent.</p> + +<p>Though our victory was dearly bought, yet the importance of gaining +the day at any price was very great, particularly when we consider +what might have been the result had not the gallantry of the army and +the manoeuvring during the early disaster saved us from ultimate +defeat. We had started out from Nashville on an offensive campaign, +probably with no intention of going beyond Murfreesboro', in +midwinter, but still with the expectation of delivering a crushing +blow should the enemy accept our challenge to battle. He met us with +a plan of attack almost the counterpart of our own. In the execution +of his plan he had many advantages, not the least of which was his +intimate knowledge of the ground, and he came near destroying us. +Had he done so, Nashville would probably have fallen; at all events, +Kentucky would have been opened again to his incursions, and the +theatre of war very likely transferred once more to the Ohio River. +As the case now stood, however, Nashville was firmly established as a +base for future operations, Kentucky was safe from the possibility of +being again overrun, and Bragg, thrown on the defensive, was +compelled to give his thoughts to the protection of the interior of +the Confederacy and the security of Chattanooga, rather than indulge +in schemes of conquest north of the Cumberland River. While he still +held on in Middle Tennessee his grasp was so much loosened that only +slight effort would be necessary to push him back into Georgia, and +thus give to the mountain region of East Tennessee an opportunity to +prove its loyalty to the Union.</p> + +<p>The victory quieted the fears of the West and Northwest, destroyed +the hopes of the secession element in Kentucky, renewed the drooping +spirits of the East Tennesseans, and demoralized the disunionists in +Middle Tennessee; yet it was a negative victory so far as concerned +the result on the battle-field. Rosecrans seems to have planned the +battle with the idea that the enemy would continue passive, remain +entirely on the defensive, and that it was necessary only to push +forward our left in order to force the evacuation of Murfreesboro'; +and notwithstanding the fact that on the afternoon of December 30 +McCook received information that the right of Johnson's division. +resting near the Franklin pike, extended only to about the centre of +the Confederate army, it does not appear that attack from that +quarter was at all apprehended by the Union commanders.</p> + +<p>The natural line of retreat of the Confederates was not threatened by +the design of Rosecrans; and Bragg, without risk to his +communications, anticipated it by a counter-attack of like character +from his own left, and demolished his adversary's plan the moment we +were thrown on the defensive. Had Bragg followed up with the spirit +which characterized its beginning the successful attack by Hardee on +our right wing—and there seems no reason why he should not have done +so—the army of Rosecrans still might have got back to Nashville, but +it would have been depleted and demoralized to such a degree as to +unfit it for offensive operations for a long time afterward. Bragg's +intrenchments in front of Stone River were very strong, and there +seems no reason why he should not have used his plain advantage as +explained, but instead he allowed us to gain time, intrench, and +recover a confidence that at first was badly shaken. Finally, to cap +the climax of his errors, he directed Breckenridge to make the +assault from his right flank on January 2, with small chance for +anything but disaster, when the real purpose in view could have been +accomplished without the necessity of any offensive manoeuvre +whatever.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p238"></a><img alt="p238.jpg (146K)" src="images/p238.jpg" height="461" width="650"></center> +<a href="images/p238.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch14"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL—THE SECRET EXPEDITION UNDER CARD THE +SCOUT—HIS CAPTURE BY GUERRILLAS—ESCAPE—A REVENGE PARTY—WOMEN +SOLDIERS—A FIGHT WITH SABRES—TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN—A FOOLISH +ADVENTURE.</p> + +<p>On the 6th of January, 1863, my division settled quietly down in its +camp south of Murfreesboro'. Its exhausted condition after the +terrible experiences of the preceding week required attention. It +needed recuperation, reinforcement, and reorganization, and I set +about these matters without delay, in anticipation of active +operations early in the spring. No forward movement was made for +nearly six months, however, and throughout this period drills, +parades, reconnoissances, and foraging expeditions filled in the time +profitably. In addition to these exercises the construction of +permanent fortifications for the security of Murfreesboro' was +undertaken by General Rosecrans, and large details from my troops +were furnished daily for the work. Much attention was also given to +creating a more perfect system of guard and picket duty-a matter that +had hitherto been somewhat neglected in the army, as its constant +activity had permitted scant opportunity for the development of such +a system. It was at this time that I received my appointment as a +major-general of Volunteers. My promotion had been recommended by +General Rosecrans immediately after the battle of Stone River, but +for some reason it was delayed until April, and though a long time +elapsed between the promise and the performance, my gratification was +extreme.</p> + +<p>My scout, Card, was exceedingly useful while encamped near +Murfreesboro, making several trips to East Tennessee within the +enemy's lines to collect information as to the condition of the loyal +people there, and to encourage them with the hope of early +liberation. He also brought back from each trip very accurate +statements as to the strength and doings of the Confederate army, +fixing almost with certainty its numbers and the locations of its +different divisions, and enabling my engineer-officer—Major +Morhardt—to construct good maps of the country in our front. On +these dangerous excursions Card was always accompanied by one of his +brothers, the other remaining with me to be ready for duty if any +accident occurred to those who had gone out, or in case I wanted to +communicate with them. In this way we kept well posted, although the +intelligence these men brought was almost always secured at the risk +of their lives.</p> + +<p>Early in the spring, before the Tullahoma campaign began, I thought +it would be practicable, by sending out a small secret expedition of +but three or four men, to break the Nashville and Chattanooga +railroad between Chattanooga and the enemy's position at Tullahoma by +burning the bridges in Crow Creek valley from its head to Stevenson, +Alabama, and then the great bridge across the Tennessee River at +Bridgeport. Feeling confident that I could persuade Card to +undertake the perilous duty, I broached the contemplated project to +him, and he at once jumped at the opportunity of thus distinguishing +himself, saying that with one of his brothers and three other loyal +East Tennesseeans, whose services he knew could be enlisted, he felt +sure of carrying out the idea, so I gave him authority to choose his +own assistants. In a few days his men appeared at my headquarters, +and when supplied with money in notes of the State Bank of Tennessee, +current everywhere as gold in those days, the party, composed of +Card, the second brother, and the three East Tennesseeans, started on +their precarious enterprise, their course being directed first toward +the Cumberland Mountains, intending to strike the Nashville and +Chattanooga railroad somewhere above Anderson's station. They +expected to get back in about fifteen days, but I looked for some +knowledge of the progress of their adventure before the expiration of +that period, hoping to hear through Confederate sources prisoners and +the like-of the destruction of the bridges. I waited in patience for +such news, but none came, and as the time Card had allotted himself +passed by, I watched anxiously for his return, for, as there was +scarcely a doubt that the expedition had proved a failure, the fate +of the party became a matter of deep concern to Card's remaining +brother and to me. Finally this brother volunteered to go to his +father's house in East Tennessee to get tidings of the party, and I +consented, for the probabilities were that some of them had made +their way to that point, or at least that some information had +reached there about them. As day after day went by, the time fixed +for this brother's return came round, yet he also remained out; but +some days after the lad was due Card himself turned up accompanied by +the brother he had taken with him, soon explained his delay in +getting back, and gave me the story of his adventures while absent.</p> + +<p>After leaving my camp, his party had followed various byways across +the Cumberland Mountains to Crow Creek Valley, as instructed; but +when nearing the railroad above Anderson's Station, they were +captured by some guerrillas prowling about that vicinity, and being +suspected of disloyalty to the Confederacy, were carried to +Chattanooga and imprisoned as Yankee spies. Their prospects now were +decidedly discouraging, for death stared them in the face. +Fortunately, however, some delays occurred relative to the +disposition that should be made of them, and they, meanwhile, +effected their escape from their jailors by way of one of the prison +windows, from which they managed to displace a bar, and by a skiff, +in the darkness of night, crossed the Tennessee River a little below +Chattanooga. From this point the party made their way back to my +camp, traveling only at night, hiding in the woods by day, and for +food depending on loyal citizens that Card had become acquainted with +when preaching and peddling.</p> + +<p>Card's first inquiry after relating his story was for the youngest +brother, whom he had left with me. I told him what I had done, in my +anxiety about himself, and that more than sufficient time had elapsed +for his brother's return. His reply was: "They have caught him. The +poor fellow is dead." His surmise proved correct; for news soon came +that the poor boy had been captured at his father's house, and +hanged. The blow to Card was a severe one, and so hardened his heart +against the guerrillas in the neighborhood of his father's home—for +he knew they were guilty of his brother's murder—that it was with +difficulty I could persuade him to continue in the employment of the +Government, so determined was he to avenge his brother's death at the +first opportunity. Finally, however, I succeeded in quieting the +almost uncontrollable rage that seemed to possess him, and he +remained with me during the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns; but +when we reached Knoxville the next winter, he took his departure, +informing me that he was going for the bushwhackers who had killed +his brother. A short time after he left me, I saw him at the head of +about thirty well-armed East Tennesseeans—refugees. They were +determined-looking men, seeking revenge for the wrongs and sufferings +that had been put upon them in the last two years, and no doubt +wreaked their vengeance right and left on all who had been in any way +instrumental in persecuting them.</p> + +<p>The feeding of our army from the base at Louisville was attended with +a great many difficulties, as the enemy's cavalry was constantly +breaking the railroad and intercepting our communications on the +Cumberland River at different points that were easily accessible to +his then superior force of troopers. The accumulation of reserve +stores was therefore not an easy task, and to get forage ahead a few +days was well-nigh impossible, unless that brought from the North was +supplemented by what we could gather from the country. Corn was +abundant in the region to the south and southwest of Murfreesboro', +so to make good our deficiences in this respect, I employed a brigade +about once a week in the duty of collecting and bringing in forage, +sending out sometimes as many as a hundred and fifty wagons to haul +the grain which my scouts had previously located. In nearly every +one of these expeditions the enemy was encountered, and the wagons +were usually loaded while the skirmishers kept up a running fire, +Often there would occur a respectable brush, with the loss on each +side of a number of killed and wounded. The officer in direct +command always reported to me personally whatever had happened during +the time he was out—the result of his reconnoissance, so to speak, +for that war the real nature of these excursions—and on one occasion +the colonel in command, Colonel Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri, +informed me that he got through without much difficulty; in fact, +that everything had gone all right and been eminently satisfactory, +except that in returning he had been mortified greatly by the conduct +of the two females belonging to the detachment and division train at +my headquarters. These women, he said, had given much annoyance by +getting drunk, and to some extent demoralizing his men. To say that +I was astonished at his statement would be a mild way of putting it, +and had I not known him to be a most upright man and of sound sense, +I should have doubted not only his veracity, but his sanity. +Inquiring who they were and for further details, I was informed that +there certainly were in the command two females, that in some +mysterious manner had attached themselves to the service as soldiers; +that one, an East Tennessee woman, was a teamster in the division +wagon-train and the other a private soldier in a cavalry company +temporarily attached to my headquarters for escort duty. While out +on the foraging expedition these Amazons had secured a supply of +"apple-jack" by some means, got very drunk, and on the return had +fallen into Stone River and been nearly drowned. After they had been +fished from, the water, in the process of resuscitation their sex was +disclosed, though up to this time it appeared to be known only to +each other. The story was straight and the circumstance clear, so, +convinced of Conrad's continued sanity, I directed the +provost-marshal to bring in arrest to my headquarters the two disturbers of +Conrad's peace of mind, After some little search the East Tennessee +woman was found in camp, somewhat the worse for the experiences of +the day before, but awaiting her fate content idly smoking a +cob-pipe. She was brought to me, and put in duress under charge of the +division surgeon until her companion could be secured. To the doctor +she related that the year before she had "refugeed" from East +Tennessee, and on arriving in Louisville assumed men's apparel and +sought and obtained employment as a teamster in the quartermaster's +department. Her features were very large, and so coarse and +masculine was her general appearance that she would readily have +passed as a man, and in her case the deception was no doubt easily +practiced. Next day the "she dragoon" was caught, and proved to be a +rather prepossessing young woman, and though necessarily bronzed and +hardened by exposure, I doubt if, even with these marks of +campaigning, she could have deceived as readily as did her companion. +How the two got acquainted, I never learned, and though they had +joined the army independently of each other, yet an intimacy had +sprung up between them long before the mishaps of the foraging +expedition. They both were forwarded to army headquarters, and, when +provided with clothing suited to their sex, sent back to Nashville, +and thence beyond our lines to Louisville.</p> + +<p>On January 9, by an order from the War Department, the Army of the +Cumberland had been divided into three corps, designated the +Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first. This order did not alter +the composition of the former grand divisions, nor change the +commanders, but the new nomenclature was a decided improvement over +the clumsy designations Right Wing, Centre, and Left Wing, which were +well calculated to lead to confusion sometimes. McCook's wing became +the Twentieth Corps, and my division continued of the same +organization, and held the same number as formerly-the Third +Division, Twentieth Corps. My first brigade was now commanded by +Brigadier-General William H. Lytle, the second by Colonel Bernard +Laiboldt, and the third by Colonel Luther P. Bradley.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of March I was directed to move in light marching order +toward Franklin and join General Gordon Granger, to take part in some +operations which he was projecting against General Earl Van Dorn, +then at Spring Hill. Knowing that my line of march would carry me +through a region where forage was plentiful, I took along a large +train of empty wagons, which I determined to fill with corn and send +back to Murfreesboro', believing that I could successfully cover the +train by Minty's brigade of cavalry, which had joined me for the +purpose of aiding in a reconnoissance toward Shelbyville. In +marching the column I placed a regiment of infantry at its head, then +the wagon-train, then a brigade of infantry—masking the cavalry +behind this brigade. The enemy, discovering that the train was with +us, and thinking he could capture it, came boldly out with his, +cavalry to attack. The head of his column came up to the crossroads +at Versailles, but holding him there, I passed the train and infantry +brigade beyond toward Eagleville, and when my cavalry had been thus +unmasked, Minty, followed by the balance of my division, which was +still behind, charged him with the sabre. Success was immediate and +complete, and pursuit of the routed forces continued through +Unionville, until we fell upon and drove in the Confederate outposts +at Shelbyville. Here the enemy was taken by surprise evidently, +which was most fortunate for us, otherwise the consequences might +have been disastrous. Minty captured in the charge about fifty +prisoners and a few wagons and mules, and thus enabled me to load my +train with corn, and send it back to Murfreesboro' unmolested. In +this little fight the sabre was freely used by both sides, and I do +not believe that during the whole war I again knew of so large a +percentage of wounds by that arm in proportion to the numbers +engaged.</p> + +<p>That night I encamped at Eagleville, and next day reported to Granger +at Franklin, arriving in the midst of much excitement prevailing on +account of the loss of Coburn's brigade, which had been captured the +day before a little distance south of that point, while marching to +form a junction with a column that had been directed on Columbia from +Murfreesboro'. Shortly after Coburn's capture General Granger had +come upon the scene, and the next day he advanced my division and +Minty's troops directly on Spring Hill, with a view to making some +reprisal; but Van Dorn had no intention of accommodating us, and +retired from Spring Hill, offering but little resistance. He +continued to fall back, till finally he got behind Duck River, where +operations against him ceased; for, in consequence of the incessant +rains of the season, the streams had become almost impassable. +Later, I returned by way of Franklin to my old camp at Murfreesboro', +passing over on this march the ground on which the Confederate +General Hood met with such disaster the following year in his attack +on Stanley's corps.</p> + +<p>My command had all returned from the Franklin expedition to +Murfreesboro' and gone into camp on the Salem pike by the latter part +of March, from which time till June it took part in only the little +affairs of outposts occurring every now and then on my own front. In +the meanwhile General Rosecrans had been materially reinforced by the +return of sick and wounded men; his army had become well disciplined, +and was tolerably supplied; and he was repeatedly pressed by the +authorities at Washington to undertake offensive operations.</p> + +<p>During the spring and early summer Rosecrans resisted, with a great +deal of spirit and on various grounds, these frequent urgings, and +out of this grew up an acrimonious correspondence and strained +feeling between him and General Halleck. Early in June, however, +stores had been accumulated and other preparations made for a move +forward, Resecrans seeming to have decided that he could safely risk +an advance, with the prospect of good results. Before finally +deciding, he called upon most of his corps and division commanders +for their opinions on certain propositions which he presented, and +most of them still opposed the projected movement, I among the +number, reasoning that while General Grant was operating against +Vicksburg, it was better to hold Bragg in Middle Tennessee than to +push him so far back into Georgia that interior means of +communication would give the Confederate Government the opportunity +of quickly joining a part of his force to that of General Johnson in +Mississippi.</p> + +<p>At this stage, and in fact prior to it, Rosecrans seemed to manifest +special confidence in me, often discussing his plans with me +independent of the occasions on which he formally referred them for +my views. I recollect that on two different occasions about this +time he unfolded his designs to me in this informal way, outlining +generally how he expected ultimately to force Bragg south of the +Tennessee River, and going into the details of the contemplated move +on Tullahoma. His schemes, to my mind, were not only comprehensive, +but exact, and showed conclusively, what no one doubted then, that +they were original with him. I found in them very little to +criticise unfavorably, if we were to move at all, and Rosecrans +certainly impressed me that he favored an advance at an early day, +though many of his generals were against it until the operations on +the Mississippi River should culminate in something definite. There +was much, fully apparent in the circumstances about his headquarters, +leading to the conviction that Rosecrans originated the Tullahoma +campaign, and the record of his prior performances collaterally +sustains the visible evidence then existing. In my opinion, then, +based on a clear recollection of various occurrences growing out of +our intimacy, he conceived the plan of the Tullahoma campaign and the +one succeeding it; and is therefore entitled to every credit that +attended their execution, no matter what may be claimed for others.</p> + +<p>On the 23d of June Bragg was covering his position north of Duck +River with a front extending from McMinnville, where his cavalry +rested, through Wartrace and Shelbyville to Columbia, his depot being +at Tullahoma. Rosecrans, thinking that Bragg would offer strong +resistance at Shelbyville—which was somewhat protected by a spur of +low mountains or hills, offshoots of the Cumberland +Mountains—decided to turn that place; consequently, he directed the mass of the +Union army on the enemy's right flank, about Manchester.</p> + +<p>On the 26th of June McCook's corps advanced toward Liberty Gap, my +divisions marching on the Shelbyville pike. I had proceeded but a +few miles when I encountered the enemy's pickets, who fell back to +Christiana, about nine miles from Murfreesboro'. Here I was assailed +pretty wickedly by the enemy's sharpshooters and a section of +artillery, but as I was instructed to do nothing more than cover the +road from Eagleville, over which Brannan's division was to approach +Christiana, I made little reply to this severe annoyance, wishing to +conceal the strength of my force. As soon as the head of Brannan's +column arrived I marched across-country to the left, and encamped +that night at the little town of Millersburg, in the vicinity of +Liberty Gap. I was directed to move from Millersburg, on Hoover's +Gap—a pass in the range of hills already referred to, through which +ran the turnpike from Murfreesboro' to Manchester—but heavy rains +had made the country roads almost impassable, and the last of my +division did not reach Hoover's Gap till the morning of June 27, +after its abandonment by the enemy. Continuing on to Fairfield, the +head of my column met, south of that place, a small force of +Confederate infantry and cavalry, which after a slight skirmish +Laiboldt's brigade drove back toward Wartrace. The next morning I +arrived at Manchester, where I remained quiet for the day. Early on +the 29th I marched by the Lynchburg road for Tullahoma, where the +enemy was believed to be in force, and came into position about six +miles from the town.</p> + +<p>By the 31st the whole army had been concentrated, in spite of many +difficulties, and though, on account of the heavy rains that had +fallen almost incessantly since we left Murfreesboro', its movements +had been slow and somewhat inaccurate, yet the precision with which +it took up a line of battle for an attack on Tullahoma showed that +forethought and study had been given to every detail. The enemy had +determined to fall back from Tullahoma at the beginning of the +campaign, however, and as we advanced, his evacuation had so far +progressed that when, on July 1. We reached the earthworks thrown. +up early in the year for the defense of the place, he had almost +wholly disappeared, carrying off all his stores and munitions of war +except some little subsistence and eleven pieces of artillery. A +strong rearguard remained to cover the retreat, and on my front the +usual encounters between advancing and retreating forces took place. +Just before reaching the intrenchments on the Lynchburg road, I came +upon an open space that was covered by a network of fallen trees and +underbrush, which had been slashed all along in front of the enemy's +earthworks. This made our progress very difficult, but I shortly +became satisfied that there were only a few of the enemy within the +works, so moving a battalion of cavalry that had joined me the day +before down the road as rapidly as the obstructions would permit, the +Confederate pickets quickly departed, and we gained possession of the +town. Three siege guns, four caissons, a few stores, and a small +number of prisoners fell into my hands.</p> + +<p>That same evening orders were issued to the army to push on from +Tullahoma in pursuit, for, as it was thought that we might not be +able to cross Elk River on account of its swollen condition, we could +do the enemy some damage by keeping close as possible at his heels. +I marched on the Winchester road at 3 o'clock on the 2d of July and +about 8 o'clock reached Elk River ford. The stream was for the time +truly an impassable torrent, and all hope of crossing by the +Winchester ford had to be abandoned. Deeming that further effort +should be made, however, under guidance of Card, I turned the head of +my column in the direction of Alisona, marching up the river and +nearly parallel with it till I came to Rock Creek. With a little +delay we got across Rock Creek, which was also much swollen, and +finding a short distance above its mouth a ford on Elk River that +Card said was practicable, I determined to attempt it: Some of the +enemy's cavalry were guarding this ford, but after a sharp little +skirmish my battalion of cavalry crossed and took up a strong +position on the other bank. The stream was very high and the current +very swift, the water, tumbling along over its rocky bed in an +immense volume, but still it was fordable for infantry if means could +be devised by which the men could keep their feet. A cable was +stretched across just below the ford as a lifeline for the weaker +ones, and then the men of the entire division having secured their +ammunition by placing the cartridge-boxes on their shoulders, the +column pushed cheerfully into the rushing current. The men as they +entered the water joined each other in sets of four in a close +embrace, which enabled them to retain a foothold and successfully +resist the force of the flood. When they were across I turned the +column down the left bank of Elk River, and driving the enemy from +some slight works near Estelle Springs, regained the Winchester road.</p> + +<p>By this time it was clear that Bragg intended to fall back behind the +Tennessee River, and our only chance of accomplishing anything of +importance was to smash up his rear-guard before it crossed the +Cumberland Mountains, and in pursuance of this idea I was directed to +attack such of his force as was holding on to Winchester. At 4 +o'clock on the morning of July 2 I moved on that town, and when we +got close to it directed my mounted troops to charge a small force of +Confederate cavalry that was picketing their front. The Confederates +resisted but little, and our men went with them in a disorderly chase +through the village to Boiling Fork, a small stream about half a mile +beyond. Here the fleeing pickets, rallying behind a stronger force, +made a stand, and I was directed by McCook to delay till I +ascertained if Davis's division, which was to support me, had made +the crossing of Elk River, and until I could open up communication +with Brannan's division, which was to come in on my left at Decherd. +As soon as I learned that Davis was across I pushed on, but the delay +had permitted the enemy to pull his rear-guard up on the mountain, +and rendered nugatory all further efforts to hurt him materially, our +only returns consisting in forcing him to relinquish a small amount +of transportation and forage at the mouth of the pass just beyond +Cowan, a station on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga +railroad.</p> + +<p>At Cowan, Colonel Watkins, of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, reported to +me with twelve hundred mounted men. Having heard during the night +that the enemy had halted on the mountain near the University—an +educational establishment on the summit—I directed Watkins to make a +reconnoissance and find out the value of the information. He learned +that Wharton's brigade of cavalry was halted at the University to +cover a moderately large force of the enemy's infantry which had not +yet got down the mountain on the other side, so I pushed Watkins out +again on the 5th, supporting him by a brigade of infantry, which I +accompanied myself. We were too late, however, for when we arrived +at the top of the mountain Wharton had disappeared, and though +Watkins pursued to Bridgeport, he was able to do nothing more, and on +his return reported that the last of the enemy had crossed the +Tennessee River and burned the railroad bridge.</p> + +<p>Nothing further could now be done, so I instructed Watkins to rejoin +the division at Cowan, and being greatly fatigued by the hard +campaigning of the previous ten days, I concluded to go back to my +camp in a more comfortable way than on the back of my tired horse. +In his retreat the enemy had not disturbed the railway track at all, +and as we had captured a hand-car at Cowan, I thought I would have it +brought up to the station near the University to carry me down the +mountain to my camp, and, desiring company, I persuasively invited +Colonel Frank T. Sherman to ride with me. I sent for the car by a +courier, and for a long time patiently awaited its arrival, in fact, +until all the returning troops had passed us, but still it did not +come. Thinking it somewhat risky to remain at the station without +protection, Sherman and myself started our horses to Cowan by our +orderlies, and set out on foot to meet the car, trudging along down +the track in momentary expectation of falling in with our private +conveyance. We had not gone very far before night overtook us, and +we then began to realize the dangers surrounding us, for there we +were alone and helpless, tramping on in the darkness over an unknown +railroad track in the enemy's country, liable on the one hand to go +tumbling through some bridge or trestle, and on the other, to +possible capture or death at the hands of the guerrillas then +infesting these mountains. Just after dark we came to a little cabin +near the track, where we made bold to ask for water, notwithstanding +the fact that to disclose ourselves to the inmates might lead to +fatal consequences. The water was kindly given, but the owner and +his family were very much exercised lest some misfortune might befall +us near their house, and be charged to them, so they encouraged us to +move on with a frankness inspired by fear of future trouble to +themselves.</p> + +<p>At every turn we eagerly hoped to meet the hand-car, but it never +came, and we jolted on from tie to tie for eleven weary miles, +reaching Cowan after midnight, exhausted and sore in every muscle +from frequent falls on the rough, unballasted road-bed. Inquiry. +developed that the car had been well manned, and started to us as +ordered, and nobody could account for its non-arrival. Further +investigation next day showed, however, that when it reached the foot +of the mountain, where the railroad formed a junction, the improvised +crew, in the belief no doubt that the University was on the main line +instead of near the branch to Tracy City, followed the main stem +until it carried them clear across the range down the Crow Creek +Valley, where the party was captured.</p> + +<p>I had reason to remember for many a day this foolish adventure, for +my sore bones and bruised muscles, caused me physical suffering until +I left the Army of the Cumberland the next spring; but I had still +more reason to feel for my captured men, and on this account I have +never ceased to regret that I so thoughtlessly undertook to rejoin my +troops by rail, instead of sticking to my faithful horse.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch15"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>ORDERED TO OCCUPY BRIDGEPORT—A SPY—THE BATTLE OF +CHICKAMAUGA—GENERAL THOMAS—TREATED TO COFFEE—RESULTS OF THE BATTLE.</p> + +<p>The Tullahoma campaign was practically closed by the disappearance of +the enemy from the country north of the Tennessee River. Middle +Tennessee was once more in the possession of the National troops, and +Rosecrans though strongly urged from Washington to continue on, +resisted the pressure until he could repair the Nashville and +Chattanooga railroad, which was of vital importance in supplying his +army from its secondary base at Nashville. As he desired to hold +this road to where it crossed the Tennessee, it was necessary to push +a force beyond the mountains, and after a few days of rest at Cowan +my division was ordered to take station at Stevenson, Alabama, the +junction of the Memphis and Charleston road with the Nashville and +Chattanooga, with instructions to occupy Bridgeport also.</p> + +<p>The enemy had meanwhile concentrated most of his forces at +Chattanooga for the twofold purpose of holding this gateway of the +Cumberland Mountains, and to assume a defensive attitude which would +enable him to take advantage of such circumstances as might arise in +the development of the offensive campaign he knew we must make. The +peculiar topography of the country was much to his advantage, and +while we had a broad river and numerous spurs and ridges of the +Cumberland Mountains to cross at a long distance from our base, he +was backed up on his depots of supply, and connected by interior +lines of railway with the different armies of the Confederacy, so +that he could be speedily reinforced.</p> + +<p>Bridgeport was to be ultimately a sub-depot for storing subsistence +supplies, and one of the points at which our army would cross the +Tennessee, so I occupied it on July 29 with two brigades, retaining +one at Stevenson, however, to protect that railway junction from +raids by way of Caperton's ferry. By the 29th of August a +considerable quantity of supplies had been accumulated, and then +began a general movement of our troops for crossing the river. As +there were not with the army enough pontoons to complete the two +bridges required, I was expected to build one of them of trestles; +and a battalion of the First Michigan Engineers under Colonel Innis +was sent me to help construct the bridge. Early on the 31st I sent +into the neighboring woods about fifteen hundred men with axes and +teams, and by nightfall they had delivered on the riverbank fifteen +hundred logs suitable for a trestle bridge. Flooring had been +shipped to me in advance by rail, but the quantity was insufficient, +and the lack had to be supplied by utilizing planking and +weather-boarding taken from barns and houses in the surrounding country. The +next day Innis's engineers, with the assistance of the detail that +had felled the timber, cut and half-notched the logs, and put the +bridge across; spanning the main channel, which was swimming deep, +with four or five pontoons that had been sent me for this purpose. +On the 2d and 3d of September my division crossed on the bridge in +safety, though we were delayed somewhat because of its giving way +once where the pontoons joined the trestles. We were followed by a +few detachments from other commands, and by nearly all the +transportation of McCook's corps.</p> + +<p>After getting to the south side of the Tennessee River I was ordered +to Valley Head, where McCook's corps was to concentrate. On the 4th +of September I ascended Sand Mountain, but had got only half way +across the plateau, on top, when night came, the march having been a +most toilsome one. The next day we descended to the base, and +encamped near Trenton. On the 10th I arrived at Valley Head, and +climbing Lookout Mountain, encamped on the plateau at Indian Falls. +The following day I went down into Broomtown Valley to Alpine. +The march of McCook's corps from Valley Head to Alpine was in +pursuance of orders directing it to advance on Summerville, the +possession of which place would further threaten the enemy's +communications, it being assumed that Bragg was in full retreat +south, as he had abandoned Chattanooga on the 8th. This assumption +soon proved erroneous, however, and as we, while in Broomtown Valley, +could not communicate directly with Thomas's corps, the scattered +condition of the army began to alarm us all, and McCook abandoned the +advance to Summerville, ordering back to the summit of Lookout +Mountain such of the corps trains as had got down into Broomtown +Valley.</p> + +<p>But before this I had grown uneasy in regard to the disjointed +situation of our army, and, to inform myself of what was going on, +determined to send a spy into the enemy's lines. In passing Valley +Head on the 10th my scout Card, who had been on the lookout for some +one capable to undertake the task, brought me a Union man with whom +he was acquainted, who lived on Sand Mountain, and had been much +persecuted by guerrillas on account of his loyal sentiments. He knew +the country well, and as his loyalty was vouched for I asked him to +go into the enemy's camp, which I believed to be near Lafayette, and, +bring me such information as he could gather. He said such a journey +would be at the risk of his life, and that at best he could not +expect to remain in that section of country if he undertook it, but +that he would run all the chances if I would enable him to emigrate +to the West at the end c f the "job," which I could do by purchasing +the small "bunch" of stock he owned on the mountain. To this I +readily assented, and he started on the delicate undertaking. He +penetrated the enemy's lines with little difficulty, but while +prosecuting his search for information was suspected, and at once +arrested and placed under guard. From this critical situation he +escaped; however, making his way through the enemy's picket-line in +the darkness by crawling on his belly and deceiving the sentinels by +imitating the grunts of the half-wild, sand-colored hogs with which +the country abounded. He succeeded in reaching Rosecrans's +headquarters finally, and there gave the definite information that +Bragg intended to fight, and that he expected to be reinforced by +Longstreet.</p> + +<p>By this time it was clear that Bragg had abandoned Chattanooga with +the sole design of striking us in detail as we followed in pursuit; +and to prevent his achieving this purpose orders came at 12 o'clock, +midnight, for McCook to draw in toward Chattanooga. This could be +done only by recrossing Lookout Mountain, the enemy's army at +Lafayette now interposing between us and Thomas's corps. The +retrograde march began at once. I moved back over the mountain on +the 13th and 14th to Stevens's Mills, and on the 15th and 16th +recrossed through Stevens's Gap, in the Lookout range, and encamped +at its base in McLamore's cove. The march was made with all possible +celerity, for the situation was critical and demanded every exertion. +The ascent and descent of the mountains was extremely exhausting, the +steep grades often rendering it necessary to drag up and let down by +hand both the transportation and artillery. But at last we were in +conjunction with the main army, and my division breathed easier.</p> + +<p>On the 17th I remained in line of battle all day and night in front +of McLamore's cove, the enemy making slight demonstrations against me +from the direction of Lafayette. The main body of the army having +bodily moved to the left meanwhile, I followed it on the 18th, +encamping at Pond Spring. On the 19th I resumed the march to the +left and went into line of battle at Crawfish Springs to cover our +right and rear. Immediately after forming this line, I again became +isolated by the general movement to the left, and in consequence was +directed to advance and hold the ford of Chickamauga Creek at Lee and +Gordon's Mills, thus coming into close communication with the balance +of our forces. I moved into this position rapidly, being compelled, +though, first to drive back the enemy's cavalry skirmishers, who, +having crossed to the west side of the creek, annoyed the right flank +of my column a good deal while en route.</p> + +<p>Upon arrival at Lee and Gordon's Mills I found the ford over +Chickamauga Creek temporarily uncovered, through the hurried movement +of Wood to the assistance of Davis's division. The enemy was already +present in small force, with the evident intention of taking +permanent possession, but my troops at once actively engaged him and +recovered the ford with some slight losses. Scarcely had this been +done when I was directed to assist Crittenden. Leaving Lytle's +brigade at the ford, I proceeded with Bradley's and Laiboldt's to +help Crittenden, whose main line was formed to the east of the +Chattanooga and Lafayette road, its right trending toward a point on +Chickamauga Creek about a mile and a half north of Lee and Gordon's +Mills. By the time I had joined Crittenden with my two brigades, +Davis had been worsted in an attack Rosecrans had ordered him to make +on the left of that portion of the enemy's line which was located +along the west bank of the Chickamauga, the repulse being so severe +that one of Davis's batteries had to be abandoned. Bradley's brigade +arrived on the ground first and was hastily formed and thrown into +the fight, which up to this moment had been very doubtful, fortune +inclining first to one side, then to the other. Bradley's brigade +went in with steadiness, and charging across an open corn-field that +lay in front of the Lafayette road, recovered Davis's guns and forced +the enemy to retire. Meanwhile Laiboldt's brigade had come on the +scene, and forming it on Bradley's right, I found myself at the end +of the contest holding the ground which was Davis's original +position. It was an ugly fight and my loss was heavy, including +Bradley wounded. The temporary success was cheering, and when +Lytle's brigade joined me a little later I suggested to Crittenden +that we attack, but investigation showed that his troops, having been +engaged all day, were not in condition, so the suggestion could not +be carried out.</p> + +<p>The events of the day had indicated that Bragg's main object was to +turn Rosecrans's left; it was therefore still deemed necessary that +the army should continue its flank movement to the left, so orders +came to draw my troops in toward the widow Glenn's house. By +strengthening the skirmish line and shifting my brigades in +succession from right to left until the point designated was reached, +I was able to effect the withdrawal without much difficulty, calling +in my skirmish line after the main force had retired.</p> + +<p>My command having settled down for the night in this new line I rode +to army headquarters, to learn if possible the expectations for the +morrow and hear the result of the battle in General Thomas's front. +Nearly all the superior officers of the army were at headquarters, +and it struck me that much depression prevailed, notwithstanding the +fact that the enemy's attempts during the day to turn our left flank +and also envelop our right had been unsuccessful. It was now +positively known, through prisoners and otherwise, that Bragg had +been reinforced to such an extent as to make him materially outnumber +us, consequently there was much apprehension for the future.</p> + +<p>The necessity of protecting our left was most apparent, and the next +day the drifting in that direction was to be continued. This +movement in the presence of the enemy, who at all points was actively +seeking an opportunity to penetrate our line and interpose a column +between its right and left, was most dangerous. But the necessity +for shifting the army to the left was obvious, hence only the method +by which it was undertaken is open to question. The move was made by +the flank in the face of an exultant foe superior in numbers, and was +a violation of a simple and fundamental military principle. Under +such circumstances columns naturally stretch out into attenuated +lines, organizations become separated, and intervals occur, all of +which we experienced; and had the orders for the movement been +construed properly I doubt if it could have been executed without +serious danger. Necessity knows no law, however, and when all the +circumstances of this battle are fully considered it is possible that +justification may be found for the manoeuvres by which the army was +thus drifted to the left. We were in a bad strait unquestionably, +and under such conditions possibly the exception had to be applied +rather than the rule.</p> + +<p>At daylight on the morning of the 20th a dense fog obscured +everything; consequently both armies were passive so far as fighting +was concerned. Rosecrans took advantage of the inaction to rearrange +his right, and I was pulled back closer to the widow Glenn's house to +a strong position, where I threw together some rails and logs as +barricades, but I was disconnected from the troops on my left by a +considerable interval. Here I awaited the approach of the enemy, but +he did not disturb me, although about 9 o'clock in the forenoon he +had opened on our extreme left with musketry fire and a heavy +cannonade. Two hours later it was discovered by McCook that the +interval between the main army and me was widening, and he ordered me +to send Laiboldt's brigade to occupy a portion of the front that had +been covered by Negley's division. Before getting this brigade into +place, however, two small brigades of Davis's division occupied the +ground, and I directed Laiboldt to form in column of regiments on the +crest of a low ridge in rear of Carlin's brigade, so as to prevent +Davis's right flank from being turned. The enemy was now feeling +Davis strongly, and I was about sending for Lytle's and Bradley's +brigades when I received an order to move these rapidly to the +extreme left of the army to the assistance of General Thomas. I rode +hastily back toward their position, but in the meanwhile, they had +been notified by direct orders from McCook, and were moving out at a +double-quick toward the Lafayette road. By this time the enemy had +assaulted Davis furiously in front and flank, and driven him from his +line, and as the confused mass came back, McCook ordered Laiboldt to +charge by deploying to the front. This he did through Davis's broken +ranks, but failed to check the enemy's heavy lines, and finally +Laiboldt's brigade broke also and fell to the rear. My remaining +troops, headed by Lytle, were now passing along the rear of the +ground where this disaster took place—in column on the road—en +route to Thomas, and as the hundreds of fugitives rushed back, McCook +directed me to throw in Lytle's and Bradley's brigades. This was +hastily done, they being formed to the front under a terrible fire. +Scarcely were they aligned when the same horde of Confederates that +had overwhelmed Davis and Laiboldt poured in upon them a deadly fire +and shivered the two brigades to pieces. We succeeded in rallying +them, however, and by a counter attack regained the ridge that +Laiboldt had been driven from, where we captured the colors of the +Twenty-fourth Alabama. We could not hold the ridge, though, and my +troops were driven back with heavy loss, including General Lytle +killed, past the widow Glenn's house, and till I managed to establish +them in line of battle on a range of low hills behind the Dry Valley +road.</p> + +<p>During these occurrences General Rosecrans passed down the road +behind my line, and sent word that he wished to see me, but affairs +were too critical to admit of my going to him at once, and he rode on +to Chattanooga. It is to be regretted that he did not wait till I +could join him, for the delay would have permitted him to see that +matters were not in quite such bad shape as he supposed; still, there +is no disguising the fact that at this juncture his army was badly +crippled.</p> + +<p>Shortly after my division had rallied on the low hills already +described, I discovered that the enemy, instead of attacking me in +front, was wedging in between my division and the balance of the +army; in short, endeavoring to cut me off from Chattanooga. This +necessitated another retrograde movement, which brought me back to +the southern face of Missionary Ridge, where I was joined by Carlin's +brigade of Davis's division. Still thinking I could join General +Thomas, I rode some distance to the left of my line to look for a way +out, but found that the enemy had intervened so far as to isolate me +effectually. I then determined to march directly to Rossville, and +from there effect a junction with Thomas by the Lafayette road. I +reached Rossville about o'clock in the afternoon, bringing with me +eight guns, forty-six caissons, and a long ammunition train, the +latter having been found in a state of confusion behind the widow +Glenn's when I was being driven back behind the Dry Valley road.</p> + +<p>The head of my column passed through Rossville, appearing upon +Thomas's left about 6 o'clock in the evening, penetrated without any +opposition the right of the enemy's line, and captured several of his +field-hospitals. As soon as I got on the field I informed Thomas of +the presence of my command, and asked for orders. He replied that +his lines were disorganized, and that it would be futile to attack; +that all I could do was to hold on, and aid in covering his +withdrawal to Rossville.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p285"></a><img alt="p285.jpg (56K)" src="images/p285.jpg" height="344" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p285.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>I accompanied him back to Rossville, and when we reached the skirt of +the little hamlet General Thomas halted and we dismounted. Going +into one of the angles of a worm fence near by I took a rail from the +top and put it through the lower rails at a proper height from the +ground to make a seat, and General Thomas and I sat down while, my +troops were moving by. The General appeared very much exhausted, +seemed to forget what he had stopped for, and said little or nothing +of the incidents of the day. This was the second occasion on which I +had met him in the midst of misfortune, for during the fight in the +cedars at Stone River, when our prospects were most disheartening, we +held a brief conversation respecting the line he was then taking up +for the purpose of helping me. At other times, in periods of +inactivity, I saw but little of him. He impressed me, now as he did +in the cedars, his quiet, unobtrusive: demeanor communicating a +gloomy rather than a hopeful view of the situation. This apparent +depression was due no doubt to the severe trial through which he had +gone in the last forty-eight hours, which, strain had exhausted him +very much both physically and mentally. His success in maintaining +his ground was undoubtedly largely influenced by the fact that +two-thirds of the National forces had been sent to his succor, but his +firm purpose to save the army was the mainstay on which all relied +after Rosecrans left the field. As the command was getting pretty +well past, I rose to go in order to put my troops into camp. This +aroused the General, when, remarking that he had a little flask of +brandy in his saddle-holster, he added that he had just stopped for +the purpose of offering me a drink, as he knew I must be very tired. +He requested one of his staff-officers to get the flask, and after +taking a sip himself, passed it to me. Refreshed by the brandy, I +mounted and rode off to supervise the encamping of my division, by no +means an easy task considering the darkness, and the confusion that +existed among the troops that had preceded us into Rossville.</p> + +<p>This done, I lay down at the foot of a tree, with my saddle for a +pillow, and saddle-blanket for a cover. Some soldiers near me having +built a fire, were making coffee, and I guess I must have been +looking on wistfully, for in a little while they brought me a +tin-cupful of the coffee and a small piece of hard bread, which I +relished keenly, it being the first food that had passed my lips +since the night before. I was very tired, very hungry, and much +discouraged by what had taken place since morning. I had been +obliged to fight my command under the most disadvantageous +circumstances, disconnected, without supports, without even +opportunity to form in line of battle, and at one time contending +against four divisions of the enemy. In this battle of Chickamauga, +out of an effective strength Of 4,000 bayonets, I had lost 1,517 +officers and men, including two brigade commanders. This was not +satisfactory indeed, it was most depressing—and then there was much +confusion prevailing around Rossville; and, this condition of things +doubtless increasing my gloomy reflections, it did not seem to me +that the outlook for the next day was at all auspicious, unless the +enemy was slow to improve his present advantage. Exhaustion soon +quieted all forebodings, though, and I fell into a sound sleep, from +which I was not aroused till daylight.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 21st the enemy failed to advance, and his +inaction gave us the opportunity for getting the broken and +disorganized army into shape. It took a large part of the day to +accomplish this, and the chances of complete victory would have been +greatly in Bragg's favor if he could have attacked us vigorously at +this time. But he had been badly hurt in the two days' conflict, and +his inactivity on the 21st showed that he too had to go through the +process of reorganization. Indeed, his crippled condition began to +show itself the preceding evening, and I have always thought that, +had General Thomas held on and attacked the Confederate right and +rear from where I made the junction with him on the Lafayette road, +the field of Chickamauga would have been relinquished to us; but it +was fated to be otherwise.</p> + +<p>Rosecrans, McCook, and Crittenden passed out of the battle when they +went back to Chattanooga, and their absence was discouraging to all +aware of it. Doubtless this had much to do with Thomas's final +withdrawal, thus leaving the field to the enemy, though at an immense +cost in killed and wounded. The night of the 21st the army moved +back from Rossville, and my division, as the rearguard of the +Twentieth Corps, got within our lines at Chattanooga about 8 o'clock +the morning of the 22d. Our unmolested retirement from Rossville +lent additional force to the belief that the enemy had been badly +injured, and further impressed me with the conviction that we might +have held on. Indeed, the battle of Chickamauga was somewhat like +that of Stone River, victory resting with the side that had the grit +to defer longest its relinquishment of the field.</p> + +<p>The manoeuvres by which Rosecrans had carried his army over the +Cumberland Mountains, crossed the Tennessee River, and possessed +himself of Chattanooga, merit the highest commendation up to the +abandonment of this town by Bragg on the 8th of September; but I have +always fancied that that evacuation made Rosecrans over-confident, +and led him to think that he could force Bragg south as far as Rome. +After the Union army passed the river and Chattanooga fell into our +hands; we still kept pressing the enemy's communications, and the +configuration of the country necessitated more or less isolation of +the different corps. McCook's corps of three divisions had crossed +two difficult ridges—Sand and Lookout mountains—to Alpine in +Broomtown Valley with intentions against Summerville. Thomas's corps +had marched by the way of Stevens's Gap toward Lafayette, which he +expected to occupy. Crittenden had passed through Chattanooga, at +first directing his march an Ringgold. Thus the corps of the army +were not in conjunction, and between McCook and Thomas there +intervened a positive and aggressive obstacle in the shape of Bragg's +army concentrating and awaiting reinforcement at Lafayette. Under +these circumstances Bragg could have taken the different corps in +detail, and it is strange that he did not, even before receiving his +reinforcements, turn on McCook in Broomtown Valley and destroy him.</p> + +<p>Intelligence that Bragg would give battle began to come to us from +various sources as early as the 10th of September, and on the 11th +McCook found that he could not communicate with Thomas by the direct +road through Broomtown Valley; but we did not begin closing in toward +Chattanooga till the 13th, and even then the Twentieth Corps had +before it the certainty of many delays that must necessarily result +from the circuitous and difficult mountain roads which we would be +obliged to follow. Had the different corps, beginning with McCook's, +been drawn in toward Chattanooga between the 8th and 12th of +September, the objective point of the campaign would have remained in +our hands without the battle of Chickamauga, but, as has been seen, +this was not done. McCook was almost constantly on the march day and +night between the 13th and the 19th, ascending and descending +mountains, his men worried and wearied, so that when they appeared on +the battle-field, their fatigued condition operated greatly against +their efficiency. This delay in concentration was also the original +cause of the continuous shifting toward our left to the support of +Thomas, by which manoeuvre Rosecrans endeavored to protect his +communications with Chattanooga, and out of which grew the intervals +that offered such tempting opportunities to Bragg. In addition to +all this, much transpired on the field of battle tending to bring +about disaster. There did not seem to be any well-defined plan of +action in the fighting; and this led to much independence of judgment +in construing orders among some of the subordinate generals. It also +gave rise to much license in issuing orders: too many people were +giving important directions, affecting the whole army, without +authority from its head. In view, therefore, of all the errors that +were committed from the time Chattanooga fell into our hands after +our first crossing the Tennessee, it was fortunate that the Union +defeat was not more complete, that it left in the enemy's possession +not much more than the barren results arising from the simple holding +of the ground on which the engagement was fought.</p> + + + +<br><br> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p1.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p3.htm">Next Part</a> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + +</body> +</html> + + diff --git a/old/orig4362-h/p3.htm b/old/orig4362-h/p3.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..974111c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig4362-h/p3.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4858 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN, Vol. I., Part. 3</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { + text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 95% } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p2.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p4.htm">Next Part</a> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + + + +<br><br> + +<center><h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF + +<br>P. H. SHERIDAN</h1></center> + + +<br><br> + + <h2>VOLUME I.</h2> + + <h3>Part 3</h3> +<br> + +<br> + + +<br><hr> +<br> + + + + +<br><br> + + + + +<center><img alt="Cover.jpg (168K)" src="images/Cover.jpg" height="963" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Spines.jpg (76K)" src="images/Spines.jpg" height="1425" width="597"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Titlepage.jpg (28K)" src="images/Titlepage.jpg" height="1039" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> + +<a name="Frontpiece"></a> +<br><br> + +<center><img alt="Frontpiece.jpg (70K)" src="images/Frontpiece.jpg" height="1007" width="541"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + +<a href="#ch16">CHAPTER XVI</a><br> +At Chattanooga—The Enemy Fortifies Lookout Mountain <br> +and Missionary Ridge—Reorganizing the Army <br> +—Removal of General Rosecrans—Punishment of <br> +Deserters—Grant at Chattanooga—The Fight on <br> +Lookout Mountain—A Brave Color-Bearer<br> +—Battle of Missionary Ridge<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch17">CHAPTER XVII.</a><br> +Ordered to Return to Chattanooga—March to Knoxville <br> +—Collecting Subsistence Stores—A Clever Stratagem<br> +—A Bridge of Wagons—Looking Out for the Personal <br> +Comfort of the Soldiers—A Leave of Absence<br> +—Ordered to Washington—Parting with Sheridan's Division<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch18">CHAPTER XVIII.</a><br> +At Washington—Meeting Secretary Stanton—Interview <br> +with President Lincoln—Made Commander of the <br> +Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac<br> +—Its Officers—General 'Meade's Method of Using <br> +Cavalry—Opening of the Campaign—Spottsylvania <br> +Court House—A Difference with General Meade <br> +—Preparing to Fight Stuart's Cavalry<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch19">CHAPTER XIX.</a><br> +The Expedition Starts—Destroying Supplies—Opening <br> +of the Fight at Yellow Tavern—General Custer's <br> +Brilliant Charge—Death of General Stuart—Removing <br> +Torpedoes—Excitement in Richmond—A Night March <br> +—Enterprising Newsboys—The Effects of Stuart's <br> +Defeat and Death—End of the First Expedition <br> +—Its Great Success and Beneficial Results<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch20">CHAPTER XX.</a><br> +General Wilson's Advance Toward Hanover Court <br> +House—Crossing the Pamunkey—Engagement of <br> +Hawe's Shop—Fight at Matadequin Creek—Capture <br> +of Cold Harbor—The Fight to Retain the <br> +Place—Movements of General Wilson<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch21">CHAPTER XXI.</a><br> +The Movement to the James—The Second Expedition <br> +—Battle of Trevillian Station—Defeat of General <br> +Wade Hampton—Mallory's Crossroads—Suffering of <br> +the Wounded—Securing the Trains—General Gregg's <br> +Stubborn Fight<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch22">CHAPTER XXII.</a><br> +General Wilson's Raid—Destroying Railroads<br> +—His Discomfiture—Results of his Raid—Remounts<br> +—Movement to the North Side of the James<br> +—Deceiving Lee—My Isolated Position—Estimate <br> +of Hancock—Success of the Cavalry—Their Constant <br> +Duties<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch23">CHAPTER XXIII.</a><br> +General Hunter's Successful March and Subsequent <br> +Retreat—General Jubal A. Early Threatens Washington<br> +—Chambersburg, Pa., Burned—Selected to Operate <br> +Against General Early—The Shenandoah Valley<br> +—The Confederate Army<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch24">CHAPTER XXIV.</a><br> +Moving on General Early—General Grant's Letter of <br> +Instructions—Destroying the Resources of the Valley<br> +—Reason for the Destruction—Withdrawal to Halltown<br> +—Alarm in the North over the Retrograde Movement<br> +—Renewing the Advance up the Valley—General <br> +Anderson's Attempt to Return to Petersburg<br> +—Strength of the Armies<br> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS. </h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + + +<a href="#Frontpiece">Steel Portrait—General P. H. Sheridan</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#gregg">Portrait of General D. McM. Gregg</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#torbert">Portrait of General A. T. A. Torbert</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#merritt">Portrait of General Wesley Merritt</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#custer">Portrait of General George A. Custer</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#sheridan2">Portrait of General Sheridan During the War</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#wilson">Portrait of General James H. Wilson</a><br><br /> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + +<br> +<h2> +LIST OF MAPS.</h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + +<a href="#p317">Positions of General Sheridan's Division prior to the <br> +Attack on Missionary Ridge</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#p391">First Expedition—The Richmond Raid</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#p433">Second Expedition—The Trevillian Raid</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#p443">Third Expedition—Raid to Roanoke Station</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#p446">General Map, Embracing all the Expeditions</a> <br><br /> +<a href="#p470">Map of the Shenandoah Valley</a> <br><br /> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><h2>VOLUME I.</h2></center> + +<br> + +<h2>Part 3</h2> + +<br> +<center><h3>By Philip Henry Sheridan</h3></center> +<br><br> + + + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch16"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>AT CHATTANOOGA—THE ENEMY FORTIFIES LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND MISSIONARY +RIDGE—REORGANIZING THE ARMY—REMOVAL OF GENERAL +ROSECRANS—PUNISHMENT OF DESERTERS—GRANT AT CHATTANOOGA—THE FIGHT ON LOOKOUT +MOUNTAIN—A BRAVE COLOR-BEARER—BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE.</p> + +<p>By 9 o'clock on the morning of September 22 my command took up a +position within the heavy line of intrenchments at Chattanooga, the +greater part of which defenses had been thrown up since the army +commenced arriving there the day before. The enemy, having now +somewhat recovered from the shock of the recent battle, followed +carefully, and soon invested us close into our lines with a parallel +system of rifle-pits. He also began at once to erect permanent lines +of earthworks on Missionary Ridge and to establish himself strongly +on Lookout Mountain. He then sent Wheeler's cavalry north of the +Tennessee, and, aided greatly by the configuration of the ground, +held us in a state of partial siege, which serious rains might +convert into a complete investment. The occupation of Lookout +Mountain broke our direct communication with Bridgeport-our +sub-depot—and forced us to bring supplies by way of the Sequatchie +Valley and Waldron's Ridge of the Cumberland Mountains, over a road +most difficult even in the summer season, but now liable to be +rendered impassable by autumn rains. The distance to Bridgeport by +this circuitous route was sixty miles, and the numerous passes, +coves, and small valleys through which the road ran offered tempting +opportunities, for the destruction of trains, and the enemy was not +slow to take advantage of them. Indeed, the situation was not +promising, and General Rosecrans himself, in communicating with the +President the day succeeding the battle of Chickamauga, expressed +doubts of his ability to hold the gateway of the Cumberland +Mountains.</p> + +<p>The position taken up by my troops inside the lines of Chattanooga +was near the old iron-works, under the shadow of Lookout Mountain. +Here we were exposed to a continual fire from the enemy's batteries +for many days, but as the men were well covered by secure though +simple intrenchments, but little damage was done. My own +headquarters were established on the grounds of Mr. William +Crutchfield, a resident of the place, whose devotion to the Union +cause knew no bounds, and who rendered me—and, in fact, at one time +or another, nearly every general officer in the Army of the +Cumberland—invaluable service in the way of information about the +Confederate army. My headquarters camp frequently received shots +from the point of Lookout Mountain also, but fortunately no +casualties resulted from this plunging fire, though, I am free to +confess, at first our nerves were often upset by the whirring of +twenty-pounder shells dropped inconsiderately into our camp at +untimely hours of the night.</p> + +<p>In a few days rain began to fali, and the mountain roads by which our +supplies came were fast growing impracticable. Each succeeding train +of wagons took longer to make the trip from Bridgeport, and the draft +mules were dying by the hundreds. The artillery horses would soon go +too, and there was every prospect that later the troops would starve +unless something could be done. Luckily for my division, a company +of the Second Kentucky Cavalry had attached itself to my +headquarters, and, though there without authority, had been left +undisturbed in view of a coming reorganization of the army incidental +to the removal of McCook and Crittenden from the command of their +respective corps, a measure that had been determined upon immediately +after the battle of Chickamauga. Desiring to remain with me, Captain +Lowell H. Thickstun, commanding this company, was ready for any duty +I might find, for him, so I ordered him into the Sequatchie Valley +for the purpose of collecting supplies for my troops, and sent my +scout, Card along to guide him to the best locations. The company +hid itself away in a deep cove in the upper end of the valley, and by +keeping very quiet and paying for everything it took from the people, +in a few days was enabled to send me large quantities of corn for my +animals and food for the officers and men, which greatly supplemented +the scanty supplies we were getting from the sub-depot at Bridgeport. +In this way I carried men and animals through our beleaguerment in +pretty fair condition, and of the turkeys, chickens, ducks, and eggs +sent in for the messes of my officers we often had enough to divide +liberally among those at different headquarters. Wheeler's cavalry +never discovered my detached company, yet the chances of its capture +were not small, sometimes giving much uneasiness; still, I concluded +it was better to run all risks than to let the horses die of +starvation in Chattanooga. Later, after the battle of Missionary +Ridge, when I started to Knoxville, the company joined me in +excellent shape, bringing with it an abundance of food, including a +small herd of beef cattle.</p> + +<p>The whole time my line remained near the iron-mills the shelling from +Lookout was kept up, the screeching shots inquisitively asking in +their well-known way, "Where are you? Where are you?" but it is +strange to see how readily, soldiers can become accustomed to the +sound of dangerous missiles under circumstances of familiarity, and +this case was no exception to the rule. Few casualties occurred, and +soon contempt took the place of nervousness, and as we could not +reply in kind on account of the elevation required for our guns, the +men responded by jeers and imprecations whenever a shell fell into +their camp.</p> + +<p>Meantime, orders having been issued for the organization of the army, +additional troops were attached to my command, and it became the +Second Division of the Fourth Army Corps, to which Major-General +Gordon Granger was assigned as commander. This necessitated a change +of position of the division, and I moved to ground behind our works, +with my right resting on Fort Negley and my left extending well over +toward Fort Wood, my front being parallel to Missionary Ridge. My +division was now composed of twenty-five regiments, classified into +brigades and demi-brigades, the former commanded by Brigadier-General +G. D. Wagner, Colonel C. G. Harker, and Colonel F. T. Sherman; the +latter, by Colonels Laiboldt, Miller, Wood, Walworth, and Opdyke. +The demi-brigade was an awkward invention of Granger's; but at this +time it was necessitated—perhaps by the depleted condition of our +regiments, which compelled the massing of a great number of +regimental organizations into a division to give it weight and force.</p> + +<p>On October 16, 1863, General Grant had been assigned to the command +of the "Military Division of the Mississippi," a geographical area +which embraced the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the +Tennessee, thus effecting a consolidation of divided commands which +might have been introduced most profitably at an earlier date. The +same order that assigned General Grant relieved General Rosecrans, +and placed General Thomas in command of the Army of the Cumberland. +At the time of the reception of the order, Rosecrans was busy with +preparations for a movement to open the direct road to +Bridgeport—having received in the interval, since we came back to Chattanooga, +considerable reinforcement by the arrival in his department of the +Eleventh and Twelfth corps, under General Hooker, from the Army of +the Potomac. With this force Rosecrans had already strengthened +certain important points on the railroad between Nashville and +Stevenson, and given orders to Hooker to concentrate at Bridgeport +such portions of his command as were available, and to hold them in +readiness to advance toward Chattanooga.</p> + +<p>On the 19th of October, after turning the command over to Thomas, +General Rosecrans quietly slipped away from the army. He submitted +uncomplainingly to his removal, and modestly left us without fuss or +demonstration; ever maintaining, though, that the battle of +Chickamauga was in effect a victory, as it had ensured us, he said, +the retention of Chattanooga. When his departure became known deep +and almost universal regret was expressed, for he was +enthusiastically esteemed and loved by the Army of the Cumberland, +from the day he assumed command of it until he left it, +notwithstanding the censure poured upon him after the battle of +Chickamauga.</p> + +<p>The new position to which my division had been moved, in consequence +of the reorganization, required little additional labor to strengthen +it, and the routine of fatigue duty and drills was continued as +before, its monotony occasionally broken by the excitement of an +expected attack, or by amusements of various kinds that were +calculated to keep the men in good spirits. Toward this result much +was contributed by Mr. James E. Murdock, the actor, who came down +from the North to recover the body of his son, killed at Chickamauga, +and was quartered with me for the greater part of the time he was +obliged to await the successful conclusion of his sad mission. He +spent days, and even weeks, going about through the division giving +recitations before the camp-fires, and in improvised chapels, which +the men had constructed from refuse lumber and canvas. Suiting his +selections to the occasion, he never failed to excite intense +interest in the breasts of all present, and when circumstances +finally separated him from us, all felt that a debt of gratitude was +due him that could never be paid. The pleasure he gave, and the +confident feeling that was now arising from expected reinforcements, +was darkened, however, by one sad incident. Three men of my division +had deserted their colors at the beginning of the siege and made +their way north. They were soon arrested, and were brought back to +stand trial for the worst offense that can be committed by a soldier, +convicted of the crime, and ordered to be shot. To make the example +effective I paraded the whole division for the execution, and on the +13th of November, in the presence of their former comrades, the +culprits were sent, in accordance with the terms of their sentence, +to render their account to the Almighty. It was the saddest +spectacle I ever witnessed, but there could be no evasion, no +mitigation of the full letter of the law; its timely enforcement was +but justice to the brave spirits who had yet to fight the rebellion +to the end.</p> + +<p>General Grant arrived at Chattanooga on October 23, and began at once +to carry out the plans that had been formed for opening the shorter +or river road to Bridgeport. This object was successfully +accomplished by the moving of Hooker's command to Rankin's and +Brown's ferries in concert with a force from the Army of the +Cumberland which was directed on the same points, so by the 27th of +October direct communication with our depots was established. The +four weeks which followed this cheering result were busy with the +work of refitting and preparing for offensive operations as soon as +General Sherman should reach us with his troops from West Tennessee. +During this period of activity the enemy committed the serious fault +of detaching Longstreet's corps—sending it to aid in the siege of +Knoxville in East Tennessee—an error which has no justification +whatever, unless it be based on the presumption that it was +absolutely necessary that Longstreet should ultimately rejoin Lee's +army in Virginia by way of Knoxville and Lynchburg, with a chance of +picking up Burnside en route. Thus depleted, Bragg still held +Missionary Ridge in strong force, but that part of his line which +extended across the intervening valley to the northerly point of. +Lookout Mountain was much attenuated.</p> + +<p>By the 18th of November General Grant had issued instructions +covering his intended operations. They contemplated that Sherman's +column, which was arriving by the north bank of the Tennessee, should +cross the river on a pontoon bridge just below the mouth of +Chickamauga Creek and carry the northern extremity of Missionary +Ridge as far as the railroad tunnel; that the Army of the +Cumberland—the centre—should co-operate with Sherman; and that Hooker with a +mixed command should continue to hold Lookout Valley and operate on +our extreme right as circumstances might warrant. Sherman crossed on +the 24th to perform his alloted part of the programme, but in the +meantime Grant becoming impressed with the idea that Bragg was +endeavoring to get away, ordered Thomas to make a strong +demonstration in his front, to determine the truth or falsity of the +information that had been received. This task fell to the Fourth +Corps, and at 12 o'clock on the 23d I was notified that Wood's +division would make a reconnoissance to an elevated point in its +front called Orchard Knob, and that I was to support it with my +division and prevent Wood's right flank from being turned by an +advance of the enemy on Moore's road or from the direction of +Rossville. For this duty I marched my division out of the works +about 2 p.m., and took up a position on Bushy Knob. Shortly after we +reached this point Wood's division passed my left flank on its +reconnoissance, and my command, moving in support of it, drove in the +enemy's picket-line. Wood's took possession of Orchard Knob easily, +and mine was halted on a low ridge to the right of the Knob, where I +was directed by General Thomas to cover my front by a strong line of +rifle-pits, and to put in position two batteries of the Fourth +regular artillery that had joined me from the Eleventh Corps. After +dark Wood began to feel uneasy about his right flank, for a gap +existed between it and my left, so I moved in closer to him, taking +up a line where I remained inactive till the 25th, but suffering some +inconvenience from the enemy's shells.</p> + +<p>On the 24th General Sherman made an attack for the purpose of +carrying the north end of Missionary Ridge. His success was not +complete, although at the time it was reported throughout the army to +be so. It had the effect of disconcerting Bragg, however, and caused +him to strengthen his right by withdrawing troops from his left, +which circumstance led Hooker to advance on the northerly face of +Lookout Mountain. At first, with good glasses, we could plainly see +Hooker's troops driving the Confederates up the face of the mountain. +All were soon lost to view in the dense timber, but emerged again on +the open ground, across which the Confederates retreated at a lively +pace, followed by the pursuing line, which was led by a color-bearer, +who, far in advance, was bravely waving on his comrades. The +gallantry of this man elicited much enthusiasm among us all, but as +he was a considerable distance ahead of his comrades I expected to +see his rashness punished at any moment by death or capture. He +finally got quite near the retreating Confederates, when suddenly +they made a dash at him, but he was fully alive to such a move, and +ran back, apparently uninjured, to his friends. About this time a +small squad of men reached the top of Lookout and planted the Stars +and Stripes on its very crest. Just then a cloud settled down on the +mountain, and a heavy bank of fog obscured its whole face.</p> + +<p>After the view was lost the sharp rattle of musketry continued some +time, but practically the fight had been already won by Hooker's men, +the enemy only holding on with a rear-guard to assure his retreat +across Chattanooga Valley to Missionary Ridge. Later we heard very +heavy cannonading, and fearing that Hooker was in trouble I sent a +staff-officer to find out whether he needed assistance, which I +thought could be given by a demonstration toward Rossville. The +officer soon returned with the report that Hooker was all right, that +the cannonading was only a part of a little rear-guard fight, two +sections of artillery making all the noise, the reverberations from +point to point in the adjacent mountains echoing and reechoing till +it seemed that at least fifty guns were engaged.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 25th of November Bragg's entire army was +holding only the line of Missionary Ridge, and our troops, being now +practically connected from Sherman to Hooker, confronted it with the +Army of the Cumberland in the centre—bowed out along the front of +Wood's division and mine. Early in the day Sherman, with great +determination and persistence, made an attempt to carry the high +ground near the tunnel, first gaining and then losing advantage, but +his attack was not crowned with the success anticipated. Meanwhile +Hooker and Palmer were swinging across Chattanooga Valley, using me +as a pivot for the purpose of crossing Missionary Ridge in the +neighborhood of Rossville. In the early part of the day I had driven +in the Confederate pickets in my front, so as to prolong my line of +battle on that of Wood, the necessity of continuing to refuse my +right having been obviated by the capture of Lookout Mountain and the +advance of Palmer.</p> + +<p>About 2 o'clock orders came to carry the line at the foot of the +ridge, attacking at a signal of six guns. I had few changes or new +dispositions to make. Wagner's brigade, which was next to Wood's +division, was formed in double lines, and Harker's brigade took the +same formation on Wagner's right. Colonel F. T. Sherman's brigade +came on Harker's right, formed in a column of attack, with a front of +three regiments, he having nine. My whole front was covered with a +heavy line of skirmishers. These dispositions made, my right rested +a little distance south of Moore's road, my left joined Wood over +toward Orchard Knob, while my centre was opposite Thurman's +house—the headquarters of General Bragg—on Missionary Ridge. A small +stream of water ran parallel to my front, as far as which the ground +was covered by a thin patch of timber, and beyond the edge of the +timber was an open plain to the foot of Missionary Ridge, varying in +width from four to nine hundred yards. At the foot of the ridge was +the enemy's first line of rifle-pits; at a point midway up its face, +another line, incomplete; and on the crest was a third line, in which +Bragg had massed his artillery.</p> + +<p>The enemy saw we were making dispositions for an attack, and in plain +view of my whole division he prepared himself for resistance, +marching regiments from his left flank with flying colors; and +filling up the spaces not already occupied in his intrenchments. +Seeing the enemy thus strengthening himself, it was plain that we +would have to act quickly if we expected to accomplish much, and I +already began to doubt the feasibility of our remaining in the first +line of rifle-pits when we should have carried them. I discussed the +order with Wagner, Harker, and Sherman, and they were similarly +impressed, so while anxiously awaiting the signal I sent Captain +Ransom of my staff to Granger, who was at Fort Wood, to ascertain if +we were to carry the first line or the ridge beyond. Shortly after +Ransom started the signal guns were fired, and I told my brigade +commanders to go for the ridge.</p> + +<p>Placing myself in front of Harker's brigade, between the line of +battle and the skirmishers, accompanied by only an orderly so as not +to attract the enemy's fire, we moved out. Under a terrible storm of +shot and shell the line pressed forward steadily through the timber, +and as it emerged on the plain took the double-quick and with fixed +bayonets rushed at the enemy's first line. Not a shot was fired from +our line of battle, and as it gained on my skirmishers they melted +into and became one with it, and all three of my brigades went over +the rifle-pits simultaneously. They then lay down on the face of the +ridge, for a breathing-spell and for protection' from the terrible +fire, of canister and musketry pouring over us from the guns on the +crest. At the rifle-pits there had been little use for the bayonet, +for most of the Confederate troops, disconcerted by the sudden rush, +lay close in the ditch and surrendered, though some few fled up the +slope to the next line. The prisoners were directed to move out to +our rear, and as their intrenchments had now come under fire from the +crest, they went with alacrity, and without guard or escort, toward +Chattanooga.</p> + +<p>After a short pause to get breath the ascent of the ridge began, and +I rode, into the ditch of the intrenchments to drive out a few +skulkers who were hiding there. Just at this time I was joined by +Captain Ransom, who, having returned from Granger, told me that we +were to carry only the line at the base, and that in coming back, +when he struck the left of the division, knowing this interpretation +of the order, he in his capacity as an aide-de-camp had directed +Wagner, who was up on the face of the ridge, to return, and that in +consequence Wagner was recalling his men to the base. I could not +bear to order the recall of troops now so gallantly climbing the hill +step by step, and believing we could take it, I immediately rode to +Wagner's brigade and directed it to resume the attack. In the +meantime Harker's and F. T. Sherman's troops were approaching the +partial line of works midway of the ridge, and as I returned to the +centre of their rear, they were being led by many stands of +regimental colors. There seemed to be a rivalry as to which color +should be farthest to the front; first one would go forward a few +feet, then another would come up to it, the color-bearers vying with +one another as to who should be foremost, until finally every +standard was planted on the intermediate works. The enemy's fire +from the crest during the ascent was terrific in the noise made, but +as it was plunging, it over-shot and had little effect on those above +the second line of pits, but was very uncomfortable for those below, +so I deemed it advisable to seek another place, and Wagner's brigade +having reassembled and again pressed up the ridge, I rode up the face +to join my troops.</p> + +<p>As soon as the men saw me, they surged forward and went over the +works on the crest. The parapet of the intrenchment was too high for +my horse to jump, so, riding a short distance to the left, I entered +through a low place in the line. A few Confederates were found +inside, but they turned the butts of their muskets toward me in token +of surrender, for our men were now passing beyond them on both their +flanks.</p> + +<p>The right and right centre of my division gained the summit first, +they being partially sheltered by a depression in the face of the +ridge, the Confederates in their immediate front fleeing down the +southern face. When I crossed the rifle-pits on the top the +Confederates were still holding fast at Bragg's headquarters, and a +battery located there opened fire along the crest; making things most +uncomfortably hot. Seeing the danger to which I was exposed, for I +was mounted, Colonel Joseph Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri, ran up +and begged me to dismount. I accepted his excellent advice, and it +probably saved my life; but poor Conrad was punished for his +solicitude by being seriously wounded in the thigh at the moment he +was thus contributing to my safety.</p> + +<p>Wildly cheering, the men advanced along the ridge toward Bragg's +headquarters, and soon drove the Confederates from this last +position, capturing a number of prisoners, among them Breckenridge's +and Bates's adjutant-generals, and the battery that had made such +stout resistance on the crest-two guns which were named "Lady +Breckenridge" and "Lady Buckner" General Bragg himself having barely +time to escape before his headquarters were taken.</p> + +<p>My whole division had now reached the summit, and Wagner and +Harker—the latter slightly wounded—joined me as I was standing in the +battery just secured. The enemy was rapidly retiring, and though +many of his troops, with disorganized wagon-trains and several pieces +of artillery, could be distinctly seen in much confusion about half a +mile distant in the valley below, yet he was covering them with a +pretty well organized line that continued to give us a desultory +fire. Seeing this, I at once directed Wagner and Harker to take up +the pursuit along Moore's road, which led to Chickamauga +Station—Bragg's depot of supply—and as they progressed, I pushed Sherman's +brigade along the road behind them. Wagner and Harker soon overtook +the rearguard, and a slight skirmish caused it to break, permitting +nine guns and a large number of wagons which were endeavoring to get +away in the stampede to fall into our hands.</p> + +<p>About a mile and a half beyond Missionary Ridge, Moore's road passed +over a second ridge or high range of hills, and here the enemy had +determined to make a stand for that purpose, posting eight pieces of +artillery with such supporting force as he could rally. He was +immediately attacked by Harker and Wagner, but the position was +strong, the ridge being rugged and difficult of ascent, and after the +first onset our men recoiled. A staff-officer from Colonel Wood's +demi-brigade informing me at this juncture that that command was too +weak to carry the position in its front, I ordered the Fifteenth +Indiana and the Twenty-Sixth Ohio to advance to Wood's aid, and then +hastening to the front I found his men clinging to the face of the +ridge, contending stubbornly with the rear-guard of the enemy. +Directing Harker to put Opdyke's demi-brigade in on the right, I +informed Wagner that it was necessary to flank the enemy by carrying +the high bluff on our left where the ridge terminated, that I had +designated the Twenty-Sixth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana for the work, +and that I wished him to join them.</p> + +<p>It was now dusk, but the two regiments engaged in the flanking +movement pushed on to gain the bluff. Just as they reached the crest +of the ridge the moon rose from behind, enlarged by the refraction of +the atmosphere, and as the attacking column passed along the summit +it crossed the moon's disk and disclosed to us below a most +interesting panorama, every figure nearly being thrown out in full +relief. The enemy, now outflanked on left and right, abandoned his +ground, leaving us two pieces of artillery and a number of wagons. +After this ridge was captured I found that no other troops than mine +were pursuing the enemy, so I called a halt lest I might become too +much isolated. Having previously studied the topography of the +country thoroughly, I knew that if I pressed on my line of march +would carry me back to Chickamauga station, where we would be in rear +of the Confederates that had been fighting General Sherman, and that +there was a possibility of capturing them by such action; but I did +not feel warranted in marching there alone, so I rode back to +Missionary Ridge to ask for more troops, and upon arriving there I +found Granger in command, General Thomas having gone back to +Chattanooga.</p> + +<p>Granger was at Braggy's late headquarters in bed. I informed him of +my situation and implored him to follow me up with the Army of the +Cumberland, but he declined, saying that he thought we had done well +enough. I still insisting, he told me finally to push on to the +crossing of Chickamauga Creek, and if I, encountered the enemy he +would order troops to my support. I returned to my division about +12 o'clock at night, got it under way, and reached the crossing, +about half a mile from the station, at 2 o'clock on the morning of +the 26th, and there found the bridge destroyed, but that the creek +was fordable. I did not encounter the enemy in any force, but feared +to go farther without assistance. This I thought I might bring up by +practicing a little deception, so I caused two regiments to simulate +an engagement by opening fire, hoping that this would alarm Granger +and oblige him to respond with troops, but my scheme failed. General +Granger afterward told me that he had heard the volleys, but +suspected their purpose, knowing that they were not occasioned by a +fight, since they were too regular in their delivery.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p317"></a><img alt="p317.jpg (69K)" src="images/p317.jpg" height="924" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>I was much disappointed that my pursuit had not been supported, for I +felt that great results were in store for us should the enemy be +vigorously followed. Had the troops under Granger's command been +pushed out with mine when Missionary Ridge was gained, we could have +reached Chickamauga Station by 12 o'clock the night of the 25th; or +had they been sent even later, when I called for them, we could have +got there by daylight and worked incalculable danger to the +Confederates, for the force that had confronted Sherman did not pass +Chickamauga Station in their retreat till after daylight on the +morning of the 26th.</p> + +<p>My course in following so close was dictated by a thorough knowledge +of the topography of the country and a familiarity with its roads, +bypaths, and farm-houses, gained with the assistance of Mr. +Crutchfield; and sure my column was heading in the right direction, +though night had fallen I thought that an active pursuit would almost +certainly complete the destruction of Bragg's army. When General +Grant came by my bivouac at the crossing of Chickamauga Creek on the +26th, he realized what might have been accomplished had the +successful assault on Missionary Ridge been supplemented by vigorous +efforts on the part of some high officers, who were more interested +in gleaning that portion of the battle-field over which my command +had passed than in destroying a panic-stricken enemy.</p> + +<p>Although it cannot be said that the result of the two days' +operations was reached by the methods which General Grant had +indicated in his instructions preceding the battle, yet the general +outcome was unquestionably due to his genius, for the manoeuvring of +Sherman's and Hooker's commands created the opportunity for Thomas's +corps of the Army of the Cumberland to carry the ridge at the centre. +In directing Sherman to attack the north end of the ridge, Grant +disconcerted Bragg—who was thus made to fear the loss of his depot +of supplies at Chickamauga Station—and compelled him to resist +stoutly; and stout resistance to Sherman meant the withdrawal of the +Confederates from Lookout Mountain. While this attack was in process +of execution advantage was taken of it by Hooker in a well-planned +and well-fought battle, but to my mind an unnecessary one, for our +possession of Lookout was the inevitable result that must follow from +Sherman's threatening attitude. The assault on Missionary Ridge by +Granger's and Palmer's corps was not premeditated by Grant, he +directing only the line at its base to be carried, but when this fell +into our hands the situation demanded our getting the one at the top +also.</p> + +<p>I took into the action an effective force of 6,000, and lost 123 +officers and 1,181 men killed and wounded. These casualties speak +louder than words of the character of the fight, and plainly tell +where the enemy struggled most stubbornly for these figures comprise +one-third the casualties of the entire body of Union +troops—Sherman's and all included. My division captured 1,762 prisoners +and, in all, seventeen pieces of artillery. Six of these guns I +turned over with caissons complete; eleven were hauled off the field +and appropriated by an officer of high rank—General Hazen. I have +no disposition to renew the controversy which grew out of this +matter. At the time the occurrence took place I made the charge in a +plain official report, which was accepted as correct by the corps and +army commanders, from General Granger up to General Grant. General +Hazen took no notice of this report then, though well aware of its +existence. Nearly a quarter of a century later, however, he +endeavored to justify his retention of the guns by trying to show +that his brigade was the first to reach the crest of Missionary +Ridge, and that he was therefore entitled to them. This claim of +being the first to mount the ridge is made by other brigades than +Hazen's, with equal if not greater force, so the absurdity of his +deduction is apparent:</p> + +<p>NOTE: In a book published by General Hazen in 1885, he endeavored to +show, by a number of letters from subordinate officers of his +command, written at his solicitation from fifteen to twenty years +after the occurrence, that his brigade was the first to mount +Missionary Ridge, and that it was entitled to possess these guns. +The doubtful character of testimony dimmed by the lapse of many years +has long been conceded, and I am content to let the controversy stand +the test of history, based on the conclusions of General Grant, as he +drew them from official reports made when the circumstances were +fresh in the minds of all.</p> + +<p>General Grant says: "To Sheridan's prompt movement, the Army of the +Cumberland and the nation are indebted for the bulk of the capture of +prisoners, artillery, and small-arms that day. Except for his prompt +pursuit, so much in this way would not have been accomplished."</p> + +<p>General Thomas says: "We captured all their cannon and ammunition +before they could be removed or destroyed. After halting a few +moments to reorganize the troops, who had become somewhat scattered +in the assault of the hill, General Sheridan pushed forward in +pursuit, and drove those in his front who had escaped capture across +Chickamauga Creek."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF COLONEL FRANCIS T. SHERMAN, COMMANDING FIRST BRIGADE: +"When within ten yards of the crest, our men seemed to be thrown +forward as if by some powerful engine, and the old flag was planted +firmly and surely on the last line of works of the enemy, followed by +the men, taking one battery of artillery."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF COLONEL MICHAEL GOODING, TWENTY-SECOND INDIANA: +...."I pushed men up to the second line of works as fast as possible; +on and on, clear to the top, and over the ridge they went, to the +hollow beyond, killing and wounding numbers of the enemy as we +advanced, and leaving the rebel battery in our rear. We captured +great numbers of prisoners, and sent them to the rear without guards, +as we deemed the pursuit of the enemy of greater importance.... +"I cannot give too much praise to Captain Powers, Company "H," +Lieutenant Smith, Company "K," Lieutenant Gooding, Company "A," and +Second Lieutenant Moser, Company "G," for their assistance, and for +the gallant manner in which they encouraged their men up the side of +the mountain, and charging the enemy's works right up to the muzzles +of their guns."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF COLONEL JASON MARSH, SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS: +...."The first on the enemy's works, and almost simultaneously, were +Lieutenant Clement, Company "A," Captain Stegner, Company "I," +Captain Bacon, Company "G," and Captain Leffingwell, with some of +their men. The enemy was still in considerable force behind their +works; but, for some unaccountable reason, they either fled or +surrendered instantly upon the first few of our men reaching +them—not even trying to defend their battery, which was immediately +captured by Captain Stegner."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL PORTER C. OLSON, THIRTY-SIXTH ILLINOIS: +...."In connection with other regiments of this brigade, we assisted +in capturing several pieces of artillery, a number of caissons, and a +great quantity of small-arms."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF COLONEL JOHN Q. LANE: +...."At the house known as Bragg's headquarters, the enemy were +driven from three guns, which fell into our hands."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. D. WAGNER, SECOND BRIGADE: +...."I ordered the command to storm the ridge, bringing up the +Fifteenth Indiana and Ninety-seventh Ohio, which had not yet been +engaged, although suffering from the enemy's artillery. The result +is a matter of history, as we gained the ridge, capturing artillery, +prisoners, and small-arms; to what amount, however, I do not know, as +we pushed on after the enemy as soon as I had re-formed the command. +....Captain Tinney, with his usual gallantry, dashed up the line with +the first troops, and with the aid of an orderly (George Dusenbury, +Fifteenth Indiana), turned the loaded gun of the enemy on his +retreating ranks."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. HEGLER, FIFTEENTH INDIANA: +...."Our captures amounted to prisoners not counted, representing +many different regiments; several pieces of artillery, and some +wagons."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ELIAS NEFF, FORTIETH INDIANA: +...."As the regiment reached the top of the ridge and swept for. +ward, the right passed through, without stopping to take possession, +the battery at General Bragg's headquarters that had fired so +venomously during the whole contest."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J. MOORE, FIFTY-EIGHTH INDIANA: +...."In passing to the front from Missionary Ridge, we saw several +pieces of artillery which had been abandoned by the enemy, though I +did not leave any one in charge of them."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF MAJOR C, M. HAMMOND, ONE HUNDREDTH ILLINOIS: +...."I immediately organized my regiment, and while so doing +discovered a number of pieces of artillery in a ravine on my left. I +sent Lieutenant Stewart, of Company A, to see if these guns which the +enemy had abandoned could not be turned upon them. He returned and +reported them to be four ten-pound Parrotts and two brass Napoleons; +also that it would require a number of men to place them in position. +I ordered him to report the same to General Wagner, and ask +permission, but before receiving a reply was ordered by you to move +forward my regiment on the left of the Fifty-Eighth Indiana +Volunteers."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF COLONEL CHARLES G. HARKER, THIRD BRIGADE: +...."My right and Colonel Sherman's left interlocked, so to speak, as +we approached the summit, and it was near this point that I saw the +first part of my line gain the crest. This was done by a few brave +men of my own and Colonel Sherman's command driving the enemy from +his intrenchments. The gap thus opened, our men rushed rapidly in, +and the enemy, loth to give up their position, still remained, firing +at my command toward the left, and the battery in front of the house +known as General Bragg's headquarters was still firing at the troops, +and was captured by our men while the gunners were still at their +posts.... +...."We captured and sent to division and corps headquarters 503 +prisoners and a large number of small-arms. In regard to the number +of pieces of artillery, it will probably be difficult to reconcile +the reports of my regimental commanders with the reports of other +regiments and brigades who fought so nobly with my own command, and +who alike are entitled to share the honors and glories of the day. +More anxious to follow the enemy than to appropriate trophies already +secured, we pushed to the front, while the place we occupied on +ascending the hill was soon occupied by other troops, who, I have +learned, claim the artillery as having fallen into their own hands. +It must therefore remain with the division and corps commanders, who +knew the relative position of each brigade and division, to accord to +each the trophies to which they are due. +...."From my personal observation I can claim a battery of six guns +captured by a portion of my brigade."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF COLONEL EMERSON OPDYKE, FIRST DEMI-BRIGADE: +...."My command captured Bragg's headquarters, house, and the six +guns which were near there; one of these I ordered turned upon the +enemy, which was done with effect."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF COLONEL H. C. DUNLAP, THIRD KENTUCKY: +...."The point at which the centre of my regiment reached the crest +was at the stable to the left of the house said to be Bragg's +headquarters, and immediately in front of the road which leads down +the southern slope of the ridge. One piece of the abandoned battery, +was to the left of this point, the remainder to the right, near by."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. A. BULLITT, SIXTY-FIFTH OHIO: +...."The position in which my regiment found itself was immediately +in front of a battery, which belched forth a stream of canister upon +us with terrible rapidity. In addition to this, the enemy, whenever +driven from other points, rallied around this battery, and defended +it with desperation. It cost a struggle to take it; but we finally +succeeded, and the colors of the Sixty-fifth Ohio were the first +planted upon the yet smoking guns. Captain Smith, of my regiment, +was placed in charge of the captured battery, which consisted of 5 +guns, 3 caissons, and 17 horses."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF CAPTAIN E. P. BATES, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH OHIO: +...."Perceiving that the ridge across which my regiment extended was +commanded to the very crest by a battery in front, also by those to +right and left, I directed the men to pass up the gorges on either +side. About forty men, with Captain Parks and Lieutenant Stinger, +passed to the left, the balance to the right, and boldly charged on, +till, foremost with those of other regiments, they stood on the +strongest point of the enemy's works, masters alike of his guns and +position.... Captain Parks reports his skirmish-line to have charged +upon and captured one gun, that otherwise would have been hauled +off."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF COLONEL ALLEN BUCKNER, SEVENTY-NINTH ILLINOIS: +...."The right of the regiment rested on the left of the road, where +it crossed the rebel fortification, leading up the hill toward +Bragg's headquarters. We took a right oblique direction through a +peach orchard until arriving at the woods and logs on the side of the +ridge, when I ordered the men to commence firing, which they did with +good effect, and continued it all the way up until the heights were +gained. At this point the left of the regiment was near the right of +the house, and I claim that my officers and men captured two large +brass pieces, literally punching the cannoniers from their guns. +Privates John Fregan and Jasper Patterson, from Company "A," rushed +down the hill, captured one caisson, with a cannonier and six horses, +and brought them back."</p> + +<p>REPORT OF COLONEL J. R. MILES, TWENTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS: +...."The regiment, without faltering, finally, at about 4.30 P.M., +gained the enemy's works in conjunction with a party of the +Thirty-sixth Illinois, who were immediately on our right. The regiment, or +a portion of it, proceeded to the left, down the ridge, for nearly or +quite a quarter of a mile capturing three or four pieces of cannon, +driving the gunners from them."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch17"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>ORDERED TO RETURN TO CHATTANOOGA—MARCH TO KNOXVILLE—COLLECTING +SUBSISTENCE STORES—A CLEVER STRATAGEM—A BRIDGE OF WAGONS—LOOKING +OUT FOR THE PERSONAL COMFORT OF THE SOLDIERS-A LEAVE OF +ABSENCE—ORDERED TO WASHINGTON—PARTING WITH SHERIDAN'S DIVISION.</p> + +<p>The day after the battle of Missionary Ridge I was ordered in the +evening to return to Chattanooga, and from the limited supply of +stores to be had there outfit my command to march to the relief of +Knoxville, where General Burnside was still holding out against the +besieging forces of General Longstreet. When we left Murfreesboro' +in the preceding June, the men's knapsacks and extra clothing, as +well as all our camp equipage, had been left behind, and these +articles had not yet reached us, so we were poorly prepared for a +winter campaign in the mountains of East Tennessee. There was but +little clothing to be obtained in Chattanooga, and my command +received only a few overcoats and a small supply of India-rubber +ponchos. We could get no shoes, although we stood in great need of +them, for the extra pair with which each man had started out from +Murfreesboro' was now much the worse for wear. The necessity for +succoring Knoxville was urgent, however, so we speedily refitted as +thoroughly as was possible with the limited means at hand. My +division teams were in very fair condition in consequence of the +forage we had procured in the Sequatchie Valley, so I left the train +behind to bring up clothing when any should arrive in Chattanooga.</p> + +<p>Under these circumstances, on the 29th of November the Fourth Corps +(Granger's) took up the line of march for Knoxville, my men carrying +in their haversacks four days' rations, depending for a further +supply of food on a small steamboat loaded with subsistence stores, +which was to proceed up the Tennessee River and keep abreast of the +column.</p> + +<p>Not far from Philadelphia, Tennessee, the columns of General +Sherman's army, which had kept a greater distance from the river than +Granger's corps, so as to be able to subsist on the country, came in +toward our right and the whole relieving force was directed on +Marysville, about fifteen miles southwest of Knoxville. We got to +Marysville December 5, and learned the same day that Longstreet had +shortly before attempted to take Knoxville by a desperate assault, +but signally failing, had raised the siege and retired toward Bean's +Station on the Rutledge, Rogersville, and Bristol road, leading to +Virginia. From Marysville General Sherman's troops returned to +Chattanooga, while Granger's corps continued on toward Knoxville, to +take part in the pursuit of Longstreet.</p> + +<p>Burnside's army was deficient in subsistence, though not to the +extent that we had supposed before leaving Chattanooga. It had eaten +out the country in the immediate vicinity of Knoxville, however; +therefore my division did not cross the Holstein River, but was +required, in order to maintain itself, to proceed to the region of +the French Broad River. To this end I moved to Sevierville, and +making this village my headquarters, the division was spread out over +the French Broad country, between Big Pigeon and Little Pigeon +rivers, where we soon had all the mills in operation, grinding out +plenty of flour and meal. The whole region was rich in provender of +all kinds, and as the people with rare exceptions were +enthusiastically loyal, we in a little while got more than enough +food for ourselves, and by means of flatboats began sending the +surplus down the river to the troops at Knoxville.</p> + +<p>The intense loyalty of this part of Tennessee exceeded that of any +other section I was in during the war. The people could not do too +much to aid the Union cause, and brought us an abundance of +everything needful. The women were especially loyal, and as many of +their sons and husbands, who had been compelled to "refugee" on +account of their loyal sentiments, returned with us, numbers of the +women went into ecstasies of joy when this part of the Union army +appeared among them. So long as we remained in the French Broad +region, we lived on the fat of the land, but unluckily our stay was +to be of short duration, for Longstreet's activity kept the +department commander in a state of constant alarm.</p> + +<p>Soon after getting the mills well running, and when the shipment of +their surplus product down the river by flatboats had begun, I was +ordered to move to Knoxville, on account of demonstrations by +Longstreet from the direction of Blain's crossroads. On arriving at +Knoxville, an inspection of my command, showed that the shoes of many +of the men were entirely worn out, the poor fellows having been +obliged to protect their feet with a sort of moccasin, made from +their blankets or from such other material as they could procure. +About six hundred of the command were in this condition, plainly not +suitably shod to withstand the frequent storms of sleet and snow. +These men I left in Knoxville to await the arrival of my train, which +I now learned was en route from Chattanooga with shoes, overcoats, +and other clothing, and with the rest of the division proceeded to +Strawberry Plains, which we reached the latter part of December.</p> + +<p>Mid-winter was now upon us, and the weather in this mountain region +of East Tennessee was very cold, snow often falling to the depth of +several inches. The thin and scanty clothing of the men afforded +little protection, and while in bivouac their only shelter was the +ponchos with which they had been provided before leaving Chattanooga; +there was not a tent in the command. Hence great suffering resulted, +which I anxiously hoped would be relieved shortly by the arrival of +my train with supplies. In the course of time the wagons reached +Knoxville, but my troops derived little comfort from this fact, for +the train was stopped by General Foster, who had succeeded Burnside +in command of the department, its contents distributed pro rata to +the different organizations of the entire army, and I received but a +small share. This was very disappointing, not to say exasperating, +but I could not complain of unfairness, for every command in the army +was suffering to the same extent as mine, and yet it did seem that a +little forethought and exertion on the part of some of the other +superior officers, whose transportation was in tolerable condition, +might have ameliorated the situation considerably. I sent the train +back at once for more clothing, and on its return, just before +reaching Knoxville, the quartermaster in charge, Captain Philip +Smith, filled the open spaces in the wagons between the bows and load +with fodder and hay, and by this clever stratagem passed it through +the town safe and undisturbed as a forage train. On Smith's arrival +we lost no time in issuing the clothing, and when it had passed into +the hands of the individual soldiers the danger of its appropriation +for general distribution, like the preceding invoice, was very +remote.</p> + +<p>General Foster had decided by this time to move his troops to +Dandridge for the twofold purpose of threatening the enemy's left and +of getting into a locality where we could again gather subsistence +from the French Broad region. Accordingly we began an advance on the +15th of January, the cavalry having preceded us some time before. +The Twenty-third Corps and Wood's division of the Fourth Corps +crossed the Holstein River by a bridge that had been constructed at +Strawberry Plains. My division being higher up the stream, forded +it, the water very deep and bitter cold, being filled with slushy +ice. Marching by way of New Market, I reached Dandridge on the 17th, +and here on my arrival met General Sturgis, then commanding our +cavalry. He was on the eve of setting out to, "whip the enemy's +cavalry," as he said, and wanted me to go along and see him do it. I +declined, however, for being now the senior officer present, Foster, +Parke, and Granger having remained at Knoxville and Strawberry +Plains, their absence left me in command, and it was necessary that I +should make disposition of the infantry when it arrived. As there +were indications of a considerable force of the enemy on the +Russellville road I decided to place the troops in line of battle, so +as to be prepared for any emergency that might arise in the absence +of the senior officers, and I deemed it prudent to supervise +personally the encamping of the men. This disposition necessarily +required that some of the organizations should occupy very +disagreeable ground, but I soon got all satisfactorily posted with +the exception of General Willich, who expressed some discontent at +being placed beyond the shelter of the timber, but accepted the +situation cheerfully when its obvious necessity was pointed out to +him.</p> + +<p>Feeling that all was secure, I returned to my headquarters in the +village with the idea that we were safely established in ease of +attack, and that the men would now have a good rest if left +undisturbed; and plenty to eat, but hardly had I reached my own camp +when a staff-officer came post-haste from Sturgis with the +information that he was being driven back to my lines, despite the +confident invitation to me (in the morning) to go out and witness the +whipping which was to be given to the enemy's cavalry. Riding to the +front, I readily perceived that the information was correct, and I +had to send a brigade of infantry out to help Sturgis, thus relieving +him from a rather serious predicament. Indeed, the enemy was present +in pretty strong force, both cavalry and infantry, and from his +vicious attack on Sturgis it looked very much as though he intended +to bring on a general engagement.</p> + +<p>Under such circumstances I deemed it advisable that the responsible +commanders of the army should be present, and so informed them. My +communication brought Parke and Granger to the front without delay, +but Foster could not come, since the hardships of the winter had +reopened an old wound received during the Mexican War, and brought on +much suffering. By the time Parke and Granger arrived, however, the +enemy, who it turned out was only making a strong demonstration to +learn the object of our movement on Dandridge, seemed satisfied with +the results of his reconnoissance, and began falling back toward +Bull's Gap. Meanwhile Parke and Granger concluded that Dandridge was +an untenable point, and hence decided to withdraw a part of the army +to Strawberry Plains; and the question of supplies again coming up, +it was determined to send the Fourth Corps to the south side of the +French Broad to obtain subsistence, provided we could bridge the +river so that men could get across the deep and icy stream without +suffering.</p> + +<p>I agreed to undertake the construction of a bridge on condition that +each division should send to the ford twenty-five wagons with which +to make it. This being acceded to, Harker's brigade began the work +next morning at a favorable point a few miles down the river. As my +quota of wagons arrived, they were drawn into the stream one after +another by the wheel team, six men in each wagon, and as they +successively reached the other side of the channel the mules were +unhitched, the pole of each wagon run under thre hind axle of the one +just in front, and the tailboards used so as to span the slight space +between them. The plan worked well as long as the material lasted, +but no other wagons than my twenty-five coming on the ground, the +work stopped when the bridge was only half constructed. Informed of +the delay and its cause, in sheer desperation I finished the bridge +by taking from my own division all the wagons needed to make up the +deficiency.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when the work was finished, and I began +putting over one of my brigades; but in the midst of its crossing +word came that Longstreet's army was moving to attack us, which +caused an abandonment of the foraging project, and orders quickly +followed to retire to Strawberry Plains, the retrograde movement to +begin forthwith. I sent to headquarters information of the plight I +was in—baggage and supplies on the bank and wagons in the +stream—begged to know what was to become of them if we were to hurry off at +a moment's notice, and suggested that the movement be delayed until I +could recover my transportation. Receiving in reply no assurances +that I should be relieved from my dilemma—and, in fact, nothing +satisfactory—I determined to take upon myself the responsibility of +remaining on the ground long enough to get my wagons out of the +river; so I sent out a heavy force to watch for the enemy, and with +the remainder of the command went to work to break up the bridge. +Before daylight next morning I had recovered everything without +interference by Longstreet, who, it was afterward ascertained, was +preparing to move east toward Lynchburg instead of marching to attack +us; the small demonstration against Dandridge, being made simply to +deceive us as to his ultimate object. I marched to Strawberry Plains +unmolested, and by taking the route over Bay's Mountain, a shorter +one than that followed by the main body of our troops, reached the +point of rendezvous as soon as the most of the army, for the road it +followed was not only longer, but badly cut up by trains that had +recently passed over it.</p> + +<p>Shortly after getting into camp, the beef contractor came in and +reported that a detachment of the enemy's cavalry had captured my +herd of beef cattle. This caused me much chagrin at first, but the +commissary of my division soon put in an appearance, and assured me +that the loss would not be very disastrous to us nor of much benefit +to the enemy, since the cattle were so poor and weak that they could +not be driven off. A reconnoissance in force verified the +Commissary's statement. From its inability to travel, the herd, +after all efforts to carry it off had proved ineffectual, had been +abandoned by its captors.</p> + +<p>After the troops from Chattanooga arrived in the vicinity of +Knoxville and General Sherman had returned to Chattanooga, the +operations in East Tennessee constituted a series of blunders, +lasting through the entire winter; a state of affairs doubtless due, +in the main, to the fact that the command of the troops was so +frequently changed. Constant shifting of responsibility from one to +another ensued from the date that General Sherman, after assuring +himself that Knoxville was safe, devolved the command on Burnside. +It had already been intimated to Burnside that he was to be relieved, +and in consequence he was inactive and apathetic, confining his +operations to an aimless expedition whose advance extended only as +far as Blain's crossroads, whence it was soon withdrawn. Meanwhile +General Foster had superseded Burnside, but physical disabilities +rendered him incapable of remaining in the field, and then the chief +authority devolved on Parke. By this time the transmission of power +seemed almost a disease; at any rate it was catching, so, while we +were en route to Dandridge, Parke transferred the command to Granger. +The latter next unloaded it on me, and there is no telling what the +final outcome would have been had I not entered a protest against a +further continuance of the practice, which remonstrance brought +Granger to the front at Dandridge.</p> + +<p>While the events just narrated were taking place, General Grant had +made a visit to Knoxville—about the last of December—and arranged +to open the railroad between there and Chattanooga, with a view to +supplying the troops in East Tennessee by rail in the future, instead +of through Cumberland Gap by a tedious line of wagon-trains. In +pursuance of his plan the railroad had already been opened to Loudon, +but here much delay occurred on account of the long time it took to +rebuild the bridge over the Tennessee. Therefore supplies were still +very scarce, and as our animals were now dying in numbers from +starvation, and the men were still on short allowance, it became +necessary that some of the troops east of Knoxville should get nearer +to their depot, and also be in a position to take part in the coming +Georgia campaign, or render assistance to General Thomas, should +General Johnston (who had succeeded in command of the Confederate +army) make any demonstration against Chattanooga. Hence my division +was ordered to take station at Loudon, Tennessee, and I must confess +that we took the road for that point with few regrets, for a general +disgust prevailed regarding our useless marches during the winter.</p> + +<p>At this time my faithful scout Card and his younger brother left me, +with the determination, as I have heretofore related, to avenge their +brother's death. No persuasion could induce Card to remain longer, +for knowing that my division's next operation would be toward +Atlanta, and being ignorant of the country below Dalton, he +recognized and insisted that his services would then become +practically valueless.</p> + +<p>At Loudon, where we arrived January 27, supplies were more plentiful, +and as our tents and extra clothing reached us there in a few days, +every one grew contented and happy. Here a number of my regiments, +whose terms of service were about to expire, went through the process +of "veteranizing," and, notwithstanding the trials and hardships of +the preceding nine months, they re-enlisted almost to a man.</p> + +<p>When everything was set in motion toward recuperating and refitting +my troops, I availed myself of the opportunity during a lull that +then existed to take a short leave of absence—a privilege I had not +indulged in since entering the service in 1853. This leave I spent +in the North with much benefit to my physical condition, for I was +much run down by fatiguing service, and not a little troubled by +intense pain which I at times still suffered from my experience in +the unfortunate hand-car incident on the Cumberland Mountains the +previous July. I returned from leave the latter part of March, +rejoining my division with the expectation that the campaign in that +section would begin as early as April.</p> + +<p>On the 12th of March, 1864, General Grant was assigned to the command +of the armies of the United States, as general-in-chief. He was +already in Washington, whither he had gone to receive his commission +as lieutenant-general. Shortly after his arrival there, he commenced +to rearrange the different commands in the army to suit the plans +which he intended to enter upon in the spring, and out of this grew a +change in my career. Many jealousies and much ill-feeling, the +outgrowth of former campaigns, existed among officers of high grade +in the Army of the Potomac in the winter of 1864, and several general +officers were to be sent elsewhere in consequence. Among these, +General Alfred Pleasonton was to be relieved from the command of the +cavalry, General Grant having expressed to the President +dissatisfaction that so little had hitherto been accomplished by that +arm of the service, and I was selected as chief of the cavalry corps +of the Army of the Potomac, receiving on the night of the 23d of +March from General Thomas at Chattanooga the following telegram:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br> +<br>"MARCH 23, 1864. +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, Chattanooga +<br> +<br>"Lieutenant-General Grant directs that Major-General Sheridan +immediately repair to Washington and report to the Adjutant-General +of the Army. +<br> +<br>"H. W. HALLECK, +<br>Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." +<br> +</blockquote> +<p> +I was not informed of the purpose for which I was to proceed to +Washington, but I conjectured that it meant a severing of my +relations with the Second Division, Fourth Army Corps. I at once set +about obeying the order, and as but little preparation was necessary, +I started for Chattanooga the next day, without taking any formal +leave of the troops I had so long commanded. I could not do it; the +bond existing between them and me had grown to such depth of +attachment that I feared to trust my emotions in any formal parting +from a body of soldiers who, from our mutual devotion, had long +before lost their official designation, and by general consent within +and without the command were called "Sheridan's Division." When I +took the train at the station the whole command was collected on the +hill-sides around to see me off. They had assembled spontaneously, +officers and men, and as the cars moved out for Chattanooga they +waved me farewell with demonstrations of affection.</p> + +<p>A parting from such friends was indeed to be regretted. They had +never given me any trouble, nor done anything that could bring aught +but honor to themselves. I had confidence in them, and I believe +they had in me. They were ever steady, whether in victory or in +misfortune, and as I tried always to be with them, to put them into +the hottest fire if good could be gained, or save them from +unnecessary loss, as occasion required, they amply repaid all my care +and anxiety, courageously and readily meeting all demands in every +emergency that arose.</p> + +<p>In Kentucky, nearly two years before, my lot had been cast with about +half of the twenty-five regiments of infantry that I was just +leaving, the rest joining me after Chickamauga. It was practically a +new arm of the service to me, for although I was an infantry officer, +yet the only large command which up to that time I had controlled was +composed of cavalry, and most of my experience had been gained in +this arm of the service. I had to study hard to be able to master +all the needs of such a force, to feed and clothe it and guard all +its interests. When undertaking these responsibilities I felt that +if I met them faithfully, recompense would surely come through the +hearty response that soldiers always make to conscientious exertion +on the part of their superiors, and not only that more could be +gained in that way than from the use of any species of influence, but +that the reward would be quicker. Therefore I always tried to look +after their comfort personally; selected their camps, and provided +abundantly for their subsistence, and the road they opened for me +shows that my work was not in vain. I regretted deeply to have to +leave such soldiers, and felt that they were sorry I was going, and +even now I could not, if I would, retain other than the warmest +sentiments of esteem and the tenderest affection for the officers and +men of "Sheridan's Division," Army of the Cumberland.</p> + +<p>On reaching Chattanooga I learned from General Thomas the purpose for +which I had been ordered to Washington. I was to be assigned to the +command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The +information staggered me at first, for I knew well the great +responsibilities of such a position; moreover, I was but slightly +acquainted with military operations in Virginia, and then, too, the +higher officers of the Army of the Potomac were little known to me, +so at the moment I felt loth to undergo the trials of the new +position. Indeed, I knew not a soul in Washington except General +Grant and General Halleck, and them but slightly, and no one in +General Meade's army, from the commanding general down, except a few +officers in the lower grades, hardly any of whom I had seen since +graduating at the Military Academy.</p> + +<p>Thus it is not much to be wondered at that General Thomas's +communication momentarily upset me. But there was no help for it, so +after reflecting on the matter a little I concluded to make the best +of the situation. As in Virginia I should be operating in a field +with which I was wholly unfamiliar, and among so many who were +strangers, it seemed to me that it would be advisable to have, as a +chief staff-officer, one who had had service in the East, if an +available man could be found. In weighing all these considerations +in my mind, I fixed upon Captain James W. Forsyth, of the Eighteenth +Infantry, then in the regular brigade at Chattanooga—a dear friend +of mine, who had served in the Army of the Potomac, in the Peninsula +and Antietam campaigns. He at once expressed a desire to accept a +position on my staff, and having obtained by the next day the +necessary authority, he and I started for Washington, accompanied by +Lieutenant T. W. C. Moore, one of my aides, leaving behind Lieutenant +M. V. Sheridan, my other aide, to forward our horses as soon as they +should be sent down to Chattanooga from Loudon, after which he was to +join me.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch18"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>AT WASHINGTON—MEETING SECRETARY STANTON—INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT +LINCOLN—MADE COMMANDER OF THE CAVALRY CORPS OF THE ARMY OF THE +POTOMAC—ITS OFFICERS—GENERAL MEADE's METHOD OF USING +CAVALRY—OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN—SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.—A DIFFERENCE WITH +GENERAL MEADE—PREPARING TO FIGHT STUART'S CAVALRY.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="sheridan2"></a><img alt="p345-Sheridan.jpg (32K)" src="images/p345-Sheridan.jpg" height="633" width="577"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Accompanied by Captain Forsyth and Lieutenant Moore, I arrived in +Washington on the morning of April, 4, 1864, and stopped at Willard's +Hotel, where, staying temporarily, were many officers of the Army of +the Potomac en route to their commands from leave at the North. +Among all these, however, I was an entire stranger, and I cannot now +recall that I met a single individual whom I had ever before known.</p> + +<p>With very little delay after reaching my hotel I made my way to +General Halleck's headquarters and reported to that officer, having +learned in the meantime that General Grant was absent from the city. +General Halleck talked to me for a few minutes, outlining briefly the +nature and duties of my new command, and the general military +situation in Virginia. When he had finished all he had to say about +these matters, he took me to the office of the Secretary of War, to +present me to Mr. Stanton. During the ceremony of introduction, I +could feel that Mr. Stanton was eying me closely and searchingly, +endeavoring to form some estimate of one about whom he knew +absolutely nothing, and whose career probably had never been called +to his attention until General Grant decided to order me East, after +my name had been suggested by General Halleck in an interview the two +generals had with Mr. Lincoln. I was rather young in +appearance—looking even under than over thirty-three years—but five feet five +inches in height, and thin almost to emaciation, weighing only one +hundred and fifteen pounds. If I had ever possessed any +self-assertion in manner or speech, it certainly vanished in the presence +of the imperious Secretary, whose name at the time was the synonym of +all that was cold and formal. I never learned what Mr. Stanton's +first impressions of me were, and his guarded and rather calculating +manner gave at this time no intimation that they were either +favorable or unfavorable, but his frequent commendation in after +years indicated that I gained his goodwill before the close of the +war, if not when I first came to his notice; and a more intimate +association convinced me that the cold and cruel characteristics +popularly ascribed to him were more mythical than real.</p> + +<p>When the interview with the Secretary was over, I proceeded with +General Halleck to the White House to pay my respects to the +President. Mr. Lincoln received me very cordially, offering both his +hands, and saying that he hoped I would fulfill the expectations of +General Grant in the new command I was about to undertake, adding +that thus far the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac had not done all +it might have done, and wound up our short conversation by quoting +that stale interrogation so prevalent during the early years of the +war, "Who ever saw a dead cavalryman?" His manner did not impress +me, however, that in asking the question he had meant anything beyond +a jest, and I parted from the President convinced that he did not +believe all that the query implied.</p> + +<p>After taking leave I separated from General Halleck, and on returning +to my hotel found there an order from the War Department assigning me +to the command of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. The next +morning, April 5, as I took the cars for the headquarters of the Army +of the Potomac, General Grant, who had returned to Washington the +previous night from a visit to his family, came aboard the train on +his way to Culpeper Court House, and on the journey down I learned +among other things that he had wisely determined to continue +personally in the field, associating himself with General Meade's +army; where he could supervise its movements directly, and at the +same time escape the annoyances which, should he remain in +Washington, would surely arise from solicitude for the safety of the +Capital while the campaign was in progress. When we reached Brandy +Station, I left the train and reported to General Meade, who told me +that the headquarters of the Cavalry Corps were some distance back +from the Station, and indicated the general locations of the +different divisions of the corps, also giving me, in the short time I +remained with him, much information regarding their composition.</p> + +<p>I reached the Cavalry Corps headquarters on the evening of April 5, +1864, and the next morning issued orders assuming command. General +Pleasonton had but recently been relieved, and many of his +staff-officers were still on duty at the headquarters awaiting the arrival +of the permanent commander. I resolved to retain the most of these +officers on my staff, and although they were all unknown to me when I +decided on this course, yet I never had reason to regret it, nor to +question the selections made by my predecessor.</p> + +<p>The corps consisted of three cavalry divisions and twelve batteries +of horse artillery. Brigadier-General A. T. A. Torbert was in +command of the First Division, which was composed of three brigades; +Brigadier-General D. McM. Gregg, of the Second, consisting of two +brigades; and Brigadier-General J. H. Wilson was afterward assigned +to command the Third, also comprising two brigades: Captain Robinson, +a veteran soldier of the Mexican war, was chief of artillery, and as +such had a general supervision of that arm, though the batteries, +either as units or in sections, were assigned to the different +divisions in campaign.</p> + +<p>Each one of my division commanders was a soldier by profession. +Torbert graduated from the Military Academy in 1855, and was +commissioned in the infantry, in which arm he saw much service on the +frontier, in Florida, and on the Utah expedition. At the beginning +of hostilities in April, 1861, he was made a colonel of New Jersey +volunteers, and from that position was promoted in the fall of 1862 +to be a brigadier-general, thereafter commanding a brigade of +infantry in the Army of the Potomac till, in the redistribution of +generals, after Grant came to the East, he was assigned to the First +Cavalry Division.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="torbert"></a><img alt="p117-Torbert.jpg (33K)" src="images/p117-Torbert.jpg" height="615" width="527"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Gregg graduated in 1855 also, and was appointed to the First +Dragoons, with which regiment, up to the breaking out of the war, he +saw frontier service extending from Fort Union, New Mexico, through +to the Pacific coast, and up into Oregon and Washington Territories, +where I knew him slightly. In the fall of 1861 he became colonel of +the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and a year later was made a +brigadier-general. He then succeeded to the command of a division of +cavalry, and continued in that position till the close of his +service, at times temporarily commanding the Cavalry Corps. He was +the only division commander I had whose experience had been almost +exclusively derived from the cavalry arm.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="gregg"></a><img alt="p065-Gregg.jpg (22K)" src="images/p065-Gregg.jpg" height="627" width="461"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Wilson graduated in 1860 in the Topographical Engineers, and was +first assigned to duty in Oregon, where he remained till July, 1861. +In the fall of that year his active service in the war began, and he +rose from one position to another, in the East and West, till, while +on General Grant's staff, he was made a brigadier-general in the fall +of 1863 in reward for services performed during the Vicksburg +campaign and for engineer duty at Chattanooga preceding the battle of +Missionary Ridge. At my request he was selected to command the Third +Division. General Grant thought highly of him, and, expecting much +from his active mental and physical ability, readily assented to +assign him in place of General Kilpatrick. The only other general +officers in the corps were Brigadier-General Wesley Merritt, +Brigadier-General George A. Custer, and Brigadier-General Henry E. +Davies, each commanding a brigade.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="wilson"></a><img alt="p409-Wilson.jpg (83K)" src="images/p409-Wilson.jpg" height="883" width="573"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>In a few days after my arrival at Brandy Station I reviewed my new +command, which consisted of about twelve thousand officers and men, +with the same number of horses in passable trim. Many of the general +officers of the army were present at the review, among them Generals +Meade, Hancock, and Sedgwick. Sedgwick being an old dragoon, came to +renew his former associations with mounted troops, and to encourage +me, as he jestingly said, because of the traditional prejudices the +cavalrymen were supposed to hold against being commanded by an +infantry officer. The corps presented a fine appearance at the +review, and so far as the health and equipment of the men were +concerned the showing was good and satisfactory; but the horses were +thin and very much worn down by excessive and, it seemed to me, +unnecessary picket duty, for the cavalry picket-line almost +completely encircled the infantry and artillery camps of the army, +covering a distance, on a continuous line, of nearly sixty miles, +with hardly a mounted Confederate confronting it at any point. From +the very beginning of the war the enemy had shown more wisdom +respecting his cavalry than we. Instead of wasting its strength by a +policy of disintegration he, at an early day, had organized his +mounted force into compact masses, and plainly made it a favorite; +and, as usual, he was now husbanding the strength of his horses by +keeping them to the rear, so that in the spring he could bring them +out in good condition for the impending campaign.</p> + +<p>Before and at the review I took in this situation, and determined to +remedy it if possible; so in due time I sought an interview with +General Meade and informed him that, as the effectiveness of my +command rested mainly on the strength of its horses, I thought the +duty it was then performing was both burdensome and wasteful. I also +gave him my idea as to what the cavalry should do, the main purport +of which was that it ought to be kept concentrated to fight the +enemy's cavalry. Heretofore, the commander of the Cavalry Corps had +been, virtually, but an adjunct at army headquarters—a sort of chief +of cavalry—and my proposition seemed to stagger General Meade not a +little. I knew that it would be difficult to overcome the recognized +custom of using the cavalry for the protection of trains and the +establishment of cordons around the infantry corps, and so far +subordinating its operations to the movements of the main army that +in name only was it a corps at all, but still I thought it my duty to +try.</p> + +<p>At first General Meade would hardly listen to my proposition, for he +was filled with the prejudices that, from the beginning of the war, +had pervaded the army regarding the importance and usefulness of +cavalry, General Scott then predicting that the contest would be +settled by artillery, and thereafter refusing the services of +regiment after regiment of mounted troops. General Meade deemed +cavalry fit for little more than guard and picket duty, and wanted to +know what would protect the transportation trains and artillery +reserve, cover the front of moving infantry columns, and secure his +flanks from intrusion, if my policy were pursued. I told him that if +he would let me use the cavalry as I contemplated, he need have +little solicitude in these respects, for, with a mass of ten thousand +mounted men, it was my belief that I could make it so lively for the +enemy's cavalry that, so far as attacks from it were concerned, the +flanks and rear of the Army of the Potomac would require little or no +defense, and claimed, further, that moving columns of infantry should +take care of their own fronts. I also told him that it was my object +to defeat the enemy's cavalry in a general combat, if possible, and +by such a result establish a feeling of confidence in my own troops +that would enable us after awhile to march where we pleased, for the +purpose of breaking General Lee's communications and destroying the +resources from which his army was supplied.</p> + +<p>The idea as here outlined was contrary to Meade's convictions, for +though at different times since he commanded the Army of the Potomac +considerable bodies of the cavalry had been massed for some special +occasion, yet he had never agreed to the plan as a permanency, and +could not be bent to it now. He gave little encouragement, +therefore, to what I proposed, yet the conversation was immediately +beneficial in one way, for when I laid before him the true condition +of the cavalry, he promptly relieved it from much of the arduous and +harassing picket service it was performing, thus giving me about two +weeks in which to nurse the horses before the campaign opened.</p> + +<p>The interview also disclosed the fact that the cavalry commander +should be, according to General Meade's views, at his headquarters +practically as one of his staff, through whom he would give detailed +directions as, in his judgment, occasion required. Meade's ideas and +mine being so widely divergent, disagreements arose between us later +during the battles of the Wilderness, which lack of concord ended in +some concessions on his part after the movement toward Spottsylvania +Court House began, and although I doubt that his convictions were +ever wholly changed, yet from that date on, in the organization of +the Army of the Potomac, the cavalry corps became more of a compact +body, with the same privileges and responsibilities that attached to +the other corps—conditions that never actually existed before.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of May the Army of the Potomac moved against Lee, who was +occupying a defensive position on the south bank of the Rapidan. +After detailing the various detachments which I was obliged to supply +for escorts and other mounted duty, I crossed the river with an +effective force of about 10,000 troopers. In the interval succeeding +my assignment to the command of the cavalry, I had taken the pains to +study carefully the topography of the country in eastern Virginia, +and felt convinced that, under the policy Meade intended I should +follow, there would be little opportunity for mounted troops to +acquit themselves well in a region so thickly wooded, and traversed +by so many almost parallel streams; but conscious that he would be +compelled sooner or later either to change his mind or partially give +way to the pressure of events, I entered on the campaign with the +loyal determination to aid zealously in all its plans.</p> + +<p>General Lee's army was located in its winter quarters behind +intrenchments that lay along the Rapidan for a distance of about +twenty miles; extending from Barnett's to Morton's ford. The fords +below Morton's were watched by a few small detachments of Confederate +cavalry, the main body of which, however, was encamped below +Hamilton's crossing, where it could draw supplies from the rich +country along the Rappahannock. Only a few brigades of Lee's +infantry guarded the works along the river, the bulk of it being so +situated that it could be thrown to either flank toward which the +Union troops approached.</p> + +<p>General Grant adopted the plan of moving by his left flank, with the +purpose of compelling Lee to come out from behind his intrenchments +along Mine Run and fight on equal terms. Grant knew well the +character of country through which he would have to pass, but he was +confident that the difficulties of operation in the thickly wooded +region of the Wilderness would be counterbalanced by the facility +with which his position would enable him to secure a new base; and by +the fact that as he would thus cover Washington, there would be +little or no necessity for the authorities there to detach from his +force at some inopportune moment for the protection of that city.</p> + +<p>In the move forward two divisions of my cavalry took the advance, +Gregg crossing the Rapidan at Ely's ford and Wilson at Germania ford. +Torbert's division remained in the rear to cover the trains and +reserve artillery, holding from Rapidan Station to Culpeper, and +thence through Stevensburg to the Rappahannock River. Gregg crossed +the Rapidan before daylight, in advance of the Second Corps, and when +the latter reached Ely's ford, he pushed on to Chancellorsville; +Wilson preceded the Fifth Corps to Germania ford, and when it reached +the river he made the crossing and moved rapidly by Wilderness +Tavern, as far as Parker's Store, from which point he sent a heavy +reconnoissance toward Mine Run, the rest of his division bivouacking +in a strong position. I myself proceeded to Chancellorsville and +fixed my headquarters at that place, whereon the 5th I was joined by +Torbert's division.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, General Meade had crossed the Rapidan and established his +headquarters not far from Germania ford. From that point he was in +direct communication with Wilson, whose original instructions from me +carried him only as far as Parker's Store, but it being found, during +the night of the 4th, that the enemy was apparently unacquainted with +the occurrences of the day, Meade directed Wilson to advance in the +direction of Craig's Meeting House; leaving one regiment to hold +Parker's Store. Wilson with the second brigade encountered Rosser's +brigade of cavalry just beyond the Meeting House, and drove it back +rapidly a distance of about two miles, holding it there till noon, +while his first brigade was halted on the north side of Robinson's +Run near the junction of the Catharpen and Parker's Store roads.</p> + +<p>Up to this time Wilson had heard nothing of the approach of the Fifth +Corps, and the situation becoming threatening, he withdrew the second +brigade to the position occupied by the first, but scarcely had he +done so when he learned that at an early hour in the forenoon the +enemy's infantry had appeared in his rear at Parker's Store and cut +off his communication with General Meade. Surprised at this, he +determined to withdraw to Todd's Tavern, but before his resolution +could be put into execution the Confederates attacked him with a +heavy force, and at the same time began pushing troops down the +Catharpen road. Wilson was now in a perplexing situation, sandwiched +between the Confederates who had cut him off in the rear at Parker's +store and those occupying the Catharpen road, but he extricated his +command by passing it around the latter force, and reached Todd's +Tavern by crossing the Po River at Corbin's bridge. General Meade +discovering that the enemy had interposed at Parker's store between +Wilson and the Fifth Corps, sent me word to go to Wilson's relief, +and this was the first intimation I received that Wilson had been +pushed out so far, but, surmising that he would retire in the +direction of Todd's Tavern I immediately despatched Gregg's division +there to his relief. Just beyond Todd's Tavern Gregg met Wilson, who +was now being followed by the enemy's cavalry. The pursuing force +was soon checked, and then driven back to Shady Grove Church, while +Wilson's troops fell in behind Gregg's line, somewhat the worse for +their morning's adventure.</p> + +<p>When the Army of the Potomac commenced crossing the Rapidan on the +4th, General J. E. B. Stuart, commanding the Confederate cavalry, +began concentrating his command on the right of Lee's infantry, +bringing it from Hamilton's crossing and other points where it had +been wintering. Stuart's force at this date was a little more than +eight thousand men, organized in two divisions, commanded by Generals +Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee. Hampton's division was composed of +three brigades, commanded by Generals Cordon, Young, and Rosser; +Fitzhugh Lee's division comprised three brigades also, Generals W. H. +F. Lee, Lomax, and Wickham commanding them.</p> + +<p>Information of this concentration, and of the additional fact that +the enemy's cavalry about Hamilton's crossing was all being drawn in, +reached me on the 5th, which obviated all necessity for my moving on +that point as I intended at the onset of the campaign. The +responsibility for the safety of our trains and of the left flank of +the army still continued, however, so I made such dispositions of my +troops as to secure these objects by holding the line of the Brock +road beyond the Furnaces, and thence around to Todd's Tavern and +Piney Branch Church. On the 6th, through some false information, +General Meade became alarmed about his left flank, and sent me the +following note:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +<br>"May 6, 1864.—1 o'clock P. M. +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, +<br>"Commanding Cavalry Corps +<br> +<br>"Your despatch of 11.45 a.m., received. General Hancock has been +heavily pressed, and his left turned. The major-general commanding +thinks that you had better draw in your cavalry, so as to secure the +protection of the trains. The order requiring an escort for the +wagons to-night has been rescinded. +<br> +<br>"A. A. HUMPHREYS, +<br>"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." +</blockquote> +<p> +On the morning of the 6th Custer's and Devin's brigades had been +severely engaged at the Furnaces before I received the above note. +They had been most successful in repulsing the enemy's attacks, +however, and I felt that the line taken up could be held; but the +despatch from General Humphreys was alarming, so I drew all the +cavalry close in toward Chancellorsville. It was found later that +Hancock's left had not been turned, and the points thus abandoned had +to be regained at a heavy cost in killed and wounded, to both the +cavalry and the infantry.</p> + +<p>On the 7th of May, under directions from headquarters, Army of the +Potomac, the trains were put in motion to go into park at Piney +Branch Church, in anticipation of the movement that was about to be +made for the possession of Spottsylvania Court House. I felt +confident that the order to move the trains there had been given +without a full understanding of the situation, for Piney Branch +Church was now held by the enemy, a condition which had resulted from +the order withdrawing the cavalry on account of the supposed disaster +to Hancock's left the day before; but I thought the best way to +remedy matters was to hold the trains in the vicinity of Aldrich's +till the ground on which it was intended to park them should be +regained.</p> + +<p>This led to the battle of Todd's Tavern, a spirited fight for the +possession of the crossroads at that point, participated in by the +enemy's cavalry and Gregg's division, and two brigades of Torbert's +division, the latter commanded by Merritt, as Torbert became very ill +on the 6th, and had to be sent to the rear. To gain the objective +point—the crossroads—I directed Gregg to assail the enemy on the +Catharpen road with Irvin Gregg's brigade and drive him over Corbin's +bridge, while Merritt attacked him with the Reserve brigade on the +Spottsylvania road in conjunction with Davies's brigade of Gregg's +division, which was to be put in on the Piney Branch Church road, and +unite with Merritt's left. Davies's and Irvin Gregg's brigades on my +right and left flanks met with some resistance, yet not enough to +deter them from, executing their orders. In front of Merritt the +enemy held on more stubbornly, however, and there ensued an +exceedingly severe and, at times, fluctuating fight. Finally the +Confederates gave way, and we pursued them almost to Spottsylvania +Court House; but deeming it prudent to recall the pursuers about +dark, I encamped Gregg's and Merritt's divisions in the open fields +to the east of Todd's Tavern.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="merritt"></a><img alt="p251-Merritt.jpg (38K)" src="images/p251-Merritt.jpg" height="595" width="567"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>During the preceding three days the infantry corps of the army had +been engaged in the various conflicts known as the battles of the +Wilderness. The success of the Union troops in those battles had not +been all that was desired, and General Grant now felt that it was +necessary to throw himself on Lee's communications if possible, while +preserving his own intact by prolonging the movement to the left. +Therefore, on the evening of the 7th he determined to shift his whole +army toward Spottsylvania Court House, and initiated the movement by +a night march of the infantry to Todd's Tavern. In view of what was +contemplated, I gave orders to Gregg and Merritt to move at daylight +on the morning of the 8th, for the purpose of gaining possession of +Snell's bridge over the Po River, the former by the crossing at +Corbin's bridge and the latter by the Block House. I also directed +Wilson, who was at Alsop's house, to take possession of Spottsylvania +as early as possible on the morning of the 8th, and then move into +position at Snell's bridge conjointly with the other two divisions. +Wilson's orders remained as I had issued them, so he moved +accordingly and got possession of Spottsylvania, driving the enemy's +cavalry a mile beyond, as will be seen by the following despatch sent +me at 9 A. M. of the 8th:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, +<br>"ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. +<br>"SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, May 8, 1864 9 A. M. +<br>"LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FORSYTH, CHIEF-OF-STAFF, C. C. +<br> +<br>"Have run the enemy's cavalry a mile from Spottsylvania Court House; +have charged them, and drove them through the village; am fighting +now with a considerable force, supposed to be Lee's division. +Everything all right. +<br> +<br>"J. H. WILSON, +<br>"Brigadier-General Commanding. +</blockquote> +<p> +During the night of the 7th General Meade arrived at Todd's Tavern +and modified the orders I had given Gregg and Merritt, directing +Gregg simply to hold Corbin's bridge, and Merritt to move out in +front of the infantry column marching on the Spottsylvania road. +Merritt proceeded to obey, but in advancing, our cavalry and infantry +became intermingled in the darkness, and much confusion and delay was +the consequence. I had not been duly advised of these changes in +Gregg's and Merritt's orders, and for a time I had fears for the +safety of Wilson, but, while he was preparing to move on to form his +junction with Gregg and Merritt at Snell's bridge, the advance of +Anderson (who was now commanding Longstreet's corps) appeared on the +scene and drove him from Spottsylvania.</p> + +<p>Had Gregg and Merritt been permitted to proceed as they were +originally instructed, it is doubtful whether the battles fought at +Spottsylvania would have occurred, for these two divisions would have +encountered the enemy at the Pa River, and so delayed his march as to +enable our infantry to reach Spottsylvania first, and thus force Lee +to take up a line behind the Po. I had directed Wilson to move from +the left by "the Gate" through Spottsylvania to Snell's bridge, while +Gregg and Merritt were to advance to the same point by Shady Grove +and the Block House. There was nothing to prevent at least a partial +success of these operations; that is to say, the concentration of the +three divisions in front of Snell's bridge, even if we could not +actually have gained it. But both that important point and the +bridge on the Block House road were utterly ignored, and Lee's +approach to Spottsylvania left entirely unobstructed, while three +divisions of cavalry remained practically ineffective by reason of +disjointed and irregular instructions.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 8th, when I found that such orders had been +given, I made some strong remonstrances against the course that had +been pursued, but it was then too late to carry out the combinations +I had projected the night before, so I proceeded to join Merritt on +the Spottsylvania road. On reaching Merritt I found General Warren +making complaint that the cavalry were obstructing his infantry +column, so I drew Merritt off the road, and the leading division of +the Fifth Corps pushed up to the front. It got into line about 11 +o'clock, and advanced to take the village, but it did not go very far +before it struck Anderson's corps, and was hurled back with heavy +loss. This ended all endeavor to take Spottsylvania that day.</p> + +<p>A little before noon General Meade sent for me, and when I reached +his headquarters I found that his peppery temper had got the better +of his good judgment, he showing a disposition to be unjust, laying +blame here and there for the blunders that had been committed. He +was particularly severe on the cavalry, saying, among other things, +that it had impeded the march of the Fifth Corps by occupying the +Spottsylvania road. I replied that if this were true, he himself had +ordered it there without my knowledge. I also told him that he had +broken up my combinations, exposed Wilson's division to disaster, and +kept Gregg unnecessarily idle, and further, repelled his insinuations +by saying that such disjointed operations as he had been requiring of +the cavalry for the last four days would render the corps inefficient +and useless before long. Meade was very much irritated, and I was +none the less so. One word brought on another, until, finally, I +told him that I could whip Stuart if he (Meade) would only let me, +but since he insisted on giving the cavalry directions without +consulting or even notifying me, he could henceforth command the +Cavalry Corps himself—that I would not give it another order.</p> + +<p>The acrimonious interview ended with this remark, and after I left +him he went to General Grant's headquarters and repeated the +conversation to him, mentioning that I had said that I could whip +Stuart. At this General Grant remarked: "Did he say so? Then let him +go out and do it." This intimation was immediately acted upon by +General Meade, and a little later the following order came to me:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC +<br>"May 8th, 1864 1 P. M. + +<br><br>"GENERAL SHERIDAN, +<br>"Commanding Cavalry Corps. +<br> +<br>"The major-general commanding directs you to immediately concentrate +your available mounted force, and with your ammunition trains and +such supply trains as are filled (exclusive of ambulances) proceed +against the enemy's cavalry, and when your supplies are exhausted, +proceed via New Market and Green Bay to Haxall's Landing on the James +River, there communicating with General Butler, procuring supplies +and return to this army. Your dismounted men will be left with the +train here. +<br> +<br>"A. A. HUMPHREYS, +<br>"Major-General, Chief-of-staff." +</blockquote> +<p> +As soon as the above order was received I issued instructions for the +concentration of the three divisions of cavalry at Aldrich's to +prepare for the contemplated expedition. Three days' rations for the +men were distributed, and half rations of grain for one day were +doled out for the horses. I sent for Gregg, Merritt, and Wilson and +communicated the order to them, saying at the same time, "We are +going out to fight Stuart's cavalry in consequence of a suggestion +from me; we will give him a fair, square fight; we are strong, and I +know we can beat him, and in view of my recent representations to +General Meade I shall expect nothing but success." I also indicated +to my division commanders the line of march I should take—moving in +one column around the right flank of Lee's army to get in its +rear—and stated at the same time that it was my intention to fight Stuart +wherever he presented himself, and if possible go through to Haxall's +Landing; but that if Stuart should successfully interpose between us +and that point we would swing back to the Army of the Potomac by +passing around the enemy's left flank by way of Gordonsville. At +first the proposition seemed to surprise the division commanders +somewhat, for hitherto even the boldest, mounted expeditions had been +confined to a hurried ride through the enemy's country, without +purpose of fighting more than enough to escape in case of +molestation, and here and there to destroy a bridge. Our move would +be a challenge to Stuart for a cavalry duel behind Lee's lines, in +his own country, but the advantages which it was reasonable to +anticipate from the plan being quickly perceived, each division +commander entered into its support unhesitatingly, and at once set +about preparing for the march next day.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch19"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>THE EXPEDITION STARTS—DESTROYING SUPPLIES—OPENING OF THE FIGHT AT +YELLOW TAVERN—GENERAL CUSTER'S BRILLIANT CHARGE—DEATH OF GENERAL +STUART—REMOVING TORPEDOES—EXCITEMENT IN RICHMOND—A NIGHT +MARCH—ENTERPRISING NEWSBOYS—THE EFFECTS OF STUART'S DEFEAT AND DEATH—END +OF THE FIRST EXPEDITION—ITS GREAT SUCCESS AND BENEFICIAL RESULTS.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="custer"></a><img alt="p305-Custer.jpg (33K)" src="images/p305-Custer.jpg" height="631" width="531"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The expedition which resulted in the battle of Yellow Tavern and the +death of General Stuart started from the vicinity of Aldrich's toward +Fredericksburg early on the morning of May 9, 1864, marching on the +plank-road, Merritt's division leading. When the column reached +Tabernacle Church it headed almost due east to the telegraph road, +and thence down that highway to Thornburg, and from that point +through Childsburg to Anderson's crossing of the North Anna River, it +being my desire to put my command south of that stream if possible, +where it could procure forage before it should be compelled to fight. +The corps moved at a walk, three divisions on the same road, making a +column nearly thirteen miles in length, and marched around the right +flank of the enemy unsuspected until my rear guard had passed +Massaponax Church. Although the column was very long, I preferred to +move it all on one road rather than to attempt combinations for +carrying the divisions to any given point by different routes. +Unless the separate commands in an expedition of this nature are very +prompt in movement, and each fully equal to overcoming at once any +obstacle it may meet, combinations rarely work out as expected; +besides, an engagement was at all times imminent, hence it was +specially necessary to keep the whole force well together.</p> + +<p>As soon as the Ny, Po, and Ta rivers were crossed, each of which +streams would have afforded an excellent defensive line to the enemy, +all anxiety as to our passing around Lee's army was removed, and our +ability to cross the North Anna placed beyond doubt. Meanwhile +General Stuart had discovered what we were about, and he set his +cavalry in motion, sending General Fitzhugh Lee to follow and attack +my rear on the Childsburg road, Stuart himself marching by way of +Davenport's bridge, on the North Anna, toward Beaver Dam Station, +near which place his whole command was directed to unite the next +day.</p> + +<p>My column having passed the Ta River, Stuart attacked its rear with +considerable vigor, in the hope that he could delay my whole force +long enough to permit him to get at least a part of his command in my +front; but this scheme was frustrated by Davies's brigade, which I +directed to fight as a rear-guard, holding on at one position and +then at another along the line of march just enough to deter the +enemy from a too rapid advance. Davies performed this responsible +and trying duty with tact and good judgment, following the main +column steadily as it progressed to the south, and never once +permitting Fitzhugh Lee's advance to encroach far enough to compel a +halt of my main body. About dark Merritt's division crossed the +North Anna at Anderson's ford, while Gregg and Wilson encamped on the +north side, having engaged the enemy, who still hung on my rear up to +a late hour at night.</p> + +<p>After Merritt's division passed the river, Custer's brigade proceeded +on to Beaver Dam Station to cut the Virginia Central railroad. +Before reaching the station he met a small force of the enemy, but +this he speedily drove off, recapturing from it about four hundred +Union prisoners, who had been taken recently in the Wilderness and +were being conducted to Richmond. Custer also destroyed the station, +two locomotives, three trains of cars, ninety wagons, from eight to +ten miles of railroad and telegraph lines, some two hundred thousand +pounds of bacon and other supplies, amounting in all to about a +million and a half of rations, and nearly all they medical stores of +General Lee's army, which had been moved from Orange Court House +either because Lee wished to have them directly in his rear or +because he contemplated falling back to the North Anna.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 10th Gregg and Wilson, while crossing the North +Anna, were again attacked, but were covered by the division on the +south side of the stream; the passage was effected without much loss, +notwithstanding the approach of Stuart on the south bank from the +direction of Davenport's bridge. The possession of Beaver Dam gave +us an important point, as it opened a way toward Richmond by the +Negro-foot road. It also enabled us to obtain forage for our +well-nigh famished animals, and to prepare for fighting the enemy, who, I +felt sure, would endeavor to interpose between my column and +Richmond.</p> + +<p>Stuart had hardly united his troops near Beaver Dam when he realized +that concentrating there was a mistake, so he began making +dispositions for remedying his error, and while we leisurely took the +Negro-foot toad toward Richmond, he changed his tactics and hauled +off from my rear, urging his horses to the death in order to get in +between Richmond and my column. This he effected about 10 o'clock on +the morning of the 11th, concentrating at Yellow Tavern, six miles +from the city, on the Brook turnpike. His change of tactics left my +march on the 10th practically unmolested, and we quietly encamped +that night on the south bank of the South Anna, near Ground Squirrel +Bridge. Here we procured an abundance of forage, and as the distance +traveled that day had been only fifteen to eighteen miles, men and +horses were able to obtain a good rest during the night.</p> + +<p>At 2 o'clock in the morning, May 11, Davies's brigade of Gregg's +division marched for Ashland to cut the Fredericksburg railroad. +Arriving there before the head of the enemy's column, which had to +pass through this same place to reach Yellow Tavern, Davies drove out +a small force occupying the town, burnt a train of cars and a +locomotive, destroyed the railroad for some distance, and rejoined +the main column at Allen's Station on the Fredericksburg and Richmond +railroad. From Allen's Station the whole command moved on Yellow +Tavern, Merritt in the lead, Wilson following, and Gregg in the rear.</p> + +<p>The appearance of Davies's brigade at Ashland in the morning had had +the effect of further mystifying the enemy as to my intentions; and +while he held it incumbent to place himself between me and Richmond, +yet he was still so uncertain of my movements that he committed the +same fault that he did the first day, when he divided his force and +sent a part to follow me on the Childsburg road. He now divided his +command again, sending a portion to hang upon my rear, while he +proceeded with the rest to Yellow Tavern. This separation not only +materially weakened the force which might have been thrown across my +line of march, but it also enabled me to attack with almost my entire +corps, while occupying the pursuers with a small rearguard.</p> + +<p>By forced marches General Stuart succeeded in reaching Yellow Tavern +ahead of me on May 11; and the presence of his troops, on the +Ashland and Richmond road becoming known to Merritt as he was +approaching the Brook turnpike, this general pressed forward at once +to the attack. Pushing his division to the front, he soon got +possession of the turnpike and drove the enemy back several hundred +yards to the east of it. This success had the effect of throwing the +head of my column to the east of the pike, and I quickly brought up +Wilson and one of Gregg's brigades to take advantage of the situation +by forming a line of battle on that side or the road. Meanwhile the +enemy, desperate but still confident, poured in a heavy fire from his +line and from a battery which enfiladed the Brook road, and made +Yellow Tavern an uncomfortably hot place. Gibbs's and Devin's +brigades, however, held fast there, while Custer, supported by +Chapman's brigade, attacked the enemy's left and battery in a mounted +charge.</p> + +<p>Custer's charge, with Chapman on his flank and the rest of Wilson's +division sustaining him, was brilliantly executed. Beginning at a +walk, he increased his gait to a trot, and then at full speed rushed +at the enemy. At the same moment the dismounted troops along my +whole front moved forward, and as Custer went through the battery, +capturing two of the guns with their cannoneers and breaking up the +enemy's left, Gibbs and Devin drove his centre and right from the +field. Gregg meanwhile, with equal success, charged the force in his +rear-Gordon's brigadeand the engagement ended by giving us complete +control of the road to Richmond. We captured a number of prisoners, +and the casualties on both sides were quite severe, General Stuart +himself falling mortally wounded, and General James B. Gordon, one of +his brigade commanders, being killed.</p> + +<p>After Custer's charge, the Confederate cavalry was badly broken up, +the main portion of it being driven in a rout toward Ashland and a +small part in the direction of Richmond, which latter force finally +rejoined Fitzhugh Lee near Mechanicsville. A reconnoitring party +being now sent up the Brook turnpike toward the city, dashed across +the South Fork of the Chickahominy, drove a small force from the +enemy's exterior intrenchments and went within them. I followed this +party, and after a little exploration found between the two lines of +works a country road that led across to the pike which runs from +Mechanicsville to Richmond. I thought we could go around within the +outer line of works by this country road across to the Mechanicsville +pike on the south side of the Chickahominy, and encamp the next night +at Fair Oaks; so I determined to make the movement after dark, being +influenced in this to some extent by reports received during the +afternoon from colored people, to the effect that General B. F. +Butler's army had reached a small stream on the south side of the +James, about four miles south of Richmond. If I could succeed in +getting through by this road, not only would I have a shorter line of +march to Haxall's landing, but there was also a possibility that I +could help Butler somewhat by joining him so near Richmond. +Therefore, after making the wounded as comfortable as possible, we +commenced the march about 11 o'clock on the night of the 1lth, and +massed the command on the plateau south of the Meadow bridge near +daylight on the 12th.</p> + +<p>The enemy, anticipating that I would march by this route, had planted +torpedoes along it, and many of these exploded as the column passed +over them, killing several horses and wounding a few men, but beyond +this we met with no molestation. The torpedoes were loaded shells +planted on each side of the road, and so connected by wires attached +to friction-tubes in the shells, that when a horse's hoof struck a +wire the shell was exploded by the jerk on the improvised lanyard. +After the loss of several horses and the wounding of some of the men +by these torpedoes, I gave directions to have them removed, if +practicable, so about twenty-five of the prisoners were brought up +and made to get down on their knees, feel for the wires in the +darkness, follow them up and unearth the shells. The prisoners +reported the owner of one of the neighboring houses to be the +principal person who had engaged in planting these shells, and I +therefore directed that some of them be carried and placed in the +cellar of his house, arranged to explode if the enemy's column came +that way, while he and his family were brought off as prisoners and +held till after daylight.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the most intense excitement prevailed in Richmond. The +Confederates, supposing that their capital was my objective point, +were straining every effort to put it in a state of defense, and had +collected between four and five thousand irregular troops, under +General Bragg, besides bringing up three brigades of infantry from +the force confronting General Butler south of the James River, the +alarm being intensified by the retreat, after the defeat at Yellow +Tavern, of Stuart's cavalry, now under General Fitzhugh Lee, by way +of Ashland to Mechanicsville, on the north side of the Chickahominy, +for falling back in that direction, left me between them and +Richmond.</p> + +<p>Our march during the night of the 11th was very tedious, on account +of the extreme darkness and frequent showers of rain; but at daylight +on the 12th the head of my column, under Wilson, reached the +Mechanicsville pike. Here Wilson, encountering the enemy's works and +batteries manned by General Bragg's troops, endeavored to pass. In +this he failed, and as soon as I was notified that it was +impracticable to reach Fair Oaks by passing between the works and the +Chickahominy, Custer's brigade was directed to make the crossing to +the north side of the Chickahominy, at the Meadow bridge. Custer +moved rapidly for the bridge, but found it destroyed, and that the +enemy's cavalry was posted on the north side, in front of +Mechanicsville. When this information came back, I ordered Merritt +to take his whole division and repair the bridge, instructing him +that the crossing must be made at all hazards; for, in view of an +impending attack by the enemy's infantry in Richmond, it was +necessary that I should have the bridge as a means of egress in case +of serious disaster.</p> + +<p>All the time that Merritt was occupied in this important duty, the +enemy gave great annoyance to the working party by sweeping the +bridge with a section of artillery and a fire from the supporting +troops, so a small force was thrown across to drive them away. When +Merritt had passed two regiments over, they attacked, but were +repulsed. The work on the bridge continued however, +not-withstanding this discomfiture; and when it was finished, Merritt +crossed nearly all his division, dismounted, and again attacked the +enemy, this time carrying the line, of temporary breastworks, built +with logs and rails, and pursuing his broken troops toward Gaines's +Mills.</p> + +<p>While Merritt was engaged in this affair, the Confederates advanced +from behind their works at Richmond, and attacked Wilson and Gregg. +Wilson's troops were driven back in some confusion at first; but +Gregg, in anticipation of attack, had hidden a heavy line of +dismounted men in a bushy ravine on his front, and when the enemy +marched upon it, with much display and under the eye of the President +of the Confederacy, this concealed line opened a destructive fire +with repeating carbines; and at the same time the batteries of +horse-artillery, under Captain Robinson, joining in the contest, belched +forth shot and shell with fatal effect. The galling fire caused the +enemy to falter, and while still wavering Wilson rallied his men, and +turning some of them against the right flank of the Confederates, +broke their line, and compelled them to withdraw for security behind +the heavy works thrown up for the defense of the city in 1862.</p> + +<p>By destroying the Meadow bridge and impeding my column on the +Mechanicsville, pike, the enemy thought to corner us completely, for +he still maintained the force in Gregg's rear that had pressed it the +day before; but the repulse of his infantry ended all his hopes of +doing us any serious damage on the limited ground between the +defenses of Richmond and the Chickahominy. He felt certain that on +account of the recent heavy rains we could not cross the Chickahominy +except by the Meadow bridge, and it also seemed clear to him that we +could not pass between the river and his intrenchments; therefore he +hoped to ruin us, or at least compel us to return by the same route +we had taken in coming, in which case we would run into Gordon's +brigade, but the signal repulse of Bragg's infantry dispelled these +illusions.</p> + +<p>Even had it not been our good fortune to defeat him, we could have +crossed the Chickahominy if necessary at several points that were +discovered by scouting parties which, while the engagement was going +on, I had sent out to look up fords. This means of getting out from +the circumscribed plateau I did not wish to use, however, unless +there was no alternative, for I wished to demonstrate to the Cavalry +Corps the impossibility of the enemy's destroying or capturing so +large a body of mounted troops.</p> + +<p>The chances of seriously injuring, us were more favorable to the +enemy this time than ever they were afterward, for with the troops +from Richmond, comprising three brigades of veterans and about five +thousand irregulars on my front and right flank, with Gordon's +cavalry in the rear, and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry on my left flank, +holding the Chickahominy and Meadow bridge, I was apparently hemmed +in on every side, but relying on the celerity with which mounted +troops could be moved, I felt perfectly confident that the seemingly +perilous situation could be relieved under circumstances even worse +than those then surrounding us. Therefore, instead of endeavoring to +get away without a fight, I concluded that there would be little +difficulty in withdrawing, even should I be beaten, and none whatever +if I defeated the enemy.</p> + +<p>In accordance with this view I accepted battle; and the complete +repulse of the enemy's infantry, which assailed us from his +intrenchments, and of Gordon's cavalry, which pressed Gregg on the +Brook road, ended the contest in our favor. The rest of the day we +remained on the battle-field undisturbed, and our time was spent in +collecting the wounded, burying the dead, grazing the horses, and +reading the Richmond journals, two small newsboys with commendable +enterprise having come within our lines from the Confederate capital +to sell their papers. They were sharp youngsters, and having come +well supplied, they did a thrifty business. When their stock in +trade was all disposed of they wished to return, but they were so +intelligent and observant that I thought their mission involved other +purposes than the mere sale of newspapers, so they were held till we +crossed the Chickahominy and then turned loose.</p> + +<p>After Merritt had crossed the Chickahominy and reached +Mechanicsville, I sent him orders to push on to Gaines's Mills. Near +the latter place he fell in with the enemy's cavalry again, and +sending me word, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon I crossed the +Chickahominy with Wilson and Gregg, but when we overtook Merritt he +had already brushed the Confederates away, and my whole command went +into camp between Walnut Grove and Gaines's Mills.</p> + +<p>The main purposes of the expedition had now been executed. They were +"to break up General Lee's railroad communications, destroy such +depots of supplies as could be found in his rear, and to defeat +General Stuart's cavalry." Many miles of the Virginia Central and of +the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroads were broken up, and +several of the bridges on each burnt. At Beaver Dam, Ashland, and +other places, about two millions of rations had been captured and +destroyed. The most important of all, however, was the defeat of +Stuart. Since the beginning of the war this general had +distinguished himself by his management of the Confederate mounted +force. Under him the cavalry of Lee's army had been nurtured, and +had acquired such prestige that it thought itself well-nigh +invincible; indeed, in the early years of the war it had proved to be +so. This was now dispelled by the successful march we had made in +Lee's rear; and the discomfiture of Stuart at Yellow Tavern had +inflicted a blow from which entire recovery was impossible.</p> + +<p>In its effect on the Confederate cause the defeat of Stuart was most +disheartening, but his death was even a greater calamity, as is +evidenced by the words of a Confederate writer (Cooke), who says: +"Stuart could be ill spared at this critical moment, and General Lee +was plunged into the deepest melancholy at the intelligence of his +death. When it reached him he retired from those around him, and +remained for some time communing with his own heart and memory. When +one of his staff entered and spoke of Stuart, General Lee said: 'I +can scarcely think of him without weeping.'"</p> + +<p>From the camp near Gaines's Mills I resumed the march to Haxall's +Landing, the point on the James River contemplated in my instructions +where I was to obtain supplies from General Butler. We got to the +James on the 14th with all our wounded and a large number of +prisoners, and camped between Haxall's and Shirley. The prisoners, +as well as the captured guns, were turned over to General Butler's +provost-marshal, and our wounded were quickly and kindly cared for by +his surgeons. Ample supplies, also, in the way of forage and +rations, were furnished us by General Butler, and the work of +refitting for our return to the Army of the Potomac was vigorously +pushed. By the 17th all was ready, and having learned by scouting +parties sent in the direction of Richmond and as far as Newmarket +that the enemy's cavalry was returning to Lee's army I started that +evening on my return march, crossing the Chickahominy at Jones's +bridge, and bivouacking on the 19th near Baltimore crossroads.</p> + +<p>My uncertainty of what had happened to the Army of the Potomac in our +absence, and as to where I should find it, made our getting back a +problem somewhat difficult of solution, particularly as I knew that +reinforcements for Lee had come up from the south to Richmond, and +that most likely some of these troops were being held at different +points on the route to intercept my column. Therefore I determined +to pass the Pamunkey River at the White House, and sent to Fort +Monroe for a pontoon-bridge on which to make the crossing. While +waiting for the pontoons I ordered Custer to proceed with his brigade +to Hanover Station, to destroy the railroad bridge over the South +Anna, a little beyond that place; at the same time I sent Gregg and +Wilson to Cold Harbor, to demonstrate in the direction of Richmond as +far as Mechanicsville, so as to cover Custer's movements. Merritt, +with the remaining brigades of his division, holding fast at +Baltimore crossroads to await events.</p> + +<p>After Gregg and Custer had gone, it was discovered that the railroad +bridge over the Pamunkey, near the White House, had been destroyed +but partially—the cross-ties and stringers being burned in places +only—and that it was practicable to repair it sufficiently to carry +us over. In view of this information General Merritt's two brigades +were at once put on the duty of reconstructing the bridge. By +sending mounted parties through the surrounding country, each man of +which would bring in a board or a plank, Merritt soon accumulated +enough lumber for the flooring, and in one day the bridge was made +practicable. On the 22d Gregg, Wilson, and Custer returned. The +latter had gone on his expedition as far as Hanover Station, +destroyed some commissary stores there, and burned two trestle +bridges over Hanover Creek. This done, he deemed it prudent to +retire to Hanovertown. The next morning he again marched to Hanover +Station, and there ascertained that a strong force of the enemy, +consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, was posted at the +South Anna bridges. These troops had gone there from Richmond en +route to reinforce Lee. In the face of this impediment Custer's +mission could not be executed fully, so he returned to Baltimore +crossroads.</p> + +<p>The whole command was drawn in by noon of the 22d, and that day it +crossed the Pamunkey by Merritt's reconstructed bridge, marching to +Ayletts, on the Mattapony River, the same night. Here I learned from +citizens, and from prisoners taken during the day by scouting parties +sent toward Hanover Court House, that Lee had been, forced from his +position near Spottsylvania Court House and compelled to retire to +the line of the North Anna. I then determined to rejoin the Army of +the Potomac at the earliest moment, which I did by making for +Chesterfield Station, where I reported to General Meade on the 24th +of May.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p391"></a><img alt="p391.jpg (112K)" src="images/p391.jpg" height="1033" width="623"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Our return to Chesterfield ended the first independent expedition the +Cavalry Corps had undertaken since coming under my command, and our +success was commended highly by Generals Grant and Meade, both +realizing that our operations in the rear of Lee had disconcerted and +alarmed that general so much as to aid materially in forcing his +retrograde march, and both acknowledged that, by drawing off the +enemy's cavalry during the past fortnight, we had enabled them to +move the Army of the Potomac and its enormous trains without +molestation in the manoeuvres that had carried it to the North Anna. +Then, too, great quantities of provisions and munitions of war had +been destroyed—stores that the enemy had accumulated at sub-depots +from strained resources and by difficult means; the railroads that +connected Lee with Richmond broken, the most successful cavalry +leader of the South killed, and in addition to all this there had +been inflicted on the Confederate mounted troops the most thorough +defeat that had yet befallen them in Virginia.</p> + +<p>When the expedition set out the Confederate authorities in Richmond +were impressed, and indeed convinced, that my designs contemplated +the capture of that city, and notwithstanding the loss they sustained +in the defeat and death of Stuart, and their repulse the succeeding +day, they drew much comfort from the fact that I had not entered +their capital. Some Confederate writers have continued to hold this +theory and conviction since the war. In this view they were and are +in error. When Stuart was defeated the main purpose of my +instructions had been carried out, and my thoughts then turned to +joining General Butler to get supplies. I believed that I could do +this by cutting across to the Mechanicsville pike and Fair Oaks on +the south side of the Chickahominy, but the failure of Wilson's +column to get possession of the outwork which commanded the pike +necessitated my crossing at Meadow bridge, and then moving by +Mechanicsville and Gaines's Mills instead of by the shorter route. +Moreover, my information regarding General Butler's position was +incorrect, so that even had I been successful in getting to Fair Oaks +by the direct road I should still have gained nothing thereby, for I +should still have been obliged to continue down the James River to +Haxall's.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch20"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>GENERAL WILSON'S ADVANCE TOWARD HANOVER COURT HOUSE—CROSSING THE +PAMUNKEY—ENGAGEMENT OF HAWE'S SHOP—FIGHT AT MATADEQUIN +CREEK—CAPTURE OF COLD HARBOR—THE FIGHT TO RETAIN THE PLACE—MOVEMENTS OF +GENERAL WILSON.</p> + +<p>When I rejoined the Army of the Potomac, near Chesterfield Station, +the heavy battles around Spottsylvania had been fought, and the +complicated manoeuvres by which the whole Union force was swung +across the North Anna were in process of execution. In conjunction +with these manoeuvres Wilson's division was sent to the right flank +of the army, where he made a reconnoissance south of the North Anna +as far as Little River, crossing the former stream near Jericho +Mills. Wilson was to operate from day to day on that flank as it +swung to the south, covering to New Castle ferry each advance of the +infantry and the fords left behind on the march. From the 26th to +the 30th these duties kept Wilson constantly occupied, and also +necessitated a considerable dispersion of his force, but by the 31st +he was enabled to get all his division together again, and crossing +to the south side of the Pamunkey at New Castle ferry, he advanced +toward Hanover Court House. Near Dr Pride's house he encountered a +division of the enemy's cavalry under General W. H. F. Lee, and drove +it back across Mechamp's Creek, thus opening communication with the +right of our infantry resting near Phillips's Mills. Just as this +had been done, a little before dark, Wilson received an order from +General Meade directing him to push on toward Richmond until he +encountered the Confederates in such strength that he could no longer +successfully contend against them, and in compliance with this order +occupied Hanover Court House that same day. Resuming his march at +daylight on June 1, he went ahead on the Ashland road while sending +Chapman's brigade up the south bank of the South Anna to destroy the +bridges on that stream. Chapman having succeeded in this work, +Wilson re-united his whole command and endeavored to hold Ashland, +but finding the Confederate cavalry and infantry there in strong +force, he was obliged to withdraw to Dr. Price's house. Here he +learned that the army had gone to the left toward Cold Harbor, so on +the 2d of June he moved to Hawe's Shop.</p> + +<p>While Wilson was operating thus on the right, I had to cover with +Gregg's and Torbert's divisions the crossing of the army over the +Pamunkey River at and near Hanovertown. Torbert having recovered +from the illness which overtook him in the Wilderness, had now +returned to duty. The march to turn the enemy's right began on the +26th. Torbert and Gregg in advance, to secure the crossings of the +Pamunkey and demonstrate in such manner as to deceive the enemy as +much as possible in the movement, the two cavalry divisions being +supported by General D. A. Russell's division of the Sixth Corps.</p> + +<p>To attain this end in the presence of an ever-watchful foe who had +just recently been reinforced in considerable numbers from Richmond +and further south—almost enough to make up the losses he had +sustained in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania—required the most +vigorous and zealous work on the part of those to whom had been +allotted the task of carrying out the initial manoeuvres. Torbert +started for Taylor's ford on the Pamunkey with directions to +demonstrate heavily at that point till after dark, as if the crossing +was to be made there, and having thus impressed the enemy, he was to +leave a small guard, withdraw quietly, and march to Hanovertown ford, +where the real crossing was to be effected. Meanwhile Gregg marched +to Littlepage's crossing of the Pamunkey, with instructions to make +feints in the same manner as Torbert until after dark, when he was to +retire discreetly, leaving a small force to keep up the +demonstration, and then march rapidly to Hanovertown crossing, taking +with him the pontoon-bridge.</p> + +<p>At the proper hour Russell took up the march and followed the +cavalry. The troops were in motion all night, undergoing the usual +delays incident to night marches, and, early on the morning of the +27th the crossing was made, Custer's brigade of Torbert's division +driving from the ford about one hundred of the enemy's cavalry, and +capturing between thirty and forty prisoners. The remainder of +Torbert's division followed this brigade and advanced to Hanovertown, +where General Gordon's brigade of Confederate cavalry was met. +Torbert attacked this force with Devin's brigade, while he sent +Custer to Hawe's Shop, from which point a road leading to the right +was taken that brought him in rear of the enemy's cavalry; when the +Confederates discovered this manoeuvre, they retired in the direction +of Hanover Court House. Pursuit continued as far as a little stream +called Crump's Creek, and here Torbert was halted, Gregg moving up on +his line meanwhile, and Russell encamping near the crossing of the +river. This completed our task of gaining a foothold south of the +Pamunkey, and on the 28th the main army crossed unharassed and took +up a position behind my line, extending south from the river, with +the Sixth Corps on the right across the Hanover Court House road at +Crump's Creek, the Second Corps on the left of the Sixth, and the +Fifth Corps about two miles in front of Hanovertown, its left +extending to the Tolopotomy.</p> + +<p>There was now much uncertainty in General Grant's mind as to the +enemy's whereabouts, and there were received daily the most +conflicting statements as to the nature of Lee's movements. It +became necessary, therefore, to find out by an actual demonstration +what Lee was doing, and I was required to reconnoitre in the +direction of Mechanicsville. For this purpose I moved Gregg's +division out toward this town by way of Hawe's Shop, and when it had +gone about three-fourths of a mile beyond the Shop the enemy's +cavalry was discovered dismounted and disposed behind a temporary +breastwork of rails and logs.</p> + +<p>This was the first occasion on which, since the battle of Yellow +Tavern, the Confederate troopers had confronted us in large numbers, +their mounted operations, like ours, having been dependent more or +less on the conditions that grew out of the movements in which Lee's +infantry had been engaged since the 14th of May.</p> + +<p>On that date General Lee had foreshadowed his intention of using his +cavalry in connection with the manoeuvres of his infantry by issuing +an order himself, now that Stuart was dead, directing that the "three +divisions of cavalry serving with the army [Lee's] will constitute +separate commands, and will report directly to and receive orders +from the headquarters of the army." The order indicates that since +Stuart's death the Confederate cavalry had been re-organized into +three divisions, that were commanded respectively by General Wade +Hampton, General Fitzhugh Lee, and General W. H. F. Lee, the +additional division organization undoubtedly growing out of the fact, +that General M. C. Butler's brigade of about four thousand men had +joined recently from South Carolina.</p> + +<p>When this force developed in Gregg's front, he attacked the moment +his troops could be dismounted; and the contest became one of +exceeding stubborness, for he found confronting him Hampton's and +Fitzhugh Lee's divisions, supported by what we then supposed to be a +brigade of infantry, but which, it has since been ascertained, was +Butler's brigade of mounted troops; part of them armed with +long-range rifles. The contest between the opposing forces was of the +severest character and continued till late in the evening. The +varying phases of the fight prompted me to reinforce Gregg as much as +possible, so I directed Custer's brigade to report to him, sending, +meanwhile, for the other two brigades of Torbert, but these were not +available at the time—on account of delays which occurred in +relieving them from the line at Crump's Creek—and did not get up +till the fight was over. As soon as Custer joined him, Gregg +vigorously assaulted the Confederate position along his whole front; +and notwithstanding the long-range rifles of the South Carolinians, +who were engaging in their first severe combat it appears, and fought +most desperately, he penetrated their barricades at several points.</p> + +<p>The most determined and obstinate efforts for success were now made +on both sides, as the position at Hawe's Shop had become of very +great importance on account of the designs of both Lee and Grant. +Lee wished to hold this ground while he manoeuvred his army to the +line of the Tolopotomy, where he could cover the roads to Richmond, +while Grant, though first sending me out merely to discover by a +strong reconnoissance the movements of the enemy, saw the value of +the place to cover his new base at the White House, and also to give +us possession of a direct road to Cold Harbor. Hawe's Shop remained +in our possession finally, for late in the evening Custer's brigade +was dismounted and formed in close column in rear of Gregg, and while +it assaulted through an opening near the centre of his line, the +other two brigades advanced and carried the temporary works. The +enemy's dead and many of his wounded fell into our hands; also a +considerable number of prisoners, from whom we learned that +Longstreet's and Ewell's corps were but four miles to the rear.</p> + +<p>The battle was a decidedly severe one, the loss on each side being +heavy in proportion to the number of troops engaged. This fight took +place almost immediately in front of our infantry, which, during the +latter part of the contest, was busily occupied in throwing up +intrenchments. Late in the afternoon I reported to General Meade the +presence of the enemy's infantry, and likewise that Hampton's and +Fitzhugh Lee's divisions were in my front also, and asked, at the +same time; that some of our infantry, which was near at hand, be sent +to my assistance. I could not convince Meade that anything but the +enemy's horse was fighting us, however, and he declined to push out +the foot-troops, who were much wearied by night marches. It has been +ascertained since that Meade's conclusions were correct in so far as +they related to the enemy's infantry; but the five cavalry brigades +far outnumbered my three, and it is to be regretted that so much was +risked in holding a point that commanded the roads to Cold Harbor and +Meadow bridge, when there was at hand a preponderating number of +Union troops which might have been put into action. However, Gregg's +division and Custer's brigade were equal to the situation, all +unaided as they were till dark, when Torbert and Merritt came on the +ground. The contest not only gave us the crossroads, but also +removed our uncertainty regarding Lee's movements, clearly +demonstrating that his army was retiring by its right flank, so that +it might continue to interpose between Grant and the James River; as +well as cover the direct route to Richmond.</p> + +<p>General Lee reported this battle to his Government as a Confederate +victory, but his despatch was sent early in the day, long before the +fight ended, and evidently he could not have known the final result +when he made the announcement, for the fight lasted until dark. +After dark, our own and the Confederate dead having been buried, I +withdrew, and moving to the rear of our infantry, marched all night +and till I reached the vicinity of Old Church, where I had been +instructed to keep a vigilant watch on the enemy with Gregg's and +Torbert's divisions. As soon as I had taken position at Old Church +my pickets were pushed out in the direction of Cold Harbor, and the +fact that the enemy was holding that point in some force was clearly +ascertained. But our occupation of Cold Harbor was of the utmost +importance; indeed, it was absolutely necessary that we should +possess it, to secure our communications with the White House, as +well as to cover the extension of our line to the left toward the +James River. Roads from Bethesda Church, Old Church, and the White +House centred at Cold Harbor, and from there many roads diverged also +toward different crossings of the Chickahominy, which were +indispensable to us.</p> + +<p>The enemy too realized the importance of the place, for as soon as he +found himself compelled to take up the line of the Tolopotomy he +threw a body of troops into Cold Harbor by forced marches, and +followed it up by pushing a part of this force out on the Old Church +road as far as Matadequin Creek, where he established a line of +battle, arranging the front of it parallel to the road along the +south bank of the Pamunkey; this for the purpose of endangering our +trains as they moved back and forth between the army and the White +House.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile I had occupied Old Church and pushed pickets down toward +Cold Harbor. The outposts struck each other just north of Matadequin +Creek, and a spirited fight immediately took place. At first our +pickets were sorely pressed, but Torbert, who was already preparing +to make a reconnoissance, lost no time in reinforcing them on the +north side of the creek with Devin's brigade. The fight then became +general, both sides, dismounted, stubbornly contesting the ground. +Of the Confederates, General Butler's South Carolinians bore the +brunt of the fight, and, strongly posted as they were on the south +bank of the creek, held their ground with the same obstinacy they had +previously shown at Hawe's Shop. Finally, however, Torbert threw +Merritt's and Custer's brigades into the action, and the enemy +retired, we pursuing to within a mile and a half of Cold Harbor and +capturing a number of prisoners. Gregg's division took no part in +the actual fighting, but remained near Old Church observing the roads +on Torberts flanks, one leading toward Bethesda Church on his right, +the other to his left in the direction of the White House. This +latter road Gregg was particularly instructed to keep open, so as to +communicate with General W. F. Smith, who was then debarking his +corps at the White House, and on the morning of the 31st this +general's advance was covered by a brigade which Gregg had sent him +for the purpose.</p> + +<p>Torbert having pursued toward Cold Harbor the troops he fought at +Matadequin Creek, had taken up a position about a mile and a half +from that place, on the Old Church road. The morning of the 31st I +visited him to arrange for his further advance, intending thus to +anticipate an expected attack from Fitzhugh Lee, who was being +reinforced by infantry. I met Torbert at Custer's headquarters, and +found that the two had already been talking over a scheme to capture +Cold Harbor, and when their plan was laid before me it appeared so +plainly feasible that I fully endorsed it, at once giving directions +for its immediate execution, and ordering Gregg to come forward to +Torbert's support with such troops as he could spare from the duty +with which he had been charged.</p> + +<p>Torbert moved out promptly, Merritt's brigade first, followed by +Custer's, on the direct road to Cold Harbor, while Devin's brigade +was detached, and marched by a left-hand road that would bring him in +on the right and rear of the enemy's line, which was posted in front +of the crossroads. Devin was unable to carry his part of the +programme farther than to reach the front of the Confederate right, +and as Merritt came into position to the right of the Old Church road +Torbert was obliged to place a part of Custer's brigade on Merritt's +left so as to connect with Devin. The whole division was now in +line, confronted by Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, supported by Clingman's +brigade from Hoke's division of infantry; and from the Confederate +breastworks, hastily constructed out of logs, rails, and earth, a +heavy fire was already being poured upon us that it seemed impossible +to withstand. None of Gregg's division had yet arrived, and so +stubborn was the enemy's resistance that I began to doubt our ability +to carry the place before reinforcements came up, but just then +Merritt reported that he could turn the enemy's left, and being +directed to execute his proposition, he carried it to a most +successful issue with the First and Second regular cavalry. Just as +these two regiments passed around the enemy's left and attacked his +rear, the remainder of the division assailed him in front. This +manoeuvre of Merritt's stampeded the Confederates, and the defenses +falling into our hands easily, we pushed ahead on the Bottom's bridge +road three-fourths of a mile beyond Cold Harbor.</p> + +<p>Cold Harbor was now mine, but I was about nine miles away from our +nearest infantry, and had been able to bring up only Davies's brigade +of cavalry, which arrived after the fight. My isolated position +therefore made me a little uneasy. I felt convinced that the enemy +would attempt to regain the place, for it was of as much importance +to him as to us, and the presence of his infantry disclosed that he +fully appreciated this. My uneasiness increased as the day grew +late, for I had learned from prisoners that the balance of Hoke's +division was en route to Cold Harbor, and Kershaw near at hand, +interposing between the Union left near Bethesda Church and my +position. In view of this state of affairs, I notified General Meade +that I had taken Cold Harbor, but could not with safety to my command +hold it, and forthwith gave directions to withdraw during the night. +The last of my troops had scarcely pulled out, however, when I +received a despatch from Meade directing me to hold Cold Harbor at +every hazard. General Grant had expected that a severe battle would +have to be fought before we could obtain possession of the place; and +its capture by our cavalry not being anticipated, no preparation had +been made for its permanent occupancy. No time was to be lost, +therefore, if the advantages which possession of Cold Harbor gave us +were to be improved, so at the same hour that Meade ordered me to +hold the place at all hazards the Sixth Corps was started on a forced +march, by Grant's directions, to aid in that object, and on arrival +to relieve my cavalry.</p> + +<p>The moment Meade's order was received, I directed a reoccupation of +Cold Harbor, and although a large portion of Torbert's command was +already well on its way back to the line we held on the morning of +the 31st, this force speedily retraced its steps, and re-entered the +place before daylight; both our departure and return having been +effected without the enemy being aware of our movements. We now +found that the temporary breastworks of rails and logs which the +Confederates had built were of incalculable benefit to us in +furnishing material with which to establish a line of defense, they +being made available by simply reversing them at some points, or at +others wholly reconstructing them to suit the circumstances of the +ground: The troops, without reserves, were then placed behind our +cover dismounted, boxes of ammunition distributed along the line, and +the order passed along that the place must be held. All this was +done in the darkness, and while we were working away at our cover the +enemy could be distinctly heard from our skirmish-line giving +commands and making preparations to attack.</p> + +<p>Just after daylight on the 1st of June the Confederate infantry under +General Kershaw endeavored to drive us out, advancing against my +right from the Bethesda Church road. In his assault he was permitted +to come close up to our works, and when within short range such afire +was opened on him from our horse-artillery and repeating carbines +that he recoiled in confusion after the first onset; still, he seemed +determined to get the place, and after reorganizing, again attacked; +but the lesson of the first repulse was not without effect, and his +feeble effort proved wholly fruitless. After his second failure we +were left undisturbed, and at 9 A.M. I sent the following despatch to +army headquarters:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, +<br>"ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. +<br>"Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864—9 A.M. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL HUMPHREYS, +<br>"Chief-of-Staff. +<br> +<br>"GENERAL: In obedience to your instructions I am holding Cold Harbor. +I have captured this morning more prisoners; they belong to three +different infantry brigades. The enemy assaulted the right of my +lines this morning, but were handsomely repulsed. I have been very +apprehensive, but General Wright is now coming up. I built slight +works for my men; the enemy came up to them, and were driven back. +General Wright has just arrived. +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br>"Major-General Commanding." +</blockquote> +<p> +About 10 o'clock in the morning the Sixth Corps relieved Torbert and +Davies, having marched all night, and these two generals moving out +toward the Chickahominy covered the left of the infantry line till +Hancock's corps took their place in the afternoon. By this time +Gregg had joined me with his two brigades, and both Torbert and Gregg +were now marched to Prospect Church, from which point I moved them to +a position on the north side of the Chickahominy at Bottom's bridge. +Here the enemy's cavalry confronted us, occupying the south bank of +the stream, with artillery in position at the fords prepared to +dispute our passage; but it was not intended that we should cross; so +Gregg and Torbert lay quiet in camp at Bottom's bridge and at Old +Church without noteworthy event until the 6th of June.</p> + +<p>As before related, Wilson's division struck the enemy's infantry as +well as W. H. F. Lee's cavalry near Ashland on the 1st of June, and +although Chapman destroyed the bridges over the South Anna, which was +his part of the programme, Wilson found it necessary to return to +Price's Store. From this point he continued to cover the right of +the Army of the Potomac, on the 2d of June driving the rear-guard of +the enemy from Hawe's Shop, the scene of the battle of May 28. The +same day he crossed Tolopotomy Creek, and passed around the enemy's +left flank so far that Lee thought his left was turned by a strong +force, and under cover of darkness withdrew from a menacing position +which he was holding in front of the Ninth Corps. This successful +manoeuvre completed, Wilson returned to Hawe's Shop, and on the 4th +went into camp at New Castle ferry, in anticipation of certain +operations of the Cavalry Corps, which were to take place while the +Army of the Potomac was crossing to the south side of the James.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch21"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>THE MOVEMENT TO THE JAMES—THE SECOND EXPEDITION—BATTLE OF +TREVILLIAN STATION—DEFEAT OF GENERAL WADE HAMPTON—MALLORY'S +CROSSROADS—SUFFERING OF THE WOUNDED—SECURING THE TRAINS—GENERAL +GREGG'S STUBBORN FIGHT.</p> + +<p>By the 6th of June General Grant again determined to continue the +movement of the army by its left flank to the south bank of the James +River, his unsuccessful attack on the enemy's works near Cold Harbor +having demonstrated that Lee's position north of the Chickahominy +could not be carried by assault with results that would compensate +for the enormous loss of life which must follow; therefore a further +attempt to fight a decisive battle north of Richmond was abandoned. +In carrying the army to the James River the hazardous manoeuvres +would be hampered by many obstacles, such as the thick timber, +underbrush, and troublesome swamps to be met in crossing the +Chickahominy. Besides, Lee held an interior line, from which all the +direct roads to Richmond could be covered with his infantry, leaving +his cavalry free to confront our advance on the south bank of the +Chickahominy as far down as Jones's bridge, and thence around to +Charles City Court House. In view of these difficulties it became +necessary to draw off the bulk of the enemy's cavalry while the +movement to the James was in process of execution, and General Meade +determined to do this by requiring me to proceed with two divisions +as far as Charlottesville to destroy the railroad bridge over the +Rivanna River near that town, the railroad itself from the Rivanna to +Gordonsville, and, if practicable, from Gordonsville back toward +Hanover Junction also.</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +<br>"June 5, 1864. 3.30 P. M. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Commanding Cavalry Corps. +<br> +<br>"I am directed by the major-general commanding to furnish the +following instructions for your guidance in the execution of the duty +referred to in the order for movements and changes of position +to-night, a copy of which order accompanies this communication. +<br> +<br>"With two divisions of your corps you will move on the morning of the +7th instant to Charlottesville and destroy the railroad bridge over +the Rivanna near that town; you will then thoroughly destroy the +railroad from that point to Gordonsville, and from Gordonsville +toward Hanover Junction, and to the latter point, if practicable. +The chief engineer, Major Duane, will furnish you a canvas +pontoon-train of eight boats. The chief quartermaster will supply you with +such tools, implements, and materials as you may require for the +destruction of the road. Upon the completion of this duty you will +rejoin this army. +<br> +<br>"A. HUMPHREYS, +<br>"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." +</blockquote> +<p> +After Meade's instructions reached me they were somewhat modified by +General Grant, who on the same evening had received information that +General Hunter, commanding the troops in West Virginia, had reached +Staunton and engaged with advantage the Confederate commander, +General Jones, near that place. General Grant informed me orally +that he had directed Hunter to advance as far as Charlottesville, +that he expected me to unite with him there, and that the two +commands, after destroying the James River canal and the Virginia +Central road, were to join the Army of the Potomac in the manner +contemplated in my instructions from General Meade; and that in view +of what was anticipated, it would be well to break up as much of the +railroad as possible on my way westward. A copy of his letter to +Hunter comprised my written instructions. A junction with this +general was not contemplated when the expedition was first conceived, +but became an important though not the paramount object after the +reception of the later information. The diversion of the enemy's +cavalry from the south side of the Chickahominy was its main purpose, +for in the presence of such a force as Lee's contracted lines would +now permit him to concentrate behind the Chickahominy, the +difficulties of crossing that stream would be largely increased if he +also had at hand a strong body of horse, to gain the time necessary +for him to oppose the movement at the different crossings with masses +of his infantry.</p> + +<p>The order calling for two divisions for the expedition, I decided to +take Gregg's and Torbert's, leaving Wilson's behind to continue with +the infantry in its march to the James and to receive instructions +directly from, the headquarters of the army. All my dismounted men +had been sent to the White House some days before, and they were +directed to report to Wilson as they could be provided with mounts.</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1964. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER, Commanding Dept West Virginia. +<br> +<br>"General Sheridan leaves here to-morrow morning with instructions to +proceed to Charlottesville, Va., and to commence there the +destruction of the Virginia Central railroad, destroying this way as +much as possible. The complete destruction of this road and of the +canal on James River is of great importance to us. According to the +instructions I sent to General Halleck for your guidance, you will +proceed to Lynchburg and commence there. It would be of great value +to us to get possession of Lynchburg for a single day. But that +point is of so much importance to the enemy, that in attempting to +get it such resistance may be met as to defeat your getting into the +road or canal at all. I see, in looking over the letter to General +Halleck on the subject of your instructions, that it rather indicates +that your route should be from Staunton via Charlottesville. If you +have so understood it, you will be doing just what I want. The +direction I would now give is, that if this letter reaches you in the +valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you immediately turn east by +the most practicable road until you strike the Lynchburg branch of +the Virginia Central road. From there move eastward along the line +of the road, destroying it completely and thoroughly, until you join +General Sheridan. After the work laid out for General Sheridan and +yourself is thoroughly done, proceed to join the Army of the Potomac +by the route laid out in General Sheridan's instructions. If any +portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed back in +your department, you are authorized to send it back. If on receipt +of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem it practicable to +reach that point, you will exercise your judgment about going there. +If you should be on the railroad between Charlottesville and +Lynchburg, it may be practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy +the canal. Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." +</blockquote> +<p> +Owing to the hard service of the preceding month we had lost many +horses, so the number of dismounted men was large; and my strength +had also been much reduced by killed and wounded during the same +period of activity. The effective mounted force of my two divisions +was therefore much diminished, they mustering only about six thousand +officers and men when concentrated on June 6 at New Castle ferry. +Here they were provided with three days' rations, intended to last +five days, and with two days' grain for the horses. The rations and +forty rounds of ammunition per man were to be carried on the persons +of the troopers, the grain on the pommel of the saddle, and the +reserve ammunition in wagons. One medical wagon and eight ambulances +were also furnished, and one wagon was authorized for each division +and brigade headquarters; enough canvas-covered boats for a small +pontoon-bridge were also provided.</p> + +<p>My instructions permitting latitude in the route I should take, I +decided to march along the north bank of the North Anna River, cross +that stream at Carpenter's ford, strike the Virginia Central railroad +at Trevillian Station, destroy it toward Louisa Court House, march +past Gordonsville, strike the railroad again at Cobham's Station, and +destroy it thence to Charlottesville as we proceeded west. The +success of the last part of this programme would of course depend on +the location of General Hunter when I should arrive in the region +where it would be practicable for us to communicate with each other.</p> + +<p>From my camp at New Castle ferry we crossed the Pamunkey, marched +between Aylett's and Dunkirk on the Mattapony River, and on the 8th +of June encamped at Polecat Station. The next day we resumed the +march along the North Anna—our advance guard skirmishing with a few +mounted men of the enemy, who proved to be irregulars—and bivouacked +on Northeast Creek, near Young's Mills. This day I learned from some +of these irregulars whom we made prisoners that Breckenridge's +division of infantry, en route to the Shenandoah Valley by way of +Gordonsville, was passing slowly up the railroad parallel to me, and +that the enemy's cavalry had left its position on the south side of +the Chickahominy, and was marching on the old Richmond and +Gordonsville road toward Gordonsville, under command of General Wade +Hampton, the information being confirmed by a scouting party sent out +to cut the telegraph wires along the railroad in the night. +Breckenridge had been ordered back to the valley by General Lee as +soon as he heard of Hunter's victory near Staunton, but now that my +expedition had been discovered, the movement of Breckenridge's troops +on the railroad was being timed to correspond with the marches of my +command till Hampton could get more nearly parallel with me.</p> + +<p>On the 10th we resumed the march, passing by Twyman's store, crossing +the North Anna at Carpenter's ford and encamping on the road leading +along the south fork of the North Anna to Trevillian Station. During +the evening and night of the 10th the boldness of the enemy's +scouting parties, with which we had been coming into collision more +or less every day, perceptibly increased, thus indicating the +presence of a large force, and evidencing that his shorter line of +march had enabled him to bring to my front a strong body of cavalry, +although it started from Lee's army nearly two days later than I did +from Grant's. The arrival of this body also permitted Breckenridge +to pass on to Gordonsville, and from there to interpose between +General Hunter and me at either Charlottesville or Waynesboro' as +circumstances might determine.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 10th General Hampton's division camped about +three miles northwest of Trevillian, at a place called Green Spring +Valley and Fitzhugh Lee's division not far from Louisa Court House, +some six miles east of Trevillian. Learning that I was at +Carpenter's ford, Hampton marched his division by way of Trevillian +Station toward Clayton's store, on the road from Trevillian to +Carpenter's ford, intending to attack me at Clayton's. Fitzhugh +Lee's division was to join Hampton at Clayton's store from Louisa +Court House; but on the morning of the 11th the two generals were +separated by several miles.</p> + +<p>At daylight of the 11th my march, to Trevillian Station was resumed +on the direct road to that point, and engaging the enemy's pickets +and advanced parties soon after setting out, we began to drive them +in. Torbert had the lead with Merritt's and Devin's brigades, and as +he pressed back the pickets he came upon the enemy posted behind a +line of barricades in dense timber about three miles from Trevillian. +Meanwhile Custer's brigade had been sent from where we bivouacked, by +a wood road found on our left, to destroy Trevillian Station. In +following this road Custer got to the rear of Hampton's division, +having passed between its right flank and Fitzhugh Lee's division, +which was at the time marching on the road leading from Louisa Court +House to Clayton's store to unite with Hampton.</p> + +<p>Custer, the moment he found himself in Hampton's rear, charged the +led horses, wagons, and caissons found there, getting hold of a vast +number of each, and also of the station itself. The stampede and +havoc wrought by Custer in Hampton's rear compelled him to turn +Rosser's brigade in that direction, and while it attacked Custer on +one side, Fitzhugh Lee's division, which had followed Custer toward +Trevillian, attacked him on the other. There then ensued a desperate +struggle for the possession of the captured property, resulting +finally in its being retaken by the enemy. Indeed, the great number +of horses and vehicles could not be kept on the limited space within +Custer's line, which now formed almost a complete circle; and while +he was endeavoring to remove them to a secure place they, together +with Custer's headquarters wagon and four of his caissons, fell into +the hands of their original owners.</p> + +<p>As soon as the firing told that Custer had struck the enemy's rear, I +directed Torbert to press the line in front of Merritt and Devin, +aided by one brigade of Gregg's division on their left, Gregg's other +brigade in the meantime attacking Fitzhugh Lee on the Louisa Court +House road. The effect of this was to force Hampton back, and his +division was so hard pushed that a portion of it was driven pell-mell +into Custer's lines, leaving there about five hundred prisoners. The +rest of Hampton's men did not rally till they got some distance west +of Trevillian, while, in the meantime, Gregg had driven Fitzhugh Lee +toward Louisa Court House so far that many miles now intervened +between the two Confederate divisions, precluding their union until +about noon the next day, when Fitzhugh Lee effected the junction +after a circuitous march in the night. The defeat of Hampton at the +point where he had determined to resist my further advance, and his +retreat westward, gave me undisturbed possession of the station; and +after destroying the railroad to some extent toward Gordonsville, I +went into camp.</p> + +<p>From prisoners taken during the day, I gathered that General Hunter, +instead of coming toward Charlottesville, as I had reason to expect, +both from the instructions given me and the directions sent him by +General Grant, was in the neighborhood of Lexington—apparently +moving on Lynchburg—and that Breckenridge was at Gordonsville and +Charlottesville. I also heard, from the same source, that Ewell's +corps was on its way to Lynchburg, but this intelligence proved +afterward to be incorrect, for these troops, commanded by General +Early, did not leave Richmond till two days later.</p> + +<p>There was no doubt as to the information about Hunter's general +location, however. He was marching toward Lynchburg, away from +instead of toward me, thus making the junction of our commands beyond +all reasonable probability. So in view of this, I made up my mind to +abandon that part of the scheme, and to return by leisurely marches, +which would keep Hampton's cavalry away from Lee while Grant was +crossing the James River. I was still further influenced to this +course by the burden which was thrown on me in the large number of +wounded—there being about five hundred cases of my own—and the five +hundred prisoners that I would probably be forced to abandon, should +I proceed farther. Besides, the recent battle had reduced my supply +of ammunition to a very small amount—not more than enough for one +more respectable engagement; and as the chances were that I would +have to fight a great deal before I could reach Hunter, now that the +enemy's cavalry and Breckenridge's infantry were between us, the +risks of the undertaking seemed too great to warrant it.</p> + +<p>The morning of June 12 Gregg's division commenced destroying the +railroad to Louisa Court House, and continued the work during the +day, breaking it pretty effectually. While Gregg was thus occupied, +I directed Torbert to make a reconnoissance up the Gordonsville road, +to secure a by-road leading over Mallory's ford, on the North Anna, +to the Catharpen road, as I purposed following that route to +Spottsylvania Court House on my return, and thence via Bowling Green +and Dunkirk to the White House. About a mile beyond Trevillian the +Gordonsville road fork—the left fork leading to Charlottesville—and +about a mile beyond the fork Hampton had taken up and strongly +intrenched a line across both roads, being reinforced by Fitzhugh +Lee, who, as before related, had joined him about noon by a +roundabout march. Torbert soon hotly engaged this line, and by the +impetuosity of his first attack, gained some advantage; but the +appearance of Fitzhugh Lee's troops on the right, and Hampton's +strong resistance in front, rendered futile all efforts to carry the +position; and, although I brought up one of Gregg's brigades to +Torbert's assistance, yet the by-road I coveted was still held by the +enemy when night closed in.</p> + +<p>This engagement, like that off the day before around Trevillian, was +mostly fought dismounted by both sides, as had also been the earlier +fights of the cavalry during the summer in the Wilderness, at Todd's +Tavern, Hawe's Shop, and Matadequin Creek. Indeed, they could hardly +have been fought otherwise than on foot, as there was little chance +for mounted fighting in eastern Virginia, the dense woods, the +armament of both parties, and the practice of barricading making it +impracticable to use the sabre with anything like a large force; and +so with the exception of Yellow Tavern the dismounted method +prevailed in almost every engagement.</p> + +<p>The losses at Mallory's Crossroads were very heavy on both sides. +The character of the fighting, together with the day's results, +demonstrated that it was impossible to make the passage of the North +Anna at Mallory's ford without venturing another battle the next day. +This would consume the little ammunition left, and though we might +gain the road, yet the possibility of having no ammunition whatever +to get back with was too great a hazard, so I gave orders to withdraw +during the night of the 12th. We retired along the same road by +which we had come, taking with us the prisoners, and all of our +wounded who could be moved. Those who could not be transported, some +ninety in number, and all the Confederate wounded in my hands, were +left at Trevillian in hospitals, under charge of one of our surgeons, +with plenty of medical and other stores.</p> + +<p>We recrossed the North Anna at Carpenter's ford the following +morning, and halting there, unsaddled and turned the horses out to +graze, for they were nearly famished, having had neither food nor +water during the preceding forty-eight hours. Late in the afternoon +we saddled up and proceeded to Twyman's Store, while General +Hampton's main body moved down the south bank of the North Anna, with +the purpose of intervening between me and the Army of the Potomac, in +the hope of preventing my return to it; but his movements took no +definite shape beyond watching me, however, till several days later, +near St. Mary's Church, when I was crossing the peninsula to the +James River.</p> + +<p>On the 14th the march was continued, and we reached the Catharpen +road, upon which it was originally intended to move if we had been +able to cross at Mallory's ford, and this conducted me to Shady Grove +Church. The next day we passed over the battle-field of +Spottsylvania Court House. The marks of the recent conflicts about +there were visible on every hand, and in the neighboring houses were +found many Union and Confederate wounded, who had been too severely +hurt to be removed from the field-hospitals at the time of the +battles. Such of our wounded as were able to travel were brought +away.</p> + +<p>On the 16th I marched from Edge Hill on the Ta River through Bowling +Green to Dr. Butler's, on the north side of the Mattapony. When I +arrived here I was unable to ascertain the position of the Army of +the Potomac, and was uncertain whether or not the base at the White +House had been discontinued. I had heard nothing from the army for +nine days except rumors through Southern sources, and under these +circumstances did not like to venture between the Mattapony and +Pamunkey rivers, embarrassed as I was with some four hundred wounded, +five hundred prisoners, and about two thousand negroes that had +joined my column in the hope of obtaining their freedom. I therefore +determined to push down the north bank of the Mattapony far enough to +enable me to send these impediments directly to West Point, where I +anticipated finding some of our gunboats and transports, that could +carry all to the North. Following this plan, we proceeded through +Walkerton to King and Queen Court House, and bivouacked in its +vicinity the night of the 18th. Next day I learned that the depot at +the White House had not yet been broken up entirely, and that +supplies were in store for me there; so after sending the wounded, +prisoners, and negroes to West Point under an escort of two +regiments, I turned back to Dunkirk, on the Mattapony, and crossed to +the south side at a place where the stream was narrow enough to +bridge with my pontoon-boats.</p> + +<p>In returning from Trevillian, as the most of our wounded were hauled +in old buggies, carts, and such other vehicles as could be made +available in the absence of a sufficient number of ambulances, the +suffering was intense, the heat of the season and dusty roads adding +much to the discomfort. Each day we halted many times to dress the +wounds of the injured and to refresh them as much as possible, but +our means for mitigating their distress were limited. The fortitude +and cheerfulness of the poor fellows under such conditions were +remarkable, for no word of complaint was heard. The Confederate +prisoners and colored people being on foot, our marches were +necessarily made short, and with frequent halts also, but they too +suffered considerably from the heat and dust, though at times the +prisoners were relieved by being mounted on the horses of some of our +regiments, the owners meantime marching on foot. Where all the +colored people came from and what started them was inexplicable, but +they began joining us just before we reached Trevillian—men, women, +and children with bundles of all sorts containing their few worldly +goods, and the number increased from day to day until they arrived at +West Point. Probably not one of the poor things had the remotest +idea, when he set out, as to where he would finally land, but to a +man they followed the Yankees in full faith that they would lead to +freedom, no matter what road they took.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 20th, at an early hour, we resumed our march, +and as the column proceeded sounds of artillery were heard in the +direction of the White House, which fact caused us to quicken the +pace. We had not gone far when despatches from General Abercrombie, +commanding some fragmentary organizations at the White House, +notified me that the place was about to be attacked. I had +previously sent an advance party with orders to move swiftly toward +the cannonading and report to me by couriers the actual condition of +affairs. From this party I soon learned that there was no occasion +to push our jaded animals, since the crisis, if there had been one, +was over and the enemy repulsed, so the increased gait was reduced to +a leisurely march that took us late in the afternoon to the north +bank of the Pamunkey, opposite Abercrombie's camp. When I got to the +river the enemy was holding the bluffs surrounding the White House +farm, having made no effort to penetrate General Abercrombie's line +or do him other hurt than to throw a few shells among the teamsters +there congregated.</p> + +<p>Next day Gregg's division crossed the Pamunkey dismounted, and +Torbert's crossed mounted. As soon as the troops were over, Gregg, +supported by Merritt's brigade, moved out on the road to Tunstall's +Station to attack Hampton, posted an the west side of Black Creek, +Custer's brigade meanwhile moving, mounted, on the road to +Cumberland, and Devin's in like manner on the one to Baltimore +crossroads. This offer of battle was not accepted, however, and +Hampton withdrew from my front, retiring behind the Chickahominy, +where his communications with Lee would be more secure.</p> + +<p>While at the White House I received orders to break up that depot +wholly, and also instructions to move the trains which the Army of +the Potomac had left there across the peninsula to the pontoon-bridge +at Deep Bottom on the James River. These trains amounted to hundreds +of wagons and other vehicles, and knowing full well the dangers which +would attend the difficult problem of getting them over to +Petersburg, I decided to start them with as little delay as +circumstances would permit, and the morning of the 22d sent Torbert's +division ahead to secure Jones's bridge on the Chickahominy, so that +the wagons could be crossed at that point. The trains followed +Torbert, while Gregg's division marched by a road parallel to the one +on which the wagons were moving, and on their right flank, as they +needed to be covered and protected in that direction only.</p> + +<p>The enemy made no effort to attack us while we were moving the trains +that day, and the wagons were all safely parked for the night on the +south side of the Chickahominy, guarded by General Getty, who had +relieved Abercrombie from command of the infantry fragments before we +started off from the White House.</p> + +<p>To secure the crossing at Jones's bridge, Torbert had pushed Devin's +brigade out on the Long Bridge road, on the side of the Chickahominy +where, on the morning of the 23d, he was attacked by Chambliss's +brigade of W. H. F. Lee's division. Devin was driven in some little +distance, but being reinforced by Getty with six companies of colored +troops, he quickly turned the tables on Chambliss and re-established +his picketposts. From this affair I learned that Chambliss's brigade +was the advance of the Confederate cavalry corps, while Hampton +discovered from it that we were already in possession of the Jones's +bridge crossing of the Chickahominy; and as he was too late to +challenge our passage of the stream at this point he contented +himself with taking up a position that night so as to cover the roads +leading from Long Bridge to Westover, with the purpose of preventing +the trains from following the river road to the pontoon-bridge at +Deep Bottom.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p433"></a><img alt="p433.jpg (95K)" src="images/p433.jpg" height="1029" width="547"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>My instructions required me to cross the trains over the James River +on this pontoon-bridge if practicable, and to reach it I should be +obliged to march through Charles City Court House, and then by +Harrison's Landing and Malvern Hill, the latter point being held by +the enemy. In fact, he held all the ground between Long Bridge on +the Chickahominy and the pontoon-bridge except the Tete de pont at +the crossing. Notwithstanding this I concluded to make the attempt, +for all the delays of ferrying the command and trains would be +avoided if we got through to the bridge; and with this object in view +I moved Torbert's division out on the Charles City road to conduct +the wagons. Just beyond Charles City Court House Torbert encountered +Lomax's brigade, which he drove across Herring Creek on the road to +Westover Church; and reporting the affair to me, I surmised, from the +presence of this force in my front, that Hampton would endeavor to +penetrate to the long column of wagons, so I ordered them to go into +park near Wilcox's landing, and instructed Gregg, whose division had +been marching in the morning along the road leading from Jones's +bridge to St. Mary's Church for the purpose of covering the exposed +flank of the train, to hold fast near the church without fail till +all the transportation had passed Charles City Court House.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, General Hampton, who had conjectured that I would try to +get the train across the James by the pontoonbridge at Deep Bottom, +began concentrating all his troops except Lomax's brigade, which was +to confront the head of my column on the river road, in the vicinity +of Nance's Shop. This was discovered by Gregg at an early hour, and +divining this purpose he had prepared to meet it by constructing +hasty cover for his men before receiving my instructions. About 4 +o'clock in the afternoon Hampton got his force in hand, and with +Fitzhugh Lee's division assailed the whole front of Gregg's line, and +his left flank with Chambliss's and Geary's brigades. For two hours +he continued to attack, but made little impression on Gregg—gain at +one point being counterbalanced by failure at another. Because of +the evident strength of Hampton, Gregg had placed all his troops in +line of battle from the first, and on discovery of the enemy's +superior numbers sent message after message to me concerning the +situation, but the messengers never arrived, being either killed or +captured, and I remained in total ignorance till dark of the strait +his division was in.</p> + +<p>Toward night it became clear to Gregg that he could maintain the +unequal contest no longer, and he then decided to retreat, but not +until convinced that the time won had enabled all the trains to pass +Charles City Court House in safety. When he had got all his led +horses fairly on the way, and such of the wounded as could be +transported, he retired by his right flank-in some confusion, it is +true, but stubbornly resisting to Hopewell Church, where Hampton +ceased to press him.</p> + +<p>Gregg's losses were heavy, and he was forced to abandon his dead and +most seriously wounded, but the creditable stand made ensured the +safety of the train, the last wagon of which was now parked at +Wilcox's Landing. His steady, unflinching determination to gain time +for the wagons to get beyond the point of danger was characteristic +of the man, and this was the third occasion on which he had exhibited +a high order of capacity and sound judgment since coming under my +command. The firmness and coolness with which he always met the +responsibilities of a dangerous place were particularly strong points +in Gregg's make-up, and he possessed so much professional though +unpretentious ability, that it is to be regretted he felt obliged a +few months later to quit the service before the close of the war.</p> + +<p>Gregg's fight fully satisfied me that we could not get the trains up +to the pontoon-bridge, for of course Hampton would now throw all his +cavalry in my front, on the river road, where it could be backed up +by Lee's infantry. Meanwhile, General Meade had become assured of +the same thing, and as he was now growing anxious about the fate of +Wilson's division—which, during my absence, had been sent out to +break the enemy's communications south of Petersburg, by destroying +the Southside and Danville railroads—he sent ferryboats to cross me +over the James. During the night'of the 24th, and next morning, the +immense train—which ought never to have been left for the cavalry to +escort, after a fatiguing expedition of three weeks—was moved back +through Charles City Court House to Douthard's landing, and there +ferried over the river, followed by my troops in like manner. When +General Hampton discovered this, he moved to Drury's Bluff, and +there, on the morning of the 27th, crossed the James by the +Confederate pontoon-bridge.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch22"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>GENERAL WILSON'S RAID—DESTROYING RAILROADS—HIS +DISCOMFITURE—RESULTS OF HIS RAID—REMOUNTS—MOVEMENT TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE +JAMES—DECEIVING LEE—MY ISOLATED POSITION—ESTIMATE OF +HANCOCK—SUCCESS OF THE CAVALRY—THEIR CONSTANT DUTIES.</p> + +<p>While I was absent on the expedition to Trevillian, the movement of +the Army of the Potomac across the James River was effected, and +Wilson, whom I had left behind for the purpose, was engaged in the +duty of covering its front and rear. Late on the night of June 12 +he, with Chapman's brigade, crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, +in advance of the Fifth Corps, and by 7 o'clock next morning had +driven the enemy's pickets up to White Oak bridge, where he waited +for our infantry. When that came up, he pushed on as far as Riddle's +Shop, but late that evening the Confederate infantry forced him to +withdraw to St. Mary's Church; for early in the morning General Lee +had discovered the movement of our army, and promptly threw this +column of infantry south of the Chickahominy to White Oak Swamp, with +the design of covering Richmond. From St. Mary's Church Wilson +guarded all the roads toward White Oak Swamp and Riddle's Shop, +McIntosh's brigade joining him on the 14th, by way of Long Bridge, as +the rear of the Army of the Potomac passed the Chickahominy. In the +performance of this duty Wilson did not have to fight any engagement +of magnitude, for the bulk of the enemy's cavalry had followed me to +Trevillian. During the 15th and 16th Wilson drew his troops in +toward the James River, and next day crossed it on the pontoon-bridge +and camped on the Blackwater, near Mt. Sinai Church. Here he +remained till the 22d of June—the same day I reached the White House +with Gregg and Torbert—when, under orders from General Meade, he set +out to cut the enemy's communications to the south and southwest of +Petersburg.</p> + +<p>His instructions implied that the breaking up of the Petersburg and +Lynchburg, and Richmond and Danville railroads at Burkeville was the +most important part of his mission, and that when the work of +destruction began, it should be continued till he was driven off by +the enemy. Wilson's force consisted of about 5,500 men, General A. +V. Kautz, with the cavalry of the Army of the James, having joined +him for the expedition. In moving out Wilson crossed the Weldon road +near Ream's Station, first destroying it effectually at that point. +About fourteen miles west of Petersburg he struck the Southside +railroad, and broke it up clear to Burkeville, a distance of thirty +miles. Having destroyed everything at Burkeville Junction, he moved +along the Danville road to Staunton River, completely wrecking about +thirty miles of that line also. At Staunton River he found the +railroad bridge strongly guarded, and seeing that he could not burn +it, he began his return march that night, and reached Nottoway River, +some thirty miles south of Petersburg, at noon of the next day—the +28th.</p> + +<p>In this expedition Wilson was closely followcd from the start by +Barringer's brigade of W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, but the operations +were not interfered with materially, his success being signal till he +reached the vicinity of Stony Creek depot on his return. At this +point General Hampton, with his own and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, got +between Wilson and the Army of the Potomac, there being behind them +at Ream's Station, at the same time, two brigades of infantry under +General Mahone. A severe battle ensued, resulting in Wilson's +defeat, with the loss of twelve guns and all his wagons. In +consequence of this discomfiture he was obliged to fall back across +the Nottoway River with his own division, and rejoined the army by +way of Peter's bridge on that stream, while Kautz's division, unable +to unite with Wilson after the two commands had become separated in +the fight, made a circuit of the enemy's left, and reached the lines +of our army in the night of the 28th.</p> + +<p>Neither the presence of Hampton's cavalry at Stony Creek depot, nor +the possession of Ream's Station by the Confederate infantry, seems +to have been anticipated by Wilson, for in the report of the +expedition he states:</p> + +<p>"Foreseeing the probability of having to return northward, I wrote to +General Meade the evening before starting that I anticipated no +serious difficulty in executing his orders; but unless General +Sheridan was required to keep Hampton's cavalry engaged, and our +infantry to prevent Lee from making detachments, we should probably +experience great difficulty in rejoining the army. In reply to this +note, General Humphreys, chief-of-staff, informed me it was intended +the Army of the Potomac should cover the Weldon road the next day, +the Southside road the day after, and that Hampton having followed +Sheridan toward Gordonsville, I need not fear any trouble from him."</p> + +<p>I doubt that General Meade's letter of instructions and Wilson's note +of the same evening, warrant what General Wilson here says. It is +true that the Weldon railroad near Ream's Station was not covered by +our infantry, as General Humphreys informed him it would be, but +Wilson is in error when he intimates that he was assured that I would +look after Hampton. I do not think General Meade's instructions are +susceptible of this interpretation. I received no orders requiring +me to detain Hampton. On the contrary, when I arrived at the White +House my instructions required me to break up the depot there, and +then bring the train across the Peninsula as soon as practicable, nor +were these instructions ever modified. I began the duty imposed on +me on the morning of the 23d, totally in the dark as to what was +expected of Wilson, though it seems, from some correspondence between +Generals Grant and Meade, which I never saw till after the war, that +Grant thought Wilson could rely on Hampton's absence from his field +of operations throughout the expedition.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p443"></a><img alt="p443.jpg (120K)" src="images/p443.jpg" height="428" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p443.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +<br>"June 21, 1864. 9:20 A. M. +<br> +<br>"BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILSON, +<br>"Commanding Third Division Cavalry Corps. +<br> +<br>"The major-general commanding directs that you move your command at +2 A. M. to-morrow, the 22d instant, in execution of the duty assigned +you of destroying certain railroads. Despatches received from the +White House state that Hampton's cavalry was before that place +yesterday evening, and that General Sheridan had also reached there, +hence it is desirable that you should march at the earliest moment. +In passing Petersburg you will endeavor to avoid the observation of +the enemy, and then move by the shortest routes to the intersection +of the Petersburg and Lynchburg, and the Richmond and Danville +railroads, and destroy both these roads to the greatest extent +possible, continuing their destruction until driven from it by such +attacks of the enemy as you can no longer resist. The destruction of +those roads to such an extent that they cannot be used by the enemy +in connection with Richmond during the remainder of the campaign is +an important part of the plan of campaign. The latest information +from Major-General Hunter represents him to be a few miles west of +Lynchburg. He may endeavor to form a junction with this army; you +will communicate with him if practicable, and have delivered to him +verbally the contents of the following copy of a communication from +Lieutenant-General Grant to the major-general commanding this army. +Lieutenant Brooks, who will accompany your expedition part of the +way, should be informed where General Hunter will probably be found. +<br> +<br>"The success of your expedition will depend upon the secrecy with +which it is commenced, and the celerity with which its movements are +conducted; your command will, therefore, have with it the lightest +supplies and smallest number of wheels consistent with the thorough +execution of the duty, the supplies of the section of country you +will operate in being taken into account. Upon the completion of the +work assigned you, you will rejoin this army. +<br> +<br>"The chief quartermaster was directed yesterday to supply you with +the implements and material for the destruction of railroads obtained +for General Sheridan. +<br> +<br>"[Signed] A. A. HUMPHREYS, +<br>"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + +<br><br><br> + +<br>"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY FORCES, +<br>Mount Sinai Church, June 21, 1864—6 P.M. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL HUMPHREYS," +<br>"Chief-of-Staff. +<br><br>"The instructions of the major-general commanding, of this date, are +received. I shall march in obedience thereto at 2 A. M. to-morrow. +Before starting I would like to know if our infantry forces cover the +Weldon road. +<br> +<br>"I propose striking the Southside road first at Sutherland Station, +or some point in that vicinity, tearing up the track sufficiently to +delay railroad communication ten or twelve hours. At this place I +shall detach a force to strike the Richmond and Danville road, by a +rapid march, at the nearest point, tearing up the track at every +practicable point between there and Burkeville. +<br><br> +"From Sutherlands I shall move the main body of my command by the +Great road (breaking the railroad at every convenient point) directly +to Burkeville, which, if we succeed in capturing, will afford us the +opportunity of prosecuting our work with great advantage. As soon as +I have made dispositions for communicating with Hunter and done all +the damage possible, I shall move with all possible rapidity for +Danville and Grenboro'. +<br><br> +"Circumstances must, however, is a great degree control our movements +after leaving Burkeville. +<br><br> +"If Sheridan will look after Hampton, I apprehend no difficulty, and +hope to be able to do the enemy great damage. The ammunition issued +to my command is very defective. The implements for destroying roads +have not yet arrived, but I learn from General Ingalls that they will +certainly be here early to-morrow. +<br><br> +"[Signed] J. H. WILSON, +<br>"Brigadier-General Commanding." +</blockquote> +<br> + +<p> +The moment I received orders from General Meade to go to the relief +of Wilson, I hastened with Torbert and Gregg by way of Prince George +Court House and Lee's Mills to Ream's Station. Here I found the +Sixth Corps, which Meade had pushed out on his left flank immediately +on hearing of Wilson's mishap, but I was too late to render any +material assistance, Wilson having already disappeared, followed by +the enemy. However, I at once sent out parties to gather +information, and soon learned that Wilson had got safe across the +Nottoway at Peter's bridge and was making for the army by way of +Blunt's bridge, on the Blackwater.</p> + +<p>The benefits derived from this expedition, in the destruction of the +Southside and Danville railroads, were considered by General Grant as +equivalent for the losses sustained in Wilson's defeat, for the +wrecking of the railroads and cars was most complete, occasioning at +this, time serious embarrassment to the Confederate Government; but I +doubt if all this compensated for the artillery and prisoners that +fell into the hands of the enemy in the swamps of Hatcher's Run and +Rowanty Creek. Wilson's retreat from the perilous situation at +Ream's station was a most creditable performance—in the face of two +brigades of infantry and three divisions of cavalry—and in the +conduct of the whole expedition the only criticism that can hold +against him is that he placed too much reliance on meeting our +infantry at Ream's station, seeing that uncontrollable circumstances +might, and did, prevent its being there. He ought to have marched on +the 28th by Jarrett's Station to Peter's bridge, on the Nottoway, and +Blunts bridge on the Blackwater, to the rear of the Army of the +Potomac.</p> + +<p>When the safety of Wilson's command was assured, I was ordered back +to Light House Point, where I had gone into camp after crossing the +James River to rest and recruit my command, now very much reduced in +numbers by reason of casualties to both horses and men. It had been +marching and fighting for fifty consecutive days, and the fatiguing +service had told so fearfully on my animals that the number of +dismounted men in the corps was very large. With the exception of +about four hundred horses that I received at the White House, no +animals were furnished to supply the deficiencies which had arisen +from the wearing marches of the past two months until I got to this +camp at Light House Point; here my needs were so obvious that they +could no longer be neglected.</p> + +<p>I remained at Light House Point from the 2d to the 26th of July, +recuperating the cavalry, the intensely warm weather necessitating +almost an entire suspension of hostilities on the part of the Army of +the Potomac. Meanwhile fifteen hundred horses were sent me here, and +these, with the four hundred already mentioned, were all that my +troops received while I held the personal command of the Cavalry +Corps, from April 6 to August 1, 1864. This was not near enough to +mount the whole command, so I disposed the men who could not be +supplied in a dismounted camp.</p> + +<p>By the 26th of July our strength was pretty well restored, and as +General Grant was now contemplating offensive operations for the +purpose of keeping Lee's army occupied around Richmond, and also of +carrying Petersburg by assault if possible, I was directed to move to +the north side of the James River in conjunction with General +Hancock's corps, and, if opportunity offered, to make a second +expedition against the Virginia Central railroad, and again destroy +the bridges on the North Anna, the Little and the South Anna rivers.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p446"></a><img alt="p446.jpg (262K)" src="images/p446.jpg" height="908" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/p446.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>I started out on the afternoon of the 26th and crossed the Appomattox +at Broadway landing. At Deep Bottom I was joined by Kautz's small +division from the Army of the James, and here massed the whole +command, to allow Hancock's corps to take the lead, it crossing to +the north bank of the James River by the bridge below the mouth of +Bailey's Creek. I moved late in the afternoon, so as not to come +within the enemy's view before dark, and after night-fall Hancock's +corps passed me and began crossing the pontoon-bridge about 2 o'clock +in the morning.</p> + +<p>By daylight Hancock was across, the cavalry following. Soon a +portion of his corps attacked the enemy's works on the east side of +Bailey's Creek, and, aided by the cavalry moving on its right, +captured four pieces of artillery. This opened the way for Hancock +to push out his whole corps, and as he advanced by a wheel, with his +left as a pivot, the cavalry joined in the movement, pressing forward +on the New Market and Central or Charles City roads.</p> + +<p>We did not go far before we found the enemy's infantry posted across +these two roads behind a strong line of intrenchments on the west +bank of Bailey's Creek. His videttes in front of Ruffin's house on +the New Market road were soon driven in on their main line, and the +high ground before the house was immediately occupied by Torbert and +Gregg, supported by Kautz's division. By the time the cavalry line +was formed the Confederate General Kershaw, with his own division of +infantry and those of Wilcox and Heath, advanced to attack us. +Directing the most of his troops against the cavalry, which was still +mounted, Kershaw drove it back some distance over the high ground. +When it reached the eastern face of the ridge, however, it was +quickly dismounted, and the men directed to lie down in line of +battle about fifteen yards from the crest, and here the onset of the +enemy was awaited. When Kershaw's men reached the crest such a +severe fire was opened on them, and at such close quarters, that they +could not withstand it, and gave way in disorder. They were followed +across the plain by the cavalry, and lost about two hundred and fifty +prisoners and two battle-flags. The counter attack against the +infantry by Torbert and Gregg re-established our line and gave us the +victory of Darbytown, but it also demonstrated the fact that General +Lee had anticipated the movement around his left flank by +transferring to the north side of the James a large portion of his +infantry and W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry.</p> + +<p>This development rendered useless any further effort on Hancock's +part or mine to carry out the plan of the expedition, for General +Grant did not intend Hancock to assault the enemy's works unless +there should be found in them but a very thin line of infantry which +could be surprised. In such event, Hancock was to operate so that +the cavalry might turn the Confederates on the Central or Charles +City road, but the continually increasing force of the enemy showed +this to be impracticable. The long front presented by Hancock's +corps and the cavalry deceived General Lee, and he undoubtedly +thought that nearly all of Grant's army had been moved to the north +side of the James River; and to meet the danger he transferred the +most of his own strength to the same side to confront his adversary, +thinning the lines around Petersburg to reinforce those opposing us +on the Central and New Market roads. This was what Grant hoped Lee +would do in case the operations of Hancock and myself became +impracticable, for Grant had an alternative plan for carrying +Petersburg by assault in conjunction with the explosion of a mine +that had been driven under the enemy's works from the front of +Burnside's corps.</p> + +<p>Now that there was no longer a chance for the cavalry to turn the +enemy's left, our attention was directed to keeping up the deception +of Lee, and on the afternoon of the 28th Hancock's corps withdrew to +a line nearer the head of the bridge, the cavalry drawing back to a +position on his right. From now on, all sorts of devices and +stratagems were practiced—anything that would tend to make the +Confederates believe we were being reinforced, while Hancock was +preparing for a rapid return to Petersburg at the proper time. In +order to delude the enemy still more after night-fall of the 28th I +sent one of my divisions to the south side of the James, first +covering the bridgeway with refuse hay to keep the tramp of the horses +from being heard. After daylight the next morning, I marched this +division back again on foot, in full view of the enemy, to create the +impression of a continuous movement large bodies of infantry to the +north side, while the same time Kautz was made to skirmish with the +enemy on our extreme right. These various artifices had the effect +intended, for by the evening of the 29th Lee had transferred all his +infantry to the north bank of the James, except three divisions, and +all his cavalry save one.</p> + +<p>The morning of the 30th had been fixed upon to explode the mine and +assault the enemy's works, so after dark on the evening of the 29th +Hancock hastily but quietly withdrew his corps to the south side to +take part in the engagement which was to succeed the explosion, and I +was directed to follow Hancock. This left me on the north side of +the river confronting two-thirds of Lee's army in a perilous +position, where I could easily be driven into Curl's Neck and my +whole command annihilated. The situation, therefore, was not a +pleasant one to contemplate, but it could not be avoided. Luckily +the enemy did not see fit to attack, and my anxiety was greatly +relieved by getting the whole command safely across the bridge +shortly after daylight, having drawn in the different brigades +successively from my right. By 10 o'clock on the morning of the 30th +my leading division was well over toward the left of our army in +front of Petersburg, marching with the purpose to get around the +enemy's right flank during the operations that were to succeed the +mine explosion, but when I reached General Meade's headquarters I +found that lamentable failure had attended the assault made when the +enemy's works were blown up in the morning. Blunder after blunder +had rendered the assault abortive, and all the opportunities opened +by our expedition to the north side were irretrievably lost, so +General Meade at once arrested the movement of the cavalry.</p> + +<p>In the expedition to Deep Bottom I was under the command of +Major-General Hancock, who, by seniority, was to control my corps as well +as his own until the way was opened for me to get out on the Virginia +Central railroad. If this opportunity was gained, I was to cut loose +and damage Lee's communications with the Shenandoah Valley in such +manner as best suited the conditions, but my return was not to be +jeopardized nor long delayed. This necessitated that Hancock's line +should extend to Bottom's bridge on the Chickahominy. The enemy's +early discovery of the movement and his concentration of troops on +the north side prevented Hancock from accomplishing the programme +laid out for him. Its impracticability was demonstrated early on the +27th, and Hancock's soldierly instincts told him this the moment he +unexpectedly discovered Kershaw blocking the New Market and Charles +City roads. To Hancock the temptation to assault Kershaw's position +was strong indeed, but if he carried it there would still remain the +dubious problem of holding the line necessary for my safe return, so +with rare judgment he desisted zealously turning to the alternative +proposition—the assault on Petersburg—for more significant results. +This was the only occasion during the war in which I was associated +with Hancock in campaign. Up till then we had seldom met, and that +was the first opportunity I had to observe his quick apprehension, +his physical courage, and the soldierly personality which had long +before established his high reputation.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of August, two days after the mine explosion, I was. +relieved from the personal command of the Cavalry Corps, and ordered +to the Shenandoah Valley, where at a later date Torbert's and +Wilson's divisions joined me. Practically, after I went to the +valley, my command of the Cavalry Corps became supervisory merely. +During the period of my immediate control of the corps, I tried to +carry into effect, as far as possible, the views I had advanced +before and during the opening of the Wilderness campaign, i.e., "that +our cavalry ought to fight the enemy's cavalry, and our infantry the +enemy's infantry"; for there was great danger of breaking the spirit +of the corps if it was to be pitted against the enemy's compact +masses of foot-troops posted behind intrenchments, and unless there +was some adequate tactical or strategical advantage to be gained, +such a use of it would not be justified. Immediately succeeding the +battles of the Wilderness, opportunity offered to put this plan into +execution to some extent, and from that time forward—from the battle +of Yellow Tavern—our success was almost continuous, resulting +finally, before the close of the war, in the nearly total +annihilation of the enemy's cavalry.</p> + +<p>The constant activity of the corps from May 5 till August 1 gave +little opportunity for the various division and brigade commanders to +record its work in detail; so there exists but meagre accounts of the +numerous skirmishes and graver conflicts in which, in addition to the +fights mentioned in this narrative, it engaged. A detailed history +of its performances is not within the province of a work of this +nature; but in review, it can be said, without trespassing on the +reader's time, that the Cavalry Corps led the advance of the Army of +the Potomac into the Wilderness in the memorable campaign of 1864; +that on the expedition by way of Richmond to Haxall's it marked out +the army's line of march to the North Anna; that it again led the +advance to the Tolopotomy, and also to Cold Harbor, holding that +important strategic point at great hazard; and that by the Trevillian +expedition it drew away the enemy's cavalry from the south side of +the Chickahominy, and thereby assisted General Grant materially in +successfully marching to the James River and Petersburg. +Subsequently, Wilson made his march to Staunton bridge, destroying +railroads and supplies of inestimable value, and though this was +neutralized by his disaster near Ream's Station, the temporary +set-back there to one division was soon redeemed by victory over the +Confederate infantry at the battle of Darbytown.</p> + +<p>In the campaign we were almost always on the march, night and day, +often unable to care properly for our wounded, and obliged to bury +our dead where they fell; and innumerable combats attest the part the +cavalry played in Grant's march from the Rapidan to Petersburg. In +nearly all of these our casualties were heavy, particularly so when, +as was often the case, we had to engage the Confederate infantry; but +the enemy returned such a full equivalent in dead and wounded in +every instance, that finally his mounted power, which from the +beginning of the war had been nurtured with a wise appreciation of +its value, was utterly broken.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch23"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>GENERAL HUNTER'S SUCCESSFUL MARCH AND SUBSEQUENT RETREAT—GENERAL +JUBAL A. EARLY THREATENS WASHINGTON—CHAMBERSBURG, PA., +BURNED—SELECTED TO OPERATE AGAINST GENERAL EARLY—THE SHENANDOAH +VALLEY—THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.</p> + +<p>When the attempt to take Petersburg in conjunction with the mine +explosion resulted in such a dismal failure, all the operations +contemplated in connection with that project came to a standstill, +and there was every prospect that the intensely hot and sultry +weather would prevent further activity in the Army of the Potomac +till a more propitious season. Just now, however, the conditions +existing in the Shenandoah Valley and along the upper Potomac +demanded the special attention of General Grant, for, notwithstanding +the successful march that Major-General David Hunter had made toward +Lynchburg early in the summer, what he had first gained was +subsequently lost by strategical mistakes, that culminated in +disaster during the retreat he was obliged to make from the vicinity +of Lynchburg to the Kanawha Valley. This route of march uncovered +the lower portion of the Valley of the Shenandoah, and with the +exception of a small force of Union troops under General Franz Sigel +posted aft Martinsburg for the purpose of covering the Baltimore and +Ohio railroad, there was nothing at hand to defend the lower valley.</p> + +<p>The different bodies of Confederates which compelled Hunter's retreat +were under command of General Jubal A. Early, who had been sent to +Lynchburg with Ewell's corps after the defeat of the Confederate +General W. C. Jones near Staunton on the 5th of June, to take command +of the Valley District. When Early had forced Hunter into the +Kanawha region far enough to feel assured that Lynchburg could not +again be threatened from that direction, he united to his own corps +General John C. Breckenridge's infantry division and the cavalry of +Generals J. H. Vaughn, John McCausland. B. T. Johnson, and J. D. +Imboden, which heretofore had been operating in southwest and western +Virginia under General Robert Ransom, Jr., and with the column thus +formed, was ready to turn his attention to the lower Shenandoah +Valley. At Early's suggestion General Lee authorized him to move +north at an opportune moment, cross the upper Potomac into Maryland +and threaten Washington. Indeed, General Lee had foreshadowed such a +course when Early started toward Lynchburg for the purpose of +relieving the pressure in front of Petersburg, but was in some doubt +as to the practicability of the movement later, till persuaded to it +by the representations of Early after that general had driven Hunter +beyond the mountains and found little or nothing opposing except the +small force of Sigel, which he thought he could readily overcome by +celerity of movement.</p> + +<p>By rapid marching Early reached Winchester on the 2d of July, and on +the 4th occupied Martinsburg, driving General Sigel out of that place +the same day that Hunter's troops, after their fatiguing retreat +through the mountains, reached Charlestown, West Virginia. Early was +thus enabled to cross the Potomac without difficulty, when, moving +around Harper's Ferry, through the gaps of the South Mountain, he +found his path unobstructed till he reached the Monocacy, where +Ricketts's division of the Sixth Corps, and some raw troops that had +been collected by General Lew Wallace, met and held the Confederates +till the other reinforcements that had been ordered to the capital +from Petersburg could be brought up. Wallace contested the line of +the Monocacy with obstinacy, but had to retire finally toward +Baltimore. The road was then open to Washington, and Early marched +to the outskirts and began against the capital the demonstrations +which were designed to divert the Army of the Potomac from its main +purpose in front of Petersburg.</p> + +<p>Early's audacity in thus threatening Washington had caused some +concern to the officials in the city, but as the movement was looked +upon by General Grant as a mere foray which could have no decisive +issue, the Administration was not much disturbed till the +Confederates came in close proximity. Then was repeated the alarm +and consternation of two years before, fears for the safety of the +capital being magnified by the confusion and discord existing among +the different generals in Washington and Baltimore; and the imaginary +dangers vanished only with the appearance of General Wright, who, +with the Sixth Corps and one division of the Nineteenth Corps, pushed +out to attack Early as soon as he could get his arriving troops in +hand, but under circumstances that precluded celerity of movement; +and as a consequence the Confederates escaped with little injury, +retiring across the Potomac to Leesburg, unharassed save by some +Union cavalry that had been sent out into Loudoun County by Hunter, +who in the meantime had arrived at Harper's Ferry by the Baltimore +and Ohio railroad. From Leesburg Early retired through Winchester +toward Strasburg, but when the head of his column reached this place +he found that he was being followed by General Crook with the +combined troops of Hunter and Sigel only, Wright having returned to +Washington under orders to rejoin Meade at Petersburg. This +reduction of the pursuing force tempting Early to resume the +offensive, he attacked Crook at Kernstown, and succeeded in +administering such a check as to necessitate this general's retreat +to Martinsburg, and finally to Harper's Ferry. Crook's withdrawal +restored to Early the line of the upper Potomac, so, recrossing this +stream, he advanced again into Maryland, and sending McCausland on to +Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, laid that town in ashes, leaving three +thousand non-combatants without shelter or food.</p> + +<p>When Early fell back from the vicinity of Washington toward +Strasburg, General Grant believed that he would rejoin Lee, but later +manoeuvres of the enemy indicated that Early had given up this idea, +if he ever, entertained it, and intended to remain in the valley, +since it would furnish Lee and himself with subsistence, and also +afford renewed opportunities for threatening Washington. Indeed, the +possession of the Valley of the Shenandoah at this time was of vast +importance to Lee's army, and on every hand there were indications +that the Confederate Government wished to hold it at least until +after the crops could be gathered in to their depots at Lynchburg and +Richmond. Its retention, besides being of great advantage in the +matter of supplies, would also be a menace to the North difficult for +General Grant to explain, and thereby add an element of considerable +benefit to the Confederate cause; so when Early's troops again +appeared at Martinsburg it was necessary for General Grant to +confront them with a force strong enough to put an end to incursions +north of the Potomac, which hitherto had always led to National +discomfiture at some critical juncture, by turning our army in +eastern Virginia from its chief purpose—the destruction of Lee and +the capture of the Confederate capital.</p> + +<p>This second irruption of Early, and his ruthless destruction of +Chambersburg led to many recommendations on the part of General Grant +looking to a speedy elimination of the confusion then existing among +the Union forces along the upper Potomac, but for a time the +authorities at Washington would approve none of his propositions. +The President and Secretary Stanton seemed unwilling to adopt his +suggestions, and one measure which he deemed very important—the +consolidation into a single command of the four geographical +districts into which, to relieve political pressure no doubt, the +territory had been divided—met with serious opposition. Despite +Grant's representations, he could not prevail on the Administration +to approve this measure, but finally the manoeuvres of Early and the +raid to Chambersburg compelled a partial compliance, though Grant had +somewhat circumvented the difficulty already by deciding to appoint a +commander for the forces in the field that were to operate against +Early.</p> + +<p>On the 31st of July General Grant selected me as this commander, and +in obedience to his telegraphic summons I repaired to his +headquarters at City Point. In the interview that followed, he +detailed to me the situation of affairs on the upper Potomac, telling +me that I was to command in the field the troops that were to operate +against Early, but that General Hunter, who was at the head of the +geographical department, would be continued in his position for the +reason that the Administration was reluctant to reconstruct or +consolidate the different districts. After informing me that one +division of the Cavalry Corps would be sent to my new command, he +went on to say that he wanted me to push the enemy as soon as this +division arrived, and if Early retired up the Shenandoah Valley I was +to pursue, but if he crossed the Potomac I was to put myself south of +him and try to compass his destruction. The interview having ended, +I returned to Hancock Station to prepare for my departure, and on the +evening of August 1 I was relieved from immediate duty with the Army +of the Potomac, but not from command of the cavalry as a corps +organization.</p> + +<p>I arrived at Washington on the 4th of August, and the next day +received instructions from General Halleck to report to General Grant +at Monocacy Junction, whither he had gone direct from City Point, in +consequence of a characteristic despatch from the President +indicating his disgust with the confusion, disorder, and helplessness +prevailing along the upper Potomac, and intimating that Grant's +presence there was necessary.</p> + +<p>In company with the Secretary of War I called on the President before +leaving Washington, and during a short conversation Mr. Lincoln +candidly told me that Mr. Stanton had objected to my assignment to +General Hunter's command, because he thought me too young, and that +he himself had concurred with the Secretary; but now, since General +Grant had "ploughed round" the difficulties of the situation by +picking me out to command the "boys in the field," he felt satisfied +with what had been done, and "hoped for the best." Mr. Stanton +remained silent during these remarks, never once indicating whether +he, too, had become reconciled to my selection or not; and although, +after we left the White House, he conversed with me freely in regard +to the campaign I was expected to make, seeking to impress on me the +necessity for success from the political as well as from the military +point of view, yet he utterly ignored the fact that he had taken any +part in disapproving the recommendation of the general-in-chief.</p> + +<p>August 6, I reported to General Grant at the Monocacy, and he there +turned over to me the following instructions, which he had previously +prepared for General Hunter in the expectation that general would +continue to command the department:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, +<br>"Monocacy Bridge, Md., Aug. 5, 1864. +<br> +<br>"GENERAL: Concentrate all your available force without delay in the +vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards and +garrisons for public property as may be necessary. +<br> +<br>"Use in this concentration the railroad, if by so doing time can be +saved. From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has moved +north of the Potomac in large force, push north, following and +attacking him wherever found; following him, if driven south of the +Potomac, as long as it is safe to do so. If it is ascertained that +the enemy has but a small force north of the Potomac, then push south +the main force, detaching, under a competent commander, a sufficient +force to look after the raiders and drive them to their homes. In +detaching such a force, the brigade of cavalry now en route from +Washington via Rockville may be taken into account. +<br> +<br>"There are now on the way to join you three other brigades of the +best of cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and horses. +These will be instructed, in the absence of further orders, to join +you by the south side of the Potomac. One brigade will probably +start to-morrow. +<br> +<br>"In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, as it is expected you will have +to go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to +invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and stock +wanted for the use of your command. Such as cannot be consumed, +destroy. It is not desirable that the buildings should be +destroyed—they should, rather, be protected; but the people should be informed +that so long as an army can subsist among them recurrences of these +raids must be expected, and we are determined to stop them at all +hazards. +<br> +<br>"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do this +you want to keep him always in sight. Be guided in your course by +the course he takes. +<br> +<br>"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving regular +vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in the country +through which you march. +<br> +<br>"Very respectfully, +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." +<br><br> +<br>"Major-General D. HUNTER, +<br>"Commanding Department of West Virginia." +</blockquote> + +<p> +When I had read the letter addressed to Hunter, General Grant said I +would be expected to report directly to him, as Hunter had asked that +day to be wholly relieved, not from any chagrin at my assignment to +the control of the active forces of his command, but because he +thought that his fitness for the position he was filling was +distrusted by General Halleck, and he had no wish to cause +embarrassment by remaining where he could but remove me one degree +from the headquarters of the army. The next day Hunter's unselfish +request was complied with, and an order was issued by the President, +consolidating the Middle Department, the Department of Washington, +the Department of the Susquehanna, and the Department of West +Virginia.</p> + +<p>Under this order these four geographical districts constituted the +Middle Military Division, and I was temporarily assigned to command +it. Hunter's men had been bivouacking for some days past in the +vicinity of Monocacy Junction and Frederick, but before General +Grant's instructions were written out, Hunter had conformed to them +by directing the concentration at Halltown, about four miles in front +of Harper's Ferry, of all his force available for field service. +Therefore the different bodies of troops, with the exception of +Averell's cavalry, which had followed McCausland toward Moorefield +after the burning of Chambersburg, were all in motion toward Halltown +on August 6.</p> + +<p>Affairs at Monocacy kept me but an hour or two, and these disposed +of, I continued on to Harper's Ferry by the special train which had +brought me from Washington, that point being intended as my +headquarters while making preparations to advance. The enemy was +occupying Martinsburg, Williamsport, and Shepherdstown at the time; +sending occasional raiding parties into Maryland as far as +Hagerstown. The concentration of my troops at Halltown being an +indication to Early that we intended to renew the offensive, however, +he immediately began counter preparations by drawing in all his +detached columns from the north side of the Potomac, abandoning a +contemplated raid into Maryland, which his success against Crook at +Kernstown had prompted him to project, and otherwise disposing +himself for defense.</p> + +<p>At Harper's Ferry I made my headquarters in the second story of a +small and very dilapidated hotel, and as soon as settled sent for +Lieutenant John R. Meigs, the chief engineer officer of the command, +to study with him the maps of my geographical division. It always +came rather easy to me to learn the geography of a new section, and +its important topographical features as well; therefore I found that, +with the aid of Meigs, who was most intelligent in his profession, +the region in which I was to operate would soon be well fixed in my +mind. Meigs was familiar with every important road and stream, and +with all points worthy of note west of the Blue Ridge, and was +particularly well equipped with knowledge regarding the Shenandoah +Valley, even down to the farmhouses. He imparted with great +readiness what he knew of this, clearly pointing out its +configuration and indicating the strongest points for Confederate +defense, at the same time illustrating scientifically and forcibly +the peculiar disadvantages under which the Union army had hitherto +labored.</p> + +<p>The section that received my closest attention has its northern limit +along the Potomac between McCoy's ferry at the eastern base of the +North Mountain, and Harper's Ferry at the western base of the Blue +Ridge. The southern limit is south of Staunton, on the divide which +separates the waters flowing into the Potomac from those that run to +the James. The western boundary is the eastern slope of the +Alleghany Mountains, the eastern, the Blue Ridge; these two distinct +mountain ranges trending about southwest inclose a stretch of quite +open, undulating country varying in width from the northern to the +southern extremity, and dotted at frequent intervals with patches of +heavy woods: At Martinsburg the valley is about sixty miles broad, +and on an east and west line drawn through Winchester about +forty-five, while at Strasburg it narrows down to about twenty-five. Just +southeast of Strasburg, which is nearly midway between the eastern +and western walls of the valley, rises an abrupt range of mountains +called Massanutten, consisting of several ridges which extend +southward between the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River +until, losing their identity, they merge into lower but broken ground +between New Market and Harrisonburg. The Massanutten ranges, with +their spurs and hills, divide the Shenandoah Valley into two valleys, +the one next the Blue Ridge being called the Luray, while that next +the North Mountain retains the name of Shenandoah.</p> + +<p>A broad macadamized road, leading south from Williamsport, Maryland, +to Lexington, Virginia, was built at an early day to connect the +interior of the latter State with the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and +along this road are situated the principal towns and villages of the +Shenandoah Valley, with lateral lines of communication extending to +the mountain ranges on the east and west. The roads running toward +the Blue Ridge are nearly all macadamized, and the principal ones +lead to the railroad system of eastern Virginia through Snicker's, +Ashby's Manassas, Chester, Thornton's Swift Run, Brown's and +Rock-fish gaps, tending to an ultimate centre at Richmond. These gaps are +low and easy, offering little obstruction to the march of an army +coming from eastern Virginia, and thus the Union troops operating +west of the Blue Ridge were always subjected to the perils of a flank +attack; for the Confederates could readily be brought by rail to +Gordonsville and Charlottesville, from which points they could move +with such celerity through the Blue Ridge that, on more than one +occasion, the Shenandoah Valley had been the theatre of Confederate +success, due greatly to the advantage of possessing these interior +lines.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="p470"></a><img alt="p470upper.jpg (157K)" src="images/p470upper.jpg" height="1317" width="650"> +</center> +<br> +<center><img alt="p470lower.jpg (182K)" src="images/p470lower.jpg" height="1306" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Nature had been very kind to the valley, making it rich and +productive to an exceptional degree, and though for three years +contending armies had been marching up and down it, the fertile soil +still yielded ample subsistence for Early's men, with a large surplus +for the army of Lee. The ground had long been well cleared of +timber, and the rolling surface presented so few obstacles to the +movement of armies that they could march over the country in any +direction almost as well as on the roads, the creeks and rivers being +everywhere fordable, with little or no difficulty beyond that of +leveling the approaches.</p> + +<p>I had opposing me an army largely composed of troops that had +operated in this region hitherto under "Stonewall" Jackson with +marked success, inflicting defeat on the Union forces almost every +time the two armies had come in contact. These men were now commanded +by a veteran officer of the Confederacy-General Jubal A. Early—whose +past services had so signalized his ability that General Lee +specially selected him to take charge of the Valley District, and, +notwithstanding the misfortunes that befell him later, clung to him +till the end, of the war. The Confederate army at this date was +about twenty thousand strong, and consisted of Early's own corps, +with Generals Rodes, Ramseur, and Gordon commanding its divisions; +the infantry of Breckenridge from southwestern Virginia; three +battalions of artillery; and the cavalry brigades of Vaughn, Johnson, +McCausland, and Imboden. This cavalry was a short time afterward +organized into a division under the command of General Lomax.</p> + +<p>After discovering that my troops were massing in front of Harper's +Ferry, Early lost not a moment in concentrating his in the vicinity +of Martinsburg, in positions from which he could continue to obstruct +the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and yet be enabled to retire up the +valley under conditions of safety when I should begin an offensive +campaign.</p> + +<p>When I took command of the Army of the Shenandoah its infantry force +comprised the Sixth Corps, one division of the Nineteenth Corps, and +two divisions from West Virginia. The Sixth Corps was commanded by +Major-General Horatio G. Wright; its three divisions by +Brigadier-Generals David A. Russell, Geo. W. Getty, and James B. Ricketts. +The single division of the Nineteenth Corps had for its immediate +chief Brigadier-General William Dwight, the corps being commanded by +Brigadier-General Wm. H. Emory. The troops from West Virginia were +under Brigadier-General George Crook, with Colonels Joseph Thoburn +and Isaac H. Duval as division commanders, and though in all not more +than one fair-sized division, they had been designated, on account of +the department they belonged to, the Army of West Virginia. General +Torbert's division, then arriving from the Cavalry Corps of the Army +of the Potomac, represented the mounted arm of the service, and in +the expectation that Averell would soon join me with his troopers, I +assigned General Torbert as chief of cavalry, and General Wesley +Merritt succeeded to the command of Torbert's division.</p> + +<p>General Wright, the commander of the Sixth Corps, was an officer of +high standing in the Corps of Engineers, and had seen much active +service during the preceding three years. He commanded the +Department of the Ohio throughout the very trying period of the +summer and fall of 1862, and while in that position he, with other +prominent officers, recommended my appointment as a +brigadier-general. In 1863 he rendered valuable service at the battle of +Gettysburg, following which he was assigned to the Sixth Corps, and +commanded it at the capture of the Confederate works at Rappahannock +Station and in the operations at Mine Run. He ranked me as a +major-general of volunteers by nearly a year in date of commission, but my +assignment by the President to the command of the army in the valley +met with Wright's approbation, and, so far as I have ever known, he +never questioned the propriety of the President's action. The Sixth +Corps division commanders, Getty, Russell, and Ricketts, were all +educated soldiers, whose records, beginning with the Mexican War, had +already been illustrated in the war of the rebellion by distinguished +service in the Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>General Emory was a veteran, having graduated at the Military Academy +in 1831, the year I was born. In early life he had seen much service +in the Artillery, the Topographical Engineers, and the Cavalry, and +in the war of the rebellion had exhibited the most soldierly +characteristics at Port Hudson and on the Red River campaign. At +this time he had but one division of the Nineteenth Corps present, +which division was well commanded by General Dwight, a volunteer +officer who had risen to the grade of brigadier-general through +constant hard work. Crook was a classmate of mine—at least, we +entered the Military Academy the same year, though he graduated a +year ahead of me. We had known each other as boys before we entered +the army, and later as men, and I placed implicit faith in his +experience and qualifications as a general.</p> + +<p>The transfer of Torbert to the position of chief of cavalry left +Merritt, as I have already said, in command of the First Cavalry +Division. He had been tried in the place before, and from the day he +was selected as one of a number of young men to be appointed general +officers, with the object of giving life to the Cavalry Corps, he +filled the measure of expectation. Custer was one of these young men +too, and though as yet commanding a brigade under Merritt, his +gallant fight at Trevillian Station, as well as a dozen others during +the summer, indicated that he would be equal to the work that was to +fall to him when in a few weeks he should succeed Wilson. But to go +on down the scale of rank, describing the officers who commanded in +the Army of the Shenandoah, would carry me beyond all limit, so I +refrain from the digression with regret that I cannot pay to each his +well-earned tribute.</p> + +<p>The force that I could take with me into the field at this time +numbered about 26,000 men. Within the limits of the geographical +division there was a much greater number of troops than this. +Baltimore, Washington, Harper's Ferry, Hagerstown, Frederick, +Cumberland, and a score of other points; besides the strong +detachments that it took to keep the Baltimore and Ohio railroad open +through the mountains of West Virginia, and escorts for my trains, +absorbed so many men that the column which could be made available +for field operations was small when compared with the showing on +paper. Indeed, it was much less than it ought to have been, but for +me, in the face of the opposition made by different interests +involved, to detach troops from any of the points to which they had +been distributed before I took charge was next to impossible.</p> + +<p>In a few days after my arrival preparations were completed, and I was +ready to make the first move for the possession of the Shenandoah +Valley. For the next five weeks the operations on my part consisted +almost wholly of offensive and defensive manoeuvring for certain +advantages, the enemy confining himself meanwhile to measures +intended to counteract my designs. Upon the advent of Torbert, Early +immediately grew suspicious, and fell back twelve miles south of +Martinsburg, to Bunker Hill and vicinity, where his right flank would +be less exposed, but from which position he could continue to +maintain the break in the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and push +reconnoitring parties through Smithfield to Charlestown. These +reconnoitring parties exhibited considerable boldness at times, but +since they had no purpose in view save to discover whether or not we +were moving, I did not contest any ground with them except about our +outposts. Indeed, I desired that Early might remain at some point +well to the north till I was fully prepared to throw my army on his +right and rear and force a battle, and hence I abstained from +disturbing him by premature activity, for I thought that if I could +beat him at Winchester, or north of it, there would be far greater +chances of weighty results. I therefore determined to bring my +troops, if it were at all possible to do so, into such a position +near that town as to oblige Early to fight. The sequel proved, +however, that he was accurately informed of all my movements. To +anticipate them, therefore, he began his retreat up the valley the +day that I moved out from Halltown, and consequently was able to +place himself south of Winchester before I could get there.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch24"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>MOVING ON GENERAL EARLY—GENERAL GRANT'S LETTER OF +INSTRUCTIONS—DESTROYING THE RESOURCES OF THE VALLEY—REASON FOR THE +DESTRUCTION—WITHDRAWAL TO HALLTOWN—ALARM IN THE NORTH OVER THE RETROGRADE +MOVEMENT—RENEWING THE ADVANCE UP THE VALLEY—GENERAL ANDERSON'S +ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO PETERSBURG—STRENGTH OF THE ARMIES.</p> + +<p>For a clear understanding of the operations which preceded the +victories that resulted in almost annihilating General Early's army +in the Shenandoah Valley, it is necessary to describe in considerable +detail the events that took place prior to the 19th of September. My +army marched from Harper's Ferry on the 10th of August, 1864, General +Torbert with Merritt's division of cavalry moving in advance through +Berryville, going into position near White Post. The Sixth Corps, +under General Wright, moved by way of Charlestown and Summit Point to +Clifton; General Emory, with Dwight's division of the Nineteenth +Corps, marched along the Berryville pike through Berryville to the +left of the position of the Sixth Corps at Clifton; General Crook's +command, moving on the Kabletown road, passed through Kabletown to +the vicinity of Berryville, and went into position on the left of +Dwight's division, while Colonel Lowell, with a detached force of two +small regiments of cavalry, marched to Summit Point; so that on the +night of August 10 my infantry occupied a line stretching from +Clifton to Berryville, with Merritt's cavalry at White Post and +Lowell's at Summit Point. The enemy, as stated before, moved at the +same time from Bunker Hill and vicinity, and stretched his line from +where the Winchester and Potomac railroad crosses Opequon Creek to +the point at which the Berryville and Winchester pike crosses the +same stream, thus occupying the west bank to cover Winchester.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 11th the Sixth Corps was ordered to move across +the country toward the junction of the Berryville-Winchester pike and +the Opequon, and to take the crossing and hold it, Dwight's division +being directed to move through Berryville on the White Post road for +a mile, then file to the right by heads of regiments at deploying +distances, and carry the crossing of Opequon Creek at a ford about +three-fourths of a mile from the left of the Sixth Corps, while Crook +was instructed to move out on the White Post road, a mile and a half +beyond Berryville, then head to the right and secure the ford about a +mile to the left of Dwight; Torbert's orders were to push Merritt's +division up the Millwood pike toward Winchester, attack any force he +might run against, and ascertain the movements of the Confederate +army; and lastly, Lowell received instructions to close in from +Summit Point on the right of the Sixth Corps.</p> + +<p>My object in securing the fords was to further my march on Winchester +from the southeast, since, from all the information gathered during +the 10th, I still thought Early could be brought to a stand at that +point; but in this I was mistaken, as Torbert's reconnoissance +proved, for on the morning of the 11th, when Merritt had driven the +Confederate cavalry, then covering the Millwood pike west of the +Opequon, off toward Kernstown, he found that their infantry and +artillery were retreating south, up the Valley pike.</p> + +<p>As soon as this information was obtained Torbert moved quickly +through the toll-gate on the Front Royal and Winchester road to +Newtown, to strike the enemy's flank and harass him in his retreat, +Lowell following up through Winchester, on the Valley pike; Crook was +turned to the left and ordered to Stony Point, while Emory and +Wright, marching to the left also, were directed to take post on the +night of the 11th between the Millwood and Front Royal roads, within +supporting distance of Crook. Merritt meeting some of the enemy's +cavalry at the tollgate, drove it in the direction of Newtown till it +got inside the line of Gordon's division of infantry, which had been +thrown out and posted behind barricades to cover the flank of the +main force in its retreat. A portion of Merritt's cavalry attacked +this infantry and drove in its skirmish-line, and though not able to +dislodge Gordon, Merritt held the ground gained till night-fall, when +the Confederate infantry moved off under cover of darkness to Hupp's +Hill, between Strasburg and Cedar Creek</p> + +<p>The next morning Crook marched from Stony Point to Cedar Creek, Emory +followed with Dwight, and the cavalry moved to the same point by way +of Newtown and the Valley pike, the Sixth Corps following the +cavalry. That night Crook was in position at Cedar Creek, on the +left of the Valley pike, Emory on the right of the pike, the Sixth +Corps on the right of Emory, and the cavalry on the flanks. In the +afternoon a heavy skirmish-line had been thrown forward to the +heights on the south side of Cedar Creek, and a brisk affair with the +enemy's pickets took place, the Confederates occupying with their +main force the heights north of Strasburg. On the morning of the +13th my cavalry went out to reconnoitre toward Strasburg, on the +middle road, about two and a half miles west of the Valley pike, and +discovered that Early's infantry was at Fisher's Hill, where he had +thrown up behind Tumbling Run earthworks extending clear across the +narrow valley between the Massanutten and North mountains. On the +left of these works he had Vaughan's, McCausland's, and Johnson's +brigades of cavalry under General Lomax, who at this time relieved +General Ramseur from the command of the Confederate mounted forces.</p> + +<p>Within the past day or two I had received information that a column +of the enemy was moving up from Culpeper Court House and approaching +Front Royal through Chester Gap, and although the intelligence was +unconfirmed, it caused me much solicitude; for there was strong +probability that such a movement would be made, and any considerable +force advancing through Front Royal toward Winchester could fall upon +my rear and destroy my communication with Harper's Ferry, or, moving +along the base of Massanutten Mountain, could attack my flank in +conjunction with the force at Fisher's Hill without a possibility of +my preventing it.</p> + +<p>Neither Wilson's cavalry nor Grower's infantry had yet joined me, and +the necessities, already explained, which obliged me to hold with +string garrisons Winchester and other points heretofore mentioned. +had so depleted my line of battle strength that I knew the enemy +would outnumber me when Anderson's corps should arrive in the valley. +I deemed it advisable, therefore, to act with extreme caution, so, +with the exception of a cavalry reconnoissance on the 13th, I +remained on the defensive, quietly awaiting developments. In the +evening of that day the enemy's skirmishers withdrew to Tumbling Run, +his main force remaining inactive behind the intrenchments at +Fisher's Hill waiting for the arrival of Anderson.</p> + +<p>The rumors in regard to the force advancing from Culpeper kept +increasing every hour, so on the morning of the 14th I concluded to +send a brigade of cavalry to Front Royal to ascertain definitely what +was up. At the same time I crossed the Sixth Corps to the south side +of Cedar Creek, and occupied the heights near Strasburg. That day I +received from the hands of Colonel Chipman, of the Adjutant-General's +Department, the following despatch, to deliver which he had ridden in +great haste from Washington through Snicker's Gap, escorted by a +regiment of cavalry:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"CITY POINT, August 12, 1864—9 A. M. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK +<br> +<br>"Inform General Sheridan that it is now certain two (2) divisions of +infantry have gone to Early, and some cavalry and twenty (20) pieces +of artillery. This movement commenced last Saturday night. He must +be cautious, and act now on the defensive until movements here force +them to detach to send this way. Early's force, with this increase, +cannot exceed forty thousand men, but this is too much for General +Sheridan to attack. Send General Sheridan the remaining brigade of +the Nineteenth Corps. +<br> +<br>"I have ordered to Washington all the one-hundred-day men. Their +time will soon be out, but for the present they will do to serve in +the defenses. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." +<br> +</blockquote> + +<p> +The despatch explained the movement from Culpeper, and on the morning +of the 15th Merritt's two remaining brigades were sent to Front Royal +to oppose Anderson, and the Sixth Corps withdrawn to the north side +of Cedar Creek, where it would be in a position enabling me either to +confront Anderson or to act defensively, as desired by General Grant.</p> + +<p>To meet the requirements of his instructions I examined the map of +the valley for a defensive line—a position where a smaller number of +troops could hold a larger number—for this information led me to +suppose that Early's force would greatly exceed mine when Anderson's +two divisions of infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had joined him. +I could see but one such position, and that was at Halltown, in front +of Harper's Ferry. Subsequent experience convinced me that there was +no other really defensive line in the Shenandoah Valley, for at +almost any other point the open country and its peculiar topography +invites rather than forbids flanking operations.</p> + +<p>This retrograde movement would also enable me to strengthen my +command by Grower's division of the Nineteenth Corps and Wilson's +cavalry, both of which divisions were marching from Washington by way +of Snicker's Gap.</p> + +<p>After fully considering the matter, I determined to move back to +Halltown, carrying out, as I retired, my instructions to destroy all +the forage and subsistence the country afforded. So Emory was +ordered to retire to Winchester on the night of the 15th, and Wright +and Crook to follow through Winchester to Clifton the next night.</p> + +<p>For the cavalry, in this move to the rear, I gave the following +instructions:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"....In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, as it is expected you will +have to go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left +to invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and +stock wanted for the use of your command. Such as cannot be +consumed, destroy. It is not desirable that buildings should be +destroyed—they should, rather, be protected; but the people should +be informed that so long as an army can subsist among them, +recurrences of these raids must be expected, and we are determined to +stop them at all hazards...." [Grant's letter of instructions.] +<br> +<br> +<br><br>"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +<br>"Cedar Creek, Va., August 16, 1864. +<br> +<br>"GENERAL: In compliance with instructions of the Lieutenant-General +commanding, you will make the necessary arrangements and give the +necessary orders for the destruction of the wheat and hay south of a +line from Millwood to Winchester and Petticoat Gap. You will seize +all mules, horses, and cattle that may be useful to our army. Loyal +citizens can bring in their claims against the Government for this +necessary destruction. No houses will be burned, and officers in +charge of this delicate but necessary duty must inform the people +that the object is to make this valley untenable for the raiding +parties of the rebel army. +<br> +<br>"Very respectfully, +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br>"Major-General Commanding. +<br><br> +<br>"BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. T. A. TORBERT, +"Chief of Cavalry, Middle Military Division." +</blockquote> + +<p> +During his visit to General Hunter at the Monocacy, General Grant had +not only decided to retain in the Shenandoah Valley a large force +sufficient to defeat Early's army or drive it back to Lee, but he had +furthermore determined to make that sections by the destruction of +its supplies, untenable for continued occupancy by the Confederates. +This would cut off one of Lee's main-stays in the way of subsistence, +and at the same time diminish the number of recruits and conscripts +he received; the valley district while under his control not only +supplying Lee with an abundance of food, but also furnishing him many +men for his regular and irregular forces. Grant's instructions to +destroy the valley began with the letter of August 5 to Hunter, which +was turned over to me, and this was followed at intervals by more +specific directions, all showing the earnestness of his purpose.</p> + +<blockquote> +<br> +<br>"CITY POINT, Va., Aug. 16—3:30 P. M., 1864. +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Winchester, Va.: +<br> +<br>"If you can possibly spare a division of cavalry, send them through +Loudoun County to destroy and carry off the crops, animals, negroes, +and all men under fifty years of age capable of bearing arms. In +this way you will get many of Mosby's men. All male citizens under +fifty can fairly be held as prisoners of war, not as citizen +prisoners. If not already soldiers, they will be made so the moment +the rebel army gets hold of them. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + +<br><br><br> + +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +<br>"CITY POINT, Aug. 21, 1864. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Charlestown, Va.: +<br> +<br>"In stripping Loudoun County of supplies, etc., impress from all +loyal persons so that they may receive pay for what is taken from +them. I am informed by the Assistant Secretary of War that Loudoun +County has a large population of Quakers, who are all favorably +disposed to the Union. These people may be exempted from arrest. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + +<br><br><br> + +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +<br>"CITY POINT, Va., Aug. 26,2:30 P. M. 1864. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Halltown, Va.: +<br> +<br>"Telegraphed you that I had good reason for believing that Fitz Lee +had been ordered back here. I now think it likely that all troops +will be ordered back from the valley except what they believe to be +the minimum number to detain you. My reason for supposing this is +based upon the fact that yielding up the Weldon road seems to be a +blow to the enemy he cannot stand. I think I do not overstate the +loss of the enemy in the last two weeks at 10,000 killed and wounded. +We have lost heavily, mostly in captured when the enemy gained +temporary advantages. Watch closely, and if you find this theory +correct, push with all vigor. Give the enemy no rest, and if it is +possible to follow to the Virginia Central road, follow that far. Do +all the damage to railroads and crops you can. Carry off stock of +all descriptions and negroes, so as to prevent further planting. If +the war is to last another year we want the Shenandoah Valley to +remain a barren waste. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + +<br><br><br> + +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +<br>"CITY POINT, Va., Sept. 4,—10 A. M.—1864. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Charlestown, Va.: +<br> +<br>"In cleaning out the arms-bearing community of Loudoun County and the +subsistence for armies, exercise your own judgment as to who should +be exempt from arrest, and as to who should receive pay for their +stock, grain, etc. It is our interest that that county should not be +capable of subsisting a hostile army, and at the same time we want to +inflict as little hardship upon Union men as possible. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + +<br><br><br> + +<br>"CITY POINT, Va., Nov. 9, 1864. +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Cedar Creek, Va.: +<br> +<br>"Do you not think it advisable to notify all citizens living east of +the Blue Ridge to move out north of the Potomac all their stock, +grain, and provisions of every description? There is no doubt about +the necessity of clearing out that country so that it will not +support Mosby's gang. And the question is whether it is not better +that the people should save what they can. So long as the war lasts +they must be prevented from raising another crop, both there and as +high up the valley as we can control. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." +</blockquote> + +<p>He had rightly concluded that it was time to bring the war home to a +people engaged in raising crops from a prolific soil to feed the +country's enemies, and devoting to the Confederacy its best youth. I +endorsed the programme in all its parts, for the stores of meat and +grain that the valley provided, and the men it furnished for Lee's +depleted regiments, were the strongest auxiliaries he possessed in +the whole insurgent section. In war a territory like this is a +factor of great importance, and whichever adversary controls it +permanently reaps all the advantages of its prosperity. Hence, as I +have said, I endorsed Grant's programme, for I do not hold war to +mean simply that lines of men shall engage each other in battle, and +material interests be ignored. This is but a duel, in which one +combatant seeks the other's life; war means much more, and is far +worse than this. Those who rest at home in peace and plenty see but +little of the horrors attending such a duel, and even grow +indifferent to them as the struggle goes on, contenting themselves +with encouraging all who are able-bodied to enlist in the cause, to +fill up the shattered ranks as death thins them. It is another +matter, however, when deprivation and suffering are brought to their +own doors. Then the case appears much graver, for the loss of +property weighs heavy with the most of mankind; heavier often, than +the sacrifices made on the field of battle. Death is popularly +considered the maximum of punishment in war, but it is not; reduction +to poverty brings prayers for peace more surely and more quickly than +does the destruction of human life, as the selfishness of man has +demonstrated in more than one great conflict.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon of the 16th I started back to Winchester, whence I +could better supervise our regressive march. As I was passing +through Newtown, I heard cannonading from the direction of Front +Royal, and on reaching Winchester, Merritt's couriers brought me word +that he had been attacked at the crossing of the Shenandoah by +Kershaw's division of Anderson's corps and two brigades of Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry, but that the attack had been handsomely repulsed, with +a capture of two battle-flags and three hundred prisoners. This was +an absolute confirmation of the despatch from Grant; and I was now +more than satisfied with the wisdom of my withdrawal.</p> + +<p>At daylight of the 17th Emory moved from Winchester to Berryville, +and the same morning Crook and Wright reached Winchester, having +started from Cedar Creek the day before. From Winchester, Crook and +Wright resumed their march toward Clifton, Wright, who had the rear +guard, getting that day as far as the Berryville crossing of the +Opequon, where he was ordered to remain, while Crook went ahead till +he reached the vicinity of Berryville. On the afternoon of the 17th +Lowell with his two regiments of troopers came into Winchester, where +he was joined by Wilson's mounted division, which had come by a rapid +march from Snicker's ferry. In the mean time Merritt, after his +handsome engagement with Kershaw near Front Royal, had been ordered +back to the neighborhood of White Post, so that my cavalry outposts +now extended from this last point around to the west of Winchester.</p> + +<p>During all these operations the enemy had a signal-station on Three +Top Mountain, almost overhanging Strasburg, from which every movement +made by our troops could be plainly seen; therefore, early on the +morning of the 17th he became aware of the fact that we were retiring +down the valley, and at once made after us, and about sundown drove +Torbert out of Winchester, he having been left there-with Wilson and +Lowell, and the Jersey brigade of the Sixth Corps, to develop the +character of the enemy's pursuit. After a severe skirmish Wilson and +Lowell fell back to Summit Point, and the Jersey brigade joined its +corps at the crossing of the Opequon. This affair demonstrated that +Early's whole army had followed us from Fisher's Hill, in concert +with Anderson and Fitzhugh Lee from Front Royal, and the two columns +joined near Winchester the morning of the 18th.</p> + +<p>That day I moved the Sixth Corps by way of Clifton to Flowing Spring, +two and a half miles west of Charlestown, on the Smithfield pike; and +Emory, with Dwight's and Grower's divisions (Grower's having joined +that morning from Washington), to a position about the same distance +south of Charlestown, on the Berryville pike. Following these +movements, Merritt fell back to Berryville, covering the Berryville +pike crossing of the Opequon, and Wilson was stationed at Summit +Point, whence he held a line along the Opequon as far north as the +bridge at Smithfield. Crook continued to hold on near Clifton until +the next day, and was then moved into place on the left of Emory.</p> + +<p>This line was practically maintained till the 21st, when the enemy, +throwing a heavy force across the Opequon by the bridge at +Smithfield, drove in my cavalry pickets to Summit Point, and followed +up with a rapid advance against the position of the Sixth Corps near +Flowing Spring. A sharp and obstinate skirmish with a heavy +picket-line of the Sixth Corps grew out of this manoeuvre, and resulted very +much in our favor, but the quick withdrawal of the Confederates left +no opportunity for a general engagement. It seems that General Early +thought I had taken position near Summit Point, and that by moving +rapidly around through Smithfield he could fall upon my rear in +concert with an attack in front by Anderson, but the warm reception +given him disclosed his error, for he soon discovered that my line +lay in front of Charlestown instead of where he supposed.</p> + +<p>In the manoeuvre Merritt had been attacked in front of Berryville and +Wilson at Summit Point, the former by cavalry and the latter by +Anderson's infantry. The exposed positions of Merritt and Wilson +necessitated their withdrawal if I was to continue to act on the +defensive; so, after the army had moved back to Halltown the +preceding night, without loss or inconvenience, I called them in and +posted them on the right of the infantry.</p> + +<p>My retrograde move from Strasburg to Halltown caused considerable +alarm in the North, as the public was ignorant of the reasons for it; +and in the excited state of mind then prevailing, it was generally +expected that the reinforced Confederate army would again cross the +Potomac, ravage Maryland and Pennsylvania, and possibly capture +Washington. Mutterings of dissatisfaction reached me from many +sources, and loud calls were made for my removal, but I felt +confident that my course would be justified when the true situation +was understood, for I knew that I was complying with my instructions. +Therefore I paid small heed to the adverse criticisms pouring down +from the North almost every day, being fully convinced that the best +course was to bide my time, and wait till I could get the enemy into +a position from which he could not escape without such serious +misfortune as to have some bearing on the general result of the war. +Indeed, at this time I was hoping that my adversary would renew the +boldness he had exhibited the early part of the month, and strike for +the north side of the Potomac, and wrote to General Grant on the 20th +of August that I had purposely left everything in that direction open +to the enemy.</p> + +<p>On the 22d the Confederates moved to Charlestown and pushed well up +to my position at Halltown. Here for the next three days they +skirmished with my videttes and infantry pickets, Emory and Cook +receiving the main attention; but finding that they could make no +impression, and judging it to be an auspicious time to intensify the +scare in the North, on the 25th of August Early despatched Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry to Williamsport, and moved all the rest of his army but +Anderson's infantry and McCausland's cavalry to Kerneysville. This +same day there was sharp picket firing along the whole front of my +infantry line, arising, as afterward ascertained, from a heavy +demonstration by Anderson. During this firing I sent Torbert, with +Merritt's and Wilson's divisions, to Kerrteysville, whence he was to +proceed toward Leetown and learn what had become of Fitz. Lee.</p> + +<p>About a mile from Leetown Torbert met a small force of Confederate +cavalry, and soon after encountering it, stumbled on Breckenridge's +corps of infantry on the march, apparently heading for Shepherdstown. +The surprise was mutual, for Torbert expected to meet only the +enemy's cavalry, while the Confederate infantry column was +anticipating an unobstructed march to the Potomac. Torbert attacked +with such vigor as at first to double up the head of Breckenridge's +corps and throw it into confusion, but when the Confederates realized +that they were confronted only by cavalry, Early brought up the whole +of the four infantry divisions engaged in his manoeuvre, and in a +sharp attack pushed Torbert rapidly back.</p> + +<p>All the advantages which Torbert had gained by surprising the enemy +were nullified by this counter-attack, and he was obliged to withdraw +Wilson's division toward my right, to the neighborhood of Duffield's +Station, Merritt drawing back to the same point by way of the +Shepherdstown ford. Custer's brigade becoming isolated after the +fight while assisting the rear guard, was also obliged to retire, +which it did to Shepherdstown and there halted, picketing the river +to Antietam ford.</p> + +<p>When Torbert reported to me the nature of his encounter, and that a +part of Early's infantry was marching to the north, while Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry had gone toward Martinsburg, I thought that the +Confederate general meditated crossing his cavalry into Maryland, so +I sent Wilson by way of Harper's Ferry to watch his movements from +Boonesboro', and at the same time directed Averell, who had reported +from West Virginia some days before, to take post at Williamsport and +hold the crossing there until he was driven away. I also thought it +possible that Early might cross the Potomac with his whole army, but +the doubts of a movement like this outweighed the probabilities +favoring it. Nevertheless, to meet such a contingency I arranged to +throw my army on his rear should the occasion arise, and deeming my +position at Halltown the most advantageous in which to await +developments, my infantry was retained there.</p> + +<p>If General Early had ever intended to cross the Potomac, Torbert's +discovery of his manoeuvre put an end to his scheme of invasion, for +he well knew that and success he might derive from such a course +would depend on his moving with celerity, and keeping me in ignorance +of his march till it should be well under way; so he settled all the +present uncertainties by retiring with all his troops about +Kerneysville to his old position at Bunker Hill behind the Opequon, +and on the night of the 26th silently withdrew Anderson and +McCausland from my front at Halltown to Stephenson's depot.</p> + +<p>By the 27th all of Early's infantry was in position at Brucetown and +Bunker Hill, his cavalry holding the outposts of Leetown and +Smithfield, and on that day Merritt's division attacked the enemy's +horse at Leetown, and pressed it back through Smithfield to the west +side of the Opequon. This reconnoissance determined definitely that +Early had abandoned the projected movement into Maryland, if he ever +seriously contemplated it; and I marched my infantry out from +Halltown to the front of Charlestown, with the intention of occupying +a line between Clifton and Berryville the moment matters should so +shape themselves that I could do so with advantage. The night of the +28th Wilson joined me near Charlestown from his points of observation +in Maryland, and the next day Averell crossed the Potomac at +Williamsport and advanced to Martinsburg.</p> + +<p>Merritt's possession of Smithfield bridge made Early somewhat uneasy, +since it afforded opportunity for interposing a column between his +right and left flanks, so he concluded to retake the crossing, and, +to this end, on the 29th advanced two divisions of infantry. A +severe fight followed, and Merritt was forced to retire, being driven +through the village toward Charlestown with considerable loss. As +Merritt was nearing my infantry line, I ordered. Ricketts's division +of the Sixth Corps to his relief, and this in a few minutes turned +the tide, the Smithfield crossing of the Opequon being regained, and +afterward held by Lowell's brigade, supported by Ricketts. The next +morning I moved Torbert, with Wilson and Merritt, to Berryville, and +succeeding their occupation of that point there occurred along my +whole line a lull, which lasted until the 3d of September, being +undisturbed except by a combat near Bunker Hill between Averell's +cavalry and a part of McCausland's, supported by Rodes's division of +infantry, in which affair the Confederates were defeated with the +loss of about fifty prisoners and considerable property in the shape +of wagons and beef-cattle.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Torbert's movement to Berryville had alarmed Early, and as +a counter move on the 2d of September he marched with the bulk of his +army to Summit Point, but while reconnoitring in that region on the +3d he learned of the havoc that Averell was creating in his rear, and +this compelled him to recross to the west side of the Opequon and +mass his troops in the vicinity of Stephenson's depot, whence he +could extend down to Bunker Hill, continue to threaten the Baltimore +and Ohio railroad, and at the same time cover Winchester.</p> + +<p>The same day I was moving my infantry to take up the +Clifton-Berryville line, and that afternoon Wright went into position at +Clifton, Crook occupied Berryville, and Emory's corps came in between +them, forming almost a continuous line. Torbert had moved to White +Post meanwhile, with directions to reconnoitre as far south as the +Front Royal Pike.</p> + +<p>My infantry had just got fairly into this position about an hour +before sunset, when along Crook's front a combat took place that at +the time caused me to believe it was Early's purpose to throw a +column between Crook and Torbert, with the intention of isolating the +latter; but the fight really arose from the attempt of General +Anderson to return to Petersburg with Kershaw's division in response +to loud calls from General Lee. Anderson started south on the 3d of +September, and possibly this explains Early's reconnoissance that day +to Summit Point as a covering movement, but his rapid withdrawal left +him in ignorance of my advance, and Anderson marched on heedlessly +toward Berryville, expecting to cross the Blue Ridge through Ashby's +Gap. At Berryville however, he blundered into Crook's lines about +sunset, and a bitter little fight ensued, in which the Confederates +got so much the worst of it that they withdrew toward Winchester. +When General Early received word of this encounter he hurried to +Anderson's assistance with three divisions, but soon perceiving what +was hitherto unknown to him, that my whole army was on a new line, he +decided, after some slight skirmishing, that Anderson must remain at +Winchester until a favorable opportunity offered for him to rejoin +Lee by another route.</p> + +<p>Succeeding the discomfiture of Anderson, some minor operations took +place on the part of, Averell on the right and McIntosh's brigade of +Wilson's division on the left, but from that time until the 19th of +September no engagement of much importance occurred. The line from +Clifton to Berryville was occupied by the Sixth Corps and Grower's +and Dwight's divisions of the Nineteenth, Crook being transferred to +Summit Point, whence I could use him to protect my right flank and my +communication with Harper's Ferry, while the cavalry threatened the +enemy's right flank and line of retreat up the valley.</p> + +<p>The difference of strength between the two armies at this date was +considerably in my favor, but the conditions attending my situation +in a hostile region necessitated so much detached service to protect +trains, and to secure Maryland and Pennsylvania from raids, that my +excess in numbers was almost canceled by these incidental demands +that could not be avoided, and although I knew that I was strong, +yet, in consequence of the injunctions of General Grant, I deemed it +necessary to be very cautious; and the fact that the Presidential +election was impending made me doubly so, the authorities at +Washington having impressed upon me that the defeat of my army might +be followed by the overthrow of the party in power, which event, it +was believed, would at least retard the progress of the war, if, +indeed, it did not lead to the complete abandonment of all coercive +measures. Under circumstances such as these I could not afford to +risk a disaster, to say nothing of the intense disinclination every +soldier has for such results; so, notwithstanding my superior +strength, I determined to take all the time necessary to equip myself +with the fullest information, and then seize an opportunity under +such conditions that I could not well fail of success.</p> + + + +<br><br> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p2.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p4.htm">Next Part</a> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + + + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/orig4362-h/p4.htm b/old/orig4362-h/p4.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..44efcb2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig4362-h/p4.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2977 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN, Vol. II., Part. 4</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { + text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 95% } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p3.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p5.htm">Next Part</a> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + + + +<br><br> + +<center><h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF + +<br>P. H. SHERIDAN</h1></center> + + +<h2>VOLUME II.</h2> + +<h3>Part 4</h3> + +<br><br> + + + +<br><hr> +<br> + + + +<br><br> + + +<center><img alt="Cover.jpg (168K)" src="images/Cover.jpg" height="963" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Spines.jpg (76K)" src="images/Spines.jpg" height="1425" width="597"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> +< +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h2>VOLUME II.</h2> + +<h2>Part 4</h2> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + +<a href="#ch1b">CHAPTER I.</a><br> +Organizing Scouts—Miss Rebecca Wright—Important <br> +Information—Decides to Move on Newtown—Meeting <br> +General Grant—Organization of the Union Army<br> +—Opening of the Battle of the Opequon<br> +—Death of General Russell—A Turning Movement <br> +—A Successful Cavalry Charge—Victory—Three <br> +Loyal Girls—Appointed a Brigadier—General in the <br> +Regular Army—Remarks on the Battle<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch2b">CHAPTER II.</a><br> +Pursuing Early—A Secret March—Fisher's Hill<br> +—A Great Success—Removal of Averell—The Retreat<br> +—Capturing an Old Comrade—The Murder of Lieutenant Meigs<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch3b">CHAPTER III.</a><br> +Reasons for Not Pursuing Early Through the Blue Ridge<br> +—General Torbert Detailed to Give General <br> +Rosser a "Drubbing"—General Rosser Routed <br> +—Telegraphed to Meet Stanton—Longstreet's Message<br> +—Return to Winchester—The Ride to Cedar Creek<br> +—The Retreating Army—Rallying the Troops<br> +—Reforming the Line—Commencing the Attack—Defeat <br> +of the Confederates—Appointed a Major-General <br> +in the Regular Army—Results of the Battle<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch4b">CHAPTER IV.</a><br> +General Early Reorganizes His Forces—Mosby the <br> +Guerrilla—General Merritt sent to Operate Against <br> +Mosby—Rosser Again Active—General Custer <br> +Surprised—Colonel Young Sent to Capture Gilmore <br> +the Guerrilla—Colonel Young's Success<br> +—Capture of General Kelly and General Crook<br> +—Spies—Was Wilkes Booth a Spy—Driving the <br> +Confederates Out of the Valley—The Battle of <br> +Waynesboro'—Marching to join the Army of the <br> +Potomac<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch5b">CHAPTER V.</a><br> +Transferred to Petersburg—General Raw'ins's Cordial <br> +Welcome—General Grant's Orders and Plans—A Trip <br> +with Mr. Lincoln and General Grant—Meeting General <br> +Sherman—Opposed to Joining the Army of the Tennessee<br> +—Opening of the Appomattox Campaign—General Grant <br> +and General Rawlins<br> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br> +<br> +<h2> +ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + +<a href="#Frontpiece2">Steel Portrait—General P. H. Sheridan</a> <br> +<a href="#misswright">Portrait of Miss Rebecca M. Wright</a> <br> +<a href="#lincoln1">Fac-simile Letter from Abraham Lincoln, Sept. 20, 1864</a> <br> +<a href="#lincoln2">Fac-simile Letter from Abraham Lincoln, Oct. 22, 1864</a> <br> +<a href="#emory">Portrait of General William H. Emory</a> <br> +<a href="#crook">Portrait of General George Crook</a> <br> +<a href="#dinwiddie">General Sheridan and Staff. Dinwiddie Court House</a><br> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br> +<br> +<h2> +LIST OF MAPS.</h2> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + +<a href="#pb039">Battle-field of Fisher's Hill</a> <br> +<a href="#pb094">Battle-field of Cedar Creek</a> <br> +<a href="#pb101">Fourth Expedition—Merritt's Raid to Loudoun</a> <br> +<a href="#pb103">Fifth Expedition—Torbert's Raid to Gordonsville</a> <br> +<a href="#pb117">Battle-field of Waynesboro</a> <br> +<a href="#pb122">Sixth Expedition—Winchester to Petersburg</a> <br> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><h2>VOLUME II.</h2></center> + +<h3>Part 4</h3> +<br><br> +<center><h3>By Philip Henry Sheridan</h3></center> +<br><br> + + + +<br><br> +<a name="Frontpiece2"></a> +<br><br> +<center><img alt="Frontpiece2.jpg (99K)" src="images/Frontpiece2.jpg" height="927" width="650"> +</center> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch1b"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>ORGANIZING SCOUTS—MISS REBECCA WRIGHT—IMPORTANT INFORMATION—DECIDE +TO MOVE ON NEWTOWN—MEETING GENERAL GRANT—ORGANIZATION OF THE UNION +ARMY—OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF THE OPEQUON—DEATH OF GENERAL +RUSSELL—A TURNING MOVEMENT—A SUCCESSFUL CAVALRY CHARGE—VICTORY—THREE +LOYAL GIRLS—APPOINTED A BRIGADIER-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR +ARMY—REMARKS ON THE BATTLE.</p> + +<p>While occupying the ground between Clifton and Berryville, referred +to in the last chapter of the preceding volume, I felt the need of an +efficient body of scouts to collect information regarding the enemy, +for the defective intelligence-establishment with which I started out +from Harper's Ferry early in August had not proved satisfactory. I +therefore began to organize my scouts on a system which I hoped would +give better results than bad the method hitherto pursued in the +department, which was to employ on this service doubtful citizens and +Confederate deserters. If these should turn out untrustworthy, the +mischief they might do us gave me grave apprehension, and I finally +concluded that those of our own soldiers who should volunteer for the +delicate and hazardous duty would be the most valuable material, and +decided that they should have a battalion organization and be +commanded by an officer, Major H. K. Young, of the First Rhode Island +Infantry. These men were disguised in Confederate uniforms whenever +necessary, were paid from the Secret-Service Fund in proportion to +the value of the intelligence they furnished, which often stood us in +good stead in checking the forays of Gilmore, Mosby, and other +irregulars. Beneficial results came from the plan in many other ways +too, and particularly so when in a few days two of my scouts put me +in the way of getting news conveyed from Winchester. They had +learned that just outside of my lines, near Millwood, there was +living an old colored man, who had a permit from the Confederate +commander to go into Winchester and return three times a week, for +the purpose of selling vegetables to the inhabitants. The scouts had +sounded this man, and, finding him both loyal and shrewd, suggested +that he might be made useful to us within the enemy's lines; and the +proposal struck me as feasible, provided there could be found in +Winchester some reliable person who would be willing to co-operate +and correspond with me. I asked General Crook, who was acquainted +with many of the Union people of Winchester, if he knew of such a +person, and he recommended a Miss Rebecca Wright, a young lady whom +he had met there before the battle of Kernstown, who, he said, was a +member of the Society of Friends and the teacher of a small private +school. He knew she was faithful and loyal to the Government, and +thought she might be willing to render us assistance, but he could +not be certain of this, for on account of her well known loyalty she +was under constant surveillance. I hesitated at first, but finally +deciding to try it, despatched the two scouts to the old negro's +cabin, and they brought him to my headquarters late that night. I +was soon convinced of the negro's fidelity, and asking him if he was +acquainted with Miss Rebecca Wright, of Winchester, he replied that +he knew her well. There upon I told him what I wished to do, and +after a little persuasion he agreed to carry a letter to her on his +next marketing trip. My message was prepared by writing it on tissue +paper, which was then compressed into a small pellet, and protected +by wrapping it in tin-foil so that it could be safely carried in the +man's mouth. The probability, of his being searched when he came to +the Confederate picket-line was not remote, and in such event he was +to swallow the pellet. The letter appealed to Miss Wright's loyalty +and patriotism, and requested her to furnish me with information +regarding the strength and condition of Early's army. The night +before the negro started one of the scouts placed the odd-looking +communication in his hands, with renewed injunctions as to secrecy +and promptitude. Early the next morning it was delivered to Miss +Wright, with an intimation that a letter of importance was enclosed +in the tin-foil, the negro telling her at the same time that she +might expect him to call for a message in reply before his return +home. At first Miss Wright began to open the pellet nervously, but +when told to be careful, and to preserve the foil as a wrapping for +her answer, she proceeded slowly and carefully, and when the note +appeared intact the messenger retired, remarking again that in the +evening he would come for an answer.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="misswright"></a><img alt="pb006.jpg (60K)" src="images/pb006.jpg" height="835" width="553"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>On reading my communication Miss Wright was much startled by the +perils it involved, and hesitatingly consulted her mother, but her +devoted loyalty soon silenced every other consideration, and the +brave girl resolved to comply with my request, notwithstanding it +might jeopardize her life. The evening before a convalescent +Confederate officer had visited her mother's house, and in +conversation about the war had disclosed the fact that Kershaw's +division of infantry and Cutshaw's battalion of artillery had started +to rejoin General Lee. At the time Miss Wright heard this she +attached little if any importance to it, but now she perceived the +value of the intelligence, and, as her first venture, determined to +send it to me at once, which she did with a promise that in the +future she would with great pleasure continue to transmit information +by the negro messenger.</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"SEPTEMBER 15, 1864. +<br> +<br>"I learn from Major-General Crook that you are a loyal lady, and +still love the old flag. Can you inform me of the position of +Early's forces, the number of divisions in his army, and the strength +of any or all of them, and his probable or reported intentions? Have +any more troops arrived from Richmond, or are any more coming, or +reported to be coming? +<br> +<br>"You can trust the bearer." +<br> +<br>"I am, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General Commanding." +<br><br> +<br><br> + +<br>"SEPTEMBER 16, 1864. +<br> +<br>"I have no communication whatever with the rebels, but will tell you +what I know. The division of General Kershaw, and Cutshaw's +artillery, twelve guns and men, General Anderson commanding, have +been sent away, and no more are expected, as they cannot be spared +from Richmond. I do not know how the troops are situated, but the +force is much smaller than represented. I will take pleasure +hereafter in learning all I can of their strength and position, and +the bearer may call again. +<br> +<br>"Very respectfully yours," +<br>............ +</blockquote> + + +<p>Miss Wright's answer proved of more value to me than she anticipated, +for it not only quieted the conflicting reports concerning Anderson's +corps, but was most important in showing positively that Kershaw was +gone, and this circumstance led, three days later, to the battle of +the Opequon, or Winchester as it has been unofficially called. Word +to the effect that some of Early's troops were under orders to return +to Petersburg, and would start back at the first favorable +opportunity, had been communicated to me already from many sources, +but we had not been able to ascertain the date for their departure. +Now that they had actually started, I decided to wait before offering +battle until Kershaw had gone so far as to preclude his return, +feeling confident that my prudence would be justified by the improved +chances of victory; and then, besides, Mr. Stanton kept reminding me +that positive success was necessary to counteract the political +dissatisfaction existing in some of the Northern States. This course +was advised and approved by General Grant, but even with his powerful +backing it was difficult to resist the persistent pressure of those +whose judgment, warped by their interests in the Baltimore and Ohio +railroad, was often confused and misled by stories of scouts (sent +out from Washington), averring that Kershaw and Fitzhugh Lee had +returned to Petersburg, Breckenridge to southwestern Virginia, and at +one time even maintaining that Early's whole army was east of the +Blue Ridge, and its commander himself at Gordonsville.</p> + +<p>During the inactivity prevailing in my army for the ten days +preceding Miss Wright's communication the infantry was quiet, with +the exception of Getty's division, which made a reconnoissance to the +Opequon, and developed a heavy force of the enemy at Edwards's +Corners. The cavalry, however, was employed a good deal in this +interval skirmishing heavily at times to maintain a space about six +miles in width between the hostile lines, for I wished to control +this ground so that when I was released from the instructions of +August 12, I could move my men into position for attack without the +knowledge of Early. The most noteworthy of these mounted encounters +was that of McIntosh's brigade, which captured the Eighth South +Carolina at Abraham's Creek September 13.</p> + +<p>It was the evening of the 16th of September that I received from Miss +Wright the positive information that Kershaw was in march toward +Front Royal on his way by Chester Gap to Richmond. Concluding that +this was my opportunity, I at once resolved to throw my whole force +into Newtown the next day, but a despatch from General Grant +directing me to meet him at Charlestown, whither he was coming to +consult with me, caused me to defer action until after I should see +him. In our resulting interview at Charlestown, I went over the +situation very thoroughly, and pointed out with so much confidence +the chances of a complete victory should I throw my army across the +Valley pike near Newtown that he fell in with the plan at once, +authorized me to resume the offensive, and to attack Early as soon as +I deemed it most propitious to do so; and although before leaving +City Point he had outlined certain operations for my army, yet he +neither discussed nor disclosed his plans, my knowledge of the +situation striking him as being so much more accurate than his own.</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<br>["Extract from Grant's Memoirs," page 328.] +<br> +<br>"....Before starting I had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, +which I had brought with me; but seeing that he was so clear and so +positive in his views, and so confident of success, I said nothing +about this, and did not take it out of my pocket...." +<br> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p>The interview over, I returned to my army to arrange for its movement +toward Newtown, but while busy with these preparations, a report came +to me from General Averell which showed that Early was moving with +two divisions of infantry toward Martinsburg. This considerably +altered the state of affairs, and I now decided to change my plan and +attack at once the two divisions remaining about Winchester and +Stephenson's depot, and later, the two sent to Martinsburg; the +disjointed state of the enemy giving me an opportunity to take him in +detail, unless the Martinsburg column should be returned by forced +marches.</p> + +<p>While General Early was in the telegraph office at Martinsburg on the +morning of the 18th, he learned of Grant's visit to me; and +anticipating activity by reason of this circumstance, he promptly +proceeded to withdraw so as to get the two divisions within +supporting distance of Ramseur's, which lay across the Berryville +pike about two miles east of Winchester, between Abraham's Creek and +Red Bud Run, so by the night of the 18th Wharton's division, under +Breckenridge, was at Stephenson's depot, Rodes near there, and +Gordon's at Bunker Hill. At daylight of the 19th these positions of +the Confederate infantry still obtained, with the cavalry of Lomax, +Jackson, and Johnson on the right of Ramseur, while to the left and +rear of the enemy's general line was Fitzhugh Lee, covering from +Stephenson's depot west across the Valley pike to Applepie Ridge.</p> + +<p>My army moved at 3 o'clock that morning. The plan was for Torbert to +advance with Merritt's division of cavalry from Summit Point, carry +the crossings of the Opequon at Stevens's and Lock's fords, and form +a junction near Stephenson's depot, with Averell, who was to move +south from Darksville by the Valley pike. Meanwhile, Wilson was to +strike up the Berryville pike, carry the Berryville crossing of the +Opequon, charge through the gorge or canyon on the road west of the +stream, and occupy the open ground at the head of this defile. +Wilson's attack was to be supported by the Sixth and Nineteenth +corps, which were ordered to the Berryville crossing, and as the +cavalry gained the open ground beyond the gorge, the two infantry +corps, under command of General Wright, were expected to press on +after and occupy Wilson's ground, who was then to shift to the south +bank of Abraham's Creek and cover my left; Crook's two divisions, +having to march from Summit Point, were to follow the Sixth and +Nineteenth corps to the Opcquon, and should they arrive before the +action began, they were to be held in reserve till the proper moment +came, and then, as a turning-column, be thrown over toward the Valley +pike, south of Winchester.</p> + +<p>McIntosh's brigade of Wilson's division drove the enemy's pickets +away from the Berryville crossing at dawn, and Wilson following +rapidly through the gorge with the rest of the division, debouched +from its western extremity with such suddenness as to capture a small +earthwork in front of General Ramseur's main line; and +not-withstanding the Confederate infantry, on recovering from its +astonishment, tried hard to dislodge them, Wilson's troopers +obstinately held the work till the Sixth Corps came up. I followed +Wilson to select the ground on which to form the infantry. The Sixth +Corps began to arrive about 8 o'clock, and taking up the line Wilson +had been holding, just beyond the head of the narrow ravine, the +cavalry was transferred to the south side of Abraham's Creek.</p> + +<p>The Confederate line lay along some elevated ground about two miles +east of Winchester, and extended from Abraham's Creek north across +the Berryville pike, the left being hidden in the heavy timber on Red +Bud Run. Between this line and mine, especially on my right, clumps +of woods and patches of underbrush occurred here and there, but the +undulating ground consisted mainly of open fields, many of which were +covered with standing corn that had already ripened.</p> + +<p>Much time was lost in getting all of the Sixth and Nineteenth corps +through the narrow defile, Grover's division being greatly delayed +there by a train of ammunition wagons, and it was not until late in +the forenoon that the troops intended for the attack could be got +into line ready to advance. General Early was not slow to avail +himself of the advantages thus offered him, and my chances of +striking him in detail were growing less every moment, for Gordon and +Rodes were hurrying their divisions from Stephenson's +depot—across-country on a line that would place Gordon in the woods south of Red +Bud Run, and bring Rodes into the interval between Gordon and +Ramseur.</p> + +<p>When the two corps had all got through the canyon they were formed +with Getty's division of the Sixth to the left of the Berryville +pike, Rickett's division to the right of the pike, and Russell's +division in reserve in rear of the other two. Grover's division of +the Nineteenth Corps came next on the right of Rickett's, with Dwight +to its rear in reserve, while Crook was to begin massing near the +Opequon crossing about the time Wright and Emory were ready to +attack.</p> + +<p>Just before noon the line of Getty, Ricketts, and Grover moved +forward, and as we advanced, the Confederates, covered by some heavy +woods on their right, slight underbrush and corn-fields along their +Centre, and a large body of timber on their left along the Red Bud, +opened fire from their whole front. We gained considerable ground at +first, especially on our left but the desperate resistance which the +right met with demonstrated that the time we had unavoidably lost in +the morning had been of incalculable value to Early, for it was +evident that he had been enabled already to so far concentrate his +troops as to have the different divisions of his army in a connected +line of battle, in good shape to resist.</p> + +<p>Getty and Ricketts made some progress toward Winchester in connection +with Wilson's cavalry, which was beyond the Senseny road on Getty's +left, and as they were pressing back Ramseur's infantry and Lomax's +cavalry Grover attacked from the right with decided effect. Grover +in a few minutes broke up Evans's brigade of Gordon's division, but +his pursuit of Evans destroyed the continuity of my general line, and +increased an interval that had already been made by the deflection of +Ricketts to the left, in obedience to instructions that had been +given him to guide his division on the Berryville pike. As the line +pressed forward, Ricketts observed this widening interval and +endeavored to fill it with the small brigade of Colonel Keifer, but +at this juncture both Gordon and Rodes struck the weak spot where the +right of the Sixth Corps and the left of the Nineteenth should have +been in conjunction, and succeeded in checking my advance by driving +back a part of Ricketts's division, and the most of Grover's. As +these troops were retiring I ordered Russell's reserve division to be +put into action, and just as the flank of the enemy's troops in +pursuit of Grover was presented, Upton's brigade, led in person by +both Russell and Upton, struck it in a charge so vigorous as to drive +the Confederates back in turn to their original ground.</p> + +<p>The success of Russell enabled me to re-establish the right of my +line some little distance in advance of the position from which it +started in the morning, and behind Russell's division (now commanded +by Upton) the broken regiments of Ricketts's division were rallied. +Dwight's division was then brought up on the right, and Grover's men +formed behind it.</p> + +<p>The charge of Russell was most opportune, but it cost many men in +killed and wounded. Among the former was the courageous Russell +himself; killed by a piece of shell that passed through his heart, +although he had previously been struck by a bullet in the left +breast, which wound, from its nature, must have proved mortal, yet of +which he had not spoken. Russell's death oppressed us all with +sadness, and me particularly. In the early days of my army life he +was my captain and friend, and I was deeply indebted to him, not only +for sound advice and good example, but for the inestimable service he +had just performed, and sealed with his life, so it may be inferred +how keenly I felt his loss.</p> + +<p>As my lines were being rearranged, it was suggested to me to put +Crook into the battle, but so strongly had I set my heart on using +him to take possession of the Valley pike and cut off the enemy, that +I resisted this advice, hoping that the necessity for putting him in +would be obviated by the attack near Stephenson's depot that +Torbert's cavalry was to make, and from which I was momentarily +expecting to hear. No news of Torbert's progress came, however, so, +yielding at last, I directed Crook to take post on the right of the +Nineteenth Corps and, when the action was renewed, to push his +command forward as a turning-column in conjunction with Emory. After +some delay in the annoying defile, Crook got his men up, and posting +Colonel Thoburn's division on the prolongation of the Nineteenth +Corps, he formed Colonel Duval's division to the right of Thoburn. +Here I joined Crook, informing him that I had just got word that +Torbert was driving the enemy in confusion along the Martinsburg pike +toward Winchester; at the same time I directed him to attack the +moment all of Duval's men were in line. Wright was instructed to +advance in concert with Crook, by swinging Emory and the right of the +Sixth Corps to the left together in a half-wheel. Then leaving +Crook, I rode along the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, the open ground +over which they were passing affording a rare opportunity to witness +the precision with which the attack was taken up from right to left. +Crook's success began the moment he started to turn the enemy's left; +and assured by the fact that Torbert had stampeded the Confederate +cavalry and thrown Breckenridge's infantry into such disorder that it +could do little to prevent the envelopment of Gordon's left, Crook +pressed forward without even a halt.</p> + +<p>Both Emory and Wright took up the fight as ordered, and as they did +so I sent word to Wilson, in the hope that he could partly perform +the work originally laid out for Crook, to push along the Senseny +road and, if possible, gain the valley pike south of Winchester. I +then returned toward my right flank, and as I reached the Nineteenth +Corps the enemy was contesting the ground in its front with great +obstinacy; but Emory's dogged persistence was at length rewarded with +success, just as Crook's command emerged from the morass of Red Bud +Run, and swept around Gordon, toward the right of Breckenridge, who, +with two of Wharton's brigades, was holding a line at right angles +with the Valley pike for the protection of the Confederate rear. +Early had ordered these two brigades back from Stephenson's depot in +the morning, purposing to protect with them his right flank and line +of retreat, but while they were en route to this end, he was obliged +to recall them to his left to meet Crook's attack.</p> + +<p>To confront Torbert, Patton's brigade of infantry and some of +Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had been left back by Breckenridge, but, with +Averell on the west side of the Valley pike and Merritt on the east, +Torbert began to drive this opposing force toward Winchester the +moment he struck it near Stephenson's depot, keeping it on the go +till it reached the position held by Breckenridge, where it +endeavored to make a stand.</p> + +<p>The ground which Breckenridge was holding was open, and offered an +opportunity such as seldom had been presented during the war for a +mounted attack, and Torbert was not slow to take advantage of it. +The instant Merritt's division could be formed for the charge, it +went at Breckenridge's infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry with such +momentum as to break the Confederate left, just as Averell was +passing around it. Merritt's brigades, led by Custer, Lowell, and +Devin, met from the start with pronounced success, and with sabre or +pistol in hand literally rode down a battery of five guns and took +about 1,200 prisoners. Almost simultaneously with this cavalry +charge, Crook struck Breckenridge's right and Gordon's left, forcing +these divisions to give way, and as they retired, Wright, in a +vigorous attack, quickly broke Rodes up and pressed Ramseur so hard +that the whole Confederate army fell back, contracting its lines +within some breastworks which had been thrown up at a former period +of the war, immediately in front of Winchester.</p> + +<p>Here Early tried hard to stem the tide, but soon Torbert's cavalry +began passing around his left flank, and as Crook, Emory, and Wright +attacked in front, panic took possession of the enemy, his troops, +now fugitives and stragglers, seeking escape into and through +Winchester.</p> + +<p>When this second break occurred, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps were +moved over toward the Millwood pike to help Wilson on the left, but +the day was so far spent that they could render him no assistance, +and Ramseur's division, which had maintained some organization, was +in such tolerable shape as to check him. Meanwhile Torbert passed +around to the west of Winchester to join Wilson, but was unable to do +so till after dark. Crook's command pursued the enemy through the +town to Mill Greek, I going along.</p> + +<p>Just after entering the town, Crook and I met, in the main street, +three young girls, who gave us the most hearty reception. One of +these young women was a Miss Griffith, the other two Miss Jennie and +Miss Susie Meredith. During the day they had been watching the +battle from the roof of the Meredith residence, with tears and +lamentations, they said, in the morning when misfortune appeared to +have overtaken the Union troops, but with unbounded exultation when, +later, the tide set in against the Confederates. Our presence was, +to them, an assurance of victory, and their delight being +irrepressible, they indulged in the most unguarded manifestations and +expressions. When cautioned by Crook, who knew them well, and +reminded that the valley had hitherto been a race-course—one day in +the possession of friends, and the next of enemies—and warned of the +dangers they were incurring by such demonstrations, they assured him +that they had no further fears of that kind now, adding that Early's +army was so demoralized by the defeat it had just sustained that it +would never be in condition to enter Winchester again. As soon as we +had succeeded in calming the excited girls a little I expressed a +desire to find some place where I could write a telegram to General +Grant informing him of the result of the battle, and General Crook +conducted me to the home of Miss Wright, where I met for the first +time the woman who had contributed so much to our success, and on a +desk in her school-room wrote the despatch announcing that we had +sent Early's army whirling up the valley.</p> + +<p>My losses in the battle of the Opequon were heavy, amounting to about +4,500 killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed was General +Russell, commanding a division, and the wounded included Generals +Upton, McIntosh and Chapman, and Colonels Duval and Sharpe. The +Confederate loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners about equaled +mine, General Rodes being of the killed, while Generals Fitzhugh Lee +and York were severely wounded.</p> + +<p>We captured five pieces of artillery and nine battle-flags. The +restoration of the lower valley—from the Potomac to Strasburg—to +the control of the Union forces caused great rejoicing in the North, +and relieved the Administration from further solicitude for the +safety of the Maryland and Pennsylvania borders. The President's +appreciation of the victory was expressed in a despatch so like Mr. +Lincoln that I give a facsimile of it to the reader:</p> + +<p>[In the handwriting of President Lincoln] +"EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT +"WASHINGTON, Sep. 20, 1864</p> + +<p>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN +"WINCHESTER, VA.</p> + +<p>"Have just heard of your geat victory. God bless you all, officers +and men. Strongly inclined to come up and see you.</p> + +<p>"A. LINCOLN."</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="lincoln1"></a><img alt="pb031.jpg (39K)" src="images/pb031.jpg" height="388" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb031.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p> +This he supplemented by promoting me to the grade of +brigadier-general in the regular army, and assigning me to the permanent +command of the Middle Military Department, and following that came +warm congratulations from Mr. Stanton and from Generals Grant, +Sherman, and Meade.</p> + +<p>The battle was not fought out on the plan in accordance with which +marching orders were issued to my troops, for I then hoped to take +Early in detail, and with Crook's force cut off his retreat. I +adhered to this purpose during the early part of the contest, but was +obliged to abandon the idea because of unavoidable delays by which I +was prevented from getting the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through the +narrow defile and into position early enough to destroy Ramseur while +still isolated. So much delay had not been anticipated, and this +loss of time was taken advantage of by the enemy to recall the troops +diverted to Bunker Hill and Martinsburg on the 17th, thus enabling +him to bring them all to the support of Ramseur before I could strike +with effect. My idea was to attack Ramseur and Wharton, +successively, at a very early hour and before they could get succor, +but I was not in condition to do it till nearly noon, by which time +Gordon and Rodes had been enabled to get upon the ground at a point +from which, as I advanced, they enfiladed my right flank, and gave it +such a repulse that to re-form this part of my line I was obliged to +recall the left from some of the ground it had gained. It was during +this reorganization of my lines that I changed my plan as to Crook, +and moved him from my left to my right. This I did with great +reluctance, for I hoped to destroy Early's army entirely if Crook +continued on his original line of march toward the Valley pike, south +of Winchester; and although the ultimate results did, in a measure +vindicate the change, yet I have always thought that by adhering to +the original plan we might have captured the bulk of Early's army.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch2b"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>PURSUING EARLY—A SECRET MARCH—FISHER'S HILL—A GREAT +SUCCESS—REMOVAL OF AVERELL—THE RETREAT—CAPTURING AN OLD COMRADE—THE MURDER +OF LIEUTENANT MEIGS.</p> + +<p>The night of the 19th of September I gave orders for following Early +up the valley next morning—the pursuit to begin at daybreak—and in +obedience to these directions Torbert moved Averell out on the Back +road leading to Cedar Creek, and Merritt up the Valley pike toward +Strasburg, while Wilson was directed on Front Royal by way of +Stevensburg. Merritt's division was followed by the infantry, +Emory's and Wright's columns marching abreast in the open country to +the right and left of the pike, and Crook's immediately behind them. +The enemy having kept up his retreat at night, presented no +opposition whatever until the cavalry discovered him posted at +Fisher's Hill, on the first defensive line where he could hope to +make any serious resistance. No effort was made to dislodge him, and +later in the day, after Wright and Emory came up, Torbert shifted +Merritt over toward the Back road till he rejoined Averell. As +Merritt moved to the right, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps crossed +Cedar Creek and took up the ground the cavalry was vacating, Wright +posting his own corps to the west of the Valley pike overlooking +Strasburg, and Emory's on his left so as to extend almost to the road +leading from Strasburg to Front Royal. Crook, as he came up the same +evening, went into position in some heavy timber on the north bank of +Cedar Creek.</p> + +<p>A reconnoissance made pending these movements convinced me that the +enemy's position at Fisher's Hill was so strong that a direct assault +would entail unnecessary destruction of life, and, besides, be of +doubtful result. At the point where Early's troops were in position, +between the Massanutten range and Little North Mountain, the valley +is only about three and a half miles wide. All along the precipitous +bluff which overhangs Tumbling Run on the south side, a heavy line of +earthworks had been constructed when Early retreated to this point in +August, and these were now being strengthened so as to make them +almost impregnable; in fact, so secure did Early consider himself +that, for convenience, his ammunition chests were taken from the +caissons and placed behind the breastworks. Wharton, now in command +of Breckenridge's division—its late commander having gone to +southwest Virginia—held the right of this line, with Gordon next +him; Pegram, commanding Ramseur's old division, joined Gordon. +Ramseur with Rodes's division, was on Pegram's left, while Lomax's +cavalry, now serving as foot-troops, extended the line to the Back +road. Fitzhugh Lee being wounded, his cavalry, under General +Wickham, was sent to Milford to prevent Fisher's Hill from being +turned through the Luray Valley.</p> + +<p>In consequence of the enemy's being so well protected from a direct +assault, I resolved on the night of the 20th to use again a +turning-column against his left, as had been done on the 19th at the Opequon. +To this end I resolved to move Crook, unperceived if possible, over +to the eastern face of Little North Mountain, whence he could strike +the left and rear of the Confederate line, and as he broke it up, I +could support him by a left half-wheel of my whole line of battle. +The execution of this plan would require perfect secrecy, however, +for the enemy from his signal-station on Three Top could plainly see +every movement of our troops in daylight. Hence, to escape such +observation, I marched Crook during the night of the 20th into some +heavy timber north of Cedar Creek, where he lay concealed all day the +21st. This same day Wright and Emory were moved up closer to the +Confederate works, and the Sixth Corps, after a severe fight, in +which Ricketts's and Getty were engaged, took up some high ground on +the right of the Manassas Gap railroad in plain view of the +Confederate works, and confronting a commanding point where much of +Early's artillery was massed. Soon after General Wright had +established this line I rode with him along it to the westward, and +finding that the enemy was still holding an elevated position further +to our right, on the north side of Tumbling Run, I directed this also +to be occupied. Wright soon carried the point, which gave us an +unobstructed view of the enemy's works and offered good ground for +our artillery. It also enabled me to move the whole of the Sixth +Corps to the front till its line was within about seven hundred yards +of the enemy's works; the Nineteenth Corps, on the morning of the +22d, covering the ground vacated by the Sixth by moving to the front +and extending to the right, but still keeping its reserves on the +railroad.</p> + +<p>In the darkness of the night of the gist, Crook was brought across +Cedar Creek and hidden in a clump of timber behind Hupp's Hill till +daylight of the 22d, when, under cover of the intervening woods and +ravines, he was marched beyond the right of the Sixth Corps and again +concealed not far from the Back road. After Crook had got into this +last position, Ricketts's division was pushed out until it confronted +the left of the enemy's infantry, the rest of the Sixth Corps +extending from Ricketts's left to the Manassas Gap railroad, while +the Nineteenth Corps filled in the space between the left of the +Sixth and the North Fork of the Shenandoah.</p> + +<p>When Ricketts moved out on this new line, in conjunction with +Averell's cavalry on his right, the enemy surmising, from information +secured from his signal-station, no doubt, that my attack was to be +made from Ricketts's front, prepared for it there, but no such +intention ever existed. Ricketts was pushed forward only that he +might readily join Crook's turning-column as it swung into the +enemy's rear. To ensure success, all that I needed now was enough +daylight to complete my arrangements, the secrecy of movement imposed +by the situation consuming many valuable hours.</p> + +<p>While Ricketts was occupying the enemy's attention, Crook, again +moving unobserved into the dense timber on the eastern face of Little +North Mountain, conducted his command south in two parallel columns +until he gained the rear of the enemy's works, when, marching his +divisions by the left flank, he led them in an easterly direction +down the mountain-side. As he emerged from the timber near the base +of the mountain, the Confederates discovered him, of course, and +opened with their batteries, but it was too late—they having few +troops at hand to confront the turning-column. Loudly cheering, +Crook's men quickly crossed the broken stretch in rear of the enemy's +left, producing confusion and consternation at every step.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb039"></a><img alt="pb039.jpg (63K)" src="images/pb039.jpg" height="1083" width="601"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>About a mile from the mountain's base Crook's left was joined by +Ricketts, who in proper time had begun to swing his division into the +action, and the two commands moved along in rear of the works so +rapidly that, with but slight resistance, the Confederates abandoned +the guns massed near the centre. The swinging movement of Ricketts +was taken up successively from right to left throughout my line, and +in a few minutes the enemy was thoroughly routed, the action, though +brief, being none the less decisive. Lomax's dismounted cavalry gave +way first, but was shortly followed by all the Confederate infantry +in an indescribable panic, precipitated doubtless by fears of being +caught and captured in the pocket formed by Tumbling Run and the +North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The stampede was complete, the +enemy leaving the field without semblance of organization, abandoning +nearly all his artillery and such other property as was in the works, +and the rout extending through the fields and over the roads toward +Woodstock, Wright and Emory in hot pursuit.</p> + +<p>Midway between Fisher's Hill and Woodstock there is some high ground, +where at night-fall a small squad endeavored to stay us with two +pieces of artillery, but this attempt at resistance proved fruitless, +and, notwithstanding the darkness, the guns were soon captured. The +chase was then taken up by Devin's brigade as soon as it could be +passed to the front, and continued till after daylight the next +morning, but the delays incident to a night pursuit made it +impossible for Devin to do more than pick up stragglers.</p> + +<p>Our success was very great, yet I had anticipated results still more +pregnant. Indeed, I had high hopes of capturing almost the whole of +Early's army before it reached New Market, and with this object in +view, during the manoeuvres of the 21st I had sent Torbert up the +Luray Valley with Wilson's division and two of Merritt's brigades, in +the expectation that he would drive Wickham out of the Luray Pass by +Early's right, and by crossing the Massanutten Mountain near New +Market, gain his rear. Torbert started in good season, and after +some slight skirmishing at Gooney Run, got as far as Milford, but +failed to dislodge Wickham. In fact, he made little or no attempt to +force Wickham from his position, and with only a feeble effort +withdrew. I heard nothing at all from Torbert during the 22d, and +supposing that everything was progressing favorably, I was astonished +and chagrined on the morning of the 23d, at Woodstock, to receive the +intelligence that he had fallen back to Front Royal and Buckton ford. +My disappointment was extreme, but there was now no help for the +situation save to renew and emphasize Torbert's orders, and this was +done at once, notwithstanding that I thought, the delay, had so much +diminished the chances of his getting in the rear of Early as to make +such a result a very remote possibility, unless, indeed, far greater +zeal was displayed than had been in the first attempt to penetrate +the Luray Valley.</p> + +<p>The battle of Fisher's Hill was, in a measure, a part of the battle +of the Opequon; that is to say, it was an incident of the pursuit +resulting from that action. In many ways, however, it was much more +satisfactory, and particularly so because the plan arranged on the +evening of the 20th was carried out to the very letter by Generals +Wright, Crook, and Emory, not only in all their preliminary +manoeuvres, but also during the fight itself. The only drawback was +with the cavalry, and to this day I have been unable to account +satisfactorily for Torbert's failure. No doubt, Wickham's position +near Milford was a strong one, but Torbert ought to have made a +fight. Had he been defeated in this, his withdrawal then to await +the result at Fisher's Hill would have been justified, but it does +not appear that he made any serious effort of all to dislodge the +Confederate cavalry: his impotent attempt not only chagrined me very +much, but occasioned much unfavorable comment throughout the army.</p> + +<p>We reached Woodstock early on the morning of the 23d, and halted +there some little time to let the troops recover their organization, +which had been broken in the night march they had just made. When +the commands had closed up we pushed on toward Edinburg, in the hope +of making more captures at Narrow Passage Creek; but the +Confederates, too fleet for us, got away; so General Wright halted +the infantry not far from Edinburg, till rations could be brought the +men. Meanwhile I, having remained at Woodstock, sent Dedin's brigade +to press the enemy under every favorable opportunity, and if possible +prevent him from halting long enough to reorganize. Notwithstanding +Devin's efforts the Confederates managed to assemble a considerable +force to resist him, and being too weak for the rearguard, he awaited +the arrival of Averell, who, I had informed him, would be hurried to +the front with all possible despatch, for I thought that Averell must +be close at hand. It turned out, however, that he was not near by at +all, and, moreover, that without good reason he had refrained from +taking any part whatever in pursuing the enemy in the flight from +Fisher's Hill; and in fact had gone into camp and left to the +infantry the work of pursuit.</p> + +<p>It was nearly noon when Averell came up, and a great deal of precious +time had been lost. We had some hot words, but hoping that he would +retrieve the mistake of the night before, I directed him to proceed +to the front at once, and in conjunction with Devin close with the +enemy. He reached Devin's command about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, +just as this officer was pushing the Confederates so energetically +that they were abandoning Mount Jackson, yet Averell utterly failed +to accomplish anything. Indeed, his indifferent attack was not at +all worthy the excellent soldiers he commanded, and when I learned +that it was his intention to withdraw from the enemy's front, and +this, too, on the indefinite report of a signal-officer that a +"brigade or division" of Confederates was turning his right flank, +and that he had not seriously attempted to verify the information, I +sent him this order:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +<br>"Woodstock, Va., Sept. 23, 1864 +<br> +<br>"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL AVERELL +<br> +<br>"Your report and report of signal-officer received. I do not want +you to let the enemy bluff you or your command, and I want you to +distinctly understand this note. I do not advise rashness, but I do +desire resolution and actual fighting, with necessary casualties, +before you retire. There must now be no backing or filling by you +without a superior force of the enemy actually engaging you. +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br>"Major-General Commanding.' +</blockquote> + +<p> +Some little time after this note went to Averell, word was brought me +that he had already carried out the programme indicated when +forwarding the report of the expected turning of his right, and that +he had actually withdrawn and gone into camp near Hawkinsburg. I +then decided to relieve him from the command of his division, which I +did, ordering him to Wheeling, Colonel William H. Powell being +assigned to succeed him.</p> + +<p>The removal of Averell was but the culmination of a series of events +extending back to the time I assumed command of the Middle Military +Division. At the outset, General Grant, fearing discord on account +of Averell's ranking Torbert, authorized me to relieve the former +officer, but I hoped that if any trouble of this sort arose, it could +be allayed, or at least repressed, during the campaign against Early, +since the different commands would often have to act separately. +After that, the dispersion of my army by the return of the Sixth +Corps and Torbert's cavalry to the Army of the Potomac would take +place, I thought, and this would restore matters to their normal +condition; but Averell's dissatisfaction began to show itself +immediately after his arrival at Martinsburg, on the 14th of August, +and, except when he was conducting some independent expedition, had +been manifested on all occasions since. I therefore thought that the +interest of the service would be subserved by removing one whose +growing indifference might render the best-laid plans inoperative.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<br>"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION. +<br>"HARRISONBURG, VA., SEPT. 25, 1864 11:30 P. M. +<br>"LIEUT-GENERAL GRANT, Comd'g, City Point, Va. +<br> +<br>"I have relieved Averell from his command. Instead of following the +enemy when he was broken at Fisher's Hill (so there was not a cavalry +organization left), he went into camp and let me pursue the enemy for +a distance of fifteen miles, with infantry, during the night. +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." +</blockquote> +<p> +The failure of Averell to press the enemy the evening of the 23d gave +Early time to collect his scattered forces and take up a position on +the east side of the North Fork of the Shenandoah, his left resting +on the west side of that stream at Rude's Hill, a commanding point +about two miles south of Mt. Jackson. Along this line he had +constructed some slight works during the night, and at daylight on +the 24th, I moved the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through Mt. Jackson +to attack him, sending Powell's division to pass around his left +flank, toward Timberville, and Devin's brigade across the North Fork, +to move along the base of Peaked Ridge and attack his right. The +country was entirely open, and none of these manoeuvres could be +executed without being observed, so as soon as my advance began, the +enemy rapidly retreated in line of battle up the valley through New +Market, closely followed by Wright and Emory, their artillery on the +pike and their columns on its right and left. Both sides moved with +celerity, the Confederates stimulated by the desire to escape, and +our men animated by the prospect of wholly destroying Early's army. +The stern-chase continued for about thirteen miles, our infantry +often coming within range, yet whenever we began to deploy, the +Confederates increased the distance between us by resorting to a +double quick, evading battle with admirable tact. While all this was +going on, the open country permitted us a rare and brilliant sight, +the bright sun gleaming from the arms and trappings of the thousands +of pursuers and pursued.</p> + +<p>Near New Market, as a last effort to hold the enemy, I pushed Devin's +cavalry—comprising about five hundred men—with two guns right up on +Early's lines, in the hope that the tempting opportunity given him to +capture the guns would stay his retreat long enough to let my +infantry deploy within range, but he refused the bait, and after +momentarily checking Devin he continued on with little loss and in +pretty good order.</p> + +<p>All hope of Torbert's appearing in rear of the Confederates vanished +as they passed beyond New Market. Some six miles south of this place +Early left the Valley Pike and took the road to Keezletown, a move +due in a measure to Powell's march by way of Timberville toward +Lacy's Springs, but mainly caused by the fact that the Keezletown +road ran immediately along the base of Peaked Mountain—a rugged +ridge affording protection to Early's right flank—and led in a +direction facilitating his junction with Kershaw, who had been +ordered back to him from Culpeper the day after the battle of the +Opequon. The chase was kept up on the Keezeltown road till darkness +overtook us, when my weary troops were permitted to go into camp; and +as soon as the enemy discovered by our fires that the pursuit had +stopped, he also bivouacked some five miles farther south toward Port +Republic.</p> + +<p>The next morning Early was joined by Lomax's cavalry from +Harrisonburg, Wickham's and Payne's brigades of cavalry also uniting +with him from the Luray Valley. His whole army then fell back to the +mouth of Brown's Gap to await Kershaw's division and Cutshaw's +artillery, now on their return.</p> + +<p>By the morning of the 25th the main body of the enemy had disappeared +entirely from my front, and the capture of some small, squads of +Confederates in the neighboring hills furnished us the only incidents +of the day. Among the prisoners was a tall and fine looking officer, +much worn with hunger and fatigue. The moment I saw him I recognized +him as a former comrade, George W. Carr, with whom I had served in +Washington Territory. He was in those days a lieutenant in the Ninth +Infantry, and was one of the officers who superintended the execution +of the nine Indians at the Cascades of the Columbia in 1856. Carr +was very much emaciated, and greatly discouraged by the turn events +had recently taken. For old acquaintance sake I gave him plenty to +eat, and kept him in comfort at my headquarters until the next batch +of prisoners was sent to the rear, when he went with them. He had +resigned from the regular army at the commencement of hostilities, +and, full of high anticipation, cast his lot with the Confederacy, +but when he fell into our hands, his bright dreams having been +dispelled by the harsh realities of war, he appeared to think that +for him there was no future.</p> + +<p>Picking up prisoners here and there, my troops resumed their march +directly south on the Valley pike, and when the Sixth and Nineteenth +corps reached Harrisonburg, they went into camp, Powell in the +meanwhile pushing on to Mt. Crawford, and Crook taking up a position +in our rear at the junction of the Keezletown road and the Valley +pike. Late in the afternoon Torbert's cavalry came in from New +Market arriving at that place many hours later than it had been +expected.</p> + +<p>The succeeding day I sent Merritt to Port Republic to occupy the +enemy's attention, while Torbert, with Wilson's division and the +regular brigade, was ordered to Staunton, whence he was to proceed to +Waynesboro' and blow up the railroad bridge. Having done this, +Torbert, as he returned, was to drive off whatever cattle he could +find, destroy all forage and breadstuffs, and burn the mills. He +took possession of Waynesboro' in due time, but had succeeded in only +partially demolishing the railroad bridge when, attacked by Pegram's +division of infantry and Wickham's cavalry, he was compelled to fall +back to Staunton. From the latter place he retired to Bridgewater, +and Spring Hill, on the way, however, fully executing his +instructions regarding the destruction of supplies.</p> + +<p>While Torbert was on this expedition, Merritt had occupied Port +Republic, but he happened to get there the very day that Kershaw's +division was marching from Swift Run Gap to join Early. By accident +Kershaw ran into Merritt shortly after the latter had gained the +village. Kershaw's four infantry brigades attacked at once, and +Merrit, forced out of Port Republic, fell back toward Cross Keys; and +in anticipation that the Confederates could be coaxed to that point, +I ordered the infantry there, but Torbert's attack at Wavnesboro' had +alarmed Early, and in consequence he drew all his forces in toward +Rock-fish Gap. This enabled me to re-establish Merritt at Port +Republic, send the Sixth and Nineteenth corps to the neighborhood of +Mt. Crawford to await the return of Torbert, and to post Crook at +Harrisonburg; these dispositions practically obtained till the 6th of +October, I holding a line across the valley from Port Republic along +North River by Mt. Crawford to the Back road near the mouth of Briery +Branch Gap.</p> + +<p>It was during this period, about dusk on the evening of October 3, +that between Harrisonburg and Dayton my engineer officer, Lieutenant +John R. Meigs, was murdered within my lines. He had gone out with +two topographical assistants to plot the country, and late in the +evening, while riding along the public road on his return to camp, he +overtook three men dressed in our uniform. From their dress, and +also because the party was immediately behind our lines and within a +mile and a half of my headquarters, Meigs and his assistants +naturally thought that they were joining friends, and wholly +unsuspicious of anything to the contrary, rode on with the three men +some little distance; but their perfidy was abruptly discovered by +their suddenly turning upon Meigs with a call for his surrender. It +has been claimed that, refusing to submit, he fired on the +treacherous party, but the statement is not true, for one of the +topographers escaped—the other was captured—and reported a few +minutes later at my headquarters that Meigs was killed without +resistance of any kind whatever, and without even the chance to give +himself up. This man was so cool, and related all the circumstances +of the occurrence with such exactness, as to prove the truthfulness +of his statement. The fact that the murder had been committed inside +our lines was evidence that the perpetrators of the crime, having +their homes in the vicinity, had been clandestinely visiting them, +and been secretly harbored by some of the neighboring residents. +Determining to teach a lesson to these abettors of the foul deed—a +lesson they would never forget—I ordered all the houses within an +area of five miles to be burned. General Custer, who had succeeded +to the command of the Third Cavalry division (General Wilson having +been detailed as chief of cavalry to Sherman's army), was charged +with this duty, and the next morning proceeded to put the order into +execution. The prescribed area included the little village of +Dayton, but when a few houses in the immediate neighborhood of the +scene of the murder had been burned, Custer was directed to cease his +desolating work, but to fetch away all the able-bodied males as +prisoners.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch3b"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>REASONS FOR NOT PURSUING EARLY THROUGH THE BLUE RIDGE—GENERAL +TORBERT DETAILED TO GIVE GENERAL ROSSER A "DRUBBING"—GENERAL ROSSER +ROUTED—TELEGRAPHED TO MEET STANTON—LONGSTREET'S MESSAGE—RETURN TO +WINCHESTER—THE RIDE TO CEDAR CREEK—THE RETREATING ARMY—RALLYING +THE TROOPS—REFORMING THE LINE—COMMENCING THE ATTACK—DEFEAT OF THE +CONFEDERATES—APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR ARMY—RESULTS +OF THE BATTLE.</p> + +<p>While we lay in camp at Harrisonburg it became necessary to decide +whether or not I would advance to Brown's Gap, and, after driving the +enemy from there, follow him through the Blue Ridge into eastern +Virginia. Indeed, this question began to cause me solicitude as soon +as I knew Early had escaped me at New Market, for I felt certain that +I should be urged to pursue the Confederates toward Charlottesville +and Gordonsville, and be expected to operate on that line against +Richmond. For many reasons I was much opposed to such a plan, but +mainly because its execution would involve the opening of the Orange +and Alexandria railroad. To protect this road against the raids of +the numerous guerrilla bands that infested the region through which +it passed, and to keep it in operation, would require a large force +of infantry, and would also greatly reduce my cavalry; besides, I +should be obliged to leave a force in the valley strong enough to +give security to the line of the upper Potomac and the Baltimore and +Ohio railroad, and this alone would probably take the whole of +Crook's command, leaving me a wholly inadequate number of fighting +men to prosecute a campaign against the city of Richmond. Then, too, +I was in doubt whether the besiegers could hold the entire army at +Petersburg; and in case they could not, a number of troops sufficient +to crush me might be detached by Lee, moved rapidly by rail, and, +after overwhelming me, be quickly returned to confront General Meade. +I was satisfied, moreover, that my transportation could not supply me +further than Harrisonburg, and if in penetrating the Blue Ridge I met +with protracted resistance, a lack of supplies might compel me to +abandon the attempt at a most inopportune time.</p> + +<p>I therefore advised that the Valley campaign be terminated north of +Staunton, and I be permitted to return, carrying out on the way my +original instructions for desolating the Shenandoah country so as to +make it untenable for permanent occupation by the Confederates. I +proposed to detach the bulk of my army when this work of destruction +was completed, and send it by way of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad +through Washington to the Petersburg line, believing that I could +move it more rapidly by that route than by any other. I was +confident that if a movement of this character could be made with +celerity it would culminate in the capture of Richmond and possibly +of General Lee's army, and I was in hopes that General Grant would +take the same view of the matter; but just at this time he was so +pressed by the Government and by public-opinion at the North, that he +advocated the wholly different conception of driving Early into +eastern Virginia, and adhered to this plan with some tenacity. +Considerable correspondence regarding the subject took place between +us, throughout which I stoutly maintained that we should not risk, by +what I held to be a false move, all that my army had gained. I being +on the ground, General Grant left to me the final decision of the +question, and I solved the first step by determining to withdraw down +the valley at least as far as Strasburg, which movement was begun on +the 6th of October.</p> + +<p>The cavalry as it retired was stretched across the country from the +Blue Ridge to the eastern slope of the Alleghanies, with orders to +drive off all stock and destroy all supplies as it moved northward. +The infantry preceded the cavalry, passing down the Valley pike, and +as we marched along the many columns of smoke from burning stacks, +and mills filled with grain, indicated that the adjacent country was +fast losing the features which hitherto had made it a great magazine +of stores for the Confederate armies.</p> + +<p>During the 6th and 7th of October, the enemy's horse followed us up, +though at a respectful distance. This cavalry was now under command +of General T. W. Rosser, who on October 5 had joined Early with an +additional brigade from Richmond. As we proceeded the Confederates +gained confidence, probably on account of the reputation with which +its new commander had been heralded, and on the third day's march had +the temerity to annoy my rear guard considerably. Tired of these +annoyances, I concluded to open the enemy's eyes in earnest, so that +night I told Torbert I expected him either to give Rosser a drubbing +next morning or get whipped himself, and that the infantry would be +halted until the affair was over; I also informed him that I proposed +to ride out to Round Top Mountain to see the fight. When I decided +to have Rosser chastised, Merritt was encamped at the foot of Round +Top, an elevation just north of Tom's Brook, and Custer some six +miles farther north and west, near Tumbling Run. In the night Custer +was ordered to retrace his steps before daylight by the Back road, +which is parallel to and about three miles from the Valley pike, and +attack the enemy at Tom's Brook crossing, while Merritt's +instructions were to assail him on the Valley pike in concert with +Custer. About 7 in the morning, Custer's division encountered Rosser +himself with three brigades, and while the stirring sounds of the +resulting artillery duel were reverberating through the valley +Merritt moved briskly to the front and fell upon Generals Lomax and +Johnson on the Valley pike. Merritt, by extending his right, quickly +established connection with Custer, and the two divisions moved +forward together under Torbert's direction, with a determination to +inflict on the enemy the sharp and summary punishment his rashness +had invited.</p> + +<p>The engagement soon became general across the valley, both sides +fighting mainly mounted. For about two hours the contending lines +struggled with each other along Tom's Brook, the charges and counter +charges at many points being plainly visible from the summit of Round +Top, where I had my headquarters for the time.</p> + +<p>The open country permitting a sabre fight, both sides seemed bent on +using that arm. In the centre the Confederates maintained their +position with much stubbornness, and for a time seemed to have +recovered their former spirit, but at last they began to give way on +both flanks, and as these receded, Merritt and Custer went at the +wavering ranks in a charge along the whole front. The result was a +general smash-up of the entire Confederate line, the retreat quickly +degenerating into a rout the like of which was never before seen. +For twenty-six miles this wild stampede kept up, with our troopers +close at the enemy's heels; and the ludicrous incidents of the chase +never ceased to be amusing topics around the camp-fires of Merritt +and Custer. In the fight and pursuit Torbert took eleven pieces of +artillery, with their caissons, all the wagons and ambulances the +enemy had on the ground, and three hundred prisoners. Some of +Rosser's troopers fled to the mountains by way of Columbia Furnace, +and some up the Valley pike and into the Massamitten Range, +apparently not discovering that the chase had been discontinued till +south of Mount Jackson they rallied on Early's infantry.</p> + +<p>After this catastrophe, Early reported to General Lee that his +cavalry was so badly demoralized that it should be dismounted; and +the citizens of the valley, intensely disgusted with the boasting and +swaggering that had characterized the arrival of the "Laurel Brigade" +in that section, baptized the action (known to us as Tom's Brook) the +"Woodstock Races," and never tired of poking fun at General Rosser +about his precipitate and inglorious flight. (When Rosser arrived +from Richmond with his brigade he was proclaimed as the savior of the +Valley, and his men came all bedecked with laurel branches.)</p> + +<p>On the 10th my army, resuming its retrograde movement, crossed to the +north side of Cedar Creek. The work of repairing the Manassas Gap +branch of the Orange and Alexandria railroad had been begun some days +before, out from Washington, and, anticipating that it would be in +readiness to transport troops by the time they could reach Piedmont, +I directed the Sixth Corps to continue its march toward Front Royal, +expecting to return to the Army of the Potomac by that line. By the +12th, however, my views regarding the reconstruction of this railroad +began to prevail, and the work on it was discontinued. The Sixth +Corps, therefore, abandoned that route, and moved toward Ashby's Gap +with the purpose of marching direct to Washington, but on the 13th I +recalled it to Cedar Creek, in consequence of the arrival of the +enemy's infantry at Fisher's Hill, and the receipt, the night before, +of the following despatch, which again opened the question of an +advance on Gordonsville and Charlottesville:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>(Cipher.) +<br>"WASHINGTON, October 12, 1864, 12 M. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN: +<br> +<br>"Lieutenant-General Grant wishes a position taken far enough south to +serve as a base for further operations upon Gordonsville and +Charlottesville. It must be strongly fortified and provisioned. +Some point in the vicinity of Manassas Gap would seem best suited for +all purposes. Colonel Alexander, of the Engineers, will be sent to +consult with you as soon as you connect with General Augur.<br> +<br> +<br>"H. W. HALLECK, Major-General." +</blockquote> + +<p> +As it was well known in Washington that the views expressed in the +above despatch were counter to my convictions, I was the next day +required by the following telegram from Secretary Stanton to repair +to that city:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"WASHINGTON, October 13, 1864. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN +(through General Augur) +<br> +<br>"If you can come here, a consultation on several points is extremely +desirable. I propose to visit General Grant, and would like to see +you first. +<br> +<br>"EDWIN M. STANTON, +"Secretary of War." +</blockquote> +<p> +I got all ready to comply with the terms of Secretary Stanton's +despatch, but in the meantime the enemy appeared in my front in +force, with infantry and cavalry, and attacked Colonel Thoburn, who +had been pushed out toward Strasburg from Crook's command, and also +Custer's division of cavalry on the Back road. As afterward +appeared, this attack was made in the belief that all of my troops +but Crook's had gone to Petersburg. From this demonstration there +ensued near Hupp's Hill a bitter skirmish between Kershaw and +Thoburn, and the latter was finally compelled to withdraw to the +north bank of Cedar Creek. Custer gained better results, however, on +the Back road, with his usual dash driving the enemy's cavalry away +from his front, Merritt's division then joining him and remaining on +the right.</p> + +<p>The day's events pointing to a probability that the enemy intended to +resume the offensive, to anticipate such a contingency I ordered the +Sixth Corps to return from its march toward Ashby's Gap. It reached +me by noon of the 14th, and went into position to the right and rear +of the Nineteenth Corps, which held a line along the north bank of +Cedar Creek, west of the Valley pike. Crook was posted on the left +of the Nineteenth Corps and east of the Valley pike, with Thoburn's +division advanced to a round hill, which commanded the junction of +Cedar Creek and the Shenandoah River, while Torbert retained both +Merritt and Custer on the right of the Sixth Corps, and at the same +time covered with Powell the roads toward Front Royal. My +head-quarters were at the Belle Grove House, which was to the west of the +pike and in rear of the Nineteenth Corps. It was my intention to +attack the enemy as soon as the Sixth Corps reached me, but General +Early having learned from his demonstration that I had not detached +as largely as his previous information had led him to believe, on the +night of the 13th withdrew to Fisher's Hill; so, concluding that he +could not do us serious hurt from there, I changed my mind as to +attacking, deciding to defer such action till I could get to +Washington, and come to some definite understanding about my future +operations.</p> + +<p>To carry out this idea, on the evening of the 15th I ordered all of +the cavalry under General Torbert to accompany me to Front Royal, +again intending to push it thence through Chester Gap to the Virginia +Central railroad at Charlottesville, to destroy the bridge over the +Rivanna River, while I passed through Manassas Gap to Rectortown, and +thence by rail to Washington. On my arrival with the cavalry near +Front Royal on the 16th, I halted at the house of Mrs. Richards, on +the north bank of the river, and there received the following +despatch and inclosure from General Wright, who had been left in +command at Cedar Creek:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY Division, +<br>"October 16, 1864. +<br> +<br>"GENERAL:<br> +<br> +<br>"I enclose you despatch which explains itself. If the enemy should +be strongly reenforced in cavalry, he might, by turning our right, +give us a great deal of trouble. I shall hold on here until the +enemy's movements are developed, and shall only fear an attack on my +right, which I shall make every preparation for guarding against and +resisting.<br> +<br> +<br>"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, +<br> +<br>"H. G. WRIGHT, Major-General Commanding. +<br><br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br>"Commanding Middle Military Division." + +<br><br><br> +<br>[INCLOSURE.] "To LIEUTENANT-GENERAL EARLY: +<br> +<br>"Be ready to move as soon as my forces join you, and we will crush +Sheridan. +<br> +<br>"LONGSTREET, Lieutenant-General." +</blockquote> +<p> +The message from Longstreet had been taken down as it was being +flagged from the Confederate signal-station on Three Top Mountain, +and afterward translated by our signal officers, who knew the +Confederate signal code. I first thought it a ruse, and hardly worth +attention, but on reflection deemed it best to be on the safe side, +so I abandoned the cavalry raid toward Charlottesville, in order to +give General Wright the entire strength of the army, for it did not +seem wise to reduce his numbers while reinforcement for the enemy +might be near, and especially when such pregnant messages were +reaching Early from one of the ablest of the Confederate generals. +Therefore I sent the following note to General Wright:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +<br>"Front Royal, October 16, 1864. +<br> +<br>"GENERAL: The cavalry is all ordered back to you; make your position +strong. If Longstreet's despatch is true, he is under the impression +that we have largely detached. I will go over to Augur, and may get +additional news. Close in Colonel Powell, who will be at this point. +If the enemy should make an advance, I know you will defeat him. +Look well to your ground and be well prepared. Get up everything +that can be spared. I will bring up all I can, and will be up on +Tuesday, if not sooner. +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. +<br><br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT, +<br>"Commanding Sixth Army Corps." +</blockquote> +<p> +At 5 o'clock on the evening of the 16th I telegraphed General Halleck +from Rectortown, giving him the information which had come to me from +Wright, asking if anything corroborative of it had been received from +General Grant, and also saying that I would like to see Halleck; the +telegram ending with the question: "Is it best for me to go to see +you?" Next morning I sent back to Wright all the cavalry except one +regiment, which escorted me through Manassas Gap to the terminus of +the railroad from Washington. I had with me Lieutenant-Colonel James +W. Forsyth, chief-of-staff, and three of my aides, Major George A. +Forsyth, Captain Joseph O'Keefe, and Captain Michael V. Sheridan. I +rode my black horse, Rienzi, and the others their own respective +mounts.</p> + +<p>Before leaving Cedar Creek I had fixed the route of my return to be +by rail from Washington to Martinsburg, and thence by horseback to +Winchester and Cedar Creek, and had ordered three hundred cavalry to +Martinsburg to escort me from that point to the front. At Rectortown +I met General Augur, who had brought a force out from Washington to +reconstruct and protect the line of railroad, and through him +received the following reply from General Halleck:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +<br>"WASHINGTON, D.C., October 16 1864 +<br> +<br>"To MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, +<br>"Rectortown, Va. +<br> +<br>General Grant says that Longstreet brought with him no troops from +Richmond, but I have very little confidence in the information +collected at his headquarters. If you can leave your command with +safety, come to Washington, as I wish to give you the views of the +authorities here. +<br> +<br>"H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." +</blockquote> +<p> +In consequence of the Longstreet despatch, I felt a concern about my +absence which I could hardly repress, but after duly considering what +Halleck said, and believing that Longstreet could not unite with +Early before I got back, and that even if he did Wright would be able +to cope with them both, I and my staff, with our horses, took the +cars for Washington, where we arrived on the morning of the 17th at +about 8 o'clock. I proceeded at an early hour to the War Department, +and as soon as I met Secretary Stanton, asked him for a special train +to be ready at 12 o'clock to take me to Martinsburg, saying that in +view of existing conditions I must get back to my army as quickly as +possible. He at once gave the order for the train, and then the +Secretary, Halleck, and I proceeded to hold a consultation in regard +to my operating east of the Blue Ridge. The upshot was that my views +against such a plan were practically agreed to, and two engineer +officers were designated to return with me for the purpose of +reporting on a defensive line in the valley that could be held while +the bulk of my troops were being detached to Petersburg. Colonel +Alexander and Colonel Thom both of the Engineer Corps, reported to +accompany me, and at 12 o'clock we took the train.</p> + +<p>We arrived about dark at Martinsburg, and there found the escort of +three hundred men which I had ordered before leaving Cedar Creek. We +spent that night at Martinsburg, and early next morning mounted and +started up the Valley pike for Winchester, leaving Captain Sheridan +behind to conduct to the army the Commissioners whom the State of New +York had sent down to receive the vote of her troops in the coming +Presidential election. Colonel Alexander was a man of enormous +weight, and Colonel Thom correspondingly light, and as both were +unaccustomed to riding we had to go slowly, losing so much time, in +fact, that we did not reach Winchester till between 3 and 4 o'clock +in the afternoon, though the distance is but twenty-eight miles. As +soon as we arrived at Colonel Edwards's headquarters in the town, +where I intended stopping for the night, I sent a courier to the +front to bring me a report of the condition of affairs, and then took +Colonel Alexander out on the heights about Winchester, in order that +he might overlook the country, and make up his mind as to the utility +of fortifying there. By the time we had completed our survey it was +dark, and just as we reached Colonel Edwards's house on our return a +courier came in from Cedar Creek bringing word that everything was +all right, that the enemy was quiet at Fisher's Hill, and that a +brigade of Grover's division was to make a reconnoissance in the +morning, the 19th, so about 10 o'clock I went to bed greatly +relieved, and expecting to rejoin my headquarters at my leisure next +day.</p> + +<p>Toward 6 o'clock the morning of the 19th, the officer on picket duty +at Winchester came to my room, I being yet in bed, and reported +artillery firing from the direction of Cedar Creek. I asked him if +the firing was continuous or only desultory, to which he replied that +it was not a sustained fire, but rather irregular and fitful. I +remarked: "It's all right; Grover has gone out this morning to make a +reconnoissance, and he is merely feeling the enemy." I tried to go to +sleep again, but grew so restless that I could not, and soon got up +and dressed myself. A little later the picket officer came back and +reported that the firing, which could be distinctly heard from his +line on the heights outside of Winchester, was still going on. I +asked him if it sounded like a battle, and as he again said that it +did not, I still inferred that the cannonading was caused by Grover's +division banging away at the enemy simply to find out what he was up +to. However, I went down-stairs and requested that breakfast be +hurried up, and at the same time ordered the horses to be saddled and +in readiness, for I concluded to go to the front before any further +examinations were made in regard to the defensive line.</p> + +<p>We mounted our horses between half-past 8 and 9, and as we were +proceeding up the street which leads directly through Winchester, +from the Logan residence, where Edwards was quartered, to the Valley +pike, I noticed that there were many women at the windows and doors +of the houses, who kept shaking their skirts at us and who were +otherwise markedly insolent in their demeanor, but supposing this +conduct to be instigated by their well-known and perhaps natural +prejudices, I ascribed to it no unusual significance. On reaching +the edge of the town I halted a moment, and there heard quite +distinctly the sound of artillery firing in an unceasing roar. +Concluding from this that a battle was in progress, I now felt +confident that the women along the street had received intelligence +from the battle, field by the "grape-vine telegraph," and were in +raptures over some good news, while I as yet was utterly ignorant of +the actual situation. Moving on, I put my head down toward the +pommel of my saddle and listened intently, trying to locate and +interpret the sound, continuing in this position till we had crossed +Mill Creek, about half a mile from Winchester. The result of my +efforts in the interval was the conviction that the travel of the +sound was increasing too rapidly to be accounted for by my own rate +of motion, and that therefore my army must be falling back.</p> + +<p>At Mill Creek my escort fell in behind, and we were going ahead at a +regular pace, when, just as we made the crest of the rise beyond the +stream, there burst upon our view the appalling spectacle of a +panic-stricken army—hundreds of slightly wounded men, throngs of others +unhurt but utterly demoralized, and baggage-wagons by the score, all +pressing to the rear in hopeless confusion, telling only too plainly +that a disaster had occurred at the front. On accosting some of the +fugitives, they assured me that the army was broken up, in full +retreat, and that all was lost; all this with a manner true to that +peculiar indifference that takes possession of panic-stricken men. I +was greatly disturbed by the sight, but at once sent word to Colonel +Edwards commanding the brigade in Winchester, to stretch his troops +across the valley, near Mill Creek, and stop all fugitives, directing +also that the transportation be, passed through and parked on the +north side of the town.</p> + +<p>As I continued at a walk a few hundred yards farther, thinking all +the time of Longstreet's telegram to Early, "Be ready when I join +you, and we will crush Sheridan," I was fixing in my mind what I +should do. My first thought was too stop the army in the suburbs of +Winchester as it came back, form a new line, and fight there; but as +the situation was more maturely considered a better conception +prevailed. I was sure the troops had confidence in me, for +heretofore we had been successful; and as at other times they had +seen me present at the slightest sign of trouble or distress, I felt +that I ought to try now to restore their broken ranks, or, failing in +that, to share their fate because of what they had done hitherto.</p> + +<p>About this time Colonel Wood, my chief commissary, arrived from the +front and gave me fuller intelligence, reporting that everything was +gone, my headquarters captured, and the troops dispersed. When I +heard this I took two of my aides-de-camp, Major. George A. Forsyth +and Captain Joseph O'Keefe, and with twenty men from the escort +started for the front, at the same time directing Colonel James W. +Forsyth and Colonels Alexander and Thom to remain behind and do what +they could to stop the runaways.</p> + +<p>For a short distance I traveled on the road, but soon found it so +blocked with wagons and wounded men that my progress was impeded, and +I was forced to take to the adjoining fields to make haste. When +most of the wagons and wounded were past I returned to the road, +which was thickly lined with unhurt men, who, having got far enough +to the rear to be out of danger, had halted, without any +organization, and begun cooking coffee, but when they saw me they +abandoned their coffee, threw up their hats, shouldered their +muskets, and as I passed along turned to follow with enthusiasm and +cheers. To acknowledge this exhibition of feeling I took off my hat, +and with Forsyth and O'Keefe rode some distance in advance of my +escort, while every mounted officer who saw me galloped out on either +side of the pike to tell the men at a distance that I had come back. +In this way the news was spread to the stragglers off the road, when +they, too, turned their faces to the front and marched toward the +enemy, changing in a moment from the depths of depression, to the +extreme of enthusiasm. I already knew that even in the ordinary +condition of mind enthusiasm is a potent element with soldiers, but +what I saw that day convinced me that if it can be excited from a +state of despondency its power is almost irresistible. I said +nothing except to remark as I rode among those on the road: "If I had +been, with you this morning this disaster would not have happened. +We must face the other way; we will go back and recover our camp."</p> + +<p>My first halt was made just north of Newtown, where I met a chaplain +digging his heels into the sides of his jaded horse, and making for +the rear with all possible speed. I drew up for an instant, and +inquired of him how matters were going at the front. He replied, +"Everything is lost; but all will be right when you get there"; yet +notwithstanding this expression of confidence in me, the parson at +once resumed his breathless pace to the rear. At Newtown I was +obliged to make a circuit to the left, to get round the village. I +could not pass through it, the streets were so crowded, but meeting +on this detour Major McKinley, of Crook's staff, he spread the news +of my return through the motley throng there.</p> + +<p>When nearing the Valley pike, just south of Newtown I saw about +three-fourths of a mile west of the pike a body of troops, which +proved to be Ricketts's and Wheaton's divisions of the Sixth Corps, +and then learned that the Nineteenth Corps had halted a little to the +right and rear of these; but I did not stop, desiring to get to the +extreme front. Continuing on parallel with the pike, about midway +between Newtown and Middletown I crossed to the west of it, and a +little later came up in rear of Getty's division of the Sixth Corps. +When I arrived, this division and the cavalry were the only troops in +the presence of and resisting the enemy; they were apparently acting +as a rear-guard at a point about three miles north of the line we +held at Cedar Creek when the battle began. General Torbert was the +first officer to meet me, saying as he rode up, "My God! I am glad +you've come." Getty's division, when I found it, was about a mile +north of Middletown, posted on the reverse slope of some slightly +rising ground, holding a barricade made with fence-rails, and +skirmishing slightly with the enemy's pickets. Jumping my horse over +the line of rails, I rode to the crest of the elevation, and there +taking off my hat, the men rose up from behind their barricade with +cheers of recognition. An officer of the Vermont brigade, Colonel A. +S. Tracy, rode out to the front, and joining me, informed me that +General Louis A. Grant was in command there, the regular division +commander, General Getty, having taken charge of the Sixth Corps in +place of Ricketts, wounded early in the action, while temporarily +commanding the corps. I then turned back to the rear of Getty's +division, and as I came behind it, a line of regimental flags rose up +out of the ground, as it seemed, to welcome me. They were mostly the +colors of Crook's troops, who had been stampeded and scattered in the +surprise of the morning. The color-bearers, having withstood the +panic, had formed behind the troops of Getty. The line with the +colors was largely composed of officers, among whom I recognized +Colonel R. B. Hayes, since president of the United States, one of the +brigade commanders. At the close of this incident I crossed the +little narrow valley, or depression, in rear of Getty's line, and +dismounting on the opposite crest, established that point as my +headquarters. In a few minutes some of my staff joined me, and the +first directions I gave were to have the Nineteenth Corps and the two +divisions of Wright's corps brought to the front, so they could be +formed on Getty's division, prolonged to the right; for I had already +decided to attack the enemy from that line as soon as I could get +matters in shape to take the offensive. Crook met me at this time, +and strongly favored my idea of attacking, but said, however, that +most of his troops were gone. General Wright came up a little later, +when I saw that he was wounded, a ball having grazed the point of his +chin so as to draw the blood plentifully.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="crook"></a><img alt="pb375-Crook.jpg (80K)" src="images/pb375-Crook.jpg" height="933" width="581"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Wright gave me a hurried account of the day's events, and when told +that we would fight the enemy on the line which Getty and the cavalry +were holding, and that he must go himself and send all his staff to +bring up the troops, he zealously fell in with the scheme; and it was +then that the Nineteenth Corps and two divisions of the Sixth were +ordered to the front from where they had been halted to the right and +rear of Getty.</p> + +<p>After this conversation I rode to the east of the Valley pike and to +the left of Getty's division, to a point from which I could obtain a +good view of the front, in the mean time sending Major Forsyth to +communicate with Colonel Lowell (who occupied a position close in +toward the suburbs of Middletown and directly in front of Getty's +left) to learn whether he could hold on there. Lowell replied that +he could. I then ordered Custer's division back to the right flank, +and returning to the place where my headquarters had been established +I met near them Ricketts's division under General Keifer and General +Frank Wheaton's division, both marching to the front. When the men +of these divisions saw me they began cheering and took up the double +quick to the front, while I turned back toward Getty's line to point +out where these returning troops should be placed. Having done this, +I ordered General Wright to resume command of the Sixth Corps, and +Getty, who was temporarily in charge of it, to take command of his +own division. A little later the Nineteenth Corps came up and was +posted between the right of the Sixth Corps and Middle Marsh Brook.</p> + +<p>All this had consumed a great deal of time, and I concluded to visit +again the point to the east of the Valley pike, from where I had +first observed the enemy, to see what he was doing. Arrived there, I +could plainly see him getting ready for attack, and Major Forsyth now +suggested that it would be well to ride along the line of battle +before the enemy assailed us, for although the troops had learned of +my return, but few of them had seen me. Following his suggestion I +started in behind the men, but when a few paces had been taken I +crossed to the front and, hat in hand, passed along the entire length +of the infantry line; and it is from this circumstance that many of +the officers and men who then received me with such heartiness have +since supposed that that was my first appearance on the field. But +at least two hours had elapsed since I reached the ground, for it was +after mid-day, when this incident of riding down the front took +place, and I arrived not later, certainly, than half-past 10 o'clock.</p> + +<p>After re-arranging the line and preparing to attack I returned again +to observe the Confederates, who shortly began to advance on us. The +attacking columns did not cover my entire front, and it appeared that +their onset would be mainly directed against the Nineteenth Corps, +so, fearing that they might be too strong for Emory on account of his +depleted condition (many of his men not having had time to get up +from the rear), and Getty's division being free from assault I +transferred a part of it from the extreme left to the support of the +Nineteenth Corps. The assault was quickly repulsed by Emory, +however, and as the enemy fell back Getty's troops were returned to +their original place. This repulse of the Confederates made me feel +pretty safe from further offensive operations on their part, and I +now decided to suspend the fighting till my thin ranks were further +strengthened by the men who were continually coming up from the rear, +and particularly till Crook's troops could be assembled on the +extreme left.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="emory"></a><img alt="pb329-Emory.jpg (86K)" src="images/pb329-Emory.jpg" height="855" width="581"> +</center> + +<p>In consequence of the despatch already mentioned, "Be ready when I +join you, and we will crush Sheridan," since learned to have been +fictitious, I had been supposing all day that Longstreet's troops +were present, but as no definite intelligence on this point had been +gathered, I concluded, in the lull that now occurred, to ascertain +something positive regarding Longstreet; and Merritt having been +transferred to our left in the morning, I directed him to attack an +exposed battery then at the edge of Middletown, and capture some +prisoners. Merritt soon did this work effectually, concealing his +intention till his troops got close in to the enemy, and then by a +quick dash gobbling up a number of Confederates. When the prisoners +were brought in, I learned from them that the only troops of +Longstreet's in the fight were of Kershaw's division, which had +rejoined Early at Brown's Gap in the latter part of September, and +that the rest of Longstreet's corps was not on the field. The +receipt of this information entirely cleared the way for me to take +the offensive, but on the heels of it came information that +Longstreet was marching by the Front Royal pike to strike my rear at +Winchester, driving Powell's cavalry in as he advanced. This renewed +my uneasiness, and caused me to delay the general attack till after +assurances came from Powell denying utterly the reports as to +Longstreet, and confirming the statements of the prisoners.</p> + +<p>Between half-past and 4 o'clock, I was ready to assail, and decided +to do so by advancing my infantry line in a swinging movement, so as +to gain the Valley pike with my right between Middletown and the +Belle Grove House; and when the order was passed along, the men +pushed steadily forward with enthusiasm and confidence. General +Early's troops extended some little distance beyond our right, and +when my flank neared the overlapping enemy, he turned on it, with the +effect of causing a momentary confusion, but General McMillan quickly +realizing the danger, broke the Confederates at the reentering angle +by a counter charge with his brigade, doing his work so well that the +enemy's flanking troops were cut off from their main body and left to +shift for themselves. Custer, who was just then moving in from the +west side of Middle Marsh Brook, followed McMillan's timely blow with +a charge of cavalry, but before starting out on it, and while his men +were forming, riding at full speed himself, to throw his arms around +my neck. By the time he had disengaged himself from this embrace, +the troops broken by McMillan had gained some little distance to +their rear, but Custer's troopers sweeping across the Middletown +meadows and down toward Cedar Creek, took many of them prisoners +before they could reach the stream—so I forgave his delay.</p> + +<p>My whole line as far as the eye could see was now driving everything +before it, from behind trees, stone walls, and all such sheltering +obstacles, so I rode toward the left to ascertain how matters were +getting on there. As I passed along behind the advancing troops, +first General Grover, and then Colonel Mackenzie, rode up to welcome +me. Both were severely wounded, and I told them to leave the field, +but they implored permission to remain till success was certain. +When I reached the Valley pike Crook had reorganized his men, and as +I desired that they should take part in the fight, for they were the +very same troops that had turned Early's flank at Winchester and at +Fisher's Hill, I ordered them to be pushed forward; and the alacrity +and celerity with which they moved on Middletown demonstrated that +their ill-fortune of the morning had not sprung from lack of valor.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Lowell's brigade of cavalry, which, it will be remembered, +had been holding on, dismounted, just north of Middletown ever since +the time I arrived from Winchester, fell to the rear for the purpose +of getting their led horses. A momentary panic was created in the +nearest brigade of infantry by this withdrawal of Lowell, but as soon +as his men were mounted they charged the enemy clear up to the stone +walls in the edge of Middletown; at sight of this the infantry +brigade renewed its attack, and the enemy's right gave way. The +accomplished Lowell received his death-wound in this courageous +charge.</p> + +<p>All our troops were now moving on the retreating Confederates, and as +I rode to the front Colonel Gibbs, who succeeded Lowell, made ready +for another mounted charge, but I checked him from pressing the +enemy's right, in the hope that the swinging attack from my right +would throw most of the Confederates to the east of the Valley pike, +and hence off their line of retreat through Strasburg to Fisher's +Hill. The eagerness of the men soon frustrated this anticipation, +however, the left insisting on keeping pace with the centre and +right, and all pushing ahead till we regained our old camps at Cedar +Creek. Beyond Cedar Creek, at Strasburg, the pike makes a sharp turn +to the west toward Fisher's Hill, and here Merritt uniting with +Custer, they together fell on the flank of the retreating columns, +taking many prisoners, wagons, and guns, among the prisoners being +Major-General Ramseur, who, mortally wounded, died the next day.</p> + +<p>When the news of the victory was received, General Grant directed a +salute of one hundred shotted guns to be fired into Petersburg, and +the President at once thanked the army in an autograph letter. A few +weeks after, he promoted me, and I received notice of this in a +special letter from the Secretary of War, saying:</p> + +<p>"—that for the personal gallantry, military skill, and just confidence +in the courage and patriotism of your troops, displayed by you on the +19th day of October at Cedar Run, whereby, under the blessing of +Providence, your routed army was reorganized, a great National +disaster averted, and a brilliant victory achieved over the rebels +for the third time in pitched battle within thirty days, Philip H. +Sheridan is appointed a major-general in the United States Army."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="lincoln2"></a><img alt="pb091.jpg (50K)" src="images/pb091.jpg" height="427" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb091.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The direct result of the battle was the recapture of all the +artillery, transportation, and camp equipage we had lost, and in +addition twenty-four pieces of the enemy's artillery, twelve hundred +prisoners, and a number of battle-flags. But more still flowed from +this victory, succeeding as it did the disaster of the morning, for +the reoccupation of our old camps at once re-established a morale +which for some hours had been greatly endangered by ill-fortune.</p> + +<p>It was not till after the battle that I learned fully what had taken +place before my arrival, and then found that the enemy, having +gathered all the strength he could through the return of +convalescents and other absentees, had moved quietly from Fisher's +Hill, in the night of the 18th and early on the morning of the 19th, +to surprise my army, which, it should be remembered, was posted on +the north bank of Cedar Creek, Crook holding on the left of the +Valley pike, with Thoburn's division advanced toward the creek on +Duval's (under Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes) and Kitching's +provisional divisions to the north and rear of Thoburn. The +Nineteenth Corps was on the right of Crook, extending in a +semi-circular line from the pike nearly to Meadow Brook, while the Sixth +Corps lay to the west of the brook in readiness to be used as a +movable column. Merritt's division was to the right and rear of the +Sixth Corps, and about a mile and a half west of Merrit was Custer +covering the fords of Cedar Creek as far west as the Middle road.</p> + +<p>General Early's plan was for one column under General Gordon, +consisting of three divisions of infantry (Gordon's, Ramseur's, and +Pegram's), and Payne's brigade of cavalry to cross the Shenandoah +River directly east of the Confederate works at Fisher's Hill, march +around the northerly face of the Massanutten Mountain, and again +cross the Shenandoah at Bowman's and McInturff's fords. Payne's task +was to capture me at the Belle Grove House. General Early himself, +with Kershaw's and Wharton's divisions, was to move through +Strasburg, Kershaw, accompanied by Early, to cross Cedar Creek at +Roberts's ford and connect with Gordon, while Wharton was to continue +on the Valley pike to Hupp's Hill and join the left of Kershaw, when +the crossing of the Valley pike over Cedar Creek became free.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb094"></a><img alt="pb094.jpg (162K)" src="images/pb094.jpg" height="561" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb094.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Lomax's cavalry, then in the Luray Valley, was ordered to join the +right of Gordon on the field of battle, while Rosser was to carry the +crossing of Cedar Creek on the Back road and attack Custer. Early's +conceptions were carried through in the darkness with little accident +or delay, Kershaw opening the fight by a furious attack on Thoburn's +division, while at dawn and in a dense fog Gordon struck Crook's +extreme left, surprising his pickets, and bursting into his camp with +such suddenness as to stampede Crook's men. Gordon directing his +march on my headquarters (the Belle Grove House), successfully turned +our position as he gained the Valley pike, and General Wright was +thus forced to order the withdrawal of the Nineteenth Corps from its +post at the Cedar Creek crossing, and this enabled Wharton to get +over the stream there unmolested and join Kershaw early in the +action.</p> + +<p>After Crook's troops had been driven from their camps, General Wright +endeavored to form a line with the Sixth Corps to hold the Valley +pike to the left of the Nineteenth, but failing in this he ordered +the withdrawal of the latter corps, Ricketts, temporarily commanding +the Sixth Corps, checking Gordon till Emory had retired. As already +stated, Wharton was thus permitted to cross Cedar Creek on the pike, +and now that Early had a continuous line, he pressed his advantage so +vigorously that the whole Union army was soon driven from its camps +in more or less disorder; and though much disjointed resistance was +displayed, it may be said that no systematic stand was made until +Getty's division, aided by Torbert's cavalry, which Wright had +ordered to the left early in the action, took up the ground where, on +arriving from Winchester, I found them.</p> + +<p>When I left my command on the 16th, little did I anticipate that +anything like this would happen. Indeed, I felt satisfied that Early +was, of himself, too weak to take the offensive, and although I +doubted the Longstreet despatch, yet I was confident that, even +should it prove true, I could get back before the junction could be +made, and at the worst I felt certain that my army was equal to +confronting the forces of Longstreet and Early combined. Still, the +surprise of the morning might have befallen me as well as the general +on whom it did descend, and though it is possible that this could +have been precluded had Powell's cavalry been closed in, as suggested +in my despatch from Front Royal, yet the enemy's desperation might +have prompted some other clever and ingenious scheme for relieving +his fallen fortunes in the Shenandoah Valley.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch4b"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>GENERAL EARLY REORGANIZES HIS FORCES—MOSBY THE GUERRILLA—GENERAL +MERRITT SENT TO OPERATE AGAINST MOSBY—ROSSER AGAIN ACTIVE—GENERAL +CUSTER SURPRISED—COLONEL YOUNG SENT TO CAPTURE GILMORE THE +GUERRILLA—COLONEL YOUNG'S SUCCESS—CAPTURE OF GENERAL KELLY AND +GENERAL CROOK—SPIES—WAS WILKES BOOTH A SPY?—DRIVING THE +CONFEDERATES OUT OF THE VALLEY—THE BATTLE OF WAYNESBORO'—MARCHING +TO JOIN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.</p> + +<p>Early's broken army practically made no halt in its retreat after the +battle of Cedar-Creek until it reached New Market, though at Fisher's +Hill was left a small rear-guard of cavalry, which hastily decamped, +however, when charged by Gibbs's brigade on the morning of the 20th. +Between the date of his signal defeat and the 11th of November, the +enemy's scattered forces had sufficiently reorganized to permit his +again making a reconnoissance in the valley as far north as Cedar +Creek, my army having meanwhile withdrawn to Kernstown, where it had +been finally decided that a defensive line should be held to enable +me to detach troops to General Grant, and where, by reconstructing +the Winchester and Potomac railroad from Stephenson's depot to +Harper's Ferry, my command might be more readily, supplied. Early's +reconnoissance north of Cedar Creek ended in a rapid withdrawal of +his infantry after feeling my front, and with the usual ill-fortune +to his cavalry; Merritt and Custer driving Rosser and Lomax with ease +across Cedar Creek on the Middle and Back roads, while Powell's +cavalry struck McCausland near Stony Point, and after capturing two +pieces of artillery and about three hundred officers and men chased +him into the Luray Valley.</p> + +<p>Early got back to New Market on the 14th of November, and, from lack +of subsistence, being unable to continue demonstrations to prevent my +reinforcement of General Grant, began himself to detach to General +Lee by returning Kershaw's division to Petersburg, as was definitely +ascertained by Torbert in a reconnoissance to Mount Jackson. At this +time General Grant wished me to send him the Sixth Corps, and it was +got ready for the purpose, but when I informed him that Torbert's +reconnoissance had developed the fact that Early still retained four +divisions of infantry and one of cavalry, it was decided, on my +suggestion, to let the Sixth Corps remain till the season should be a +little further advanced, when the inclemency of the weather would +preclude infantry campaigning. These conditions came about early in +December, and by the middle of the month the whole of the Sixth Corps +was at Petersburg; simultaneously with its transfer to that line +Early sending his Second Corps to Lee.</p> + +<p>During the entire campaign I had been annoyed by guerrilla bands +under such partisan chiefs as Mosby, White, Gilmore, McNeil, and +others, and this had considerably depleted my line-of-battle +strength, necessitating as it did large, escorts for my +supply-trains. The most redoubtable of these leaders was Mosby, whose force +was made up from the country around Upperville, east of the Blue +Ridge, to which section he always fled for a hiding-place when he +scented danger. I had not directed any special operations against +these partisans while the campaign was active, but as Mosby's men had +lately killed, within my lines, my chief quartermaster, Colonel +Tolles, and Medical Inspector Ohlenchlager, I concluded to devote +particular attention to these "irregulars" during the lull that now +occurred; so on the 28th of November, I directed General Merritt to +march to the Loudoun Valley and operate against Mosby, taking care to +clear the country of forage and subsistence, so as to prevent the +guerrillas from being harbored there in the future their destruction +or capture being well-nigh impossible, on account of their intimate +knowledge of the mountain region. Merritt carried out his +instructions with his usual sagacity and thoroughness, sweeping +widely over each side of his general line of march with flankers, who +burned the grain and brought in large herds of cattle, hogs and +sheep, which were issued to the troops.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb101"></a><img alt="pb101.jpg (73K)" src="images/pb101.jpg" height="297" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb101.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>While Merritt was engaged in this service the Baltimore and Ohio +railroad once more received the attention of the enemy; Rosser, with +two brigades of cavalry, crossing the Great North Mountain, capturing +the post of New Creek, with about five hundred prisoners and seven +guns, destroying all the supplies of the garrison, and breaking up +the railroad track. This slight success of the Confederates in West +Virginia, and the intelligence that they were contemplating further +raids in that section, led me to send, Crook there with one division, +his other troops going to City Point; and, I hoped that all the +threatened places would thus be sufficiently protected, but +negligence at Beverly resulted in the capture of that station by +Rosser on the 11th of January.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, Early established himself with Wharton's division +at Staunton in winter quarters, posting his cavalry in that +neighborhood also, except a detachment at New Market, and another +small one at the signal-station on Three Top Mountain. The winter was +a most severe one, snow falling frequently to the depth of several +inches, and the mercury often sinking below zero. The rigor of the +season was very much against the success of any mounted operations, +but General Grant being very desirous to have the railroads broken up +about Gordonsville and Charlottesville, on the 19th of December I +started the cavalry out for that purpose, Torbert, with Merritt and +Powell, marching through Chester Gap, while Custer moved toward +Staunton to make a demonstration in Torbert's favor, hoping to hold +the enemy's troops in the valley. Unfortunately, Custer did not +accomplish all that was expected of him, and being surprised by +Rosser and Payne near Lacy's Springs before reveille, had to abandon +his bivouac and retreat down the valley, with the loss of a number of +prisoners, a few horses, and a good many horse equipments, for, +because of the suddenness of Rosser's attack, many of the men had no +time to saddle up. As soon as Custer's retreat was assured, +Wharton's division of infantry was sent to Charlottesville to check +Torbert, but this had already been done by Lomax, with the assistance +of infantry sent up from Richmond. Indeed, from the very beginning +of the movement the Confederates had been closely observing the +columns of Torbert and Custer, and in consequence of the knowledge +thus derived, Early had marched Lomax to Gordonsville in anticipation +of an attack there, at the same time sending Rosser down the valley +to meet Custer. Torbert in the performance of his task captured two +pieces of artillery from Johnson's and McCausland's brigades, at +Liberty Mills on the Rapidan River, but in the main the purpose of +the raid utterly failed, so by the 27th of December he returned, +many, of his men badly frost-bitten from the extreme cold which had +prevailed.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb103"></a><img alt="pb103.jpg (70K)" src="images/pb103.jpg" height="865" width="641"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>This expedition practically closed all operations for the season, and +the cavalry was put into winter cantonment near Winchester. The +distribution of my infantry to Petersburg and West Virginia left with +me in the beginning of the new year, as already stated, but the one +small division of the Nineteenth Corps. On account of this +diminution of force, it became necessary for me to keep thoroughly +posted in regard to the enemy, and I now realized more than I had +done hitherto how efficient my scouts had become since under the +control of Colonel Young; for not only did they bring me almost every +day intelligence from within Early's lines, but they also operated +efficiently against the guerrillas infesting West Virginia.</p> + +<p>Harry Gilmore, of Maryland, was the most noted of these since the +death of McNeil, and as the scouts had reported him in Harrisonburg +the latter part of January, I directed two of the most trustworthy to +be sent to watch his movements and ascertain his purposes. In a few +days these spies returned with the intelligence that Gilmore was on +his way to Moorefield, the centre of a very disloyal section in West +Virginia, about ninety miles southwest of Winchester, where, under +the guise of a camp-meeting, a gathering was to take place, at which +he expected to enlist a number of men, be joined by a party of about +twenty recruits coming from Maryland, and then begin depredations +along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Believing that Gilmore might +be captured, I directed Young to undertake the task, and as a +preliminary step he sent to Moorefield two of his men who early in +the war had "refugeed" from that section and enlisted in one of the +Union regiments from West Virginia. In about a week these men came +back and reported that Gilmore was living at a house between three +and four miles from Moorefield, and gave full particulars as to his +coming and going, the number of men he had about there and where they +rendezvoused.</p> + +<p>With this knowledge at hand I directed Young to take twenty of his +best men and leave that night for Moorefield, dressed in Confederate +uniforms, telling him that I would have about three hundred cavalry +follow in his wake when he had got about fifteen miles start, and +instructing him to pass his party off as a body of recruits for +Gilmore coming from Maryland and pursued by the Yankee cavalry. I +knew this would allay suspicion and provide him help on the road; +and, indeed, as Colonel Whittaker, who alone knew the secret, +followed after the fleeing "Marylanders," he found that their advent +had caused so little remark that the trail would have been lost had +he not already known their destination. Young met with a hearty, +welcome wherever he halted on the way, and as he passed through the +town of Moorefield learned with satisfaction that Gilmore still made +his headquarters at the house where the report of the two scouts had +located him a few days before. Reaching the designated place about +12 o'clock on the night of the 5th of February, Young, under the +representation that he had come directly from Maryland and was being +pursued by the Union cavalry, gained immediate access to Gilmore's +room. He found the bold guerrilla snugly tucked in bed, with two +pistols lying on a chair near by. He was sleeping so soundly that to +arouse him Young had to give him a violent shake. As he awoke and +asked who was disturbing his slumbers, Young, pointing at him a +cocked six-shooter, ordered him to dress without delay, and in answer +to his inquiry, informed him that he was a prisoner to one of +Sheridan's staff. Meanwhile Gilmore's men had learned of his +trouble, but the early appearance of Colonel Whittaker caused them to +disperse; thus the last link between Maryland and the Confederacy was +carried a prisoner to Winchester, whence he was sent to Fort Warren.</p> + +<p>The capture of Gilmore caused the disbandment of the party he had +organized at the "camp-meeting," most of the men he had recruited +returning to their homes discouraged, though some few joined the +bands of Woodson and young Jesse McNeil, which, led by the latter, +dashed into Cumberland, Maryland, at 3 O'clock on the morning of the +21st of February and made a reprisal by carrying off General Crook +and General Kelly, and doing their work so silently and quickly that +they escaped without being noticed, and were some distance on their +way before the colored watchman at the hotel where Crook was +quartered could compose himself enough to give the alarm. A troop of +cavalry gave hot chase from Cumberland, striving to intercept the +party at Moorefield and other points, but all efforts were fruitless, +the prisoners soon being beyond reach.</p> + +<p>Although I had adopted the general rule of employing only soldiers as +scouts, there was an occasional exception to it. I cannot say that +these exceptions proved wholly that an ironclad observance of the +rule would have been best, but I am sure of it in one instance. A +man named Lomas, who claimed to be a Marylander, offered me his +services as a spy, and coming highly recommended from Mr. Stanton, +who had made use of him in that capacity, I employed him. He made +many pretensions, often appearing over anxious to impart information +seemingly intended to impress me with his importance, and yet was +more than ordinarily intelligent, but in spite of that my confidence +in him was by no means unlimited. I often found what he reported to +me as taking place within the Confederate lines corroborated by +Young's men, but generally there were discrepancies in his tales, +which led me to suspect that he was employed by the enemy as well as +by me. I felt, however, that with good watching he could do me +little harm, and if my suspicions were incorrect he might be very +useful, so I held on to him.</p> + +<p>Early in February Lomas was very solicitous for me to employ a man +who, he said, had been with Mosby, but on account of some quarrel in +the irregular camp had abandoned that leader. Thinking that with two +of them I might destroy the railroad bridges east of Lynchburg, I +concluded, after the Mosby man had been brought to my headquarters by +Lomas about 12 o'clock one night, to give him employment, at the same +time informing Colonel Young that I suspected their fidelity, +however, and that he must test it by shadowing their every movement. +When Lomas's companion entered my room he was completely disguised, +but on discarding the various contrivances by which his identity was +concealed he proved to be a rather slender, dark-complexioned, +handsome young man, of easy address and captivating manners. He gave +his name as Renfrew, answered all my questions satisfactorily, and +went into details about Mosby and his men which showed an intimacy +with them at some time. I explained to the two men the work I had +laid out for them, and stated the sum of money I would give to have +it done, but stipulated that in case of failure there would be no +compensation whatever beyond the few dollars necessary for their +expenses. They readily assented, and it was arranged that they +should start the following night. Meanwhile Young had selected his +men to shadow them, and in two days reported my spies as being +concealed at Strasburg, where they remained, without making the +slightest effort to continue on their mission, and were busy, no +doubt, communicating with the enemy, though I was not able to fasten +this on them. On the 16th of February they returned to Winchester, +and reported their failure, telling so many lies about their +hazardous adventure as to remove all remaining doubt as to their +double-dealing. Unquestionably they were spies from the enemy, and +hence liable to the usual penalties of such service; but it struck me +that through them, I might deceive Early as to the time of opening +the spring campaign, I having already received from General Grant an +intimation of what was expected of me. I therefore retained the men +without even a suggestion of my knowledge of their true character, +Young meanwhile keeping close watch over all their doings.</p> + +<p>Toward the last of February General Early had at Staunton two +brigades of infantry under Wharton. All the rest of the infantry +except Echol's brigade, which was in southwestern Virginia, had been +sent to Petersburg during the winter, and Fitz. Lee's two brigades of +cavalry also. Rosser's men were mostly at their homes, where, on +account of a lack of subsistence and forage in the valley, they had +been permitted to go, subject to call. Lomax's cavalry was at +Millboro', west of Staunton, where supplies were obtainable. It was +my aim to get well on the road before Early could collect these +scattered forces, and as many of the officers had been in the habit +of amusing themselves fox-hunting during the latter part of the +winter, I decided to use the hunt as an expedient for stealing a +march on the enemy, and had it given out officially that a grand +fox-chase would take place on the 29th of February. Knowing that Lomas, +and Renfrew would spread the announcement South, they were permitted +to see several red foxes that had been secured, as well as a large +pack of hounds which Colonel Young had collected for the sport, and +were then started on a second expedition to burn the bridges. Of +course, they were shadowed as usual, and two days later, after they +had communicated with friends from their hiding-place, in Newtown, +they were arrested. On the way north to Fort Warren they escaped +from their guards when passing through Baltimore, and I never heard +of them again, though I learned that, after the assassination of, Mr. +Lincoln, Secretary Stanton strongly suspected his friend Lomas of +being associated with the conspirators, and it then occurred to me +that the good-looking Renfrew may have been Wilkes Booth, for he +certainly bore a strong resemblance to Booth's pictures.</p> + +<p>On the 27th of February my cavalry entered upon the campaign which +cleared the Shenandoah Valley of every remnant of organized +Confederates. General Torbert being absent on leave at this time, I +did not recall him, but appointed General Merritt Chief of Cavalry. +for Torbert had disappointed me on two important occasions—in the +Luray Valley during the battle of Fisher's Hill, and on the recent +Gordonsville expedition—and I mistrusted his ability to conduct any +operations requiring much self-reliance. The column was composed of +Custer's and Devin's divisions of cavalry, and two sections of +artillery, comprising in all about 10,000 officers and men. On +wheels we had, to accompany this column, eight ambulances, sixteen +ammunition wagons, a pontoon train for eight canvas boats, and a +small supply-train, with fifteen days' rations of coffee, sugar, and +salt, it being intended to depend on the country for the meat and +bread ration, the men carrying in their haversacks nearly enough to +subsist them till out of the exhausted valley.</p> + +<p>Grant's orders were for me to destroy the Virginia Central railroad +and the James River canal, capture Lynchburg if practicable, and then +join General Sherman in North Carolina wherever he might be found, or +return to Winchester, but as to joining Sherman I was to be governed +by the state of affairs after the projected capture of Lynchburg. +The weather was cold, the valley and surrounding mountains being +still covered with snow; but this was fast disappearing, however, +under the heavy rain that was coming down as the column moved along +up the Valley pike at a steady gait that took us to Woodstock the +first day. The second day we crossed the North Fork of the +Shenandoah on our pontoon-bridge, and by night-fall reached Lacy's +Springs, having seen nothing of the enemy as yet but a few partisans +who hung on our flanks in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>March 1 we encountered General Rosser at Mt. Crawford, he having been +able to call together only some five or six hundred of his troops, +our unsuspected march becoming known to Early only the day before. +Rosser attempted to delay us here, trying to burn the bridges over +the Middle Fork of the Shenandoah, but two regiments from Colonel +Capehart's brigade swam the stream and drove Rosser to Kline's Mills, +taking thirty prisoners and twenty ambulances and wagons.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile General Early was busy at Staunton, but not knowing my +objective point, he had ordered the return of Echol's brigade from +southwestern Virginia for the protection of Lynchburg, directed +Lomax's cavalry to concentrate at Pond Gap for the purpose of +harassing me if I moved toward Lynchburg, and at the same time +marched Wharton's two brigades of infantry, Nelson's artillery, and +Rosser's cavalry to Waynesboro', whither he went also to remain till +the object of my movement was ascertained.</p> + +<p>I entered Staunton the morning of March 2, and finding that Early had +gone to Waynesboro' with his infantry and Rosser, the question at +once arose whether I should continue my march to Lynchburg direct, +leaving my adversary in my rear, or turn east and open the way +through Rockfish Gap to the Virginia Central railroad and James River +canal. I felt confident of the success of the latter plan, for I +knew that Early numbered there not more than two thousand men; so, +influenced by this, and somewhat also by the fact that Early had left +word in Staunton that he would fight at Waynesboro', I directed +Merritt to move toward that place with Custer, to be closely followed +by Devin, who was to detach one brigade to destroy supplies at +Swoope's depot. The by-roads were miry beyond description, rain +having fallen almost incessantly since we left Winchester, but +notwithstanding the down-pour the column pushed on, men and horses +growing almost unrecognizable from the mud covering them from head to +foot.</p> + +<p>General Early was true to the promise made his friends in Staunton, +for when Custer neared Waynesboro' he found, occupying a line of +breastworks on a ridge west of the town, two brigades of infantry, +with eleven pieces of artillery and Rosser's cavalry. Custer, when +developing the position of the Confederates, discovered that their +left was somewhat exposed instead of resting on South River; he +therefore made his dispositions for attack, sending around that flank +the dismounted regiments from Pennington's brigade, while he himself, +with two brigades, partly mounted and partly dismounted, assaulted +along the whole line of breastworks. Pennington's flanking movement +stampeded the enemy in short order, thus enabling Custer to carry the +front with little resistance, and as he did so the Eighth New York +and First Connecticut, in a charge in column, broke through the +opening made by Custer, and continued on through the town of +Waynesboro', never stopping till they crossed South River. There, +finding themselves immediately in the enemy's rear, they promptly +formed as foragers and held the east bank of the stream till all the +Confederates surrendered except Rosser, who succeeded in making his +way back to the valley, and Generals Early, Wharton, Long, and +Lilley, who, with fifteen or twenty men, escaped across the Blue +Ridge. I followed up the victory immediately by despatching Capehart +through Rock-fish Gap, with orders to encamp on the east side of the +Blue Ridge. By reason of this move all the enemy's stores and +transportation fell into our hands, while we captured on the field +seventeen battle flags, sixteen hundred officers and men, and eleven +pieces of artillery. This decisive victory closed hostilities in the +Shenandoah Valley. The prisoners and artillery were sent back to +Winchester next morning, under a guard of 1,500 men, commanded by +Colonel J. H. Thompson, of the First New Hampshire.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb117"></a><img alt="pb117.jpg (44K)" src="images/pb117.jpg" height="657" width="637"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The night of March 2 Custer camped at Brookfield, Devin remaining at +Waynesboro'. The former started for Charlottesville the next morning +early, followed by Devin with but two brigades, Gibbs having been +left behind to blow up the iron railroad bridge across South River. +Because of the incessant rains and spring thaws the roads were very +soft, and the columns cut them up terribly, the mud being thrown by +the sets of fours across the road in ridges as much as two feet high, +making it most difficult to get our wagons along, and distressingly +wearing on the animals toward the middle and rear of the columns. +Consequently I concluded to rest at Charlottesville for a couple of +days and recuperate a little, intending at the same time to destroy, +with small parties, the railroad from that point toward Lynchburg. +Custer reached Charlottesville the 3d, in the afternoon, and was met +at the outskirts by a deputation of its citizens, headed by the +mayor, who surrendered the town with medieval ceremony, formally +handing over the keys of the public buildings and of the University +of Virginia. But this little scene did not delay Custer long enough +to prevent his capturing, just beyond the village, a small body of +cavalry and three pieces of artillery. Gibbs's brigade, which was +bringing up my mud-impeded train, did not arrive until the 5th of +March. In the mean time Young's scouts had brought word that the +garrison of Lynchburg was being increased and the fortifications +strengthened, so that its capture would be improbable. I decided, +however, to move toward the place as far as Amherst Court House, +which is sixteen miles short of the town, so Devin, under Merritt's +supervision, marched along the James River, destroying the canal, +while Custer pushed ahead on the railroad and broke it up. The two +columns were to join at New Market, whence I intended to cross the +James River at some point east of Lynchburg, if practicable, so as to +make my way to Appomattox Court House, and destroy the Southside +railroad as far east as Farmville. Owing to its swollen condition +the river was unfordable but knowing that there was a covered bridge +at Duguidsville, I hoped to secure it by a dash, and cross there, but +the enemy, anticipating this, had filled the bridge with inflammable +material, and just as our troops got within striking distance it +burst into flames. The bridge at Hardwicksville also having been +burned by the enemy, there was now no means of crossing except by +pontoons. But, unfortunately, I had only eight of these, and they +could not be made to span the swollen river.</p> + +<p>Being thus unable to cross until the river should fall, and knowing +that it was impracticable to join General Sherman, and useless to +adhere to my alternative instructions to return to Winchester, I now +decided to destroy still more thoroughly the James River canal and +the Virginia Central railroad and then join General Grant in front of +Petersburg. I was master of the whole country north of the James as +far down as Goochland; hence the destruction of these arteries of +supply could be easily compassed, and feeling that the war was +nearing its end, I desired my cavalry to be in at the death.</p> + +<p>On March 9 the main column started eastward down the James River, +destroying locks, dams, and boats, having been preceded by Colonel +Fitzhugh's brigade of Devin's division in a forced march to Goochland +and Beaver Dam Creek, with orders to destroy everything below +Columbia. I made Columbia on the 10th, and from there sent a +communication to General Grant reporting what had occurred, informing +him of my condition and intention, asking him to send forage and +rations to meet me at the White House, and also a pontoon-bridge to +carry me over the Pamunkey, for in view of the fact that hitherto it +had been impracticable to hold Lee in the trenches around Petersburg, +I regarded as too hazardous a march down the south bank of the +Pamunkey, where the enemy, by sending troops out from Richmond, might +fall upon my flank and rear. It was of the utmost importance that +General Grant should receive these despatches without chance of +failure, in order that I might, depend absolutely on securing +supplies at the White House; therefore I sent the message in +duplicate, one copy overland direct to City Point by two scouts, +Campbell and Rowan, and the other by Fannin and Moore, who were to go +down the James River in a small boat to Richmond, join the troops in +the trenches in front of Petersburg, and, deserting to the Union +lines, deliver their tidings into General Grant's hands. Each set of +messengers got through, but the copy confided to Campbell and Rowan +was first at Grant's headquarters.</p> + +<p>I halted for one day at Columbia to let my trains catch up, for it +was still raining and the mud greatly delayed the teams, fatiguing +and wearying the mules so much that I believe we should have been +forced to abandon most of the wagons except for the invaluable help +given by some two thousand negroes who had attached themselves to the +column: they literally lifted the wagons out of the mud. From +Columbia Merritt, with Devin's division, marched to Louisa Court +House and destroyed the Virginia Central to Frederick's Hall. +Meanwhile Custer was performing similar work from Frederick's Hall to +Beaver Dam Station, and also pursued for a time General Early, who, +it was learned from despatches captured in the telegraph office at +Frederick's Hall, was in the neighborhood with a couple of hundred +men. Custer captured some of these men and two of Early's +staff-officers, but the commander of the Valley District, accompanied by a +single orderly, escaped across the South Anna and next day made his +way to Richmond, the last man of the Confederate army that had so +long contended with us in the Shenandoah Valley.</p> + +<p>At Frederick's Hall, Young's scouts brought me word from Richmond +that General Longstreet was assembling a force there to prevent my +junction with Grant, and that Pickett's division, which had been sent +toward Lynchburg to oppose my march, and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, were +moving east on the Southside railroad, with the object of +circumventing me. Reasoning that Longstreet could interpose +effectually only by getting to the White House ahead of me, I pushed +one column under Custer across the South Anna, by way of Ground +Squirrel bridge, to Ashland, where it united with Merritt, who had +meanwhile marched through Hanover Junction. Our appearance at +Ashland drew the Confederates out in that direction, as was hoped, +so, leaving Colonel Pennington's brigade there to amuse them, the +united command retraced its route to Mount Carmel church to cross the +North Anna. After dark Pennington came away, and all the troops +reached the church by midnight of the 15th.</p> + +<p>Resuming the march at an early hour next morning, we took the road by +way of King William Court House to the White House, where, arriving +on the 18th, we found, greatly to our relief, the supplies which I +had requested to be sent there. In the meanwhile the enemy had +marched to Hanover Court House, but being unable either to cross the +Pamunkey there or forestall me at the White House on the south side +of the river, he withdrew to Richmond without further effort to +impede my column.</p> + +<p>The hardships of this march far exceeded those of any previous +campaigns by the cavalry. Almost incessant rains had drenched us for +sixteen days and nights, and the swollen streams and well-nigh +bottomless roads east of Staunton presented grave difficulties on +every hand, but surmounting them all, we destroyed the enemy's means +of subsistence, in quantities beyond computation, and permanently +crippled the Virginia Central railroad, as well as the James River +canal, and as each day brought us nearer the Army of the Potomac, all +were filled with the comforting reflection that our work in the +Shenandoah Valley had been thoroughly done, and every one was buoyed +up by the cheering thought that we should soon take part in the final +struggle of the war.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb122"></a><img alt="pb122.jpg (276K)" src="images/pb122.jpg" height="875" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb122.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch5b"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>TRANSFERRED TO PETERSBURG—GENERAL RAWLINS CORDIAL WELCOME—GENERAL +GRANT'S ORDERS AND PLANS—A TRIP WITH MR. LINCOLN AND GENERAL +GRANT—MEETING GENERAL SHERMAN—OPPOSED TO JOINING THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE +—OPENING OF THE APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGN—GENERAL GRANT AND GENERAL +RAWLINS.</p> + +<p>The transfer of my command from the Shenandoah Valley to the field of +operations in front of Petersburg was not anticipated by General +Grant; indeed, the despatch brought from Columbia by my scouts, +asking that supplies be sent me at the White House, was the first +word that reached him concerning the move. In view of my message the +general-in-chief decided to wait my arrival before beginning spring +operations with the investing troops south of the James River, for he +felt the importance of having my cavalry at hand in a campaign which +he was convinced would wind up the war. We remained a few days at +the White House resting and refitting the cavalry, a large amount of +shoeing being necessary; but nothing like enough horses were at hand +to replace those that had died or been disabled on the mud march from +Staunton to the Pamunkey River, so a good many of the men were still +without mounts, and all such were sent by boat to the dismounted camp +near City Point. When all was ready the column set out for Hancock +Station, a point on the military railroad in front of Petersburg, and +arriving there on the 27th of March, was in orders reunited with its +comrades of the Second Division, who had been serving with the Army +of the Potomac since we parted from them the previous August. +General Crook, who had been exchanged within a few days, was now in +command of this Second Division. The reunited corps was to enter +upon the campaign as a separate army, I reporting directly to General +Grant; the intention being thus to reward me for foregoing, of my own +choice, my position as a department commander by joining the armies +at Petersburg.</p> + +<p>Taking the road across the Peninsula, I started from the White House +with Merritt's column on the 25th of March and encamped that night at +Harrison's Landing. Very early next morning, in conformity with a +request from General Grant, I left by boat for City Point, Merritt +meanwhile conducting the column across the James River to the point +of rendezvous, The trip to City Point did not take long, and on +arrival at army headquarters the first person I met was General John +A. Rawlins, General Grant's chief-of-staff. Rawlins was a man of +strong likes and dislikes, and positive always both in speech and +action, exhibiting marked feelings when greeting any one, and on this +occasion met me with much warmth. His demonstrations of welcome +over, we held a few minutes' conversation about the coming campaign, +he taking strong ground against a part of the plan of operations +adopted, namely, that which contemplated my joining General Sherman's +army. His language was unequivocal and vehement, and when he was +through talking, he conducted me to General Grant's quarters, but he +himself did not enter.</p> + +<p>General Grant was never impulsive, and always met his officers in an +unceremonious way, with a quiet "How are you" soon putting one at his +ease, since the pleasant tone in which he spoke gave assurance of +welcome, although his manner was otherwise impassive. When the +ordinary greeting was over, he usually waited for his visitor to open +the conversation, so on this occasion I began by giving him the +details of my march from Winchester, my reasons for not joining +Sherman, as contemplated in my instructions, and the motives which +had influenced me to march to the White House. The other provision +of my orders on setting out from Winchester—the alternative return +to that place—was not touched upon, for the wisdom of having ignored +that was fully apparent. Commenting on this recital of my doings, +the General referred only to the tortuous course of my march from +Waynesboro' down, our sore trials, and the valuable services of the +scouts who had brought him tidings of me, closing with the remark +that it was, rare a department commander voluntarily deprived himself +of independence, and added that I should not suffer for it. Then +turning to the business for which he had called me to City Point, he +outlined what he expected me to do; saying that I was to cut loose +from the Army of the Potomac by passing its left flank to the +southward along the line of the Danville railroad, and after crossing +the Roanoke River, join General Sherman. While speaking, he handed +me a copy of a general letter of instructions that had been drawn up +for the army on the 24th. The letter contained these words +concerning the movements of my command:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now under +General Davies, will move at the same time (29th inst.) by the Weldon +road and the Jerusalem plank-road, turning west from the latter +before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column before +reaching Stony Creek. General Sheridan will then move independently +under other instructions which will be given him. All dismounted +cavalry belonging to the Army of the Potomac, and the dismounted +cavalry from the Middle Military Division not required for guarding +property belonging to their arm of the service, will report to +Brigadier-General Benham to be added to the defenses of City Point." +</blockquote> + +<p>When I had gone over the entire letter I showed plainly that I was +dissatisfied with it, for, coupled with what the General had outlined +orally, which I supposed was the "other instructions," I believed it +foreshadowed my junction with General Sherman. Rawlins thought so +too, as his vigorous language had left no room to doubt, so I +immediately began to offer my objections to the programme. These +were, that it would be bad policy to send me down to the Carolinas +with a part of the Army of the Potomac, to come back to crush Lee +after the destruction of General Johnston's army; such a course would +give rise to the charge that his own forces around Petersburg were +not equal to the task, and would seriously affect public opinion in +the North; that in fact my cavalry belonged to the Army of the +Potomac, which army was able unaided to destroy Lee, and I could not +but oppose any dispersion of its strength.</p> + +<p>All this was said in a somewhat emphatic manner, and when I had +finished he quietly told me that the portion of my instructions from +which I so strongly dissented was intended as a "blind" to cover any +check the army in its general move, to the left might meet with, and +prevent that element in the North which held that the war could be +ended only through negotiation, from charging defeat. The fact that +my cavalry was not to ultimately join Sherman was a great relief to +me, and after expressing the utmost confidence in the plans unfolded +for closing the war by directing every effort to the annihilation of +Lee's army, I left him to go to General Ingalls's quarters. On the +way I again met Rawlins, who, when I told him that General Grant had +intimated his intention to modify the written plan of operations so +far as regarded the cavalry, manifested the greatest satisfaction, +and I judged from this that the new view of the matter had not +previously been communicated to the chief-of-staff, though he must +have been acquainted of course with the programme made out on the +24th of March.</p> + +<p>Toward noon General Grant sent for me to accompany him up the river. +When I joined the General he informed me that the President was on +board the boat—the steamer Mary Martin. For some days Mr. Lincoln +had been at City Point, established on the steamer River Queen, +having come down from Washington to be nearer his generals, no doubt, +and also to be conveniently situated for the reception of tidings +from the front when operations began, for he could not endure the +delays in getting news to Washington. This trip up the James had +been projected by General Meade, but on account of demands at the +front he could not go, so the President, General Grant, and I +composed the party. We steamed up to where my cavalry was crossing +on the pontoon-bridge below the mouth of the Dutch Gap canal, and for +a little while watched the column as it was passing over the river, +the bright sunshine presaging good weather, but only to delude, as +was proved by the torrents of rain brought by the succeeding days of +March. On the trip the President was not very cheerful. In fact, he +was dejected, giving no indication of his usual means of diversion, +by which (his quaint stories) I had often heard he could find relief +from his cares. He spoke to me of the impending operations and asked +many questions, laying stress upon the one, "What would be the result +when the army moved out to the left, if the enemy should come down +and capture City Point?" the question being prompted, doubtless, by +the bold assault on our lines and capture of Fort Steadman two days +before by General Gordon. I answered that I did not think it at all +probable that General Lee would undertake such a desperate measure to +relieve the strait he was in; that General Hartranft's successful +check to Gordon had ended, I thought, attacks of such a character; +and in any event General Grant would give Lee all he could attend to +on the left. Mr. Lincoln said nothing about my proposed route of +march, and I doubt if he knew of my instructions, or was in +possession at most of more than a very general outline of the plan of +campaign. It was late when the Mary Martin returned to City Point, +and I spent the night there with General Ingalls.</p> + +<p>The morning of the 27th I went out to Hancock Station to look after +my troops and prepare for moving two days later. In the afternoon I +received a telegram from General Grant, saying: "General Sherman will +be here this evening to spend a few hours. I should like to have you +come down." Sherman's coming was a surprise—at least to me it +was—this despatch being my first intimation of his expected arrival. +Well knowing the zeal and emphasis with which General Sherman would +present his views, there again came into my mind many misgivings with +reference to the movement of the cavalry, and I made haste to start +for Grant's headquarters. I got off a little after 7 o'clock, taking +the rickety military railroad, the rails of which were laid on the +natural surface of the ground, with grading only here and there at +points of absolute necessity, and had not gone far when the +locomotive jumped the track. This delayed my arrival at City Point +till near midnight, but on repairing to the little cabin that +sheltered the general-in-chief, I found him and Sherman still up +talking over the problem whose solution was near at hand. As already +stated, thoughts as to the tenor of my instructions became uppermost +the moment I received the telegram in the afternoon, and they +continued to engross and disturb me all the way down the railroad, +for I feared that the telegram foreshadowed, under the propositions +Sherman would present, a more specific compliance with the written +instructions than General Grant had orally assured me would be +exacted.</p> + +<p>My entrance into the shanty suspended the conversation for a moment +only, and then General Sherman, without prelude, rehearsed his plans +for moving his army, pointing out with every detail how he would come +up through the Carolinas to join the troops besieging Petersburg and +Richmond, and intimating that my cavalry, after striking the +Southside and Danville railroads, could join him with ease. I made +no comments on the projects for moving, his own troops, but as soon +as opportunity offered, dissented emphatically from the proposition +to have me join the Army of the Tennessee, repeating in substance +what I had previously expressed to General Grant.</p> + +<p>My uneasiness made me somewhat too earnest, I fear, but General Grant +soon mollified me, and smoothed matters over by practically repeating +what he had told me in regard to this point at the close of our +interview the day before, so I pursued the subject no further. In a +little while the conference ended, and I again sought lodging at the +hospitable quarters of Ingalls.</p> + +<p>Very early the next morning, while I was still in bed, General +Sherman came to me and renewed the subject of my joining him, but +when he saw that I was unalterably opposed to it the conversation +turned into other channels, and after we had chatted awhile he +withdrew, and later in the day went up the river with the President, +General Grant, and Admiral Porter, I returning to my command at +Hancock Station, where my presence was needed to put my troops in +march next day.</p> + +<p>During the entire winter General Grant's lines fronting Petersburg +had extended south of the Appomattox River, practically from that +stream around to where the Vaughn road crosses Hatcher's Run, and +this was nearly the situation Wilien the cavalry concentrated at +Hancock Station, General Weitzel holding the line north of the +Appomattox, fronting Richmond and Bermuda Hundred.</p> + +<p>The instructions of the 24th of March contemplated that the campaign +should begin with the movement of Warren's corps (the Fifth) at +3 o'clock on the morning of the 29th, and Humphreys's (the Second) at +6; the rest of the infantry holding on in the trenches. The cavalry +was to move in conjunction with Warren and Humphreys, and make its +way out beyond our left as these corps opened the road.</p> + +<p>The night of the 28th I received the following additional +instructions, the general tenor of which again disturbed me, for +although I had been assured that I was not to join General Sherman, +it will be seen that the supplemental directions distinctly present +that alternative, and I therefore feared that during the trip up the +James River on the morning of the 28th General Grant had returned to +his original views:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +<br>:City Point, Va., March 28, 1865. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN: +<br> +<br>"The Fifth Army Corps will move by the Vaughn road at 3 A.M. +tomorrow morning. The Second moves at about 9 A.M., having but about +three miles to march to reach the point designated for it to take on +the right of the Fifth Corps, after the latter reaches Dinwiddie +Court House. +<br> +<br>"Move your cavalry at as early an hour as you can, and without being +confined to any particular road or roads. You may go out by the +nearest roads in rear of the Fifth Corps, pass by its left, and +passing near to or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the +enemy as soon as you can. It is not the intention to attack the +enemy in his intrenched position, but to force him out if possible. +Should he come out and attack us, or get himself where he can be +attacked, move in with your entire force in your own way, and with +the full reliance that the army will engage or follow the enemy, as +circumstances will dictate. I shall be on the field, and will +probably be able to communicate with you; should I not do so, and you +find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched line, you may +cut loose and push for the Danville road. If you find it practicable +I would like you to cross the Southside road, between Petersburg and +Burkeville, and destroy it to some extent. I would not advise much +detention, however, until you reach the Danville road, which I would +like you to strike as near to the Appomattox as possible; make your +destruction of that road as complete as possible; you can then pass +on to the Southside road, west of Burkeville, and destroy that in +like manner. +<br> +<br>"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, +which are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may +return to this army, selecting your road farther south, or you may go +on into North Carolina and join General Sherman. Should you select +the latter course, get the information to me as early as possible, so +that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." +</blockquote> + +<p> +These instructions did not alter my line of march for the morrow, and +I trusted matters would so come about as not to require compliance +with those portions relative to the railroads and to joining Sherman; +so early on the 29th I moved my cavalry out toward Ream's Station on +the Weldon road, Devin commanding the First Division, with Colonels +Gibbs, Stagg, and Fitzhugh in charge of the brigades; the Third +Division under Custer, Colonels Wells, Capehart and Pennington being +the brigade commanders. These two divisions united were commanded by +Merritt, as they had been since leaving Winchester. Crook headed the +Second Division, his brigades being under General Davies and Colonels +John I. Gregg and Smith.</p> + +<p>Our general direction was westward, over such routes as could be +found, provided they did not embarrass the march of the infantry. +The roads, from the winter's frosts and rains, were in a frightful +state, and when it was sought to avoid a spot which the head of the +column had proved almost bottomless, the bogs and quicksands of the +adjoining fields demonstrated that to make a detour was to go from +bad to worse. In the face of these discouragements we floundered on, +however, crossing on the way a series of small streams swollen to +their banks. Crook and Devin reached the county-seat of Dinwiddie +about 5 o'clock in the evening, having encountered only a small +picket, that at once gave way to our advance. Merritt left Custer at +Malon's crossing of Rowanty Creek to care for the trains containing +our subsistence and the reserve ammunition, these being stuck in the +mire at, intervals all the way back to the Jerusalem plank-road; and +to make any headway at all with the trains, Custer's men often had to +unload the wagons and lift them out of the boggy places.</p> + +<p>Crook and Devin camped near Dinwiddie Court House in such manner as +to cover the Vaughn, Flatfoot, Boydton, and Five Forks roads; for, as +these all intersected at Dinwiddie, they offered a chance for the +enemy's approach toward the rear of the Fifth Corps, as Warren +extended to the left across the Boydton road. Any of these routes +leading to the south or west might also be the one on which, in +conformity with one part of my instructions, I was expected to get +out toward the Danville and Southside railroads, and the Five Forks +road would lead directly to General Lee's right flank, in case +opportunity was found to comply with the other part. The place was, +therefore, of great strategic value, and getting it without cost +repaid us for floundering through the mud.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="dinwiddie"></a><a name="pb419"></a><img alt="pb419.jpg (110K)" src="images/pb419.jpg" height="431" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb419.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Dinwiddie Court House, though a most important point in the campaign, +was far from attractive in feature, being made up of a half-dozen +unsightly houses, a ramshackle tavern propped up on two sides with +pine poles, and the weatherbeaten building that gave official name to +the cross-roads. We had no tents—there were none in the command—so +I took possession of the tavern for shelter for myself and staff, and +just as we had finished looking over its primitive interior a rain +storm set in.</p> + +<p>The wagon containing my mess equipment was back somewhere on the +road, hopelessly stuck in the mud, and hence we had nothing to eat +except some coffee which two young women living at the tavern kindly +made for us; a small quantity of the berry being furnished from the +haversacks of my escort. By the time we got the coffee, rain was +falling in sheets, and the evening bade fair to be a most dismal one; +but songs and choruses set up by some of my staff—the two young +women playing accompaniments on a battered piano—relieved the +situation and enlivened us a little. However, the dreary night +brought me one great comfort; for General Grant, who that day had +moved out to Gravelly Run, sent me instructions to abandon all idea +of the contemplated raid, and directed me to act in concert with the +infantry under his immediate command, to turn, if possible, the right +flank of Lee's army. The despatch made my mind easy with respect to +the objectionable feature of my original instructions, and of course +relieved me also from the anxiety growing out of the letter received +at Hancock Station the night of the 28th; so, notwithstanding the +suspicions excited by some of my staff concerning the Virginia +feather-bed that had been assigned me, I turned in at a late hour and +slept most soundly.</p> + +<p>The night of the 29th the left of General Grant's infantry—Warren's +corps—rested on the Boydton road, not far from its intersection with +the Quaker road. Humphreys's corps was next to Warren; then came +Ord, next Wright, and then Parke, with his right resting on the +Appomattox. The moving of Warren and Humphreys to the left during +the day was early discovered by General Lee. He met it by extending +the right of his infantry on the White Oak road, while drawing in the +cavalry of W. H. F. Lee and Rosser along the south bank of Stony +Creek to cover a crossroads called Five Forks, to anticipate me +there; for assuming that my command was moving in conjunction with +the infantry, with the ultimate purpose of striking the Southside +railroad, Lee made no effort to hold Dinwiddie, which he might have +done with his cavalry, and in this he made a fatal mistake. The +cavalry of Fitz. Lee was ordered at this same time from Sunderland +depot to Five Forks, and its chief placed in command of all the +mounted troops of General Lee's army.</p> + +<p>At daylight on the 30th I proceeded to make dispositions under the +new conditions imposed by my modified instructions, and directed +Merritt to push Devin out as far as the White Oak road to make a +reconnoissance to Five Forks, Crook being instructed to send Davies's +brigade to support Devin. Crook was to hold, with Gregg's brigade, +the Stony Creek crossing of the Boydton plank road, retaining Smith's +near Dinwiddie, for use in any direction required. On the 29th W. H. +F. Lee conformed the march of his cavalry with that of ours, but my +holding Stony Creek in this way forced him to make a detour west of +Chamberlin's Run, in order to get in communication with his friends +at Five Forks.</p> + +<p>The rain that had been falling all night gave no sign of stopping, +but kept pouring down all day long, and the swamps and quicksands +mired the horses, whether they marched in the roads or across the +adjacent fields. Undismayed, nevertheless, each column set out for +its appointed duty, but shortly after the troops began to move I +received from General Grant this despatch, which put a new phase on +matters:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +<br>"GRAVELLY RUN, March 30, 1865. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN: +<br> +<br>"The heavy rain of to-day will make it impossible for us to do much +until it dries up a little, or we get roads around our rear repaired. +You may, therefore, leave what cavalry you deem necessary to protect +the left, and hold such positions as you deem necessary for that +purpose, and send the remainder back to Humphrey's Station where they +can get hay and grain. Fifty wagons loaded with forage will be sent +to you in the morning. Send an officer back to direct the wagons +back to where you want them. Report to me the cavalry you will leave +back, and the position you will occupy. Could not your cavalry go +back by the way of Stony Creek depot and destroy or capture the store +of supplies there? +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." +<br> +</blockquote> + +<p> +When I had read and pondered this, I determined to ride over to +General Grant's headquarters on Gravelly Run, and get a clear idea of +what it was proposed to do, for it seemed to me that a suspension of +operations would be a serious mistake. Mounting a powerful gray +pacing horse called Breckenridge (from its capture from one of +Breckenridge's staff-officers at Missionary Ridge), and that I knew +would carry me through the mud, I set out accompanied by my Assistant +Adjutant-General, Colonel Frederick C. Newhall, and an escort of +about ten or fifteen men. At first we rode north up the Boydton +plank-road, and coming upon our infantry pickets from a direction +where the enemy was expected to appear, they began to fire upon us, +but seeing from our actions that we were friends, they ceased, and +permitted us to pass the outposts. We then struggled on in a +northeasterly direction across-country, till we struck the Vaughn +road. This carried us to army headquarters, which were established +south of Gravelly Run in an old cornfield. I rode to within a few +yards of the front of General Grant's tent, my horse plunging at +every step almost to his knees in the mud, and dismounted near a +camp-fire, apparently a general one, for all the staff-officers were +standing around it on boards and rails placed here and there to keep +them from sinking into the mire.</p> + +<p>Going directly to General Grant's tent, I found him and Rawlins +talking over the question of suspending operations till the weather +should improve. No orders about the matter had been issued yet, +except the despatch to me, and Rawlins, being strongly opposed to the +proposition, was frankly expostulating with General Grant, who, after +greeting me, remarked, in his quiet way: "Well, Rawlins, I think you +had better take command." Seeing that there was a difference up +between Rawlins and his chief, I made the excuse of being wet and +cold, and went outside to the fire. Here General Ingalls met me and +took me to his tent, where I was much more comfortable than when +standing outside, and where a few minutes later we were joined by +General Grant. Ingalls then retired, and General Grant began talking +of our fearful plight, resulting from the rains and mud, and saying +that because of this it seemed necessary to suspend operations. I at +once begged him not to do so, telling him that my cavalry was already +on the move in spite of the difficulties, and that although a +suspension of operations would not be fatal, yet it would give rise +to the very charge of disaster to which he had referred at City +Point, and, moreover, that we would surely be ridiculed, just as +General Burnside's army was after the mud march of 1863. His better +judgment was against suspending operations, but the proposition had +been suggested by all sorts of complaints as to the impossibility of +moving the trains and the like, so it needed little argument to +convince him, and without further discussion he said, in that manner +which with him meant a firmness of purpose that could not be changed +by further complainings, "We will go on." I then told him that I +believed I could break in the enemy's right if he would let me have +the Sixth Corps; but saying that the condition of the roads would +prevent the movement of infantry, he replied that I would have to +seize Five Forks with the cavalry alone.</p> + +<p>On my way back to Dinwiddie I stopped at the headquarters of General +Warren, but the General being asleep, I went to the tent of one of +his staff-officers. Colonel William T. Gentry, an old personal +friend with whom I had served in Oregon. In a few minutes Warren +came in and we had a short conversation, he speaking rather +despondently of the outlook, being influenced no doubt by the +depressing weather.</p> + +<p>From Warren's headquarters I returned, by the Boydton road to +Dinwiddie Court House, fording Gravelly Run with ease. When I got as +far as the Dabney road I sent Colonel Newhall out on it toward Five +Forks, with orders for Merritt to develop the enemy's position and +strength, and then rode on to Dinwiddie to endeavor to get all my +other troops up. Merritt was halted at the intersection of the Five +Forks and Gravelly Church roads when Newhall delivered the orders, +and in compliance moving out Gibbs's brigade promptly, sharp +skirmishing was brought on, Gibbs driving the Confederates to Five +Forks, where he found them behind a line of breastworks running along +the White Oak road. The reconnoissance demonstrating the intention +of the enemy to hold this point, Gibbs was withdrawn.</p> + +<p>That evening, at 7 o'clock, I reported the position of the +Confederate cavalry, and stated that it had been reinforced by +Pickett's division of infantry. On receipt of this despatch, General +Grant offered me the Fifth Corps, but I declined to take it, and +again asked for the Sixth, saying that with it I believed I could +turn the enemy (Pickett's) left, or break through his lines. The +morning of the 31st General Grant replied the the Sixth Corps could +not be taken from its position in the line, and offered me the +Second; but in the mean time circumstances had changed, and no corps +was ordered.</p> + + +<br><br> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p3.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p5.htm">Next Part</a> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/old/orig4362-h/p5.htm b/old/orig4362-h/p5.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f674f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig4362-h/p5.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3548 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN, Vol. II., Part 5</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { + text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 95% } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + + + +</head> +<body> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p4.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p6.htm">Next Part</a> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + + + +<br><br> + +<center><h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF + +<br>P. H. SHERIDAN</h1></center> + + +<br><br> + + <center><h2>Volume II.</h2></center> + +<br><br> + +<h2>Part 5</h2> + + + +<br><hr> +<br> + + + + +<br><br> + + + + +<center><img alt="Cover.jpg (168K)" src="images/Cover.jpg" height="963" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Spines.jpg (76K)" src="images/Spines.jpg" height="1425" width="597"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><img alt="Frontpiece2.jpg (99K)" src="images/Frontpiece2.jpg" height="927" width="650"> +</center> + +<br><br><br><br> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + +<a href="#ch6b">CHAPTER VI.</a><br> +Battle of Dinwiddie Court House—Pickett Repulsed<br> +—Reinforced by the Fifth Corps—Battle of Five <br> +Forks—Turning the Confederate Left—An Unqualified <br> +Success—Relieving General Warren—The Warren Court <br> +of Inquiry—General Sherman's Opinion<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch7b">CHAPTER VII.</a><br> +Result of the Battle of Five Forks—Retreat of Lee<br> +—An Intercepted Despatch—At Amelia Court House <br> +—Battle of Sailor's Creek—The Confederates' <br> +Stubborn Resistance—A Complete Victory<br> +—Importance of the Battle<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch8b">CHAPTER VIII.</a><br> +Lincoln's Laconic Despatch—Capturing Lee's Supplies <br> +—Delighted Engineers—The Confederates' Last <br> +Effort—A Flag of Truce—General Geary's "Last <br> +Ditch" Absurdity—Meeting of Grant and Lee<br> +—The Surrender—Estimate of General Grant<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch9b">CHAPTER IX.</a><br> +Ordered to Greensboro', N. C.—March to the Dan <br> +River—Assigned to the Command West of the <br> +Mississippi—Leaving Washington—Flight of General <br> +Early—Maximilian—Making Demonstrations <br> +on the Upper Rio Grande—Confederates Join <br> +Maximilian—The French Invasion of Mexico, and <br> +its Relations to the Rebellion—Assisting the <br> +Liberals—Restoration of the Republic<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch10b">CHAPTER X.</a><br> +A. J. Hamilton Appointed Provisional Governor of <br> +Texas—Assembles a Constitutional Convention<br> +—The Texans Dissatisfied—Lawlessness—Oppressive <br> +Legislation—Ex-Confederates—Controlling <br> +Louisiana—A Constitutional Convention—The <br> +Meeting Suppressed—A Bloody Riot—My Reports <br> +of the Massacre—Portions Suppressed by President <br> +Johnson—Sustained by a Congressional Committee<br> +—The Reconstruction Laws<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch11b">CHAPTER XI.</a><br> +Passage of the Reconstruction Act Over the <br> +President's Veto—Placed in Command of the Fifth <br> +Military District—Removing Officers—My Reasons <br> +for Such Action—Affairs in Louisiana and Texas<br> +—Removal of Governor Wells—Revision of the jury <br> +Lists—Relieved from the Command of the Fifth <br> +Military District<br> + + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> + + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<br> +<a href="#belle-grove">Belle-Grove House. General Sheridan's Headquarters at Cedar Creek</a> <br> +<a href="#genwright">Portrait of General Horatio G. Wright</a> <br> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +<br> +<br> + + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> +<h2>LIST OF MAPS</h2> +<br> +<a href="#pb154">Battle-field of Dinwiddie Court House</a> <br> +<a href="#pb164">Battle-field of Five Forks</a> <br> +<a href="#pb185">Battle-field of Sailor's Creek</a> <br> +<a href="#pb195">Seventh Expedition—The Appomattox Campaign</a> <br> +<a href="#pb207">Eighth Expedition—To the Dan River and Return</a> <br> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br><br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br> + + <center><h2>Volume II.</h2></center> + +<br><br> + +<h2>Part 5</h2> + +<br><br> +<center><h3>By Philip Henry Sheridan</h3></center> +<br><br> + + + + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch6b"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>BATTLE OF DINWIDDIE COURT HOUSE—PICKETT REPULSED—REINFORCED BY THE +FIFTH CORPS—BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS—TURNING THE CONFEDERATE LEFT—AN +UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS—RELIEVING GENERAL WARREN—THE WARREN COURT OF +INQUIRY—GENERAL SHERMAN'S OPINION.</p> + +<p>The night of March 30 Merritt, with Devin's division and Davies's +brigade, was camped on the Five Forks road about two miles in front +of Dinwiddie, near J. Boisseau's. Crook, with Smith and Gregg's +brigades, continued to cover Stony Creek, and Custer was still back +at Rowanty Creek, trying to get the trains up. This force had been +counted while crossing the creek on the 29th, the three divisions +numbering 9,000 enlisted men, Crook having 3,300, and Custer and +Devin 5,700.</p> + +<p>During the 30th, the enemy had been concentrating his cavalry, and by +evening General W. H. F. Lee and General Rosser had joined Fitzhugh +Lee near Five Forks. To this force was added, about dark, five +brigades of infantry—three from Pickett's division, and two from +Johnson's—all under command of Pickett. The infantry came by the +White Oak road from the right of General Lee's intrenchments, and +their arrival became positively known to me about dark, the +confirmatory intelligence being brought in then by some of Young's +scouts who had been inside the Confederate lines.</p> + +<p>On the 31st, the rain having ceased, directions were given at an +early hour to both Merritt and Crook to make reconnoissances +preparatory to securing Five Forks, and about 9 o'clock Merritt +started for the crossroads, Davies's brigade supporting him. His +march was necessarily slow because of the mud, and the enemy's +pickets resisted with obstinacy also, but the coveted crossroads fell +to Merritt without much trouble, as the bulk of the enemy was just +then bent on other things. At the same hour that Merritt started, +Crook moved Smith's brigade out northwest from Dinwiddie to +Fitzgerald's crossing of Chamberlain's Creek, to cover Merritt's +left, supporting Smith by placing Gregg to his right and rear. The +occupation of this ford was timely, for Pickett, now in command of +both the cavalry and infantry, was already marching to get in +Merritt's rear by crossing Chamberlain's Creek.</p> + +<p>To hold on to Fitzgerald's ford Smith had to make a sharp fight, but +Mumford's cavalry attacking Devin, the enemy's infantry succeeded in +getting over Chamberlain's Creek at a point higher up than +Fitzgerald's ford, and assailing Davies, forced him back in a +northeasterly direction toward the Dinwiddie and Five Forks road in +company with Devin. The retreat of Davies permitted Pickett to pass +between Crook and Merritt, which he promptly did, effectually +separating them and cutting off both Davies and Devin from the road +to Dinwiddie, so that to get to that point they had to retreat across +the country to B. Boisseau's and then down the Boydton road.</p> + +<p>Gibbs's brigade had been in reserve near the intersection of the Five +Forks and Dabney roads, and directing Merritt to hold on there, I +ordered Gregg's brigade to be mounted and brought to Merritt's aid, +for if Pickett continued in pursuit north of the Five Forks road he +would expose his right and rear, and I determined to attack him, in +such case, from Gibbs's position. Gregg arrived in good season, and +as soon as his men were dismounted on Gibbs's left, Merritt assailed +fiercely, compelling Pickett to halt and face a new foe, thus +interrupting an advance that would finally have carried Pickett into +the rear of Warren's corps.</p> + +<p>It was now about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we were in a critical +situation, but having ordered Merritt to bring Devin and Davies to +Dinwiddie by the Boydton road, staff-officers were sent to hurry +Custer to the same point, for with its several diverging roads the +Court House was of vital importance, and I determined to stay there +at all hazards. At the same time orders were sent to Smith's +brigade, which, by the advance of Pickett past its right flank and +the pressure of W. H. F. Lee on its front, had been compelled to give +up Fitzgerald's crossing, to fall back toward Dinwiddie but to +contest every inch of ground so as to gain time.</p> + +<p>When halted by the attack of Gregg and Gibbs, Pickett, desisting from +his pursuit of Devin, as already stated, turned his undivided +attention to this unexpected force, and with his preponderating +infantry pressed it back on the Five Forks road toward Dinwiddle, +though our men, fighting dismounted behind barricades at different +points, displayed such obstinacy as to make Pickett's progress slow, +and thus give me time to look out a line for defending the Court +House. I selected a place about three-fourths of a mile northwest of +the crossroads, and Custer coming up quickly with Capehart's brigade, +took position on the left of the road to Five Forks in some open +ground along the crest of a gentle ridge. Custer got Capehart into +place just in time to lend a hand to Smith, who, severely pressed, +came back on us here from his retreat along Chamberlain's "bed"—the +vernacular for a woody swamp such as that through which Smith +retired. A little later the brigades of Gregg and Gibbs, falling to +the rear slowly and steadily, took up in the woods a line which +covered the Boydton Road some distance to the right of Capehart, the +intervening gap to be filled with Pennington's brigade. By this time +our horse-artillery, which for two days had been stuck in the mud, +was all up, and every gun was posted in this line.</p> + +<p>It was now near sunset, and the enemy's cavalry thinking the day was +theirs, made a dash at Smith, but just as the assailants appeared in +the open fields, Capehart's men opened so suddenly on their left +flank as to cause it to recoil in astonishment, which permitted Smith +to connect his brigade with Custer unmolested. We were now in good +shape behind the familiar barricades, and having a continuous line, +excepting only the gap to be filled with Pennington, that covered +Dinwiddie and the Boydton Road. My left rested in the woods about +half a mile west of the Court House, and the barricades extended from +this flank in a semicircle through the open fields in a northeasterly +direction, to a piece-of thick timber on the right, near the Boydton +Road.</p> + +<p>A little before the sun went down the Confederate infantry was formed +for the attack, and, fortunately for us, Pennington's brigade came up +and filled the space to which it was assigned between Capehart and +Gibbs, just as Pickett moved out across the cleared fields in front +of Custer, in deep lines that plainly told how greatly we were +outnumbered.</p> + +<p>Accompanied by Generals Merritt and Custer and my staff, I now rode +along the barricades to encourage the men. Our enthusiastic +reception showed that they were determined to stay. The cavalcade +drew the enemy's fire, which emptied several of the saddles—among +others Mr. Theodore Wilson, correspondent of the New York Herald, +being wounded. In reply our horse-artillery opened on the advancing +Confederates, but the men behind the barricades lay still till +Pickett's troops were within short range. Then they opened, Custer's +repeating rifles pouring out such a shower of lead that nothing could +stand up against it. The repulse was very quick, and as the gray +lines retired to the woods from which but a few minutes before they +had so confidently advanced, all danger of their taking Dinwiddie or +marching to the left and rear of our infantry line was over, at least +for the night. The enemy being thus checked, I sent a +staff-officer—Captain Sheridan—to General Grant to report what had taken place +during the afternoon, and to say that I proposed to stay at +Dinwiddie, but if ultimately compelled to abandon the place, I would +do so by retiring on the Vaughn road toward Hatcher's Run, for I then +thought the attack might be renewed next morning. Devin and Davies +joined me about dark, and my troops being now well in hand, I sent a +second staff-officer—Colonel John Kellogg—to explain my situation +more fully, and to assure General Grant that I would hold on at +Dinwiddie till forced to let go.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb154"></a><img alt="pb154.jpg (144K)" src="images/pb154.jpg" height="488" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb154.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p>By following me to Dinwiddie the enemy's infantry had completely +isolated itself, and hence there was now offered the Union troops a +rare opportunity. Lee was outside of his works, just as we desired, +and the general-in-chief realized this the moment he received the +first report of my situation; General Meade appreciated it too from +the information he got from Captain Sheridan, en route to army +headquarters with the first tidings, and sent this telegram to +General Grant:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +<br>"March 31, 1865. 9:45 p.m. +<br> +<br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT: +<br> +<br>"Would it not be well for Warren to go down with his whole corps and +smash up the force in front of Sheridan? Humphreys can hold the line +to the Boydton plank-road, and the refusal along with it. Bartlett's +brigade is now on the road from G. Boisseau's, running north, where +it crosses Gravelly Run, he having gone down the White Oak road. +Warren could go at once that way, and take the force threatening +Sheridan in rear at Dinwiddie, and move on the enemy's rear with the +other two. +<br> +<br>"G. G. MEADE, Major-General." +</blockquote> + +<p>An hour later General Grant replied in these words:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +<br>"DABNEY'S MILLS, March 311, 1865. 10:15 P. M. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, +<br>"Commanding Army of the Potomac. +<br> +<br>Let Warren move in the way you propose, and urge him not to stop for +anything. Let Griffin (Griffin had been ordered by Warren to the +Boydton road to protect his rear) go on as he was first directed. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." +</blockquote> +<p> +These two despatches were the initiatory steps in sending the Fifth +Corps, under Major-General G. K. Warren, to report to me, and when I +received word of its coming and also that Genera Mackenzie's cavalry +from the Army of the James was likewise to be added to my command, +and that discretionary authority was given me to use all my forces +against Pickett, I resolved to destroy him, if it was within the +bounds of possibility, before he could rejoin Lee.</p> + +<p>In a despatch, dated 10:05 p.m., telling me of the coming of Warren +and Mackenzie, General Grant also said that the Fifth Corps should +reach me by 12 o'clock that night, but at that hour not only had none +of the corps arrived, but no report from it, so believing that if it +came all the way down to Dinwiddie the next morning, our opportunity +would be gone, I concluded that it would be best to order Warren to +move in on the enemy's rear while the cavalry attacked in front, and, +therefore, at 3 o'clock in the morning of April 1 sent this despatch +to General Warren:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, DINWIDDIE C. H., +<br>"April 1, 1865—3. A.M. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL WARREN, +"Commanding Fifth Army Corps. + +<br>"I am holding in front of Dinwiddie Court House, on the road leading +to Five Forks, for three-quarters of a mile with General Custer's +division. The enemy are in his immediate front, lying so as to cover +the road just this side of A. Adams's house, which leads across +Chamberlain's bed, or run. I understand you have a division at J.[G] +Boisseau's; if so, you are in rear of the enemy's line and almost on +his flank. I will hold on here. Possibly they may attack Custer at +daylight; if so, attack instantly and in full force. Attack at +daylight anyhow, and I will make an effort to get the road this side +of Adams's house, and if I do, you can capture the whole of them. +Any force moving down the road I am holding, or on the White Oak +road, will be in the enemy's rear, and in all probability get any +force that may escape you by a flank movement. Do not fear my +leaving here. If the enemy remains, I shall fight at daylight. +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." +</blockquote> + +<p> +With daylight came a slight fog, but it lifted almost immediately, +and Merritt moved Custer and Devin forward. As these divisions +advanced the enemy's infantry fell back on the Five Forks road, Devin +pressing him along the road, while Custer extended on the left over +toward Chamberlain's Run, Crook being held in watch along Stony +Creek, meanwhile, to be utilized as circumstances might require when +Warren attacked.</p> + +<p>The order of General Meade to Warren the night of March 31—a copy +being sent me also—was positive in its directions, but as midnight +came without a sign of or word from the Fifth Corps, notwithstanding +that was the hour fixed for its arrival, I nevertheless assumed that +there were good reasons for its non-appearance, but never once +doubted that measures would be taken to comply with my despatch Of +3 A. M. and therefore hoped that, as Pickett was falling back slowly +toward Five Forks, Griffin's and Crawford's divisions would come in +on the Confederate left and rear by the Crump road near J.[G] +Boisseau's house.</p> + +<p>But they did not reach there till after the enemy had got by. As a +matter of fact, when Pickett was passing the all-important point +Warren's men were just breaking from the bivouac in which their chief +had placed them the night before, and the head of Griffin's division +did not get to Boisseau's till after my cavalry, which meanwhile had +been joined by Ayres's division of the Fifth Corps by way of the +Boydton and Dabney roads. By reason of the delay in moving Griffin +and Crawford, the enemy having escaped, I massed the Fifth Corps at +J.[G] Boisseau's so that the men could be rested, and directed it to +remain there; General Warren himself had not then come up. General +Mackenzie, who had reported just after daybreak, was ordered at first +to stay at Dinwiddie Court House, but later was brought along the +Five Forks road to Dr. Smith's, and Crook's division was directed to +continue watching the crossings of Stony Creek and Chamberlain's Run.</p> + +<p>That we had accomplished nothing but to oblige our foe to retreat was +to me bitterly disappointing, but still feeling sure that he would +not give up the Five Forks crossroads without a fight, I pressed him +back there with Merritt's cavalry, Custer advancing on the Scott +road, while Devin drove the rearguard along that leading from J.[G] +Boisseau's to Five Forks.</p> + +<p>By 2 o'clock in the afternoon Merritt had forced the enemy inside his +intrenchments, which began with a short return about three-quarters +of a mile east of the Forks and ran along the south side of the White +Oak road to a point about a mile west of the Forks. From the left of +the return over toward Hatcher's Run was posted Mumford's cavalry, +dismounted. In the return itself was Wallace's brigade, and next on +its right came Ransom's, then Stewart's, then Terry's, then Corse's. +On the right of Corse was W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry. Ten +pieces of artillery also were in this line, three on the right of the +works, three near the centre at the crossroads, and four on the left, +in the return. Rosser's cavalry was guarding the Confederate trains +north of Hatcher's Run beyond the crossing of the Ford road.</p> + +<p>I felt certain the enemy would fight at Five Forks—he had to—so, +while we were getting up to his intrenchments, I decided on my plan +of battle. This was to attack his whole front with Merritt's two +cavalry divisions, make a feint of turning his right flank, and with +the Fifth Corps assail his left. As the Fifth Corps moved into +action, its right flank was to be covered by Mackenzie's cavalry, +thus entirely cutting off Pickett's troops from communication with +Lee's right flank, which rested near the Butler house at the junction +of the Claiborne and White Oaks roads. In execution of this plan, +Merritt worked his men close in toward the intrenchments, and while +he was thus engaged, I ordered Warren to bring up the Fifth Corps, +sending the order by my engineer officer, Captain Gillespie, who had +reconnoitred the ground in the neighborhood of Gravelly Run Church, +where the infantry was to form for attack.</p> + +<p>Gillespie delivered the order about 1 o'clock, and when the corps was +put in motion, General Warren joined me at the front. Before he +came, I had received, through Colonel Babcock, authority from General +Grant to relieve him, but I did not wish to do it, particularly on +the eve of battle; so, saying nothing at all about the message +brought me, I entered at once on the plan for defeating Pickett, +telling Warren how the enemy was posted, explaining with considerable +detail, and concluding by stating that I wished his troops to be +formed on the Gravelly Church road, near its junction with the White +Oak road, with two divisions to the front, aligned obliquely to the +White Oak road, and one in reserve, opposite the centre of these two.</p> + +<p>General Warren seemed to understand me clearly, and then left to join +his command, while I turned my attention to the cavalry, instructing +Merritt to begin by making demonstrations as though to turn the +enemy's right, and to assault the front of the works with his +dismounted cavalry as soon as Warren became engaged. Afterward I +rode around to Gravelly Run Church, and found the head of Warren's +column just appearing, while he was sitting under a tree making a +rough sketch of the ground. I was disappointed that more of the +corps was not already up, and as the precious minutes went by without +any apparent effort to hurry the troops on to the field, this +disappointment grew into disgust. At last I expressed to Warren my +fears that the cavalry might expend all their ammunition before the +attack could be made, that the sun would go down before the battle +could be begun, or that troops from Lee's right, which, be it +remembered, was less than three miles away from my right, might, by +striking my rear, or even by threatening it, prevent the attack on +Pickett.</p> + +<p>Warren did not seem to me to be at all solicitous; his manner +exhibited decided apathy, and he remarked with indifference that +"Bobby Lee was always getting people into trouble." With unconcern +such as this, it is no wonder that fully three hours' time was +consumed in marching his corps from J.[G] Boisseau's to Gravelly Run +Church, though the distance was but two miles. However, when my +patience was almost worn out, Warren reported his troops ready, +Ayres's division being formed on the west side of the Gravelly Church +road, Crawford's on the east side, and Griffin in reserve behind the +right of Crawford, a little different from my instructions. The +corps had no artillery present, its batteries, on account of the mud, +being still north of Gravelly Run. Meanwhile Merritt had been busy +working his men close up to the intrenchments from the angle of the +return west, along the White Oak road.</p> + +<p>About 4 o'clock Warren began the attack. He was to assault the left +flank of the Confederate infantry at a point where I knew Pickett's +intrenchments were refused, almost at right angles with the White Oak +road. I did not know exactly how far toward Hatcher's Run this part +of the works extended, for here the videttes of Mumford's cavalry +were covering, but I did know where the refusal began. This return, +then, was the point I wished to assail, believing that if the assault +was made with spirit, the line could be turned. I therefore intended +that Ayres and Crawford should attack the refused trenches squarely, +and when these two divisions and Merritt's cavalry became hotly +engaged, Griffin's division was to pass around the left of the +Confederate line; and I personally instructed Griffin how I wished +him to go in, telling him also that as he advanced, his right flank +would be taken care of by Mackenzie, who was to be pushed over toward +the Ford road and Hatcher's Run.</p> + +<p>The front of the corps was oblique to the White Oak road; and on +getting there, it was to swing round to the left till perpendicular +to the road, keeping closed to the left. Ayres did his part well, +and to the letter, bringing his division square up to the front of +the return near the angle; but Crawford did not wheel to the left, as +was intended. On the contrary, on receiving fire from Mumford's +cavalry, Crawford swerved to the right and moved north from the +return, thus isolating his division from Ayres; and Griffin, +uncertain of the enemy's position, naturally followed Crawford.</p> + +<p>The deflection of this division on a line of march which finally +brought it out on the Ford road near C. Young's house, frustrated the +purpose I had in mind when ordering the attack, and caused a gap +between Ayres and Crawford, of which the enemy quickly took +advantage, and succeeded in throwing a part of Ayres's division into +confusion. At this juncture I sent word to General Warren to have +Crawford recalled; for the direction he was following was not only a +mistaken one, but, in case the assault at the return failed, he ran +great risk of capture. Warren could not be found, so I then sent for +Griffin—first by Colonel Newhall, and then by Colonel Sherman—to +come to the aid of Ayres, who was now contending alone with that part +of the enemy's infantry at the return. By this time Griffin had +observed and appreciated Crawford's mistake, however, and when the +staff-officers reached him, was already faced to the left; so, +marching across Crawford's rear, he quickly joined Ayres, who +meanwhile had rallied his troops and carried the return.</p> + +<p>When Ayres's division went over the flank of the enemy's works, +Devin's division of cavalry, which had been assaulting the front, +went over in company with it; and hardly halting to reform, the +intermingling infantry and dismounted cavalry swept down inside the +intrenchments, pushing to and beyond Five Forks, capturing thousands +of prisoners. The only stand the enemy tried to make was when he +attempted to form near the Ford road. Griffin pressed him so hard +there, however, that he had to give way in short order, and many of +his men, with three pieces of artillery, fell into the hands of +Crawford while on his circuitous march.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb164"></a><img alt="pb164.jpg (151K)" src="images/pb164.jpg" height="491" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb164.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The right of Custer's division gained a foothold on the enemy's works +simultaneously with Devin's, but on the extreme left Custer had a +very severe combat with W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, as well as with +Corse's and Terry's infantry. Attacking Terry and Corse with +Pennington's brigade dismounted, he assailed Lee's cavalry with his +other two brigades mounted, but Lee held on so obstinately that +Custer gained but little ground till our troops, advancing behind the +works, drove Corse and Terry out. Then Lee made no further stand +except at the west side of the Gillian field, where, assisted by +Corse's brigade, he endeavored to cover the retreat, but just before +dark Custer, in concert with some Fifth Corps regiments under Colonel +Richardson, drove ihe last of the enemy westward on the White Oak +road.</p> + +<p>Our success was unqualified; we had overthrown Pickett, taken six +guns, thirteen battle-flags, and nearly six thousand prisoners. When +the battle was practically over, I turned to consider my position +with reference to the main Confederate army. My troops, though +victorious, were isolated from the Army of the Potomac, for on the +31st of March the extreme left of that army had been thrown back +nearly to the Boydton plank-road, and hence there was nothing to +prevent the enemy's issuing from his trenches at the intersection of +the White Oak and Claiborne roads and marching directly on my rear. +I surmised that he might do this that night or early next morning. +It was therefore necessary to protect myself in this critical +situation, and General Warren having sorely disappointed me, both in +the moving of his corps and in its management during the battle, I +felt that he was not the man to rely upon under such circumstances, +and deeming that it was to the best interest of the service as well +as but just to myself, I relieved him, ordering him to report to +General Grant.</p> + +<p>I then put Griffin in command of the Fifth Corps, and directed him to +withdraw from the pursuit as quickly as he could after following the +enemy a short distance, and form in line of battle near Gravelly Run +Church, at right angles with the White Oak road, with Ayres and +Crawford facing toward the enemy at the junction of the White Oak and +Claiborne roads, leaving Bartlett, now commanding Griffin's division, +near the Ford road. Mackenzie also was left on the Ford road at the +crossing of Hatcher's Run, Merritt going into camp on the Widow +Gillian's plantation. As I had been obliged to keep Crook's division +along Stony Creek throughout the day, it had taken no active part in +the battle.</p> + +<p>Years after the war, in 1879, a Court of Inquiry was given General +Warren in relation to his conduct on the day of the battle. He +assumed that the delay in not granting his request for an inquiry, +which was first made at the close of the war, was due to opposition +on my part. In this he was in error; I never opposed the ordering of +the Court, but when it was finally decided to convene it I naturally +asked to be represented by counsel, for the authorization of the +Inquiry was so peculiarly phrased that it made me practically a +respondent.</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"NEW YORK CITY, May 3, 1880 +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. HANCOCK, U. S. A. +<br>"President Court of Inquiry, Governor's Island. +<br> +<br>"Sir: Since my arrival in this city, under a subpoena to appear and +testify before the Court of which you are president, I have been +indirectly and unofficially informed that the Court some time ago +forwarded an invitation to me (which has not been received) to appear +personally or by counsel, in order to aid it in obtaining a knowledge +as to the facts concerning the movements terminating in the battle of +'Five Forks,' with reference to the direct subjects of its inquiry. +Any invitation of this character I should always and do consider it +incumbent on me to accede to, and do everything in my power in +furtherance of the specific purposes for which courts of inquiry are +by law instituted. +<br> +<br>"The order convening the Court (a copy of which was not received by +me at my division headquarters until two days after the time +appointed for the Court to assemble) contemplates an inquiry based on +the application of Lieutenant Colonel G. K. Warren, Corps of +Engineers, as to his conduct while major-general commanding the Fifth +Army Corps, under my command, in reference to accusations or +imputations assumed in the order to have been made against him, and I +understand through the daily press that my official report of the +battle of Five Forks has been submitted by him as a basis of inquiry. +<br> +<br>"If it is proposed to inquire, either directly or indirectly, as to +any action of mine so far as the commanding general Fifth Army Corps +was concerned, or my motives for such action, I desire to be +specifically informed wherein such action or transaction is alleged +to contain an accusation or imputation to become a subject of +inquiry, so that, knowing what issues are raised, I may intelligently +aid the Court in arriving at the facts. +<br> +<br>"It is a long time since the battle of Five Forks was fought, and +during the time that has elapsed the official reports of that battle +have been received and acknowledged by the Government; but now, when +the memory of events has in many instances grown dim, and three of +the principal actors on that field are dead—Generals Griffin, +Custer, and Devin, whose testimony would have been valuable—an +investigation is ordered which might perhaps do injustice unless the +facts pertinent to the issues are fully developed. +<br> +<br>"My duties are such that it will not be convenient for me to be +present continuously during the sessions of the Court. In order, +however, that everything may be laid before it in my power pertinent +to such specific issues as are legally raised, I beg leave to +introduce Major Asa Bird Gardner as my counsel. +<br> +<br>"Very respectfully, +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieut.-General." +</blockquote> + +<p> +Briefly stated, in my report of the battle of Five Forks there were +four imputations concerning General Warren. The first implied that +Warren failed to reach me on the 1st of April, when I had reason to +expect him; the second, that the tactical handling of his corps was +unskillful; the third, that he did not exert himself to get his corps +up to Gravelly Run Church; and the fourth, that when portions of his +line gave way he did not exert himself to restore confidence to his +troops. The Court found against him on the first and second counts, +and for him on the third and fourth. This finding was unsatisfactory +to General Warren, for he hoped to obtain such an unequivocal +recognition of his services as to cast discredit on my motives for +relieving him. These were prompted by the conditions alone—by the +conduct of General Warren as described, and my consequent lack of +confidence in him.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that in my conversation with General Grant on +the 30th, relative to the suspension of operations because of the +mud, I asked him to let me have the Sixth Corps to help me in +breaking in on the enemy's right, but that it could not be sent me; +it will be recalled also that the Fifth Corps was afterward tendered +and declined. From these facts it has been alleged that I was +prejudiced against General Warren, but this is not true. As we had +never been thrown much together I knew but little of him. I had no +personal objection to him, and certainly could have none to his +corps. I was expected to do an extremely dangerous piece of work, +and knowing the Sixth Corps well—my cavalry having campaigned with +it so successfully in the Shenandoah Valley, I naturally preferred +it, and declined the Fifth for no other reason. But the Sixth could +not be given, and the turn of events finally brought me the Fifth +after my cavalry, under the most trying difficulties, had drawn the +enemy from his works, and into such a position as to permit the +realization of General Grant's hope to break up with my force Lee's +right flank. Pickett's isolation offered an opportunity which we +could not afford to neglect, and the destruction of his command would +fill the measure of General Grant's expectations as well as meet my +own desires. The occasion was not an ordinary one, and as I thought +that Warren had not risen to its demand in the battle, I deemed it +injudicious and unsafe under the critical conditions existing to +retain him longer. That I was justified in this is plain to all who +are disposed to be fair-minded, so with the following extract from +General Sherman's review of the proceedings of the Warren Court, and +with which I am convinced the judgment of history will accord, I +leave the subject:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"....It would be an unsafe and dangerous rule to hold the commander +of an army in battle to a technical adherence to any rule of conduct +for managing his command. He is responsible for results, and holds +the lives and reputations of every officer and soldier under his +orders as subordinate to the great end—victory. The most important +events are usually compressed into an hour, a minute, and he cannot +stop to analyze his reasons. He must act on the impulse, the +conviction, of the instant, and should be sustained in his +conclusions, if not manifestly unjust. The power to command men, and +give vehement impulse to their joint action, is something which +cannot be defined by words, but it is plain and manifest in battles, +and whoever commands an army in chief must choose his subordinates by +reason of qualities which can alone be tested in actual conflict. +<br> +<br>"No one has questioned the patriotism, integrity, and great +intelligence of General Warren. These are attested by a long record +of most excellent service, but in the clash of arms at and near Five +Forks, March 31 and April 1, 1865, his personal activity fell short +of the standard fixed by General Sheridan, on whom alone rested the +great responsibility for that and succeeding days. +<br> +<br>"My conclusion is that General Sheridan was perfectly justified in +his action in this case, and he must be fully and entirely sustained +if the United States expects great victories by her arms in the +future." +</blockquote> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch7b"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>RESULT OF THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS—RETREAT OF LEE—AN INTERCEPTED +DESPATCH—AT AMELIA COURT HOUSE—BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK—THE +CONFEDERATES' STUBBORN RESISTANCE—A COMPLETE VICTORY—IMPORTANCE OF +THE BATTLE.</p> + +<p>When the news of the battle at Five Forks reached General Grant, he +realized that the decisive character of our victory would necessitate +the immediate abandonment of Richmond and Petersburg by the enemy; +and fearing that Lee would escape without further injury, he issued +orders, the propriety of which must be settled by history, to assault +next morning the whole intrenched line. But Lee could not retreat at +once. He had not anticipated, disaster at Five Forks, and hence was +unprepared to withdraw on the moment; and the necessity of getting +off his trains and munitions of war, as well as being obliged to +cover the flight of the Confederate Government, compelled him to hold +on to Richmond and Petersburg till the afternoon of the 2d, though +before that Parke, Ord, and Wright had carried his outer +intrenchments at several points, thus materially shortening the line +of investment.</p> + +<p>The night of the 1st of April, General Humphreys's corps—the +Second—had extended its left toward the White Oak road, and early next +morning, under instructions from General Grant, Miles's division of +that corps reported to me, and supporting him with Ayres's and +Crawford's divisions of the Fifth Corps, I then directed him to +advance toward Petersburg and attack the enemy's works at the +intersection of the Claiborne and White Oak roads.</p> + +<p>Such of the enemy as were still in the works Miles easily forced +across Hatcher's Run, in the direction of Sutherland's depot, but the +Confederates promptly took up a position north of the little stream, +and Miles being anxious to attack, I gave him leave, but just at this +time General Humphreys came up with a request to me from General +Meade to return Miles. On this request I relinquished command of the +division, when, supported by the Fifth Corps it could have broken in +the enemy's right at a vital point; and I have always since regretted +that I did so, for the message Humphreys conveyed was without +authority from General Grant, by whom Miles had been sent to me, but +thinking good feeling a desideratum just then, and wishing to avoid +wrangles, I faced the Fifth Corps about and marched it down to Five +Forks, and out the Ford road to the crossing of Hatcher's Run. After +we had gone, General Grant, intending this quarter of the field to be +under my control, ordered Humphreys with his other two divisions to +move to the right, in toward Petersburg. This left Miles entirely +unsupported, and his gallant attack made soon after was unsuccessful +at first, but about 3 o'clock in the afternoon he carried the point +which covered the retreat from Petersburg and Richmond.</p> + +<p>Merritt had been sent westward, meanwhile, in the direction of Ford's +Station, to break the enemy's horse which had been collecting to the +north of Hatcher's Run. Meeting, with but little opposition, Merritt +drove this cavalry force in a northerly direction toward Scott's +Corners, while the Fifth Corps was pushed toward Sutherland's depot, +in the hope of coming in on the rear of the force that was +confronting Miles when I left him. Crawford and Merritt engaged the +enemy lightly just before night, but his main column, retreating +along the river road south of the Appomattox, had got across Namozine +Creek, and the darkness prevented our doing more than to pick up some +stragglers. The next morning the pursuit was resumed, the cavalry +again in advance, the Fifth Corps keeping up with it all the while, +and as we pressed our adversaries hundreds and hundreds of prisoners, +armed and unarmed, fell into our hands, together with many wagons and +five pieces of artillery. At Deep Creek the rearguard turned on us, +and a severe skirmish took place. Merritt, finding the enemy very +strong, was directed to await the arrival of Crook and for the rear +division of the Fifth Corps; but by the time they reached the creek, +darkness had again come to protect the Confederates, and we had to be +content with meagre results at that point.</p> + +<p>From the beginning it was apparent that Lee, in his retreat, was +making for Amelia Court House, where his columns north and south of +the Appomattox River could join, and where, no doubt, he expected to +meet supplies, so Crook was ordered to march early on April 4 to +strike the Danville railroad, between Jettersville and Burkeville, +and then move south along the railroad toward Jettersville, Merritt +to move toward Amelia Court House, and the Fifth Corps to +Jettersville itself.</p> + +<p>The Fifth Corps got to Jettersville about 5 in the afternoon, and I +immediately intrenched it across the Burkeville road with the +determination to stay there till the main army could come up, for I +hoped we could force Lee to surrender at Amelia Court House, since a +firm hold on Jettersville would cut him off from his line of retreat +toward Burkeville.</p> + +<p>Accompanied only by my escort—the First United States Cavalry, about +two hundred strong—I reached Jettersville some little time before +the Fifth Corps, and having nothing else at hand I at once deployed +this handful of men to cover the crossroads till the arrival of the +corps. Just as the troopers were deploying, a man on a mule, heading +for Burkeville, rode into my pickets. He was arrested, of course, +and being searched there was found in his boots this telegram in +duplicate, signed by Lee's Commissary General.</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"The army is at Amelia Court House, short of provisions. Send +300,000 rations quickly to Burkeville Junction." One copy was +addressed to the supply department at Danville, and the other to that +at Lynchburg. I surmised that the telegraph lines north of +Burkeville had been broken by Crook after the despatches were +written, which would account for their being transmitted by +messenger. There was thus revealed not only the important fact that +Lee was concentrating at Amelia Court House, but also a trustworthy +basis for estimating his troops, so I sent word to Crook to strike up +the railroad toward me, and to Merritt—who, as I have said, had +followed on the heels of the enemy—to leave Mackenzie there and +himself close in on Jettersville. Staff-officers were also +despatched to hurry up Griffin with the Fifth Corps, and his tired men +redoubled their strides. +</blockquote> + +<p>My troops too were hard up for rations, for in the pursuit we could +not wait for our trains, so I concluded to secure if possible these +provisions intended for Lee. To this end I directed Young to send +four of his best scouts to Burkeville Junction. There they were to +separate, two taking the railroad toward Lynchburg and two toward +Danville, and as soon as a telegraph station was reached the telegram +was to be transmitted as it had been written and the provisions thus +hurried forward.</p> + +<p>Although the Fifth Corps arrived at Jettersville the evening of April +4, as did also Crook's and Merritt's cavalry, yet none of the army of +the Potomac came up till about 3 o'clock the afternoon of the 5th, +the Second Corps, followed by the Sixth, joining us then. General +Meade arrived at Jettersville an hour earlier, but being ill, +requested me to put his troops in position. The Fifth Corps being +already intrenched across the Amelia Court House road facing north, I +placed the Sixth on its right and the Second on its left as they +reached the ground.</p> + +<p>As the enemy had been feeling us ever since morning—to learn what he +was up to I directed Crook to send Davies's brigade on a +reconnoissance to Paine's crossroads. Davies soon found out that Lee +was trying to escape by that flank, for at the crossroads he found +the Confederate trains and artillery moving rapidly westward. Having +driven away the escort, Davies succeeded in burning nearly two +hundred wagons, and brought off five pieces of artillery. Among +these wagons were some belonging to General, Lee's and to General +Fitzhugh Lee's headquarters. This work through, Davies withdrew and +rejoined Crook, who, with Smith and Gregg, was established near Flat +Creek.</p> + +<p>It being plain that Lee would attempt to escape as soon as his trains +were out of the way, I was most anxious to attack him when the Second +Corps began to arrive, for I felt certain that unless we did so he +would succeed in passing by our left flank, and would thus again make +our pursuit a stern-chase; but General Meade, whose plan of attack +was to advance his right flank on Amelia Court House, objected to +assailing before all his troops were up.</p> + +<p>I then sent despatches to General Grant, explaining what Davies had +done, and telling him that the Second Corps was arriving, and that I +wished he himself was present. I assured him of my confidence in our +capturing Lee if we properly exerted ourselves, and informed him, +finally, that I would put all my cavalry, except Mackenzie, on my +left, and that, with such a disposition of my forces, I could see no +escape for Lee. I also inclosed him this letter, which had just been +captured:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"AMELIA C. H., April 5, 1865. +<br> +<br>"DEAR MAMMA: +<br> +<br>"Our army is ruined, I fear. We are all safe as yet. Shyron left us +sick. John Taylor is well—saw him yesterday. We are in line of +battle this morning. General Robert Lee is in the field near us. My +trust is still in the justice of our cause, and that of God. General +Hill is killed. I saw Murray a few minutes since. Bernard, Terry +said, was taken prisoner, but may yet get out. I send this by a +negro I see passing up the railroad to Mechlenburg. Love to all. +<br> +<br>"Your devoted son, +<br> +<br>"Wm. B. TAYLOR, Colonel." +</blockquote> + +<p> +General Grant, who on the 5th was accompanying General Ord's column +toward Burkeville Junction, did not receive this intelligence till +nearly nightfall, when within about ten miles of the Junction. He +set out for Jettersville immediately, but did not reach us till near +midnight, too late of course to do anything that night. Taking me +with him, we went over to see Meade, whom he then directed to advance +early in the morning on Amelia Court House. In this interview Grant +also stated that the orders Meade had already issued would permit +Lee's escape, and therefore must be changed, for it was not the aim +only to follow the enemy, but to get ahead of him, remarking during +the conversation that, "he had no doubt Lee was moving right then." +On this same occasion Meade expressed a desire to have in the +proposed attack all the troops of the Army of the Potomac under his +own command, and asked for the return of the Fifth Corps. I made no +objections, and it was ordered to report, to him.</p> + +<p>When, on the morning of the 6th, Meade advanced toward Amelia Court +House, he found, as predicted, that Lee was gone. It turned out that +the retreat began the evening of the 5th and continued all night. +Satisfied that this would be the case, I did not permit the cavalry +to participate in Meade's useless advance, but shifted it out toward +the left to the road running from Deatonsville to Rice's station, +Crook leading and Merritt close up. Before long the enemy's trains +were discovered on this road, but Crook could make but little +impression on them, they were so strongly guarded; so, leaving +Stagg's brigade and Miller's battery about three miles southwest of +Deatonsville—where the road forks, with a branch leading north +toward the Appomattox—to harass the retreating column and find a +vulnerable point, I again shifted the rest of the cavalry toward the +left, across-country, but still keeping parallel to the enemy's line +of march.</p> + +<p>Just after crossing Sailor's Greek, a favorable opportunity offering, +both Merritt and Crook attacked vigorously, gained the Rice's Station +road, destroyed several hundred wagons, made many prisoners, and +captured sixteen pieces of artillery. This was important, but more +valuable still was the fact that we were astride the enemy's line of +retreat, and had cut off from joining Longstreet, waiting at Rice's +Station, a corps of Confederate infantry under General Ewell, +composed of Anderson's, Kershaw's, and Custis Lee's divisions. +Stagg's brigade and Miller's battery, which, as I have said, had been +left at the forks of the Deatonsville road, had meanwhile broken in +between the rear of Ewell's column and the head of Gordon's, forcing +Gordon to abandon his march for Rice's Station, and to take the +right-hand road at the forks, on which he was pursued by General +Humphreys.</p> + +<p>The complete isolation of Ewell from Longstreet in his front and +Gordon in his rear led to the battle of Sailor's Creek, one of the +severest conflicts of the war, for the enemy fought with desperation +to escape capture, and we, bent on his destruction, were no less +eager and determined. The capture of Ewell, with six of his generals +and most of his troops, crowned our success, but the fight was so +overshadowed by the stirring events of the surrender three days +later, that the battle has never been accorded the prominence it +deserves.</p> + +<p>The small creek from which the field takes its name flows in a +northwesterly direction across the road leading from Deatonsville to +Rice's Station. By shifting to the left, Merritt gained the Rice's +Station road west of the creek, making havoc of the wagon-trains, +while Crook struck them further on and planted himself square across +the road. This blocked Ewell, who, advancing Anderson to some high +ground west of the creek, posted him behind barricades, with the +intention of making a hard fight there, while the main body should +escape through the woods in a westerly direction to roads that led to +Farmville. This was prevented, however, by Crook forming his +division, two brigades dismounted and one mounted, and at once +assaulting all along Anderson's front and overlapping his right, +while Merritt fiercely attacked to the right of Crook. The enemy +being thus held, enabled the Sixth Corps—which in the meantime I had +sent for—to come upon the ground, and Ewell, still contending with +the cavalry, found himself suddenly beset by this new danger from his +rear. To, meet it, he placed Kershaw to the right and Custis Lee to +the left of the Rice's Station road, facing them north toward and +some little distance from Sailor's Creek, supporting Kershaw with +Commander Tucker's Marine brigade. Ewell's skirmishers held the line +of Sailor's Creek, which runs through a gentle valley, the north +slope of which was cleared ground.</p> + +<p>By General Grant's directions the Sixth Corps had been following my +route of march since the discovery, about 9 o'clock in the morning, +that Lee had decamped from Amelia Court House. Grant had promptly +informed me of this in a note, saying, "The Sixth Corps will go in +with a vim any place you may dictate," so when I sent word to Wright +of the enemy's isolation, and asked him to hurry on with all speed, +his gallant corps came as fast as legs could carry them, he sending +to me successively Major McClellan and Colonel Franklin, of his +staff, to report his approach.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="genwright"></a><img alt="pb273-Wright.jpg (76K)" src="images/pb273-Wright.jpg" height="857" width="575"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>I was well advised as to the position of the enemy through +information brought me by an intelligent young soldier, William A. +Richardson, Company "A," Second Ohio, who, in one of the cavalry +charges on Anderson, had cleared the barricades and made his way back +to my front through Ewell's line. Richardson had told me just how +the main body of the enemy was posted, so as Seymour's division +arrived I directed General Wright to put it on the right of the road, +while Wheaton's men, coming up all hot and out of breath, promptly +formed on Seymour's left. Both divisions thus aligned faced +southwest toward Sailor's Creek, and the artillery of the corps being +massed to the left and front of the Hibbon house, without waiting for +Getty's division—for I feared that if we delayed longer the enemy +might effect his escape toward Farmville—the general attack was +begun. Seymour and Wheaton, moving forward together, assailed the +enemy's front and left, and Stagg's brigade, too, which in the mean +time had been placed between Wheaton's left and Devin's right, went +at him along with them, Merritt and Crook resuming the fight from +their positions in front of Anderson. The enemy, seeing little +chance of escape, fought like a tiger at bay, but both Seymour and +Wheaton pressed him vigorously, gaining ground at all points except +just to the right of the road, where Seymour's left was checked. +Here the Confederates burst back on us in a counter-charge, surging +down almost to the creek, but the artillery, supported by Getty, who +in the mean time had come on the ground, opened on them so terribly +that this audacious and furious onset was completely broken, though +the gallant fellows fell back to their original line doggedly, and +not until after they had almost gained the creek. Ewell was now +hemmed in on every side, and all those under his immediate command +were captured. Merritt and Crook had also broken up Anderson by this +time, but he himself, and about two thousand disorganized men escaped +by making their way through the woods toward the Appomattox River +before they could be entirely enveloped. Night had fallen when the +fight was entirely over, but Devin was pushed on in pursuit for about +two miles, part of the Sixth Corps following to clinch a victory +which not only led to the annihilation of one corps of Lee's +retreating army, but obliged Longstreet to move up to Farmville, so +as to take a road north of the Appomattox River toward Lynchburg +instead of continuing toward Danville.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb185"></a><img alt="pb185.jpg (43K)" src="images/pb185.jpg" height="814" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>At the close of the battle I sent one of my staff—Colonel Redwood +Price—to General Grant to report what had been done; that we had +taken six generals and from nine to ten thousand prisoners. On his +way Price stopped at the headquarters of General Meade, where he +learned that not the slightest intelligence of the occurrence on my +line had been received, for I not being under Meade's command, he had +paid no attention to my movements. Price gave the story of the +battle, and General Meade, realizing its importance, sent directions +immediately to General Wright to make his report of the engagement to +the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, assuming that Wright was +operating independently of me in the face of Grant's despatch Of +2 o'clock, which said that Wright was following the cavalry and would +"go in with a vim" wherever I dictated. Wright could not do else +than comply with Meade's orders in the case, and I, being then in +ignorance of Meade's reasons for the assumption, could say nothing. +But General Grant plainly intending, and even directing, that the +corps should be under my command, remedied this phase of the matter, +when informed of what had taken place, by requiring Wright to send a +report of the battle through me. What he then did, and what his +intentions and orders were, are further confirmed by a reference to +the episode in his "Memoirs," where he gives his reasons for ordering +the Sixth Corps to abandon the move on Amelia Court House and pass to +the left of the army. On the same page he also says, referring to +the 6th of April: "The Sixth Corps now remained with the cavalry +under Sheridan's direct command until after the surrender." He +unquestionably intended all of this, but his purpose was partly +frustrated by General Meade's action next morning in assuming +direction of the movements of the corps; and before General Grant +became aware of the actual conditions the surrender was at hand.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch8b"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>LINCOLN'S LACONIC DESPATCH—CAPTURING LEE'S SUPPLIES—DELIGHTED +ENGINEERS—THE CONFEDERATES' LAST EFFORT—A FLAG OF TRUCE—GENERAL +GEARY'S "LAST DITCH" ABSURDITY—MEETING OF GRANT AND LEE—THE +SURRENDER—ESTIMATE OF GENERAL GRANT.</p> + +<p>The first report of the battle of Sailor's Creek that General Grant +received was, as already stated, an oral message carried by Colonel +Price, of my staff. Near midnight I sent a despatch giving the names +of the generals captured. These were Ewell, Kershaw, Barton, Corse, +Dubose, and Custis Lee. In the same despatch I wrote: <b>"If the thing +is pressed, I think that Lee will surrender."</b> When Mr. Lincoln, at +City Point, received this word from General Grant, who was +transmitting every item of news to the President, he telegraphed +Grant the laconic message: <b>"Let the thing be pressed."</b> The morning of +the 7th we moved out at a very early hour, Crook's division marching +toward Farmville in direct pursuit, while Merritt and Mackenzie were +ordered to Prince Edward's Court House to anticipate any effort Lee +might make to escape through that place toward Danville since it had +been discovered that Longstreet had slipped away already from the +front of General Ord's troops at Rice's Station. Crook overtook the +main body of the Confederates at Farmville, and promptly attacked +their trains on the north side of the Appomattox with Gregg's +brigade, which was fiercely turned upon and forced to re-cross the +river with the loss of a number of prisoner's, among them Gregg +himself. When Crook sent word of this fight, it was clear that Lee +had abandoned all effort to escape to the southwest by way of +Danville. Lynchburg was undoubtedly his objective point now; so, +resolving to throw my cavalry again across his path, and hold him +till the infantry could overtake him, I directed everything on +Appomattox depot, recalling Crook the night of the 7th to Prospect +Station, while Merritt camped at Buffalo Creek, and Mackenzie made a +reconnoissance along the Lynchburg railroad.</p> + +<p>At break of day, April 8, Merritt and Mackenzie united with Crook at +Prospect Station, and the cavalry all moved then toward Appomattox +depot. Hardly had it started when one of the scouts—Sergeant +White—informed me that there were four trains of cars at the depot loaded +with supplies for Lee's army; these had been sent from Lynchburg, in +compliance with the telegram of Lee's commissary-general, which +message, it will be remembered, was captured and transmitted to +Lynchburg by two of Young's scouts on the 4th. Sergeant White, who +had been on the lookout for the trains ever since sending the +despatch, found them several miles west of Appomattox depot feeling +their way along, in ignorance of Lee's exact position. As he had the +original despatch with him, and took pains to dwell upon the pitiable +condition of Lee's army, he had little difficulty in persuading the +men in charge of the trains to bring them east of Appomattox Station, +but fearing that the true state of affairs would be learned before +long, and the trains be returned to Lynchburg, he was painfully +anxious to have them cut off by breaking the track west of the +station.</p> + +<p>The intelligence as to the trains was immediately despatched to +Crook, and I pushed on to join him with Merritt's command. Custer +having the advance, moved rapidly, and on nearing the station +detailed two regiments to make a detour southward to strike the +railroad some distance beyond and break the track. These regiments +set off at a gallop, and in short order broke up the railroad enough +to prevent the escape of the trains, Custer meanwhile taking +possession of the station, but none too soon, for almost at the +moment he did so the advance-guard of Lee's army appeared, bent on +securing the trains. Without halting to look after the cars further, +Custer attacked this advance-guard and had a spirited fight, in which +he drove the Confederates away from the station, captured twenty-five +pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and a large park of wagons, +which, in the hope that they would reach Lynchburg next day, were +being pushed ahead of Lee's main body.</p> + +<p>Devin coming up a little before dusk, was put in on the right of +Custer, and one of Crook's brigades was sent to our left and the +other two held in reserve. I then forced the enemy back on the +Appomattox road to the vicinity of the Court House, and that the +Confederates might have no rest, gave orders to continue the +skirmishing throughout the night. Meanwhile the captured trains had +been taken charge of by locomotive engineers, soldiers of the +command, who were delighted evidently to get back at their old +calling. They amused themselves by running the trains to and fro, +creating much confusion, and keeping up such an unearthly screeching +with the whistles that I was on the point of ordering the cars +burned. They finally wearied of their fun, however, and ran the +trains off to the east toward General Ord's column.</p> + +<p>The night of the 8th I made my headquarters at a little frame house +just south of the station. I did not sleep at all, nor did anybody +else, the entire command being up all night long; indeed, there had +been little rest in the, cavalry for the past eight days. The +necessity of getting Ord's column up was so obvious now that +staff-officer after staff-officer was sent to him and to General Grant +requesting that the infantry be pushed on, for if it could get to the +front, all knew that the rebellion would be ended on the morrow. +Merritt, Crook, Custer, and Devin were present at frequent intervals +during the night, and everybody was overjoyed at the prospect that +our weary work was about to end so happily. Before sun-up General +Ord arrived, and informed me of the approach of his column, it having +been marching the whole night. As he ranked me, of course I could +give him no orders, so after a hasty consultation as to where his +troops should be placed we separated, I riding to the front to +overlook my line near Appomattox Court House, while he went back to +urge along his weary troops.</p> + +<p>The night before General Lee had held a council with his principal +generals, when it was arranged that in the morning General Gordon +should undertake to break through my cavalry, and when I neared my +troops this movement was beginning, a heavy line of infantry bearing +down on us from the direction of the village. In front of Crook and +Mackenzie firing had already begun, so riding to a slight elevation +where a good view of the Confederates could be had, I there came to +the conclusion that it would be unwise to offer more resistance than +that necessary to give Ord time to form, so I directed Merritt to +fall back, and in retiring to shift Devin and Custer to the right so +as to make room for Ord, now in the woods to my rear. Crook, who +with his own and Mackenzie's divisions was on my extreme left +covering some by-roads, was ordered to hold his ground as long as +practicable without sacrificing his men, and, if forced to retire, to +contest with obstinacy the enemy's advance.</p> + +<p>As already stated, I could not direct General Ord's course, he being +my senior, but hastily galloping back to where he was, at the edge of +the timber, I explained to him what was taking place at the front. +Merritt's withdrawal inspired the Confederates, who forthwith began +to press Crook, their line of battle advancing with confidence till +it reached the crest whence I had reconnoitred them. From this +ground they could see Ord's men emerging from the woods, and the +hopelessness of a further attack being plain, the gray lines +instinctively halted, and then began to retire toward a ridge +immediately fronting Appomattox Court House, while Ord, joined on his +right by the Fifth Corps, advanced on them over the ground that +Merritt had abandoned.</p> + +<p>I now directed my steps toward Merritt, who, having mounted his +troopers, had moved them off to the right, and by the time I reached +his headquarters flag he was ready for work, so a move on the enemy's +left was ordered, and every guidon was bent to the front. As the +cavalry marched along parallel with the Confederate line, and in +toward its left, a heavy fire of artillery opened on us, but this +could not check us at such a time, and we soon reached some high +ground about half a mile from the Court House, and from here I could +see in the low valley beyond the village the bivouac undoubtedly of +Lee's army. The troops did not seem to be disposed in battle order, +but on the other side of the bivouac was a line of battle—a heavy +rear-guard—confronting, presumably, General Meade.</p> + +<p>I decided to attack at once, and formations were ordered at a trot +for a charge by Custer's and Devin's divisions down the slope leading +to the camps. Custer was soon ready, but Devin's division being in +rear its formation took longer, since he had to shift further to the +right; Devin's preparations were, therefore, but partially completed +when an aide-decamp galloped up to with the word from Custer, "Lee +has surrendered; do not charge; the white flag is up." The enemy +perceiving that Custer was forming for attack, had sent the flag out +to his front and stopped the charge just in time. I at once sent +word of the truce to General Ord, and hearing nothing more from +Custer himself, I supposed that he had gone down to the Court House +to join a mounted group of Confederates that I could see near there, +so I, too, went toward them, galloping down a narrow ridge, staff and +orderlies following; but we had not got half way to the Court House +when, from a skirt of timber to our right, not more than three +hundred yards distant, a musketry fire was opened on us. This halted +us, when, waving my hat, I called out to the firing party that we +were under a truce, and they were violating it. This did not stop +them, however, so we hastily took shelter in a ravine so situated as +to throw a ridge between us and the danger.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb195"></a><img alt="pb195.jpg (113K)" src="images/pb195.jpg" height="374" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb195.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>We traveled in safety down this depression to its mouth, and thence +by a gentle ascent approached the Court House. I was in advance, +followed by a sergeant carrying my battleflag. When I got within +about a hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's line, which was +immediately in front of the Court House, some of the Confederates +leveled their pieces at us, and I again halted. Their officers kept +their men from firing, however, but meanwhile a single-handed contest +had begun behind me, for on looking back I heard a Confederate +soldier demanding my battle-flag from the color-bearer, thinking, no +doubt, that we were coming in as prisoners. The sergeant had drawn +his sabre and was about to cut the man down, but at a word from me he +desisted and carried the flag back to my staff, his assailant quickly +realizing that the boot was on the other leg.</p> + +<p>These incidents determined me to remain where I was till the return +of a staff-officer whom I had sent over to demand an explanation from +the group of Confederates for which I had been heading. He came back +in a few minutes with apologies for what had occurred, and informed +me that General Gordon and General Wilcox were the superior officers +in the group. As they wished me to join them I rode up with my +staff, but we had hardly met when in front of Merritt firing began. +At the sound I turned to General Gordon, who seemed embarrassed by +the occurrence, and remarked: "General, your men fired on me as I was +coming over here, and undoubtedly they are treating Merritt and +Custer the same way. We might as well let them fight it out." He +replied, "There must be some mistake." I then asked, "Why not send a +staff-officer and have your people cease firing; they are violating +the flag." He answered, "I have no staff-officer to send." Whereupon +I said that I would let him have one of mine, and calling for +Lieutenant Vanderbilt Allen, I directed him to carry General Gordon's +orders to General Geary, commanding a small brigade of South Carolina +cavalry, to discontinue firing. Allen dashed off with the message +and soon delivered it, but was made a prisoner, Geary saying, "I do +not care for white flags: South Carolinians never surrender...." By +this time Merritt's patience being exhausted, he ordered an attack, +and this in short order put an end to General Geary's "last ditch" +absurdity, and extricated Allen from his predicament.</p> + +<p>When quiet was restored Gordon remarked: "General Lee asks for a +suspension of hostilities pending the negotiations which he is having +with General Grant." I rejoined: "I have been constantly informed of +the progress of the negotiations, and think it singular that while +such discussions are going on, General Lee should have continued his +march and attempted to break through my lines this morning. I will +entertain no terms except that General Lee shall surrender to General +Grant on his arrival here. If these terms are not accepted we will +renew hostilities." Gordon replied: "General Lee's army is +exhausted. There is no doubt of his surrender to General Grant."</p> + +<p>It was then that General Ord joined us, and after shaking hands all +around, I related the situation to him, and Gordon went away agreeing +to meet us again in half an hour. When the time was up he came back +accompanied by General Longstreet, who brought with him a despatch, +the duplicate of one that had been sent General Grant through General +Meade's lines back on the road over which Lee had been retreating.</p> + +<p>General Longstreet renewed the assurances that already had been given +by Gordon, and I sent Colonel Newhall with the despatch to find +General Grant and bring him to the front. When Newhall started, +everything on our side of the Appomattox Court House was quiet, for +inevitable surrender was at hand, but Longstreet feared that Meade, +in ignorance of the new conditions on my front might attack the +Confederate rearguard. To prevent this I offered to send Colonel J. +W. Forsyth through the enemy's lines to let Meade know of my +agreement, for he too was suspicious that by a renewed correspondence +Lee was endeavoring to gain time for escape. My offer being +accepted, Forsyth set out accompanied by Colonel Fairfax, of +Longstreet's staff, and had no difficulty in accomplishing his +mission.</p> + +<p>About five or six miles from Appomattox, on the road toward Prospect +Station near its intersection with the Walker's Church road, my +adjutant-general, Colonel Newhall, met General Grant, he having +started from north of the Appomattox River for my front the morning +of April 9, in consequence of the following despatches which had been +sent him the night before, after we had captured Appomattox Station +and established a line intercepting Lee:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, April 8, 1865—9:20 P. M. +<br> +<br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +<br>"Commanding Armies of the U. S. +<br> +<br>"General: I marched early this morning from Buffalo Creek and +Prospect Station on Appomattox Station, where my scouts had reported +trains of cars with supplies for Lee's army. A short time before +dark General Custer, who had the advance, made a dash at the station, +capturing four trains of supplies with locomotives. One of the +trains was burned and the others were run back toward Farmville for +security. Custer then pushed on toward Appomattox Court House, +driving the enemy—who kept up a heavy fire of artillery—charging +them repeatedly and capturing, as far as reported, twenty-five pieces +of artillery and a number of prisoners and wagons. The First Cavalry +Division supported him on the right. A reconnoissance sent across +the Appomattox reports the enemy moving on the Cumberland road to +Appomattox Station, where they expect to get supplies. Custer is +still pushing on. If General Gibbon and the Fifth Corps can get up +to-night, we will perhaps finish the job in the morning. I do not +think Lee means to surrender until compelled to do so. +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." +<br> +<br><br> + +<br>"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, April 8, 1865—9:40 p.m. +<br> +<br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. +<br>"Commanding Armies U. S. +<br> +<br>"GENERAL: Since writing the accompanying despatch, General Custer +reports that his command has captured in all thirty-five pieces of +artillery, one thousand prisoners—including one general officer—and +from one hundred and fifty to two hundred wagons. +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." +</blockquote> + +<p> +In attempting to conduct the lieutenant-general and staff back by a +short route, Newhall lost his bearings for a time, inclining in +toward the enemy's lines too far, but regained the proper direction +without serious loss of time. General Grant arrived about 1 o'clock +in the afternoon, Ord and I, dismounted, meeting him at the edge of +the town, or crossroads, for it was little more. He remaining +mounted, spoke first to me, saying simply,</p> + +<p>"How are you, Sheridan?" I assured him with thanks that I was +"first-rate," when, pointing toward the village, he asked, "Is +General Lee up there?" and I replied: "There is his army down in that +valley, and he himself is over in that house (designating McLean's +house) waiting to surrender to you." The General then said, "Come, +let us go over," this last remark being addressed to both Ord and me. +We two then mounted and joined him, while our staff-officers +followed, intermingling with those of the general-in-chief as the +cavalcade took its way to McLean's house near by, and where General +Lee had arrived some time before, in consequence of a message from +General Grant consenting to the interview asked for by Lee through +Meade's front that morning—the consent having been carried by +Colonel Babcock.</p> + +<p>When I entered McLean's house General Lee was standing, as was also +his military secretary, Colonel Marshall, his only staff-officer +present. General Lee was dressed in a new uniform and wore a +handsome sword. His tall, commanding form thus set off contrasted +strongly with the short figure of General Grant, clothed as he was in +a soiled suit, without sword or other insignia of his position except +a pair of dingy shoulder-straps. After being presented, Ord and I, +and nearly all of General Grant's staff, withdrew to await the +agreement as to terms, and in a little while Colonel Babcock came to +the door and said, "The surrender had been made; you can come in +again."</p> + +<p>When we re-entered General Grant was writing; and General Lee, having +in his hand two despatches, which I that morning requested might be +returned, as I had no copies of them, addressed me with the remark: +"I am sorry. It is probable that my cavalry at that point of the +line did not fully understand the agreement." These despatches had +been sent in the forenoon, after the fighting had been stopped, +notifying General Lee that some of his cavalry in front of Crook was +violating the suspension of hostilities by withdrawing. About +3 o'clock in the afternoon the terms of surrender were written out +and accepted, and General Lee left the house, as he departed +cordially shaking hands with General Grant. A moment later he +mounted his chunky gray horse, and lifting his hat as he passed out +of the yard, rode off toward his army, his arrival there being +announced to us by cheering, which, as it progressed, varying in +loudness, told he was riding through the bivouac of the Army of +Northern Virginia.</p> + +<p>The surrender of General Lee practically ended the war of the +rebellion. For four years his army had been the main-stay of the +Confederacy; and the marked ability with which he directed its +operations is evidenced both by his frequent successes and the length +of time he kept up the contest. Indeed, it may be said that till +General Grant was matched against him, he never met an opponent he +did not vanquish, for while it is true that defeat was inflicted on +the Confederates at Antietam and Gettysburg, yet the fruits of these +victories were not gathered, for after each of these battles Lee was +left unmolested till he had a chance to recuperate.</p> + +<p>The assignment of General Grant to the command of the Union armies in +the winter of 1863-64 gave presage of success from the start, for his +eminent abilities had already been proved, and besides, he was a +tower of strength to the Government, because he had the confidence of +the people. They knew that henceforth systematic direction would be +given to our armies in every section of the vast territory over which +active operations were being prosecuted, and further, that this +coherence, this harmony of plan, was the one thing needed to end the +war, for in the three preceding years there had been illustrated most +lamentable effects of the absence of system. From the moment he set +our armies in motion simultaneously, in the spring of 1864, it could +be seen that we should be victorious ultimately, for though on +different lines we were checked now and then, yet we were harassing +the Confederacy at so many vital points that plainly it must yield to +our blows. Against Lee's army, the forefront of the Confederacy, +Grant pitted himself; and it may be said that the Confederate +commander was now, for the first time, overmatched, for against all +his devices—the products of a mind fertile in defense—General Grant +brought to bear not only the wealth of expedient which had hitherto +distinguished him, but also an imperturbable tenacity, particularly +in the Wilderness and on the march to the James, without which the +almost insurmountable obstacles of that campaign could not have been +overcome. During it and in the siege of Petersburg he met with many +disappointments—on several occasions the shortcomings of generals, +when at the point of success, leading to wretched failures. But so +far as he was concerned, the only apparent effect of these +discomfitures was to make him all the more determined to discharge +successfully the stupendous trust committed to his care, and to bring +into play the manifold resources of his well ordered military mind. +He guided every subordinate then, and in the last days of the +rebellion, with a fund of common sense and superiority of intellect, +which have left an impress so distinct as to exhibit his great +personality. When his military history is analyzed after the lapse +of years, it will show, even more clearly than now, that during these +as well as in his previous campaigns he was the steadfast Centre +about and on which everything else turned.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch9b"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>ORDERED TO GREENSBORO', N. C.—MARCH TO THE DAN RIVER—ASSIGNED TO +THE COMMAND WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI—LEAVING WASHINGTON—FLIGHT OF +GENERAL EARLY—MAXIMILIAN—MAKING DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE UPPER RIO +GRANDE—CONFEDERATES JOIN MAXIMILIAN—THE FRENCH INVASION OF MEXICO +AND ITS RELATIONS TO THE REBELLION—ASSISTING THE +LIBERALS—RESTORATION OF THE REPUBLIC.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb207"></a><img alt="pb207.jpg (121K)" src="images/pb207.jpg" height="389" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb207.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>The surrender at Appomattox put a stop to all military operations on +the part of General Grant's forces, and the morning of April 10 my +cavalry began its march to Petersburg, the men anticipating that they +would soon be mustered out and returned to their homes. At Nottoway +Court House I heard of the assassination of the President. The first +news came to us the night after the dastardly deed, the telegraph +operator having taken it from the wires while in transmission to +General Meade. The despatch ran that Mr. Lincoln had been, shot at +10 o'clock that morning at Willard's Hotel, but as I could conceive +of nothing to take the President there I set the story down as a +canard, and went to bed without giving it further thought. Next +morning, however, an official telegram confirmed the fact of the +assassination, though eliminating the distorted circumstances that +had been communicated the night before.</p> + +<p>When we reached Petersburg my column was halted, and instructions +given me to march the cavalry and the Sixth Corps to Greensboro', +North Carolina, for the purpose of aiding General Sherman (the +surrender of General Johnston having not yet been effected), so I +made the necessary preparations and moved on the 24th of April, +arriving at South Boston, on the Dan River, the 28th, the Sixth Corps +having reached Danville meanwhile. At South Boston I received a +despatch from General Halleck, who immediately after Lee's surrender +had been assigned to command at Richmond, informing me that General +Johnston had been brought to terms. The necessity for going farther +south being thus obviated we retraced our steps to Petersburg, from +which place I proceeded by steamer to Washington, leaving, the +cavalry to be marched thither by easy stages.</p> + +<p>The day after my arrival in Washington an important order was sent +me, accompanied by the following letter of instructions, transferring +me to a new field of operations:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES. +<br>"Washington, D. C., May 17, 1865. +<br> +<br>"GENERAL: Under the orders relieving you from the command of the +Middle Military Division and assigning you to command west of the +Mississippi, you will proceed without delay to the West to arrange +all preliminaries for your new field of duties. +<br> +<br>"Your duty is to restore Texas, and that part of Louisiana held by +the enemy, to the Union in the shortest practicable time, in a way +most effectual for securing permanent peace. +<br> +<br>"To do this, you will be given all the troops that can be spared +by Major-General Canby, probably twenty-five thousand men of +all arms; the troops with Major-General J. J. Reynolds, in Arkansas, +say twelve thousand, Reynolds to command; the Fourth +Army Corps, now at Nashville, Tennessee, awaiting orders; and +the Twenty-Fifth Army Corps, now at City Point, Virginia, ready +to embark. +<br> +<br>"I do not wish to trammel you with instructions; I will state, +however, that if Smith holds out, without even an ostensible +government to receive orders from or to report to, he and his men are +not entitled to the considerations due to an acknowledged +belligerent. Theirs are the conditions of outlaws, making war +against the only Government having an existence over the territory +where war is now being waged. +<br> +<br>"You may notify the rebel commander west of the Mississippi—holding +intercourse with him in person, or through such officers of the rank +of major-general as you may select—that he will be allowed to +surrender all his forces on the same terms as were accorded to Lee +and Johnston. If he accedes, proceed to garrison the Red River as +high up as Shreveport, the seaboard at Galveston, Malagorda Bay, +Corpus Christi, and mouth of the Rio Grande. +<br> +<br>"Place a strong force on the Rio Grande, holding it at least to a +point opposite Camargo, and above that if supplies can be procured. +<br> +<br>"In case of an active campaign (a hostile one) I think a heavy force +should be put on the Rio Grande as a first preliminary. Troops for +this might be started at once. The Twenty-Fifth Corps is now +available, and to it should be added a force of white troops, say +those now under Major-General Steele. +<br> +<br>"To be clear on this last point, I think the Rio Grande should be +strongly held, whether the forces in Texas surrender or not, and that +no time should be lost in getting troops there. If war is to be +made, they will be in the right place; if Kirby Smith surrenders, +they will be on the line which is to be strongly garrisoned. +<br> +<br>"Should any force be necessary other than those designated, they can +be had by calling for them on Army Headquarters. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, +<br>"Lieutenant-General. +<br><br> +<br>"To MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br>"United States Army." +</blockquote> +<p> +On receipt of these instructions I called at once on General Grant, +to see if they were to be considered so pressing as to preclude my +remaining in Washington till after the Grand Review, which was fixed +for the 23d and 24th of May, for naturally I had a strong desire to +head my command on that great occasion. But the General told me that +it was absolutely necessary to go at once to force the surrender of +the Confederates under Kirby Smith. He also told me that the States +lately in rebellion would be embraced in two or three military +departments, the commanders of which would control civil affairs +until Congress took action about restoring them to the Union, since +that course would not only be economical and simple, but would give +the Southern people confidence, and encourage them to go to work, +instead of distracting them with politics.</p> + +<p>At this same interview he informed me that there was an additional +motive in sending me to the new command, a motive not explained by +the instructions themselves, and went on to say that, as a matter of +fact, he looked upon the invasion of Mexico by Maximilian as a part +of the rebellion itself, because of the encouragement that invasion +had received from the Confederacy, and that our success in putting +down secession would never be complete till the French and Austrian +invaders were compelled to quit the territory of our sister republic. +With regard to this matter, though, he said it would be necessary for +me to act with great circumspection, since the Secretary of State, +Mr. Seward, was much opposed to the use of our troops along the +border in any active way that would be likely to involve us in a war +with European powers.</p> + +<p>Under the circumstances, my disappointment at not being permitted to +participate in the review had to be submitted to, and I left +Washington without an opportunity of seeing again in a body the men +who, while under my command, had gone through so many trials and +unremittingly pursued and, assailed the enemy, from the beginning of +the campaign of 1864 till the white flag came into their hands at +Appomattox Court House.</p> + +<p>I went first to St. Louis, and there took the steamboat for New +Orleans, and when near the mouth of the Red River received word from +General Canby that Kirby Smith had surrendered under terms similar to +those accorded Lee and Johnston. But the surrender was not carried +out in good faith, particularly by the Texas troops, though this I +did not learn till some little time afterward when I was informed +that they had marched off to the interior of the State in several +organized bodies, carrying with them their camp equipage, arms, +ammunition, and even some artillery, with the ultimate purpose of +going to Mexico. In consequence of this, and also because of the +desire of the Government to make a strong showing of force in Texas, +I decided to traverse the State with two columns of cavalry, +directing one to San Antonio under Merritt, the other to Houston +under Custer. Both commands were to start from the Red +River—Shreveport and Alexandria—being the respective initial points—and +in organizing the columns, to the mounted force already on the Red +River were added several regiments of cavalry from the east bank of +the Mississippi, and in a singular way one of these fell upon the +trail of my old antagonist, General Early. While crossing the river +somewhere below Vicksburg some of the men noticed a suspicious +looking party being ferried over in a rowboat, behind which two +horses were swimming in tow. Chase was given, and the horses, being +abandoned by the party, fell into the hands of our troopers, who, +however, failed to capture or identify the people in the boat. As +subsequently ascertained, the men were companions of Early, who was +already across the Mississippi, hidden in the woods, on his way with +two or three of these followers to join the Confederates in Texas, +not having heard of Kirby Smith's surrender. A week or two later I +received a letter from Early describing the affair, and the capture +of the horses, for which he claimed pay, on the ground that they were +private property, because he had taken them in battle. The letter +also said that any further pursuit of Early would be useless, as he +"expected to be on the deep blue sea" by the time his communication +reached me. The unfortunate man was fleeing from imaginary dangers, +however, for striking his trail was purely accidental, and no effort +whatever was being made to arrest him personally. Had this been +especially desired it might have been accomplished very readily just +after Lee's surrender, for it was an open secret that Early was then +not far away, pretty badly disabled with rheumatism.</p> + +<p>By the time the two columns were ready to set out for San Antonio and +Houston, General Frank Herron,—with one division of the Thirteenth +Corps, occupied Galveston, and another division under General Fred +Steele had gone to Brazos Santiago, to hold Brownsville and the line +of the Rio Grande, the object being to prevent, as far as possible, +the escaping Confederates from joining Maximilian. With this purpose +in view, and not forgetting Grant's conviction that the French +invasion of Mexico was linked with the rebellion, I asked for an +increase of force to send troops into Texas in fact, to concentrate +at available points in the State an army strong enough to move +against the invaders of Mexico if occasion demanded. The Fourth and +Twenty-fifth army corps being ordered to report to me, accordingly, I +sent the Fourth Corps to Victoria and San Antonio, and the bulk of +the Twenty-fifth to Brownsville. Then came the feeding and caring +for all these troops—a difficult matter—for those at Victoria and +San Antonio had to be provisioned overland from Indianola across the +"hog-wallow prairie," while the supplies for the forces at +Brownsville and along the Rio Grande must come by way of Brazos +Santiago, from which point I was obliged to construct, with the labor +of the men, a railroad to Clarksville, a distance of about eighteen +miles.</p> + +<p>The latter part of June I repaired to Brownsville myself to impress +the Imperialists, as much as possible, with the idea that we intended +hostilities, and took along my chief of scouts—Major Young—and four +of his most trusty men, whom I had had sent from Washington. From +Brownsville I despatched all these men to important points in +northern Mexico, to glean information regarding the movements of the +Imperial forces, and also to gather intelligence about the +ex-Confederates who had crossed the Rio Grande. On information +furnished by these scouts, I caused General Steele to make +demonstrations all along the lower Rio Grande, and at the same time +demanded the return of certain munitions of war that had been turned +over by ex-Confederates to the Imperial General (Mejia) commanding at +Matamoras. These demands, backed up as they were by such a +formidable show of force created much agitation and demoralization +among the Imperial troops, and measures looking to the abandonment of +northern Mexico were forthwith adopted by those in authority—a +policy that would have resulted in the speedy evacuation of the +entire country by Maximilian, had not our Government weakened; +contenting itself with a few pieces of the contraband artillery +varnished over with the Imperial apologies. A golden opportunity was +lost, for we had ample excuse for crossing the boundary, but Mr. +Seward being, as I have already stated, unalterably opposed to any +act likely to involve us in war, insisted on his course of +negotiation with Napoleon.</p> + +<p>As the summer wore away, Maximilian, under Mr. Seward's policy, +gained in strength till finally all the accessible sections of Mexico +were in his possession, and the Republic under President Juarez +almost succumbed. Growing impatient at this, in the latter part of +September I decided to try again what virtue there might be in a +hostile demonstration, and selected the upper Rio Grande for the +scene of my attempt. Merritt's cavalry and the Fourth Corps still +being at San Antonio, I went to that place and reviewed these troops, +and having prepared them with some ostentation for a campaign, of +course it was bruited about that we were going to invade Mexico. +Then, escorted by a regiment of horse I proceeded hastily to Fort +Duncan, on the Rio Grande just opposite the Mexican town of Piedras +Negras. Here I opened communication with President Juarez, through +one of his staff, taking care not to do this in the dark, and the +news, spreading like wildfire, the greatest significance was ascribed +to my action, it being reported most positively and with many +specific details that I was only awaiting the arrival of the troops, +then under marching orders at San Antonio, to cross the Rio Grande in +behalf of the Liberal cause.</p> + +<p>Ample corroboration of the reports then circulated was found in my +inquiries regarding the quantity of forage we could depend upon +getting in Mexico, our arrangements for its purchase, and my sending +a pontoon train to Brownsville, together with which was cited the +renewed activity of the troops along the lower Rio Grande. These +reports and demonstrations resulted in alarming the Imperialists so +much that they withdrew the French and Austrian soldiers from +Matamoras, and practically abandoned the whole of northern Mexico as +far down as Monterey, with the exception of Matamoras, where General +Mejia continued to hang on with a garrison of renegade Mexicans.</p> + +<p>The abandonment of so much territory in northern Mexico encouraged +General Escobedo and other Liberal leaders to such a degree that they +collected a considerable army of their followers at Comargo, Mier, +and other points. At the same time that unknown quantity, Cortinas, +suspended his free-booting for the nonce, and stoutly harassing +Matamoras, succeeded in keeping its Imperial garrison within the +fortifications. Thus countenanced and stimulated, and largely +supplied with arms and ammunition, which we left at convenient places +on our side of the river to fall into their hands, the Liberals, +under General Escobedo—a man of much force of character—were +enabled in northern Mexico to place the affairs of the Republic on a +substantial basis.</p> + +<p>But in the midst of what bade fair to cause a final withdrawal of the +foreigners, we were again checked by our Government, as a result of +representations of the French Minister at Washington. In October, he +wrote to Mr. Seward that the United States troops on the Rio Grande +were acting "in exact opposition to the repeated assurances Your +Excellency has given me concerning the desire of the Cabinet at +Washington to preserve the most strict neutrality in the events now +taking place in Mexico," and followed this statement with an emphatic +protest against our course. Without any investigation whatever by +our State Department, this letter of the French Minister was +transmitted to me, accompanied by directions to preserve a strict +neutrality; so, of course, we were again debarred from anything like +active sympathy.</p> + +<p>After this, it required the patience of Job to abide the slow and +poky methods of our State Department, and, in truth, it was often +very difficult to restrain officers and men from crossing the Rio +Grande with hostile purpose. Within the knowledge of my troops, +there had gone on formerly the transfer of organized bodies of +ex-Confederates to Mexico, in aid of the Imperialists, and at this +period it was known that there was in preparation an immigration +scheme having in view the colonizing, at Cordova and one or two other +places, of all the discontented elements of the defunct +Confederacy—Generals Price, Magruder, Maury, and other high personages being +promoters of the enterprise, which Maximilian took to readily. He +saw in it the possibilities of a staunch support to his throne, and +therefore not only sanctioned the project, but encouraged it with +large grants of land, inspirited the promoters with titles of +nobility, and, in addition, instituted a system of peonage, expecting +that the silver hook thus baited would be largely swallowed by the +Southern people.</p> + +<p>The announcement of the scheme was followed by the appointment of +commissioners in each of the Southern States to send out emigrants; +but before any were deluded into starting, I made to General Grant a +report of what was going on, with the recommendation that measures be +taken, through our State Department, looking to the suppression of +the colony; but, as usual, nothing could be effected through that +channel; so, as an alternative, I published, in April, 1866, by +authority of General Grant, an order prohibiting the embarkation from +ports in Louisiana and Texas, for ports in Mexico, of any person +without a permit from my headquarters. This dampened the ardor of +everybody in the Gulf States who had planned to go to Mexico; and +although the projectors of the Cordova Colonization Scheme—the name +by which it was known—secured a few innocents from other districts, +yet this set-back led ultimately to failure.</p> + +<p>Among the Liberal leaders along the Rio Grande during this period +there sprang up many factional differences from various causes, some +personal, others political, and some, I regret to say, from downright +moral obliquity—as, for example, those between Cortinas and +Canales—who, though generally hostile to the Imperialists, were freebooters +enough to take a shy at each other frequently, and now and then even +to join forces against Escobedo, unless we prevented them by coaxing +or threats. A general who could unite these several factions was +therefore greatly needed, and on my return to New Orleans I so +telegraphed General Grant, and he, thinking General Caravajal (then +in Washington seeking aid for the Republic) would answer the purpose, +persuaded him to report to me in New Orleans. Caravajal promptly +appeared, but he did not impress me very favorably. He was old and +cranky, yet, as he seemed anxious to do his best, I sent him over to +Brownsville, with credentials, authorizing him to cross into Mexico, +and followed him myself by the next boat. When I arrived in +Brownsville, matters in Matamoras had already reached a crisis. +General Mejia, feeling keenly the moral support we were giving the +Liberals, and hard pressed by the harassing attacks of Cortinas and +Canales, had abandoned the place, and Caravajal, because of his +credentials from our side, was in command, much to the +dissatisfaction of both those chiefs whose differences it was +intended he should reconcile.</p> + +<p>The day after I got to Brownsville I visited Matamoras, and had a +long interview with Caravajal. The outcome of this meeting was, on +my part, a stronger conviction than ever that he was unsuitable, and +I feared that either Canales or Cortinas would get possession of the +city. Caravajal made too many professions of what he would do—in +short, bragged too much—but as there was no help for the situation, +I made the best of it by trying to smooth down the ruffled feathers +of Canales and Cortinas. In my interview with Caravajal I +recommended Major Young as a confidential man, whom he could rely +upon as a "go-between" for communicating with our people at +Brownsville, and whom he could trust to keep him informed of the +affairs of his own country as well.</p> + +<p>A day or two afterward I recrossed the Gulf to New Orleans, and then, +being called from my headquarters to the interior of Texas, a +fortnight passed before I heard anything from Brownsville. In the +meanwhile Major Young had come to New Orleans, and organized there a +band of men to act as a body-guard for Caravajal, the old wretch +having induced him to accept the proposition by representing that it +had my concurrence. I at once condemned the whole business, but +Young, having been furnished with seven thousand dollars to recruit +the men and buy their arms, had already secured both, and was so +deeply involved in the transaction, he said, that he could not +withdraw without dishonor, and with tears in his eyes he besought me +to help him. He told me he had entered upon the adventure in the +firm belief that I would countenance it; that the men and their +equipment were on his hands; that he must make good his word at all +hazards; and that while I need not approve, yet I must go far enough +to consent to the departure of the men, and to loan him the money +necessary to provision his party and hire a schooner to carry them to +Brazos. It was hard in deed to resist the appeals of this man, who +had served me so long and so well, and the result of his pleading was +that I gave him permission to sail, and also loaned him the sum asked +for; but I have never ceased to regret my consent, for misfortune +fell upon the enterprise almost from its inception.</p> + +<p>By the time the party got across the Gulf and over to Brownsville, +Caravajal had been deposed by Canales, and the latter would not +accept their services. This left Young with about fifty men to whom +he was accountable, and as he had no money to procure them +subsistence, they were in a bad fix. The only thing left to do was +to tender their services to General Escobedo, and with this in view +the party set out to reach the General's camp, marching up the Rio +Grande on the American side, intending to cross near Ringgold Bar +racks. In advance of them, however, had spread far and wide the +tidings of who they were, what they proposed to do, and where they +were going, and before they could cross into Mexico they were +attacked by a party of ex-Confederates and renegade Mexican +rancheros. Being on American soil, Young forbade his men to return +the fire, and bent all his efforts to getting them over the river; +but in this attempt they were broken up, and became completely +demoralized. A number of the men were drowned while swimming the +river, Young himself was shot and killed, a few were captured, and +those who escaped—about twenty in all—finally joined Escobedo, but +in such a plight as to be of little use. With this distressing +affair came to an end pretty much all open participation of American +sympathizers with the Liberal cause, but the moral support afforded +by the presence of our forces continued, and this was frequently +supplemented with material aid in the shape of munitions of war, +which we liberally supplied, though constrained to do so by the most +secret methods.</p> + +<p>The term of office of Juarez as President of the Mexican Republic +expired in December, 1865, but to meet existing exigencies he had +continued himself in office by proclamation, a course rendered +necessary by the fact that no elections could be held on account of +the Imperial occupation of most of the country. The official who, by +the Mexican Constitution, is designated for the succession in such an +emergency, is the President of the Supreme Court, and the person then +eligible under this provision was General Ortega, but in the interest +of the Imperialists he had absented himself from Mexico, hence the +patriotic course of Juarez in continuing himself at the head of +affairs was a necessity of the situation. This action of the +President gave the Imperialists little concern at first, but with the +revival of the Liberal cause they availed themselves of every means +to divide its supporters, and Ortega, who had been lying low in the +United States, now came forward to claim the Presidency. Though +ridiculously late for such a step, his first act was to issue a +manifesto protesting against the assumption of the executive +authority by Juarez. The protest had little effect, however, and his +next proceeding was to come to New Orleans, get into correspondence +with other disaffected Mexicans, and thus perfect his plans. When he +thought his intrigue ripe enough for action, he sailed for Brazos, +intending to cross the Rio Grande and assert his claims with arms. +While he was scheming in New Orleans, however, I had learned what he +was up to, and in advance of his departure had sent instructions to +have him arrested on American soil. Colonel Sedgwick, commanding at +Brownsville, was now temporary master of Matamoras also, by reason of +having stationed some American troops there for the protection of +neutral merchants, so when Ortega appeared at Brazos, Sedgwick +quietly arrested him and held him till the city of Matamoras was +turned over to General Escobedo, the authorized representative of +Juarez; then Escobedo took charge, of Ortega, and with ease prevented +his further machinations.</p> + +<p>During the winter and spring of 1866 we continued covertly supplying +arms and ammunition to the Liberals—sending as many as 30,000 +muskets from Baton Rouge Arsenal alone—and by mid-summer Juarez, +having organized a pretty good sized army, was in possession of the +whole line of the Rio Grande, and, in fact, of nearly the whole of +Mexico down to San Louis Potosi. Then thick and fast came rumors +pointing to the tottering condition of Maximilian's Empire-first, +that Orizaba and Vera Cruz were being fortified; then, that the +French were to be withdrawn; and later came the intelligence that the +Empress Carlotta had gone home to beg assistance from Napoleon, the +author of all of her husband's troubles. But the situation forced +Napoleon to turn a deaf ear to Carlotta's prayers. The brokenhearted +woman besought him on her knees, but his fear of losing an army made +all pleadings vain. In fact, as I ascertained by the following +cablegram which came into my hands, Napoleon's instructions for the +French evacuation were in Mexico at the very time of this pathetic +scene between him and Carlotta. The despatch was in cipher when I +received it, but was translated by the telegraph operator at my +headquarters, who long before had mastered the key of the French +cipher:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"PARIS, January 10, 1867. FRENCH CONSUL, New Orleans, La. +<br> +<br>"To GENERAL CASTELNAU, at Mexico. +<br> +<br>"Received your despatch of the 9th December. Do not compel the +Emperor to abdicate, but do not delay the departure of the troops; +bring back all those who will not remain there. Most of the fleet +has left. +<br> +<br>"NAPOLEON." +</blockquote> +<p> +This meant the immediate withdrawal of the French. The rest of the +story—which has necessarily been but in outline—is soon told. +Maximilian, though deserted, determined to hold out to the last, and +with the aid of disloyal Mexicans stuck to his cause till the spring. +When taken prisoner at Queretaro, he was tried and executed under +circumstances that are well known. From promptings of humanity +Secretary Seward tried hard to save the Imperial prisoner, but +without success. The Secretary's plea for mercy was sent through me +at New Orleans, and to make speed I hired a steamer to proceed with +it across the Gulf to Tampico. The document was carried by Sergeant +White, one of my scouts, who crossed the country from Tampico, and +delivered it to Escobedo at Queretaro; but Mr. Seward's +representations were without avail—refused probably because little +mercy had been shown certain Liberal leaders unfortunate enough to +fall into Maximilian's hands during the prosperous days of his +Empire.</p> + +<p>At the close of our war there was little hope for the Republic of +Mexico. Indeed, till our troops were concentrated on the Rio Grande +there was none. Our appearance in such force along the border +permitted the Liberal leaders, refugees from their homes, to +establish rendezvous whence they could promulgate their plans in +safety, while the countenance thus given the cause, when hope was +well-nigh gone, incited the Mexican people to renewed resistance. +Beginning again with very scant means, for they had lost about all, +the Liberals saw their cause, under the influence of such significant +and powerful backing, progress and steadily grow so strong that +within two years Imperialism had received its death-blow. I doubt +very much whether such, results could have been achieved without the +presence of an American army on the Rio Grande, which, be it +remembered, was sent there because, in General Grant's words, the +French invasion of Mexico was so closely related to the rebellion as +to be essentially a part of it.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="belle-grove"></a><img alt="pb225.jpg (120K)" src="images/pb225.jpg" height="432" width="650"> +<br>Belle-Grove House +</center> +<a href="images/pb225.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch10b"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>A. J. HAMILTON APPOINTED PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF TEXAS—ASSEMBLES A +CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION—THE TEXANS +DISSATISFIED—LAWLESSNESS—OPPRESSIVE LEGISLATION—EX-CONFEDERATES CONTROLLING +LOUISIANA—A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION—THE MEETING SUPPRESSED—A BLOODY RIOT—MY +REPORTS OF THE MASSACRE—PORTIONS SUPPRESSED BY PRESIDENT +JOHNSON—SUSTAINED BY A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE—THE RECONSTRUCTION LAWS.</p> + +<p>Although in 1865-66 much of my attention was directed to +international matters along the Rio Grande, the civil affairs of +Texas and Louisiana required a certain amount of military supervision +also in the absence of regularly established civil authority. At the +time of Kirby Smith's surrender the National Government had +formulated no plan with regard to these or the other States lately in +rebellion, though a provisional Government had been set up in +Louisiana as early as 1864. In consequence of this lack of system, +Governor Pendleton Murray, of Texas, who was elected under +Confederate rule, continued to discharge the duties of Governor till +President Johnson, on June 17, in harmony with his amnesty +proclamation of May 29, 1865, appointed A. J. Hamilton provisional +Governor. Hamilton was empowered by the President to call a +Constitutional convention, the delegates to which were to be elected, +under certain prescribed qualifications, for the purpose of +organizing the political affairs of the State, the Governor to be +guided by instructions similar to those given the provisional +Governor of North Carolina (W. W. Holden), when appointed in May.</p> + +<p>The convening of this body gave rise to much dissatisfaction among +the people of Texas. They had assumed that affairs were to go on as +of old, and that the reintegration of the State was to take place +under the administration of Governor Murray, who, meanwhile, had +taken it upon himself, together with the Legislature, to authorize +the election of delegates to a State Convention, without restriction +as to who should be entitled to vote. Thus encouraged, the element +but lately in armed rebellion was now fully bent on restoring the +State to the Union without any intervention whatever of the Federal +Government; but the advent of Hamilton put an end to such illusions, +since his proclamation promptly disfranchised the element in +question, whose consequent disappointment and chagrin were so great +as to render this factor of the community almost uncontrollable. The +provisional Governor at once rescinded the edict of Governor Murray, +prohibited the assembling of his convention, and shortly after +called, one himself, the delegates to which were to b chosen by +voters who could take the amnesty-oath. The proclamation convening +this assemblage also announced the policy that would be pursued in +governing the State until its affairs were satisfactorily +reorganized, defined in brief the course to be followed by the +Judiciary, and provided for the appointment, by the Governor, of +county officials to succeed those known to be disloyal. As this +action of Hamilton's disfranchised all who could not take the amnesty +oath, and of course deprived them of the offices, it met at once with +pronounced and serious opposition, and he quickly realized that he +had on his hands an arduous task to protect the colored people, +particularly as in the transition state of society just after the +close of the war there prevailed much lawlessness, which vented +itself chiefly on the freedmen. It was greatly feared that political +rights were to be given those so recently in servitude, and as it was +generally believed that such enfranchisement would precipitate a race +war unless the freedmen were overawed and kept in a state of +subjection, acts of intimidation were soon reported from all parts of +the State.</p> + +<p>Hamilton, an able, determined, and fearless man, tried hard to curb +this terrorism, but public opinion being strong against him, he could +accomplish little without military aid. As department commander, I +was required, whenever called upon, to assist his government, and as +these requisitions for help became necessarily very frequent, the +result was that shortly after he assumed his duties, detachments of +troops were stationed in nearly every county of the State. By such +disposition of my forces fairly good order was maintained under the +administration of Hamilton, and all went well till the inauguration +of J. W. Throckmorton, who, elected Governor in pursuance of an +authorization granted by the convention which Hamilton had called +together, assumed the duties of the office August 9, 1866.</p> + +<p>One of Governor Throckmorton's first acts was to ask the withdrawal +or non-interference of the military. This was not all granted, but +under his ingenious persuasion President Johnson, on the 13th of +August, 1866, directed that the new State officials be entrusted with +the unhampered control of civil affairs, and this was more than +enough to revive the bulldozing methods that had characterized the +beginning of Hamilton's administration. Oppressive legislation in +the shape of certain apprentice and vagrant laws quickly followed, +developing a policy of gross injustice toward the colored people on +the part of the courts, and a reign of lawlessness and disorder +ensued which, throughout the remote districts of the State at least, +continued till Congress, by what are known as the Reconstruction +Acts, took into its own hands the rehabilitation of the seceded +States.</p> + +<p>In the State of Louisiana a provisional government, chosen by the +loyal element, had been put in operation, as already mentioned, as +early as 1864. This was effected under encouragement given by +President Lincoln, through the medium of a Constitutional convention, +which met at New Orleans in April, 1864, and adjourned in July. The +constitution then agreed upon was submitted to the people, and in +September, 1864, was ratified by a vote of the few loyal residents of +the State.</p> + +<p>The government provided under this constitution being looked upon as +provisional merely, was never recognized by Congress, and in 1865 the +returned Confederates, restored to citizenship by the President's +amnesty proclamation, soon got control of almost all the State. The +Legislature was in their hands, as well as most of the State and +municipal offices; so, when the President, on the 20th of August, +1866, by proclamation, extended his previous instructions regarding +civil affairs in Texas so as to have them apply to all the seceded +States, there at once began in Louisiana a system of discriminative +legislation directed against the freedmen, that led to flagrant +wrongs in the enforcement of labor contracts, and in the remote +parishes to numbers of outrages and murders.</p> + +<p>To remedy this deplorable condition of things, it was proposed, by +those who had established the government of 1864, to remodel the +constitution of the State; and they sought to do this by reassembling +the convention, that body before its adjournment having provided for +reconvening under certain conditions, in obedience to the call of its +president. Therefore, early in the summer of 1866, many members of +this convention met in conference at New Orleans, and decided that a +necessity existed for reconvening the delegates, and a proclamation +was issued accordingly by B. K. Howell, President-pro-tempore.</p> + +<p>Mayor John T. Monroe and the other officials of New Orleans looked +upon this proposed action as revolutionary, and by the time the +convention assembled (July 30), such bitterness of feeling prevailed +that efforts were made by the mayor and city police to suppress the +meeting. A bloody riot followed, resulting, in the killing and +wounding of about a hundred and sixty persons.</p> + +<p>I happened to be absent from the city at the time, returning from +Texas, where I had been called by affairs on the Rio Grande. On my +way up from the mouth of the Mississippi I was met on the night of +July 30 by one of my staff, who reported what had occurred, giving +the details of the massacre—no milder term is fitting—and informing +me that, to prevent further slaughter, General Baird, the senior +military officer present, had assumed control of the municipal +government. On reaching the city I made an investigation, and that +night sent the following report of the affair:</p> + + +<br>"HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE GULF, +<br>"NEW ORLEANS, LA., Aug. 1, 1866. +<br> +<br>"GENERAL U. S. GRANT: +<br> +<br>"You are doubtless aware of the serious riot which occurred in this +city on the 30th. A political body, styling themselves the +Convention of 1864, met on the 30th, for, as it is alleged, the +purpose of remodeling the present constitution of the State. The +leaders were political agitators and revolutionary men, and the +action of the convention was liable to produce breaches of the public +peace. I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the +proceedings of the convention were calculated to disturb the +tranquility of the Department; but I had no cause for action until +they committed the overt act. In the meantime official duty called +me to Texas, and the mayor of the city, during my absence suppressed +the convention by the use of the police force, and in so doing +attacked the members of the convention, and a party of two hundred +negroes, with fire-arms, clubs, and knives, in a manner so +unnecessary and atrocious as to compel me to say that it was murder. +About forty whites and blacks were thus killed, and about one hundred +and sixty wounded. Everything is now quiet, but I deem it best to +maintain a military supremacy in the city for a few days, until the +affair is fully investigated. I believe the sentiment of the general +community is great regret at this unnecessary cruelty, and that the +police could have made any arrest they saw fit without sacrificing +lives. +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br>"Major-General Commanding." + + + +<p> +On receiving the telegram, General Grant immediately submitted it +to the President. Much clamor being made at the North for the +publication of the despatch, Mr. Johnson pretended to give it to the +newspapers. It appeared in the issues of August 4, but with this +paragraph omitted, viz.:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the proceedings of +the convention were calculated to disturb the tranquility of the +Department, but I had no cause for action until they committed the +overt act. In the mean time official duty called me to Texas, and +the mayor of the city, during my absence, suppressed the convention +by the use of the police force, and in so doing attacked the members +of the convention, and a party of two hundred negroes, with +fire-arms, clubs, and knives, in a manner so unnecessary and atrocious as +to compel me to say it was murder." +</blockquote> + + +<p>Against this garbling of my report—done by the President's own +order—I strongly demurred; and this emphatic protest marks the beginning of +Mr. Johnson's well-known personal hostility toward me. In the mean +time I received (on August 3) the following despatch from General +Grant approving my course:</p> + + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +<br>"WAR DEPT., WASHINGTON, D. C., "August 3, 1866—5 p.m. +<br> +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br>"Commanding Mil. Div. of the Gulf, +<br>"New Orleans, La. +<br> +<br>"Continue to enforce martial law, so far as may be necessary to +preserve the peace; and do not allow any of the civil authorities to +act, if you deem such action dangerous to the public safety. Lose no +time in investigating and reporting the causes that led to the riot, +and the facts which occurred. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT, +<br>"Lieutenant-General." +</blockquote> + +<p> +In obedience to the President's directions, My report of August 1 was +followed by another, more in detail, which I give in full, since it +tells the whole story of the riot:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE GULF, +<br>"NEW ORLEANS, LA., August 6, 1866. +<br> +<br>"His EXCELLENCY ANDREW JOHNSON, +<br>"President United States +<br> +<br>"I have the honor to make the following reply to your despatch of +August 4. A very large number of colored people marched in +procession on Friday night, July twenty-seven (27), and were +addressed from the steps of the City Hall by Dr. Dostie, ex-Governor +Hahn, and others. The speech of Dostie was intemperate in language +and sentiment. The speeches of the others, so far as I can learn, +were characterized by moderation. I have not given you the words of +Dostie's speech, as the version published was denied; but from what I +have learned of the man, I believe they were intemperate. +<br> +<br>"The convention assembled at twelve (12)M. on the thirtieth (30), +the timid members absenting themselves because the tone of the +general public was ominous of trouble. I think there were about +twenty-six (26) members present. In front of the Mechanics +Institute, where the meeting was held, there were assembled some +colored men, women, and children, perhaps eighteen (18) or twenty +(20), and in the Institute a number of colored men, probably one +hundred and fifty (150). Among those outside and inside there might +have been a pistol in the possession of every tenth (10) man. +<br> +<br>"About one (1) p. m. a procession of say from sixty (60) to one +hundred and thirty (130) colored men marched up Burgundy Street and +across Canal Street toward the convention, carrying an American flag. +These men had about one pistol to every ten men, and canes and clubs +in addition. While crossing Canal Street a row occurred. There were +many spectators on the street, and their manner and tone toward the +procession unfriendly. A shot was fired, by whom I am not able to +state, but believe it to have been by a policeman, or some colored +man in the procession. This led to other shots and a rush after the +procession. On arrival at the front of the Institute there was some +throwing of brickbats by both sides. The police, who had been held +well in hand, were vigorously marched to the scene of disorder. The +procession entered the Institute with the flag, about six (6) or +eight (8) remaining outside. A row occurred between a policeman and +one of these colored men, and a shot was again fired by one of the +parties, which led to an indiscriminate fire on the building through +the windows by the policemen. This had been going on for a short +time, when a white flag was displayed from the windows of the +Institute, whereupon the firing ceased, and the police rushed into +the building. +<br> +<br>"From the testimony of wounded men, and others who were inside the +building, the policemen opened an indiscriminate fire upon the +audience until they had emptied their revolvers, when they retired, +and those inside barricaded the doors. The door was broken in, and +the firing again commenced, when many of the colored and white people +either escaped throughout the door or were passed out by the +policemen inside; but as they came out the policemen who formed the +circle nearest the building fired upon them, and they were again +fired upon by the citizens that formed the outer circle. Many of +those wounded and taken prisoners, and others who were prisoners and +not wounded, were fired upon by their captors and by citizens. The +wounded were stabbed while lying on the ground, and their heads +beaten with brickbats. In the yard of the building, whither some of +the colored men had escaped and partially secreted themselves, they +were fired upon and killed or wounded by policemen. Some were killed +and wounded several squares from the scene. Members of the +convention were wounded by the police while in their hands as +prisoners, some of them mortally. +<br> +<br>"The immediate cause of this terrible affair was the assemblage of +this Convention; the remote cause was the bitter and antagonistic +feeling which has been growing in this community since the advent of +the present Mayor, who, in the organization of his police force, +selected many desperate men, and some of them known murderers. +People of clear views were overawed by want of confidence in the +Mayor, and fear of the thugs, many of which he had selected for his +police force. I have frequently been spoken to by prominent citizens +on this subject, and have heard them express fear, and want of +confidence in Mayor Monroe. Ever since the intimation of this last +convention movement I must condemn the course of several of the city +papers for supporting, by their articles, the bitter feeling of bad +men. As to the merciless manner in which the convention was broken +up, I feel obliged to confess strong repugnance. +<br> +<br>"It is useless to disguise the hostility that exists on the part of a +great many here toward Northern men, and this unfortunate affair has +so precipitated matters that there is now a test of what shall be the +status of Northern men—whether they can live here without being in +constant dread or not, whether they can be protected in life and +property, and have justice in the courts. If this matter is +permitted to pass over without a thorough and determined prosecution +of those engaged in it, we may look out for frequent scenes of the +same kind, not only here, but in other places. No steps have as yet +been taken by the civil authorities to arrest citizens who were +engaged in this massacre, or policemen who perpetrated such +cruelties. The members of the convention have been indicted by the +grand jury, and many of them arrested and held to bail. As to +whether the civil authorities can mete out ample justice to the +guilty parties on both sides, I must say it is my opinion, +unequivocally, that they cannot. Judge Abell, whose course I have +closely watched for nearly a year, I now consider one of the most +dangerous men that we have here to the peace and quiet of the city. +The leading men of the convention—King, Cutler, Hahn, and +others—have been political agitators, and are bad men. I regret to say that +the course of Governor Wells has been vacillating, and that during +the late trouble he has shown very little of the man. +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br>"Major-General Commanding." +</blockquote> + + +<p> +Subsequently a military commission investigated the subject of the +riot, taking a great deal of testimony. The commission substantially +confirmed the conclusions given in my despatches, and still later +there was an investigation by a select committee of the House of +Representatives, of which the Honorables Samuel Shellabarger, of +Ohio, H. L. Elliot, of Massachusetts, and B. M. Boyer, of +Pennsylvania, were the members. The majority report of the committee +also corroborated, in all essentials, my reports of the distressing +occurrence. The committee likewise called attention to a violent +speech made by Mr. Johnson at St. Louis in September, 1866, charging +the origin of the riot to Congress, and went on to say of the speech +that "it was an unwarranted and unjust expression of hostile feeling, +without pretext or foundation in fact." A list of the killed and +wounded was embraced in the committee's report, and among other +conclusions reached were the following: "That the meeting of July 30 +was a meeting of quiet citizens, who came together without arms and +with intent peaceably to discuss questions of public concern.... +There has been no occasion during our National history when a riot +has occurred so destitute of justifiable cause, resulting in a +massacre so inhuman and fiend-like, as that which took place at New +Orleans on the 30th of July last. This riotous attack upon the +convention, with its terrible results of massacre and murder, was not +an accident. It was the determined purpose of the mayor of the city +of New Orleans to break up this convention by armed force."</p> + +<p>The statement is also made, that, "He [the President] knew that +'rebels' and 'thugs' and disloyal men had controlled the election of +Mayor Monroe, and that such men composed chiefly his police force."</p> + +<p>The committee held that no legal government existed in Louisiana, and +recommended the temporary establishment of a provisional government +therein; the report concluding that "in the meantime the safety of +all Union men within the State demands that such government be formed +for their protection, for the well being of the nation and the +permanent peace of the Republic."</p> + +<p>The New Orleans riot agitated the whole country, and the official and +other reports served to intensify and concentrate the opposition to +President Johnson's policy of reconstruction, a policy resting +exclusively on and inspired solely by the executive authority—for it +was made plain, by his language and his acts, that he was seeking to +rehabilitate the seceded States under conditions differing not a whit +from those existing before the rebellion; that is to say, without the +slightest constitutional provision regarding the status of the +emancipated slaves, and with no assurances of protection for men who +had remained loyal in the war.</p> + +<p>In December, 1866, Congress took hold of the subject with such vigor +as to promise relief from all these perplexing disorders, and, after +much investigation and a great deal of debate, there resulted the +so-called "Reconstruction Laws," which, for a clear understanding of the +powers conferred on the military commanders, I deem best to append in +full:</p> + +<p>AN ACT to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel +States.</p> + +<p>WHEREAS, no legal State governments or adequate protection for life +or property now exist in the rebel States of Virginia, North +Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, +Florida, Texas, and Arkansas; and whereas, it is necessary that peace +and good order should be enforced in said States until loyal and +republican State governments can be legally established; therefore,</p> + +<p>BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled, That said rebel +States shall be divided into military districts and made subject to +the military authority of the United States as hereinafter +prescribed; and for that purpose Virginia shall constitute the first +district; North Carolina and South Carolina, the second district; +Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, the third district; Mississippi and +Arkansas, the fourth district; and Louisiana and Texas, the fifth +district.</p> + +<p>SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the +President to assign to the command of each of said districts an +officer of the army not below the rank of brigadier-general, and to +detail a sufficient military force to enable such officer to perform +his duties and enforce his authority within the district to which he +is assigned.</p> + +<p>SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of each +officer assigned as aforesaid to protect all persons in their rights +of person and property, to suppress insurrection, disorder, and +violence, and to punish, or cause to be punished, all disturbers of +the public peace and criminals, and to this end he may allow local +civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of and to try offenders, or, +when in his judgment it may be necessary for the trial of offenders, +he shall have power to organize military commissions or tribunals for +that purpose, and all interference, under cover of State authority, +with the exercise of military authority under this act, shall be null +and void.</p> + +<p>SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That all persons put under +military arrest by virtue of this act shall be tried without +unnecessary delay, and no cruel or unjust punishment shall be +inflicted; and no sentence of any military commission or tribunal +hereby authorized affecting the life or liberty of any person, shall +be executed until it is approved by the officer in command of the +district; and the laws and regulations for the government of the army +shall not be affected by this act except in so far as they conflict +with its provisions: Provided, That no sentence of death, under the +provisions of this act, shall be carried into effect without the +approval of the President.</p> + +<p>SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That when the people of any one of +said rebel States shall have formed a constitution of government in +conformity with the Constitution of the United States in all +respects, framed by a convention of delegates elected by the male +citizens of said State twenty-one years old and upward, of whatever +race, color, or previous condition, who have been resident in said +State for one year previous to the day of such election, except such +as may be disfranchised for participation in the rebellion, or for +felony at common law; and when such constitution shall provide that +the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all such persons as have +the qualifications herein stated for electors of delegates; and when +such constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the persons +voting on the question of ratification who are qualified as electors +for delegates, and when such constitution shall have been submitted +to Congress for examination and approval, and Congress shall have +approved the same; and when said State, by a vote of its legislature +elected under said constitution, shall have adopted the amendment to +the Constitution of the United States proposed by the Thirty-ninth +Congress, and known as article fourteen; and when said article shall +have become a part of the Constitution of the United States, said +State shall be declared entitled to representation in Congress, and +senators and representatives shall be admitted therefrom on their +taking the oath prescribed by law; and then and thereafter the +preceding sections of this act shall be inoperative in said State: +Provided, That no person excluded from the privilege of holding +office by said proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United +States shall be eligible to election as a member of the convention to +frame a constitution for any of said rebel States, nor shall any such +person vote for members of such convention.</p> + +<p>SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That until the people of said +rebel States shall be by law admitted to representation in the +Congress of the United States, any civil government which may exist +therein shall be deemed provisional only, and in all respects subject +to the paramount authority of the United States at any time to +abolish, modify, control, or supersede the same; and in all elections +to any office under such provisional governments all persons shall be +entitled to vote, and none others, who are entitled to vote under the +fifth section of this act; and no person shall be eligible to any +office under any such provisional governments who would be +disqualified from holding office under the provisions of the third +article of said constitutional amendment.</p> + +<p>SCHUYLER COLFAX, +Speaker of the House of Representatives.</p> + +<p>LAFAYETTE S. FOSTER, +President of the Senate pro tempore.</p> + +<p> +AN ACT supplementary to an act entitled "An act to provide for the +more efficient government of the rebel States," passed March second, +eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and to facilitate restoration.</p> + +<p>Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled, That before the first +day of September, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, the commanding +general in each district defined by an act entitled "An act to +provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States," +passed March second, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, shall cause a +registration to be made of the male citizens of the United States, +twenty-one years of age and upwards, resident in each county or +parish in the State or States included in his district, which +registration shall include only those persons who are qualified to +vote for delegates by the act aforesaid, and who shall have taken and +subscribed the following oath or affirmation: "I,———, do +solemnly swear (or affirm), in the presence of the Almighty God, that +I am a citizen of the State of ————-; that I have resided in said +State for——- months next preceding this day, and now reside in the +county of ———-, or the parish of ————, in said State, (as the +case may be); that I am twenty-one years old; that I have not been +disfranchised for participation in any rebellion or civil war against +the United States, nor for felony committed against the laws of any +State or of the United States; that I have never been a member of any +State Legislature, nor held any executive or judicial office in any +State, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against +the United States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; +that I have never taken an oath as a member of Congress of the United +States, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any +State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any +State, to support the constitution of the United States, and +afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United +States or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I will +faithfully support the Constitution and obey the laws of the United +States, and will, to the best of my ability, encourage others so to +do: so help me God."; which oath or affirmation may be administered +by any registering officer.</p> + +<p>SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That after the completion of the +registration hereby provided for in any State, at such time and +places therein as the commanding general shall appoint and direct, of +which at least thirty days' public notice shall be given, an election +shall be held of delegates to a convention for the purpose of +establishing a constitution and civil government for such State loyal +to the Union, said convention in each State, except Virginia, to +consist of the same number of members as the most numerous branch of +the State Legislature of such State in the year eighteen hundred and +sixty, to be apportioned among the several districts, counties, or +parishes of such State by the commanding general, giving each +representation in the ratio of voters registered as aforesaid as +nearly as may be. The convention in Virginia shall consist of the +same number of members as represented the territory now constituting +Virginia in the most numerous branch of the Legislature of said State +in the year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be apportioned as +aforesaid.</p> + +<p>SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That at said election the +registered voters of each State shall vote for or against a +convention to form a constitution therefor under this act. Those +voting in favor of such a convention shall have written or printed on +the ballots by which they vote for delegates, as aforesaid, the words +"For a convention," and those voting against such a convention shall +have written or printed on such ballot the words "Against a +convention." The persons appointed to superintend said election, and +to make return of the votes given thereat, as herein provided, shall +count and make return of the votes given for and against a +convention; and the commanding general to whom the same shall have +been returned shall ascertain and declare the total vote in each +State for and against a convention. If a majority of the votes given +on that question shall be for a convention, then such convention +shall be held as hereinafter provided; but if a majority of said +votes shall, be against a convention, then no such convention shall +be held under this act: Provided, That such convention shall not be +held unless a majority of all such registered voters shall have voted +on the question of holding such convention.</p> + +<p>SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the commanding general of +each district shall appoint as many boards of registration as may be +necessary, consisting of three loyal officers or persons, to make and +complete the registration, superintend the election, and make return +to him of the votes, list of voters, and of the persons elected as +delegates by a plurality of the votes cast at said election; and upon +receiving said returns he shall open the same, ascertain the persons +elected as delegates, according to the returns of the officers who +conducted said election, and make proclamation thereof; and if a +majority of the votes given on that question shall be for a +convention, the commanding general, within sixty days from the date +of election, shall notify the delegates to assemble in convention, at +a time and place to be mentioned in the notification, and said +convention, when organized, shall proceed to frame a constitution and +civil government according to the provisions of this act, and the act +to which it is supplementary; and when the same shall have been so +framed, said constitution shall be submitted by the convention for +ratification to the persons registered under the provisions of this +act at an election to be conducted by the officers or persons +appointed or to be appointed by the commanding general, as +hereinbefore provided, and to be held after the expiration of thirty +days from the date of notice thereof, to be given by said convention; +and the returns thereof shall be made to the commanding general of +the district.</p> + +<p>SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That if, according to said +returns, the constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the +votes of the registered electors qualified as herein specified, cast +at said election, at least one-half of all the registered voters +voting upon the question of such ratification, the president of the +convention shall transmit a copy of the same, duly certified, to the +President of the United States, who shall forthwith transmit the same +to Congress, if then in session, and if not in session, then +immediately upon its next assembling; and if it shall moreover appear +to Congress that the election was one at which all the registered and +qualified electors in the State had an opportunity to vote freely, +and without restraint, fear, or the influence of fraud, and if the +Congress shall be satisfied that such constitution meets the approval +of a majority of all the qualified electors in the State, and if the +said constitution shall be declared by Congress to be in conformity +with the provisions of the act to which this is supplementary, and +the other provisions of said act shall have been complied with, and +the said constitution shall be approved by Congress, the State shall +be declared entitled to representation, and senators and +representatives shall be admitted therefrom as therein provided.</p> + +<p>SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That all elections in the States +mentioned in the said "Act to provide for the more efficient +government of the rebel States" shall, during the operation of said +act, be by ballot; and all officers making the said registration of +voters and conducting said elections, shall, before entering upon the +discharge of their duties, take and subscribe the oath prescribed by +the act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, +entitled "An act to prescribe an oath of office": Provided, That if +any person shall knowingly and falsely take and subscribe any oath in +this act prescribed, such person so offending and being thereof duly +convicted, shall be subject to the pains, penalties, and disabilities +which by law are provided for the punishment of the crime of wilful +and corrupt perjury.</p> + +<p>SEC. 7. And be if further enacted, That all expenses incurred by the +several commanding generals, or by virtue of any orders issued, or +appointments made, by them, under or by virtue of this act, shall be +paid out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.</p> + +<p>SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the convention for each State +shall prescribe the fees, salary, and compensation to be paid to all +delegates and other officers and agents herein authorized or +necessary to carry into effect the purposes of this act not herein +otherwise provided for, and shall provide for the levy and collection +of such taxes on the property in such State as may be necessary to +pay the same.</p> + +<p>SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the word "article," in the +sixth section of the act to which this is supplementary, shall be +construed to mean, "section."</p> + +<p>SCHUYLER COLFAX, +Speaker of the House of Representatives.</p> + +<p>B. F. WADE, +President of the Senate pro tempore.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch11b"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>PASSAGE OF THE RECONSTRUCTION ACT OVER THE PRESIDENT'S VETO—PLACED +IN COMMAND OF THE FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT—REMOVING OFFICERS—MY +REASONS FOR SUCH ACTION—AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA AND TEXAS—REMOVAL OF +GOVERNOR WELLS—REVISION OF THE JURY LISTS—RELIEVED FROM THE COMMAND +OF THE FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT.</p> + +<p>The first of the Reconstruction laws was passed March 2, 1867, and +though vetoed by the President, such was the unanimity of loyal +sentiment and the urgency demanding the measure, that the bill became +a law over the veto the day the President returned it to Congress. +March the 11th this law was published in General Orders No. 10, from +the Headquarters of the Army, the same order assigning certain +officers to take charge of the five military districts into which the +States lately in rebellion were subdivided, I being announced as the +commander of the Fifth Military District, which embraced Louisiana +and Texas, a territory that had formed the main portion of my command +since the close of the war.</p> + +<p>Between the date of the Act and that of my assignment, the Louisiana +Legislature, then in special session, had rejected a proposed repeal +of an Act it had previously passed providing for an election of +certain municipal officers in New Orleans. This election was set for +March 11, but the mayor and the chief of police, together with +General Mower, commanding the troops in the city, having expressed to +me personally their fears that the public peace would be disturbed by +the election, I, in this emergency, though not yet assigned to the +district, assuming the authority which the Act conferred on district +commanders, declared that the election should not take place; that no +polls should be opened on the day fixed; and that the whole matter +would stand postponed till the district commander should be +appointed, or special instructions be had. This, my first official +act under the Reconstruction laws, was rendered necessary by the +course of a body of obstructionists, who had already begun to give +unequivocal indications of their intention to ignore the laws of +Congress.</p> + +<p>A copy of the order embodying the Reconstruction law, together with +my assignment, having reached me a few days after, I regularly +assumed control of the Fifth Military District on March 19, by an +order wherein I declared the State and municipal governments of the +district to be provisional only, and, under the provisions of the +sixth section of the Act, subject to be controlled, modified, +superseded, or abolished. I also announced that no removals from +office would be made unless the incumbents failed to carry out the +provisions of the law or impeded reorganization, or unless willful +delays should necessitate a change, and added: "Pending the +reorganization, it is, desirable and intended to create as little +disturbance in the machinery of the various branches of the +provisional governments as possible, consistent with the law of +Congress and its successful execution, but this condition is +dependent upon the disposition shown by the people, and upon the +length of time required for reorganization."</p> + +<p>Under these limitations Louisiana and Texas retained their former +designations as military districts, the officers in command +exercising their military powers as heretofore. In addition, these +officers were to carry out in their respective commands all +provisions of the law except those specially requiring the action of +the district commander, and in cases of removals from and appointment +to office.</p> + +<p>In the course of legislation the first Reconstruction act, as I have +heretofore noted, had been vetoed. On the very day of the veto, +however, despite the President's adverse action, it passed each House +of Congress by such an overwhelming majority as not only to give it +the effect of law, but to prove clearly that the plan of +reconstruction presented was, beyond question, the policy endorsed by +the people of the country. It was, therefore, my determination to +see to the law's zealous execution in my district, though I felt +certain that the President would endeavor to embarrass me by every +means in his power, not only on account of his pronounced personal +hostility, but also because of his determination not to execute but +to obstruct the measures enacted by Congress.</p> + +<p>Having come to this conclusion, I laid down, as a rule for my +guidance, the principle of non-interference with the provisional +State governments, and though many appeals were made to have me +rescind rulings of the courts, or interpose to forestall some +presupposed action to be taken by them, my invariable reply was that +I would not take cognizance of such matters, except in cases of +absolute necessity. The same policy was announced also in reference +to municipal affairs throughout the district, so long as the action +of the local officers did not conflict with the law.</p> + +<p>In a very short time, however, I was obliged to interfere in +municipal matters in New Orleans, for it had become clearly apparent +that several of the officials were, both by acts of omission and +commission, ignoring the law, so on the 27th of March I removed from +office the Mayor, John T. Monroe; the Judge of the First District +Court, E. Abell; and the Attorney-General of the State, Andrew S. +Herron; at the same time appointing to the respective offices thus +vacated Edward Heath, W. W. Howe, and B. L. Lynch. The officials +thus removed had taken upon themselves from the start to pronounce +the Reconstruction acts unconstitutional, and to advise such a course +of obstruction that I found it necessary at an early dav to replace +them by men in sympathy with the law, in order to make plain my +determination to have its provisions enforced. The President at once +made inquiry, through General Grant, for the cause of the removal, +and I replied:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +<br>"New Orleans, La., April 19, 1867. +<br> +<br>"GENERAL: On the 27th day of March last I removed from office Judge +E. Abell, of the Criminal Court of New Orleans; Andrew S. Herron, +Attorney-General of the State of Louisiana; and John T. Monroe, Mayor +of the City of New Orleans. These removals were made under the +powers granted me in what is usually termed the 'military bill,' +passed March 2, 1867, by the Congress of the United States. +<br> +<br>"I did not deem it necessary to give any reason for the removal of +these men, especially after the investigations made by the military +board on the massacre Of July 30, 1866, and the report of the +congressional committee on the same massacre; but as some inquiry has +been made for the cause of removal, I would respectfully state as +follows: +<br> +<br>"The court over which judge Abell presided is the only criminal court +in the city of New Orleans, and for a period of at least nine months +previous to the riot Of July 30 he had been educating a large portion +of the community to the perpetration of this outrage, by almost +promising no prosecution in his court against the offenders, in case +such an event occurred. The records of his court will show that he +fulfilled his promise, as not one of the guilty has been prosecuted. +<br> +<br>"In reference to Andrew J. Herron, Attorney-General of the State of +Louisiana, I considered it his duty to indict these men before this +criminal court. This he failed to do, but went so far as to attempt +to impose on the good sense of the whole nation by indicting the +victims of the riot instead of the rioters; in other words, making +the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent. He was therefore, in my +belief, an able coadjutor with judge Abell in bringing on the +massacre of July 30. +<br> +<br>"Mayor Monroe controlled the element engaged in this riot, and when +backed by an attorney-general who would not prosecute the guilty, and +a judge who advised the grand jury to find the innocent guilty and +let the murderers go free, felt secure in engaging his police force +in the riot and massacre. +<br> +<br>"With these three men exercising a large influence over the worst +elements of the population of this city, giving to those elements an +immunity for riot and bloodshed, the general-in-chief will see how +insecurely I felt in letting them occupy their respective positions +in the troubles which might occur in registration and voting in the +reorganization of this State. +<br> +<br>"I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br>"Major-General U. S. A. +<br> +<br> +<br>"GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +<br>"Commanding Armies of the United States, +<br>"Washington, D. C." +</blockquote> + +<p> +To General Grant my reasons were satisfactory, but not so to the +President, who took no steps, however, to rescind my action, for he +knew that the removals were commended by well-nigh the entire +community in the city, for it will be understood that Mr. Johnson +was, through his friends and adherents in Louisiana and Texas, kept +constantly advised of every step taken by me. Many of these persons +were active and open opponents of mine, while others were spies, +doing their work so secretly and quickly that sometimes Mr. Johnson +knew of my official acts before I could report them to General Grant.</p> + +<p>The supplemental Reconstruction act which defined the method of +reconstruction became a law despite the President's veto on March 23. +This was a curative act, authorizing elections and prescribing +methods of registration. When it reached me officially I began +measures for carrying out its provisions, and on the 28th of March +issued an order to the effect that no elections for the State, +parish, or municipal officers would be held in Louisiana until the +provisions of the laws of Congress entitled "An act to provide for +the more efficient government of the rebel States," and of the act +supplemental thereto, should have been complied with. I also +announced that until elections were held in accordance with these +acts, the law of the Legislature of the State providing for the +holding over of those persons whose terms of office otherwise would +have expired, would govern in all cases excepting only those special +ones in which I myself might take action. There was one parish, +Livingston, which this order did no reach in time to prevent the +election previously ordered there, and which therefore took place, +but by a supplemental order this election was declare null and void.</p> + +<p>In April. I began the work of administering the Supplemental Law, +which, under certain condition of eligibility, required a +registration of the voter of the State, for the purpose of electing +delegate to a Constitutional convention. It therefore became +necessary to appoint Boards of Registration throughout the election +districts, and on April 10 the boards for the Parish of Orleans were +given out, those for the other parishes being appointed ten days +later. Before announcing these boards, I had asked to be advised +definitely as to what persons were disfranchised by the law, and was +directed by General Grant to act upon my own interpretation of it, +pending an opinion expected shortly from the Attorney-General—Mr. +Henry Stanbery—so, for the guidance of the boards, I gave the +following instructions:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT. +<br>"New Orleans, La., April 10, 1867. +<br> +<br>"Special Orders, No. 15. +<br> +<br>"....In obedience to the directions contained in the first section of +the Law of Congress entitled "An Act supplemental to an Act entitled +'An Act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel +States'" the registration of the legal voters, according to that law +in the Parish of Orleans, will be commenced on the 15th instant, and +must be completed by the 15th of May. +<br> +<br>"The four municipal districts of the City of New Orleans and the +Parish of Orleans, right bank (Algiers), will each constitute a +Registration district. Election precincts will remain as at present +constituted. +<br> +<br>"....Each member of the Board of Registers, before commencing his +duties, will file in the office of the Assistant-Inspector-General at +these headquarters, the oath required in the sixth section of the Act +referred to, and be governed in the execution of his duty by the +provisions of the first section of that Act, faithfully administering +the oath therein prescribed to each person registered. +<br> +<br>"Boards of Registers will immediately select suitable offices within +their respective districts, having reference to convenience and +facility of registration, and will enter upon their duties on the day +designated. Each Board will be entitled to two clerks. Office-hours +for registration will be from 8 o'clock till 12 A. M., and from 4 +till 7 P. M. +<br> +<br>"When elections are ordered, the Board of Registers for each district +will designate the number of polls and the places where they shall be +opened in the election precincts within its district, appoint the +commissioners and other officers necessary for properly conducting +the elections, and will superintend the same. +<br> +<br>"They will also receive from the commissioners of elections of the +different precincts the result of the vote, consolidate the same, and +forward it to the commanding general. +<br> +<br>"Registers and all officers connected with elections will be held to +a rigid accountability and will be subject to trial by military +commission for fraud, or unlawful or improper conduct in the +performance of their duties. Their rate of compensation and manner +of payment will be in accordance with the provisions of sections six +and seven of the supplemental act. +<br> +<br>"....Every male citizen of the United States, twenty-one years old +and upward, of whatever race, color, or previous condition, who has +been resident in the State of Louisiana for one year and Parish of +Orleans for three months previous to the date at which he presents +himself for registration, and who has not been disfranchised by act +of Congress or for felony at common law, shall, after having taken +and subscribed the oath prescribed in the first section of the act +herein referred to, be entitled to be, and shall be, registered as a +legal voter in the Parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana. +<br> +<br>"Pending the decision of the Attorney-General of the United States on +the question as to who are disfranchised by law, registers will give +the most rigid interpretation to the law, and exclude from +registration every person about whose right to vote there may be a +doubt. Any person so excluded who may, under the decision of the +Attorney-General, be entitled to vote, shall be permitted to register +after that decision is received, due notice of which will be given. +<br> +<br>"By command of Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br> +<br>"GEO. L. HARTSUFF, +<br>"Assistant Adjutant-General." +</blockquote> + +<p>The parish Boards of Registration were composed of three members +each. Ability to take what was known as the "ironclad oath" was the +qualification exacted of the members, and they were prohibited from +becoming candidates for office. In the execution of their duties +they were to be governed by the provisions of the supplemental act. +It was also made one of their functions to designate the number and +location of the polling-places in the several districts, to appoint +commissioners for receiving the votes and in general to attend to +such other matters as were necessary, in order properly to conduct +the voting, and afterward to receive from the commissioners the +result of the vote and forward it to my headquarters. These +registers, and all other officers having to do with elections, were +to be held to a rigid accountability, and be subject to trial by +military commission for fraud or unlawful or improper conduct in the +performance of their duties; and in order to be certain that the +Registration Boards performed their work faithfully and +intelligently, officers of the army were appointed as supervisors. +To this end the parishes were grouped together conveniently in +temporary districts, each officer having from three to five parishes +to supervise. The programme thus mapped out for carrying out the law +in Louisiana was likewise adhered to in Texas, and indeed was +followed as a model in some of the other military districts.</p> + +<p>Although Military Commissions were fully authorized by the +Reconstruction acts, yet I did not favor their use in governing the +district, and probably would never have convened one had these acts +been observed in good faith. I much preferred that the civil courts, +and the State and municipal authorities already in existence, should +perform their functions without military control or interference, but +occasionally, because the civil authorities neglected their duty, I +was obliged to resort to this means to ensure the punishment Of +offenders. At this time the condition of the negroes in Texas and +Louisiana was lamentable, though, in fact, not worse than that of the +few white loyalists who had been true to the Union during the war. +These last were singled out as special objects of attack, and were, +therefore, obliged at all times to be on the alert for the protection +of their lives and property. This was the natural outcome of Mr. +Johnson's defiance of Congress, coupled with the sudden conversion to +his cause of persons in the North—who but a short time before had +been his bitterest enemies; for all this had aroused among the +disaffected element new hopes of power and place, hopes of being at +once put in political control again, with a resumption of their +functions in State and National matters without any preliminary +authorization by Congress. In fact, it was not only hoped, but +expected, that things were presently to go on just as if there had +been no war.</p> + +<p>In the State of Texas there were in 1865 about 200,000 of the colored +race—roughly, a third of the entire population—while in Louisiana +there were not less than 350,000, or more than one-half of all the +people in the State. Until the enactment of the Reconstruction laws +these negroes were without rights, and though they had been liberated +by the war, Mr. Johnson's policy now proposed that they should have +no political status at all, and consequently be at the mercy of a +people who, recently their masters, now seemed to look upon them as +the authors of all the misfortunes that had come upon the land. +Under these circumstances the blacks naturally turned for protection +to those who had been the means of their liberation, and it would +have been little less than inhuman to deny them sympathy. Their +freedom had been given them, and it was the plain duty of those in +authority to make it secure, and screen them from the bitter +political resentment that beset them, and to see that they had a fair +chance in the battle of life. Therefore, when outrages and murders +grew frequent, and the aid of the military power was an absolute +necessity for the protection of life, I employed it +unhesitatingly—the guilty parties being brought to trial before military +commissions—and for a time, at least, there occurred a halt in the +march of terrorism inaugurated by the people whom Mr. Johnson had +deluded.</p> + +<p>The first, Military Commission was convened to try the case of John +W. Walker, charged with shooting a negro in the parish of St. John. +The proper civil authorities had made no effort to arrest Walker, and +even connived at his escape, so I had him taken into custody in New +Orleans, and ordered him tried, the commission finding him guilty, +and sentencing him to confinement in the penitentiary for six months. +This shooting was the third occurrence of the kind that had taken +place in St. John's parish, a negro being wounded in each case, and +it was plain that the intention was to institute there a practice of +intimidation which should be effective to subject the freedmen to the +will of their late masters, whether in making labor contracts, or in +case these newly enfranchised negroes should evince a disposition to +avail themselves of the privilege to vote.</p> + +<p>The trial and conviction of Walker, and of one or two others for +similiar outrages, soon put a stop to every kind of "bull-dozing" in +the country parishes; but about this time I discovered that many +members of the police force in New Orleans were covertly intimidating +the freedmen there, and preventing their appearance at the +registration offices, using milder methods than had obtained in the +country, it is true, but none the less effective.</p> + +<p>Early in 1866 the Legislature had passed an act which created for the +police of New Orleans a residence qualification, the object of which +was to discharge and exclude from the force ex-Union soldiers. This +of course would make room for the appointment of ex-Confederates, and +Mayor Monroe had not been slow in enforcing the provisions of the +law. It was, in fact, a result of this enactment that the police was +so reorganized as to become the willing and efficient tool which it +proved to be in the riot of 1866; and having still the same +personnel, it was now in shape to prevent registration by threats, +unwarranted arrests, and by various other influences, all operating +to keep the timid blacks away from the registration places.</p> + +<p>That the police were taking a hand in this practice of repression, I +first discovered by the conduct of the assistant to the chief of the +body, and at once removed the offender, but finding this ineffectual +I annulled that part of the State law fixing the five years' +residence restriction, and restored the two years' qualification, +thus enabling Mayor Heath, who by my appointment had succeeded +Monroe, to organize the force anew, and take about one-half of its +members from ex-Union soldiers who when discharged had settled in New +Orleans. This action put an end to intimidation in the parish of +Orleans; and now were put in operation in all sections the processes +provided by the supplemental Reconstruction law for the summoning of +a convention to form a Constitution preparatory to the readmission of +the State, and I was full of hope that there would now be much less +difficulty in administering the trust imposed by Congress.</p> + +<p>During the two years previous great damage had been done the +agricultural interests of Louisiana by the overflow of the +Mississippi, the levees being so badly broken as to require extensive +repairs, and the Legislature of 1866 had appropriated for the purpose +$4,000,000, to be raised by an issue of bonds. This money was to be +disbursed by a Board of Levee Commissioners then in existence, but +the term of service of these commissioners, and the law creating the +board, would expire in the spring of 1867. In order to overcome this +difficulty the Legislature passed a bill continuing the commissioners +in office but as the act was passed inside of ten days before the +adjournment of the Legislature, Governor Wells pocketed the bill, and +it failed to become a law. The Governor then appointed a board of +his own, without any warrant of law whatever. The old commissioners +refused to recognize this new board, and of course a conflict of +authority ensued, which, it was clear, would lead to vicious results +if allowed to continue; so, as the people of the State had no +confidence in either of the boards, I decided to end the contention +summarily by appointing an entirely new commission, which would +disburse the money honestly, and further the real purpose for which +it had been appropriated. When I took this course the legislative +board acquiesced, but Governor Wells immediately requested the +President to revoke my order, which, however, was not done, but +meanwhile the Secretary of War directed me to suspend all proceedings +in the matter, and make a report of the facts. I complied in the +following telegram:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +<br>"NEW ORLEANS, La., June 3, 1867. +<br> +<br>"SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of +this date in reference to the Levee Commissioners in this State. +<br> +<br>"The following were my reasons for abolishing the two former boards, +although I intended that my order should be sufficiently explanatory: +<br> +<br>"Previous to the adjournment of the Legislature last winter it passed +an act continuing the old Levee board in office, so that the four +millions of dollars ($4,000,000) in bonds appropriated by the +Legislature might be disbursed by a board of rebellious antecedents. +<br> +<br>"After its adjournment the Governor of the State appointed a board of +his own, in violation of this act, and made the acknowledgment to me +in person that his object was to disburse the money in the interest +of his own party by securing for it the vote of the employees at the +time of election. +<br> +<br>"The board continued in office by the Legislature refused to turn +over to the Governor's board, and each side appealed to me to sustain +it, which I would not do. The question must then have gone to the +courts, which, according to the Governor's judgment when he was +appealing to me to be sustained, would require one year for decision. +Meantime the State was overflowed, the Levee boards tied up by +political chicanery, and nothing done to relieve the poor people, now +fed by the charity of the Government and charitable associations of +the North. +<br> +<br>"To obviate this trouble, and to secure to the overflowed districts +of the State the immediate relief which the honest disbursement of +the four millions ($4,000,000) would give, my order dissolving both +boards was issued.<br> +<br> +<br>"I say now, unequivocally, that Governor Wells is a political +trickster and a dishonest man. I have seen him myself, when I first +came to this command, turn out all the Union men who had supported +the Government, and put in their stead rebel soldiers who had not yet +doffed their gray uniform. I have seen him again, during the July +riot of 1866, skulk away where I could not find him to give him a +guard, instead of coming out as a manly representative of the State +and joining those who were preserving the peace. I have watched him +since, and his conduct has been as sinuous as the mark left in the +dust by the movement of a snake. +<br> +<br>"I say again that he is dishonest, and that dishonesty is more than +must be expected of me. +<br> +<br>"P. H. SHERIDAN, +<br>"Major-General, U. S. A. +<br><br> +<br>"Hon. E. M. STANTON, +<br>"Secretary of War, Washington, D. C." +</blockquote> + +<p> +The same day that I sent my report to the Secretary of War I removed +from office Governor Wells himself, being determined to bear no +longer with the many obstructions he had placed in the way of +reorganizing the civil affairs of the State. I was also satisfied +that he was unfit to retain the place, since he was availing himself +of every opportunity to work political ends beneficial to himself. +In this instance Wells protested to me against his removal, and also +appealed to the President for an opinion of the Attorney-General as +to my power in the case; and doubtless he would have succeeded in +retaining his office, but for the fact that the President had been +informed by General James B. Steadman and others placed to watch me +that Wells was wholly unworthy.</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"NEW ORLEANS, June 19, 1867. +<br>"ANDREW JOHNSON, President United States, +<br>"Washington City: +<br> +<br>"Lewis D. Campbell leaves New Orleans for home this evening. Want +of respect for Governor Wells personally, alone represses the +expression of indignation felt by all honest and sensible men at the +unwarranted usurpation of General Sheridan in removing the civil +officers of Louisiana. It is believed here that you will reinstate +Wells. He is a bad man, and has no influence. +<br> +<br>"I believe Sheridan made the removals to embarrass you, believing the +feeling at the North would sustain him. My conviction is that on +account of the bad character of Wells and Monroe, you ought not to +reinstate any who have been removed, because you cannot reinstate any +without reinstating all, but you ought to prohibit the exercise of +this power in the future. +<br> +<br>"Respectfully yours, +<br> +<br>"JAMES B. STEADMAN." +</blockquote> + +<p> +I appointed Mr. Thomas J. Durant as Wells's successor, but he +declining, I then appointed Mr. Benjamin F. Flanders, who, after I +had sent a staff-officer to forcibly eject Wells in case of +necessity, took possession of the Governor's office. Wells having +vacated, Governor Flanders began immediately the exercise of his +duties in sympathy with the views of Congress, and I then notified +General Grant that I thought he need have no further apprehension +about the condition of affairs in Louisiana, as my appointee was a +man of such integrity and ability that I already felt relieved of +half my labor. I also stated in the same despatch that nothing would +answer in Louisiana but a bold and firm course, and that in taking +such a one I felt that I was strongly supported; a statement that was +then correct, for up to this period the better classes were disposed +to accept the Congressional plan of reconstruction.</p> + +<p>During the controversy over the Levee Commissioners, and the +correspondence regarding the removal of Governor Wells, registration +had gone on under the rules laid down for the boards. The date set +for closing the books was the 30th of June, but in the parish of +Orleans the time was extended till the 15th of July. This the +President considered too short a period, and therefore directed the +registry lists not to be closed before the 1st of August, unless +there was some good reason to the contrary. This was plainly +designed to keep the books open in order that under the +Attorney-General's interpretation of the Reconstruction laws, published June +20, many persons who had been excluded by the registration boards +could yet be registered, so I decided to close the registration, +unless required by the President unconditionally, and in specific +orders, to extend the time. My motives were manifold, but the main +reasons were that as two and a half months had been given already, +the number of persons who, under the law, were qualified for registry +was about exhausted; and because of the expense I did not feel +warranted in keeping up the boards longer, as I said, "to suit new +issues coming in at the eleventh hour," which would but open a "broad +macadamized road for perjury and fraud."</p> + +<p>When I thus stated what I intended to do, the opinion of the +Attorney-General had not yet been received. When it did reach me it +was merely in the form of a circular signed by Adjutant-General +Townsend, and had no force of law. It was not even sent as an order, +nor was it accompanied by any instructions, or by anything except the +statement that it was transmitted to the 11 respective military +commanders for their information, in order that there might be +uniformity in the execution of the Reconstruction acts. To adopt +Mr. Stanbery's interpretation of the law and reopen registration +accordingly, would defeat the purpose of Congress, as well as add to +my perplexities. Such a course would also require that the officers +appointed by me for the performance of specified duties, under laws +which I was empowered to interpret and enforce, should receive their +guidance and instructions from an unauthorized source, so on +communicating with General Grant as to how I should act, he directed +me to enforce my own construction of the military bill until ordered +to do otherwise.</p> + +<p>Therefore the registration continued as I had originally directed, +and nothing having been definitely settled at Washington in relation +to my extending the time, on the 10th of July I ordered all the +registration boards to select, immediately, suitable persons to act +as commissioners of election, and at the same time specified the +number of each set of commissioners, designated the polling-places, +gave notice that two days would be allowed for voting, and followed +this with an order discontinuing registration the 31st of July, and +then another appointing the 27th and 28th of September as the time +for the election of delegates to the State convention.</p> + +<p>In accomplishing the registration there had been little opposition +from the mass of the people, but the press of New Orleans, and the +office-holders and office-seekers in the State generally, antagonized +the work bitterly and violently, particularly after the promulgation +of the opinion of the Attorney-General. These agitators condemned +everybody and everything connected with the Congressional plan of +reconstruction; and the pernicious influence thus exerted was +manifested in various ways, but most notably in the selection of +persons to compose the jury lists in the country parishes it also +tempted certain municipal officers in New Orleans to perform illegal +acts that would seriously have affected the credit of the city had +matters not been promptly corrected by the summary removal from +office of the comptroller and the treasurer, who had already issued a +quarter of a million dollars in illegal certificates. On learning of +this unwarranted and unlawful proceeding, Mayor Heath demanded an +investigation by the Common Council, but this body, taking its cue +from the evident intention of the President to render abortive the +Reconstruction acts, refused the mayor's demand. Then he tried to +have the treasurer and comptroller restrained by injunction, but the +city attorney, under the same inspiration as the council, declined to +sue out a writ, and the attorney being supported in this course by +nearly all the other officials, the mayor was left helpless in his +endeavors to preserve the city's credit. Under such circumstances he +took the only step left him—recourse to the military commander; and +after looking into the matter carefully I decided, in the early part +of August, to give the mayor officials who would not refuse to make +an investigation of the illegal issue of certificates, and to this +end I removed the treasurer, surveyor, comptroller, city attorney, +and twenty-two of the aldermen; these officials, and all of their +assistants, having reduced the financial credit of New Orleans to a +disordered condition, and also having made efforts—and being then +engaged in such—to hamper the execution of the Reconstruction laws.</p> + +<p>This action settled matters in the city, but subsequently I had to +remove some officials in the parishes—among them a justice of the +peace and a sheriff in the parish of Rapides; the justice for +refusing to permit negro witnesses to testify in a certain murder +case, and for allowing the murderer, who had foully killed a colored +man, to walk out of his court on bail in the insignificant sum of +five hundred dollars; and the sheriff, for conniving at the escape +from jail of another alleged murderer. Finding, however, even after +these removals, that in the country districts murderers and other +criminals went unpunished, provided the offenses were against negroes +merely (since the jurors were selected exclusively from the whites, +and often embraced those excluded from the exercise of the election +franchise) I, having full authority under the Reconstruction laws, +directed such a revision of the jury lists as would reject from them +every man not eligible for registration as a voter. This order was +issued August 24, and on its promulgation the President relieved me +from duty and assigned General Hancock as my successor.</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +<br>"NEW ORLEANS, LA., August 24, 1867.<br> + +<br>"SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 125.<br> + +<br>"The registration of voters of the State of Louisiana, according to +the law of Congress, being complete, it is hereby ordered that no +person who is not registered in accordance with said law shall be +considered as, a duly qualified voter of the State of Louisiana. All +persons duly registered as above, and no others, are consequently +eligible, under the laws of the State of Louisiana, to serve as +jurors in any of the courts of the State.<br> + +<br>"The necessary revision of the jury lists will immediately be made by +the proper officers.<br> + +<br>"All the laws of the State respecting exemptions, etc., from jury +duty will remain in force.<br> + +<br>"By command of Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN.<br> + +<br>"GEO. L. HARTNUFF, Asst. Adj't-General." +</blockquote> +<p> +Pending the arrival of General Hancock, I turned over the command of +the district September 1 to General Charles Griffin; but he dying of +yellow fever, General J. A. Mower succeeded him, and retained command +till November 29, on which date General Hancock assumed control. +Immediately after Hancock took charge, he revoked my order of August +24 providing for a revision of the jury lists; and, in short, +President Johnson's policy now became supreme, till Hancock himself +was relieved in March, 1868.</p> + +<p>My official connection with the reconstruction of Louisiana and Texas +practically closed with this order concerning the jury lists. In my +judgment this had become a necessity, for the disaffected element, +sustained as it was by the open sympathy of the President, had grown +so determined in its opposition to the execution of the +Reconstruction acts that I resolved to remove from place and power +all obstacles; for the summer's experience had convinced me that in +no other way could the law be faithfully administered.</p> + +<p>The President had long been dissatisfied with my course; indeed, he +had harbored personal enmity against me ever since he perceived that +he could not bend me to an acceptance of the false position in which +he had tried to place me by garbling my report of the riot of 1866. +When Mr. Johnson decided to remove me, General Grant protested in +these terms, but to no purpose:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +<br>"WASHINGTON, D. C., August 17, 1867<br> + +<br>"SIR: I am in receipt of your order of this date directing the +assignment of General G. H. Thomas to the command of the Fifth +Military District, General Sheridan to the Department of the +Missouri, and General Hancock to the Department of the Cumberland; +also your note of this date (enclosing these instructions), saying: +'Before you issue instructions to carry into effect the enclosed +order, I would be pleased to hear any suggestions you may deem +necessary respecting the assignments to which the order refers.'<br> + +<br>"I am pleased to avail myself of this invitation to urge—earnestly +urge—urge in the name of a patriotic people, who have sacrificed +hundreds of thousands of loyal lives and thousands of millions of +treasure to preserve the integrity and union of this country—that +this order be not insisted on. It is unmistakably the expressed wish +of the country that General Sheridan should not be removed from his +present command.<br> + +<br>"This is a republic where the will of the people is the law of the +land. I beg that their voice may be heard.<br> + +<br>"General Sheridan has performed his civil duties faithfully and +intelligently. His removal will only be regarded as an effort to +defeat the laws of Congress. It will be interpreted by the +unreconstructed element in the South—those who did all they could to +break up this Government by arms, and now wish to be the only element +consulted as to the method of restoring order—as a triumph. It will +embolden them to renewed opposition to the will of the loyal masses, +believing that they have the Executive with them.<br> + +<br>"The services of General Thomas in battling for the Union entitle him +to some consideration. He has repeatedly entered his protest against +being assigned to either of the five military districts, and +especially to being assigned to relieve General Sheridan.<br> + +<br>"There are military reasons, pecuniary reasons, and above all, +patriotic reasons, why this should not be insisted upon.<br> + +<br>"I beg to refer to a letter marked 'private,' which I wrote to the +President when first consulted on the subject of the change in the +War Department. It bears upon the subject of this removal, and I had +hoped would have prevented it.<br> + +<br>"I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,<br> + +<br>"U. S. GRANT, +<br>"General U. S. A., Secretary of War ad interim.<br> +<br><br> +<br>"His Excellency A. JOHNSON, +<br>"President of the United States." +</blockquote> +<p> +I was ordered to command the Department of the Missouri (General +Hancock, as already noted, finally becoming my successor in the Fifth +Military District), and left New Orleans on the 5th of September. I +was not loath to go. The kind of duty I had been performing in +Louisiana and Texas was very trying under the most favorable +circumstances, but all the more so in my case, since I had to contend +against the obstructions which the President placed in the way from +persistent opposition to the acts of Congress as well as from +antipathy to me—which obstructions he interposed with all the +boldness and aggressiveness of his peculiar nature.</p> + +<p>On more than one occasion while I was exercising this command, +impurity of motive was imputed to me, but it has never been +truthfully shown (nor can it ever be) that political or corrupt +influences of any kind controlled me in any instance. I simply tried +to carry out, without fear or favor, the Reconstruction acts as they +came to me. They were intended to disfranchise certain persons, and +to enfranchise certain others, and, till decided otherwise, were the +laws of the land; and it was my duty to execute them faithfully, +without regard, on the one hand, for those upon whom it was thought +they bore so heavily, nor, on the other, for this or that political +party, and certainly without deference to those persons sent to +Louisiana to influence my conduct of affairs.</p> + +<p>Some of these missionaries were high officials, both military and +civil, and I recall among others a visit made me in 1866 by a +distinguished friend of the President, Mr. Thomas A. Hendricks. The +purpose of his coming was to convey to me assurances of the very high +esteem in which I was held by the President, and to explain +personally Mr. Johnson's plan of reconstruction, its flawless +constitutionality, and so on. But being on the ground, I had before +me the exhibition of its practical working, saw the oppression and +excesses growing out of it, and in the face of these experiences even +Mr. Hendricks's persuasive eloquence was powerless to convince me of +its beneficence. Later General Lovell H. Rousseau came down on a +like mission, but was no more successful than Mr. Hendricks.</p> + +<p>During the whole period that I commanded in Louisiana and Texas my +position was a most unenviable one. The service was unusual, and the +nature of it scarcely to be understood by those not entirely familiar +with the conditions existing immediately after the war. In +administering the affairs of those States, I never acted except by +authority, and always from conscientious motives. I tried to guard +the rights of everybody in accordance with the law. In this I was +supported by General Grant and opposed by President Johnson. The +former had at heart, above every other consideration, the good of his +country, and always sustained me with approval and kind suggestions. +The course pursued by the President was exactly the opposite, and +seems to prove that in the whole matter of reconstruction he was +governed less by patriotic motives than by personal ambitions. Add +to this his natural obstinacy of character and personal enmity toward +me, and no surprise should be occasioned when I say that I heartily +welcomed the order that lifted from me my unsought burden.</p> + + +<br><br> + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p4.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p6.htm">Next Part</a> + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + + +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/old/orig4362-h/p6.htm b/old/orig4362-h/p6.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e32a05c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig4362-h/p6.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3843 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>MEMOIRS OF GENERAL SHERIDAN, Vol. II., Part 6</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { + text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 95% } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p5.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + +<br><br> + +<center><h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF + +<br>P. H. SHERIDAN</h1></center> + + +<br><br> + + + +<center><h2>VOLUME II.</h2></center> +<br><br> +<h2>Part 6</h2> +<br><br> + + + +<br><hr> +<br> + + + +<br><br> + + + +<center><img alt="Cover.jpg (168K)" src="images/Cover.jpg" height="963" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="Spines.jpg (76K)" src="images/Spines.jpg" height="1425" width="597"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<br><br> +<a name="Frontpiece2"></a> +<br><br> +<center><img alt="Frontpiece2.jpg (99K)" src="images/Frontpiece2.jpg" height="927" width="650"> +</center> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + +<a href="#ch12b">CHAPTER XII.</a><br> +At Fort Leavenworth—The Treaty of Medicine Lodge <br> +—Going to Fort Dodge—Discontented Indians<br> +—Indian Outrages—A Delegation of Chiefs—Terrible <br> +Indian Raid—Death of Comstock—Vast Herds of <br> +Buffalo—Preparing for a Winter Campaign—Meeting <br> +"Buffalo Bill"—He Undertakes a Dangerous Task<br> +—Forsyth's Gallant Fight—Rescued<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch13b">CHAPTER XIII.</a><br> +Fitting Out the Winter Expedition—Accompanying the <br> +Main Force—The Other Columns—Struck by a Blizzard<br> +—Custer's Fight on the Washita—Defeat and Death <br> +of Black Kettle—Massacre of Elliott's <br> +Party—Relief of Colonel Crawford<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch14b">CHAPTER XIV.</a><br> +A Winter Expedition—Herds of Buffalo—Wolves<br> +—Blizzards—A Terrible Night—Finding the Bodies <br> +of Elliott's Party—The Abandoned Indian Camps <br> +—Pushing Down the Washita—The Captured Chiefs<br> +—Evans's Successful Fight—Establishing Fort Sill<br> +—"California Joe"—Duplicity of the Cheyennes<br> +—Ordered to Repair to Washington<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch15b">CHAPTER XV.</a><br> +Inspecting Military Posts in Utah and Montana<br> +—Desire to Witness the Franco—German War<br> +—On a Sand-Bar in the Missouri—A Bear Hunt<br> +—An Indian Scare—Myriads of Mosquitoes—Permission <br> +Given to Visit Europe — Calling on President Grant<br> +—Sailing for Liverpool—Arrival in Berlin<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch16b">CHAPTER XVI.</a><br> +Leaving for the Seat of War—Meeting with Prince <br> +Bismarck—His Interest in Public Opinion in America<br> +—His Inclinations in Early Life—Presented to the King<br> +—The Battle of Gravelotte—The German Plan—Its Final <br> +Success—Sending News of the Victory—Mistaken for a Frenchman<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch17b">CHAPTER XVII.</a><br> +Searching for Quarters—Hunting up Provisions <br> +—A Slender Breakfast—Going over the Battle-Field<br> +—The German Artillery—A Group of Wounded <br> +—Dining With the King—On the March—The Bavarians<br> +—Kirschwasser—Urging on the Troops<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch18b">CHAPTER XVIII.</a><br> +After McMahon—The Battle of Beaumont—The French <br> +Surprised—The Marching of the German Soldiers<br> +—The Battle of Sedan—Gallant Cavalry Charges<br> +—Defeat of the French—The Surrender of Napoleon<br> +—Bismarck and the King—Decorating the Soldiers<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch19b">CHAPTER XIX.</a><br> +Riding Over the Battle—Field—Destruction of <br> +Bazeilles—Mistakes of the French—Marshal Bazaine<br> +—On to Paris—A Week in Meaux—Rheims—On the <br> +Picket-Line—Under Fire—A Surrender—At Versailles<br> +—General Burnside and Mr. Forbes in Paris<br> +—Brussels—Deciding to Visit Eastern Europe—Austria <br> +—Down the Danube—In Constantinople—The <br> +Ladies of the Harem—The Sultan—Turkish Soldiers<br> +—A Banquet—A Visit in Athens—King George of <br> +Greece—Victor—Emmanuel—Bedeviled with Cares of <br> +State—Deer Shooting—A Military Dinner—Return <br> +to Versailles—Germans Entering Paris—Criticism <br> +on the Franco-Prussian War—Conclusion<br> +<br> +<a href="#ch20b">CHAPTER XX.</a><br> +Brussels—Deciding to Visit Eastern Europe—Austria<br> +—Down the Danube—In Constantinople—The Ladies of <br> +the Harem—the Sultan—Turkish Soldiers—A Banquet<br> +—A Visit in Athens—King George of Greece—Victor<br> +Emmanuel—"Bedeviled with Cares of State"—Deer Shooting<br> +—A Military Dinner—Return to Versailles—Germans <br> +Entering Paris—Criticism on The Franco-Prussian War<br> +—Conclusion<br> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2><br> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + +<a href="#Frontpiece2">Steel Portrait—General P. H. Sheridan</a> <br> +<a href="#pb344">Indian Campaign of 1868—1869</a> <br> +<a href="#pb426">Map Showing Parts of France, Belgium, and Germany</a> <br> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + +<br> +<br> + + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<center><h2>VOLUME II.</h2></center> +<br><br> +<h2>Part 6</h2> +<br><br> +<center><h3>By Philip Henry Sheridan</h3></center> +<br><br> + + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch12b"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>AT FORT LEAVENWORTH—THE TREATY OF MEDICINE LODGE—GOING TO FORT +DODGE—DISCONTENTED INDIANS—INDIAN OUTRAGES—A DELEGATION OF +CHIEFS—TERRIBLE INDIAN RAID—DEATH OF COMSTOCK—VAST HERDS OF +BUFFALO—PREPARING FOR A WINTER CAMPAIGN—MEETING "BUFFALO BILL"—HE UNDERTAKES A +DANGEROUS TASK—FORSYTH'S GALLANT FIGHT—RESCUED.</p> + +<p>The headquarters of the military department to which I was assigned +when relieved from duty at New Orleans was at Fort Leavenworth, +Kansas, and on the 5th of September I started for that post. In due +time I reached St. Louis, and stopped there a day to accept an +ovation tendered in approval of the course I had pursued in the Fifth +Military District—a public demonstration apparently of the most +sincere and hearty character.</p> + +<p>From St. Louis to Leavenworth took but one night, and the next day I +technically complied with my orders far enough to permit General +Hancock to leave the department, so that he might go immediately to +New Orleans if he so desired, but on account of the yellow fever +epidemic then prevailing, he did not reach the city till late in +November.</p> + +<p>My new command was one of the four military departments that composed +the geographical division then commanded by Lieutenant-General +Sherman. This division had been formed in 1866, with a view to +controlling the Indians west of the Missouri River, they having +become very restless and troublesome because of the building of the +Pacific railroads through their hunting-grounds, and the +encroachments of pioneers, who began settling in middle and western +Kansas and eastern Colorado immediately after the war.</p> + +<p>My department embraced the States of Missouri and Kansas, the Indian +Territory, and New Mexico. Part of this section of country—western +Kansas particularly—had been frequently disturbed and harassed +during two or three years past, the savages every now and then +massacring an isolated family, boldly attacking the surveying and +construction parties of the Kansas-Pacific railroad, sweeping down on +emigrant trains, plundering and burning stage-stations and the like +along the Smoky Hill route to Denver and the Arkansas route to New +Mexico.</p> + +<p>However, when I relieved Hancock, the department was comparatively +quiet. Though some military operations had been conducted against +the hostile tribes in the early part of the previous summer, all +active work was now suspended in the attempt to conclude a permanent +peace with the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Comanches, in +compliance with the act of Congress creating what was known as the +Indian Peace Commission of 1867.</p> + +<p>Under these circumstances there was little necessity for my remaining +at Leavenworth, and as I was much run down in health from the +Louisiana climate, in which I had been obliged to live continuously +for three summers (one of which brought epidemic cholera, and another +a scourge of yellow fever), I took a leave of absence for a few +months, leaving Colonel A. J. Smith, of the Seventh Cavalry, +temporarily in charge of my command.</p> + +<p>On this account I did not actually go on duty in the department of +the Missouri till March, 1868. On getting back I learned that the +negotiations of the Peace Commissioners held at Medicine Lodge, about +seventy miles south of Fort Larned had resulted in a treaty with the +Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Comanches, by which agreement it +was supposed all troubles had been settled. The compact, as +concluded, contained numerous provisions, the most important to us +being one which practically relinquished the country between the +Arkansas and Platte rivers for white settlement; another permitted +the peaceable construction of the Pacific railroads through the same +region; and a third requiring the tribes signing the treaty to retire +to reservations allotted them in the Indian Territory. Although the +chiefs and head-men were well-nigh unanimous in ratifying these +concessions, it was discovered in the spring of 1868 that many of the +young men were bitterly opposed to what had been done, and claimed +that most of the signatures had been obtained by misrepresentation +and through proffers of certain annuities, and promises of arms and +ammunition to be issued in the spring of 1868. This grumbling was +very general in extent, and during the winter found outlet in +occasional marauding, so, fearing a renewal of the pillaging and +plundering at an early day, to prepare myself for the work evidently +ahead the first thing I did on assuming permanent command was to make +a trip to Fort Larned and Fort Dodge, near which places the bulk of +the Indians had congregated on Pawnee and Walnut creeks. I wanted to +get near enough to the camps to find out for myself the actual state +of feeling among the savages, and also to familiarize myself with the +characteristics of the Plains Indians, for my previous experience had +been mainly with mountain tribes on the Pacific coast. Fort Larned I +found too near the camps for my purpose, its proximity too readily +inviting unnecessary "talks," so I remained here but a day or two, +and then went on to Dodge, which, though considerably farther away +from the camps, was yet close enough to enable us to obtain easily +information of all that was going on.</p> + +<p>It took but a few days at Dodge to discover that great discontent +existed about the Medicine Lodge concessions, to see that the young +men were chafing and turbulent, and that it would require much tact +and good management on the part of the Indian Bureau to persuade the +four tribes to go quietly to their reservations, under an agreement +which, when entered into, many of them protested had not been fully +understood.</p> + +<p>A few hours after my arrival a delegation of prominent chiefs called +on me and proposed a council, where they might discuss their +grievances, and thus bring to the notice of the Government the +alleged wrongs done them; but this I refused, because Congress had +delegated to the Peace Commission the whole matter of treating with +them, and a council might lead only to additional complications. My +refusal left them without hope of securing better terms, or of even +delaying matters longer; so henceforth they were more than ever +reckless and defiant. Denunciations of the treaty became outspoken, +and as the young braves grew more and more insolent every day, it +amounted to conviction that, unless by some means the irritation was +allayed, hostilities would surely be upon us when the buffalo +returned to their summer feeding-grounds between the Arkansas and the +Platte.</p> + +<p>The principal sufferers in this event would be the settlers in middle +and western Kansas, who, entirely ignorant of the dangers hanging +over them, were laboring to build up homes in a new country. Hence +the maintenance of peace was much to be desired, if it could be +secured without too great concessions, and although I would not meet +the different tribes in a formal council, yet, to ward off from +settlers as much as possible the horrors of savage warfare, I showed, +by resorting to persuasive methods, my willingness to temporize a +good deal. An abundant supply of rations is usually effective to +keep matters quiet in such cases, so I fed them pretty freely, and +also endeavored to control them through certain men who, I found, +because of former associations, had their confidence. These men, +employed as scouts, or interpreters, were Mr. William Comstock, Mr. +Abner S. Grover, and Mr. Richard Parr. They had lived on the Plains +for many years with different tribes of Indians, had trapped and +hunted with them, and knew all the principal chiefs and headmen. +Through such influences, I thought I saw good chances of preserving +peace, and of inducing the discontented to go quietly to their +reservations in the Indian Territory as soon as General Hazen, the +representative of the Peace Commissioners, was ready to conduct them +there from Fort Larned.</p> + +<p>Before returning to Leavenworth I put my mediators (as I may call +them) under charge of an officer of the army, Lieutenant F. W. +Beecher, a very intelligent man, and directed him to send them out to +visit among the different tribes, in order to explain what was +intended by the treaty of Medicine Lodge, and to make every effort +possible to avert hostilities. Under these instructions Comstock and +Grover made it their business to go about among the Cheyennes—the +most warlike tribe of all—then camping about the headwaters of +Pawnee and Walnut creeks, and also to the north and west of Fort +Wallace, while Parr spent his time principally with the Kiowas and +Comanches.</p> + +<p>From the different posts—Wallace, Dodge, and Larned Lieutenant +Beecher kept up communication with all three scouts, and through him +I heard from them at least once a week. Every now and then some +trouble along the railroad or stage routes would be satisfactorily +adjusted and quiet restored, and matters seemed to be going on very +well, the warm weather bringing the grass and buffalo in plenty, and +still no outbreak, nor any act of downright hostility. So I began to +hope that we should succeed in averting trouble till the favorite war +season of the Indians was over, but the early days of August rudely +ended our fancied tranquility.</p> + +<p>In July the encampments about Fort Dodge began to break up, each band +or tribe moving off to some new location north of the Arkansas, +instead of toward its proper reservation to the south of that river. +Then I learned presently that a party of Cheyennes had made a raid on +the Kaws—a band of friendly Indians living near Council Grove—and +stolen their horses, and also robbed the houses of several white +people near Council Grove. This raid was the beginning of the Indian +war of 1868. Immediately following it, the Comanches and Kiowas came +to Fort Larned to receive their annuities, expecting to get also the +arms and ammunition promised them at Medicine Lodge, but the raid to +Council Grove having been reported to the Indian Department, the +issue of arms was suspended till reparation was made. This action of +the Department greatly incensed the savages, and the agent's offer of +the annuities without guns and pistols was insolently refused, the +Indians sulking back to their camps, the young men giving themselves +up to war-dances, and to powwows with "medicine-men," till all hope +of control was gone.</p> + +<p>Brevet Brigadier-General Alfred Sully, an officer of long experience +in Indian matters, who at this time was in command of the District of +the Arkansas, which embraced Forts Larned and Dodge, having notified +me of these occurrences at Larned, and expressed the opinion that the +Indians were bent on mischief, I directed him there immediately to +act against them. After he reached Larned, the chances for peace +appeared more favorable. The Indians came to see him, and protested +that it was only a few bad young men who had been depredating, and +that all would be well and the young men held in check if the agent +would but issue the arms and ammunition. Believing their promises, +Sully thought that the delivery of the arms would solve all the +difficulties, so on his advice the agent turned them over along with +the annuities, the Indians this time condescendingly accepting.</p> + +<p>This issue of arms and ammunition was a fatal mistake; Indian +diplomacy had overreached Sully's experience, and even while the +delivery was in progress a party of warriors had already begun a raid +of murder and rapine, which for acts of devilish cruelty perhaps has +no parallel in savage warfare. The party consisted of about two +hundred Cheyennes and a few Arapahoes, with twenty Sioux who had been +visiting their friends, the Cheyennes. As near as could be +ascertained, they organized and left their camps along Pawnee Creek +about the 3d of August. Traveling northeast, they skirted around +Fort Harker, and made their first appearance among the settlers in +the Saline Valley, about thirty miles north of that post. Professing +friendship and asking food at the farm-houses, they saw the +unsuspecting occupants comply by giving all they could spare from +their scanty stores. Knowing the Indian's inordinate fondness for +coffee, particularly when well sweetened, they even served him this +luxury freely. With this the demons began their devilish work. +Pretending to be indignant because it was served them in tin cups, +they threw the hot contents into the women's faces, and then, first +making prisoners of the men, they, one after another, ravished the +women till the victims became insensible. For some inexplicable +reason the two farmers were neither killed nor carried off, so after +the red fiends had gone, the unfortunate women were brought in to +Fort Harker, their arrival being the first intimation to the military +that hostilities had actually begun.</p> + +<p>Leaving the Saline, this war-party crossed over to the valley of the +Solomon, a more thickly settled region, and where the people were in +better circumstances, their farms having been started two or three +years before. Unaware of the hostile character of the raiders, the +people here received them in the friendliest way, providing food, and +even giving them ammunition, little dreaming of what was impending. +These kindnesses were requited with murder and pillage, and worse, +for all the women who fell into their hands were subjected to horrors +indescribable by words. Here also the first murders were committed, +thirteen men and two women being killed. Then, after burning five +houses and stealing all the horses they could find, they turned back +toward the Saline, carrying away as prisoners two little girls named +Bell, who have never been heard of since.</p> + +<p>It was probably the intention to finish, as they marched back to the +south, the devilish work begun on the Saline, but before they reached +that valley on the return, the victims left there originally had fled +to Fort Harker, as already explained, and Captain Benteen was now +nearing the little settlement with a troop of cavalry, which he had +hurriedly marched from Fort Zarah. The savages were attacking the +house of a Mr. Schermerhorn, where a few of the settlers had +collected for defense, when Benteen approached. Hearing the firing, +the troopers rode toward the sound at a gallop, but when they +appeared in view, coming over the hills, the Indians fled in all +directions, escaping punishment through their usual tactics of +scattering over the Plains, so as to leave no distinctive trail.</p> + +<p>When this frightful raid was taking place, Lieutenant Beecher, with +his three scouts—Comstock, Grover, and Parr—was on Walnut Creek. +Indefinite rumors about troubles on the Saline and Solomon reaching +him, he immediately sent Comstock and Grover over to the headwaters +of the Solomon, to the camp of a band of Cheyennes, whose chief was +called "Turkey Leg," to see if any of the raiders belonged there; to +learn the facts, and make explanations, if it was found that the +white people had been at fault. For years this chief had been a +special friend of Comstock and Grover. They had trapped, hunted, and +lived with his band, and from this intimacy they felt confident of +being able to get "Turkey Leg" to quiet his people, if any of them +were engaged in the raid; and, at all events, they expected, through +him and his band, to influence the rest of the Cheyennes. From the +moment they arrived in the Indian village, however, the two scouts +met with a very cold reception. Neither friendly pipe nor food was +offered them, and before they could recover from their chilling +reception, they were peremptorily ordered out of the village, with +the intimation that when the Cheyennes were on the war-path the +presence of whites was intolerable. The scouts were prompt to leave, +of course, and for a few miles were accompanied by an escort of seven +young men, who said they were sent with them to protect the two from +harm. As the party rode along over the prairie, such a depth of +attachment was professed for Comstock and Grover that, +notwithstanding all the experience of their past lives, they were +thoroughly deceived, and in the midst of a friendly conversation some +of the young warriors fell suddenly to the rear and treacherously +fired on them.</p> + +<p>At the volley Comstock fell from his horse instantly killed. Grover, +badly wounded in the shoulder, also fell to the ground near Comstock +Seeing his comrade was dead, Grover made use of his friend's body to +protect himself, lying close behind it. Then took place a remarkable +contest, Grover, alone and severely wounded, obstinately fighting the +seven Indians, and holding them at bay for the rest of the day. +Being an expert shot, and having a long-range repeating rifle, he +"stood off" the savages till dark. Then cautiously crawling away on +his belly to a deep ravine, he lay close, suffering terribly from his +wound, till the following night, when, setting out for Fort Wallace, +he arrived there the succeeding day, almost crazed from pain and +exhaustion.</p> + +<p>Simultaneously with the fiendish atrocities committed on the Saline +and Solomon rivers and the attack on Comstock and Grover, the +pillaging and murdering began on the Smoky Hill stage-route, along +the upper Arkansas River and on the headwaters of the Cimarron. That +along the Smoky Hill and north of it was the exclusive work of, the +Cheyennes, a part of the Arapahoes, and the few Sioux allies +heretofore mentioned, while the raiding on the Arkansas and Cimarron +was done principally by the Kiowas under their chief, Satanta, aided +by some of the Comanches. The young men of these tribes set out on +their bloody work just after the annuities and guns were issued at +Larned, and as soon as they were well on the road the rest of the +Comanches and Kiowas escaped from the post and fled south of the +Arkansas. They were at once pursued by General Sully with a small +force, but by the time he reached the Cimarron the war-party had +finished its raid on the upper Arkansas, and so many Indians combined +against Sully that he was compelled to withdraw to Fort Dodge, which +he reached not without considerable difficulty, and after three +severe fights.</p> + +<p>These, and many minor raids which followed, made it plain that a +general outbreak was upon us. The only remedy, therefore, was to +subjugate the savages immediately engaged in the forays by forcing +the several tribes to settle down on the reservations set apart by +the treaty of Medicine Lodge. The principal mischief-makers were the +Cheyennes. Next in deviltry were the Kiowas, and then the Arapahoes +and Comanches. Some few of these last two tribes continued friendly, +or at least took no active part in the raiding, but nearly all the +young men of both were the constant allies of the Cheyennes and +Kiowas. All four tribes together could put on the war-path a +formidable force of about 6,000 warriors. The subjugation of this +number of savages would be no easy task, so to give the matter my +undivided attention I transferred my headquarters from Leavenworth to +Fort Hays, a military post near which the prosperous town of Hays +City now stands.</p> + +<p>Fort Hays was just beyond the line of the most advanced settlements, +and was then the terminus of the Kansas-Pacific railroad. For this +reason it could be made a depot of supplies, and was a good point +from which to supervise matters in the section of country to be +operated in, which district is a part of the Great American Plains, +extending south from the Platte River in Nebraska to the Red River in +the Indian Territory, and westward from the line of frontier +settlements to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, a vast region +embracing an area of about 150,000 square miles. With the exception +of a half-dozen military posts and a few stations on the two overland +emigrant routes—the Smoky Hill to Denver, and the Arkansas to New +Mexico—this country was an unsettled waste known only to the Indians +and a few trappers. There were neither roads nor well-marked trails, +and the only timber to be found—which generally grew only along the +streams—was so scraggy and worthless as hardly to deserve the name. +Nor was water by any means plentiful, even though the section is +traversed by important streams, the Republican, the Smoky Hill, the +Arkansas, the Cimarron, and the Canadian all flowing eastwardly, as +do also their tributaries in the main. These feeders are sometimes +long and crooked, but as a general thing the volume of water is +insignificant except after rain-falls. Then, because of unimpeded +drainage, the little streams fill up rapidly with torrents of water, +which quickly flows off or sinks into the sand, leaving only an +occasional pool without visible inlet or outlet.</p> + +<p>At the period of which I write, in 1868, the Plains were covered with +vast herds of buffalo—the number has been estimated at 3,000,000 +head—and with such means of subsistence as this everywhere at hand, +the 6,000 hostiles were wholly unhampered by any problem of +food-supply. The savages were rich too according to Indian standards, +many a lodge owning from twenty to a hundred ponies; and +consciousness of wealth and power, aided by former temporizing, had +made them not only confident but defiant. Realizing that their +thorough subjugation would be a difficult task, I made up my mind to +confine operations during the grazing and hunting season to +protecting the people of the new settlements and on the overland +routes, and then, when winter came, to fall upon the savages +relentlessly, for in that season their ponies would be thin, and weak +from lack of food, and in the cold and snow, without strong ponies to +transport their villages and plunder, their movements would be so +much impeded that the troops could overtake them.</p> + +<p>At the outbreak of hostilities I had in all, east of New Mexico, a +force of regulars numbering about 2,600 men—1,200 mounted and 1,400 +foot troops. The cavalry was composed of the Seventh and Tenth +regiments; the infantry, of the Third and Fifth regiments and four +companies of the Thirty-Eighth. With these few troops all the posts +along the Smoky Hill and Arkansas had to be garrisoned, emigrant +trains escorted, and the settlements and routes of travel and the +construction parties on the Kansas-Pacific railway protected. Then, +too, this same force had to furnish for the field small movable +columns, that were always on the go, so it will be rightly inferred +that every available man was kept busy from the middle of August till +November; especially as during this period the hostiles attacked over +forty widely dispersed places, in nearly all cases stealing horses, +burning houses, and killing settlers. It was of course impossible to +foresee where these descents would be made, but as soon as an attack +was heard of assistance was always promptly rendered, and every now +and then we succeeded in killing a few savages. As a general thing, +though, the raiders escaped before relief arrived, and when they had +a few miles the start, all efforts to catch them were futile. I +therefore discouraged long pursuits, and, in fact, did not approve of +making any at all unless the chances of obtaining paying results were +very evident, otherwise the troops would be worn out by the time the +hard work of the winter was demanded from them.</p> + +<p>To get ready for a winter campaign of six months gave us much to do. +The thing most needed was more men, so I asked for additional +cavalry, and all that could be spareds—even troops of the Fifth +Cavalry—was sent tome. Believing this reinforcement insufficient, +to supplement it I applied for a regiment of Kansas volunteers, which +request being granted, the organization of the regiment was +immediately begun at Topeka. It was necessary also to provide a +large amount of transportation and accumulate quantities of stores, +since the campaign probably would not end till spring. Another +important matter was to secure competent guides for the different +columns of troops, for, as I have said, the section of country to be +operated in was comparatively unknown.</p> + +<p>In those days the railroad town of Hays City was filled with so +called "Indian scouts," whose common boast was of having slain scores +of redskins, but the real scout—that is, a 'guide and trailer +knowing the habits of the Indians—was very scarce, and it was hard +to find anybody familiar with the country south of the Arkansas, +where the campaign was to be made. Still, about Hays City and the +various military posts there was some good material to select from, +and we managed to employ several men, who, from their experience on +the Plains in various capacities, or from natural instinct and +aptitude, soon became excellent guides and courageous and valuable +scouts, some of them, indeed, gaining much distinction. Mr. William +F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill"), whose renown has since become world-wide, +was one of the men thus selected. He received his sobriquet from his +marked success in killing buffaloes for a contractor, to supply fresh +meat to the construction parties, on the Kansas-Pacific railway. He +had given up this business, however, and was now in the employ of the +quartermaster's department of the army, and was first brought to my +notice by distinguishing himself in bringing me an important despatch +from Fort Larned to Fort Hays, a distance of sixty-five miles, +through a section infested with Indians. The despatch informed me +that the Indians near Larned were preparing to decamp, and this +intelligence required that certain orders should be carried to Fort +Dodge, ninety-five miles south of Hays. This too being a +particularly dangerous route—several couriers having been killed on +it—it was impossible to get one of the various "Petes," "Jacks," or +"Jims" hanging around Hays City to take my communication. Cody +learning of the strait I was in, manfully came to the rescue, and +proposed to make the trip to Dodge, though he had just finished his +long and perilous ride from Larned. I gratefully accepted his offer, +and after four or five hours' rest he mounted a fresh horse and +hastened on his journey, halting but once to rest on the way, and +then only for an hour, the stop being made at Coon Creek, where he +got another mount from a troop of cavalry. At Dodge he took six +hours' sleep, and then continued on to his own post—Fort +Larned—with more despatches. After resting twelve hours at Larned, he was +again in the saddle with tidings for me at Fort Hays, General Hazen +sending him, this time, with word that the villages had fled to the +south of the Arkansas. Thus, in all, Cody rode about 350 miles in +less than sixty hours, and such an exhibition of endurance and +courage was more than enough to convince me that his services would +be extremely valuable in the campaign, so I retained him at Fort Hays +till the battalion of the Fifth Cavalry arrived, and then made him +chief of scouts for that regiment.</p> + +<p>The information brought me by Cody on his second trip from Larned +indicated where the villages would be found in the winter, and I +decided to move on them about the 1st of November. Only the women +and children and the decrepit old men were with the villages, however +enough, presumably, to look after the plunder most of the warriors +remaining north of the Arkansas to continue their marauding. Many +severe fights occurred between our troops and these marauders, and in +these affairs, before November 1 over a hundred Indians were killed, +yet from the ease with which the escaping savages would disappear +only to fall upon remote settlements with pillage and murder, the +results were by no means satisfactory. One of the most noteworthy of +these preliminary affairs was the gallant fight made on the +Republican River the 17th of September by my Aide, Colonel George A. +Forsyth, and party, against about seven hundred Cheyennes and Sioux. +Forsyth, with Lieutenant Beecher, and Doctor J. H. Mooers as surgeon, +was in charge of a company of citizen scouts, mostly expert +rifle-shots, but embracing also a few Indian fighters, among these Grover +and Parr. The company was organized the latter part of August for +immediate work in defense of the settlements, and also for future use +in the Indian Territory when the campaign should open there. About +the time the company had reached its complement—it was limited to +forty-seven men and three officers—a small band of hostiles began +depredations near Sheridan City, one of the towns that grew up +over-night on the Kansas-Pacific railway. Forsyth pursued this party, but +failing to overtake it, made his way into Fort Wallace for rations, +intending to return from there to Fort Hays. Before he started back, +however, another band of Indians appeared near the post and stole +some horses from the stage company. This unexpected raid made +Forsyth hot to go for the marauders, and he telegraphed me for +permission, which I as promptly gave him. He left the post on the +10th of September, the command consisting of himself, Lieutenant +Beecher, Acting Assistant Surgeon Mooers, and the full strength, +forty-seven men, with a few pack mules carrying about ten days' +rations.</p> + +<p>He headed north toward the Republican River. For the first two days +the trail was indistinct and hard to follow. During the next three +it continued to grow much larger, indicating plainly that the number +of Indians ahead was rapidly increasing. Of course this sign meant a +fight as soon as a large enough force was mustered, but as this was +what Forsyth was after, he pushed ahead with confidence and alacrity. +The night of the 16th of September he encamped on the Arickaree +branch of the Republican, not far from the forks of the river, with +the expectation of resuming the march as usual next day, for the +indications were that the main body of the savages must be still a +long way off, though in the preceding twenty-four hours an occasional +Indian had been seen.</p> + +<p>But the enemy was much nearer than was thought, for at daybreak on +the morning of the 17th he made known his immediate presence by a +sudden dash at Forsyth's horses, a few of which were stampeded and +captured before the scouts could reach them. This dash was made by a +small party only to get the horses, so those engaged in it were soon +driven off, but a few minutes later hundreds of savages—it was +afterward learned that seven hundred warriors took part in the +fight—hitherto invisible, showed themselves on the hills overlooking the +camp and so menacingly as to convince Forsyth that his defense must +be one of desperation. The only place at hand that gave any hope of +successful resistance was a small island in the Arickaree, the +channel on one side being about a foot deep while on the other it was +completely dry; so to this position a hurried retreat was made. All +the men and the remaining animals reached the island in safety, but +on account of the heavy fire poured in from the neighboring hills the +packs containing the rations and medicines had to be abandoned.</p> + +<p>On seeing Forsyth's hasty move, the Indians, thinking they had him, +prepared to overwhelm the scouts by swooping down on one side of the +island with about five hundred mounted warriors, while about two +hundred, covered by the tall grass in the river-bottom attacked the +other side, dismounted. But the brave little band sadly disappointed +them. When the charge came it was met with such a deadly fire that a +large number of the fiends were killed, some of them even after +gaining the bank of the island. This check had the effect of making +the savages more wary, but they were still bold enough to make two +more assaults before mid-day. Each of these ending like the first, +the Indians thereafter contented themselves with shooting all the +horses, which had been tied up to some scraggy little +cottonwood-trees, and then proceeded to lay siege to the party.</p> + +<p>The first man struck was Forsyth himself. He was hit three times in +all—twice in one leg, both serious wounds, and once on the head, a +slight abrasion of the scalp. A moment later Beecher was killed and +Doctor Mooers mortally wounded: and in addition to these misfortunes +the scouts kept getting hit, till several were killed, and the whole +number of casualties had reached twenty-one in a company of +forty-seven. Yet with all this, and despite the seeming hopelessness of +the situation, the survivors kept up their pluck undiminished, and +during a lull succeeding the third repulse dug into the loose soil +till the entire party was pretty well protected by rifle-pits. Thus +covered they stood off the Indians for the next three days, although +of course their condition became deplorable from lack of food, while +those who were hurt suffered indescribable agony, since no means were +at hand for dressing their wounds.</p> + +<p>By the third day the Indians, seeming to despair of destroying the +beleaguered party before succor might arrive, began to draw off, and +on the fourth wholly disappeared. The men were by this time nearly +famished for food. Even now there was nothing to be had except +horse-meat from the carcasses of the animals killed the first day, +and this, though decidedly unpalatable, not to say disgusting, had to +be put up with, and so on such unwholesome stuff they managed to live +for four days longer, at the end of which time they were rescued by a +column of troops under Colonel Bankhead, which had hastened from Fort +Wallace in response to calls for help, carried there by two brave +fellows—Stilwell and Truedell—who, volunteering to go for relief, +had slipped through the Indians, and struck out for that post in the +night after the first day's fight.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch13b"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>FITTING OUT THE WINTER EXPEDITION—ACCOMPANYING THE MAIN FORCE—THE +OTHER COLUMNS—STRUCK BY A BLIZZARD—CUSTER'S FIGHT ON THE +WASHITA—DEFEAT AND DEATH OF BLACK KETTLE—MASSACRE OF ELLIOTT'S PARTY—RELIEF +OF COLONEL CRAWFORD.</p> + +<p>The end of October saw completed the most of my arrangements for the +winter campaign, though the difficulties and hardships to be +encountered had led several experienced officers of the army, and +some frontiersmen like Mr. James Bridger, the famous scout and, guide +of earlier days, to discourage the project. Bridger even went so far +as to come out from St. Louis to dissuade me, but I reasoned that as +the soldier was much better fed and clothed than the Indian, I had +one great advantage, and that, in short, a successful campaign could +be made if the operations of the different columns were energetically +conducted. To see to this I decided to go in person with the main +column, which was to push down into the western part of the Indian +Territory, having for its initial objective the villages which, at +the beginning of hostilities, had fled toward the head-waters of the +Red River, and those also that had gone to the same remote region +after decamping from the neighborhood of Larned at the time that +General Hazen sent Buffalo Bill to me with the news.</p> + +<p>The column which was expected to do the main work was to be composed +of the Nineteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Colonel +Crawford; eleven troops of the Seventh United States Cavalry, under +General Custer, and a battalion of five companies of infantry under +Brevet Major John H. Page. To facilitate matters, General Sully, the +district commander, was ordered to rendezvous these troops and +establish a supply depot about a hundred miles south of Fort Dodge, +as from such a point operations could be more readily conducted. He +selected for the depot a most suitable place at the confluence of +Beaver and Wolf creeks, and on his arrival there with Custer's and +Page's commands, named the place Camp Supply.</p> + +<p>In conjunction with the main column, two others also were to +penetrate the Indian Territory. One of these, which was to march +east from New Mexico by way of Fort Bascom was to be composed of six +troops of the Third Cavalry and two companies of infantry, the whole +under Colonel A. W. Evans. The other, consisting of seven troops of +the Fifth Cavalry, and commanded by Brevet Brigadier-General Eugene +A. Carr, was to march southeast from Fort Lyon; the intention being +that Evans and Carr should destroy or drive in toward old Fort Cobb +any straggling bands that might be prowling through the country west +of my own line of march; Carr, as he advanced, to be joined by Brevet +Brigadier-General W. H. Penrose, with five troops of cavalry already +in the field southeast of Lyon. The Fort Bascom column, after +establishing a depot of supplies at Monument Creek, was to work down +the main Canadian, and remain out as long as it could feed itself +from New Mexico; Carr, having united with Penrose on the North +Canadian, was to operate toward the Antelope Hills and headwaters of +the Red River; while I, with the main column was to move southward to +strike the Indians along the Washita, or still farther south on +branches of the Red River.</p> + +<p>It was no small nor easy task to outfit all these troops by the time +cold weather set in, and provide for them during the winter, but by +the 1st of November I had enough supplies accumulated at Forts Dodge +and Lyon for my own and Carr's columns, and in addition directed +subsistence and forage for three months to be sent to Fort Gibson for +final delivery at Fort Arbuckle, as I expected to feed the command +from this place when we arrived in the neighborhood of old Fort Cobb, +but through some mismanagement few of these stores got further than +Gibson before winter came on.</p> + +<p>November 1, all being ready, Colonel Grawford was furnished with +competent guides, and, after sending two troops to Fort Dodge to act +as my escort, with the rest of his regiment he started from Topeka +November 5, under orders to march straight for the rendezvous at the +junction of Beaver and Wolf creeks. He was expected to reach his +destination about the 20th, and there unite with the Seventh Cavalry +and the battalion of infantry, which in the mean time were on the +march from Dodge. A few days later Carr and Evans began their march +also, and everything being now in motion, I decided to go to Camp +Supply to give the campaign my personal attention, determined to +prove that operations could be successfully conducted in spite of +winter, and bent on showing the Indians that they were not secure +from punishment because of inclement weather—an ally on which they +had hitherto relied with much assurance.</p> + +<p>We started from Fort Hays on the 15th of November, and the first +night out a blizzard struck us and carried away our tents; and as the +gale was so violent that they could not be put up again, the rain and +snow drenched us to the skin. Shivering from wet and cold, I took +refuge under a wagon, and there spent such a miserable night that, +when at last morning came, the gloomy predictions of old man Bridger +and others rose up before me with greatly increased force. As we +took the road the sleet and snow were still falling, but we labored +on to Dodge that day in spite of the fact that many of the mules +played out on the way. We stayed only one night at Dodge, and then +on the 17th, escorted by a troop of cavalry and Forsyth's scouts, now +under the command of Lieutenant Lewis Pepoon, crossed the Arkansas +and camped the night of the 18th at Bluff Creek, where the two troops +of the Nineteenth Kansas, previously detailed as my escort, were +awaiting our coming. As we were approaching this camp some +suspicious looking objects were seen moving off at a long distance to +the east of us, but as the scouts confidently pronounced them +buffalo, we were unaware of their true character till next morning, +when we became satisfied that what we had seen were Indians, for +immediately after crossing Beaver Creek we struck a trail, leading to +the northeast, of a war party that evidently came up from the +head-waters of the Washita River.</p> + +<p>The evening of November 21 we arrived at the Camp Supply depot, having +traveled all day in another snowstorm that did not end till +twenty-four hours later. General Sully, with Custer's regiment and the +infantry battalion, had reached the place several days before, but +the Kansas regiment had not yet put in an appearance. All hands were +hard at work trying to shelter the stores and troops, but from the +trail seen that morning, believing that an opportunity offered to +strike an effective blow, I directed Custer to call in his working +parties and prepare to move immediately, without waiting for +Crawford's regiment, unaccountably absent. Custer was ready to start +by the 23d, and he was then instructed to march north to where the +trail had been seen near Beaver Creek and follow it on the back +track, for, being convinced that the war party had come from the +Washita, I felt certain that this plan would lead directly to the +villages.</p> + +<p>The difficulties attending a winter campaign were exhibited now with +their full force, as the march had to be conducted through a +snow-storm that hid surrounding objects, and so covered the country as to +alter the appearance of the prominent features, making the task of +the guides doubly troublesome; but in spite of these obstacles +fifteen miles had been traversed when Custer encamped for the night. +The next day the storm had ceased, and the weather was clear and +cold. The heavy fall of snow had of course obliterated the trail in +the bottoms, and everywhere on the level; but, thanks to the wind, +that had swept comparatively bare the rough places and high ground, +the general direction could be traced without much trouble. The +day's march, which was through a country abounding with buffalo, was +unattended by any special incident at first, but during the +afternoon, after getting the column across the Canadian River—an +operation which, on account of the wagons, consumed considerable +time—Custer's scouts (friendly Osages) brought back word that, some +miles ahead, they had struck fresh signs, a trail coming into the old +one from the north, which, in their opinion, indicated that the war +party was returning to the villages.</p> + +<p>On the receipt of this news, Custer, leaving a guard with the wagons, +hastily assembled the rest of his men' and pushing on rapidly, +overtook the scouts and a detailed party from his regiment which had +accompanied them, all halted on the new trail awaiting his arrival. +A personal examination satisfied Custer that the surmises of his +scouts were correct; and also that the fresh trail in the deep snow +could at night be followed with ease. After a short halt for supper +and rest the pursuit was resumed, the Osage scouts in advance, and +although the hostile Indians were presumed to be yet some distance +off, every precaution was taken to prevent detection and to enable +our troops to strike them unawares. The fresh trail, which it was +afterward ascertained had been made by raiders from Black Kettle's +village of Cheyennes, and by some Arapahoes, led into the valley of +the Washita, and growing fresher as the night wore on, finally +brought the Osages upon a campfire, still smoldering, which, it was +concluded, had been built by the Indian boys acting as herders of the +ponies during the previous day. It was evident, then, that the +village could be but a few miles off; hence the pursuit was continued +with redoubled caution until, a few hours before dawn of the 27th, as +the leading scouts peered over a rise on the line of march, they +discovered a large body of animals in the valley below.</p> + +<p>As soon as they reported this discovery, Custer determined to +acquaint himself with the situation by making a reconnoissance in +person, accompanied by his principal officers. So, sending back word +to halt the cavalry, he directed the officers to ride forward with +him; then dismounting, the entire party crept cautiously to a high +point which overlooked the valley, and from where, by the bright moon +then shining, they saw just how the village was situated. Its +position was such as to admit of easy approach from all sides. So, +to preclude an escape of the Indians, Custer decided to attack at +daybreak, and from four different directions.</p> + +<p>The plan having been fully explained to the officers, the remaining +hours of the night were employed in making the necessary +dispositions. Two of the detachments left promptly, since they had +to make a circuitous march of several miles to Teach the points +designated for their attack; the third started a little later; and +then the fourth and last, under Custer himself, also moved into +position. As the first light grew visible in the east, each column +moved closer in to the village, and then, all dispositions having +been made according to the prearranged plan, from their appointed +places the entire force to the opening notes of "Garry Owen," played +by the regimental band as the signal for the attack—dashed at a +gallop into the village. The sleeping and unsuspecting savages were +completely surprised by the onset; yet after the first confusion, +during which the impulse to escape principally actuated them, they +seized their weapons, and from behind logs and trees, or plunging +into the stream and using its steep bank as a breastwork, they poured +upon their assailants a heavy fire, and kept on fighting with every +exhibition of desperation. In such a combat mounted men were +useless, so Custer directed his troopers to fight on, foot, and the +Indians were successively driven from one point of vantage to +another, until, finally, by 9 o'clock the entire camp was in his +possession and the victory complete. Black Kettle and over one +hundred of his warriors were killed, and about fifty women and +children captured; but most of the noncombatants, as well as a few +warriors and boys, escaped in the confusion of the fight. Making +their way down the river, these fugitives alarmed the rest of the +Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and also the Kiowas and Comanches, whose +villages were in close proximity—the nearest not more than two miles +off.</p> + +<p>Then of course all the warriors of these tribes rallied to attack +Custer, who meantime was engaged burning Black Kettle's camp and +collecting his herds of ponies. But these new foes were rather wary +and circumspect, though they already had partial revenge in an +unlooked for way by cutting off Major Elliott and fifteen men, who +had gone off in pursuit of a batch of young warriors when the fight +was going on at the village. In fact, the Indians had killed +Elliott's whole party, though neither the fate of the poor fellows, +nor how they happened to be caught, was known till long afterward. +It was then ascertained that the detachment pursued a course due +south, nearly at right angles to the Washita River, and after +galloping a couple of miles over the hills, crossing a small branch +of the Washita on the way, they captured some of the fugitives. In +bringing the prisoners back, Elliott was in turn attacked on the open +prairie by a large number of savages from farther down the Washita, +who by this time were swarming to the aid of Black Kettle's village. +The little band fought its way gallantly to within rifle-range of the +small creek referred to, but could get no farther, for the Indians +had taken up a position in the bed of the stream, and from under +cover of its banks Elliott and all his remaining men were quickly +killed. No relief was sent them, for Custer, not having seen Elliott +set out, knew nothing of the direction taken, and, besides, was busy +burning the villages and securing the ponies, and deeply concerned, +too, with defending himself from the new dangers menacing him. +Elliott and his brave little party were thus left to meet their fate +alone.</p> + +<p>While Custer was burning the lodges and plunder and securing the +ponies, the Indians from the villages down the Washita were gathering +constantly around him till by mid-day they had collected in +thousands, and then came a new problem as to what should be done. If +he attacked the other villages, there was great danger of his being +overwhelmed, and should he start back to Camp Supply by daylight, he +would run the risk of losing his prisoners and the ponies, so, +thinking the matter over, he decided to shoot all the ponies, and +keep skirmishing with the savages till nightfall, and then, under +cover of the darkness, return to Camp Supply; a programme that was +carried out successfully, but Custer's course received some severe +criticism because no effort was made to discover what had become of +Elliott.</p> + +<p>Custer had, in all, two officers and nineteen men killed, and two +officers and eleven men wounded. The blow struck was a most +effective one, and, fortunately, fell on one of the most villianous of +the hostile bands that, without any provocation whatever, had +perpetrated the massacres on the Saline and Solomon, committing +atrocities too repulsive for recital, and whose hands were still red +from their bloody work on the recent raid. Black Kettle, the chief, +was an old man, and did not himself go with the raiders to the Saline +and Solomon, and on this account his fate was regretted by some. But +it was old age only that kept him back, for before the demons set out +from Walnut Creek he had freely encouraged them by "making medicine," +and by other devilish incantations that are gone through with at war +and scalp dances.</p> + +<p>When the horrible work was over he undertook to shield himself by +professions of friendship, but being put to the test by my offering +to feed and care for all of his band who would come in to Fort Dodge +and remain there peaceably, he defiantly refused. The consequence of +this refusal was a merited punishment, only too long delayed.</p> + +<p>I received the first news of Custer's fight on the Washita on the +morning of November 29. It was brought to me by one of his white +scouts, "California Joe," a noted character, who had been +experiencing the ups and downs of pioneer life ever since crossing +the Plains in 1849. Joe was an invaluable guide and Indian fighter +whenever the clause of the statute prohibiting liquors in the Indian +country happened to be in full force. At the time in question the +restriction was by no means a dead letter, and Joe came through in +thirty-six hours, though obliged to keep in hiding during daylight of +the 28th. The tidings brought were joyfully received by everybody at +Camp Supply, and they were particularly agreeable tome, for, besides +being greatly worried about the safety of the command in the extreme +cold and deep snows, I knew that the immediate effect a victory would +be to demoralize the rest of the hostiles, which of course would +greatly facilitate and expedite our ultimate success. Toward evening +the day after Joe arrived the head of Custer's column made its +appearance on the distant hills, the friendly Osage scouts and the +Indian prisoners in advance. As they drew near, the scouts began a +wild and picturesque performance in celebration of the victory, +yelling, firing their guns, throwing themselves on the necks and +sides of their horses to exhibit their skill in riding, and going +through all sorts of barbaric evolutions and gyrations, which were +continued till night, when the rejoicings were ended with the hideous +scalp dance.</p> + +<p>The disappearance of Major Elliott and his party was the only damper +upon our pleasure, and the only drawback to the very successful +expedition. There was no definite information as to the detachment, +—and Custer was able to report nothing more than that he had not +seen Elliott since just before the fight began. His theory was, +however, that Elliott and his men had strayed off on account of +having no guide, and would ultimately come in all right to Camp +Supply or make their way back to Fort Dodge; a very unsatisfactory +view of the matter, but as no one knew the direction Elliott had +taken, it was useless to speculate on other suppositions, and +altogether too late to make any search for him. I was now anxious to +follow up Custer's stroke by an immediate move to the south with the +entire column, but the Kansas regiment had not yet arrived. At first +its nonappearance did not worry me much, for I attributed the delay +to the bad weather, and supposed Colonel Crawford had wisely laid up +during the worst storms. Further, waiting, however, would give the +Indians a chance to recover from the recent dispiriting defeat, so I +sent out scouting parties to look Crawford up and hurry him along. +After a great deal of searching, a small detachment of the regiment +was found about fifty miles below us on the North Canadian, seeking +our camp. This detachment was in a pretty bad plight, and when +brought in, the officer in charge reported that the regiment, by not +following the advice of the guide sent to conduct it to Camp Supply, +had lost its way. Instead of relying on the guides, Crawford had +undertaken to strike through the canyons of the Cimarron by what +appeared to him a more direct route, and in the deep gorges, filled +as they were with snow, he had been floundering about for days +without being able to extricate his command. Then, too, the men were +out of rations, though they had been able to obtain enough buffalo +meat to keep from starving. As for the horses, since they could get +no grass, about seven hundred of them had already perished from +starvation and exposure. Provisions and guides were immediately sent +out to the regiment, but before the relief could reach Crawford his +remaining horses were pretty much all gone, though the men were +brought in without loss of life. Thus, the regiment being dismounted +by this misfortune at the threshold of the campaign, an important +factor of my cavalry was lost to me, though as foot-troops the Kansas +volunteers continued to render very valuable services till mustered +out the next spring.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch14b"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>A WINTER EXPEDITION—HERDS OF BUFFALO—WOLVES—BLIZZARDS—A TERRIBLE +NIGHT—FINDING THE BODIES OF ELLIOTT'S PARTY—THE ABANDONED INDIAN +CAMPS—PUSHING DOWN THE WASHITA—THE CAPTURED CHIEFS—EVANS'S +SUCCESSFUL FIGHT—ESTABLISHING FORT SILL—"CALIFORNIA JOE"—DUPLICITY +OF THE CHEYENNES—ORDERED TO REPAIR TO WASHINGTON.</p> + +<p>A few days were necessarily lost setting up and refitting the Kansas +regiment after its rude experience in the Cimarron canyons. This +through with, the expedition, supplied with thirty days' rations, +moved out to the south on the 7th of December, under my personal +command. We headed for the Witchita Mountains, toward which rough +region all the villages along the Washita River had fled after +Custer's fight with Black Kettle. My line of march was by way of +Custer's battle-field, and thence down the Washita, and if the +Indians could not sooner be brought to terms, I intended to follow +them into the Witchita Mountains from near old Fort Cobb. The snow +was still deep everywhere, and when we started the thermometer was +below zero, but the sky being clear and the day very bright, the +command was in excellent spirits. The column was made up of ten +companies of the Kansas regiment, dismounted; eleven companies of the +Seventh Cavalry, Pepoon's scouts, and the Osage scouts. In addition +to Pepoon's men and the Osages, there was also "California Joe," and +one or two other frontiersmen besides, to act as guides and +interpreters. Of all these the principal one, the one who best knew +the country, was Ben Clark, a young man who had lived with the +Cheyennes during much of his boyhood, and who not only had a pretty +good knowledge of the country, but also spoke fluently the Cheyenne +and Arapahoe dialects, and was an adept in the sign language.</p> + +<p>The first day we made only about ten miles, which carried us to the +south bank of Wolf Creek. A considerable part of the day was devoted +to straightening out matters in the command, and allowing time for +equalizing the wagon loads, which as a general thing, on a first +day's march, are unfairly distributed. And then there was an +abundance of fire-wood at Wolf Creek; indeed, here and on Hackberry +Creek—where I intended to make my next camp—was the only timber +north of the Canadian River; and to select the halting places near a +plentiful supply of wood was almost indispensable, for as the men +were provided with only shelter-tents, good fires were needed in +order to keep warm.</p> + +<p>The second day, after marching for hours through vast herds of +buffalo, we made Hackberry Creek; but not, however, without several +stampedes in the wagon-train, the buffalo frightening the mules so +that it became necessary to throw out flankers to shoot the leading +bulls and thus turn off the herds. In the wake of every drove +invariably followed a band of wolves. This animal is a great coward +usually, but hunger had made these so ravenous that they would come +boldly up to the column, and as quick as a buffalo was killed, or +even disabled, they would fall upon the carcass and eagerly devour +it. Antelope also were very numerous, and as they were quite +tame—being seldom chased—and naturally very inquisitive, it was not an +unfrequent thing to see one of the graceful little creatures run in +among the men and be made a prisoner. Such abundance of game +relieved the monotony of the march to Hackberry Creek, but still, +both men and animals were considerably exhausted by their long tramp, +for we made over thirty miles that day.</p> + +<p>We camped in excellent shape on the creek and it was well we did, for +a "Norther," or "blizzard," as storms on the Plains are now termed +struck us in the night. During the continuance of these blizzards, +which is usually about three days, the cold wind sweeps over the +Plains with great force, and, in the latitude of the Indian +Territory, is weighted with great quantities of sleet and snow, +through which it is often impossible to travel; indeed, these +"Northers" have many times proved fatal to the unprotected +frontiersman. With our numbers the chance of any one's being lost, +and perishing alone (one of the most common dangers in a blizzard), +was avoided; but under any circumstances such a storm could but +occasion intense suffering to all exposed to it, hence it would have +been well to remain in camp till the gale was over, but the time +could not be spared. We therefore resumed the march at an early hour +next morning, with the expectation of making the south bank of the +main Canathan and there passing the night, as Clark assured me that +timber was plentiful on that side of the river. The storm greatly +impeded us, however, many of the mules growing discouraged, and some +giving out entirely, so we could not get to Clark's "good camp," for +with ten hours of utmost effort only about half a day's distance +could be covered, when at last, finding the struggle useless, we were +forced to halt for the night in a bleak bottom on the north bank of +the river. But no one could sleep, for the wind swept over us with +unobstructed fury, and the only fuel to be had was a few green +bushes. As night fell a decided change of temperature added much to +our misery, the mercury, which had risen when the "Norther" began, +again falling to zero. It can be easily imagined that under such +circumstances the condition of the men was one of extreme discomfort; +in truth, they had to tramp up and down the camp all night long to +keep from freezing. Anything was a relief to this state of things, +so at the first streak of day we quit the dreadful place and took up +the march.</p> + +<p>A seemingly good point for crossing the Canadian was found a couple +of miles down the stream, where we hoped to get our train over on the +ice, but an experiment proving that it was not strong enough, a ford +had to be made, which was done by marching some of the cavalry +through the river, which was about half a mile wide, to break up the +large floes when they had been cut loose with axes. After much hard +work a passage-way was thus opened, and by noon the command was +crossed to the south bank, and after thawing out and drying our +clothes before big fires, we headed for a point on the Washita, where +Clark said there was plenty of wood, and good water too, to make us +comfortable till the blizzard had blown over.</p> + +<p>We reached the valley of the Washita a little before dark, and camped +some five or six miles above the scene of Custer's fight, where I +concluded to remain at least a day, to rest the command and give it a +chance to refit. In the mean time I visited the battle-field in +company with Custer and several other officers, to see if there was a +possibility of discovering any traces of Elliotts party. On arriving +at the site of the village, and learning from Custer what +dispositions had been made in approaching for the attack, the +squadron of the escort was deployed and pushed across the river at +the point where Elliott had crossed. Moving directly to the south, +we had not gone far before we struck his trail, and soon the whole +story was made plain by our finding, on an open level space about two +miles from the destroyed village, the dead and frozen bodies of the +entire party. The poor fellows were all lying within a circle not +more than fifteen or twenty paces in diameter, and the little piles +of empty cartridge shells near each body showed plainly that every +man had made a brave fight. None were scalped, but most of them were +otherwise horribly mutilated, which fiendish work is usually done by +the squaws. All had been stripped of their clothing, but their +comrades in the escort were able to identify the bodies, which being +done, we gave them decent burial. Their fate was one that has +overtaken many of our gallant army in their efforts to protect the +frontiersmen's homes and families from savages who give no quarter, +though they have often received it, and where the possibility of +defeat in action carries with it the certainty of death and often of +preceding torture.</p> + +<p>From the meadow where Elliott was found we rode to the Washita, and +then down the river through the sites of the abandoned villages, that +had been strung along almost continuously for about twelve miles in +the timber skirting the stream. On every hand appeared ample +evidence that the Indians had intended to spend the winter here, for +the ground was littered with jerked meat, bales of buffalo robes, +cooking utensils, and all sorts of plunder usually accumulated in a +permanent Indian camp. There were, also, lying dead near the +villages hundreds of ponies, that had been shot to keep them from +falling into our hands, the scant grazing and extreme cold having +made them too weak to be driven along in the flight. The wholesale +slaughter of these ponies was a most cheering indication that our +campaign would be ultimately successful, and we all prayed for at +least a couple of months more of cold weather and plenty of snow.</p> + +<p>At the Kiowa village we found the body of a white woman—a Mrs. +Blynn—and also that of her child. These captives had been taken by +the Kiowas near Fort Lyon the previous summer, and kept close +prisoners until the stampede began, the poor woman being reserved to +gratify the brutal lust of the chief, Satanta; then, however, Indian +vengeance demanded the murder of the poor creatures, and after +braining the little child against a tree, the mother was shot through +the forehead, the weapon, which no doubt brought her welcome release, +having been fired so close that the powder had horribly disfigured +her face. The two bodies were wrapped in blankets and taken to camp, +and afterward carried along in our march, till finally they were +decently interred at Fort Arbuckle..</p> + +<p>At an early hour on December 12 the command pulled out from its cosy +camp and pushed down the valley of the Washita, following immediately +on the Indian trail which led in the direction of Fort Cobb, but +before going far it was found that the many deep ravines and canyons +on this trail would delay our train very much, so we moved out of the +valley and took the level prairie on the divide. Here the traveling +was good, and a rapid gait was kept up till mid-day, when, another +storm of sleet and snow coming on, it became extremely difficult for +the guides to make out the proper course; and fearing that we might +get lost or caught on the open plain without wood or water—as we had +been on the Canadian—I turned the command back to the valley, +resolved to try no more shortcuts involving the risk of a disaster to +the expedition. But to get back was no slight task, for a dense fog +just now enveloped us, obscuring all landmarks. However, we were +headed right when the fog set in, and we had the good luck to reach +the valley before night-fall, though there was a great deal of +floundering about, and also much disputing among the guides as to +where the river would be found Fortunately we struck the stream right +at a large grove of timber, and established ourselves, admirably. By +dark the ground was covered with twelve or fifteen inches of fresh +snow, and as usual the temperature rose very sensibly while the storm +was on, but after night-fall the snow ceased and the skies cleared +up. Daylight having brought zero weather again, our start on the +morning of the 17th was painful work, many of the men freezing their +fingers while handling the horse equipments, harness, and tents. +However, we got off in fairly good season, and kept to the trail +along the Washita notwithstanding the frequent digging and bridging +necessary to get the wagons over ravines.</p> + +<p>Continuing on this line for three days, we at length came to a point +on the Washita where all signs indicated that we were nearing some of +the villages. Wishing to strike them as soon as possible, we made a +very early start next morning, the 17th. A march of four or five +miles brought us to a difficult ravine, and while we were making +preparations to get over, word was brought that several Indians had +appeared in our front bearing a white flag and making signs that they +had a communication to deliver. We signaled back that they would be +received, when one of the party came forward alone and delivered a +letter, which proved to be from General Hazen, at Fort Cobb. The +letter showed that Hazen was carrying on negotiations with the +Indians, and stated that all the tribes between Fort Cobb and my +column were friendly, but the intimation was given that the +Cheyennes and Arapahoes were still hostile, having moved off +southward toward the Red River. It was added that Satanta and Lone +Wolf—the chiefs of the Kiowas—would give information of the +whereabouts of the hostiles; and such a communication coming direct +from the representative of the Indian Department, practically took +the Kiowas—the village at hand was of that tribe—under its +protection, and also the Comanches, who were nearer in to Cobb. Of +course, under such circumstances I was compelled to give up the +intended attack, though I afterward regretted that I had paid any +heed to the message, because Satanta and Lone Wolf proved, by +trickery and double dealing, that they had deceived Hazen into +writing the letter.</p> + +<p>When I informed the Klowas that I would respect Hazen's letter +provided they all came into Fort Cobb and gave themselves up, the two +chiefs promised submission, and, as an evidence of good faith, +proposed to accompany the column to Fort Cobb with a large body of +warriors, while their villages moved to the same point by easy +stages, along the opposite bank of the river—claiming this to be +necessary from the poor condition of the ponies. I had some +misgivings as to the sincerity of Satanta and Lone Wolf, but as I +wanted to get the Kiowas where their surrender would be complete, so +that the Cheyennes and Arapahoes could then be pursued, I agreed to +the proposition, and the column moved on. All went well that day, +but the next it was noticed that the warriors were diminishing, and +an investigation showed that a number of them had gone off on various +pretexts—the main one being to help along the women and children +with the villages. With this I suspected that they were playing me +false, and my suspicions grew into certainty when Satanta himself +tried to make his escape by slipping beyond the flank of the column +and putting spurs to his pony. Fortunately, several officers saw +him, and quickly giving chase, overhauled him within a few hundred +yards. I then arrested both him and Lone Wolf and held them as +hostages—a measure that had the effect of bringing back many of the +warriors already beyond our reach.</p> + +<p>When we arrived at Fort Cobb we found some of the Comanches already +there, and soon after the rest of them, excepting one band, came in +to the post. The Kiowas, however, were not on hand, and there were +no signs to indicate their coming. At the end of two days it was +plain enough that they were acting in bad faith, and would continue +to unless strong pressure was brought to bear. Indeed, they had +already started for the Witchita Mountains, so I put on the screws at +once by issuing an order to hang Satanta and Lone Wolf, if their +people did not surrender at Fort Cobb within forty-eight hours. The +two chiefs promised prompt compliance, but begged for more time, +seeking to explain the non-arrival of the women and children through +the weak condition of the ponies; but I was tired of their duplicity, +and insisted on my ultimatum.</p> + +<p>The order for the execution brought quick fruit. Runners were sent +out with messages, by the two prisoners, appealing to their people to +save the lives of their chiefs, and the result was that the whole +tribe came in to the post within the specified time. The two +manacled wretches thus saved their necks; but it is to be regretted +that the execution did not come off; for some years afterward their +devilish propensities led them into Texas, where both engaged in the +most horrible butcheries.</p> + +<p>The Kiowas were now in our hands, and all the Comanches too, except +one small band, which, after the Custer fight, had fled toward the +headwaters of the Red River. This party was made up of a lot of very +bad Indians—outlaws from the main tribe—and we did not hope to +subdue them except by a fight, and of this they got their fill; for +Evans, moving from Monument Creek toward the western base of the +Witchita Mountains on Christmas Day, had the good fortune to strike +their village. In the snow and cold his approach was wholly +unexpected, and he was thus enabled to deal the band a blow that +practically annihilated it. Twenty-five warriors were killed +outright, most of the women and children captured, and all the +property was destroyed. Only a few of the party escaped, and some of +these made their way in to Fort Cobb, to join the rest of their tribe +in confinement; while others, later in the season, surrendered at +Fort Bascom.</p> + +<p>This sudden appearance of Evans in the Red River region also alarmed +the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and their thoughts now began to turn to +submission. Food was growing scarce with them, too, as there was but +little game to be found either in the Witchita Mountains or on the +edge of the Staked Plains, and the march of Carr's column from +Antelope Hills precluded their returning to where the buffalo ranged. +Then, too, many of their ponies were dead or dying, most of their +tepees and robes had been abandoned, and the women and children, +having been kept constantly on the move in the winter's storms, were +complaining bitterly of their sufferings.</p> + +<p>In view of this state of things they intimated, through their +Comanche-Apache friends at Fort Cobb, that they would like to make +terms. On receiving their messages I entered into negotiations with +Little Robe, chief of the Cheyennes, and Yellow Bear, chief of the +Arapahoes, and despatched envoys to have both tribes understand +clearly that they must recognize their subjugation by surrendering at +once, and permanently settling on their reservations in the spring. +Of course the usual delays of Indian diplomacy ensued, and it was +some weeks before I heard the result.</p> + +<p>Then one of my messengers returned with word that Little Robe and +Yellow Bear were on their way to see me. They arrived a few days +later, and, promptly acceding to the terms, promised to bring their +people in, but as many of them would have to come on foot on account +of the condition of the ponies, more time was solicited. Convinced +of the sincerity of their professions I gave them a reasonable +extension, and eventually Yellow Bear made good his word, but Little +Robe, in spite of earnest and repeated efforts, was unable to deliver +his people till further operations were begun against them.</p> + +<p>While these negotiations were in progess I came to the conclusion +that a permanent military post ought to be established well down on +the Kiowa and Comanche reservation, in order to keep an eye on these +tribes in the future, Fort Cobb, being an unsuitable location, +because too far to the north to protect the Texas frontier, and too +far away from where it was intended to permanently place the Indians. +With this purpose in view I had the country thoroughly explored, and +afterward a place was fixed upon not far from the base of the +Witchita Mountains, and near the confluence of Medicine Bluff and +Cash creeks, where building stone and timber could be obtained in +plenty, and to this point I decided to move. The place was named +Camp Sill-now Fort Sill—in honor of my classmate, General Sill, +killed at Stone River; and to make sure of the surrendered Indians, I +required them all, Kiowas, Comanches, and Comanche-Apaches, to +accompany us to the new post, so they could be kept under military +control till they were settled.</p> + +<p>During the march to the new camp the weather was not so cold as that +experienced in coming down from Camp Supply; still, rains were +frequent, and each was invariably followed by a depression of +temperature and high winds, very destructive to our animals, much +weakened by lack of food. The men fared pretty well, however, for on +the rough march along the Washita, and during our stay at Fort Cobb, +they had learned to protect themselves materially from the cold. For +this they had contrived many devices, the favorite means being +dugouts—that is, pits dug in the ground, and roofed over, with +shelter-tents, and having at one end a fire-place and chimney +ingeniously constructed with sod. In these they lived very +snugly—four men in each—and would often amuse themselves by poking their +heads out and barking at the occupants of adjacent huts in imitation +of the prairie-dog, whose comfortable nests had probably suggested +the idea of dugouts. The men were much better off, in fact, than +many of the officers, for the high winds frequently made havoc with +our wall-tents. The horses and mules suffered most of all. They +could not be sheltered, and having neither grain nor grass, the poor +beasts were in no condition to stand the chilling blasts. Still, by +cutting down cottonwood-trees, and letting the animals browse on the +small soft branches, we managed to keep them up till, finally even +this wretched food beginning to grow scarce, I had all except a few +of the strongest sent to Fort Arbuckle, near which place we had been +able, fortunately, to purchase some fields of corn from the +half-civilized Chickasaws and Choctaws.</p> + +<p>Through mismanagement, as previously noted, the greater part of the +supplies which I had ordered hauled to Arbuckle the preceding fall +had not got farther on the way than Fort Gibson, which post was about +four hundred miles off, and the road abominable, particularly east of +Arbuckle, where it ran through a low region called "boggy bottom." +All along this route were abandoned wagons, left sticking in the mud, +and hence the transportation was growing so short that I began to +fear trouble in getting subsistence up for the men. Still, it would +not do to withdraw, so I made a trip to Arbuckle chiefly for the +purpose of reorganizing the transportation, but also with a view to +opening a new route to that post, the road to lie on high ground, so +as to avoid the creeks and mud that had been giving us so much +trouble. If such a road could be made, I hoped to get up enough +rations and grain from the cornfields purchased to send out a +formidable expedition against the Cheyennes, so I set out for +Arbuckle accompanied by my quartermaster, Colonel A. J. McGonigle. +"California Joe" also went along to guide us through the scrub-oaks +covering the ridge, but even the most thorough exploration failed to +discover any route more practicable than that already in use; indeed, +the high ground was, if anything, worse than the bottom land, our +horses in the springy places and quicksands often miring to their +knees. The ground was so soft and wet, in fact, that we had to make +most of the way on foot, so by the time we reached Arbuckle I was +glad to abandon the new road project.</p> + +<p>Finding near Arbuckle more fields of corn than those already +purchased, I had them bought also, and ordered more of the horses +back there to be fed. I next directed every available mule to be put +to hauling rations, having discovered that the full capacity of the +transportation had not yet been brought into play in forwarding +stores from Gibson, and with this regulation of the supply question I +was ready to return immediately to Camp Sill. But my departure was +delayed by California Joe, who, notwithstanding the prohibitory laws +of the Territory, in some unaccountable way had got gloriously tipsy, +which caused a loss of time that disgusted me greatly; but as we +could not well do without Joe, I put off starting till the next day, +by which time it was thought he would sober up. But I might just as +well have gone at first, for at the end of the twenty-four hours the +incorrigible old rascal was still dead drunk. How he had managed to +get the grog to keep up his spree was a mystery which we could not +solve, though we had had him closely watched, so I cut the matter +short by packing him into my ambulance and carrying him off to Camp +Sill.</p> + +<p>By the time I got back to Sill, the Arapahoes were all in at the +post, or near at hand. The promised surrender of the Cheyennes was +still uncertain of fulfillment, however, and although Little Robe and +his family had remained with us in evidence of good faith, the +messages he sent to his followers brought no assurance of the tribe's +coming in—the runners invariably returning with requests for more +time, and bringing the same old excuse of inability to move because +the ponies were so badly off. But more time was just what I was +determined not to grant, for I felt sure that if a surrender was not +forced before the spring grass came, the ponies would regain their +strength, and then it would be doubtful if the Cheyennes came in at +all.</p> + +<p>To put an end to these delays, Custer proposed to go out and see the +Cheyennes himself, taking with him for escort only such number of men +as could be fairly well mounted from the few horses not sent back to +Arbuckle. At first I was inclined to disapprove Custer's +proposition, but he urged it so strongly that I finally consented, +though with some misgivings, for I feared that so small a party might +tempt the Cheyennes to forget their pacific professions and seek to +avenge the destruction of Black Kettle's band. However, after +obtaining my approval, Custer, with characteristic energy, made his +preparations, and started with three or four officers and forty +picked men, taking along as negotiators Yellow Bear and Little Robe, +who were also to conduct him to the head-waters of the Red River, +where it was supposed the Cheyennes would be found. His progress was +reported by couriers every few days, and by the time he got to the +Witchita foot-hills he had grown so sanguine that he sent California +Joe back to me with word that he was certain of success. Such +hopeful anticipation relieved me greatly, of course, but just about +the time I expected to hear that his mission had been achieved I was +astonished by the party's return. Inquiring as to the trouble, I +learned that out toward the Staked Plains every sign of the Cheyennes +had disappeared. Surprised and disappointed at this, and discouraged +by the loneliness of his situation—for in the whole region not a +trace of animal life was visible, Custer gave up the search, and none +too soon, I am inclined to believe, to save his small party from +perishing.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb344"></a><img alt="pb344.jpg (133K)" src="images/pb344.jpg" height="791" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb344.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>This failure put a stop to all expeditions till the latter part of +February, by which time I had managed to lay in enough rations to +feed the command for about thirty days; and the horses back at +Arbuckle having picked up sufficiently for field service they were +ordered to Sill, and this time I decided to send Custer out with his +own and the Kansas regiment, with directions to insist on the +immediate surrender of the Cheyennes, or give them a sound thrashing. +He was ordered to get everything ready by March 1, and then move to +the mouth of Salt Creek, on the North Fork of the Red River, at which +place I proposed to establish a new depot for feeding the command. +Trains could reach this point from Camp Supply more readily than from +Arbuckle, and wishing to arrange this part of the programme in +person, I decided to return at once to Supply, and afterward rejoin +Custer at Salt Creek, on what, I felt sure, was to be the final +expedition of the campaign. I made the three hundred and sixty miles +from Sill to Supply in seven days, but much to my surprise there +found a despatch from General Grant directing me to repair +immediately to Washington. These orders precluded, of course, my +rejoining the command; but at the appointed time it set out on the +march, and within three weeks brought the campaign to a successful +close.</p> + +<p>In this last expedition, for the first few days Custer's route was by +the same trail he had taken in January—that is to say, along the +southern base of the Witchita Mountains—but this time there was more +to encourage him than before, for, on getting a couple of marches +beyond old Camp Radziminski, on all sides were fresh evidences of +Indians, and every effort was bent to strike them.</p> + +<p>From day to day the signs grew hotter, and toward the latter part of +March the game was found. The Indians being in a very forlorn +condition, Custer might have destroyed most of the tribe, and +certainly all their villages, but in order to save two white women +whom, it was discovered, they held as captives, he contented himself +with the renewal of the Cheyennes' agreement to come in to Camp +Supply. In due time the entire tribe fulfilled its promise except +one small band under "Tall Bull," but this party received a good +drubbing from General Carr on the Republican early in May. After +this fight all the Indians of the southern Plains settled down on +their reservations, and I doubt whether the peace would ever again +have been broken had they not in after years been driven to +hostilities by most unjust treatment.</p> + +<p>It was the 2d of March that I received at Camp Supply Grant's +despatch directing me to report immediately in Washington. It had +been my intention, as I have said, to join Custer on the North Fork +of the Red River, but this new order required me to recast my plans, +so, after arranging to keep the expedition supplied till the end of +the campaign, I started for Washington, accompanied by three of my +staff—Colonels McGonigle and Crosby, and Surgeon Asch, and Mr. Deb. +Randolph Keim, a representative of the press, who went through the +whole campaign, and in 1870 published a graphic history of it. The +day we left Supply we, had another dose of sleet and snow, but +nevertheless we made good time, and by night-fall reached Bluff +Creek. In twenty-four hours more we made Fort Dodge, and on the 6th +of March arrived at Fort Hays. Just south of the Smoky Hill River, a +little before we got to the post, a courier heading for Fort Dodge +passed us at a rapid gait. Suspecting that he had despatches for me, +I directed my outrider to overtake him and find out. The courier +soon turned back, and riding up to my ambulance handed me a telegram +notifying me that General Grant, on the day of his inauguration, +March 4, 1869, had appointed me Lieutenant-General of the Army. When +I reported in Washington, the President desired me to return to New +Orleans and resume command of the Fifth Military District, but this +was not at all to my liking, so I begged off, and was assigned to +take charge of the Division of the Missouri, succeeding General +Sherman, who had just been ordered to assume command of the Army.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch15b"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>INSPECTING MILITARY POSTS IN UTAH AND MONTANA—DESIRE TO WITNESS THE +FRANCO-GERMAN WAR—ON A SAND-BAR IN THE MISSOURI—A BEAR HUNT—AN +INDIAN SCARE—MYRIADS OF MOSQUITOES—PERMISSION GIVEN TO VISIT +EUROPE—CALLING ON PRESIDENT GRANT—SAILING FOR LIVERPOOL—ARRIVAL IN +BERLIN.</p> + +<p>After I had for a year been commanding the Division of the Missouri, +which embraced the entire Rocky Mountain region, I found it necessary +to make an inspection of the military posts in northern Utah and +Montana, in order by personal observation to inform myself of their +location and needs, and at the same time become acquainted with the +salient geographical and topographical features of that section of my +division. Therefore in May, 1870, I started west by the +Union-Pacific railroad, and on arriving at Corinne' Station, the next +beyond Ogden, took passage by stage-coach for Helena, the capital of +Montana Territory. Helena is nearly five hundred miles north of +Corinne, and under ordinary conditions the journey was, in those +days, a most tiresome one. As the stage kept jogging on day and +night, there was little chance for sleep, and there being with me a +sufficient number of staff-officers to justify the proceeding, we +chartered the "outfit," stipulating that we were to stop over one +night on the road to get some rest. This rendered the journey more +tolerable, and we arrived at Helena without extraordinary fatigue.</p> + +<p>Before I left Chicago the newspapers were filled with rumors of +impending war between Germany and France. I was anxious to observe +the conflict, if it was to occur, but reports made one day concerning +the beginning of hostilities would be contradicted the next, and it +was not till I reached Helena that the despatches lost their doubtful +character, and later became of so positive a nature as to make it +certain that the two nations would fight. I therefore decided to cut +short my tour of inspection, so that I could go abroad to witness the +war, if the President would approve. This resolution limited my stay +in Helena to a couple of days, which were devoted to arranging for an +exploration of what are now known as the Upper and the Lower Geyser +Basins of the Yellowstone Park. While journeying between Corinne and +Helena I had gained some vague knowledge of these geysers from an old +mountaineer named Atkinson, but his information was very indefinite, +mostly second-hand; and there was such general uncertainty as to the +character of this wonderland that I authorized an escort of soldiers +to go that season from Fort Ellis with a small party, to make such +superficial explorations as to justify my sending an engineer officer +with a well-equipped expedition there next summer to scientifically +examine and report upon the strange country. When the arrangements +for this preliminary expedition were completed I started for Fort +Benton, the head of navigation on the Missouri River, on the way +passing through Fort Shaw, on Sun River. I expected to take at +Benton a steamboat to Fort Stevenson, a military post which had been +established about eighty miles south of Fort Buford, near a +settlement of friendly Mandan and Arickaree Indians, to protect them +from the hostile Sioux. From there I was to make my way overland, +first to Fort Totten near Devil's lake in Dakota, and thence by way +of Fort Abercrombie to Saint Cloud, Minnesota, the terminus of the +railroad.</p> + +<p>Luckily I met with no delay in getting a boat at Benton, and though +the water was extremely low, we steamed down the channel of the +Missouri with but slight detention till we got within fifty miles of +Fort Buford. Here we struck on a sandbar with such force of steam +and current as to land us almost out of the water from stem to +midships. This bad luck was tantalizing, for to land on a bar when +your boat is under full headway down-stream in the Missouri River is +no trifling matter, especially if you want to make time, for the +rapid and turbid stream quickly depositing sand under the hull, makes +it commonly a task of several days to get your boat off again. As +from our mishap the loss of much time was inevitable, I sent a +messenger to Fort Buford for a small escort, and for horses to take +my party in to the post. Colonel Morrow, the commandant, came +himself to meet us, bringing a strong party of soldiers and some +friendly Indian scouts, because, he said, there were then in the +region around Buford so many treacherous band of Sioux as to make +things exceedingly unsafe.</p> + +<p>Desiring to reach the post without spending more than one night on +the way, we abandoned our steamer that evening, and set off at an +early hour the next morning. We made camp at the end of the day's +march within ten miles of Buford, and arrived at the post without +having had any incident of moment, unless we may dignify as one a +battle with three grizzly bears, discovered by our friendly Indians +the morning of our second day's journey. While eating our +breakfast—a rather slim one, by the way—spread on a piece of canvas, the +Indians, whose bivouac was some distance off, began shouting +excitedly, "Bear! bear!" and started us all up in time to see, out on +the plain some hundreds of yards away, an enormous grizzly and two +almost full-grown cubs. Chances like this for a bear hunt seldom +offered, so there was hurried mounting—the horses being already +saddled—and a quick advance made on the game from many directions, +Lieutenant Townsend, of the escort, and five or six of the Indians +going with me. Alarmed by the commotion, bruin and her cubs turned +about, and with an awkward yet rapid gait headed for a deep ravine, +in which there was brushwood shelter.</p> + +<p>My party rode directly across the prairie and struck the trail not +far behind the game. Then for a mile or more the chase was kept up, +but with such poor shooting because of the "buck fever" which had +seized most of us, that we failed to bring down any of the grizzlies, +though the cubs grew so tired that the mother was often obliged to +halt for their defense, meanwhile urging them on before her. When +the ravine was gained she hid the cubs away in the thick brushwood, +and then coming out where we could plainly see her, stood on the +defense just within the edge of the thicket, beyond the range of our +rifles though, unless we went down into the canyon, which we would +have to do on foot, since the precipitous wall precluded going on +horseback. For an adventure like this I confess I had little +inclination, and on holding a council of war, I found that the +Indians had still less, but Lieutenant Townsend, who was a fine shot, +and had refrained from firing hitherto in the hope that I might bag +the game, relieved the embarrassing situation and saved the credit of +the party by going down alone to attack the enemy. Meanwhile I +magnanimously held his horse, and the Sioux braves did a deal of +shouting, which they seemed to think of great assistance.</p> + +<p>Townsend, having descended to the bottom of the ravine, approached +within range, when the old bear struck out, dashing into and out of +the bushes so rapidly, however, that he could not get fair aim at +her, but the startled cubs running into full view, he killed one at +the first shot and at the second wounded the other. This terribly +enraged the mother, and she now came boldly out to fight, exposing +herself in the open ground so much as to permit a shot, that brought +her down too, with a broken shoulder. Then the Indians and I, +growing very brave, scrambled down to—take part in the fight. It +was left for me to despatch the wounded cub and mother, and having +recovered possession of my nerves, I did the work effectively, and we +carried off with us the skins of the three animals as trophies of the +hunt and evidence of our prowess.</p> + +<p>As good luck would have it, when we reached Buford we found a +steamboat there unloading stores, and learned that it would be ready +to start down the river the next day. Embarking on her, we got to +Stevenson in a few hours, and finding at the post camp equipage that +had been made ready for our use in crossing overland to Fort Totten, +we set out the following forenoon, taking with us a small escort of +infantry, transported in two light wagons, a couple of Mandans and +the post interpreter going along as mounted guides.</p> + +<p>To reach water we had to march the first day to a small lake forty +miles off, and the oppressive heat, together with the long distance +traveled, used up one of the teams so much that, when about to start +out the second morning, we found the animals unable to go on with any +prospect of finishing the trip, so I ordered them to be rested +forty-eight hours longer, and then taken back to Stevenson. This +diminished the escort by one-half, yet by keeping the Indians and +interpreter on the lookout, and seeing that our ambulance was kept +closed up on the wagon carrying the rest of the detachment, we could, +I thought, stand off any ordinary party of hostile Indians.</p> + +<p>About noon I observed that the scouts in advance had left the trail +and begun to reconnoitre a low ridge to their right, the sequel of +which was that in a few minutes they returned to the wagons on a dead +run and reported Sioux just ahead. Looking in the direction +indicated, I could dimly see five or six horsemen riding in a circle, +as Indians do when giving warning to their camp, but as our halt +disclosed that we were aware of their proximity, they darted back +again behind the crest of the ridge. Anticipating from this move an +immediate attack, we hastily prepared for it by unhooking the mules +from the wagon and ambulance, so that we could use the vehicles as a +barricade. This done, I told the interpreter to take the Mandan +scouts and go over toward the ridge and reconnoitre again. As the +scouts neared the crest two of them dismounted, and, crawling slowly +on their bellies to the summit, took a hasty look and returned at +once to their horses, coming back with word that in the valley beyond +was a camp of at least a hundred Sioux lodges, and that the Indians +were hurriedly getting ready to attack us. The news was anything but +cheering, for with a village of that size the warriors would number +two or three hundred, and could assail us from every side.</p> + +<p>Still, nothing could be done, but stand and take what was to come, +for there was no chance of escape—it being supreme folly to +undertake in wagons a race with Indians to Fort Stevenson, sixty +miles away. To make the best of the situation, we unloaded the +baggage, distributing and adjusting the trunks, rolls of bedding, +crackerboxes, and everything else that would stop a bullet, in such +manner as to form a square barricade, two sides of which were the +wagons, with the mules haltered to the wheels. Every man then +supplied himself with all the ammunition he could carry, and the +Mandan scouts setting up the depressing wail of the Indian +death-song, we all awaited the attack with the courage of despair.</p> + +<p>But no attack came; and time slipping by, and we still unmolested, +the interpreter and scouts were sent out to make another +reconnoissance. Going through just such precautions as before in +approaching the ridge, their slow progress kept us in painful +suspense; but when they got to the crest the strain on our nerves was +relieved by seeing them first stand up boldly at full height, and +then descend beyond. Quickly returning, they brought welcome word +that the whole thing was a mistake, and no Sioux were there at all. +What had been taken for a hundred Indian lodges turned out to be the +camp of a Government train on its way to Fort Stevenson, and the +officer in charge seeing the scouts before they discovered him, and +believing them to be Sioux, had sent out to bring his herds in. It +would be hard to exaggerate the relief that this discovery gave us, +and we all breathed much easier. The scare was a bad one, and I have +no hesitation in saying that, had we been mounted, it is more than +likely that, instead of showing fight, we would have taken up a +lively pace for Fort Stevenson.</p> + +<p>After reciprocal explanations with the officer in charge of the +train, the march was resumed, and at the close of that day we camped +near a small lake about twenty miles from Fort Totten. From Totten +we journeyed on to Fort Abercrombie. The country between the two +posts is low and flat, and I verily believe was then the favorite +abiding-place of the mosquito, no matter where he most loves to dwell +now; for myriads of the pests rose up out of the tall rank +grass—more than I ever saw before or since—and viciously attacked both men +and animals. We ourselves were somewhat protected by gloves and +head-nets, provided us before leaving Totten, but notwithstanding +these our sufferings were well-nigh intolerable; the annoyance that +the poor mules experienced must, therefore, have been extreme; +indeed, they were so terribly stung that the blood fairly trickled +down their sides. Unluckily, we had to camp for one night in this +region; but we partly evaded the ravenous things by banking up our +tent walls with earth, and then, before turning in, sweeping and +smoking out such as had got inside. Yet with all this there seemed +hundreds left to sing and sting throughout the night. The mules +being without protection, we tried hard to save them from the vicious +insects by creating a dense smoke from a circle of smothered fires, +within which chain the grateful brutes gladly stood; but this relief +was only partial, so the moment there was light enough to enable us +to hook up we pulled out for Abercrombie in hot haste.</p> + +<p>From Abercrombie we drove on to Saint Cloud, the terminus of the +railroad, where, considerably the worse for our hurried trip and +truly wretched experience with the mosquitoes, we boarded the welcome +cars. Two days later we arrived in Chicago, and having meanwhile +received word from General Sherman that there would be no objection +to my going to Europe, I began making arrangements to leave, securing +passage by the steamship Scotia.</p> + +<p>President Grant invited me to come to see him at Long Branch before I +should sail, and during my brief visit there he asked which army I +wished to accompany, the German or the French. I told him the +German, for the reason that I thought more could be seen with the +successful side, and that the indications pointed to the defeat of +the French. My choice evidently pleased him greatly, as he had the +utmost contempt for Louis Napoleon, and had always denounced him as a +usurper and a charlatan. Before we separated, the President gave me +the following letter to the representatives of our Government abroad, +and with it I not only had no trouble in obtaining permission to go +with the Germans, but was specially favored by being invited to +accompany the headquarters of the King of Prussia:</p> + +<blockquote> +<br>"LONG BRANCH, N. J., July 25, 1870. +<br> +<br>"Lieutenant-General P. H. Sheridan, of the United State Army, is +authorized to visit Europe, to return at his own pleasure, unless +otherwise ordered. He is commended to the good offices of all +representatives of this Government whom he may meet abroad. +<br> +<br>"To citizens and representatives of other Governments I introduce +General Sheridan as one of the most skillful, brave and deserving +soldiers developed by the great struggle through which the United +States Government has just passed. Attention paid him will be duly +appreciated by the country he has served so faithfully and +efficiently. +<br> +<br>"U. S. GRANT." +</blockquote> + +<p> +Word of my intended trip was cabled to Europe in the ordinary press +despatches, and our Minister to France, Mr. Elihu B. Washburn, being +an intimate friend of mine, and thinking that I might wish to attach +myself to the French army, did me the favor to take preliminary steps +for securing the necessary authority. He went so far as to broach +the subject to the French Minister of War, but in view of the +informality of the request, and an unmistakable unwillingness to +grant it being manifested, Mr. Washburn pursued the matter no +further. I did not learn of this kindly interest in my behalf till +after the capitulation of Paris, when Mr. Washburn told me what he +had done of his own motion. Of course I thanked him gratefully, but +even had he succeeded in getting the permission he sought I should +not have accompanied the French army.</p> + +<p>I sailed from New York July 27, one of my aides-de-camp, General +James W. Forsyth, going with me. We reached Liverpool August 6, and +the next day visited the American Legation in London, where we saw +all the officials except our Minister, Mr. Motley, who, being absent, +was represented by Mr. Moran, the Secretary of the Legation. We left +London August 9 for Brussels, where we were kindly cared for by the +American Minister, Mr. Russell Jones who the same evening saw us off +for Germany. Because of the war we secured transportation only as +far as Vera, and here we received information that the Prussian +Minister of War had telegraphed to the Military Inspector of +Railroads to take charge of us on our arrival a Cologne, and send us +down to the headquarter of the Prussian army, but the Inspector, for +some unexplained reason, instead of doing this, sent us on to Berlin. +Here our Minister, Mr. George Bancroft, met us with a telegram from +the German Chancellor, Count Bismarck, saying we were expected to +come direct to the King's headquarters and we learned also that a +despatch had been sent to the Prussian Minister at Brussels directing +him to forward us from Cologne to the army, instead of allowing us to +go on to Berlin, but that we had reached and quit Brussels without +the Minister's knowledge.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch16b"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>LEAVING FOR THE SEAT OF WAR—MEETING WITH PRINCE BISMARCK—HIS +INTEREST IN PUBLIC OPINION IN AMERICA—HIS INCLINATIONS IN EARLY +LIFE—PRESENTED TO THE KING—THE BATTLE OF GRAVELOTTE—THE GERMAN +PLAN—ITS FINAL SUCCESS—SENDING NEWS OF THE VICTORY—MISTAKEN FOR A +FRENCHMAN.</p> + +<p>Shortly after we arrived in Berlin the Queen sent a messenger +offering us an opportunity to pay our respects, and fixed an hour for +the visit, which was to take place the next day; but as the tenor of +the despatch Mr. Bancroft had received from Count Bismarck indicated +that some important event which it was desired I should witness was +about to happen at the theatre of war, our Minister got us excused +from our visit of ceremony, and we started for the headquarters of +the German army that evening—our stay in the Prussian capital having +been somewhat less than a day.</p> + +<p>Our train was a very long one, of over eighty cars, and though drawn +by three locomotives, its progress to Cologne was very slow and the +journey most tedious. From Cologne we continued on by rail up the +valley of the Rhine to Bingebruck, near Bingen, and thence across +through Saarbrucken to Remilly, where we left the railway and rode in +a hay-wagon to Pont-a-Mousson, arriving there August 17, late in the +afternoon. This little city had been ceded to France at the Peace of +Westphalia, and although originally German, the people had become, in +the lapse of so many years, intensely French in sentiment. The town +was so full of officers and men belonging to the German army that it +was difficult to get lodgings, but after some delay we found quite +comfortable quarters at one of the small hotels, and presently, after +we had succeeded in getting a slender meal, I sent my card to Count +von Bismarck, the Chancellor of the North German Confederation, who +soon responded by appointing an hour—about 9 o'clock the same +evening—for an interview.</p> + +<p>When the Count received me he was clothed in the undress uniform of +the Cuirassier regiment, of which he was the colonel. During the +interview which ensued, he exhibited at times deep anxiety regarding +the conflict now imminent, for it was the night before the battle of +Gravelotte, but his conversation was mostly devoted to the state of +public sentiment in America, about which he seemed much concerned, +inquiring repeatedly as to which side—France or Prussia—was charged +with bringing on the war. Expressing a desire to witness the battle +which was expected to occur the next day, and remarking that I had +not had sufficient time to provide the necessary transportation, he +told me to be ready at 4 o'clock in the morning, and he would take me +out in his own carriage and present me to the King—adding that he +would ask one of his own staff-officers, who he knew had one or two +extra horses, to lend me one. As I did not know just what my status +would be, and having explained to the President before leaving +America that I wished to accompany the German army unofficially, I +hardly knew whether to appear in uniform or not, so I spoke of this +matter too, and the Count, after some reflection, thought it best for +me to wear my undress uniform, minus the sword, however, because I +was a non combatant.</p> + +<p>At 4 o'clock the next morning, the 18th, I repaired to the +Chancellor's quarters. The carriage was at the door, also the +saddle-horse, but as no spare mount could be procured for General +Forsyth, he had to seek other means to reach the battle-field. The +carriage was an open one with two double seats, and in front a single +one for a messenger; it had also a hand-brake attached.</p> + +<p> +Count Bismarck and I occupied the rear seat, and Count +Bismarck-Bohlen—the nephew and aide-decamp to the Chancellor—and Doctor +Busch were seated facing us. The conveyance was strong, serviceable, +and comfortable, but not specially prepossessing, and hitched to it +were four stout horses—logy, ungainly animals, whose clumsy harness +indicated that the whole equipment was meant for heavy work. Two +postilions in uniform, in high military saddles on the nigh horse of +each span, completed the establishment.</p> + +<p>All being ready, we took one of the roads from Pont-a-Mousson to +Rezonville, which is on the direct road from Metz to Chalons, and +near the central point of the field where, on the 16th of August, the +battle of Mars-la-Tour had been fought. It was by this road that the +Pomeranians, numbering about 30,000 men, had been ordered to march to +Gravelotte, and after proceeding a short distance we overtook the +column. As this contingent came from Count Bismarck's own section of +Germany, there greeted us as we passed along, first in the dim light +of the morning, and later in the glow of the rising sun, continuous +and most enthusiastic cheering for the German Chancellor.</p> + +<p>On the way Count Bismarck again recurred to the state of public +opinion in America with reference to the war. He also talked much +about our form of government, and said that in early life his +tendencies were all toward republicanism, but that family influence +had overcome his preferences, and intimated that, after adopting a +political career, he found that Germany was not sufficiently advanced +for republicanism. He said, further, that he had been reluctant to +enter upon this public career, that he had always longed to be a +soldier, but that here again family opposition had turned him from +the field of his choice into the sphere of diplomacy.</p> + +<p>Not far from Mars-la-Tour we alighted, and in a little while an +aide-de-camp was introduced, who informed me that he was there to conduct +and present me to his Majesty, the King of Prussia. As we were +walking along together, I inquired whether at the meeting I should +remove my cap, and he said no; that in an out-of-door presentation it +was not etiquette to uncover if in uniform. We were soon in presence +of the King, where—under the shade of a clump of second-growth +poplar-trees, with which nearly all the farms in the north of France +are here and there dotted—the presentation was made in the simplest +and most agreeable manner.</p> + +<p>His Majesty, taking my hand in both of his, gave me a thorough +welcome, expressing, like Count Bismarck, though through an +interpreter, much interest as to the sentiment in my own country +about the war. At this time William the First of Prussia was +seventy-three years of age, and, dressed in the uniform of the +Guards, he seemed to be the very ideal soldier, and graced with most +gentle and courteous manners. The conversation, which was brief, as +neither of us spoke the other's native tongue, concluded by his +Majesty's requesting me in the most cordial way to accompany his +headquarters during the campaign. Thanking him for his kindness, I +rejoined Count Bismarck's party, and our horses having arrived +meantime, we mounted and moved off to the position selected for the +King to witness the opening of the battle.</p> + +<p>This place was on some high ground overlooking the villages of +Rezonville and Gravelotte, about the centre of the battlefield of +Mars-la-Tour, and from it most of the country to the east toward Metz +could also be seen. The point chosen was an excellent one for the +purpose, though in one respect disagreeable, since the dead bodies of +many of the poor fellows killed there two days before were yet +unburied. In a little while the King's escort began to remove these +dead, however, bearing them away on stretchers improvised with their +rifles, and the spot thus cleared was much more acceptable. Then, +when such unexploded shells as were lying around loose had been +cautiously carried away, the King, his brother, Prince Frederick +Charles Alexander, the chief-of-staff, General von Moltke, the +Minister of War, General von Roon, and Count von Bismarck assembled +on the highest point, and I being asked to join the group, was there +presented to General von Moltke. He spoke our language fluently, and +Bismarck having left the party for a time to go to a neighboring +house to see his son, who had been wounded at Mars-la-Tour, and about +whom he was naturally very anxious, General von Moltke entertained me +by explaining the positions of the different corps, the nature and +object of their movements then taking place, and so on.</p> + +<p>Before us, and covering Metz, lay the French army, posted on the +crest of a ridge extending north, and about its centre curving +slightly westward toward the German forces. The left of the French +position was but a short distance from the Moselle, and this part of +the line was separated from the Germans by a ravine, the slopes, +fairly well wooded, rising quite sharply; farther north, near the +centre, this depression disappeared, merged in the general swell of +the ground, and thence on toward the right the ground over which an +approach to the French line must be made was essentially a natural +open glacis, that could be thoroughly swept by the fire of the +defenders.</p> + +<p>The line extended some seven or eight miles. To attack this +position, formidable everywhere, except perhaps on the right flank, +the Germans were bringing up the combined forces of the First and +Second armies, troops that within the past fortnight had already +successfully met the French in three pitched battles. On the right +was the First Army, under command of General Von Steinmetz, the +victors, August 6, of Spicheren, near Saar, and, eight days later, of +Colombey, to the east of Metz; while the centre and left were +composed of the several corps of the Second Army, commanded by Prince +Frederick Charles of Prussia, a part of whose troops had just been +engaged in the sanguinary battle of Mars-la-Tour, by which Bazaine +was cut off from the Verdun road, and forced back toward Metz.</p> + +<p>At first the German plan was simply to threaten with their right, +while the corps of the Second Army advanced toward the north, to +prevent the French, of whose intentions there was much doubt, from +escaping toward Chalons; then, as the purposes of the French might +be, developed, these corps were to change direction toward the enemy +successively, and seek to turn his right flank. But the location of +this vital turning-point was very uncertain, and until it was +ascertained and carried, late in the afternoon, the action raged with +more or less intensity along the entire line.</p> + +<p>But as it is not my purpose to describe in detail the battle of +Gravelotte, nor any other, I will speak of some of its incidents +merely. About noon, after many preliminary skirmishes, the action +was begun according to the plan I have already outlined, the Germans +advancing their left while holding on strongly with their right, and +it was this wing (the First Army) that came under my observation from +the place where the King's headquarters were located. From here we +could see, as I have said, the village of Gravelotte. Before it lay +the German troops, concealed to some extent, especially to the left, +by clumps of timber here and there. Immediately in front of us, +however, the ground was open, and the day being clear and sunny, with +a fresh breeze blowing (else the smoke from a battle between four +hundred thousand men would have obstructed the view altogether), the +spectacle presented Was of unsurpassed magnificence and sublimity. +The German artillery opened the battle, and while the air was filled +with shot and shell from hundreds of guns along their entire line, +the German centre and left, in rather open order, moved out to the +attack, and as they went forward the reserves, in close column, took +up positions within supporting distances, yet far enough back to be +out of range.</p> + +<p>The French artillery and mitrailleuses responded vigorously to the +Krupps, and with deadly effect, but as far as we could see the German +left continued its advance, and staff-officers came up frequently to +report that all was going on well at points hidden from our view +These reports were always made to the King first, and whenever +anybody arrived with tidings of the fight we clustered around to hear +the news, General Von Moltke unfolding a map meanwhile, and +explaining the situation. This done, the chief of the staff, while +awaiting the next report, would either return to a seat that had been +made for him with some knapsacks, or would occupy the time walking +about, kicking clods of dirt or small stones here and there, his +hands clasped behind his back, his face pale and thoughtful. He was +then nearly seventy years old, but because of his emaciated figure, +the deep wrinkles in his face, and the crow's-feet about his eyes, he +looked even older, his appearance being suggestive of the practice of +church asceticisms rather than of his well-known ardent devotion to +the military profession.</p> + +<p>By the middle of the afternoon the steady progress of the German left +and centre had driven the French from their more advanced positions +from behind stone walls and hedges, through valleys and hamlets, in +the direction of Metz, but as yet the German right had accomplished +little except to get possession of the village of Gravelotte, +forcing the French across the deep ravine I have mentioned, which +runs north and south a little distance east of ihe town.</p> + +<p>But it was now time for the German right to move in earnest to carry +the Rozerieulles ridge, on which crest the French had evidently +decided to make an obstinate fight to cover their withdrawal to Metz. +As the Germans moved to the attack here, the French fire became heavy +and destructive, so much so, indeed, as to cause General Von +Steinmetz to order some cavalry belonging to the right wing to make a +charge. Crossing the ravine before described, this body of horse +swept up the slope beyond, the front ranks urged forward by the +momentum from behind. The French were posted along a sunken road, +behind stone walls and houses, and as the German cavalry neared these +obstructions it received a dreadful fire without the least chance of +returning it, though still pushed on till the front ranks were +crowded into the deep cut of the road. Here the slaughter was +terrible, for the horsemen could make no further headway; and because +of the blockade behind, of dead and wounded men and animals, an +orderly retreat was impossible, and disaster inevitable.</p> + +<p>About the time the charge was ordered, the phase of the battle was +such that the King concluded to move his headquarters into the +village of Gravelotte; and just after getting there, we first learned +fully of the disastrous result of the charge which had been entered +upon with such spirit; and so much indignation was expressed against +Steinmetz, who, it was claimed, had made an unnecessary sacrifice of +his cavalry, that I thought he would be relieved on the spot; though +this was not done.</p> + +<p>Followed by a large staff, General Steinmetz appeared in the village +presently, and approached the King. When near, he bowed with great +respect, and I then saw that he was a very old man though his +soldierly figure, bronzed face, and shortcropped hair gave some +evidence of vigor still. When the King spoke to him I was not close +enough to learn what was said; but his Majesty's manner was +expressive of kindly feeling, and the fact that in a few moments the +veteran general returned to the command of his troops, indicated +that, for the present at least, his fault had been overlooked.</p> + +<p>The King then moved out of the village, and just a little to the east +and north of it the headquarters were located on high, open ground, +whence we could observe the right of the German infantry advancing up +the eastern face of the ravine. The advance, though slow and +irregular, resulted in gradually gaining ground, the French resisting +stoutly with a stubborn musketry fire all along the slopes. Their +artillery was silent, however; and from this fact the German +artillery officers grew jubilant, confidently asserting that their +Krupp guns had dismounted the French batteries and knocked their +mitrailleuses to pieces. I did not indulge in this confidence, +however; for, with the excellent field-glass I had, I could +distinctly see long columns of French troops moving to their right, +for the apparent purpose of making a vigorous fight on that flank; +and I thought it more than likely that their artillery would be heard +from before the Germans could gain the coveted ridge.</p> + +<p>The Germans labored up the glacis slowly at the most exposed places; +now crawling on their bellies, now creeping on hands and knees, but, +in the main, moving with erect and steady bearing. As they +approached within short range, they suddenly found that the French +artillery and mitrallleuses had by no means been silenced—about two +hundred pieces opening on them with fearful effect, while at the same +time the whole crest blazed with a deadly fire from the Chassepot +rifles. Resistance like this was so unexpected by the Germans that +it dismayed them; and first wavering a moment, then becoming +panic-stricken, they broke and fled, infantry, cavalry, and artillery +coming down the slope without any pretence of formation, the French +hotly following and pouring in a heavy and constant fire as the +fugitives fled back across the ravine toward Gravelotte. With this +the battle on the right had now assumed a most serious aspect, and +the indications were that the French would attack the heights of +Gravelotte; but the Pomeranian corps coming on the field at this +crisis, was led into action by Von Moltke, himself, and shortly after +the day was decided in favor of the Germans.</p> + +<p>When the French guns opened fire, it was discovered that the King's +position was within easy range, many of the shells falling near +enough to make the place extremely uncomfortable; so it was suggested +that he go to a less exposed point. At first he refused to listen to +this wise counsel, but yielded finally—leaving the ground with +reluctance, however—and went back toward Rezonville. I waited for +Count Bismarck, who did not go immediately with the King, but +remained at Gravelotte, looking after some of the escort who had been +wounded. When he had arranged for their care, we set out to rejoin +the King, and before going far, overtook his Majesty, who had stopped +on the Chalons road, and was surrounded by a throng of fugitives, +whom he was berating in German so energetic as to remind me forcibly +of the "Dutch" swearing that I used to hear in my boyhood in Ohio. +The dressing down finished to his satisfaction, the King resumed his +course toward Re'zonville, halting, however, to rebuke in the same +emphatic style every group of runaways he overtook.</p> + +<p>Passing through Rezonville, we halted just beyond the village; there +a fire was built, and the King, his brother, Prince Frederick +Charles, and Von Roon were provided with rather uncomfortable seats +about it, made by resting the ends of a short ladder on a couple of +boxes. With much anxiety and not a little depression of spirits news +from the battle-field was now awaited, but the suspense did not last +long, for presently came the cheering intelligence that the French +were retiring, being forced back by the Pomeranian corps, and some of +the lately broken right wing organizations, that had been rallied on +the heights of Gravelotte. The lost ground being thus regained, and +the French having been beaten on their right, it was not long before +word came that Bazaine's army was falling back to Metz, leaving the +entire battle-field in possession of the Germans.</p> + +<p>During the excitement of the day I had not much felt the want of +either food or water, but now that all was over I was nearly +exhausted, having had neither since early morning. Indeed, all of +the party were in like straits; the immense armies had not only eaten +up nearly everything in the country, but had drunk all the wells dry, +too, and there seemed no relief for us till, luckily, a squad of +soldiers came along the road with a small cask of wine in a cart. +One of the staff-officers instantly appropriated the keg, and +proceeded to share his prize most generously. Never had I tasted +anything so refreshing and delicious, but as the wine was the +ordinary sour stuff drunk by the peasantry of northern France, my +appreciation must be ascribed to my famished condition rather than to +any virtues of the beverage itself.</p> + +<p>After I had thus quenched my thirst the King's, brother called me +aside, and drawing from his coat-tail pocket a piece of stale black +bread, divided it with me, and while munching on this the Prince +began talking of his son—General Prince Frederick Charles, popularly +called the Red Prince—who was in command of the Second Army in this +battle—the German left wing. In recounting his son's professional +career the old man's face was aglow with enthusiasm, and not without +good cause, for in the war between Prussia and Austria in 1866, as +well as in the present campaign, the Red Prince had displayed the +highest order of military genius.</p> + +<p>The headquarters now became the scene of much bustle, despatches +announcing the victory being sent in all directions. The first one +transmitted was to the Queen, the King directing Count Bismarck to +prepare it for his signature; then followed others of a more official +character, and while these matters were being attended to I thought I +would ride into the village to find, if possible, some water for my +horse. Just as I entered the chief street, however, I was suddenly +halted by a squad of soldiers, who, taking me for a French officer +(my coat and forage cap resembling those of the French), leveled +their pieces at me. They were greatly excited, so much so, indeed, +that I thought my hour had come, for they could not understand +English, and I could not speak German, and dare not utter +explanations in French. Fortunately a few disconnected German words +came to me in the emergency. With these I managed to delay my +execution, and one of the party ventured to come up to examine the +"suspect" more closely. The first thing he did was to take off my +cap, and looking it over carefully, his eyes rested on the three +stars above the visor, and, pointing to them, he emphatically +pronounced me French. Then of course they all became excited again, +more so than before, even, for they thought I was trying to practice +a ruse, and I question whether I should have lived to recount the +adventure had not an officer belonging to the King's headquarters +been passing by just then, when, hearing the threatenings and +imprecations, he rode up to learn the cause of the hubbub, and +immediately recognized and released me. When he told my wrathy +captors who I was, they were much mortified of course, and made the +most profuse apologies, promising that no such mistake should occur +again, and so on; but not feeling wholly reassured, for my uniform +was still liable to mislead, I was careful to return to headquarters +in company with my deliverer. There I related what had occurred, and +after a good laugh all round, the King provided me with a pass which +he said would preclude any such mishap in the future, and would also +permit me to go wherever I pleased—a favor rarely bestowed.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch17b"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>SEARCHING FOR QUARTERS—HUNTING UP PROVISIONS—A SLENDER +BREAKFAST—GOING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD—THE GERMAN ARTILLERY—A GROUP OF +WOUNDED—DINING WITH THE KING—ON THE MARCH—THE +BAVARIANS—KIRSCHWASSER—URGING ON THE TROOPS.</p> + +<p>While I was absent, as related in the preceding chapter, it had been +decided that the King's quarters should be established for the night +in the village of Rezonville; and as it would be very difficult, at +such a late hour, to billet the whole party regularly, Count Bismarck +and I went off to look for shelter for ourselves. Remembering that I +had seen, when seeking to water my horse, a partly burned barn with +some fresh-looking hay in it, I suggested that we lodge there. He +too thought it would answer our purpose, but on reaching it we found +the unburned part of the barn filled with wounded, and this +necessitating a further search we continued on through the village in +quest of some house not yet converted into a hospital. Such, +however, seemed impossible to come upon, so at last the Count fixed +on one whose upper floor, we learned, was unoccupied, though the +lower one was covered with wounded.</p> + +<p>Mounting a creaky ladder—there was no stairway—to the upper story, +we found a good-sized room with three large beds, one of which the +Chancellor assigned to the Duke of Mecklenburg and aide, and another +to Count Bismarck-Bohlen and me, reserving the remaining one for +himself. Each bed, as is common in Germany and northern France, was +provided with a feather tick, but the night being warm, these spreads +were thrown off, and discovering that they would make a comfortable +shakedown on the floor, I slept there leaving Bismarck-Bohlen +unembarrassed by companionship—at least of a human kind.</p> + +<p>At daylight I awoke, and seeing that Count Bismarck was already +dressed and about to go down the ladder, I felt obliged to follow his +example, so I too turned out, and shortly descended to the +ground-floor, the only delays of the toilet being those incident to +dressing, for there were no conveniences for morning ablutions. Just +outside the door I met the Count, who, proudly exhibiting a couple of +eggs he had bought from the woman of the house, invited me to +breakfast with him, provided we could beg some coffee from the king's +escort. Putting the eggs under my charge, with many injunctions as +to their safe-keeping, he went off to forage for the coffee, and +presently returned, having been moderately successful. One egg +apiece was hardly enough, however, to appease the craving of two +strong men ravenous from long fasting. Indeed, it seemed only to +whet the appetite, and we both set out on an eager expedition for +more food. Before going far I had the good luck to meet a sutler's +wagon, and though its stock was about all sold, there were still left +four large bologna sausages, which I promptly purchased—paying a +round sum for them too—and hastening back found the Count already +returned, though without bringing anything at all to eat; but he had +secured a couple of bottles of brandy, and with a little of this—it +was excellent, too—and the sausages, the slim ration of eggs and +coffee was amply reinforced.</p> + +<p>Breakfast over, the Chancellor invited me to accompany him in a ride +to the battle-field, and I gladly accepted, as I very much desired to +pass over the ground in front of Gravelotte, particularly so to see +whether the Krupp guns had really done the execution that was claimed +for them by the German artillery officers. Going directly through +the village of Gravelotte, following the causeway over which the +German cavalry had passed to make its courageous but futile charge, +we soon reached the ground where the fighting had been the most +severe. Here the field was literally covered with evidences of the +terrible strife, the dead and wounded strewn thick on every side.</p> + +<p>In the sunken road the carnage had been awful; men and horses having +been slaughtered there by hundreds, helpless before the murderous +fire delivered from behind a high stone wall impracticable to mounted +troops. The sight was sickening to an extreme, and we were not slow +to direct our course elsewhere, going up the glacis toward the French +line, the open ground over which we crossed being covered with +thousands of helmets, that had been thrown off by the Germans during +the fight and were still dotting the field, though details of +soldiers from the organizations which had been engaged here were +about to begin to gather up their abandoned headgear.</p> + +<p>When we got inside the French works, I was astonished to observe how +little harm had been done the defenses by the German artillery, for +although I had not that serene faith in the effectiveness of their +guns held by German artillerists generally, yet I thought their +terrific cannonade must have left marked results. All I could +perceive, however, was a disabled gun, a broken mitrailleuse, and two +badly damaged caissons.</p> + +<p>Everything else, except a little ammunition in the trenches, had been +carried away, and it was plain to see, from the good shape in which +the French left wing had retired to Metz, that its retreat had been +predetermined by the disasters to the right wing.</p> + +<p>By this hour the German cavalry having been thrown out to the front +well over toward Metz, we, following it to get a look at the city, +rode to a neighboring summit, supposing it would be a safe point of +observation; but we shortly realized the contrary, for scarcely had +we reached the crest when some of the French pickets, lying concealed +about six hundred yards off, opened fire, making it so very hot for +us that, hugging the necks of our horses, we incontinently fled. +Observing what had taken place, a troop of German cavalry charged the +French outpost and drove it far enough away to make safe our return, +and we resumed possession of the point, but only to discover that the +country to the east was so broken and hilly that no satisfactory view +of Metz could be had.</p> + +<p>Returning to Gravelotte, we next visited that part of the battlefield +to the northeast of the village, and before long Count Bismarck +discovered in a remote place about twenty men dreadfully wounded. +These poor fellows had had no attention whatever, having been +overlooked by the hospital corps, and their condition was most +pitiful. Yet there was one very handsome man in the group—a captain +of artillery—who, though shot through the right breast, was +talkative and cheerful, and felt sure of getting well. Pointing, +however, to a comrade lying near, also shot in the breast, he +significantly shook his head; it was easy to see on this man's face +the signs—of fast approaching death.</p> + +<p>An orderly was at once despatched for a surgeon, Bismarck and I doing +what we could meanwhile to alleviate the intense sufferings of the +maimed men, bringing them water and administering a little brandy, +for the Count still had with him some of the morning's supply. When +the surgeons came, we transferred the wounded to their care, and +making our way to Rezonville, there took the Count's carriage to +rejoin the King's headquarters, which in the mean time had been moved +to Pont-a-Mousson. Our route led through the village of Gorze, and +here we found the streets so obstructed with wagons that I feared it +would take us the rest of the day to get through, for the teamsters +would not pay the slightest heed to the cries of our postilions. The +Count was equal to the emergency, however, for, taking a pistol from +behind his cushion, and bidding me keep my seat, he jumped out and +quickly began to clear the street effectively, ordering wagons to the +right and left. Marching in front of the carriage and making way for +us till we were well through the blockade, he then resumed his seat, +remarking, "This is not a very dignified business for the Chancellor +of the German Confederation, but it's the only way to get through."</p> + +<p>At Pont-a-Mousson I was rejoined by my aide, General Forsyth, and for +the next two days our attention was almost wholly devoted to securing +means of transportation. This was most difficult to obtain, but as I +did not wish to impose on the kindness of the Chancellor longer, we +persevered till, finally, with the help of Count Bismarck-Bohlen, we +managed to get tolerably well equipped with a saddle-horse apiece, +and a two-horse carriage. Here also, on the afternoon of August 21, +I had the pleasure of dining with the King. The dinner was a simple +one, consisting of soup, a joint, and two or three vegetables; the +wines vin ordinaire and Burgundy. There were a good many persons of +high rank present, none of whom spoke English, however, except +Bismarck, who sat next the King and acted as interpreter when his +Majesty conversed with me. Little was said of the events taking +place around us, but the King made many inquiries concerning the war +of the rebellion, particularly with reference to Grant's campaign at +Vicksburg; suggested, perhaps, by the fact that there, and in the +recent movements of the German army, had been applied many similar +principles of military science.</p> + +<p>The French army under Marshal Bazaine having retired into the +fortifications of Metz, that stronghold was speedily invested by +Prince Frederick Charles. Meantime the Third Army, under the Crown +Prince of Prussia—which, after having fought and won the battle of +Worth, had been observing the army of Marshal MacMahon during and +after the battle of Gravelotte—was moving toward Paris by way of +Nancy, in conjunction with an army called the Fourth, which had been +organized from the troops previously engaged around Metz, and on the +22d was directed toward Bar-le-Duc under the command of the Crown +Prince of Saxony. In consequence of these operations the King +decided to move to Commercy, which place we reached by carriage, +traveling on a broad macadamized road lined on both sides with +poplar-trees, and our course leading through a most beautiful country +thickly dotted with prosperous-looking villages.</p> + +<p>On reaching Commercy, Forsyth and I found that quarters had been +already selected for us, and our names written on the door with chalk +the quartermaster charged with the billeting of the officers at +headquarters having started out in advance to perform this duty and +make all needful preparations for the King before he arrived, which +course was usually pursued thereafter, whenever the royal +headquarters took up a new location.</p> + +<p>Forsyth and I were lodged with the notary of the village, who over +and over again referred to his good fortune in not having to +entertain any of the Germans. He treated us most hospitably, and +next morning, on departing, we offered compensation by tendering a +sum—about what our bill would have been at a good hotel—to be used +for the "benefit of the wounded or the Church." Under this +stipulation the notary accepted, and we followed that plan of paying +for food and lodging afterward, whenever quartered in private houses.</p> + +<p>The next day I set out in advance of the headquarters, and reached +Bar-le-Duc about noon, passing on the way the Bavarian contingent of +the Crown Prince's army. These Bavarians were trim-looking soldiers, +dressed in neat uniforms of light blue; they looked healthy and +strong, but seemed of shorter stature than the North Germans I had +seen in the armies of Prince Frederick Charles and General von +Steinmetz. When, later in the day the King arrived, a guard for him +was detailed from this Bavarian contingent; a stroke of policy no +doubt, for the South Germans were so prejudiced against their +brothers of the North that no opportunity to smooth them down was +permitted to go unimproved.</p> + +<p>Bar-le-Duc, which had then a population of about 15,000, is one of +the prettiest towns I saw in France, its quaint and ancient buildings +and beautiful boulevards charming the eye as well as exciting deep +interest. The King and his immediate suite were quartered on one of +the best boulevards in a large building—the Bank of France—the +balcony of which offered a fine opportunity to observe a part of the +army of the Crown Prince the next day on its march toward Vitry. +This was the first time his Majesty had had a chance to see any of +these troops—as hitherto he had accompanied either the army of +Prince Frederick Charles, or that of General Steinmetz—and the +cheers with which he was greeted by the Bavarians left no room for +doubting their loyalty to the Confederation, notwithstanding ancient +jealousies.</p> + +<p>While the troops were passing, Count Bismarck had the kindness to +point out to me the different organizations, giving scraps of their +history, and also speaking concerning the qualifications of the +different generals commanding them. When the review was over we went +to the Count's house, and there, for the first time in my life, I +tasted kirschwasser, a very strong liquor distilled from cherries. +Not knowing anything about the stuff, I had to depend on Bismarck's +recommendation, and he proclaiming it fine, I took quite a generous +drink, which nearly strangled me and brought on a violent fit of +coughing. The Chancellor said, however, that this was in no way due +to the liquor, but to my own inexperience, and I was bound to believe +the distinguished statesman, for he proved his words by swallowing a +goodly dose with an undisturbed and even beaming countenance, +demonstrating his assertion so forcibly that I forthwith set out with +Bismarck-Bohlen to lay in a supply for myself.</p> + +<p>I spent the night in a handsome house, the property of an +exceptionally kind and polite gentleman bearing the indisputably +German name of Lager, but who was nevertheless French from head to +foot, if intense hatred of the Prussians be a sign of Gallic +nationality. At daybreak on the 26th word came for us to be ready to +move by the Chalons road at 7 o'clock, but before we got off, the +order was suspended till 2 in the afternoon. In the interval General +von Moltke arrived and held a long conference with the King, and when +we did pull out we traveled the remainder of the afternoon in company +with a part of the Crown Prince's army, which after this conference +inaugurated the series of movements from Bar-le-Duc northward, that +finally compelled the surrender at Sedan. This sudden change of +direction I did not at first understand, but soon learned that it was +because of the movements of Marshal MacMahon, who, having united the +French army beaten at Worth with three fresh corps at Chalons, was +marching to relieve Metz in obedience to orders from the Minister of +War at Paris.</p> + +<p>As we passed along the column, we noticed that the Crown Prince's +troops were doing their best, the officers urging the men to their +utmost exertions, persuading weary laggards and driving up +stragglers. As a general thing, however, they marched in good shape, +notwithstanding the rapid gait and the trying heat, for at the outset +of the campaign the Prince had divested them of all impedimenta +except essentials, and they were therefore in excellent trim for a +forced march.</p> + +<p>The King traveled further than usual that day—to Clermont—so we did +not get shelter till late, and even then not without some confusion, +for the quartermaster having set out toward Chalons before the change +of programme was ordered, was not at hand to provide for us. I had +extreme good luck, though, in being quartered with a certain +apothecary, who, having lived for a time in the United States, +claimed it as a privilege even to lodge me, and certainly made me his +debtor for the most generous hospitality. It was not so with some of +the others, however; and Count Bismarck was particularly unfortunate, +being billeted in a very small and uncomfortable house, where, +visiting him to learn more fully what was going on, I found him, +wrapped in a shabby old dressing-gown, hard at work. He was +established in a very small room, whose only furnishings consisted of +a table—at which he was writing—a couple of rough chairs, and the +universal feather-bed, this time made on the floor in one corner of +the room. On my remarking upon the limited character of his +quarters, the Count replied, with great good-humor, that they were +all right, and that he should get along well enough. Even the tramp +of his clerks in the attic, and the clanking of his orderlies' sabres +below, did not disturb him much; he said, in fact, that he would have +no grievance at all were it not for a guard of Bavarian soldiers +stationed about the house for his safety, he presumed the sentinels +from which insisted on protecting and saluting the Chancellor of the +North German Confederation in and out of season, a proceeding that +led to embarrassment sometimes, as he was much troubled with a severe +dysentery. Notwithstanding his trials, however, and in the midst of +the correspondence on which he was so intently engaged, he graciously +took time to explain that the sudden movement northward from +Bar-le-Duc was, as I have previously recounted, the result of information +that Marshal MacMahon was endeavoring to relieve Metz by marching +along the Belgian frontier; "a blundering manoeuvre," remarked the +Chancellor, "which cannot be accounted for, unless it has been +brought about by the political situation of the French."</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch18b"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>AFTER MacMAHON—THE BATTLE AT BEAUMONT—THE FRENCH SURPRISED—THE +MARCHING OF THE GERMAN SOLDIERS—THE BATTLE OF SEDAN—GALLANT CAVALRY +CHARGES—DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH—THE SURRENDER OF NAPOLEON—BISMARCK +AND THE KING—DECORATING THE SOLDIERS.</p> + +<p>All night long the forced march of the army went on through Clermont, +and when I turned out, just after daylight, the columns were still +pressing forward, the men looking tired and much bedraggled, as +indeed they had reason to be, for from recent rains the roads were +very sloppy. Notwithstanding this, however, the troops were pushed +ahead with all possible vigor to intercept MacMahon and force a +battle before he could withdraw from his faulty movement, for which +it has since been ascertained he was not at all responsible. Indeed, +those at the royal headquarters seemed to think of nothing else than +to strike MacMahon, for, feeling pretty confident that Metz could not +be relieved, they manifested not the slightest anxiety on that score.</p> + +<p>By 8 o'clock, the skies having cleared, the headquarters set out for +Grand Pre', which place we reached early in the afternoon, and that +evening I again had the pleasure of dining with the King. The +conversation at table was almost wholly devoted to the situation, of +course, everybody expressing surprise at the manoeuvre of the French +at this time, their march along the Belgian frontier being credited +entirely to Napoleon. Up to bed-time there was still much +uncertainty as to the exact positions of the French, but next morning +intelligence being received which denoted the probability of a +battle, we drove about ten miles, to Buzancy, and there mounting our +horses, rode to the front.</p> + +<p>The French were posted not far from Buzancy in a strong position, +their right resting near Stonne and the left extending over into the +woods beyond Beaumont. About 10 o'clock the Crown Prince of Saxony +advanced against this line, and while a part of his army turned the +French right, compelling it to fall back rapidly, the German centre +and right attacked with great vigor and much skill, surprising one of +the divisions of General De Failly's corps while the men were in the +act of cooking their breakfast.</p> + +<p>The French fled precipitately, leaving behind their tents and other +camp equipage, and on inspecting the ground which they had abandoned +so hastily, I noticed on all sides ample evidence that not even the +most ordinary precautions had been taken to secure the division from +surprise, The artillery horses had not been harnessed, and many of +them had been shot down at the picket-rope where they had been +haltered the night before, while numbers of men were lying dead with +loaves of bread or other food instead of their muskets in their +hands.</p> + +<p>Some three thousand prisoners and nearly all the artillery and +mitrailleuses of the division—were captured, while the fugitives +were pursued till they found shelter behind—Douay's corps and the +rest of De Failly's beyond Beaumont. The same afternoon there were +several other severe combats along the Meuse, but I had no chance of +witnessing any of them, and just before night-fall I started back to +Buzancy, to which place the King's headquarters had been brought +during the day.</p> + +<p>The morning of the 31st the King moved to Vendresse. First sending +our carriage back to Grand Pre' for our trunks, Forsyth and I mounted +our horses and rode to the battle-field accompanied by an English +nobleman, the Duke of Manchester. The part of the field we traversed +was still thickly strewn with the dead of both armies, though all the +wounded had been collected in the hospitals. In the village of +Beaumont, we stopped to take a look at several thousand French +prisoners, whose worn clothing and evident dejection told that they +had been doing a deal of severe marching under great discouragements.</p> + +<p>The King reached the village shortly after, and we all continued on +to Chemery, just beyond where his Majesty alighted from his carriage +to observe his son's troops file past as they came in from the +direction of Stonne. This delay caused us to be as late as 9 o'clock +before we got shelter that night, but as it afforded me the best +opportunity I had yet had for seeing the German soldiers on the +march, I did not begrudge the time. They moved in a somewhat open +and irregular column of fours, the intervals between files being +especially intended to give room for a peculiar swinging gait, with +which the men seemed to urge themselves over the ground with ease and +rapidity. There was little or no straggling, and being strong, lusty +young fellows, and lightly equipped—they carried only needle-guns, +ammunition, a very small knapsack, a water-bottle, and a +haversack—they strode by with an elastic step, covering at least three miles an +hour.</p> + +<p>It having been definitely ascertained that the demoralized French +were retiring to Sedan, on the evening of August 31 the German army +began the work of hemming them in there, so disposing the different +corps as to cover the ground from Donchery around by Raucourt to +Carignan. The next morning this line was to be drawn in closer on +Sedan; and the Crown Prince of Saxony was therefore ordered to take +up a position to the north of Bazeilles, beyond the right bank of the +Meuse, while the Crown Prince of Prussia was to cross his right wing +over the Meuse at Remilly, to move on Bazeilles, his centre meantime +marching against a number of little hamlets still held by the French +between there and Donchery. At this last-mentioned place strong +reserves were to be held, and from it the Eleventh Corps, followed by +the Fifth and a division of cavalry, was to march on St. Menges.</p> + +<p>Forsyth and I started early next morning, September 1, and in a thick +fog-which, however, subsequently gave place to bright sunshine—we +drove to the village of Chevenges, where, mounting our horses, we +rode in a northeasterly direction to the heights of Frenois and +Wadelincourt, bordering the river Meuse on the left bank, where from +the crest we had a good view of the town of Sedan with its circling +fortifications, which, though extensive, were not so formidable as +those around Metz. The King and his staff were already established +on these heights, and at a point so well chosen that his Majesty +could observe the movements of both armies immediately east and south +of Sedan, and also to the northwest toward Floing and the Belgian +frontier.</p> + +<p>The battle was begun to the east and northeast of Sedan as early as +half-past 4 o'clock by the German right wing—the fighting being +desultory—and near the same hour the Bavarians attacked Bazeilles. +This village, some two miles southeast of Sedan, being of importance, +was defended with great obstinacy, the French contesting from street +to street and house to house the attack of the Bavarians till near +10 o'clock, when, almost every building being knocked to pieces, they +were compelled to relinquish the place. The possession of this +village gave the Germans to the east of Sedan a continuous line, +extending from the Meuse northward through La Moncelle and Daigny to +Givonne, and almost to the Belgian frontier.</p> + +<p>While the German centre and right were thus engaged, the left had +moved in accordance with the prescribed plan. Indeed, some of these +troops had crossed the Meuse the night before, and now, at a little +after 6 o'clock, their advance could be seen just north of the +village of Floing. Thus far these columns, under the immediate eye +of the Crown Prince of Prussia, had met with no opposition to their +march, and as soon as they got to the high ground above the village +they began extending to the east, to connect with the Army of the +Meuse. This juncture was effected at Illy without difficulty, and +the French army was now completely encompassed.</p> + +<p>After a severe fight, the Crown Prince drove the French through +Floing, and as the ground between this village and Sedan is an +undulating open plain, everywhere visible, there was then offered a +rare opportunity for seeing the final conflict preceding the +surrender. Presently up out of the little valley where Floing is +located came the Germans, deploying just on the rim of the plateau a +very heavy skirmish-line, supported by a line of battle at close +distance. When these skirmishers appeared, the French infantry had +withdrawn within its intrenched lines, but a strong body of their +cavalry, already formed in a depression to the right of the Floing +road, now rode at the Germans in gallant style, going clear through +the dispersed skirmishers to the main line of battle. Here the +slaughter of the French was awful, for in addition to the deadly +volleys from the solid battalions of their enemies, the skirmishers, +who had rallied in knots at advantageous places, were now delivering +a severe and effective fire. The gallant horsemen, therefore, had to +retire precipitately, but re-forming in the depression, they again +undertook the hopeless task of breaking the German infantry, making +in all four successive charges. Their ardor and pluck were of no +avail, however, for the Germans, growing stronger every minute by the +accession of troops from Floing, met the fourth attack in such large +force that, even before coming in contact with their adversaries, the +French broke and retreated to the protection of the intrenchments, +where, from the beginning of the combat, had been lying plenty of +idle infantry, some of which at least, it seemed plain to me, ought +to have been thrown into the fight. This action was the last one of +consequence around Sedan, for, though with the contraction of the +German lines their batteries kept cannonading more or less, and the +rattle of musketry continued to be heard here and there, yet the hard +fighting of the day practically ended on the plateau of Floing.</p> + +<p>By 3 o'clock, the French being in a desperate and hopeless situation, +the King ordered the firing to be stopped, and at once despatched one +of his staff—Colonel von Bronsart—with a demand for a surrender. +Just as this officer was starting off, I remarked to Bismarck that +Napoleon himself would likely be one of the prizes, but the Count, +incredulous, replied, "Oh no; the old fox is too cunning to be caught +in such a trap; he has doubtless slipped off to Paris"—a belief +which I found to prevail pretty generally about headquarters.</p> + +<p>In the lull that succeeded, the King invited many of those about him +to luncheon, a caterer having provided from some source or other a +substantial meal of good bread, chops and peas, with a bountiful +supply of red and sherry wines. Among those present were Prince +Carl, Bismarck, Von Moltke, Von Roon, the Duke of Weimar, the Duke of +Coburg, the Grand-Duke of Mecklenburg, Count Hatzfeldt, Colonel +Walker, of the English army, General Forsyth, and I. The King was +agreeable and gracious at all times, but on this occasion he was +particularly so, being naturally in a happy frame of mind because +this day the war had reached a crisis which presaged for the near +future the complete vanquishment of the French.</p> + +<p>Between 4 and 5 o'clock Colonel von Bronsart returned from his +mission to Sedan, bringing word to the King that the commanding +officer there General Wimpffen, wished to know, in order that the +further effusion of blood might be spared, upon what terms he might +surrender. The Colonel brought the intelligence also that the French +Emperor was in the town. Soon after Von Bronsart's arrival a French +officer approached from Sedan, preceded by a white flag and two +German officers. Coming up the road till within a few hundred yards +of us, they halted; then one of the Germans rode forward to say that +the French officer was Napoleon's adjutant, bearing an autograph +letter from the Emperor to the King of Prussia. At this the King, +followed by Bismarck, Von Moltke, and Von Roon, walked out to the +front a little distance and halted, his Majesty still in advance, the +rest of us meanwhile forming in a line some twenty paces to the rear +of the group. The envoy then approached, at first on horseback, but +when within about a hundred yards he dismounted, and uncovering, came +the remaining distance on foot, bearing high up in his right hand the +despatch from Napoleon. The bearer proved to be General Reille, and +as he handed the Emperor's letter to the King, his Majesty saluted +him with the utmost formality and precision. Napoleon's letter was +the since famous one, running so characteristically, thus: "Not +having been able to die in the midst of my troops, there is nothing +left me but to place my sword in your Majesty's hands." The reading +finished, the King returned to his former post, and after a +conference with Bismarck, Von Moltke, and Von Roon, dictated an +answer accepting Napoleon's surrender, and requesting him to +designate an officer with power to treat for the capitulation of the +army, himself naming Von Moltke to represent the Germans. The King +then started for Vendresse, to pass the night. It was after +7 o'clock now, and hence too late to arrange anything more where we +were, so further negotiations were deferred till later in the +evening; and I, wishing to be conveniently near Bismarck, resolved to +take up quarters in Donchery. On our way thither we were met by the +Count's nephew, who assuring us that it would be impossible to find +shelter there in the village, as all the houses were filled with +wounded, Forsyth and I decided to continue on to Chevenge. On the +other hand, Bismarck-Bohlen bore with him one great comfort—some +excellent brandy. Offering the flask to his uncle, he said: "You've +had a hard day of it; won't you refresh yourself?" The Chancellor, +without wasting time to answer, raised the bottle to his lips, +exclaiming: "Here's to the unification of Germany!" which sentiment +the gurgling of an astonishingly long drink seemed to emphasize. The +Count then handed the bottle back to his nephew, who, shaking it, +ejaculated, "Why, we can't pledge you in return—there is nothing +left!" to which came the waggish response, "I beg pardon; it was so +dark I couldn't see"; nevertheless there was a little remaining, as I +myself can aver.</p> + +<p>Having left our carriage at Chevenge, Forsyth and I stopped there to +get it, but a long search proving fruitless, we took lodging in the +village at the house of the cure, resolved to continue the hunt in +the morning. But then we had no better success, so concluding that +our vehicle had been pressed into the hospital service, we at an +early hour on the 2d of September resumed the search, continuing on +down the road in the direction of Sedan. Near the gate of the city +we came on the German picket-line, and one of the Officers, +recognizing our uniforms—he having served in the war of the +rebellion—stepped forward and addressed me in good English. We +naturally fell into conversation, and in the midst of it there came +out through the gate an open carriage, or landau, containing two men, +one of whom, in the uniform of a general and smoking a cigarette, we +recognized, when the conveyance drew near, as the Emperor Louis +Napoleon. The landau went on toward Donchery at a leisurely pace, +and we, inferring that there was something more important at hand +just then than the recovery of our trap, followed at a respectful +distance. Not quite a mile from Donchery is a cluster of three or +four cottages, and at the first of these the landau stopped to await, +as we afterward ascertained, Count Bismarck, with whom the diplomatic +negotiations were to be settled. Some minutes elapsed before he +came, Napoleon remaining seated in his carriage meantime, still +smoking, and accepting with nonchalance the staring of a group of +German soldiers near by, who were gazing on their fallen foe with +curious and eager interest.</p> + +<p>Presently a clattering of hoofs was heard, and looking toward the +sound, I perceived the Chancellor cantering down the road. When +abreast of the carriage he dismounted, and walking up to it, saluted +the Emperor in a quick, brusque way that seemed to startle him. +After a word or two, the party moved perhaps a hundred yards further +on, where they stopped opposite the weaver's cottage so famous from +that day. This little house is on the east side of the Donchery +road, near its junction with that to Frenois, and stands about twenty +paces back from the highway. In front is a stone wall covered with +creeping vines, and from a gate in this wall runs to the front door a +path, at this time bordered on both sides with potato vines.</p> + +<p>The Emperor having alighted at the gate, he and Bismarck walked +together along the narrow path and entered the cottage. Reappearing +in about a quarter of an hour, they came out and seated themselves in +the open air, the weaver having brought a couple of chairs. Here +they engaged in an animated conversation, if much gesticulation is +any indication. The talk lasted fully an hour, Bismarck seeming to +do most of it, but at last he arose, saluted the Emperor, and strode +down the path toward his horse. Seeing me standing near the gate, he +joined me for a moment, and asked if I had noticed how the Emperor +started when they first met, and I telling him that I had, he added, +"Well, it must have been due to my manners, not my words, for these +we're, 'I salute your Majesty just as I would my King.'" Then the +Chancellor continued to chat a few minutes longer, assuring me that +nothing further was to be done there, and that we had better go to +the Chateau Bellevue, where, he said, the formal surrender was to +take place. With this he rode off toward Vendresse to communicate +with his sovereign, and Forsyth and I made ready to go to the Chateau +Bellevue.</p> + +<p>Before we set out, however, a number of officers of the King's suite +arrived at the weaver's cottage, and from them I gathered that there +were differences at the royal headquarters as to whether peace should +be made then at Sedan, or the war continued till the French capital +was taken. I further heard that the military advisers of the King +strongly advocated an immediate move on Paris, while the Chancellor +thought it best to make peace now, holding Alsace and Lorraine, and +compelling the payment of an enormous levy of money; and these rumors +were most likely correct, for I had often heard Bismarck say that +France being the richest country in Europe, nothing could keep her +quiet but effectually to empty her pockets; and besides this, he +impressed me as holding that it would be better policy to preserve +the Empire.</p> + +<p>On our way to the chateau we fell in with a number of artillery +officers bringing up their guns hurriedly to post them closer in to +the beleaguered town on a specially advantageous ridge. Inquiring +the cause of this move, we learned that General Wimpffen had not yet +agreed to the terms of surrender; that it was thought he would not, +and that they wanted to be prepared for any such contingency. And +they were preparing with a vengeance too, for I counted seventy-two +Krupp guns in one continuous line trained on the Chateau Bellevue and +Sedan.</p> + +<p>Napoleon went directly from the weaver's to the Chateau Bellevue, and +about 10 o'clock the King of Prussia arrived from Frenois, +accompanied by a few of his own suite and the Crown Prince with +several members of his staff; and Von Moltke and Wimpffen having +settled their points of difference before the two monarchs met, +within the next half-hour the articles of capitulation were formally +signed.</p> + +<p>On the completion of the surrender—the occasion being justly +considered a great one—the Crown Prince proceeded to distribute +among the officers congregated in the chateau grounds 'the order of +the Iron Cross'—a generous supply of these decorations being carried +in a basket by one of his orderlies, following him about as he walked +along. Meantime the King, leaving Napoleon in the chateau to +ruminate on the fickleness of fortune, drove off to see his own +victorious soldiers, who greeted him with huzzas that rent the air, +and must have added to the pangs of the captive Emperor.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch19b"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>RIDING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD—DESTRUCTION OF BAZEILLES—MISTAKES OF +THE FRENCH—MARSHAL BAZAINE ON TO PARIS—A WEEK IN MEAUX—RHEIMS—ON +THE PICKETLINE-UNDER FIRE—A SURRENDER—AT VERSAILLES—GENERAL +BURNSIDE AND Mr. FORBES IN PARIS.</p> + +<p>The Crown Prince having got to the bottom of his medal basket-that is +to say, having finished his liberal distribution of decorations to +his officers—Forsyth and I rode off by way of Wadelincourt to +Bazeilles to see what had taken place on that part of the field, and +the sight that met our eyes as we entered the village was truly +dreadful to look upon. Most of the houses had been knocked down or +burned the day before, but such as had been left standing were now in +flames, the torch having been applied because, as it was claimed, +Frenchmen concealed in them had fired on the wounded. The streets +were still encumbered with both German and French dead, and it was +evident that of those killed in the houses the bodies had not been +removed, for the air was loaded with odors of burning flesh. From +Bazeille we rode on toward the north about two miles, along where the +fight had been largely an artillery duel, to learn what we could of +the effectiveness of the Krupp gun. Counting all the French dead we +came across killed by artillery, they figured up about three +hundred—a ridiculously small number; in fact, not much more than one dead +man for each Krupp gun on that part of the line. Although the number +of dead was in utter disproportion to the terrific six-hour +cannonade, yet small as it was the torn and mangled bodies made such +a horrible sight that we turned back toward Bazeilles without having +gone further than Givonne.</p> + +<p>At Bazeilles we met the King, accompanied by Bismarck and several of +the staff. They too had been riding over the field, the King making +this a practice, to see that the wounded were not neglected. As I +drew up by the party, Bismarck accosted me with, "Well, General, +aren't you hungry? This is just the place to whet one's +appetite—these burning Frenchmen—Ugh!" and shrugging his shoulders in evident +disgust, he turned away to join his Majesty in further explorations, +Forsyth and I continuing on to Chevenges. Here we got the first +inkling of what had become of our carriage since leaving it two days +before: it had been pressed into service to carry wounded officers +from the field during the battle, but afterward released, and was now +safe at the house in Vendresse where we had been quartered the night +of the 31st, so, on hearing this, we settled to go there again to +lodge, but our good friend, the 'cure,' insisting that we should stay +with him, we remained in Chevenges till next morning.</p> + +<p>On September 3 the King removed from Vendresse to Rethel, where he +remained two days; in the mean while the Germans, 240,000 strong, +beginning their direct march to Paris. The French had little with +which to oppose this enormous force, not more, perhaps, than 50,000 +regular troops; the rest of their splendid army had been lost or +captured in battle, or was cooped up in the fortifications of Metz, +Strasburg, and other places, in consequence of blunders without +parallel in history, for which Napoleon and the Regency in Paris must +be held accountable. The first of these gross faults was the fight +at Worth, where MacMahon, before his army was mobilized, accepted +battle with the Crown Prince, pitting 50,000 men against 175,000; the +next was Bazaine's fixing upon Metz as his base, and stupidly putting +himself in position to be driven back to it, when there was no +possible obstacle to his joining forces with MacMahon at Chalons; +while the third and greatest blunder of all was MacMahon's move to +relieve Metz, trying to slip 140,000 men along the Belgian frontier. +Indeed, it is exasperating and sickening to think of all this; to +think that Bazaine carried into Metz—a place that should have been +held, if at all, with not over 25,000 men—an army of 180,000, +because it contained, the excuse was, "an accumulation of stores." +With all the resources of rich France to draw upon, I cannot conceive +that this excuse was sincere; on the contrary, I think that the +movement of Bazaine must have been inspired by Napoleon with a view +to the maintenance of his dynasty rather than for the good of France.</p> + +<p>As previously stated, Bismarck did not approve of the German army's +moving on Paris after the battle of Sedan. Indeed, I think he +foresaw and dreaded the establishment of a Republic, his idea being +that if peace was made then, the Empire could be continued in the +person of the Prince Imperial who—, coming to the throne under +German influences, would be pliable in his hands. These views found +frequent expression in private, and in public too; I myself +particularly remember the Chancellor's speaking thus most unguardedly +at a dinner in Rheims. But he could not prevent the march to Paris; +it was impossible to stop the Germans, flushed with success. "On to +Paris" was written by the soldiers on every door, and every +fence-board along the route to the capital, and the thought of a triumphant +march down the Champs Elysees was uppermost with every German, from +the highest to the lowest grade.</p> + +<p>The 5th of September we set out for Rheims. There it was said the +Germans would meet with strong resistance, for the French intended to +die to the last man before giving up that city. But this proved all +fudge, as is usual with these "last ditch" promises, the garrison +decamping immediately at the approach of a few Uhlans. So far as I +could learn, but a single casualty happened; this occurred to an +Uhlan, wounded by a shot which it was reported was fired from a house +after the town was taken; so, to punish this breach of faith, a levy +of several hundred bottles of champagne was made, and the wine +divided about headquarters, being the only seizure made in the city, +I believe, for though Rheims, the centre of the champagne district, +had its cellars well stocked, yet most of them being owned by German +firms, they received every protection.</p> + +<p>The land about Rheims is of a white, chalky character, and very poor, +but having been terraced and enriched with fertilizers, it produces +the champagne grape in such abundance that the region, once +considered valueless, and named by the peasantry the "land of the +louse," now supports a dense population. We remained in Rheims eight +days, and through the politeness of the American Consul—Mr. Adolph +Gill—had the pleasure of seeing all the famous wine cellars, and +inspecting the processes followed in champagne making, from the step +of pressing the juice from the grape to that which shows the wine +ready for the market. Mr. Gill also took us to see everything else +of special interest about the city, and there being much to look +at—fine old churches, ancient fortifications, a Roman gateway, etc.—the +days slipped by very quickly, though the incessant rains somewhat +interfered with our enjoyment.</p> + +<p>For three or four days all sorts of rumors were rife as to what was +doing in Paris, but nothing definite was learned till about the 9th; +then Count Bismarck informed me that the Regency had been overthrown +on the 4th, and that the Empress Eugenie had escaped to Belgium. The +King of Prussia offered her an asylum with the Emperor at +Wilhelmshohe, "where she ought to go," said the Chancellor, "for her +proper place is with her husband," but he feared she would not. On +the same occasion he also told me that Jules Favre—the head of the +Provisional Government—had sent him the suggestion that, the Empire +being gone, peace should be made and the Germans withdrawn, but that +he (Bismarck) was now compelled to recognize the impossibility of +doing this till Paris was taken, for although immediately after the +surrender of Sedan he desired peace, the past few days had made it +plain that the troops would not be satisfied with anything short of +Paris, no matter what form of Government the French should ultimately +adopt.</p> + +<p>The German army having met with no resistance whatever in its march +on Paris, its advance approached the capital rapidly, and by the 14th +of September the royal headquarters moved by a fine macadamized road +to the Chateau Thierry, and on the 5th reached Meaux, about +twenty-eight miles from Paris, where we remained four days awaiting the +reconstruction of some railroad and canal bridges. The town of Meaux +has a busy population of about 10,000 souls, in peaceable times +principally occupied in manufacturing flour for the Paris market, +having a fine waterpower for the many mills. These were kept going +day and night to supply the German army; and it was strange to see +with what zeal Frenchmen toiled to fill the stomachs of their +inveterate enemies, and with what alacrity the mayor and other +officials filled requisitions for wine, cheese, suits of livery, +riding-whips, and even squab pigeons.</p> + +<p>During our stay at Meaux the British Minister Lord Lyons, endeavored +to bring about a cessation of hostilities, to this end sending his +secretary out from Paris with a letter to Count Bismarck, offering to +serve as mediator. The Chancellor would not agree to this, however, +for he conjectured that the action of the British Minister had been +inspired by Jules Favre, who, he thought, was trying to draw the +Germans into negotiations through the medium of a third party only +for purposes of delay. So the next morning Lord Lyons's secretary, +Mr. Edward Malet, returned to Paris empty-handed, except that he bore +a communication positively declining mediation; which message, +however, led no doubt to an interview between Bismarck and Favre a +couple of days later.</p> + +<p>The forenoon of September 19 the King removed to the Chateau +Ferrieres—a castle belonging to the Rothschild family, where +Napoleon had spent many happy days in the time of his prosperity. +His Majesty took up his quarters here at the suggestion of the owner, +we were told, so that by the presence of the King the magnificent +chateau and its treasures of art would be unquestionably protected +from all acts of vandalism.</p> + +<p>All of the people at headquarters except the King's immediate suite +were assigned quarters at Lagny; and while Forsyth and I, accompanied +by Sir Henry Havelock, of the British army, were driving thither, we +passed on the road the representative of the National Defense +Government, Jules Favre, in a carriage heading toward Meaux. +Preceded by a flag of truce and accompanied by a single, companion, +be was searching for Count Bismarck, in conformity, doubtless, with +the message the Chancellor had sent to Paris on the 17th by the +British secretary. A half-mile further on we met Bismarck. He too +was traveling toward Meaux, not in the best of humor either, it +appeared, for having missed finding the French envoy at the +rendezvous where they had agreed to meet, he stopped long enough to +say that the "air was full of lies, and that there were many persons +with the army bent on business that did not concern them."</p> + +<p>The armies of the two Crown Princes were now at the outskirts of +Paris. They had come from Sedan mainly by two routes—the Crown +Prince of Saxony marching by the northern line, through Laon and +Soissons, and the Crown Prince of Prussia by the southern line, +keeping his right wing on the north bank of the Marne, while his left +and centre approached the French capital by roads between that river +and the Seine.</p> + +<p>The march of these armies had been unobstructed by any resistance +worth mentioning, and as the routes of both columns lay through a +region teeming with everything necessary for their support, and rich +even in luxuries, it struck me that such campaigning was more a vast +picnic than like actual war. The country supplied at all points +bread, meat, and wine in abundance, and the neat villages, never more +than a mile or two apart, always furnished shelter; hence the +enormous trains required to feed and provide camp equipage for an +army operating in a sparsely settled country were dispensed with; in +truth, about the only impedimenta of the Germans was their wagons +carrying ammunition, pontoon-boats, and the field-telegraph.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 20th I started out accompanied by Forsyth and +Sir Henry Havelock, and took the road through Boissy St. George, +Boissy St. Martins and Noisy Le Grand to Brie. Almost every foot of +the way was strewn with fragments of glass from wine bottles, emptied +and then broken by the troops. There was, indeed, so much of this +that I refrain from making any estimate of the number of bottles, +lest I be thought to exaggerate, but the road was literally paved +with glass, and the amount of wine consumed (none was wasted) must +have been enormous, far more, even, than I had seen evidence of at +any time before. There were two almost continuous lines of broken +bottles along the roadsides all the way down from Sedan; but that +exhibit was small compared with what we saw about Brie.</p> + +<p>At Brie we were taken charge of by the German commandant of the +place. He entertained us most hospitably for an hour or so, and +then, accompanied by a lieutenant, who was to be our guide, I set out +ahead of my companions to gain a point on the picket-line where I +expected to get a good look at the French, for their rifle-pits were +but a few hundred yards off across the Marne, their main line being +just behind the rifle-pits. As the lieutenant and I rode through the +village, some soldiers warned us that the adventure would be +dangerous, but that we could probably get to the desired place unhurt +if we avoided the French fire by forcing our horses to a run in +crossing some open streets where we would be exposed. On getting to +the first street my guide galloped ahead to show the way, and as the +French were not on the lookout for anything of the kind at these +dangerous points, only a few stray shots were drawn by the +lieutenant, but when I followed, they were fully up to what was going +on, and let fly a volley every time they saw me in the open. +Fortunately, however, in their excitement they overshot, but when I +drew rein alongside of my guide under protection of the bluff where +the German picket was posted, my hair was all on end, and I was about +as badly scared as ever I had been in my life. As soon as I could +recover myself I thought of Havelock and Forsyth, with the hope that +they would not follow; nor did they, for having witnessed my +experience, they wisely concluded that, after all, they did not care +so much to see the French rifle-pits.</p> + +<p>When I had climbed to the top of the bluff I was much disappointed, +for I could see but little—only the advanced rifle-pits across the +river, and Fort Nogent beyond them, not enough, certainly, to repay a +non-combatant for taking the risk of being killed. The next question +was to return, and deciding to take no more such chances as those we +had run in coming out, I said we would wait till dark, but this +proved unnecessary, for to my utter astonishment my guide informed me +that there was a perfectly safe route by which we might go back. I +asked why we had not taken it in coming, and he replied that he had +thought it "too long and circuitous." To this I could say nothing, +but I concluded that that was not quite the correct reason; the truth +is that early that morning the young fellow had been helping to empty +some of the many wine bottles I saw around Brie, and consequently had +a little more "Dutch courage"—was a little more rash—than would +have been the case under other conditions.</p> + +<p>I rode back to Brie by the "long and circuitous" route, and inquiring +there for my companions, found Havelock waiting to conduct me to the +village of Villiers, whither, he said, Forsyth had been called to +make some explanation about his passport, which did not appear to be +in satisfactory shape. Accordingly we started for Villiers, and +Havelock, being well mounted on an English "hunter," and wishing to +give me an exhibition of the animal's training and power, led the way +across ditches and fences, but my horse, never having followed "the +hounds," was unsafe to experiment with, so, after trying a low fence +or two, I decided to leave my friend alone in his diversion, and a +few moments later, seeing both horse and rider go down before a ditch +and high stone wall, I was convinced that my resolution was a +discreet one. After this mishap, which luckily resulted in no harm, +I hoped Sir Henry would give up the amusement, but by failure +becoming only the more determined, in a second effort he cleared the +wall handsomely and rode across-country to the villages. Following +the road till it passed under a railway bridge, I there thought I saw +a chance to gain Villiers by a short-cut, and changing my course +accordingly, I struck into a large vineyard to the left, and +proceeding a few hundred yards through the vines, came suddenly upon +a German picket-post. The guard immediately leveled their rifles at +me, when, remembering my Rezonville experience of being taken for a +French officer because of my uniform, I hastily flung myself from the +saddle in token of surrender. The action being rightly interpreted, +the men held their fire, and as my next thought was the King's pass I +reached under my coat-skirt for the document, but this motion being +taken as a grab for my pistol, the whole lot of them—some ten in +number—again aimed at me, and with such loud demands for surrender +that I threw up my hands and ran into their ranks. The officer of +the guard then coming up, examined my credentials, and seeing that +they were signed by the King of Prussia, released me and directed the +recovery of my horse, which was soon caught, and I was then conducted +to the quarters of the commandant, where I found Forsyth with his +pass properly vised, entirely ignorant of my troubles, and +contentedly regaling himself on cheese and beer. Havelock having got +to the village ahead of me, thanks to his cross-country ride, was +there too, sipping beer with Forsyth; nor was I slow to follow their +example, for the ride of the day, though rather barren in other +results, at any rate had given me a ravenous appetite.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="pb426"></a><img alt="pb426.jpg (155K)" src="images/pb426.jpg" height="517" width="650"> +</center> +<a href="images/pb426.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"> +</a> +<br><br><br><br> + +<p>Late that evening, the 20th, we resumed our old quarters at Lagny, +and early next day I made a visit to the royal headquarters at +Ferrires, where I observed great rejoicing going on, the occasion for +it being an important victory gained near Mendon, a French corps of +about 30,000 men under General Ducrot having been beaten by the Fifth +Prussian and Second Bavarian corps. Ducrot had been stubbornly +holding ground near Mendon for two or three days, much to the +embarrassment of the Germans too, since he kept them from closing a +gap in their line to the southwest of Paris; but in the recent fight +he had been driven from the field with such heavy loss as to render +impossible his maintaining the gap longer. The Crown Prince of +Prussia was thus enabled to extend his left, without danger, as far +as Bougival, north of Versailles, and eventually met the right of the +Crown Prince of Saxony, already at Denil, north of St. Denis. The +unbroken circle of investment around Paris being well-nigh assured, +news of its complete accomplishment was momentarily expected; +therefore everybody was jubilant on account of the breaking up of +Ducrot, but more particularly because word had been received the same +morning that a correspondence had begun between Bazaine and Prince +Frederick Charles, looking to the capitulation of Metz, for the +surrender of that place would permit the Second Army to join in the +siege of Paris.</p> + +<p>Learning all this, and seeing that the investment was about +completed, I decided to take up my quarters at Versailles, and +started for that place on the 22d, halting at Noisy le Grand to take +luncheon with some artillery officers, whose acquaintance we had made +the day of the surrender at Sedan. During the meal I noticed two +American flags flying on a couple of houses near by. Inquiring the +significance of this, I was told that the flags had been put up to +protect the buildings—the owners, two American citizens, having in a +bad fright abandoned their property, and, instead of remaining +outside, gone into Paris,—"very foolishly," said our hospitable +friends, "for here they could have obtained food in plenty, and been +perfectly secure from molestation."</p> + +<p>We arrived at Versailles about 7 o'clock that evening and settled +ourselves in the Hotel Reservoir, happy to find there two or three +American families, with whom, of course, we quickly made +acquaintance. This American circle was enlarged a few days later by +the arrival of General Wm. B. Hazen, of our army, General Ambrose E. +Burnside, and Mr. Paul Forbes. Burnside and Forbes were hot to see, +from the French side, something of the war, and being almost beside +themselves to get into Paris, a permit was granted them by Count +Bismarck, and they set out by way of Sevres, Forsyth and I +accompanying them as far as the Palace of St. Cloud, which we, +proposed to see, though there were strict orders against its being +visited generally. After much trouble we managed, through the "open +sesame" of the King's pass, to gain access to the palace; but to our +great disappointment we found that all the pictures had been cut from +the frames and carried off to Paris, except one portrait, that of +Queen Victoria, against whom the French were much incensed. All +other works of art had been removed, too—a most fortunate +circumstance, for the palace being directly on the German line, was +raked by the guns from the fortress of Mont Valerien, and in a few +days burned to the ground.</p> + +<p>In less than a week Burnside and Forbes returned from Paris. They +told us their experience had been interesting, but were very reticent +as to particulars, and though we tried hard to find out what they had +seen or done, we could get nothing from them beyond the general +statement that they had had a good time, and that General Trochu had +been considerate enough to postpone a sortie, in order to let them +return; but this we did not quite swallow. After a day or two they +went into Paris again, and I then began to suspect that they were +essaying the role of mediators, and that Count Bismarck was feeding +their vanity with permits, and receiving his equivalent by learning +the state of affairs within the beleaguered city.</p> + +<p>From about the 1st of October on, the Germans were engaged in making +their enveloping lines impenetrable, bringing up their reserves, +siege guns, and the like, the French meanwhile continuing to drill +and discipline the National Guard and relieving the monotony +occasionally by a more or less spirited, but invariably abortive, +sortie. The most notable of these was that made by General Vinoy +against the heights of Clamart, the result being a disastrous repulse +by the besiegers. After this, matters settled down to an almost +uninterrupted quietude, only a skirmish here and there; and it being +plain that the Germans did not intend to assault the capital, but +would accomplish its capture by starvation, I concluded to find out +from Count Bismarck about when the end was expected, with the purpose +of spending the interim in a little tour through some portions of +Europe undisturbed by war, returning in season for the capitulation. +Count Bismarck having kindly advised me as to the possible date,</p> + +<p>Forsyth and I, on the 14th of October, left Versailles, going first +direct to the Chateau Ferrieres to pay our respects to the King, +which we did, and again took luncheon with him. From the chateau we +drove to Meaux, and there spent the night; resuming our journey next +morning, we passed through Epernay, Rheims, and Rethel to Sedan, +where we tarried a day, and finally, on October 18, reached Brussels.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2><a name="ch20b"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2></center> +<br> + +<p>BRUSSELS—DECIDING TO VISIT EASTERN EUROPE—AUSTRIA—DOWN THE +DANUBE—IN CONSTANTINOPLE—THE LADIES OF THE HAREM—THE SULTAN—TURKISH +SOLDIERS—A BANQUET—A VISIT IN ATHENS—KING GEORGE OF GREECE—VICTOR +EMMANUEL—"BEDEVILED WITH CARES OF STATE"—DEER SHOOTING—A MILITARY +DINNER—RETURN TO VERSAILLES—GERMANS ENTERING PARIS—CRITICISM ON +THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR—CONCLUSION.</p> + +<p>On reaching Brussels, one of the first things to do was to pay my +respects to the King of Belgium, which I did, accompanied by our +Minister, Mr. Russell Jones. Later I dined with the King and Queen, +meeting at the dinner many notable people, among them the Count and +Countess of Flanders. A day or two in Brussels sufficed to mature +our plans for spending the time up to the approximate date of our +return to Paris; and deciding to visit eastern Europe, we made Vienna +our first objective, going there by way of Dresden.</p> + +<p>At Vienna our Minister, Mr. John Jay, took charge of us—Forsyth was +still with me—and the few days' sojourn was full of interest. The +Emperor being absent from the capital, we missed seeing him; but the +Prime Minister, Count von Beust, was very polite to us, and at his +house we had the pleasure of meeting at dinner Count Andrassy, the +Prime Minister of Hungary.</p> + +<p>From Vienna we went to Buda-Pesth, the Hungarian capital; and thence, +in a I small, crowded, and uncomfortable steamboat, down the Danube +to Rustchuck, whence we visited Bucharest—all who travel in eastern +Europe do so—and then directing our course southward, we went first +to Varna, and from that city by steamer through the Black Sea to +Constantinople.</p> + +<p>We reached the Turkish capital at the time of Ramadan, the period of +the year (about a month) during which the Mohammedans are commanded +by the Koran to keep a rigorous fast every day from sunrise till +sunset. All the followers of the Prophet were therefore busy with +their devotions—holding a revival, as it were; hence there was no +chance whatever to be presented to the Sultan, Abdul Aziz, it being +forbidden during the penitential season for him to receive +unbelievers, or in fact any one except the officials of his +household. However, the Grand Vizier brought me many messages of +welcome, and arranged that I should be permitted to see and salute +his Serene Highness on the Esplanade as he rode by on horseback to +the mosque.</p> + +<p>So, the second day after arrival, the Grand Vizier drove me in a +barouche to the Esplanade, where we took station about midway of its +length an hour or so before the Sultan was to appear. Shortly after +we reached the Esplanade, carriages occupied by the women of the +Sultan's harem began to appear, coming out from the palace grounds +and driving up and down the roadway. Only a few of the women were +closely veiled, a majority of them wearing an apology for veiling, +merely a strip of white lace covering the forehead down to the +eyebrows. Some were yellow, and some white-types of the Mongolian +and Caucasian races. Now and then a pretty face was seen, rarely a +beautiful one. Many were plump, even to corpulence, and these were +the closest veiled, being considered the greatest beauties I presume, +since with the Turk obesity is the chief element of comeliness. As +the carriages passed along in review, every now and then an occupant, +unable or unwilling to repress her natural promptings, would indulge +in a mild flirtation, making overtures by casting demure +side-glances, throwing us coquettish kisses, or waving strings of amber +beads with significant gestures, seeming to say: "Why don't you +follow?" But this we could not do if we would, for the Esplanade +throughout its entire length was lined with soldiers, put there +especially to guard the harem first, and later, the Sultan on his +pilgrimage to the mosque.</p> + +<p>But as it was now time for His Serene Highness to make his appearance +the carriages containing his wives drove off into the palace grounds, +which were inclosed by a high wall, leaving the Esplanade wholly +unencumbered except by the soldiers. Down between the two ranks, +which were formed facing each other, came the Sultan on a white +steed—a beautiful Arabian—and having at his side his son, a boy +about ten or twelve years old, who was riding a pony, a diminutive +copy of his father's mount, the two attended by a numerous +body-guard, dressed in gorgeous Oriental uniforms. As the procession +passed our carriage, I, as pre-arranged, stood up and took off my +hat, His Serene Highness promptly acknowledging the salute by raising +his hand to the forehead. This was all I saw of him, yet I received +every kindness at his hands, being permitted to see many of his +troops, to inspect all the ordnance, equipment, and other military +establishments about Constantinople, and to meet numbers of the high +functionaries of the Empire.</p> + +<p>Among other compliments tendered through his direction, and which I +gladly accepted, was a review of all the troops then in +Stamboul—about 6,000—comprising infantry, cavalry, and artillery.</p> + +<p>They were as fine looking a body of soldiers as I ever saw—well +armed and well clothed, the men all large and of sturdy appearance.</p> + +<p>After the review we attended a grand military dinner given by the +Grand Vizier. At the hour set for this banquet we presented +ourselves at the palace of the Grand Vizier, and being ushered into a +large drawing-room, found already assembled there the guests invited +to meet us. Some few spoke French, and with these we managed to +exchange an occasional remark; but as the greater number stood about +in silence, the affair, thus far, was undeniably a little stiff. +Just before the dinner was announced, all the Turkish officers went +into an adjoining room, and turning their faces to the east, +prostrated themselves to the floor in prayer. Then we were all +conducted to a large salon, where each being provided with a silver +ewer and basin, a little ball of highly perfumed soap and a napkin, +set out on small tables, each guest washed his hands. Adjacent to +this salon was the dining-room, or, rather, the banqueting room, a +very large and artistically frescoed hall, in the centre of which +stood a crescent-shaped table, lighted with beautiful silver +candelabra, and tastefully decorated with flowers and fruits. The +viands were all excellent; cooked, evidently, by a French chef, and +full justice was done the dishes, especially by the Turks, who, of +course, had been fasting all day.</p> + +<p>At the close of the banquet, which consisted of not less than fifteen +courses, we withdrew to a smoking-room, where the coffee was served +and cigarettes and chibouks offered us—the latter a pipe having a +long flexible stem with an amber mouthpiece. I chose the chibouk, +and as the stem of mine was studded with precious stones of enormous +value, I thought I should enjoy it the more; but the tobacco being +highly flavored with some sort of herbs, my smoke fell far short of +my anticipations. The coffee was delicious, however, and I found +this to be the case wherever I went in Constantinople, whether in +making calls or at dinner, the custom of offering coffee and tobacco +on these occasions being universal.</p> + +<p>The temptations to linger at Constantinople were many indeed, not the +least being the delightful climate; and as time pressed, we set out +with much regret on the return journey, stopping a few days at +Athens, whence we made several short excursions into the interior. +King George and Queen Olga made our stay in Athens one of extreme +interest and exceeding pleasure. Throwing aside all ceremony, they +breakfasted and dined us informally, gave us a fine ball, and in +addition to these hospitalities showed us much personal attention, +his Majesty even calling upon me, and the Queen sending her children +to see us at our hotel.</p> + +<p>Of course we visited all that remained of the city's ancient +civilization—the Acropolis, temples, baths, towers, and the like; +nor did we omit to view the spot where St. Paul once instructed the +Athenians in lessons of Christianity. We traveled some little +through the country districts outside of Athens, and I noticed that +the peasantry, in point of picturesqueness of dress and color of +complexion, were not unlike the gypsies we see at times in America. +They had also much of the same shrewdness, and, as far as I could +learn, were generally wholly uneducated, ignorant, indeed, except as +to one subject—politics—which I was told came to them intuitively, +they taking to it, and a scramble for office, as naturally as a duck +to water. In fact, this common faculty for politics seems a +connecting link between the ancient and modern Greek.</p> + +<p>Leaving Athens with the pleasantest recollections, we sailed for +Messina, Sicily, and from there went to Naples, where we found many +old friends; among them Mr. Buchanan Reed, the artist and poet, and +Miss Brewster, as well as a score or more of others of our +countrymen, then or since distinguished, in art and letters at home +and abroad. We remained some days in Naples, and during the time +went to Pompeii to witness a special excavation among the ruins of +the buried city, which search was instituted on account of our visit. +A number of ancient household articles were dug up, and one, a terra +cotta lamp bearing upon its crown in bas-relief the legend of "Leda +and the Swan," was presented to me as a souvenir of the occasion, +though it is usual for the Government to place in its museums +everything of such value that is unearthed.</p> + +<p>From Naples to Rome by rail was our next journey. In the Eternal +City we saw picture-galleries, churches, and ruins in plenty, but all +these have been so well described by hundreds of other travelers that +I shall not linger even to name them. While at Rome we also +witnessed an overflow of the Tiber, that caused great suffering and +destroyed much property. The next stage of our tour took us to +Venice, then to Florence—the capital of Italy—for although the +troops of the King of Italy had taken possession of Rome the +preceding September, the Government itself had not yet removed +thither.</p> + +<p>At Florence, our Minister, Mr. Marsh, though suffering with a lame +foot, took me in charge, and in due course of time I was presented to +King Victor-Emmanuel. His Majesty received me informally at his +palace in a small, stuffy room—his office, no doubt—and an untidy +one it was too. He wore a loose blouse and very baggy trousers; a +comfortable suit, certainly, but not at all conducing to an ideal +kingliness of appearance.</p> + +<p>His Majesty's hobby was hunting, and no sooner had I made my bow than +he began a conversation on that subject, thrusting his hands nearly +up to the elbows into the pockets of his trousers. He desired to +learn about the large game of America, particularly the buffalo, and +when I spoke of the herds of thousands and thousands I had seen on +the plains of western Kansas, he interrupted me to bemoan the fate +which kept him from visiting America to hunt, even going so far as to +say that "he didn't wish to be King of Italy, anyhow, but would much +prefer to pass his days hunting than be bedeviled with the cares of +state." On one of his estates, near Pisa, he had several large herds +of deer, many wild boars, and a great deal of other game. Of this +preserve he was very proud, and before we separated invited me to go +down there to shoot deer, adding that he would be there himself if he +could, but feared that a trip which he had to take to Milan would +interfere, though he wished me to go in any event.</p> + +<p>I gladly accepted the invitation, and in two or three days was +notified when I would be expected at the estate. At the designated +time I was escorted to Pisa by an aide-de-camp, and from there we +drove the few miles to the King's chateau, where we fortified +ourselves for the work in hand by an elaborate and toothsome +breakfast of about ten courses. Then in a carriage we set out for +the King's stand in the hunting-grounds, accompanied by a crowd of +mounted game-keepers, who with great difficulty controlled the pack +of sixty or seventy hounds, the dogs and keepers together almost +driving me to distraction with their yelping and yelling. On +reaching the stand, I was posted within about twenty' yards of a +long, high picket-fence, facing the fence and covered by two trees +very close together. It was from behind these that the King usually +shot, and as I was provided with a double-barreled shot-gun, I +thought I could do well, especially since close in rear of me stood +two game-keepers to load and hand me a second gun when the first was +emptied.</p> + +<p>Meantime the huntsmen and the hounds had made a circuit of the park +to drive up the game. The yelps of the hounds drawing near, I +cautiously looked in the direction of the sound, and the next moment +saw a herd of deer close in to the fence, and coming down at full +speed. Without a miss, I shot the four leading ones as they tried +to run the gauntlet, for in passing between the stand and the fence, +the innocent creatures were not more than ten to fifteen paces from +me. At the fourth I stopped, but the gamekeepers insisted on more +butchery, saying, "No one but the King ever did the like" (I guess no +one else had ever had the chance), so, thus urged, I continued firing +till I had slaughtered eleven with eleven shots—an easy task with a +shot-gun and buckshot cartridges.</p> + +<p>The "hunt" being ended—for with this I had had enough, and no one +else was permitted to do any shooting—the aide-decamp directed the +game to be sent to me in Florence, and we started for the chateau. +On the way back I saw a wild boar the first and only one I ever +saw—my attention being drawn to him by cries from some of the +game-keepers. There was much commotion, the men pointing out the game and +shouting excitedly, "See the wild boar!" otherwise I should not have +known what was up, but now, looking in the indicated direction, I saw +scudding over the plain what appeared to me to be nothing but a +halfgrown black pig, or shoat. He was not in much of a hurry either, +and gave no evidence of ferocity, yet it is said that this +insignificant looking animal is dangerous when hunted with the spear +—the customary way. After an early dinner at the chateau we +returned to Florence, and my venison next day arriving, it was +distributed among my American friends in the city.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the hunt the King returned from Milan, and then honored +me with a military dinner, his Majesty and all the guests, numbering +eighty, appearing in full uniform. The banqueting hall was lighted +with hundreds of wax candles, there was a profusion of beautiful +flowers, and to me the scene altogether was one of unusual +magnificence. The table service was entirely of gold—the celebrated +set of the house of Savoy—and behind the chair of each guest stood a +servant in powdered wig and gorgeous livery of red plush. I sat at +the right of the King, who—his hands resting on his sword, the hilt +of which glittered with jewels—sat through the hour and a half at +table without once tasting food or drink, for it was his rule to eat +but two meals in twenty-four hours—breakfast at noon, and dinner at +midnight. The King remained silent most of the time, but when he did +speak, no matter on what subject, he inevitably drifted back to +hunting. He never once referred to the Franco-Prussian war, nor to +the political situation in his own country, then passing through a +crisis. In taking leave of his Majesty I thanked him with deep +gratitude for honoring me so highly, and his response was that if +ever he came to America to hunt buffalo, he should demand my +assistance.</p> + +<p>From Florence I went to Milan and Geneva, then to Nice, Marseilles, +and Bordeaux. Assembled at Bordeaux was a convention which had been +called together by the government of the National Defense for the +purpose of confirming or rejecting the terms of an armistice of +twenty-one days, arranged between Jules Favre and Count Bismarck in +negotiations begun at Versailles the latter part of January. The +convention was a large body, chosen from all parts of France, and was +unquestionably the most noisy, unruly and unreasonable set of beings +that I ever saw in a legislative assembly. The frequent efforts of +Thiers, Jules Favre, and other leading men to restrain the more +impetuous were of little avail. When at the sittings a delegate +arose to speak on some question, he was often violently pulled to his +seat and then surrounded by a mob of his colleagues, who would throw +off their coats and gesticulate wildly, as though about to fight.</p> + +<p>But the bitter pill of defeat had to be swallowed in some way, so the +convention delegated M. Thiers to represent the executive power of +the country, with authority to construct a ministry three +commissioners were appointed by the Executive, to enter into further +negotiations with Count Bismarck at Versailles and arrange a peace, +the terms of which, however, were to be submitted to the convention +for final action. Though there had been so much discussion, it took +but a few days to draw up and sign a treaty at Versailles, the +principal negotiators being Thiers and Jules Favre for France, and +Bismarck on the part of the Germans. The terms agreed upon provided +for the occupation of Paris till ratification should be had by the +convention at Bordeaux; learning of which stipulation from our +Minister, Mr. Washburn, I hurried off to Paris to see the conquerors +make their triumphal entry.</p> + +<p>In the city the excitement was at fever heat, of course; the entire +population protesting with one voice that they would never, never +look upon the hated Germans marching through their beloved city. No! +when the day arrived they would hide themselves in their houses, or +shut their eyes to such a hateful sight. But by the 1st of March a +change had come over the fickle Parisians, for at an early hour the +sidewalks were jammed with people, and the windows and doors of the +houses filled with men, women, and children eager to get a look at +the conquerors. Only a few came in the morning, however—an +advance-guard of perhaps a thousand cavalry and infantry. The main column +marched from the Arc-de-Triomphe toward the middle of the afternoon. +In its composition it represented United Germany—Saxons, Bavarians, +and the Royal Guard of Prussia—and, to the strains of martial music, +moving down the Champ Elysees to the Place de la Concorde, was +distributed thence over certain sections of the city agreed upon +beforehand. Nothing that could be called a disturbance took place +during the march; and though there was a hiss now and then and +murmurings of discontent, yet the most noteworthy mutterings were +directed against the defunct Empire. Indeed, I found everywhere that +the national misfortunes were laid at Napoleon's door—he, by this +time, having become a scapegoat for every blunder of the war.</p> + +<p>The Emperor William (he had been proclaimed German Emperor at +Versailles the 18th of January) did not accompany his troops into +Paris, though he reviewed them at Long Champs before they started. +After the occupation of the city he still remained at Versailles, and +as soon as circumstances would permit, I repaired to the Imperial +headquarters to pay my respects to his Majesty under his new title +and dignities, and to say good-bye.</p> + +<p>Besides the Emperor, the only persons I me at Versailles were General +von Moltke and Bismarck. His Majesty was in a very agreeable frame +of mind, and as bluff and hearty as usual. His increased rank and +power had effected no noticeable change of any kind in him, and by +his genial and cordial ways he made me think that my presence with +the German army had contributed to his pleasure. Whether this was +really so or not, I shall always believe it true, for his kind words +and sincere manner could leave no other conclusion.</p> + +<p>General von Moltke was, as usual, quiet and reserved, betraying not +the slightest consciousness of his great ability, nor the least +indication of pride on account of his mighty work. I say this +advisedly, for it is an undoubted fact that it was his marvelous +mind that perfected the military system by which 800,000 men were +mobilized with unparalleled celerity and moved with such certainty of +combination that, in a campaign of seven months, the military power +of France was destroyed and her vast resources sorely crippled.</p> + +<p>I said good-bye to Count Bismarck, also, for at that busy time the +chances of seeing him again were very remote. The great Chancellor +manifested more joy over the success of the Germans than did anyone +else at the Imperial headquarters. Along with his towering strength +of mind and body, his character partook of much of the enthusiasm and +impulsiveness commonly restricted to younger men, and now in his +frank, free way be plainly showed his light-heartedness and +gratification at success. That which for years his genius had been +planning and striving for—permanent unification of the German +States, had been accomplished by the war. It had welded them +together in a compact Empire which no power in Europe could disrupt, +and as such a union was the aim of Bismarck's life, he surely had a +right to feel jubilant.</p> + +<p>Thanks to the courtesies extended me, I had been able to observe the +principal battles, and study many of the minor details of a war +between two of the greatest military nations of the world, and to +examine critically the methods followed abroad for subsisting, +equipping, and manoeuvring vast bodies of men during a stupendous, +campaign. Of course I found a great deal to interest and instruct +me, yet nowadays war is pretty much the same everywhere, and this one +offered no marked exception to my previous experiences. The methods +pursued on the march were the same as we would employ, with one most +important exception. Owing to the density of population throughout +France it was always practicable for the Germans to quarter their +troops in villages, requiring the inhabitants to subsist both +officers and men. Hence there was no necessity for camp and garrison +equipage, nor enormous provision trains, and the armies were +unencumbered by these impedimenta, indispensable when operating in a +poor and sparsely settled country. As I have said before, the only +trains were those for ammunition, pontoon-boats, and the field +telegraph, and all these were managed by special corps. If +transportation was needed for other purposes, it was obtained by +requisition from the invaded country, just as food and forage were +secured. Great celerity of combination was therefore possible, the +columns moving in compact order, and as all the roads were broad and +macadamized, there was little or nothing to delay or obstruct the +march of the Germans, except when their enemy offered resistance, but +even this was generally slight and not very frequent, for the French +were discouraged by disaster from the very outset of the campaign</p> + +<p>The earlier advantages gained by the Germans may be ascribed to the +strikingly prompt mobilization of their armies, one of the most +noticeable features of their perfect military system, devised by +almost autocratic power; their later successes were greatly aided by +the blunders of the French, whose stupendous errors materially +shortened the war, though even if prolonged it could, in my opinion, +have had ultimately no other termination.</p> + +<p>As I have previously stated, the first of these blunders was the +acceptance of battle by MacMahon at Worth; the second in attaching +too much importance to the fortified position of Metz, resulting in +three battles Colombey, Mars-la-Tour, and Gravelotte—all of which +were lost; and the third, the absurd movement of MacMahon along the +Belgian frontier to relieve Metz, the responsibility for which, I am +glad to say, does not belong to him.</p> + +<p>With the hemming in of Bazaine at Metz and the capture of MacMahon's +army at Sedan the crisis of the war was passed, and the Germans +practically the victors. The taking of Paris was but a +sentiment—the money levy could have been made and the Rhine provinces held +without molesting that city, and only the political influences +consequent upon the changes in the French Government caused peace to +be deferred.</p> + +<p>I did not have much opportunity to observe the German cavalry, either +on the march or in battle. The only time I saw any of it engaged was +in the unfortunate charge at Gravelotte. That proved its mettle good +and discipline fair, but answered no other purpose. Such of it as +was not attached to the infantry was organized in divisions, and +operated in accordance with the old idea of covering the front and +flanks of the army, a duty which it thoroughly performed. But thus +directed it was in no sense an independent corps, and hence cannot +be, said to have accomplished anything in the campaign, or have had a +weight or influence at all proportionate to its strength. The method +of its employment seemed to me a mistake, for, being numerically +superior to the French cavalry, had it been massed and manoeuvred +independently of the infantry, it could easily have broken up the +French communications, and done much other work of weighty influence +in the prosecution of the war.</p> + +<p>The infantry was as fine as I ever saw, the men young and hardy in +appearance, and marching always with an elastic stride. The infantry +regiment, however, I thought too large—too many men for a colonel to +command unless he has the staff of a general—but this objection may +be counterbalanced by the advantages resulting from associating +together thus intimately the men from the same district, or county as +we would call it; the celerity of mobilization, and, in truth, the +very foundation of the German system, being based on this local or +territorial scheme of recruiting.</p> + +<p>There was no delay when the call sounded for the march; all turned +out promptly, and while on the road there was very little straggling, +only the sick falling out. But on such fine, smooth roads, and with +success animating the men from the day they struck the first blow, it +could hardly be expected that the columns would not keep well closed +up. Then, too, it must be borne in mind that, as already stated, +'campaigning' in France—that is, the marching, camping, and +subsisting of an army—is an easy matter, very unlike anything we, +had during the war of the rebellion. To repeat: the country is rich, +beautiful, and densely populated, subsistence abundant, and the +roads—all macadamized highways; thus the conditions; are altogether +different from those existing with us. I think that under the same +circumstances our troops would have done as well as the Germans, +marched as admirably, made combinations as quickly and accurately, +and fought with as much success. I can but leave to conjecture how. +the Germans would have got along on bottomless roads—often none at +all—through the swamps and quicksands of northern Virginia, from, +the Wilderness to Petersburg, and from Chattanooga to Atlanta and the +sea.</p> + +<p>Following the operations of the German armies from the battle of +Gravelotte to the siege of Paris, I may, in conclusion, say that I +saw no new military principles developed, whether of strategy or +grand tactics, the movements of the different armies and corps being +dictated and governed by the same general laws that have so long +obtained, simplicity of combination and manoeuvre, and the +concentration of a numerically superior force at the vital point.</p> + +<p>After my brief trip to Versailles, I remained in Paris till the +latter part of March. In company with Mr. Washburn, I visited the +fortifications for the defense of the city, and found them to be +exceptionally heavy; so strong, indeed, that it would have been very +hard to carry the place by a general assault. The Germans, knowing +the character of the works, had refrained from the sacrifice of life +that such an attempt must entail, though they well knew that many of +the forts were manned by unseasoned soldiers. With only a combat +here and there, to tighten their lines or repulse a sortie, they +wisely preferred to wait till starvation should do the work with +little loss and absolute certainty.</p> + +<p>The Germans were withdrawn from Paris on the 3d of March, and no +sooner were they gone than factional quarrels, which had been going +on at intervals ever since the flight of the Empress and the fall of +her regency on the 4th of September, were renewed with revolutionary +methods that eventually brought about the Commune. Having witnessed +one or two of these outbreaks, and concluding that while such +turbulence reigned in the city it would be of little profit for me to +tarry there, I decided to devote the rest of the time I could be away +from home to travel in England, Ireland, and Scotland. My journeys +through those countries were full of pleasure and instruction, but as +nothing I saw or did was markedly different from what has been so +often described by others, I will save the reader this part of my +experience. I returned to America in the fall, having been absent a +little more than a year, and although I saw much abroad of absorbing +interest, both professional and general, yet I came back to my native +land with even a greater love for her, and with increased admiration +for her institutions.</p> + + +<br><br> + + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + + <a href="p5.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="4362-h.htm">Main Index</a> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + + +</body> +</html> + |
