THKEE YEARS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. HENRY N. BLAKE, Late Captain in the Eleventh Eegiment Massachusetts volukteeks. From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes, That I have passed ! " BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD, (SUCCESSOKS TO PuiLLII'S, SAMPSON & CO.) 1865. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by HENRY N. BLAKE, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massa- chusetts. Stereotyped by C. J. Peters & Son, No. 13 Washington Street. Press of Geo. C. Band & Avert. PEEFACE. f 'he author formed a thousandth part of the Eleventh Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, and enlisted in April, 1861, and was mustered out of the service in June, 1864. During this period, he recorded in a diary every incident of interest which passed under his observation-; and the request of many comrades, who saw him take notes upon the march or on the battle-field, induced him to prepare them for general reading. In carrying out this design, the author has most unwillingly omitted to mention by name the ofiicers and enlisted men of his regiment, although some of their heroic acts are briefly described. Rarely venturing to go beyond his limited vision, adhering most rigidly to fact, able to prove many strange statements by the testimony of thousands of soldiers, he has found it necessary to portray certain generals and other officers in the strongest colors of shameful cowardice, drunkenness, and military miscon- duct. The vexations, not the results of litigation, have deterred him from furnishing the names of these ob- noxious persons; but, to shield honorable men from base suspicion by civilians, he states that the generals who are censured, with the exception of the foreigners IV PREFACE. at Fair Oaks and Chancellorsville, one at Malvern Hill second, and one at Bull Run second, are mentioned upon some page of the book. The death of important witnesses might cause a slight difficulty in proving, by direct evidence, incidents which were seen by a very small number of spectators. Tlie author has not at- tempted to give a history of most of the great engage- ments in which he bore a humble part ; and criticises only those battles which took place in the.open country, where he could behold the chief movements of the Union forces. He has perused many works which have been pub- lished upon the present war by quartermasters, chap- lains, and correspondents of newspapers, — a class of non-combatants that usually narrate what was observed by others. The author considers that the facts which he has described in the succeeding chapters possess the advantages of originality and reliability. Although the author is aware that we are all prone to error, he has no hesitation in staking his reputation for veracity upon the truth of the statements of this work, however improbable they may appear to the reader. The names of the following generals, under whom the author was compelled to serve, are not always mentioned when their conduct is described, — Iewii^ McDowell, WillIx\m B. Franklin, Alfred A. Humphreys, William H. French, Joseph B. Caer. CONTENTS. CHAPTER J. Page. THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL KUN 7 CHAPTER II. THE CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY ... 32 CHAPTER HI. ' THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN 52 CHAPTER IV. THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG 68' CHAPTER V. THE MARCH, AND FAIR OAKS • 89 CHAPTER VI. THE BATTLES OF SAVAGE'S STATION, GLENDALE, AND MALVERN HILL ' 107 CHAPTER VII. THE BATTLES OF BRISTOW STATION, THE SECOND BULL RUN, AND CHANTILLY 120 CHAPTER VIII. THE MARCH TO FALMOUTH, AND THE BATTLE OF FRED- ERICKSBURG . . ; 142 CHAPTER IX. THE CAMP AT FALMOUTH, VIRGINIA 159 V VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. Page. THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE 109 CHAPTER XI. THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG 189 CHAPTER Xn. THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 205 CHAPTER Xm. THE MARCH TO WILLIAMSPORT, MANASSAS GAP, AND CULPEPER COURT HOUSE 224 CHAPTER XIV. TO CENTREVILLE, AND BACK TO CULPEPER COURT HOUSE 242 CHAPTER XV. THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN 252 CHAPTER XVI. THE WINTER QUARTERS AT BRANDY STATION 267 CHAPTER XVII. THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS AND SPOTTSYL- VANLA COURT HOUSE 276 CHAPTER XVm. THE HOSPITAL, AND OBSERVATIONS UPON THE TREAT- MENT OF ARMY DISEASES 296 CHAPTER XIX. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS UPON ARMY MORALITY AND DISCIPLINE 309 THREE YEARS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. , CHAPTER I. THE FIKST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. #N July 16, 1861, the Eleventh Regiment Massa- chusetts Volunteers formed a part of a brigade com- manded by Col. Franklin, and a division com- manded by Col. Heintzelman. In compliance with orders, the regiment marched from Alexandria at two, p.m., and left all the diseased and feeble in the camp, under the charge of a sick captain, to guard the tents and knapsacks of the men during their absence. The soldiers composing the expedition displayed the highest emotion of joy ; and those who were compelled by their physical weakness to remain in the rear were affected with grief, and some shed tears. Each person carried his musket and equipments, containing forty rounds of ammunition ; and bore upon his shoulder a woollen 7 8 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. blanket enclosed in one made of gum or rubber, and a can- teen and haversack. The latter was filled with rations for three days, which consisted of three or four pounds of salt pork or beef ("junk "), thirty crackers (" hard- tack "), and a small quantity of sugar and coffee. No one seemed to be informed concerning the object of the movement ; but it was generally surmised that a battle was one of the events of the uncertain future. The column marched over a narrow and miserable road (one of the chief features of the barbarism of Virginia) south of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and formed the left wing of the invading army, which*was com- manded by Gen. McDowell. Sixteen horses could not draw a thirty-two-pound Parrott gun over the rugged course ; and two companies were detached from the regiment to assist the jaded animals in performing this labor. The men sustained the fatigues of their first march during the afternoon and evening in an excellent manner ; and there were few cases of utter exhaustion or straggling, although the halts were infrequent. The houses, or, to speak truly, hovels, upon the road, were small in number and dimension, and the country was thickly wooded. The population that was visible comprised aged men, women with their children, and the negroes. Our progress was extremely slow after sunset ; and the column for seven hom^s advanced, at ii-regular intervals of time, five, twenty, or one hundred feet. No orders to halt were received during the night from the brigade commander : the delays of a few seconds or minutes were uncertain in their THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 9 duration ; and the men did not know when they could enjoy them. As soon as they had broken ranks, and prepared to rest after a sudden stop, they would be commanded to " fall in ; " and another pause frequently occurred before the moving mass had travelled the length of a company. The troops, ex- pecting to start at once, sometimes stood in their places half of an hour before the march was resumed ; and were fatigued during this time, as if they had been in motion. The soldiers were completely exhausted by this severe mode of manoeu- vring them, for which there was no excuse ; and many fell asleep upon the roadside. The regiment reached its halting-place near Pohick Church at 3.45, a.m., on the 17th, and welcomed repose without seeking any shelter. A single tree formed the bridge over Pohick Creek, a run which was about twenty-five feet in width, and too deep to be forded ; and the troops, as- sisted by a feeble light, crossed upon it in one rank. • The column had been delayed several hours by this obstacle, which could have been easily removed by the pioneers, who carried fifty axes, with which they might have felled the trees that were standing upon the banks of the streamlet, and built a bridge. The most tedious portion of the march could have been prevented by the use of the most ordinary judgment by the brigade commander, who displayed a profound ignorance of the first lesson in the school of a general, — the art of marching men : instead of conducting troops a great distance with a small expenditure of strength, he reversed the rule, and caused more fatigue in marching the brigade fourteen 10 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. miles than they would have suffered in moving twice this di^ tanee under an intelligent officer. The troops rested only an hour, and were awakened at four o'clock, and ordered to resume the march ; durmg which they nibbled their rations, for there were no chances to eat a regular meal. From this early moment until three, p.m., the brigade was marched in the heedless style that characterized the pre- vious night ; and no stated halts took place, although there wa3 an intense heat. Hundreds were obliged to leave the ranks, because they had been deprived of bodily vigor by the hardships of the two days ; while the brigtidier and his staff, riding upon their horses and suffering no inconvenience, un- justly reprimanded them for straggUng. These unfortunate soldiers did not wish to avoid the dangers of a battle : on the contrary, the only apprehension which they expressed was, that the rebels, following the precedent established at Harper's Ferry and Alexandria, might evacuate Manassas. No public road was followed during a portion of the route, which passed through fields and forests in a thinly settled country. The forms of one h^ilf of the brigade ai-rived at Sangster's Station at three o'clock, about two hours after the South-CaroUua troops retreated upon the railroad from Fairfix Com-t House ; and the bridges which they had set on fire were burnin'^- when the column halted. Squads of the missing fragment of the command constantly joined it dm-ing the next six hours, until there were no absentees. Three or four men were killed on both days by the cai-elessuess of soldiei-s THE FIRST BATTLE OP BULL RUN. 11 who bore loaded muskets upon their shoulders for the first time. A drove of pigs, and flock of sheep numbering about one lundred and fifty, were captured by these men within an hour ifter their arrival ; and it was ascertained that they had been collected for the purpose of feeding a detachment of the rebel army which had been stationed at this point. Some were killed, and roasted upon the camp-fires by means of a ram- mer, or forked twig, while the flesh quivered. The brigade commander issued an order authorizing the officers to shoot every man who was detected in the act of kilhng these hogs or sheep, and the soldiers stealthily cooked in the night what they had slaughtered and concealed ; but the largest portion of the number was abandoned to nourish the poorly supplied enemy. A circular was transmitted by Gen. JMcDowell, reproaching the volunteers as plunderers, and de- nouncing their conduct in such strong terms of undeserved censure, that a feehng of indignation pervaded the ranks. My facilities for seeing any depredations that might have been committed were excellent, because the regiment had a position in the rear of the division ; and the behavior of the troops towards the people upon the road was unexceptionable. A house which had been deserted by its owner, who had joined the forces of Beauregard, was burned during the night by some men who were exasperated on account of the wearisome manner in which they were delayed. They rushed to the wells near some of the dwellmgs to procure fresh water, because 12 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. the officer in charge of the command did not halt and allow them to fill their canteens, the contents of which had become too warm for use. Certain mounted officers were very con- spicuous in using oaths, and driving the troops from these places which belonged to traitors who were toiling upon the intrenchments of Manassas. The painful experiences and stringent orders of the 16th and 17 th excited in the minds of many privates a strong prejudice against some of their su- periors in rank, and opinions werefreely expressed regarding their wisdom and loyalty. The soldiers listened for the first time to the reports of rebel cannon upon the afternoon of the 18th ; and gladly advanced in the direction of the firing at five, P.M., and bivouacked near Centreville at midnight. Stacks of arms, and batteries, surrounded us in the field near the old road over which Gen. Braddock led his ill-fated expedition to Fort du Qnesne. The army rested two days at this point, and listened to the whistle of the locomotives that were bringing to the junction re-enforcements for the rebel hordes. The soldiers eagerly walked long distances to see prisoners; and a defiant sergeant told the crowd of spec- tators that they would "double-quick back to Washington'* within a week ; a prophecy which was fulfilled upon the 21st. Citizens searching for runaway negroes, or presenting claims for damages to their property, were protected by Gen. McDowell, who allowed them to examine every encampment, and ascertain the number and position of the troops and bat- teries ; after which they rode to Manassas, and communicated THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 13 the valuable information which they had acquired. A private of the regiment, who was wounded and captured in the battle, saw a person, that applied for compensation on account of the injury to his crops, dressed in the nondescript uniform of the Southern soldiers. He spoke to him when he was posted upon guard, and asked, "How much money did you get for your wheat?" The rebel laughed at the question, but ad- mitted that he was the spy, and entertained his companions by narrating the facts. Eations of pork and beef for two days were boiled on the 20th, and issued to the command at midnight. The regiment was formed in line at one, a.m., upon the 21st : the division commei^ed to move into the road at half-past two, and marched a mile towards the commanding heights of Centreville, when it was halted to allow the com- mands of Tyler and Hunter to file by it. Infantry and ar- tillery, during the following three hours, occupied the solitary avenue over which the entite army passed to the front. The appearance of this large force inspired all with confidence ; and the order to advance was awaited with impatience. The head of the column started at the end of this unforeseen delay, advanced upon the Warrenton Turnpike through the little village of Centreville, and crossed the bridge that spans Cub Run, near which I noticed about twenty barouches and carriao-es that contained members of Confyrcss and their friends, who had left Washmgton for the purpose of witness- ing the approaching conflict. The divisions of Hunter and Heintzelraan debouched from the main road, at a point two 14 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. and a half miles from Centreville, and, accompanied by a . guide, followed a narrow pathway which was not often used, and led in its tortuous course through a dry territory that was well shaded by the forest. An open space of fifteen acres sometimes intervened ; but it was always enclosed by dense woods. The day was one of the hottest of the year : there was no friendly cloud to obstruct the rays of the sun ; and it was impossible for the army to march a long distance with unusual speed. Nevertheless, for twelve miles, the men were pushed forward at an unnatural gait, generally walking as rapidly as possible, and double-quicking one-fourth of the time, to keep the different regiments of the column within supporting distance of each other. Nearly every man impatiently asked, " How far is it to the Junction ? " when- ever the loyal citizen residing in the vicinity, who acted as a guide, rode along the line. He always answered the question in a good-natured manner by saying, " Six miles." The brigade commander never attempted to secure a rest for the soldiers; and some of them sank upon the ground, wholly overcome by faintness, which was produced by the intoler- able heat and the furious rate at which they were marched. There was a very small number, if any, in the Union host, that wished to evade the unknown perils of the combat ; and many, throwing away their blankets and rations to facilitate their progress, merely retained their muskets and ammunition. The thirty-two-pound Parrott gun opened its mouth of iron near the "stone bridge" over Bull Run at, 61, a. m. ; auol the THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 15 artillery upon the left continued to fire at regular intervals in the vicinity of the fords, while the right wing was hasten- ing to turn the left of the rebel line, which was posted in the rear of the Bull Run. The scarcity of water to allay the thirst produced by the causes that have been described was another impediment ; but the cannonading inspired the men with patriotism, and gave them a physical strength which they could not have possessed under similar circumstances in the avocations of a peaceful life. They occasionally emerged from the woods, and beheld the long clouds of dust in the south, which showed that the rebels were moving in the same direction ; and it required no deep knowledge of mathematics to demonstrate that the two lines of march, if extended, would soon intersect. The column arrived at eleven o'clock at a point that was a short distance from Sedley's Ford ; and a slight rest was enjoyed by the brigade while Hunter's divi^on was crossmg the run. The smoke of the exploding shells thrown by the batteries upon the left could be distinctly seen. The firing of the infantry and artillery became very active in front, as soon as the advance encountered the rebels, and drove them from their position. Wliile the men were filling their canteens, an aide-de-camp brought an order from Gen. McDowell to send forward two regiments to prevent the enemy from flanking the left of the troops that were engaged. The regiment, and one from Minnesota, led by Gen. Heintzelman, obeyed the command with alacrity, and double-quicked 16 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. through the fields, and Bull Run, which was three feet in depth and twenty yards in width at this ford. The water was yellow with mud, and flowed between hanks of red earth that showed the abundance of the sandstone in the soil. The soldiers followed the road over which the foe had been compelled to retke, and deployed in line upon the ground on which the rebel battery, which opened the contest, had been planted. The strange spectacle of dead and wounded men scattered upon the battle-field affected all with peculiar sensations. While the regiment was moving to the front. Generals Heintzelman and McDowell, pointing in the direc- tion of the firing, exclaimed, "They are running!''' "The day is ours ! " " They are on the retreat ! " and one of them remarked, " Men, I pledge you my word of honor that there are not three hundred rebels upon that hill." When they reached the scene of contest, many were in that state of fatigue in which it was more natural to sleep than to fight. The regiment was shielded from the fire of the enemy at this time by the crest of a hill, upon the slope of which it was posted. The batteries of Griffin and Ricketts, planted in a field upon the right, were actively engaged ; and shell and solid shot were thrown with rapidity. The attention was excited by the singular shrill whistling that accompanied the passage of balls and bullets through the air; but no symptoms of general uneasiness or fear were displayed. The line advanced to the crest of the hill, and saw the enemies of the country. THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 17 They had been forced to quit the height near the Henry House ; and the remnant, about fifty in number, was running in great disorder, and entering the woods, when the regiment dehvered its volley, and many soldiers, like the author, discharged the first bullet from their muskets. The foe was concealed in heavy force upon the left, and qui^ly returned the fii-e, when the order was issued to " lie down and load again;" and the smoke of rifles held by invisible hands formed the next target. The hostile batteries were masked in ravines and dense thickets ; and white, sulphurous clouds, rising slowly at certain points, and the reports which con- stantly greeted the ear, were the only indications of their presence. While the officers were re-forming the lines, which were sometimes disarranged in the excitement that prevailed. Gen. McDowell and some members of his staff, together with other officers that composed a group of twelve or thirteen persons, rode to this position, and reconnoitred the woods and hills in front. The soldiers were surprised to witness the boldness that was thus displayed ; and expected to see them fall, but were amazed when they retired without receiving a bullet. When the regiment, inferring that the rebels had been forced from then* last line of defence, advanced to the same point, a shower of lead welcomed it, and traced little channels in the ground upon which it stood. The enemy was again pushed back : the brigade filed to the right, and held a portion of the Leesburg Road, which ran through the stream at Sedley's Ford ; and victory seemed to be no longer 18 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. a matter of doubt. The national troops had pursued a retreating army a mile and a half: the Warrenton Pike was in their possession ; and the left wing of Beauregard's force had been completely turned, so that his line of battle was formed at right angles with the Bull Bun, which they had vainly attempted to defend. A lull . in the infantry firing took place a few minutes after one o'clock, and continued half ^ of an hour ; durmg which the men that were unoccupied should have attacked the rebels, who were enabled by this blundering delay to re-organize their shattered ranlvs, and offer a firm resistance when the offensive was assumed. These were the precious moments when a small fraction of the large reserve should have been ordered to complete the triumph that had been already won. The commanding general never submitted an excuse for this omission of duty ■ that satisfied those who took an active part in the engage- ment. I had a good opportunity to notice the topography of this portion of the field, which became the centre of the most stubborn fighting, while the soldiers were waiting for orders in the narrow Leesburg Road, that had been excavated seven or ten feet below the surface of the adjoining ground, and made a fair protection against an assault. There was a small wooden house, occupied by an infirm old lady, Mrs. Henry, who languished upon the bed of sickness during the contest, and was killed by the troops who fii-ed at the dwell- ing when it was filled with rebel sharpshooters. The open space of ground was very irregular, and located between THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 19 successive chains of abrupt bills about a quarter of a mile apart, which varied from one to two hundred feet in height. Thickets of pine and oak flourished upon the parts of the field in which the lines of the enemy were established ; and the country was adapted by nature for defensive purposes, so that the rebels, when dislodged from one stronghold, always found another a short distance in the rear of it. They were con- cealed in forests which no telescope could penetrate ; but the formation of the Union divisions took place in the open gi'ound, and could be easily perceived by the hostile generals from the summit of a commanding height that overlooked the scene. The principal portion of the cleared soil was uncul- tivated, and covered with dry grass, and the black weeds which thrive upon land that has been poisoned by the culture of tobacco. The rain had formed brooks that cut numerous deep gullies in the slopes of the hills and every section of the field, and afforded an excellent refuge for the wounded who could not be carried to the hospitals. The brigade was near the centre of the line at this time, and missiles of lead and iron were continually flying over it. Although the batteries had been placed in the extreme advance, contrary to the well-known precepts of military authors, the success which had hitherto followed our arms tempted Gen. McDowell to make greater risks. The regular artillery, which had rendered splendid service, was removed from a secure position, and pushed to the open field in front, which was destitute of any natural barrier or protection. 20 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. "Put the battery upon that hill, and the day is ours! " shouted an officer of high rank. The order was promptly obeyed, and the nation lost the victory. Members of the regiment destroyed a portion of the Virginia rail-fence upon the sides of the road, to allow the cannons to be drawn to the new point that had been designated. The. gunners were proud of the success which had been achieved ; and one of them said with truth, as he rode by the company, " We made the secesh battery change position thi^ee times in half an hour." The regiment was not actively engaged at that mo- ment; and most of the men were watching the section of Griffin's Battery, which was planted near them. A heavy volley from many rifles ended the silence that had existed in the infantry-firing, before it had discharged two rounds : horses, officers, and men were killed or disabled in the space of a second ; and, during my subsequent experience in a score of engagements, I never saw the work of destruction more sudden or complete. The battery of Eickett, which was in line of that of Griffin, had been annihilated in the same decisive manner before the support could be placed in position. I did not satisfactorily ascertain by whose stupid- ity this body of rebels was permitted to approach within two hundred feet of the lines without molestation, imtil I read the testimony of Gen. Griffin before the Committee on the Conduct of the War. I quote his language, because this disaster was the first check that had occurred in the action, and the chief cause of the defeat. "Major Barry said, 'I THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 21 know it is the battery support : it is the regiment taken there by Col. .' I said, ' They are confederates ; as certain as the workl, they are confederates.' He replied, ' I know they "are your battery support.' " The few cannoneers that survived this fatal volley imme- diately rushed to the rear : wounded horses, in their agony, galloped through the ranks of the infantry, and trampled upon the dead and helpless who were lying upon the field. Three animals, which were harnessed, and attached to a cais- son, dashed through the regiment at a furious rate of speed, and dragged one that was severely injured : a soldier, whose legs had been shattered by a solid shot, sat upon the carriage, clinging to it with his hands ; and a stream of blood sprinkled the earth, and made a trail by which the course of the caisson could be traced. The troops now lost the confidence of vic- tory which they had hitherto possessed ; while the defeated and disheartened rebels, who saw eleven pieces of artillery in an instant placed hors de combat, at once renewed their efforts, and their yells of exultation were heard above the din of the conflict. A squadron of their cavalry attempted to make a charge ; but many of their saddles were emptied, and they were easily repulsed by a body of ifien who belonged to different regiments. In the mean time, the rebel leaders had rallied their stragglers and fugitives, and advanced their hues to capture the guns which were now powerless to do them any injury. They were triumphantly driven three times to the woods, and victory was once more within the grasp of the 22 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. Union general. The soldiers seized some of the pieces, and pulled them a few yards to the rear ; but were compelled to leave them, because the defeat of the enemy required the presence of every man in the line of battle. The regiment at one time stood upon the ground which was > held by the foe when the first volley was discharged, and the dead and wounded were seen upon every side. The Mississippi troops had sustained a heavy loss at this point ; and one of them, who was dying, remarked to the men, ' ' You have fought for your country, and I have fought for mine." The mangled artillerists rested beneath the guns, in serving which they had so bravely fallen. It was three o'clock, and the soldiers had been engaged upon the march, or in action, during the long period of thu-- teen hours. A large number, from various causes, had left their commands and escaped to the rear, or fought without regard to the rules of discipline ; but the colors of the regi- ments, and the organizations, with many of the officers and companies, still remained. The exhausting march, the terri- ble heat, the lack of water, the horrors of the battle, and, above all, the loss of the artillery, had affected those who remained, to such an extent that they became every minute more unfitted to resist the onset of the enemy, who main- tained an irregular fire from the forest. Some officers be- haved in the most cowardly manner ; and certain companies were commanded by sergeants, because the captains and lieu- tenants absented themselves during the engagement. An THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 23 / uninjured colonel, who pretended to be severely wounded, and declared that he was unable to walk, was borne from the field by four members of his regiment. There was no gen- eral demoralization in the army, although many of the troops acted like all novices in the dreadful art of war, and exe- cuted some movements with great confusion. Two men placed their hands upon their ears to exclude the noise of the musketry and artillery, and rushed to the woods in the rear of the regiment. A timid Catholic took his service-book from his pocket, and read some of the prayers when the brigade was posted in the road. The shells struck rifles with such force, that some were twisted into the form of circles. A cannon-ball severed the arm of a sergeant, and threw it into the face of a soldier, who supposed, from fche blow and the amount of blood upon his person, that he was dangerously wounded. One man stumbled over some briers while the column was ascending a hill; and a solid shot passed over him and killed his file-leader, when he fell upon the ground. The ghastly faces of the dead, and the suffer- ings of the wounded, who were begging for water, or implor- ing aid to be carried to the hospital, moved the hearts of men who had not by long experience become callous to the sight of human agony. The firing in front was very feeble at four o'clock ; but a succession of severe volleys was poured from the woods upon the right flank and rear. The troops were unable to oflfer any resistance, and began to retke from the field upon which 24 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. they had maintained, unaided, the long straggle. The fresh soldiers that arrived at this opportune moment belonged to Kirby Smith's brigade, and formed a part of the rebel army of Johnston in the Shenandoah Valley. Generals and mounted officers, among whom were Burnside, Wadsworth, and Gov. Sprague, attempted in every way to form a new line, and prevent the retreating regiments from leaving the field ; but the position that was selected had no natural strength, and could be discerned by the enemy, who fol- lowed with the energy of conquerors. The colors of some commands were planted firmly^ and every man was ordered to rally around them, and make one more effort to win the battle; and officers shouted, " Rally round the old flag!" or, "Zouaves, remember Ellsworth ! " When the foe advanced with loud yells, and it was certain that the thousands who had remained in the reserve at Cen- tre ville, and rendered no service during the protracted con- test, would not assist the diminished numbers that were formed upon the field, despair was visible on every face ; and the regiments fell back about half-past four o'clock. The rebel artillery opened as I passed the Stone Church, which had been used as a hospital ; and theii- cavalry followed at a safe distance in the rear of the mass of the army, after they had received a few rounds of canister. The men were overcome by their thirst ; when they forded the run, and drank copious quantities of the water, which was constantly disturbed and filled with particles of mud by the tramp of horses and sol- THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 25 diers through it. The disorder that existed was increased at this point ; and the sorrowful troops, who had been forced to show their backs to the enemy, discussed the causes of the repulse while the shells were bursting in their midst. All seemed to wish to reach some rally in g-point like Centreville, so that they would not be taken prisoners ; and some officers removed their shoulder-straps to conceal their rank, and rushed to Washington. The infantry did not attempt to pursue the retreating columns ; and the cavalry halted for the night upon the south bank of Cub Kun, which flows into Bull Kun. The disorganized brigades marched upon the road over which they had passed in the morning; squads were scattered in all directions, stopping occasionally to eat the refreshing blackberries under their feet ; and few bodies of men were moving with regularity. The gunners of the Washington Artillery obtained an ex- cellent range upon the bridge over Cub Run, and demolished an army wagon, which was not removed by the teamsters who blocked up the way in their eagerness to escape. The stream was not fordable : trains and batteries that had not yet crossed were abandoned, and one-third of the loss that was sustained in the munitions of war occurred at this place. The general that allowed the wagons to go to the front committed an inexcusable error : if they had been parked at Centreville with the reserve, not one of them would have been captured. The so-called panic, about which so much has been said by persons that have given a description of the battle, occurred 26 THE FIPcST BATTLE OF BULL RUX. at this time. The di-ivers, finding it impossible to cross the run with the wagons and artillery, took their horses, and sometimes cut the traces to expedite their movements ; because the shells were continually bursting near them, and there were no troops upon that side of the stream to resist the cavalry if they made a charge. Some government teamsters, who belonged to no army organization, and were upon the safe bank, beyond the range of the rebel guns, cowardly deserted their wagons, and rode, without halting, until they saw the dome of the Capitol. The foot-soldiers, alarmed by this strange conduct and the absence of general officers, double- quicked and run ; and hundreds cast aside muskets, axes, and equipments, so that their flight could not be retarded. The appearance of so many full regiments at Centreville, that had been unemployed during the day, caused much excitement ; and the troops that had undergone the perils of the fight were very severe in then- comments upon the ability and loy- alty of the commanding general. " We have been sold," was a common remark in their conversation. The last sliot was fired a few minutes before sunset ; and the armies no longer heard, " in tones of thunder, the diapason of the can- nonade." The shells and bullets ceased to sino; then- sonpjs of death in the forests of Manassas, but rushed in silence, until they struck the homes of then: victims, in the peaceful villages of the north. I was obhged to leave the ranks during the latter part of the march, on account of exhaustion produced, in the battle. THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 27 by a fragment of shell which had inflicted a mere scratch. I walked in the direction of Centreville, at daybreak, on the 22d, after a sound sleep in a clump of bushes, and ex- pected to find the army established upon the heights. In travelling on the road which led through this town and Fair- fax Court House, the amount of government property that was needlessly destroyed, during the retreat, was easily ascer- tained. There were ten or twelve commissary and ammuni- tion wagons in the streets of Centreville ; and three had been abandoned within a mile of the last-named place, when the rebels were at least ten miles from them. Blankets, rifles, and equipments of many descriptions, were scattered in the road, and the woods that bordered upon it ; and some had been thrown away by men who were near Alexandria. ' Crowds of women and negroes, like wreckers in a stranded ship, were taking flout and provisions from the deserted wagons ; and the commissary department of the enemy ob- tained a small number of rations at the expense of the national treasury. The houses upon the public way, and especially those of Centreville, were filled with the wounded who could not walk : there were no surgeons or nurses to dress and bandage their injuries ; and they implored all the able-bodied persons to tell the general to send doctors and ambulances. Squads of stragglers, and slightly wounded men, with bandaged heads, arms in slings, and limping upon sticks, were walking to over- take the army, which had marched during the night. A 28 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. steady rain fell during the day ; and with my mnsket, and equipments for companions, I arrived at night at Alexandria, completely saturated. Upon the line of retreat, the natives, comprising old men and the female portion of the communi- ty, openly expressed their joy at the result of the conflict, and misled the soldiers by wilfully deceiving them about the direction of the roads ; while others, and the Irish settlers near the railroad, in every way assisted the stragglers. When I passed through Centreville at half-past seven o'clock in the morning, a loyal man, without any hat upon his head, which was adorned with the white hair of age, stood -at the intersection of the streets, pointed out to all that which led to Fairfax Court House, and earnestly advised them to hurry as much as possible, because the rebel cavalry could cut them off as soon as they knew tliat.the troops had marched to Alex- andria. Most of the wagons which had been purposely or shamefully abandoned were marked " U. S. ; " and I did not see a regimental team upon the route. There was an impor- tant distinction between the drivers : those of the first were hireling civilians, while the last were soldiers detailed for this duty from the volunteers. Near Fairfax there was a squad of fifty men, two of whom had fastened white handkerchiefs to their bayonets to prevent the rebels from firing upon them. Other groups marched together under a commander of their choice, kept in good order, and avowed an intention to resist the cavalry, which was momentarily expected. Three men tied their muskets to THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 29 the saddle of a horse which they had found, and each one rode a portion of the way. A soldier knocked down an offi- cer who was mounting his steed, jumped upon the animal, and, in a few minutes, there was an impassable gulf between the owner and the thief. Many of the ambulances and wagons, from which the stores had been removed, instead of conveying the wounded, were crowded with officers and men who wished to secure a ride. The reports of the fighting at Bull Run were distorted ac- counts of a single feature of the retreat ; and the journals and people spoke of nothing except t^ae " panic-struck troops " or a "routed army." Certain general and staff officers shrewdly and dishonorably availed themselves of this fact,, and threw the cause of the defeat upon the ' ' disorganized volunteers," to shield themselves from the share of public censure which they justly deserved. Major Barry, with re- markable assurance, testified concerning " uninstructed," *'raw," and ''green" troops, "panics," "indolent officers," and " infantry support broken in confusion, and scattered in all directions." The wisdom of Gen. Scott, in opposing the appoint- ment of Gen. M'Dowell, was fully confirmed ; and the soldiers that formed his command considered that his incompetency was the primary reason of the unfortunate defeat. The ef- fective strength of the army was diminished by the mode in which it was manoeuvred and separated. Gen. Runyon was stationed near Fairfax Court House, which was a day's march from the battle-field, with seven or ten thousand men, and 80 THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. performed no more semce for the countiy than the Queen's Guard in London. Another body of eleven thousand troops, under Col. Miles, who Tvas intoxicated, and unrelieved when the fact was reported at headquarters, was posted in the morning at Centreville, upon the left, and remained there during the day, without rendering any aid to then- comrades upon the right. A few skiiTaishers rai-ely exchanged shots ; and the artilleiy quickly dispersed a small rebel force that re- connoitred the position by filing nine or ten rounds of canis- ter. Xearly two brigades of the division commanded by Col. Tyler were halted upon the north bank of Bull Eun, and most unwiUingly acted the part of spectators. It will be ob- served that less than three-eighths of Gen. M'Doweirs force (about fifteen thousand men) actively participated in the com- bat ; and the remainder (about twenty-five thousand) did not fire a cartridge at the enemy. Of forty-nine pieces of artillery which was attached to the ai-my, only twenty-two were planted upon the field of strife. This small number of gallant sol- diers, at times basely deserted by cei-tain brigadiers, overcame serious obstacles, gained a briUiant success, which was not followed up, and was finally repulsed by fre.^ troops. K the list of casualties is apportioned among those that actually fought, and it is remembered that the contending troops were unused to the disturbing events of battle, and could not aim with the deadly accuracy of veterans, then: bravery is vindi- cated. It is an interesting fact, that, while the so-called gene- rals of the rebel army suffered a severe loss, not one was killed upon the Union side. THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN. 31 Many negroes gladly escaped from the lines of the enemy, and brought valuable information ; but their statements were unnoticed : and, contrary to every dictate of humanity, they were forced to return to their masters, and crouch in helpless agony beneath the cruel lash of fiends. Thus Gen. M'Dow- ell blindly rejected the best means of learning important facts, and gave to the foe some laborers, who worked upon the forts of Centre ville and Manassas. The reports of rebel generals and authors, their maps, and especially that which was " taken by Capt. Samuel P. Mitchell, First Virginia Eegimcnt," who took part in the battle, concur with Jefferson Davis in stating that it was " a hard-fought field." Prisoners always admitted that the arrival of Smith's brigade saved them from utter defeat. Every general and civilian that prefers charges of cowardice, or "panic-struck " flight, against the troops that attacked the foes of the country in the first action of Bull Run, is a base slanderer or a cul- pable ignoramus. CHAPTER II. THE CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S EERRY. /^Ito^'HE defeat at Bull Run disheartened the troops^ ^'1 and, like most soldiers who have taken part in an ^^_[y engagement, they did not wish to witness another if it could be honorably avoided. Many who had approached the field with misgivings about their courage in the presence of death were happy in the thought that they had performed their duty without displaying any symptom of fear. The regiment returned to its old quarters at Alexan- dria ; and, with the exception of frequent night-alarms con- cerning the rumored a'dvance of Johnston and Beauregard to attack Washington, nothing of interest occurred. The stores of the city were closed, a regiment composed of its citizens was in the rebel army, grass was growing in the main streets, and a perpetual sabbath reigned. Every soldier visited the Marshall House ; and, at the time I saw it, the stairs and doors had been wholly cut away by the hatchets and knives of those that carried away some rehc to " remember Ellsworth." The hostile opmions which the people entertained towards the Union forces were expressed by a daughter of a wealthy 82 CAMPS AT BLADENSBUEG AND BUDD'S FERRY. 33 traitor, who remarked to the sentinel at the principal entrance to the camp, " Only niggers and trash come to see you." The regiment marched upon Aug. 9, and pitched its tents upon the battle-field of Bladensburg during the follow- ing day. The famous duelling-ground was within the lines, and furnished an excellent place for target practice. The First and Eleventh Massachusetts Volunteers, Second New- Hampshire Volunteers, and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, formed a brigade, and Gen. Hooker was assigned to the command. Orders relating to the discipline of the troops were issued ; and the hours for eating, drilling, and sleeping, which comprise the chief duties of the military life in camp, were indicated by the bugle and drum. The re- veille, which, like the voice in the colossal statue of 3Iem- non, welcomed the rising sun, was the signal for the soldiers to " fall in for roll-call ; " and those who delayed to obey the notes of the drum aud fife were seized by the strong arm of "brief authority," in the person of a sergeant or corporal, and brought into the company street. Gen. Hooker always inspected the brigade at this early hour, and summoned offi- cers that were absent, or sleeping in their tents, to drill their commands. Seven hours were daily occupied in drilling, and one that preceded "breakfast at seven" was the first that claimed the attention. Unlike Generals M'Dowell and Franklin, who always exhibited towards subalterns, and espe- cially enhsted men, the most supercilious bearing, the briga- dier listened to every person — the drummer-boy or the colo- 3 34 CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY. nel of a regiment — with such candor and sincerity that he quickly acquired their confidence. The negroes that lived within fifteen miles of the camp walked to it upon Sunday, and brought small quantities of fruit, which was generally carried vipon their heads. Al- though their masters claimed that they were well fed, all the unconsumed food was given to them by the soldiers, who watched them with amazement while they devoured enormous quantities. They collected the clothing that had been cast aside, and wore the uniforms, but since that date established their right to them by enlisting in the service. They were deceived by the whites in regard to the treatment which they would receive ; and the sight of a musket in the hands of one of the men caused general terror, and earnest prayers to spare their lives. They imagined that their shackles would soon be broken, and manifested their joy by queer songs and frantic dances. The command was sometimes under orders to move at a second's notice ; rations for three days were cooked, and the cars stood upon the railroad to receive them. The regiment performed picket-duty in the town, and searched every wagon that passed over the road to Washington to find contraband mails and ammunition ; but a few peaches and water-melons were the only articles that were confiscated. The heat was so intolerable during the day, that all clothing seemed to be superfluous ; but the cold chills in the night would be so in- tense, that overcoats would be required to keep their wearers CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY. 35 comfortable. Necessity compelled the men to learn many domestic duties. The little streams near the camps were al- ways occupied by groups who were washing their clothes or persons ; and the brook, besides its value on account of the water, furnished a mirror ; and the bushes that grew upon the banks were covered with towels and clothing. The bed was easily made by placing a rubber blanket upon the ground, and using one of wool, and an overcoat for quilts ; while a pair of shoes and a knapsack formed the pillow. The ventilation of the tents, it is needless to say, was perfect ; and the eflfecfc of simple food, exercise, and pure air, upon the health of the troops, was excellent ; and some added thirty pounds of flesh to then' bodies during the first three months of their service. Although many officers exposed the frauds of government contractors and inspectors, the army was bountifully supplied with defective articles of every description. The tents leaked "like sieves," until th^lgeneral succeeded in procur- ing those of another pattern, that were useful when it rained. Many pants and blouses, which had been worn with ordinary care, were reduced, at the end of two weeks, to worthless rags, that no " stitch in time " or sewing-machine could unite together. The soles of thousands of shoes, if once partially wet, had the qualities of pasteboard ; and some blankets were as valuable for comfort as those which Surgeon-Gen. Hammond purchased for the hospitals. The slight experi- ence of a month satisfied the troops that the patent drinking tubes and filters, which adorned their necks when they 36 CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY. marched through cities en route to Washington, were of little if any use ; and they were cast aside. Havelocks, which, be- sides other inconveniences, did not avert the rays of the sun, were torn into shreds, and furnished rags for cleaning guns and swords. Earthworks were constructed around Washington ; and de- tails were daily ordered to dig trenches, and fell the woods and orchards that interfered with the range of the redoubts and forts. Drills, fatigue-duty, and a review by the Presi- dent and Gen. M'Clellan, were the only events that dis- turbed the usual quietness of the brigade carop. The com- mand of Gen. Sickles and that of Gen. Hooker consti- tuted, in the month of October, a division which was placed in charge of the latter, and broke up its encampment upon the 24th. I heard a conversation, and observed certain facts in one regiment of the brigade previous to the march, and narrate them to show the'manner in which some chaplains discharged their religious tasks. Two hundred Bibles and Testaments, and a package of tracts, had been sent to this offi- cer for distribution ; but his time had been occupied in acting as purveyor and cook for the field and staff, and he had neg- lected to circulate them. When the marching orders were received, he was very industrious, and carefully packed his large stock of crockery, and private property, including a faded, good-for-nothing umbrella, for transportation, and sold the floor of his tent, consisting of eight or ten boards, to a citizen. The colonel said to the chaplain, when the column CAMPS AT BLADENSBUKG AND BUDD'S FERRY. 37 began to move, ''Have you sent all your baggage to the train?" — "Yes," he replied; "but what shall I do with these things? " — " What things? " — " Nothing but some re- ligious matter," he answered, as he pointed to the Bibles and tracts which had been scattered upon the ground ])y the pur- chaser of the boards. " Why didn't you give them to the men?" — "They don't want them," the chaplain quietly remarked ; and this gift of Christian friends was left upon the field. The same person was ordered to preach, three months after this occurrence ; and obliged to borrow a Bible of a private in his regiment, because he did not have one copy in his possession. The division halted and encamped at a point near Budd's Ferry, upon the Potomac, after marching fifty-five miles in four days through a thinly settled section of Maryland that contained a few hovels which their inmates styled towns and villages. The troops bivouacked during the nights in the woods and fields near the road ; and the blazing camp-fires, made chiefly of rails taken from well-seasoned fences, were the centres of circles of twenty or thirty feet that belonged to the sleeping soldiers. The " general " was played in the morning, to notify the men to prepare for the march ; and the fifes spoke the words that the veteran musicians ascribed to them : — " Don't you hear the general say, * Strike your tents, and march away ' ? Yes : I hear the general say, * Strike your tents, and march away.' " 38 CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY. The roads, like those of Virginia, were in a miserable state, and tlie art of building; brido-es was unknown. The rations consisted of salt pork, which was usually eaten without the aid of any culinary process, and the regular quantities of coffee and hard bread. The division encamped at the distance of two miles from the Potomac ; and the regiments daily furnished details that performed picket-duty on the banks of the river, and more than fifteen miles were carefully watched to prevent illicit trade between Virginia and IMaryland. The cold winds might penetrate the frame, snow and sleet might chill the limbs ; but the vigilance of the Argus-eyed sentinels never ceased. The rebels had constructed breastworks and forts in the woods, upon the steep bluffs of the southern shore, on Cockpit Point and Shipping Point, near Evansport, where the main channel ran near tliis bank of the river ; and a blockade for the purposes of general navigation was estab- lished. Before the trees which concealed the batteries had been felled, and while the captains were ignorant of the presence of an enemy, the hostile gunners seized two schooners and the steamboat " George Page," and anchored them in Quantico Creek. The regiment guarded the ground which was in front of the earthworks, and within the range of the cannons ; and once in ten days the company, for twenty-four hours, patrolled the northern bank. The traitors' flag of three bars waved over the forts for three weeks ; when it was lowered, and never elevated again. A large telescope CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY. 39 mounted upon a trijood could be seen; but it was soon removed on account of the dangerous tendencies of the shells which the gunboats and a land battery threw into the work. Heavy siege guns, including some of English manufacture, had been mounted in the forts ; and from the embrasures, " Their mouths, with hideous orifice, Gaped on us wide." The thirty-two-pound Parrott gun, which opened the battle of Bull Run, and was lost at the Cub-Run Bridge, had been planted in the lower battery, and was frequently fired by the rebels at a high elevation, until it burst, and killed and wounded more in its death than during its life. Near a house which had been recently vacated by its owner, an aged lady, Mrs. Budd, the men, under cover of night, threw up a small earthwork, in which two pieces of light artillery were placed. The foe, at first, often fired at the pickets without any serious results, and then attempted to destroy the little boats and smacks which sometimes sailed by. Three men were stationed, at certain intervals, upon every post near the river, in the vicinity of the hillocks and large trees which were essential to their protection and comfort ; and the path that led from the right to the left of the line was torn, and many holes were excavated by huge sliclls from the guns in the " Old Dominion." The guards dug caves, and with cornstalks, boughs, and mud, constructed shelters and huts, which resembled in style the rude structures of savage tribes. 40 CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD's FERRY. The fire, fed Iby the driftwood gathered upon the shore, enlivened with its warmth, day after day, and mouth after month, the pickets that in succession encircled and watched the cheerful flames like the vestal virgins of Rome, who nourished the embers that were never extinguished. While the dark hours slowly sailed along, and seemed at times becalmed, thoughts of a cherished home arose in the mind of the soldier who — " Sat by his fire, and talked the night away." When there was no breeze, a person could shout across the Potomac, which was a mile and a half in width at this point : the orders of officers drilling their commands, the sound of a solitary bass drum, and the strokes of axes, were distinctly beard. The hostile pickets sometimes conversed with each other, and profane taunts and coarse jokes concerning " blue- bellied Yankees," and " ragged and shoeless secesh," passed from one side to the other. If one of our cannons was dis- charged at the batteries, their sentinels immediately yelled, *' Look out ! the Yanks' shell is coming ! " and similar outcries. The names of regiments and generals were ascer- tained in these conversations ; and a rebel asked, upon one occasion, " Is that woman we can see riding upon a horse Gen. Sickles's wife ? " Vessels loaded with cargoes of wood and hay, to the number of twenty, sometimes passed up the river during the night, and rarely attracted the notice of the artillerists. The CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY. 41 path of tlie shell through the air could be traced by the sparks that fell from the ignited fusee, and the deadly flames removed the obscurity of midniglit when it exploded. Oyster - boats boldly glided along in the daytime ; and immense amounts of ammunition were burned in the futile attempt to destroy them. It is very difficult for gunners to aim with accuracy at a moving object; and not a single vessel or person was seriously injured during the blockade, although at least eight thousand shots were hurled by the rebel cannons. The sailors concealed themselves in the hold ; while the craft, urged by the breeze, moved on, and seemed to be guided by fairies. The batteries, hidden in clouds of smoke, were active until the cause that excited their jSi^e was beyond their range ; and the pickets on every part were suc- cessively exposed to the shots that passed over the boats. Balls and shells, varying in weight from twenty-four to one hundred and twenty-eight pounds, were often taken from the earth in which they had been buried. The enemy, in sever- al instances, ascertained, by some inexplicable means, the countersign, and shouted it across the river before it had been communicated to the pickets by the brigade officer of the day. The action of some citizens who lived in Maryland, and were suspected on account of their well-known sympathies for friends in Virginia, was constantly observed. A singular waving light, which was moved from point to point in a dark and stormy night, was once seen, and the occupant of the house near the stream, towards which no gun was ever 42 CAMPS AT BLADEXSBURG AND BUDD's FERRY. pointed by tlie rebel cannoneers, was promptly arrested and sent to Washington for the serious crime of making signals to the foe. When the facts were investigated, it appeared that he had earned a lantern to some outbuildings to awaken cooks, and procure food for guests who had arrived at a late hour; and he was released after he took the oath of allegiance. The Southern winter differed from that of the North in its essential features : rain fell instead of snow, and the ground was covered with a thick layer of mud. Details, that occasion- ally compiised the entire force, labored and corduroyed the roads, which were often impassable ; and when the horses could not draw the necessary supplies in the army wagons, a barge, manned by soldiers of nautical experience, conveyed them in the night, within the range of the batteries, to a point near the regiment. No orders were received to go into winter quarters when the cold season advanced; and applica- tions for leave of absence were generally refused at army headquarters in Washington, because the ** exigencies of the service " required the presence of every officer and man with his command. The balloon ascended to make reconnois- sances ; and it was supposed, from these facts, that the Gov- ernment would grant Gen. Hooker's request to attack the batteries and re-open the Potomac. In this state of uncer- tainty, many who had anticipated a movement neglected to build comfortable barracks until a late period. Four men lived in an A tent, which was fastened to layers of logs about three feet in height, and heated by means of a chimney CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY. 43 built of sticks and adhesive mud, and sui'mountcd by a barrel. No class of persons follow a life of greater indolence than soldiers who are living in winter quarters ; and the camp afforded good opportunities to study human nature, and learn the motives which actuate many that enlist in the service. The regiment formed a hollow square in the evening, after dress parade ; and the chaplains, in compliance with orders, offered prayers to promote the spuitual welfare of the troops. Those officers who seldom held any religious services upon the Sabbath, and employed their time in cooking, and swind- ling the men and poor negroes, were not listened to with any feelings of respect. The author was present upon these oc- casions in a certain command, and noticed that the appear- ance of the chaplain, who had acquired the sobriquet of " good and holy man," on account of the peculiar manner in which he performed his duties, was greeted with oaths by the line; and the epithets, "hypocrite," "pies," "rascal," " tui'keys," and similar words, fell upon the ear. One colonel sometimes reproved his chaplain by saying to him, in strong language, "If you don't cook a better dinner than- this to-morrow, I will have you tied to the flag-staff next Sun- day, and make you preach two hours to the regiment." Threats like these made the offender redouble his efforts ; and, in his anxiety to provide a good meal for his mess upon a certain day, he neglected to attend the funeral of a private ; and the surgeon read the burial service at the grave. •ii CAMPS AT BLADEXSBUEG AND BUPD'S FERRY. Some of the citizens with ti"easonable proclivities, who resided near the camps, demanded lai-ge amounts for alleged damages to their property by the soldiers, when they had no just claim. A captain in the regiment purchased some boards in a shed for twenty dollars ; but the owner de- clined to receive the money when it was tendered, and reuuu'ked that it was " all right." and he did not wish for any compensation. The officer subsequently ascertained that the scoundrel presented a bill, amounting to three hundi*ed dollars, agdust the Government, for injuries which he had. sustained by the loss of his lumber. Another party tiled a long account for damages to a saw-mill; and, after his death, the sou and administrator of the estate trebled the sum. When the premises were examined, it was clearly proved that the building was tumbling to pieces on account of its age, and no use had been made of it for yeai-s previous to the arrival of the division. Negroes continually escaped, and were concealed and shel- tered in the quarters; and distm-bances always occiu-red whenever then: masters, in compliance with instructions from ai-my headquarters, appeai-ed to search the camps for the pur- pose of seizing and carrying them to their old cabins. The slave-hunters were foix-od to leave some regiments by the in- dignant soldiere, who threatened to shoot them if they per- sisted in entering their lines. Besides this unfortunate race, refugees and deserters occasionally passed across .the Potomac from Yu-ginia by means of logs, rafts, and " dug-outs." CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD's FERRY. 45 The plain rations furnished by the Government did not tempt the palate ; but the supply largely exceeded the de- mand : and foreign officers who visited the camps stated that another force, of the same number, could be well fed by issuing to them the food that was wasted. The enlisted men who had formerly served in European armies often made the same assertion. An English author, who inherited from his literary mother a bitter enmity against the United States, says, " The great boast of this army was that they ate meat twice a day, and that their daily supply of bread was more than they could consume." The wife of an officer, who noticed with much interest the quality of food which the sol- diers devoured at their meals, remarked, in a tone of surprise, *' The privates fare well : they live just as they do at home in jail." The third brigade, comprising regiments from New Jersey, joined the division ; and, like all the troops from this State, their gallant conduct, during the years that the com- mand existed, rendered invaluable aid to the national cause. Three companies of the regiment. A, F, and K, under the commmand of Lieut. -Col. Tileston (who fell in the second battle of Bull Run), were ordered to march through the counties of Lower Maryland, in tlie latter i)frrt of December, to search for arms, and prevent the passage of recruits, stores, and mails, from IMaryland to Virginia. The detachment was absent three weeks upon this service ; and the company re- mained a third of the time at Piny Point, which was seventy miles from the camp at Budd's Ferry. The weather and 46 roads were unfavorable for public travel : the troops biv- ouacked ujDon different nights in quarters between which there was a vast contrast ; and occupied, according to cir- cumstances, court-houses and hotels, or barns and straw- stacks. A detail xlemolished at Allen's Fresh a boat which had frequently crossed the Potomac, although the owner solemnly declared that it was "as innocent as a new-born lamb." A squadron of cavalry patrolled the bank of the river, and watched the numerous inlets and creeks ; and the people treated the officers with extreme courtesy, and con- cealed, under a mask of hospitality, their inimical schemes. A major, who commanded the department, was especially welcomed by the family of one of the most wealthy and aris- tocratic citizens, and contracted an eno-ao-ement to be married to his dauo;hter. Yieldino; to the allurinoj entreaties of his o o o betrothed, he overcame, by means of his position and represen- tations, the objections of the loyal inhabitants, and procured the discharge of her rebel brother and a cousin from Fort Lafayette, in which they had been justly confined by the Gov- ernment. As soon as these relatives were released from the walls of their prison, the artful lady, who, like all traitors, was destitute of every sentiment of honor, released the officer from his engagement, and treated him with the utmost con- tempt. The soldiers passed through the most thickly-settled slave- holding section of the State, in which, as a natm-al result, the mass of the people was ignorant,- and attached to the cause CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD's FERRY. 47 of the enemy. The country had been settled at an early period ; and some of Lord Baltimore's landmarks, which in- dicated the boundaries of his gi-ants, were still standing. Like the M'Sweyn Family, described by Dr. Johnson, there was no progress from one generation to the next. " For the son is exactly formed upon the father : what the father says, the son says; what the father looks, the son looks." The stagnation that existed in this locality was adapted for the man who wished to " immerse himself and his posterity for ages in barbarism." Many times, when the soldiers were passing by a dwelling, the song of " My Maryland " was played upon the piano and sung by the young members of the household ; and wishes were uttered like the following : " I hope you will always be whipped, and have to run away as you did at Bull Bun." In the church at Leonardtown, lozenges, upon which treasonable mottoes were printed, were scattered in the pews that they occupied. One citizen owned two savage mastiffs, which he had designated by the names of " Jeff Davis " and " Beauregard," as a tribute of respect for those rebels. The negroes were delighted to see the troops, and danced with joy when the officers placed in arrest, or examined the premises of, " massa," who had hitherto swayed the commu- nity without opposition. They always told falsehoods, and made answers that they thought would shield tliem from brutal punishment if they were questioned in the presence of any white citizens ; but gave all the information they pos- 48 sessed when assured of protection, and eagerly pointed out the places in which arms and colors had been concealed ; and, by this means, an old cannon was discovered in a swamp. They were celebrating the holidays ; and I observed with sur- prise, what my experience confirmed, that the majority of the whites and blacks of both sexes talked alike ; and the pecu- liar dialect which marks the performance of Ethiopian min- - strels is the common language of some of the best classes. It was generally impossible to distinguish between the master and his slave in the night, if the tones and style of the con- versation formed the sole basis of the judgment. " Who dat trow de snowball? " was the question asked by a very intelli- gent citizen of Budd's Ferry, who owned more than a hun- dred "hands," when a mischievous soldier, by skilfully throwing this missile, struck his portly back. The mulattoes, who had lost many of the physical features of the race, were numerous ; and I saw near Leonardtown two men with sable complexions and bright auburn "wool." One of them, without knowing the fact, adopted an old saying, in letter and spirit, and stated that he did not drink any whiskey or get drank until he became a Roman, and did the same as the Romans. The often-repeated remark, "I'se a Roman," was the expression which he used to show that he belonged to the Catholic Church. When the men referred to the peculiar color of his hair, ho said that it " gTOwed dar ; " and he liked it because he had seen pictures of God, and " God had red bar." This strange dogma of faith comprised the chief article CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY. 49 of bis religion, and was maintained with great fervor by allu- sions to the sacred paintings, tbe ''pictures of God," upon the walls of his bouse of worship. Large flocks of turkey-buzzards were constantly flying in J the air ; and a farmer informed me that they disappeared and flew to the field of carnage after the battle of Bull Kun ; from which they returned to their old haunts, near the bluffs of the Potomac, after an absence of three months. The ex- citement and exercise attending the march in the midst of winter improved the health of the men; and, during the three weeks that followed the date upon which they rejoined the regiment, not a single case of sickness occurred in this command, while the remaining companies had from thirty to fifty names upon the surgeon's list. The natural obstacles of the climate, and winter season, pre- vented the entire army from advancing ; and preparations for an active campaign were made when the spring approached. Shelter-tents, that beneficial invention which enables the sol- dier to transport his house upon his shoulders, and cartridges containing three buck-shot and a bullet, were issued to the regiment ; and surplus stores and clothing, which could not be carried, were sent to Washington and Alexandria for storage. Upon March 9, 1862, the enemy burned the schooners and steamer "George Page;" evacuated the earthworks upon which they had daily labored for six months ; and the Amer- ican colors were fastened to the rebel flag-staffs in the after- noon. The reports of explosions in the abandoned forts and 4 50 CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY. camps that were located in the interior gradually grew fahiter ; and the sounds were barely perceptible when the retreating forces were ten miles from the Potomac. The river was once more free : mariners no longer pre- ferred darkness to light, or anxiously scanned the forests and hills of Virginia to discover amidst the beauty of the scenery the " horrid flash " of the rifles and cannon of a lurking foe ; and transports in large numbers hourly sailed by the silent forts, Mvtst of the siege-guns in the batteries were over- charged, and bui-st; and the carriages were burning when the Union forces took possession. By a fortuitous coinci- dence, one loaded piece, heated by the fire of the wood-work, discharged a ball at the moment that a schooner was within range ; and this was the last solid shot which was thrown by rebel ordnance across the Lower Potomac. This unlooked-for explosion aflfected the tongues of the few soldiers who were naturally despondent, and they began to croak, " The rebels have not gone yet ; " or, " They are still there, and playing a deep game." AVhen the appearance of the short-lived " Mer- rimac " alarmed the country, the barges and boats, which had been collected at Run Point for the purpose of transporting the division to Virginia to assault the batteries, were loaded with gravel and stones ; and men were detailed to sink them in the channel if the iron monster attempted to ascend the river and bombard Washington. Upon April 5, 18G2, the troops, animated by the victories which had recently followed the Union arms, cheerfully quit CAMPS AT BLADENSBURG AND BUDD'S FERRY. 51 the familiar scenes of Budd's Ferry, bivouacked upon the banks, and embarked on the sixth upon the steamboat "Em- peror," which conveyed the regiment during the succeeding week down the Potomac, and up the York. CHAPTER in. THE SIEGE OF YOEKTOWN. z**^ SEVERE storm prevailed during the voyage ; and 71 the vessel was compelled to anchor at Piny Point >«^V/ and Fortress Monroe, and occupied six days in sail- ^ — ^ ing a distance, which, under ordinary circumstances, could have been easily made in twenty-four hours. The "Emperor" towed two schooners that carried artillery-horses, a number of which died from the effects of exposure to the weather. The boat was crowded to excess with soldiers and horses ; the rations were insufficient for the unexpected length of the time that was consumed ; the distressing pangs of sea- sickness affected a number ; the first wave which washed the deck temporarily submerged one hundred and fifty men, who were sleeping in their blankets ; and general discontent was produced by these combined causes. A happy disembarka- tion took place upon April 12, at Ship Point, which was ten miles from Yorktown ; and the regiment formed at this time a part of the first brigade, second division, and third corps, which were respectively commanded by Generals Naglee, Hooker, and Heintzelman. Strict orders had been issued that no negroes should be taken upon the transports at 52 THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. 53 Budd's Ferry ; but many who had escaped from servitude, and labored for officers, mysteriously rejoined the troops at this place. The division marched through some abandoned rifle-pits and redoubts, and encamped in front of the works at York- town, within the range of rebel cannon. The men were so compactly massed, that brigades occupied less space than a regiment in its regular camp. The commands of Generals Hooker and Kearney pitched their tents upon the ground that had been the headquarters of Washington and Lafay- ette in the Revolution ; and the fires of patriotism glowed with greater intensity when the soldiers beheld the mounds which their ancestors had built to win success and national inde- pendence. While they were upon the march from Ship Point, the provost-guard passed by the column with a squad of prisoners ; and I saw among them a spy, who had vis- ited the camps at Budd's Ferry, and distributed pious tracts. The entire country, from the landing-place to Yorktown, was a vast swamp : the roads, which were unfitted for general use, had been converted into canals by the frequent rains; and it was necessary to corduroy them before the wagon-trains and heavy artillery could proceed to the front. There were many stagnant pools upon the surface ; the soil was filled with springs ; and the companies obtained good water from wells which consisted of empty beef and pork barrels, which were sunk into holes two and three feet in depth. The soldiers of Gen. Heintzelman's corps were engaged 5-i THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. for the ensuing three weeks in fatiguing and incessant labor upon the works that were constinicted under the direction of the engineers, upon the right of the army ; but some divi- sions that formed the reserve perfonned no service. The men were ordered to Ml in quietly in the morning, between tlu'ee and four o'clock, to fonn a line of battle ; and the ranks shivered in the cold mist that usually covered the earth, and remained in the rear of theii- stacks until sunrise. A majority of the regiment, and sometimes the whole of it, were daily detailed for fatigue-duty ; and reported with arms and equipments at corps-headquarters, where every man was fui'uished with an axe or spade, and large working-parties proceeded to the different parts of -the line. It was officially stated that these detachments, furnished by the corps, com- prised fifteen thousand soldiers, which was more than half of its effective strength ; and the picket in its front requu-ed the unceasing vigilance of five thousand men. The first pai*allel was established near Wormley Creek, a sluggish stream of an iiTCgular width that flowed between banks which were covered with a thick growth of timber; and the siege was prosecuted with untiring industry. Bridges and roads were constracted iu the ravines for the passage of cannon and am- munition ; and ditches, revetments, and parapets were built in the advance. The tract of country between the camps and the breastworks of the enemy was extremely level ; but for- ests of pine and hemlock, and the absence of commanding hills, prevented the rebels from discerning the movements of THE SIEGE OF YOEKTOWN. 55 the besieging forces. ' The balloon, which this state of facts rendered a necessity, made daily reconnoissances ; and was stationed in a caveni, which seemed to have been prepared by Nature for this purpose, when it was not floating in the air. An intense excitement existed in the army upon the 28th, when the ropes that were attached to the car parted, and the balloon, containing Gen. Fitz John Porter, rose rapidly, and was wafted towards Gloucester Point, until another current bore it in the opposite direction ; and unfortunately for the country, and the reputation of this officer, it fell inside of the Union lines. A division of labor was required to complete the works, and a small number felled and split trees ; but the main body of the troops was employed in the trenches. An uninjured saw-mill, that was located a sliort distance from Gen. Heintzelman's headquarters, was continually in opera- tion in the charge of soldiers, and furnislied dimension-lumber to the engineers. After the first parallel had been finished in the solitude of the forest, regular approaches were made in the night, when they were invisible, and strengthened during the day, until the advanced works were erected upon the plain in front of Yorktown, within three hundred yards of the enemy, although the batteries and mortars were planted at points which varied in their distances from the town from one-half to one and a half miles. Aided by the darkness, a small force was cautiously de- ployed in a certain du-ection, and silently labored with their shovels, placing the excavated earth upon the side nearest the 56 THE SIEGE OP YORKTOWN. enemy ; and daybreak revealed an extended trench, that was two or three feet in depth and width. The laborers, knowing that each shovelful of gravel increased the size of their shield and made their position more secure, worked with great diligence. The officers in charge of the fatigue-parties, sur- rounded by circumstances that excited or confused the mind, sometimes committed queer mistakes. Upon one occasion, the gravel was placed upon the wrong side of the ditch, and the regiment, after it relieved the night detail, transferred the newly made bank to its proper position. The work did not connect upon the right in another portion of the line ; and an extent of ground ten yards in breadth was exposed to the rifles of two rebel sharpshooters, who had climbed up the large chimney of a burnt house, and made a loophole by knocking out one of the bricks. The soldiers, keeping close to the earth, rushed over the dangerous spot in one rank to the scene of their toil. These narrow trenches were enlarged until they were ten or twelve feet in width, miles in length, and four or six feet deep ; and other bodies of troops built traverses and magazines, and transported the artillery and necessary supplies to the batteries that were completed. The technical terms used by the engineers in giving instructions were remembered by the men, who always listened with con- fidence and respect to the comments of this superior class of officers, and in conversation facetiously and glibly — " Talked of rampart and ravine, And trenches fenced with gabion and fascine." THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. 57 The hostile gunners and pickets saw the earth when it was thrown upon the parapet by thousands of revolving spades, and attempted to obstruct the progress of the siege ; but their constant efforts and volleys of shells and Minie balls tested the works, and the small loss that was sustained during their construction showed that they were properly executed. The soil, in many places, was composed of minute marine shells; and the soldiers exhumed new specimens in widening the trenches, and faithfully served their country, and, at the same time, gTatificd their taste for geological studies. The redoubts and rifle-pits of the Revolution, which had diminished until they were only twenty inches in height, intersected those of the Union army at several points. A few metallic relics, cor- roded by the rust of eighty years, were brought forth from their hiding-places in the earth. The workmen became ac- customed to the concussion of artillery, and the harmless results that followed a large proportion of the reports dis- pelled every emotion of fear; and many amusing incidents illustrating the good spirits of the troops occurred in the for- tifications. Questions relating to the claim of two soldiers to use the same spade often arose ; and, after the usual amount of reason and profanity had been exhausted, blows were ex- changed, and several personal encounters took place, while the missiles of destruction were flying over the combatants. If a hat and blue overcoat were placed upon the handle of a spade, and elevated above the bank, bullets always greeted them ; and sometimes, when the clothing was removed, the 58 THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. rebels wbo perceived tbe motives of the invisible soldier that held it fired to enable the men to witness their skill as sharp- shooters. One of the Union marksmen saw by means of his telescopic rifle a man upon the ramparts of Yorktown, who amused his companions by making significant gestures towards the lines, and performed queer flourishes with his fingers, thumbs, and nose. The distance between them was so great, that the buffoon supposed he was safe ; but the unerring ball pierced his heart, and he fell inside of the works. The brig- ade commander called for volunteers to dig a sharpshooter's pit in a dangerous position in the front, and excused two men in the regiment who performed the task from fatigue- duty for the space of three days. At the end of two weeks, an important advance had been made from the first parallel ; and the massive breast-works of the enemy, upon which guns of different calibers had been mounted, could be examined. When their artillery had a good range upon an unfinished work, a man was constantly upon the watch, and shouted, " Lie low ! " or, " Look out for that shell ! " as soon as the puff of white smoke darted forth, and preceded by a few precious seconds the arrival of the iron messenger. Pick-axes and shovels were instantly cast upon the ground ; while those that used them jumped into safe ditches, and promptly resumed their labor when the shot passed over them, or the sentinel exclaimed, " They fired that ball the other way." An ofiicer who was once engaged upon this duty said, "There is a big cloud, and that hundred- THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. 59 pound gun has burst," when one of their most powerful pieces had been shattered into useless fragments. There was more danger in returning to the camp after the allotted task for the day was ended, than in toiling at the front ; because the foe, who had ascertained the hour at which the "shovel divisions " were generally relieved, opened their batteries, and scattered shot and shell into every portion of the road over which they were obliged to march. The proper discharge of picket-duty at this time required soldiers who possessed, in the highest degree, the qualities of courage and self-possession. The principal part of the regi- ment rested during the day in a ravine which partially shel- tered it from the fire of the enemy ; and remained in a state of readiness to rush, at a second's notice, to the point that was attacked, whenever those upon posts crouched behind trees and knolls gave the alarm. The sharpshooters of both armies, who were concealed in little pits in the extreme front, were always relieved in the night ; and the person who moved upon the open plain was a target for deadly rifles. There was no relief for those that were wounded in these hazardous positions, until the sun sank beneath the horizon ; and some of these unfortunate heroes languished and died, while their comrades were unable to alleviate their sufferings. It was a difficult task for the officers to restrain the curiosity of restless men who wished to reconnoitre the rebel works, — which re- sembled in their appearance the bank of a railroad, — count the cannons, and recklessly expose themselves for this pur- 60 THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. pose ; but the command, " Get down from there, you fool ! '* or, " Stay by the stack in your places ! " made them return to the ranks. The chariot of Phoebus travelled slowly through the skies ; and during these weary hours, letters were written, books were read : but the largest number, exhausted by unremitting labor upon the forts, slept near their mus- kets, and were undisturbed by the flight of shells and bullets. The companies advanced about two hundred yards from the reserve after sunset, and deployed upon the field in front of the ravine, and groups of three men were stationed at fre- quent intervals. Night had blinded the eyes of the attentive sharpshooters; but their ears caught every sound, and the slio-ht crackling of dry twigs and bushes beneath the cautious feet caused two or three balls to whistle in the vicinity. En- veloped in a rubber blanket, and resting upon their breasts on the earth, two men upon each post stimulated to the ut- most their powers of observation, while the third — who was regularly relieved by a comrade — slept as well as the weather and circumstances would permit. If a light was seen, it kindled a fire of musketry which extinguished it ; and although nine-tenths of the soldiers, like ordinary people, were in the habit of stating that they could not live without their pipe, tobacco, and a " smoke," the rifles of the rebels effected a temporary reform in this respect, and there was no smoking upon picket-duty in the front. It seemed superflu- ous, but strict orders were issued prohibiting fires : and some- THE SIEGE OP YORKTOWN. 61 times a reckless man, protected by tlie trunk of a tree, tied a match to a stick, and hekl it up to attract the notice of the enemy ; and the experiment was always successful. Myriads of the insect termed, in common language, the firefly, gener- ally filled the air ; and a field-ofi&cer, observing one of them upon a bush in a very dark night, and supposing that it was the ignited match of an inveterate smoker, said, in a low tone of voice, " Put out that light ! " The order was unobeyed, and he again spoke : " Put out that light, you scoundrel ! " and then moved towards the object that had excited his indigna- tion, and frightened the fly, which flew away amidst the half- repressed laughter of the spectators. The corporal of a post that I relieved the first time the regiment was upon picket at Yorktown, pointing to a hole which had been made by the bursting of a shell about twenty feet from him, jocosely said, " There is a grave already dug, large enough for three of you." The national forces were not allowed to build camp-fires in the night, because it was thought that the rebels would gain, by this moans, information regarding their number and position ; but the enemy exhibited no such fev^r, and the heavens above Yorktown and Glouces- ter Point reflected the lights that extended four or five miles in the rear of their work's. While the rumbling of the artil- lery, and wagons conveying supplies in the distant encamp- ments of both armies, the sharp stroke of the axe and the dull ring of the spade upon the intrenchments, and especially the shrill clatter of the machinery of the saw-mill, confused 62 THE SIEGE OF YOEKTOWN. the ear with opposing sounds, an unnatural stillness prevailed in the space of ground between the hostile pickets, who were so near each other at times, that the rattling of an officer's sword, and the click of a rifle when it was primed, were dis- tinctly heard. As the Union officers expected a sortie, and the commander of the foe anticipated an assault, the tour of night duty rarely passed away unmarked by heavy firing ; and volleys of musketry, and charges of grape, swept over the field, and a decisive battle seemed to be imminent. The mid- night air chilled the soldiers, who were obliged to remain quietly upon their posts, trembling with cold ; and there was so much suffering in the few hours of picket-service, that they were willing to become disciples of Zoroaster, and wor- ship Ormuzd when the twilight gladdened their hearts, and they retired to the ravine. The bushes and short pines affected by the breeze, and flickering light of the distant camp-fires, appeared to some excited eyes like advancing horses, and masses of men ; and shots were fired at the waving branches. Kegroes and small squads of deserters, and soldiers who lost their way in at- tempting to pass between the posts, came inside the lines every night ; and orders were given to the sentinels to allow them to approach, but to resist a large force. One rebel, who was taken by the regiment, gave an amusing account of the means by which he effected his escape. A man challenged, when he heard the sound of footsteps, and, receiving no answer, fired, and afterwards boasted that he had killed a " Yank ; " THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. 63 but his comrades saw a dead pig in front of his post upon the next morning. The pickets, deterred by the boundless ridi- cule which this incident caused in their brigade, were extreme- ly cautious, and did not discharge their pieces in the night, unless they were absolutely certain that the enemy menaced the line ; and this prisoner crept upon his hands and knees until he had "grunted by the guards." The troops improved their shelter tents, the ridge-pole of which was scarcely three feet from the earth, by making doors and carpets of boughs and strips of bark, which were taken from the trees by the use of the bayonet. At the head of the company street were the headquarters of the brigade com- mander, — a general of great wealth, who carried some pullets upon the campaign ; and the crowing of the rooster in the morning gave a domestic character to the camp. Although tlie batteries of Magruder hourly opened, our gunners, in those that were completed, with the exception of that upon the extreme right, were commanded not to return the fire, unless attacked ; and the garrison was slightly molested dur- ing the sieo-e. The bands were silent, and no bu2;le or drum sounded the calls, which might disclose to an observing foe the dispositions of the Union army. The Prince de Joinville, who says in his pamphlet that he '* used to go to the front for this cannonade, as if it were an entertainment," makes the following strange statement, which is poetical language and fiction : " On fine spring evenings, the troops came in gayly, to the sound of martial music, through the blossoming woo8s." 64 THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. The soldiers, who did not " go " from a place of safety in the rear, but lived at the front, who were present, not for " entertainment," but to perform the hard labor and sleepless vigil, will say that jthe prince's description is as ac- curate as his painting of the battle of Gaines's Hill. ' The dead and wounded were generally carried to the rear, upon the Yorktown Road, which ran by the camp ; and the surgeons of the brigade amputated the arm of one of the en- gineers, who had been injured by the^ fragment of a shell while he was reconnoitring the forts. The operation was high- ly successful ; and the officer remarked, in the best of spirits, " I finished ray sketch." He remained at brigade headquar- ters about two days, and then entered a hospital which was under the supervision of regular army surgeons. They ex- pressed the usual contemptuous feelings for volunteers ; called the work a " botch; ^' removed the old bandages ; and need- lessly experimented upon the limb, until secondary hemorrhage took place, and within six hours the person was dead. Great indignation was expressed by the members of the brigade, when they learned the facts attending his death ; and those who were well acquainted with the case asserted that he had been murdered. The constant interruption of sleep by the artillery and mus- ketry ; the formation of the line of battle at all hours of the day and night ; the continued labor upon the earthworks and roads ; the exposure and excitement in the cnmp and upon piclfet-duty ; the rain which fell two days in three, and in- THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. 65 creased tenfold the burdens of the troops ; the quality of army rations, and the absence of medical supplies ; the lack of time and means to preserve habits of cleanliness ; the swampy nature of the country, and the character of the climate, — pro- duced disease, and thousands were afflicted with fevers. The list of patients in the hospitals included a number of cowards, who always disgrace every regiment, and feigned sickness to escape the dangers of the siege. The contents of two quart bottles and two pint boxes comprised the medical stores of many commands, and were administered as a specific for all complaints. I have seen a surgeon give medicine from the same cup for a sore throat and a scalded foot. An hour before daybreak, upon April 26, two companies from the regiment, and a detachment from the First Massa- chusetts Volunteers, captured and levelled a lunette which was built in an advanced position and annoyed the working parties. I was awakened about two hours after midnight by the stern voice of the captain of an adjoining company, which he was forming into line with difficulty, because some of the men wished to drink the coffee which had been made for this occasion. He summarily ended this cause of delay by kick- ing over their cups ; and they marched with sullen steps to the front, but performed their duty, and received the thanks of the commander-in-chief. The preparations for the bombardment were nearly com- pleted ; and it was stated that one hundred and one cannons and mortars, some of which were two-hundred-pound PaiTOtt guns, 66 THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. mounted in fourteen batteries, would open upon the enemy on May 5, and throw into the rebel works a shell in every second. The cannonading was unusually active during the afternoon and evening of the third ; shells constantly exploded in the camps, with few serious results ; and a desperate sortie was considered a sm-e event. The morning of the 4th was quiet ; and the pickets discovered that the furious artillery fire had deceived the general, while Yorktown had been evacuated, and the national flag was triumphantly placed upon the aban- doned forts. This was an event that had been wholly unfore- seen. The fatigue-details labored in the trenches during the night, and others had been notified to relieve them upon the following morning. Loud cheers resounded along the line, from the York Eiver to Warwick Creek, when the result was officially announced ; and the bands, which had been dumb so long, again enlivened the soldiers ; and the notes of a thou- sand drums, fifes, and bugles, filled the woods with a " discord of melody." The division, led by Gen. Hooker, and forming the infantry advance of the army, with rations for three days, and in heavy marching order, pushed forward at noon upon the Yorktown Eoad to support the cavalry which was pursu- ing the retreating forces. In passing by the tenantless pits of the sharpshooters upon the plain, the man who had firmly grasped his rifle, and crept silently from post to post during the perilous nights of* the siege, viewed the harmless works, and the ruins of the storehouses and wharves which were burn- ing at this time* with emotions of joy ; and — THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. 67 " Full well he bore his knapsack unoppressed, And marched with soldier-like erected breast," Thousands of slaves had labored for months npon these fortifications, which had been designed by skilful engineers, and had ' ' formidable profiles, eighteen feet thickness of parapet, and generally ten feet depth of ditch," " with well- made sod revetments." The peculiar spelling of the inscrip- tions, and especially the word " dide," caused much amuse- ment in the ranks when they passed by the graves of some rebel soldiers. Before the evacuation, the rebels buried torpedoes in the vicinity of the springs, hospitals, and other places which they supposed the soldiers would visit, and for a distance of three miles in the roads over which the army marched. Some of those who first entered the works were killed and mangled by this diabolical means. The newly made earth revealed the location of these concealed infernal machines ; and pioneers drove stakes into the ground, and guards were placed near them to caution the troops and prevent them from walking upon destruction. Canteens, articles of clothing, and equip- ments were thrown aside to tempt the unwary relic-seeker ; but the person who picked them up pulled the wire or cord which was fastened to the cap of a hidden shell. " Keep to the right ! " " Go to the left ! " " Don't touch that coat ! " the sentinels shouted to the column as it moved forward, and vacillated from one side of the way to the other to avoid the serious consequences that would follow a misstep. , CHAP TEE IV. THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. /^^^'HE troops continued to marcTi upon tbe Williams- /| burg Road, after leaving Yorktown, until tbey \£_[y reached the "Half-way House," which was seven miles from the two places. They were compelled to halt three hours, because Gen. Smith's division, that had moved upon another and more direct road, occupied the highway which Gen. Hooker wished to use. A squad of a dozen hatless and horseless cavalry brought the news that the enemy was in line of battle at a point about five miles distant ; and this was joyful intelligence to regiments that were impatient to be baptized with the fire of conflict. An aide shouted in a loud voice, at sunset, "Gen. Smith's division will take the road to the right, and Gen. Hooker will move to the left ! " The black clouds that overcast the sky, and the gloom that pervaded the forest, "Made that darker Wliicli was dark enough before j" and the outcries of many " A soldier full of strange oaths " THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 69 were the only guides which were safely followed by the men, who pursued their course over a narrow pathway that led from Cheesecake Church through a swamp, and frequently stumbled over logs, or sank into the water and mud. In the confusion which these circumstances produced, the woods were filled with soldiers, who were trying to find the way to the front ; and one corps commander, with a portion of his staff, was isolated from the troops, and forced to remain absent until daybreak. Overcome by the fatigues of the march, the members of the division threw themselves upon the ground a short time before midnight, and rested near the places in which they stood when the halt was ordered, until a heavy rain fell, which destroyed sleep, and increased the weight of knapsacks and clothing. The lines were quietly formed upon IMay 8, at daybreak ; and the first brigade advanced, in the midst of the storm, which still continued, upon the Hampton or Lee's Mill Eoad, that had been cut through a dense forest. A small earth- work, which the enemy held against the attack of the cavalry upon the previous day, had been abandoned in the night ; and a large proportion of the command did not imagine that there would be any fighting until the reports of the skir- mishers' rifles were heard in the front, and surgeons, chaplains, commissaries, quartermasters, cooks, and the horses of officers who dismounted, promptly retired to the rear. The brigade halted, while preparations were made for an engagement; and Gen. Hooker, who assigned the regi- 70 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUEG. merits to their posts, ordered the "Eleventh" to file to the right of the road, and smilingly said to the major, " This is a strong position, and the devil himself cannot drive you out of it." — "We are willing that he should try it," the offi- cer replied. The firing between the skirmishers became animated : but the cartridges in the muskets had been wet by the storm, although every exertion had been made to prevent this result ; and the snapping of percussion-caps was more frequent than the whistling of bullets. "^^Tienever there was a cessation in the rain during the remainder of the day, the men were continually drawing their ruined charges, and cleaning the guns in the turmoil of the battle. The topographical features of the scene of conflict, which was confined to a small extent of ground that bordered upon the Hampton Ptoad, were similar to those of Yorktown. Redoubts which extended across the Peninsula had been built upon a plain ; and the open space, half a mile in width, in front of them, in which many pits had been dug for the sharpshooters, was bounded by the "forest primeval," a large belt of which had been felled, and formed an abattis that no organized body of troops could penetrate. The only means of approaching these works consisted of two roads, the Hampton and the Yorktown, which were exposed to the guns of the largest redoubt, called Fort Magruder. The regiments were deployed upon the right and left of the Hampton Pvoad : the skirmishers steadily advanced, while the enemy fell back until the men held a line in the edge of THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 71 the abattis ; and tlie sharpshooters picked off the gunners in the work. The thick mist which covered the earth in the morning confounded the rebels, who could not see the bat- talions, and did not open their batteries because they did not know the point to which they could direct their fire with effect, and occasionally threw a random shot to elicit a reply from the artillery. A regular battery was unlimbered upon the plain after a delay caused by the bad condition of the roads ; but the foe, ascertaining its^position by the rattling of the wheels, immediately concentrated their fire upon it with such deadly accuracy, that the frightened cannoneers, with a few conspicuous exceptions, deserted their pieces before a single shell had been discharged. The officers and men belonging to a battery composed of volunteers instantly rushed to the guns, and, with the aid of another body of artillery, silenced every cannon in Fort I^Iagruder after firing an hour. When the rain stopped at one time, the skir- mishers reported that two white flags were visible upon the rebel parapet ; but they were the colors of war, not peace. The regiment was ordered to skirmish to the Yorktown Road at nine o'clock to ascertain the position of the enemy in its neighborhood ; and no force was encountered, so that the connection between the front and the main portion of the "Army of the Potomac" was unobstructed. The second and third, the Sickles or Excelsior, and the Jersey brigades of the division were posted upon the left of the Hampton Road as soon as they arrived, and the firing at noon became 72 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. a prolonged Yolley of musketry. The rebel commander, deceived by the length of the skirmish line and the vigor of the attack in the morning, supposed that the entire force of Gen. McClellan confronted him, and remained within the breastworks, and acted upon the defensive. Gen. Johnston wished to detain the Union columns at Williamsburg until night, to enable his trains to escape : all the retreating divisions were halted when the skirmishers were driven in by the brigade ; and some troof s that were ten miles beyond the town countermarched, and took an active part in the conflict during the afternoon. Unfortunately for the sacred cause, no such energy was exhibited by the commander of the Union forces, who styled himself the " senior officer upon the field," and declined to advance his brigades and make a feint, or re-enforce Gen. Hooker upon the Yorktown Road, although he was constantly notified in regard to the dangerous position which this officer was fighting to maintain. The regiment remained in its position, near the Yorktown Road, supporting a battery ; and fixed bayonets when a charge was expected from the cavalry which had assembled in force. Re-enforcements were hom-ly increasing the numbers of the enemy in front ; and the extended lines of the division, which was pressed at all points, slowly contracted, while the foe moved a heavy body in the ravines which ran across the plain and sheltered it from the infantry fire, and attempted to turn the left by a vigorous assault upon that flank. To meet this mass that was advancing to annihilate the second and THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 73 thiid brigades, the first, whicli was commanded by Gen. Grover, was withdrawn from the right, and ordered to sup- port the left, which was yielding gradually, but making a stubborn defence. As soon as this movement was perceived, the rebels captured, without opposition, four guns, which were embedded in the mud, and could not be removed or guarded by the troops that were required for a more important duty in another part of the field. The regiment rejoined the division at the critical moment of the contest ; and, while a new line was established, I witnessed one of the rare exhibitions of the power of a commanding presence, which great exigencies de- mand. The remnant of a brigade, which had resisted with brilliant valor the onset of superior numbers, discouraged by its large losses in officers and men and the absence of re- enforcements, retreated to escape capture ; and the regiments mingled together in confusion while they fell back into the road. The yells of the exulting rebels proclaimed their suc- cess ; and the gallant soldiers, who had taken the cartridges from the boxes of dead and wounded comrades when their ammunition was exhausted, commenced to rush to the rear in disorder. Gen. Hooker, who was riding along the lines, at once halted his fiivorite white horse in the midst of the medley, and exclaimed, " IMen ! what does this mean? You must hold your ground ! " The voice that uttered these sun- pie words had always taught justice and patriotism in the camps ; the uplifted hand had always returned the salute of every soldier in his division ; the form had ever been seen 74 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. in the front when the storm of bullets fell and spared not ; the dress was the uniform of a brigadier-general, who wel- comed the dangers that belonged to his rank. The recollec- tion of these exalted qualities flashed through the minds of all, and the commanding appearance was that of one who was " every inch " a general. It inspired the timid with courage ; the weak became strong ; and every man stopped in his place, and faced the enemy. Smith's New- York Battery of Napoleon guns was literally planted in the Hampton Road, which the rain and travel had converted into a bed of mud, in which the wheels and car- riages were partially buried ; and the cannoneers sank to their knees while they were loading and discharging their pieces. The abattis was a stumbling-block that impeded the advance of those who had felled it to check the national army ; and the enemy was forced to make a long detour to the left to avoid it. The regiment crossed the road, and formed a line of battle which was parallel with it, and sup- ported the battery that was double-charged with canister; and silently waited for the grand assault, which was every moment anticipated. One captain, who had always been excessively particular in dressing his company in the camp, and was privately known as " Kight Dress," displayed upon this trying occasion the most minute care; and henceforth there was no complaint about his conduct in this respect. The ranks in filing into the woods were transposed, so that the real' rank was in front when they halted ; and some, who THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 75 found themselves in this position in the rear, immediately forced their way into the rank that was nearest the foe. The hostile batteries, which had remained silent since nine, a.m., re-opened ; and shot and shell swept the roads and woods ; enfiladed the regimental-line ; and a number were seriously injured by the falling limbs of trees that had been severed by them in their flight. It was impossible to see objects with distinctness through the underbrush and huge oaks of the forest ; but the ominous cessation of the rebel musketry and yells at this point indi- cated the movement of the troops, for which the general had already prepared with the limited force under his command. Subsequent events showed that Johnston intended to capture the battery by deploying two columns, which would subject the support to a fire upon its flank and front at the same instant. I perceived, through a slight opening in the woods, the ranks of the enemy, moving, within the distance of sixty feet, in a dh-ection that was parallel with the position of the regiment; but they crouched upon the ground, with their faces towards me, and carried their rifles at "trail-arms." Many of them were arrayed in the blue overcoats that had been taken from the dead and wounded when they succeeded in driving the brigades from the first line ; and an earnest debate ensued, in which it was insisted that they belonged to regiments which had been fighting in the front ; and ofiicers of the highest rank ordered the men to hold their fire. " They are rebels ! " " They are our own men ! " " Don't i^ Av...,.,. ..,..^.. ,.. : : THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 77 feet towards the color-bcarcr to " sbow them the way to come in," and extended his hand to receive the white flag. A squad instantly discharged their rifles at him, and he fell upon the ground, pierced by three balls ; and the entbe rebel line faced to the front. Every doubt vanished : and, before they could cock their pieces, the regiment was a wall of fire ; and it was easier for the enemy to hew the way with swords through the abattis than overleap it. The proximity of the forces, the accuracy of the aim, and the perfection of the volley, produced in the rebel ranks a havoc which was seldom, if ever, surpassed in the history of the war. " Shoot that ofiicer on horseback!" a sergeant shouted, pointing in the direction in which he aimed. A section fired : he fell from his horse ; and, after the battle, there were fifteen or twenty soldiers who were certain that they had discharged the fatal shot. IMany guns were foul and damp, and the cartridges were forced home by striking the rammers against stumps and trees during the act of loading. Not a bullet whistled from the front at the end of fifteen minutes : the attacking party fled, leaving more than half of their number upon the field; and the large wounds made by the ''buck and ball" in this close action excited general astonishment. The bullets from the enfilading column, in the mean while, decimated the regiment ; and another change of its position was rendered necessary. The cannons of the battery, which the support had defended with such success, rewarded it by pouring Into this advancing mass incessant charges of canister, 78 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. whicli shattered the ranks to such an extent that they eagerly retreated to the ravine from which they had emerged. Jets of turbid wat<3r followed the recoil of the guns ; and at night the generals and their commands were besmeared with the mud in which they were so often mired during the engage- ment. Gen. Heintzelman, the corps commander, joined Gen. Hooker at the front : but the first re-enforcements of infantry consisted of Gen. Berry's brigade, which was included in the division of Gen. Kearney, who had marched twelve miles ; having left Yorktown in the rear of the army. ^Vhile other officers bivouacked in the vicinity of the field, and rendered no assistance to those that bad hitherto performed the fighting, the troops of Maine and Michigan, imbued with the spirit of their indomitable commanders, double-quicked through the slough of the Hampton Road ; and no soldiers were ever more anxious to encounter the inimical forces. "Holla! men, holla!" said Gen. Heintzelman, with his peculiar nasal twang, to the division which had been relieved, and was acting in the reserve : " Richmond is taken ! " and the first Union cheers during the contest rose. He was not fully satisfied with the response, and shouted, "Bring up the bands ! Play Yankee Doodle, or any thing ; but make some noise." A squad of musicians who belonged to dififerent regiments was collected together, and the strains of Dixie and Yankee Doodle mingled in the din of the musketry and cannonade. The execution of the music in a pubHc assembly, if it was viewed from an ai'tistic point of view, would be THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 79 pronounced inferior ; but the effect upon the Federal battalions was equal to the presence of a division or a battery. The soldiers, exhausted by the hardships of the preceding twenty four hours, received new strength ; and the loud hurrahs misled a discomfited enemy, who did not make another advance after the repulse which Gen. Kearney's gallant troops had made decisive ; and " the red field was won." The facts attending the death of two skulkers may be adduced to show the folly of trying to evade a soldier's duty in the day of battle, ^yhile one was peeping over a log, behind which he had concealed himself, a bullet entered his temple, which was the only part of his person that was exposed. Another, who had cautiously moved until he was ten yards in the rear of his company. Was pierced by two balls, which dodged between the legs of his comrades ; and died after he had lingered in agony for a fortnight. A capfain in the regiment was compelled to quit the service because he used his eyes, and consulted a small pocket- compass, which led him, with a third of his company, towards Yorktown, when the reports of cannon, if he had pricked his ears, would have called him to the battle-field in the opposite direction. However, upon the roll of honor, I saw the names of three brave men, reported killed, who would have been discharged by the surgeons for physical disability if they had not refused to accept the certificates to this effect. The bodies of some who were shot in the Hampton lload sank into the mud; and their remains were completely crushed 80 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. beneatli the wbeels of the vast trains and heavy cannon that passed over them during the succeeding week. The storm continued after the deadly struggle was ended ; but it was not heeded by those who had battled from morn- ins till nio-ht. In these hours of rest for the wearied, the non-combatants of the army, the members of the supply departments and ambulance corps, clerks, teamsters, musi- cians, and stragglers, who remain in the rear in time of action, visited the field, plundered the dead of both armies, and rifled the knapsacks of those who had fought while they were asleep. The sun rose in a cloudless sky upon the 6th : but the enemy, having saved their trains, had fled ; and Williamsburg was occupied without opposition. Seven cannon had been abandoned, because the horses could not extricate them from the mud ; and shot and shell were scat- tered in the road. The guns had been spiked ; dishes, pans, kettles, and Dutch ovens, were demolished in the camps and redoubts ; and packs of playing-cards had been thrown into the streets of the town. The soldiers visited every portion of the field to search for wounded or dead comrades, and witnessed without emotion scenes which lost their horror on account of their fref[uency ; and, in many cases in which the death had been instantaneous, the attitude of the slain indicated the last act of their lives. The adjutant of a New- Jersey regiment was shot while he was resting upon one knee, and glancing towards the advancing line of the enemy through a field glass ; but his' limbs had not relaxed. Many hands, in THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 81 every motion of loading and firing, clutclied with the firm hand of death the rammer, gun, or cartridge. I noticed that a number of the dead of the Union army had been mutihited by bowie-knives, made of large, coarse files which the rebels carried in their sheaths ; and gashes disfigured the heads and fiices. The brief experience of a single engagement satisfied men of the uselessness of revolvers or dirks for the purposes of war, and they disappeared from both armies. Nearly one hundred of the enemy, in one part of the woods, had been killed while they were lying upon the ground; and the bullets had penetrated their foreheads. Some, who had lived a few hours after they were wounded, grasped photographs or letters, upon which their dying eyes rested when the thoughts of cherished and happy homes banished suffering. Some of the cartridges used by the foe contained no bullet, but consisted of twelve buckshot. The pockets of friend and enemy had been turned inside out by the army thieves men- tioned in the preceding pages ; and the buttons of the uniforms of every traitor had been removed. "I wish there was a battle every week," one of those miscreants remarked, in speaking of the amount he had stolen. In wandering over the field, a corporal found in the pocket of a rebel a piece of tobacco upon which the blood had been coagulated, and the professional army thief had not touched it ; but he washed the article, took a " cliaw," a'iid reserved the rest for future consumption. Head-boards were erected over the graves of the Union soldiers by their comi-adcs, and 82 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. the corpses of the enemy were buried by fatigne-pai-ties ; and the spot upon which they died was their last resting-place upon the earth. Details inten-ed the horses, large numbers of which had been killed. The woods and abattis upon the battle-field were burned for sanitary reasons ; and the unex- ploded shells which had been thrown during the conflict were continually bursting in the flames. A surgeon ordered the pioneers to dig the grave for an unconscious and wounded rebel, who was supposed to be dymg ; but the general sent him to the hospital, and he lived. Before the regiment had received orders to leave the field upon the Gth, an incident came under my observation which illustrates the diflference between an officer of substance and one of show, and the wide contrast between a hero and a shirk. A brigadier-general of artillery, dressed in spotless apparel and white gloves, who, during the fighting of the previous day, was standing upon the ramparts of Yorktown, and watching the ripples that mai'ked the wake of the trans- ports when they steamed up the York, halted his horse, in the morning, near a battery which had taken an active part in the battle ; and, as a matter of course, horses, guns, and men were covered with mud. He rebiiked its commander, who still suffered from his fatiguing labors, for the dirty ap- pearance of the artillery, and asked, in that arrogant tone of authority which characterizes many worthless ofiicers, " Is that battery in a fit condition to move upon the enemy? " . " Yes, it is," he replied. THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 83 ** Are you a regular ? Do you say ' Yes ' to me ? " " Yes, I said my battery was ready for service." " Say, ' Yes, sir,' " be rejoined, and placed great empbasis upon tbe term " sir." " Yes, sir," tbe lieutenant repeated witb a salute ; and tbe dignitary, witb bis silver star and glistening gilt buttons, rode away. He was tbe type of a large class of regular and staff- officers, wbo always regarded external sbow, but never said any tbing about tbe services of a battalion ; and tbe omission to use tbe word "sir," or a formal salute, was a greater blemisb upon tbe record of a subaltern tban tbe atrocious crimes of drunkenness, cowardice, or treason. Tbe reader bas already observed tbat tbe inexplicable blun- der of Gen. McDowell at tbe first action of Bull Kun was committed upon a grander scale at Williamsburg, and four- fiftbs of tbe Army of tbe Potomac were non-combatants ; and tbe division was saved from destruction by tbe ability and commanding presence of Gen. Hooker. In bis concise report of tbis battle, be justly writes tbe following sentence : " His- tory will not be believed wben it is told tbat tbe noble officers and men of my division were permitted to carry on tbis un- equal struggle from morning until nigbt, unaided, in tbe pres- ence of more tban 30,000 of tbeir countrymen witb arms in tbeir bands 1 Nevertbeless, it is true." A few sbells, burled from guns of a powerful caliber, wounded some of tbese soldiers wbo were near tbe field ; and one general issued an address to bis brigade after tbe conflict, and tbanked tbe 84 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. regiments for their courage and patience under fire, although they had not discharged a cartridge in the fight. This document was pubhshed in the newspapers of his State to advance his poHtical interests. The troops that delayed the regiment upon the Yorktown Koad, at the Half-way House, like those that obstructed the Warrenton Turnpike at Centre- ville, preceded in the order of march, but took no active part in the action which followed. The total loss of the division in the battle was 1,575 ; of which there were 338 killed, 902 wounded, and 335 prison- ers and missing. "When these figures are compared, it will be seen that the number of wounded was small ; and the fact shows the deadly proximity of -the soldiers to their enemies upon the field. The total loss of Gren. Hancock's command was 31. I mejition the last item because a disposition has been shown by certain parties to magnify the action of Gen. Hancock in this engagement, and deprive Gen. Hooker of that credit which he had so well merited. Neither Gen. Hancock, nor the officers and men of his brigade, ever made any claim of this character, but took the opposite ground, and refused to accept the meed of praise which they deserved. The regiment encamped in the suburbs of Williamsburg ; and the comfort of most of the men was increased by living in tents which the rebels had been obliged to abandon in their hasty retreat. The crumbling statue of Baron de Botetourts; who had been " Governor-General of the Colony and Do- minion of Virginia," was typical of the decay of this portion THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 85 of the State ; for tbe ancient city had lost its former importance, and was now celebrated as the seat of the College of William and Marj, in which some of the most eminent statesmen of the United States had been educated. All the desolations of war, the legitimate results of the RebeUion, were visible throughout its limits ; and the pubHc buildings, halls, church- es, and many dwelhng-houses, were filled with the wounded of both armies. The yellow flags, which indicated the rebel hospitals (red was the color of the Union hospital-flag), waved in every district. The recitation-rooms of the college ; the aisles of the churches, from which the pews had been removed ; and the marble slabs in the grave-yards that adjoined them, — were stained with the blood of mangled soldiers. The people, with few exceptions, were traitors, who had always encouraged those that murdered the forces that upheld the National Gov- ernment ; and the closed and empty stores, the absence of the able-bodied white men, the scowls of the women and children, and the delighted faces of the negroes, were per- ceived by the most casual observer. When a squad of Fed- eral prisoners arrived during the afternoon of the battle, the rejoicing populace loudly cheered over the victory which they considered won ; and some, who armed themselves with axes and clubs, expressed an intention to kill the wounded upon the field as soon as the army retreated to Yorktown. The falsehoods of Northern and Southern rebels had been accept- ed by them as facts ; and one-half of the population, fearing that the troops would commit the gi'ossest outrages,' fled to 86 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. Richmond as destitute and terror-stricken as the settlers upon the frontier when the torch and scalping-knife of the savage commenced the work of destruction. No wagons or horses were seen in the streets or stables of the town ; and the slaves lived in the mansions of the fugitives, and enjoyed the privi- leges of freedom. Persons who had refused to flee, and ignorant women who had been left helpless by their male relatives in Johnston's army, bolted the doors and closed the blinds of their domiciles, and shuddered when they thought of the " monsters of Lincoln," who had a " heart of iron." The conduct of the Union soldiers, after the occupation of the place, which was humane and just, as it always has been upon every occasion, convinced them of the groundlessness of their apprehensions ; and the shutters were once more opened to admit the "rays of sunlight into their cheerless homes. They stated, in conversation, that Judge Bowden was the sole Union man in the town ; and he remarked to the troops when they took possession of it, " The sound of the first vol- ley of musketry was music to my ears." This patriotic citi- zen subsequently represented the loyal people of Virginia in ► the Senate of the United States. A detail from the regi- ment guarded four hundred prisoners, who excitedly discussed the alleged demerits of their respective States ; and it was necessary for the sentinels to interpose in several instances to prevent rencounters between them. The system originated by Gen. McDowell of rigidly protecting rebel property, which was one of the leading ideas of the commanding general, THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 87 began at this time ; and tlie force of Gen. A. Porter, Provost Marshal of tlie army, upon the staff of Gen. McClellan, was constantly employed upon the Peninsula in performing this odious task. While the soldiers were obliged to obtain passes to escape the custody of the patrols, the rebel surgeons and hospital nurses, who came inside of the lines under a flag of truce, travelled in every direction unmolested, and were allowed to use their negro servants as property. The women, destitute of every trait that constitutes the lady, who had been so cowardly in the time of imaginary dangers, took advantage of the uniform courtesy of the " Yan- kees," whom they despised and hated, and haughtily walked in the streets with their " niggers," who carried dishes and bas- kets of luxuries and food for " missus," who distributed them among the sick and wounded rebels. They compressed their dresses whenever they met an of&cer or enlisted man, so that the garment would not touch the persons they passed. They pulled their hats over their faces to preclude scrutiny : but these precautions were useless ; for their cadaverous features and lank forms were sometimes seen ; and all were satisfied that the Southern beauties, about whom so much has been written, did not reside in Williamsburg. They gladly parad- ed through the mud and filth of the street to avoid a squad of men upon the sidewalks. When two young rebel females were walking by some soldiers, one of them suddenly screamed like an affected boarding-school miss who beholds the horrible form of a dreadfully shocking beetle, or an awfully distress- 88 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. ing toad. ''Oh! oli ! What have you done? Your skht touched a Yankee ! " A group of these sympathizers gath- ered around the bed of a sufferer in the hospital who needed rest to recover, and persisted in talking together, and striving to make him more comfortable, until they produced an un- natural excitement, which was speedily followed by death. " Dear hero, I must assist you ; " " Noble soldier, what shall I help you to? " or, " You deserve every thing we can give," were the sentiments which they generally expressed, in a the- atrical style and tone ; and many wretches were thus killed by the ill-timed conduct of these well-meaning friends. CHAPTER V. THE MARCH, AND FAIR OAKS. /^^te^HE distance from Williamsburg to Richmond is sixty /^ miles : but the advance of the troops was extremely ^^Jy slow ; and upon May 30, twenty-five days after the battle, the division forming the left wing of the army was encamped at Poplar Hill, near Oak-Bottom Swamp, which was thirteen miles from the rebel capital. The dates of the bivouacs during the period would be uninteresting ; and the minutes from day to day speak continually of storms and miserable roads, deserted houses and farms, thick forests and a scanty population : and the only objects that relieved the monotony of the march were the "White House," and the church in which Washington was mamed. A bridge one hundred and twenty feet in length had been constructed at Bottom's Bridge, over the Chickahominy, which flowed through swamps and bottom land, and enlarged its banks in the season of freshets until it was half a mile in width. The perusal of signboards might be classed as dry reading ; but every regiment in the division was convulsed with laughter when it marched by a board nailed to a tree at a fork of the road, upon which was painted, "Richmond, 17 miles." 90 THE MARCH, AND FAIR OAKS. Horses and sheep, houses and forage, in every part of the country, w.ere heavily guarded by the command of Gen. A. Porter ; and, so zealous was this officer in the performance of his duty in this respect, soldiers were put upon property that was not within the limits of the Union lines, and details from different regiments were required when his large force was in- adequate. The wives and daughters of the owners, who were in Johnston's army, insulted in every way the national troops, and rewarded those that protected their estates by acting as spies, and informing the guerillas of the opportune moments in which they could capture or murder them. Officers and soldiers were sometimes driven from wells by the sentinels, and compelled to drink the water they could find in the brooks and springs in the fields ; .and colonels and commanders of batteries were not allowed to take forage for their suffering animals when it was impossible to procure it from the depot of supphes. The spirit of the instructions which the guards received is exhibited in the language of an infamous order which Gen. McDowell issued at Fredericksburg, " to place a sentinel upon every panel of fence," "if it should be neces- sary," to prevent the men from taking the rails to promote their comfort. Not a solitary rebel was wilfully injured by generals who seemed to forget that treason was an offence, and that, as Lord Belhaven declared in the Scotch House of Lords, " patricide is a greater crime than parricide, all the world over." This cringing forbearance towards the enemies of the country disheartened the troops ; was viewed with con- THE MARCHj AND FAIR OAKS. 91 tempt by the rebels, and considered a proof of weakness, al- though they admitted that their property was better protected bv the army of Gen. McClellan than by that of Johnston. The colonel of one regiment, who was an 31. C, often submitted to his own judgment certain orders that he received, before he complied with them, and this policy was very obnoxious to him. He was once commanded to keep his troops under arms two hours for a trivial infraction of the rules of discipline in refusing to report the names of some so-called offenders. " I sha'n't do it," he remarked to the brio-adier-o-eneral, as he walked to and fro, and whistled when he was'not smoking. ■• Did you understand that this was my order? '' inquired the g-eneral. '• I don't care for you : we make fellows like you in Con- gi-ess," the M.C. colonel replied; and the regiment did not suffer punishment. The stupid and inhuman treatment of the negTo bondmen at the first Bull Run was blindly adopted by Gen. Halleck in the Western Department and by the commander of the army in Virginia. The slaves possessed the most valuable local in- formation concerning fords, roads, the divisions of the foe, and the forts that environed Kichmond ; and this could be obtained by persons with acute minds and a knowledge of human nature : but the so-called Orleans princes, who had a partial charge of the secret-service department, were wholly unfit for this important ofl&ce. The sad results of regarding the tales of negroes as valueless, and employing men who imagined 92 that they were born to be kings, are well known. The force of the enemy was always magnified at headquarters ; and the army that Lee directed during the " Seven-days' Battle " was asserted to be one hundred and eighty or two hundred thou- sand soldiers. The generals who expelled slaves from their lines in public orders, and rejected their facts, displayed the same depth of ignorance as the despot who cimeters the heads of his couriers if they bring the unwelcome news of reverses. Some extracts from Shakspeare are so apposite, that I quote them : — ^'■JEdile. TliPre is a slave, whom we have put in prison, Reports — Brutus. Go see this rumorer whipped. It cannot be." The wise advice of Menenius represents the policy of the present mode of gaining intelligence in fighting the Rebel- lion J — " But reason with the fellow, Before you punish him, where he heard this ; Lest you shall chance to whip your information. And beat the messenger who bids beware . Of what is to be dreaded." On May 30 fell one of the most severe storms of the year, which inundated the swamps, nearly severed the com- munications between the forces upon the north and south banks of the Chickahominy, and washed away a space of the road that bounded the camp, about twenty feet square, to the depth of a yai'd. The rain continued at intervals durmg THE MARCH, AND FAIR OAKS. 93 the nest day; and at two, p.m., Gen. Hooker marched five miles to the battle of Fair Oaks with the second and thu'd brigades; while Gen. Grover's command held the position, and remained in line in readiness for the onset which was momentarily expected. " Hold your ground at all haz- ards ! " were the only orders that were received. Upon this aftemoon, and the morning of June 1, the men listened to the dull reverberations of the distant conflict with intense anxiety, which was relieved by the arrival of despatches that contained accounts of the decisive repulse. The brigade joined the troops at Fair Oaks upon the 3d ; and Gen. Casey's division, which had suffered a severe loss in the bat- tle, and was destitute of tents, clothing, and cooking-utensils, that had fallen into the hands of the enemy, occupied Poplar Hill : so that the two commands exchanged then: positions in the line. The regiment relieved one of the Excelsior Brigade in the midst of a drenching rain and the darkness of the night of June 3, and performed its tour of picket-duty for twenty-four hours. Although the defeat of Johnston had been complete in this terrible contest, and the authorities in Richmond ex- pected an immediate pursuit of their demoralized forces, the extent of their losses was so slightly understood, that the pickets were always urged to be vigilant, because an attack by the enemy was hourly anticipated at this point ; and the men stood in line of battle before twilight. The field was visible in the morning to the eyes of the soldiers, who beheld 94 THE MARCH, AND FAIR OAKS. one of the most gliastlj spectacles that has ever been wit- nessed. Scores of horses, and the swollen and black corpses of hundreds of rebels, were stretched upon the ground, and in spots lay in groups, that showed a fearful waste of life; and myriads of maggots were feasting upon the putrid forms, and swarmed upon the earth, so that it was difficult to walk without crushing them beneath the feet. Many soldiers, in the obscurity of the night, had slept side by side with the bodies of the slain, supposing that they were comi'ades ; and the loathsome worms entered their haversacks, and crept upon their blankets and overcoats. Some, who had com- plained about a foot or boot that interfered with their per- sonal comfort, or the form of a person over whom they had stumbled when groping the way to their posts, were amazed to discover that a corpse had been the subject of their oaths. Others, who collected wood to cook coffee and build light fires, found that they had taken the rude headboards which the rebels had placed over the graves of those they had buried. The stench was continually aggravated in its inten- sity, until an unyielding military necessity was the only power that made it endurable. The fragments of shells, the debris of the camps of Gen. Carey's division, and the bivouacs of the enemy, were scattered upon the battle-field ; but every article had been destroyed. Every object showed the marks of the great struggle : many camp-kettles had been pierced by bullets ; and a Sibley tent, that stood in the midst of a shower of lead, displayed two hundred and forty-six holes. '95 In the forest, small trees an inch and a half in diameter were cut in nineteen or twenty places, and limbs upon the large oaks had been splintered by shells. A cannon-ball, three inches in diameter, would sever a branch that was five inches thick ; but, when it passed through the massive trunk, the elastic fibres closed up the aperture, so that I could not insert my sword to the depth of an inch. A portion of the dead were buried by the foe during the occupation of the camps upon May 31 ; while the largest number were plundering knap- sacks and the tents of the quartermaster and commissary department, and threw aside their dirty and ragged uniforms, and wore the comfortable garments and underclothing of the Federal soldiers. A few barrels of whiskey fell into the hands and mouths of the victors, and rendered many of them unfit for the conflict which was resumed upon the following morn- ing. One of these greedy privates, who had succeeded in arraying himself in three pairs of pants, was killed while he was putting on another pair which he held in his hands. The topography of the battle-field, which resembled in its general features that of Yorktown and Williamsburg, was a swampy plain covered with woods, with the exception of a cleared tract of land upon the Williamsburg Eoad, that was locally known as "Seven Pines." Fair Oaks, which was a station upon the York-Eiver Railroad, about half a mile from this point, was the name given to the battle by tlic national forces ; but the Richmond newspapers, and the com- mander of the enemy, called it " Seven Pines." The mud, 96 wbicli forms a leading subject in the history of this war, pre- vented both sides from using their artillery to a vast extent, and the contest became one between the infantry. Many generals expressed the opinion that the army could have taken the beleaguered capital at this time ; and Gen. Hooker remarked in a very sanguine tone, when speaking of the matter, "Phil Kearney and I could have gone into Rich- mond." The division was encamped upon the field in the rear of Seven Pines until June 30; and, during this period, its history comprised a record of labor upon breastworks ; and, once in three days, Grover's brigade relieved the Jersey brigade, which relieved that of Sickles, and performed picket- duty for twenty-four hours. Graves were visible in every direction, after the horses had been burned and the dead were buried : and, when the line was advanced, some were seen in the swamp, standing in the posture in which they were killed ; and, so rapidly had they decomposed in three weeks, there was no flesh upon the skulls, which had partially bleached. Rifle-pits and redoubts were constructed by the division ; and acres of the forest were felled to obstruct the foe, and allow the artillery to have a point-blank range upon the advance. The pickets were stationed in the edge of this abattis, and supported by the reserve that was posted behind the exten- sive fortifications. The hostile lines were engaged in an incessant skirmish at times, and the cannon frequently threw a few rounds into the woods in which the enemy was con- THE MAECH; AND FAIR OAKS. 97 cealed. The expectation of an attack was so strong, that the troops were always formed for battle ; and the regiment was called to arms upon one day eleven times. The bugle at brigade headquarters sounded the order to " fall in," and the soldiers rushed to their stacks whenever the firing in front was unusually active. The rebels made a reconnoissance during a storm, and delivered a volley in a peal of thunder : but the practised ears of the men were not deceived ; and they left their tents and double-quicked to the line, upon which they formed before the call was blown. Shells were often thrown into the camp ; and one of them,^ during a can- nonade, entered one side of a tent in the company while the inmate was coming out of the entrance. There was much useless firing upon picket ; and, while some regiments were comparatively quiet, others would shoot at random, and keep the supports and camps in a state of constant alarm and preparation. An emaciated rebel came into the lines one morning, and confessed that he ran away from his regiment in the battle, hid in the woods, and did not wish to return to* it, because he thought he would be shot. The pickets fired at him whenever he approached their posts ; and he remained in his place until he was compelled to escape from death by starvation, and run the gantlet of the bullets. The enemy tried to ascertain the position of the sentinels by the use of dogs and hounds, which ran through the forest, and barked when they saw any person ; but the sharpshooters always killed them : and sometimes the dismal howl of a wounded 7 98 THE MARCH, AND FAIR OAKS. cur limping to his master interrupted the quietness of the hour. The same causes that existed at Yorktown, again affected the health of the men; and the water, which was tainted by the decomposition of the bodies that had been interred near the camps, increased the long list of the sick. A ration of whiskey was daily issued to the troops to avert the malaria of the swamp ; and this remedy was more ener- vating than the disease. I noticed, as a singular circum- stance, that there was not a single case of the " Chickahominy fever" in the small number of those that refused to obey this order. Gen. Stuart made his celebrated raid in the rear of the army upon the night of the 13th ; and, although its mate- rial results were unimportant, it frightened the sutlers and non-combatants, and proved the inefficiency of the Union cav- alry. Here, as at Yorktown, the heavy burdens of war were placed upon the shoulders of a part, while some performed no real service ; and there were regiments that had never dis- charged a musket in battle, or labored upon a fort, or served a tour of picket-duty in front. When the company was de- ployed upon the outposts, upon one occasion, there was so much infantry firing about three miles in the rear of Fair Oaks, that it was supposed the enemy had made an attack ; and the pickets were anxious about the result, until the com- mander of the brigade learned that the regiments of a divis- ion were drilhng as skirmishers, and using blank cartridges. The troops that were constantly employed were annoyed by THE MARCH, AND FAIR OAKS. 99 noxious vermin, that lived in every resting-place in the front : generals and privates, however vigilant, were defiled ; and every article of clothing was scrutinized by the men when they were relieved from picket. Many regiments in the army of the Potomac had been depleted by sickness and desertion (for the loss in battle had been limited to a small fraction), and those which re-enforced it appeared as large as brigades. All were encouraged by the arrival of these troops, who some- times mentioned, as a trying hardship, the fact that they had had " no soft bread for two days." The surgeons in certain hospitals that were located in the North began a course of con- duct at this time that was long continued, and placed upon their sick-rolls the names of deserters and cowards who were feigning disease when the country required their services in the field. There was scarcely a regiment upon the Peninsula that did not lose at least one hundred able-bodied men by the connivance of these medical miscreants. Eight soldiers de- serted from the company at Williamsburg, and were trans- ported to a notorious hospital in Rhode Island, in which they were retained and sheltered by the officers, who were repeat- edly notified that they were skulkers ; and none of them ever rejoined the regiment, although their terra of enlistment did not expire for two years. One of the number was employed by some of the surgeons and nurses to repair and manufacture jewelry, while the rest were engaged in similar avocations; and none of them were treated as patients. In striking con- trast with such shameful conduct was the noble action of men 100 THE MARCH, AND FAIR OAKS. who returned to their commands before their wounds were healed, and those who were excused from duty on account of sickness, hut left their beds, and walked with great difficulty to the front with their muskets. I have heard officers tell them that their presence was not required ; but the same an- swer was invariably made: "I could not stay in the rear when I thought the regiment was fighting/' The supplies were brought from the stations upon the York- River Raih-oad in wagons which were parked in the rear of the army at night to avoid the risks of capture. " The whis- tles of the locomotives, and the rumbling of the trains of cars, blended strangely with the shrieking shells, and sug- gested thoughts that were as conflicting as war and peace. A sentinel could discern the steeples of Richmond, which was six miles from this point, from the top of a tall tree near the front, called the "lookout." A company of Frenchmen, that belonged to a regiment which had been inveigled at Wil- liamsburg by the white color that has been described in the sketch of that battle, was posted upon the picket-line, and fired upon a flag of truce which they supposed to be another artifice of a dishonorable enemy. While a soldier, who had been sleeping, was walking a short distance, two pieces of a shell penetrated his blanket which was spread upon the ground; and with the remark, " Did you see that strike? it was a lucky escape," he slept again in the same place. An austere colonel of a New-Jersey regiment sat upon a stump during one of the severe storms that often fell : and a drum- 101 mer, wlio observed that he had no shelter, brought him a rubber blanket, and said, *' Colonel, take my blanket; you will get wet." ** Clear out, you scoundrel ! " was the gruff reply. ** It is raining hard, and you will need it." ** Go to your post at once." No further remarks passed between them , and the conver- sation, like many others, is quoted to illustrate the eccentri- cities of the commander ; but a commission as first lieutenant was given to the musician at the end of a fortnight. Gam- blers to the number of three hundred, equipped with the im- plements of their nefiirious work, — dice, props, and cards, — assembled near the regiment after the army had been " paid off," and disregarded the balls that sometimes ploughed the field, until the blast of the bugle summoned them to disperse and enter the line of battle. The corps y^as formed upon June 25 ; and the regiment, with others, advanced at seven, a.m., through the woods and swamp, that was one-third of a mile in width, and halted near the open field, in which a burnt chimney stood. The pools of stagnant water, the stumps, and the thickets, contin- ually threw the line into disorder, and, together with the in- ability to see the force of the enemy that confronted them, caused a slow movement. Every object that looked like a rebel received a bullet : the pickets, leaving their rations and blankets, hastily fled ; and two sharpshooters, perched in the tops of trees, were captured before they could escape. 102 The regiments upon the right of the brigade met the reserve, ■which was re-enforced by a detachment. Their ranks were shattered ; small squads, which increased in number, began to leave ; and at length all were flying to their works, amidst the excited cries of the men, who said, " They are run- ning ! " or, " Look at that fellow tumble ! " and the troops that double-quicked to the front during the fight fled from it with greater speed. The regiment remained undisturbed in its place in the centre of the brigade. The firing was very active in the afternoon, when Gen. Kearney's division upon the left was attacked, and the right of Gen. Hooker's divis- ion was advanced ; but the contest had ended at four one-half P.M., and the troops held the ground which they had been ordered to take. The aides could not move through the for- est upon their horses ; and commands were passed from com- pany to company along the line by shouting, " Keep a sharp lookout upon the extreme left! " "Tell Col. — to re- port to the general upon the right ! " and others of a similar character. I was placed in charge of the skirmishers who were sta- tioned in advance of the regiment to prevent surprise, and heard the conversations of the enemy's pickets, who were separated from them by a morass that was covered with thick woods. Two of them had a quarrel about Gen. Kearney, whom they styled " the one-armed devil : " one swore that it was the left, and the other was certain that the right limb had been amputated. The solitary bass drum that was constantly 103 beaten in the rebel camps during the siege was unusually dis- tinct in its notes ; and an officer in front shouted orders, which were repeated by three or four voices, for the period of four hours. ' ' Deploy upon the right of the Williamsburg Road, and don't get into seven or eight ranks ;" "Advance the skirmish- ers cautiously up the paths ; " " Why don't those men move forward ? " were commands that excited the vigilance of the sol- diers. The loud tone in which they were uttered, the absence of sounds that would be caused by the tramp of moving col- umns, and the subsequent conduct of the foe, proved that it was a stratagem to mislead the commander, and induce him to draw re-enforcements from other points ; while a fierce and unsuccessful attack was made upon Gen. Kearney's division, which was posted upon the left. The members of the regi- ment clustered around the roots of trees in the night, and sat upon clumps of earth, because they were obliged to stand in water that was knee-deep when the line of battle was formed. " The endless groan " of the wounded, and the rattling wheels of the wagons that conveyed them to Richmond, alone dis- turbed the stillness that reigned in the swamp. A regiment was marching to relieve the troops at the front at midnight : the shovels, canteens, and equipments which they carried were constantly clashing together, and the sounds alarmed the enemy that fired at them, and revealed by the flashes the positions of the pickets. A flame that lighted up the forest for an instant darted from the smooth-bore muskets, to which there was no response ; and a rebel sentinel swore at his com- 104 THE MARCH, AND FAIR OAKS. panion, " Don't fire again, you fool ! you will draw upon us another volley like that." The division returned to the rifle- pits : the first of the " seven-days' battle " before Richmond had been fought upon the left with a successful result ; and the position that had been gained was intrenched. A regiment composed of different nations, which was well known on account of its cowardice, was upon outpost-duty, under the command of a foreign lieutenant-colonel, who ex- citedly exclaimed to his men, " Cover yourselves mit a stump ! cover yourselves mit a stump ! " They were in the rear of the advanced ground which had been conquered : vol- leys were fired into the woods whenever a bullet, passing from the front, whistled over their heads ; and many of them fled from their posts during the night. The whole detachment, with the commander in the advance, rushed toward the works on the morning of the 26th ; and the colonel at once deployed a company to stop the fugitives, and gave this instruction : * ' Use your bayonets upon the cowardly scoundrels : they are not worth the powder to blow them to hell ! " The captain promptly halted the lieutenant-colonel by the use of physical force, and ordered him to return to his post of duty. ''I out-rank you, capitain," he said as he displayed his shoulder-straps, and refused to move to the front. '• I don't care for your rank : you must go back to that picket-line." •* My mens run away, and leav^ me : I no go back." " You ran away first, and they all followed you. You can't 105 see one of your regiment in front of you." The determined conduct of the line, who is now a field-officer in the service, and the menace of physical violence, intimidated the poltroon, who sullenly skulked to his command. A month after this shameful occurrence, I saw with amazement, in a New-York illustrated paper (it was not Harper's), an engraving, in which this regiment appeared to bo capturing a battery, and driving brigades of the enemy ; while the lieutenant-colonel, mounted upon his war-horse at the head of it, was cutting *' horrid circles " with his sword. Throuo;h the untirins: exertions of certain officers^ when Gen. Meade commanded the Army of the Potomac, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general for " gallant conduct upon the field." The perusers of the foregoing facts can readily imagine the nature of his valiant services. He is upon detached duty in a North- ern city at the present time, and inspects the harbor defences, or acts as pall-bearer at the funerals of officers of high rank who have died the death of heroes. The enemy made feints upon the entire line : the division was posted behind the breastworks, in readiness to meet the onset ; but the grand assault was made upon Mechanicsville on the 26th, and Gaines's Mill on the 27th. The troops of the corps were withdrawn upon the 28th from the position which had been taken upon the 25th ; the army made pre- parations for the retreat during the night ; and officers who had seen the smoke of the burning bridge in the afternoon, and knew that the communications with the " White House " 106 had "been severed, refrained from giving this information to their commands. The balloon had constantly made recon- noissances ; and one rose for the first and only time above Richmond upon this day, and remained in the air a few min- utes. All the stores that could not be transported in the wagons were destroyed early in the morning of the 29th by details, who broke rifles, bayoneted canteens and kettles, and slashed tents and clothing, but burned nothing, because the fires would excite suspicion. Barrels of sugar, vinegar, and whiskey irrigated the soil of the camps ; and some soldiers, who were unable to restrain their appetites, stealthily drank the intoxicating liquor, were left upon the field, and captured by the enemy in a state of utter drunkenness. Gen. Hooker destroyed his personal baggage, and set an example of unself- ish patriotism, which might have been followed by other com- manders who encumbered the trains with their private goods, and cheerfully abandoned the property 'of the Government and that of the men and subalterns. The brigade retired from the scene of its labors after it reheved those upon picket ; and I never beheld so many faces upon which was depicted such a deep feeling of gloom. CHAPTER VI. THE BATTLES OF SAVAGE'S STATION, GLENDALE, AND MALVEKN HILL. ff 'HE movements of a vast army are slightly under- stood by the men who perform the fighting; and my knowledge of the positions held by the corps during the retreat was obtained by noticing the re- ports of cannon when they were engaged with the enemy; and I sketch in this chapter some incidents in the actipn of a small body of troops. The company was posted, on the 29th, at a house upon a hillock near the railroad ; and a line of battle, which extended more than a mile towards the right, had been skilfully formed in the edge of the forest, in the rear o&a cleared space of ground, upon which the batteries were planted, near Savage's Station. The occasional report of a sharpshooter's rifle was sometimes heard, and many were sleeping under the peach and forest trees which shielded them from the hot rays of the sun. The artillery of the rebels opened without any warning, at eleven, a.m., from the woods upon the south side of the railroad, on this position with won- derful accuracy ; and the first three shells that were fired pene- 107 108 THE BATTLES OF SAVAGE'S STATION, tratecl tlie walls and partitions of tlie house, and mangled those who were one-fourth of a mile in the rear, but did not injure the inmates, comprising women, children, and a squad of soldiers. Upon a bed, and unable to move, was a sick woman, whose husband and sons were with those who were trying to murder her; stud the shot and shell were not hurled into the ranks, but purposely aimed at this dwelling ; and the cries of the helpless infant and the tears of the distracted mother were stifled by the explosions and shrill notes of the flying balls, until their batteries were silenced by Union cannon. An attack was afterwards made upon a brigade, which was enveloped in the smoke of battle ; and joy filled every eye when the breeze gradually lifted the veil, and revealed the American flag that waved over the victors, who were still invisible. The division fell back from its first line in the afternoon; moved with rapidity; crossed the White-O^k Swamp ; and at ten, p.m., bivouacked in a field near the Charles- City Road. Clouds of black smoke rose at certain points near the railroad stations, and immense amounts of clothing, provisions, and ordnance stores, were destroyed. Although the troops halted at Savage's Station, and many needed the garments, guards were posted to prevent the soldiers from taking a blouse or coat ; because the ojB&cer in charge had been ordered to burn them, and could not account for the property if it was worn by the men. The brigade rested near the church at Glendale upon the 30th, and trains of wagons and herds of cattle — "beef on the 109 hoof" — were continually passing over the road during the forenoon, while an active cannonading in the neighborhood of the bridge at White-Oak Swamp showed that the enemy was closely following the army. There was a panic at one time among the teamsters, who fled from their horses in the most cowardly manner ; and the cavalry, with their drawn sabres, forced them to return to their seats and resume the reins. The divisions of Hill and Longstreet advanced in the afternoon upon the Newmarket Road from Richmond ; made incessant efforts to break through the lines at this point ; and the brigade double-quicked to support a battery, and formed, under the fire, as perfect a line as it would upon dress-parade. Gen. McCall's command, the Pennsylvania reserves, that had sustained the brunt of the attack, was hard pressed ; and the division ran to its new position upon their left, and turned the current of the battle, which had commenced to flow against the Union forces. The regiment followed through the woods a narrow way which was thronged with the gun- ners and drivers of the " Dutch battery," who left their pieces upon the field, and squads of infantry that were flying from the front. These circumstances did not dishearten the men who were marching by the left flank ; and some -^ho belonged to the companies upon the right rushed from their places to come in contact with the foe before their comrades. The colonel of one of the regiments that had been fighting dashed to the rear upon his horse, before his command had been driven from its post, and excitedly screamed, " My men are 110 THE BATTLES OF SAVAGE'S STATION, all cut to pieces!" "Hurry, oli ! hurry, and save my poor men! " " There is one of them now, and wounded too ! " and seemed to be demoralized by fear. The troops double- quicked by him amid general laughter ; and I heard a score of tongues utter remarks like these : " Dry up, you old fool ! " — " Tear that eagle off your shoulders ! " — " You ain't fit to be a private, you coward ! " A number of swords that had been thrown aside by officers were scattered upon the ground ; and, although I had recently exchanged my sash of worsted for one of silk, the quickness of the movement did not allow me time to equip myself. A company of cav- alry was deployed in the rear, and the commander trembled so much that he could not aim his revolver ; and some vaunt- ingly said, "Hooker's division don't need any cavalry to keep them in the front;" or, "Our hands don't shake like that when we are there." An officer, carrying a saddle, came from the front, and remarked, in a tone of intense satis- faction, " I have done my share : I lost my horse, but I saved my saddle." These incidents, which may appear tame in their recital, amused the brigade which occupied with joy- ous cheers the position that had been assigned to it in the line. The din of musketry and the cannonade, the yells of the rebels when they made a desperate assault, and the hurrahs of the Union soldiers when they were repulsed, did not cease until darkness covered the earth. " The deep-throated en- gines " upon the gunboats in the James River threw their GLENDALE; AND MALVERN HILL. Ill monster shells into the ranks of the enemy, upon the left of the line, at five, p.m. The regiment held a road -which the foe had entered in the afternoon ; and many who had been lost in the confusion of the battle wandered about in the adjoin- ing swamp, from which a stream of prisoners was continually flowing into the ranks. Hundreds were yelling, in the pe- culiar effeminate voice of the Southerner, the names and numbers of their commands, — "Third Alabama," " Seventh Georgia," "Sixth South-Carolina." A few soldiers stationed themselves in the advance, and sometimes shouted, " Here, by this oak;" "This way;" and captured a squad, who denounced the artifice as a "mean Yankee trick." The regiment took thirty prisoners, most of whom were delirious from the effects of whiskey, — wholly unable to point out friend or foe, — and boasted that they had shot " heaps " of Yankees. This startling fact explains the nature of that foolhardiness with which they charged upon batteries during the engage- ment. The rebel clothing (it could not be properly termed a uniform; for I did not see two persons that were dressed alike) was always faded to such an extent, that some skir- mishers who wore shoddy, and necessarily shabby caps, were mistaken for the enemy, and fired upon by men in the rear. The troops marched towards Malvern Hill before daybreak, without the benefit of sleep ; and the pioneers, who had par- tially cut the trunks of the trees which grew upon the sides of the road, waited for the column to pass them before they applied the final strokes. The army concentrated at JMalvern 112 Hill upon what tlie Union forces always seek, and the rebels avoid, — an open field. The appearance of the divisions, as they marched through acres of wheat which was ready for the harvest, and was garnered into the haversacks of famish- ing men, was inspiriting to soldiers who had been placed, for a long period, in woods and swamps in which they could not see the right and left of a regiment. The bands, that had been dumb during the siege, uttered the notes of patriot- ism, and revived the despondent; and cheers issued from the throats of thousands who deployed upon the plain, which was two miles in length and one in width, and supported three hundred cannon that defied the enemy. The signal- flags were disclosing the movements of the foe, and convey- ing orders from the roofs of houses upon the right and the decks of the gunboats that protected the left ; while the in- fantry, posted upon the commanding heights, had the confi- dence of Stuart, who "remarked to a prisoner, " If I had that hill, no army could drive me from it." The division was assigned to a position upon the left centre ; and the hostile batteries debouched from a road at the distance of a mile, and concentrated their fire, a few minutes after nine, a.m., on July 1, upon the brigade when it was marching to this point. Some soldiers had taken the honey from seven bee- hives near a house : swarms of the exasperated insects stung the horses in the vicinity, with such serious results, that a battery, which had fought with valor the enemies of the coun- try, was compelled to change its post ; and mounted general GLENDALE, AND MALVERN HILL. 113 and staff officers vigorously used their spurs to escape. The history of the day may be briefly described as a succession of desperate and reckless onsets upon various parts of the line, in which Lee was always unsuccessful : and his legions were slaughtered by the artillery, including the siege-guns and those upon the monitors ; while the Union loss was small, because the infantry was rarely engaged in close action. The incessant firing heated and discolored the pieces; and some rifled ordnance was rendered useless for accuracy, as it was constantly double- shotted. Quietness sometimes ruled during an hour, and no bullets would be discharged ; but this was succeeded by the reverberations of cannon, which shook the earth in the concussion, although many who were not fighting, conquered by fatigue, slept upon their muskets, undisturbed. Upon July 2, drenched by the storm that always ensues after a great battle in which the forces of Nature have been violently discomposed, the army crowded in confusion upon a single road ; and there was a moving mass of cattle, horses, and wagons, besides the infantry and batteries which belonged to different commands. Many excited disputes took place regarding the right to march in advance of the respective bodies of troops. The flying artillery of the cavalry threw a few shells into the bivouac of the brigade at Harrison's Land- ing ; but this force was dispersed. The lines were estab- lished two days afterwards, and rifle-pits and redoubts were constructed during the succeeding month. The official state- 114 THE BATTLES OP SAVAGE'S STATION, ments that Lee commanded 180 or 200,000 men, wliile Gen. McClellan had only 75,000 ; the failure of the former to capture the extensive trains of wagons that filled every road, or penetrate the lines in a single instance, after suffering enormous losses, — inspired confidence in the general, who had won the glory of saving the whole force from destruction. There was also a feeling of disappointment at the result of the campaign, and grief for the fate of the sick and wounded who had been abandoned during the retreat. More than one- half of the prisoners that were taken in this movement after the battle of Gaines's Mill deserted from their companies, concealed themselves in the woods, and gladly yielded to the rebel cavalry ; while others, who threw themselves upon the ground, and declared that they could not walk an inch farther on account of exhartstion, marched seventeen miles to Richmond within the succeeding twelve hours, with such rapidity that some of the guard fell out of the ranks. When the company arrived at Harrison's Landing, two men, who had only two pieces of tent, went to the forest to obtain a shelter from the storm, and occupied the ground which had been selected by a brigadier-general for his headquarters. " What are you doing here? " he asked, when he noticed them. " We were going to fasten tliis canvas to the boughs, but didn't know that you were here," one of the privates replied, as they started to walk away. " You can stay here : this is my place ; but I can move GLENDALE, AND MALVERN HILL. 115 to tlie right," he said; and ordered the pioneers to pitch his tent in another spot. This gallant oJ3&cer, who recognized soldiers as human beings, displayed a kindness that was seldom exhibited by his peers. Foui* soldiers, who reached Harrison's Landing before the regiment, crossed the river in a boat, and were fired upon by some farmers, who held them as prisoners until a squad of cavalry placed them upon their saddles behind themselves, and rode through the rebel en- campments, in which the empty tents were standing to keep up appearances, while a guard of disabled men protected the property. An excessive heat pervaded the camp ; but thousands had the privilege of bathing in the James, and enjoying habits of cleanliness, which the experience of Yorktown and Fair Oaks had taught them to value. Details were daily furnished to collect and burn the clothing which was cast aside on account of the vermin. Many officers tendered their resignations, which were generally disapproved ; others feigned sickness to escape from the service ; and one captain bribed two persons to carry him on a stretcher to the hospital-boat, and was absent from his regiment more than a year. In addition to the list of ordinary diseases, soldiers died of the scurvy ; and anti-scorbutic rations were issued to check this complaint. The only event that disturbed the quietness of the camp occurred at midnight upon Aug. 1, when the foe planted a battery on the south side of the Jajnes Kiver, and opened upon the shipping and camps ; but their guns were silent in half an hour. IIG Tlio division and a brigade of cavalry moved toward Mal- vern Hill ill the night of Aug. 2 ; hut the guides misled the troops, and they returned to their quarters at sunrise. Gen. Hooker commandijd the expedition, and resumed the march on the 4th, wljen the line of battle rested at midnight williin a few rods of the hostile pickets. The force was in motion at daybreak ; entered the road that passed by the church at Glendale ; and atta(;ked the rebels in their rear, at 5^-, a.m. The artillery opened upon the brigade with spherical case- shot ; obtained an excellent range ; one shell killing two, cut- ting off the arm of another, and wounding four men, in one company of the regiment : the troops pushed forward in four ranks, and sometimes dodged the balls ; but none quit their places. A thick mist hindered a prompt advance ; and, when the enemy was overpowered, only one hundred were captured, wliile the remainder, with the battery, retreated upon the James-lliver lload. It was assumed that they could not escape, because a brigade had been ordered to seize this high- way, and intercept them before the main body approached ; but the j)lan failed in its execution through the base conduct of its commander, who maintained his reputation as a notorious drunkard. Gen. Ilooker placed the officer in arrest, and remarked, in speaking of this action, " More prisoners would have been taken if that general had not been drunk." He was the son of a well-known traitor in riiiladeli)hia, and received no punishment; and remained in the army until he committed suicide in a fit of delirium tremens. His death. * GLENDALE, AND MALVERN HILL. 117 in the language of tbc newspapers, was produced by an intense devotion to the service, and exposure in the perform- ance of his duties. A trembling negro, who was paralyzed by fear, was shielded by a large oak, through the branches of which the shells were flying ; and his frantic appeals for aid excited laughter, not grief, in the spectators who filed by hinj. The prisoners, like all that I saw, were extremely ignorant ; not one in twenty being able to read and write : and their stolid faces showed a lack of mental capacity which placed them upon a level with the natives of New Zealand. They were poorly supplied : some had pieces of carpet, which they used for blanket::.; and their bread was composed of flour mixed with water, which was baked upon a stick or the point of a bayonet. A woman, who lived near the picket-line, said that the rebels filled her house and begged for food after the battle of Malvern Hill ; and they were so apprehensive of an advance, that Longstreet and Jackson prepared for action when the salute was fired in honor of the President at Har- rison's Landing. The owner of the house, which had been the headquarters of Lee, had posted up a notice that he did not wish to have any Yankees buried upon his land ; and some soldiers who perused it applied the torch, and the splendid edifice, with its outbuildings, was completely destroyed. A squad of stragglers, who rarely render any service, made a charge with then- unloaded muskets, captured seven cavalry- men, and rode upon their horses into camp, while the recent losers walked. 118 THE BATTLES OF SAVAGE's STATION, One of the prisoners, in answer to an inquiry about the grave of Major Chandler, pointed out the spot in which a field officer had been buried ; and the pioneers disinterred the body of a lieutenant-colonel, and found upon his person one hun- dred dollars : a strange fact, which amazed all who knew that the army thieves seldom missed one of the slain. The posi- tion was evacuated upon the 7th, and the old camp was again occupied. The exchanged prisoners rejoined their commands from Belle Island ; and their emaciated frames, and tales of suffering, had a good influence upon those who were inclined to prefer captivity to the chances of battle. Many of them stated, that, when the officer announced that a certain squad would be paroled on the next day, one hundred and twenty- one men saw the happiest moment of their lives : the sergeant who had charge of it accepted bribes during the night, until the number was increased to one hundred and ninety-eight, and his haversack contained all the watches and valuables that the crowd possessed. The stores and the sick were sent upon transports to For- tress Monroe : the corps marched from Harrison's Landing on the 15th, and proceeded via Williamsburg to Yorktown. The people openly expressed their joy at the failure of the retreating forces to capture Richmond : no guards were posted over rebel estates during the movement ; the 'soldiers of Gen. Heintzelman's corps made camp-fires of the well-seasoned fence-rails, and roasted the corn and potatoes which they took from the fields, without offending any of their generals. They 119 embarked on the 21st, and sailed up the Potomac to Wash- ington in the crowded transports ; and gun-barrels and bayo- nets glistened in every part of the vessel ; and the bowsprit, shrouds, and rigging had a picturesque appearance. CHAPTER VII. THE BATTLES OF BRISTOW STATION, THE SECOND BULL RUN, AND CHANTILLY. f HE brilliant reputation whicli Gen. Pope acquired in tbe West, and the energetic orders which he issued upon assuming the command in Virginia, delighted the armies upon the James and the Potomac ; and the highest confidence was placed in his military abilities. The division was packed into cattle-cars, inside and outside, on the steps and platforms ; and a locomotive with the name and strength of "Samson" drew the regiment after sunset, upon Aug. 25, upon the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and arrived at Warrenton Junction at midnight. A regular camp was laid out on the 26th, near this point ; shelter-tents were pitched ; the blankets were spread upon straw ; and the men retired to rest with the pleasant thought that they should soon recuperate, and purge the system of the sores and blotch- es with which the veterans of the Peninsula were afflicted. This agreeable dream was broken at four a.m., on the 27th, by the voice of the orderly, which was always an unwelcome sound at this early hour, " Captain, captain ! take three days' rations, fall in your company, and bold your men ready 120 THE BATTLES OF BRISTOW STATION, 121 to start at a second's notice." A few reports of cannon were beard in the rear ; and the division commenced to march upon the line of the raih'oad to search for the ubiquitous Jackson, who had made a dkour round the right of Gen. Pope, while that officer in his bulletins was driving him across the Bapidan with his cavalry and light artillery. He burned the bridges over two nins, and secured trains that extended a mile upon the track, and were loaded with army-supplies of immense value. The force of Lee advanced in the mean while, upon the slopes of the Blue Ridge, to re-enforce this detachment ; and the ingenious plan of operations, if executed with success, would have formed what was termed in popular language a "bag," which would have enclosed the main portion of the corps of Generals McDowell, Sigel, and Banks. While certain officers with characteristic treachery failed to move promptly from Alexandria, Generals Hooker and Kearney, whose loy- alty was as conspicuous as then- courage, pushed forward to the front ; and the sanguine hopes of the rebels vanished, when they unexpectedly confronted these troops from the Army of the Potomac. The division continued its march ; and the skirmishers ad- vanced mile after mile beyond Catlett's Station without oppo- sition, until an aide in the top of a tree reported that the ve- dettes of the enemy were visible in the woods, and the brigade marched in line of battle through an orchard and a field of corn. The heat of the day and speed of the movement caused a perspiration which saturated the clothes as completely 122 SECOND BULL RUN, AND CHANTILLY, as the rain. The column was passing bj a burning bridge about two, P.M., and the opinion was generally expressed that it was another raid, and the rebels were not within ten miles of their pursuers ; but a shell burst at that moment over the heads of the debaters, and finished the discussion. The Ex- celsior and Jersey brigades suffered severely in the fierce con- flict which ensued ; and the enemy was driven from tlie short pines in which the lines were concealed, after fighting an hour, and fled over the broad plain near Bristow Station, while the brigade followed. The cavalry afforded no assistance, because the commanding officer said the horses had no strength ; and the infantry quickly marched by it. A battery which be- longed to one of Pope's corps was as slow as the cavalry, and the captain of it acted like a person who did not wish to en- gage the retreating soldiers ; and the men who had often witnessed with pride the prompt action of the artillery that formed a part of the division viewed it with contempt, and scoflTed at the members. The hostile gunners entertained the same opinion, and did not notice the slothful battery, but di- rected their shell and shot at the advancing brigade, until they were compelled to withdraw to another position in the rear. The skirmishers fired at every suspicious-looking stump or bush when they ascended the rising ground ; and the most anxious moments of the day were those which their cautious steps occupied in approaching the crest which might shelter the enemy. The sudden onset by Gen. Hooker had not been foreseen 123 by Jackson ; and the appearance of the field showed that it was a hasty flight. The dead and wounded had been aban- doned ; knapsacks and equipments were scattered upon the plain; beeves had been killed; the fires were burning be- neath the Dutch-ovens, which contained baking bread or roasting meat ; dough was left in the pans, and dinners had been prepared in the houses for the officers. There were also two bags of raw peanuts, from which the rebel cooks manu- fiictured a substitute for coffee. The civilians, who never gave or sold food to Union soldiers, had collected geese, turkeys, and the "fatted calf," for their friends: and one woman cooked two barrels of cakes " for family use," so she said ; but they were devoured by the victors. The horses for the field and staff officers had not been transported from York town, so that they were compelled to march on foot ; and although they always declared that it was more fatiguing to ride than walk, and mercilessly shouted to weary men, " Close up," or, " Double-quick," they were the first per- sons who left the ranks : and most of the regiments were commanded by captains during the engagement. The num- ber of stragglers was very large, — one-fourth of the effective strength of the force; and squads of skulkers, who were utterly exhausted by the heat whenever a ballet whistled , near them so that they could not creep to the front, ran to the rear, placed caps upon the nipples of their muskets, blackened their faces and mouths with powder to resemble those who had been engaged, and rejoined theii* companies 124 after the battle, and explained matters by saying tbat they fought in another portion of the field. Among others at the hospital was a German, who was mortally wounded, and said that there were two companies of his countrymen in the rebel regiment who had been forced to leave their workshops, and enlist in the army. He gasped, in his broken language, " Oh ! how hard to die, when I have been in this land only three months ! " The prisoners were constantly talking about the good qualities of their com- mander, who had marched them sixty miles in the last two days ; would seize Washington within a week ; and one of them exclaimed, "If your generals were as smart as Jack- son, you would soon conquer us." A house inhabited by an Irish family was exposed to the shells during this contest ; and the wife entered the closet, and prayed to the Virgin for safety^ while her husband and children remained in the cellar. The soldiers took all the clothing they could discover in one building, from which the general had been fired upon ; and the owner remarked to one of them, — " You have got on my shirt." " Yes ; and I intend to keep it on." They also ransacked another house, in which some Federal uniforms, stained with blood, were found ; and a light-fingered man stole the spectacles from the nose of an aged citizen, who pretended to know nothing respecting them, and complained about the treatment which he had received. Hundreds of baggage-cars, with their valuable contents, were burning five SECOND BULL RUN, AND CHANTILLY. 125 miles in our front ; and the skies were darkened in the after- noon by a dense cloud of smoke, which was a flame of fire at night that lighted up the heavens. Jackson retreated to Manassas Junction during the follow- ing day, and subsequently formed his line of battle upon the old field of Bull Run. Gen. McDowell was ordered to hold Thoroughfare Gap, a position of great natural strength in the Bull-Run mountains ; but Longstreet, in the evening, with a few puffs of smoke from the rifles of his sharpshooters, easily gained possession of this outlet; and Lee was allowed to re-enforce Jackson with his whole army, without the slightest opposition. A portion of Gen. Pope's troops marched, on the 28th, by the division, which followed them along the line of the railroad, halted at night, moved from the bivouac at two, A.M., of the 29th,^and stood upon the heights of Centre- ville an hour after sunrise. Matches were very scarce upon this campaign ; and a private who intended to light one gave public notice to the crowd, who surrounded him with slips of paper, and pipes in their hands. Some soldiers were in a des- titute condition, and suffered from blistered feet, as they had no shoes ; and others required a pair of pants or a blouse : but all gladly pursued Jackson ; and his capture was consid- ered a certain event. The column cheered Gen. Pope when he rode along, accompanied by a vast body-guard, and re- sponded, "I am glad to see you in such good spirits to-day." Justice obliges me to write, that, after the experience of one of his mismanaged battles, the silence of deep contempt was l26 the sole greeting that he perceived in the faces of these disap- pointed soldiers. Three miles from the battle-field, the divi- sion met a squad of five hundred cowards, who had been paroled because the enemy could not, or would not, issue rations to them ; and they exultingly boasted that their lives were safe, as they would not be compelled to go into the pend- ing conflict. Most of this number had been detailed to guard the railroad or the trains, and barely surrendered their posts without firing a musket to alarm their companions or check the foe. Many of the dastards exchanged suits with the rebels, and wore the butternut clothing; while the latter arrayed their spies in the Federal uniform, and gained other advantages by using them. The stream was forded, and the graves and bones of the dead, the rusty fragments of iron, and the weather-beaten debris of that contest, reminded the men that they were again in the midst of the familiar scenes of the first battle of Bull Run. The cannonading was brisk at intervals during the day. Large tracts of the field were black and smoking from the effect of the burning grass which the shells ignited ; and a small force was occasionally engaged upon the right : but there was no general conflict. The brigade took the position assigned to it, upon the slope of a hill, to support a battery which was attached to Sigel's corps ; and no infantry was visible in any direction, although the land was open, and objects within the distance of half a mile were readily seen. There was no firing, with the exception of the time when the SECOND BULL RUN, AND CHANTILLY. 127 troops debouched from tlic road in the morning ; and the sol- diers rested for hours until four, p.m. At this moment, the enemy opened with solid shot upon the . battery, which did not discharge one piece in response ; the di-ivers mounted their horses; all rushed pell-mell through the ranks of the fearless and enraged support, and did not halt within the range of the artillery from which they had so cowardly fled. A member of the staff, dressed like an officer of the day, immediately arrived, and gave a verbal order to the brigade commander ; after which the regiments were formed and marched, unmindful of the cannon-balls, towards the right of the line, and halted in the border of a thick forest, in which many skirmishes had taken place. *'What does the general want me to do now?" Gen. Grover asked the aide who again rode up to the brigade. *' Go into the woods, and charge," was the answer. *' Where is my support ? " the commander wisely inquired ; for there were no troops near the position. " It is coming." After waiting fifteen minutes for this body to appear, the officer returned and said that ' ' the general was much dis- pleased" because the charge had not been made; and the order was at once issued, " Fix bayonet." Each man was inspired by these magical words ; gi^eat enthusiasm arose when this command was "passed" from company to company; and the soldiers, led by their brave general, advanced upon a hidden foe, through tangled woods which constantly inter- fered with the formation of the ranks. 128 *' Colonel, do you know what we are going to charge on? " a private inquired. " Yes : a good dinner." The rebel skirmishers were driven in upon their reserve behind the bank of an unfinished railroad ; and detachments from five brigades were massed in three lines under the com- mand of Ewell to resist the onset of the inferior force that menaced them. " We will stir up these fellows with a long pole in a minute," one of the company said when the bullets bepran to sin«]j : and he welcomed the fatal shot which cut him down in his youth. " Victory or death*'' were the last words of another humble hero. The awful volleys did not impede the storming party that pressed on over the bodies of the dead and dying ; while the thousands of bullets which flew through the air seemed to create a breeze that made the \eaves upon the trees rustle, and a shower of small boughs and twigs fell upon the ground. The balls penetrated the barrels and shat- tered the stocks of many muskets ; but the soldiers who car- ried them picked up those that had been dropped upon the ground by helpless comrades, and allowed no slight accident of this character to interrupt them in the noble work. The railroad bank was gained, and the column with cheers passed over it, and advanced over the groups of the slain and mangled rebels who had rolled down the declivity when they lost their strength. The second line was broken ; both were scattered through the woods ; and victory appeared to be cer- tain, until the last support, that had rested upon their breasts 129 on the ground, suddenly rose up and delivered a destructive volley, wliich forced the brigade, that had already lost more than one third of its number in killed and wounded, to re- treat. Ewcll, suffering from his shattered knee, was borne to the rear in a blanket, and his leg was amputated. The horse of Gen. Grover was shot upon the railroad bank while he was encouraging the men to go forward; and he had barely time to dismount before the animal, mad with pain, dashed into the ranks of the enemy. The woods always con- cealed the movements of the troops ; and at one point a portion of the foe fell back, while the others remained. The forces sometimes met face to face, and the bayonet and sword — weap- ons that do not pierce soldiers in nine-tenths of the battles that are fought — were used with deadly effect in several in- stances. A corporal exclaimed in the din of this combat, ' ' Dish ish no place for de mens," and fled to the rear with the speed of the mythical " flying Dutchman." In one company of the regiment, a son was killed by the side of his father, who con- tinued to perfoyn his duty with the firmness of a stoic, and remarked to his amazed comrades, in a tone which showed how a strong patriotic ardor can triumph over the deepest emotion of affection, '* I had rather see him shot dead as he was, than see him run away." The victors rallied the fugitives after this repulse, and their superior force enabled them to assault in front and upon both flanks the line which had been contracted by the severe losses in the charge ; and the brigade fell back to the first position 130 THE BATTLES OP BEISTOW STATION, under a fire of grape and canister wliicli was added to the musketry. The regimental flag was torn from the staflT by unfriendly luubs in passing through the forest, and the eagle that surmounted it was cut off in the contest. The com- mander of the color-company saved these precious emblems, and earnestly shouted when the lines were re-formed, " Eleventh, rally round the pole ! " which was then, if possible, more honored than when it was bedecked in folds of bunting. Gen. Grover, who displayed the gallantry throughout this action that he had exhibited upon the Peninsula, waved his hat upon the point of his sword to animate his brigade and prepare for a renewal of the fight. Many were scarcely able to speak on account of hoarseness caused by intense cheering, and some officers blistered the palms of their hands by waving swords when they charged with their commands. The support was not present when the soldiers emerged from the woods, although an hour had elapsed since the aide stated that it was "coming." Another brigade soon reached the scene, and made a charge over the ground jvhich had been recently won and lost ; but was repulsed before the railroad bank was attained. The motives that governed the officer in command who caused this large destruction of life were never understood by the fortunate survivors, who agreed with Gen. Hooker when he protested against the proposed movement as "a useless slaughter of my men to attempt to win a position which was of no military value when it was gained." , SECOND BULL RUN, AND CHANTILLY. 131 The enemy followed the retreating troops after this disaster ; and the brigade retired so that the next contest would occur in the open field : but the rebels, who did not wish to leave their shelter, halted in the fringe of the forest, and formed an excellent line, while the " stars and bars " that glittered upon their brilliant crimson flags resembled the vivid hues of the most venomous serpents. The commander of the mountain howitzers promptly obeyed the order to ' ' pring up de shack- asses;" the impatient cannoneers stood by their pieces, and urged the soldiers who were marching in front to hasten to the rear, so that they could open; and the warning, " Get out of the way, or we'll blow your head off ! " developed a new energy in many weary muscles. The splendid front was broken by the rounds of canister, and quickly disappeared in the forest, and left a line. of skirmishers, who shot all the wounded that attempted to crawl from their exposed positions upon the field to the Union pickets. The men slept with comfort at night upon straw which had been taken from the same stack that stood upon the ground in the action of July 21, 1861 ; and some, who knew that a buUe^t had penetrated their blan- kets or great coats, which were tiglitly rolled and fastened to the knapsacks, found that one hole became thirty or forty wben they were spread out for use. The pickets were unusually quiet : strong re-enforcements arrived in the morning for both armies, and all expected a glorious result ; but I was soon convinced that no troops, how- ever large in number, could contend against Lee with success 132 THE BATTLES OF BRISTOW STATION, wbile Generals Pope and McDowell commanded them. If Gen. Fitz John Porter, wlio received a lenient punishment for the crime which he committed, and other officers of high rank, who merited the same justice for acts equally culpable, had taken part in this battle, the same causes would have produced the inevitable defeat. Gen. McDowell was viewed as a traitor by a large majority of the officers and men, and was distrusted by officers upon his staff, by members of his body-guard, and those who were constantly associated with him ; and thousands of soldiers firmly beheved that their lives would be purposely wasted if they obeyed his orders in the time of conflict. From prisoners I ascertained that the rebel army entertained the same idea ; and Lee knew that thirty thousand men of the force in his front were demoralized on this account : and the battle that followed proved that it was a melancholy fact. Gen. Pope acted like a dunderpate during the day (the 30th), and scorning the wise advice of abler generals, like Hooker and Kearney, allowed Gen. Mc- Dowell to manoeuvre the troops upon the field. I boldly declare that the task would have been discharged with greater ability by intelligent sergeants in the regiments ; and the results were perfect illustrations of those which ensue " when the blind lead the blind." Tlie hours quietly passed away, with the exception of an occasional firing by the skirmishers, until four, p.m. ; and many batteries and brigades were marched to the left, to that plateau near the Henry House which was the scene of the 133 heaviest figliting in tlie old engagement. The national forces were carelessly deployed upon the cleared land, so that Lee, from a commanding hill, could perceive and inspect the num- ber and position of every Union regiment and battery ; while he massed his divisions in the woods, and it was impossible to see any regular body of them. Thousands of the infantry rested behind their stacks; and, some batteries were never unlimbered, a^d rendered no service, although they were often required to prevent the shameful defeat that followed. The enemy concentrated his strength upon his right, made a feint upon the centre with a small force, and sud- denly overwhelmed the left, which was composed of Gen. McDowell's corps, brigades of which fled in confusion after receiving one volley, and did not attempt to re-form, but shouted defiantly to their commanding officers, " You can't play it onus!" and similar cries. The troops comprising the right wing, which were posted one mile from this point, stood upon fences and the wheels of gun-carriages, and watched the struggle with the keenest interest until they were satisfied that the day was lost. When the eye excluded the smoke and havoc of the con- flict, and gazed upon the scenery, — the green belts of the for- est, the undulations and heights upon the field, the cloudless skies, and the distant summits of the Bull Kun and Blue Ridge that formed the back-ground of the view ; and — " Blue against the bluer heavens Stood the mountain, calm and still," — 134 THE BATTLES OF BRISTOW STATION, the soul was enchanted with the unsurpassed beauty of Na- ture. In the midst of tliis loveliness, the scenes of horror upon the plain — the mutilated forms of suffering men, the prolonged roll of musketry, the reverberations of the artil- lery, the yells of the rebels when they charged and captured a battery, and the sulphurous smoke that at times enveloped the combatants — presented a terrible contrast. Cattle had been killed, and issued to the brigade, and many were broiling the beef over the fires while the contest was unde- cided upon the left. The exploding shells continually emitted globes of smoke ; and the difference in the color showed that the enemy used the finest quality of powder, which was white, while the other was black. Pieces of railroad-iron, that rushed with an irregular motion through the air, indicated a limited supply of ammunition. Three hours vanished while the brigade was alternately double-quicking upon the field, or halting for a brief period to support the artillery, but steadily approaching the left, and fearing the canister that was hurled over it from the batteries in the rear more than that of the enemy in front. The regiment at one time held the same position upon the Leesburg Road which it had defended in the first action of Bull Run ; and history narrates few co- incidences that are stranger than this. The field was aban- doned while the sun was sinking beneath the horizon ; and the column marched through the cold water of the runs, and biv- ouacked near Centreville at midnight. All were affected with grief by this disaster, and I noticed officers who restrained SECOND BULL RUN, AND CHANTILLY. 135 "witb difficulty tears of sorrow ; and general indignation was expressed against the two commanders who were responsible for the useless effusion of such precious blood. When the brigade had retreated a short distance, it passed by Gen. McDowell, who sat upon his horse in the road ; and the most profane oaths were uttered in reference to his con- duct, and his ears must have often caught the insulting taunts of thousands of brave and patriotic men. There was scarcely a moment during the march in which I did not heai the epithets "villain," "traitor," or "scoundrel," applied to his name. He wore a hat made in such a peculiar style, that he could be identified by the ranks of the contending armies. This strangely fashioned article was not a part of the Federal uniform; and while Gen. McDowell knew that he had no right to wear it, and would have roughly censured an officer, if he had noticed, upon an inspection, any volunteer who was clothed in this outlandish apparel, the suspicions of those who doubted his loyalty were increased by this gross violation of military regulations. " I ^would sooner shoot McDowell than Jackson!" "How guilty he looked with that basket upon his head ! " " It is an outrage to put men under that traitor to be murdered ! " were remarks which were constantly repeated. " My men went upon the field as if they were upon dress parade ; but, in a few minutes, I was left all alone," Gen. McDowell said to Col. Marston, who com- manded the Second New-Hampshire Volunteers that marched in the rear of the regiment. 136 THE BATTLES OF BEISTOW STATION, Incidents were hourly witnessed that will be remembered as long as the mind retains its faculties; and a record of some of them may interest the reader. Gen. Hooker aston- ished certain officers of the highest rank in Pope's army by displaying an example of courage which they should have followed; and one of them asked, " Who ish dat general mit a white horse and red face? He cares nothing for bullets." Untaught by the disastrous results of the battle of last year, batteries without an adequate support were pushed to the front in the same heedless manner, and upon the same ground on which those of Griffin and Rickett were lost ; and Lee captured them with ease. Many of the officers and cannon- eers escaped, and their statements added fuel to the flame that was already consuming the reputation of the person I have so often named. " Mein Gott, mein Gott, general, the rebels will have mine every piece ! " one artillery commander exclaimed ; while another, wringing his hands with anguish, shouted many times, "All my guns lost, all my guns lost, through that infernal McDowell ! " — " Sergeant," said a gray-haired brigadier to a non-commissioned officer of the regiment, who was wounded, and travelling to the hospital, "how are things going?" — ""We hold our own now; but McDowell has charge of the left," he replied, " Then God save the left, if McDowell has charge of it ! " the general an- swered in a tone of utter despair. A general, who belonged to the exceedingly small circle of Gen. McDowell's military admii'ors, deserted his men, rushed to one of the hospitals. SECOND BULL RUN, AND CHANTILLY. 137 and yelled, " Two hundred rebel cavalry are driving my brigade ! Can't you help me ? " His force consisted of three thousand infantry; and the wounded indignantly insulted him : '* Go back to your command, you coward ! " " Shoot the skedaddler ! " and he rode still farther to the rear. Scenes illustrating the extremes in human character oc- curred; and there were mean subterfuges to evade, and noble efforts to brave, the dangers of the battle. An artillery of- ficer was groaning, and seemed to suffer intense pain, until a shell burst near him ; when he jumped from the stretcher, and fled so swiftly, that those who were carrying him could not keep pace with his flying feet. A captain in one regiment skulked out of the fight, and passed by the provost-guard by showing his hands, which were covered with blood that had flowed from the wounds of one of his company. If officers were shot, or relaxed their vigilance, squads of three or font soldiers would leave the ranks, and carry a disabled man or escort an unarmed prisoner to the rear. A corporal, scorning aid, used his musket as a crutch, and walked to the hospital ; and one of the company, who was mortally wounded, im- plored his comrades, who had taken him from the ground while the brigade was retreating, to escape, as they might be captured by the enemy, and he did not wish them to suffer the privations of prisoners. Shoes and articles of clothing were thrown away by some to enable them to shirk their duty ; and others, who were actually destitute, dragged themselves, upon swollen and blistered feet, to the front. Many soldiers 138 THE BATTLES OF BRISTOW STATION, were drunk in Alexandria while their comrades were dying upon the field ; and the number that fought, if compared with the rolls of those who were paid, reveals a lax state of discipline. In one regiment, only 302 men in 843 were present during the action ; in another, consisting of 847, only 318 took part ; in two regiments the ratio was smaller, and 596 were en- gaged : so that less than three-eighths of a brigade performed the hazardous duty of fighting. The rebels advanced their lines, threw shells into the hospitals, and killed soldiers who were helpless on account of wounds. The frightened sur- geons and nurses abandoned, in one place, those who required their care ; while the so-called daughters of two regiments boldly remained, and loudly denounced the runaways. An orderly in the regiment found a scabbard which was besmeared with blood, and a private discovered the sword that was a slight distance from it; and, by pitching a copper, both were won by the sergeant, who was afterwards promoted, and wore them until he was killed at Chancellorsville. The fragments of exploding shells could be easily discerned in the an-, and I noticed one which shattered the jaw of a bugler as he was sounding a call. The sufferings of those who were captured by the enemy cannot be described : the wounded had no care during five days ; and others were reduced so much by insufficient food, that, when they were released, they gladly ate the crumbs of hard bread which had been scattered more than a week upon the ground at Centreville. The corpses of three hundred soldiers were placed upon each other, and 139 buried by throwing eartli upon them ; so tbat they were lightly covered. The number of ambulances was inadequate to con- vey the wounded that had been paroled ; and two hundred backs and carriages were seized in the streets of Washington, and theu* drivers were compelled to go to Manassas for this humane purpose. The rebel prisoners facetiously remarked, that, upon the campaign, " Jackson did all the praying, while Ewell did the swearing." The army rested upon the heights of Centreville during two days, and enjoyed the comfort of the barracks which had been occupied by the force of Johnson in the winter of 1861-2 ; and the enemy showed no inclination to storm the works which they had constructed for their own protection. Lee gained the position which bore the historic name of Chan- tilly. Gen. Pope discovered that he was flanked, and or- dered the divisions of Generals Kearney, Hooker, and Eeno, to march to this point. Before the movement was commenced, Gen. Kearney made a speech of exhortation to his men for the last time ; and the troops, in the midst of the storm and darkness, advanced through the forests, and fields of corn, in which a few regiments suffered severely ; but the brigade was posted upon the left, and its skirmishers were unmolested. Generals Stevens and Kearney were killed ; but the foe was speedily driven from the position, and the line of retreat between Washington and Alexandria was secured. One- half of the regiment was kept under arms during the night ; while the remainder, trembling with cold, attempted to sleep 140 THE BATTLES OP BRISTOW STATION in the rain and mud. The whole force was in motion at twi- light, and encamped at Alexandria upon Sept. 3. The Grovernment acted with decision, and justly deprived Generals Pope and McDowell of their powerful command ; and the first was banished to the frontier of Minnesota, while the last was not intrusted with any military power until Gen. Grant exorcised his usual sagacity, and exiled him to California. These just measures pleased the unfortunate sol- diers who had been compelled to obey their orders ; and the appointment of Gen. Hooker to command fhe first corps, vice McDowell relieved, was received with joyous shouts and cheers ; and the wisdom of those that made this important change was vindicated by its brilliant conduct at South Moun- tain and Antietam. The army mourned the national loss of Major-Gen. Kear- ney, who was killed at Chantilly ; and his memory will be cherished as long as exalted patriotism, inspiring courage, and justice towards men, are revered by mankind. Qualified to be the head of the army, he accepted the command of a bri- gade. Leaving the comforts which his large wealth afforded, he welcomed the most trying hardships of the service. In another zone, the enemies of his country had taken his arm ; but his zeal triumphed over the disability, and he fought until he had sacrificed his life. Placinsj the reins between his teeth, and grasping in his single hand the two-edged sword, he led his men in the charge that was never checked. Humane to those who were his inferiors, the orderlies were directed to SECONET BULL RUN, AND CHANTILLY. 141 bring water in canteens to the soldiers when the exigencies of the hour required that all should remain in the ranks at the front. Impetuous in thought and action as the flash of his fiery eye, he censured with the same vehemence the misconduct of a private, or the general of the highest rank in the Union forces. Beloved by his division, the red badge which ho instituted was always worn by the officers and men with the same proud feeling with which the heroic commander displayed the cross of the Legion of Honor, which never enrolled a nobler chevaher. Bravely performing his public tasks, the death of this pure patriot and consummate soldier was a fitting conclusion of his eventful life. CHAPTEK VIII. THE MARCH TO FALMOUTH, AND THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBUEG. /^^to^HE division had marched from Warrenton Junction with the expectation that it would soon return to the '€ camp ; and the guards who had charge of the mu- nitions of war and private property destroyed them ; and there was hardly an officer in the command that possessed any clothing, besides what was upon his person, when it reached Alexandria. The troops daily labored upon the earthworks ; and the order that was issued by the President at this time, prohibiting work upon the Sabbath, was always disregarded. The privates of the garrisons in the forts were dressed in better apparel than the officers of the old regi- ments, viewed with disdain their tattered appearance, and played cricket and similar games for exercise, while the vete- rans from the Peninsula used the spade. The engineers who resided in Washington rode around the works once in three days in an elegant carriage, and gave directions, according to their caprices, to the officer in charge of the fatigue-parties to cut down a few stumps, or remove an inch of gravel from the crest of a parapet, or increase or diminish the angle of one 142 THE MARCH TO FALMOUTH, ETC. 143 of the slopes five degrees. The brigade and division had lost their generals by promotion, and picket-duty was performed under the supervision of a coward who never visited a post if the enemy was near it. He inspected the lines in places of safety with great pomposity, and prohibited the use of lights at night, although those who were thirty miles from Alexandria had blazing camp-fires. Inspections, reviews, and similar features of camp-life, con- stantly took place ; and I was sometimes entertained by the comments of a commanding officer who examined a regiment, and seemed to be determined to find as much fault as possible. If the magazines had been supplied with ammunition, he said, "You coward ! why didn't you fire some cartridges in the fight? " If they had not been procured, the men were re- proved for negligence. If a thin coating of dust was visible upon the head of a rammer, he remarked, "That gun is a solid bar of iron ;" " The rust is six inches deep in the bar- rel ;" or, " You might as well try to shoot with a tree." The " good and holy man," a chaplain, held religious services upon Sept. 21, in compliance with orders ; and, although no congregation was present, read his prayers in a loud voice, and seemed to be satisfied with his endeavors. The camp was broken up on Nov. 1, when the brigade bivouaced at Fairfax Court House ; and the command halted upon the 3d at IManassas Junction, near which many bar- racks of logs, and chimneys and ovens of red sandstone, were standing. A few guerillas captured a wood-train the day be- 144 THE MARCH TO FALMOUTH, AND fore the regiment arrived ; and a youtli thirteen years of age, who lived near this point and saw the affair, spoke with much frankness about the base conduct of the guard, which was com- posed of sixty men from a New- York regiment in Gen. Sigel's corps ; and his recital of the facts was confirmed. " They were a lot of cowards," he earnestly said ; " and four of them hid in the culvert, and came out after our cavalry had gone, and told me and my brother (pointing to a boy about ten years old) not to kill them, for they were our prisoners : and I told them to keep still, for the cavalry might hear them, and come back and get them. The others ran away, and kept up with the horses ; and, if they had run as fast t'other way, the cav- alry wouldn't have got any of them. ' ' The brigade bivouacked at Bristow Station upon the 7th, in the first snow-storm of the season, and met a portion of the division that was retreat- ing from Warrenton Junction with the news, which their general had communicated, that the rebels had a large force at that place, and it was considered foolhardiness for a small body of troops to attack them. There was no opposition upon the succeeding day, when the column advanced, and no signs of a recent occupation by the enemy could be perceived. The troops had not halted an hour before the citizens in the vicinity visited the camps to purchase salt, and other arti- cles of food. Contrabands, carrying small packs of clothing, were continually passing over the railroad to Alexandria dur- ing the period in which the brigade held this post. The train that conveyed Gen. Hooker to Warrenton, where the army THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 145 had been concentrated, stopped at the Junction upon the 11th, and the troops received him with loud cheers. Gen. Halleck, than whom no officer was more universally detested by the soldiers, arrived upon the following day ; but not one voice of welcome was heard in the laro;e number that knew he was present. Three hundred rebel prisoners were transported upon the railroad on the 13th ; and interesting conversations ensued, in which opinions were expressed about different gen- erals, and the success of their cause. One of them said, in a very sarcastic tone, " McDowell is a fine general : why don't you give him the sole command ? " The absurd suggestion created shouts of derisive laughter, in which friends and foes heartily joined. Upon the walls of a building which was the head- quarters of the brigade commander I read some inscriptions which had been written by the pickets of the enemy : ' ' Away goes the Yanks when they see the rebels approach them;'' and, " T. W. Snead will never wear the galling yoke of a Northern Parliament." The army began to move to Falmouth upon the 16th. The troops for two days were passing through this place ; and general confidence concerning the result was expressed, and many asserted that Pvichmond would be captured within a month. This change of base had not been anticipated; and workmen, who constructed two water-tanks at Bristow Station upon the 18th, removed them upon the 19th. The regiment waded through the Occoquan, at Wolf Ford, upon the 21st; and the brigade occupied a position of great natural 10 146 strength, which the enemy had fortified when Contreville was held ; and forts had been built upon the crest of the hills, while the pines and cedars had been felled upon many- acres to form the abattis. These earthworks were not con- sidered perfect by the general ; and a detail was busily engaged in throwing up a new redoubt, when the orders to march were received. The brigade disappeared, and en- camped in the midst of tlie short pines of Falmouth upon the 28th. A division general discovered the skins of some sheep in a field in which his troops had bivouacked, but was unable to find any mutton or criminals, and arbitrarily deducted a supply for one day from the rations of his ■ command as a punishment. The shameful negligence of certain officials to forward the pontoons from Washington caused a fatal delay in the move- ment of the army ; and Lee was enabled to mass his forces upon the heights in the rear of Fredericksburg, and fortify these strong positions, while Jackson started from the Valley, and reached the field the night before his men were required for action. The northern bank rose abruptly from iho Rappahannock, and completely commanded the city, which was compactly built upon the opposite side ; and the narrow stream flowed between the pickets of both armies, who gazed at each other from day to day without exchanging shots. Conversations were frequent until they were prohibited by the officers ; and the following remark was often made : "Yanks, before you can take Fredericksburg, you will have THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 147 to get up Early, go throiigli a Longstreet, cross a Lee, jump over a Stonewall, and climb two Hills." Many wore the Federal uniform ; and the rebel sentinels sometimes put on the overcoats of those that they relieved, and the reserve crept into the shelters and caves which had been excavated in the bank. The streets were filled with vehicles of all varieties, which were loaded with the baggage of the terror- stricken inhabitants, who were leaving the city to avoid the dangers of the battle that was looked for every day. Before the wharves at Acquia Creek had been completed, acres of ground near the stations were covered with army-wagons that occasionally waited three days for supplies ; and the wheels were rumbling over the roads at all hours of the day and night. Orders were received, in the evening of Dec. 10, to furnish every man with sixty rounds of ammunition, and rations for three days ; hospitals were established ; and the soldiers beheld upon every side the usual preparations for a general engagement. The reports of two cannons reverber- ating with a pecuhar distinctness in the darkness, at 51, a.m., upon the 11th, broke the quietness of the camps; and the same rounds, succeeded by a volley of musketry, were heard fifteen minutes afterwards. These were the guns that opened . the battle of Fredericksburg. Near the ruins of the railroad biidge, the engineers had built one of pontoons, which ex- tended two-thirds of the distance across the river ; but the canister of the enemy prevented them from finishing it at 148 that time. The division marched at daybreak towards the point; and one hundred and forty-three pieces of artillery were placed in position upon the bluffs of the north bank, while most of the infantry was concealed in the woods and ravines. A dense fog, which prevailed during the morning and forenoon, rendered the progress of the general movement as hazardous as a conflict in the night ; and the delay that occurred in laying the pontoons allowed the foe time to unite the troops that gaarded the fords with the main body. The fire of the batteries upon the left, and the gallantry of the forlorn hope upon the right, triumphed over all obstacles; and the bridges at Deep Run were finished at noon, and those at Fredericksburg were completed three hours later. One hundred thousand infantry, and a force of cavalry and artillery, debouched from these two points of crossing, which were nearly three miles apart, and formed in line of battle. There was no fighting during the day between large bodies of troops ; although the skirmishers were actively engaged, and the cannonading was sometimes brisk. The most deafening roar resounded when the guns opened upon the town with shot and shell; and clouds of smoke arose from burning edifices in every district. The brick houses protected the rebel sharpshooters, who frequently attempted to deceive the Union forces by clothing themselves in the dresses which they found in the deserted buildings. The division was held in the reserve upon the 12th; and from the field it occupied could be discerned the rifle-pits of i THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 149 the enemy upon the ridges, the national columns moving to their new positions, and the batteries which successfully sDenced those of the foe throughout the battle. The first cannon was discharged at 9.20, a.m. ; and for half an hour a vigorous firing continued, in which the siege-guns planted upon the banks penetrated the innermost line of works, while they replied at long intervals with shells that could not reach the superior ordnance. The bivouac in the night affected the raw troops, that were constantly coughing; and new regi- ments could be quickly pointed out by this means. They were anxious to go into the fight, and * ' eager to enter the fray," in newspaper language; while the veterans, like old soldiers, did not wish to deploy upon the field unless their presence was indispensable. The division marched to the left, and halted for the night ; but the regiment received orders for special service at 9^, p.m., and crossed the river upon a bridge that was composed of sixteen pontoons, which it was required to guard. There were no fires, because there was no wood ; and the men walked to. and fro during many sombre hours to escape the chills that threatened them if they sought sleep. A state of stillness which was unnatural, when the proxi- mity of hostile armies is considered, existed until mid-day of the 10th : but the dispositions preparatory to an attack upon the enemy had been made ; and the history of that afternoon would be aptly written in tlic blood of the gallant soldiers who assaulted impregnable works upon the right, and defied death 150 THE MARCH TO FALMOUTH, AND at the stone wall, the heights, and the mill-race. A citizen said with truth, to some companies that were marching through the city to the front, " The soldiers upon those hills are looking down, and laughing to sec you advancing to meet them." The lines extended from Deep Run a mile and a half to the left, and deployed upon the plateau that was nearly two miles from the river ; and the main portion of the army, comprising eight divisions of infantry, with 60,000 men, 28 batteries containing 116 guns, and the force of cavalry which was sheltered by the bank in the rear, awaited the orders of Gen. Franklin. The enemy was hidden in the belt of woods in front ; but the land was very level : and there were more of the insurmountable obstacles that blocked the path to victory upon the right ; and a competent commander with such a large corps would have easily carried the position, which was de- fended by troops that were inferior in numbers and resources. When the opinions and sympathies which this oJBicer enter- tained upon the vital issues of the Rebellion are publicly known, and his inglorious military career, from the first Bull Run to the disgraceful failures of the Sabine Pass and the Red-River Expedition, is scrutinized, all will bo amazed that Gen. Franklin was intrusted by the Government with any command in the service. The batteries shelled the forest ; and at one, p.m., the ceaseless roll of musketry burst forth for the first time during the movement, and a single division gained a temporary success : but the inexcusable neglect to support it, resulted, as a matter of course, in defeat. The troops of one THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 151 of the largest corps, with the exception of a few skirmishers, did not burn a cartridge ; and less than one-fifth of this vast army upon the left fought in the decisive battle. The wounded who could travel were continually returning from the front, and the helpless were carried by the ambu- lances and stretcher-bearers over the bridge ; and great vigi- lance was necessary to detect those that feigned sickness or wounds by tying a bandage stained with blood around their arms or heads, and prevent them from escaping across the river. An officer, assisted by two able-bodied men, slowly moved towards the bridge, until the colonel halted them, and directed the soldiers, in terms of the deepest kindness, to rejoin their company, and assured them that their commander should receive the best treatment. "My good man", what is the matter with you?" he blandly asked the lieutenant who had requested that those who bore him from the field might be allowed to remain and assist him. "I am wounded," he replied in a weak voice ; and an ex- pression of the most acute pain was visible in his face. " Doctor, will you dress bis wound? He is just from the front." " I didn't say I was wounded : I am sick, and want to go over the river to be treated by my own doctor," he said when he saw the surgeon approach. *' You can go as soon as you have been examined and re- ported unwell." 152 THE MARCH TO FALMOUTH, AND "I will go any way," the officer exclaimed, and tried to rush by the guards who arrested him. The colonel changed his soft words into hard oaths, struck him, and ordered the men to use the bayonet if he resisted them ; and the skulker ran towards the front without showing any loss of physical strength. Many scenes like this occurred during the after- noon ; and the exact situation of affairs was ascertained from the disabled, who were always willing to tell the news in answer to the usual question, " How are things going? " When the facts attending the death of Gen. Bayard were received, the soldiers publicly uttered the wish that the cruel shell had missed its noble victim, and pierced Gen. Franklin, who was standing near him at the time. The prisoners were happy because they supposed that their lives were safe for a certain period ; and one of them remarked, when he saw a group of mounted men riding upon the distant heights, * ' That is Long- street upon the white horse, and his staff." The regiment rejoined the division at midnight upon the plateau, and learned the position of the enemy by watching the lights of the camp-fires, which shone with distinctness in the darkness. The skirmishers commenced to fire with the first ray of sunlight upon the 14th : and until one, p.m., the sharpshooters, who were posted in the woods about a quarter of a mile from the line, shot at every person and horse that stood upon the plain, and occasionally wounded a man ; and soldiers who were aligned three hundred yards in rear of the regiment were killed by the bullets which whistled over it. THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 153 The field had been planted with corn ; and beds were made of the shucks and stalks, that were collected together, and placed in little gulleys and ditches which ran through it. The reb- els had burned a house and barn in the night that interfered with the range of their artillery. A battery opened on the brigade at daybreak, but it was promptly silenced by a com- pany of sharpshooters from the 2d New-Hampshire Vols.; and a few cannon and officers, drivers and horses, fled in confusion, and left the guns and caissons. Throughout this contest, the skirmishers sheltered themselves behind stumps and other barriers ; and some scooped up a slight quantity of earth, and rested their rifles upon the bodies of dead soldiers that were frequently mutilated by the balls which were aimed at the living. A lieutenant in the brigade was wounded in the extreme front, and refused to allow the man to carry him to the hospital while the firing continued ; and rejoined his regi- ment within a month, before his injuries were healed, when there was a prospect of another battle. "Captain, where shall I bring your dinner?" asked a servant who was retning to cook that meal. "I don't know: in hell, perhaps!" the officer answered as he glanced at a shell which burst near the spot at that moment. The firing ceased in the afternoon, and a tacit truce ex- isted, during which the rebels permitted the members of the ambulance corps to convey the wounded to the rear, and brought others who were inside of their lines to the edge of 154 THE MARCH TO FALMOUTH, AND the woods whicli was neutral ground. A rare spectacle in war, was witnessed when the soldiers of both armies talked together in the most friendly manner upon this space be- tween the pickets, while an animated conflict could be distin- guished at the distance of two miles to the right. They wished to exchange tobacco for "picture-papers," because the ordinary news-journals did not interest the large majority, who were unable to read. They informed the men that Jack- son comnaanded the army in front ; and said, ' ' In three days he will drive you into the river, or make you cross it." A private noticed a rebel officer, who was a native of the same town, and lived near his home until he emigrated to the South two years before the Rebellion : but, the instant that he recognized him, a feeling of utter degradation seemed to over- come him ; and, without saying a word, he rushed into the forest to conceal his emotion of shame. * ' Good-by, boys ; we will meet you in the fight to-mor- row, ' ' one of the regiment remarked when night approached ; and the crowd dispersed. The rebels easily counted the guns and troops, which were massed upon the open plain, and formed the left of the army; and, wisely fearing the results of an advance by these battalions if they were prop- erly handled, worked after sunset on the loth, 14th, and 15th, and felled trees and erected breastworks until morn- ing. One-third of the men in each company were kept under arms during the night ; and the only sounds that fell upon the ears of the faithful pickets were the strokes of a thousand THE BATTLE OF FREDEEICKSBURG. 155 axes, and the crasli of the massive oaks when they struck the earth. The same good feelmg prevailed upon the 18th; and, although the troops might be exposed to the fire of artillery, the Union forces dug no extended rifle-pits, the brigade was never ordered to load, and the foe showed no wish to molest them. The regiment was relieved for a part of the day, and remained in the old road, the grade of which was several feet below the surface of the plateau, and reminded one of the famous sunken road of Waterloo. A flag of truce entered the lines in the afternoon ; and the gunners, who had fled from the battery near the burnt chimney at sunrise upon the 14th, attempted to take away the caissons and cannons which had remained in the same position more than thirty hours. The watchful captain opened his artillery upon them, and they again, within a few minutes, deserted their pieces ; while dismounted oflficers and men and riderless horses scampered with a speed that caused general laughter. A company from the regiment was stationed upon picket, and an agreement was made that there should be no firing; and the enemy began to labor in the night with unusual industry. The sen- tinels discovered, by noticing the clanking iron, rumbling wheels, and similar sounds, that cannon were being mounted upon the forts to sweep the plateau, which presented no nat- ural or artificial obstacles which would check the passage of shells and canister. Dippers were placed in the haversacks to prevent the incessant tinkling which is always made by 156 THE MARCH TO FALMOUTH, AND marching troops ; the force quietly glided from the fort a few minutes before midnight ; and the pontoons creaked beneath the tread of a discomfited army during the succeeding four hours. The weather, which is a subject of stale conversation in peace, but of the greatest importance to soldiers in a cam- paign, had been pleasant up to this time : the ground was hard, and the heavy guns rolled over the roads with ease. Nature now changed its kind aspect to favor the retreat ; over- cast the skies with black clouds that shut out the light of the moon, so that the hostile forces could not see; and roughly waved the branches of the forest over their heads, so that they were unable to hear ; and the divisions escaped to the old camps undisturbed by a solitary shot. The Union pickets did not know the time when the main body marched to the river^ and cautiously crept upon their hands and knees to the sunken road, when they received orders to fall back. The Virginia Central Railroad passed through the rebel lines, and trains constantly conveyed ammunition and re-enforee- ments from Richmond, or carried the wounded and prisoners from the battle-field ; and the smoke that arose from the con- flict mingled with that of the locomotives. The sutlers, and storekeepers of Fredericksburg, concealed large quantities of tobacco ; and the soldiers, among whom there was always a senseless clamor for a *' chaw " or " smoke " (I have seen fools barter a day's ration of bread for a small piece of the weed) , eagerly obtained a supply from some boxes that were scattered upon the bottom of the streams. Some of the THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 157 troops that bivouacked within the limits of tbe city pillaged ilie deserted houses of rich rebels who had cheerfully allowed the sharpshooters to fire from the windows and murder their comrades. Mirrors, pianos, and gorgeous furniture were de- stroyed; beautiful paintings and family-portraits upon the walls were cut; busts were decapitated; and elegant silk dresses and garments were torn into shreds. The bricks which fell from the chimneys during the bombardment, and the partitions of shattered buildings, injured the soldiers who were deployed in the streets ; while the inhabitants that had not escaped crouched in cellars, and dreaded alike the balls that came from friends and foes. A citizen who viewed the subject from a personal stand-point, in commenting upon the conduct of the army, said, "All soldiers are the same : the Confederates robbed me of all I had, and you Yankees took all I had left." The rain gushed from the clouds for hours upon the 16th ; and; if there had been any delay in recrossing the river, the cannons and wagons would have been fixed in the adhesive mud of a Southern winter, and the most disastrous results would have followed. The forces of the enemy advanced in line of battle in the morning as soon as the evacuation was perceived, plundered the dead, and gathered all the clothing that had been cast aside by the army ; and a battery opened upon them, and the battle of Fredericksburg' was finished. The repulse caused universal despondency ; and the soldiers of Lee exultingly told the detail that crossed the river under 158 THE MABOH TO FALMOUTH, ETC* a flag of truce to bury tte dead, that there would be no more iBgliting, and the Southern Confederacy would be ac- knowledged as a nation within two months. The rebel gen- erals urged their hordes in each conflict to win the victory, and then they could return to their homes, and enjoy the rights for which they were contending, and — *' Keap the harvest of perpetual peace By this one bloody trial of sharp war." CHAPTER IX. THE CAMP AT FALMOUTH, VIRGINIA. /^fc^OIl three days the army had been under marching ^K orders; and the division, equipped for battle and /-^/ commanded by Gen. Sickles, moved two miles at one, P.M., upon Jan. 20, 1863; halted until night in the severe storm, and then returned to quarters. The troops that belonged to the left grand division, under Gen. Franklin, filed by the regiment, and muttered bitter curses against certain officers who exhausted them by moving at an unnatural rate of speed, and giving no permission to rest, al- though most of them were eight miles from the starting-point. These sinister commanders effected their purpose, and filled the woods that bordered upon the roads with thousands of stragglers who could not sustain the cruel fatigue of the march ; and some reckless men openly insulted them, and shouted defiantly as they brandished their bayonets, "Shoot us, if you want to kill us ! " "Ride over me if you dare to ! " " Get off your horse, and carry this knapsack, and see how you like it!" while hundreds screamed, "Halt, halt, halt ! " or, " I'm demoralized ! " Less than one-half of Gen. Franklin's force that shouldered muskets in the afternoon 169 160 THE CAMP AT FALMOUTH, VIRGINIA. formed a part of the ranks wben the lines were established at niirht. This dishonorable conduct of certain officers of hio;h rank, who did not cordially support Gen. Burnside, produced among the soldiers a feeling of distrust regarding the success of the movement before the river was bridged. The rain continued hour after hour, while the division struggled through the mud, upon the 21st, for a distance of five miles to the right, and halted at a point that was near the ford at which the troops were to cross the Kappahannock. The soil of Virginia was a more formidable obstacle than the legions of Jackson and Longstreet. The animals were con- stantly mired, and four mules were entirely exhausted by drawing nine hundred pounds of rations from the camps in a wagon ; while twelve horses attached to a light cannon extri- cated it with difficulty, although four of them pulled the gun upon ordinary roads. When they bivouacked, logs were placed under the wheels of the artillery and teams to prevent them from sinking into the earth which wished to receive them ; and most of the pontoon train was firmly planted at different points. The rebel pickets, who understood the state of facts in the army, expressed^ their delight by performing somersets and other feats of agility, and shouted, ^' Why don't you cross the river? " "Bring up the pontoons, and we'll lay them for you." " The Yanks arc stuck in the mud." The campaign (" mud-scrape") was necessarily abandoned; the soldiers corduroyed the roads during the next two days with fence-rails and trees, so that the batteries could safely re- THE CAMP AT FALMOUTH, VIRGINIA. 161 tui'n ; and the whole army followed them to the old camps, and began to erect winter quarters. The division, enveloped in the flakes of falling snow, marched to Hartwood Church upon Feb. 5 to guard the fords upon the river ; while a force of cavalry advanced to Rappa- hannock Station, and burned the bridge which the enemy had recently constructed. The brigade and a battery were posted near Richard's and United-States Fords ; and at the last- named place the short pines had been felled to put the artil- ery in position ; telegraph-poles had been erected, and the way had been cleared for the passage of the troops. The foe built some redoubts upon the opposite bank, to command the point of crossing, a few hours before the plan of attack was made ; and Gen. Burnside was again baffled. The trees had been marked to guide the cavalry to various positions ; and many pines in the forest were snapped asunder by the weight of snow. The regiment passed by the " gold mine," upon which operations had been suspended since the beginning of the war ; and a woman, who stood in the doorway of a house, said, "If I was a man, I should shoulder a musket, and shoot some of you." A squad of the butternut cavalry was upon picket ; but the river was not fordable at this time, and the division rejoined the corps as soon as the force returned from Rappahannock Station. "While serving upon the staff during this expedition, I witnessed an incident which illus- trates military matters in certain respects. The major of a squadron of cavalry casually remarked that he was born in 11 162 the State of Khode Island ; at which a brigade commander spoke, '* One of my best officers came from Rhode Island." He then introduced to him a chaplain, and added, " And a d — d good chaplain he is too." The clerical subject of the conversation with a smile of satisfaction thanked the per- son that uttered the compliment. The general, who lived in a comfortable brick mansion that was four miles from a part of his division and eight miles from the remainder, never visited the fords which he was ordered to protect ; while the troops, exposed to the merciless sleet, were stationed at their posts to resist the attack that was expected. However, he issued a pompous order of thanks to the soldiers that he had seen upon two occasions when they were marching from and to the camps, commended in tender words their fortitude in enduring the storm, and declared that he felt a pride in lead- ing such brave men to scenes of danger. The winter season was marked by no unusual features, and the routine of camp and picket guard, and labor upon the roads, constituted the military duties for four months. The enormous quantity of wood that was required for the barracks and camp-fires rapidly exhausted the forests, and thousands of acres were covered with stumps. An old resident said to the pickets that were posted near his house, " After the war there will be no rails, and no wood to make them." Buildings were levelled ; fences burned ; the bricks and stones of capacious chimneys formed the flues of log huts ; the wagon trains and batteries cut new thoroughfares across the estates ; THE CAMP AT FALMOUTH, VIRGINIA. 163 the feet of men, and hoofs of horses and mules, trampled fields of vegetation into barren wastes; every landmark was de- stroyed ; and the work of destruction within the lines was com- plete. The indolence of soldiers dwelling in a permanent camp, when their effi)rts are not stimulated by the presence of an enemy, is remarkable ; and ten men from a new regiment will perform as much labor as one hundred veterans, until they have been corrupted by the bad example of shirking comrades. Upon March 4th, four hundred and fifty soldiers, supposed to be working seven hours, corduroyed one hundred and fifty feet of an old road that was thirteen feet wide, al- though the logs were cut upon the bank, and covered it with a slight quantity of earth. There is much more gTumbling and dissension in the camp than on the march : the mind is active when the body is inert ; and it is a singular fact, that those whose physical comforts were the least at home make the loudest complaints about the quality of the rations and the Government clothing; and the men that earned a livelihood with the shovel were generally the most unwilhng to handle it in the army. The soldiers who had fought under Gen. Hooker were de- lighted when he was appointed to command the army ; but many officers of high rank were dissatisfied, and, assisted by others who had been most justly deprived of their positions, ,' sought to undermine the confidence of tlie people and enlisted men by representing him as a common drunkard. The caV' airy, which had hitherto rendered little if any actual service, 164 THE CAMP AT FALMOUTH, VIRGINIA. and was usually detailed for ornamental and escort duty, was inspired with a new energy when he re-organized this invalua- ble auxiliary, and ordered the officers to prepare for the severe fighting from which they had been so long exempt. A vast injury had been inflicted upon the country by the department which followed the erroneous advice of Generals McDowell, Franklin, and others who entertained the same views, and prohibited in the first year of the war the formation of the mounted regiments that were demanded. The following brief extracts are taken from their testimony under oath before the Congressional Committee, and show a deep ignorance of the science of war, which seems astounding when their advan- ta2;es of education at West Point are considered. Gen. Franklin said, in different answers, " We have a great deal more cavalry than any of us need." " I really think that two thousand cavalry is all that we want for the whole army. I would not give a snap for more than one-third of what I hav« now." He had less than a thousand cavalry with his division, that exceeded twelve thousand soldiers. "I would never iliirik of making a cavalry fight or a cavalry charge." Gen. McDowell remarked in reply to questions, "I think we might do with less than that " (meaning thereby less than twelve regiments of cavalry to one hundred and forty-four of infantry) . ' * If we were to be organized by corps of three divisions each, two regiments of cavalry would be 'perfectly sufficient for the three divisions " (meaning thereby that a force of eight thousand cavalry ' ' would be perfectly sufficient " 165 for an army of one hundred and forty-four thousand infantry) . The workl has long ridiculed Phormio, the civilian, for de- livering an oration to Hannibal upon the strategy of war ; but he was wiser than these military teachers who were examined by the Congressmen searching for knowledge. A private who should express shallow opinions like the foregoing would not be reccommended for the rank of corporal in a colored regiment by a competent board, that "would not give a snap for more than one third of" such an ignoramus. What dire- ful results would have ensued if these generals had succeeded in their aspirations to attain the command of the Army of the Potomac, and paralyzed that cavalry which has won a glory as brilliant as that of the divisions that followed the white plume of Murat ! A force of cavalry crossed the river at Kelly's Ford upon March 17 ; defeated the enemy in a desper- ate fight and charge, which amazed those who " would never think " of making them; and returned to the camps elated by their first victory upon the field of battle. Gen. Kearney, at Fair Oaks, ordered his soldiers to sew a piece of red flannel to their caps, so that he could recognize them in the tumult of a battle^ and detect those who attempted to evade the performance of their duty. Gen. Hooker intro- duced into the whole army the system of badges, which was of incalculable value ; and henceforth the members of the various divisions in the corps wore, as emblems of honor, the red, white, or blue circle, the trefoil, the lozenge, the Maltese and plain cross, and the star. The men inscribed 166 THE CAMP AT FALMOUTH, VIRGINIA. upon them the names of generals whose memories were cher- ished ; and, disregarding the actual commander, styled them- selves as soldiers of their " old brigade," or " old division." Thus month after month jDassed quietly away. The grass began to sprout in the sods of the barracks, and the rumors of an advance daily thickened. No shots were exchanged between the pickets, who pushed their bayonets into the ground, and made water-wheels or ornaments of bone and laurel- wood to occupy the weary hours, and floated across the liver boats and sticks, to which newspapers were fastened for sails. The brigade guarded the right of the army, and re- mained three days upon this duty, during which it was usually commanded by a field-officer, while the general enjoyed the safety and comfort of his tent in the camp. Upon one occasion, when Stuart crossed" the stream and an attack was anticipated, a brigadier boldly ordered a colonel, who had arrived from his home which he had visited with leave, to proceed at once to the front, and take charge of his troops. The conduct of this starred poltroon was in striking contrast with that of commanders like Generals Kearney, Hooker, Grover, and others, who frequently inspected their picket- lines, and bivouacked at the front whenever a contest was imminent. It was a common practice to fish in the Eappa- hannock, until it was forbidden, because the citizens of Falmouth were detected in the act of signalizing to the enemy by means of the poles. The soldiers generously supported a foe, who was a cripple, and lived with his family near the - THE CAMP AT FALMOUTH, VIRGINIA. 167 outposts ; and every relief sliared with him the rations, split and carried wood to his hovel, and heaped coals of fire upon his hearth. The removal of the surplus stores of private and public property, and the activity which was visible in every branch of the service, were the forerunners of another campaign; and the disappearance of the mud would be the signal for the forward march. Inspections and reviews were often witnessed; and the spectators beheld with admiration the generals, with their gayly dressed staffs, mounted upon richly caparisoned steeds, as they dashed with great speed along the extensive lines, and the martial tread and evolutions of the vast columns comprising 60,000 soldiers upon the cheerless plains of Falmouth. These occasions were extremely dis- tasteful to the rank and file, who viewed with indignation hundreds of showy ofiicers who were non-combatants, and never faced the rebels upon the battle-field, but lurked in the rear with the trains of wagons and herds of cattle. I have frequently seen only four or five aides with the general when the conflict was raging, while upon the harmless parade the number increased to a score, who rushed over the ground with the velocity and importance of a " great god of war," in a militia sham-fight. Orders were received upon April 13 to march with rations for five days in the knapsacks, besides the ordinary supply for three days in the haversacks ; but a flood checked the movement on the day that was designated, and the food was consumed in the camps. I quote, in this 168 connection, another strange and inaccurate statement from the pamphlet of the Prince de Joinville, without further comment : *' In Europe, our mihtary administration assumes that the transportation-service of an army of one hundred thousand men can only provision that army for a three-days' march from its base of operations. In America, this limit must he reduced to a single day. An American army, therefore, cannot remove itself more than 07ie day''s march from the railway or water-course by which it is supplied." CHAPTEE X. THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. f 'HE divisions of the army, laden with sixty rounds of cartridges, and rations for eight days, comprising five articles, — salt pork, hard bread, salt, sugar, and coffee, — broke up the encampments upon April 27, 1863, in which they had lived for the period of six months; and quit them for the fourth time, with the expectation that they would never return to Falmouth. The long columns of infantry, followed by the batteries, the packed mules, and the ambulances, marched in the afternoon in a tortuous course behind the hills upon the northern bank of the river to conceal their movements from the eyes of the enemy. At midnight, three corps, the first, third, and sixth, concentrated at the same point, near Deep llun, which the regiment held in December ; while the remaining corps, including a part of the second, passed by the brigade when it was upon picket, and moved in the direction of the upper fords of the Kappa- hannock. The pontoons were placed upon the shoulders of the men, who transported them to the river, over which they stealthily glided, and captured the rebel force that was shel- tered behind two rifle-pits to resist the attempt of any body 169 170 THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. of troops to cross. Two divisions were deployed in line of battle upon the opposite bank during the day : the hostile skirmishers sat upon the plain a few rods apart, without firing or making any advance ; and, at times, the flashing bayonets showed that columns of the enemy were marching in the sunken road. It rained at intervals upon the 29th, but no changes were observed in the dispositions upon the left ; and these troops, exposed to cannon and thousands of rifles, which might open upon them at any instant, stacked their guns, pitched shelter-tents, cooked their meals, and the ofiicers of many companies, upon both sides of the river, were making the regular muster and pay-rolls. A dense fog obscured the view during the forenoon of the 30th ; but the same state of quietness reigned until the order of Gen. Hooker was read to the soldiers amidst loud cheers, when they learned that the foe must " ingloriously fly," or "give us battle on our own ground, where certain destruction awaits him." The balloon rose at noon in the south-west, and appeared, from this stand- point, to be in the rear of the Heights of Fredericksburg, and removed every doubt regarding the success of the Union arms. A few minutes before twelve, m., the division com- manded by Gen. Berry, and the third corps, under Gen. Sickles, meandered through valleys and over the slopes of rising ground ; and no men were allowed to stand or walk upon the crest : so that they were shielded from observation. They bivouacked near Hartwood Church at midnight. The excessive weight which was carried by the troops increased THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 171 the severity of the long march, the line of which could be traced by glancing at the overcoats and blankets which were scattered to alleviate suffering, and formed, in many spots, a carpet upon the road. The corps was in motion at the dawn of May Day ; and reeled across the stream at the United-States Ford, with the uncertain steps of the drunkard, upon the pontoon bridge which swayed to and fro in the rapidly-flowing current. One hundred squalid prisoners, who were captured at Gerraania Ford upon the Rapidan, passed by the column under guard; and one of them shouted, " You will need three years' rations before you can get Richmond." Their action in surrendering to the national forces refuted their constant boasts that they would fight until the last drop of blood was shed. The regi- ment rested in an old rebel camp until five, p.m., when the cannonading was active : the division was ordered to double- quick to the front, and formed at sunset a part of the army, of which the principal portion had been massed at Chancel- lorsville, with scarcely any loss, by the consummate ability of its commander. The aristocratic slave-holders of Yii-ginia, adopting the custom which their ancestors had brought from England, gave to their estates the name of the family, with the suffix of a ly, or dale, or ville ; and some of these do- mains, like Chantilly, had been the scenes of deadly conflict, and become endeared in many Northern homes. Chancel- lorsville consisted of a large brick building, built in the style of the last century, and with the exception of massive pillars 172 THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. in its front, tliat extended from the basement to the roof, was very plain in its appearance. Negro cabins, cooking-houses, and other small outbuildings, were upon the grounds near the dwelling, which was occupied by the Chancellor Family; and the garden contained a private cemetery, which was planted with pines and savins, beneath the branches of which the kindred of the proprietors slept in their graves. The regiment loaded the muskets while it was moving upon the road which led fronj the United-States Ford ; bivouacked in the forest, a short distance from the mansion ; and the can- nonading and picket-firing caused the formation of the lines for action several times during the night. Three companies were detailed to guard prisoners and cattle, and those who had charge of the latter found that it was the most diflScult task. The sky displayed its clearest blue at day-break upon May 2 ; and from right to left the skirmishers and sharpshooters of both armies were continually engaged ; and — " 'Twixt host and host but narrow space was left, — A dreadful interval." In the vicinity of Chancellor House there jvas a large tract of open ground, upon which the artillery was posted in large force ; and the brigade, relieved of its knapsacks and haver- sacks, which were left in the woods under a small guard, marched to this point, and supported a battery which was planted across the plank road that ran from Fredericksburg THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 173 to Orange Court House. The gunners cheered during a spir- ited contest with the enemy ; and the huge volume of smoke which slowly ascended showed that a well-directed shot had exploded a caisson. The troops, at this time, were in an ex- cellent state of discipline : there were not six soldiers absent without leave from the regiment ; and the few stragglers were arrested by the provost-guard, and placed with the skirmish- ers in the extreme front; and some received the mortal wounds which they had tried to shun by dishonorable con- duct. The first line was resting behind a strong breastwork ; and the. soldiers were cooking coffee — the chief luxury of the army — upon their fires, as unconcerned as if they were in camp. The regiment was detached for a special service at half- past seven, a.m., and advanced towards the run, with five companies deployed as skirmishers, upon both sides of the plank road, in the form of an inverted <1 with the apex in the centre of it, and forced back the enemy half a mile, until the muskets commanded the gi'ound ; upon which I saw a confused mass of dead horses, broken wheels, and the frag- ments of the shattered caisson. At three, p.m., the pickets upon the right heard a few. sentences of the speech of an ofiicer to his command, in which he reminded the soldiers that the "Yanks" had plenty of rations; and concluded by asking, — *' Men, will you sleep upon that hill to-night? " "Yes!" "Yes!" " We will ! " " We will ! " many 174 THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. voices answered. The skirmisbeis were quickly driven in by the onset of a brigade that advanced with fixed bayonets and a terrible yell that defined with accuracy the extent of the line of battle, so that the men knew in what direction to aim, — a fact of vital importance, that could not be ascer- tained in the forest, which was overgrown with stunted oaks. The companies that had been stationed upon the outposts hurriedly formed upon the reserve, which was posted in the road ; and a battery enfiladed the.ranks, while a fierce charge was made upon them by an infantry force. The enemy was repulsed at the end of three-quarters of an hour in the most signal manner ; and the commander expressed his satisfaction with the glorious result by shouting, — " Now, my good men, give three cheers for hell ! Three cheers for hell!" he repeated; and the victors huzzaed. The skirmishers were promptly deployed ; and the rebels, who tried to mislead and draw their fire by displaying blankets and butternut clothing, dodged from tree to tree until the original line was again established. A professional skulker, who had been unable to elude the vigilance of his officers when this assault was made, threw himself upon the ground, groaning and whining, " Oh ! I'm so sick! — oh! I'm so sick!" — but his disease vanished when the foe fled. A man who was loading his musket threw away the cartridge, with a fearful oath about govern- ment contractors ; and I noticed that the paper was filled with fine grains of dry earth instead of gunpowder. In the thick- THE BATTL-E OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 175 est of the firing, an ofiicer seized an excited soldier wlio dis- charged his piece with trembling hands near the ears and en- dangered the lives of his comrades, and kicked him into the centre of the road. Trade prospered throughout the day, and the United-States sharpshooters were constantly exchanging their dark-green caps for the regulation-hats which were worn by the regiment. The captain of one of the companies of skirmishers was posted near a brook at the base of a slight ascent upon which the enemy was massed, and there was a scattering fire of bullets which cautioned all to "lie down." While he was rectifying the alignment, he perceived with amazement one of his men, who sat astride a log, and washed his hands and face, and then cleansed the towel with a piece of soap which he carried. One sharpshooter shielded himself behind a blanket, and another concealed himself behind an empty cracker-box, the sides of which were half an inch in thickness, exposed his person as little as possible, and felt as secure as the ostrich with his head buried in the sand. At five, P.M., the sentinel in the top of a high tree re- ported that the rebels were forming their lines of battle upon the left, near the point at which there were three companies, which were supported by small details from several regiments in Gen. Hancock's division of the second corps. Another force menaced those upon the right at the same time. Tho reserve of the first body of troops held a rifle-pit which had been built across the plank road ; and the two lines of battle formed the base and perpendicular of a right-angled triangle, 176 THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. SO that the bullets fired by the enemy at one detachment would enfilade the other : but a few large oaks and the for- mation of the ground aflforded a slight protection. The omi- nous silence of the sharpshooters in front was a sure indication that the main force was approaching ; and a rebel officer upon the left brought every man into his place in the ranks by ex- claiming to his command, " Forward, double-quick, march I " ** Guide left ! " The hideous yells once more disclosed their position in the dark woods ; but the volleys of buck and ball, and the recollection of the previous repulse, quickly hushed their outcries, and they were again vanquished. The conflict upon the left still continued ; and the defeated soldiers began to re-enforce the troops that were striving by desperate efforts to pierce the line, until a company swept the road with its fire, and checked the movement ; and only one or two rebels, at intervals, leaped across the deadly chasm. A demand for ammunition was now heard, — the most fearful cry of dis- tress in a battle, — and every man upon the right contrib- uted a few cartridges, which were carried to the scene of action in the hats of the donors. The forty rounds which fill the magazines are sufficient for any combat, unless the troops are protected by earthworks or a natural barrier ; and the extra cartridges, which must be placed in the pockets and knapsacks, are seldom used. Two companies, including the one to which the author was attached; double-quicked to the rifle-pit ; while those who were in the road, and not engaged, loudly cheered to deter the THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 177 foe : and the men fought behind breastworks for the first time, although they had performed months of labqr upon fortifica- tions which were never assaulted. It was after sunset ; but the flashes of the rifles in the darkness were the targets at which the guns were fired, until the enemy retired at nine, P.M., and the din of musketry was succeeded by the groans of the wounded. Fresh troops had been thrown upon this point : the flying balls drummed a queer discord when they struck the logs and bank, but the defenders entertained no thouo;ht of retreatino:: and, when the last bullet had been discharged, the bayonet was fixed ; and it was a common re- mark, " When they come near enough, I will use this." The song of the wliippoorwills increased the gloom that per- vaded the forest ; and the pickets carefully listened to them, because the hostile skirmishers might signal to each other by imitating the mournful notes. The rebels gave a yell as soon as they were beyond the range of Union bullets, and repeated it in tones which grew more distinct when they had retreated a great distance and considered themselves safe. The abat- tis upon the extreme left was set on fire in this prolonged struggle; and a gallant sergeant — who fell at Gettysburg — sprang over the work, and averted the most serious results by pouring water from the canteens of his comrades until the flames were extinguished. The regiment was relieved at midnight, and returned to the bivouac, where the men grasped the haversacks which had remained there since the morning, and eagerly devoured the simple rations with the sauce of 12 178 THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. hunger, "which the lack of food for eighteen hours, and espe- cially the excitement and labor of the day, had rendered in- tense. Gen. Hancock, who belonged to a different corps, made an honorable mention in his report of their behavior, with which he was perfectly satisfied ; and addressed a special letter of thanks to the colonel and the command for their valuable services. While this small force had thus valiantly performed its duty, and repelled the successive assaults of superior numbers, the musketry resounded two miles to the right ; and a spectacle of shameful cowardice was witnessed, which can be rarely paral- leled in the history of civilized warfare. The eleventh corps, which was the largest, and held the post of honor upon the right of the army, was stationed behind strong earthworks, 'which, according to military treatises, rendered one soldier who defends equal to at least three that attack. The yells of Jackson's advancing troops broke these powerful lines a few minutes after four, p.m. ; and the German regiments that composed the main portion of the corps basely fled without receiving a volley, and rushed pell-mell by thousands upon the road to the ford, wholly demoralized by fear, and made no attempt to re-form their ranks. Eebcl prisoners who were captured upon the following day assured me that their brigades reached the works without any opposition ; and the command- ers were convinced that there must be some artifice, because no one could conceive any excuse for the sudden evacuation of rifle-pits of such formidable strength. The officers of other THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 179 corps made themselves speechless by striving to rally the "flying Dutchman," who was no longer an illusion, but a des- picable reality ; and the cavalry with their sabres, generals and staffs with revolvers, and artillerists with whips and ram- mers, vainly attempted to stop the disgraceful flight, which was finally checked by the Rappahannock. "Var ish de pon- toons?" " Der wash too many mens for us ; " "I ish going to mine company," they continually exclaimed. A squad of the fugitives entered the regiment, and repeated the skulker's story, that their commands were " all cut to pieces;" "We are all that are left ; " and, " They fought until their ammuni- nition was gone." The colonel, observing that their muskets were unstained, opened their magazines, and, finding that they had not used a solitary cartridge, denounced their conduct in the strongest language, and remarked, " I should detail some of my good men to shoot you ; but they have no ammunition to waste upon your worthless carcasses. ' ' A cavalry-man halted one of the foreign generals who was dashing to the rear ; who indignantly asked, "What for you stop me ; you a private, and me a general? " — "I don't care who you are : I should stop you if you had been the devil," the soldier defiantly replied. " That d d eleventh corps stole my voice," whispered a field-officer upon Gen. Hooker's staflf on the next morning. Gen. Howard, who commanded them, performed his duty, and was cheered by the troops of other corps ; but he was oppressed by the feeling that his reputation had been ruined, 180 THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. and he sadly spoke : ''Don't cbeer for me; I don't deserve your cheers." The poet has truly said, — " What can ennoble . . . cowards ? Alas I not all the blood of all the Howards." The Germans sought to escape the censure which the whole army justly bestowed upon them by tearing the badges from their caps, — for the crescent was recognized as the insignia of a poltroon, — and giving the number of one of the reliable corps if they were questioned about the command to which they be- longed. The few brave American regiments shed tears of mortification, and earnestly entreated that they might be transferred to brigades which were composed of their country- men. Thus a splendid position that had been gained was lost ; a large body of troops showed that they could not be re- lied upon if placed in any post of danger ; and the army nar- rowly avoided the destruction which had been skilfully planned for the enemy. The division formed its line in the woods upon the plank road, and checked the advance of the foe ; and the soldiers marched by the Chancellor House during the night, noticed with pride that the headquarters of their old commander bore the marks of the conflict, and rejoined the brigade which was posted upon the right of the broad avenue. The first hne of battle built a slight earthwork with a few spades which had been thrown away by the pioneers of the eleventh corps. The skirmishers began to exchange shots at daybreak upon THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORS VILLE. 181 May 8 ; and a bullet penetrated the head of a lieutenant who was asleep in the adjoining company, and he never moved. There was a ceaseless roll of musketry : at half-past five, a.m., the batteries emitted destructive charges of canister, and most of the men in the ranks of the support crouched upon the ground while the balls passed over them. For two hours the hordes of Jackson, encouraged by their easy victory upon May 2, screamed like fiends, assailed the troops that defended the plank road, and succeeded in turning their left, and com- pelling them to retire through the forest, and re-form their shattered lines. There was no running : the soldiers fell back slowly, company after company, and wished for some directing mind to select a new position. Unfortunately the national cause had lost Gen. Berry, the brave oommander of the division ; the ranking brigadier. Gen. Mott, was wounded; another brigadier was an arrant coward ; and the largest part of nine regiments were marched three miles to the rear by one of the generals without any orders. The regiments of the brigade, under the supervision of their field and line ofloicers, rallied in the open field near the Chancellor House, which was the focus upon which Lee concentrated his batteries, until the shells ignited it ; and the flames consumed some of the wounded who were helpless; and three women, that remained in the cellar for safety, barely escaped from the ruins. The brigade was aligned upon the road to the United-States ford at nine, A.M., and the men recovered their knapsacks in the midst of a heavy cannonading which still continued. No symptoms 182 THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSYILLE. of fear were manifested, although the artillery was planted upon the left, in the rear and the front, from which point most of the shells were hurled ; and the force was threatened with capture. The infantry firing ceased at ten, a.m. ; and the rebels that had suffered a large loss and achieved a partial success fortified their new position, which was parallel with the plank road, and posted their left in the woods upon the same ground which the division had been forced to leave. The corps was massed at eleven, a.m., near the White House, which was a mile from Chancellors ville ; and the remaining hours of the day were frequently disturbed by the picket- firing and an occasional shelling. The scenes that are always witnessed upon the field of car- nage were increased by the fires in the extensive forest, which burned the wounded of both armies, and tortured the just and the unjust. Some soldiers of the regiment, who felt the glow of the raging flames that every second came nearer, and knowing that their comrades were fighting in another part of the line, and the ambulance corps was miles in the rear, calculated the number of minutes which they expected to survive. A small brook of stagnant water, which divided the company into platoons, in the morning became a river of life, over which the fire hissed, and vainly darted its deadly tongues to strike the helpless. A rebel and a member of the brigade rested together near an oak, and mutually assisted each other to fight this terrible enemy ; and joyfully clasped their scorched and aching hands in friendship, when it was quelled. THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 183 Colors were captured, and hundreds of the foe threw down their arms, and retreated with the Union forces ; and happy equads without any guard were walking upon the road, and inquiring the way to the rear. Three batteries lost most of their horses and a large proportion of their men by the con- centration of Lee's artillery, and the bullets of the sharp- shooters, who were specially instructed to pick off the animals before they shot the gunners. Several pieces, including one without wheels, which had been demolished, were drawn from the field by details from the infantry. Some of those who were slightly injured returned to their commands after their wounds had been dressed, and fought again. One cannon- ball killed a cavalry-man and his horse : and a shell tore the clothing from an aide, but inflicted no personal hurt ; and he returned, after a brief absence, to search for his porte-mon- naie, which he carried in the pocket that had been so sud- denly wrested from him. The corps-color was always waving in the front ; and Gen. Sickles, smoking a cigar, stood a few feet from the regiment, in the road up which the troops had marched from the Chan- cellor House ; and aides and orderhes were riding to and fro, one of whom reported that his steed had been killed. " Cap- tain, the Government will furnish you with another horse," he complacently replied. A rebel officer of high rank, who had been captured, stopped near the general, and sought to open a conversation, with the following result : — '* General, I have met you in New York." 184 THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. " Move forward that battery." *' General, I have seen you before." " The brigade must advance to the woods." *' General, don't you remember " — " Go to the rear, su' : my troops are now in position." There were few, if any, stretcher-bearers at the front, and wounded men that had lost a leg or an arm dragged them- selves to the field-hospital ; and the surgeons of some regi- ments which had not been engaged in the battle sat upon a log in idleness, and refused, with a great display of dignity, to assist the suffering who were brought to them, because they did not belong to their commands. This shameful con- duct, which I often witnessed, exasperated the ofiicers and soldiers ; and they compelled the surgeons to discharge their duty in a number of cases by threatenmg to shoot them. The heat was very severe : many cannoneers divested them- selves of their uniforms while they were working ; and a number of the skhmishers, who were posted in the open field, and obliged to lie low without any shelter, were some- tunes aflaicted by sunstroke. " I will win a star or a coffin in this battle," remarked a colonel as he was riding to the scene of conflict, in which a bullet checked his noble military aspirations. ' ' To take a soldier without ambition is to pull off his spurs; " " I have got my leave of absence now," gladly said an officer, whose application had always been refused at headquarters when he left the regiment to go to the hospital. The appearance of a rabbit causes an excitement and a chase THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 185 upon all occasions, and one ran in front of the line as the action commenced ; and the birds were flying wildly among the trees, as if tliey anticipated a storm; and a soldier shouted, "Stop him, stop him! I could make a good meal if I had him." — "This is English neutrality," an intelligent metal-moulder remarked in examining the frag- ment of a shell, and explaining the process of its manufac- ture to the company ; while the rebel batteries every minute added some specimens to his collection. The officials in Richmond published at this time an order, directing that the clothing should be taken from the bodies of their dead, and issued to the living. They always stripped the dead and the dying upon every field; and I noticed that one man who had been stunned, and afterwards effected his escape, wore merely a shirt and hat when he entered the lines. The regiment changed its position nine times during the day, in compliance with orders : rifle-pits were erected upon the last Ime of defence, and no fires were allowed at night. • Several volleys from the pickets ushered in May 4 ; but the brigade made no movement, and no advance took place. An officer who was going the rounds in the night was sur- prised to find one of his most faithful men who returned no answer to his inquiries ; and, supposing that he had been overcome by fatigue, and fallen asleep, grasped his hands to awaken him : but they were cold with death. The soldier, killed upon his post of duty, rested in the extreme front, with his musket by his side, and face towards the enemies of his 186 THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLOESVILLE. country. Gen. Whipple, tbe able commander of the third division of the corps, was mortally wounded by a sharpshooter who was one-third of a mile from him ; and a priest admin- istered the last rites of the Roman-Catholic Church upon the spot where he fell, in the presence of his weeping staff and soldiers, by whom he was greatly beloved. A brigade made a reconnoissance in the forest at one, p.m., and captured forty sharpshooters who were perched upon the limbs of lofty oaks, and could not descend and escape before this force advanced. Whenever the picket-firing became active, shelter-tents were removed from the stacks ; knapsacks were " packed up ; " boil- ing coffee was swallowed, or thrown away ; and the men stood in line, and were ready to obey the order to march before their officers had commanded them to " fall in." Groups of soldiers were writing letters, sleeping, or playing cards ; and as one gambler said, " I will bet," an exploding shell inter- rupted his sentence; and he added, "A quarter better." The rebdls ascertained the location of the trains upon the north bank of the Rappahannock; opened a battery upon them ; and a squad of three hundred prisoners uttered a yell of joy when they saw a cannon-ball enter a largo tent which was crowded with the dying and disabled. The direction of the firing was changed, and caused utter dismay when some of the number were killed by the missiles that were hurled by their comrades in the army of Lee. The pioneers cut roads through the woods for the passage of the troops and artillery, and constructed booths of boughs for the field-hos- THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORS VILLE. 187 pitals, from which the ambulances were hourly conveying the inmates across the river. The army-wagons were parked upon the safe bank, and did not encumber the movements of the corps ; and the packed mules, which were generally used for the first time, transported the ammunition, while the cooks brought fresh beef to the front by suspending a quarter to a rail. A dense fog obscui-ed the river upon the morning of May 5, and clouds which discharged a few drops of rain overcast the sky. The skirmishers were hotly engaged at certain points, while the main body was quiet ; and the brigade re- tired at WAO, A.M., two hundred yards to the rear of its po- sition, and quickly formed breastworks by cutting the oaks down and throwing the earth up. Two sick Germans in the company (they did not belong to the eleventh corps), who were excused by the surgeons from performing any military services, and could not carry their knapsacks or rations for more than two days, or keep with the ranks of the regiment upon an ordinary march, participated in all the fighting ; and no command could produce nobler soldiers. A dismal rain drenched the men in the night, and swelled the waters of the Rappahannock so suddenly that the pontoons were endangered, and the communications of the army were seriously menaced ; and men were placed in the boats to hold the anchors, and one bridge was taken up to lengthen the others which did not connect with the banks after the freshet. The brigade, which was nearly exhausted by standing in line of battle, evacuated 188 THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. tlie bivouac in the woods at three, a.m., upon the 6th ; waded through the mud of the road, unmolested by the enemy ; and recrossed the pontoons at the United-States ford at daybreak. The Army of the Potomac, baffled, weary, and footsore, marched in the midst of the storm, which never ceased during the day, and enlarged pools into lakes, while ruts became streamlets, and sought rest in the old camps which they had so often quit with high hopes that were not realized. CHAPTER XL THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. y^^te^HE ordinary labors of the camp were resumed ; tbe /'I old lines were again guarded ; and one regiment near ^^Jy the brigade was drilling upon the plain the day after it returned to quarters. As a sanitary precau- tion, the barracks used in the winter were levelled ; the tents were pitched upon ground that had not been occupied ; and the blankets of the soldiers were spread upon a network of branches which was eighteen inches above the surface of the earth. The camps, in June, presented a gala appear- ance ; the streets between the companies were adorned with arches and festoons of evergreen ; and short pines and savins which had been transplanted from the forest diffused their genial shade. Although the corps had nc^jly performed its duty at Chancellorsville, none of its brave members were allowed to receive furloughs or leaves of absence, because an inspector-general, one of those contemptible staff-officers that skulk to the rear in a battle, and display feats of horseman- ship to the cooks, teamsters, pioneers, and other non-combat- ants, falsely reported that it was demoralized. The only fact upon which this unjust action was based was the neglect 189 190 THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. of many soldiers to salute these gayly dressed cowards "whom they despised. Desertions from the enemy were frequent ; and an Alabamian swam across the river upon June 6, and brought a gold watch which his captain lent to him to regu- late the reliefs, with strict orders to be vigilant and keep a good watch ; an injunction that he followed in letter, if not in spirit. The terms of service of many regimenis which had en- listed for nine months or two years daily expired ; and the army was constantly diminished, while Lee concentrated from all portions of the South every available regiment, and prepared for a bold invasion of the North with the most pow- erful force that the rebels ever organized. Every object south of the Rappahannock was scanned by many eyes : the troops were ordered to keep constantly on hand rations for three days ; and when two divisions of the foe marched upon ^Juno 3 to Culpeper Court House, the movement was dis- covered; and at 3.10, a.m., on the following morning, the brigade was notified to "pack up," and be ready to start at a second's notice. The pontoon-bridge was constructed on the Gth near Deep Eun, upon the left of Fredericksburg: the soldiers crossed at this point for the third time ; and the enemy that had been invisible for a few days issued from the woods, appeared in front, and received a severe fire from the artillery which was posted upon the bank. The regiment was on picket, watching with interest the bursting shells, and discussing the probabilities of a conflict. THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. 191 "There's a pretty grape-viae ready to set out," said one person wbo noticed the beauty of the scenery. " Tal^e it up, and we'll set it out on your grave to- morrow," lightly remarked one of the group. Division generals and subalterns seldom know more than the rank and file about the intentions of the commander of a large body of men : and the regiment was engaged in making preparations to celebrate the 13th day of June, which was the anniversary of its muster into the service; and many of the line officers were playing a game of base ball, when the adjutant arrived with marching orders ; and within half an hour tents were struck, knapsacks packed, and the column in motion at 1^, p.m. The general commanding the brigade pushed forward the troops in the most unmerciful manner, and great joy was manifested when they bivouacked near the Hartwood Church. Hundreds of blankets and overcoats were left upon the field in the morning of the 12th ; and the natives and negroes of both sexes collected them as soon as the march was re- sumed. Caligula and other monsters of antiquity never dis- played a more diabolical spirit than certain generals in the corps, who murdered the unfortunate soldiers that were com- pelled to obey their orders, by exhausting their strength, and needlessly exposing them to the rays of the sun, which, through their cruelty, became as deadly as Minie balls. There is not more than one in ten officers of higli rank that understands the proper mode of moving divisions ; and the 192 THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. fatigue tliat so often results is caused, not by merely travel- ling a large number of miles, but by the omission to halt tliem at regular intervals after marching short distances. Mounted upon their horses, unencumbered by rations or clothing, and usually carrying a small flask and a light sword, it was a pastime for the subordinate generals and their staffs to ride or race from town to town, and issue strin- gent orders to court-martial the weary men for what they termed strago-lino;. The division marched from 5.20, a.m., until 9,20, P.M., upon one of the warmest days of the month, and was always designedly halted in the open fields, while a general and his staff enjoyed the comfort of the extensive forests in the vicinity, and, with the hearts of demons, laughed and uttered jokes about the soldiers who were dying or writh- ing; in the ao;onies of sun-stroke. Some surojeons and rem- mental commanders remonstrated against this inhuman conduct, and told a general that it was killing the men ; but he sneeringly remarked, "I want to tire them out, so they can't run away;" " If I can stand it, the men can;" or, ** The sun will dry their shirts, if they are wet with perspira- tion." I speak in emphatic language, for I recall the forms of prostrate heroes who had escaped the bullet, the shell, and the "fiery darts" of the foe in scenes of combat, and fell fainting by the roadside, to die, or linger in pain from which they never recovered. Thousands of throats were sometimes screaming, "Halt, halt!" and there were universal cries, *' Kick him out of the house 1" "I hope the rebels will kill THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. 193 him!" "Shoot the scoundrel!" iuterlarded with the most profane oaths ever uttered, when the command passed by the mansion selected for headquarters. Some men seized the general's servant, who had walked a long distance to procure cool water, and spitefully confiscated the property. Less than one-third of the division bivouacked at Beverly Ford ; and the stream of soldiers that had been forced by the foregoing causes to leave the ranks was continually flowing into the reojiment durino; the ni^jht. The cavalry had crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford and this point on the 9th, and fought a successful battle, which completely frustrated the plans of Stuart, who had assembled his force near Brandy Station for the purpose of making a formidable raid. The rebel pickets rested on their horses in the rifle-pits upon the opposite bank ; and the presence of the enemy intimidated the general who had been so eager to place his troops in the open fields upon the march. The camp-fires were prohibited or kept low, and strong guards were posted to prevent them from leaving the woods in which they were concealed. The river was only one hun- dred feet in width at the ford, which was protected by a rude breastwork of rails. Wounded horses were limping about on the ground in the vicinity ; the carcasses of dead animals that had " fought like men " were scattered in every du'ection ; and I saw one floating in the stream, that was fully equipped, and still bore the rations, blankets, and overcoats of its absent rider. Redoubts for four guns were erected in 13 194 THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. the niglit of the 13th by details from the brigade. The newspapers contained, at this time, accounts of the operations of Gen. Grant, which resulted in the capture of Vicksburg, and described the scanty wardrobe with which he was fur- nished upon the campaign ; and the contrast between this simplicity and the immense quantity of personal baggage which the general commanding a brigade carried in the waojons was as strikinf>; as their difference in courasje and military ability. Whenever a halt was ordered at the end of a march, a score of servile pioneers pitched his capacious tent upon the most pleasant spot of ground, and placed in it a carpet, camp-chairs, tables, and an iron bedstead, so that he was probably more comfortable than he would have been at home. The brigade was relieved by the cavalry after sunset on the 14th, and marched throughout the night until 7.10, a.m., of the 15th, to Catlett's Station, where it remained an hour and a half; and moved again at 8.40, a. m., until it bivouacked near Manassas Junction after midnight. The division was in the rear of a train of wagons which constantly obstructed the road and interrupted the passage of the troops, so that a gen- eral was obliged to halt when he wished to advance. There was no enemy in front ; and the quartermasters, commissaries, and other staff-ofl&cers, who are never seen near the general in a battle, accompanied him upon the march ; and the number of his victims was increased by the same infernal conduct that has been already noticed. The soldiers were forced to halt THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. 195 ill the fields, without any shelter from the sun ; and those who were overcome by the severe fatigue which always follows a movement in the night, and fell asleep, awoke to suffer from an intense faintness and pain, which disabled them for years. There was sometimes a solitary oak or pine that stood upon the plain like a rock in the desert; and the limits of the shadow upon the ground enclosed a small squad that crowded together to enjoy the protection of the enlivening foliage ; while others slept in the dust of the road, beneath the wagons. Many a soldier uttered the wish that he might be permitted to serve out the remaining months of his term of service in some prison, or be changed into the general's horse, when he beheld that officer with his staff and their steeds reposing in the vast forest from which they were excluded. The region was unusually dry ; and the men, urged by necessity, slackened to a slight extent their thirst by extracting the moisture from the lumps of damp earth. Thousands were exhausted, and sought the woods to recover their strength ; but a general issued orders to the provost-guard to set the dry leaves on fire, and thus drive the members of his force into the cleared tracts of land, and clouds of smoke rolled upwards in the rear of the column. The combined heat of the rays of the sun and the Ijurning forest was unendurable ; the breath seemed to be a flame ; and less than one-fourth of the division rested at the bivouac. No movement was made upon the IGth ; and the troops fixed bayonets, stuck them into tlic ground, and put up their 196 THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. f tents by fastening pieces of shelter to the muskets. In ac- cordance with orders from the headquarters of the army, the bands and field music performed the principal portion of the day to mislead the scouts of the enemy, so that they could not ascertain the point at which the largest force was concentrated. In addition to the regular rations which were issued to the soldiers, they lived upon the resources of the country, and devoured many highly seasoned dishes of frogs and box-tur- tles. The lines moved a short distance to the right on the 17th and 18th; and a general, to gratify his savage disposi- tion, placed his staff at the dry crossings near Blackburn's Ford to force the brigade to wade through the stream ; but tlie use of the bayonet and musket upon the horses defeated this design, and the enraged officer remarked, ' ' The men acted like sheep." The companies were now commanded to attend roll-calls eight times daily ; the names of absentees were re- ported for punishment ; and, while the regiment was pitching its tents upon an cstabhshcd line, marching orders were re- ceived at two, P.M., and the column bivouacked at the end of eight hours near Gum Spring. A general who was alarmed by the dense clouds that darkened the earth deserted his troops that were moving upon the road, galloped to the village with his staff, and selected the largest edifice for his head- quarters, while his command under other officers was posted on an important picket duty in the midst of one of the most copious rains which ever fell in the South. A field-officer on the corps-staff, who frequently said, " Boy and man, I have THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. 197 been in the regular service twenty-five years," and acquired the sobriquet of " crazy " on account of his lack of common sense, flourished a revolver to drive the men from wells on the march, and acted the part of a useless and harmless non-com- batant in the time of action. Gen. Braddock bivouacked his little army at this point while he was marching upon his ill-starred expedition, and gave the name to the hamlet, the old inhabitants said, from the ever-flowing spring, which was celebrated for its purity, and a gum-tree that was still standing, although many of the branches wore rotten, and showed marks of its advanced ago. Guards were placed over it to prevent the soldiers from en- joying the priceless liquid without a permit in writing from the general. The drivers, who daily renewed the water in the kegs which arc attached to the ambulances to convey a fresh supply for the weary, the sick, or the wounded, were pushed aside at the point of the bayonet, and directed to go to a turbulent run in which horses and mules were standing or walking, and the men were washing their persons and clothes. Twenty members of this corps were performing this labor at tho streamlet ; and I heard one of them say (with many oaths, as a matter of course), '* I hope Gen. will be shot, and live just long enough for me to pour my kcg-full of this gravel down his throat! " a righteous sentiment, which was reiterated by the score of tongues. The division, leaving hundreds of sticks, barrels, and boards which arc always seen upon every field in which troops have 198 THE MARCH TO GETTYSBUEG. bivouacked, commenced a march, wliich, like those I have described, will never be forgotten for its severity. It was a ceaseless tramp for eighteen hours, with only one regular halt, that occurred in consequence of a misunderstanding regarding orders. The Potomac was crossed at Edward's Fen-y upon a pontoon-bridge consisting of sixty-four boats, more than a quarter of a mile in length, and travelled upon the narrow towpath to the mouth of the Monocacy, and bivouacked after midnight, twenty-nine miles from the point of departure. The rain in the latter part of the night created new obstacles : men were continually falling from utter exhaustion, and limbs were sometimes broken upon the sharp rocks. A few slipped into the canal ; and some who were always "jolly " under all cir- cumstances greeted the ears of their unfortunate comrades, when they rose to the surface, with the consoling words, "It will take a month's wages to pay for that musket." The tow- path, which did not exceed twenty feet in its width, had been constructed between the Potomac Ptiver on one side, and the Baltimore and Ohio Canal upon the other ; and two generals chuckled, and said that there could be no straggling in such a place, and dashed ahead of the column to secure a pleasant repose for the night. The physical power of the soldiers was reduced to such an extent, that when the regiment was halted by its commander, who acted without orders in their absence, only eighteen muskets were stacked in a line that should have had 325 arms : two line officers were present, and the other organizations of the division were scattered in the THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. 199 same manner. A general greeted the appearance of the rem- nant of his command in the morning with hearty laughter, and uttered many gibes concerning their weakness, and the condi- tion of those who were without shoes, and bound handkerchiefs and towels around their feet, or wore two or three pairs of socks ; and made this remark about the regiment as it filed by him : "What regiment is that? Bring them here, and we will pray for them." The column steadily advanced upon the remaining days of the month of June, and bivouacked upon the 30th at Bridge- port, after proceeding through Burkettsville, Middletown, Frederick City, and Taneytown. The Potomac, that sep- arated Virginia from this section of JMaryland, was the bound- ary between institutions as conflicting as slavery and freedom, or ignorance and intelligence. The soldiers had witnessed for two years, in the first State, barren lands, a treacherous and benighted race, children in rags and filth, miserable roads, the rude cabins of the " poor whites " and African bondmen, and empty churches ; for the bells were cast into cannon, and religion and morality were sacrificed to gain Southern inde- pendence. The scenes were chan^-ed so suddenly, that it seemed like a delightful vision to behold the schoolhouses ; the noble faces of the people ; the splendid streets of a civil- ized age; the cultivated farms and orchards; the cottages ornamented with flowers ; and, above all, the smiles and words of welcome from loyal men and women who publicly displayed the iVmerican flag, gave refreshing water to the 200 THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. soldiers while they were marching, and refused in many places to accej^t any compensation for food. A number of mills were in operation upon Sunday to supply the inhabitants with flour, because they had exhausted their store in making bread for the Union army. The brutality of the generals was almost forgotten ; and weary feet regained their strength when they touched the soil and moved over mountains ; while the eye saw, in the magnificent valleys, comnmnities that re- sembled their homes in New England. The conduct of the troops, with the exception of many non-combatants, the army- thieves, and plunderers of the dead, was unexceptionable; and no profane or improper expressions were heard by any of the citizens. A general placed sentinels upon the houses in many towns, not to protect the property, but to obtain for the use of his mess all the luxuries which they contained ; while the line-officers and enlisted men were driven from the premises, and not allowed to purchase articles of food. One general in the division, well known for his cowardice, marched through the populous districts with much ostentation at th^ head of his brigade, and shouted orders in a pompous tone of authority to attract the notice of the crowd ; while the sol- diers were saying, " It is perfectly safe to be in front now; " " There won't be any fighting while he leads the brigade," and similar sentences. ' This officer had tau2:ht dancino: schools of a low character before the war ; and the members of some companies would " call off" the various changes, — "Eight and left," "All promenade to the bar," &c., when- THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. 201 ever he rode by them, for the purpose of insulting him. The herds of cattle from which the supply of fresh beef was ob- tained moved upon the roads with the trains, bearing upon their horns and backs the knapsacks and muskets of the guard, and followed the leading ox, which was conspicuous on account of its size. At other points of the march, several hundred cavalry-men were asleep upon the ground at the feet of the horses, with the reins in their hands ; and I was informed that no one was ever injured in this position. The rebel cavalry committed many outrages in the tracts which they visited ; demolished brick ovens, and plundered dwell- ings, like thieves ; but sometimes behaved with moderation ; and, in one village, riddled with bullets an innkeeper's sign upon which the American eagle had been painted. The attention of an officer of high rank was called to the large number of deaths and casualties from sunstroke and exhaus- tion in a certain command ; and the generals were compelled to halt a few minutes in every hour ; and long distances were thus marched with ease. The army received the news of the removal of Gen. Hook- er, and the appointment of Gen. Meade, with amazement, and refused to believe the fact until the orders were read ; and the opinion was expressed that he had fallen a victim to the implacable hatred of Gen. Ilalleck and the machinations of Pennsylvania pohticians. When we consider that the corps were marching to encounter the enemy, and daily expected to fight the decisive battle ; that Gen. Meade was unknown to 202 THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. tbe troops, and had never commanded under a heavy fire a body of infantry exceeding a division ; that other officers were superior in rank, capacity, and experience; and that Gen. Hooker had made every movement with consummate ability, — it was an act of the most hazardous character. If the question is viewed from a military point of view, and it is remembered that Gen. Halleck, untaught by the surrender of Harper's Ferry in the previous year, wished to mamtain at that post a large garrison and withhold it from the main force, the views of Gen. Hooker are so clearly right, that all must conclude that it was a shallow pretext for the unjust re- moval of one of the most loyal and gallant soldiers that the country ever produced. The rebels were delighted with the change; and, while Lee denies in his report that his cavalry was defeated in any engagement, he admits that the dispositions of the army by Gen. Hooker completely baffled his plans for the capture of Washington, and forced him to fight the battle of Gettysburg. The system of his mind was such, that the succession in commanders caused no delay in the advance of the different columns. The division reached Emraettsburg upon July 1, and the beautiful clouds upon the summits of the mountains seemed to be within the grasp during the copious rain that ensued. At ten, A.M., I heard the report of a cannon which was dis- charged in the State of Pennsylvania when the first conflict took place between the cavalry and the vanguard of Lee's grand army ; and there was a general feeling of relief that the THE MARCH TO GETTYSBURG. 203 long marcbes were ended, and the foe, that must be fougbt at some point, was preparing for tbe most desperate battle of the war. A squad of rebel prisoners passed to tbe rear, and tbe usual salutations were excbanged, " How are you, Johnny Reb ! " "How are you, blue -belly?" Tbe brigades of the division were posted in Echelon, after manoeuvring two hours ; sentinels were stationed to guard the lines ; and tbe troops, stimulated by the heavy cannonading upon the right, advanced towards Gettysburg at four, p.m. A negro, who was greatly excited and scarcely able to speak because he knew that tbe soldiers were marching in the wrong direction, earnestly said to a general, "The road is full of 'em, — heaps of rebels ! " but that officer avowed his leading princi- ple to be, " Never believe a nigger; " and the column pushed on. The regimental band played " Home, sweet Home," when the boundary-line was crossed ; and the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, which formed a part of the brigade, and conferred high honor upon its State by bravery upon many a stubborn-fought field, greeted their native soil with enthu- siastic cheers. The infantry was forced to wade through Marsh Creek several hundred yards, and not allowed to pass over the covered bridge ; while a general and his staff sat upon then* horses, and amused themselves by laughing at those on foot in the stream. A citizen remarked, "If you go on, you will have a fight in the night; " and one of the rebel pickets who was searching for water found himself a prisoner in the hands of the advance guard at ten, p.m. The 204 THE MAECH TO GETTYSBURG. regiments were at once halted in the road, and ordered not to talk or liojht matches ; while the mounted officers above de- scribed, including "Crazy," promptly retired to the rear; and the three long miles which had been uselessly travelled were retraced in silence. Willoughby's Run was forded; the vedettes of the cavalry were passed within a short dis- tance of the blazing camp-fires of the enemy ; and the divi- sion joined the third corps, and bivouacked upon the plains of Gettysburg at half-past two, a.m., on July 2. CHAP TEE XII. THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. UEING- the night, the picket-firing did not interrupt the sleep of the soldiers, who were astonished when the morning came to see the Union skirmishers ad- vance and receive volleys from the enemy, that occu- pied the road over which the division had marched five hours previous. The batteries were pointing in the same direction, and the first movement which the regiment executed was a countermarch, so that it faced the foe, that slowly deployed its columns in line of battle, until the incessant ratthng .of the rifles of sharpshooters and those upon the outposts gradu- ally extended from right to left along the vast front. Some regiments were detailed to leave their stacks and equipments and demolish the rail-fences which had Ix^en constructed upon the large open field, and would bo obstacles to the quick movements of the troops or artillery. The unpleasant mist and the clouds that threatened a storm at daybreak disap- peared before noon, and both armies were engaged in the different manoeuvres which always precede a battle. The principal portion of the inhabitants deserted their houses with their families, and fled many miles to places of safety ; while 205 206 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. others rendered good service by acting as gui-des for the cav- alry and the national forces. • The pencil of the artist has portrayed the topography of the scene of conflict and indicated the position of all the troops with such wonderful accuracy, that no pen can make its 'history more complete. The corps advanced in a brilliant line half a mile at three o'clock in the afternoon, and the regiment was formed upon the EmmettsburgRoad, and par- tially sheltered by the house and barn of Peter Rogers, upon the crest of the rising ground. The enemy was concealed iu the forest, and the main force was unusually quiet until the rebel skirmishers applied the torch to some houses, and the consuming flames and clouds of smoke excited yells of joy. The eye beheld, in every direction, battery and brigade ex- tended from point to point ; the moving columns and gay banners ; the white marble monuments in the cemetery upon the right, that contrasted strangely with the glistening can- non ; the signal-flags that were waving from the craggy sum- mit of Koundtop Mountain upon the left : but there were no tragic pictures of human strife, and it appeared to be a peace- ful review. A herd of thirteen or fourteen cows was quietly grazing upon the field ; flocks of tame pigeons sat upon the dovecots and sheds ; and^ the lady who lived in the cottage was baking bread, and sold chickens to soldiers in the regi- ment. A rebel battery opened an enfilading fire upon the brigade at forty-five muiutes past three, p.m., with solid shot, which were THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 207 discharged from tbe pieces at a depressed angle, struck the earth, bounded into the air, and leaped like a rock skipped upon the surface of the ocean by the powerful arm of a giant. The balls penetrated the building within a few minutes, and one shat- tered the oven ; but the woman was undaunted, and exclaimed, " I will never leave the house," and retreated to the cellar at the request of an officer. Her husband, who had been trembling with fear for hours in his place of refuge, whiningly said that it was strange that they could not fire over his dwell- ing, and not through it. The great contest began upon the extreme left, and soon raged with such intensity that the troops were enveloped in the smoke of battle ; and it was evident that Lee was exerting every effort to gain the Eoundtop Heights, from the summit of which a battery that had been drawn up the abrupt and stony sides with immense difficulty belched forth shell and canister into the corps of Longstreet. The skirmishers in our immediate front reported that the rebels were massing then- brigades for an assault upon the position held by the division ; and the men, without erecting breast- works, prepared to resist the onset : and every one, knowing the vital importance of the pending struggle, stood firmly upon his foot of ground, which he determined that he would never yield. The batteries and infantry which were posted on the extreme left were steadily driven towards the centre, and were rapidly moving half of a mile in the rear of the division before the yells and bullets of the enemy showed that the long-expected line was advancing. Soldiers who had 208 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. been forced to leave tbe ranks upon the exhausting marches continually rejoined their commands, and some without mus- kets were waiting to seize and use the arms of those who should be killed or disabled. A snake that rustled throuo;h the grass at this exciting moment was promptly despatched by a squad whose minds were not discomposed by the perilous state of affairs. The skirmishers fell back to the main line, which was calmly resting in the road, and holding its fire until the rebels should reach and attempt to climb a rail fence in front. The regular battery, planted upon the left of the regiment, decimated their ranks with terrible charges of canister, that swept the field again and again, and caused a cloud of dust ; and all thought that the repulse might be decisive. When the musketry riddled the house, a kitten, mewing piteously, ran from it, jumped upon the shoulders of one of the men, and remained there a few minutes during the fight. Before the regiment could deliver its volley, the companies about-faced in pursuance of the orders of some stupid general, and executed a right half-wheel under a severe fire, with as much regularity as if they had been upon parade, and thus abandoned the advantages of the strong line of defence in the road. The " stars and bars " of treason were visible when the infantry could not be seen ; and the column which had been shattered by the battery appeared in front, and began to shoot the gunners, who performed their duty with the utmost fidelity, and retired at last to escape the capture which seemed to be unavoidable. While the rebel standard -hearers THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 209 waved their colors, the officers beckoned with their drawn swords, the men with their hands exultingly pointed to the divisions that were flying from the left, and sought by their shouts and gestures to encourage the timid and quicken the march of the support, and the soldiers were constantly load- ino; and aimino; their rifles at the breasts of the members of the regiment, orders were duly transmitted from a blockhead, termed upon the muster-roll a brigadier-general, not to dis- charge a musket, because they ' ' would fire upon their own men ; " and the enemy was enabled in this way to cut down the ranks, and diminish the effect of the first volley. Candor compels me to admit that this mistake was excusable upon this ground, that the ofiicer from his standpoint, which was far in the rear, could not distinguish one line of battle from the other. The command was disregarded : the foe stood in groups of three or four, and the largo number of gaps or in- tervals which were not closed up revealed the extent of the slaughter ; and the survivors, always seeking, like Indians, a hiding-place, entered the road, sought the protection of a slight ridge, and their advance was entirely checked. A heavy mass of infantry appeared upon the right of the house at this glorious moment, and the new formation of the regiment exposed the line to an enfilading fire which was very destructive. The right of the brigade was not within the supporting distance of the second corps : the left of the di- vision had been forced to fall back, so that the troops were subjected in certain positions to volleys from thi-ee distinct 14 210 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. points, and the men slowly retreated, foot by foot ; wblle thou- sands, pierced by the deadly Minie balls, or torn asunder by the explosion of the infernal shell-bullet, fell, and saturated the plain with their blood. As soon as the bullets began to whistle, a general said to the orderly who carried the color of his brigade, which he supposed would attract notice and draw the fire of the enemy upon him, " Take away that flag ; " " Go to the rear with that flag ; " and the person who obeyed this di- rection remarked in stating it, " Faith, an' I was as willin' to run with it to the rear as he was to have me." The most de- moralizing results would have occurred if the troops had been now when this event took place ; but they were veterans, and the shameful misconduct of the officers who commanded them did not affact their constancy or firmness. The long distances over which the rebels marched to make their grand charge, and the serious losses which they sustained when they gained the Emmettsburo; Road, had reduced their numbers and strenoth, so that a vigorous attack upon their left flank by the second corps, the concentration of the batteries that were posted upon the interior lines, and the resistance of the troops that rallied, repulsed them at sunset. At this critical time, in obedience to a universal cry among the soldiers, " Charge on them ! " "Take our old ground! " the fragment of the brigade, with the colors of five regiments unfurled within the distance of one hundred feet, in the absence of its general, and against the orders of Gen. Humphreys, the division commander,, who vainly shouted, "Halt, halt! — stop those men!" pursued THE BATTLE OP GETTYSBURG. 211 the enemy half of a mile, captured several hundred prisoners, retook cannon that had been left upon the field, and assisted to achieve a conclusive success. Those who suffered from fatigue in retreating before a victorious foe until they could barely move recovered their strength when the circumstances were reversed, and they gladly ran to overtake the defeated force. Ten thousand of the dead and wounded of both armies were mingled together upon an open space of ground, less than three-r[uarters of a mile square ; and it was sometimes almost impossible to advance without walking upon the form that four hours before had been strong with life, and animated by its high hopes. The disabled Union soldiers and some of the enemy expressed their joy, and uttered many welcomes, when the troops followed the receding lines ; and there were cries, " Go in ! " '' Go in ! " " Drive them from the field ! " " I don't care for my wound, if we only whip them." The rebels told me that their generals and ofiicers said that thore was nothing in their front except a force of militia, which would run away at the first volley ; but this falsehood was detected as soon as the fighting commenced. They deceived others, who implored the national troops not to kill them. I observed one wounded youth about sixteen years of age, who was crying, and stated the cause of his grief, that " Gen. Lee always puts the Fifth Florida in the front." The batteries of the enemy were very active, and furrowed the field with shot and shell which mangled the bodies of the dead and dying ; and those who could move had crawled into 212 THE BATTLE OP GETTYSBURG. little gullies, or protected themselves behind the rocks, which ."were numerous. When the flying rebels disappeared behind the crest of the elevation near the Emmettsburg Road, mem- bers of both armies, who had thrown themselves upon the ground from exhaustion and other causes, and were 'stretched upon the plain apparently lifeless, rose uninjured in every direction. The enemy had examined the officers, and sent to the rear as prisoners those on whom they found no wounds. The Union soldiers immediately inspected every man that wore the butternut uniform, and discovered many who were feigning severe bodily injuries by uttering groans and similar devices. Squads seemed to be terror-stricken, and dodged or crouched upon the earth whenever the shells that were fired by their batteries exploded near them. This reverse was so unexpected by Lee, that three pieces of artillery upon the left of the regiment, which had been abandoned when the troops that supported them were forced from their position, had not been removed, and were captured by the troops; and one was retaken, together with twenty rebels, who had pushed it about one hundred yards. The prisoners assisted those who were pulling the cannon from the field, and gladly rushed with it to the reserve to escape the storm of shot. The wounded that were not utterly helpless slowly travelled to the hospital ; and the ambulance corps, with the exception of a few faithful stretcher-bearers, did not render any aid to the others. One of the staff arrived, and stated that a brigadier-general THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 213 had decided to establish a new line of battle about a mile in the rear, but was unable to find his regiments, and delivered an order for the ranks to return at once to that point. The men were very indignant, because they wished to enjoy that rest which is so precious to every soldier, — a sleep upon the field which they had won by their bravery ; and . an ofl&cer said, " Tell the general, that, if he will come to the front, he will find his commands with their colors ; and, if he was not such a d — d coward, he would be here with them." They groped their way through the obscurity of the darkness, and passed by the first line, which was posted half of a mile from the Eramettsburg Road ; and many of the troops were resting their rifles upon the rail-fence, and awaited an attack from the foe that was every minute anticipated ; while the latter were dreading an onset by the pursuing forces. The halt was ordered for the night at ten, p.m. ; a quietness that was rarely broken by the vigilant sharpshooters continued until morning ; but the hiimble heroes of the day, not satisfied with their deeds of valor, requested leave from the general to go upon the field and succor their wounded comrades. The exigencies of the situation required their presence with the division : and the members of a small detail from each regi- ment took the canteens of those who slept, and carried the precious water, for which there was a universal cry, and bore the suflTering to the hospitals in blankets and upon muskets and rails ; while the chief portion of the ambulance corps was secluded in safe positions. Squads of rebels, who wandered 214 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. over the plain upon a similar mission, strayed inside of tlie pickets, who captured them ; but released one man, who said, " I am your prisoner, if you say so ; but I am giving water to all that ask for it," and allowed him to continue his philan- thropic labors. A stretcher-bearer was badly wounded ; and some surgeons expressed gi-eat surprise, and seemed to speak in terms of censure, because, unlike the majority of his rank, be had performed his duty upon the field, and incurred the dangers which were incident to the same. Among the few Southern politicians, who fought on the battle-field for the diabolical treason which they had incul- cated in the National Congress, was Barksdale of Mississippi, who led his brigade in the charge, and was mortally wounded within a short distance of the second line of batteries. He told the nurses of the regiment who were near him that he did not wish for any care, because he knew that he must die ; and spoke of his family and home ; and made only one allu- sion to the army, when he remarked, " Gen. Lee will clean you out of this place to-morrow." Major-Gen. Sickles, who was esteemed for his fearlessness by the corps which he com- manded, received a severe wound in the leg, which was am- putated. The officers of high rank, who criticised in such strong and unqualified language his conduct in advancing to the front and fighting the enemy instead of evading the onset, and sought to injure his reputation with the army and the people, would have displayed more wisdom and patriotism if they had adopted his policy in this respect, and remem- THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 215 bered the maxim, that "errors of forwardness are forgiven, not backwardness." The number of killed and wounded in this contest was very large : more than one-half of the divi- sion was disabled ; eight color-bearers of the regiment fell ; while the flag passed from one to another, and was never lowered ; and the company to which I was assigned, which had thirty muskets at the commencement of the action, lost nineteen men by the bullet, seven of whom died of their injuries. A part of the line upon the right had been forti- fied, and breastworks were constructed at other points during the night. The rebel artillery opened with the dawn of daybreak, at half-past three, a.m., upon July 3, and continued their fire with unusual accuracy for an hour, at the position which was held by the left centre. The third shot exploded a caisson in the battery which was planted upon the left of the regi- ment; and fragments of wheels, and the woodwork, balls, and shells, ascended in a cloud of smoke and flame about one hundred feet into the air, and reminded me of the pictures which represent the eruption of a volcano. The division marched to the rear at eight, a.m., and was ordered to "ground arms " in the forest; and remained in a state of readiness to move to any point which might be assailed. Rations were issued, and greedily devoured ; and no one wlio perceived the stillness that ruled at ten, a.m., would have imagined that two large armies confronted each other with the deadliest weapons of modern warfare in their hands. 216 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. The concentrated batteries of the enemy opened at one, p.m., and shook the earth for an hour and a half with the terrific cannonade, — " Whose roar Embowelled with outrageous noise the air." Lee had once more massed his infantry, and determined to make another desperate effort to pierce the left centre ; and the division double-quicked to support those who occupied the earthworks in the front. The adjutant of one regiment, who noticed that his weak horse could not move as rapidly as the troops, dismounted, and ran to the scene of action, while he waved his sword with one hand, and led his steed with the other. The lines were formed at half-past three, p.m., and rested upon the ground, about six paces apart, during the conflict in which the fearful assault was triumphantly re- pelled; and Pickett's division was actually "cut to pieces" with spherical case-shot, canister, and lead. " Grim-visaged war" had suddenly appeared upon the field in which the division was aligned : the peach-orchards, flower-gardens, plats of green grass, and the golden harvest, pleased the eye, while the ear was entertained by the cackhng of hens and chickens, and the squeals of pigs in the neigh- boring sty. The range of the rebel cannon was deadly ex- act ; and different shells struck six men who occupied in suc- cession the same place in the ranks ; and the houses, barns, cellars, and yards were crowded with the wounded soldiers, who received accessions to their numbers during every min- THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 217 ute. " Look out for that solid sbot ; don't stop it ! " exclaimed a lieutenant, when the ball was rolling upon the ground towards the brigade; and a group of men in each regi- ment rose up, and left an interval through which it passed ; but the spherical case-shot, which scattered scores of cast-iron bullets when it exploded, could not be avoided in this easy manner, and was very destructive. The Whitworth guns threw their bolts a long distance ;• and the reports, unhke those of other cannon, could not be heard ; and the pecuhar humming of the shot would be the first intimation of the discharge. Two soldiers in front of me were wounded by a piece of a gun-barrel, and others were lacerated by spikes. An ar- tillerist, who was besmeared with blood, limped to the rear, and caused much laughter by his original and frightful oaths. The most amusing spectacle that I witnessed was a frightened brigadier-general, who sat in a wheelbarrow near a fence, dodged the missiles which did not come near him, and seemed to shrink to about one-third of his natural size. " Lie down ! " " Lie down ! " was the invariable order for those who were not engaged with the enemy ; and at one time, when two rebel caissons burst, Kearney's old division, which had been invisible, jumped upon their feet in front, uttered loud cheers, and then disappeared, apparently into the bowels of the earth. It rose again, when three thousand prisoners of the assailing horde were captured ; and hundreds of hands pointed towards them before they were discerned by the brigade ; and the soldiers turned their backs upon the 218 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. foe in the midst of tlie shelling, as they gazed at the force which followed the roads to the rear with their colors. The black clouds overhung the sky during this jfierce encounter ; but the sun burst forth when the brilliant victory had been won, and cheered the wounded with its enlivening beams. The rebels were dispirited by the repulses upon the 2d and 3d; called the plain a "slaughter-pen;" declared that fur- ther fighting was useless ; and some, who considered Jackson their " very heart of hope," mournfully said, " We have not got Stonewall with us now." They related the following in- cident regarding Amistead, who commanded a brigade, and was killed in the unsuccessful charge. He skulked behind the trunk of a poplar-tree, in one of the battles before Rich- mond ; and, as they advanced upon the open plain, several men who disliked him shouted, "There are no poplar-trees to get behind now; " and he replied to their taunts by say- ing, "Before this charge is ended, you will wish that there were some poplar-trees here." Some fields upon which the wheat flourished became the centre of conflict ; the spires were trampled into the earth, and it was impossible to find one that was standing. Details were employed upon the forenoon of the 4th in burying the dead, and relieving the wants of the wounded, many of whom had remained upon the field nearly forty-eight hours, and were exposed to the perils of the sanguinary encounter which took place over their bodies. The rebel sharpshooters fired at all the fatigue-par- ties, and often shot at those who sought to alleviate their THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 219 own comrades, that languished upon the ground within the lim- its of the Union lines, and could not be assisted by their friends. The supply of food, from some unknown cause, was deficient in the field-hospitals ; and an application was made to the enlisted men in behalf of the wounded, and every soldier contributed liberally from his scanty store of rations. Expe- rience in battle soon proved that the weapons manufactured in the United States were superior to those which were im- ported from foreign countries ; and one regiment in the bri- gade, that bivouacked near a stack of several thousand arms which had been collected upon the field, threw aside their Belgian rifles, and selected those of the Springfield pattern. A member of a Pennsylvania regiment, who was at one stage of the conflict skirmishing upon his father's fai'm, near the house in which he was born, while the enemy held a position at the barn, refused to be relieved from his post of duty when the company was ordered to rejoin its command. Little did he dream that the strong arm and loyal heart which had con- tended against the foes of his country in the solitudes of Virginia would one day be required to attack them amidst the familiar scenes of his youth and home, and battle there with a courage which could never falter. All knew at noon that Lee had retreated ; because the bands, clerks, and other non-combatants, arrived from the rear ; and strains of music, intermingled with cheers, resounded along the lines from Wolf Hill to Koundtop. The citizens, who deserted their houses when Lee ap- 220 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. preached, returned, with their large families of small children, in haycarts and similar vehicles, which were followed by the horses, cattle, and swine which they had wisely taken away with them, and found in several instances merely a pile of bricks, and some charred wood in the cellar. Although a few of the inhabitants manifested a strong sympathy, and said, " Destroy our property, but drive away the rebels, and we are satisfied," Gen. Hayes, a gallant Pennsylvanian, who fell in the Wilderness, asserted in my hearing, that " the people who live on the border, in the vicinity of Gettysburg, are as base traitors as can be found in Virginia." Another officer from the same State remarked to me, " These Dutch farmers care for nothing except their cabbages; and, if they can make money out of Lee's army, they don't care how long they stay here." These tight-fisted miscreants, taking advantage of the necessities of the wounded, obtahied a dollar for a loaf of bread or quart of milk ; named a price for water and bandages ; and, in the absence of most of the ambulances, conveyed them in their miserable wagons from the hospitals to the railroad depot, and demanded the most exorbitant amounts for their services. The clergymen and other prominent civilians of Gettysburg published a card in the newspapers, and boldly denied the truth of statements of this character ; but I throw into the scales of justice the un- broken testimony of sixty thousand soldiers of the Army of the Potomac. The force of Lee, which had been so recently flushed with THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 221 the thought of Southern mdependence and the hopes of plundering the great cities of the North, retreated upon the night of the 4th from their earthworks, and abandoned thousands of the wounded, who were jilaced in the houses of the people upon the roads. The cavalry, led by its gallant commanders, at once commenced the pursuit; harassed the flanks and rear-guard of the enemy, and captured the trains of wagons : but the movement of the infantry was delayed, and the corps listened to the dim reports of the flying artillery of Buford, Kilpatrick, and Oregg, but did not march for three days, although it was under orders "to be ready to start at a second's notice." The bugle at midnight awoke the soldiers, who were sleeping upon the huge rocks in the woods ; and the troops, binding cords and straps around the legs of the pants to prevent chafing, advanced, and marched upon the road to Eramettsburg at 2 J, a.m. , of the 7th. A gen- eral and certain mounted officers, who always procured govern- ment animals when a conflict was imminent, rode again upon their private steeds, which had been brought from the rear ; but the majority considered that the most valuable horses were required at such a time, when the gain of a few seconds might change the history of an engagement. A brigadier remarked, in alluding to this fact, " I had two horses shot under me, and lost $1,200 at the battle of Gettysburg ; but, if I had possessed twenty, that number would have been needed to keep in their places the cowardly regiment," which was composed of ill-disciplined foreigners. The trees 222 THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. and houses for some distance bore the scars of the battle : many breastworks of rails and earth had been constracted to shelter the rebel lines ; pits had been dug ; and structures of small stones had been erected for their sharpshooters ; and the right flank of Lee's army was protected by a formidable field-work, which had been ingeniously covered with branches, bushes, and transplanted savins, to conceal the troops and batteries, and deceive the distant Federal observer. "When all the facts attending this battle are fully iander- stood, the historian will award the highest praise to the courage of the rank and file and the skill of the suborduiate officers, and ascribe to Gen. Meade a very small degree of the honor for this decisive triumph. The conflict of July 1 was fought during his absence : the first corps captured a large number of prisoners ; but the death of the accomplished Gen. Reynolds, and the re-enforcements which arrived for the foe, enabled Ewell to force the Union troops from their position, and drive them through the streets of Gettysburg. Gen. Howard had posted a division of the eleventh corps in reserve at Cemetery Hill ; and this ofiicer, assisting Gen. Hancock, who had the sole command, together with Generals Warren, Buford, and others, who noticed the great natural strength of the ridge, formed the divisions of the various corps upon the ri^ht and left of it ; and thus the wise selection of the battle- field, a matter of the highest importance, which requires the exercise of the finest military judgment, was the result of a defeat. A part of this line, which these brilliant oflacers THE BATTLE OP GETTYSBURG. 223 established while the commander of the army was several miles in the rear, was changed upon the 2d by Gen. Sickles, without any orders ; and the enemy for two days vainly assailed the gallant forces that held the original ground. During the gigantic struggle, Gen. Meade neither attacked the rebels, nor pursued them when they were completely shattered and had fled in confusion, but acted solely upon the defensive ; and his able subordinates and their brave soldiers sowed, while he reaped, the harvest of martial glory which was produced by then- successful labors upon the plains of Gettysburg. CHAPTER Xin. THE MARCH TO WILLIAMSPORT, MANASSAS GAP, AND CULPEPER COURT HOUSE. /^'^kj^'HE corps marched daily, from the seventh until the twelfth, throuo-h the beautiful scenes which have '€ been described, and hourly received the sincere welcomes of the loyal citizens of Western Maryland. Severe storms frequently occurred, and affected in certain places the condition of the roads to such an extent that the wheels of the artillery and long trains of wagons made them impassable for the infantry that usually moved across the fields. A general, who sought to shield his acts of cowardice in the presence of the enemy by a display of arbitrary authori- ty upon the march, stationed his staff to guard the bridges, and compelled the men to wade through the streams which often intersected the pathway, without allowing them any time to remove shoes or clothing. This, with the exception of the infernal conduct of a commander who exposed the sol- diers to the deadly rays of the Southern sun, or marched them for hours without a halt, is the surest mode of torturing them, or exhausting their energies; because the feet are quickly blistered, and a lameness ensues which cannot be healed for 224 225 a long period. The Seventh New- York Regiment, which was encamped at Frederick City, and was the first force of militia that had been seen by the troops that performed the fight- ing, was greeted with derisive shouts by the veterans that belonged to the same city and State. Suspended to the limb of a tree which grew near the town was the body of a spy that had been hung by Gen. Buford, who acted promptly in this matter, without waiting for orders from the authorities at Washington. The collectors of relics had stripped the bark from the ti-unk, and taken from his person every rag except the portion of his clothing which was firmly held around his neck by the tent cord ; and most of the old soldiers recognized him as one who had sold newspapers and maps to the army. A captain in the regi- ment took off his shoes, and gave them to a notorious skulker who had alleged this pretext, and evaded the battle of Gettys- burg, so that the man would have no similar excuse for his cowardice in the next conflict. The division marched over the battle-ground of the South-Mountain Pass upon the ninth, when — *' The shades of night were falling fast; " and the color-bearers, who carried the blue silk flags of the Excelsior Brigade that formed the advance, reminded one of — " A youth who bore, 'mid snow and ice, A banner with the strange device,— Excelsior I " "Here Gen. Reno fell," was the simple inscription upon a 15 226 MANASSAS GAP, CULPEPER COURT HOUSE. plain rock near the road, wliicb marked the spot on which America lost one of her greatest officers ; and it is a melan- choly fact, that he was killed by the excited members of a new regiment who delivered a volley in the night. Upon July 12, the Army of the Potomac confronted Lee, who had concentrated his troops at Williamsport : the rolls of the companies were called once in two hours, and the usual arrangements were made for the battle which was every moment anticipated. The correspondents of the press misrepresent the facts nine times in ten when they assert that veterans are anxious to fight ; but upon this day the soldiers who bore muskets wished to hear the commands, " Take arms," and ** Charge," because they knew then, what is conceded now, that it would have captured all the cannon, materiel, and men from the enemy, and finished the Rebellion without a hard contest or a large loss of valuable lives. When I recall the emphatic language that was used by rebel prisoners who were subsequently taken, refugees, civilians who were seized and detained to prevent them from communicating this infor- mation, and Union soldiers who escaped from their lines or were released and exchanged, I boldly state that nine-tenths of the officers and men of both armies would assent to this startling proposition, because I never heard one of them deny it. Lee had exhausted immense quantities of ammunition in the terrible combat at Gettysburg ; many of his caissons and magazines did not contain a cartridge ; and his horde could not withstand any onset. His men, disheartened by the knowl- THE MARCH TO WILLTAMSPORT, 227 edge of this fact and their heavy losses, -wearied hy the anxiety and severity of the hurried march upon the retreat, and unable to ford the Rappahannock, which separated them from the base of their supplies, earnestly prayed that they could touch the soil of Virginia before the victorious Yankees arrived. The national soldiers, thoroughly equipped and fur- nished with sufficient ammunition ; animated by the glorious triumphs of Gettysburg, the surrender of Vicksburg, the re- pulse at Helena, and the success which crowned the cause in every section of the country ; knowing the perilous circum- stances of the disorganized mass in their front, and that a battle fought at this point would prevent an almost endless tramp, besides numberless conflicts in the disagreeable wildernesses of Virginia, — wished with a united voice to be led to the work of carnage. The mountains, which the archangel Michael, — "Of celestial armies prince," — wielded with such supernatural power when he crushed the hosts of Satan and Belial, were potent weapons in the all- powerful hands of Nature to assist the Union columns. The rain daily surcharged the springs that bubbled in the forests of oak upon the heights, and sent upwards slender clouds of vapor to stand in the air like sentinels, and point out to the national soldiers that were marching in the valleys, the abodes of their allies ; while a thousand overflowing rivulets rushed down the steep sides of the lofty hills, enlarged their banks, 228 MANASSAS GAP, CULPEPER COURT HOUSE. removed the bridges and works of man wiiicli attempted to cheek the currents, and poured their waters into the Potomac until they had placed a stronger barrier than redoubts of earth or forts of stone in the rear of the "armed files " of treason, who were held day after day upon the fields of Williamsport, and threatened to ingulf them whenever they fled before the avenging bayonets and rifled ordnance of the Northern forces. Gen. Meade, disregarding the wise advice of the heroes of Gettysburg, the fearless officers of the cavalry, and the gene- rals that have been mentioned in terms of praise in the pre- ceding chapter, read the bombastic address which Lee posted upon the walls of Hagarstown, listened to the counsels of the timid and irresolute, was "afraid to strike." The stream sub- sided, and the golden opportunity was lost forever. The bri- gade advanced upon the morning of the llth, and occupied the breastwork which had been erected by those who were posted in the extreme front ; while three lines of battle marched over the bluff without opposition, and resembled in the dis- tance the waves that roll over the ledges of a "rock-bound coast." A few slight pits for the infantry and sharpshooters were encountered, but they had been hastily constructed for show, and not actual service ; while a number of men of straw appeared to be guarding the deserted ground. Deep gloom pervaded the army as soon as it was ascertained that Lee had been allowed to escape destruction ; and, so eager were the soldiers to attack the enemy at this point, the reports of Gen. Kilpatrick's cannon at twelve, m., produced cheers of exulta- 229 tion. For a long time the most awful curses were uttered in connection with the names of Meade and certain generals who opposed the assault. Six months after this shameful failure, I heard the shouts of some men, "Who voted against the attack at Williamsport ? " "The drunkard !" "The traitor ! " and noticed one of these obnoxious corps com- manders, who was reeling to and fro upon his horse. Several hundred lank and careworn prisoners, more than one-half of whom had no shoes, passed by the bivouac under guard ; and one of them remarked as he pointed to a negro who was ar- rayed in the rebel uniform, " That is a Georgia' cotton-pick- ing nigger who would bring sixteen hundred dollars ; but I will sell him to you now for a loaf of bread." The troops m the field diminished rapidly from losses by battle, exposure, and desertion; and a division, which was com- posed of the garrisons of forts at Baltimore, "Washington, and Harper's Ferry, that had never seen a skirmish, contained six regiments with seven thousand men, while the forty-two regi- ments of the veteran divisions of Hooker and Kearney pre- sented for duty about six thousand men. The brigade marched upon the 15th across the field of Antietam : the soil wliich had been fertilized with the blood and bones of the slain bore bountiful harvests of wheat and corn ; and the peace- ful yeoman gathered the life-preserving grain upon the spot where, ten months before, death wielded his terrible sickle. A portion of the forest, which had been felled upon the crest of the mountain that towered above the battlc-in'ound, formed 230 MANASSAS GAPj CULPEPER COURT HOUSE. an open space which the people called " McClellan's look-out," because that general viewed from this commanding height the conflict which raged beneath him. Although the foe was south of the Potomac, and there was no necessity for a forced movement, the corps was marched for seventeen miles, at the utmost rate of speed, from seven, a.m., till two, p.m. ; when it halted for the day in the open field which was enclosed by pleasant woods that were reserved for the use of the generals and their stafis and horses. The sun diffused rays of fire ; many raved in the delmum of its deadly stroke by the road- side ; and some surgeons rode by the unfortunate victims with- out proffering their services, because they belonged to another command. The brigade reached the ruined sti-uctm-es of Hai-per's Fer- ry, which nestled in the midst of the most picturesque and ro- mantic scenery, and crossed the Potomac at eight, p.m., on the 17th, upon a pontoon bridge that was supported by twenty- five lx)ats, and the wire bridge that spanned the Shenandoah. The first woman that I saw upon the southern bank repeateil several tunes the characteristic wish, " I hope you will all get bullets in your heads;" which elicited from the soldiers a general reply, '• How natural that sounds in Virginia I " No - pi-operty was protected in the States of Maryland and Penn- sylvania, and the loyal citizens never uttered a murmur about the conduct of the men who conquered the foe at Gettysburg ; but guards were placed upon the houses of rebels and gueril- las as soon as the Union forces crossed the river. A vasrue 231 order was issued, allowing the soldiers to " take the top rail ;" and a liberal construction was put upon this command, the qualifying word being considered a relative term ; and each one was seized until the whole fence had disappeared, and the bottom became the " top rail " of the glowing camp- fires. The corps held the right, and daily advanced along the base of the Blue Ridge, which separated tlie two armies, until Manassas Gap was occupied upon the 23d. All were inspir- ed by the beauty of the mountains, the heights that receded at the gap, the variegated forest which adorned them, and the exhilarating atmosphere ; but an ugly and degraded race of A^irginians lived upon the slopes, waylaid the stragglers, and murdered the weary soldier who slept in the cabin in which he had been insnared by their hypocritical welcomes. The troops were always stupidly placed in the cleared sections of the country ; and a citizen of one of the villages said that the rebel scouts upon the hills easily counted the divisions and noticed their positions, and repeated some of their state- ments, which showed an accurate knowledge in these respects. IMany cripples were seen in the towns, who had lost their limbs while they were fighting against the national flag ; and they invariably stated that they had been injured by reaping or farming machines. The blackberries were abundant ; and ^ the fields which bordered upon the roads were covered with soldiers searching for them, whenever a halt was ordered. The people with scarcely an exception were rebels; and, while money would not tempt them to sell food, a small quantity 232 MANASSAS GAP, CULPEPER COURT HOUSE. of coffee overcame every scruple ; and certain commissaries and similar officers made large profits by illegally selling the gov- ernment rations. A general gratified his tyrannical disposi- tion by sending the pioneers in advance of his command to cut down and destroy all "foot bridges," so that the men would be compelled to wade through the numerous streams that intersected the road, and endure the suffering which al- ways followed ; while the scene highly entertained him and his staff. A woman in a village complained that a certain general treated her worse than the privates of his brigade ; but cheat- ing ignorant people in making change, or obtaining baskets and dishes by promising to return them when their contents bad been consumed, were laughed over as splendid jokes at his headquarters. The column moved five hours upon the 23d near the Ma- nassas-Gap Railroad, which had been completely destroyed; and one resident near Piedmont made an ornamental iron fence of the rails which had been heated and bent in the centre. The utter depravity of the Southern slaveholder was daily revealed : a man who stood at the gate of his house, in reply to a question, answered, " There have been no rebels in this place within six months ; " while his wife, who was in the kitchen, said, " A portion of Lee's army passed the day before yesterday." While the column was fording a broad stream that was knee-deep, a general (for whom, viewed as an officer or man, no one entertained any respect) vainly ordered the soldiers of his command to march in another place, and shout- 233 ed to an officer as lie pointed to a hole in the road where the water was four feet in depth, "Lieutenant, you go through there." No delay would have been allowed; and this lieuten- ant, knowing that the rations and ammunition of his compa- ny would be ruined if this useless order was obeyed, did not deviate from his course, and, by refusing to walk through cold, soon found himself in hot water, and was placed in arrest. A coiu't-martial convened three weeks after this event ; and al- though the general committed perjury, and testified among other falsehoods that " the brook in the deepest part of it was not six inches deep," witnesses of inferior rank, but superior courage, honor, and voracity, contradicted his evidence ; and his chagrin can be imagined when the subaltern returned to duty, and received no punishment. The corps relieved the cavalry at Manassas Gap, and the rebels held possession of a part of it ; while the rear-guard of Lee's army, whicli had marched from Winchester, passed from the valley to Culpeper Court House. Their skirmish- ers deployed at four, p.m., upon the crest of a high hill in front, which was the key of the position, and from which they were quickly driven, when the Union lines, more than a mile and a hslf in length, advanced. A number purposely re- mained to be taken prisoners ; and one of them said, " I am all right now." The soldiers in the extreme front moved forward with their usual coolness, picking and eating berries, and loading and filing then- muskets as they clambered up the heights. The eyes were dazzled by the loveliness of the view 234 from this point : bill rose above bill ; tbe mountains cbanged tbeir hues from green to tbe ligbtest sbacle of blue, until tbey became invisible ; and tbe fields of wheat, witb tbeir rows of oats, looked like a vast network of gold in tbe valley tbrougb wbicb tbe Sbenandoab flowed. Tbe trains of tbe enemy could be discerned in tbe distance upon one side of tbe moun- tains, wbile tbe Army of tbe Potomac was marching towards tbe gap ; and Gen. Meade said in a tone of confidence, " We have got them foul now; to-mon-ow we will attack them." A corps commander, who was drunk, and scarcely able to re- tain tbe seat upon bis horse, rode along tbe lines, accompanied by most of his staff, including tbe non-combatants ; and re- marks like these arose: "There are no rebels here;" ''There won't be any fighting to-night;" and tbe men felt perfectly safe wbile tbey were present witb them. The soldiers rested upon a bed of rocks during the night ; and tbe division witb a squadron of cavalry and a battery made a reconnoissance in tbe morning of the 24tb, dis- covered that tbe enemy bad vanished from tbeir position, and marched in pursuit to Front Royal, upon tbe road which was easily traced by noticing tbe newspapers, bags of ammunition, flour, and half-baked biscuits, which bad been cast aside du- ring the flight. Tbe wounded were uncared for ; the dead were unburied; and a faithful bound bowled in the most mournful manner over the body of his master in the forest near AVapping Heights. A battery threw three shells at the bead of tbe column at nine and a half, a.m. : tbe brigade at THE MARCH TO WILLIAMSPORT, 235 once filed to the right of the road, formed a line of battle iu the woods, and waited for further orders. A small hill which rose abruptly in front interfered with the view in that direc- tion : and, after the skirmishers had advanced, aides and other officers boldly rode upon the crest, and examined the ground ; while a general who showed base cowardice upon every occasion of danger timidly stood upon the slope, so that his eyes could barely see the position, and, repeating his ignoble conduct at Gettysburg, told the color-bearer of his brigade to "goto the rear.'* When the troops were ordered to move forward, this general was attacked by a dis- ease which might be truly tenned a case of indisposition ; and the command devolved upon a lieutenant-colonel, who shouted the orders in a loud voice which might have been heard by the entire force of both armies. The first height was passed without opposition ; and the men expected to receive a volley from the thick woods that crowned another hill which was beyond it, until the skirmishers reported t^at the rebel cavaby were racing through the streets of Front Royal. When those in the rear learned this fact, the general, whose recovery had been as sudden as his illness, resumed his place amidst a thousand half-suppressed' mutters and curses about the " cow- ard " and " playing sick." The column halted at this point an hour ; retraced its steps at one and a half, p.m. ; bivouacked near Piedmont ; and en- camped at Beverly Ford upon Aug. 1, after a number of marches. The rebel generals issued orders forbiddmg their 236 MAXASSAS GAP, CULPEPER COUET HOUSE. soldiers to ask any questions concerning the towns through which they passed; and it is stated that Jackson always halted at the cross-roads at night, so that they would be un- able to decide which route he would take in the morning. No such restrictions existed in the Union army ; and the in- habitants were plied with inqunies, '' What is the name of the next place ? " or, " How far is it from here ? " One sagacious native of Salem, not wishing to be annoyed in this way, ren- dered a seryice by holding upon his knees a signboard, upon which all could read, " Warrenton, 13 miles." The regiment had marched four hundred and ten miles from June 11 to Aug. 1, and seldom bivouacked two successive nights upon the same ground ; and the rest at Beverly Ford was veiy desirable. The soldiers carried knapsacks when the grand movement commenced at Falmouth ; but at this time most of them had a small roll, and did not possess more than one shirt, which was washed and worn again as soon as it was diy. The daily routine of camp-duty was resumed ; and the regi- ment furnished details to picket upon the Rappahannock near Freeman's Ford, where it was only forty feet in width and about two feet deep. The people who had transported then- cattle, hay, and grain to the South to supply the rebel ai-my, applied with their usual assurance to the commissary for ra- tions to save themselves from starvation. They had sent away the few negroes who tad not escaped to the North ; and the able-bodied whites were fighting under Lee, so that la- borers could not be procured to take charge of their estates ; 237 and the provost-guard was ordered to protect them. During the winter they had filled the ice-houses, which are usually built near- the mansions of the wealthy, for the use of the sick arifl wounded in the hospitals at Richmond ; and the luxury was confiscated for the benefit of the Union soldiers. A party of negroes ran away from Culpeper Court House ; and, within half of an hour after they had escaped across the Rappahan- nock, four blood-hounds, following their footsteps, appeared upon the opposite bank, and were shot by the pickets. Re- connoissances were frequently made, and several engagements took place at Bran«ly Station between the cavaby forces of both armies ; and, upon Aug. 4, the puffs of smoke from the cannon and exploding shells mingled with tS^JOuds, and the reports of the artillery clashed with the reverberations of thunder during a severe storm. The Blue Ridge was unob- scured by its drapery of vapor upon the following day. In the language of the residents, " The mountain took off its night-cap," and the rain ceased. An officer of the day di- rected a captain to examine that part of the river which was guarded by the division, and ascertain, if possible, the num- ber of points at which it could be forded. The clothes of the officer were thoroughly drenched with water when he returned in the afternoon, and reported that he had waded in the cen- tre of the stream nearly a mile, narrowly escaped drowning, and stated the results of his unforeseen method ortounding the Rappahannock. The camps witnessed an affecting spectacle upon the 14th. 238 MANASSAS GAP, CULPEPER COURT HOUSE. The veterans of many honorable battles — the officers and men of Kearney's and Hooker's divisions of the third corps — contributed their pay for one day to purchase for Gen. Sic- kles, their gallant and disabled commander, a carriage, hors6s, and harness, as an expression of their respect ; and, when the v/ounded returned from the hospitals, they would not be paci- fied until their names were added to the long list. The good opinion of these brave soldiers — of one man who bore a mus- ket, and had seen and admired his conduct at Chancellors- ville and Gettysburg — was of far greater weight than the carping of generals who sat in their chairs of ease and safety at Washington. The cheers of such voices, and especially those from the ranks, will resound through future centuries, while the contemptible sneers at Gen. Sickles and the heroes of Newberne and Lookout Mountain are imperceptible. A squad of two hundred substitutes (there was not one conscript among them) was assigned to the regiment after tattoo on the 23d ; and the utmost vigilance was required to retain them within the limits of the camp. A more motley crowd was never inspected. Every nation and occupation was represented : thieves, organ-grinders, garoters, and New- York rioters, formed a majority ; and all, with a few excep- tions, intended to desert at the first opportunity, to obtain another bounty. Twenty or thirty had been daily tied up by the thumbs during the voyage ; some had been shot while they were swimming to the shore ; and others, by a system of general pillage, accumulated amounts that exceeded two thou- THE MARCH TO WILLIAMSPORT, 239 sand dollars. IMany had deserted from various branches of the service, and understood the manual of arms and the com- pany movements. It had been announced that five bounty- jumpers would be shot in the fifth corps upon the 29th ; and the day was awaited with the deepest impatience by the ojfi- cers, who could not be held responsible for a lax state of dis- cipline if the villains were pardoned by the President, and by the substitutes who made preparations to leave if the execu- tion was postponed. The miserable wretches were marched to the ground where five graves had been dug two hours be- fore the fatal moment : each man Djpzed upon his last resting- place, and then returned to the prison. The fifth corps was formed under arms upon the field, besides squads of con- scripts who were under guard ; and most of the third corps were present as spectators. The band of the regiment played the "dead march" while the procession was moving to the scene ; and each prisoner, with his hands manacled behind him, walked in the rear of his coffin, which was carried by four soldiers, and placed in front of the grave. Two were Jews, and two were Roman Catholics ; and the rabbi and priest who accompanied them had a dispute about precedence, and urged their respective claims upon theological tenets ; but the commander of the provost-guard viewed the subject in a military light, and decided the novel question by allow- ing the rabbi to walk first, because his faith was the oldest and outranked the other. The last solemn rites were cele- 240 brated ; each culprit sat upon his coffin ; their eyes were ban- daged ; within a second the bullets from fifty muskets pierced them, and soon fire mounds of earth covered their bodies. The orders to march at sunset upon Sept. 15 were so un- expected, that a wagon loaded with evergreen and boughs for headquarters passed by the camp while the "general" was beating, and the soldiers were striking tents and packing up their effects. The column moved at half-past seven, r.M. ; but a major-general was intoxicated ; great confusion pre- vailed in consequence of conflicting orders ; and the division marched in a circle throu^ the woods, hour after hour, until one, A. 31., of the ICth ; and actually halted for the remainder of the night, at the end of this most tiresome and needless gyi'ation, within an eighth of a mile of the quarters which had been abandoned. It was a mile and a half to the ford at which the crossing should have been made ; and a large number of officers and men could have pointed out the place without any difficulty, and avoided this over-exertion. The troops, at an early hour upon the 16th, forded the Rappahan- nock, which was knee-doep ; and subsequently ITazel Eun, which was hip-deep ; and Gen. Prince, a most exemplary offi- cer, who commanded the division, was placed in arrest because he allowed them to remove their shoes or boots when they travelled through the water. The enemy retreated south of the Eapidan ; and the camp of the regiment was located, upon the 17th, about a mile in the rear of Culpeper Court House. ETC. 241 The cold often interrupted sleep at tMs season, before the oc- cupation of the winter barracks ; and the fires would be sur- rounded by groups of shivering soldiers, two or three hours before twilight. 16 CHAPTER XIY. TO CENTREVILLE, AND BACK TO CULPEPER COURT HOUSE. CULPEPER COURT HOUSE consisted of desert- ed buildings with broken windows ; empty stores ; a few destitute natives ; a jail, and similar institu- tions ; and four churches, from which the pews had been removed to render them fit for occupation by the sick and wounded soldiers. The commanding heights, the Blue Ridge, and Cedar Mountain, which is known among the natives by the common family name of " Slaughter," which the disgraceful blunders of the battle made very appropriate, rose in the front, and surrounded the city. The most stringent commands were issued to the members of the brigade to prevent them ft-om taking the fences of a notorious rebel, an Ex-M.C, upon whose grounds the camp had been estab- lished : a large force was detailed to guard them, and four written orders were read to the men upon this subject in the course of half an hour. The troops of Lee's army did not injure the property when they bivouacked in the same field ; and I fiolved the perplexing problem regarding this singular conduct, when I ascertained that the wealthy owner was the 242 243 father-in-law of one of the generals of the Union army. The quartermasters and teamsters of one division pitched their tents and parked their wagons in a centetery ; and some of these unfeeling non-combatants levelled the mounds of earth to secure a better floor for their shelters. The health of a num- ber of substitutes in this brief period seemed to be as frail as tlieir reputation for honor ; for some of them were crippled or unsound in an organ of sense ; one was so blind that he was always piloted in the night by seizing the end of a musket, while a faithful comrade ' carried the other ; black hair grad- ually lost its color, and the white head of a person too old for any service appeared ; and two died of consumption within a month after their arrival. The military position was unchanged until Oct. 8, when the division was detailed for special duty, and marched to James City to support Gen. Kilpatrick during the skirmishes between the cavahy. The rebel camp-fires burned at night with their usual brilliancy ; the tents and shelters were not removed ; the pickets maintained a strong force at the same fords upon the Rapidan ; while Lee moved his army upon "circuitous and concealed roads," and intended to pass by the right flank, and rush to the strong position of Centreville. The observing eyes of the signal-corps, who were posted u])on the summits of the mountains, promptly discovered this inge- nious design. The infantry acted as a support for the cav- alry ; aiid general quietness reigned until three, p.m., of tlie 10th, when a brisk skirmish commenced that did not cease 244 TO CENTREVILLE, AND until night, and the enemy was completely foiled. In the mean while, the cars were loaded with stores, and sent to Alexandria ; the wagon-trains were in motion ; the main body of the army was already preparing to retreat across the Rap- pahannock ; and the division began to return before sunset, as the orders were explicit to avoid bringing on a general en- gagement. The troops filed into the fields near the road to bivouac for the night; and had barely fallen asleep before the march was resumed, and there was no halt until mid- night. Most of the corps crossed the river upon the 11th, and every man uttered a yell while he forded it. The rebel cavalry closely followed the rear to pick up stragglers, while the infantry was attempting to make a grand flank move- ment : and the contest became a race between the two armies, which hastened, upon routes that were nearly parallel, to gain the same point; and, although the Federal forces were en- cumbered by the trains, they won the position, and were only two hours ahead of the advance of the enemy. Some gen- erals injured the service by placing their sous and relatives upon their staffs, and sending orderlies to perform their duty, and carry important commands, when their lives were en- dangered by the battle ; and the ofiicers of the cavalry usually detailed for this purpose the most worthless soldiers that were mustered upon the rolls. One of this class, who could not speak English, delivered an order to me when I commanded the skirmishers that covered the brigade as it fell back from James City; and I was unable to interpret his BACK TO CULPEPER COURT HOUSE. 215 jargou at a time when a deviation from toe proper path involved capture and other serious results. The regiment was stationed at Beverly Ford upon the 12th, behind the earthworks which they assisted to build, while on the march to Gettysburg, to prevent the enemy from cross- ing at this point. The pickets of the rebel cavalry that were posted in groups upon the opposite bank hastily rode away as soon as Stuart was forced to retreat to Culpeper Court House ; and their rapid flight was the first result of the national success. The division marched from sunrise to sun- set upon the 13th, and was delayed during the night by the bad state of the road ; and fires were built when these irre- gular halts occurred, and several miles of rail-fence were destroyed. The column rested at Greenwich only two houi's ; moved at daybreak with great caution : flankers marched through the woods and fields ; and companies held the by- paths to protect those in the road against a sudden attack. The lines of battle were formed at two, p.m., upon the heights of Centreville, where the regiment was aligned for the eighth time during its various campaigns, which were termed by the men " forward and back " movements. " We must pass through the crack of a door," Gen. Prince remarked in the morning; and the fatigued soldiers were urged to keep in reserve all their strength, because the safety of the army depended upon their promptness and power of endurance. These forced marches, which could not be avoid- ed, caused great exhaustion ; and many substitutes gladly 246 TO CENTEEVILLE; AND straggled from the ranks, and concealed themselves until the rebel cavalry advanced, 'when they surrendered like willing prisoners. The natives of this section of Virginia did not appear to own any of the estates which they occupied ; and most of the houses displayed a signboard, upon which was painted, "British property. Safeguard placed by Gen. Si- gel or Meade." The corps constituted the left of the army upon the 15th; and the division proceeded to Union Mills, where one com- •pany from each regiment of the brigade was detailed for picket-duty. The main body was posted at the ford and bridge that crossed Bull Kun at this point ; and the company of which I had charge halted at the base of a hill which commanded the stream, and upon which earthworks had been constructed by the troops of the right wing of Beauregard's force at the first battle in 1861. Three men and a corporal relieved a squad upon the crest ; and a staff-officer who gave instructions, and the men that composed the old guard, said that no rebels ever molested them, and there was no- necessity for unusual vigilance. When I reconnoitred the ground in the vicinity, and passed through the thin belt of woods which was two hundred yards in front of the outposts, I saw, at the distance of half a mile upon the broad plains of Manassas, a line of advancing skirmishers, which was supported by a battery and a regiment of Stuart's cavalry. The company and a few riflemen from the reserve were ordered to re-enforce the little command of the corporal. The first ball surprised their BACK TO CULPEPER COURT HOUSE. 247 ears, and was followed by a halt ; after which the principal portion dismounted ; and every man in the rear held the reins of four horses that belonged to his comrades, who were re- pulsed in every effort which they made to surround the pick- ets ; and a scattering foe continued for two hours. They then moved to the right, planted their battery near McLean's Ford, and surprised the pickets that were compelled to recross the river. The four soldiers who had been relieved belonged to a brigade that had recently arrived from Suffolk ; and one of them entertained the listeners by describing the number- less battles in which he had participated upon the Blackwater. When the bullets whistled over the crest, and I was watching the movements of the foe, they ran to the rear ; but the story- teller was seized and thrust into the front rank, although he pleaded most earnestly for his release, and admitted that he had never seen a jSght, and that his brigade had " done nothing " since it entered the service. A sergeant, who in- effectually kicked a substitute that crouched upon the earth and refused to rise and discharge his musket, grasped him by the collar, and held him up : so that he was exposed to the fii'e of the enemy, until he brought his piece to the shoulder and pulled the trigger. The storm which arose in the night, and the tall wet grass, chilled the sentinels, who remained in the same spot, without any fires. In the morning, a chain of pickets, who sat upon their horses, extended from this point more than a mile to the rebel camp. The subtle plans of Lee had wholly failed, and no wagons 248 TO CENTREVILLE, AND or organized bodies of infantry were captured ; but be was leisurely followed wben bis forces were withdrawn : and tbe division was encamped near tbe Junction, abeut seven miles from Bealeton, upon Oct. 30, wbile tbe rigbt of tbe army extended to Warrenton. Tbe corps commander most unjust- ly favored tbe tbird division, tbat bad never performed any figbting, by always placing it in safe positions ; wbile tbe first and second, wbicb bad fougbt tbe enemy again and again, were exposed to every danger. Tbe roads were so narrow, tbat a single team obstructed tbe passage of tbose tbat were in tbe rear of it : and government property was summarily destroyed if it could not be removed ; but tbe covetous sut- lers were unwilling to adopt tbis policy, and often blocked tbe trains during tbe movement. Gen. Meade issued a just order, wbicb restrained tbeir privileges, and banisbed tbem from tbe army for a certain period. The rebels injured tbe Orange and Alexandria Railroad to tbe utmost extent ; de- molisbed tbe bridges, water-tanks, and culverts ; and ruined tbe iron rails by placing tbem upon a pile of burning sleep- ers, tbe beat of wbicb softened tbe centre, so tbat tbe ends rested upon tbe eartb; and some were twiated around tbe trunks of oaks wbicb grew near tbe embankment. Tbe track to Warrenton bad not been disturbed ; and tbe rain inter- fered, at certain points, witb tbe work of destruction, wbicb was imperfectly executed. Tbe soldiers were now required to perform a new species of labor; and large details were daily furnished to grade tbe road and fell tbe trees, and cut BACK TO CULPEPER COUET HOUSE. 249 sleepers or ties. The buildings and fences had disappeared ; and the general barrenness which prevailed was occasionally relieved by the green spots of ground, in which the grain that had been scattered by the cavalry had taken root, and sprouted. Two dead horses, which were respectively branded " C. S." and "U.S.," were stretched upon the field, near Bristow Station, with their heads a few feet apart ; and all who wit- nessed them asked, " Where are the riders ? " A rebel cav- alry scout captured three unarmed soldiers who were wander- ing outside the picket, and ordered them to take down a fence which his horse could not leap ; and each one seized a rail, dismounted him, and retraced their steps with the pris- oner. The army, like all travellers, "took an early breakfast" upon the morning of Nov. 7, and advanced towards the Rappahannock in two columns; and the corps marched to Kelly's Ford, where it arrived at three, p.m. The hill upon the northern bank commanded the position ; and the third brigade of the first division waded through the- river while the batteries were briskly engaged, successfully charged upon the rifle-pits, and took five hundred prisoners. A bridge composed of eiglit pontoons was immediately constructed over the stream which had been many times passed and repassed, guarded and reguarded, by the Federal army ; and the brigade crossed at sunset, when the flashes of the rifles revealed the locality of every skirmisher, and the cannonading resounded from Rappahannock Station. A Union captain was killed by 250 TO CENTREVILLE, AND a sharpshooter while he was in the act of giving some water to a wounded rebel who was moaning upon the field. " You have got our winter quarters," exclaimed some of the prisoners, who stated that they were completely surprised, because they had often formed in line of battle to no purpose when the cavaby was reconnoitring in their front, and ex- pected no unusual event when their pickets escaped to the support. The vent-hole of a cannon is always closed when the gunners are loading it, and a thumb-stall is generally worn to prevent the blisters which would arise if the piece became heated during an active engagement ; and an accident seldom occm'red. In this contest the petson instinctively removed his thumb, which was unprotected ; and a premature 'explosion resulted, by which three men were mangled. The enemy retreated across the Rapidan in the night ; and the division marched to Brandy Station without opposition on the morning of the 8th. Several negw servants that labored for rebel officers of high rank entered the lines, and brought with them thchorses and overcoats of their masters; and one carried a large basket which contained the dinner and dishes of a brigadier. Lee's army had constructed barracks for occupation during the winter in the dense forests in the vicinity of Brandy Station, and collected bushels of acorns for food. The quartermasters issued clothing without any buttons, which were cut from the old and discarded garments, and sewed on the new by the fortunate receivers of the butternut. They BACK TO CULPEPER COURT HOUSE^ 251 had gathered hundreds of empty tin cans, which had been sold by the sutlers when they were filled with pickles or preserved meats, and intended to use them as dippers ; and many cor- respondents at once inferred from the labels that there had been illicit trade between the North and the South. The division occupied the camps which had been allotted to some brigades in Ewell's corps; and the log structures afforded comfort to the enemies of the builders. CHAPTER XY. THE ADYAXCE TO MDfE RUN. , "Wui 'HE extensive preparations for a decisive battle had ^1 been completed, and the pontoons which rumbled \^Jy upon Nov. 23 over the roads that led to the fords of the Eapidan were the forerunners of a general advance. Marching orders were received at the unwelcome hour of midnight, but countermanded at daybreak when the regiment was forming its Hne ; tents were re-pitched in the midst of a rain, and ihe mud held fast many wheels which must revolve to supply the necessities of the army. Upon the 2Gth, as the beams of the rising sun touched the wintry frost, and concealed the crests of the Blue Ridge in the clouds of its vapor, the corps abandoned their camps ; and the procla- mation that was printed in the newspapers was the only evidence which satisfied the soldiers that it was a day set apart for Thanksgiving. Grreat enthusiasm was produced by the reading of the despatch of Gren. Grant, announcing his victory at Chattanooga. The grand force moveG forward, and was soon separated from any base or line of communica- tions. The cavalry menaced the upper fords to deceive the enemy, while the infantry advanced in a different du'ection ; 252 THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. 2o3 and the corps (the tliircl), followed by tlie sixth, constituted the right column. The brigade was posted in the advance, and passed by only four dwellings in inai'ching fourteen miles, and halted in the woods about half of a mile from the stream, at a point which was styled^ by the name of the nearest inhab- itant, Jacobs' Ford. The bluffs of the southern bank rise very abruptly one hundred or one hundred and fifty feet in height, and are well adapted for defensive opei^ations. The passage of a river by a corps, in the face of an enemy, is considered in military treatises one of the most difficult movements known in war ; but the Army of the Potomac has performed this hazardous undertaking with success upon every occasion, while the rebels never attempted to effect it. The skirmishers of the brigade deployed from the forest, and marched to the ford, which is located at a sharp bend : a battery was planted to protect them ; and the small body of rebel cavalry that witnessed these dispositions fled without firing a carbine. The pontoons were transported to the river, and placed in the water ; and the skirmishers, supported by four companies of the regiment, immediately embarked in the boats, and clambered the heights, upon which the brigade- color waved without opposition. Two incidents which fell under my observation at this time show the results of the negligence of some staff or general officers to thoroughly per- form their duty before the movement commenced. The width of the narrow stream had been miscalculated, and there was a deficiency in the number of boats that were required, 254 TPIE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. SO that a delay of an hour occurred while the pioneers were constructing a suj^port of earth and logs for the southern ex- tremity of the bridge. The men who had been drilled to execute this peculiar labor quickly anchored the pontoons at certain intervals in the swiftly flowing current, arranged and fastened together the planks of the trestle-work, with the regularity that characterizes the movements of a machine. The troops began to cross at three, p.m. ; and discovered another oversight which was obvious at a glance, that the slopes were too precipitous for the passage of cannon and wagons ; which were then sent to another ford that was two miles from this point, because there was not time to cut a new road. A severe battle had been anticipated at the fords ; and every eye looked upwards with earnestness during the most anxious moments of the day, when the skirmishers slowly approached the crest of the bluff. ' ' Is the foe con- cealed behind the hills that frown upon us ? Does he crouch in ambush in the thickets of the Wilderness beyond them ? " These thoughts flashed through the mind ; and the steps are slow ; the musket is held with a firmer grasp ; the finger constantly rests upon the trigger ; and every object is scru- tinized, because a sinofle mistake misfht cause death or de- feat. Thus the Army of the Potomac won its new position south of the Rapidan, before sunset, without losing a life; and Lee, who had massed his columns to resist the advance of the national forces at the points where the cavalry was making alluring feints, was chagrined to find that he had been THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. 255 outgeneralled, and his enemy threatened his rear and right flank. Glorious visions of success akeady enlivened the hopes of the soldiers. Celerity of action, the concentration of the corps at Robertson's Tavern, whicli placed them between the commands of Ewell and Hill, would produce a conflict with a foe cut in twain, which must insure the victory. The brigade, enclosed by strong lines of skunnishers and flankers, still formed the head of the column, and marched in compliance with instructions upon a narrow pathway which led through the almost impenetrable Wilderness until the rebel pickets were encountered. They were speedily driven more than a mile ; and the yelping of a wounded dog, an animal which always accompanies them, indicated the course which they had pursued in the darkness. " Tell the division general that my skirmishers are scalp- ing the devils like h — 1 ! " was the verbal message which the colonel commanding the brigade duly transmitted to announce his triumph. "^Vq are in the bowels of the enemy," remarkecf Gen. Prince, who ascertained that the troops had moved upon the wrong road, and were advancing to the fortified stronghold at JMoiion's Ford, He ordered them to countermarch : a tangled and unbroken forest increased the gloom and weariness of the three miles which were retraced to a point near the ford, and the bivouac was established for the nig*ht. These pre- cious hours that had been lost by the faithlessness of a corps 256 THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. commander delayed the whole army ; enabled Lee to unite his dissevered divisions ; and the sacred cause of the country was frustrated for many months. The breakfast of coffee and hard bread was devoured before daybreak upon the 27th ; and the lines were formed to resist any attack which might be made by the enemy that hovered in the front. The march was resumed in the morning in compliance with orders from a corps commander ; light skir- mishes frequently took place with small squads of cavalry ; and at noon there had been no junction with the main body, although Gen. Meade had labored unceasingly to secure this object. In consequence of the blundering oversight which has been noticed, the ammunition trains and the artillery were not present to assist the infantry ; and the perilous situation in which the latter was placed can be discerned without a lengthy explanation. A long and vexatious delay occurred because another move had been made in the wrong direction ; and the men, justly dissatisfied, restud in the road, and pulled down the fences to build fires, which were extinguished to prevent the scouts from gaining a knowledge of the brigades by watching the thin clouds of smoke. A corps general, who entered the house of Jacobs upon the preceding afternoon, and remained in the rear while thousands of his victims were wandering in an unknown region, arrived ; established his headquarters in another dwelling; and I did not see him again during the eventful day. Although this officer was usually known as the personal THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. 257 friend of Gen. Hallcck, justice demands that bis sliamefiil conduct should be fully described ; because the failure of this finely conceived movement, in the opinion of the author and thousands of his comrades in arms, was caused by one of the corps commanders, who discarded Mars, and served Silenus. Habitual drunkenness had covered his face with frightful blotches, and destroyed his control over some of his muscles ; the cheeks twitched convulsively, while the eyes and mouth opened and closed in a comical manner which would have insured the fortune of a clown. The derisive laugh which an intoxicated fool always excites greeted his appearance ; and I extracted from the numberless oaths and jeering remarks that were uttered at this time the following speci- mens : " Old blinky has got up at last ! " " His horse is drunk again to-day ! " "Here comes the old gin barrel ! " " I should like to tap him ! " "I hope the first cannon-ball that is fired will knock his head ojQT." Discipline under such a sot is maintained by the ceaseless efforts of the subalterns and the undying patriotism of the men who mourn the ab- sence of the gallant and noble-minded leaders of other days, who died amidst the storms of conflict. However, the cow- ard, the traitor, and the drunkard of high rank may skulk from the scene in the decisive hour of the combat ; but the vete- rans that never quailed are inspired by the dead heroes who mount again their war-horses, draw from their scabbards the two-edo;ed swords, and advance in the charo'c. The brigade pushed forward in line of battle through the 17 258 THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. woods upon both sides of the road, and drove the rebel pickets, with their supports, two miles, until they reached a house which stood in an open field. The troops double- quicked at two and a half, p.m., from this point to Locust or Orange Grove, in which a sharp contest ensued between the skirmishers, and steadily forced the enemy to rejoin the prin cipal force which was posted in the road that ran to Raccoon Ford. The regiment, and that upon its left, held a position upon the slope of a gentle ascent against an attack ; and the rebels, who could not stand erect and face the shower of lead, crouched upon the earth, and sought the protection of the crest. A part of another brigade gave way upon the right, and exposed that flank, so that the regiment v/as obliged to fall back to the cleared tract, where it re-formed its ranks, and at once entered the forest and resumed the old ground. Fourteen or fifteen rebels who belonged to North Caro- lina concealed themselves between logs, to be sheltered from the fire of friends and enemies during this last advance ; and gladly rose up, cast aside their equipments and rifles, and, in the excess of tlieir joy, actually threw their arms around the necks of the astonished soldiers, A private who belonged to a detachment of Union prisoners, and a member of the guard that accompanied them from Chancellorsville to Rich- mond, recognized each other, and grasped hands in the most cordial manner. " Come in! " " Come in ! " the skirmishers shouted, and a tiumber complied with the request : but one boldly yelled7 THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. 259 '* No, I don't ; I'm no such man as that ; '* and three bullets shattered his limbs while he was trying to escape. A rebel battery opened at sunset, and continued to fire for two hours, during which the flashes lighted up the forest. 'The enemy abandoned the road, when quietness ruled the night. The substitutes, with a few exceptions which are always found in a certain number of persons, bravely withstood the shock of the battle ; and it is a strange circumstance that the list of killed in the regiment consisted of the original mem- ber^. When the brigade charged across the field near the house, some frightened hens left their nests in the bushes, and flew before the men with a shrill cackling which afforded much amusement in the midst of the hissing balls. A cap- tain of the skirmishers basely deserted his post, and attempted to pass through one of the companies, but was halted by a faithful sergeant, who seized him by the collar, and said, *' You are setting a pretty example to your men : go back, you cow- ardly scoundrel I " and compelled him to return to the front. The rebels in one onset rushed with yells, which the first volley converted into gToans ; and a soldier remarked as he elevated his piece, " If I am hit, I hope it will be a finisher ; " and within the space of a minute a bullet penetrated his eye, and his wish was gratified. The corps suffered a loss of five hundred killed, wounded, and missing, in the valueless engagement : the unpardonable delay was hourly prolonged ; and an almost impassable chasm still existed between the right wing and the Army of the 260 THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. Potomac. The ignominious result of this conflict produced intense dissati.-^factiou among the soldiers, who sadly pictured the brilliant victory that might have been gained if a sober and intelligent officer had wielded the immense power which, had been so heedlessly conferred upon a besotted major-gene- ral. The happy North Carolinians who were captured by the regiment most willingly and truthfully said that Johnson's division of Ewell's corps comprised all the troops that were posted in the Raccoon-ford Road ; and the thin line of skirmish- ers won a part of this position upon the right, which was entirely undefended. Six Union divisions confronted one composed of rebels : a force could easily turn then* left flank ; and they would have been routed by the overwhelming masses of the third and sixth corps, which were aligned near this point. A division that was termed by the veterans " pets," or "lambs," because a corps general bestowed every favor upon it, was placed within the range of hostile cannon for the fii'st time ; but it was demoralized by the pernicious example of this drunkard and the . cowardice of its commander, and tarnished its history with disgrace, which subsequent service under brave leaders removed. The sixth corps marched at midnight in the proper direc- tion to Robertson's Tavern : the division retired from its po- sition at daybreak u]ion tlie 28th, and plodded slowly through the rain, which did not cease until noon, and covered the roads with mortar-beds of red mud. The corps advanced several miles upon the broad turnpike that passed through Orange THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. 261 Court House, and tlieu mojrecl in the rear of the army from the right to the left ; and the men ascertained the lines that de- fined the front by listening to the intermittent volleys of the skirmishers. The enemy gradually fell back ; and shelters of small stones which the sharpshooters had occupied were scat- tered at short intervals in many places. Near one of them I saw the body of a dead rebel, who carried a haversack which was filled with liis rations, that consisted of nothing except dry corn. The column bivouacked after sunset, and furnished details, for picket-duty, who were ordered to report to one of that large class of staff-officers that are always inefficient in the presence of danger. Those that belonged to the regi- ment marched two miles in the night, forded runs, leaped walls and fences, and discovered with amazement upon the following morning that their companies were only a few paces in the rear of their posts. The army had finally concentrated ; and the soldiers arose at half-past four, a.m., upon the 29th, and prepared for action, not against a divided and . surprised force, but one which was on the alert, and strong. The dark clouds lowered constantly during the day, and occasionally parted to remind those upon the earth of their existence ; wliile the division upon the left of the corps made a reconnoissance, and connected in the after- noon with a large flanking force under the command of Gen. Warren. "Where are we?" some of them asked an old inhabitant. ** Hinge County," he replied. 262 THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. The trees were judiciously cut»to guide the moving lines ; but the thickly wooded country and the state of the impassa- ble roads continually hindered them, and the powers of dark- ness prohibited an attack, when three signal guns were fired at half-past five, p.m. A horse, laden with turkeys and chickens for the use of a general, passed by the regiment a few minutes after orders were read to the men to live upon half-rations, and became the innocent subject of many emphatic phrases. The division bivouacked at nine, p.m., and thou- sands of cold and weary forms clustered around the low fires which were allowed ; and commands were frequently issued, " That fire is too high," " Take off that log at once," when a desire to receive comfort triumphed over caution. Nov. 30,«1863, is a day that will be long remembered by the troops that were massed at Mine Run ; not because a battle was fought, but for the singular reason that no conflict took place. The division was under arms at one, a.m. ; in- structions were repeated in whispers by the officers ; and no conversation or unnecessary noise was permitted as it marched upon the famous plank road, from which it debouched to the left, formed in three lines, and the brigade was placed in the front and supported by the "Excelsior" and Jersey bri- gades. Gen. Warren commanded six divisions, comprising twenty-eight thousand nien, and extending three miles, that were aligned in a similar manner for the purpose of storming the breastworks of the rebels, who had fortified the strong ridges west of Mine Kun. This is an insignificant tributary of THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. 263 the Rapiclan, that varies in rlopth from three to five feet, and is crossed by the plank road near old Verdiersville. The mathematicians in the ranks aransed themselves by multiply- ing three miles by three lines, and obtaining a product which they termed a " nine-mile charge." All the dispositions for the assault had been made before daybreak ; many knapsacks land haversacks had been unslung to relieve the bearers of the weight; muskets had been stacked; and at eight, a.m., the signal-gun would resound through the forest from the right ; the trusty bayonets would be fixed ; the vast columns with their tattered flag-s would rush forward with hurrahs : and the caps had been removed from the pieces to prevent those that carried them from discharging a bullet. The night had been excessively cold ; the blankets and clothing were covered with frost ; the water in the canteens was condensed into a cake of ice ; and it is a sad fact that Union soldiers were benumbed and died upon the picket-posts. The fires were extinguished, and every one sought physical warmth and excitement by keeping all the limbs in motion ; and squads were running, wrestling, or striking hands, for several hours; and some climbed up tlie trees to gather persimmons. Several unlucky pigs which wandered from the safe woods at this opportune moment were relentlessly pursued until rations of fresh pork wore secured. The division awaited the final word of command behind a hill which protected it ; and most of the ground in its front was cleared, so that groups examined the works of the en- 264 THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. eniy, wliieh bad been constnictod upon nnothor elevation that rose at tlio distance of a quarter of a mile, and was parallel with it ; and Mine Run flowed through the valley between the heights. The rebels were strengthening their position every moment by untiring labor, which the necessity for bodily exor- cise greatly increased ; their lines were defined by the strokes of axes and the crash of foiling trees ; while squads were car- rying logs or plying the spade. No shells were fired : the skirmishers thrust their bayonets into the hard and frozen soil, and ran to and fro to conquer the cold, and never mo- lested the thousands who were scanning their rifle-pits and redoubts. Mounted oflicers posted the re-enforcement^ of infantry and artillery which arrived behind the walls upon which the rags of treason were conspicuously displayed ; and many waved the staffs, beckoned with their hands, or tlirew their caps into the air, and shouted, in tones of defiance, ** Come on!" The spectators, including- generals and pri- vates, concnrred in the same opinion regarding the under- taking ; and the heart of the bravest sank within him as he gazed upon the scone, because a disastrous repulse was tlie certain result ; and all calculated the number of steps which could bo taken before the fatal bullet struck the vital part. I never beheld such a universal expression of gloom and dis- may : watches and other valuables were deposited with elia;)- Liins, quartermasters, and other non-combatants ; and brief epistles were written by those who felt liko persons upon t1ie couch of death. ^ The ignoble poltroon skul^vod to the rear THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. 265 wbon unobserved ; but those tbat remained resolved that tliey would not turn back, but advance, unmindful of can- ister .or balls, until their feet touched the frowning crest. The soldiers watched with impatient eyes the sun, which seemed to stand still ; but the long-dreaded hour came, and an active cannonade opened upon the right at eight, a.m. The ranks were promptly formed ; the names of the absentees were recorded ; and all expected to hear the decisive order, "Forward in hne, guide ^ right ! " Gen. Warren, with a sense of honor which cannot bo too highly praised, declined to sacrifice the lives that had been placed in his charge. Gen. jMeade decided most wisely to abandon the proposed move- ment ; and the position of the troops was undisturbed until night, when the elated division joined the corps. The expediency of attacking the enemy at Williamsport and jMine Run is determined by examining facts that clash in every respect ; and it does not appear strange, when the motives are understood, that the generals who opposed the first favored the second proposition, and vice versa. When Lee trembled upon the banks of the Potomac, destitute of ammunition, disheartened by defeat and heavy losses, sur- rounded by a loyal people, and victory was sure, they de- scribed his impregnable position, the unbroken morale of his army, and the insecurity of Washington if a defeat was sus- tained. AVhen the circumstances were reversed, and the rebel chieftain stood in his elaborate field-works at Mine Run, and invited an assault, furnished with the supplies of 266 THE ADVANCE TO MINE RUN. war, his lino of retreat open, in tbe inidst of friends and abetters, and disaster was certain, tliese obtuse military judges declared in favor of an onset by the Union forces. Dec. 1 was unmarked by any conflict; and the brigade was detached for special duty in the afternoon, to report to Gen. Gregg, to support the cavalry at Parker's Store, where the rebels had made a desperate effort to gain the road upon the preceding day. The soldiers burned the barn which be- longed to a woman who gave information to the enemy con- cerning the number and position of the Union troops ; and a strong guard was posted upon her house to save it from the same destruction. The bodies of two men (who had been- killed in the action), were found near this position ; and they had been entirely stripped, and left in the woods by Stuart's cavalry. Large fires were built by the reserves to deceive the watchful line of sentinels ; a volley was delivered as a signal at two, a.m., of the 2d ; the pickets withdrew from the front ; and the main portion of the army marched by the bivouac during the night. The brigade moved at daybreak ; and this infantry force actually covered the relreat of the cavalry, crossed the pontoon bridge, that consisted of eight boats, at Culpeper "Gold-mine" Ford, and occupied the old camps at Brandy Station. CHAPTEK XYI. THE WINTER QUARTERS AT BRANDY STATION. / f^JjUn^'HE army steadily advanced in successive years from / 1 river to river, and erected its winter quarters upon \^_t/ the banks of the Potomac, the Rappahannock, and the Rapidan. The headquarters were established at the same point that had been occupied by Lee, and the staff which he left in his hasty flight was unadorned ; while the American flag daily ascended and descended the high pole when the call "to the color" was sounded at sunrise and sunset. The telegraph-office in the town was occupied by the same operator for the fifth time in the various changes that had taken place in the position of the army : the rebels always possessed it for a similar purpose as soon as it was abandoned ; and both parties used the same table, and several miles of the same wire. Operations against the enemy, and drills, were suspended during the inclement season; and de- tails to guard the trains, the camps, and the pickct-lmcs, and labor upon the roads, comprised the routine of duty. Courts- martial assembled frequently to determine the nature and punishment of military crimes ; and one tribunal, of which the author was judge-advocate, tried about forty men for mis- 2G7 268 WINTER QUARTERS AT BRANDY STATION. conduct in sliulking from Mine Kun ; and a chaplain was found guilty of stealing a horse, and dismissed from the ser- vice by order of the President. j The face of the country soon assumed the barren aspect of Falnlouth ; and the pickets of the brigade, for a month, made their fires of the woodwork of corn-shelling, threshing, and the numerous machines with which a large farm was sup- plied; and iron rods, bolts, ploughshares, cranks, and cog- wheels were sprinkled upon the ground in the vicinity of the posts. The fifteen hundi-ed inhabitants that lived in Cul- peper before the Rebellion had been reduced to only eighty persons, who were chiefly dependent upon the Government for the means of sustenance. The court-house and slave -pen had been gutted, and were used as places of confinement for rebel prisoners. The fences that enclosed the cemeteries which were attached to the churches had been torn down and burned ; and sinks, booths, stables for horses, and the fires of the cooks, were scattered in the midst of the grave- stones and tombs. The state of destitution that prevailed may be illustrated more clearly by quoting the remark of a young woman who resided in the place: "My father was worth $300,000 ; but all his people, except a small boy, ran away with your folks ; his large house was burned by your cavalry ; we eat your pork and bread ; and, just think of it ! I haven't had a new dress or bonnet since the war began." The refugees and their families constantly entered the fines ; and one of them^said that he was assisted by a friend, who gave WIIS^TER QUARTERS AT BRANDY STATION. 2G9 him bis horee, and^manifested much incliiynation, and declared that the animal had been stolen, to mislead the neighbors, when he received the news of his successful escape. De- serters exhausted their ingenuity in finding ways to reach the cavalry vedettes ; and some gladly swam across the Rappa- hannock in the coldest nights of the year. The old residents asserted that the ground upon which the division had encamped was always submerged in winter, and it would be impossible for the men to remain there until spring : but the barracks were never swept away by any in- undation ; and they explained the matter by saying that it was the driest season that had existed for thirty years. The results of one severe rain, that deluged the plain, showed that, if they were often repeated, all persons would perceive the wisdom of the warning. The river rose and overflowed the swamp so suddenly, that the members of seven posts which were located near it were obliged to climb trees to avoid the unlooked-for danger of drowning; and the brief tour of picket-duty was extended many hours. Squads that were not stationed in the forest found themselves upon an island, and waded through the deep water a long distance ; and some were compelled to swim to reach the reserve upon what was the main land. A small stream was enlarged to the dimensions of a lake, one- fourth of a mile in widtli ; and a part of the cavalry provost-camp was submerged, and an officer discovered tliat the rushing water was two feet deep in his tent when he awoke. The weather -wisers always 270 WINTER QUARTERS AT BRANDY STATION. glanced at the mountains ; and the voices of experience ut- tered the following precept, — that there would be rain once in every two days as long as the snow crowned the crests of the Blue Ridge. During this period the enemy did not attempt to make any movement, although a long line of railroad conveyed supphes from Alexandiia ; and the troops of Lee labored unceasingly, and constructed miles of earthworks upon the bluffs that had been fortified by Nature; while the Union forces rested in their camps, and relied for defence upon the strong arm and loyal heart. A number of false alanns occurred, and the soldiers were sometimes ordered to bo in readiness to march at a second's notice to resist an advance ; and, upon two occa- sions, the main body of the infantry co-operated with the cav- alry, and made feints to cover the blow that was aimed at other points. At four, a.m., upon Feb. 6, the troops were commanded to procure the usual amount of rations and am- munition for a campaign, and concentrated near the fords for the ostensible purpose of crossing. The division halted in a swamp, about a mile from the river, and acted as a support for the second corps ; one division of which forded the stream, gained a position upon the opposite bank, and recrossed at night. No shots were fired on the 7th ; and the army, hav- ing attracted the gaze of the foe, withdrew late in the after- noon, at the time that an expedition was in motion upon the Peninsula against Richmond. Another demonstration was made upon Madison Court House on the 28th to conceal the raid of Gen. Kilpatrick. WINTER QUARTEES AT BRxiNDY STATION. 271 The number of officers' wives and other ladies that were present in the camps was much hirger than at any previous period ; and balls and similar festivities relieved the monotony of many winter quarters. Large details, that sometimes com- prised a thousand men, were ordered to report at certain headquarters for the purpose of constructing suitable halls of logs and the " sacred soil" of Virginia. A chapel was built within the limits of the brigade by the soldiers, who daily la- bored upon it for three weeks ; and many of the officers con- tributed money to purchase whatever appeared to be required for it. An agent of the Christian Commission furnished a capacious tent which formed the roof; and religious, temper- ance, and Masonic meetings were frequently held, until this apostle, who employed most of his time in writing long letters for the press, that portrayed in vivid colors the " good work " which he was accomplishing, removed the canvas because an innocent social assembly occupied it during one evening. The enlisted men, who rarely enjoyed the benefit of these structures which they erected, originated dances of a singular character. By searching the cabins and houses of the natives, and borrowing apparel, and a liberal use of pieces of shelter tent and the Coops of barrels, one-half of the soldiers were arrayed as women, and filled the places of the seemingly in- dispensable partners of the gentler sex. The resemblance in the features of some of these persons was so perfect, that a stranger would be unable to distinguish between the assumed and the genuine characters. 272 WINTER QUAKTERS AT BRANDY STATION. The sewers of recruits and substitutes that had received enormous bounties, and possessed the same qualities as their predecessors who joined the regiment at Beverly Ford, con- tinually flowed into, or, to speak with more accuracy, through the army. Those that had served in the rebel ranks were sent to the north-west to assist Gen. Pope in subduing the Indians ; others who had been seamen floated into the navy ; and some entered the hospital : so that, when the spring cam- paign opened, only a small fraction crossed the Rapidan. A number that arrived at the camp after sunset escaped before morning ; so that the officers of the company who had not seen them could not identify them when they were arraigned and tried, for desertion, before a court-martial. The thou- sands of crows rendered more actual service than a majority of this class of persons, and devoured the entrails of animals which had been slaughtered by the butchers, and the carcasses of dead horses and mules. They were never shot, because the citizens had no guns, and the soldiers would be punished if they wasted ammunition ; and they grew tame and fat in opposition to the well-known saying, and propagated so rap- idly that their immense numbers blackened acres of ground in the vicinity of the camps. One noticeable event was a fire which swept over the field of Cedar Mountain, and caused the explosion of shells that had remained there nearly two years after the battle. An episode occurred in my military career, which may not be of general interest ; but an omission to allude to it might WINTER QUARTERS AT BRANDY STATION. 273 produce a slight degree of surprise and criticism, I was de- tailed to act as judge-advocate of a court-martial ia the morn- ing, placed under arrest in the afternoon, and transported with four officers in a wagon which was marked very conspicuously '' Provost Guard," and followed by a detachment of soldiers to the headquarters of the corps. I was closely confined three weeks in a log shelter in which there were no windows, but the rents in the roof admitted li2:ht. No friends were o ^allowed to visit the quarters unless the corps commander granted permission ; and sentinels constantly paced their beats at all hours, and watched the prison, because I had acted as secretary of an orderly meeting of officers that adopted resolutions of the highest loyalty and patriotism, which were duly transmitted to Gen. Meade and the Chair- man of the AVar Committee of Congress. The perjury of three unscrupulous witnesses complicated the case ; and, while some were dismissed from the service, a heavy fine was imposed upon the author, and subsequently remitted by the com- mander of the corps, who was convinced of its utter injustice. A field-officer of a regiment, who enforced the principle es- tablished by this decision and sentence, dispersed an assem- bly of subalterns that had convened for the purpose of tak- ing measures to send home the remains of a comrade who was killed at Mine Ptun. The ordinary preparations for active operations were made as soon as the roads became dry and hard : the ladies were notified to leave the camps previous to a specified date ; sur- 18 274 WINTER QUAETERS AT BRANDY STATION. plus baggage resumed its annual visit to the storehouses in the rear ; and reviews, inspections, and target-practice, daily took place. The army was re-organized, the troops were con- solidated into three corps, and the division which had always belonged to the third constituted the fourth division of the second corps. The brigade, which was one of the oldest in the volunteer service, was dismembered ; and the needless separation of regiments that had so long fought side by side the common enemy resembled the breaking-up of a family. Gen. Meade displayed a censurable ignorance, or lack of judgment, when he assigned certain generals to their positions ; and one division was almost demoralized by the appointment of a notorious coward, knave, and ignoramus to the command. A general, who always deserted his. brigade whenever the trials of battle demanded his presence ; who never discharged the numberless accounts of the sutlers and commissaries for the food, rations, and liquors which he consumed ; who em- ployed escaped negroes as servants, and defrauded them of their just compensation ; who displayed a profound ignorance unon every subject, which made him the butt of ridicule for soldiers of all ranks, from the highest to the lowest ; who had been originally commissioned as colonel by the influence of a base pugihst of New York, and who was promoted because he was a foreigner, — was crowned with honors when he merited disgrace. Gen. Alexander Hayes of Pennsylvania, a gradu- ate of West Point, one of the most fearless and honorable officers in the national forces, whose pre-eminent gallantry WINTER QUARTERS AT BRANDY STATION. 275 infused confidence upon doubtful fields, was degraded from the command of a division to elevate this Celtic vagabond. A meritorious commander, who bore upon his person the scars which are the soldier's badges of honor, annoyed the head- quarters of the army by preferring charges of cowardice against one of these favorite division appointees, and was or- dered to report for duty in the West. The words and deeds of Gen. Hancock were narrowly scrutinized, to detect, if pos- sible, some pretext upon which to base his removal ; and his official action was continually embarrassed by this contempti- ble surveillance. Fortunately, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant-general, and the soldiers rejoiced that the pernicious influence of Gen. Meade was seriously crippled. All antici- pated the removal of this officer, — a question that had been often discussed in the newspapers and around the camp-fires ; but the wise conduct of Gen. Grant, who, unlike his immediate predecessor. Gen. Halleck, preferred the dangers of the front to the safety of the rear, fixed his headquarters, not at Wash- ington, but at Culpoper Court House, and thereby saved the Army of the Potomac from the annihilation which awaited it under incompetent commanders. CHAPTER XVII. THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS AND SPOTT. SYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. /^^&^HE fifth corps, which had guarded the line of commu- nications — the Orano;o and Alexandria Raiboad — '€ during the winter, and the ninth corps, joined the main army upon the first and second days of May : the log huts were destroyed, and the troops bivouacked in the fields, to prevent delay in marching whenever the orders were received. At sunset, the commands were issued for the regi- ments to move at half-past ten, p.m. : all unusual fires were prohibited ; the tattoo and taps at the stated hours were heard by many for the last time ; and the long columns and trains advanced to the fords of the Rapidan at one, p.m., upon the 4th. The veterans, that had made their foot-j^rints upon many lengthy and dreary roads, reserved their strength, and silently followed the file-leaders ; and verdant recruits and sub- stitutes were the only babblers. The beginning of this cam- paign was like all those which had preceded it ; and thou- sands of overcoats and blan]v:ets were scattered in the woods and fields through which the soldiers passed. The cavalry gained the commanding heights of the Rapidan without a con- 276 THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS, ETC. 277 test ; and the regiment crossed the river at Ely's Ford at half- past twelve, P.M., upon a pontoon bridge that consisted of nine boats wliich were anchored twenty-one feet apart. The felled trees and other obstructions in the roads were removed by the axes and spades of the pioneers ; and the troops marched with gTcat rapidity until three, p.m., when the corps halted, and formed its lines upon the old battle-ground of Chancellorsville. The numerous breastworks that were thrown up by both armies to hold their positions, the shat- tered oaks and splintered limbs, and the fragments of weath- er-stained clothing and equipments scattered upon the field, reminded the men of the familiar scenes of that sanguinary struggle. Many of the Union dead had been exhumed, or remained unburied ; jaws, arms, and legs were bleaching upon the soil ; and the wasps and moles made their nests in some of the skulls. Not a shot was fired during the day ; no bugle or drum resounded through the forest ; the unnatural stillness which precedes the dreadful tempest reigned ; and the brigade bivouacked upon the same spot that it occupied on the same date of the previous year. The soldiers were awakened at three, a.m., on the 5th; the humble meal termed a breakfast was prepared ; and they marched at five, a.m., to the ruins of the Chancellor House, from which the corps under the command of Gen. Hancock pushed forward towards Spottsylvania Court House. The hordes of Lee emerged from the fortifications which had been rendered useless by the passage of the Rapidan ; a halt took 278 THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS place near Todd's Tavern at ten, a.m. ; and the corps was ordered to change its direction, and hold the junction of the Fredericksburg Plank Road and that which ran from Ger- manna Ford. The report (5f a rifle occasionally indicated the presence of the enemy; and at twelve, m., the first cannon sounded the prelude to the battle of the Wilderness. This chapter, it may be needless to remark, does not narrate the movements of the entire army, because the character of the country, and position. of the author with the rank and file, lim- ited his view ; and the incidents of a part of the lines, that extended five miles, are described. The division hastened to the vital point, which it reached in the afternoon, and re- mained in the reserve, rushing from post to post, until 4.10, P.M., when the musketry in front assumed the prolonged roll that always marks a heavy engagement. There were no com- manding elevations or open tracts of gTOund upon which the artillery could be planted ; and the firing was necessarily re- stricted to the small-arms, that slay the tens of thousands while the shells and solid shot destroy the thousands. The great contest occurred in the midst of an almost impenetrable jungle of scrub oak, decayed trees, dense underbrush, and short pines, in which a regiment could not be discerned at the distance of a hundred feet ; and the proper formation of th'e ranks seemed to be an impossibility. It was rarely inter- sected by public ways over which the infantry could move ; and the pioneers were continually engaged in felling trees and cutting new roads to facilitate the communications be- AND SPOTTSTLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 279 twecn the right and the 4cft. Packed mules, which trans- ported axes and tshovels, were attached to every brigade, and formed an invaluable auxiliary during the campaign. Breast- works were hurriedly constructed to defend the Germanna- Ford Road ; and the dry logs of which they were principally composed were easily set on fire, so that it was often neces- j sary to remove a part to save the rest. Sunset came : the darkness of the night followed, but did not check the din of the conflict, which continued when the combatants were un- able to perceive friends or enemies, and suddenly ceased at eight, P.M., The Union forces did not yield a single position ; and every attempt which was made by Lee to overpower the columns that were advancing by the flank was successfully baffled. The wounded and dying were borne upon stretchers to the hospitals in the rear; and the usual number of skulkers sought to escape the perils of the battle by travelling in the same direction, and eluding by ingenious devices and shams the vigilance of the provost-guard. The colonel halted this class of persons whenever they passed through the regiment, and detained them if he was satisfied that they were neglect- ing their duties. Many conversations like the following en- sued between the colonel and the members of these squads ; and the questions and answers show clearly the rank and in- tentions of the parties, without any explanation : — "My good man, where are you going ? " " I'm sick, and the captain told me to go to the hospital." 280 THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS *' Have you got a pass ? " "No." " You are very weak, and find it hard to travel ? " " Yes : I can hardly walk." " The hospital is two miles from here ; and you are used up, and can't go there. Rest here with my brave men ; and I will take your name, and notify your officers if you are killed or wounded." The soldier, knowing he could not extricate himself from the toils of his pretext, usually pleaded another, which was equally shallow; and sometimes attempted to run away. The colonel at once denounced him in language which could not be strengthened in its style, and concluded by uttering his customary orders upon similar occasions. " Captain , detail one of your trusty men to report to me with a loaded musket." *' Private , you are responsible for this cowardly , skulker. If he tries to get away, blow his brains out ; but, if we are fighting, crack his skull with the butt of your gun, and he will never trouble you again." Thirteen stragglers of this description, and others who pre- tended to be seacliiug for their regiments which they had lost, were collected during the afternoon by this summary process, and assigned to different companies in the regiment. There was little picket-firing in the night ; and the sleep of those who were not upon the outposts was undisturbed until 4 J, A.M., of the Gth, when the divisions were massed for a renewal AND SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 281 of the battle ; and the musketry recommenced in the depth of the vast forest at 5.10, a.m. Squads of rebel prisoners were frequently taken to the rear, and many friendly remarks were intei-changed ; and one of them said, ' ' Your fellers went over our breastworks this morning like rabbits;" and, "In four rows git, and march endways." The brigade moved forward at 5.30, A.M., to support the advance, and within a brief period constituted a part of the front, and a fierce engagement followed. The men reclined upon the ground, and returned the fire of the enemy until the forty rounds of cartridges were exhausted. There was a most earnest clamor for cartridges ; and the boxes of the slain and wounded were opened and emptied, and a supply of those that were fitted for rifles, but unsuited to the caliber of the smooth-bore musket, was issued to the regiment in this distressing emergency by some blundering official. The proper balls were brought up after a perilous delay, al- though some of these cartridges consisted of a solid cake of powder ; and some exhibited a feeling of discontent because there were no buck-shot. The bullets beat an unpleasant discord by striking the trees, which were clipped from the roots to the top, that was sixty or seventy feet above the ground. The firing indicated at this time, when the brigade was posted half a mile in front of the Germanna-Ford Koad, the singular formation of the troops that were invisible upon the right and left. A force which was compelled to leave its position fled through the regiment, when the soldiers supposed 282 THE BATTLES OP THE WILDERNESS that they were retreating to the reserve ; and soon a compact mass of men was enclosed m a culrde-sac, and the foe pressed closely upon the front, rear, and left flank. They made a detour to the right, crossed the plank road, reached the origi- nal line of earthworks at mid-day ; and the ground that had been gained by the corps was lost. The extreme heat of the day increased the fatigue, and tears were shed by some who overrated the serious results of the disaster. The slaughter in many regiments had been large ; and at one point the bodies of the killed remained in the places where they fell, and defined with a terrible exactness the position held by the Union troops ; and a long line of rebel corpses was extended in front of it. Some of the recruits, who joined their commands about forty-eight hours before the army evacuated its winter quarters, were slain in this encounter. One of the flag-staffs of the regiment was severed by a bullet, and each hand of the bearer grasped a piece of it. The fighting, like that upon the preceding day, was con- fined to the infantry, on account of the impracticability of using the artillery : only three shells were thrown by the rebel gunners ; and upon the Union side two brass pieces of a Maine battery swept the plank road with canister. The dis- lodgement of the advanced force was not sharply followed by the enemy, and few bullets interrupted the rule of quietness during the succeeding four hours. Squads which had been separated from their companies in the confusion attending the retreat through the bewildering thicket continually re-enforced AND SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 283 the ranks. The division was posted once more behind the shght breastwork which had been erected upon the Germanna- Ford Road ; the skirmishers were deployed in its front at four, P.M., and the author commanded the detachment from the regi- ment. The groups were properly aligned within the next ten mmutes, when the tramp of a heavy force I'esounded through the woods. Orders were excitedly repeated, "Forward!" '* Guide right ! " "Close up those intervals!" and finally a voice shouted, " Now, men, for the love of God and your country, forward ! " The legions of Longstreet advanced without skirmishers ; the veterans trained by the experience of three years beheld — " A horrid front of dreadful length ; " the muskets of the feeble Hne were discharged to alarm the reserve ; the men upon the outposts rushed to the main body ; and thousands of glistening gun-barrels which were resting upon the works opened, and the fusilade began. The soldiers crouched upon the ground ; loaded their pieces with the utmost celerity ; rose up, fired, and then reloaded behind the shelter ; so that the loss was very slight ; while the enemy suffered severely, as the trees were small in size, and there was no protection. The only artillery that was used in the afternoon was planted upon the left of the brigade, and con- sisted of four cannons, which hurled canister, shell, and solid shot, until their ammunition was exhausted. Unfortunately, the dry logs of which the breastwork was formed were partially 28 i THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS covered witb earth ; and the flames, ignited hy the burning wadding during the conflict, — an enemy that could not be re- sisted as easily as the myrmidons of Longstreet, — destroyed them, and every second of time widened the breaches. The undaunted men crowded together until they formed fourteen or sixteen ranks ; and those who were in the front discharged the guns which were constantly passed to them by their com- rades that Were in the rear and could not aim with accuracy or safety. The fii-e triumphed when it flashed along the en- tire barrier of wood, reduced it to ashes, and forced the de- fenders, who had withstood to the last its intolerable heat, to retire to the rifle-pits which were a short distance in the rear. The shattered rebel columns cautiously approached the road ; but the impartial flames which had caused the disconifiture of the division became an obstacle that they could not sur- mount. The same misfortune followed the Union forces, and no exertions could check the consuming element; and the second line was -burned like the first. The conflagration in the road had nearly ceased at this time ; the enemy yelled with exultation ; the odious colors were distinctly seen when the smoke slowly disappeared ; a general charge was made, which resulted in the capture of the original position ; and tlie pickets were stationed half of a mile in tlie advance at sunset without opposition. Many were eating tlieir dinners when the assault com- menced ; and an officer hurriedly rushed to the works with a spoon in one hand, and a fork in the other. A panic-stricken AND SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 285 skulker created a laugh, in which the division general joined, by crawling upon his hands and knees from the brigade to the woods during the fighting. An enormous quantity of fixed ammunition was expended, — most of the soldiers of the division used sixty or seventy cartridges ; and fingers were bhstered by the muskets, which became very hot in conse- quence of the rapid fii'ing. The guards of both armies, in charge of prisoners, frequently lost their way in the lab^jninth of stunted oaks, and entered the wrong lines, where the re- lations of the parties were transposed. The hurrah which has always been a characteristic of the national army was modified, and resembled the yell of the enemy to such an extent, that it was impossible to detect by this means the success of loyal or rebel charges ; and some were occasionally disheartened by the joyful shouts of their friends in the dis- tance. The division acted with the reserve, but its services were not required during the day; and an abstract of my notes shows the slight knowledge that I possessed of the manoeuvres of the army and the events that transpired. Musketry firing was often heard upon the right and left; skirmishing was active at times in the front ; and columns moved in different directions, and sometimes passed by each other upon the road. Lee was at last outgeneralled, and forced to abandon his position ; and the regiment performed its duty upon picket without molestation; while the troops marched in the night towards Spottsylvania Court House. The companies reth-ed at eleven, a.m., of the 8th, from their 286 THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS posts to the road, whicli was wliolly deserted by the infantry ; and small squads of cavalry patrolled the Imes that had been so recently defended by 130,000 soldiers. In the march from these scenes which- now form a glorious page of the national history, some of the men were so much exhausted by the hardships that necessarily followed the great contest, that they fell asleep if they sat upon their knapsacks during a brief halt. Breastworks were built to hold the new position ; rations were issued ; fires were prohibited during the night ; and, in the language of those whose tenns of service soon expired, "there was one more day less." The brigade was under arms at four, a.m., upon the 9th, and marched to Todd's Tavern, — the same point which the corps reached on the 5th, and upon which the cavaby fought the decisive battle that turned the rebel right and compelled the retreat of Lee. The column halted near a group of mounted officers, among whom were Gen. Grant, one of the greatest, and Gen. Meade, one of the smallest, warriors that have led an American army. The corps commanders report- ed at this hour for instructions; and the attentive soldiers observed, with increased confidence in the successful result of the campaign, that Gen. Meade did not give a single direction, and that Gen. Grant alone was the controlling mind. " Gen. Meade is nothing but an adjutant for Gen. Grant ; " " I'm of more account with my musket than he is now;" "They don't notice him so much as they do the orderlies," — illustrate the style of the remarks that were fre- AND SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 287 quently uttered by the rank and file who were interested spectators. The ambulances were insuiEcient for the trans- portation of the wounded; and the generals, with exalted philanthropy, tendered their private wagons, which were used several days for this object. An inexperienced heavy-artillery regiment, numbering twenty-eight hundred men, performed picket-duty, and continually discharged volleys at the bushes and other imaginary enemies ; and a sleepless night followed. The division, guided by a negro of eminent dignity, marched at 3.40, A.M., on the 10th; halted in the road at seven, A.M., about two miles from Spottsylvania Court House; and the open fields were viewed with delight by those that recalled the horrors of the Wilderness. The skirmishers were de- ployed, and drove those of the enemy until they reached the intrenchments ; and the line of battle was established in an advanced position ; and a belt of woods, comprising pines of large growth, intervened between the hostile armies. Labor upon the breastworks was stimulated by the exploding shells ; rail-fences in the vicinity were speedily demolished; the small stones were collected ; a few outbuildings were torn to pieces to make the revetment ; the stakes were bound to- gether with strips of cloth, which the men tore from their overcoats and blankets ; and green boughs were placed upon the logs to protect them against the fire. The officer in charge of the packed mules remained in the rear ; and the soldiers who were unable to procure shovels and axes scooped up the earth with their dippers and tin plates. The 288 THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS news that Johnston had been forced to evacuate Dalton was officially communicated to the troops at noon, with special instructions to avoid cheering, because the foe might ascer- tain the number and position of the troops. The skirmish &e was incessant ; the cannonading was very heavy during the afternoon ; and the floating clouds of dust and smoke, three or four miles upon the left, showed the progress of the corps of Burnside. The division made an unsuccessful charge at half-past five, p.m., previous to which the officers of the regi- ment were told that there were probably not more than two hundred sharpshooters behind their works; but the instant that the movement commenced, loud yells arose, which showed the presence of a superior force. The troops were aroused at 3.25, a.m., on the 11th, in the midst of a severe skirmish engagement ; and the division was transferred to a point near the centre. A hght shower of rain, which was the first unpleasant weather that had occurred since the campaign opened, fell in the morning. Musicians usually lurk in the rear ; but a band that was sheltered by the line of breastworks in the front played martial airs at intervals, and invariably enlivened the soldiers, who loudly cheered. The watchful sharpshooters pierced with their unerring rifles every object that might be a human being ; the cannon re- sounded occasionally ; but there was no serious battle during the day, although the sixth corps was massed at the right centre for an extensive movement, and withdrawn at sunset. The division re-occupied at midnight the earthworks which it AND SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 289 constructed upon the 10 th ; and preparations were made for a grand charge by the corps, the brigades of which were aligned and assigned to their positions in the course of the nest three hours. Natui-e, that had so often favored the national cause, deployed its powerful forces ; the night was darkened by the clouds, which sometimes touched the earth ; no camp-fires glowed within the Union lines, while those of the enemy re- flected upon the heavens like the northern lights. A dense cloud of mist, that concealed every moving body of troops,, filled the air at twilight ; the columns received the final order to advance at 4.40, a.m., of the 12th ; and thousands of hearts trembled with anxiety, as they silently and firmly approached the unknown dangers of the rebel stronghold. The pickets, whose vigilance had been lulled by the unfavorable character of the elements, were surprised before they could awaken their comrades in the reserve, most of whom were sleeping behind a formidable earthwork, which was gained without firing a shot. While the supports were anticipating a dreadful volley, a spectacle which seemed like a dream greeted their delighted eyes. The faded banners of ungodly rebellion; two chief- tains, — Johnson upon a horse, and Stuart on foot ; hundreds of prisoners of different grades; batteries and artillery-horses driven by the happy conquerors, — these trophies of Union suc- cess passed to the rear of the scene of action. A shout of joy that burst from the lips of the men who were elated by the triumph alarmed the forces which held the second line, that was parallel with the first that had been taken ; and rebels 19 290 THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS who were subsequently captured stated that their army was aimised and saved by this cheering. The enemy opened before all the guns had been removed ; and the woodwork of those near a sahent angle of the fortifi- cation, which was the centre of the ceaseless combat during the day, was riddled and rendered useless by the thousands of bullets that were aimed by both armies. The regiment was temporarily detached to assist the provost-guard at a cer- tain point ; and all stragglers, without regard to excuses, and those who bore wounded officers, comrades, and even brothers, from the works, were halted, and obliged to rejoin their com- mands. The situation of the disabled, who were exposed within the range of shells and cannon balls, was made heart- rending in the extreme by the absence of the ambulances and stretcher-bearers who should have carried them from the field to the hospitals, where their sufferings would be alleviated. The prisoners were ordered to convey them to the rear, and gladly hastened to discharge the duty, because theii' lives were imperilled as long as they remained in the front. The heavy shower which fell at eight, a.m., ruined the cartridges in some muskets, but did not stay the work of carnage, which con- tinued until sunset. At this time the author was detailed by Gen. Mott, the faithful commander of the division, to recon- noitre the position of the foe with his company, and report the strength of the force in front, which was invisible on ac- count of a slight elevation that arose between the first and second lines of breastworks. While I was reading at 8.50, AND SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 291 A.M., the inscription upon a large flag, from a point of obser- vation that had been gained with ease, my right thigh was affected by the sensation that follows a sudden blow : the mus- cles of the leg instantly contracted ; and I was surprised when I discovered that a bullet had ploughed through the flesh. My steps to the rear were necessarily slow : the reserves, the headquarters of the corps, the sentinels of the provost- guard, and squads of non-combatants, were passed ; and more than two hours elapsed before I arrived at the division hospi- tal, which was two miles from the field. Gen. Hancock was issuing orders to arrest the cowards who were constantly es- caping from the front, and exclaimed, " These skulkers wish to enjoy the fruits of victory, but are unwilling to share the dangers to win it." The arrangements for the treatment of the disabled were most excellent : a board of experienced sur- geons held a consultation upon every case in which amputation took place ; and all that medical skill and attention could ef- fect was readily performed. The Government supplies were abundant ; nourishment of every description was bestowed ; and faithful nurses often brought the cold water, which was Nature's restoring liniment, and saturated the bandages. A small strip of white cloth was fastened to the button-hole of the coat as soon as the names of the wounded were recorded ; and the sufferers of every rank and both armies received tlie same kind treatment, and reposed upon beds of pine boughs in the capacious hospital tents. IMore than three-fourths of the number were untroubled by pain ; and one man who had 292 THE BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS lost a leg remarked, " I should think that my foot was on, for I have a queer feeling in the ankle : " another replied to this as he raised the stump that had once been the right arm, ' ' I have the same feeling in my wrist which you have in your ankle." The rebels frankly admitted that their wounds were better dressed than they would have been if they had not been taken prisoners ; and many amicable conversations en- sued between those who had been rendered helpless while engaged in the deadly combat. Strange as the statement may appear, the rank and file always expressed the same opinions ; earnestly wished to see a united country ; indulged in con- templating visions of its strength ; and portrayed the resistless power with which the ablest officers, North and South, leading their commands of veterans in a common cause against the English in Canada and the British Provinces, and the French in Mexico, would sweep them into the ocean and the gulf. Those who belonged to Stuart's brigade evinced a deep hatred towards him on account of his tyrannical conduct, and hoped that he would be treated in the harshest manner by the Union troops. They said, that, when the batteries were hurling solid shot against their breastworks upon the 11th, he coolly shouted, " They have thrown balls enough : I hope they will send some chains ; and then I can fasten them to the legs of my men, so that they cannot run away." The correspondents of the newspapers eagerly questioned the staff-officers to ascertain the details of the battle which they had not witnessed ; and by this means I obtamed a knowl- AND SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 293 edge of the origin of many untruthful items, — that Gen. This saved the day at one point, and Gen. That at another time turned defeat into victory. A large number of skulkers con- cealed themselves in the forests, or bivouacked near the hos- pitals, and feigned wounds by binding up their heads and arms in blood-stained bandages, or limped, with the assistance of a crutch, in apparent pain ; and detail^ of the provost-guard frequently patrolled the ground to seize these base wretches, and escort them to the front. The army thieves, who lurked in the rear and waited for the cessation of Vao conflict before they plundered the slain, grasped with their remorseless hands the valuables, clothing, and rations of the unwary, wounded soldiers, the flattened bullets that had been retained as priceless relics by those from whom they were extracted, and the invaluable swords which ofiicers had borne with honor through scenes of car- nage. In the tent to which, with twenty others, I was as- signed, a member of the regiment was robbed of every thing, including an old knife and a diary, while he was unconscious on account of a ball which entered his head; and another person was plundered in a similar style before he had recov- ered from the effect of the ether which had been administered when his arm was amputated. The heavy musket-firing, which continued throughout tlie night, ceased on the morning of the 13th, and (juietncss reigned until half-past eleven, a.m., when the first cannon opened in a sliglit engagement. Boughs and leaves were 29^ THE BATTLES OF THE WILDEEXESS placed in the wagons that were proceeding to Acquia Creek for ammunition, forage, and aimy supplies, to make them suitable for the transportation of the wounded ; and in the afternoon tlie lengthy trains of the ambulances, accompanied bj hundreds on foot who wei-e not severely injiu'ed in the head and upper extremities, moved upon the plank road to Fredericksburg. The conduct of unscrupulous agents, who acted in behalf of societies that induced the Grovernment to allow them to supply the wants of the disabled at this point, caused a scarcity of food, lack of attendants, and universal sufiermg, to such an extent that many clamored to be sent to the front ; and a shout of joy was heard when the march- ing orders were received. Nothing could be purchased in the desolate city, which had remained unaltered since the bombardment, and consisted of empty storehouses, deserted buildings, and a small number of scantily clothed and fed citizens. The chaplain who had been dismissed from the seiTice for stealing a horse was very active, and cu'culated Bibles and tracts for the Christian Commission among the wounded. The ambulances were slowly driven through the fields upon which the army had encamped at Falmouth, and reached Belle -Plain Landms; at midnisfht on the 15th. Folu: thousand rebel prisoners, awaiting transportation, were confined, near the mouth of the Potomac Creek, in a natimil basm that was enclosed by high hills upon which were posted guards, and guns loaded with canister. The wounds of all were examined before the}^ were allowed to enter the trans- AND SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 295 port, to detect the cowardly impostors, a large squad of whom was sent under guard to the detachment of skulkers, which numbered a thousand. A body of twenty shirking officers, some of whom were in irons, who had escaped from the battle of the Wilderness to Washington, marched by the am- bulance : and I could not imao'ine a stronojer cause for the emotion of humiliation and shame which was expressed by their dejected and averted faces. The steamer that had been fitted for its use with commendable foresight before the army crossed the Rapidan was amply supplied by the Government with every article that was required for the shattered frames of its passengers. CHAPTER XVIII. THE HOSPITAL, AND OBSERVATIONS UPON THE TREATMENT OF ARMY DISEASES. "ilito'IIK strongtli of tlie wounded was completely ex- / 1 hausted iu Washington by waiting uix)n pompous \^Jy and unfeeling officials, who viewed with contempt the men that performed the jQgliting in the front while they flourished in luxurious ease and safety in the rear. The surgeons in the office of the medical examiner ordered me to report to the hospital at Annapolis for the purpose of obtaining a leave of absence, which they said they could not grant on account of the large number of cases that demanded their services. A friend who had been crippled in the army remarked in emphatic terms, when I communicated this fact to him, "Don't go: it is all made up between them and the doctors in Annapolis ; they lied to me in the same way when I was sent there." I again reported for instructions, to pre- vent any mistake ; and they asserted in the most positive lan- guage to my conn-ade, a wounded officer of tlie regiment, " You will get your leaves as soon as you arrive at An- napolis." An ex-lieutenant-colonel, who had served upon the staff of a commander of the Army of the Potomac, said 296 THE HOSPITAL, AND OBSERVATIONS, ETC. 207 , ...... ^^^^^.,^^^^^^^j to me -when I left tlie hotel in the evening, " I am very sorry that I didn't see you when you came : I should have introduced you to , who has the papers put tlirough, and gets twenty or thirty every day. It would cost you a trifle for his trouble." The captain of a New- York regiment pro- cured without delay a leave from Secretary-of-War Stanton, j through the influence of an M.C. who was a notorious enemy of the Government ; and an oflicer from the same State en- tertained the crowd hy saying, " This was the style when I applied for my document ; " and then hmped with groans, and a countenance upon which extreme agony was depicted. " This is the style now that I've got it," he uttered witli an animated laugh, as he danced upon the floor and invited everybody to walk to the bar. The brick buildings tliat had been used by the students and professors of the Naval Academy had been converted into hospitals, and I was conducted to a pleasant room or " ward," from which the eye could gaze at the Ijcautiful grounds and the Chesapeake Bay. My astonishment may be imagined when a surgeon informed mc that "wo never grant leaves of absence ; and you must remain in this place until your term of service expires, because your wound will not be healed previous to that time." lie made another con- soling assertion : " It is useless for anybody to seek to escape, as Gen. Halleck always disapproves every application which is not sanctioned by the officials of Annapolis." AVhcn this conversation was repeated, I found that most of the wounded 298 THE HOSPITAL, AND OBSERVATIONS UPON patients, corapiising fifty or sixty in number, had been de- ceived by tbe same folse promises from the medical authori- ties of Washington. In reply to a remark which I made to the nurse, he said that he did not know the proper mode of applying bandages, because it was the first day that he had been detailed for this duty; and the visiting surgeon, a most excellent and faithful public servant, stated that then- attend- ants were ignorant, for they had been compelled to detach those who possessed experience for service in the front. Per- sons who understand the nature of wounds, and the necessity of the best treatment and watchfulness, can realize the sad condition in which officers were placed who must linger for months among heartless strangers when they most ardently desired to return to their homes. IMany indignantly protested that their confinement was a punishment for the faithful per- formance of their duty upon the battle-field. Wines and dif- ferent kinds of liquors, which were daily prescribed for three of the most hclplcsss victims in the ward, were received in very small quantities about twice a week ; and the nurses were frequently intoxicated, and disturbed the suffering in- mates by their boisterous conduct. " AVhere were you yesterday?" an officer asked : " there was no one to wait on us for twenty-four hours." *' I was dmnk, and shut up in the guard-house," the man truthfully replied. " Where do you all get so much liquor ? " "It don't cost any thing. It comes fromlhe ," nam- THE TREATMENT OP ARMY DISEASES. 299 ing, not the Government, but a vast association whicli is boun- tifully sustained by the large heart of the patriotic North. This hospital, like most of those which are located in the rear, furnished a splendid refuge for skulkers of every rank. Some had lived within its walls two years in perfect health ; and I discovered one worthless fellow who had been absent from the regiment since the fii'st battle of Bull Kun. A few officers openly an-ayed themselves in the apparel of civilians, without receiving a reprimand, — although it was contrary to explicit orders from the War Department, — and enjoyed the privileges of the town, which wore more agreeable to them than the display of courage which defies the bullet and rifled cannon. The most pitiable class of patients consisted of prisoners that had been recently released from the horrors of Libby Prison ; and some, whose minds had been tempora- rily weakened when then- frames became emaciated, talked and played together with the simplicity of youth. The un- tiring exertions of Hon. Oakes Ames, the representative in Congress from the district, overcame every obstacle ; and I succeeded in procuring the much-desired leave of absence from the Secretary of War upon the 27th, after a vexatious controversy with the chief surgeon ; and no Gen. Halleck or medical director could withhold it. Another surgeon, to whom the " almighty dollar " per day was paid for board, stated that an ambulance would be furnished to convey me and my comrade to tlio railroad depot ; but none was sup- plied, although there wore ten or twelve whicli wero pnrl^ed 00 THE HOSPITAL, AND OBSERVATIONS UPON in the stables. The evening train was thus lost ; a delay of twelve hours was caused by this broken promise ; and upon the morning of the 28th I gladly quitted the scenes in which my brief sojourn had been so gloomy and unpleasant. The result of* the experience and personal observation of the author, and the unbroken testimony of those who had been disabled in the service, support the disgraceful facts which are recorded in this paragi-aph. The convzilescent and parole camps and the permanent hospitals that were established in the vicinity of the cities of the loyal States, with a few honor- able exceptions I trust, have been the centres around which deeds of iniquity revolved ; and a majority of the surgeons con- nected with them have been base vampires, that exhausted the vitality of the Union armies in the darkest hours of this strug- gle. Their lists of able-bodied soldiers whom they falsely reported upon the sick-rolls grew larger and larger ; while the regiments in the front, in the same ratio, became smaller and smaller. More than two-thirds of the hirelings styled nurses and servants, that were employed in these institutions, were cowards and skulkers of the vilest order, who ran away from their comrades in the day of battle, and gained the favor of their medical officers by the most abject servihty. When the infamous system began upon the Peninsula, the company coDimanders refused to forward the papers which the surgeons demanded to enable them to defraud the Government by receiving the pay that is due to soldiers ; and Secretary Stan- ton vainly menaced them, "by order of the Secretary of THE TREATMENT OF ARMY DISEASES. 301 War," with threats of dismissal from the service for neglect of duty. That bond of wickedness, the " partial descriptive list," was then framed and issued by the departments, by means of which miUions of the national treasury have been regularly paid to thousands of deserters, who were sheltered from an-est by the medical directors, who were sustained by I the powerful authority of the Secretary of War. Hundreds of cunning malingerers lurked in these secure retreats ; and noble men who had been wounded were not allowed to return to the front when they had recovered, although they sometimes applied eight or ten times for permission, and at last rejoined then- commands by eluding the vigilance of the guards. Sol- diers of the last honorable description could be found in every company of the regiment ; and the officers always com- mended their conduct, and tore into shreds, or cast into the fire, notices stating that they were deserters from the so-called hospitals. Delicacies and all that satisfied the appetites of the body, which had been abundantly supplied by the philanthropy of the American people, were usually stolen by these miscre- ants ; although I admit that they never withheld or retained for their private use the tracts and Bibles which bad been presented as food for the soul. The author most cheerfully excepts from this severe criticism the female nurses, who performed their tasks, in the few places from which the ma- lignity of unscrupulous surgeons could not exclude them, with a tenderness and honesty that secured for them the esteem of every person who was the fortunate subject of their attentions. 302 THE 'hospital, and observations upon The substitution of these high-minded attendants of the gen- tler sex ior the diabolical wretches who should be transported to the front would re-enforce the army, and encourage those that meet the enemy upon the field of conflict. The policy thus accurately described was so generally car- ried into execution, that it was a maxim among ofiicers and men, that no soldier who entered a hospital in the rear ever shouldered again his musket with his comrades in the ranks. Discharges from the service were often issued to those that were able-bodied ; and, upon one occasion, the passenger-car in which I sat was filled with these knaves, who uncorked their bottles of stolen liquors as soon as the train started from Wash- ington, and publicly boasted that they had never seen a fight, but ' ' beat the Government ' ' one or two years, and bought their final papers for certain amounts of money. A brief career of dissipation exhausted their funds, and many of them rejoined the army within a month after they had left it. A member of the company skulked from Williamsburg, and joined a hospital ; which alarR:ed his wife, who supposed that he was seriously ill, and wrote letters of anxious inquiry to the regi- ment : but he informed her that he was feigning sickness to escape the dangers of battle, and pacified her by the pleasant suggestion that he could not be killed. Tlie surgeons aided the shirk in every way, and applied about once in two months for his descriptive list during the ensuing two years, although they were continually notified rc':>;arding his real character; and finally gi-anted him an honoi le discharge. The topic THE TRExVTMENT OF ARMY DISEASES. 303 of malingering is endless ; and many incidents might be nar- rated to illustrate tlie various " dodges," or means of " play- ing it." The tricks of European soldiers were revived by foreigners from the Continent; and the regimental surgeon detected the copper which produced a frightful sore upon the knee of one of the company by noticing the impression of the American cent. Others pretended to be afflicted with every disease that troubles the human system ; but the fre- quent prescription of the most nauseous doses sometimes checked their complaints. A private was excused from per- forming any duty for three months on account of rheumatism ; and always walked with great difficulty by the aid of a cane, and daily expected to receive a discharge for disability. Un- fortunately for his well-laid scheme, he foolishly became intoxicated, and appeared upon the parade-ground without any artificial means of support, and ejaculated to the astonished crowd, " I ain't lame; " " I'm playing it; " "I don't need any stick." He was detailed for guard upon the following morning ; . subsequently deserted from the regiment at Fair Oaks; and, like tliousands of similar rascals, obtained an honorable discharge from the hospitals. "That's the way I got it," he remarked as he chuckled, and slapped his hands upon his pocket in a significant manner. Fingers wore some- times shot off, and other wounds were self-inflicted, to attain this object ; and in .two instances a serious miscalculation re- sulted in the loss of a foot and an arm. A substitute of the adjoining regiment persisted in carrying a cane upon the 304 THE HOSPITAL, AND OBSERVATIONS UPON marches, reviews, and inspections which he was obliged to attend, and declared that he could not walk without using it ; but at Locust Grove the bullets frightened him, and he ran from the woods with a speed that was seldom excelled. The uniform of the invalid corps, which was wisely de- signed for the most exalted purposes by its authors, is dis- graced by a majority of the skulkers that wear it ; and the number of the disabled in its ranks who could " Count the dates of battles by his scars " is very limited. A multitude of worthless officers and men, enfeebled by the "cannon-fever," rushed in^o its regiments, which in physical vigor were often superior to those that labored in the trenches or fought the enemies of the country. The surgeons once more decimated the nat^al forces by or- dering the names of those who were asking for permission to return to their old commands to be enrolled as members of this corps. Its reputation was so seriously impaired by these practices, that soldiers of honor and principle, who had been crippled in the service, reftised to enlist in it, because they knew that their militaiy fome would be tarnished by the in- glorious action of their associates. The ambulance system, and the means provided by the Government for the speedy removal of the wounded, were most excellent ; but the evasion and the negligence of the agents to whom they were usually intrusted, rendered them, at times, valueless. Officers and men of doubtful courage THE TREATMENT OF ARMY DISEASES. 305 used every exertion to be detailed for this service, because they considered it a safe position; and, with" rare ex- ceptions, remained in the rear while the wounded were stretched ujwn the field and praying for assistance. The regimental commander, upon one occasion, issued the follow- ing order to the company officers when he received a notice to detail ten soldiers for duty in the ambulance corps : — ' ' Take tlie most worthless cowards and stragglers that you have got : I won't instdt my good and brave men by sending them to such a lot of scalawags." There was scarcely a day upon which the wagons were not used for some foreign purpose ; and, upon the march to Gettysburg, a general in the corps appropriated three of them which conveyed sumptuous stores of luxuries and liquors, and retained them when the Dutch farmers were filching money from the helpless whom they transported a short dis- tance. When the drivers bivouacked upon the road to Fal- mouth, they compelled the sick to leave the ambulances in the midst of a pitiless storm ; and commanded them to go to their regiments, which were five miles from that point, because they wished to sleep in them during the night. One victim of this heartless cruelty, unable to walk, and overcome by the state of despair that enveloped him, finished his life with the musket that he had so often aimed at tlie ranks of the enemy. A formal complaint, which recited these facts, was forwarded to headquarters by the regimental surgeon ; but the only notice tliat was taken of it was the extraordinary 20 306 THE HOSPITAL, AND OBSERVATIONS UPON answer, tliat such conduct was customary, and in accordance with standing orders. The appointment of brave officers and men for this department, throughout the army, would save many valuable lives, and silence the objections that have been publicly urged against the corps. The hospitals in the front, without many of the external conveniences, rank high above those in the rear, because they were usually managed for the best interests of the service ; al- though some of the abuses that always follow the employment of, non-combatants in the field were occasionally developed. The presence of comrades who made frequent visits to assist the suffering, the superior care of friendly attendants who did not wish to pilfer, and the bands which were detailed to play upon certain days, had a beneficial efiect. Gen. Hooker en- tered every ward at Falmouth after the battle of Chancellors- ville ; remedied all the defects that were visible ; conversed with the wounded ; and wrote a pass for the mother of a sol- dier who had hastened to Washmgton, but, unsupported by influence, was unable to reach the couch of her dying son. Every means were used that conduced to preserve a cheerful and contented disposition, which decided the issue in doubtful cases in favor of life ; for what is termed homesickness has caused the death of many soldiers. Mangled men played games of cards or checkers ; those without a leg proposed to dance or race ; others, without an arm, challenged a comrade equally helpless to box or wrestle ; incidents of the battle were described* while the tobacco in the pipe was uncon- THE TREATMENT OF ARMY DISEASES. 307 sumecl ; grotesque and useful articles were iugeniously made ; and the soldiers sometimes carved iuto ornaments the bones which had once formed a part of their bodies. The effect of wounds upon different constitutions, in the excitement of the conflict, was very striking; and tllOse with the slightest injuries frequently exhibited the utmost distress. An officer who bivouacked with the regiment at Gettysburg, and was certain that he had not been struck, and walked unassisted to the hospital, because his "side felt so sore," was not more amazed when the surgeon informed him that a bullet had barely missed his lung, than a colonel whose uniform had been perforated by balls, and who was borne upon a stretcher from the field, after exhorting his men to boldly face the foe, when he was told that there was not a scratch upon his person. The most heartrending scenes that I ever witnessed in my eventful experience were those in which tlie helpless vainly and ])iteously implored their comrades to shoot them, and end their excruciating agonies. Careful habits proaioted the health of the soldiers ; and the rules of army mortality were reversed in many of the regiments (including the 11th) tiiat performed severe fighting; and four or five men died by the casualties of battle to one that perished by disease. The roar of artillery, and the sudden shock of conflict, occasionally produced deafness or speechlessness; and the concussion of a shell sometimes killed a man, or fractured a limb, without inflicting a wound. The bullets rarely travelled 308 THE HOSPITAL, AND OBSERVATIONS, ETC. in the same grooves through the air ; but an officer was struck in the same place in his jaw at Fair Oaks and Fredericks- burg, and one soklier received four wounds iu the left arm in different battles. Anxiety and responsibility, which were sus- peflded over the head like the sword of the ancient emperor, produced premature old age : many generals soon lost their youthful looks ; and it was not uncommon to see gray-haired veterans who had not lived twenty-five years. The proximity of battle always affected the health of certain soldiers ; and there were persons of high rank that were sick upon such occasions, and never exposed themselves within the range of rebel cannon. There is a class of generals that are never attacked by disease whenever they are engaged upon court-martial, provost-guard, and similar duty at Washington, or the safe places of the North ; but an order to report to the front is always succeeded by prostration and weakness. Statements that "only forty men are left in a regiment that once numbered a thousand," and the exciting and ex- aggerated accounts about the havoc of battle, have led many to largely over-estimate the number of those that die in the service. The long list of the deserters, the discharged, and the non-combatants, that sometimes include one-fourth of the aggregate strength, explains the nature of this apparent waste; and there were few of the three- years' regiments which lost more than ten officers, or two hundred and fifty men, by death from all causes. CHAPTER XIX. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS UPON ARMY MORALITY AND DISCIPLINE. ANY facts whicli have been narrated in the foregoing chapters might be classed under this head ; but a separate discussion of the subject has been deemed of importance. The religious belief of the army was simple, and consisted of two articles of faith: first, that "a man will die when his time comes;" and secondly, that ' ' a soldier who is slain in the service of his country is sure to enter the gates of heaven." The arguments of books and the sermons of divines could not undermine these ideas, in the sincere profession of which thousands fought and died upon the battle-field. The chap- lains of the army, those that should be the types of its purity, were commissioned without regard to their moral (qualifica- tions ; and, as a class, exerted a debasing influence upon the soldiers : so that it was generally impossible to perceive any distinction between the man of God and tlie man of sin. The officers of some regiments, from which they had been dismissed for military offences, voted that it was inexpedient to procure another spiritual adviser, because they considered 309 310 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS UPON that his example would be as pernicious as that of his prede- cessor and brethren in the service. Tracts upon the wicked- ness of dancing, attending theatres, sleeping in church, extravagance in dress, and similar matters, were extensively circulated among the troops; and it was evident that the dealers had shrewdly cleared their shelves of the unsalable rubbish which had been accumulating for years. The letters that were frequently published in the religious papers por- trayed the marvellous results which ensued when they were distributed, perverted the facts, and deceived those well- meaning philanthropiTsts that contributed them. Less than five soldiers in the regiment perused them with a conscientious interest ; and this small number of readers was not largely exceeded in other commands that passed within the range of the author's notice. I have often witnessed the following mci- dents when a certain chaplain appeared in the company streets to give away the tracts which had been consigned to him. A squad of men, jostling each other, and using many oaths, sur- rounded him, and shouted, " I don't want them little things : give me some of those big papers with the flag on them. I am going on picket, and want some to put my rations in.' ' * ' Those tracts are just what I want to light my pipe with." " Give me some too : they are first-rate to kindle fires." The chap- lain gratified the request of each person ; had a jocose answer* for all; and said, with many repetitions, " Use them for any purpose you see fit. It is my business to get rid of them ; and it is nothing to me what you do with them." If they ARMY MORALITY AND DISCIPLINE. 311 asked for some flashy novel, bo replied, "I have not got it now, but will let you have it if it is sent to me." The week that succeeded pay-day was noticeable, because groups of men assembled in the vicinity of the regiment, and gambled hour after hour with cards, dice, and props, and rubber blankets, upon which certain sq[uares and digits had been rudely sketched. ' The number of players gradually diminished ; and the few winners, who had acquired the stakes which had been lost by the majority, contended for heavy amounts, and one hundred dollars were frequently placed upon the board. Some gained by this means large sums ; and a soldier at Culpeper Court House accumulated one thousand dollars in the course of twenty-four hours. It was usually prohibited by oflicei'S, and guards sometimes patrolled the camps to enforce the order ; but others did not interfere : and the brigade commander remarked to the division general when they inspected the grounds which the gamblers occupied, " God Almighty never made a better place than these woods for men to gamble in." The passion displayed itself upon every favorable opportunity ; and the implements of the various games were actively used upon the march, the picket-reserve, and the battle-field. A chaplain, who acted the part of a spectator, mnocently in- quired, " How does this man take that man's money ? " The problem was quickly solved ; and whenever he was invited to join, or " take a hand," he declined, not by uttering stern reproof, but some facetious remarks, ' ' I have two hands now, and don't want another ; " or, "I am afraid that T should lose 312 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS UPON my money if I played with siicli skilful exports." The *' lucky ones " gciiorally rolled their greenbacks together like a twist of natural leaf-tobaeco, and forwarded them home ; although some honorable chaplains refused to assist any gam- bler in saving his gains, and delivered strong addresses against the alluring vice. The conduct which has been censured re- lates wholly to a class that comprised Jibout one-tenth of the enlisted men in a regiment ; and, with the exception of a soli- tary occurrence in another brigade, I never observed an in- discriminate medley of officers and soldiers in the crowd of players. Profanity, which was unchecked by the presence of the re- straining influences of home and a civilized community, was a habit that existed in every rank and grade ; and the old saying, "to swear like a trooper," was hourly confirmed. The language generally used ih the sunmions to surrender, by the members of both armies ; the actual terms employed by officers of high rank in giving orders ; the exclamations of the wounded, and the last words of dying heroes, — seldom appear in the volumes of the historian. It was an interesting study to observe that foreign recruits, who were unacquainted with the English tongue when they entered the regiment, quickly acquired a proficiency in the use of the strongest oaths before they had mastered the rudiments of their adopted language. This discreditable feature of the army always struck the attention of visitors by its publicity ; and many thoughtlessly uttered another ancient maxim, " The worse ARMY MORALITY AND DISCIPLINE. 313 the man, the better the soldier." A brief military experi- ence will satisfy all concerning the falsity of this remark. The worthless bully and idler in the abodes of peace invari- ably form the most useless parts of the engine of war ; while the quiet and industrious civilians constitute the motive power and essential portions. A lofty principle of action, not physi- cal brutality, is the basis of that courage and heroism which ^re absolutely necessary to insure the success of the subtlest planned campaign. I have seen the pugilist who feared no an- tagonist in the wrangles and scuffles of a mob tremble with fright, and flee, upon the field of carnage ; while a youth ani- mated by pure patriotism, who timidly shrank from the quai'- rels of the street, was the foremost in the charge of victory, and the most steadfast in the severe trial of defeat. " I was biought up on a bottle, and never saw any harm in it, " was the observation of a drunken chaplain, that furnishes a text for this paragraph . The enforcement of stringent orders prevented the sale of liquor to the rank and file, so that a compulsory sobriety existed ; and the number of intemperate soldiers who bore muskets with their commands was extreme- ly small. Some, who foolishly supposed that this stimulant was indispensable, admitted their mistake when they were compelled to perform fatiguing labor without it ; and the army in this way aided a great reform. Venal ofTJccrs, sutlers, and commissaries, made enormous profits by covertly selling the forbidden beverage ; and privates sometimes willingly paid the hard-earned wages of a month to procure a canteen of 314 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS UPON wliiskey which cost the vender twenty cents. ) The course of the Government and charitable associations in issuing it as a ration, in certain circumstances, to the enlisted men, pro- duced evils that are boundless in their extent. The well- known demoralization and inefficiency in battle of many Grer- man regiments, especially those that " trinks mit everybody and runs mit Howard," were caused not by the Teutonic but the lager-beer blood that pervaded their systems. I exjiaess in print what has been said many times in conversation by officers, that the total prohibition of the use of intoxicating liquor for any purpose by any class of persons in the army would have preserved the lives of thousands, and shortened the duration of this war at least one year. The careful reader has noticed that the shameful drunkenness of a corps com- mander became the stumbling-block in the path to victory, when Gen. Meade was foiled in the movement which termi- nated at Mine Run. A broad distinction was established ; and it is a sad fact, that, with rare exceptions, the commissioned officers were not only unhindered, but even aided, to obtain the ardent spirits which they desired ; and every brigade commissary was sup- plied by the Government with barrels of whiskey for this purpose. It was a sharp device, at one time, for privates to put on shoulder-straps, and purchase liquor, which was deliv- ered to them upon the supposition that they were officers. The tents of many generals and subalterns presented the appearance of the glittering and highly-colored glasses and c ARMY MORALITY AND DISCIPLINE. 315 bottles of a bar-room ; and the presence of one of them, upon a visit or special duty, was the signal for the production of " something to take." From the first battle of Bull Run, at which Miles was allowed by Gen. McDowell to disgrace him- self and the nation with impunity, to Spottsylvania Court House, where I counted, a few minutes before I was wound- ed, twenty-six general and staff ofl&cers that rode upon their horses with great difficulty on account of intoxication, my minutes contain notices of drunkenness upon every scene of conflict in which I was engaged. To avert unjust suspicion, I desire to state, that none of the jofficers with the regiment were rendered inefiQcient by this cause, in such important cri- ses. The practice existed to such an alarming extent, that, when certain persons fell in the time of action, it was a sub- ject of doubt, with the distant spectators, whether the cause was a bullet or the contents of a flask. " I need three can- teens a day now," a staff- officer remarked during the last campaign. The rebel prisoners with whom I conversed ad- mitted that the same state of facts prevailed in their army, and mentioned the names of some of their commanders who were notorious drunkards. The rights of subordinates were disregarded to pamper to this debasing appetite ; and a gen- eral seized the mail-wagon of the division upon a long march, and retained it more than two weeks (during which time the soldiers received no letters), in order that his .stock of liquors might be transported, — a f:iir quantity of which he openly imbibed upon the battle-field. I was stationed upon picl.ct 316 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS UPON when the ambulances returned from Chancellorsville, which they had visited by means of a flag of truce ; and men of veracity, who belonged to the regiment, assured me that many of the surgeons were "tight; " and they preferred to keep on their bandages of shelter-tent, which were black with clotted blood, and allow their wounds to remain undressed, because they did not wish to submit to the care of such mis- creants. Deserters formed the largest class of criminals in the army ; and nearly every regiment that has been posted in the front lost more men from this cause than the aggregate of all the others. The wholesale villany of the bounty-jumpers has doubled the names that are recorded upon the rolls of dis- honor. The friends of the rebel conspiracy in Alexandria, Washino;ton, and other cities, afforded all the assistance in their power to men that wished to escape from the service ; and furnished money, suits of clothing, and forged passes, discharges, furloughs, and similar documents, whenever the necessities of the case required them. The subject of crime naturally leads to a consideration of military discipline, and the punishment inflicted for the com- mission of offences of different degrees. The constant inter- ference by generals of high rank, and intermeddling officials in Washington, have often seriously impaired the efficiency of the troops, by preventing the impartial administration of justice, and the expiation of penalties which should follow a just sentence by. a court-martial. The first abuse could be ARMY iMORALITY AND DISCIPLINE. 317 easily remedied by a revision of the articles of the miliiaiy code which relate to the measures that precede the trial of the prisoner ; but the second cannot be corrected. Charges of a serious character must be approved by a general officer, who may deliberately suppress them without any regard to the just interests of the service, if the culprit is one of his friends, or can repay him for his sinful kindness. Specifications that were filed against tbe brother of a division commander for habitual drunkenness never emerged from their hiding-place when they reached his headquarters. A medical dircclor issued an order that an officer sh(juld be arraigned for feigning partial blindness to procure a discharge ; and although he had been fined by a court-martial for cowardice, and a complaint for drunkenness had also been preferred, they were promptly cast aside, because be perjured himself at the trial of some parties who had incurred the displeasure of the general. Charges of cowardice which were submitted by one division commander against another were repeatedly suppressed be- cause the guilty person was a personal admirer and flatterer of the head of the army ; while the subalterns, who said that they could prove them in any court, were summarily dis- missed from the service for the use of disrespectful language. Generals who were inebriates, poltroons, or traitors, were sel- dom if ever punished, but promoted, to demoralize, by their ignoble conduct, the unfortunate brigade, division, and corps commands which were obliged to serve under them. Rec- ommendations from ofiicers of ec^ual or higher rank triumphed 318 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS UPON over the just objections of subalterns and enlisted men, and gained a .confirmation by the Senate. The enforcement of tlie death-penalty against every deserter would have retained thousands in the army, and had an ex- cellent effect upon its disciplme ; while the clemency that was shown towards them actually encouraged soldiers to commit this infamous crime. 3Iany of the vilest substitutes, who enhsted witli the hitention to escape from the lines, were pai-doned by the authority of Washington dignitaries, al- though then- ofiicers reported that there were no mitigating circumstancbs in their cases. One of them openly declared to his conu'ades tliat lie should desert, and no power could injure him, because Senator — — of Wisconsin and his father were intimate friends. He ran away at the end of a fortnight ; was apprehended, and sentenced to be shot by the imanimous vote of the members of the court-martial, who noticed the utter depravity that was visible in his face and demeanor when he boldly said, ' ' I suppose I deserted to swindle the Government." The commander of the company, in answer to inquiries from the ^Var Deptu'tment, replied that ho was the worst soldier that he had ever seen ; but the sen- tence was remitted in compliance with the request of Senator of Wisconsin. A thousand facts like these which have been recited aftl'cted the authority of officers by rendering the enhsted men defiant, and at times nearly destroyed that discipline, without which an army becomes a mere assembly of citizens equipped for military duties. The state of perfec- ARMY MORALITY AxND DISCIPLINE. 319 tion wbicli existed in many of the batteries tliut belonged to the regular service exhibited the beneficial results of an implicit obedience to orders. An inflexible command, that was never modified by superiors, moulded the best artillerists in the world from a nucleus of fifteen or twenty members ; while the main portion was composed of the most useless and refractory soldiers that could be found in the guard-houses and prisons of the regiments from which they were detailed. THE END. i ( NEW AND POP V L Alt BOOKS RECENTLY ISSUED BY LEE & SHEPAR.D, 149 Washington St*, Boston, I. THE GOLD HUNTER'S ADVENTURES; OR, LIFE IN AUSTRALIA. By W. H. Thomes (a Returned Australian). 1 vol. 12mo. 556 pp. Illustrated. Price $2. "No one has excelled Mr. Thomes in describing the strange life of that Australian world which the gold discovery brought into such prominence. He tells us what he saw ; and tells it, too, in a man- ner that carries his readers along Avith him from the beginning to the end of these extraordinary Adventures. No work of its class has more attractions, or affords more gratification to those who peruse it." — Boston Traveller. " Gold Hunters. — This is a compact volume of 564 pp. solid, but attractive to the eye, giving a returned Australian's narrative of his experiences in making a little fortune in the mines, and of the wild company in which he was thrown ; and is surcharged with romantic adventures, which are related in so lively and natural a manner, that the reader cannot fail to be greatly interested, and in- structed as well, in all that actually relates to life in Australia." — Salem Gazette. II. TALKS ON WOMEN'S TOPICS. By Jennie June, 1 vol. 12;>J0, gilt top. Price $1 .75. "Sparkling, piquant, sententious, and full of sterling common sense and practical observations of life and manners. It is not simply smart and amusing, but sound, sugii:cstive, and instructing ; and no Avoman of any mind or heart can read it without being wiser and better for it." The New- York Tribune, in noticing the new volume, remarks, "Her book is full of excellent counsels bc'iiignly cxjM-esscd. It is the overflow of a wide-awake common sense, a keen perception of the ridiculous in character and action, and a lively appreciation of the nobler aspects of life, in spite of her exuberant love of fun and ridicule." ARMY AND ISTAVY STORIES, Bt Ozivjer Optic. THE SOLDIER BOY; OR, TOHN^ SOnMiERS IIST THE ^E,]MCY. 1 vol. IQmo. Illustrated by Champne)/. Price $1.50. THE SAILOR BOY; OR, J^CK SOMIERS IN^ THE :N"^V^Y. 1 vol. IQmo. Illustrated by Champney. Price $1.50. THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT; OR, THE -AJDVEISTTTIRES OE ^IS" J^JRIMIY OEEICER. A SEQUEL TO " THE SOLDIER BOY." (Ready soon.) THE YANKEE MIDDY; OK, THE ^^JD■V"EI^^T^TJI^ES OE J^ N'^A^^Zj oeeicer. A SEQUEL TO " THE SAILOR BOY." (Ready soon.) Rich in incidents of personal daring as this w^ has been, there is nothin.2: on record that Avill exceed in interest the stories of these noble lads, who, actuated solely by patriotism', went forth to fight the battles of their country, one in the held, the other on the sea. Twin sons of a patriotic mother, equally devoted to the cause of freedom, each selects that branch of the service most to his taste ; and while one "follows the drum" in the Army of the Potomac, the other "swings his hammock" on board one of those noble shiips whose brave deeds have marked the American Navy as the first in the world, and made memorable the waters of the Mississippi and the Gulf. As noble examples for imitation by the young, " The Soldier Boy" and "The Sailor Boy" cannot be excelled. These four volumes will form a series, to be called, when com- pleted, Ar?.y and Navy Stories; and will make a truthful and entertainirg history of the Rebellion, for the young. LEE & SHEPARD, Publishers, 149 Washington St., Boston, k 5fe *J RICH AND HUMBLE; OR, THE MISSION OF BERTHA GRANT BY OLIVER OPTIC. lUustrated by Champney. " One of Oliver Optic's best stories." IL.ee «fe ©liepard, I»xxl>ll sixers, Uostoxi, wrm? IIS FiEt?ir: « S'^.S^ xsex T.«Ne» «Jt- *9T:tep«r>cl. 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