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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20762-8.txt b/20762-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c4eba4 --- /dev/null +++ b/20762-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8110 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, by Abner Doubleday + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chancellorsville and Gettysburg + Campaigns of the Civil War - VI + +Author: Abner Doubleday + +Release Date: March 7, 2007 [EBook #20762] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG *** + + + + +Produced by Ed Ferris + + + + + +CHANCELLORSVILLE +AND GETTYSBURG + + +_CAMPAIGNS OF THE CIVIL WAR.--VI._ + +CHANCELLORSVILLE +AND +GETTYSBURG + +BY +ABNER DOUBLEDAY +BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL, U.S.A., AND LATE MAJOR-GENERAL U.S.V.; +COMMANDING THE FIRST CORPS AT GETTYSBURG. + +NEW YORK +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS +743 AND 745 BROADWAY +1882 + + +COPYRIGHT BY +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS +1882 + +TROW'S +PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY +210-213 _East 12th Street_ + +NEW YORK + + + +PREFACE. + +In writing ths narrative, which relates to the decisive campaign +which freed the Northern States from invasion, it may not be out +of place to state what facilities I have had for observation in +the fulfilment of so important a task. I can only say that I was, +to a considerable extent, an actor in the scenes I describe, and +knew the principal leaders on both sides, in consequence of my +association with them at West Point, and, subsequently, in the +regular army. Indeed, several of them, including Stonewall Jackson +and A. P. Hill, were, prior to the war, officers in the regiment +to which I belonged. As commander of the Defences of Washington +in the spring of 1862, I was, owing to the nature of my duties, +brought into intimate relations with the statesmen who controlled +the Government at the time, and became well acquainted with President +Lincoln. I was present, too, after the Battle of Gettysburg, at +a very interesting Cabinet Council, in which the pursuit of Lee +was fully discussed; so that, in one way and another, I have had +better opportunities to judge of men and measures than usually fall +to the lot of others who have written on the same subject. + +I have always felt it to be the duty of every one who held a +prominent position in the great war to give to posterity the benefit +of his personal recollections; for no dry official statement can +ever convey an adequate idea to those who come after us of the +sufferings and sacrifices through which the country has passed. +Thousands of men--the flower of our Northern youth--have gone down +to their graves unheralded and unknown, and their achievements and +devotion to the cause have already been forgotten. It is, therefore, +incumbent upon us, who were their comrades in the field, to do all +in our power to preserve their deeds from oblivion. + +And yet it is no easy task to relate contemporaneous events. +Whoever attempts it must be prepared for severe criticism and the +exhibition of much personal feeling. Some of this may be avoided, +it is true, by writing a colorless history, praising everybody, +and attributing all disasters to dispensations of Providence, for +which no one is to blame. I cannot, however, consent to fulfill +my allotted task in this way, for the great lessons of the war are +too valuable to be ignored or misstated. It is not my desire to +assail any of the patriotic men who were engaged in the contest, +but each of us is responsible for our actions in this world, and +for the consequences which flow from them; and where great disasters +have occurred, it is due both to the living and the dead that the +causes and circumstances be justly and properly stated. + +Richelieu once exclaimed, upon giving away a high appointment: +"Now I have made one ingrate and a thousand enemies." Every one +who writes the history of the Great Rebellion will often have +occasion to reiterate the statement: For the military critic must +necessarily describe facts which imply praise or censure. Those +who have contributed to great successes think much more might have +been said on the subject, and those who have caused reverses and +defeats are bitter in their denunciations. + +Nevertheless, the history of the war should be written before the +facts have faded from the memory of living men, and have become +mere matters of tradition. + +In a narrative of this kind, resting upon a great number of voluminous +details, I cannot hope to have wholly escaped error, and wherever +I have misconceived or misstated a fact, it will give me pleasure +to correct the record. + + A. D. +NEW YORK, January, 1882. + + + +CONTENTS. + +LIST OF MAPS + +CHANCELLORSVILLE +CHAPTER I. +THE OPENING OF 1863--HOOKER'S PLANS +CHAPTER II. +FRIDAY, THE FIRST OF MAY +CHAPTER III. +THE DISASTROUS SECOND OF MAY +CHAPTER IV. +THE ROUT OF THE ELEVENTH CORPS +CHAPTER V. +JACKSON'S ADVANCE IS CHECKED +CHAPTER VI. +SICKLES FIGHTS HIS WAY BACK--ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST CORPS +CHAPTER VII. +THE BATTLE OF THE THIRD OF MAY +CHAPTER VIII. +MAY FOURTH--ATTACK ON SEDGWICK'S FORCE +CHAPTER IX. +PREPARATIONS TO RENEW THE CONFLICT +CHAPTER X. +BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION (FLEETWOOD) + +GETTYSBURG +CHAPTER I. +THE INVASION OF THE NORTH +CHAPTER II. +HOOKER'S PLANS--LONGSTREET OCCUPIES THE GAPS IN THE BLUE RIDGE-- + ALARM IN RICHMOND--HOOKER SUPERSEDED BY MEADE +CHAPTER III. +STUART'S RAID--THE ENEMY IN FRONT OF HARRISBURG--MEADE'S PLAN +CHAPTER IV. +THE FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1863 +CHAPTER V. +BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG--THE SECOND DAY +CHAPTER VI. +THE BATTLE OF THE THIRD DAY--JOHNSON'S DIVISION DRIVEN OUT +CHAPTER VII. +GENERAL RETREAT OF THE ENEMY--CRITICISMS OF DISTINGUISHED CONFEDERATE + OFFICERS +APPENDIX A +APPENDIX B +INDEX + + +LIST OF MAPS. + +FIELD OF OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA +OPERATIONS ON THE FIRST OF MAY, 1863 +JACKSON'S ATTACK ON HOWARD, MAY 1 +BATTLE OF THE THIRD OF MAY +SEDGWICK'S POSITION +FROM THE POTOMAC TO HARRISBURG +DIAGRAMS OF POSITIONS IN THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG: + I. + II. + III. + IV. +GETTYSBURG: FINAL ATTACK OF THE FIRST DAY AND BATTLE OF THE SECOND + DAY +DIAGRAM OF THE ATTACK ON SICKLES AND SYKES + + +CHANCELLORSVILLE. + + + +CHANCELLORSVILLE. + + +CHAPTER I. +THE OPENING OF 1863.--HOOKER'S PLANS. + +After the great disaster of Fredericksburg, General Burnside, the +Commander of the Union Army, was superseded by Major-General Joseph +Hooker, a graduate of West Point, who having formerly held a high +position on the staff of General Gideon J. Pillow in the war with +Mexico, was supposed to be well acquainted with military operations +on a large scale. He had subsequently left the army, and had been +engaged in civil pursuits for several years. He was a man of fine +presence, of great personal magnetism, and had the reputation of +being one of our most efficient and successful corps commanders. + +When the campaign of Chancellorsville commenced, the Army of the +Potomac was posted on the left bank of the Rappahannock, opposite +Fredericksburg, among the Stafford hills, in a position which was +considered almost impregnable. It rested upon the Potomac River, +and as all of its supplies came by water, they were not subject to +delay or interruption of any kind; nor were they endangered by the +movements of the enemy. + +At the period referred to, General Hooker had under him a force of +about 124,500 men of all arms, 11,500 of which were cavalry. + +On the opposite side of the river, the Army of Northern Virginia, +under General Robert E. Lee, numbered, according to their official +reports, about sixty-two thousand men, three thousand of which were +cavalry;* but the difference was amply compensated by the wide +river in front of the enemy, and the fact that every available +point and ford was well fortified and guarded. General Thomas J. +Jackson, commonly called Stonewall Jackson, held the line below +Hamilton's crossing to Port Royal. Two out of four divisions of +Longstreet's corps were absent. The fourth, under Major-General +Lafayette McLaws, was posted from Hamilton's crossing to Banks' +Ford. Still farther up and beyond the front of either army, the +crossing-places were watched by the rebel cavalry under Major- +General J. E. B. Stuart, supported by the Third Division of +Longstreet's corps, that of Anderson. + +[* Napoleon says 100,000 men on the rolls are only equivalent to +about 80,000 muskets in action. It is doubtful if Hooker had over +113,000 men for actual combat. Lieut.-Colonel W. T. Forbes, +Assistant Adjutant General, who has had access to the records, +after a careful estimate, places the number as follows. First +Corps, 16,000; Second Corps, 16,000; Third Corps, 18,000; Fifth +Corps, 15,000; Sixth Corps, 22,000; Eleventh Corps, 15,000; Twelfth +Corps, 11,000; total infantry and artillery, 113,000; Pleasanton's +cavalry, 1,500; total effective force, 114,500. He estimates Lee's +army at 62,000, which the Confederate authorities, Hotchkiss and +Allan, place as follows: Anderson's and McLaws' divisions of +Longstreet's Corps, 17,000; Jackson's Corps, 33,500; Stuart's +Cavalry, 2,700; Artillery, 5,000; add 4,000 on engineer, hospital +duty, etc. This estimate is exclusive of Stoneman's force.] + +Both armies had spent the winter in much needed rest, after the +toilsome and exhausting marches and bloody battles which terminated +Lee's first invasion of Maryland. The discipline of our army was +excellent, and it would have been hard to find a finer body of men, +or better fighting material than that assembled on this occasion, +in readiness to open the spring campaign. Hooker was justly popular +with his troops. They had confidence in his ability as a general, +and he had gained their good will by anticipating their wants, and +by generously grating furloughs to those who were pining from home- +sickness; trusting that old associations and the honor of the men +would induce them to rejoin their colors when the leaves of absence +had expired. In this way he almost stopped the desertion which +had been so prevalent under Burnside. Only one portion of the army +was dissatisfied; the position recently occupied by General Franz +Sigel, the favorite commander of the Eleventh Corps, had been given +to General O. O. Howard. The numerous Germans in that corps were +discontented at the change. They cared little for Howard's reputation +as the Havelock of the army; an appellation he had gained from his +zeal as a Congregationalist. They felt, when their countryman +Sigel was deprived of his command, that it was a blow to their +nationality, and therefore lost some of the enthusiasm which always +accompanies the personal influence of a popular leader. + +The rainy season was nearly over, the time had come for action, +and it was essential to strike a decisive blow before the term of +service of the nine months' and two years' men had drawn to a close. +Hooker's plan of campaign was simple, efficacious, and should have +been successful. The rebels occupied a long line and could not be +strong everywhere. He resolved to make a pretence of crossing with +three corps, under Major-General Sedgwick, below Fredericksburg, +while the remaining four corps under Major-General Slocum made a +detour and crossed twenty-seven miles above at Kelly's Ford. The +latter were then to march down the river against the left flank of +the rebel army and re-open Banks' Ford; thus re-uniting the two +wings of the army and giving a secure line of retreat in case of +disaster. When this was accomplished it was proposed to give battle +in the open country near the ford, the position there being a +commanding one and taking the whole line of rebel works on the +heights of Fredericksburg in reverse. Owing to his great preponderance +of force, Hooker had little reason to doubt that the result would +be favorable to our arms. To carry out this plan and make it a +complete surprise to the enemy it became necessary to leave Gibbon's +division of Couch's corps behind, for as his encampment at Falmouth +was in full view of the Confederate forces on the opposite side, +to withdraw it would have been to notify them that some unusual +movement was going on. So far the idea was simply to crush the +opposing army, but Hooker's plan went farther and involved the +capture of Lee's entire force. To accomplish this he directed +Stoneman to start two weeks in advance of the main body with ten +thousand cavalry, cross at the upper fords of the Rappahannock, +and sweep down upon Lee's communications with Richmond, breaking +up railroads and canals, cutting telegraph wires, and intercepting +supplies of all kinds. As the rebel commissariat found great +difficulty in keeping more than four days' rations on hand at a +time, Stoneman's raid would almost necessarily force Lee to fall +back on his depots and give up Fredericksburg. One column under +Averell was to attack Culpeper and Gordonsville, the other under +Buford to move to Louisa Court House, and thence to the Fredericksburg +Railroad. Both columns were to unite behind the Pamunkey, and in +case our army was successful Stoneman was directed to plant his +force behind some river in an advantageous position on Lee's line +of retreat, where he could detain the rebel army until Hooker could +again assail it and compel it to surrender. A brave programme! +Let us see how it was carried out. + +It was an essential part of Hooker's project that the cavalry should +begin operations two weeks before the infantry. If they did their +work thoroughly, Lee would be out of provisions, and his retreat +would give us all the moral effect of a victory. The rebel cavalry +at the time being reduced to about 3,000 men, it was not supposed +that Stoneman would encounter any serious resistance. He accordingly +started on April 13th to carry out his instructions, but another +rain storm, which made the river unfordable, and very bad roads, +detained him until the 28th. It has been suggested that he might +have crossed higher up, but cavalry officers who were there, tell +me that every ravine had become an impassable river. Hooker became +impatient and refused to wait any longer; so when the water subsided, +all--infantry, artillery, and cavalry--were sent over together. +The result was that the battle was ended before Stoneman got fairly +to work, and his operations had little or no effect in obstructing +Lee's movements. + +To confuse the enemy as much as possible, demonstrations had been +made at both ends of the line. On April 21st a small infantry +force was sent to threaten Kelly's Ford. On the same day, I went +with part of my division down the river to Port Conway, opposite +Port Royal, twenty miles below Fredericksburg, made a pretence of +crossing in pontoons, and built fires in every direction at night, +to give the impression of a large force. On the 24th General +Wadsworth went on an expedition to the same place, and two regiments +under Colonel Morrow, 24th Michigan, crossed over in boats, and +returned. Those movements caused Jackson to strengthen his force +in that quarter. On the 27th, the storm having abated, Meade's +corps (the Fifth), Howard's corps (the Eleventh), and Slocum's +corps (the Twelfth), the whole being under the command of General +Slocum, left camp for Kelly's Ford, each accompanied by three +batteries. A detachment was thrown over, in boats, on the evening +of the 28th, which dispersed the picket guard; and by the next +morning the entire force was across the river and on their way to +the Rapidan, the Fifth Corps taking the direction of Elley's Ford +and the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps that of Germania Ford. Stoneman's +cavalry crossed at the same time with the others, and moved to +Culpeper, where he halted for a time to reorganize his force, and +get rid of surplus horses, baggage, etc., which were sent to the +rear. The next day Averell kept on to Rapidan Station with 4,000 +sabres, to engage W. H. F. Lee's rebel brigade, so that it could +not interfere with the operations of the main body, which moved +southeast across Morton's Ford and Raccoon Ford to Louisa Court +House, where the work of destruction was to begin. Stoneman's +further movements will be related hereafter. One small brigade of +three regiments with two batteries was placed under the command of +General Pleasonton and directed to report to General Slocum, to +precede the infantry on the different roads. + +Stuart, who commanded two brigades of rebel cavalry, under Fitz +Hugh Lee and W. H. F. Lee, and whose duty it was to watch these +upper fords, received news of the crossing at 9 P.M., on the 28th. + +The turning column reached Chancellorsville with but little +opposition, as both Lee and Stuart thought it was making for +Gordonsville and the Virginia Central Railroad. In consequence of +this miscalculation, Stuart planted himself at Brandy Station. +When he found that he was out of position and that it was too late +to prevent the crossing at Germania Ford, he made a circuit with +Fitz Hugh Lee's brigade to get between Slocum and Lee, and sent W. +H. F. Lee's brigade to impede Stoneman's operations. The passage +of Germania Ford turned Elley's Ford and United States Ford, and +Mahone's and Posey's brigades, who were on guard there, retreated +on Chancellorsville, where Anderson had come up with Wright's +brigade too late to prevent the crossing. + +By 6 P.M. on the 30th, Hooker found himself in command of four +corps at Chancellorsville, with another--that of Sickles--near at +hand. Anderson fell back to Tabernacle Church as our troops +advanced, and began to fortify a line there. Stuart sent Fitz Hugh +Lee's brigade, which was very much exhausted, to Todd's Tavern for +the night, while he started with a small escort, to explain the +situation to General Lee at Fredericksburg. On the road, not far +from Spottsylvania, he came unexpectedly upon one of Pleasonton's +regiments, the 6th New York Cavalry, numbering about 200 men, which +was returning from a reconnoissance it had made in that direction. +He avoided the encounter and sent back to Todd's Tavern, at first +for a regiment, but subsequently for the entire brigade. When +there reinforcements came up a furious cavalry contest took place, +with charges and counter-charges, and hand to hand combats. It +was not without an element of romance, in that lonely spot, far +from either army, under the resplendent light of the full moon; +recalling, in the words of a Southern chronicler, some scene of +knightly glory. Our troops were surrounded, but cut their way out +with the loss of their gallant commander, Lieutenant-Colonel McVicar, +who led them in the charge. + +Meanwhile the other portion of the contemplated movement had also +been going forward. On the 28th, the Sixth Corps, under Sedgwick, +and the First Corps, under Reynolds, were moved down near the river, +three or four miles below Fredericksburg, and bivouacked there in +a pouring rain. As it was possible that the two corps might be +attacked when they reached the other side, the Third Corps, under +Sickles, was posted in the rear as a reserve. + +The next day two bridges were laid down at Franklin's old crossing +for the Sixth Corps, and two more a mile below for the First Corps. +Men in rifle-pits on the other side impeded the placing of the +pontoons for a while, but detachments sent over in boats stormed +their intrenchments, and drove them out. Brooks' division of the +Sixth Corps and Wadsworth's division of the First Corps then crossed +and threw up _tête du ponts_. The enemy made no other opposition +than a vigorous shelling by their guns on the heights, which did +but little damage. A considerable number of these missiles were +aimed at my division and at that of General J. C. Robinson, which +were held in reserve on the north side of the river; but as our +men were pretty well sheltered, there were but few casualties. + +It soon became evident that the enemy would not attack the bridge +heads, they being well guarded by artillery on the north bank, so +Sickles' corps was detached on the 30th and ordered to Chancellorsville. + +Sedgwick used the remainder of his men to great advantage by marching +them back and forth among the hills in such a way as to lead Lee +to suppose that a very large force confronted him. As, however, +Sedgwick did not advance, and more accurate reports were furnished +by Stuart in relation to what had taken place up the river, Lee +saw, on the night of the 30th, that the movement in front of +Fredericksburg was a feint, and his real antagonist was at +Chancellorsville. He had previously ordered Jackson's corps up +from Moss Creek and now advanced with the main body of his army to +meet Hooker, leaving Early's division of Jackson's corps and +Barksdale's brigade of McLaws' division of Longstreet's corps to +hold the heights of Fredericksburg against Sedgwick. Jackson, who +was always prompt, started at midnight, and at 8 A.M. the next day +stood by the side of Anderson at Tabernacle Church. McLaws' division +had already arrived, having preceded him by a few hours. + +The error in the movement thus far made is plain. It is a maxim +in war that a single hour's delay, when an enemy is strengthening +his position or when reinforcements are coming up, will frequently +cost the lives of a thousand men. In the present instance it was +simply suicidal for Hooker to delay action until Anderson had +fortified his lines and Lee had come forward with the main body to +join him. Hooker should have pressed on immediately to seize the +objective. Banks' Ford was almost within his grasp, and only a +portion of Anderson's division barred the way. The possession of +that ford would have brought Sedgwick twelve miles nearer to him, +and would have forced Lee to fight at a great disadvantage both as +to position and numbers. Hooker knew from a captured despatch +which Pleasonton placed in his hands, that Lee was still in +Fredericksburg on the 30th, uncertain how to act; for he did not +know the strength of Sedgwick's column, and feared that the main +attack might come from that direction. The four corps at +Chancellorsville amounted to about forty-six thousand men; and +18,000 more were close at hand under Sickles. The troops had made +but a short march, and were comparatively fresh. Four miles further +on lay the great prize for which Hooker was contending. He had +only to put out his hand to reach it, but he delayed action all +that long night and until eleven o'clock of the next morning. When +he did make the effort the line he was about to occupy was well +fortified and held by all but one division and one brigade of Lee's +army. + + + +CHAPTER II. +FRIDAY, THE FIRST OF MAY. + +There are two excellent roads leading from Chancellorsville to +Fredericksburg--one a plank road, which keeps up near the sources +of the streams along the dividing line between Mott Run on the +north and Lewis Creek and Massaponax Creek on the South, and the +other called the old turnpike, which was more direct but more +broken, as it passed over several ravines. There was still a third +road, a very poor one, which ran near the river and came out at +Banks' Ford. + +On May 1st, at 11 A.M., Hooker moved out to attack Lee in four +columns. + +Slocum's corps, followed by that of Howard, took the plank road on +the right. + +Sykes' division of Meade's corps, followed by Hancock's division +of Couch's corps, went by the turnpike in the centre. + +The remainder of Meade's corps--Griffin's division, followed by +that of Humphreys--took the river road. + +Lastly, French's division of Couch's corps was under orders to turn +off and march to Todd's Tavern. + +Each column was preceded by a detachment of Pleasonton's cavalry, +which, in fact, had been close to Anderson's pickets all the +morning. + +Before these troops started, Sickles' corps arrived, after a short +march, from Hartwood Church, and were posted in rear of the +Chancellorsville House as a reserve, with one brigade thrown out +to Dowdall's Tavern, otherwise known as Melzi Chancellor's house. +Another brigade was left at the Ford to guard the passage against +Fitz Hugh Lee's cavalry. + +Hooker, who was a very sanguine man, expected to be able to form +line of battle by 2 P.M., with his right resting near Tabernacle +Church, and his left covering Banks' Ford. It did not seem to +occur to him that the enemy might be there before him and prevent +the formation, or that he would have any difficulty in moving and +deploying his troops; but he soon found himself hampered in every +direction by dense and almost impenetrable thickets, which had a +tendency to break up every organization that tried to pass through +them into mere crowds of men without order or alignment. Under +these circumstances concert of action became exceedingly difficult, +and when attempts were made to communicate orders off the roads, +aids wandered hopelessly through the woods, struggling in the thick +undergrowth, without being able to find any one. It was worse then +fighting in a dense fog.* The enemy, of course, were also impeded +in their movements, but they had the advantage of being better +acquainted with the country, and in case they were beaten they had +a line at Tabernacle Church already intrenched to fall back upon. +The ravines also, which crossed the upper roads at right angles, +offered excellent defensive positions for them. + +[* One brigade of Griffin's division was out all night trying to +find its way through the thickets, and did not reach the main army +until 4 A.M. Wilcox's brigade, which came the next day from Banks' +Ford to reinforce the enemy, had a similar experience.] + +McLaws, who had advanced on the turnpike, managed to form line of +battle with his division on each side of the pike, against Sykes, +who had now come forward to sustain his cavalry detachment, which, +in spite of their gallantry--for they rode up and fired in the +faces of the enemy--were driven in by the 11th Virginia Infantry +of Mahone's brigade. Jackson on his arrival, had stopped the +fortifying which Anderson had commenced, and according to his +invariable custom to find and fight his enemy as soon as possible, +had moved forward; so that the two armies encountered each other +about two and half miles from Chancellorsville. Sykes indeed, met +the advance of McLaws' division only a mile out, and drove it back +steadily a mile farther, when it was reinforced by Anderson's +division, and Ramseur's brigade of Rodes' division. Anderson gave +Sykes a lively fight and succeeded in getting in on his flanks; +for, owing to the divergence of the roads, neither Slocum on the +right nor Meade's two divisions on the left were abreast with him. +He tried to connect with Slocum by throwing out a regiment deployed +as skirmishers, but did not succeed. As the enemy were gaining +the advantage he fell back behind Hancock, who came to the front +and took his place. Slocum now formed on the right, with his left +resting on the plank road, and his right on high ground which +commanded the country around. Altogether the general line was a +good one; for there were large open spaces where the artillery +could move and manoeuvre, and the army were almost out of the +thickets. The reserves could have struggled through those in the +rear, and have filled the gaps, so that there is no reason to +suppose our forces could have not continued to advance, or at all +events have held the position, which, from its elevation and the +other advantages I have stated, was an important one, especially +as the column on the river road was in sight of Banks' Ford, which +it could have seized and held, or have struck the right flank of +the enemy with great effect. The troops had come out to obtain +possession of Banks' Ford, and all the surplus artillery was waiting +there. To retreat without making any adequate effort to carry out +his plans made the General appear timid, and had a bad effect on +the morale of the army. It would have been time enough to fall +back in case of defeat; and if such a result was anticipated, the +engineers with their 4,000 men, aided by Sickles' corps, could +easily have laid out a strong line in the rear for the troops to +fall back upon. General Warren, the Chief Engineer on Hooker's +staff, thought the commanding ridge with the open space in front, +upon which Hancock was posted, a very advantageous position for +the army to occupy, and urged Couch not to abandon it until he +(Warren) had conferred with Hooker. After the order came to retire, +Couch sent to obtain permission to remain, but it was peremptorily +refused. Hooker soon afterward changed his mind and countermanded +his first order, but it was then too late; our troops had left the +ridge and the enemy were in possession of it. There was too much +vacillation at headquarters. Slocum, who was pressing the enemy +back, was very much vexed when he received the order, but obeyed +it, and retreated without being molested. It is true, Wright's +brigade had formed on his right, but the advance of the Eleventh +Corps would have taken that in flank, so that the prospect was +generally good at this time for an advance. The column on the +river road also retired without interference. As Couch had waited +to hear from Hooker, Hancock's right flank became somewhat exposed +by the delay, but he fell back without serious loss. French also, +who had started for Todd's Tavern, returned. He encountered the +enemy, but was ordered in and did not engage them. + +That portion of the country around Chancellorsville within the +Union lines on the morning of May 2d, may, with some exceptions, +be described as a plain, covered by dense thickets, with open spaces +in the vicinity of the houses, varied by the high ground at Talley's +on the west and by the hills of Fairview and Hazel Grove on the +south, and terminating in a deep ravine near the river. Our general +line was separated from that of the enemy by small streams, which +principally ran through ravines, forming obstacles useful for +defensive purposes. This was the case on the east and south, but +on the west, where Howard's line terminated, there was nothing but +the usual thickets to impede the enemy's approach. + +As the narrative proceeds, the position of the Confederate army, +who held the broken ground on the other side of those ravines, will +be more particularly described. + +After all, a defensive battle in such a country is not a bad thing, +for where there are axes and timber it is easy to fortify and hard +to force the line; always provided that free communications are +kept open to the central reserve and from one part of the line to +another. It must be confessed that the concealment of the thickets +is also favorable to the initiative, as it enables the attacking +party to mass his troops against the weak parts without being +observed. Hooker probably thought if Lee assailed a superior force +in an intrenched position he would certainly be beaten; and if he +did not attack he would soon be forced to fall back on his depots +near Richmond for food and ammunition. In either case the prestige +would remain with the Union general. + +The rebels followed up our army closely, and it is quite possible +that a sudden attack, when it was heaped up around Chancellorsville, +might have been disastrous to us. Gradually, under the skilful +guidance of Captain Payne of the Engineers, who had made himself +well acquainted with the country, the different corps took the +positions they had occupied on the previous night, and order came +out of chaos. The line, as thus established, covered all the roads +which passed through Chancellorsville. The left, held by Meade's +corps, rested on the Rappahannock, near Scott's Dam; the line was +then continued in a southerly direction by Couch's corps, facing +east, French's division being extended to a point near to and east +of Chancellorsville, with Hancock's division of the same corps +holding an outpost still further to the east. Next came the Twelfth +Corps under Slocum, facing south, and then, at some distance to +the west, in echelon to the rear along the Plank Road, Howard's +corps was posted. The Third Corps under Sickles was kept in reserve, +back of the mansion. The next morning two brigades and two batteries +of Birney's division were interposed between Slocum and Howard, +with a strong line of skirmishers thrown out in front. The 8th +Pennsylvania Cavalry picketed the roads and kept the enemy in sight. +The thickets which surrounded this position were almost impenetrable, +so that an advance against the enemy's lines became exceedingly +difficult and manoeuvring nearly impracticable, nor was this the +only defect. Batteries could be established on the high ground to +the east, which commanded the front facing in that direction, while +our own artillery had but little scope; and last, but most important +of all, the right of Howard's corps as "in the air," that is, rested +on no obstacle. + +Hooker was sensible that this flank was weak, and sent Graham's +brigade of Sickles' corps with a battery to strengthen it; but +Howard took umbrage at this, as a reflection on the bravery of his +troops or his own want of skill, and told Graham that he did not +need his services; that he felt so secure in his position that he +would send his compliments to the whole rebel army if they lay in +front of him, and invite them to attack him. As Hooker had just +acquiesced in the appointment of Howard to be Commander of the +Eleventh Corps, he disliked to show a want of confidence in him at +the very beginning of his career, and therefore yielded to his +wishes and ordered the reinforcements to return and report to +Sickles again. + +Chancellorsville being a great center of communication with the +plank road and turnpike heading east and west, and less important +roads to the south, and southeast, Hooker desired above all things +to retain it; for if it should once fall into the hands of the +enemy, our army would be unable to move in any direction except to +the rear. + +General Lee formed his line with Wickham's and Owens' regiments of +cavalry on his right, opposite Meade's corps, supported by Perry's +brigade of Anderson's division; Jackson's line stretched from the +Plank Road around toward the Furnace. + +Before night set in, Wright and Stuart attacked an outlying part +of Slocum's corps and drove it in on the main body. They then +brought up some artillery and opened fire against Slocum's position +on the crest of the hill. Failing to make any impression they soon +retired and all was quiet once more. + +The enemy soon posted batteries on the high ground a mile east of +Chancellorsville, and opened on Hancock's front with considerable +effect. They also enfiladed Geary's division of Slocum's corps, +and became very annoying, but Knap's battery of the Twelfth Corps +replied effectively and kept their fire down to a great extent. + +As the Union army was hidden by a thick undergrowth, Lee spent the +rest of the day in making a series of feigned attacks to ascertain +where our troops were posted. + +When night set in, the sound of the axe was heard in every direction, +for both armies thought it prudent to strengthen their front as +much as possible. + +The prospect for Lee as darkness closed over the scene was far from +encouraging. He had examined the position of the Union army +carefully, and had satisfied himself that as regards its centre +and left it was unassailable. Let any man with a musket on his +shoulder, encumbered with a cartridge-box, haversack, canteen, +etc., attempt to climb over a body of felled timber to get at an +enemy who is coolly shooting at him from behind a log breastwork, +and he will realize the difficulty of forcing a way through such +obstacles. Our artillery, too, swept every avenue of approach, so +that the line might be considered as almost impregnable. Before +giving up the attack, however, Stuart was directed to cautiously +reconnoitre on the right, where Howard was posted, and see if there +was not a vulnerable point there. + + + +CHAPTER III. +THE DISASTROUS SECOND OF MAY. + +At dawn of day General Lee and General Jackson were sitting by the +side of the plank road, on some empty cracker boxes, discussing +the situation, when Stuart came up and reported the result of his +reconnoissance. He said the right flank of Howard's corps was +defenceless and easily assailable. Jackson at once asked permission +to take his own corps--about 26,000 muskets--make a detour through +the woods to conceal his march from observation, and fall unexpectedly +upon the weak point referred to by Stuart. It was a startling +proposition and contrary to all the principles of strategy, for +when Jackson was gone Lee would be left with but a few men to +withstand the shock of Hooker's entire army, and might be driven +back to Fredericksburg or crushed. If the Eleventh Corps had +prepared for Jackson's approach by a line properly fortified, with +redoubts on the flanks, the men protected in front by felled timber +and sheltered by breastworks, with the artillery at the angles, +crossing its fire in front, Jackson's corps would have been powerless +to advance, and could have been held as in a vise, while Lee, one- +half of his force being absent, would have found himself helpless +against the combined attack of our other corps, which could have +assailed him in front and on each flank. + +There was, therefore, great risk in attempting such a manoeuvre, +for nothing short of utter blindness on the part of the Union +commanders could make it successful. + +Still, something had to be done, for inaction would result in a +retreat, and in the present instance, if the worst came to the +worst, Jackson could fall back on Gordonsville, and Lee toward the +Virginia Central Railroad, where they could reunite their columns +by rail, before Hooker could march across the country and prevent +the junction. Jackson received the required permission, and started +off at once by a secluded road, keeping Fitz Hugh Lee's brigade of +cavalry between his column and the Union army to shield his march +from observation. + +At 2 A.M., Hooker sent orders for the First Corps, under Reynolds, +to which I belonged, to take up its bridges and join him by way of +United States Ford, and by 9 A.M. we were on our way. + +The first sound of battle came from some guns posted on the eminence +from which Hancock had retreated the day before. A battery there +opened fire on the army trains which had been parked in the open +plain in front of the Chancellorsville House, and drove them pell +mell to the rear. + +At dawn Hooker rode around, accompanied by Sickles, to inspect his +lines. He approved the position generally, but upon Sickles' +recommendation he threw in a division of the Third Corps between +the Eleventh and Twelfth, as he thought the interval too great +there. + +As soon as Jackson was en route, Lee began to demonstrate against +our centre and left, to make Hooker believe the main attack was to +be there, and to prevent him from observing the turning column in +its progress toward the right. A vigorous cannonade began against +Meade, and a musketry fire was opened on Couch and Slocum; the +heaviest attack being on Hancock's position, which was in advance +of the main line. + +In spite of every precaution, Jackson's column as it moved southward +was seen to pass over a bare hill about a mile and a half from +Birney's front, and its numbers were pretty accurately estimated. +General Birney at once reported this important fact at General +Hooker's headquarters. It is always pleasant to think your adversary +is beaten, and Hooker thought at first Jackson might be retreating +on Gordonsville. It was evident enough that he was either doing +that or making a circuit to attack Howard. To provide for the +latter contingency the following order was issued: + + HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC + CHANCELLORSVILLE, Va., May 2, 1863, 9.30 A.M. +MAJOR-GENERAL SLOCUM AND MAJOR-GENERAL HOWARD: + +I am directed by the Major-General Commanding to say that the +disposition you have made of your corps has been with a view to a +front attack by the enemy. If he should throw himself upon your +flank, he wishes you to examine the ground and determine upon the +positions you will take in that event, in order that you may be +prepared for him in whatever direction he advances. He suggests +that you have heavy reserves well in hand to meet this contingency. +The right of your line does not appear to be strong enough. No +artificial defences worth naming have been thrown up, and there +appears to be a scarcity of troops at that point, and not, in the +General's opinion, as favorably posted as might be. + +We have good reason to suppose that the enemy is moving to our +right. Please advance your pickets for purposes of observation as +far as may be safe, in order to obtain timely information of their +approach. + + (Signed) JAMES H. VAN ALLEN, + _Brigadier-General and Aide-de-camp_. + +For what subsequently occurred Hooker was doubtless highly censurable, +but it was not unreasonable for him to suppose, after giving these +orders to a corps commander, that they would be carried out, and +that minor combats far out on the roads would precede and give +ample notice of Jackson's approach in time to reinforce that part +of the line. + +When the enemy were observed, Sickles went out with Clark's battery +and an infantry support to shell their train. This had the effect +of driving them off of that road on to another which led in the +same direction, but was less exposed, as it went through the woods. +A second reconnoissance was sent to see if the movement continued. +Sickles then obtained Hooker's consent to start out with two +divisions to attack Jackson's corps in flank and cut if off from +the main body. + +Sickles started on this mission at 1 P.M. with Birney's division, +preceded by Randolph's battery. As Jackson might turn on him with +his whole force, Whipple's division of his own corps reinforced +his left, and Barlow's brigade of the Eleventh Corps his right. +He was greatly delayed by the swamps and the necessity of building +bridges, but finally crossed Lewis Creek and reached the road upon +which Jackson was marching. He soon after, by the efforts of +Berdan's sharpshooters, surrounded and captured the 23d Georgia +regiment, which had been left to watch the approaches from our +lines. Information obtained from prisoners showed the Jackson +could not be retreating, and that his object was to strike a blow +somewhere. + +Birney's advance, and the capture of the 23d Georgia were met by +corresponding movements on the part of the enemy. A rebel battery +was established on the high ground at the Welford House, which +checked Birney's progress until it was silenced by Livingston's +battery, which was brought forward for that purpose. Pleansonton's +cavalry was now sent to the Foundry as an additional reinforcement. +Sickles' intention was to cut Jackson off entirely from McLaws' +and Anderson's divisions, and then to attack the latter in flank, +a plan which promised good results. In the mean time Pleasonton's +cavalry was sent forward to follow up Jackson's movement. Sickles +requested permission to attack McLaws, but Hooker again became +irresolute; so this large Union force was detained at the Furnace +without a definite object, and the works it had occupied were +vacant. While Sickles was not allowed to strike the flank, Slocum's +two divisions under Geary and Williams were sent to push back the +fortified front of the enemy in the woods; a much more difficult +operation. Geary attacked on the plank road, but made no serious +impression, and returned. Williams struck further to the south, +but was checked by part of Anderson's division. A combined attack +against Lee's front and left flank, undertaken with spirit earlier +in the day, would in all probability have driven him off toward +Fredericksburg and have widened the distance between his force and +that of Jackson; but now the latter was close at hand and it was +too late to attempt it. As the time came for the turning column +to make its appearance on Howard's right, a fierce attack was again +made against Hancock with infantry and artillery, to distract +Hooker's attention from the real point at issue. + +Pleasonton, after dismounting one regiment and sending it into the +woods to reconnoitre, finding his cavalry were of no use in such +a country, and that Jackson was getting farther and father away, +rode leisurely back, at Sickles' suggestion, to Hazel Grove, which +was an open space of considerable elevation to the right of the +Twelfth Corps. As he drew near, the roar of battle burst upon his +ears from the right of the line and a scene of horror and confusion +presented itself, presaging the rout of the entire army if some +immediate measures were not taken to stem the tide of disaster. + + + +CHAPTER IV. +THE ROUT OF THE ELEVENTH CORPS. + +Notwithstanding Hooker's order of 9.30 A.M. calling Howard's +attention to the weakness of his right flank, and the probability +that Jackson was marching to attack it, no precautions were taken +against the impending danger. The simple establishing of a front +of two regiments toward the west when half his command would hardly +have been sufficient, unless protected by works of some kind, was +perfectly idle as a barrier against the torrent about to overwhelm +the Eleventh Corps. So far as I can ascertain, only two companies +were thrown out on picket, and they were unsupported by grand +guards, so that they did not detain the enemy a moment, and the +rebels and our pickets all came in together. Great stress has been +laid upon the fact that Howard did have a reserve force--Barlow's +brigade of 2,500 men--facing west, which Hooker withdrew to reinforce +Sickles; but is not shown that Howard made any remonstrance or +attached any great importance to its removal. Even if it had +remained, as there were not strong intrenchments in front of it, +it is not probable that it would have been able to resist Jackson's +entire corps for any length of time. There was no reason other +than Howard's utter want of appreciation of the gravity of the +situation to prevent him from forming a strong line of defence to +protect his right flank. If made with felled timber in front and +redoubts on the flanks, Jackson could not have overleaped it, or +even attacked it without heavy loss. If he stopped to do so, +Sickles' corps and Williams' division of the Twelfth Corps, with +the reserve forces under Berry and French, would soon have confronted +him. If he had attempted to keep on farther down to attack the +United States Ford, he would have met the First Corps there, and +would have permanently severed all connection between himself and +Lee, besides endangering his line of retreat. The apathy and +indifference Howard manifested in relation to Jackson's approach +can only be explained in the supposition that he really believed +that Jackson had fled to Gordonsville, and that the demonstrations +on his front and right proceeded merely from Stuart's cavalry; and +yet why any one should suppose that Lee would part with half his +army, and send it away to Gordonsville where there was no enemy +and nothing to be done, is more than I can imagine. Jackson was +celebrated for making these turning movements; besides, it was +easy, by questioning prisoners, to verify the fact that he had no +surplus trains with him. Nothing, in short, but ammunition wagons, +and ambulances for the wounded; a sure indication that his movement +meant fight and not retreat. + +From 10 A.M., when Hooker's order was received, to 6 P.M., when +the assault came, there was ample time for Howard to form an +impregnable line. His division commanders did not share his +indifference. General Schurz pointed out to him that his flank +was in the air, but he seemed perfectly satisfied with his line as +it was, and not at all desirous of changing it in any particular. +Schurz, of his own volition, without the knowledge of his chief, +posted three regiments in close column of division, and formed them +in the same direction as the two regiments and two guns which were +expected to keep Jackson back, but the shock, when it came, was so +sudden that these columns did not have time to deploy. Devens, +having two reserve regiments, also faced them that way, of his own +accord, behind the other two, but having no encouragement to form +line in that direction it is probable both generals hesitated to +do so. + +Jackson, having debouched from the country road into the plank +road, was separated from Lee by nearly six miles of pathless forest. +He kept on until he reached the turnpike, and then halted his +command in order that he might reconnoitre and form line of battle. +He went up on a high hill and personally examined the position of +the Eleventh Corps. Finding that it was still open to attack, and +that no preparations had been made to receive him, he formed Rodes' +and Colston's divisions two hundred yards apart, perpendicular to +the plank road, with the road in the centre, and with Hill's division +both on the plank road and turnpike as a support to the other two. +Fitz Lee's brigade of cavalry was left on the plank road to menace +Howard from that direction. + +It will be seen by a glance at the map that his lines overlapped +that of the Eleventh Corps for a long distance, both in front and +rear. The first notice our troops had of his approach did not come +from our pickets--for their retreat and his advance were almost +simultaneous--but from the deer, rabbits, and other wild animals +of the forest, driven from their coverts by his advance. It is +always convenient to have a scape-goat in case of disaster, and +the German element in the Eleventh Corps have been fiercely censured +and their name became a byword for giving way on this occasion. +It is full time justice should be done by calling attention to the +position of that corps. I assert that when a force is not deployed, +but is struck suddenly and violently on its flank, resistance in +_impracticable_. Not Napoleon's Old Guard, not the best and bravest +troops that ever existed, could hold together in such a case, for +the first men assailed are--to use a homely but expressive word-- +driven into a _huddle_; and a huddle cannot fight, for it has no +front and no organization. Under such circumstances, the men have +but a choice of two evils, either to stay where they are and be +slaughtered, without the power of defending themselves, or to run; +and the only sensible thing for them to do is to run and rally on +some other organization. The attempt to change front and meet this +attack _on such short notice_ would have been hopeless enough, +drawn up as Howard's men were, even if they had been all in line +with arms in their hands; but it is a beautiful commentary on the +vigilance displayed, that in many cases the muskets were stacked, +and the men lounging about some playing cards, others cooking their +supper, intermingled with the pack-mules and beef cattle they were +unloading. It will be remembered that in the order previously +quoted, Howard was directed _"to advance his pickets for the purpose +of observation,"_ in order _that he might have ample time for +preparation._ The object of this injunction is plain enough. It +was to make sufficient resistance to Jackson's advance to delay +it, and not only give time for the Eleventh Corps to form, but +enable Hooker to send his reserves to that part of the line. The +pickets, therefore, should have been far out and strongly backed +with a large force which would take advantage of every accident of +ground to delay the rebel column as long as possible. Howard seemed +to have no curiosity himself, as he sent out no parties; but Sickles +and Pleasonton had their spies and detachments on the watch, and +these came in constantly with the information, which was duly +transmitted to Howard, that Jackson was actually coming. Schurz +also became uneasy and sent out parties to reconnoitre. General +Noble, at that time Colonel of the Seventeenth Connecticut Infantry, +two companies of whose regiment were on the picket line there, +writes as follows: "The disaster resulted from Howard's and Devens' +utter disregard and inattention under warnings that came in from +the front and flank all through the day. Horseman after horseman +rode into my post and was sent to headquarters with the information +that the enemy were heavily marching along our front and proceeding +to our right; and last of all an officer reported the rebels massing +for attack. Howard scouted the report and insulted the informants, +charging them with telling a story that was the offspring of their +imaginations or their fears." + +If this be true, there has been but one similar case in our annals, +and that was the massacre of the garrison of Fort Sims, by the +savages, in 1813, near Mobile, Alabama; soon after a negro had been +severely flogged by the commanding officer for reporting that he +had seen Indians lurking around the post. + +Adjutant Wilkenson, of the same regiment, confirms General Noble's +statement and says, "Why a stronger force was not sent out as +skirmishers and the left of our line changed to front the foe is +more than I am able to understand." + +General Schimmelpfennig, commanding a brigade of Schurz's division, +says he sent out a reconnoissance and reported the hostile movements +fully two hours before the enemy charged. + +The Germans were bitterly denounced for this catastrophe, I think +very unjustly, for in the first place less than one-half the Eleventh +Corps were Germans, and in the second place the troops that did +form line and temporarily stop Jackson's advance were Germans; +principally Colonel Adolph Buschbeck's brigade of Steinwehr's +division, aided by a few regiments of Schurz's division, who gave +a volley or two. Buschbeck held a weak intrenched line perpendicular +to the plank road for three-quarters of an hor, with artillery on +the right, losing one-third of his force. His enemy then folded +around his flanks and took him in reverse, when further resistance +became hopeless and his men retreated in good order to the rear of +Sickles' line at Hazel Grove where they supported the artillery +and offered to lead a bayonet charge, if the official reports are +to be believed. Warren says he took charge of some batteries of +the Eleventh Corps and formed them in line across the Plank Road +without any infantry support whatever. + +In reference to this surprise, Couch remarks that no troops could +have stood under such circumstances, and I fully agree with him. + +An officer of the Eleventh Corps who was present informed General +Wainwright, formerly Colonel of the 76th New York, that he was +playing cards in the ditch, and the first notice he had of the +enemy was seeing them looking down upon him from the parapet above. + +As for Devens, who was nearest the enemy, it is quite probable that +any attempt by him to change front to the west previous to the +attack would have been looked upon by Howard as a reflection upon +his own generalship and would have been met with disfavor, if not +with a positive reprimand. The only semblance of precaution taken, +therefore, was the throwing out two regiments to face Jackson's +advance. Devens could not disgarnish his main line without Howard's +permission, and it is not fair, therefore, to hold him responsible +for the disaster. As it was, he was severely wounded in attempting +to rally his men. The only pickets thrown out appear to have been +_two companies of the 17th Connecticut Infantry._ + +Just as Jackson was about to attack, a furious assault was made at +the other end of the line, where Meade was posted. This was repulsed +but it served to distract Hooker's attention from the real point +of danger on the right. + +It would seem from all accounts that nothing could vanquish Howard's +incredulity. He appeared to take so little interest in Jackson's +approach that when Captain George E. Farmer, one of Pleasonton's +staff, reported to him that he had found a rebel battery posted +directly on the flank of the Eleventh Corps, he was, to use his +own language, _"courteously received, but Howard did not seem to +believe there was any force of the enemy in his immediate front."_ +Sickles and Pleasonton were doing all they could to ascertain +Jackson's position, for at this time a small detachment of the +Third Corps were making a reconnoissance on the Orange Court House +Plank Road, and Rodes states that our cavalry was met there and +skirmished with Stuart's advance. Farmer said _he saw no Union +pickets,_ but noticed on his return that Howard's men were away +from their arms, which were stacked, and that they were playing +cards, etc., utterly unsuspicious of danger and unprepared for a +contest. Notwithstanding the reports of Jackson's movement from +spies and scouts, Howard ordered no change in his lines. + +An attempt has been made to hold Colonel Farmer responsible for +this surprise, on the ground that he should have charged the battery +and brought in some prisoners, who would give full information; +but there had been warnings enough, and prisoners enough, and as +Colonel Farmer had but forty men, he would have had to dismount +half of them to make the assault, and with part of his force holding +the horses, he could only have used about twenty men in the attack, +which is rather too few to capture guns supported by an army. +Besides, Farmer was sent out by General Pleasonton with specific +instructions, and was not obliged to recognize the authority of +other officers who desired him to make a Don Quixote of himself to +no purpose. + +If the two wings of the rebel army had been kept apart, the small +force left under Lee could easily have been crushed, or driven off +toward Richmond. The commander of the Eleventh Corps, however, +far from making any new works, did not man those he had, but left +his own lines and went with Barlow's brigade to see what Sickles +was doing. + +The subsequent investigation of this sad business by the Congressional +Committee on the Conduct of the War was very much of a farce, and +necessarily unreliable; for so long as both Hooker and Howard were +left in high command, it was absurd to suppose their subordinates +would testify against them. Any officer that did so would have +soon found his military career brought to a close. + +Howard was in one or two instances mildly censured for not keeping +a better lookout, but as a general thing the whole blame was thrown +on the Germans. Hooker himself attributed the trouble to the fact +that Howard did not follow up Jackson's movements, and allowed his +men to stray from their arms. + +A great French military writer has said, "It is permissible for an +officer to be defeated; but never to be surprised." + +It is, of course, only fair to hear what Howard himself has to say +in relation to this matter. + +He writes in his official report of the battle as follows: + +"Now as to the cause of the disaster to my corps. + +"_First_.--Though constantly threatened, and apprised of the moving +of the enemy, yet the woods were so dense that he was able to move +a large force, whose exact whereabouts neither patrols, reconnoissances, +nor scouts ascertained. + +"He succeeded in forming a column opposite to and outflanking my +right. + +"_Second_.--By the panic produced by the enemy's reverse fire, +regiments and artillery were thrown suddenly upon those in position. + +"_Third_.--The absence of General Barlow's brigade, which I had +previously located in reserve, and in _echelon_ with Colonel Von +Gilsa's, so as to cover his right flank." + +The first proposition implies that Howard did not know Jackson +intended to attack his right, and therefore did not prepare for +him in that direction, but as his front was well fortified, and +his flank unprotected, it was plainly his duty to strengthen the +weak part of his line. To suppose that Jackson would run a great +risk, and spend an entire day in making this long circuit for the +purpose of assailing his enemy in front, is hardly reasonable; for +he could have swung his line around against it at once, had he +desired to do so. + +The fierce rush of the rebels, who came in almost simultaneously +with the pickets, first struck General Von Gilsa's two small +regiments and the two guns in the road, the only force that actually +fronted them in line. + +Von Gilsa galloped at once to Howard's Headquarters at Dowdall's +Tavern to ask for immediate reinforcements. He was told, "he must +hold his post with the men he had, and trust to God;" information +which was received by the irate German with objurgations that were +not at all of an orthodox character. + +Devens' division, thus taken in flank, was driven back upon Schurz's +division, and the being unable to form, was heaped up after some +resistance on Steinwehr's division, in the uttermost confusion and +disorder. Steinwehr had only Buschbeck's brigade with him; the +other--that of Barlow--having been sent out to reinforce Sickles; +but he formed line promptly, behind a weak intrenchment, which had +been thrown across the road, and with the aid of his artillery kept +Jackson at bay for three-quarters of an hour. Howard exerted +himself bravely then, and did all he could to rally the fugitives; +but Rodes' division, which attacked him, was soon reinforced by +that of Colston, and the two together folded around his flanks, +took his line in reverse, and finally carried the position with a +rush; and then Buschbeck's brigade retired in good order through +the flying crowd, who were streaming in wild disorder to the rear +past Hooker's headquarters. + +And now, with the right of our line all gone, with a yawning gap +where Sickles' corps and Williams' division had previously been +posted, with Lee thundering against the centre and left, and Jackson +taking all our defences in reverse, his first line being close on +Chancellorsville itself, it seemed as if the total rout of the army +was inevitable. + +Just before this attack, Hooker had decided to interpose more force +between the wings of the rebel army, in order to permanently dissever +Jackson from the main body. If Sickles had been allowed to attack +the left flank of the enemy opposite the Furnace, as he requested +permission to do earlier in the afternoon, this co-operative movement +could hardly have failed to produce great results; afterward it +was too late to attempt it. As already stated, Williams' division +struck Anderson in front on Birney's left, and Geary attacked McLaws +across the Plank Road to the right of Hancock. Geary found the +enemy strongly posted, and as he made no progress, returned to his +works. When the rout of the Eleventh Corps took place, Williams +also hastened back, but was fired upon by Jackson's troops, who +now occupied the intrenchments he had left. Sickles thinks if this +had not occurred several regiments of the enemy would have been +cut off from the main body. + + + +CHAPTER V. +JACKSON'S ADVANCE IS CHECKED. + +The constantly increasing uproar, and the wild rush of fugitives +past the Chancellorsville House, told Hooker what had occurred, +and roused him to convulsive life. His staff charged on the flying +crowd, but failed to stop them, and it became necessary to form a +line of fresh troops speedily, as Jackson was sweeping everything +before him. It was not easy to find an adequate force for this +emergency. The whole line was now actively engaged, Slocum being +attacked on the south, and Couch and Meade on the east. Fortunately, +Berry's division was held in reserve, and was available. They were +true and tried men, and went forward at once to the rescue. Berry +was directed to form across the Plank Road, drive the rebels back, +and retake the lost intrenchments; an order easy to give, but very +difficult to execute. The most he could do, under the circumstances, +was to form his line in the valley opposite Fairview, and hold his +position there, the enemy already having possession of the higher +ground beyond. + +Before Berry went out, Warren had stopped several of the Eleventh +Corps batteries, and had formed them across the Plank Road, behind +the position of the infantry. Winslow's Battery D, of the 1st New +York, and Dimick's Battery H, of the 1st United States, were already +there, with Hooker in person, having anticipated the movement. +These guns were very destructive, and were the principal agent in +checking the enemy. As soon as they had formed in line, Warren +gave orders to Colonel Best, Chief of Artillery to the Twelfth +Corps, to post more batteries on the eminence called Fairview, to +the rear and left of the others. + +Few persons appreciate the steadiness and courage required, when +all around is in flight and confusion, for a force to advance +steadily to the post of danger in front and meet the exulting enemy. +Such men are heroes, and far more worthy of honor than those who +fight in the full blaze of successful warfare. + +The thickets being unfavorable to cavalry, Sickles had sent Pleasonton +back to Hazel Grove with two mounted regiments, the 8th and 17th +Pennsylvania and Martin's battery, while the 6th New York was +scouting the woods on his right, dismounted. Upon reaching the +open space which he had left when he went to the front, Pleasonton +found the place full of the debris of the combat--men, horses, +caissons, ambulances--all hurrying furiously to the rear. To close +the way he charged on the flying mass, at Sickles' suggestion, who +had ridden in advance of his troops, which were still behind at +the Furnace. Sickles ordered Pleasonton to take command of the +artillery, and the latter took charge of twenty-two guns, consisting +of his own and the Third Corps batteries. The latter had already +been rallied and formed in line by Captain J. F. Huntington, of +the Ohio battery. As senior officer present he assumed command of +the Third Corps artillery. Unfortunately there was not time to +load or aim, for the rebels were close at hand, and their triumphant +yells were heard as they took possession of the works which Buschbeck +had so gallantly defended. This advantageous position, which was +on an eminence overlooking Chancellorsville and the Plank Road, +and which was really the key of the battle-field, was about to be +lost. There was but one way to delay Jackson, some force must be +sacrificed, and Pleasonton ordered Major Peter Keenan, commanding +the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, to charge the ten thousand men in +front with his four hundred. Keenan saw in a moment that if he +threw his little force into that seething mass of infantry, horses +and men would go down on all sides, and few would be left to tell +the tale. A sad smile lit up his noble countenance as he said, +_"General, I will do it."_ Thus, at thirty-four years of age, he +laid down his life, literally impaled on the bayonets of the enemy, +saving the army from capture and his country from the unutterable +degradation of slave-holding rule in the Northern States. The +service rendered on that occasion is worthy to be recorded in +history with the sacrifices of Arthur Winckelried in Switzerland, +and the Chevalier d'Assas in France.* + +[* Major J. R. Carpenter, one of the officers who headed this +charge, asserts that Keenan made it without orders, his only +instructions being to report to General Howard to assist in rallying +the Eleventh Corps. Pleasonton's testimony, however, is positive +on the subject, and is supported by that of his aide, Colonel +Clifford Thompson. Perhaps Carpenter did not hear all the conversation +that passed between Pleasonton and Keenan.] + +A large part of his command were lost, but the short interval thus +gained was of priceless value. Pleasonton was enabled to clear a +space in front of him, and twenty-two guns, loaded with double +canister, were brought to bear upon the enemy. They came bursting +over the parapet they had just taken with loud and continuous yells, +and formed line of battle within three hundred yards. All his guns +fired into their masses at once. The discharge seemed fairly to +blow them back over the works from which they had just emerged. +Their artillery, under Colonel Crutchfield, which had been brought +up, was almost annihilated by the fire of the battery on the Plank +Road. This gave time to reload the guns. + +The enemy rallied and opened a furious musketry fire from the woods +against Pleasonton and Berry. Both stood firm, and then came two +charges in succession which reached almost to the muzzles of +Pleasonton's guns, which were only supported by two small regiments +of cavalry--the 6th New York, and a new and untried regiment, the +17th Pennsylvania. The whole did not amount to over 1,000 men. +Archer's brigade, on Jackson's left, which had not been stayed by +Keenan's charge, gained the woods and the Plank Road, and opened +a severe enfilading fire. Huntington changed front with his own +battery and repelled the assault. The 110th Pennsylvania regiment, +of Whipple's division, arrived in time to strengthen the cavalry +support, and many of the Eleventh Corps men fell into line also. +The last charge of the enemy was baffled by the opportune arrival +of Birney's and Whipple's divisions, and Barlow's brigade. + +By this time, too (about 9 P.M.), Hays' brigade of French's corps +had been posted on the right, in rear and oblique to Berry's second +line. The latter had greatly strengthened his position with log +breastworks, etc. Captain Best, of the 4th United States Artillery, +in the meantime had exerted himself to collect forty or fifty guns +belonging to the Twelfth, Third, and some he had stopped from the +Eleventh Corps, and had arranged them at Fairview, to fire over +the heads of Berry's troops into the thicket where the enemy were +posted and along the Plank Road. + +Hooker was so disheartened at the unexpected success of the enemy, +that when the first shock came he sent word to Sickles to save his +command if he could. There is little doubt that at one time he +thought of retreating and leaving the Third Corps to its fate; for +when the enemy charged there was an awful gap in our lines; Birney's, +Whipple's, and Williams' divisions and Barlow's brigade were all +absent. Fortunately Jackson was unable to press his advantage. +The ardor of the charge, the darkness, the thickets and the abattis +in which his forces became entangled, caused Rodes' and Colston's +divisions to be all intermingled, creating such disorder and +confusion that military organization was suspended, and orders +could neither be communicated nor obeyed. Jackson therefore halted +his men in the edge of the woods, about a mile and a half from +Chancellorsville, posted two brigades on the two roads that came +in from the south, and sent for Hill's division, which was in rear +and which had not been engaged, to take the front, while the other +two divisions fell back to the open space at Dowdall's Tavern to +reform their lines. Pending this movement he rode out on the Plank +Road with part of his staff and a few orderlies to reconnoitre, +cautioning his pickets not to fire at him on his return. When he +came back new men had been posted, and his approach was mistaken +for the advance of Pleasonton's cavalry. His own troops fired into +him with fatal effect. Nearly all his escort were killed or wounded +and he received three balls, which shattered both arms. His horse +ran toward the Union lines, and although he succeeded in turning +him back, he was dashed against the trees and nearly unhorsed. He +reached the Confederate lines about the time our artillery again +opened up on the Plank Road with a fire that swept everything from +its front. Several of his attendants were killed and others wounded. +The rebels found the utmost difficulty in keeping their men in line +under this tremendous fire. Sentries had to be posted, and great +precautions taken to prevent the troops from giving way. General +Pender recognized Jackson as he was carried past, and complained +of the demoralizing effect of this cannonade, but Jackson replied +sharply and sternly, "You must hold your ground, General Pender." +He was removed to the Wilderness Tavern, and as General Lee was in +some fear that Averell's cavalry, then at Elley's Ford, would make +a dash and capture him, he was sent on to Guiney's Station, on the +Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad, where he died on the 10th of +May. Whether the rebels killed him, or whether some of his wounds +came from our own troops, the 1st Massachusetts or 73d New York, +who were firing heavily in that direction, is a matter of some +doubt. While leaning over him and expressing his sympathy, A. P. +Hill was also wounded by the fire from a section of Dimick's battery, +posted in advance in the Plank Road,* and the command of his corps +was assigned at his request to the cavalry general, J. E. B. Stuart. + +When our artillery fire ceased, Hill's troops took position in +front of the others. + +[* Young Dimick was the son of a distinguished general of the +regular army. Though wounded on this occasion he refused to leave +the field. The next day he again sought the post of danger and +was mortally wounded while holding the Plank Road.] + + + +CHAPTER VI. +SICKLES FIGHTS HIS WAY BACK.--ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST CORPS. + +Sickles, with his ten thousand men heaped up at Hazel Grove, was +still cut off from the main body and could only communicate with +Hooker's headquarters by means of bypaths and at great risk. The +last orders he received, at 5 P.M., had been to attack Jackson's +right flank and check his advance. He determined to do this and +force his way back, and with the co-operation of Williams' and +Berry's divisions, retake the Plank Road with the bayonet. Ward's +brigade was posted in the front line and Hayman's and Graham's +brigades a hundred yards in rear. A special column, under Colonel +Egan of the 40th New York, was formed on the extreme left. The +muskets were uncapped and at midnight the command moved silently +against the enemy, and in spite of a terrific outburst of musketry +and artillery from the open space at Dowdall's, the Plank Road and +the works which Buschbeck had defended were regained. Berry at +once moved forward his line to hold them. Many guns and caissons +taken from Howard's corps, and Whipple's ammunition train of pack +mules were also recovered. The confusion into which the enemy were +thrown by this assault against their right, enabled Berry to easily +repulse the attack on him, and he continued to hold the position. +The result of this brilliant movement was the reoccupation of a +great part of the works Howard had lost, and the capture of two +guns and three caissons from the enemy. It is said that in this +conflict some of Sickles' men, in consequence of the thickets and +confusion, finding themselves surrounded, surrendered as they +supposed to the enemy, but to their delight found themselves in +Berry's division, among their old comrades. + +Soon after this fight was over Mott's brigade of the Third Corps, +which had been on duty at the Ford, rejoined the main body. + +Both sides now rested on their arms and prepared to renew the +struggle at daylight. Hooker, in view of a possible defeat, directed +his engineer officers to lay out a new and stronger line, to cover +his bridges, to which he could retreat in case of necessity. + +At sunset the First Corps went into bivouac on the south side of +United States Ford, about four miles and a half from Chancellorsville. +The men were glad enough to rest after their tedious march on a +hot day, loaded down with eight days' rations. General Reynolds +left me temporarily in charge of the corps, while he rode on to +confer with Hooker. We heard afar off the roar of the battle caused +by Jackson's attack, and saw the evening sky reddened with the +fires of combat, but knowing Hooker had a large force, we felt no +anxiety as to the result, and took it for granted that we would +not be wanted until the next day. I was preparing a piece of india- +rubber cloth as a couch when I saw one of Reynolds' aids, Captain +Wadsworth, coming down the road at full speed. He brought the +startling news that the Eleventh Corps had fled, and if we did not +go forward at once, the army would be hopelessly defeated. We were +soon on the road, somewhat oppressed by the news, but not dismayed. +We marched through the thickening twilight of the woods amid a +silence at first only broken by the plaintive song of the whip-poor- +will, until the full moon rose in all its splendor. As we proceeded +we came upon crowds of Eleventh Corps fugitives still hastening to +the rear. They seemed to be wholly disheartened. We halted for +a time, in order that our position in line of battle might be +selected, and then moved on. As we approached the field a midnight +battle commenced, and the shells seemed to burst in sparkles in +the trees above our heads, but not near enough to reach us. It +was Sickles fighting his way home again. When we came nearer and +filed to the right to take position on the Elley's Ford road, the +men struck up John Brown's song, and gave the chorus with a will. +Their cheerful demeanor and proud bearing renewed the confidence +of the army, who felt that the arrival of Reynolds' corps, with +its historic record, was no ordinary reinforcement. + +We were now on the extreme right of the other forces, on the Elley's +Ford road, with the right flank thrown back behind Hunting Creek. + +Hooker was very much discouraged by the rout of the Eleventh Corps. +An occurrence of this kind always has a tendency to demoralize an +army and render it less trustworthy; for the real strength of an +armed force is much more in _opinion_ than it is in _numbers_. A +small body of men, if made to believe the enemy are giving way, +will do and dare anything; but when they think the struggle is +hopeless, they will not resist even a weak attack, for each thinks +he is to be sacrificed to save the rest. Hence Hooker did not feel +the same reliance on his men as he did before the disaster. He +determined, nevertheless, to continue the battle, but contract his +lines by bringing them nearer to Chancellorsville. The real key +of the battle-field now was the eminence at Hazel Grove. So long +as we held it the enemy could not advance without presenting his +right flank to our batteries. If he obtained possession of it he +could plant guns which would enfilade Slocum's line and fire directly +into our forces below. Birney's division at this time was posted +in advance of Best's guns on the left, Berry was on the right, with +Williams' division of the Twelfth Corps behind Birney, and Whipple's +division in rear of Berry. + +The position of Hazel Grove commanded Chancellorsville, where all +the roads met, and which it was vital to Hooker to hold. For if +he lost that, he could not advance in any direction, and only his +line of retreat to the Ford would remain open to him. Pleasonton +spent the night in fortifying this hill, and placed forty guns in +position there; but it was of no avail, for it was outside of the +new line Sickles was directed to occupy at daylight, and Hooker +was not aware of its importance. A request was sent to the latter +to obtain his consent to hold it, but he was asleep, and the staff- +officer in charge, who had had no experience whatever in military +matters, positively refused to awaken him until daylight, and then +it was too late, for that was the time set for the troops to fall +back to the new line. + +At 9 P.M., Hooker sent an order to Sedgwick, who was supposed to +be at Falmouth and to have 26,000 men, to throw bridges over, cross, +drive away Early's 9,000, who held the heights of Fredericksburg, +and then to come forward on the Plank Road, and be ready at daylight +on the 3d to take Lee's force in reverse, while Hooker attacked it +in front. + +This order was given under the impression that Sedgwick had not +crossed with his main body, but only with Howe's division, whereas +he was at the bridge heads, three miles below Fredericksburg, on +the south side of the river. Hooker probably forgot that he had +ordered a demonstration to be made against the Bowling Green road +on the 1st, and that Sedgwick went over to make it. + + + +CHAPTER VII. +THE BATTLE OF THE THIRD OF MAY. + +The Eleventh Corps were now sent to the extreme left of the line +to reorganize. There they were sheltered behind the strong works +thrown up by Humphrey's division, and were not so liable to be +attacked. + +The new line laid out by Hooker's order was on a low ridge +perpendicular to the Plank Road, and opposite and at right angles +to the right of Slocum's front. It was strongly supported by the +artillery of the Third, Twelfth, and part of the Eleventh Corps, +massed under Captain Best on the heights at Fairview, in the rear +and to the left. Sickles was ordered to fall back to it at dawn +of day, Birney to lead the way, and Whipple (Graham's brigade) to +bring up the rear. The Plank Road ran through the centre of the +position, Birney being on the left and Berry on the right, with +Whipple's division on a short line in rear, as a reserve. French's +division of Couch's corps was posted on Berry's right, the other +division (that of Hancock) remained between Mott Run and +Chancellorsville. + +When the movement began, Birney's division, on the left of Whipple's, +occupied the high ground at Hazel Grove, facing the Plank Road, +Graham's brigade being on the extreme left. This was a very +aggressive position, since it took every column that advanced +against Sickles' new line directly in flank, and therefore it was +indispensable for the rebel commander to capture Hazel Grove before +he advanced against the main body of the Third Corps, which held +the Plank Road. This hill was not quite so high as that at Fairview, +but our artillery on it had great range, and the post should have +been maintained at all hazards. The cavalry who had so ably defended +it fell back, in obedience to orders, to the Chancellorsville House, +to support the batteries in that vicinity, and I think one regiment +was sent to report to Sedgwick. Whipple commenced the movement by +sending off his artillery and that of Birney. Graham's brigade +was the rear guard. Its retreat was covered by the fire of +Huntington's battery on the right. The moment the enemy saw that +Graham was retiring, Archer's brigade of A. P. Hill's division +charged, attained the top of the hill, and succeeded in capturing +four guns. Elated by his success, Archer pressed forward against +Huntington's battery, but was rudely repulsed; for Sickles opened +on him also with a battery from Fairview. He managed to hold the +four guns until Doles' brigade of Rodes' division came to his aid. +The two took the hill, for Whipple had no instructions to defend +it. He retired in perfect order to the new position assigned him. +Huntington's battery, supported by two regiments sent out by Sickles, +covered the retreat, but suffered considerable loss in doing so, +as one regiment was withdrawn and the other gave way. Ward's +brigade was then sent to the right and Hayman's brigade held in +reserve. + +Stuart, who was now in command of Jackson's corps, saw at a glance +the immense importance of this capture, and did not delay a moment +in crowning the hill with thirty pieces of artillery, which soon +began to play with fatal effect upon our troops below; upon +Chancellorsville; and upon the crest occupied by Slocum, which it +enfiladed, and as McLaws' batteries also enfiladed Slocum's line +from the opposite side, it seems almost miraculous that he was able +to hold it at all. + +Simultaneously with the attack against Hazel Grove came a fierce +onslaught on that part of Sickles' line to the left of the road, +accompanied by fierce yells and cries of _"Remember Jackson!"_ a +watch-word which it was supposed would excite the rebels to strenuous +efforts to avenge the fatal wound of their great leader. It was +handsomely met and driven back by Mott's brigade, which had come +up from the Ford, and now held the front on that part of the line. +A brilliant counter-charge by the 5th and 7th New Jersey captured +many prisoners and colors. + +Sickles' men fought with great determination, but being assailed +by infantry in front and battered almost in flank by the artillery +posted at Hazel Grove, the line was manifestly untenable. After +an obstinate contest the men fell back to the second line, which +was but partially fortified, and soon after to the third line, +which was more strongly intrenched, and which they held to the +close of the fight. + +McGowan's, Lane's, and Heth's brigades of A. P. Hill's division +charged resolutely over this line also; but they suffered heavily +from Best's guns at Fairview, and were driven back by Colonel +Franklin's and Colonel Bowman's brigades of Whipple's division, +which made an effective counter-charge. Whipple's other brigade, +that of Graham, had been sent to relieve one of Slocum's brigades +on the left of the line, which was out of ammunition. It held its +position there for two hours. + +While this attack was taking place on the left of the road, Pender's +and Thomas' brigades, also of Hill's division, charged over the +works on the right; but when the others retreated they were left +without support and were compelled to retire also. They reformed, +however; tried it again, and once more succeeded in holding temporary +possession of part of the line, but were soon driven out again. + +French's division of Couch's corps was now brought up, and Carroll's +brigade struck the rebels on the left, and doubled them back on +the centre, capturing a great many prisoners and confusing and +rendering abortive Hill's attack in front. Hill sent for his +reserves to come up, and three rebel brigades were thrown against +Carroll, who was supported by the remainder of French's division +and a brigade from Humphrey's division of Meade's corps, and French's +flank movement was checked. Then another front attack was organized +by the enemy, under cover of their artillery at Hazel Grove, and +Nicholls', Iverson's, and O'Neill's brigades charged over everything, +even up to Best's batteries at Fairview, which they captured; but +our men rallied, and drove them headlong down the hill, back to +the first line Sickles had occupied at daylight. It was a combat +of giants; a tremendous struggle between patriotism on the one hand +and vengeance on the other. + +French now tried to follow up this advantage by again pressing +against the Confederate left, but it was reinforced by still another +brigade, and he could make no progress. + +The struggle increased in violence. The rebels were determined to +break through our lines, and our men were equally determined not +to give way. Well might De Trobriand style it "a mad and desperate +battle." Mahone said afterward: "The Federals fought like devils +at Chancellorsville." Again Rodes' and Hill's divisions renewed +the attempt and were temporarily successful, and again was the +bleeding remnant of their forces flung back in disorder. Doles' +and Ramseur's brigades of Rodes' division, managed to pass up the +ravine to the right of Slocum's works and gain his right and rear, +but were unsupported there, and Doles was driven out by a concentrated +artillery and musketry fire. Ramseur, who now found himself directly +on Sickles' left flank, succeeded in holding on until the old +Stonewall brigade under Paxton came to his aid, and then they +carried Fairview again, only to be driven out as the others had +been. + +The battle had now lasted several hours, and the troops engaged, +as well as the artillery, were almost out of ammunition. There +should have been some staff officer specially charged with this +subject, but there seemed to be no one who could give orders in +relation to it. + +The last line of our works was finally taken by the enemy, who +having succeeded in driving off the 3d Maryland of the Twelfth +Corps, on Berry's left, entered near the road and enfiladed the +line to the right and left. Sickles sent Ward's brigade to take +the place of the 3d Maryland, but it did not reach the position +assigned it in time, the enemy being already in possession. In +attempting to remedy this disaster, Berry was killed, and his +successor, General Mott, was wounded. The command then devolved +upon general Revere, who, probably considering further contest +hopeless, led his men out of the action without authority--an +offence for which he was subsequently tried and dismissed the +service. + +As the cannon cartridges gave out, the enemy brought up numerous +batteries, under Colonel Carter, in close proximity to Fairview, +and soon overcame all resistance in that direction, driving the +troops and guns from the plain. + +Anderson now made a junction with Stuart, and their combined efforts +drove the Third Corps and Williams' division of the Twelfth Corps +back, leaving only Geary and Hancock to maintain the struggle. +Geary was without support, but he still fought on. He faced two +regiments west at right angles to his original line, and by the +aid of his artillery held on for an hour longer; his right brigade +facing south, west, and north. + +The Third Corps left their last position at Chancellorsville slowly +and sullenly. Hayman's brigade, not far from the Chancellorsville +House, finding the enemy a good deal disorganized, and coming +forward in a languid and inefficient manner, turned--by Sickles' +direction--and charged, capturing several hundred prisoners and +several colors, and relieving Graham, who was now holding on with +the bayonet, from a most perilous flank attack, enabling him to +withdraw in good order. Sickles himself was soon after injured by +a spent shot of piece of shell, which struck his waist-belt. His +corps and French's division had lost 5,000 out of 22,000. + +Our front gradually melted away and passed to the new line in rear +through Humphrey's division of the Fifth Corps, which was posted +about half a mile north of the Chancellorsville House in the edge +of the thicket, to cover the retreat. At last only indomitable +Hancock remained, fighting McLaws with his front line, and keeping +back Stuart and Anderson with his rear line. + +The enemy, Jackson's Corps, showed little disposition to follow up +their success. The fact is, these veterans were about fought out, +and became almost inert. They did not, at the last, even press +Hancock, who was still strong in artillery, and he withdrew his +main body in good order, losing however, the 27th Connecticut +regiment, which was posted at the apex of his line on the south, +and was not brought back in time, in consequence of the failure of +a subordinate officer to carry out his orders. + +Before Hancock left, his line was taken in reverse, and he was +obliged to throw back part of his force to the left to resist +Anderson, who was trying to force the passage of Mott Run. The +line in that direction was firmly held by Colonel Miles of the 61st +New York, who was shot through the body while encouraging his men +to defend the position. + +Stuart's command had lost 7,500 in his attack, and it could hardly +have resisted a fresh force if it had been thrown in. General +William Hays, of the Second Corps, who was taken prisoner, says +they were worn out, and Rodes admits in his report that Jackson's +veterans clung to their intrenchments, and that Ramseur and others +who passed them, urged them to go forward in vain. + +Before the close of the action Hooker was importuned for reinforcements, +but to no avail. Perhaps he intended to send them, for about this +time he rushed out and made a passionate appeal to Geary's men to +charge and retake the works they had lost; promising to aid them +by throwing in a heavy force on the enemy's left flank. At this +appeal the exhausted troops put their caps on their bayonets, waved +them aloft, and with loud cheers charged on the rebels and drove +them out once more; but sixty guns opened upon them at close range +with terrible effect; the promised reinforcements did not come; +they were surrounded with ever increasing enemies, and forced to +give up everything and retreat. Stuart and Anderson then formed +their lines on the south of and parallel to the Plank Road, facing +north, and began to fortify the position. + +Had they been disposed to follow up the retreat closely they would +have been unable to do so, for now a new and terrible barrier +intervened; the woods on each side of the Plank Road had been set +on fire by the artillery and the wounded and dying were burning in +the flames without a possibility of rescuing them. Let us draw a +veil over this scene, for it is pitiful to dwell upon it. + +There was no further change in Stuart's line until the close of +the battle; but Anderson's division was soon after detached against +Sedgwick. + +The new line taken up by the Union Army was a semi-ellipse, with +the left resting on the Rappahannock and the right on the Rapidan. +Its centre was at Bullock's House, about three-fourths of a mile +north of Chancellorsville. The approaches were well guarded with +artillery, and the line partially intrenched. The enemy did not +assail it. They made a reconnoissance in the afternoon, but Weed's +artillery at the apex of the line was too strongly posted to be +forced, and Lee soon found other employment for his troops, for +Sedgwick was approaching to attack his rear. + + +In the history of lost empires we almost invariably find that the +cause of their final overthrow on the battle-field may be traced +to the violation of one military principle, which is that _the +attempt to overpower a central force of converging columns, is +almost always fatal to the assailants_, for a force in the centre, +by the virtue of its position, has nearly double the strength of +one on the circumference. Yet his is the first mistake made by +every tyro in generalship. A strong blow can be given by a sledge- +hammer, but if we divide it into twenty small hammers, the blows +will necessarily be scattering and uncertain. Let us suppose an +army holds the junction of six roads. It seems theoretically +possible that different detachments encircling it, by all attacking +at the same time, must confuse and overpower it; but in practice +the idea is rarely realized, for no two routes are precisely alike, +the columns never move simultaneously, and therefore never arrive +at the same time. Some of this is due to the character of the +commanders. One man is full of dash, and goes forward at once; +another is timid, or at least over-cautious, and advances slowly; +a third stops to recall some outlying detachments, or to make +elaborate preparations. The result is, the outer army has lost +its strength and is always beaten in detail. One portion is sure +to be defeated before the others arrive. We shall have occasion +to refer to this principle again in reference to the battle of +Gettysburg. The history of our own war shows that an attack against +the front and rear of a force is not necessarily fatal. Baird's +division at Chickamauga defended itself successfully against an +assault of this kind, and Hancock faced his division both ways at +Chancellorsville and repelled every attempt to force his position. +But Hooker thought otherwise. He felt certain that if Sedgwick +assailed Lee in rear, while he advanced in front, the Confederate +army was doomed. When the time came, however, to carry out this +programme, if we may use a homely simile borrowed from General De +Peyster, Hooker did not hold up his end of the log, and the whole +weight fell upon Sedgwick. + +About this time a pillar of the Chancellorsville House was struck +by a cannon-ball, and Hooker, who was leaning against it at the +moment, was prostrated and severely injured. He revived in a few +minutes, mounted his horse and rode to the rear, but it was some +time before he turned over the command to Couch, who was second in +rank. After this stroke he suffered a great deal from paroxysms +of pain, and was manifestly unfit to give orders, although he soon +resumed the command. + +The historian almost refuses to chronicle the startling fact that +37,000 men were kept out of the fight, most of whom had not fired +a shot, and all of whom were eager to go in. The whole of the +First Corps and three-fourths of the Fifth Corps had not been +engaged. These, with 5,000 of the Eleventh Corps, who desired to +retrieve the disaster of the previous day and were ready to advance, +made a new army, which had it been used against Stuart's tired men +would necessarily have driven them off the field; for there were +but 26,000 of them when the fight commenced. To make the matter +worse, a large part of this force--the First and Fifth Corps--stood +with arms in their hands, as spectators, almost directly on the +left flank of the enemy; so that their mere advance would have +swept everything before it. Hancock, too, says that his men were +fresh enough to go forward again. + +Couch succeeded to the command after Hooker was wounded, and made +dispositions for the final stand around the Chancellorsville House, +where the battle lasted some time longer, and where a battery of +the Fifth Corps was sacrificed to cover the retreat of the troops. +He did not, however, take the responsibility of renewing the contest +with fresh troops, perhaps deterred by the fact that Anderson's +and McLaws' divisions had now effected a junction with Stuart's +corps; so that the chances were somewhat less favorable than they +would have been had Sickles and French had been reinforced before +the junction took place. He says, at the close of the action, that +fifty guns posted to the right and front of the Chancellorsville +House would have swept the enemy away. + +I think Hooker was beset with the idea of keeping back a large +portion of his force to be used in case of emergency. It appears +from a statement made by General Alexander S. Webb, who had made +a daring personal reconnoissance of the enemy's movement, that he +was present when Meade--acting on his (Webb's) representations, +and speaking for himself and Reynolds--asked Hooker's permission +to let the First and Fifth Corps take part in the battle. It is +fair, however, to state that Hooker, having been injured and in +great pain, was hardly accountable for his want of decision at this +time. Indeed, General Tremaine, who was a colonel on Sickles' +staff, says that Hooker did intend to use his reserve force as soon +as the enemy were utterly exhausted. President Lincoln seems to +have had a presentiment of what would occur, for his parting words +to Hooker and Couch were, to use all the troops and not keep any +back. + +I have stated that both Meade and Reynolds wished to put their +corps in at the vital point, but were not allowed to do so. General +Tremaine also states that, subsequently, when Hooker was suffering +a paroxysm of pain, he was the bearer of a communication to him +requesting reinforcements, which Hooker directed to be handed to +General Meade, who was present, for his action. Meade would not +take the responsibility thus offered him at so late a period in +the action, though strongly urged to do so both by Tremaine and +Colonel Dahlgren, without the express order of General Hooker, or +the sanction of General Couch, who was his superior officer, and +who was absent. Perhaps he was afraid that Hooker might resume +the command at any moment and leave him to shoulder the responsibility +of any disaster that might occur, without giving him the credit in +case of success. Still he should have put the men in, for the +success of the cause was above all personal considerations. A +single division thrown in at this time would have retrieved the +fortunes of the day. The delay of finding Couch would have been +fatal; for immediate action was demanded. + +Reynolds, indeed, considered himself obliged to wait for orders, +but was so desirous to go in that he directed me to send Colonel +Stone's brigade forward to make a reconnoissance, in the hope the +enemy would attack it and thus bring on a fresh contest; for he +intended to reinforce Stone with his whole corps. Stone went close +enough to the rebels to overhear their conversation. He made a +very successful reconnoissance and brought back a number of prisoners, +but as no hint was given him of the object of the movement, he did +not bring on a fight. Had he received the slightest intimation +that such was Reynolds' wish, he would not have hesitated a moment, +for his reputation for dash and gallantry was inferior to none in +the army. + + +Sedgwick being on the south side of the river, three miles below +the town, was farther off than Hooker supposed, and did not meet +the expectations of the latter by brushing aside Early's 9,000 men +from the fortified heights, and coming on in time to thunder on +Lee's rear at daylight, and join hands with the main body at +Chancellorsville. + +The Sixth Corps started soon after midnight to carry out the order. +General John Newton's division led the way, with General Shaler's +brigade in advance. They were somewhat delayed by a false alarm +in rear, and by the enemy's pickets in front, but made their way +steadily toward Fredericksburg. When they reached Hazel Run they +found a considerable body of the enemy on the Bowling Green Road +at the bridge in readiness to dispute the passage. Colonel Hamblin, +who was in charge of Newton's skirmish line, left a few of his men +to open an energetic fire in front, while he assembled the others +and made a charge which took the bridge and secured the right of +way. The command reached Fredericksburg about 3 A.M. As the +atmosphere was very hazy, Newton found himself almost on the enemy +before he knew it; near enough in fact to overhear their conversation. +He fell back quickly to the town and occupied the streets which +were not swept by the fire from the works above. He then waited +for daylight to enable him to reconnoitre the position in his front, +previous to making an attack; and that was the hour Hooker had set +for Sedgwick to join him in attacking Lee at Chancellorsville. + +As soon as it was light Gibbon laid bridges, crossed over, and +reported to Sedgwick with his division. + +At dawn Newton deployed Wharton's brigade and made a demonstration +to develop the enemy's line. As the fortified heights commanded +the Plank Road by which Sedgwick was to advance, it became necessary +to attack immediately. The plan of assault which was devised by +General Newton, and approved by General Sedgwick, was to attenuate +the rebel force by attacking it on a wide front, so that it could +not be strong anywhere, and to use the bayonet alone. Accordingly, +Gibbon was directed to advance on the right to turn their flank +there if possible, while Newton was to demonstrate against the +centre and Howe to act against the left. Newton deployed Wharton's +brigade, opened fire along his front and kept the enemy employed +there, but Gibbon was unable to advance on the right, because a +canal and a railway lay between him and the rebels, and they had +taken up the flooring of the bridges over the latter. Howe did +not succeed any better on the left, as in attempting to turn the +first line of works he encountered the fire of a second line in +rear and in _echelon_ to the first, which took him directly in +flank. A concentrated artillery fire was brought to bear on Gibbon, +Early sent Hays' brigade from Marye's Hill to meet him, and Wilcox's +brigade came up from Banks' Ford for the same purpose, so that he +was obliged to fall back. + +It was now 10 A.M., and there was no time to be lost. General +Warren, who was in camp to represent Hooker, urged an immediate +assault. This advice was followed. Newton formed two columns of +assault and one deployed line in the centre, and Howe three deployed +lines on the left. + +Colonel Johns, of the 7th Massachusetts, who was a graduate of West +Point, led one of these columns directly against Marye's Hill, with +two regiments of Eustis' brigade, supported by the other two +regiments, deployed, while another column, consisting of two +regiments under Colonel Spear, of the 61st Pennsylvania, supported +by two regiments (the 82d Pennsylvania and 67th New York) in column, +under Colonel Shaler, was directed to act farther to the right, +and the Light Division, under Colonel Burnham of the 5th Massachusetts, +attached to Newton's command, was ordered to deploy on the left +against the intrenchments at the base of the hill. Spear's column, +advancing through a narrow gorge, was broken and enfiladed by the +artillery--indeed almost literally swept away--and Spear himself +was killed. Johns had an equally difficult task, for he was +compelled to advance up a broken stony gulch swept by two rebel +howitzers. The head of his column was twice broken, but he rallied +it each time. He was then badly wounded, and there was a brief +pause, but Colonel Walsh, of the 36th New York, rallied the men +again, and they kept straight on over the works. Burnham with his +Light Brigade captured the intrenchments below, which had been so +fatal to our troops in the previous battle of Fredericksburg, and +went into the works above with the others.* The fortified heights +on the right of Hazel Run, held by Barksdale's brigade, being now +occupied by our troops, those to the left were necessarily taken +in reverse, and therefore Sedgwick thought it useless to attack +them in front. Howe, nevertheless, carried them gallantly, but +with considerable loss of life. + +[* When Spear's column was broken, the 82d Pennsylvania, under +Colonel Bassett, came forward in support, but was crushed with the +same fire. Colonel Shaler's remaining regiment, the 67th New York, +followed by the remnant of Bassett's regiment, forced their way +over the crest to the right of Colonel Johns' column.] + +The coveted heights, which Burnside had been unable to take with +his whole army, were in our possession, together with about a +thousand prisoners; but the loss of the Sixth Corps was severe, +for nearly a thousand men were killed, wounded, and missing in less +than five minutes. The attack was over so soon that Early did not +get back Hays' brigade, which had been detached to oppose Gibbon, +in time to assist in the defence. Newton says if there had been +a hundred men on Marye's Hill we could not have taken it. + +The rebel force was now divided, and thrown off toward Richmond in +eccentric directions. + +All that remained for Sedgwick to do was to keep straight on the +Plank Road toward Chancellorsville. Had he done so at once he +would have anticipated the enemy in taking possession of the strong +position of Salem Church, and perhaps have captured Wilcox's and +Hays' brigades. But it was not intended by Providence that we +should win this battle, which had been commenced by a boasting +proclamation of what was to be accomplished; and obstacles were +constantly occurring of the most unexpected character. After +directing Gibbon to hold the town and cover the bridges there, +Sedgwick, instead of pushing on, halted to reform his men, and sent +back for Brooks' division, which was still at its old position +three miles below Fredericksburg, to come up and take the advance. +It was full 3 P.M. before the final start was made. This delay +gave Hays time to rejoin Early by making a detour around the head +of Sedgwick's column, and Wilcox took advantage of it to select a +strong position at Guest's House, open fire with his artillery, +and detain Sedgwick still longer. Wilcox then retreated toward +the river road, but finding he was not pursued, and that Sedgwick +was advancing with great caution, he turned back and occupied for +a short time the Toll Gate, half a mile from Salem Church, where +McLaws' division was formed with one of Anderson's brigades on his +left. When Sedgwick advanced Wilcox fell back and joined the main +body at the church. + +The other brigades of Anderson's were sent to hold the junction of +the Mine road and the River road. + +When the pursuit ceased, Early reassembled his command near Cox's +house and made immediate arrangements to retake the Fredericksburg +heights, and demonstrate against Sedgwick's rear. + + +McLaws formed his line about 2 P.M. in the strip of woods which +runs along the low ridge at Salem Church; two brigades being posted +on each side of the road about three hundred yards back. Wilcox's +brigade, when driven in, was directed to take post in the church +and an adjacent school-house, which were used as citadels. This +was a strong position, for the rebels were sheltered by the woods, +while our troops were forced to advance over an open country, cut +up by ravines parallel to McLaws' front, which broke up their +organization to some extent, and destroyed the _elan_ of the attack. +After a brief artillery contest, which soon ended, as the enemy +were out of ammunition, Brooks' division went forward about 4 P.M., +and made a gallant charge, in which Bartlett's brigade, aided by +Willston's battery, captured the buildings and drove in part of +Wilcox's line. The New Jersey brigade charged at the same time on +his right, and Russell's brigade on his left. Wilcox placed himself +at the head of his reserve regiments, and aided by Semmes' brigade, +made a fierce counter-charge. The combat for the school-house +raged with great fury, each party breaking the other's line and +being broken in turn. Finally, after much desperate fighting, +Bartlett was obliged to yield the portion of the crest he had held +which was a key to the position; for as he was not strongly and +promptly reinforced, as he should have been, his withdrawal from +the church and school-house made a gap which forced the other +portions of the line to retreat to avoid being taken in flank. +Brooks was therefore driven back to the shelter of the guns at the +Toll House. Then Newton's division came up and formed on his right +and part of Howe's division on the left. + +The Union artillery was well served and destructive, and as Newton +had arrived, McLaws found his farther progress checked and was glad +to get back to the ridge. Bartlett's attack should have been +deferred until Newton's division was near enough to support it. +In that case it would undoubtedly have succeeded. + +Sedgwick's left now rested on a point nearly a mile from Salem +Church, while his right under Wheaton was somewhat advanced. + +Up to this time the fight had been between Brooks' division and +McLaws' mixed command. It was now decided that a second attempt +should be made by Newton's division, but Newton states that the +design was abandoned because Howe's division, which was to support +him, had gone into camp without orders, and was not immediately +available. Before new arrangements could be made darkness came +on, and both armies bivouacked on the ground they occupied. Brooks' +division in the assault just made had lost 1,500 men, and Sedgwick +no longer felt confident of forcing his way alone through the +obstacle that beset him. Nevertheless, trusting to the speedy and +hearty co-operation of Hooker, he stood ready to renew the attempt +on the morrow, although he foresaw the enemy would fortify their +line during the night and make it truly formidable. + +When Wilcox left Banks' Ford to aid in the defence of Salem Church, +General H. W. Benham of the United States Engineer Corps, who +commanded an engineer brigade there, threw over a bridge at Scott's +dam, about a mile below Banks' Ford, to communicate with Sedgwick, +enable him to retreat in case of disaster, and connect his headquarters +with those of Hooker by telegraph. + +Hooker disapproved the laying of the bridges, which he thought +superfluous, as Sedgwick's orders were to keep on to Chancellorsville. +Warren took advantage of this new and short route to return to the +main army, in order to give Hooker information as to Sedgwick's +position. He promised to send back full instructions for the +guidance of the latter. + +As soon as the bridge was laid, General J. T. Owens with his brigade +of the Second Corps, which had been guarding the ford, crossed over +and reported to Sedgwick. + +Warren found Hooker in a deep sleep, and still suffering from the +concussion that took place in the morning. He gathered from the +little he did say, that Sedgwick must rely upon himself, and not +upon the main body for deliverance, and he so informed Sedgwick. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. +MAY FOURTH.--ATTACK ON SEDGWICK'S FORCE. + +As Hooker seemed disposed to be inactive, Lee thought he might +venture to still further augment the force in front of Sedgwick, +with a view to either capture the Sixth Corps or force it to recross +the river. He therefore directed Anderson to reinforce McLaws with +the remainder of his division, leaving only what was left of +Jackson's old corps to confront Hooker. Anderson had gone over to +the right, opposite the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, and had opened +with a battery upon the wagon trains which were parked in that +vicinity, creating quite a stampede, until his guns were driven +away by the Twelfth Corps. In this skirmish, General Whipple, +commanding the Third Division of Sickles' corps, was killed. In +the meantime, Early had retaken the heights of Fredericksburg, +which were merely held by a picket guard of Gibbon's division, so +that, when Anderson arrived and took post on the right of McLaws, +parallel to the Plank Road, Sedgwick found himself environed on +three sides by the enemy; only the road to Banks' Ford remained +open, and even that was endangered by bands of rebels, who roamed +about in rear of our forces. At one time it is said they could +have captured him and his headquarters. Fortunately the tents +which constituted the latter were of so unpretending a character, +that they gave no indication of being tenanted by the commanding +general. + +Hooker had resumed the command, although manifestly incapable of +directing affairs; for the concussion must have affected his brain. +At all events, although he had almost thirty-seven thousand fresh +men, ready and desirous of entering into the combat, and probably +only had about seventeen thousand worn out men in front of him, he +failed to do anything to relieve Sedgwick's force, which was now +becoming seriously compromised. A feeble and ineffectual reconnoissance +was indeed attempted, and as that was promptly resisted, Hooker +gave up the idea of any advance, and left Sedgwick to get out of +the difficulty the best way he could. At 11 A.M., Sedgwick wrote, +stating the obstacles which beset him, and requesting the active +assistance of the main army. He was directed, in reply, not to +attack, unless the main body at Chancellorsville did the same. +All remained quiet until 4 P.M. The Sixth Corps were then formed +on three sides of a square inclosing Banks' Ford, with the flanks +resting on the river. Howe's division faced east toward Fredericksburg, +against Early, who confronted him in that direction, and his left +stretched out to Taylor's Hill on the Rappahannock. Newton's +division, together with Russell's brigade of Brooks' division, +faced McLaws on the west, and Brooks' other two brigades--those of +Bartlett and Torbert--were opposed to Anderson on the south. The +entire line was very long and thin. + +Early and McLaws had been skirmishing on their fronts all day, but +it was 6 P.M. before everything was in readiness for the final +advance. An attempt had, however, been made by Early to turn Howe's +left and cut Sedgwick off from the river; but it was promptly met +and the enemy were repulsed with a loss of two hundred prisoners +and a battle-flag. + +Sedgwick felt his position to be a precarious one. His line was +six miles long, and he had but about twenty thousand men with which +to hold it against twenty-five thousand of the enemy. He thought, +too, that reinforcements had come up from Richmond and that the +enemy's force far exceeded his own. It was evident he could not +recross the river in broad daylight without sacrificing a great +part of his corps, and he determined to hold on until night. Benham +took the precaution to throw over a second bridge, and this prudent +measure, in Sedgwick's opinion, saved his command. Lee, after +personally reconnoitring the position, gave orders to break in the +centre of the Sixth Corps so as to defeat the two wings, throw them +off in eccentric directions, and scatter the whole force. When +this was attempted, Sedgwick detached Wharton's brigade from Newton's +right, and sent it to reinforce that part of the line. At 6 P.M. +three guns were fired as a signal from Alexander's battery and the +Confederate forces pressed forward to the attack. Newton's front +was not assailed, and the right of Brooks' division easily repulsed +the enemy who advanced in that direction, with the fire of the +artillery and the skirmish line alone. + +The main effort of the evening was made by Early's division, which +advanced in columns of battalions, to turn Howe's left, and cut +that flank off from the river. Howe's artillery, under charge of +Major J. Watts de Peyster, a mere youth, was admirably posted and +did great execution on these heavy columns. De Peyster himself +rode out and established a battery, a considerable distance in +advance of the main line, and the enemy pressed forward eagerly to +capture it; after doing so they were suddenly confronted by several +regiments in ambush, which rose up and delivered a fire which threw +Hays' and Hoke's brigades into great confusion, and caused them to +make a precipitate retreat. An attack against Howe's right was +also repulsed. In the ardor of pursuit, Howe swung that flank +around and captured the 8th Louisiana Regiment, but in doing so, +he exposed his rear to Gordon, who came down a ravine behind him, +so that he was compelled to fall back and take up a new line. Howe +had carefully selected a reserve position and made dispositions to +hold it. Fresh assaults on his left finally forced General Neill +to retreat to it with his brigade. The enemy followed him up +promptly, but were driven back in disorder by Grant's Vermont +brigade, two regiments of Newton's division and Butler's regular +battery of the 2d United States Artillery. Newton thinks this last +attack on Howe was local and accidental, for as the other divisions +were not assailed, a concentrated attack on Howe would have destroyed +him. + +Darkness at last put an end to the strife. Newton, being an engineer +officer by profession, had previously been sent by Sedgwick to +select a new line to cover the bridges, and the army was ordered +to fall back there. It did so without confusion, the roads having +been carefully picketed. Brooks took position on Newton's left, +after which Howe's division, whose right flank for a time had been +"in the air," withdrew also an hour later than the others, and +prolonged the line to the left. Howe complained that he was deserted +by Sedgwick, but the latter appears to have sent Wheaton's brigade +and other reinforcements to aid his retreat. The movement to the +rear was favored by the darkness and a thick fog, which settled +over the valleys, but did not extend to the high ground. As Benham +and Sedgwick, who were classmates at West Point, walked on the +slope of the hill where the men were lying--the crest above being +held by thirty-four guns on the opposite side of the river--Benham +cautioned Sedgwick not to recross under any circumstances without +his entire command, nor without Hooker's express sanction, advice +which Sedgwick was wise enough to follow. + +The enemy did not assail the new position or attempt to interfere +with the crossing which soon after took place. When it was nearly +concluded, an order came from Hooker countermanding it, but it was +then too late to return. + +Howe thinks Sedgwick should not have crossed, as the last attack +on the left, which was the vital point, had been repulsed. This +may be so, in the light of after-consideration, but it was very +doubtful at the time, and as Sedgwick had lost a fraction under +five thousand men in these operations, and was acting under the +false information that additional forces had come up from Richmond, +he felt that he had fully borne his share of the burden, and that +it was better to place his corps beyond the risk of capture, than +to run the chances of renewing the battle. It would, undoubtedly, +have been of immense advantage to the cause if he could have +continued to hold Taylor's Hill, which dominated the country round, +and was the key of the battle-field; for in that case Hooker might +have withdrawn from Lee's front and joined Sedgwick, which would +have been attaining the object for which our main army left Falmouth, +and made the turning movement. He would thus have gained a strategic +if not a tactical victory; his shortcomings would have been forgotten, +and he would have been regarded as one of the greatest strategists +of the age. Hooker, however, had left so many things undone, that +it is by no means certain he would have carried out this policy, +although he expressed his intention to do so. Sedgwick's movement, +in my opinion, added another example to the evil effects of converging +columns against a central force. + +There is little more to add in relation to Hooker's operations. +On the night of the 4th, he called a council of war, and after +stating the situation to them, absented himself, in order that they +might have full liberty to discuss the subject. Reynolds was +exhausted, and went to sleep, saying that his vote would be the +same as that of Meade. Meade voted to remain, because he thought +it would be impossible to cross in the presence of the enemy. +Sickles and Couch voted to retreat. Howard voted to remain, without +reference to the situation of the army, because in his opinion his +corps had behaved badly, and he wished to retrieve its reputation. +Slocum was not present. The final result was that Hooker determined +to cross, although the majority of votes were against it. The +votes of Meade and Howard, however, were qualified in such a way +as to give the impression they were in favor of a retreat. + +Owing to a sudden rise in the river the bridges became too short, +and there was some doubt as to the practicability of passing over +them, but by taking down one, and piecing the others with it, the +difficulty was overcome and the army retired, without being followed +up, under cover of thirty-two guns posted on the heights on the +opposite bank. Meade's corps acted as rear guard. + +Hooker left his killed and wounded behind, and had lost 14 guns +and 20,000 stand of arms. + +It only remains to give a brief statement of the operations of +Stoneman's cavalry. These were of no avail as regard the battle +of Chancellorsville, for our army was defeated and in full retreat +before Lee's main line of communication with Richmond was struck, +and then all the damage was repaired in three or four days. There +seems to have been a lack of information as to where to strike; +for the principal depot of the rebel army was at Guiney's station +on the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad. The supplies there +were but slightly guarded, and could easily have been captured. +Had this been done, Lee would have been seriously embarrassed, +notwithstanding his victory, and forced to fall back to obtain +subsistence. + +Stoneman, upon setting out on the expedition, left one division of +4,000 men under Averell to do the fighting, and dispose of any +force that might attempt to interfere with the movements of the +main body. Averell accordingly followed W. H. F. Lee's two regiments +to Rapidan Station, and remained there skirmishing on the 1st of +May. His antagonist then burned the bridge, and fell back on +Gordonsville. As Averell was about to ford the river and follow, +he received orders from Hooker to return; he came back to Elley's +Ford on the 2d, which he reached at half past ten at night. As +his return was useless and unnecessary, he has been severely +censured, but it was not made of his own volition. Soon after Fitz +Hugh Lee made a dash at his camp, but was repulsed. On the 3d +Averell made a reconnoissance on Hooker's right, with a view to +attack the enemy there, but finding the country impracticable for +cavalry, returned to Elley's Ford. Hooker, who was not in the best +of humor at the time, became dissatisfied with his operations, +relieved him from command, and appointed Pleansonton to take his +place. + +In the meantime, the main body under Stoneman pressed forward, and +reached Louisa Court House early on the morning of the 2d. Parties +were at once ordered out to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad +above and below that point. One of W. H. F. Lee's regiments drove +back a detachment of Union cavalry which was moving on Gordonsville, +but reinforcements went forward and Lee was driven back in his turn. + +In the evening Stoneman made his headquarters at Thompson's Cross +Roads, and from there despatched regiments in different directions +to burn and destroy. + +One party under Colonel Wyndham, 1st New Jersey, was engaged all +day on the 3d in injuring the canal at Columbia, and in attempts +to blow up the aqueduct over the Rivanna. + +Colonel Kilpatrick moved with his regiment, the 2d New York, across +the country, passing within two miles and a half of Richmond, and +creating great consternation there. He struck and destroyed a +portion of the Fredericksburg Railroad--Lee's main line of supply +--on the 4th, at Hungary Station, ten miles from Richmond, and +burned Meadow Bridge, over the Chickahominy at the railroad crossing. +He then turned north again, crossed the Pamunkey, and ended his +long ride at Gloucester Point, which was garrisoned by our troops. + +Another regiment--the 12th Illinois, under Colonel Davis--went to +Ashland and moved up and down the railroad, doing a good deal of +damage. It captured a train full of Confederate wounded and paroled +them. After a brief encounter with an infantry and artillery force +at Tunstall's Station, it also turned north, and made its way over +the Pamunkey and Mattapony rivers to Gloucester Point. + +Two regiments, the 1st Maine and 1st Maryland, under General Gregg, +started down the South Anna River, burning bridges over common +roads and railroads. After destroying Hanover Junction, it returned +to headquarters. + +One of two other small parties were sent on flying excursions to +assist in the work of destruction. + +On the 5th, Stoneman started to return, and the entire command with +the exception of that portion which was at Gloucester Point, +recrossed at Kelly's Ford on the 8th. + +The losses in each army were heavy. An extract is here given from +the official reports, but it is said the Confederate statement is +far from being accurate. + +LOSSES AT CHANCELLORSVILLE. + +UNION. + Killed and + Wounded. Missing. Total. +First Corps (Reynolds). . . . . 192 100 292 +Second Corps (Couch). . . . . . 1,525 500 2,025 +Third Corps (Sickles) . . . . . 3,439 600 4,089 +Fifth Corps (Meade) . . . . . . 399 300 699 +Sixth Corps (Sedgwick). . . . . 3,601 1,000 4,601 +Eleventh Corps (Howard) . . . . 568 2,000 2,508 +Twelfth Corps (Slocum). . . . . 2,383 500 2,883 +Cavalry, etc. . . . . . . . . . 150 150 + + Total . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,197 5,000 17,197 + +CONFEDERATE. + Killed and + Wounded. Missing. Total. +Early's Division . . . . . . . 851 500 1,351 +A. P. Hill's Division . . . . . 2,583 500? 3,083 +Colston's Division . . . . . . 1,868 450? 2,318 +Rodes' Division . . . . . . . . 2,178 713 2,891 +Anderson's Division . . . . . . 1,180 210 1,390 +McLaws' Division . . . . . . . 1,379 380 1,759 +Artillery and Cavalry . . . . . 227 227 + + Total . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,266 2,753 13,019 + +The following extract from Harpers' "History of the Great Rebellion" +states the causes of Hooker's defeat in a very able manner, but I +do not agree with the author in his estimate of the great danger +Lee ran from the converging columns of Sedgwick and Hooker. It is +true Lee tried the same system, and succeeded, by sending Jackson +around to attack Hooker's right, but the success was due solely to +the utter lack of all preparations on the part of Howard to meet +the emergency, and to Hooker's failure to make use of the ample +means at his disposal to prevent the junction of Stuart and +Anderson. + +Mr. Alden, the author of the work in question, says: + +"There was not, in fact, any moment between Thursday afternoon and +Tuesday morning when success was not wholly within the grasp of +the Union army. The movement by which Chancellorsville was reached, +and the Confederate position rendered worthless, was brilliantly +conceived and admirably executed. The initial error, by which +alone all else was rendered possible, was that halt at Chancellorsville. +Had the march been continued for an hour longer, or even been +resumed early in the following morning, the army would have got +clear of the Wilderness without meeting any great opposing force, +and then it would have been in a position where its great superiority +of numbers would have told. The rout of Howard's corps was possible +only from the grossest neglect of all military precautions. Jackson, +after a toilsome march of ten hours, halted for three hours in open +ground, not two miles from the Union lines. A single picket, sent +for a mile up a broad road would have discovered the whole movement +in ample time for Howard to have strengthened his position, or to +have withdrawn from it without loss. The blame of this surprise +can not, however, fairly be laid upon Hooker. He had a right to +presume that whoever was in command there would have so picketed +his lines as to prevent the possibility of being surprised in broad +daylight. But even as it was, the disaster to the Eleventh Corps +should have had no serious effect upon the general result. That +was fully remedied when the pursuit was checked. On Sunday morning +Hooker was in a better position than he had been on the evening +before. He had lost 3,000 men and had been strengthened by 17,000, +and now had 78,000 to oppose to 47,000. The Confederate army was +divided, and could reunite only by winning a battle or by a day's +march. The only thing which could have lost the battle of that +day was the abandonment of the position at Hazel Grove, for from +this alone was it possible to enfilade Slocum's line. But surely +it is within the limits of military forethought that a general who +has occupied a position for two days and three nights should have +discovered the very key to that position, when it lay within a mile +of his own headquarters. The disabling of Hooker could not, indeed, +have been foreseen; but such an accident might happen to any +commander upon any field; and there should have been somewhere some +man with authority to have, within the space of three hours, brought +into action some of the more than 30,000 men within sound, and +almost within sight, of the battle then raging. How the hours from +Sunday noon till Monday night were wasted has been shown. Hooker, +indeed, reiterates that he could not assail the Confederate lines +through the dense forests. But Lee broke through those very woods +on Sunday, and was minded to attempt it again on Wednesday, when +he found that the enemy had disappeared. The golden opportunity +was lost, never to be recovered, and the Confederate Army of Northern +Virginia gained a new lease of life." + +It may not be out of place, as indicating the kind of service in +which we were engaged, to quote the following letter, written after +the retreat: + +"I am so cut, scratched, and bruised that I can hardly hold a pen +in my hand. My limbs are covered with swellings from the bites of +insects and torn from forcing my way through briers and thorny +bushes; my eyes close involuntarily from lack of sleep and excessive +fatigue. My legs are cramped from so much riding, and I have not +yet succeeded in getting rid of the chill caused by sleeping on +the wet ground in the cold rain. My clothes, up to last night, +had not been taken off for a week. As I lay down every night with +my boots and spurs on, my feet are very much swollen. I ought to +be in bed at this moment instead of attempting to write." + +The others must have suffered in the same way. Warren, especially, +as a medium of communication between Hooker and Sedgwick, made +almost superhuman exertions to do without sleep and perform the +important duties assigned him. + +Each army now felt the need of rest and recuperation, and no military +movements of importance took place for several weeks. Soon after +the battle of Chancellorsville, Longstreet's two divisions, which +had been operating in front of Suffolk, rejoined Lee at Fredericksburg. +That portion of Stoneman's cavalry which had taken refuge at +Gloucester Point also succeeded, by great boldness and skilful +manoeuvring on the part of Colonel Kilpatrick, in outwitting the +enemy and getting to Urbanna, after crossing Dragon River, rebuilding +a bridge there, and repulsing the rebel forces who tried to prevent +them from reaching the Rappahannock. The command, when it arrived +at Urbanna, passed over on the ferry-boat, under cover of a gunboat +sent there for that purpose, and rejoined the Army of the Potomac +at Falmouth, on the 3d of June, bringing in about 200 prisoners, +40 wagons, and 1,000 contrabands, as slaves were usually styled at +that time. + + + +CHAPTER IX. +PREPARATIONS TO RENEW THE CONFLICT. + +The close of the battle of Chancellorsville found the Union army +still strong in numbers, defeated, but not disheartened, and ready, +as soon as reinforcements and supplies arrived, and a brief period +of rest and recuperation ensued, to take the field again. To resist +the effects of this defeat and recruit our armies required, however, +great determination and serious effort on the part of the +Administration; for a large and powerful party still clogged and +impeded its efforts, and were allowed full liberty to chill the +patriotism of the masses, and oppose, with tongue and pen and every +species of indirection, all efficient action which looked to national +defence. This opposition was so strong and active that the President +almost preferred the risk of losing another battle to the commotion +which would be excited by attempts to enforce the draft; for hitherto +we had relied entirely on voluntary enlistments to increase our +strength in the field. Men are chilled by disaster and do not +readily enlist after a defeat; yet the terms of service of thirty +thousand of the two years' and nine months' men were expiring, and +something had to be done. Our army, however, at the end of May +was still formidable in numbers, and too strongly posted to be +effectually assailed; especially as it had full and free communication +with Washington and the North, and could be assisted in case of +need by the loyal militia of the free States. + +The rebels had obtained a triumph, rather than a substantial victory, +at Chancellorsville. It was gained, too, at a ruinous expense of +life, and when the battle was over they found themselves too weak +to follow up our retreating forces. While the whole South was +exulting, their great commander, General Lee, was profoundly +depressed. The resources of the Davis Government in men and means +were limited, and it was evident that without a foreign alliance, +prolonged defensive warfare by an army so far from its base, would +ultimately exhaust the seceding States, without accomplishing their +independence. It became necessary, therefore, for General Lee to +chose one of two plans of campaign: Either to fall back on the +centre of his supplies at Richmond, and stand a siege there, or to +invade the North. By retiring on Richmond he would save the great +labor of transporting food and war material to the frontier, and +would remove the Northern army still further from its sources of +supply and its principal depots. One circumstance, however, would +probably in any event, have impelled him to take the bolder course. +The situation in Vicksburg was becoming alarming. It was evident +the town must fall and with its surrender the Federal fleet would +soon regain possession of the Mississippi. The fall of Vicksburg, +supplemented by the retreat of Lee's army on Richmond, would +dishearten the Southern people, and stimulate the North to renewed +efforts. It was essential, therefore, to counterbalance the +impending disaster in the West by some brilliant exploit in the +East. + +There was perhaps another reason for this great forward movement, +founded on the relation of the Confederacy to the principal European +powers. England still made a pretence of neutrality, but the +aristocracy and ruling classes sided with the South, and a large +association of their most influential men was established at +Manchester to aid the slaveholding oligarchy. The rebels were +fighting us with English guns and war material, furnished by blockade +runners; while English Shenandoahs and Alabamas, manned by British +seamen, under the Confederate flag, burned our merchant vessels +and swept our commercial marine from the ocean. The French Government +was equally hostile to us, and there was hardly a kingdom in Europe +which did not sympathize with the South, allied as they were by +their feudal customs to the deplorable system of Southern slavery. +Russia alone favored our cause, and stood ready, if need be, to +assist us with her fleet; probably more from antagonism to England +and France, than from any other motive. The agents of the Confederate +Government stated in their official despatches that if General Lee +could establish his army firmly on Northern soil England would at +once acknowledge the independence of the South; in which case ample +loans could not only be obtained on Southern securities, but a +foreign alliance might be formed, and perhaps a fleet furnished to +re-open the Southern ports. + +While thus elated by hopes of foreign intervention, the Confederate +spies and sympathizers who thronged the North greatly encouraged +the Davis Government by their glowing accounts of the disaffection +there, in consequence of the heavy taxation, rendered necessary by +the war, and by the unpopularity of the draft, which would soon +have to be enforced as a defensive measure. They overrated the +influence of the _Copperhead_ or anti-war party, and prophesied +that a rebel invasion would be followed by outbreaks in the principal +cities, which would paralyze every effort to reinforce the Federal +forces in the field. + +These reasons would have been quite sufficient of themselves to +induce Lee to make the movement, but he himself gives an additional +one. He hoped by this advance to draw Hooker out, where he could +strike him a decisive blow, and thus ensure the permanent triumph +of the Confederacy. He was weary of all this marching, campaigning, +and bloodshed, and was strongly desirous of settling the whole +matter at once. Having been reinforced after the battle of +Chancellorsville by Longstreet's two divisions and a large body of +conscripts, he determined to advance. On May 31st, his force, +according to rebel statements, amounted to 88,754, of which 68,352 +were ready for duty. Recruits, too, were constantly coming in from +the draft, which was rigidly enforced in the Southern States. + + +Hooker having learned from his spies that there was much talk of +an invasion, wrote to the President on May 28th, that the enemy +was undoubtedly about to make a movement of some kind. On June +3d, McLaws' and Hood's divisions of Longstreet's corps started for +the general rendezvous at Culpeper. A change in the encampment on +the opposite side of the river was noted by the vigilant Union +commander, who at once ordered Sedgwick to lay two bridges at the +old crossing place, three miles below Fredericksburg, pass over +with a division, and press the enemy to ascertain if their main +body was still there. Fresh indications occurred on the 4th, for +Ewell's corps followed that of Longstreet. The bridges being +completed on the 5th, Howe's division of the Sixth Corps was thrown +over and Hill's corps came out of their intrenchments to meet it. +Some skirmishing ensued, and Sedgwick reported, as his opinion, +that the greater portion of the enemy's force still held their old +positions. Hooker, however, was determined to be prepared for all +contingencies, and therefore, on the same day, detached the Fifth +Corps to be in readiness to meet the enemy should they attempt to +force a passage anywhere between United States Ford and Banks' +Ford. Resolved to obtain certain information at all hazards, on +the 7th of June he ordered Pleasonton to make a forced reconnoissance +with all the available cavalry of the army, in the direction of +Culpeper, to ascertain whether the Confederate forces were really +concentrating there, with a view to an invasion of the North. + +Should this prove to be the case, Hooker desired to cross the river, +to envelop and destroy Hill's corps, and then follow up the main +body as they proceeded northward, thus intercepting their communications +with Richmond. The authorities at Washington, however, did not +look with much equanimity upon the possibility of finding Lee's +army interposed between them and the Army of the Potomac, so they +refused to sanction the plan and it was abandoned. + +Nevertheless, in my opinion it was about the best method that could +have been devised to check the invasion, provided that Hooker did +not lose his water-base; for Lee always showed himself very sensitive +whenever his communications with Richmond was threatened. If that +was severed no more _ammunition_ or military supplies would reach +him. The amount of cartridges on hand was necessarily limited. +It would soon be expended in constant skirmishes and engagements, +and then he would be helpless and at the mercy of his antagonist. +Consequently, the moment he heard that a portion of the Sixth Corps +had crossed and confronted Hill, he directed Ewell and Longstreet +to halt at Locust Grove, near Chancellorsville, and be in readiness +to return to Fredericksburg to assist Hill in case there was any +danger of his being overpowered. Finding Sedgwick's advance was +a mere reconnoissance, the two rebel corps resumed their march to +Culpeper. + +Hooker deemed it essential to success, that all troops connected +with the theatre of invasion should be placed under his command, +so that they could act in unison. In his opinion most of their +strength was wasted in discordant expeditions, which were useless +as regards the general result. He referred more particularly to +General Dix's command at Old Point Comfort, General Heintzelman's +command in Washington, and General Schenck's troops posted at +Baltimore, along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and in the Valley +of the Shenandoah. This request was reasonable and should have +been granted. Hooker's demands, however, were not considered +favorably. There was no very good feeling between General Halleck, +who was commander of the army, and himself; and as he felt that +his efforts were neither seconded nor approved at headquarters, he +soon after resigned the command. + +The main body of the Union cavalry at this time was at Warrenton +and Catlett's Station. Hooker, having been dissatisfied with the +result of the cavalry operations during the Chancellorsville +campaign, had displaced Stoneman in favor of Major-General Alfred +Pleasonton. + + + +CHAPTER X. +BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION (FLEETWOOD). + +The 8th of June was a day of preparation on both sides. Pleasonton +was engaged in collecting his troops and getting everything in +readiness to beat up the enemy's quarters the next morning, and +Stuart was preparing to cross for the purpose of either making a +raid on the railroad, as Pleasonton states, or to take up a position +to guard the right flank of the invading force as it passed by our +army. Major McClellan, Stuart's adjutant-general, asserts the +latter. Pleasonton's information was founded on captured despatches, +and on interviews held by some of our officers with the Confederates +under a flag of truce. + +The four batteries of Jones' cavalry brigade moved down near the +river opposite Beverly Ford on the 7th, to cover the proposed +crossing. They were imperfectly supported by the remainder of +Stuart's force. Jones' brigade was posted on the road to Beverly +Ford, that of Fitz Lee* on the other side of Hazel River; that of +Robertson along the Rappahannock below the railroad; that of W. H. +F. Lee on the road to Melford Ford, and that of Hampton in reserve, +near Fleetwood Hill--all too far off to be readily available. In +fact, the batteries were entirely unsuspicious of danger, although +they were a quarter of a mile from the nearest support and there +was only a thin line of pickets between their guns and the river. + +[* A familiar abbreviation for Fitz Hugh Lee, adopted in the rebel +reports.] + +In the meantime Pleasonton's three divisions, "stiffened"--to use +one of Hooker's expressions--by two brigades of infantry, stole +down to the fords and lay there during the night, quietly, and +without fires, ready at the first dawn of day to spring upon their +too-confident adversaries and give them a rude awakening. + +Pleasonton in person remained with Buford's division--the First-- +which was lying near Beverly Ford with Ames' infantry brigade. + +The other two divisions, the Second, under Colonel Duffie, and the +Third, under General Gregg--supported by Russell's infantry brigade, +were in bivouac opposite Kelly's Ford. + +As each commander is apt to overstate the enemy's force and underrate +his own, it is not always easy to get at the facts. Pleasonton +claims that the rebels had about twelve thousand cavalry and twelve +guns. Major McClellan of Stuart's staff, puts the number at nine +thousand three hundred and thirty-five men, on paper, and twenty +guns; but states there were nearly three thousand absentees. + +General Gregg estimates the Union cavalry at about nine thousand +men and six batteries, but--as will be seen hereafter--a third of +this force was detached toward Stevensburg, and their operations +had little or no effect on the general result. The batteries do +not seem to have been brought forward in time to be of much service. + +At daybreak Pleasonton's troops began to cross; Buford's division +and Ames' infantry at Beverly Ford; the other two divisions, under +Gregg and Duffie, with Russell's infantry at Kelly's Ford, six +miles below. Each division was accompanied by two light batteries. + +Pleasonton's plan was founded on the erroneous supposition that +the enemy were at Culpeper. He used the infantry to keep the lines +of retreat open, and directed the cavalry to rendezvous at Brandy +Station. They were to arrive there at the same time, and attack +together. Duffie's column was to make a circuit by way of Stevensburg. +Unfortunately, Stuart was not at Culpeper, but at Brandy Station; +that is, he occupied the point where they were to rendezvous, and +the plan therefore appertained practically to the same vicious +system of converging columns against a central force. What happened +may be briefly stated as follows: The First Division, under Buford, +came upon the enemy between Brandy Station and Beverly Ford. A +battle ensued at St. James' Church, and as their whole force +confronted him, and they had twenty pieces of artillery, he was +unable to break their line. After fighting some hours he was +obliged to turn back with a portion of his command to repel an +attempt against his line of retreat. Gregg next appeared upon the +scene, and succeeded in getting in Stuart's rear before the rebel +general knew he was there. Buford having gone back toward Beverly +Ford, as stated, Gregg in his turn, fought the whole of Stuart's +force without the co-operation of either Buford or Duffie. It can +hardly be said that Duffie's column took any part in the action, +for he did not reach Brandy Station until late in the day. And +then, as the rebel infantry were approaching, Pleasonton ordered +a retreat. + +For the future instruction of the reader it may be well to state +that every cavalry charge, unless supported by artillery or infantry, +is necessarily repulsed by a counter-charge; for when the force of +the attack is spent, the men who make it are always more or less +scattered, and therefore unable to contend against the impetus of +a fresh line of troops, who come against them at full speed and +strike in mass. + +Stuart's headquarters were twice taken by Gregg's division, and a +company desk captured with very important despatches, but the enemy +had the most men, and most artillery near the point attacked, and +therefore always regained, by a counter-charge, the ground that +had been lost. + +Stuart claims to have repulsed the last attack of Pleasonton against +Fleetwood Hill, and to have taken three guns, besides driving our +cavalry back across the river. + +Pleasonton claims to have fully accomplished the object of his +reconnoissance, to have gained valuable information which enabled +Hooker to thwart Lee's plans; and to have so crippled the rebel +cavalry that its efficiency was very much impaired for the remainder +of the campaign; so that Lee was forced to take the indirect route +of the valley, instead of the direct one along the eastern base of +the Blue Ridge, behind his cavalry as a screen; his original +intention having been to enter Maryland at Poolesville and Monocacy. + + + +GETTYSBURG. + + +CHAPTER I. +THE INVASION OF THE NORTH. + +An invasion of the North being considered as both practicable and +necessary, it only remained to select the most available route. + +There was no object in passing east of Hooker's army, and it would +have been wholly impracticable to do so, as the wide rivers to be +crossed were controlled by our gunboats. + +To attempt to cross the Rappahannock to the west, and in the +immediate vicinity of Fredericksburg, would have been hazardous, +because when an army is crossing, the portion which is over is +liable to be crushed before it can be reinforced. + +It would seem that Lee's first intention was to move along the +eastern base of the Blue Ridge directly toward Washington.* The +appearance of his army on Hooker's flank would be a kind of taunt +and threat, calculated to draw the latter out of his shell, and +induce him to make an attack. In such a case, as the rebels were +in the highest spirits, in consequence of their recent victory at +Chancellorsville, their commander had little doubt of the result. +This plan was feasible enough, provided his cavalry could beat back +that of Pleasonton and act as a screen to conceal his movements. +This they were not in a condition to do after the battle of Brandy +Station, and Lee was thus forced to take the route down the Shenandoah +Valley, which had many advantages. The mountain wall that intervened +between the two armies, was a sure defence against our forces, for +it was covered by dense thickets, and the roads that lead through +the gaps, and the gaps themselves, were easy to fortify and hold +against a superior force. If Hooker had attempted to assail these +positions, one corps could have held him in check, while the other +two captured Washington. + +[* See map facing page 1.] + +The movement also favored the subsistence of the troops, for the +valley being a rich agricultural region, Lee was enabled to dispense +with much of his transportation and feed his army off the country. + +There was one serious obstacle, however, to his further progress +in that direction, and that was the presence of a gallant soldier, +Milroy, with a very considerable Union garrison intrenched at +Winchester. + +It was essential to Lee's advance that the valley should be cleared +of Union troops, otherwise they would sally forth after he passed +and capture his convoys. + +With this object in view, on the 10th Ewell's corps passed through +Gaines' Cross Roads, and halted near Flint Hill on their way to +Chester Gap and Front Royal. + +The possibility of an invasion had been discussed for some days in +Washington, and Halleck had come to the conclusion that it was +better to withdraw the stores and ammunition from Winchester, and +retain the post there merely as a lookout, to give warning of the +enemy's approach. Accordingly, on the 11th, Milroy received orders +from his department commander, General Schenck, to send his armament +and supplies back to Harper's Ferry. Milroy remonstrated, saying +that he could hold the place against any force that would probably +attack him, and that it would be cruel to sacrifice the Union men +who looked to him for protection. + +In reply to this Schenck telegraphed him that he might remain, but +must be in readiness to retreat whenever circumstances made it +necessary. + +Milroy, in answer to another inquiry, reported that he could move +in six hours. + +On the 12th he sent out two scouting parties, and learned there +was a considerable force at Cedarsville, which he thought might +form part of Stuart's raid, information of which had been communicated +to him. + +He could not believe it possible that an entire rebel corps was +near him, for he supposed Lee's army was still at Fredericksburg. +His superiors had not informed him, as they should have done by +telegraph, that a large part of it had moved to Culpeper. He +thought if Lee left Hooker's front at Fredericksburg, the Army of +the Potomac would follow and he would receive full information and +instructions. He telegraphed General Schenck late that night for +specific orders, whether to hold his post or to retreat on Harper's +Ferry, stating there appeared to be a considerable force in front +of him. As the enemy soon after cut the wires, he never received +any answer. He sent a messenger the same night to notify Colonel +McReynolds, at Berryville, that there was a large body of the enemy +on the Front Royal road, and directed him to send out scouts to +Millwood, and keep himself advised of its approach, in order that +he might prepare to fall back on Winchester the moment he was +attacked by superior numbers. + +On the 13th Ewell marched with two divisions directly on Winchester, +while he sent the third--that of Rodes--to take Berryville. Thanks +to the timely warning McReynolds had received, his brigade got off +in time, his rear being covered by Alexander's battery, the 6th +Maryland Infantry, and part of the 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry. +These detained the enemy two hours, and then caught up with the +main body. Jenkins' cavalry came upon the retreating force at +Opequan Creek, where he made a fierce attack, which was promptly +repulsed by the rear guard, aided by the artillery with canister. +After this there was no further molestation, and McReynolds' command +reached Winchester at 10 P.M.--a march of thirty miles. + +Soon after the affair at the Opequan, Major Morris, with 200 men, +was attacked at Bunker Hill, an outlying post of Winchester. He +occupied a fortified church, but moved out to meet the enemy, under +the impression it was only a small raiding party. When he found +two thousand men in line of battle he retreated, fighting, to the +church again. There, as the doors were barricaded, and the walls +loopholed, the rebels could make no impression, and were obliged +to fall back to a respectful distance. In the night Morris managed +to steal away, and soon rejoined the main body at Winchester. + +The arrival of these reinforcements seriously embarrassed Milroy; +and it will be seen hereafter that it would have been much better +for all concerned if they had retreated to Harper's Ferry at once. +They acted, however, strictly in obedience to orders. + +Rodes' division, after the taking of Berryville, kept on towards +Martinsburg, and bivouacked at a place called Summit Point. + +On the morning of the 13th Milroy had sent out a detachment under +General Elliot on the Strasburg road, and another under Colonel +Ely on the Front Royal road, to reconnoitre. Eliott found no enemy, +and returned. An attempt was made to cut him off from the town, +but it was repulsed. His troops were then massed on the south side +behind Mill Creek and a mill-race which ran parallel to it, and +were protected by stone fences. Colonel Ely had a brisk artillery +skirmish with Ewell's advance, and then fell back to Winchester, +taking post at the junction of the Front Royal and Strasburg roads. +The enemy did not attempt to cross the creek that night, but at 5 +P.M. they advanced and captured a picket-post which commanded the +Strasburg road, but were soon driven out. + +From a prisoner captured in this skirmish Milroy learned the highly +important intelligence that he was confronted by Ewell's corps and +that Longstreet was rapidly approaching. + +The most natural course under the circumstances would have been +for him to retreat at once, but McReynolds' brigade had just arrived, +exhausted by their forced march, and could go no further, without +some hours' rest. To move without them would be to sacrifice a +large part of his force. He still cherished the hope that Hooker's +army would follow Lee up closely and come to his relief. + +Ewell at night directed Early's division to attack the works on +the north and west of the town at daylight the next morning, while +Johnson's division demonstrated against the east and southeast. + +Early on Sunday, the 14th, Milroy sent out a detachment to see if +the enemy had established themselves on the Pughtown or Romney +roads. The party returned about 2 P.M. and reported the roads +clear, but soon after the rebels came in great force from that +direction, so that Milroy's hopes of escaping by the routes leading +to the northwest were dissipated. Immediately west of Winchester, +and parallel with Applebie Ridge, on which the main forts were +situated, there is another ridge called Flint Ridge, where rifle +pits had been commenced to command the Pughtown and Romney roads. +These were held by one regiment, and part of another under Colonel +Keifer of the 110th Ohio, together with Battery "L" of the 5th +United States Artillery. Early's division made a sudden attack +there, preliminary to which he opened fire with four batteries. +He charged into these rifle-pits and took them, but the garrison +retreated successfully, under cover of the fire, from the main +works above, which were held by Elliot's and McReynolds' brigades. +This was followed by an artillery duel, which was kept up until 8 +P.M. without any special results. + +Johnson's division at daybreak attacked the eastern side of the +town, held by Colonel Ely's brigade, but was gallantly met and +repulsed by the 8th Pennsylvania and 87th Pennsylvania. These two +regiments, by Milroy's order, made a bold charge against the enemy +as they were retiring, but the latter were so suddenly and strongly +reinforced that the two regiments were glad to get back to their +shelter in the fortified suburbs. They were followed up however, +and after severe fighting Johnson gained possession of a part of +the town. This apparent success proved of no avail, for the forts +above shelled him out. He therefore retired and made no further +attempt in that direction. + +Darkness ended the struggle for the day. Johnson then left one +brigade to prevent Milroy from escaping toward the east and went +off with the remainder of his division to form across the Martinsburg +pike, about three miles north of Winchester, to intercept Milroy's +retreat in that direction. + +While these events were going on in the Valley, Imobden's cavalry +was engaged in breaking up the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad near +Romney, to prevent Milroy from receiving any reinforcements from +the west. + +The latter now found himself in a perilous situation. His cannon +ammunition was nearly exhausted, and he had but one day's rations +for his men. He resolved to give up all further attempts to defend +the place, to abandon his wagon train and artillery, and to force +his way through the hostile lines that night; taking with him only +the horses and small arms. This involved his leaving also his sick +and wounded, but it was unavoidable. He ordered all the guns +spiked, and the ammunition thrown into the cisterns. + +At 1 A.M. on the 15th, he moved silently out through a ravine and +was not molested until he struck the Martinsburg road, about four +miles from the town. There Elliot, who was in the advance with +his brigade, met a rebel skirmish line, and soon ascertained that +their main body were formed, partly on high ground in a woods east +of the road, and partly in an open field east of and adjoining the +woods. The enemy were in effect sheltered by a stone fence which +bordered a railroad cut, with their reserve and artillery principally +posted on elevated ground in the rear. + +The only thing to do was to break through their lines as soon as +possible. It was now about 3:30 A.M. Elliot, whose record of +long, careful, and brilliant service in the regular army is an +exemplary one, formed line of battle with his three regiments and +fought the six regiments that held the road for about an hour with +varied success, encountering a severe artillery fire and driving +back their right in disorder by a gallant charge of the 110th Ohio +and 122d Ohio; but unfortunately their left held firm, in spite of +repeated attacks made by Colonel Shawl with two regiments, reinforced +with two more and by part of Colonel Ely's brigade. Their force +in front, too, was sustained by heavy reserves both of infantry +and artillery. + +A signal-gun fired at Winchester showed that the enemy there were +aware of the flight and were in full pursuit. The main road being +blocked, Milroy determined to try another, and directed the troops +to fall back a short distance and turn to the right. Part of them +did so, but the greater number, through some misunderstanding, +filed to the left, and took the road to Bath. It was no longer +possible to reunite the two columns and as Milroy's horse was shot +under him about this time, he could use no personal exertions to +remedy the disaster. A portion of the command who were not pursued +reached Harper's Ferry by way of Smithfield late in the afternoon. +Those who moved out on the Bath road also made good their escape, +crossed the Potomac at Hancock, and rallied at Bloody Run. The +greater part of Colonel Ely's brigade, and Colonel McReynolds' +brigade, however, were captured. Milroy claims to have brought +off 5,000 men of the garrison, and that the 2,000 paroled by Early, +consisted principally of the sick and wounded. Early says he sent +108 officers and 3,250 enlisted men as prisoners to Richmond. +Johnson, who intercepted the retreat, says he captured 2,300 +prisoners, 175 horses, and 11 battle flags. + +While two-thirds of Ewell's corps were attacking Winchester, the +other division under Rodes, preceded by Jenkins' brigade of cavalry, +pursued McReynolds' wagon train to Martinsburg, arriving there late +in the afternoon of the 14th. The town was held as an outlying +post of Harper's Ferry by a small detachment of all arms under +Colonel Tyler, a subordinate of General Tyler, who formed his men +outside of the place and resisted Rodes' attack until night, when +his infantry escaped to Shepherdstown, and his artillery and cavalry +to Williamsport. In carrying out these movements, however, he lost +five guns and five caissons. He passed the river and rejoined the +main body at Harper's Ferry. The latter place is wholly indefensible +against an enemy holding the hills around it. It is like fighting +at the bottom of a well. General Tyler had therefore very wisely +moved across the river to Maryland Heights, where he had a strong +fortified post. From that commanding eminence he could very soon +shell out any force that attempted to occupy the town. + +The Shenandoah valley was now clear of Union troops, and soon became +the great highway of the invasion. However disastrous Milroy's +defeat may be considered on account of the losses incurred, it was +not without its compensation. The detention of Ewell's force there +gave time to the general Government and the Governors of the loyal +States to raise troops and organize resistance, and it awakened +the entire North to the necessity of immediate action. + +Hooker, having learned that Ewell had passed Sperryville, advanced +his right to prevent any crossing in his immediate vicinity, and +confine the enemy to the Valley route. He sent the Third Corps to +hold the fords opposite Culpeper, and the Fifth Corps to guard +those lower down. + +On the 13th he gave up his position opposite Fredericksburg, and +started north toward Washington, giving orders to Sedgwick to +recross and follow on to Dumfries. That night the First Corps +reached Bealeton, and the Eleventh Catlett's station. Reynolds +was placed in command of the left wing of the army (the First, +Third, and Eleventh Corps) and I relieved him in command of the +First Corps. The right wing (that is the Second, Fifth, Twelfth, +and Sixth Corps) was accompanied by Hooker in person, who reached +Dumfries on the 14th. + +As soon as Hill saw Sedgwick disappear behind the Stafford hills, +he broke up his camp and started for Culpeper. + +Some changes in the meantime had occurred in the Army of the Potomac, +and General Hancock was assigned to the Second Corps instead of +General Couch, who had been sent to organize the department of the +Susquehanna at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. + +The teamsters and fugitives from Winchester, making for Chambersburg +in all haste, told the inhabitants of the towns through which they +passed that the rebels were close behind them. This created the +wildest excitement. As many cases had occurred in which negroes +had been seized, and sent South to be sold as slaves, the whole +colored population took to the woods and filled up the roads in +all directions. The appearance of Jenkins' brigade, who crossed +at Williamsport on the morning of the 15th and reached Chambersburg +the same day, added to the alarm. + +Jenkins was at the head of 2,000 cavalry, and soon became a terror +to the farmers in that vicinity by his heavy exactions in the way +of horses, cattle, grain, etc. It must be confessed he paid for +what he took in Confederate scrip, but as this paper money was not +worth ten cents a bushel, there was very little consolation in +receiving it. His followers made it a legal tender at the stores +for everything they wanted. Having had some horses stolen, he +sternly called on the city authorities to pay him their full value. +They did so without a murmur--_in Confederate money._ He pocketed +it with a grim smile, evidently appreciating the joke. He boasted +greatly of his humanity and his respect for private property, but +if the local papers are to be believed, it must be chronicled to +his everlasting disgrace that he seized a great many negroes, who +were tied and sent South as slaves. Black children were torn from +their mothers, placed in front of his troops, and borne off to +Virginia to be sold for the benefit of his soldiers. There was +nothing out of character in that, he thought, for it was one of +the sacred rights for which the South was contending. + +Prompt measures were taken by the Northern States to meet the +emergency. Mr. Lincoln called on the Governors of West Virginia, +Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York to raise 120,000 men for +temporary service. It was easy to get the men, but difficult to +arm them, as nearly all serviceable muskets were already in possession +of the Army of the Potomac. As early as the 9th two new departments +had been created for Pennsylvania: That of the Monongahela, with +headquarters at Pittsburg, was assigned to Major-General W. T. H. +Brooks; and that of the Susquehanna, with headquarters at Carlisle, +to Major-General Darius N. Couch. + +On the 15th Ewell reached Williamsport with a force estimated at +twelve thousand men and sixteen guns. + +Before Couch could reach Carlisle it was already occupied by Jenkins' +cavalry, and the terrified farmers of that section of country were +fleeing in crowds across the Susquehanna, driving their horses and +cattle before them. + + + +CHAPTER II. +HOOKER'S PLANS--LONGSTREET OCCUPIES THE GAPS IN THE BLUE RIDGE-- + ALARM IN RICHMOND--HOOKER SUPERSEDED BY MEADE. + +A shower of telegrams came to Hooker, notifying him of these untoward +events, and demanding protection; but he simply moved one step +toward the enemy. On the 15th he had three corps--the First, Sixth, +and Eleventh--grouped around Centreville, with the Third Corps at +Manassas, and the Second, Fifth, and Twelfth Corps in reserve at +Fairfax Court House. The left flank of the army was guarded by +Pleasonton's cavalry, posted at Warrenton. Hooker was not to be +drawn away from the defence at Washington by any clamorous appeal +for his services elsewhere; his plan being to move parallel to +Lee's line of advance and strike his communications with Richmond +at the first favorable opportunity. He obtained some reinforcements +at this time, Stannard's Second Vermont brigade being assigned to +my division of the First Corps, and Stahel's cavalry division, +about six thousand strong, being directed to report to General +Pleasonton for duty. + +As Harrisburg lay directly in the track of the invading army, +Governor Curtin made strenuous efforts to collect a force there. +He called upon all able-bodied citizens to enroll themselves, and +complained that Philadelphia failed to respond. New York acted +promptly, and on the 15th two brigades arrived in Philadelphia on +their way to the front. + +On the same day Longstreet, having been relieved by Hill, left +Culpeper with his corps and marched directly across the country +east of the Blue Ridge to occupy Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps. +Stuart's cavalry were to guard his right flank, but did not leave +until the next day. The object of Longstreet's movement was to +tempt Hooker to abandon his strong position in front of Washington +and march against the Gaps, in which case it was hoped some +opportunity might occur by which the rebels could either crush the +Army of the Potomac in the open country or possibly outmanoeuvre +it, so as to intervene between it and Washington; but Hooker remained +stationary. + +Rodes' division of Ewell's corps reached Williamsport and remained +there during the 16th, 17th, and 18th, to support Jenkins, and +receive, and transmit to the rear, the cattle, horses, negroes, +and provisions, taken by him. + +The commotion created by the approach of the invader was not all +one-sided. General Dix, who commanded at Fortress Monroe, received +orders to advance on Richmond, which was weakly defended at this +time. As through their manifold offences in the way of starving +our prisoners, etc., the rebel President and his cabinet were afraid +of reprisals, there was great dismay at the weakness of the garrison +there, and bitter denunciations of Lee for leaving so small a force +behind. The Union troops for this counter-invasion were landed at +Yorktown and sent on to the White House. General Getty, in command +of one column of about seven thousand men, moved on the 13th as +far as Hanover Junction to destroy the bridge over the North and +South Anna, and as much of the railroad as possible, in order to +make a break in Lee's communications. At the same time General +Keyes, with another column of about five thousand men, moved from +the White House to secure Bottom's Bridge on the Chickahominy, and +thus leave a clear road for Getty's column to advance on the city. +The Davis Government, however, called out the militia and concentrated +enough men for defence by weakening the garrisons in South Carolina +and elsewhere; but there is no doubt the fright at one time was so +serious that it was in contemplation to recall Lee's forces; +especially on the 15th of June, when it was learned that General +Keyes' column was at New Kent Court House within fifteen miles of +the city. + +On the 16th Stuart's cavalry left the Rappahannock--with the +exception of the 15th Virginia, which remained with Hill--and +bivouacked at Salem with Fitz Lee's brigade at Piedmont. Their +orders were to keep along the eastern base of the Blue Ridge, and +guard the front of Longstreet's corps in the Gaps. + +Our own cavalry were concentrated at Warrenton and Catlett's. + +On the 17th Fitz Lee's brigade was sent forward from Piedmont to +Aldie, via Middleburg, to anticipate our troops in holding the Gap +there; it being considered important to occupy the Bull Run range +of mountains as a screen for Lee's further operations. Fitz Lee's +brigade was supported by that of Robertson which was moved to +Rectortown, where it was also available as a reserve to W. H. F. +Lee's brigade which had gone forward to occupy Thoroughfare Gap. +No opposition was anticipated in the latter place, Pleasonton having +moved to Centreville, with his main body. Stuart made his headquarters +at Middleburg on the 17th. + +Fitz Lee halted near Dover to close up his command, and sent his +pickets on to Aldie Gap. Pleasonton, who was scouting in the +vicinity, had no orders to go through the pass, but felt prompted +to do so by one of those presentiments which rarely deceive. He +pushed on, therefore, with Gregg's division until about 2.30 P.M., +when he came upon the rebel pickets, who fell back on the main +body. The latter had made a march of forty miles to reach the Gap, +and Fitz Lee chose a strong position on a hill directly west of +Aldie, in which to fight a defensive battle. His line covered the +road to Snicker's Gap, but could be turned by the road to Middleburg +and Ashby's Gap. + +A sanguinary contest ensued, which, including the pursuit, lasted +until 9 P.M. The rebel front was strengthened by a ditch and a +line of hay-stacks. After fighting for three hours the battle was +finally decided by a gallant charge of the 1st Maine Cavalry, who, +after our line had been broken and driven back, were led by Kilpatrick +in person, against a regiment of mounted infantry on the Ashby's +Gap road, capturing four guns. The Harris Light Cavalry had been +in disfavor for having failed in an attack at Brandy Station, but +on the present occasion they redeemed themselves, made several +brilliant charges, and greatly contributed to the success of the +day. + +The rebels claim to have taken 134 prisoners, and some flags in +this affair, and state that they only fell back to Middleburg in +obedience to Stuart's orders. Ascertaining that Colonel Duffie +was advancing on that place with his division, Stuart thought, by +concentrating his entire force there, he could overwhelm him. This +may account for the retreat, but it is very certain that the loss +of the pass at Aldie was a serious blow to the rebel cause. This, +supplemented by Colonel Duffie's operations, which will be described +hereafter, gave Hooker possession of Loudon County, and threw the +invading column far to the west. If the enemy had succeeded in +posting forces in the gaps of the Bull Run range of mountains, and +in occupying the wooded country between Thoroughfare Gap and +Leesburg, they would not only have hidden all their own movements +from view, but would have had command of the Potomac from Harper's +Ferry to within thirty miles of Washington, so that they could have +operated on either side of the river. + +While Gregg's division were thus engaged, Colonel Duffie started +under orders with his regiment from Centreville for Middleburg, by +way of Thoroughfare Gap. The enemy (W. H. F. Lee's brigade) were +already there, but he forced them out, and kept on to Middleburg, +which was reached about 9.30 A.M. He found Stuart's rear guard or +escort there, and drove them out. Stuart fell back to Rector's +Cross Roads, and sent word to all his forces to concentrate against +Duffie. Duffie barricaded the streets of the town and prepared to +hold it until reinforcements could reach him from Aldie, not being +aware that there was any impediment in that direction. At 7 P.M. +the different rebel brigades advanced on him from the direction of +Aldie, Union, and Upperville. By sheltering his men behind stone +walls and barricades, he repelled several assaults, but at last +was surrounded by overwhelming forces, and compelled to retreat by +the road upon which he had advanced in the morning. He fell back +until he crossed Little River, picketed the stream and halted there +to get some rest. This gave time to the enemy to surround him, +and by half past one the next morning all the roads in the neighborhood +were full of cavalry; an entire brigade being formed on that which +led to Aldie. He tried to force his way through the latter, but +was received with heavy volleys on both flanks, and with loud calls +to surrender. He directed Captain Bliss and Captain Bixby, who +were in advance, to charge through everything in front of them, +and the way was cleared for the main body, which at last gained +the junction of the Aldie road with that which leads to White +Plains. He then retreated on the latter, with his men all intermixed +with those of the enemy and fighting every step of the way. He +finally disengaged his force from this _mélée_ and made his way +through Hopewell Gap back to Centreville, losing two-thirds of his +command. + +In this affair at Middleburg, Stuart states that he was unable with +his entire force to drive the 1st Rhode Island regiment from a +position it had chosen, and speaks with admiration of the gallantry +it displayed. + +On the 18th, Stuart took post outside of that town with Robertson +and W. H. F. Lee's brigade. Fitz Lee's brigade was on his left at +Union, and Jones' brigade was ordered up as a reserve. + +Pleasonton moved forward with all his available force and occupied +Middleburg and Philemont on the road to Snicker's Gap; releasing +some of Duffie's men who had been captured the day before. Gregg's +division encountered the enemy a short distance beyond Middleburg +and drove them five miles in the direction of Ashby's Gap. There +was no regular line formation, but the Indian mode of fighting was +adopted on both sides, by taking advantage of every stone, fence, +bush, or hollow, to shelter the men. Before the action was over +Kilpatrick's command came up and took a prominent part. + +Buford's division, which had advanced beyond Philemont on the +Snicker's Gap road, also became warmly engaged. They turned the +left flank of the rebels and pressed on successfully, but the +squadron left to guard the bridge over Goose Creek was overpowered +by numbers and the bridge was burned. Part of Pleasonton's force +made a reconnoissance toward Warrenton and engaged Hampton's brigade +there. + +On the 19th Pleasonton held the positions he had gained and sent +back for an infantry support. + +As there were indications that the whole of Stuart's cavalry would +be thrown on Gregg's division at Upperville, Pleasonton went forward +with his entire force and a brigade of infantry to support it. +After a series of brilliant engagements he drove Start steadily +back into Ashby's Gap, where he took refuge behind Longstreet's +Corps, a portion of which came up. Pleasonton then returned to +Upperville and next day to Aldie. The object of these movements-- +to gain possession of Loudon County--having been attained, Hooker +was wary, and did not propose to be lured away from his strong +position, to take part in cavalry battles at a distance without a +definite object. He still found it difficult to realize that Lee +would still further lengthen out his long line from Richmond, and +endanger his communications, by invading Pennsylvania; and he +therefore waited for further developments. Lee, however, impelled +by public opinion behind him, which it was hardly safe to brave, +still went forward, and directed Ewell to cross the Potomac with +his main body and Longstreet to fall back behind the Shenandoah to +act in conjunction with Hill, who had relieved Ewell at Winchester +on the 17th, against any attempt to strike the rear of his long +column. Like Achilles he felt that he was only vulnerable in his +heel. + +Several small skirmishes occurred about this time between detachments +of General Schenck's command, which picketed the north bank of the +Potomac, and bands of rebel partisans. The former were surprised +and captured in two or three instances. In one of these expeditions +a locomotive and twenty-three cars were disabled on the Baltimore +and Ohio Railroad. Imboden, too, who occupied Cumberland on the +17th, in order to favor the general plan of invasion, tore up some +miles of the track west of that town, with a view to prevent any +reinforcements coming from that direction. + +It would have been much better for the interests of the Southern +Confederacy if Lee, instead of making a downright invasion, had +been content to remain in the valley and threaten Hooker with two +corps, while he used the third to procure unlimited supplies in +Pennsylvania, and to sever all connection between the East and +West, by breaking up the railroads and cutting the telegraph wires. +Such a result, however, would hardly have been sufficient to meet +the expectations of the Southern people, who were bent upon nothing +else than the entire subjugation of the North and the occupation +of our principal cities. + +Pleasonton's operations having cleared the way, Hooker moved forward +promptly on the 18th to occupy the gaps. The Twelfth Corps were +sent to Leesburg, the Fifth to Aldie, and the Second to Thoroughfare +Gap. The other corps formed a second line in reserve. This covered +Washington and gave Hooker an excellent base of operations. + +In answer to his demand for reinforcements, Crawford's division of +Pennsylvania Reserves, and Abercrombie's division were sent to him. +As the latter was just going out of service, it was of no use. +Hooker contended that his army constituted the proper defence of +Washington, and that it was not necessary to keep a large force +inactive there, who could be of much more service at the front. +The authorities were timid, however, did not see the force of this +reasoning and therefore refused to place Schenck's and Heintzelman's +commands under his orders. + +The enemy made a feeble attempt about this time to occupy Harper's +Ferry, but were promptly shelled out by our batteries on Maryland +Heights. + +Lee having failed, on account of the discomfiture of his cavalry, +in crossing the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry, was forced either to +remain where he was or go forward. Impelled by public opinion he +kept on his way up the Cumberland Valley. Hooker being very desirous +of keeping the invasion west of the Blue Ridge, asked Heintzelman +to co-operate with him by sending the 2,000 men which seemed to be +of no service at Poolesville to the passes of South Mountain, which +is an extension of the same range; but Heintzelman said those passes +were outside of his jurisdiction, and the men were needed in +Poolesville. Hooker replied somewhat angrily that he would try +and do without the men. The two generals had quarreled, and there +was not the best feeling between them. + +All of Ewell's corps were across the river on the 22d, and Jenkins' +cavalry pushed on to Chambersburg. He was ordered to remain there +until reinforced, but failed to do so, as Union troops were +approaching from the direction of Carlisle. + +Longstreet and Hill were left behind to prevent Hooker from striking +the rear of this long column. Hooker still remained quiescent, +engaged in trying to obtain 15,000 men as reinforcements. He was +but partially successful, for as soon as the New York regiments +reached Baltimore, Lockwood's brigade of Maryland troops, about +three thousand, was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, and +was assigned to the Twelfth Corps. + +The Army of the Potomac at this time was posted as follows: The +Twelfth Corps at Leesburg, supported by the Eleventh on Goose Creek, +between Leesburg and Aldie; the Fifth Corps near Aldie, and the +Second at the next pass below, both supported by the Third Corps +at Gum Springs. The First Corps was behind the Eleventh and Twelfth +Corps, near Guilford, on the Loudon and Hampshire Railroad. Our +cavalry, which had left Aldie, covered the approaches to Leesburg. +On the 23d they had a sharp engagement at Dover, on the road from +Aldie to Leesburg, with part of Stuart's force, who beat up their +quarters, but they drove off their assailants without much +difficulty. + +Lee now, with a prudent regard to a possible defeat, requested the +authorities at Richmond to have a reserve army under Beauregard +assemble at Culpeper; a request which was looked upon by Davis as +one quite impossible to carry out, owing to the scarcity of troops, +and the necessity of reinforcing Johnston in the West and Beauregard +in the South. + +Two of Ewell's divisions, those of Rodes and Johnson, reached the +frightened town of Chambersburg on the 23d. The other, under Early, +took the road to York, _via_ Gettysburg, and halted on that day at +Waynesborough. + +By this time twenty regiments of militia were on their way from +New York to Baltimore and Harrisburg. + +Longstreet crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, and Hill at +Shepherdstown, on the 24th. Their columns united at Hagerstown +the next day. Thus supported, Ewell's main body resumed its march +to Carlisle, which it occupied on the 27th; gathering large supplies +there and along the road by means of foraging parties sent out to +depredate on the farmers. As soon as they reached the town, Jenkins' +brigade left for Harrisburg. + +Hooker having now satisfied himself that the Capital was safe from +a _coup-de-main_, and that the main body of the rebels were still +marching up the Cumberland Valley, determined to move in a parallel +line on the east side of South Mountain, where he could occupy the +gaps at once, in case the enemy turned east, toward Washington and +Baltimore. To carry out this design his army began to cross the +Potomac at Edwards' Ferry on the 25th, and at night Reynolds' corps +was in front and Sickles' corps in rear of Middletown, in readiness +to hold either Crampton's or Turner's Gap. Howard's corps was +thrown forward to Boonsborough. + +On the 26th Slocum's corps was sent to Harper's Ferry to act in +conjunction with the garrison there--supposed to be 10,000 strong +--against the enemy's line of communication with Richmond. The +Second, Fifth, and Sixth Corps were advanced to Frederick, Md., as +a support to the First, Third, and Eleventh Corps. Gregg's cavalry +division remained behind to cover the crossing, which was all +completed the next day, after which they too marched to Frederick. + +On the 25th, Early, leaving his division at Greenwood, went to +Chambersburg to consult Ewell, who gave him definite orders to +occupy York, break up the Central Railroad, burn the bridge over +the Susquehanna at Wrightsville, and afterward rejoin the main body +at Carlisle. + +It seems strange that Lee should suppose that the Union army would +continue inactive all this time, south of Washington, where it was +only confronted by Stuart's cavalry, and it is remarkable to find +him so totally in the dark with regard to Hooker's movements. It +has been extensively assumed by rebel writers that this ignorance +was caused by the injudicious raid made by Stuart, who thought it +would be a great benefit to the Confederate cause if he could ride +entirely around the Union lines and rejoin Lee's advance at York. +He had made several of these circuits during his military career, +and had gained important advantages from them in way of breaking +up communications, capturing despatches, etc. It is thought that +he hoped by threatening Hooker's rear to detain him and delay his +crossing the river, and thus give time to Lee to capture Harrisburg, +and perhaps Philadelphia. His raid on this occasion was undoubtedly +a mistake. When he rejoined the main body, his men were exhausted, +his horses broken down, and the battle of Gettysburg was nearly +over. As cavalry are the eyes of an army, it has been said that +Stuart's absence prevented Lee from ascertaining the movements and +position of Hooker's army. Stuart has been loudly blamed by the +rebel chroniclers for leaving the main body, but this is unjust; +Lee not only knew of the movement, but approved it; for he directed +Stuart to pass between Hooker and Washington, and move with part +of his force to Carlisle and the other part to Gettysburg. Besides, +Stuart left Robertson's and Jones' brigades behind, with orders to +follow up the rear of the Union army until it crossed, and then to +rejoin the main body. In the meantime they were to hold the gaps +in the Blue Ridge, for fear Hooker might send a force to occupy +them. These two brigades, with Imboden's brigade, and White's +battalion, made quite a large cavalry force: Imboden, however, +was also detached to break up the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to +prevent forces from the West from taking Lee in rear; all of which +goes to show how sensitive the Confederate commander was in regard +to any danger threatening his communications with Richmond. + +At 1 A.M. on the 25th, Stuart started on his expedition and advanced +to Haymarket, where he unexpectedly came upon Hancock's corps, +which had left Thoroughfare Gap, and was on its way to Gum Springs. +He opened fire against them but was soon driven off. He then +returned to Buckland and Gainesville; for to keep on, in presence +of our troops, would have frustrated the object of his expedition +by indicating its purpose. + +This was the day in which Longstreet and Hill united their columns +at Hagerstown. Some Union spies who counted the rebel forces as +they passed through the town made their number to be 91,000 infantry, +280 guns and 1,100 cavalry. This statement, though much exaggerated, +gained great credence at the time, and added to the excitement +among the loyal people throughout the Northern States, while the +copperhead element were proportionally active and jubilant. + +On the 26th, General French assumed command of the garrison at +Harper's Ferry, then posted at Maryland Heights. + +On the same day the Richmond Government were much alarmed by the +unexpected appearance of Colonel Spear's 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry +within eleven miles of the city. Spear had made quite a successful +and very destructive raid on the railroads and other lines of +communication. He made, too, a very important capture by bringing +in General W. H. F. Lee, who was wounded at the battle of Brandy +Station, and who was a son of General Robert E. Lee. The Davis +Government had determined to hang one of our captains who was a +prisoner in Libby, and the fact that a son of General Robert E. +Lee was in our power prevented them from carrying out their intention +for fear he might be hanged by way of retaliation. + +Early's division of Ewell's corps stopped at Gettysburg on its way +to York. The other two divisions kept on toward Carlisle. + +These movements at once caused Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania to +call out 60,000 men for the defence of the State. They were styled +the emergency militia. As there was little else than shot-guns +for them, these hasty gatherings did not promise to be very +effective. + +The Governor still complained of a lack of zeal in Philadelphia. +The people there, said "Isn't this awful!" but very few volunteered. +They soon awoke from their apathy, however, and took prompt measures +to defend the city. + +On the 27th the commands of Longstreet and Hill reached Chambersburg, +and Ewell's two divisions occupied Carlisle, while Jenkins pushed +on to Kingston, within thirteen miles of Harrisburg. At the same +time Early was engaged in wreaking destruction upon the Northern +Central Railroad, and by night he entered York. About the only +opposition he encountered came from a militia regiment at Gettysburg, +but this was soon driven away. + +There was wild commotion throughout the North, and people began to +feel that the boast of the Georgia Senator Toombs, that he would +call the roll of his slaves at the foot of Bunker Hill Monument, +might soon be realized. The enemy seemed very near and the Army +of the Potomac far away. + +On the same day Stuart succeeded with great difficulty in crossing +the Potomac in the vicinity of Drainsville. He found our troops +were now all north of this river, so that one object of his expedition +--to detain them on the south side--had failed. + +On the 28th he resumed his march, and as he passed close to Washington +and Baltimore, he created considerable excitement in those cities. +At Rockville he came upon a large train full of supplies, on its +way to Frederick, Maryland, and captured it with its slender escort, +after which he kept on in a northerly direction through Brookeville +and Cookesville, travelling all night. + +On this day the Adjutant-General at Richmond telegraphed for troops +to be sent there at once from the Carolinas and elsewhere, for he +estimated the Union forces at the White House at thirty thousand +men, and considered the capital to be in great danger. Neither +Davis nor his cabinet had the slightest desire to have any successes +Lee might obtain at the North supplemented by their own execution +at the South, a result they felt was not wholly improbable, in the +excited state of public feeling at that time, if the city should +be taken. + +Lee, ignorant that Hooker was following him up, continued his +aggressive advance. Early took prompt measures to seize the bridge +over the Susquehanna at Wrightsville. If successful, he intended +to cross over and amuse himself by destroying all direct connection +between Philadelphia and the West, by railroad and telegraph. This +done, he proposed to march along the north side of the river, +capture Harrisburg and rejoin Ewell at Carlisle. As Gordon's +brigade approached the bridge, after driving away some militia, +they found it in flames, the Union commander at Columbia, Colonel +Frick, having given orders for its destruction. Early gained some +compensation for his failure in this respect by levying a contribution +on York of one-hundred thousand dollars in cash; two hundred barrels +of flour; thirty thousand bushels of corn; one thousand pairs of +shoes, etc. + +The Union army still remained in Frederick, with the left wing +(three corps) under Reynolds thrown out toward the enemy, the +Eleventh Corps under Howard at Boonsborough, the First Corps under +my command at Middletown, supported by the Third Corps under Birney, +two or three miles in rear, with Buford's division of cavalry +holding the passes of South Mountain, the remainder of the cavalry +being at Frederick. + +Hooker thought it useless to keep a garrison of 10,000 men in a +passive attitude at Harper's Ferry. I think he was quite right, +for the war could not be decided by the possession of military +posts or even of cities, for hostilities would never cease until +one army or the other was destroyed. He therefore applied to +Washington for permission to add this force to that of Slocum, in +order that the two might act directly against Lee's communications +by following up his rear while preserving their own line of retreat. +Slocum had been already ordered there, for this purpose, but Halleck +would not consent that the garrison of Harper's Ferry should be +withdrawn under any circumstances, and positively refused Hooker's +request. Hooker then considering himself thwarted in all his plans +by the authorities at Washington, offered his resignation. It was +promptly accepted, and Major-General George G. Meade, then the +commander of the Fifth Corps, was assigned to the command of the +Army of the Potomac. He was a general of fine intellect, of great +personal bravery, and had had a good deal of experience in the war +in handling troops, but had never achieved any brilliant success, +or met with any serious reverse. + +Upon ascertaining that the enemy were at York and Carlisle, Hooker +had determined to throw out his different corps in a fan shape +toward the Susquehanna, and advance in that direction with three +corps on the left to defend that flank, in case Longstreet and Hill +should turn East, instead of keeping on toward the North. At the +same time it was his intention to have Slocum follow up Lee's +advance, by keeping in his rear, to capture his trains and couriers, +and to cut off his retreat should he be defeated. + +General Meade's first order was for all the troops to concentrate +in Frederick, where he proposed to have a grand review; but at the +urgent remonstrance of General Butterfield, who had been Hooker's +Chief of Staff, and who stated that this delay would give Lee time +to cross the Susquehanna, and capture Harrisburg and Philadelphia, +Hooker's orders were allowed to stand, with some exceptions. Meade +appears to have disapproved all movements against Lee's line of +retreat, for he ordered Slocum to rejoin the main army, and had +the hardihood to break up the post at Harper's Ferry, in spite of +the fact that Hooker had just been relieved from command for +requesting permission to do so. The bulk of the garrison, under +Major-General French, was directed to take post as a reserve at +Frederick, when our forces moved forward. The general idea of our +advance was to interpose between the enemy and Philadelphia if he +went north, or between him and Baltimore and Washington in case he +turned back. The orders at night were for Buford's division of +cavalry to take post on the left flank, in the direction of Fairfield; +Gregg's division on the right flank at Westminster; and Kilpatrick's +division in advance of the centre, at Littlestown, the different +corps to be posted between New Windsor and Emmetsburg. + +Ewell's corps, as stated, were at Carlisle and York, Lee and +Longstreet's at Chambersburg, and Hill's corps at Fayetteville. + +Lee was startled to learn from a countryman who came in on the 28th +that Hooker was at Frederick, and not south of the Potomac, as he +had supposed. He saw at once that his communications with Richmond, +about which he was so solicitous, were greatly endangered, for the +Union army could be formed to interpose between him and Williamsport, +and still keep a safe line of retreat open to Washington. This +might not be so great a misfortune to the enemy as regards food +and forage; for he could probably live on the country for some +time, by making predatory excursions in different directions, but +when it came to obtaining fresh supplies of ammunition, the matter +would become very serious. An army only carries a limited amount +of this into the field and must rely upon frequent convoys to keep +up the supply, which is constantly decreasing from the partial +engagements and skirmishes, so prevalent in a hostile country. + +The wisdom of Hooker's policy in desiring to assail the rebel +communications is demonstrated by the fact the Lee immediately +turned back. The head of the serpent faced about as soon as its +tail was trodden upon. He came to the conclusion to prevent an +attack against his rear by threatening Baltimore with his whole +force. This would necessarily cause the Union army to march further +east to confront him, and thus prevent it from operating in heavy +force in the Cumberland Valley. Accordingly on the night of the +28th, Lee sent expresses to all his corps commanders to concentrate +at Gettysburg. If he had known that Meade was about to withdraw +all the troops acting against his line of retreat he would probably +have gone on and taken Harrisburg. + +As the new commander of the Union army was a favorite of General +Halleck, no notice was taken of his disregard of instructions in +detaching the garrison of Harper's Ferry. General Couch, who +commanded the Department of the Susquehanna, was also placed under +his orders, a favor which had been denied to Hooker. The troubles +of the latter were not quite over, for on his appearing in Washington +to explain his action, he was immediately put under arrest for +visiting the Capital without his (Halleck's) permission; a piece +of petty persecution which might have been spared under the +circumstances. It was, however, a short and easy method of settling +all complaints that were inconvenient to answer. + + + +CHAPTER III. +STUART'S RAID--THE ENEMY IN FRONT OF HARRISBURG--MEADE'S PLANS. + +At dawn of day on the 29th, Stuart's command, after riding all +night, reached the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and commenced +disabling it, so far as the limited time at their disposal would +allow, by burning a bridge at Sykesville and tearing up a portion +of the track at Hood's Mill. They remained at the latter place +during the day to rest, but started again in the afternoon, and +reached Westminster about 5 P.M. At this place they were gallantly +attacked by the 1st Delaware Cavalry, which Stuart says was driven +off after hard fighting and pursued some distance toward Baltimore, +adding very much to the panic there. At night the head of his +column halted at Union Mills, half way between Westminster and +Littlestown. It may as well be stated here that Stuart found +himself greatly embarrassed by attempting to hold on to the long +train he had captured at Rockville. It lengthened out his column +to such an extent that it became difficult to defend all parts of +the line without scattering and weakening his command. As Kilpatrick's +division was waiting to intercept him at Littlestown, this +consideration became a matter of considerable importance. Gregg's +division also moved in the morning to head him off at Westminster, +but owing to the roads being very much blocked up by our infantry +and trains marching in that direction, Gregg did not succeed in +reaching his destination until some hours after Stuart had passed. + +At night two brigades of Buford's division of cavalry covered the +left flank of the Union army near Fairfield, with one brigade at +Mechanicstown. The First and Eleventh Corps were at Emmetsburg, +the Third and Twelfth at Middleburg, the Fifth Corps at Taneytown, +the Second Corps at Uniontown, and the Sixth Corps at New Windsor. + +The advance of the rebel cavalry under Jenkins were now within +sight of Harrisburg, and skirmishing only four miles from the town. +Jenkins' object was to make a thorough reconnoissance in order to +ascertain the best positions to be taken for an attack. There was +a perfect exodus from the city. All business was suspended, too, +in Philadelphia, and the authorities there busied themselves in +hastening the work on the fortifications in the suburbs of the +city. They were active enough now, and large numbers were enrolled. +Pleasonton, who was under general orders to guard the flank nearest +the enemy, directed Buford on the 29th to occupy Gettysburg the +next day, and hold it until the Army of the Potomac came to his +relief. He realized the importance of the position to the future +success of our arms. + +Hill's corps was at Fayetteville on the 29th, but one division, +that of Heth, was thrown forward on that day to Cashtown, within +eight miles of Gettysburg. The object of the movement was to join +Ewell at York, and co-operate with him in the destruction of the +railroads on the other side of the Susquehanna, etc. This plan, +as I have already stated, was suddenly changed on the evening of +the 28th, when Lee found his communications endangered, and now +all the advanced troops under his command turned back to concentrate +at Gettysburg. Longstreet left Chambersburg and marched to +Fayetteville, leaving Pickett's division behind to guard the trains. +Early received the order to return in the afternoon of the 28th, +recalled Gordon's brigade from Wrightsville, and made preparations +to start the next morning. Rodes' and Johnson's divisions left +Carlisle and marched on Gettysburg; the former by the direct route, +and the latter by way of Greenwood, to convoy the trains full of +stolen property. + +A number of partisan skirmishes took place during the day, which +were creditable to our troops, particularly that at McConnellsburg, +to the west of Chambersburg. + +The raid against Richmond ended by the return of Colonel Spear's +regiment to the White House. Hooker had urged that General Dix +assume command of all his available troops, march against Richmond, +and plant himself firmly on Lee's line of communication, but his +recommendations were slighted by Halleck. There was much disappointment +in the North at this failure to make a serious attack on the rebel +capital, for it was generally believed that it might have been +captured by a _coup de main_. + +On the 30th General Meade advanced his army still nearer the +Susquehanna. At evening his extreme left, the First Corps, was at +Marsh Creek, on the Emmetsburg road, while the extreme right, the +Sixth Corps, was away off at Manchester. The intermediate corps +were posted, the Eleventh at Emmetsburg; the Second at Uniontown; +the Third at Taneytown; the Fifth at Union Mills, and the Twelfth +at Frizzelburg. General French moved from Harper's Ferry with the +bulk of the garrison and occupied Frederick. The First Corps was +ordered to Gettysburg, but General Reynolds halted it at Marsh +Creek, as the enemy were reported to be coming from the direction +of Fairfield. + +Meade now resolved to take up a defensive position on Pipe Creek. +He threw out his forces as before in a fan shape, but any corps +encountering the enemy was expected to fight in retreat until it +reached the new line, where all the corps were to assemble. This +line as laid out was a long one, extending from Manchester to +Middleburg, a distance of about twenty-five miles. Falling back +to fight again, is hardly to be commended, as it chills the ardor +of the men; nor is it certain that Lee would have attacked the +intrenchments at Pipe Creek. If he found them formidable he might +have preferred to fight on the defensive with two corps, while the +Third Corps took Harrisburg, and broke up the railroad lines to +the west, or marched directly against Philadelphia; or, as Pipe +Creek did not interfere with his communications in any way he might +have chosen to let it severely alone, and have kept on depredating +in Pennsylvania, after capturing Harrisburg. This would have forced +Meade sooner or later to attack him. + +On the night of the 30th Ewell's corps had reached Heidlersburg, +nine miles from Gettysburg, with the exception of Johnson's division, +which was at Greenwood. Rodes' division had marched direct from +Carlisle by way of Petersburg. Longstreet with two divisions was +at Fayetteville; the other division, that of Pickett, was left at +Chambersburg to guard the trains. Hill's corps had reached Cashtown +and Mummasburg, except Anderson's division, which was still back +at the mountain pass on the Chambersburg road. + +Stuart, ascertaining that Early was no longer at York, and not +knowing that the army was concentrating on Gettysburg, turned toward +Carlisle. He had bivouacked half way between Westminster and +Littlestown, but having ascertained that Kilpatrick was waiting +for him at the latter place, attempted to avoid the encounter by +going through cross roads to Hanover. He found Farnsworth's brigade +of cavalry there, however, and charged their rear, driving them +back and capturing some prisoners and ambulances. The 5th New York +made a counter-charge under Major Hammond and drove him out again. +He claims to have taken the town by the aid of Hampton's brigade, +which arrived in time to reinforce him. Custer's brigade then came +up from Abbotstown. The battle lasted until night, when Stuart +gave up the contest and retreated, leaving Kilpatrick in possession. + +Part of his cavalry also attacked the 5th and 6th Michigan regiments +at Littlestown, but were repulsed. He then, having no time to +spare, kept on his way toward York to find the army he had lost. +He passed within seven miles of Ewell's column on its way to +Gettysburg, and neither knew that the other was near. Had they +effected a junction it would have saved the rebel cavalry a long, +fruitless, and exhausting march, which kept them out of the battle +on the first day. It was one of those accidental circumstances +which seemed to favor us in this campaign, while almost every +incident at Chancellorsville was against us. + +Finding Ewell had left York, Stuart turned and marched on Carlisle, +which he found occupied by our troops. He demanded the surrender +of the place under a threat of bombardment. General W. F. Smith, +one of the heroes of the Peninsula, was not to be affected by +menaces; and Stuart, whose time was precious and who had no ammunition +to spare, turned off in hopes of reaching Gettysburg in time to +take part in the battle. He arrived there on the afternoon of the +2d, with horses and men worn out by their extraordinary exertions; +on their way whole regiments slept in the saddle. This force when +it reached the field found Robertson's, Jones', and Jenkins' +brigades, and White's battalion ready to join it. + +By evening Meade was fully apprised, by telegrams and Buford's +scouts, that the enemy were concentrating on Gettysburg. He knew +that Reynolds at Marsh Creek was only about six miles from Hill at +Cashtown, but he sent no orders that night. He simply stated that +the enemy were marching on Gettysburg, and he would issue orders +when they developed their intentions. Thus the opposing forces +were moving in directions that would necessarily bring them in +contact, and a fight or retreat was inevitable. + +Reynolds had the true spirit of a soldier. He was a Pennsylvanian, +and, inflamed at seeing the devastation of his native State, was +most desirous of getting at the enemy as soon as possible. I speak +from my own knowledge, for I was his second in command, and he told +me at Poolesville soon after crossing the river, that it was +necessary to attack the enemy at once, to prevent his plundering +the whole State. As he had great confidence in his men, it was +not difficult to divine what his decision would be. He determined +to advance and hold Gettysburg. He directed the Eleventh Corps to +come up as a support to the First, and he recommended, but did not +order, the Third Corps to do the same. + +Buford, with two of his cavalry brigades, reached the place that +night, but not without considerable difficulty. He left Fountaindale +Gap early in the morning and attempted to move directly to his +destination, but he came upon Pettigrew's brigade of Hill's corps, +and was obliged to fall back to the mountains again. Later in the +day he succeeded, by going around by way of Emmetsburg. Before +evening set in, he had thrown out his pickets almost to Cashtown +and Hunterstown, posting Gamble's brigade across the Chambersburg +pike, and Devin's brigade across the Mummasburg road, his main body +being about a mile west of the town. + +While these great movements were going on, some minor affairs showed +great gallantry on the part of partisan officers. Captain Ulric +Dahlgren made a raid upon the rebel communications, capturing some +guns and prisoners, and gaining very important information which +will be referred to hereafter. + +The two armies now about to contest on the perilous ridges of +Gettysburg the possession of the Northern States, and the ultimate +triumph of freedom or slavery, were in numbers as follows, according +to the estimate made by the Count of Paris, who is an impartial +observer, and who has made a close study of the question: + +_The Army of the Potomac under General Meade_, 82,00 men and 300 +guns. + +_The Army of Northern Virginia under General Lee_, 73,500 men and +190 guns. + +Stuart had 11,100 cavalry and 16 guns. + +Pleasonton had about the same number of cavalry, and 27 guns. + + + +CHAPTER IV. +THE FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1863. + +On the morning of the 1st of July, General Buford, as stated, held +the ridges to the west of Gettysburg, with his cavalry division, +composed of Gamble's and Devin's brigades. His vedettes were thrown +far out toward the enemy to give timely notice of any movement for +he was determined to prevent the rebels from entering the town if +possible, and knew the First Corps would soon be up to support him. +The enemy were not aware that there was any considerable force in +the vicinity, and in the morning sent forward Heth's division of +Hill's corps to occupy the place, anticipating no difficulty in +doing so. Buford in the meantime had dismounted a large part of +his force, had strengthened his line of skirmishers, and planted +his batteries at the most commanding points. + +General Reynolds, in consequence of the duties devolving upon him +as commander of the Left Wing of the army, that is of the First, +Third, and Eleventh Corps, had turned over the command of the First +Corps to me. He now made immediate dispositions to go forward to +assist Buford. + +As my corps was largely engaged in the first day's operations, I +must be excused for having a good deal to say in the first person +in relation to them. Reynolds sent for me about six o'clock in +the morning, read to me the various despatches he had received from +Meade and Buford, and told me he should go forward at once with +the nearest division--that of Wadsworth--to aid the cavalry. He +then instructed me to draw in my pickets, assemble the artillery +and the remainder of the corps, and join him as soon as possible. +Having given these orders, he rode off at the head of the column, +and I never saw him again. + +The position of the two armies on the morning of the 1st of July, +was as follows: The First Corps at Marsh Creek; the Second and +Third Corps at Taneytown; the latter being under orders to march +to Emmetsburg, to relieve the Eleventh Corps, which was directed +to join the First Corps at Gettysburg; the Twelfth Corps was at +Two Taverns; the Fifth Corps at Hanover, and the Sixth Corps about +thirty-five miles off to the right at Manchester. Kilpatrick's +and Gregg's divisions of cavalry were also at Hanover. The +Confederate army was advancing on Gettysburg from the west and +north. The concentration of their troops and the dispersion of +ours are indicated on the map. + +It must be remembered that the enemy had but _three_ corps, while +the Union army had _seven_. Each of their corps represented a +_third_, and each of ours a _seventh_, of our total force. The +same ratio extended to divisions and brigades. + +Heth's division, which started early in the morning to occupy the +town, soon found itself confronted by Buford's skirmishers, and +formed line of battle with Archer's and Davis' brigades in front, +followed by those of Pettigrew and Brockenborough. At 9 A.M. the +first gun was heard. Buford had three cannon-shots fired as a +signal for his skirmish line to open on the enemy, and the battle +of Gettysburg began.* + +[* Lt.-Col. Kress, of General Wadsworth's staff, entered Gettysburg +about this time and found General Buford surrounded by his staff +in front of the tavern there. Buford turned to him and said, "What +are you doing here, sir?" Kress replied that he came on to get +some shoes for Wadsworth's division. Buford told him that he had +better return immediately to his command. Kress said, "Why, what +is the matter, general?" At that moment the far off sound of a +single gun was heard, and Buford replied, as he mounted his horse +and galloped off, _"That's the matter."_] + +As the rebels had had several encounters with militia, who were +easily dispersed, they did not expect to meet any serious resistance +at this time, and advanced confidently and carelessly. Buford gave +way slowly, taking advantage of every accident of ground to protract +the struggle. After an hour's fighting he felt anxious, and went +up into the steeple of the Theological Seminary from which a wide +view could be obtained, to see if the First Corps was in sight. +One division of it was close at hand, and soon Reynolds, who had +preceded it, climbed up into the belfry to confer with him there, +and examine the country around. Although there is no positive +testimony to that effect, his attention was doubtless attracted to +Cemetery Ridge in his rear, as it was one of the most prominent +features of the landscape. An aide of General Howard--presumably +Major Hall--soon after Reynolds descended from the belfry, came up +to ask if he had any instructions with regard to the Eleventh Corps. +Reynolds, in reply, directed that General Howard bring his corps +forward at once and _form them on Cemetery Hill_ as a reserve. +General Howard has no recollection of having received any such +orders, but as he did get orders to come forward, and as his corps +was to occupy _some place_ in rear, as a support to the First Corps, +nothing is more probable than that General Reynolds directed him +to go there; for its military advantages were obvious enough to +any experienced commander. Lieutenant Rosengarten, of General +Reynolds' staff, states positively that he was present and heard +the order given for Howard to post his troops on Cemetery Ridge. +The matter is of some moment, as the position in question ultimately +gave us the victory, and Howard received the thanks of Congress +for selecting it. It is not to be supposed that either Howard or +Rosengarten would mistake the matter. It is quite probable that +Reynolds chose the hill simply as a position upon which his force +could rally if driven back, and Howard selected it as a suitable +battle-field for the army. It has since been universally conceded +that it was admirably adapted for that purpose. + +It will be seen from the above map, that there are two roads coming +to Gettysburg from the west, making a considerable angle with each +other. Each is intersected by ridges running north and south. On +that nearest to the town, and about three-fourths of a mile from +the central square, there is a large brick building, which was used +as a Lutheran Theological Seminary. A small stream of water called +Willoughby's Run winds between the next two ridges. The battle on +the first day was principally fought on the heights on each side +of this stream. + +Buford being aware that Ewell's corps would soon be on its way from +Heidlersburg to the field of battle, was obliged to form line facing +north with Devin's brigade, and leave Gamble's brigade to keep back +the overpowering weight of Hill's corps advancing from the west. + +While this fighting was going on, and Reynolds and Wadsworth were +pressing to the front, I was engaged in withdrawing the pickets +and assembling the other two divisions, together with the corps +artillery. As soon as I saw that my orders were in process of +execution, I galloped to the front, leaving the troops to follow, +and caught up with Meredith's brigade of Wadsworth's division, +commonly called "The Iron Brigade," just as it was going into +action. + +In the meantime the enemy approaching from the west were pressing +with great force against Buford's slender skirmish line, and Reynolds +went forward with Cutler's brigade to sustain it. He skilfully +posted Hall's 2d Maine battery in the road, and threw forward two +regiments, the 14th Brooklyn and the 95th New York, a short distance +in advance on the left. At the same time he directed General +Wadsworth to place the remaining three regiments of the brigade, +the 147th New York, the 76th New York, and the 56th Pennsylvania, +on the right of the road. When this formation was completed the +cavalry brigade under Gamble, which had been fighting there, withdrew +and formed in column on the left of the infantry; but the other +cavalry brigade, under Devin, which was not facing in that direction, +still held the position, awaiting the advance of Ewell's corps from +the north. + +As Davis' rebel brigade of Heth's division fronting Wadsworth were +hidden behind an intervening ridge, Wadsworth did not see them at +first, but formed his three regiments perpendicularly to the road, +without a reconnoissance. The result was that Davis came over the +hill almost directly on the right flank of this line, which being +unable to defend itself was forced back and directed by Wadsworth +to take post in a piece of woods in rear on Seminary Ridge. The +two regiments on the right accordingly withdrew, but the 147th New +York, which was next to the road, did not receive the order, as +their Colonel was shot down before he could deliver it. They were +at once surrounded and very much cut up before they could be rescued +from their perilous position. + +The two regiments on the right, which were forced back, were +veterans, conspicuous for gallantry in every battle in which the +Army of the Potomac had been engaged since the Peninsula campaign. +As Wadsworth withdrew them without notifying Hall's battery in the +road, or the two regiments posted by Reynolds on the left, both +became exposed to a disastrous flank attack on the right. Hall +finding a cloud of skirmishers launched against his battery which +was now without support, was compelled to retreat. The horses of +the lost gun were all shot or bayonetted. The non-military reader +will see that while a battery can keep back masses of men it cannot +contend with a line of skirmishers. To resist them would be very +much like fighting mosquitoes with musket-balls. The two regiments +posted by Reynolds, the 14th Brooklyn and 95th New York, finding +their support gone on the right, while Archer's rebel brigade was +advancing to envelop their left, fell back leisurely under Colonel +Fowler of the 14th Brooklyn, who assumed command of both as the +ranking officer present. + +I reached the field just as the attack on Cutler's brigade was +going on, and at once sent my adjutant-general, Major Halstead, +and young Meredith L. Jones, who was acting as aide on my staff, +to General Reynolds to ask instructions. Under the impression that +the enemy's columns were approaching on both roads, Reynolds said, +"Tell Doubleday I will hold on to this road," referring to the +Chambersburg road, "and he must hold on to that one;" meaning the +road to Fairfield or Hagerstown. At the same time he sent Jones +back at full speed to bring up a battery. + +The rebels, however, did not advance on the Fairfield road until +late in the afternoon. They must have been in force upon it some +miles back, for the cavalry so reported, and this caused me during +the entire day to give more attention than was necessary to my +left, as I feared the enemy might separate my corps from the Third +and Eleventh Corps at Emmetsburg. Such a movement would be equivalent +to interposing between the First Corps and the main army. + +There was a piece of woods between the two roads, with open ground +on each side. It seemed to me this was the key of the position, +for if this woods was strongly held, the enemy could not pass on +either road without being taken in flank by the infantry, and in +front by the cavalry. I therefore urged the men as they filed past +me to hold it at all hazards. Full of enthusiasm and the memory +of their past achievements they said to me proudly, _"If we can't +hold it, where will you find men who can?"_ + +As they went forward under command of Colonel Morrow* of the 24th +Michigan Volunteers, a brave and capable soldier, who, when a mere +youth, was engaged in the Mexican War, I rode over to the left to +see if the enemy's line extended beyond ours, and if there would +be any attempt to flank our troops in that direction. I saw, +however, only a few skirmishers, and returned to organize a reserve. +I knew there was fighting going on between Cutler's brigade and +the rebels in his front, but as General Reynolds was there in +person, I only attended to my own part of the line; and halted the +6th Wisconsin regiment as it was going into the action, together +with a hundred men of the Brigade Guard, taken from the 149th +Pennsylvania, to station them in the open space between the Seminary +and the woods, as a reserve, the whole being under the command of +Lieut.-Colonel R. R. Dawes, of the 6th Wisconsin. + +[* I sent orders to Morrow under the supposition that he was the +ranking officer of the brigade. Colonel W. W. Robinson, 7th +Wisconsin, was entitled to the command, and exercised it during +the remainder of the battle.] + +It is proper to state that General Meredith, the permanent commander +of the brigade, was wounded as he was coming up, some time after +its arrival, by a shell which exploded in front of his horse. + +Both parties were now trying to obtain possession of the woods. +Archer's rebel brigade, preceded by a skirmish line, was crossing +Willoughby's Run to enter them on one side as the Iron Brigade went +in on the other. General Reynolds was on horseback in the edge of +the woods, surrounded by his staff. He felt some anxiety as to +the result, and turned his head frequently to see if our troops +would be up in time. While looking back in this way, a rebel +sharpshooter shot him through the back of the head, the bullet +coming out near the eye. He fell dead in an instant, without a +word. The country sustained great loss in his death. I lamented +him as almost a life-long companion. We were at West Point together, +and had served in the same regiment--the old 3d Artillery--upon +first entering service, along with our present Commander-in-Chief, +General Sherman, and General George H. Thomas. When quite young +we had fought in the same battles in Mexico. There was little +time, however, to indulge in these recollections. The situation +was very peculiar. The rebel left under Davis had driven in Cutler's +brigade and our left under Morrow had charged into the woods, +preceded by the 2d Wisconsin under Colonel Fairchild, swept suddenly +and unexpectedly around the right flank of Archer's brigade, and +captured a large part of it, including Archer himself. The fact +is, the enemy were careless and underrated us, thinking, it is +said, that they had only militia to contend with. The Iron Brigade +had a different head-gear from the rest of the army and were +recognized at once by their old antagonists. Some of the latter +were heard to exclaim: "There are those d----d black-hatted fellows +again! 'Taint no militia. It's the Army of the Potomac." + +Having captured Archer and his men, many of the Iron Brigade kept +on beyond Willoughby's Run, and formed on the heights on the opposite +side. + +The command now devolved upon me, with its great responsibilities. +The disaster on the right required immediate attention, for the +enemy, with loud yells, were pursuing Cutler's brigade toward the +town. I at once ordered my reserve under Lieutenant-Colonel Dawes +to advance against their flank. If they faced Dawes, I reasoned +that they would present their other flank to Cutler's men, so that +I felt quite confident of the result. In war, however, unexpected +changes are constantly occurring. Cutler's brigade had been +withdrawn by order of General Wadsworth, without my knowledge, to +the suburbs of Gettysburg. Fortunately, Fowler's two regiments +came on to join Dawes, who went forward with great spirit, but who +was altogether too weak to assail so large a force. As he approached, +the rebels ceased to pursue Cutler, and rushed into the railroad +cut to obtain the shelter of the grading. They made a fierce and +obstinate resistance, but, while Fowler confronted them above, +about twenty of Dawes' men were formed across the cut by his +adjutant, E. P. Brooks, to fire through it. The rebels could not +resist this; the greater number gave themselves up as prisoners, +and the others scattered over the country and escaped. + +This success relieved the 147th New York, which, as I stated, was +surrounded when Cutler fell back, and it also enabled us to regain +the gun which Hall had been obliged to abandon. + +The enemy having vanished from our immediate front, I withdrew the +Iron Brigade from its advanced position beyond the creek, reformed +the line on the ridge where General Reynolds had originally placed +it, and awaited a fresh attack, or orders from General Meade. The +two regiments of Cutler's brigade were brought back from the town, +and, notwithstanding the check they had received, they fought with +great gallantry throughout the three days' battle that ensued. + +There was now a lull in the combat. I was waiting for the remainder +of the First Corps to come up, and Heth was reorganizing his +shattered front line, and preparing to bring his two other brigades +forward. The remnant of Archer's brigade was placed on the right, +and made to face south against Buford's cavalry, which, it was +feared, might attack that flank. What was left of Davis' brigade +was sent to the extreme left of the line, and Pegram's artillery +was brought forward and posted on the high ground west of Willoughby's +Run. + +Thus prepared, and with Pender's strong division in rear, ready to +cover his retreat if defeated, or to follow up his success if +victorious, Heth advanced to renew the attack. + +As I had but four weak infantry brigades at this time against eight +larger brigades which were about to assail my line, I would have +been justified in falling back, but I determined to hold on to the +position until ordered to leave it. I did not believe in the +system, so prevalent at that time, of avoiding the enemy. I quite +agreed with Reynolds that it was best to meet him as soon as +possible, for the rebellion, if reduced to a war of positions, +would never end so long as the main army of the Confederates was +left in a condition to take the field. A retreat, too, has a bad +effect on the men. It gives them the impression that their generals +think them too weak to contend with the enemy. I was not aware, +at this time, that Howard was on the ground, for he had given me +no indication of his presence, but I knew that General Meade was +at Taneytown; and as, on the previous evening, he had informed +General Reynolds that the enemy's army were concentrating on +Gettysburg, I thought it probable he would ride to the front to +see for himself what was going on, and issue definite orders of +some kind. As Gettysburg covered the great roads from Chambersburg +to York, Baltimore, and Washington, and as its possession by Lee +would materially shorten and strengthen his line of retreat, I was +in favor of making great sacrifices to hold it. + +While we were thus temporarily successful, having captured or +dispersed all the forces in our immediate front, a very misleading +despatch was sent to General Meade by General Howard. It seems +that General Howard had reached Gettysburg in advance of his corps, +just after the two regiments of Cutler's brigade, which had been +outflanked, fell back to the town by General Wadsworth's order. +Upon witnessing this retreat, which was somewhat disorderly, General +Howard hastened to send a special messenger to General Meade with +the baleful intelligence that the First Corps had fled from the +field at the first contact with the enemy, thus magnifying a forced +retreat of two regiments, acting under orders, into the flight of +an entire corps, two-thirds of which had not yet reached the field. +It is unnecessary to say that this astounding news created the +greatest feeling against the corps, who were loudly cursed for +their supposed lack of spirit and patriotism. + +About 11 A.M., the remainder of the First Corps came up, together +with Cooper's, Stewart's, Reynolds', and Stevens' batteries. By +this time the enemy's artillery had been posted on every commanding +position to the west of us, several of their batteries firing down +the Chambersburg pike. I was very desirous to hold this road, as +it was in the centre of the enemy's line, who were advancing on +each side of it, and Calef--exposed as his battery was--fired over +the crest of ground where he was posted, and notwithstanding the +storm of missiles that assailed him, held his own handsomely, and +inflicted great damage on his adversaries. He was soon after +relieved by Reynolds' Battery "L" of the 1st New York, which was +sustained by Colonel Roy Stone's brigade of Pennsylvania troops, +which I ordered there for that purpose. Stone formed his men on +the left of the pike, behind a ridge running north and south, and +partially sheltered them by a stone fence, some distance in advance, +from which he had driven the rebel skirmish line, after an obstinate +contest. + +It was a hot place for troops; for the whole position was alive +with bursting shells, but the men went forward in fine spirits and, +under the impression that the place was to be held at all hazards, +they cried out, _"We have come to stay!"_ The battle afterward +became so severe that the greater portion did stay, laying down +their lives there for the cause they loved so well. Morrow's +brigade remained in the woods where Reynolds was killed, and Biddle's +brigade was posted on its left in the open ground along the crest +of the same ridge, with Cooper's battery in the interval. Cutler's +brigade took up its former position on the right of the road. +Having disposed of Wadsworth's division and my own division, which +was now under the command of Brigadier General Rowley, I directed +General Robinson's division to remain in reserve at the Seminary, +and to throw up a small semicircular rail intrenchment in the grove +in front of the building. Toward the close of the action this +defence, weak and imperfect as it was, proved to be of great +service. + +The accompanying map shows the position of troops and batteries at +this time. + +It will be seen that Heth's division is formed on the western ridge +which bounds Willougby's Run and along a cross-road which intersects +the Chambersburg road at right angles. + +Pender's division, posted in the rear as a support to Heth, was +formed in the following order by brigades: Thomas, Lane, Scales, +and McGowan (under Perrin); the first named on the rebel left and +Perrin on the right. To sustain Heth's advance and crush out all +opposition, both Pegram's and McIntosh's artillery were posted on +the crest of the ridge west of the Run. + +While this was going on, General Howard, who was awaiting the +arrival of his corps, had climbed into the steeple of the seminary +to obtain a view of the surrounding country. At 11.30 A.M. he +learned that General Reynolds was killed, and that the command of +the three corps (the First, Eleventh, and Third) constituting the +Left Wing of the army devolved upon him by virtue of his rank. He +saw that the First Corps was contending against large odds and sent +back for the Eleventh Corps to come up at double-quick. Upon +assuming command of the Left Wing he turned over his own corps to +Major-General Carl Schurz, who then gave up the command of his +division to General Barlow. Howard notified General Meade of +Reynolds' death, but forgot to take back or modify the false +statement he had made about the First Corps, now engaged before +his eyes, in a most desperate contest with a largely superior force; +so that General Meade was still left under the impression that the +First Corps had fled from the field. + +Howard also sent a request to Slocum, who was at Two Taverns, only +about five miles from Gettysburg, to come forward, but Slocum +declined, without orders from Meade. He probably thought if any +one commander could assume the direction of other corps, he might +antagonize the plans of the General-in-Chief. + +Upon receiving the news of the death of General Reynolds and the +disorder which it was supposed had been created by that event, +General Meade superseded Howard by sending his junior officer, +General Hancock, to assume command of the field, with directions +to notify him of the condition of affairs at the front. He also +ordered General John Newton of the Sixth Corps to take command of +the First Corps. + +The head of the Eleventh Corps reached Gettysburg at 12.45 P.M., +and the rear at 1.45 P.M. Schimmelpfennig's division led the way, +followed by that of Barlow. The two were directed to prolong the +line of the First Corps to the right along Seminary Ridge. The +remaining division, that of Steinwehr, with the reserve artillery +under Major Osborne, were ordered to occupy Cemetery Hill, in rear +of Gettysburg, as a reserve to the entire line. Before this +disposition could be carried out, however, Buford rode up to me +with the information that his scouts reported the advance of Ewell's +corps from Heidlersburg directly on my right flank. I sent a staff +officer to communicate this intelligence to General Howard, with +a message that I would endeavor to hold my ground against A. P. +Hill's corps if he could, by means of the Eleventh Corps, keep +Ewell from attacking my right. He accordingly directed the Eleventh +Corps to change front to meet Ewell. As it did so, Devin's cavalry +brigade fell back and took up a position to the right and rear of +this line just south of the railroad bridge. + +The concentration of Rodes' and Early's divisions--the one from +Carlisle and the other from York--took place with great exactness; +both arriving in sight of Gettysburg at the same time. The other +division, that of Johnson, took a longer route from Carlisle by +way of Greenwood, to escort the trains, and did not reach the battle- +field until sunset. Anderson's division of Hill's corps was also +back at the pass in the mountains on the Chambersburg road. It +had halted to allow Johnson to pass, and then followed him to +Gettysburg, reaching there about dusk. + +The first indication I had that Ewell had arrived, and was taking +part in the battle, came from a battery posted on an eminence called +Oak Hill, almost directly in the prolongation of my line, and about +a mile north of Colonel Stone's position. This opened fire about +1.30 P.M., and rendered new dispositions necessary; for Howard had +not guarded my right flank as proposed, and indeed soon had more +than he could do to maintain his line. When the guns referred to +opened fire, Wadsworth, without waiting for orders, threw Cutler's +brigade back into the woods on Seminary Ridge, north of the railroad +grading; a movement I sanctioned as necessary. Morrow's brigade +was concealed from the view of the enemy, in the woods where Reynolds +fell, and Biddle's brigade, by my order, changed front to the north. +It could do so with impunity, as it was behind a ridge which +concealed its left flank from Hill's corps, and was further protected +in that direction by two companies of the 20th New York State +Militia, who occupied a house and barn in advance, sent there by +the colonel of that regiment, Theodore B. Gates, whose skill and +energy were of great service to me during the battle. + +It would of course have been impossible to hold the line if Hill +attacked on the west and Ewell assailed me at the same time on the +north; but I occupied the central position, and their converging +columns did not strike together until the grand final advance at +the close of the day, and therefore I was able to resist several +of their isolated attacks before the last crash came. + +Stone's brigade in the centre had a difficult angle to defend, but +was partially sheltered by a ridge on the west. His position was +in truth the key-point of the first day's battle. It overlooked +the field, and its possession by the enemy would cut our force in +two, enfilade Morrow's and Biddle's brigades, and compel a hasty +retreat. + +After Hall's battery was driven back, no other artillery occupied +the ground for some time, then General Wadsworth borrowed Calef's +regular battery from the cavalry, and posted it in rear of the +position Hall had occupied. When the remainder of the division +came up, Captain Reynolds' Battery "L" of the 1st New York Artillery, +as already stated, was sent to assist Calef in keeping down the +fire of two rebel batteries on the ridge to the west; but when +Ewell's artillery also opened, the cross fire became too severe. +Calef was withdrawn, and Reynolds was severely wounded. The rebel +batteries soon after ceased firing for the time being; and at +Wadsworth's request, Colonel Wainwright, Chief of Artillery to the +First Corps, posted a section of Reynolds' battery, under Lieutenant +Wilbur, on Seminary Ridge, south of the railroad cut; Stewart's +Battery "B" 4th United States being on a line north of the cut. +Cooper's battery was directed to meet Ewell's attack from the north, +and Stevens' 5th Maine battery was retained behind the Seminary in +reserve. + +Barlow's division on the right and Schimmelpfennig's on the left, +formed somewhat hastily against Ewell, whose line of battle faced +south. Barlow rested his right on a wooded knoll, constituting +part of the western bank of Rock Creek. As there was an open +country to the east he considered that flank secure, for no enemy +was in sight then, and if they came from that direction, there +would be time to make fresh dispositions. After the formation +there was an interval of a quarter of a mile between their left +and the First Corps, which might have been avoided by placing the +two divisions further apart. This was a serious thing to me, for +the attempt to fill this interval and prevent the enemy from +penetrating there, lengthened and weakened my line, and used up my +reserves. It seems to me that the Eleventh Corps was too far out. +It would have been better, in my opinion, if the left had been +_echeloned_ in rear of the right of the First Corps, and its right +had rested on the strong brick buildings with stone foundations at +the Almshouse. The enemy then could not have turned the right +without compromising the safety of the turning column and endangering +his communications; a movement he would hardly like to make, +especially as he did not know what troops might be coming up. +Still they had a preponderating force, and as their whole army was +concentrating on Gettysburg, it was not possible to keep them back +for any great length of time unless the First and Eleventh Corps +were heavily reinforced. The position of our forces and those of +the enemy, will be best understood by a reference to the map on +page 125. + +About 2 P.M., after the Eleventh Corps line was formed, General +Howard rode over, inspected, and approved it. He also examined my +position and gave orders, in case I was forced to retreat, to fall +back to Cemetery Hill. I think this was the first and only order +I received from him during the day. + +Rodes' division of five brigades was formed across Seminary Ridge, +facing south, with Iverson on the right, supported by Daniel and +O'Neill in the centre, and Doles on the left, Ramseur being in +reserve. Iverson was sent to attack the First Corps on Seminary +Ridge, and O'Neill and Doles went forward about 2.45 P.M., to keep +back the Eleventh Corps. When the two latter became fairly engaged +in front, about 3.30 P.M., Early came up with his whole division +and struck the Union right. This decided the battle in favor of +the enemy. + +Barlow had advanced with Von Gilsa's brigade, had driven back +Ewell's skirmish line, and with the aid of Wilkinson's battery was +preparing to hold the Carlisle road. He was not aware that Early +was approaching, and saw Doles' advance with pleasure, for he felt +confident he could swing his right around and envelop Doles' left; +a manoeuvre which could hardly fail to be successful. + +Schimmelpfennig now threw forward Von Amberg's brigade to intervene +between O'Neill and Doles, and to strike the right flank of the +latter; but Doles avoided the blow by a rapid change of front. +This necessarily exposed his left to Barlow, who could not take +advantage of it as he was unexpectedly assailed by Early's division +on his own right, which was enveloped, and in great danger. His +men fought gallantly, and Gordon, who attacked them, says, made +stern resistance until the rebels were within fifty paces of them. +As Barlow was shot down, and their right flank enveloped, they were +forced to retreat to the town. This isolated Von Amberg's brigade, +and Doles claims to have captured the greater portion of it. + +The retrograde movement of the Eleventh Corps necessarily exposed +the right flank of the First to attacks from O'Neill and Ramseur. + +Howard sent forward Coster's brigade, of Steinwehr's division, to +cover the retreat of the Eleventh Corps; but its force was too +small to be effective; its flanks were soon turned by Hays' and +Hoke's brigades, of Early's division, and it was forced back with +the rest. + +We will now go back to the First Corps and describe what took place +there while these events were transpiring. + +When the wide interval between the First and Eleventh Corps was +brought to my notice by Colonel Bankhead of my staff, I detached +Baxter's brigade of Robinson's division to fill it. This brigade +moved promptly, and took post on Cutler's right, but before it +could form across the intervening space, O'Neill's brigade assailed +its right flank, and subsequently its left, and Baxter was forced +to change front alternately, to meet these attacks. He repulsed +O'Neill, but found his left flank again exposed to an attack from +Iverson, who was advancing in that direction.* He now went forward +and took shelter behind a stone fence on the Mummasburg road, which +protected his right flank, while an angle in the fence which turned +in a southwesterly direction covered his front. As his men lay +down behind the fence, Iverson's brigade came very close up, not +knowing our troops were there. Baxter's men sprang to their feet +and delivered a most deadly volley at very short range, which left +500 of Iverson's men dead and wounded, and so demoralized them, +that all gave themselves up as prisoners. One regiment, however, +after stopping our firing by putting up a white flag, slipped away +and escaped. This destructive effect was not caused by Baxter +alone, for he was aided by Cutler's brigade, which was thrown +forward on Iverson's right flank, by the fire of our batteries, +and the distant fire from Stone's brigade. So long as the latter +held his position, his line, with that of Cutler and Robinson's +division, constituted a demi-bastion and curtain, and every force +that entered the angle suffered severely. Rodes in his report +speaks of it as "a murderous enfilade, and reverse fire, to which, +in addition to the direct fire it encountered, Daniel's brigade +had been subject to from the time it commenced its final advance." + +[* General Robinson states that these changes of front were made +by his orders and under his personal supervision.] + +While Iverson was making his attack, Rodes sent one of his reserve +brigades--the one just referred to, that of Daniel--against Stone. +This joined Davis' brigade of Hill's corps, and the two charged on +Stone's three little regiments. Stone threw forward one of these +--the 149th Pennsylvania, under Lieutenant-Colonel Dwight, to the +railroad cut, where they were partially sheltered. Colonel Dana's +regiment, the 143d Pennsylvania, was posted on the road in rear of +Dwight and to the right. When I saw this movement I thought it a +very bold one, but its results were satisfactory. Two volleys and +a bayonet charge by Dwight drove Daniel back for the time being.* +In this attack Colonel Stone was severely wounded, and the command +of his brigade devolved upon Colonel Wister of the 150th +Pennsylvania. + +[* Dwight was a hard fighter, and not averse to plain speaking. +Once, when Secretary of War Stanton had determined to grant no more +passes to go down to the army, Dwight applied for permission for +an old man to visit his dying son. The request was refused; +whereupon Dwight said: _"My name is Dwight, Walton Dwight, Lieutenant- +Colonel of the 149th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. You can +dismiss me from the service as soon as you like, but I am going to +tell you what I think of you,"_ and he expressed himself in terms +far from complimentary; whereupon Stanton rescinded the order and +gave him the pass.] + +This attack should have been simultaneous with one from the nearest +troops of Hill's corps, but the latter were lying down in a sheltered +position, and Daniel urged them in vain to go forward. + +Not being able to force his way in front on account of Dwight's +position in the railroad cut, Daniel brought artillery to enfilade +it, and threw the 32d North Carolina across it. The cut being no +longer tenable, Dwight retreated to the road and formed on Dana's +left. + +Daniel had been originally ordered to protect Iverson's right, but +Iverson swung his right around without notifying Daniel, and thus +dislocated the line. + +Ramseur now came forward to aid Iverson, and I sent Paul's brigade +of Robinson's division, which was preceded by Robinson in person, +to assist Baxter, and, if possible to fill the interval between +the First and Eleventh Corps, for I feared the enemy would penetrate +there and turn my right flank. + +When Paul's brigade arrived, Baxter was out of ammunition, but +proceeded to refill his cartridge-boxes from those of the dead and +wounded. + +General Howard has stated that the interval referred to was filled +by Dilger's and Wheeler's batteries of the Eleventh Corps, but a +glance at the official map will show that, before Paul's advance, +these batteries were several hundred yards distant from the First +Corps. + +Another attack was now made from the north and west by both Daniel's +and Davis' brigades. Colonel Wister faced his own regiment, under +Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper, to the west, and the other two +regiments to the north. The enemy were again repulsed by two +volleys and a gallant bayonet charge, led by Huidekoper, who lost +an arm in the fight. Colonel Wister having been shot through the +face, the command devolved upon Colonel Dana, another veteran of +the Mexican war. + +There had been a great lack of co-ordination in these assaults, +for they were independent movements, each repulsed in its turn. +The last attack, however, against Wister by extended by Brockenborough's +and Pettigrew's brigades to Morrow's front in the woods, but Morrow +held on firmly to his position. + +I now sent my last reserve, the 151st Pennsylvania, under Lieutenant- +Colonel McFarland, to take post between Stone's and Biddle's +brigades. + +So far I had done all that was possible to defend my front, but +circumstances were becoming desperate. My line was very thin and +weak, and my last reserve had been thrown in. As we had positive +information that the entire rebel army was coming on, it was evident +enough that we could not contend any longer, unless some other +corps came to our assistance. I had previously sent an aide-- +Lieutenant Slagle--to ask General Howard to reinforce me from +Steinwehr's division, but he declined to do so. I now sent my +Adjutant-General, Halsted, to reiterate the request, or to obtain +for me an order to retreat, as it was impossible for me to remain +where I was, in the face of the constantly increasing forces which +were approaching from the west. Howard insisted that Halstead +mistook rail fences for troops in the distance. The lorgnettes of +his staff finally convinced him of his error; he still, however, +refused to order me to retire, but sent Halsted off to find Buford's +cavalry, and order it to report to me. The First Corps had suffered +severely in these encounters, but by this additional delay, and +the overwhelming odds against us, it was almost totally sacrificed. +General Wadsworth reported half of his men were killed or wounded, +and Rowley's division suffered in the same proportion. Hardly a +field officer remained unhurt. After five color-bearers of the +24th Michigan Volunteers had fallen, Colonel Morrow took the flag +in his own hands, but was immediately prostrated. A private then +seized it, and, although mortally wounded, still held it firmly in +his grasp. Similar instances occurred all along the line. General +Robinson had two horses shot under him. He reported a loss of +1,667 out of 2,500. Buford was in a distant part of the field, +with Devin's brigade, covering the retreat of the Eleventh Corps, +and already had all he could attend to. He expressed himself in +unequivocal terms at the idea that he could keep back Hill's entire +corps with Gamble's cavalry brigade alone. + +As Howard seemed to have little or no confidence in his troops on +Cemetery Hill, he was perhaps justified in retaining them in line +there for the moral effect they would produce. + +About the time the Eleventh Corps gave way on the right, the +Confederate forces made their final advance in double lines, backed +by strong reserves, and it was impossible for the few men left in +the First Corps to keep them back, especially as Pender's large +division overlapped our left for a quarter of a mile; Robinson's +right was turned, and General Paul was shot through both eyes in +the effort to stem the tide. They could not contend against Ramseur +in front, and O'Neill on the flank, at the same time. + +Under these circumstances it became a pretty serious question how +to extricate the First Corps and save its artillery before it was +entirely surrounded and captured. + +Biddle, Morrow, and Dana were all forced back from the ridge they +had defended so long, which bordered Willoughby's Run. Each brigade +was flanked, and Stone's men under Dana were assailed in front and +on both flanks. Yet even then Daniel speaks of the severe fighting +which took place before he could win the position. + +What was left of the First Corps after all this slaughter rallied +on Seminary Ridge. Many of the men entered a semi-circular rail +entrenchment which I had caused to be thrown up early in the day, +and held that for a time by lying down and firing over the pile of +rails. The enemy were now closing in on us from the south, west, +and north, and still no orders came to retreat. Buford arrived +about this time, and perceiving that Perrin's brigade in swinging +around to envelop our left exposed its right flank, I directed him +to charge. He reconnoitered the position they held, but did not +carry out the order; I do not know why. It was said afterward he +found the fences to be an impediment; but he rendered essential +service by dismounting his men and throwing them into a grove south +of the Fairfield road, where they opened a severe fire, which +checked the rebel advance and prevented them from cutting us off +from our direct line of retreat to Cemetery Hill. + +The first long line that came on us from the west was swept away +by our artillery, which fired with very destructive effect, taking +the rebel line _en echarpe_. + +Although the Confederates advanced in such force, our men still +made strong resistance around the Seminary, and by the aid of our +artillery, which was most effective, beat back and almost destroyed +the first line of Scales' brigade, wounding both Scales and Pender. +The former states that he arrived within seventy-five feet of the +guns, and adds: "Here the fire was most severe. Every field +officer but one was killed or wounded. The brigade halted in some +confusion to return the fire." My Adjutant-Generals Baird and +Halstead, and my aides Lee, Marten, Slagle, Jones, and Lambdin had +hot work carrying orders at this time. It is a marvel that any of +them survived the storm of bullets that swept the field. + +Robinson was forced back toward the Seminary, but halted notwithstanding +the pressure upon him, and formed line to save Stewart's battery +north of the railroad cut, which had remained too long, and was in +danger of being captured. + +Cutler's brigade in the meantime had formed behind the railroad +grading to face the men who were pursuing the Eleventh Corps. This +show of force had a happy effect, for it caused the enemy in that +direction to halt and throw out a skirmish line, and the delay +enabled the artillery soon after to pass through the interval +between Cutler on the north and Buford's cavalry on the south. + +As the enemy were closing in upon us and crashes of musketry came +from my right and left, I had little hope of saving my guns, but +I threw my headquarters guard, under Captain Glenn of the 149th +Pennsylvania, into the Seminary and kept the right of Scales' +brigade back twenty minutes longer, while their left was held by +Baxter's brigade of Robinson's division, enabling the few remaining +troops, ambulances, and artillery to retreat in comparative safety. +It became necessary, however, to abandon one gun of Captain Reynolds' +battery, as several of the horses were shot and there was no time +to disengage them from the piece. Three broken and damaged caisson +bodies were also left behind. The danger at this time came +principally from Hoke's and Hays' brigades, which were making their +way into the town on the eastern side, threatening to cut us off +from Cemetery Hill. The troops in front of the Seminary were stayed +by the firm attitude of Buford's cavalry, and made a bend in their +line, apparently with a view to form square. + +I waited until the artillery had gone and then rode back to the +town with my staff. As we passed through the streets, pale and +frightened women came out and offered us coffee and food, and +implored us not to abandon them. + +Colonel Livingston of my staff, who had been sent on a message, +came back to the Seminary, not knowing that we had left. He says +the enemy were advancing toward the crest very cautiously, evidently +under the impression there was an ambuscade waiting for them there. +They were also forming against cavalry. + +On the way I must have met an aide that Howard says he sent to me +with orders to retreat, but I do not remember receiving any message +of the kind. + +I observe that Howard in his account of the battle claims to have +handled the First and Eleventh Corps from 11 A.M. until 4 P.M.; +but at 11 A.M. his corps was away back on the road, and did not +arrive until about 1 P.M. + +The map previously given on page 125 demonstrates that we were a +mere advance guard of the army, and shows the impossibility of our +defending Gettysburg for any length of time. + +The First Corps was broken and defeated, but not dismayed. There +were but few left, but they showed the true spirit of soldiers. +They walked leisurely from the Seminary to the town, and did not +run. I remember seeing Hall's battery and the 6th Wisconsin regiment +halt from time to time to face the enemy, and fire down the streets. +Both Doles and Ramsey claim to have had sharp encounters there. +Many of the Eleventh Corps, and part of Robinson's division, which +had been far out, were captured in the attempt to reach Steinwehr's +division on Cemetery Hill, which was the rallying point. + +When I arrived there I found General Howard, surrounded by his +staff, awaiting us at the main gate of the cemetery. He made +arrangements to hold the road which led up from the town, and which +diverged to Baltimore and Taneytown, by directing me to post the +First Corps on the left in the cemetery, while he assembled the +Eleventh Corps on the right. Soon after he rode over to ask me, +in case his own men (Steinwehr's division) deserted their guns, to +be in readiness to defend them. General Schurz about this time +was busily engaged in rallying his men, and did all that was possible +to encourage them to form line again. I understood they were told +that Sigel had just arrived and assumed command, a fiction thought +justifiable under the circumstances. It seemed to me that the +discredit that attached to them after Chancellorsville had in a +measure injured their morale and _esprit-de-corps_, for they were +rallied with great difficulty. + +About 3.30 P.M., General Hancock arrived with orders from General +Meade to supersede Howard. Congress had passed a law authorizing +the President to put any general over any other superior to rank +if, in his judgment, the good of the service demanded it, and +General Meade now assumed this power in the name of the President. +Owing to the false despatch Howard had sent early in the day, Meade +must have been under the impression that the First Corps had fled +without fighting. More than half of them, however, lay dead and +wounded on the field, and hardly a field officer had escaped. + +Hancock being his junior, Howard was naturally unwilling to submit +to his authority and, according to Captain Halstead of my staff, +who was present, refused to do so. Howard stated in a subsequent +account of the battle that he merely regarded General Hancock as +a staff officer acting for General Meade. He says "General Hancock +greeted me in his usual frank and cordial manner and used these +words, 'General Meade has sent me to represent him on the field.' +I replied, 'All right, Hancock. This is no time for talking. You +take the left of the pike and I will arrange these troops to the +right.' I noticed that he sent Wadsworth's division, without +consulting me, to the right of the Eleventh Corps to Culp's Hill, +but as it was just the thing to do I made no objection." He adds +that Hancock did not really relieve him until 7 P.M. Hancock, +however, denies that he told Howard he was merely acting as a staff +officer. He says he assumed absolute command at 3.30 P.M. I know +he rode over to me and told me he was in command of the field, and +directed me to send a regiment to the right, and I sent Wadsworth's +division there, as my regiments were reduced to the size of +companies. + +Hancock was much pleased with the ridge we were on, as a defensive +position, and considered it admirably adapted for a battle-field. +Its gentle slopes for artillery, its stone fences and rocky boulders +to shelter infantry, and its ragged but commanding eminences on +either flank, where far-reaching batteries could be posted, were +great advantages. It covered the principal roads to Washington +and Baltimore, and its convex shape, enabling troops to reinforce +with celerity any point of the line from the centre, or by moving +along the chord of this arc, was probably the cause of our final +success. The enemy, on the contrary, having a concave order of +battle, was obliged to move troops much longer distances to support +any part of his line, and could not communicate orders rapidly, +nor could the different corps co-operate promptly with each other. +It was Hancock's recommendation that caused Meade to concentrate +his army on this ridge, but Howard received the thanks of Congress +for selecting the position. He, doubtless, did see its advantages, +and recommended it to Hancock. The latter immediately took measures +to hold it as a battle-ground for the army, while Howard merely +used the cemetery as a rallying point for his defeated troops. +Hancock occupied all the prominent points, and disposed the little +cavalry and infantry he had in such a way as to impress the enemy +with the idea that heavy reinforcements had come up. By occupying +Culp's Hill, on the right, with Wadsworth's brigade, and posting +the cavalry on the left to take up a good deal of space, he made +a show of strength not warranted by the facts. Both Hill and Ewell +had received some stunning blows during the day, and were disposed +to be cautious. They, therefore, did not press forward and take +the heights, as they could easily have done at this time, but not +so readily after an hour's delay, for then Sickles' corps from +Emmetsburg, and Slocum's corps from Two Taverns, began to approach +the position. The two rebel divisions of Anderson and Johnson, +however, arrived about dusk, which would have still given the enemy +a great numerical superiority. + +General Lee reached the field before Hancock came, and watched the +retreat of the First and Eleventh Corps, and Hancock's movements +and dispositions through his field-glass. He was not deceived by +this show of force, and sent a recommendation--not an order--to +Ewell to follow us up; but Ewell, in the exercise of his discretion +as a corps commander, did not do so. He had lost 3,000 men, and +both he and Hill were under orders not to bring on a general +engagement. In fact they had had all the fighting they desired +for the time being. Colonel Campbell Brown, of Ewell's staff, +states that the latter was preparing to move forward against the +height, when a false report induced him to send Gordon's brigade +to reinforce Smith's brigade on his extreme left, to meet a supposed +Union advance in that direction. + +The absence of these two brigades decided him to wait for the +arrival of Johnson's division before taking further action. When +the latter came up, Slocum and Sickles were on the ground, and the +opportunity for a successful attack had passed. + +In sending Hancock forward with such ample powers, Meade virtually +appointed him commander-in-chief for the time being, for he was +authorized to say where we would fight, and when, and how. In the +present instance, in accordance with his recommendation, orders +were immediately sent out for the army to concentrate on Cemetery +Ridge. Two-thirds of the Third Corps, and all of the Twelfth came +up, and by six o'clock the position became tolerably secure. +Stannard's Second Vermont brigade also arrived, and as they formed +part of my command, reported to me for duty; a very welcome +reinforcement to my shattered division. Sickles had taken the +responsibility of joining us without orders, knowing that we were +hard pressed. His command prolonged the line of the First Corps +to the left. Slocum's Corps--the Twelfth--was posted, as a reserve, +also on the left. + +Hancock now relinquished the command of the field to Slocum and +rode back to Taneytown to confer with Meade and explain his reasons +for choosing the battle-field. + +Longstreet's corps soon arrived and joined Ewell and Hill; so that +the whole rebel army was ready to act against us the next morning, +with the exception of Pickett's division. + +At the close of the day General John Newton rode up and took charge +of the First Corps by order of General Meade, and I resumed the +command of my division. Several incidents occurred during the +severe struggle of the first day which are worthy of record. + +Colonel Wheelock of the 97th New York was cut off during the retreat +of Robinson's division, and took refuge in a house. A rebel +lieutenant entered and called upon him to surrender his sword. +This he declined to do, whereupon the lieutenant called in several +of his men, formed them in line, took out his watch and said to +the colonel, "You are an old gray-headed man, and I dislike to kill +you, but if you don't give up that sword in five minutes, I shall +order these men to blow your brains out." When the time was up +_the Colonel still refused to surrender._ A sudden tumult at the +door, caused by some prisoners attempting to escape, called the +lieutenant off for a moment. When he returned the colonel had +given his sword to a girl in the house who had asked him for it, +and she secreted it between two mattresses. He was then marched +to the rear, but being negligently guarded, escaped the same night +and returned to his regiment. + +Another occurrence recalls Browning's celebrated poem of "An Incident +at Ratisbon." An officer of the 6th Wisconsin approached Lieutenant- +Colonel Dawes, the commander of the regiment, after the sharp fight +in the railroad cut. The colonel supposed, from the firm and erect +attitude of the man, that he came to report for orders of some +kind; but the compressed lips told a different story. With a great +effort the officer said, _"Tell them at home I died like a man and +a soldier."_ He threw open his breast, displayed a ghastly wound, +and dropped dead at the colonel's feet. + +Another incident was related to me at the time, but owing to our +hurried movements and the vicissitudes of the battle, I have never +had an opportunity to verify it. It was said that during the +retreat of the artillery one piece of Stewart's battery did not +limber up as soon as the others. A rebel officer rushed forward, +placed his hand upon it, and presenting a pistol at the back of +the driver, directed him not to drive off with the piece. The +latter did so, however, received the ball in his body, caught up +with the battery and then fell dead. + +We lay on our arms that night among the tombs at the Cemetery, so +suggestive of the shortness of life and the nothingness of fame; +but the men were little disposed to moralize on themes like these +and were too much exhausted to think of anything but much-needed +rest. + + + +CHAPTER V. +BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG--THE SECOND DAY. + +The ridge upon which the Union forces were now assembling has +already been partially described. In two places it sunk away into +intervening valleys. One between Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill; +the other lay for several hundred yards north of Little Round Top, +as the lesser of the two eminences on the left was called to +distinguish it from the higher peak called Round Top. + +At 1 A.M. Meade arrived from Taneytown. When I saw him, soon after +daylight, he seemed utterly worn out and hollow-eyed. Anxiety and +want of sleep were evidently telling upon him. At dawn he commenced +forming his line by concentrating his forces on the right with a +view to descend into the plain and attack Lee's left, and the +Twelfth Corps were sent to Wadsworth's right to take part in the +movement. It seems to me that this would have been a very hazardous +enterprise, and I am not surprised that both Slocum and Warren +reported against it. The Fifth and Sixth Corps would necessarily +be very much fatigued after making a forced march. To put them in +at once, and direct them to drive a superior force of Lee's veterans +out of a town where every house would have been loop-holed, and +every street barricaded, would hardly have been judicious. If we +had succeeded in doing so, it would simply have reversed the battle +of Gettysburg, for the Confederate army would have fought behind +Seminary Ridge, and we would have been exposed in the plain below. +Nor do I think it would have been wise strategy to turn their left, +and drive them between us and Washington, for it would have enabled +them to threaten the capital, strengthen and shorten their line of +retreat, and endanger our communications at the same time. It is +an open secret that Meade at that time disapproved of the battle- +ground Hancock had selected. + +Warren and Slocum having reported an attack against Lee's left as +unadvisable, Meade began to post troops on our left, with a view +to attack the enemy's right. This, in my opinion, would have been +much more sensible. Lee, however, solved the problem for him, and, +fortunately for us, forced him to remain on the defensive, by +ordering an assault against each extremity of the Union line. + +There has been much discussion and a good deal of crimination and +recrimination among the rebel generals engaged as to which of them +lost the battle of Gettysburg. + +I have already alluded to the fact that universal experience +demonstrates that columns converging on a central force almost +invariably fail in their object and are beaten in detail. Gettysburg +seems to me a striking exemplification of this; repeated columns +of assault launched by Lee against our lines came up in succession +and were defeated before the other parts of his army could arrive +in time to sustain the attack. He realized the old fable. The +peasant could not break the bundle of fagots, but he could break +one at a time until all were gone. + +Lee's concave form of battle was a great disadvantage, for it took +him three times as long as it did us to communicate with different +parts of his line, and concentrate troops. His couriers who carried +orders and the reinforcements he sent moved on the circumference +and ours on the chord of the arc. + +The two armies were about a mile apart. The Confederates--Longstreet +and Hill--occupied Seminary Ridge, which runs parallel to Cemetery +Ridge, upon which our forces were posted. Ewell's corps, on the +rebel left, held the town, Hill the centre, and Longstreet the +right. + +Lee could easily have manoeuvred Meade out of his strong position +on the heights, and should have done so. When he determined to +attack, he should have commenced at daybreak, for all his force +was up except Pickett's division; while two corps of the Union +army, the Fifth and Sixth, were still far away, and two brigades +of the Third Corps were also absent. + +The latter were marching on the Emmetsburg road, and as that was +controlled by the enemy, Sickles felt anxious for the safety of +his men and trains, and requested that the cavalry be sent to escort +them in. This was not done, however. The trains were warned off +the road, and the two brigades were, fortunately, not molested. + +There has been a great deal of bitter discussion between Longstreet, +Fitz Lee, Early, Wilcox, and others as to whether Lee did or did +not order an attack to take place at 9 A.M., and as to whether +Longstreet was dilatory, and to blame for not making it. When a +battle is lost there is always an inquest, and a natural desire on +the part of each general to lay the blame on somebody else's +shoulders. Longstreet waited until noon for Law's brigade to come +up, and afterward there was a good deal of marching and countermarching +to avoid being seen by our troops. There was undoubtedly too much +delay. The fact is, Longstreet saw we had a strong position and +was not well pleased at the duty assigned him, for he thought it +more than probable his attempt would fail. He had urged Lee to +take up a position where Meade would be forced to attack him, and +was not in very good humor to find his advice disregarded. The +rebel commander, however, finding the Army of the Potomac in front +of him, having unbounded confidence in his troops, and elated by +the success of the first day's fight, believed he could gain a +great victory then and there, and end the war, and determined to +attempt it. He was sick of these endless delays and constant +sacrifices, and hoped one strong sword-thrust would slay his +opponent, and enable the South to crown herself queen of the North +American continent. + +By 9 A.M. our skirmish line, in front of the Peach Orchard, was +actively engaged with that of the enemy, who were making a +reconnoissance toward the Emmetsburg road. No serious affair, +however, occurred for some hours. Meade, as stated, was forming +his lines on the right of the position he afterward occupied. The +Fifth Corps, which came up about 1 P.M., was posted, as a reserve, +south of the Twelfth Corps, with a view to the attack which has +already been referred to. About 3 P.M. the Sixth Corps began to +arrive from its long and toilsome march of thirty-four miles, and +its tired troops were placed on the Taneytown road in the rear of +Round Top, to reinforce the other corps in case our troops made an +attack on the left. Lee, however, did not wait for Meade to advance +against him, but boldly directed that each flank of the Union army +should be assailed at the same time, while constant demonstrations +against our centre were to be kept up, to prevent either wing from +being reinforced. It was another attempt to converge columns with +an interval of several miles between them upon a central force, +and, like almost all such enterprises, failed from want of proper +co-operation in the different fractions of his line. + + +[Map] +GETTYSBURG.--Final Attack of the First Day, and Battle of the Second +Day.* +[* The first day's battle is represented north of the Fairfield +and Hanover roads. The second day's battle south of the same +roads.] + +REFERENCES TO THE FIRST DAY'S BATTLE. +_Union Troops,_ [filled rectangle] +MAJOR GENERAL O. O. HOWARD commanding the First and Eleventh Corps. +FIRST CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL ABNER DOUBLEDAY commanding. +FIRST DIVISION--MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES S. WADSWORTH commanding. + _a. First Brigade._ Colonel Henry A. Morrow, 24th Michigan. + _b. Second Brigade._ Brigadier-General Lysander Cutler. +SECOND DIVISION--MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN C. ROBINSON. + _c. First Brigade._ Brigadier-General Gabriel R. Paul. + _d. Second Brigade._ Brigadier-General Henry Baxter. +THIRD DIVISION--BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOS. A. ROWLEY. + _e. First Brigade._ Colonel Chapman Biddle, 121st Pennsylvania. + _f. Second Brigade._ Colonel Roy Stone, 149th Pennsylvania. +ELEVENTH CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL CARL SCHURZ commanding. +FIRST DIVISION--BRIGADIER-GENERAL F. C. BARLOW commanding. + _g. First Brigade._ Colonel Von Gilsa. + _h. Second Brigade._ Brigadier-General Adelbert Ames. +SECOND DIVISION--BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALEXANDER SCHIMMELPFENNIG. + _k. First Brigade._ Colonel Von Arnsberg. + _l. Second Brigade._ Colonel Kryzanowski. + _m. Coster's Brigade,_ of Steinwehr's Division. + +_Confederate Troops,_ [open rectangle] +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL A. P. HILL commanding Third Corps. +MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY HETH commanding Division. + 1. Archer's Brigade. 3. Brockenborough's Brigade. + 2. Davis' Brigade. 4. Pettigrew's Brigade. +MAJOR-GENERAL W. D. PENDER commanding Division. + 6. McGowan's Brigade. 8. Thomas' Brigade. + 7. Scales' Brigade. 9. Lane's Brigade. +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL BENJ. EWELL commanding Second Corps. +MAJOR-GENERAL R. E. RODES commanding Division. + 10. Daniel's Brigade. 12. Iverson's Brigade. + 11. Ramseur's Brigade. 13. O'Neill's Brigade. + 14. Doles' Brigade. +MAJOR-GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY commanding Division. + 15. Gordon's Brigade. 17. Hoke's Brigade. + 16. Hays' Brigade. 18. Smith's Brigade. + + +Longstreet's attack was over before Ewell came into action, and +although Ewell succeeded in temporarily establishing himself on +our extreme right, it was due to an unfortunate order given by +General Meade, by which the force in that part of the field was +withdrawn just as Ewell advanced against it. But we are anticipating +our narrative. + +Hood, who commanded the division on the right of Longstreet's corps, +complains that he was not allowed to go past Round Top and flank +us on the south, as he might have done, but was required by his +orders to break in at the Peach Orchard and drive Sickles' line +along the Emmetsburg road toward Cemetery Hill; but it seems to +me, as he started late in the afternoon, if he had made the detour +which would have been necessary in order to attack us on the south, +he would have met Sedgwick in front, while Sickles and Sykes might +have interposed to cut him off from the main body. + +Before describing Longstreet's attack we will give the final +disposition made by General Meade when it became necessary to fight +a defensive battle. The ridge was nearly in the shape of a horseshoe. +The Twelfth Corps was on the extreme right; next came one division +of the First Corps on Culp's Hill, then the Eleventh Corps on +Cemetery Hill, with two divisions of the First Corps at the base; +next the Second Corps; then the Third, and the Fifth Corps on the +extreme left, the Sixth Corps being posted in rear of Round Top as +a general reserve to the army. Sickles, however, denies that any +position was ever marked out for him. He was expected to prolong +Hancock's line to the left, but did not do so for the following +reasons: _First,_ because the ground was low, and _second,_ on +account of the commanding position of the Emmetsburg road, which +ran along a cross ridge oblique to the front of the line assigned +him, and which afforded the enemy an excellent position for their +artillery; _third,_ because the ground between the valley he was +expected to occupy, and the Emmetsburg road constituted a minor +ridge, very much broken and full of rocks and trees, which afforded +excellent cover for an enemy operating in his immediate front. He +had previously held an interview with General Meade and asked that +an experienced staff officer be sent with him to assist in locating +a suitable position for his corps. At his request, General Hunt, +the Chief of Artillery, was sent for that purpose. They rode out +to the ridge and Sickles directed that his troops should be posted +along that road, with his centre at the Peach Orchard, which was +about a mile from and nearly opposite to Little Round Top; his +right wing, under Humphreys, extending along the road, while his +left wing, under Birney, made a right angle at the Peach Orchard +with the other part of the line, and bent around, so as to cover +the front of Little Round Top at the base. The disadvantages of +this position are obvious enough. It is impossible for any force +to hold its ground when attacked at once on both sides which +constitute the right angle. The diagram shows that the force _A_ +will have both its lines _a1_ and _a2_ enfiladed by batteries at +_b1 b2_, and must yield. The ground, however, may be such that +the enemy cannot plant his guns at _b1_ or _b2_; but under any +circumstances it is a weak formation and the enemy easily penetrate +the angle. When that is the case, and it was so in the present +instance--each side constituting the angle is taken in flank, and +the position is no longer tenable. + +[Diagram] + _________________________ + | _b2_ + | + |_b1_ _________________ + | | _a1_ + | | + | | _A_ + | |_a2_ + | | + | | + +If one side of the right angle lies behind a ridge where it cannot +be enfiladed, a temporary formation of this kind is sometimes +permissible. + +Sickles claimed that he acted with the implied sanction of General +Meade, who, however, censured the movement afterward. As soon as +Sickles took position, General Buford's division of cavalry was +sent to the rear at Westminster, to guard the trains there; and +Kilpatrick's division was ordered to Hunterstown to attack the +rebel left. + +Sykes' corps--the Fifth--came up from the right about 5 P.M., soon +after Longstreet's attack on Sickles was fairly under way, and +formed along the outer base of Little Round Top, with Crawford's +Pennsylvania Reserves at their right and front. + +There had been a Council of War, or Conference of Corps Commanders, +called at Meade's headquarters, and it was universally agreed to +remain and hold the position. As the Third Corps, in answer to +the guns of Clark's battery, was suddenly assailed by a terrible +concentrated artillery fire, General Sickles rode back to his +command and General Meade went with him. The latter objected to +Sickles' line, but thought it was then too late to change it. + +The severe artillery fire which opened against the two sides of +the angle at the Peach Orchard was a prelude to a furious attack +against Ward's brigade on the left. This attack soon extended to +the Peach Orchard. The fight became very hot against Birney's +division from the left to the centre, but the troops on the right +of the centre--Humphreys' division--were not at first actively +engaged, and Humphreys reinforced Birney with one of his brigades, +and subsequently with a regiment. + +The battle which now raged among these trees, rocks, and ravines +was so complicated that it is hard to follow and difficult to +describe the movements of the contestants. Some idea of it can +probably be gained by an examination of the following diagram: + +It will be seen that a long line of rebel batteries bears upon A, +and that one of them was brought up to enfilade the side AB. The +angle at A, attacked by Barksdale on the north and Kershaw on the +west, was broken in. In consequence of this, several batteries on +the line EF were sacrificed, and Wofford's brigade soon came forward +and took the position DE. + +The Confederate line being very long, and overlapping Ward's brigade +on the left, the latter was forced back, and the exulting rebels +advanced to seize Little Round Top. They attacked the force there +with great fury, assailing it in front and rear, but they were +ultimately repulsed, and finally took up the line GL. Two divisions +of the Fifth Corps and one of the Second Corps were sent in, one +after the other, to drive back the strong rebel force posted from +D to G, but each one had a bitter contest in front, and was flanked +by the rebel line at DE, so that ultimately all were obliged to +retreat, although each performed prodigies of valor. Indeed, +Brooks' brigade charged almost up to the enemy's line of batteries, +HI. The rebels gained the position LG, confronting our main line +and close to it; but a fine charge made by Crawford's division of +the Pennsylvania Reserves drove them farther back, and as part of +the Sixth Corps came up and formed to support Crawford, the rebels +gave up the contest for the night as regards this part of the field. + +The attack against Humphreys' division which followed the breaking +in of the angle at A will be described further on. The general +result was that Sickles' entire line, together with the reinforcements +sent in at different times to sustain it, were all forced back to +the ridge which was our main line of battle, with the exception of +Crawford's division which maintained a somewhat advanced position. + +The details of this contest are full of incident, and too important +to be wholly omitted. + +About 3.30 P.M. the rebels commenced the movement against our left, +by sending a flanking force from Hood's division, formed in two +lines, around to attack Sickles' left, held by General J. Hobart +Ward's brigade, which occupied the open ground covering the approaches +to Little Round Top; Ward's line passing in front of the mountain, +and his flank resting on a rocky depression in the ground called +the Devil's Den. The right extended to the minor spur or wooded +ridge beyond the wheat-field. The engagement was furious; commencing +on the rebel right, it extended to the left, until it reached the +Peach Orchard, where it became especially violent. This central +point of Sickles' line was held by eleven regiments of Birney's +and Humphreys' divisions. Birney's two brigades, commanded by +Graham and De Trobriand, held on bravely, for the men who fought +with Kearney in the Peninsula were not easily driven; but the line +was too attenuated to resist the shock very long, and reinforcements +became absolutely necessary to sustain that unlucky angle at the +Peach Orchard. Sickles had authority to call on Sykes, whose corps +was resting from a long and fatiguing march, but the latter wished +his men to get their coffee and be refreshed before sending them +in; and as those who are fighting almost always exaggerate the +necessity for immediate reinforcements, Sykes thought Sickles could +hold on a while longer, and did not respond to the call for three- +quarters of an hour. + +It would seem that Lee supposed that Meade's main line of battle +was on the Emmetsburg pike, and that the flank rested on the Peach +Orchard, for he ordered Longstreet to form Hood's division +perpendicular to that road, whereas Sickles occupied an advanced +line, and Sykes the main line in rear. McLaws says that Lee thought +turning the Peach Orchard was turning the Union left. With this +idea, he directed Longstreet to form across the Emmetsburg road, +and push our troops toward Cemetery Hill. Kershaw, after the minor +ridge was taken, reported to Longstreet that he could not carry +out these orders without exposing his right flank to an attack from +Sykes' corps. + +Ward fought bravely against Benning's and Anderson's brigades on +the left, driving back two attacks of the latter, but his line was +long and weak, and the enemy overlapped it by the front of nearly +two brigades. Being concealed from view, from the nature of the +ground they could concentrate against any point with impunity. He +attempted to strengthen his forces at the Devil's Den by detaching +the 99th Pennsylvania from his right, and, although De Trobriand +had no troops to spare, he was directed by General Birney to send +the 40th New York, under Colonel Egan, to reinforce that flank. +Egan arrived too late to perform the duty assigned to him, as Ward +had been already driven back, but not too late to make a gallant +charge upon the rebel advance. + +The fighting soon extended to the Peach Orchard, but as it commenced +on the left, we will describe that part of the engagement first. + +General Warren, who was on Meade's staff as Chief Engineer, had +ridden about this time to the signal station on Little Round Top, +to get a better view of the field. He saw the long line of the +enemy approaching, and about to overlap Ward's left, and perceived +that unless prompt succor arrived Little Round Top would fall into +their hands. Once in their possession they would flank our whole +line and post guns there to drive our troops from the ridge; so +that this eminence was in reality the key of the battle-field, and +must be held at all hazards. He saw Barnes' division, which Sykes +had ordered forward, formed for a charge, and about to go to the +relief of De Trobriand, who held the centre of Birney's line, and +who was sorely beset. Without losing a moment he rode down the +slope, over to Barnes, took the responsibility of detaching Vincent's +brigade, and hurried it back to take post on Little Round Top. He +then sent a staff officer to inform General Meade of what he had +done and to represent the immense importance of holding this +commanding point. + +The victorious column of the enemy was subjected to the fire of a +battery on Little Round Top, and to another farther to the right; +but it kept on, went around Ward's brigade and rushed eagerly up +the ravine between the two Round Tops to seize Little Round Top +which seemed to be defenceless. Vincent's brigade rapidly formed +on the crest of a small spur which juts out from the hill, and not +having time to load, advanced with the bayonet, in time to save +the height. The contest soon became furious and the rocks were +alive with musketry. General Vincent sent word to Barnes that the +enemy were on him in overwhelming numbers, and Hazlett's regular +battery, supported by the 140th New York under Colonel O'Rorke of +Weed's brigade, was sent as a reinforcement. The battery was +dragged with great labor to the crest of Little Round Top, and the +140th were posted on the slope on Vincent's right. They came upon +the field just as the rebels, after failing to penetrate the centre, +had driven back the right. In advancing to this exposed position, +Colonel O'Rorke, a brilliant young officer who had just graduated +at the head of his class at West Point, was killed and his men +thrown into some confusion, but Vincent rallied the line and repulsed +the assault. In doing so he exposed himself very much and was soon +killed by a rebel sharpshooter. General Weed, who was on the crest +with the battery, was mortally wounded in the same way; and as +Hazlett leaned over to hear his last message, a fatal bullet struck +him also and he dropped dead on the body of his chief. Colonel +Rice of the 44th New York now took command in place of Vincent. +The enemy having been foiled at the centre and right, stole around +through the woods and turned the left of the line; but Chamberlain's +regiment--the 20th Maine--was folded back by him, around the rear +of the mountain, to resist the attack. The rebels came on like +wolves, with deafening yells, and forced Chamberlain's men over +the crest; but they rallied and drove their assailants back in +their turn. This was twice repeated and then a brigade of the +Pennsylvania Reserves and one of the Fifth Corps dashed over the +hill. The 20th Maine made a grand final charge and drove the rebels +from the valley between the Round Tops, capturing a large number +of prisoners. Not a moment too soon, for Chamberlain had lost a +third of his command and was entirely out of ammunition. Vincent's +men in this affair took two colonels, fifteen officers, and five +hundred men prisoners, and a thousand stand of arms. Hill in his +official report says "Hood's right was held as in a vise." + +We will now return to the Peach Orchard. In answer to a shot from +Clark's battery a long line of guns opened from the eleven batteries +opposite. Graham's infantry were partially sheltered from this +iron hail, but the three batteries with him in the beginning, which +were soon reinforced by four more from the reserve artillery, under +Major McGilvery, were very much cut up; and at last it became +necessary to sacrifice one of them--that of Bigelow--to enable the +others to retire to a new line in the rear. Graham still held the +Peach Orchard, although he was assailed on two fronts, by Barksdale's +brigade on the north and Kershaw's brigade on the west. A battery +was brought forward to enfilade Sickles' line on the Emmetsburg +road, and under cover of its fire Barksdale carried the position, +but was mortally wounded in doing so.* Sickles lost a leg about +this time (5.30 P.M.), and Graham, who was also badly wounded, fell +into the enemy's hands. The command of the Third Corps now devolved +upon General Birney. + +[* Barksdale soon after was brought into my lines and died like a +brave man, with dignity and resignation. I had known him as an +officer of volunteers in the Mexican war. As a member of Congress +he was very influential in bringing on the Rebellion.] + +The batteries under Major McGilvery, which lined the cross road +below the Peach Orchard, were very effective, but were very much +shattered. Kershaw captured them at one time but was driven off +temporarily by a gallant charge of the 141st Pennsylvania of Graham's +brigade, who retook the guns, which were then brought off by hand. +Bigelow was ordered by Major McGilvery to sacrifice his battery to +give the others time to form a new line. He fought with _fixed +prolonge_ until the enemy were within six feet of him, and then +retired with the loss of three officers and twenty-eight men. +Phillips' battery, which adjoined his, had a similar experience. +McLaws bears testimony to the admirable manner with which this +artillery was served. He says one shell killed and wounded thirty +men, out of a company of thirty-seven. + +The capture of the Peach Orchard necessarily brought the enemy +directly on Humphreys' left flank and De Trobriand's right. The +disaster then became irremediable, because every force thrown in +after this period, had to contend with a direct fire in front, and +an enfilading fire from the right. + +While the Peach Orchard was assailed, several combats took place +in the vicinity, which had a general relation to the defence of +Sickles' line. A little stream runs through a ravine parallel to +the cross road, and about five hundred yards south of it, and then +turns abruptly to the south at the corner of a wheat-field, passing +through a rocky wooded country, to empty in Plum Run. De Trobriand +held the north bank of this stream with a very insufficient force +--a front of two regiments--and his contest with Semmes' brigade +in front and Kershaw's brigade, which was trying to penetrate into +the Peach Orchard, on his right, was at very close range and very +destructive. At the same time as Ward's left was turned and driven +back the enemy came in on the left and rear of De Trobriand, and +occupied the wheat-field. Barnes' division of the Fifth Corps, +composed of Sweitzer's and Tilton's brigades, soon came to his +assistance. The former, by wheeling to the left and retaining +several lines, kept up the fight successfully against the enemy +who came up the ravine, but the latter was flanked and obliged to +give way. De Trobriand's two regiments in front had a most determined +fight, and would not yield the ground. When relieved by Zook's +force they fell back across the wheat-field. There Birney used +them as a basis of a new line, brought up two fresh regiments, +charged through the field, and drove the enemy back to the stone +fence which bounded it. + +Caldwell's division of Hancock's corps now came on to renew the +contest. Caldwell formed his men with the brigades of Cross and +Kelly in front, and those of Zook and Brooke in rear. In the +advance Colonel Cross was killed, and the front line being enfiladed +in both directions, was soon so cut up that the rear line came +forward in its place. Zook was killed, but Brooke made a splendid +charge, turning Kershaw's right and driving Semmes back through +the supporting batteries. Sweitzer's brigade then came up a second +time to aid Brooke, but it was useless, for there was still another +line of batteries beyond, and as the Peach Orchard by this time +was in possession of the enemy, Brooke's advanced position was +really a disadvantage, for both his flanks were turned. Semmes' +brigade, together with parts of Benning's and Anderson's brigades, +rallied behind a stone wall, again came forward, and succeeded in +retaking the knoll and the batteries they had lost. Caldwell, +under cover of our artillery, extricated his division with heavy +loss, for both Zook's and Kelly's brigades were completely +surrounded. + +Then Ayres,* who had been at the turning-point of so many battles, +went in with his fine division of regulars, commanded by Day and +Burbank, officers of courage and long experience in warfare. He +struck the enemy in flank who were pursuing Caldwell, and who would +have renewed the attack on Little Round Top, doubled them up, and +drove them back to the position Caldwell had left; but his line, +from the nature of things, was untenable, for a whole brigade with +ample supports had formed on his right rear, so that nothing remained +but to face about and fight his way home again. This was accomplished +with the tremendous loss of fifty per cent. of his command in killed +and wounded. His return was aided by the artillery on Little Round +Top, and by the advance of part of the Sixth Corps. When the troops +were all gone, Winslow's battery still held the field for a time, +and withdrew by piece. + +[* General Ayres, whose service in the war commenced with the first +Bull Run and ended at Appomattox, may almost be called an impersonation +of the Army of the Potomac, as he took part in nearly all its +battles and minor engagements.] + +The enemy, Wofford's, Kershaw's, and Anderson's brigades, now +swarmed in the front of our main line between the wheat-field and +Little Round Top. General S. Wiley Crawford, who commanded a +division composed of two brigades of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, +was ordered to drive them farther back. This organization, which +at one time I had the honor to command, were veterans of the +Peninsula, and were among the most dauntless men in the army. +Crawford called upon them to defend the soil of their native State, +and headed a charge made by McCandless' brigade, with the colors +of one of the regiments in his hand. The men went forward with an +impetus nothing could withstand. The enemy took shelter behind a +stone fence on the hither side of the wheat-field, but McCandless +stormed the position, drove them beyond the field, and then, as it +was getting dark, both sides rested on their arms. The other +brigade of Crawford's division--that of Fisher--had previously been +sent to reinforce Vincent in his desperate struggle on the slope +of Little Round Top. The enemy retired before it, so that it was +not engaged, and it then took possession of the main Round Top on +the left of Little Round Top and fortified it. + +As Crawford charged, two brigades of Sedgwick's corps, those of +Nevin and Eustis, formed under Wheaton on the right and below Little +Round Top. The sight of the firm front presented by these fresh +troops thoroughly discouraged Longstreet, who went forward to +reconnoitre, and he gave up all attempts at making any farther +advance. + +The enemy at night took post at the western base of the ridge, and +held a fortified line as far south as the Devil's Den, in which +rocky cavern they took shelter. + +It remains now to describe the effect of the loss of the Peach +Orchard and the wounding of Sickles and Graham--which took place +soon after--upon the fate of Humphreys' division, posted on the +right along the Emmetsburg road. When Sickles lost his leg, Birney +assumed command of the corps, and ordered Humphreys to move his +left wing back to form a new oblique line to the ridge, in connection +with Birney's division. Humphreys, up to the loss of the Peach +Orchard, had not been actively engaged, as the enemy had merely +demonstrated along his front; but now he was obliged, while executing +the difficult manoeuvre of a change of front to rear, to contend +with Barksdale's brigade of McLaws' division on his left at the +Peach Orchard, and enfilading batteries there also, while his entire +front was called upon to repel a most determined assault from +Anderson's division, which hitherto had not been engaged, and which +now pressed with great force on his right, which still clung to +the road. Four regiments were thrown in by Hancock to support that +part of the line, but the attack was so sudden and violent that +they only had time to fire a few volleys before Humphreys received +orders to give up his advanced position and fall back to the ridge +itself. There he turned at bay. Hancock, who had been placed in +command of the First, Second, and Third Corps, was indefatigable +in his vigilance and personal supervision, "patching the line" +wherever the enemy was likely to break through. His activity and +foresight probably preserved the ridge from capture. Toward the +last Meade brought forward Lockwood's Maryland brigade from the +right and sent them in to cover Sickles' retreat. Humphreys was +followed up by the brigades of Wilcox, Perry, and Wright--about +the best fighting material in the rebel army. Perry was driven +back by the fire of our main line, and as his brigade was between +the other two, his retreat left each of them in a measure unsupported +on the flanks. Posey's and Mahone's brigades were to advance as +soon as the others became actively engaged, but failed to do so, +and therefore Pender, who was to follow after them, did not move +forward. Hence the great effort of Wilcox and Wright, which would +have been ruinous to us if followed up, was fruitless of results. +Both were repulsed for lack of support, but Wright actually reached +the crest with his Georgians and turned a gun, whose cannoneers +had been shot, upon Webb's brigade of the Second Corps. Webb gave +him two staggering volleys from behind a fence, and went forward +with two regiments. He charged, regained the lost piece, and turned +it upon them. Wright, finding himself entirely isolated in this +advanced position, went back again to the main line, and Wilcox +did the same. On this occasion Wright did what Lee failed to +accomplish the next day at such a heavy expense of life, _for he +pierced our centre,_ and held it for a short time, and had the +movement been properly supported and energetically followed up, it +might have been fatal to our army, and would most certainly have +resulted in a disastrous retreat. It was but another illustration +of the difficulty of successfully converging columns against a +central force. Lee's divisions seemed never to strike at the hour +appointed. Each came forward separately, and was beaten for lack +of support. + +Wright attained the crest and Wilcox was almost on a line with him. +The latter was closely followed up and nearly surrounded, for troops +rushed in on him from all sides. He lost very heavily in extricating +himself from his advanced position. Wilcox claims to have captured +temporarily twenty guns and Wright eight. + +As they approached the ridge a Union battery limbered up and galloped +off. The last gun was delayed and the cannoneer, with a long line +of muskets pointing at him within a few feet, deliberately drove +off the field. The Georgians manifested their admiration for his +bravery by crying out "Don't shoot," and not a musket was fired at +him.* I regret that I have not been able to ascertain the man's +name. + +[* As it is well to verify these incidents, I desire to state that +this is a reminiscence of Dr. J. Robie Wood, of New York, a Georgian, +a relative of Wendell Phillips, who was in the charge with Wright. +Wood fell struck by six bullets, but recovered.] + +In the morning General Tidball, who was attached to the cavalry as +Chief of Artillery, rode along the entire crest from Little Round +Top to Culp's Hill to make himself familiar with the line. As he +passed by headquarters he noticed some new troops, the Second +Vermont brigade under General Stannard, which formed part of my +command. They were a fine-looking body of men, and were drawn up +in close column by division, ready to go to any part of the field +at a moment's notice. After inquiring to what corps they belonged +he passed over to the right. On his return late in the day he saw +Sickles' whole line driven in and found Wright's rebel brigade +established on the crest barring his way back. He rode rapidly +over to Meade's headquarters and found the general walking up and +down the room, apparently quite unconscious of the movements which +might have been discerned by riding to the top of the hill, and +which should have been reported to him by some one of his staff. +Tidball said, "General, I am very sorry to see that the enemy have +pierced our centre." Meade expressed surprise at the information +and said, "Why, where is Sedgwick?" Tidball replied, "I do not +know, but if you need troops, I saw a fine body of Vermonters a +short distance from here, belonging to the First Corps, who are +available." Meade then directed him to take an order to Newton +and put the men in at once; the order was communicated to me and +I went with my division at double quick to the point indicated. +There we pursued Wright's force as it retired, and retook, at +Hancock's instigation, four guns taken by Wright earlier in the +action. When these were brought in I sent out two regiments, who +followed the enemy up nearly to their lines and retook two more +guns. I have been thus particular in narrating this incident as +Stannard's Vermont brigade contributed greatly to the victory of +the next day and it is worthy of record to state how they came to +be located in that part of the field. + +It is claimed that unless Sickles had taken up this advanced position +Hood's division would have turned our left, have forced us from +the shelter of the ridge, and probably have intervened between us +and Washington. The movement, disastrous in some respects, was +propitious as regards its general results, for the enemy had wasted +all their strength and valor in gaining the Emmetsburg road, which +after all was of no particular benefit to them. They were still +outside our main line. They pierced the latter it is true, but +the gallant men who at such heavy expense of life and limb stood +triumphantly on that crest were obliged to retire because the +divisions which should have supported them remained inactive. I +must be excused for thinking that the damaging resistance these +supports encountered on the first day from the men of my command +exerted a benumbing influence on the second day. + +It is said, that Hood being wounded, Longstreet led the last advance +against Little Round Top in person, but when he saw Sedgwick's +corps coming into line he gave up the idea of capturing the heights +as impracticable. This eminence should have been the first point +held and fortified by us early in the day, as it was the key of +the field, but no special orders were given concerning it and +nothing but Warren's activity and foresight saved it from falling +into the hands of the enemy. + +Meade was considerably startled by the fact that the enemy had +pierced our centre. He at once sent for Pleasonton and gave him +orders to collect his cavalry with a view to cover the retreat of +the army. Indeed, in an article on the "Secret History of Gettysburg," +published in the "Southern Historical Papers," by Colonel Palfrey, +of the Confederate army, he states that the movement to the rear +actually commenced, and that Ewell's pickets heard and reported +that artillery was passing in that direction. After a short time +the noise of the wheels ceased. He also says that in a conversation +he had with Colonel Ulric Dahlgren of our cavalry, who had lost a +leg, and was a prisoner in Richmond, he was told that while the +battle of Gettysburg was going on he (Dahlgren) captured a Confederate +scout with a despatch from Jefferson Davis to General Lee, in which +the former wrote of the exposed condition of Richmond owing to the +presence of a large Union force at City Point. Dahlgren said a +retreat had been ordered, but when Meade read this despatch, he +looked upon it as a sign indicating the weakness of the enemy, and +perhaps thinking it would not do to supplement the probable capture +of Richmond by a retreat of the Army of the Potomac, countermanded +the order. Sedgwick, who was high in the confidence of General +Meade, told one of his division commanders that the army would +probably fall back on Westminster. General Pleasonton testifies +that he was engaged, by order of General Meade, until 11 P.M. in +occupying prominent points with his cavalry, to cover the retreat +of the army. Nevertheless it has been indignantly denied that such +a movement was contemplated. + +Although it was General Lee's intention that both flanks of the +Union army should be assailed at the same time, while the intermediate +forces made demonstrations against the centre, Ewell did not move +to attack the right of our line at Culp's Hill until Longstreet's +assault on the left had failed. Longstreet attributes it to the +fact that Ewell had broken his line of battle by detaching two +brigades up the York road. There is always some reason why columns +never converge in time. Johnson's division, which was on the +extreme left of the rebel army, and had not been engaged, made +their way, sheltered by the ravine of Rock Creek, to assail the +right at Culp's Hill, held by Wadsworth's division of the First +Corps, and that part of the line still farther to the right where +Geary's division of the Twelfth Corps was posted. + +In his desire to reinforce the Fifth Corps at the close of the +conflict with Longstreet, General Meade made the sad mistake of +ordering the Twelfth Corps to abandon its position on the right +and report to General Sykes for duty on the left. General Slocum, +sensible that this would be a suicidal movement, reported that the +enemy were advancing on his front, and begged permission to keep +Geary's division there to defend the position. General Meade +finally allowed him to retain Greene's brigade, and no more, and +thus it happened that Ewell's troops, finding the works on the +extreme right of our line defenceless, had nothing to do but walk +in and occupy them. If Meade was determined to detach this large +force, there seems no good reason why two of Sedgwick's brigades +should not have been sent to take its place, but nothing was done. + +Johnson's division, as it came on, deployed and crossed Rock Creek +about half and hour before sunset. It suffered so severely from +our artillery, that one brigade, that of Jones, fell back in +disorder, its commander being wounded. The other, however, advanced +against Wadsworth, and Greene on his right; but as these generals +had their fronts well fortified, the attack was easily repulsed. +Nevertheless, the left of Johnson's line, not being opposed, took +possession of Geary's works about 9 P.M. and thus endangered our +communications. + +Gregg's division of cavalry which was posted east of Slocum's +position saw this movement of Johnson. Gregg opened fire on the +column with his artillery and sent out his men dismounted to skirmish +on the flank of the enemy. Johnson detached Walker's brigade to +meet him, and the contest continued until after dark. Greene, in +the meantime, swung his right around on the edge of a ravine, +perpendicular to the main line and fortified it, to avoid being +flanked. He was an accomplished soldier and engineer, having +graduated second in his class at West Point, and knew exactly what +ought to be done and how to do it. He held on strongly, and as it +was dark, and the enemy did not exactly know where they were, or +where our troops were posted, they waited until daylight before +taking any further action. Yet they were now but a short distance +from General Meade's headquarters, and within easy reach of our +reserve artillery. A night attack on the rear of our army, in +conjunction with an advance from the opposite side on Hancock's +front, would have thrown us into great confusion and must have +succeeded. + +During the night Ewell sent Smith's brigade to reinforce Johnson. +Geary, after all, did not reach Little Round Top or report to Sykes, +and if he had done so, his troops would have been of no use, as +the battle was over in that part of the field. There was a mystery +about his movements which needs to be cleared up. + +To supplement this attack on the extreme right, and prevent +reinforcements from being sent there, Early's division was directed +to carry Cemetery Hill by storm. Before it advanced, a vigorous +artillery fire was opened from four rebel batteries on Benner's +Hill, to prepare the way for the assault, but our batteries on +Cemetery Hill, which were partially sheltered by earthworks, replied +and soon silenced those of the enemy. Then Early's infantry moved +forth, Hays' brigade on the right, Hoke's brigade on the left, +under Colonel Avery, and Gordon's brigade in reserve. It was +supposed Johnson's division would protect Early's left flank, while +Rodes' and Pender's divisions would come forward in time to prevent +any attack against his right. The enemy first struck Von Gilsa's +brigade, which was posted behind a stone fence at the foot of the +hill. Still farther to its left, at the base of the hill, was +Ames' brigade, both enclosing Rickett's and Weidrick's and Stevens' +batteries, which had been a good deal cut up on the first day, were +now brought to bear on the approaching enemy. Colonel Wainwright, +Chief of Artillery of the First Corps, gave them orders not to +attempt to retreat if attacked, but to fight the guns to the last. +The enemy advanced up the ravine which was specially commanded by +Stevens' battery. Weidrick, Ricketts, and Stevens played upon the +approaching line energetically. The rebel left and centre fell +back, but the right managed to obtain shelter from houses and +undulating ground, and came on impetuously, charging over Von +Gilsa's brigade, and driving it up the hill, through the batteries. +In doing so Hays says the darkness and smoke saved his men from a +terrible slaughter. Weidrick's battery was captured, and two of +Ricketts' guns were spiked. The enemy, in making this movement, +exposed their left flank to Stevens' battery, which poured a terrible +fire of double canister into their ranks. The 33d Massachusetts +also opened a most effective oblique fire. The batteries were +penetrated but would not surrender. Dearer than life itself to +the cannoneer is the gun he serves, and these brave men fought hand +to hand with handspikes, rammers, staves, and even stones. They +shouted, _"Death on the soil of our native State rather than lose +our guns."_ Hancock, all this time should have been kept busy on +his own front repelling an attack from Rodes and Pender, but as +they did not come forward, and as he felt that there was great +danger that Howard would lose Cemetery Hill and his own right be +turned, he sent Carroll's brigade to the rescue. Carroll was joined +by the 106th Pennsylvania and some reinforcements from Schurz's +division. For a few minutes, Hays says, there was an ominous +silence and then the tramp of our infantry was heard. They came +over the hill and went in with a cheer. The enemy, finding they +were about to be overwhelmed, retreated, as no one came to their +assistance. When they fell back our guns opened a very destructive +fire. It is said that out of 1,750 men of the organization known +as "The Louisiana Tigers," only 150 returned. Hays attributes his +defeat to the fact that Gordon was not up in time to support him. + +The failure to carry the hill isolated Johnson's division on our +extreme right. As it could only be reached by a long circuit it +was not easy for Lee to maintain it there, without unduly weakening +other parts of his line. That Rodes' division did not reach Cemetery +Hill in time to co-operate with Early's attack was not owing to +any lack of zeal or activity on the part of that energetic officer. +He was obliged to move out of Gettysburg by the flank, then change +front and advance double the distance Early had to traverse, and +by the time he had done so Early had made the attack and had been +repulsed. + +The day closed with the rebels defeated on our left, but victorious +on our right. Fortunately for us, this incited Lee to continue +his efforts. He could not bear to retreat after his heavy losses, +and acknowledge that he was beaten. He resolved to reinforce +Johnson's division, now in rear of our right, and fling Pickett's +troops, the _élite_ of his army, who had not been engaged, against +our centre. He hoped a simultaneous attack made by Pickett in +front and Johnson in rear, would yet win those heights and scatter +the Union army to the winds. Kilpatrick, who had been resting the +tired men and horses of his cavalry division at Abbotsford after +the conflict at Hanover, went on the afternoon of the 2d to circle +around and attack the left and rear of the enemy by way of Hunterstown. +This plan was foiled, however, by the sudden arrival of Stuart's +cavalry from its long march. They reached that part of the field +about 4 P.M. After a fierce combat, in which Farnsworth's and +Custer's brigades and Estes' squadron were principally engaged +against Hampton's brigade supported by the main body, darkness put +an end to the fight. Kilpatrick then turned back and bivouacked +at Two Taverns for the night. + +Gregg's division of cavalry left Hanover at noon and took post +opposite and about three miles east of Slocum's Corps on the right. +There, as stated, he saw Johnson's division moving to the attack +and after throwing some shells into their ranks deployed his own +skirmish line and advanced against the one they threw out to meet +him. At 10 P.M. he withdrew and took post on the Baltimore pike +where it crosses Cress Run, near Rock Creek. By so doing he guarded +the right and rear of the army from any demonstration by Stuart's +cavalry. + +At night a council of war was held, in which it was unanimously +voted to stay and fight it out. Meade was displeased with the +result, and although he acquiesced in the decision, he said angrily, +"Have it your own way, gentlemen, but Gettysburg is no place to +fight a battle in." The fact that a portion of the enemy actually +prolonged our line on the right and that our centre had been pierced +during the day, made him feel far from confident. He thought it +better to retreat with what he had, than run the risk of losing +all.* + +[* Since the above was written, the discussion has been renewed in +the public prints as to whether General Meade did or did not intend +to leave the field. So far as the drawing up of an order of retreat +is concerned, it ws undoubtedly right and proper to do so, for it +is the duty of a general to be prepared for every emergency. It +is easy to criticise, and say what should have been done, after a +battle has been fought, after the position of troops is all laid +down on the maps, and the plans of every commander explained in +official reports; but amid the doubt and confusion of actual combat, +where there has been great loss of men and material, it is not +always so easy to decide. On the night of the 2d the state of +affairs was disheartening. In the combats of the preceding days, +the First, Third, and Eleventh Corps had been almost annihilated; +the Fifth Corps and a great part of the Second were shattered, and +only the Sixth Corps and Twelfth Corps were comparatively fresh. +It was possible therefore that the enemy might gain some great +success the next day, which would stimulate them to extra exertions, +and diminish the spirit of our men in the same proportion. In such +a case it was not improbable that the army might be destroyed as +an organization, and there is a vast difference between a _destroyed_ +army and a _defeated_ army. By retiring while it was yet in his +power to do so, General Meade felt that he would assure the safety +of our principal cities, for the enemy were too exhausted to pursue; +and being out of ammunition, and far from their base of supplies, +were not in a condition to do much further damage, or act very +energetically. Whereas our troops could soon be largely reinforced +from the draft which had just been established, and, being in the +centre of their resources, could be supplied with all that was +necessary for renewed effort. + +There is no question in my mind that, at the council referred to, +General Meade did desire to retreat, and expressed fears that his +communications with Taneytown might be endangered by remaining at +Gettysburg. + +It has also been stated that both General Gibbon and General Newton +objected to our position at Gettysburg, but this is an error. They +merely recommended some additional precautions to prevent the enemy +from turning our left at Round Top, and thus intervening between +us and Washington. Hancock, in giving his vote, said the Army of +the Potomac had retreated too often, and he was in favor of remaining +now to fight it out.] + + + +CHAPTER VI. +THE BATTLE OF THE THIRD DAY--JOHNSON'S DIVISION DRIVEN OUT. + +At dawn on the 3d the enemy opened on us with artillery, but the +firing had no definite purpose, and after some hours it gradually +slackened. + +The principal interest early in the day necessarily centred on the +right, where Johnson's position not only endangered the safety of +the army, but compromised our retreat. It was therefore essential +to drive him out as soon as possible. To this end batteries were +established during the night on all the prominent points in that +vicinity. Geary had returned with his division about midnight, +and was not a little astonished to find the rebels established in +the works he had left. He determined to contest possession with +them at daylight. In the meantime he joined Greene and formed part +of his line perpendicular to our main line of battle, and part +fronting the enemy. + +On the other hand, Ewell, having obtained a foothold, swore he +would not be driven out, and hastened to reinforce Johnson with +Daniel's and O'Neill's brigades from Rodes' division. + +As soon as objects could be discerned in the early gray of the +morning our artillery opened fire. As Johnson, on account of the +steep declivities and other obstacles, had not been able to bring +any artillery with him, he could not reply. It would not do to +remain quiet under this fire, and he determined to charge, in hopes +of winning a better position on higher ground. His men--the old +Stonewall brigade leading--rushed bravely forward, but were as +gallantly met by Kane's brigade of Geary's division and a close +and severe struggle ensued for four hours among the trees and rocks. +Ruger's division of the Twelfth Corps came up and formed on the +rebel left, taking them in flank and threatening them in reverse. +Indeed, as the rest of our line were not engaged, there was plenty +of support for Geary. Troops were sent him, including Shaler's +brigade, which took the front, and was soon warmly engaged in re- +establishing the line. + +At about 11 A.M., finding the contest hopeless, and his retreat +threatened by a force sent down to Rock Creek, Johnson yielded +slowly and reluctantly to a charge made by Geary's division, gave +up the position and withdrew to Rock Creek, where he remained until +night. + +Our line was once more intact. All that the enemy had gained by +dogged determination and desperate bravery was lost from a lack of +co-ordination, caused perhaps by the great difficulty of communicating +orders over this long concave line where every route was swept by +our fire. + +Lee had now attacked both flanks of the Army of the Potomac without +having been able to establish himself permanently on either. +Notwithstanding the repulse of the previous day he was very desirous +of turning the left, for once well posted there he could secure +his own retreat while interposing between Meade and Washington. +He rode over with Longstreet to that end of the line to see what +could be done. General Wofford, who commanded a brigade of McLaws' +division, writes in a recent letter to General Crawford, United +States Army, as follows: "Lee and Longstreet came to my brigade +Friday morning before the artillery opened fire. I told him that +the afternoon before, I nearly reached the crest. He asked if I +could not go there now. I replied, 'No, General, I think not.' +He said quickly, 'Why not?' 'Because,' I said, 'General, the enemy +have had all night to intrench and reinforce. I had been pursuing +a broken enemy and the situation was now very different.'" + +Having failed at each extremity, it only remained to Lee to retreat, +or attack the centre. Such high expectations had been formed in +the Southern States in regard to his conquest of the North that he +determined to make another effort. He still had Pickett's division, +the flower of Virginia, which had not been engaged, and which was +full of enthusiasm. He resolved to launch them against our centre, +supported on either flank by the advance of the main portion of +the army. He had hoped that Johnson's division would have been +able to maintain its position on the right, so that the Union centre +could be assailed in front and rear at the same time, but Johnson +having been driven out, it was necessary to trust to Pickett alone, +or abandon the whole enterprise and return to Virginia. + +Everything was quiet up to 1 P.M., as the enemy were massing their +batteries and concentrating their forces preparatory to the grand +charge--the supreme effort--which was to determine the fate of the +campaign, and to settle the point whether freedom or slavery was +to rule the Northern States. + +It seems to me there was some lack of judgment in the preparations. +Heth's division, now under Pettigrew, which had been so severely +handled on the first day, and which was composed in a great measure +of new troops, was designated to support Pickett's left and join +in the attack at close quarters. Wilcox, too, who one would think +had been pretty well fought out the day before, in his desperate +enterprise of attempting to crown the crest, was directed to support +the right flank of the attack. Wright's brigade was formed in +rear, and Pender's division on the left of Pettigrew, but there +was a long distance between Wilcox and Longstreet's forces on the +right. + +At 1 P.M., a signal gun was fired and one hundred and fifteen guns +opened against Hancock's command, consisting of the First Corps +under Newton, the Second Corps under Gibbon, the Third Corps under +Birney, and against the Eleventh Corps under Howard. The object +of this heavy artillery fire was to break up our lines and prepare +the way for Pickett's charge. The exigencies of the battle had +caused the First Corps to be divided, Wadsworth's division being +on the right at Culp's Hill, Robinson on Gibbon's right, and my +own division intervening between Caldwell on the left and Gibbon +on the right. The convex shape of our line did not give us as much +space as that of the enemy, but General Hunt, Chief of Artillery, +promptly posted eighty guns along the crest--as many as it would +hold--to answer the fire, and the batteries on both sides suffered +severely in the two hours' cannonade. Not less than eleven caissons +were blown up and destroyed; one quite near me. When the smoke +went up from these explosions rebel yells of exultation could be +heard along a line of several miles. At 3 P.M. General Hunt ordered +our artillery fire to cease, in order to cool the guns, and to +preserve some rounds for the contest at close quarters, which he +foresaw would soon take place. + +My own men did not suffer a great deal from this cannonade, as I +sheltered them as much as possible under the crest of the hill, +and behind rocks, trees, and stone fences. + +The cessation of our fire gave the enemy the idea they had silenced +our batteries, and Pickett at once moved forward, to break the left +centre of the Union line and occupy the crest of the ridge.* The +other forces on his right and left were expected to move up and +enlarge the opening thus made, so that finally, the two wings of +the Union Army would be permanently separated, and flung off by +this entering wedge in eccentric directions. + +[* The attack was so important, so momentous, and so contrary to +Longstreet's judgment, that when Pickett asked for orders to advance +he gave no reply, and Pickett said proudly, "I shall go forward, +sir!"] + +This great column of attack, it was supposed, numbered about +seventeen thousand men, but southern writers have a peculiar +arithmetic by which they always cipher down their forces to nothing. +Even on the left, on the preceding day, when our troops in front +of Little Round Top were assailed by a line a mile and a half long, +they figure it almost out of existence. The force that now advanced +would have been larger still had it not been for a spirited attack +by Kilpatrick against the left of Longstreet's corps, detaining +some troops there which otherwise might have co-operated in the +grand assault against our centre. + +It necessarily took the rebels some time to form and cross the +intervening space, and Hunt took advantage of the opportunity to +withdraw the batteries that had been most injured, sending others +in their place from the reserve artillery, which had not been +engaged. He also replenished the ammunition boxes, and stood ready +to receive the foe as he came forward--first with solid shot, next +with shell, and lastly, when he came to close quarters, with +canister. + +General Meade's headquarters was in the centre of this cannonade, +and as the balls were flying very thickly there, and killing the +horses of his staff, he found it necessary temporarily to abandon +the place. Where nothing is to be gained by exposure it is sound +sense to shelter men and officers as much as possible. He rode +over to Power's Hill, made his headquarters with General Slocum, +and when the firing ceased rode back again. During his absence +the charge took place. He has stated that it was his intention to +throw the Fifth and Sixth Corps on the flanks of the attacking +force, but no orders to this effect were issued, and it is questionable +whether such an arrangement would have been a good one. It would +have disgarnished the left, where Longstreet was still strong in +numbers, and in forming perpendicular to our line of battle the +two corps would necessarily have exposed their own outer flanks to +attack. Indeed, the rebels had provided for just such a contingency, +by posting Wilcox's brigade and Perry's brigade under Colonel Lang +on the left, both in rear of the charging column under Pickett and +Pettigrew. Owing to a mistake or misunderstanding, this disposition, +however, did not turn out well for the enemy. It was not intended +by Providence that the Northern States should pass under the iron +rule of the slave power, and on this occasion every plan made by +Lee was thwarted in the most unexpected manner. + +The distance to be traversed by Pickett's column was about a mile +and a half from the woods where they started, to the crest of the +ridge they desired to attain. They suffered severely from our +artillery, which opened on them with solid shot as soon as they +came in sight; when half way across the plain they were vigorously +shelled; double canisters were reserved for their nearer approach. + +At first the direction of their march appeared to be directly toward +my division. When within five hundred yards of us, however, Pickett +halted and changed direction obliquely about forty-five degrees, +so that the attack passed me and struck Gibbon's division on my +right. Just here one of those providential circumstances occurred +which favored us so much, for Wilcox and Lang, who guarded Pickett's +right flank, did not follow his oblique movement, but kept on +straight to the front, so that soon there was a wide interval +between their troops and the main body, leaving Pickett's right +fully uncovered. + +The rebels came on magnificently. As fast as the shot and shell +tore through their lines they closed up the gaps and pressed forward. +When they reached the Emmetsburg road the canister began to make +fearful chasms in their ranks. They also suffered severely from +a battery on Little Round Top, which enfiladed their line. One +shell killed and wounded ten men. Gibbon had directed his command +to reserve their fire until the enemy were near enough to make it +very effective. Pickett's advance dashed up to the fence occupied +by the skirmishers of the Second Corps, near the Emmetsburg road, +and drove them back; then the musketry blazed forth with deadly +effect, and Pettigrew's men began to waver on the left and fall +behind; for the nature of the ground was such that they were more +exposed than other portions of the line. They were much shaken by +the artillery fire, and that of Hays' division sent them back in +masses.* + +[* The front line of Hays' division, which received this charge, +was composed of the 12th New Jersey, 14th Connecticut, and 1st +Delaware. The second line was composed of the 111th, 125th, 126th, +and 39th New York.] + +Before the first line of rebels reached a second fence and stone +wall, behind which our main body was posted, it was obliged to pass +a demi-brigade under Colonel Theodore B. Gates, of the 20th New +York State Militia, and a Vermont brigade under General Stannard, +both belonging to my command. When Pickett's right became exposed +in consequence of the divergence of Wilcox's command, Stannard +seized the opportunity to make a flank attack, and while his left +regiment, the 14th, poured in a heavy oblique fire, he changed +front with his two right regiments, the 13th and 16th, which brought +them perpendicular to the rebel line of march. In cases of this +kind, when struck directly on the flank, troops are more or less +unable to defend themselves, and Kemper's brigade crowded in toward +the centre in order to avoid Stannard's energetic and deadly attack. +They were closely followed up by Gates' command, who continued to +fire into them at close range. This caused many to surrender, +others to retreat outright, and others simply to crowd together. +Simultaneously with Stannard's attack, the 8th Ohio, which was on +picket, overlapping the rebel left, closed in on that flank with +great effect. Nevertheless, the next brigade--that of Armistead-- +united to Garnett's brigade, pressed on, and in spite of death- +dealing bolts on all sides, Pickett determined to break Gibbon's +line and capture his guns. + +Although Webb's front was the focus of the concentrated artillery +fire, and he had already lost fifty men and some valuable officers, +his line remained firm and unshaken. It devolved upon him now to +meet the great charge which was to decide the fate of the day. It +would have been difficult to find a man better fitted for such an +emergency. He was nerved to great deeds by the memory of his +ancestors, who in former days had rendered distinguished services +to the Republic, and felt that the results of the whole war might +depend upon his holding of the position. His men were equally +resolute. Cushing's battery, A, 4th United States Artillery, which +had been posted on the crest, and Brown's Rhode Island Battery on +his left, were both practically destroyed by the cannonade. The +horses were prostrated, every officer but one was struck, and +Cushing had but one serviceable gun left. + +As Pickett's advance came very close to the first line, young +Cushing, mortally wounded in both thighs, ran his last serviceable +gun down to the fence, and said: _"Webb, I will give them one more +shot!"_ At the moment of the last discharge he called out, _"Good- +by!"_ and fell dead at the post of duty. + +Webb sent for fresh batteries to replace the two that were disabled, +and Wheeler's 1st New York Independent Battery came up just before +the attack, and took the place of Cushing's battery on the left. + +Armistead pressed forward, leaped the stone wall, waving his sword +with his hat on it, followed by about a hundred of his men, several +of whom carried battle-flags. He shouted, "Give them the cold +steel, boys!" and laid his hands upon a gun. The battery for a +few minutes was in his possession, and the rebel flag flew triumphantly +over our line. But Webb was at the front, very near Armistead, +animating and encouraging his men. He led the 72d Pennsylvania +regiment against the enemy, and posted a line of wounded men in +rear to drive back or shoot every man that deserted his duty. A +portion of the 71st Pennsylvania, behind a stone wall on the right, +threw in a deadly flanking fire, while a great part of the 69th +Pennsylvania and the remainder of the 71st made stern resistance +from a copse of trees on the left, near where the enemy had broken +the line, and where our men were shot with the rebel muskets touching +their breasts. + +Then came a splendid charge of two regiments, led by Colonel Hall, +which passed completely through Webb's line, and engaged the enemy +in a hand-to-hand conflict.* Armistead was shot down by the side +of the gun he had taken. It is said he had fought on our side in +the first battle at Bull Run, but had been seduced by Southern +affiliations to join in the rebellion; and now, dying in the effort +to extend the area of slavery over the free States, he saw with a +clearer vision that he had been engaged in an unholy cause, and +said to one of our officers who leaned over him: "Tell Hancock I +have wronged him and have wronged my country." + +[* Colonel Norman J. Hall, commanding a brigade in Hancock's corps, +who rendered this great service, was one of the garrison who defended +Fort Sumter at the beginning of the war. At that time he was the +Second Lieutenant of my company.] + +Both Gibbon and Webb were wounded, and the loss in officers and +men was very heavy; two rebel brigadier-generals were killed, and +more prisoners were taken than twice Webb's brigade; 6 battle-flags, +and 1,463 muskets were also gathered in. + +My command being a little to the left, I witnessed this scene, and, +after it was over, sent out stretcher-bearers attached to the +ambulance train, and had numbers of wounded Confederates brought +in and cared for. I was told that there was one man among these +whose conversation seemed to indicate that he was a general officer. +I sent to ascertain his rank, but he replied: "Tell General +Doubleday in a few minutes I shall be where there is no rank." He +expired soon after, and I never learned his name. + +The rebels did not seem to appreciate my humanity in sending out +to bring in their wounded, for they opened a savage fire against +the stretcher-bearers. One shell burst among us, a piece of it +knocked me over on my horse's neck, and wounded Lieutenant Cowdry +of my staff. + +When Pickett--the great leader--looked around the top of the ridge +he had temporarily gained, he saw it was impossible to hold the +position. Troops were rushing in on him from all sides. The Second +Corps were engaged in a furious assault on his front. His men were +fighting with clubbed muskets, and even banner staves were intertwined +in a fierce and hopeless struggle. My division of the First Corps +were on his right flank, giving deadly blows there, and the Third +Corps were closing up to attack. Pettigrew's forces on his left +had given way, and a heavy skirmish line began to accumulate on +that flank. He saw his men surrendering in masses, and, with a +heart full of anguish, ordered a retreat. Death had been busy on +all sides, and few indeed now remained of that magnificent column +which had advanced so proudly, led by the Ney of the rebel army, +and those few fell back in disorder, and without organization, +behind Wright's brigade, which had been sent forward to cover the +retreat. At first, however, when struck by Stannard on the flank, +and when Pickett's charge was spent, they rallied in a little +slashing, where a grove had been cut down by our troops to leave +an opening for our artillery. There two regiments of Rowley's +brigade of my division, the 151st Pennsylvania and the 20th New +York State Militia, under Colonel Theodore R. Gates, of the latter +regiment, made a gallant charge, and drove them out. Pettigrew's +division, it is said, lost 2,000 prisoners and 15 battle-flags on +the left. + +While this severe contest was going on in front of Webb, Wilcox +deployed his command and opened a feeble fire against Caldwell's +division on my left. Stannard repeated the manoeuvre which had +been so successful against Kemper's brigade by detaching the 14th +and 16th Vermont to take Wilcox in flank. Wilcox thus attacked on +his right, while a long row of batteries tore the front of his line +to pieces with canister, could gain no foothold. He found himself +exposed to a tremendous cross fire, and was obliged to retreat, +but a great portion of his command were brought in as prisoners by +Stannard* and battle-flags were gathered in sheaves. + +[* As Stannard's brigade were new troops, and had been stationed +near Washington, the men had dubbed them _The Paper Collar Brigade_, +because some of them were seen wearing paper collars, but after +this fight the term was never again applied to them.] + +A portion of Longstreet's corps, Benning's, Robertson's, and Law's +brigades, advanced against the two Round Tops to prevent reinforcements +from being sent from that vicinity to meet Pickett's charge. +Kilpatrick interfered with this programme, however, for about 2 +P.M. he made his appearance on our left with Farnsworth's brigade +and Merritt's brigade of regulars, accompanied by Graham's and +Elder's batteries of the regular army, to attack the rebel right, +with a view to reach their ammunition trains, which were in the +vicinity. The rebels say his men came on yelling like demons. +Having driven back the skirmishers who guarded that flank, Merritt +deployed on the left and soon became engaged there with Anderson's +Georgia brigade, which was supported by two batteries. On the +right Farnsworth, with the 1st Vermont regiment of his brigade, +leaped a fence, and advanced until he came to a second stone fence, +where he was checked by an attack on his right flank from the 4th +Alabama regiment of Law's brigade, which came back for that purpose +from a demonstration it was making against Round Top. Farnsworth +then turned and leaping another fence in a storm of shot and shell, +made a gallant attempt to capture Backman's battery, but was unable +to do so, as it was promptly supported by the 9th Georgia regiment +of Anderson's brigade. Farnsworth was killed in this charge, and +the 1st Vermont found itself enclosed in a field, with high fences +on all sides, behind which masses of infantry were constantly rising +up and firing. The regiment was all broken up and forced to retire +in detachments. Kilpatrick after fighting some time longer without +making much progress, fell back on account of the constant +reinforcements that were augmenting the force opposed to him. +Although he had not succeeded in capturing the ammunition train, +he had made a valuable diversion on the left, which doubtless +prevented the enemy from assailing Round Top with vigor, or detaching +a force to aid Pickett. + +The Confederate General Benning states that the prompt action of +General Law in posting the artillery in the road and the 7th and +9th Georgia regiments on each side, was all that saved the train +from capture. "There was nothing else to save it." He also says +that two-thirds of Pickett's command were killed, wounded, or +captured. Every brigade commander and every field officer except +one fell. Lee and Longstreet had seen from the edge of the woods, +with great exultation, the blue flag of Virginia waving over the +crest occupied by the Union troops. It seemed the harbinger of +great success to Lee. He thought the Union army was conquered at +last. The long struggle was over, and peace would soon come, +accompanied by the acknowledgment of the independence of the Southern +Confederacy. It was but a passing dream; the flag receded, and +soon the plain was covered with fugitives making their way to the +rear. Then, anticipating an immediate pursuit, he used every effort +to rally men and officers, and made strenuous efforts to get his +artillery in position to be effective. + +The Confederate General A. R. Wright criticises this attack and +very justly says, "The difficulty was not so much in reaching +Cemetery Ridge or taking it. My brigade did so on the afternoon +of the 2d, but the trouble was to hold it, for the whole Federal +army was massed in a sort of horse shoe, and could rapidly reinforce +the point to any extent; while the long enveloping Confederate line +could not support promptly enough." This agrees with what I have +said in relation to the convex and concave orders of battle. + +General Gibbon had sent Lieutenant Haskell of his staff to Power's +Hill to notify General Meade that the charge was coming. As Meade +approached his old headquarters he heard firing on the crest above, +and went up to ascertain the cause. He found the charge had been +repulsed and ejaculated "Thank God!" + +When Lee learned that Johnson had yielded his position on the right, +and therefore could not co-operate with Pickett's advance, he sent +Stuart's cavalry around to accomplish the same object by attacking +the right and rear of our army. Howard saw the rebel cavalry moving +off in that direction, and David McM. Gregg, whose division was +near White's Creek where it crosses the Baltimore pike, received +orders about noon to guard Slocum's right and rear. + +Custer had already been contending with his brigade against portions +of the enemy's force in that direction, when Gregg sent forward +McIntosh's brigade to relieve him, and followed soon after with J. +Irvin Gregg's brigade. Custer was under orders to join Kilpatrick's +command, to which he belonged, but the exigencies of the battle +soon forced Gregg to detain him. McIntosh, having taken the place +of Custer, pushed forward to develop the enemy's line, which he +found very strongly posted, the artillery being on a commanding +ridge which overlooked the whole country, and covered by dismounted +cavalry in woods, buildings, and behind fences below. McIntosh +became warmly engaged and send back for Randol's battery to act +against the rebel guns on the crest, and drive the enemy out of +the buildings. The guns above were silenced by Pennington's and +Randol's batteries, and the force below driven out of the houses +by Lieutenant Chester's section of the latter. The buildings and +fences were then occupied by our troops. The enemy attempted to +regain them by a charge against McIntosh's right flank, but were +repulsed. In the meantime Gregg came up with the other brigade, +and assumed command of the field. The battle now became warm, for +W. H. F. Lee's brigade, under Chambliss, advanced to support the +skirmish line, and the 1st New Jersey, being out of ammunition, +was charged and routed by the 1st Virginia. The 7th Michigan, a +new regiment which came up to support it, was also driven in; for +the enemy's dismounted line reinforced the 1st Virginia. The latter +regiment, which had held on with desperate tenacity, although +attacked on both flanks, was at last compelled to fall back by an +attack made by part of the 5th Michigan. The contending forces +were now pretty well exhausted when, to the dismay of our men, a +fresh brigade under Wade Hampton, which Stuart had kept in reserve, +made its appearance, and new and desperate exertions were required +to stem its progress. There was little time to act, but every +sabre that could be brought forward was used. As Hampton came on, +our artillery under Pennington and Randol made terrible gaps in +his ranks. Chester's section kept firing canister until the rebels +were within fifty yards of him. The enemy were temporarily stopped +by a desperate charge on their flank, made by only sixteen men of +the 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Captains Triechel and Rogers, +accompanied by Captain Newhall of McIntosh's staff. This little +band of heroes were nearly all disabled or killed, but they succeeded +in delaying the enemy, already shattered by the canister from +Chester's guns, until Custer was able to bring up the 1st Michigan +and lead them to the charge, shouting "Come on, you wolverines!" +Every available sabre was thrown in. General McIntosh and his +staff and orderlies charged into the _mélée_ as individuals. +Hampton and Fitz Lee headed the enemy, and Custer our troops. +Lieutenant Colonel W. Brooke-Rawle, the historian of the conflict, +who was present, says, "For minutes, which seemed like hours, amid +the clashing of the sabres, the rattle of the small arms, the +frenzied imprecations, the demands to surrender, the undaunted +replies, and the appeals for mercy, the Confederate column stood +its ground." A fresh squadron was brought up under Captain Hart +of the 1st New Jersey, and the enemy at last gave way and retired. +Both sides still confronted each other, but the battle was over, +for Pickett's charge had failed, and there was no longer any object +in continuing the contest. + +Stuart was undoubtedly baffled and the object of his expedition +frustrated; yet he stated in his official report that he was in a +position to intercept the Union retreat in case Pickett had been +successful. At night he retreated to regain his communications +with Ewell's left. + +This battle being off of the official maps has hardly been alluded +to in the various histories which have been written; but its results +were important and deserve to be commemorated. + +When Pickett's charge was repulsed, and the whole plain covered +with fugitives, we all expected that Wellington's command at +Waterloo, of _"Up, guards, and at them!"_ would be repeated, and +that a grand counter-charge would be made. But General Meade had +made no arrangements to give a return thrust. It seems to me he +should have posted the Sixth and part of the Twelfth Corps in rear +of Gibbon's division the moment Pickett's infantry were seen emerging +from the woods, a mile and a half off. If they broke through our +centre these corps would have been there to receive them, and if +they failed to pierce our line and retreated, the two corps could +have followed them up promptly before they had time to rally and +reorganize. An advance by Sykes would have kept Longstreet in +position. In all probability we would have cut the enemy's army +in two, and captured the long line of batteries opposite us, which +were but slightly guarded. Hancock, lying wounded in an ambulance, +wrote to Meade, recommending that this be done. Meade, it is true, +recognized in some sort the good effects of a counter-blow; but to +be effective the movement should have been prepared beforehand. +It was too late to commence making preparations for an advance when +some time had elapsed and when Lee had rallied his troops and had +made all his arrangements to resist an assault. It was ascertained +afterward that he had twenty rounds of ammunition left per gun, +but it was not evenly distributed and some batteries in front had +fired away all their cartridges. A counter-charge under such +circumstances is considered almost imperative in war; for the beaten +army, running and dismayed, cannot, in the nature of things, resist +with much spirit; whereas the pursuers, highly elated by their +success, and with the prospect of ending the contest, fight with +more energy and bravery. Rodes says the Union forces were so long +in occupying the town and in coming forward after the repulse of +the enemy that it was generally thought they had retreated. Meade +rode leisurely over to the Fifth Corps on the left, and told Sykes +to send out and see if the enemy in his front was firm and holding +on to their position. A brigade preceded by skirmishers was +accordingly sent forward, but as Longstreet's troops were well +fortified, they resisted the advance, and Meade--finding some hours +had elapsed and that Lee had closed up his lines and was fortifying +against him--gave up all idea of a counter-attack. + + + +CHAPTER VII. +GENERAL RETREAT OF THE ENEMY--CRITICISMS OF DISTINGUISHED CONFEDERATE + OFFICERS. + +Lee was greatly dispirited at Pickett's failure, but worked with +untiring energy to repair the disaster. + +There was an interval of full a mile between Hill and Longstreet, +and the plain was swarming with fugitives making their way back in +disorder. He hastened to get ready to resist the counter-charge, +which he thought was inevitable, and to plant batteries behind +which the fugitives could rally. He also made great personal +exertions to reassure and reassemble the detachments that came in. +He did not for a moment imagine that Meade would fail to take +advantage of this golden opportunity to crush the Army of Virginia +and end the war. + +The most distinguished rebel officers admit the great danger they +were in at this time, and express their surprise that they were +not followed up. + +The fact is, Meade had no idea of leaving the ridge. I conversed +the next morning with a corps commander who had just left him. He +said: "Meade says he thinks he can hold out for part of another +day here, if they attack him." + +This language satisfied me that Meade would not go forward if he +could avoid it, and would not impede in any way the rebel retreat +across the Potomac. Lee began to make preparations at once and +started his trains on the morning of the 4th. By night Rodes' +division, which followed them, was in bivouac two miles west of +Fairfield. It was a difficult task to retreat burdened with 4,000 +prisoners, and a train fifteen miles long, in the presence of a +victorious enemy, but it was successfully accomplished as regards +his main body. The roads, too, were bad and much cut up by the +rain. + +While standing on Little Round Top Meade was annoyed at the fire +of a rebel battery posted on an eminence beyond the wheat-field, +about a thousand yards distant. He inquired what troops those were +stationed along the stone fence which bounded the hither side of +the wheat-field. Upon ascertaining that it was Crawford's division +of the Fifth Corps, he directed that they be sent forward to clear +the woods in front of the rebel skirmishers, who were very annoying, +and to drive away the battery, _but not to get into a fight that +could bring on a general engagement._ As Crawford unmasked from +the stone fence the battery opened fire on his right. He sent +Colonel Ent's regiment, deployed as skirmishers, against the guns, +which retired as Ent approached. McCandless, who went forward with +his brigade, moved too far to the right, and Crawford ordered him +to change front and advance toward Round Top. He did so and struck +a rebel brigade in flank which was behind a temporary breastwork +of rails, sods, etc. When this brigade saw a Union force apparently +approaching from their own lines to attack them in flank, they +retreated in confusion, after a short resistance, and this disorder +extended during the retreat to a reserve brigade posted on the low +ground in their rear. Their flight did not cease until they reached +Horner's woods, half a mile distant, where they immediately intrenched +themselves. These brigades belonged to Hood's division, then under +Law. + +Longstreet says, "When this (Pickett's) charge failed, I expected +that, of course, the enemy would throw himself against our shattered +ranks and try to crush us. I sent my staff officers to the rear +to assist in rallying the troops, and hurried to our line of +batteries as the only support that I could given them." . . . "I +knew if the army was to be saved these batteries must check the +enemy." . . . "For unaccountable reasons the enemy did not pursue +his advantage." + +Longstreet always spoke of his own men as invincible, and stated +that on the 2d they did the best three hours' fighting that ever +was done, but Crawford's* attack seemed to show that they too were +shaken by the defeat of Picket's grand charge. + +[* Crawford was also one of those who took a prominent part in the +defence of Fort Sumter, at the beginning of the war. We each +commanded detachments of artillery on that occasion.] + +In regard to the great benefit we would have derived from a pursuit, +it may not be out of place to give the opinion of a few more +prominent Confederate officers. + +Colonel Alexander, Chief of Longstreet's artillery, says in a +communication to the "Southern Historical Papers": + +"I have always believed that the enemy here lost the greatest +opportunity they ever had of routing Lee's army by a prompt offensive. +They occupied a line shaped somewhat like a horseshoe. I suppose +the greatest diameter of this horseshoe was not more than one mile, +and the ground within was entirely sheltered from our observation +and fire, with communications by signals all over it, and they +could concentrate their whole force at any point and in a very +short time without our knowledge. Our line was an enveloping semi- +circle, over four miles in development, and communication from +flank to flank, even by courier, was difficult, the country being +well cleared and exposed to the enemy's view and fire, the roads +all running at right angles to our lines, and, some of them at +least, broad turnpikes where the enemy's guns could rake for two +miles. Is it necessary now to add any statement as to the superiority +of the Federal force, or the exhausted and shattered condition of +the Confederates for a space of at least a mile in their very +centre, to show that a great opportunity was thrown away? I think +General Lee himself was quite apprehensive the enemy would _riposte_, +and that it was that apprehension which brought him alone out to +my guns, where he could observe all the indications." + +General Trimble, who commanded a division of Hill's corps, which +supported Pickett in his advance, says, "By all the rules of warfare +the Federal troops should (as I expected they would) have marched +against our shattered columns and sought to cover our army with an +overwhelming defeat." + +Colonel Simms, who commanded Semmes' Georgia brigade in the fight +with Crawford just referred to, writes to the latter, "There was +much confusion in our army so far as my observation extended, and +I think we would have made but feeble resistance, if you had pressed +on, on the evening of the 3d." + +General Meade, however, overcome by the great responsibilities of +his position, still clung to the ridge, and fearful of a possible +disaster would not take the risk of making an advance. And yet if +he could have succeeded in crushing Lee's army then and there, he +would have saved two years of war with its immense loss of life +and countless evils. He might at least have thrown in Sedgwick's +corps, which had not been actively engaged in the battle, for even +if it was repulsed the blows it gave would leave the enemy little +inclination to again assail the heights. + +At 6.30 P.M. the firing ceased on the part of the enemy, and although +they retained their position the next day, the battle of Gettysburg +was virtually at an end. + +The town was still full of our wounded, and many of our surgeons, +with rare courage, remained there to take charge of them, for it +required some nerve to run the risk of being sent to Libby prison +when the fight was over, a catastrophe which has often happened to +our medical officers. Among the rest, the chief surgeons of the +First Corps, Doctor Theodore Heard and Doctor Thomas H. Bache, +refused to leave their patients, and in consequence of the hasty +retreat of the enemy were fortunately not carried off. + +After the battle Meade had not the slightest desire to recommence +the struggle. It is a military maxim that to a flying enemy must +be given a wall of steel or a bridge of gold. In the present +instance it was unmistakably the bridge of gold that was presented. +It was hard to convince him that Lee was actually gone, and at +first he thought it might be a device to draw the Union army from +its strong position on the heights. + +Our cavalry were sent out on the 4th to ascertain where the enemy +were, and what they were doing. General Birney threw forward a +reconnoitering party and opened fire with a battery on a column +making their way toward Fairfield, but he was checked at once and +directed _on no account to bring on a battle._ On the 5th, as it +was certain the enemy were retreating, Sedgwick received orders to +follow up the rear of the rebel column. He marched eight miles to +Fairfield Pass. There Early, who was in command of the rear guard, +was endeavoring to save the trains, which were heaped up in great +confusion. Sedgwick, after a distant cannonade, reported the +position too strong to be forced. It was a plain, two miles wide, +surrounded by hills, and it would not have been difficult to take +it, but Sedgwick knew Meade favored the "bridge of gold" policy, +and was not disposed to thwart the wishes of his chief. In my +opinion Sedgwick should have made an energetic attack, and Meade +should have supported it with his whole army, for our cavalry were +making great havoc in the enemy's train in rear; and if Lee, instead +of turning on Kilpatrick, had been forced to form line against +Meade, the cavalry, which was between him and his convoys of +ammunition, in all probability might have captured the latter and +ended the war. Stuart, it is true, was following up Kilpatrick, +but he took an indirect route and was nearly a day behind. I do +not see why the force which was now promptly detached from the +garrisons of Washington and Baltimore and sent to Harper's Ferry +could not have formed on the Virginia side of the Potomac opposite +Williamsport, and with the co-operation of General Meade have cut +off the ammunition of which Lee stood so much in need. As the +river had risen and an expedition sent out by General French from +Frederick had destroyed the bridge at Falling Waters, everything +seemed to favor such a plan. The moment it was ascertained that +Lee was cut off from Richmond and short of ammunition the whole +North would have turned out and made a second Saratoga of it. As +it was, he had but few roads for his cannon, and our artillery +could have opened a destructive fire on him from a distance without +exposing our infantry. It was worth the effort and there was little +or no danger in attempting it. Meade had Sedgwick's fresh corps +and was reinforced by a division of 11,000 men under General W. F. +Smith (Baldy Smith). French's division of 4,000 at Frederick, and +troops from Washington and Baltimore were also available to assist +in striking the final blow. The Twelfth Corps was also available, +as Slocum volunteered to join in the pursuit. Meade, however, +delayed moving at all until Lee had reached Hagerstown and then +took a route that was almost twice as long as that adopted by the +enemy. Lee marched day and night to avoid pursuit, and when the +river rose and his bridge was gone, so that he was unable to cross, +he gained six days in which to choose a position, fortify it, and +renew his supply of ammunition before Meade made his appearance. + +In consequence of repeated orders from President Lincoln to attack +the enemy, Meade went forward and confronted Lee on the 12th. He +spent that day and the next in making reconnoissances and resolved +to attack on the 14th; but Lee left during the night, and by 8 A.M. +the entire army of the enemy were once more on Virginia soil. + +The Union loss in this campaign is estimated by the Count of Paris, +who is an impartial observer, at 2,834 killed, 13,700 wounded, and +6,643 missing; total, 23,186. + +The rebel loss he puts at 2,665 killed, 12,599 wounded, 7,464 +missing; total 22,728. + +Among the killed in the battle on the rebel side were Generals +Armistead, Barksdale, Garnett, Pender, and Semmes; and Pettigrew +during the retreat. + +Among the wounded were Generals G. T. Anderson, Hampton, Jenkins, +J. M. Jones, Kemper, and Scales. + +Archer was captured on the first day. + +Among the killed on the Union side were Major-General Reynolds and +Brigadier-Generals Vincent, Weed, and Zook. + +Among the wounded were Major-Generals Sickles (losing a leg), +Hancock, Doubleday, Gibbon, Barlow, Warren, and Butterfield, and +Brigadier-Generals Graham, Stannard, Paul (losing both eyes), +Barnes, Brooke, and Webb. + + +APPENDIX A. +_Roster of the Federal Army engaged in the Battle of Gettysburg, +Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, July 1st, 2d, and 3d, 1863._ + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEO. GORDON MEADE +_STAFF._ +MAJOR-GENERAL DANIEL BUTTERFIELD, Chief of Staff. +BRIG.-GENERAL M. R. PATRICK, Provost Marshal-General. + " " SETH WILLIAMS, Adjutant-General. + " " EDMUND SCHRIVER, Inspector-General. + " " RUFUS INGALLS, Quartermaster-General. +COLONEL HENRY F. CLARKE, Chief Commis'y of Subsistence. +MAJOR JONATHAN LETTERMAN, Surgeon, Chief of Medical Department. +BRIG.-GENERAL G. K. WARREN, Chief Engineer. +MAJOR D. W. FLAGLER, Chief Ordnance Officer. +MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED PLEASONTON, Chief of Cavalry. +BRIG.-GENERAL HENRY J. HUNT, Chief of Artillery. +CAPTAIN L. B. NORTON, Chief Signal Officer. + +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN F. REYNOLDS,* Commanding the First, Third, and +Eleventh Corps on July 1st. +[* He was killed and succeeded by Major-General O. O. Howard.] +MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY W. SLOCUM, Commanding the Right Wing on July +2d and July 3d. +MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. HANCOCK, Commanding the Left Centre on July 2d +and July 3d. + +FIRST CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN F. REYNOLDS, PERMANENT COMMANDER. +MAJOR-GENERAL ABNER DOUBLEDAY, Commanding on July 1st. +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN NEWTON, Commanding July 2d and 3d. + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JAMES S. WADSWORTH + _First Brigade._--(1) Brigadier-General SOLOMON MEREDITH +(wounded); (2) Colonel HENRY A. MORROW (wounded);* (3) Colonel W. +W. ROBINSON. +[* See page 130.] + 2d Wisconsin, Colonel Lucius Fairchild (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel George H. Stevens (wounded), Major John Mansfield (wounded), +Captain Geo. H. Otis + 6th Wisconsin, Lieut.-Colonel R. R. Dawes + 7th Wisconsin, Colonel W. W. Robinson + 24th Michigan, Colonel Henry A. Morrow (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel Mark Flanigan (wounded), Major Edwin B. Wright (wounded), +Captain Albert M. Edwards + 19th Indiana, Colonel Samuel Williams + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General LYSANDER CUTLER + 7th Indiana, Major Ira G. Grover + 56th Pennsylvania, Colonel J. W. Hoffman + 76th New York, Major Andrew J. Grover (killed), Captain John +E. Cook + 95th New York, Colonel George H. Biddle (wounded), Major +Edward Pye + 147th New York, Lieut.-Colonel F. C. Miller (wounded), Major +George Harney + 14th Brooklyn, Colonel E. B. Fowler + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN C. ROBINSON + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GABRIEL R. PAUL (wounded); +Colonel S. H. LEGNARD; Colonel RICHARD COULTER. + 16th Maine, Colonel Charles W. Tilden (captured), Lieut.- +Colonel N. E. Welch, Major Arch. D. Leavitt + 13th Massachusetts, Colonel S. H. Leonard (wounded) + 94th New York, Colonel A. R. Root (wounded), Major S. H. +Moffat + 104th New York, Colonel Gilbert G. Prey + 107th Pennsylvania, Colonel T. F. McCoy (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel James McThompson (wounded), Captain E. D. Roath + 11th Pennsylvania, Colonel Richard S. Coulter, Captain J. J. +Blerer.* +[* The 11th Pennsylvania was transferred from the Second Brigade.] + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General HENRY BAXTER + 12th Massachusetts, Colonel James L. Bates + 83d New York, Lieut.-Colonel Joseph R. Moesch + 97th New York, Colonel Charles Wheelock + 88th Pennsylvania, Major Benezet F. Faust, Captain E. Y. +Patterson + 90th Pennsylvania, Colonel Peter Lyle + THIRD DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL ABNER DOUBLEDAY PERMANENT COMMANDER on July 2d and +3d. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS A. ROWLEY, July 1st. + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General THOMAS A. ROWLEY, July 2d +and 3d; Colonel CHAPMAN BIDDLE, July 1st. + 121st Pennsylvania, Colonel Chapman Biddle, Major Alexander +Biddle + 142d Pennsylvania, Colonel Robert P. Cummings (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel A. B. McCalmont + 151st Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel George F. McFarland (lost +a leg), Captain Walter L. Owens + 20th New York S. M., Colonel Theodore B. Gates + _Second Brigade_.--(1) Colonel ROY STONE Commanding (wounded); +(2) Colonel LANGHORNE WISTER (wounded); (3) Colonel EDMUND L. DANA + 143d Pennsylvania, Colonel Edmund L. Dana, Major John D. Musser + 149th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Walton Dwight (wounded), +Captain A. J. Sofield (killed), Captain John Irvin + 150th Pennsylvania, Colonel Langhorne Wister (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel H. S. Huidekoper (wounded), Major Thomas Chamberlain +(wounded), Capt. C. C. Widdis (wounded), Captain G. W. Jones + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GEO. J. STANNARD (wounded) + 12th Vermont, Colonel Asa P. Blunt (not engaged) + 13th Vermont, Colonel Francis V. Randall + 14th Vermont, Colonel William T. Nichols + 15th Vermont, Colonel Redfield Proctor (not engaged) + 16th Vermont, Colonel Wheelock G. Veazey + _Artillery Brigade_.--Colonel CHARLES S. WAINWRIGHT + 2d Maine, Captain James A. Hall + 5th Maine, G. T. Stevens + Battery B, 1st Pennsylvania, Captain J. H. Cooper + Battery B, 4th United States, Lieutenant James Stewart + Battery L, 1st New York, Captain J. A. Reynolds +[NOTE.--Tidball's Battery of the 2d United States Artillery, under +Lieutenant John H. Calef, also fought in line with the First Corps. +Lieutenant Benj. W. Wilber, and Lieutenant George Breck, of Captain +Reynolds' Battery, and Lieutenant James Davison, of Stewart's +Battery, commanded sections which were detached at times.] + +SECOND CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD S. HANCOCK, PERMANENT COMMANDER (wounded). +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN GIBBON (wounded). +BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN C. CALDWELL. + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN C. CALDWELL + COLONEL JOHN H. BROOKE (wounded) + _First Brigade_.--Colonel EDWARD E. CROSS (killed); Colonel H. +B. McKEEN + 5th New Hampshire, Colonel E. E. Cross, Lieut.-Colonel C. +E. Hapgood + 61st New York, Lieut.-Colonel Oscar K. Broady + 81st Pennsylvania, Colonel H. Boyd McKeen, Lieut.-Colonel +Amos Stroho + 148th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Robert McFarland + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel PATRICK KELLY + 28th Massachusetts, Colonel Richard Byrnes + 63d New York, Lieut.-Colonel R. C. Bentley (wounded), Captain +Thos. Touhy + 69th New York, Captain Richard Maroney (wounded), Lieutenant +James J. Smith + 88th New York, Colonel Patrick Kelly, Captain Dennis F. Burke +116th Pennsylvania, Major St. Clair A. Mulholland + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General S. K. ZOOK Commanding +(killed), Lieut.-Colonel JOHN FRAZER + 52d New York, Lieut.-Colonel Charles G. Freudenberg (wounded), +Captain Wm. Scherrer + 57th New York, Lieut.-Colonel Alfred B. Chapman + 66th New York, Colonel Orlando W. Morris (wounded), Lieut. +Colonel John S. Hammell (wounded), Major Peter Nelson + 146th Pennsylvania, Colonel Richard P. Roberts (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel John Frazer + _Fourth Brigade_.--Colonel JOHN R. BROOKE Commanding (wounded) + 27th Connecticut, Lieut.-Colonel Henry C. Merwin (killed), +Major James H. Coburn + 64th New York, Colonel Daniel G. Bingham + 53d Pennsylvania, Colonel J. R. Brooke, Lieut.-Colonel +Richard McMichael + 145th Pennsylvania, Colonel Hiram L. Brown (wounded), Captain +John W. Reynolds (wounded), Captain Moses W. Oliver + 2d Delaware, Colonel William P. Bailey + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN GIBBON, PERMANENT COMMANDER (wounded). + BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM HARROW. + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General WILLIAM HARROW, Colonel +FRANCIS E. HEATH + 19th Maine, Colonel F. E. Heath, Lieut.-Colonel Henry W. +Cunningham + 15th Massachusetts, Colonel George H. Ward (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel George C. Joslin + 82d New York, Colonel Henry W. Hudson (killed), Captain John +Darrow + 1st Minnesota, Colonel William Colvill (wounded), Captain +N. S. Messick (killed), Captain Wilson B. Farrell, Captain Louis +Muller, Captain Joseph Perham, Captain Henry C. Coates + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General ALEX. S. WEBB (wounded) + 69th Pennsylvania, Colonel Dennis O. Kane (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel M. Tschudy (killed), Major James Duffy (wounded), Captain +Wm. Davis + 71st Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Richard Penn Smith + 72d Pennsylvania, Colonel De Witt C. Baxter + 106th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Theo. Hesser + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel NORMAN J. HALL Commanding + 19th Massachusetts, Colonel Arthur F. Devereaux + 20th Massachusetts, Colonel Paul J. Revere (killed), Captain +H. L. Abbott (wounded) + 42d New York, Colonel James E. Mallon + 59th New York, Lieut.-Colonel Max A. Thoman (killed) + 7th Michigan, Colonel N. J. Hall, Lieut.-Colonel Ames E. +Steele (killed), Major S. W. Curtis + _Unattached_.--Andrew Sharpshooters. + THIRD DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALEXANDER HAYS + _First Brigade_.--Colonel SAMUEL S. CARROLL + 4th Ohio, Lieut.-Colonel James H. Godman, Lieut.-Colonel L. +W. Carpenter + 8th Ohio, Colonel S. S. Carroll, Lieut.-Colonel Franklin +Sawyer + 14th Indiana, Colonel John Coons + 7th West Virginia, Colonel Joseph Snyder + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel THOMAS A. SMITH (wounded); Lieut.- +Colonel F. E. PIERCE + 14th Connecticut, Major John T. Ellis + 10th New York (battalion), Major Geo. F. Hopper + 108th New York, Colonel Charles J. Powers + 12th New Jersey, Major John T. Hill + 1st Delaware, Colonel Thomas A. Smyth; Lieut.-Colonel Edward +P. Harris, Captain M. B. Ellgood (killed), Lieutenant Wm. Smith +(killed) + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel GEORGE L. WILLARD (killed); Colonel +ELIAKIM SHERRILL (killed); Lieut.-Colonel JAMES M. BULL + 39th New York, Lieut.-Colonel James G. Hughes + 111th New York, Colonel Clinton D. McDougall (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel Isaac M. Lusk, Captain A. P. Seeley + 125th New York, Colonel G. L. Willard (killed), Lieut.-Colonel +Levi Crandall + 126th New York, Colonel E. Sherrill (killed), Lieut.-Colonel +J. M. Bull + _Artillery Brigade_.--Captain J. G. HAZARD + Battery B, 1st New York, Captain James McK. Rorty (killed) + Battery A, 1st Rhode Island, Lieutenant William A. Arnold + Battery B, 1st Rhode Island, Lieutenant T. Fred. Brown +(wounded) + Battery I, 1st United States, Lieutenant G. A. Woodruff +(killed) + Battery A, 4th United States, Lieutenant A. H. Cushing +(killed) +[NOTE.--Battery C, 4th United States, Lieutenant R. Thomas, was in +the line of the Second Corps on July 3d. Some of the batteries +were so nearly demolished that there was no officer to assume +command at the close of the battle.] + +THIRD CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL DANIEL E. SICKLES (wounded) +MAJOR-GENERAL DAVID B. BIRNEY + FIRST DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL DAVID B. BIRNEY PERMANENT COMMANDER. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL J. H. H. WARD + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General C. K. GRAHAM (wounded, +captured); Colonel ANDREW H. TIPPIN + 57th Pennsylvania, Colonel Peter Sides, Lieut.-Colonel Wm. +P. Neeper (wounded), Captain A. H. Nelson + 63d Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel John A. Danks + 68th Pennsylvania, Colonel A. H. Tippin, all the Field Officers +wounded + 105th Pennsylvania, Colonel Calvin A. Craig + 114th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Frederick K. Cavada +(captured) + 141st Pennsylvania, Colonel Henry J. Madill, Captain E. R. +Brown.* +[* Colonel Madill commanded the 114th and 141st Pennsylvania.] +[NOTE.--The 2d New Hampshire, 3d Maine, and 7th and 8th New Jersey +also formed part of Graham's line on the 2d.] + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. H. H. WARD, Colonel H. +BERDAN + 1st U. S. Sharpshooters, Colonel H. Berdan, Lieut.-Colonel +C. Trapp + 2d U. S. Sharpshooters, Major H. H. Stoughton + 3d Maine, Colonel M. S. Lakeman (captured), Captain William +C. Morgan + 4th Maine, Colonel Elijah Walker (killed), Major Ebenezer +Whitcombe (wounded), Captain Edwin Libby + 20th Indiana, Colonel John Wheeler (killed), Lieut.-Colonel +William C. L. Taylor + 99th Pennsylvania, Major John W. Moore + 86th New York, Lieut.-Colonel Benjamin Higgins + 124th New York, Colonel A. Van Horn Ellis (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel Francis M. Cummings + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel PHILIP R. DE TROBRIAND + 3d Michigan, Colonel Byron R. Pierce (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel E. S. Pierce + 5th Michigan, Lieut.-Colonel John Pulford (wounded), Major +S. S. Matthews + 40th New York, Colonel Thomas W. Egan + 17th Maine, Lieut.-Colonel Charles B. Merrill + 110th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel David M. Jones (wounded), +Major Isaac Rogers + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ANDREW A. HUMPHREYS + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General JOSEPH B. CARR + 1st Massachusetts, Colonel N. B. McLaughlin + 11th Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Porter D. Tripp + 16th Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Waldo Merriam + 26th Pennsylvania, Captain Geo. W. Tomlinson (wounded), +Captain Henry Goodfellow + 11th New Jersey, Colonel Robert McAllister (wounded), Major +Philip J. Kearny (killed), Captain Wm. B. Dunning + 84th Pennsylvania (not engaged), Lieut.-Colonel Milton Opp + 19th New Hampshire, Captain J. F. Langley + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel WILLIAM B. BREWSTER + 70th New York (1st Excelsior), Major Daniel Mahen + 71st New York (2d Excelsior), Colonel Henry L. Potter + 72d New York (3d Excelsior), Colonel Wm. O. Stevens (killed), +Lieut.-Colonel John S. Austin + 73d New York (4th Excelsior), Colonel William R. Brewster, +Major M. W. Burns + 74th New York (5th Excelsior), Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Holt + 120th New York, Lieut.-Colonel Cornelius D. Westbrook (wounded), +Major J. R. Tappen, Captain A. L. Lockwood + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel GEORGE C. BURLING + 5th New Jersey, Colonel William J. Sewall (wounded), Captain +Virgel M. Healey (wounded), Captain T. C. Godfrey, Captain H. H. +Woolsey + 6th New Jersey, Colonel George C. Burling, Lieut.-Colonel +S. R. Gilkyson + 7th New Jersey, Colonel L. R. Francine (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel Francis Price + 8th New Jersey, Colonel John Ramsey (wounded), Captain John +G. Langston + 115th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel John P. Dunne + 2d New Hampshire, Colonel Edward L. Bailey (wounded), Major +Saml. P. Sayles (wounded) + _Artillery Brigade_.--Captain GEORGE E. RANDOLPH + Battery E, 1st Rhode Island, Lieutenant John K. Bucklyn +(wounded), Lieutenant Benj. Freeborn + Battery B, 1st New Jersey, Captain A. J. Clark + Battery D, 1st New Jersey, Captain Geo. T. Woodbury + Battery K, 4th U. S., Lieutenant F. W. Seeley (wounded), +Lieutenant Robt. James + Battery D, 1st New York, Captain George B. Winslow + 4th New York, Captain James E. Smith + +FIFTH CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE SYKES + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JAMES BARNES + _First Brigade_.--Colonel W. S. TILTON + 18th Massachusetts, Colonel Joseph Hayes + 22d Massachusetts, Colonel William S. Tilton, Lieut.-Colonel +Thomas Sherman, Jr. + 118th Pennsylvania, Colonel Charles M. Prevost + 1st Michigan, Colonel Ira C. Abbot (wounded), Lieut.-Colonel +W. A. Throop + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel J. B. SWEITZER + 9th Massachusetts, Colonel Patrick R. Guiney + 32d Massachusetts, Col. Geo. L. Prescott (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel Luther Stephenson (wounded), Major J. Cushing Edmunds + 4th Michigan, Colonel Hamson H. Jeffords (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel George W. Lombard + 62d Pennsylvania, Colonel J. B. Sweitzer, Lieut.-Colonel +James C. Hall + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel STRONG VINCENT (killed); Colonel +JAMES C. RICE + 20th Maine, Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain + 44th New York, Colonel James C. Rice, Lieut.-Colonel Freeman +Conner + 83d Pennsylvania, Major William H. Lamont, Captain O. E. +Woodward + 16th Michigan, Lieut.-Colonel N. R. Welch + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROMAYN B. AYRES + _First Brigade_.--Colonel HANNIBAL DAY, 6th U. S. Infantry + 3d U. S. Infantry, Captain H. W. Freedley (wounded), Captain +Richard G. Lay + 4th U. S. Infantry, Captain J. W. Adams + 6th U. S. Infantry, Captain Levi C. Bootes + 12th U. S. Infantry, Captain Thomas S. Dunn + 14th U. S. Infantry, Major G. R. Giddings + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel SIDNEY BURBANK, 2d U. S. Infantry + 2d U. S. Infantry, Major A. T. Lee (wounded), Captain S. +A. McKee + 7th U. S. Infantry, Captain D. P. Hancock + 10th U. S. Infantry, Captain William Clinton + 11th U. S. Infantry, Major De L. Floyd Jones + 17th U. S. Infantry, Lieut.-Colonel Durrell Green + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General S. H. WEED (killed); Colonel +KENNER GARRARD + 140th New York, Colonel Patrick H. O'Rorke (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel Louis Ernst + 146th New York, Colonel K. Garrard, Lieut.-Colonel David T. +Jenkins + 91st Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Joseph H. Sinex + 155th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel John H. Cain + THIRD DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL S. WILEY CRAWFORD + _First Brigade_.--Colonel WILLIAM McCANDLESS + 1st Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel William Cooper Talley + 2d Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel William McCandless, Lieut.- +Colonel George A. Woodward + 6th Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel Wellington H. Ent + 11th Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel S. M. Jackson + 1st Rifles (Bucktails), Colonel Charles J. Taylor (killed), +Lieut.-Colonel A. E. Niles (wounded), Major William R. Hartshorn + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel JOSEPH W. FISHER + 5th Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel J. W. Fisher, Lieut.- +Colonel George Dare + 9th Pennsylvania Reserves, Lieut.-Colonel James McK. Snodgrass + 10th Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel A. J. Warner + 12th Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel M. D. Hardin + _Artillery Brigade_.--Captain A. P. MARTIN + Battery D, 5th United States, Lieutenant Charles E. Hazlett +(killed), Lieutenant B. F. Rittenhouse + Battery I, 5th United States, Lieutenant Leonard Martin + Battery C, 1st New York, Captain Albert Barnes + Battery L, 1st Ohio, Captain N. C. Gibbs + Battery C, Massachusetts, Captain A. P. Martin + _Provost Guard_.--Captain H. W. RYDER. Companies E and D, 12th +New York. + +SIXTH CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGWICK + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General A. T. A. TORBERT + 1st New Jersey, Lieut.-Colonel William Henry, Jr. + 2d New Jersey, Colonel Samuel L. Buck + 3d New Jersey, Colonel Henry W. Brown + 15th New Jersey, Colonel William H. Penrose + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. J. BARTLETT + 5th Maine, Colonel Clark S. Edwards + 121st New York, Colonel Emory Upton + 95th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Edward Carroll + 96th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel William H. Lossig + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General D. A. RUSSELL + 6th Maine, Colonel Hiram Burnham + 49th Pennsylvania, Colonel William H. Irvin + 119th Pennsylvania, Colonel P. C. Ellmaker + 5th Wisconsin, Colonel Thomas S. Allen + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. P. HOWE + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel L. A. GRANT + 2d Vermont, Colonel J. H. Walbridge + 3d Vermont, Colonel T. O. Seaver + 4th Vermont, Colonel E. H. Stoughton + 5th Vermont, Lieut.-Colonel John B. Lewis + 6th Vermont, Lieut.-Colonel Elisha L. Barney + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General T. A. NEILL + 7th Maine, Lieut.-Colonel Seldon Conner + 49th New York, Colonel D. D. Bidwell + 77th New York, Colonel J. B. McKean + 43d New York, Colonel B. F. Baker + 61st Pennsylvania, Major Geo. W. Dawson + THIRD DIVISION + BRIGADIER-GENERAL FRANK WHEATON + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General ALEXANDER SHALER + 65th New York, Colonel J. E. Hamblin + 67th New York, Colonel Nelson Cross + 122d New York, Lieut.-Colonel A. W. Dwight + 23d Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel John F. Glenn + 82d Pennsylvania, Colonel Isaac Bassett + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel H. L. EUSTIS + 7th Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Franklin P. Harlow + 10th Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Jefford M. Decker + 37th Massachusetts, Colonel Oliver Edwards + 2d Rhode Island, Colonel Horatio Rogers + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel DAVID I. NEVIN + 62d New York, Colonel D. L. Nevin, Lieut.-Colonel Theo. B. +Hamilton + 102d Pennsylvania,* Colonel John W. Patterson + 93d Pennsylvania, Colonel James W. McCarter + 98th Pennsylvania, Major John B. Kohler + 139th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel William H. Moody +[* Not engaged.] + _Artillery Brigade_.--Colonel C. H. TOMPKINS + Battery A, 1st Massachusetts, Captain W. H. McCartney + Battery D, 2d United States, Lieutenant E. B. Williston + Battery F, 5th United States, Lieutenant Leonard Martin + Battery G, 2d United States, Lieutenant John H. Butler + Battery C, 1st Rhode Island, Captain Richard Waterman + Battery G, 1st Rhode Island, Captain George W. Adams + 1st New York, Captain Andrew Cowan + 3d New York, Captain William A. Harn + _Cavalry Detachment_.--Captain WILLIAM L. CRAFT Commanding. +H, 1st Pennsylvania; L, 1st New Jersey. + +ELEVENTH CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL OLIVER O. HOWARD PERMANENT COMMANDER. +MAJOR-GENERAL CARL SCHURZ, July 1st. + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL FRANCIS C. BARLOW (wounded) + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ADELBERT AMES + _First Brigade_.--Colonel LEOPOLD VON GILSA + 41st New York, Colonel L. Von Gilsa, Lieut.-Colonel D. Von +Einsiedel + 54th New York, Colonel Eugene A. Kezley + 68th New York, Colonel Gotthilf Bonray de Ivernois + 153d Pennsylvania, Colonel Charles Glanz + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General ADELBERT AMES, Colonel +ANDREW L. HARRIS + 17th Connecticut, Lieut.-Colonel Douglass Fowler (killed), +Major A. G. Brady (wounded) + 25th Ohio, Lieut.-Colonel Jeremiah Williams (captured), +Lieutenant William Maloney (wounded), Lieutenant Israel White + 75th Ohio, Colonel Andrew L. Harris (wounded), Lieut.-Colonel +Ben Morgan (wounded), Major Charles W. Friend + 107th Ohio, Captain John M. Lutz + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. VON STEINWEHR + _First Brigade_.--Colonel CHARLES R. COSTER + 27th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Lorenz Cantador + 73d Pennsylvania, Captain Daniel F. Kelly + 134th New York, Colonel Charles R. Coster, Lieut.-Colonel +Allan H. Jackson + 154th New York, Colonel Patrick H. Jones + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel ORLANDO SMITH + 33d Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Adin B. Underwood + 136th New York, Colonel James Wood, Jr. + 55th Ohio, Colonel Charles B. Gambee + 73d Ohio, Colonel Orlando Smith, Lieut.-Colonel Richard Long + THIRD DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL CARL SCHURZ PERMANENT COMMANDER. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALEXANDER SCHIMMELPFENNIG Commanding on July +1st. + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General A. VON SCHIMMELPFENNIG +(captured); Colonel GEORGE VON ARNSBURG. + 45th New York, Colonel G. Von Arnsburg, Lieut.-Colonel Adolpus +Dobke + 157th New York, Colonel Philip F. Brown, Jr. + 74th Pennsylvania, Colonel Adolph Von Hartung (wounded), +Lieut.-Colonel Von Mitzel (captured), Major Gustav Schleiter + 61st Ohio, Colonel S. J. McGroarty + 82d Illinois, Colonel J. Hecker + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel WALDIMIR KRYZANOWSKI + 58th New York, Colonel W. Kryzanowski, Lieut.-Colonel August +Otto, Captain Emil Koenig, Lieut.-Colonel Frederick Gellman + 119th New York, Colonel John T. Lockman, Lieut.-Colonel James +C. Rogers + 75th Pennsylvania, Colonel Francis Mahler (wounded), Major +August Ledig + 82d Ohio, Colonel James S. Robinson (wounded), Lieut.-Colonel +D. Thomson + 26th Wisconsin, Colonel Wm. H. Jacobs + _Artillery Brigade_.--Major THOMAS W. OSBORN + Battery L, 1st New York, Captain Michael Wiedrick + Battery I, 1st Ohio, Captain Hubert Dilger + Battery K, 1st Ohio, Captain Lewis Heckman + Battery G, 4th United States, Lieutenant Bayard Wilkinson +(killed), Lieutenant E. A. Bancroft + 13th New York, Lieutenant William Wheeler + +TWELFTH CORPS. +BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALPHEUS S. WILLIAMS + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS H. RUGER + _First Brigade_.--Colonel ARCHIBALD L. McDOUGALL + 5th Connecticut, Colonel Warren W. Packer + 20th Connecticut, Lieut.-Colonel William B. Wooster + 123d New York, Colonel A. L. McDougall, Lieut.-Colonel James +G. Rogers + 145th New York, Colonel E. L. Price + 46th Pennsylvania, Colonel James L. Selfridge + 3d Maryland, Colonel J. M. Sudsburg + _Second Brigade_.*--Brigadier-General HENRY H. LOCKWOOD + 150th New York, Colonel John H. Ketcham + 1st Maryland (P. H. B.), Colonel William P. Maulsby + 1st Maryland (E. S.), Colonel James Wallace +[* Unassigned during progress of battle; afterward attached to +First Division as Second Brigade.] + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel SILAS COLGROVE + 2d Massachusetts, Colonel Charles R. Mudge (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel Charles F. Morse + 107th New York, Colonel Miron M. Crane + 13th New Jersey, Colonel Ezra A. Carman (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel John R. Fesler + 27th Indiana, Colonel Silas Colgrove, Lieut.-Colonel John R. +Fesler + 3d Wisconsin, Lieut.-Colonel Martin Flood + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN W. GEARY + _First Brigade_.--Colonel CHARLES CANDY + 28th Pennsylvania, Captain John Flynn + 147th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Arlo Pardee, Jr. + 5th Ohio, Colonel John H. Patrick + 7th Ohio, Colonel William R. Creighton + 29th Ohio, Captain W. F. Stevens (wounded), Captain Ed. Hays + 66th Ohio, Colonel C. Candy, Lieut.-Colonel Eugene Powell + _Second Brigade_.--(1) Colonel GEORGE A. COBHAM, JR.; (2) +Brigadier-General THOMAS L. KANE + 29th Pennsylvania, Colonel William Rickards + 100th Pennsylvania, Captain Fred. L. Gimber + 111th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas M. Walker, Lieut.- +Colonel Frank J. Osgood + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GEORGE S. GREENE + 60th New York, Colonel Abel Godard + 78th New York, Lieut.-Colonel Herbert Von Hammerstein + 102d New York, Lieut.-Colonel James C. Lane (wounded) + 137th New York, Colonel David Ireland + 149th New York, Colonel Henry A. Barnum, Lieut.-Colonel Charles +B. Randall + _Artillery Brigade_.--Lieutenant EDWARD D. MUHLENBERG + Battery F, 4th United States, Lieutenant E. D. Muhlenberg, +Lieutenant S. T. Rugg + Battery K, 5th United States, Lieutenant D. H. Kinsie + Battery M, 1st New York, Lieutenant Charles E. Winegar + Knap's Pennsylvania Battery, Lieutenant Charles Atwell + _Headquarter Guard_.--Battalion 10th Maine. + +CAVALRY CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED PLEASONTON + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN BUFORD + _First Brigade_.--Colonel WILLIAM GAMBLE + 8th New York, Colonel Benjamin F. Davis + 8th Illinois, Colonel William Gamble, Lieut.-Colonel D. R. +Clendenin + two squadrons 12th Illinois, Colonel Amos Vos + three squadrons 3d Indiana, Colonel George H. Chapman + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel THOMAS C. DEVIN + 6th New York, Colonel Thomas C. Devin, Lieut.-Colonel William +H. Crocker + 9th New York, Colonel William Sackett + 17th Pennsylvania, Colonel J. H. Kellogg + 3d Virginia (detachment) + _Reserve Brigade_.--Brigadier-General WESLEY MERRITT + 1st United States, Captain R. S. C. Lord + 2d United States, Captain T. F. Rodenbough + 5th United States, Captain J. W. Mason + 6th United States, Major S. H. Starr (wounded), Captain G. +C. Cram + 6th Pennsylvania, Major James H. Hazeltine + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL D. McM. GREGG + (HEADQUARTERS GUARD--Company A, 1st Ohio.) + _First Brigade_.--Colonel J. B. McINTOSH + 1st New Jersey, Major M. H. Beaumont + 1st Pennsylvania, Colonel John P. Taylor + 3d Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Edward S. Jones + 1st Maryland, Lieut.-Colonel James M. Deems + 1st Massachusetts at Headquarters Sixth Corps. + _Second Brigade_.*--Colonel PENNOCK HUEY + 2d New York, 4th New York, 8th Pennsylvania, 6th Ohio. +[* Not engaged.] + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel J. I. GREGG + 1st Maine, Colonel Charles H. Smith + 10th New York, Major W. A. Avery + 4th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel W. E. Doster + 16th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel John K. Robison + THIRD DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JUDSON KILPATRICK + (HEADQUARTER GUARD--Company C, 1st Ohio.) + _First Brigade_.--(1) Brigadier-General E. J. FARNSWORTH; (2) +Colonel N. P. RICHMOND + 5th New York, Major John Hammond + 18th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel William P. Brinton + 1st Vermont, Colonel Edward D. Sawyer + 1st West Virginia, Colonel N. P. Richmond + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GEORGE A. CUSTER + 1st Michigan, Colonel Charles H. Town + 5th Michigan, Colonel Russell A. Alger + 6th Michigan, Colonel George Gray + 7th Michigan, Colonel Wm. D. Mann + HORSE ARTILLERY.* +[* A section of a battery attached to the Purnell Legion was with +Gregg on the 3d.] + _First Brigade_.--Captain JOHN M. ROBERTSON + Batteries B and L, 2d United States, Lieutenant Edw. Heaton + Battery M, 2d United States, Lieutenant A. C. M. Pennington + Battery E, 4th United States, Lieutenant S. S. Elder + 6th New York, Lieutenant Jos. W. Martin + 9th Michigan, Captain J. J. Daniels + Battery C, 3d United States, Lieutenant William D. Fuller + _Second Brigade_.--Captain JOHN C. TIDBALL + Batteries G and E, 1st United States, Captain A. M. Randol + Battery K, 1st United States, Captain Wm. M. Graham + Battery A, 2d United States, Lieutenant John H. Calef + Battery C, 3d United States + +ARTILLERY RESERVE. +(1) BRIGADIER-GENERAL R. O. TYLER (disabled) +(2) CAPTAIN JOHN M. ROBERTSON + _First Regular Brigade_.--Captain D. R. RANSOM (wounded) + Battery H, 1st United States, Lieutenant C. P. Eakin +(wounded) + Batteries F and K, 3d United States, Lieutenant J. C. +Turnbull + Battery C, 4th United States, Lieutenant Evan Thomas + Battery C, 5th United States, Lieutenant G. V. Weir + _First Volunteer Brigade_.--Lieut.-Colonel F. McGILVERY + 15th New York, Captain Patrick Hart + Independent Battery Pennsylvania, Captain R. B. Ricketts + 5th Massachusetts, Captain C. A. Phillips + 9th Massachusetts, Captain John Bigelow + _Second Volunteer Brigade_.--Captain E. D. TAFT + Battery B, 1st Connecticut;* + Battery M, 1st Connecticut;* + 5th New York, Captain Elijah D. Taft + 2d Connecticut, Lieutenant John W. Sterling +[* Not engaged.] + _Third Volunteer Brigade_.--Captain JAMES F. HUNTINGTON + Batteries F and G, 1st Pennsylvania, Captain R. B. Ricketts + Battery H, 1st Ohio, Captain Jas. F. Huntington + Battery A, 1st New Hampshire, Captain F. M. Edgell + Battery C, 1st West Virginia, Captain Wallace Hill + _Fourth Volunteer Brigade_.--Captain R. H. FITZHUGH + Battery B, 1st New York, Captain Jas. McRorty (killed) + Battery G, 1st New York, Captain Albert N. Ames + Battery K, 1st New York (11th Battery attached), Captain +Robt. H. Fitzhugh + Battery A, 1st Maryland, Captain Jas. H. Rigby + Battery A, 1st New Jersey, Lieutenant Augustin N. Parsons + 6th Maine, Lieutenant Edwin B. Dow + _Train Guard_.--Major CHARLES EWING Commanding. 4th New Jersey +Infantry. + _Headquarter Guard_.--Captain J. C. FULLER Commanding. Battery +C, 32d Massachusetts. + +DETACHMENTS AT HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. + _Command of the Provost-Marshal-General_.--Brigadier-General +M. B. PATRICK + 93d New York* + 8th United States* + 1st Massachusetts Cavalry + 2d Pennsylvania Cavalry + Batteries E and I, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry + Detachment Regular Cavalry + United States Engineer Battalion,* Captain Geo. H. Mendel, +United States Engineers +[* Not engaged.] + _Guards and Orderlies_.--Captain D. P. MANN + Independent Company Oneida Cavalry. + + +APPENDIX B. +_Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, June 1, 1863._ + +GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE +_STAFF._ +COLONEL W. H. TAYLOR, Adjutant-General. + " C. S. VENABLE, A.D.C. + " CHARLES MARSHALL, A.D.C. + " JAMES L. CORLEY, Chief Quartermaster. + " R. G. COLE, Chief Commissary. + " B. G. BALDWIN, Chief of Ordnance. + " H. L. PEYTON, Assistant Inspector-General. +GENERAL W. N. PENDLETON, Chief of Artillery. +DOCTOR L. GUILD, Medical Director. +COLONEL W. PROCTOR SMITH, Chief Engineer. +MAJOR H. E. YOUNG, Assistant Adjutant-General. + " G. B. COOK, Assistant Inspector-General. + +FIRST CORPS. +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET + McLAWS' DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL L. McLAWS + _Kershaw's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. B. KERSHAW + 15th South Carolina, Colonel W. D. De Sausssure + 8th South Carolina, Colonel J. W. Mamminger + 2d South Carolina, Colonel John D. Kennedy + 3d South Carolina, Colonel James D. Nance + 7th South Carolina, Colonel D. Wyatt Aiken + 3d (James') Battalion South Carolina Infantry, + Lieut.-Colonel R. C. Rice. + _Benning's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General H. L. BENNING + 50th Georgia, Colonel W. R. Manning + 51st Georgia, Colonel W. M. Slaughter + 53d Georgia, Colonel James P. Somms + 10th Georgia, Lieut.-Colonel John B. Weems + _Barksdale's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General WM. BARKSDALE + 13th Mississippi, Colonel J. W. Carter + 17th Mississippi, Colonel W. D. Holder + 18th Mississippi, Colonel Thomas M. Griffin + 21st Mississippi, Colonel B. G. Humphreys + _Wofford's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General W. T. WOFFORD + 18th Georgia, Major E. Griffs + Phillips' Georgia Legion, Colonel W. M. Phillips + 24th Georgia, Colonel Robert McMillan + 16th Georgia, Colonel Goode Bryan + Cobb's Georgia Legion, Lieut.-Colonel L. D. Glewn + PICKETT'S DIVISION + MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE E. PICKETT COMMANDING. + _Garnett's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General R. B. GARNETT + 8th Virginia, Colonel Eppa Hunton + 18th Virginia, Colonel R. E. Withers + 19th Virginia, Colonel Henry Gantt + 28th Virginia, Colonel R. C. Allen + 56th Virginia, Colonel W. D. Stuart + _Armistead's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General L. A. ARMISTEAD + 9th Virginia, Lieut.-Colonel J. S. Gilliam + 14th Virginia, Colonel J. G. Hodges + 38th Virginia, Colonel E. C. Edmonds + 53d Virginia, Colonel John Grammer + 57th Virginia, Colonel J. B. Magruder + _Kemper's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. L. KEMPER + 1st Virginia, Colonel Lewis B. Williams, Jr. + 3d Virginia, Colonel Jospeh Mayo, Jr. + 7th Virginia, Colonel W. T. Patton + 11th Virginia, Colonel David Funston + 24th Virginia, Colonel W. R. Terry + _Toombs' Brigade_.--Brigadier-General R. TOOMBS + 2d Georgia, Colonel E. M. Butt + 15th Georgia, Colonel E. M. DuBose + 17th Georgia, Colonel W. C. Hodges + 20th Georgia, Colonel J. B. Cummings + _Corse's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General M. D. CORSE + 15th Virginia, Colonel T. P. August + 17th Virginia, Colonel Morton Marye + 30th Virginia, Colonel A. T. Harrison + 32d Virginia, Colonel E. B. Montague + HOOD'S DIVISION + MAJOR-GENERAL J. B. HOOD. + _Robertson's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. B. ROBERTSON + 1st Texas, Colonel A. T. Rainey + 4th Texas, Colonel J. C. G. Key + 5th Texas, Colonel R. M. Powell + 3d Arkansas, Colonel Van H. Manning + _Law's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General E. M. LAW + 4th Alabama, Colonel P. A. Bowls + 44th Alabama, Colonel W. H. Perry + 15th Alabama, Colonel James Canty + 47th Alabama, Colonel J. W. Jackson + 48th Alabama, Colonel J. F. Shepherd + _Anderson's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General G. T. ANDERSON + 10th Georgia Battalion, Major J. E. Rylander + 7th Georgia, Colonel W. M. White + 8th Georgia, Lieut.-Colonel J. R. Towers + 9th Georgia, Colonel B. F. Beck + 11th Georgia, Colonel F. H. Little + _Jenkins' Brigade_.--Brigadier-General M. JENKINS + 2d South Carolina Rifles, Colonel Thomas Thompson + 1st South Carolina, Lieut.-Colonel David Livingstone + 5th South Carolina, Colonel A. Coward + 6th South Carolina, Colonel John Bratton + Hampton's Legion, Colonel M. W. Gary + ARTILLERY OF THE FIRST CORPS. + COLONEL J. B. WALTON COMMANDING. + _Battalion_.--Colonel H. C. CABELL, Major HAMILTON + Batteries: McCarty's, Manly's, Carlton's, Fraser's. + _Battalion_.--Major DEARING + Batteries: Macon's, Blount's, Stribling's, Caskie's. + _Battalion_.--Major HENRY + Batteries: Bachman's, Rielly's, Latham's, Gordon's. + _Battalion_.--Colonel E. P. ALEXANDER, Major HUGER + Batteries: Jordan's, Rhett's, Moody's, Parker's, Taylor's. + _Battalion_.--Major ESHLEMAN + Batteries: Squires', Miller's, Richardson's, Norcom's. + Total number of guns, Artillery of the First Corps, 83. + +SECOND CORPS. +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL R. S. EWELL. + EARLY'S DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL J. A. EARLY + _Hays' Brigade_.--Brigadier-General H. S. HAYS + 5th Louisiana, Colonel Henry Forno + 6th Louisiana, Colonel William Monaghan + 7th Louisiana, Colonel D. B. Penn + 8th Louisiana, Colonel Henry B. Kelley + 9th Louisiana, Colonel A. L. Stafford + _Gordon's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. B. GORDON + 13th Georgia, Colonel J. M. Smith + 26th Georgia, Colonel E. N. Atkinson + 31st Georgia, Colonel C. A. Evans + 38th Georgia, Colonel W. H. Stiles + 61st Georgia, Colonel J. H. Lamar + _Smith's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General WILLIAM SMITH + 13th Virginia, Colonel J. E. B. Terrill + 31st Virginia, Colonel John S. Hoffman + 49th Virginia, Colonel Gibson + 52d Virginia, Colonel Skinner + 58th Virginia, Colonel F. H. Board + _Hoke's Brigade_.--Colonel J. E. AVERY Commanding (General R. +F. HOKE being absent, wounded) + 5th North Carolina, Colonel J. E. Avery + 21st North Carolina, Colonel W. W. Kirkland + 54th North Carolina, Colonel J. C. T. McDowell + 57th North Carolina, Colonel A. C. Godwin + 1st North Carolina Battalion, Major R. H. Wharton + RODES' DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL R. E. RODES + _Daniel's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General JUNIUS DANIEL + 32d North Carolina, Colonel E. C. Brabble + 43d North Carolina, Colonel Thomas S. Keenan + 45th North Carolina, Lieut.-Colonel Saml. H. Boyd + 53d North Carolina, Colonel W. A. Owens + 2d North Carolina Battalion, Lieut.-Colonel H. S. Andrew + _Doles' Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GEORGE DOLES + 4th Georgia, Lieut.-Colonel D. R. E. Winn + 12th Georgia, Colonel Edward Willis + 21st Georgia, Colonel John T. Mercer + 44th Georgia, Colonel S. P. Lumpkin + _Iverson's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General ALFRED IVERSON + 5th North Carolina, Captain S. B. West + 12th North Carolina, Lieut.-Colonel W. S. Davis + 20th North Carolina, Lieut.-Colonel N. Slough + 23d North Carolina, Colonel D. H. Christie + _Ramseur's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General S. D. RAMSEUR + 2d North Carolina, Major E. W. Hurt + 4th North Carolina, Colonel Bryan Grimes + 14th North Carolina, Colonel R. T. Bennett + 30th North Carolina, Colonel F. M. Parker + _Rodes' Brigade_.--Colonel E. A. O'NEILL + 3d Alabama, Colonel C. A. Battle + 5th Alabama, Colonel J. M. Hall + 6th Alabama, Colonel J. N. Lightfoot + 12th Alabama, Colonel S. B. Pickens + 26th Alabama, Lieut.-Colonel J. C. Goodgame + JOHNSON'S DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL ED. JOHNSON + _Steuart's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GEO. H. STEUART + 10th Virginia, Colonel E. T. H. Warren + 23d Virginia, Colonel A. G. Taliaferro + 27th Virginia, Colonel T. V. Williams + 1st North Carolina, Colonel J. A. McDowell + 3d North Carolina, Lieut.-Colonel Thurston + _"Stonewall" Brigade_.--Brigadier-General JAMES A. WALKER + 2d Virginia, Colonel J. Q. A. Nadenbousch + 4th Virginia, Colonel Charles A. Ronald + 5th Virginia, Colonel J. H. S. Funk + 27th Virginia, Colonel J. K. Edmondson + 33d Virginia, Colonel F. M. Holladay + _Jones' Brigade_.--Brigadier-General JOHN M. JONES + 21st Virginia, Captain Moseley + 43d Virginia, Lieut.-Colonel Withers + 44th Virginia, Captain Buckner + 48th Virginia, Colonel T. S. Garnett + 50th Virginia, Colonel Vanderventer + _Nicholls' Brigade_.--Colonel J. M. WILLIAMS Commanding (General +F. T. NICHOLLS being absent, wounded) + 1st Louisiana, Colonel William R. Shirers + 2d Louisiana, Colonel J. M. Williams + 10th Louisiana, Colonel E. Waggaman + 14th Louisiana, Colonel Z. York + 15th Louisiana, Colonel Edward Pendleton + ARTILLERY OF THE SECOND CORPS. + COLONEL S. CRUTCHFIELD + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel THOMAS H. CARTER, Major CARTER M. +BRAXTON + Batteries: Page's, Fry's, Carter's, Reese's. + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel H. P. JONES, Major BROCKENBOROUGH + Batteries: Carrington's, Garber's, Thompson's, Tanner's. + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel S. ANDREWS, Major LATIMER + Batteries: Brown's, Dermot's, Carpenter's, Raine's. + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel NELSON, Major PAGE + Batteries: Kirkpatrick's, Massie's, Millege's. + _Battalion_.--Colonel J. T. BROWN, Major HARDAWAY + Batteries: Dance's, Watson's, Smith's, Huff's, Graham's. + Total number of guns, Artillery of the Second Corps, 82. + +THIRD CORPS. +LIEUT.-GENERAL A. P. HILL + R. H. ANDERSON'S DIVISION. + _Wilcox's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General C. M. WILCOX + 8th Alabama, Colonel T. L. Royster + 9th Alabama, Colonel S. Henry + 10th Alabama, Colonel W. H. Forney + 11th Alabama, Colonel J. C. C. Saunders + 14th Alabama, Colonel L. F. Pinkhard + _Mahone's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General WILLIAM MAHONE + 6th Virginia, Colonel G. T. Rogers + 12th Virginia, Colonel D. A. Weisiger + 16th Virginia, Lieut.-Colonel Joseph H. Ham + 41st Virginia, Colonel W. A. Parham + 61st Virginia, Colonel V. D. Groner + _Posey's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General CARNOT POSEY + 46th Mississippi, Colonel Jos. Jayne + 16th Mississippi, Colonel Saml. E. Baker + 19th Mississippi, Colonel John Mullins + 12th Mississippi, Colonel W. H. Taylor + _Wright's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General A. R. WRIGHT + 2d Georgia Battalion, Major G. W. Ross + 3d Georgia, Colonel E. J. Walker + 22d Georgia, Colonel R. H. Jones + 48th Georgia, Colonel William Gibson + _Perry's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General E. A. PERRY + 2d Florida, Lieut.-Colonel S. G. Pyles + 5th Florida, Colonel J. C. Hately + 8th Florida, Colonel David Long + HETH'S DIVISION + _First, Pettigrew's Brigade_.--42d, 11th, 26th, 44th, 47th, +53d, and 17th North Carolina. + _Second, Field's Brigade_.--40th, 55th, and 47th Virginia. + _Third, Archer's Brigade_.--1st, 7th, and 14th Tennessee, and +13th Alabama. + _Fourth, Cook's Brigade_.--15th, 27th, 46th, and 48th North +Carolina. + _Fifth, Davis' Brigade_.--2d, 11th, 42d Mississippi, and 55th +N. Carolina. + PENDER'S DIVISION + _First, McGowan's Brigade_.--1st, 12th, 13th, and 14th North +Carolina. + _Second, Lane's Brigade_.--7th, 18th, 28th, 33d, and 37th +Georgia. + _Third, Thomas' Brigade_.--14th, 35th, 45th, and 49th Georgia. + _Fourth, Pender's Old Brigade_.--13th, 16th, 22d, 34th, and +38th North Carolina. + ARTILLERY OF THE THIRD CORPS. + Colonel R. LINDSEY WALKER + _Battalion_.--Major D. G. McINTOSH, Major W. F. POAGUE + Batteries: Hurt's, Rice's, Luck's, Johnson's. + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel GARNETT, Major RICHARDSON + Batteries: Lewis', Maurin's, Moore's, Grandy's. + _Battalion_.--Major CUTSHAW + Batteries: Wyatt's, Woolfolk's, Brooke's. + _Battalion_.--Major WILLIE P. PEGRAM + Batteries: Brunson's, Davidson's, Crenshaw's, McGraw's, +Marye's. + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel CUTTS, Major LANE + Batteries: Wingfield's, Ross', Patterson's. + Total number of guns, Artillery of the Third Corps, 83. +Total number of guns, Army of Northern Virginia, 248. + +LIEUT.-GENERAL J. E. B. STUART'S CAVALRY CORPS. + Brigadier-General Wade Hampton's Brigade. + Brigadier-General Fitz Hugh Lee's Brigade. + Brigadier-General W. H. F. Lee's Brigade, under Colonel Chambliss. + Brigadier-General B. H. Robertson's Brigade. + Brigadier-General William E. Jones' Brigade. + Brigadier-General J. D. Imboden's Brigade. + Brigadier-General A. G. Jenkins' Brigade. + Colonel White's Battalion. + Baker's Brigade. +[NOTE.--The regimental roster of this Cavalry Corps is unfortunately +unobtainable.] + + +INDEX. [omitted] + + +MESSRS. CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS +are publishing, under the general title of THE +CAMPAIGNS OF THE CIVIL WAR +a series of volumes, contributed at their solicitation by a number +of leading actors in and students of the great conflict of 1861- +'65, with a view to bringing together, for the first time, a full +and authoritative military history of the suppression of the +Rebellion. + + +The final and exhaustive form of this great narrative, in which +every doubt shall be settled and every detail covered, may be a +possibility only of the future. But it is a matter for surprise +that twenty years after the beginning of the Rebellion, and when +a whole generation has grown up needing such knowledge, there is +no authority which is at the same time of the highest rank, +intelligible and trustworthy, and to which a reader can turn for +any general view of the field--for a strong, vivid, concise by +truly proportioned story of the great salient events. + +The many reports, regimental histories, memoirs, and other materials +of value for special passages, require, for their intelligent +reading, an ability to combine and proportion them which the ordinary +reader does not possess. There have been no attempts at general +histories which have supplied this satisfactorily to any large part +of the public. Undoubtedly there has been no such narrative as +would be especially welcome to men of the new generation, and would +be valued by a very great class of readers;--and there has seemed +to be great danger that the time would be allowed to pass when it +would be possible to give to such a work the vividness and accuracy +that come from personal recollection. These facts led to the +conception of the present work. + +From every department of the Government, from the officers of the +army, and from a great number of custodians of records and special +information everywhere, both authors and publishers have received +every aid that could be asked in this undertaking; and in announcing +the issue of the work the publishers take this occasion to convey +the thanks which the authors have had individual opportunities to +express elsewhere. + + +The volumes of the series will be duodecimos of about 250 pages +each, illustrated by maps and plans prepared under the direction +of the authors. They will appear, as far as possible, in the +chronological order of the Campaigns of which they treat; and by +their preliminary and concluding chapters will be so far connected +that the completed work will practically cover the entire field of +the war. + +The price of each volume will be $1.00. + + +_The following volumes are now ready:_ + +I.--THE OUTBREAK OF THE REBELLION. By JOHN G. NICOLAY, Esq., +Private Secretary to President Lincoln; late Consul-General to +France, etc. + +A preliminary volume, describing the opening of the war, and covering +the period from the election of Lincoln to the end of the first +battle of Bull Run. + +II.--FROM FORT HENRY TO CORINTH. By the Hon. M. F. FORCE, Justice +of the Superior Court, Cincinnati; late Brigadier-General and Bvt. +Maj. Gen'l, U.S.V., commanding First Division, 17th Corps: In +1862, Lieut. Colonel of the 20th Ohio, commanding the regiment at +Shiloh; Treasurer of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. + +The narrative of events in the West from the Summer of 1861 to May, +1862; covering the capture of Fts. Henry and Donelson, the Battle +of Shiloh, etc., etc. + +III.--THE PENINSULA. By ALEXANDER S. WEBB., LL.D., President of +the College of the City of New York; Assistant Chief of Artillery, +Army of the Potomac, 1861-'62; Inspector General Fifth Army Corps; +General commanding 2d Div., 2d Corps; Major General Assigned, and +Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac. + +The history of McClellan's Peninsula Campaign, from his appointment +to the end of the Seven Days' Fight. + +IV.--THE ARMY UNDER POPE. By JOHN C. ROPES, Esq., of the Military +Historical Society of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Historical +Society, etc. + +From the appointment of Pope to command the Army of Virginia, to +the appointment of McClellan to the general command in September, +1862. + +V.--THE ANTIETAM AND FREDERICKSBURG. By FRANCIS WINTHROP PALFREY, +Bvt. Brigadier Gen'l, U.S.V., and formerly Colonel 20th Mass. +Infantry; Lieut. Col. of the 20th Massachusetts at the battle of +the Antietam; Member of Military Historical Society of Massachusetts, +of the Massachusetts Historical Society, etc. + +From the appointment of McClellan to the general command, Sept. +1862, to the end of the battle of Fredericksburg. + +VI.--CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG. By ABNER DOUBLEDAY, Bvt. +Maj. Gen'l, U.S.A., and Maj. Gen'l, U.S.V.; commanding the First +Corps at Gettysburg, etc. + +From the appointment of Hooker, through the campaigns of Chancellorsville +and Gettysburg, to the retreat of Lee after the latter battle. + +VII.--THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. By HENRY M. CIST, Brevet Brig. +Gen'l U.S.V.; A.A.G. on the staff of Major Gen'l Rosecrans, and +afterwards on that of Major Gen'l Thomas; Corresponding Secretary +of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland. + +From the formation of the Army of the Cumberland to the end of the +battles at Chattanooga, November, 1863. + +IX.--THE CAMPAIGN OF ATLANTA. By the Hon. JACOB D. COX, Ex-Governor +of Ohio; late Secretary of the Interior of the United States; Major +General U.S.V., commanding Twenty-third Corps during the campaigns +of Atlanta and the Carolinas, etc., etc. + +From Sherman's first advance into Georgia in May, 1864, to the +beginning of the March to the Sea. + +X.--THE MARCH TO THE SEA.--FRANKLIN AND NASHVILLE. By the Hon. +JACOB D. COX. + +From the beginning of the March to the Sea to the Surrender of +Johnston--including also the operations of Thomas in Tennessee. + + +The following volumes, now preparing for early publication, will +complete the series: + +VIII.--THE MISSISSIPPI. By FRANCIS VINTON GREENE, Lieut. of +Engineers, U. S. Army; late Military Attaché to the U. S. Legation +in St. Petersburg; Author of "The Russian Army and its Campaigns +in Turkey in 1877-78," and of "Army Life in Russia." + +An account of the operations--especially at Vicksburg and Port +Hudson--by which the Mississippi River and its shores were restored +to the control of the Union. + +XI.--THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY in 1864. The Campaign of Sheridan. By +GEORGE E. POND, Esq., Associate Editor of the _Army and Navy +Journal_. + +XII.--THE CAMPAIGNS OF GRANT IN VIRGINIA. By ANDREW A. HUMPHREYS, +Brigadier General and Bvt. Major General, U.S.A.; late Chief of +Engineers; Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac, 1863-'64; commanding +Second Corps, 1864-'65, etc., etc. + +Covering the Virginia Campaigns of 1864 and '65, to Lee's surrender. + + +[Asterism] _The above books for sale by all booksellers, or will +be sent, post-paid, upon receipt of price by_ + + CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, + 743 AND 745 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. + + +Transcriber's note: + + Footnotes follow the paragraph in which they are referenced. + + Small caps have been set as caps. + + Regimental numbers, which were all spelled out in the text (but + not the Appendixes), have been converted to numerals. + + Personal names have been corrected, place names have not when they + could be a contemporary variant. The possessives ending in "s's" + or "s'" have been made uniformly the latter. + + The Appendixes have been rearranged from paragraph to tabular style; + the words "Commanding" and "Regiment" have been deleted when + possible. It seems that the end of Appendix B was originally + shortened to fit the signature. + + LoC call number: E468.C2 v.6 + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, by Abner Doubleday + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG *** + +***** This file should be named 20762-8.txt or 20762-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/7/6/20762/ + +Produced by Ed Ferris + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/20762-8.zip b/20762-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a29c091 --- /dev/null +++ b/20762-8.zip diff --git a/20762.txt b/20762.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..832fc6d --- /dev/null +++ b/20762.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8110 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, by Abner Doubleday + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chancellorsville and Gettysburg + Campaigns of the Civil War - VI + +Author: Abner Doubleday + +Release Date: March 7, 2007 [EBook #20762] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG *** + + + + +Produced by Ed Ferris + + + + + +CHANCELLORSVILLE +AND GETTYSBURG + + +_CAMPAIGNS OF THE CIVIL WAR.--VI._ + +CHANCELLORSVILLE +AND +GETTYSBURG + +BY +ABNER DOUBLEDAY +BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL, U.S.A., AND LATE MAJOR-GENERAL U.S.V.; +COMMANDING THE FIRST CORPS AT GETTYSBURG. + +NEW YORK +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS +743 AND 745 BROADWAY +1882 + + +COPYRIGHT BY +CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS +1882 + +TROW'S +PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY +210-213 _East 12th Street_ + +NEW YORK + + + +PREFACE. + +In writing ths narrative, which relates to the decisive campaign +which freed the Northern States from invasion, it may not be out +of place to state what facilities I have had for observation in +the fulfilment of so important a task. I can only say that I was, +to a considerable extent, an actor in the scenes I describe, and +knew the principal leaders on both sides, in consequence of my +association with them at West Point, and, subsequently, in the +regular army. Indeed, several of them, including Stonewall Jackson +and A. P. Hill, were, prior to the war, officers in the regiment +to which I belonged. As commander of the Defences of Washington +in the spring of 1862, I was, owing to the nature of my duties, +brought into intimate relations with the statesmen who controlled +the Government at the time, and became well acquainted with President +Lincoln. I was present, too, after the Battle of Gettysburg, at +a very interesting Cabinet Council, in which the pursuit of Lee +was fully discussed; so that, in one way and another, I have had +better opportunities to judge of men and measures than usually fall +to the lot of others who have written on the same subject. + +I have always felt it to be the duty of every one who held a +prominent position in the great war to give to posterity the benefit +of his personal recollections; for no dry official statement can +ever convey an adequate idea to those who come after us of the +sufferings and sacrifices through which the country has passed. +Thousands of men--the flower of our Northern youth--have gone down +to their graves unheralded and unknown, and their achievements and +devotion to the cause have already been forgotten. It is, therefore, +incumbent upon us, who were their comrades in the field, to do all +in our power to preserve their deeds from oblivion. + +And yet it is no easy task to relate contemporaneous events. +Whoever attempts it must be prepared for severe criticism and the +exhibition of much personal feeling. Some of this may be avoided, +it is true, by writing a colorless history, praising everybody, +and attributing all disasters to dispensations of Providence, for +which no one is to blame. I cannot, however, consent to fulfill +my allotted task in this way, for the great lessons of the war are +too valuable to be ignored or misstated. It is not my desire to +assail any of the patriotic men who were engaged in the contest, +but each of us is responsible for our actions in this world, and +for the consequences which flow from them; and where great disasters +have occurred, it is due both to the living and the dead that the +causes and circumstances be justly and properly stated. + +Richelieu once exclaimed, upon giving away a high appointment: +"Now I have made one ingrate and a thousand enemies." Every one +who writes the history of the Great Rebellion will often have +occasion to reiterate the statement: For the military critic must +necessarily describe facts which imply praise or censure. Those +who have contributed to great successes think much more might have +been said on the subject, and those who have caused reverses and +defeats are bitter in their denunciations. + +Nevertheless, the history of the war should be written before the +facts have faded from the memory of living men, and have become +mere matters of tradition. + +In a narrative of this kind, resting upon a great number of voluminous +details, I cannot hope to have wholly escaped error, and wherever +I have misconceived or misstated a fact, it will give me pleasure +to correct the record. + + A. D. +NEW YORK, January, 1882. + + + +CONTENTS. + +LIST OF MAPS + +CHANCELLORSVILLE +CHAPTER I. +THE OPENING OF 1863--HOOKER'S PLANS +CHAPTER II. +FRIDAY, THE FIRST OF MAY +CHAPTER III. +THE DISASTROUS SECOND OF MAY +CHAPTER IV. +THE ROUT OF THE ELEVENTH CORPS +CHAPTER V. +JACKSON'S ADVANCE IS CHECKED +CHAPTER VI. +SICKLES FIGHTS HIS WAY BACK--ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST CORPS +CHAPTER VII. +THE BATTLE OF THE THIRD OF MAY +CHAPTER VIII. +MAY FOURTH--ATTACK ON SEDGWICK'S FORCE +CHAPTER IX. +PREPARATIONS TO RENEW THE CONFLICT +CHAPTER X. +BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION (FLEETWOOD) + +GETTYSBURG +CHAPTER I. +THE INVASION OF THE NORTH +CHAPTER II. +HOOKER'S PLANS--LONGSTREET OCCUPIES THE GAPS IN THE BLUE RIDGE-- + ALARM IN RICHMOND--HOOKER SUPERSEDED BY MEADE +CHAPTER III. +STUART'S RAID--THE ENEMY IN FRONT OF HARRISBURG--MEADE'S PLAN +CHAPTER IV. +THE FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1863 +CHAPTER V. +BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG--THE SECOND DAY +CHAPTER VI. +THE BATTLE OF THE THIRD DAY--JOHNSON'S DIVISION DRIVEN OUT +CHAPTER VII. +GENERAL RETREAT OF THE ENEMY--CRITICISMS OF DISTINGUISHED CONFEDERATE + OFFICERS +APPENDIX A +APPENDIX B +INDEX + + +LIST OF MAPS. + +FIELD OF OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA +OPERATIONS ON THE FIRST OF MAY, 1863 +JACKSON'S ATTACK ON HOWARD, MAY 1 +BATTLE OF THE THIRD OF MAY +SEDGWICK'S POSITION +FROM THE POTOMAC TO HARRISBURG +DIAGRAMS OF POSITIONS IN THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG: + I. + II. + III. + IV. +GETTYSBURG: FINAL ATTACK OF THE FIRST DAY AND BATTLE OF THE SECOND + DAY +DIAGRAM OF THE ATTACK ON SICKLES AND SYKES + + +CHANCELLORSVILLE. + + + +CHANCELLORSVILLE. + + +CHAPTER I. +THE OPENING OF 1863.--HOOKER'S PLANS. + +After the great disaster of Fredericksburg, General Burnside, the +Commander of the Union Army, was superseded by Major-General Joseph +Hooker, a graduate of West Point, who having formerly held a high +position on the staff of General Gideon J. Pillow in the war with +Mexico, was supposed to be well acquainted with military operations +on a large scale. He had subsequently left the army, and had been +engaged in civil pursuits for several years. He was a man of fine +presence, of great personal magnetism, and had the reputation of +being one of our most efficient and successful corps commanders. + +When the campaign of Chancellorsville commenced, the Army of the +Potomac was posted on the left bank of the Rappahannock, opposite +Fredericksburg, among the Stafford hills, in a position which was +considered almost impregnable. It rested upon the Potomac River, +and as all of its supplies came by water, they were not subject to +delay or interruption of any kind; nor were they endangered by the +movements of the enemy. + +At the period referred to, General Hooker had under him a force of +about 124,500 men of all arms, 11,500 of which were cavalry. + +On the opposite side of the river, the Army of Northern Virginia, +under General Robert E. Lee, numbered, according to their official +reports, about sixty-two thousand men, three thousand of which were +cavalry;* but the difference was amply compensated by the wide +river in front of the enemy, and the fact that every available +point and ford was well fortified and guarded. General Thomas J. +Jackson, commonly called Stonewall Jackson, held the line below +Hamilton's crossing to Port Royal. Two out of four divisions of +Longstreet's corps were absent. The fourth, under Major-General +Lafayette McLaws, was posted from Hamilton's crossing to Banks' +Ford. Still farther up and beyond the front of either army, the +crossing-places were watched by the rebel cavalry under Major- +General J. E. B. Stuart, supported by the Third Division of +Longstreet's corps, that of Anderson. + +[* Napoleon says 100,000 men on the rolls are only equivalent to +about 80,000 muskets in action. It is doubtful if Hooker had over +113,000 men for actual combat. Lieut.-Colonel W. T. Forbes, +Assistant Adjutant General, who has had access to the records, +after a careful estimate, places the number as follows. First +Corps, 16,000; Second Corps, 16,000; Third Corps, 18,000; Fifth +Corps, 15,000; Sixth Corps, 22,000; Eleventh Corps, 15,000; Twelfth +Corps, 11,000; total infantry and artillery, 113,000; Pleasanton's +cavalry, 1,500; total effective force, 114,500. He estimates Lee's +army at 62,000, which the Confederate authorities, Hotchkiss and +Allan, place as follows: Anderson's and McLaws' divisions of +Longstreet's Corps, 17,000; Jackson's Corps, 33,500; Stuart's +Cavalry, 2,700; Artillery, 5,000; add 4,000 on engineer, hospital +duty, etc. This estimate is exclusive of Stoneman's force.] + +Both armies had spent the winter in much needed rest, after the +toilsome and exhausting marches and bloody battles which terminated +Lee's first invasion of Maryland. The discipline of our army was +excellent, and it would have been hard to find a finer body of men, +or better fighting material than that assembled on this occasion, +in readiness to open the spring campaign. Hooker was justly popular +with his troops. They had confidence in his ability as a general, +and he had gained their good will by anticipating their wants, and +by generously grating furloughs to those who were pining from home- +sickness; trusting that old associations and the honor of the men +would induce them to rejoin their colors when the leaves of absence +had expired. In this way he almost stopped the desertion which +had been so prevalent under Burnside. Only one portion of the army +was dissatisfied; the position recently occupied by General Franz +Sigel, the favorite commander of the Eleventh Corps, had been given +to General O. O. Howard. The numerous Germans in that corps were +discontented at the change. They cared little for Howard's reputation +as the Havelock of the army; an appellation he had gained from his +zeal as a Congregationalist. They felt, when their countryman +Sigel was deprived of his command, that it was a blow to their +nationality, and therefore lost some of the enthusiasm which always +accompanies the personal influence of a popular leader. + +The rainy season was nearly over, the time had come for action, +and it was essential to strike a decisive blow before the term of +service of the nine months' and two years' men had drawn to a close. +Hooker's plan of campaign was simple, efficacious, and should have +been successful. The rebels occupied a long line and could not be +strong everywhere. He resolved to make a pretence of crossing with +three corps, under Major-General Sedgwick, below Fredericksburg, +while the remaining four corps under Major-General Slocum made a +detour and crossed twenty-seven miles above at Kelly's Ford. The +latter were then to march down the river against the left flank of +the rebel army and re-open Banks' Ford; thus re-uniting the two +wings of the army and giving a secure line of retreat in case of +disaster. When this was accomplished it was proposed to give battle +in the open country near the ford, the position there being a +commanding one and taking the whole line of rebel works on the +heights of Fredericksburg in reverse. Owing to his great preponderance +of force, Hooker had little reason to doubt that the result would +be favorable to our arms. To carry out this plan and make it a +complete surprise to the enemy it became necessary to leave Gibbon's +division of Couch's corps behind, for as his encampment at Falmouth +was in full view of the Confederate forces on the opposite side, +to withdraw it would have been to notify them that some unusual +movement was going on. So far the idea was simply to crush the +opposing army, but Hooker's plan went farther and involved the +capture of Lee's entire force. To accomplish this he directed +Stoneman to start two weeks in advance of the main body with ten +thousand cavalry, cross at the upper fords of the Rappahannock, +and sweep down upon Lee's communications with Richmond, breaking +up railroads and canals, cutting telegraph wires, and intercepting +supplies of all kinds. As the rebel commissariat found great +difficulty in keeping more than four days' rations on hand at a +time, Stoneman's raid would almost necessarily force Lee to fall +back on his depots and give up Fredericksburg. One column under +Averell was to attack Culpeper and Gordonsville, the other under +Buford to move to Louisa Court House, and thence to the Fredericksburg +Railroad. Both columns were to unite behind the Pamunkey, and in +case our army was successful Stoneman was directed to plant his +force behind some river in an advantageous position on Lee's line +of retreat, where he could detain the rebel army until Hooker could +again assail it and compel it to surrender. A brave programme! +Let us see how it was carried out. + +It was an essential part of Hooker's project that the cavalry should +begin operations two weeks before the infantry. If they did their +work thoroughly, Lee would be out of provisions, and his retreat +would give us all the moral effect of a victory. The rebel cavalry +at the time being reduced to about 3,000 men, it was not supposed +that Stoneman would encounter any serious resistance. He accordingly +started on April 13th to carry out his instructions, but another +rain storm, which made the river unfordable, and very bad roads, +detained him until the 28th. It has been suggested that he might +have crossed higher up, but cavalry officers who were there, tell +me that every ravine had become an impassable river. Hooker became +impatient and refused to wait any longer; so when the water subsided, +all--infantry, artillery, and cavalry--were sent over together. +The result was that the battle was ended before Stoneman got fairly +to work, and his operations had little or no effect in obstructing +Lee's movements. + +To confuse the enemy as much as possible, demonstrations had been +made at both ends of the line. On April 21st a small infantry +force was sent to threaten Kelly's Ford. On the same day, I went +with part of my division down the river to Port Conway, opposite +Port Royal, twenty miles below Fredericksburg, made a pretence of +crossing in pontoons, and built fires in every direction at night, +to give the impression of a large force. On the 24th General +Wadsworth went on an expedition to the same place, and two regiments +under Colonel Morrow, 24th Michigan, crossed over in boats, and +returned. Those movements caused Jackson to strengthen his force +in that quarter. On the 27th, the storm having abated, Meade's +corps (the Fifth), Howard's corps (the Eleventh), and Slocum's +corps (the Twelfth), the whole being under the command of General +Slocum, left camp for Kelly's Ford, each accompanied by three +batteries. A detachment was thrown over, in boats, on the evening +of the 28th, which dispersed the picket guard; and by the next +morning the entire force was across the river and on their way to +the Rapidan, the Fifth Corps taking the direction of Elley's Ford +and the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps that of Germania Ford. Stoneman's +cavalry crossed at the same time with the others, and moved to +Culpeper, where he halted for a time to reorganize his force, and +get rid of surplus horses, baggage, etc., which were sent to the +rear. The next day Averell kept on to Rapidan Station with 4,000 +sabres, to engage W. H. F. Lee's rebel brigade, so that it could +not interfere with the operations of the main body, which moved +southeast across Morton's Ford and Raccoon Ford to Louisa Court +House, where the work of destruction was to begin. Stoneman's +further movements will be related hereafter. One small brigade of +three regiments with two batteries was placed under the command of +General Pleasonton and directed to report to General Slocum, to +precede the infantry on the different roads. + +Stuart, who commanded two brigades of rebel cavalry, under Fitz +Hugh Lee and W. H. F. Lee, and whose duty it was to watch these +upper fords, received news of the crossing at 9 P.M., on the 28th. + +The turning column reached Chancellorsville with but little +opposition, as both Lee and Stuart thought it was making for +Gordonsville and the Virginia Central Railroad. In consequence of +this miscalculation, Stuart planted himself at Brandy Station. +When he found that he was out of position and that it was too late +to prevent the crossing at Germania Ford, he made a circuit with +Fitz Hugh Lee's brigade to get between Slocum and Lee, and sent W. +H. F. Lee's brigade to impede Stoneman's operations. The passage +of Germania Ford turned Elley's Ford and United States Ford, and +Mahone's and Posey's brigades, who were on guard there, retreated +on Chancellorsville, where Anderson had come up with Wright's +brigade too late to prevent the crossing. + +By 6 P.M. on the 30th, Hooker found himself in command of four +corps at Chancellorsville, with another--that of Sickles--near at +hand. Anderson fell back to Tabernacle Church as our troops +advanced, and began to fortify a line there. Stuart sent Fitz Hugh +Lee's brigade, which was very much exhausted, to Todd's Tavern for +the night, while he started with a small escort, to explain the +situation to General Lee at Fredericksburg. On the road, not far +from Spottsylvania, he came unexpectedly upon one of Pleasonton's +regiments, the 6th New York Cavalry, numbering about 200 men, which +was returning from a reconnoissance it had made in that direction. +He avoided the encounter and sent back to Todd's Tavern, at first +for a regiment, but subsequently for the entire brigade. When +there reinforcements came up a furious cavalry contest took place, +with charges and counter-charges, and hand to hand combats. It +was not without an element of romance, in that lonely spot, far +from either army, under the resplendent light of the full moon; +recalling, in the words of a Southern chronicler, some scene of +knightly glory. Our troops were surrounded, but cut their way out +with the loss of their gallant commander, Lieutenant-Colonel McVicar, +who led them in the charge. + +Meanwhile the other portion of the contemplated movement had also +been going forward. On the 28th, the Sixth Corps, under Sedgwick, +and the First Corps, under Reynolds, were moved down near the river, +three or four miles below Fredericksburg, and bivouacked there in +a pouring rain. As it was possible that the two corps might be +attacked when they reached the other side, the Third Corps, under +Sickles, was posted in the rear as a reserve. + +The next day two bridges were laid down at Franklin's old crossing +for the Sixth Corps, and two more a mile below for the First Corps. +Men in rifle-pits on the other side impeded the placing of the +pontoons for a while, but detachments sent over in boats stormed +their intrenchments, and drove them out. Brooks' division of the +Sixth Corps and Wadsworth's division of the First Corps then crossed +and threw up _tete du ponts_. The enemy made no other opposition +than a vigorous shelling by their guns on the heights, which did +but little damage. A considerable number of these missiles were +aimed at my division and at that of General J. C. Robinson, which +were held in reserve on the north side of the river; but as our +men were pretty well sheltered, there were but few casualties. + +It soon became evident that the enemy would not attack the bridge +heads, they being well guarded by artillery on the north bank, so +Sickles' corps was detached on the 30th and ordered to Chancellorsville. + +Sedgwick used the remainder of his men to great advantage by marching +them back and forth among the hills in such a way as to lead Lee +to suppose that a very large force confronted him. As, however, +Sedgwick did not advance, and more accurate reports were furnished +by Stuart in relation to what had taken place up the river, Lee +saw, on the night of the 30th, that the movement in front of +Fredericksburg was a feint, and his real antagonist was at +Chancellorsville. He had previously ordered Jackson's corps up +from Moss Creek and now advanced with the main body of his army to +meet Hooker, leaving Early's division of Jackson's corps and +Barksdale's brigade of McLaws' division of Longstreet's corps to +hold the heights of Fredericksburg against Sedgwick. Jackson, who +was always prompt, started at midnight, and at 8 A.M. the next day +stood by the side of Anderson at Tabernacle Church. McLaws' division +had already arrived, having preceded him by a few hours. + +The error in the movement thus far made is plain. It is a maxim +in war that a single hour's delay, when an enemy is strengthening +his position or when reinforcements are coming up, will frequently +cost the lives of a thousand men. In the present instance it was +simply suicidal for Hooker to delay action until Anderson had +fortified his lines and Lee had come forward with the main body to +join him. Hooker should have pressed on immediately to seize the +objective. Banks' Ford was almost within his grasp, and only a +portion of Anderson's division barred the way. The possession of +that ford would have brought Sedgwick twelve miles nearer to him, +and would have forced Lee to fight at a great disadvantage both as +to position and numbers. Hooker knew from a captured despatch +which Pleasonton placed in his hands, that Lee was still in +Fredericksburg on the 30th, uncertain how to act; for he did not +know the strength of Sedgwick's column, and feared that the main +attack might come from that direction. The four corps at +Chancellorsville amounted to about forty-six thousand men; and +18,000 more were close at hand under Sickles. The troops had made +but a short march, and were comparatively fresh. Four miles further +on lay the great prize for which Hooker was contending. He had +only to put out his hand to reach it, but he delayed action all +that long night and until eleven o'clock of the next morning. When +he did make the effort the line he was about to occupy was well +fortified and held by all but one division and one brigade of Lee's +army. + + + +CHAPTER II. +FRIDAY, THE FIRST OF MAY. + +There are two excellent roads leading from Chancellorsville to +Fredericksburg--one a plank road, which keeps up near the sources +of the streams along the dividing line between Mott Run on the +north and Lewis Creek and Massaponax Creek on the South, and the +other called the old turnpike, which was more direct but more +broken, as it passed over several ravines. There was still a third +road, a very poor one, which ran near the river and came out at +Banks' Ford. + +On May 1st, at 11 A.M., Hooker moved out to attack Lee in four +columns. + +Slocum's corps, followed by that of Howard, took the plank road on +the right. + +Sykes' division of Meade's corps, followed by Hancock's division +of Couch's corps, went by the turnpike in the centre. + +The remainder of Meade's corps--Griffin's division, followed by +that of Humphreys--took the river road. + +Lastly, French's division of Couch's corps was under orders to turn +off and march to Todd's Tavern. + +Each column was preceded by a detachment of Pleasonton's cavalry, +which, in fact, had been close to Anderson's pickets all the +morning. + +Before these troops started, Sickles' corps arrived, after a short +march, from Hartwood Church, and were posted in rear of the +Chancellorsville House as a reserve, with one brigade thrown out +to Dowdall's Tavern, otherwise known as Melzi Chancellor's house. +Another brigade was left at the Ford to guard the passage against +Fitz Hugh Lee's cavalry. + +Hooker, who was a very sanguine man, expected to be able to form +line of battle by 2 P.M., with his right resting near Tabernacle +Church, and his left covering Banks' Ford. It did not seem to +occur to him that the enemy might be there before him and prevent +the formation, or that he would have any difficulty in moving and +deploying his troops; but he soon found himself hampered in every +direction by dense and almost impenetrable thickets, which had a +tendency to break up every organization that tried to pass through +them into mere crowds of men without order or alignment. Under +these circumstances concert of action became exceedingly difficult, +and when attempts were made to communicate orders off the roads, +aids wandered hopelessly through the woods, struggling in the thick +undergrowth, without being able to find any one. It was worse then +fighting in a dense fog.* The enemy, of course, were also impeded +in their movements, but they had the advantage of being better +acquainted with the country, and in case they were beaten they had +a line at Tabernacle Church already intrenched to fall back upon. +The ravines also, which crossed the upper roads at right angles, +offered excellent defensive positions for them. + +[* One brigade of Griffin's division was out all night trying to +find its way through the thickets, and did not reach the main army +until 4 A.M. Wilcox's brigade, which came the next day from Banks' +Ford to reinforce the enemy, had a similar experience.] + +McLaws, who had advanced on the turnpike, managed to form line of +battle with his division on each side of the pike, against Sykes, +who had now come forward to sustain his cavalry detachment, which, +in spite of their gallantry--for they rode up and fired in the +faces of the enemy--were driven in by the 11th Virginia Infantry +of Mahone's brigade. Jackson on his arrival, had stopped the +fortifying which Anderson had commenced, and according to his +invariable custom to find and fight his enemy as soon as possible, +had moved forward; so that the two armies encountered each other +about two and half miles from Chancellorsville. Sykes indeed, met +the advance of McLaws' division only a mile out, and drove it back +steadily a mile farther, when it was reinforced by Anderson's +division, and Ramseur's brigade of Rodes' division. Anderson gave +Sykes a lively fight and succeeded in getting in on his flanks; +for, owing to the divergence of the roads, neither Slocum on the +right nor Meade's two divisions on the left were abreast with him. +He tried to connect with Slocum by throwing out a regiment deployed +as skirmishers, but did not succeed. As the enemy were gaining +the advantage he fell back behind Hancock, who came to the front +and took his place. Slocum now formed on the right, with his left +resting on the plank road, and his right on high ground which +commanded the country around. Altogether the general line was a +good one; for there were large open spaces where the artillery +could move and manoeuvre, and the army were almost out of the +thickets. The reserves could have struggled through those in the +rear, and have filled the gaps, so that there is no reason to +suppose our forces could have not continued to advance, or at all +events have held the position, which, from its elevation and the +other advantages I have stated, was an important one, especially +as the column on the river road was in sight of Banks' Ford, which +it could have seized and held, or have struck the right flank of +the enemy with great effect. The troops had come out to obtain +possession of Banks' Ford, and all the surplus artillery was waiting +there. To retreat without making any adequate effort to carry out +his plans made the General appear timid, and had a bad effect on +the morale of the army. It would have been time enough to fall +back in case of defeat; and if such a result was anticipated, the +engineers with their 4,000 men, aided by Sickles' corps, could +easily have laid out a strong line in the rear for the troops to +fall back upon. General Warren, the Chief Engineer on Hooker's +staff, thought the commanding ridge with the open space in front, +upon which Hancock was posted, a very advantageous position for +the army to occupy, and urged Couch not to abandon it until he +(Warren) had conferred with Hooker. After the order came to retire, +Couch sent to obtain permission to remain, but it was peremptorily +refused. Hooker soon afterward changed his mind and countermanded +his first order, but it was then too late; our troops had left the +ridge and the enemy were in possession of it. There was too much +vacillation at headquarters. Slocum, who was pressing the enemy +back, was very much vexed when he received the order, but obeyed +it, and retreated without being molested. It is true, Wright's +brigade had formed on his right, but the advance of the Eleventh +Corps would have taken that in flank, so that the prospect was +generally good at this time for an advance. The column on the +river road also retired without interference. As Couch had waited +to hear from Hooker, Hancock's right flank became somewhat exposed +by the delay, but he fell back without serious loss. French also, +who had started for Todd's Tavern, returned. He encountered the +enemy, but was ordered in and did not engage them. + +That portion of the country around Chancellorsville within the +Union lines on the morning of May 2d, may, with some exceptions, +be described as a plain, covered by dense thickets, with open spaces +in the vicinity of the houses, varied by the high ground at Talley's +on the west and by the hills of Fairview and Hazel Grove on the +south, and terminating in a deep ravine near the river. Our general +line was separated from that of the enemy by small streams, which +principally ran through ravines, forming obstacles useful for +defensive purposes. This was the case on the east and south, but +on the west, where Howard's line terminated, there was nothing but +the usual thickets to impede the enemy's approach. + +As the narrative proceeds, the position of the Confederate army, +who held the broken ground on the other side of those ravines, will +be more particularly described. + +After all, a defensive battle in such a country is not a bad thing, +for where there are axes and timber it is easy to fortify and hard +to force the line; always provided that free communications are +kept open to the central reserve and from one part of the line to +another. It must be confessed that the concealment of the thickets +is also favorable to the initiative, as it enables the attacking +party to mass his troops against the weak parts without being +observed. Hooker probably thought if Lee assailed a superior force +in an intrenched position he would certainly be beaten; and if he +did not attack he would soon be forced to fall back on his depots +near Richmond for food and ammunition. In either case the prestige +would remain with the Union general. + +The rebels followed up our army closely, and it is quite possible +that a sudden attack, when it was heaped up around Chancellorsville, +might have been disastrous to us. Gradually, under the skilful +guidance of Captain Payne of the Engineers, who had made himself +well acquainted with the country, the different corps took the +positions they had occupied on the previous night, and order came +out of chaos. The line, as thus established, covered all the roads +which passed through Chancellorsville. The left, held by Meade's +corps, rested on the Rappahannock, near Scott's Dam; the line was +then continued in a southerly direction by Couch's corps, facing +east, French's division being extended to a point near to and east +of Chancellorsville, with Hancock's division of the same corps +holding an outpost still further to the east. Next came the Twelfth +Corps under Slocum, facing south, and then, at some distance to +the west, in echelon to the rear along the Plank Road, Howard's +corps was posted. The Third Corps under Sickles was kept in reserve, +back of the mansion. The next morning two brigades and two batteries +of Birney's division were interposed between Slocum and Howard, +with a strong line of skirmishers thrown out in front. The 8th +Pennsylvania Cavalry picketed the roads and kept the enemy in sight. +The thickets which surrounded this position were almost impenetrable, +so that an advance against the enemy's lines became exceedingly +difficult and manoeuvring nearly impracticable, nor was this the +only defect. Batteries could be established on the high ground to +the east, which commanded the front facing in that direction, while +our own artillery had but little scope; and last, but most important +of all, the right of Howard's corps as "in the air," that is, rested +on no obstacle. + +Hooker was sensible that this flank was weak, and sent Graham's +brigade of Sickles' corps with a battery to strengthen it; but +Howard took umbrage at this, as a reflection on the bravery of his +troops or his own want of skill, and told Graham that he did not +need his services; that he felt so secure in his position that he +would send his compliments to the whole rebel army if they lay in +front of him, and invite them to attack him. As Hooker had just +acquiesced in the appointment of Howard to be Commander of the +Eleventh Corps, he disliked to show a want of confidence in him at +the very beginning of his career, and therefore yielded to his +wishes and ordered the reinforcements to return and report to +Sickles again. + +Chancellorsville being a great center of communication with the +plank road and turnpike heading east and west, and less important +roads to the south, and southeast, Hooker desired above all things +to retain it; for if it should once fall into the hands of the +enemy, our army would be unable to move in any direction except to +the rear. + +General Lee formed his line with Wickham's and Owens' regiments of +cavalry on his right, opposite Meade's corps, supported by Perry's +brigade of Anderson's division; Jackson's line stretched from the +Plank Road around toward the Furnace. + +Before night set in, Wright and Stuart attacked an outlying part +of Slocum's corps and drove it in on the main body. They then +brought up some artillery and opened fire against Slocum's position +on the crest of the hill. Failing to make any impression they soon +retired and all was quiet once more. + +The enemy soon posted batteries on the high ground a mile east of +Chancellorsville, and opened on Hancock's front with considerable +effect. They also enfiladed Geary's division of Slocum's corps, +and became very annoying, but Knap's battery of the Twelfth Corps +replied effectively and kept their fire down to a great extent. + +As the Union army was hidden by a thick undergrowth, Lee spent the +rest of the day in making a series of feigned attacks to ascertain +where our troops were posted. + +When night set in, the sound of the axe was heard in every direction, +for both armies thought it prudent to strengthen their front as +much as possible. + +The prospect for Lee as darkness closed over the scene was far from +encouraging. He had examined the position of the Union army +carefully, and had satisfied himself that as regards its centre +and left it was unassailable. Let any man with a musket on his +shoulder, encumbered with a cartridge-box, haversack, canteen, +etc., attempt to climb over a body of felled timber to get at an +enemy who is coolly shooting at him from behind a log breastwork, +and he will realize the difficulty of forcing a way through such +obstacles. Our artillery, too, swept every avenue of approach, so +that the line might be considered as almost impregnable. Before +giving up the attack, however, Stuart was directed to cautiously +reconnoitre on the right, where Howard was posted, and see if there +was not a vulnerable point there. + + + +CHAPTER III. +THE DISASTROUS SECOND OF MAY. + +At dawn of day General Lee and General Jackson were sitting by the +side of the plank road, on some empty cracker boxes, discussing +the situation, when Stuart came up and reported the result of his +reconnoissance. He said the right flank of Howard's corps was +defenceless and easily assailable. Jackson at once asked permission +to take his own corps--about 26,000 muskets--make a detour through +the woods to conceal his march from observation, and fall unexpectedly +upon the weak point referred to by Stuart. It was a startling +proposition and contrary to all the principles of strategy, for +when Jackson was gone Lee would be left with but a few men to +withstand the shock of Hooker's entire army, and might be driven +back to Fredericksburg or crushed. If the Eleventh Corps had +prepared for Jackson's approach by a line properly fortified, with +redoubts on the flanks, the men protected in front by felled timber +and sheltered by breastworks, with the artillery at the angles, +crossing its fire in front, Jackson's corps would have been powerless +to advance, and could have been held as in a vise, while Lee, one- +half of his force being absent, would have found himself helpless +against the combined attack of our other corps, which could have +assailed him in front and on each flank. + +There was, therefore, great risk in attempting such a manoeuvre, +for nothing short of utter blindness on the part of the Union +commanders could make it successful. + +Still, something had to be done, for inaction would result in a +retreat, and in the present instance, if the worst came to the +worst, Jackson could fall back on Gordonsville, and Lee toward the +Virginia Central Railroad, where they could reunite their columns +by rail, before Hooker could march across the country and prevent +the junction. Jackson received the required permission, and started +off at once by a secluded road, keeping Fitz Hugh Lee's brigade of +cavalry between his column and the Union army to shield his march +from observation. + +At 2 A.M., Hooker sent orders for the First Corps, under Reynolds, +to which I belonged, to take up its bridges and join him by way of +United States Ford, and by 9 A.M. we were on our way. + +The first sound of battle came from some guns posted on the eminence +from which Hancock had retreated the day before. A battery there +opened fire on the army trains which had been parked in the open +plain in front of the Chancellorsville House, and drove them pell +mell to the rear. + +At dawn Hooker rode around, accompanied by Sickles, to inspect his +lines. He approved the position generally, but upon Sickles' +recommendation he threw in a division of the Third Corps between +the Eleventh and Twelfth, as he thought the interval too great +there. + +As soon as Jackson was en route, Lee began to demonstrate against +our centre and left, to make Hooker believe the main attack was to +be there, and to prevent him from observing the turning column in +its progress toward the right. A vigorous cannonade began against +Meade, and a musketry fire was opened on Couch and Slocum; the +heaviest attack being on Hancock's position, which was in advance +of the main line. + +In spite of every precaution, Jackson's column as it moved southward +was seen to pass over a bare hill about a mile and a half from +Birney's front, and its numbers were pretty accurately estimated. +General Birney at once reported this important fact at General +Hooker's headquarters. It is always pleasant to think your adversary +is beaten, and Hooker thought at first Jackson might be retreating +on Gordonsville. It was evident enough that he was either doing +that or making a circuit to attack Howard. To provide for the +latter contingency the following order was issued: + + HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC + CHANCELLORSVILLE, Va., May 2, 1863, 9.30 A.M. +MAJOR-GENERAL SLOCUM AND MAJOR-GENERAL HOWARD: + +I am directed by the Major-General Commanding to say that the +disposition you have made of your corps has been with a view to a +front attack by the enemy. If he should throw himself upon your +flank, he wishes you to examine the ground and determine upon the +positions you will take in that event, in order that you may be +prepared for him in whatever direction he advances. He suggests +that you have heavy reserves well in hand to meet this contingency. +The right of your line does not appear to be strong enough. No +artificial defences worth naming have been thrown up, and there +appears to be a scarcity of troops at that point, and not, in the +General's opinion, as favorably posted as might be. + +We have good reason to suppose that the enemy is moving to our +right. Please advance your pickets for purposes of observation as +far as may be safe, in order to obtain timely information of their +approach. + + (Signed) JAMES H. VAN ALLEN, + _Brigadier-General and Aide-de-camp_. + +For what subsequently occurred Hooker was doubtless highly censurable, +but it was not unreasonable for him to suppose, after giving these +orders to a corps commander, that they would be carried out, and +that minor combats far out on the roads would precede and give +ample notice of Jackson's approach in time to reinforce that part +of the line. + +When the enemy were observed, Sickles went out with Clark's battery +and an infantry support to shell their train. This had the effect +of driving them off of that road on to another which led in the +same direction, but was less exposed, as it went through the woods. +A second reconnoissance was sent to see if the movement continued. +Sickles then obtained Hooker's consent to start out with two +divisions to attack Jackson's corps in flank and cut if off from +the main body. + +Sickles started on this mission at 1 P.M. with Birney's division, +preceded by Randolph's battery. As Jackson might turn on him with +his whole force, Whipple's division of his own corps reinforced +his left, and Barlow's brigade of the Eleventh Corps his right. +He was greatly delayed by the swamps and the necessity of building +bridges, but finally crossed Lewis Creek and reached the road upon +which Jackson was marching. He soon after, by the efforts of +Berdan's sharpshooters, surrounded and captured the 23d Georgia +regiment, which had been left to watch the approaches from our +lines. Information obtained from prisoners showed the Jackson +could not be retreating, and that his object was to strike a blow +somewhere. + +Birney's advance, and the capture of the 23d Georgia were met by +corresponding movements on the part of the enemy. A rebel battery +was established on the high ground at the Welford House, which +checked Birney's progress until it was silenced by Livingston's +battery, which was brought forward for that purpose. Pleansonton's +cavalry was now sent to the Foundry as an additional reinforcement. +Sickles' intention was to cut Jackson off entirely from McLaws' +and Anderson's divisions, and then to attack the latter in flank, +a plan which promised good results. In the mean time Pleasonton's +cavalry was sent forward to follow up Jackson's movement. Sickles +requested permission to attack McLaws, but Hooker again became +irresolute; so this large Union force was detained at the Furnace +without a definite object, and the works it had occupied were +vacant. While Sickles was not allowed to strike the flank, Slocum's +two divisions under Geary and Williams were sent to push back the +fortified front of the enemy in the woods; a much more difficult +operation. Geary attacked on the plank road, but made no serious +impression, and returned. Williams struck further to the south, +but was checked by part of Anderson's division. A combined attack +against Lee's front and left flank, undertaken with spirit earlier +in the day, would in all probability have driven him off toward +Fredericksburg and have widened the distance between his force and +that of Jackson; but now the latter was close at hand and it was +too late to attempt it. As the time came for the turning column +to make its appearance on Howard's right, a fierce attack was again +made against Hancock with infantry and artillery, to distract +Hooker's attention from the real point at issue. + +Pleasonton, after dismounting one regiment and sending it into the +woods to reconnoitre, finding his cavalry were of no use in such +a country, and that Jackson was getting farther and father away, +rode leisurely back, at Sickles' suggestion, to Hazel Grove, which +was an open space of considerable elevation to the right of the +Twelfth Corps. As he drew near, the roar of battle burst upon his +ears from the right of the line and a scene of horror and confusion +presented itself, presaging the rout of the entire army if some +immediate measures were not taken to stem the tide of disaster. + + + +CHAPTER IV. +THE ROUT OF THE ELEVENTH CORPS. + +Notwithstanding Hooker's order of 9.30 A.M. calling Howard's +attention to the weakness of his right flank, and the probability +that Jackson was marching to attack it, no precautions were taken +against the impending danger. The simple establishing of a front +of two regiments toward the west when half his command would hardly +have been sufficient, unless protected by works of some kind, was +perfectly idle as a barrier against the torrent about to overwhelm +the Eleventh Corps. So far as I can ascertain, only two companies +were thrown out on picket, and they were unsupported by grand +guards, so that they did not detain the enemy a moment, and the +rebels and our pickets all came in together. Great stress has been +laid upon the fact that Howard did have a reserve force--Barlow's +brigade of 2,500 men--facing west, which Hooker withdrew to reinforce +Sickles; but is not shown that Howard made any remonstrance or +attached any great importance to its removal. Even if it had +remained, as there were not strong intrenchments in front of it, +it is not probable that it would have been able to resist Jackson's +entire corps for any length of time. There was no reason other +than Howard's utter want of appreciation of the gravity of the +situation to prevent him from forming a strong line of defence to +protect his right flank. If made with felled timber in front and +redoubts on the flanks, Jackson could not have overleaped it, or +even attacked it without heavy loss. If he stopped to do so, +Sickles' corps and Williams' division of the Twelfth Corps, with +the reserve forces under Berry and French, would soon have confronted +him. If he had attempted to keep on farther down to attack the +United States Ford, he would have met the First Corps there, and +would have permanently severed all connection between himself and +Lee, besides endangering his line of retreat. The apathy and +indifference Howard manifested in relation to Jackson's approach +can only be explained in the supposition that he really believed +that Jackson had fled to Gordonsville, and that the demonstrations +on his front and right proceeded merely from Stuart's cavalry; and +yet why any one should suppose that Lee would part with half his +army, and send it away to Gordonsville where there was no enemy +and nothing to be done, is more than I can imagine. Jackson was +celebrated for making these turning movements; besides, it was +easy, by questioning prisoners, to verify the fact that he had no +surplus trains with him. Nothing, in short, but ammunition wagons, +and ambulances for the wounded; a sure indication that his movement +meant fight and not retreat. + +From 10 A.M., when Hooker's order was received, to 6 P.M., when +the assault came, there was ample time for Howard to form an +impregnable line. His division commanders did not share his +indifference. General Schurz pointed out to him that his flank +was in the air, but he seemed perfectly satisfied with his line as +it was, and not at all desirous of changing it in any particular. +Schurz, of his own volition, without the knowledge of his chief, +posted three regiments in close column of division, and formed them +in the same direction as the two regiments and two guns which were +expected to keep Jackson back, but the shock, when it came, was so +sudden that these columns did not have time to deploy. Devens, +having two reserve regiments, also faced them that way, of his own +accord, behind the other two, but having no encouragement to form +line in that direction it is probable both generals hesitated to +do so. + +Jackson, having debouched from the country road into the plank +road, was separated from Lee by nearly six miles of pathless forest. +He kept on until he reached the turnpike, and then halted his +command in order that he might reconnoitre and form line of battle. +He went up on a high hill and personally examined the position of +the Eleventh Corps. Finding that it was still open to attack, and +that no preparations had been made to receive him, he formed Rodes' +and Colston's divisions two hundred yards apart, perpendicular to +the plank road, with the road in the centre, and with Hill's division +both on the plank road and turnpike as a support to the other two. +Fitz Lee's brigade of cavalry was left on the plank road to menace +Howard from that direction. + +It will be seen by a glance at the map that his lines overlapped +that of the Eleventh Corps for a long distance, both in front and +rear. The first notice our troops had of his approach did not come +from our pickets--for their retreat and his advance were almost +simultaneous--but from the deer, rabbits, and other wild animals +of the forest, driven from their coverts by his advance. It is +always convenient to have a scape-goat in case of disaster, and +the German element in the Eleventh Corps have been fiercely censured +and their name became a byword for giving way on this occasion. +It is full time justice should be done by calling attention to the +position of that corps. I assert that when a force is not deployed, +but is struck suddenly and violently on its flank, resistance in +_impracticable_. Not Napoleon's Old Guard, not the best and bravest +troops that ever existed, could hold together in such a case, for +the first men assailed are--to use a homely but expressive word-- +driven into a _huddle_; and a huddle cannot fight, for it has no +front and no organization. Under such circumstances, the men have +but a choice of two evils, either to stay where they are and be +slaughtered, without the power of defending themselves, or to run; +and the only sensible thing for them to do is to run and rally on +some other organization. The attempt to change front and meet this +attack _on such short notice_ would have been hopeless enough, +drawn up as Howard's men were, even if they had been all in line +with arms in their hands; but it is a beautiful commentary on the +vigilance displayed, that in many cases the muskets were stacked, +and the men lounging about some playing cards, others cooking their +supper, intermingled with the pack-mules and beef cattle they were +unloading. It will be remembered that in the order previously +quoted, Howard was directed _"to advance his pickets for the purpose +of observation,"_ in order _that he might have ample time for +preparation._ The object of this injunction is plain enough. It +was to make sufficient resistance to Jackson's advance to delay +it, and not only give time for the Eleventh Corps to form, but +enable Hooker to send his reserves to that part of the line. The +pickets, therefore, should have been far out and strongly backed +with a large force which would take advantage of every accident of +ground to delay the rebel column as long as possible. Howard seemed +to have no curiosity himself, as he sent out no parties; but Sickles +and Pleasonton had their spies and detachments on the watch, and +these came in constantly with the information, which was duly +transmitted to Howard, that Jackson was actually coming. Schurz +also became uneasy and sent out parties to reconnoitre. General +Noble, at that time Colonel of the Seventeenth Connecticut Infantry, +two companies of whose regiment were on the picket line there, +writes as follows: "The disaster resulted from Howard's and Devens' +utter disregard and inattention under warnings that came in from +the front and flank all through the day. Horseman after horseman +rode into my post and was sent to headquarters with the information +that the enemy were heavily marching along our front and proceeding +to our right; and last of all an officer reported the rebels massing +for attack. Howard scouted the report and insulted the informants, +charging them with telling a story that was the offspring of their +imaginations or their fears." + +If this be true, there has been but one similar case in our annals, +and that was the massacre of the garrison of Fort Sims, by the +savages, in 1813, near Mobile, Alabama; soon after a negro had been +severely flogged by the commanding officer for reporting that he +had seen Indians lurking around the post. + +Adjutant Wilkenson, of the same regiment, confirms General Noble's +statement and says, "Why a stronger force was not sent out as +skirmishers and the left of our line changed to front the foe is +more than I am able to understand." + +General Schimmelpfennig, commanding a brigade of Schurz's division, +says he sent out a reconnoissance and reported the hostile movements +fully two hours before the enemy charged. + +The Germans were bitterly denounced for this catastrophe, I think +very unjustly, for in the first place less than one-half the Eleventh +Corps were Germans, and in the second place the troops that did +form line and temporarily stop Jackson's advance were Germans; +principally Colonel Adolph Buschbeck's brigade of Steinwehr's +division, aided by a few regiments of Schurz's division, who gave +a volley or two. Buschbeck held a weak intrenched line perpendicular +to the plank road for three-quarters of an hor, with artillery on +the right, losing one-third of his force. His enemy then folded +around his flanks and took him in reverse, when further resistance +became hopeless and his men retreated in good order to the rear of +Sickles' line at Hazel Grove where they supported the artillery +and offered to lead a bayonet charge, if the official reports are +to be believed. Warren says he took charge of some batteries of +the Eleventh Corps and formed them in line across the Plank Road +without any infantry support whatever. + +In reference to this surprise, Couch remarks that no troops could +have stood under such circumstances, and I fully agree with him. + +An officer of the Eleventh Corps who was present informed General +Wainwright, formerly Colonel of the 76th New York, that he was +playing cards in the ditch, and the first notice he had of the +enemy was seeing them looking down upon him from the parapet above. + +As for Devens, who was nearest the enemy, it is quite probable that +any attempt by him to change front to the west previous to the +attack would have been looked upon by Howard as a reflection upon +his own generalship and would have been met with disfavor, if not +with a positive reprimand. The only semblance of precaution taken, +therefore, was the throwing out two regiments to face Jackson's +advance. Devens could not disgarnish his main line without Howard's +permission, and it is not fair, therefore, to hold him responsible +for the disaster. As it was, he was severely wounded in attempting +to rally his men. The only pickets thrown out appear to have been +_two companies of the 17th Connecticut Infantry._ + +Just as Jackson was about to attack, a furious assault was made at +the other end of the line, where Meade was posted. This was repulsed +but it served to distract Hooker's attention from the real point +of danger on the right. + +It would seem from all accounts that nothing could vanquish Howard's +incredulity. He appeared to take so little interest in Jackson's +approach that when Captain George E. Farmer, one of Pleasonton's +staff, reported to him that he had found a rebel battery posted +directly on the flank of the Eleventh Corps, he was, to use his +own language, _"courteously received, but Howard did not seem to +believe there was any force of the enemy in his immediate front."_ +Sickles and Pleasonton were doing all they could to ascertain +Jackson's position, for at this time a small detachment of the +Third Corps were making a reconnoissance on the Orange Court House +Plank Road, and Rodes states that our cavalry was met there and +skirmished with Stuart's advance. Farmer said _he saw no Union +pickets,_ but noticed on his return that Howard's men were away +from their arms, which were stacked, and that they were playing +cards, etc., utterly unsuspicious of danger and unprepared for a +contest. Notwithstanding the reports of Jackson's movement from +spies and scouts, Howard ordered no change in his lines. + +An attempt has been made to hold Colonel Farmer responsible for +this surprise, on the ground that he should have charged the battery +and brought in some prisoners, who would give full information; +but there had been warnings enough, and prisoners enough, and as +Colonel Farmer had but forty men, he would have had to dismount +half of them to make the assault, and with part of his force holding +the horses, he could only have used about twenty men in the attack, +which is rather too few to capture guns supported by an army. +Besides, Farmer was sent out by General Pleasonton with specific +instructions, and was not obliged to recognize the authority of +other officers who desired him to make a Don Quixote of himself to +no purpose. + +If the two wings of the rebel army had been kept apart, the small +force left under Lee could easily have been crushed, or driven off +toward Richmond. The commander of the Eleventh Corps, however, +far from making any new works, did not man those he had, but left +his own lines and went with Barlow's brigade to see what Sickles +was doing. + +The subsequent investigation of this sad business by the Congressional +Committee on the Conduct of the War was very much of a farce, and +necessarily unreliable; for so long as both Hooker and Howard were +left in high command, it was absurd to suppose their subordinates +would testify against them. Any officer that did so would have +soon found his military career brought to a close. + +Howard was in one or two instances mildly censured for not keeping +a better lookout, but as a general thing the whole blame was thrown +on the Germans. Hooker himself attributed the trouble to the fact +that Howard did not follow up Jackson's movements, and allowed his +men to stray from their arms. + +A great French military writer has said, "It is permissible for an +officer to be defeated; but never to be surprised." + +It is, of course, only fair to hear what Howard himself has to say +in relation to this matter. + +He writes in his official report of the battle as follows: + +"Now as to the cause of the disaster to my corps. + +"_First_.--Though constantly threatened, and apprised of the moving +of the enemy, yet the woods were so dense that he was able to move +a large force, whose exact whereabouts neither patrols, reconnoissances, +nor scouts ascertained. + +"He succeeded in forming a column opposite to and outflanking my +right. + +"_Second_.--By the panic produced by the enemy's reverse fire, +regiments and artillery were thrown suddenly upon those in position. + +"_Third_.--The absence of General Barlow's brigade, which I had +previously located in reserve, and in _echelon_ with Colonel Von +Gilsa's, so as to cover his right flank." + +The first proposition implies that Howard did not know Jackson +intended to attack his right, and therefore did not prepare for +him in that direction, but as his front was well fortified, and +his flank unprotected, it was plainly his duty to strengthen the +weak part of his line. To suppose that Jackson would run a great +risk, and spend an entire day in making this long circuit for the +purpose of assailing his enemy in front, is hardly reasonable; for +he could have swung his line around against it at once, had he +desired to do so. + +The fierce rush of the rebels, who came in almost simultaneously +with the pickets, first struck General Von Gilsa's two small +regiments and the two guns in the road, the only force that actually +fronted them in line. + +Von Gilsa galloped at once to Howard's Headquarters at Dowdall's +Tavern to ask for immediate reinforcements. He was told, "he must +hold his post with the men he had, and trust to God;" information +which was received by the irate German with objurgations that were +not at all of an orthodox character. + +Devens' division, thus taken in flank, was driven back upon Schurz's +division, and the being unable to form, was heaped up after some +resistance on Steinwehr's division, in the uttermost confusion and +disorder. Steinwehr had only Buschbeck's brigade with him; the +other--that of Barlow--having been sent out to reinforce Sickles; +but he formed line promptly, behind a weak intrenchment, which had +been thrown across the road, and with the aid of his artillery kept +Jackson at bay for three-quarters of an hour. Howard exerted +himself bravely then, and did all he could to rally the fugitives; +but Rodes' division, which attacked him, was soon reinforced by +that of Colston, and the two together folded around his flanks, +took his line in reverse, and finally carried the position with a +rush; and then Buschbeck's brigade retired in good order through +the flying crowd, who were streaming in wild disorder to the rear +past Hooker's headquarters. + +And now, with the right of our line all gone, with a yawning gap +where Sickles' corps and Williams' division had previously been +posted, with Lee thundering against the centre and left, and Jackson +taking all our defences in reverse, his first line being close on +Chancellorsville itself, it seemed as if the total rout of the army +was inevitable. + +Just before this attack, Hooker had decided to interpose more force +between the wings of the rebel army, in order to permanently dissever +Jackson from the main body. If Sickles had been allowed to attack +the left flank of the enemy opposite the Furnace, as he requested +permission to do earlier in the afternoon, this co-operative movement +could hardly have failed to produce great results; afterward it +was too late to attempt it. As already stated, Williams' division +struck Anderson in front on Birney's left, and Geary attacked McLaws +across the Plank Road to the right of Hancock. Geary found the +enemy strongly posted, and as he made no progress, returned to his +works. When the rout of the Eleventh Corps took place, Williams +also hastened back, but was fired upon by Jackson's troops, who +now occupied the intrenchments he had left. Sickles thinks if this +had not occurred several regiments of the enemy would have been +cut off from the main body. + + + +CHAPTER V. +JACKSON'S ADVANCE IS CHECKED. + +The constantly increasing uproar, and the wild rush of fugitives +past the Chancellorsville House, told Hooker what had occurred, +and roused him to convulsive life. His staff charged on the flying +crowd, but failed to stop them, and it became necessary to form a +line of fresh troops speedily, as Jackson was sweeping everything +before him. It was not easy to find an adequate force for this +emergency. The whole line was now actively engaged, Slocum being +attacked on the south, and Couch and Meade on the east. Fortunately, +Berry's division was held in reserve, and was available. They were +true and tried men, and went forward at once to the rescue. Berry +was directed to form across the Plank Road, drive the rebels back, +and retake the lost intrenchments; an order easy to give, but very +difficult to execute. The most he could do, under the circumstances, +was to form his line in the valley opposite Fairview, and hold his +position there, the enemy already having possession of the higher +ground beyond. + +Before Berry went out, Warren had stopped several of the Eleventh +Corps batteries, and had formed them across the Plank Road, behind +the position of the infantry. Winslow's Battery D, of the 1st New +York, and Dimick's Battery H, of the 1st United States, were already +there, with Hooker in person, having anticipated the movement. +These guns were very destructive, and were the principal agent in +checking the enemy. As soon as they had formed in line, Warren +gave orders to Colonel Best, Chief of Artillery to the Twelfth +Corps, to post more batteries on the eminence called Fairview, to +the rear and left of the others. + +Few persons appreciate the steadiness and courage required, when +all around is in flight and confusion, for a force to advance +steadily to the post of danger in front and meet the exulting enemy. +Such men are heroes, and far more worthy of honor than those who +fight in the full blaze of successful warfare. + +The thickets being unfavorable to cavalry, Sickles had sent Pleasonton +back to Hazel Grove with two mounted regiments, the 8th and 17th +Pennsylvania and Martin's battery, while the 6th New York was +scouting the woods on his right, dismounted. Upon reaching the +open space which he had left when he went to the front, Pleasonton +found the place full of the debris of the combat--men, horses, +caissons, ambulances--all hurrying furiously to the rear. To close +the way he charged on the flying mass, at Sickles' suggestion, who +had ridden in advance of his troops, which were still behind at +the Furnace. Sickles ordered Pleasonton to take command of the +artillery, and the latter took charge of twenty-two guns, consisting +of his own and the Third Corps batteries. The latter had already +been rallied and formed in line by Captain J. F. Huntington, of +the Ohio battery. As senior officer present he assumed command of +the Third Corps artillery. Unfortunately there was not time to +load or aim, for the rebels were close at hand, and their triumphant +yells were heard as they took possession of the works which Buschbeck +had so gallantly defended. This advantageous position, which was +on an eminence overlooking Chancellorsville and the Plank Road, +and which was really the key of the battle-field, was about to be +lost. There was but one way to delay Jackson, some force must be +sacrificed, and Pleasonton ordered Major Peter Keenan, commanding +the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry, to charge the ten thousand men in +front with his four hundred. Keenan saw in a moment that if he +threw his little force into that seething mass of infantry, horses +and men would go down on all sides, and few would be left to tell +the tale. A sad smile lit up his noble countenance as he said, +_"General, I will do it."_ Thus, at thirty-four years of age, he +laid down his life, literally impaled on the bayonets of the enemy, +saving the army from capture and his country from the unutterable +degradation of slave-holding rule in the Northern States. The +service rendered on that occasion is worthy to be recorded in +history with the sacrifices of Arthur Winckelried in Switzerland, +and the Chevalier d'Assas in France.* + +[* Major J. R. Carpenter, one of the officers who headed this +charge, asserts that Keenan made it without orders, his only +instructions being to report to General Howard to assist in rallying +the Eleventh Corps. Pleasonton's testimony, however, is positive +on the subject, and is supported by that of his aide, Colonel +Clifford Thompson. Perhaps Carpenter did not hear all the conversation +that passed between Pleasonton and Keenan.] + +A large part of his command were lost, but the short interval thus +gained was of priceless value. Pleasonton was enabled to clear a +space in front of him, and twenty-two guns, loaded with double +canister, were brought to bear upon the enemy. They came bursting +over the parapet they had just taken with loud and continuous yells, +and formed line of battle within three hundred yards. All his guns +fired into their masses at once. The discharge seemed fairly to +blow them back over the works from which they had just emerged. +Their artillery, under Colonel Crutchfield, which had been brought +up, was almost annihilated by the fire of the battery on the Plank +Road. This gave time to reload the guns. + +The enemy rallied and opened a furious musketry fire from the woods +against Pleasonton and Berry. Both stood firm, and then came two +charges in succession which reached almost to the muzzles of +Pleasonton's guns, which were only supported by two small regiments +of cavalry--the 6th New York, and a new and untried regiment, the +17th Pennsylvania. The whole did not amount to over 1,000 men. +Archer's brigade, on Jackson's left, which had not been stayed by +Keenan's charge, gained the woods and the Plank Road, and opened +a severe enfilading fire. Huntington changed front with his own +battery and repelled the assault. The 110th Pennsylvania regiment, +of Whipple's division, arrived in time to strengthen the cavalry +support, and many of the Eleventh Corps men fell into line also. +The last charge of the enemy was baffled by the opportune arrival +of Birney's and Whipple's divisions, and Barlow's brigade. + +By this time, too (about 9 P.M.), Hays' brigade of French's corps +had been posted on the right, in rear and oblique to Berry's second +line. The latter had greatly strengthened his position with log +breastworks, etc. Captain Best, of the 4th United States Artillery, +in the meantime had exerted himself to collect forty or fifty guns +belonging to the Twelfth, Third, and some he had stopped from the +Eleventh Corps, and had arranged them at Fairview, to fire over +the heads of Berry's troops into the thicket where the enemy were +posted and along the Plank Road. + +Hooker was so disheartened at the unexpected success of the enemy, +that when the first shock came he sent word to Sickles to save his +command if he could. There is little doubt that at one time he +thought of retreating and leaving the Third Corps to its fate; for +when the enemy charged there was an awful gap in our lines; Birney's, +Whipple's, and Williams' divisions and Barlow's brigade were all +absent. Fortunately Jackson was unable to press his advantage. +The ardor of the charge, the darkness, the thickets and the abattis +in which his forces became entangled, caused Rodes' and Colston's +divisions to be all intermingled, creating such disorder and +confusion that military organization was suspended, and orders +could neither be communicated nor obeyed. Jackson therefore halted +his men in the edge of the woods, about a mile and a half from +Chancellorsville, posted two brigades on the two roads that came +in from the south, and sent for Hill's division, which was in rear +and which had not been engaged, to take the front, while the other +two divisions fell back to the open space at Dowdall's Tavern to +reform their lines. Pending this movement he rode out on the Plank +Road with part of his staff and a few orderlies to reconnoitre, +cautioning his pickets not to fire at him on his return. When he +came back new men had been posted, and his approach was mistaken +for the advance of Pleasonton's cavalry. His own troops fired into +him with fatal effect. Nearly all his escort were killed or wounded +and he received three balls, which shattered both arms. His horse +ran toward the Union lines, and although he succeeded in turning +him back, he was dashed against the trees and nearly unhorsed. He +reached the Confederate lines about the time our artillery again +opened up on the Plank Road with a fire that swept everything from +its front. Several of his attendants were killed and others wounded. +The rebels found the utmost difficulty in keeping their men in line +under this tremendous fire. Sentries had to be posted, and great +precautions taken to prevent the troops from giving way. General +Pender recognized Jackson as he was carried past, and complained +of the demoralizing effect of this cannonade, but Jackson replied +sharply and sternly, "You must hold your ground, General Pender." +He was removed to the Wilderness Tavern, and as General Lee was in +some fear that Averell's cavalry, then at Elley's Ford, would make +a dash and capture him, he was sent on to Guiney's Station, on the +Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad, where he died on the 10th of +May. Whether the rebels killed him, or whether some of his wounds +came from our own troops, the 1st Massachusetts or 73d New York, +who were firing heavily in that direction, is a matter of some +doubt. While leaning over him and expressing his sympathy, A. P. +Hill was also wounded by the fire from a section of Dimick's battery, +posted in advance in the Plank Road,* and the command of his corps +was assigned at his request to the cavalry general, J. E. B. Stuart. + +When our artillery fire ceased, Hill's troops took position in +front of the others. + +[* Young Dimick was the son of a distinguished general of the +regular army. Though wounded on this occasion he refused to leave +the field. The next day he again sought the post of danger and +was mortally wounded while holding the Plank Road.] + + + +CHAPTER VI. +SICKLES FIGHTS HIS WAY BACK.--ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST CORPS. + +Sickles, with his ten thousand men heaped up at Hazel Grove, was +still cut off from the main body and could only communicate with +Hooker's headquarters by means of bypaths and at great risk. The +last orders he received, at 5 P.M., had been to attack Jackson's +right flank and check his advance. He determined to do this and +force his way back, and with the co-operation of Williams' and +Berry's divisions, retake the Plank Road with the bayonet. Ward's +brigade was posted in the front line and Hayman's and Graham's +brigades a hundred yards in rear. A special column, under Colonel +Egan of the 40th New York, was formed on the extreme left. The +muskets were uncapped and at midnight the command moved silently +against the enemy, and in spite of a terrific outburst of musketry +and artillery from the open space at Dowdall's, the Plank Road and +the works which Buschbeck had defended were regained. Berry at +once moved forward his line to hold them. Many guns and caissons +taken from Howard's corps, and Whipple's ammunition train of pack +mules were also recovered. The confusion into which the enemy were +thrown by this assault against their right, enabled Berry to easily +repulse the attack on him, and he continued to hold the position. +The result of this brilliant movement was the reoccupation of a +great part of the works Howard had lost, and the capture of two +guns and three caissons from the enemy. It is said that in this +conflict some of Sickles' men, in consequence of the thickets and +confusion, finding themselves surrounded, surrendered as they +supposed to the enemy, but to their delight found themselves in +Berry's division, among their old comrades. + +Soon after this fight was over Mott's brigade of the Third Corps, +which had been on duty at the Ford, rejoined the main body. + +Both sides now rested on their arms and prepared to renew the +struggle at daylight. Hooker, in view of a possible defeat, directed +his engineer officers to lay out a new and stronger line, to cover +his bridges, to which he could retreat in case of necessity. + +At sunset the First Corps went into bivouac on the south side of +United States Ford, about four miles and a half from Chancellorsville. +The men were glad enough to rest after their tedious march on a +hot day, loaded down with eight days' rations. General Reynolds +left me temporarily in charge of the corps, while he rode on to +confer with Hooker. We heard afar off the roar of the battle caused +by Jackson's attack, and saw the evening sky reddened with the +fires of combat, but knowing Hooker had a large force, we felt no +anxiety as to the result, and took it for granted that we would +not be wanted until the next day. I was preparing a piece of india- +rubber cloth as a couch when I saw one of Reynolds' aids, Captain +Wadsworth, coming down the road at full speed. He brought the +startling news that the Eleventh Corps had fled, and if we did not +go forward at once, the army would be hopelessly defeated. We were +soon on the road, somewhat oppressed by the news, but not dismayed. +We marched through the thickening twilight of the woods amid a +silence at first only broken by the plaintive song of the whip-poor- +will, until the full moon rose in all its splendor. As we proceeded +we came upon crowds of Eleventh Corps fugitives still hastening to +the rear. They seemed to be wholly disheartened. We halted for +a time, in order that our position in line of battle might be +selected, and then moved on. As we approached the field a midnight +battle commenced, and the shells seemed to burst in sparkles in +the trees above our heads, but not near enough to reach us. It +was Sickles fighting his way home again. When we came nearer and +filed to the right to take position on the Elley's Ford road, the +men struck up John Brown's song, and gave the chorus with a will. +Their cheerful demeanor and proud bearing renewed the confidence +of the army, who felt that the arrival of Reynolds' corps, with +its historic record, was no ordinary reinforcement. + +We were now on the extreme right of the other forces, on the Elley's +Ford road, with the right flank thrown back behind Hunting Creek. + +Hooker was very much discouraged by the rout of the Eleventh Corps. +An occurrence of this kind always has a tendency to demoralize an +army and render it less trustworthy; for the real strength of an +armed force is much more in _opinion_ than it is in _numbers_. A +small body of men, if made to believe the enemy are giving way, +will do and dare anything; but when they think the struggle is +hopeless, they will not resist even a weak attack, for each thinks +he is to be sacrificed to save the rest. Hence Hooker did not feel +the same reliance on his men as he did before the disaster. He +determined, nevertheless, to continue the battle, but contract his +lines by bringing them nearer to Chancellorsville. The real key +of the battle-field now was the eminence at Hazel Grove. So long +as we held it the enemy could not advance without presenting his +right flank to our batteries. If he obtained possession of it he +could plant guns which would enfilade Slocum's line and fire directly +into our forces below. Birney's division at this time was posted +in advance of Best's guns on the left, Berry was on the right, with +Williams' division of the Twelfth Corps behind Birney, and Whipple's +division in rear of Berry. + +The position of Hazel Grove commanded Chancellorsville, where all +the roads met, and which it was vital to Hooker to hold. For if +he lost that, he could not advance in any direction, and only his +line of retreat to the Ford would remain open to him. Pleasonton +spent the night in fortifying this hill, and placed forty guns in +position there; but it was of no avail, for it was outside of the +new line Sickles was directed to occupy at daylight, and Hooker +was not aware of its importance. A request was sent to the latter +to obtain his consent to hold it, but he was asleep, and the staff- +officer in charge, who had had no experience whatever in military +matters, positively refused to awaken him until daylight, and then +it was too late, for that was the time set for the troops to fall +back to the new line. + +At 9 P.M., Hooker sent an order to Sedgwick, who was supposed to +be at Falmouth and to have 26,000 men, to throw bridges over, cross, +drive away Early's 9,000, who held the heights of Fredericksburg, +and then to come forward on the Plank Road, and be ready at daylight +on the 3d to take Lee's force in reverse, while Hooker attacked it +in front. + +This order was given under the impression that Sedgwick had not +crossed with his main body, but only with Howe's division, whereas +he was at the bridge heads, three miles below Fredericksburg, on +the south side of the river. Hooker probably forgot that he had +ordered a demonstration to be made against the Bowling Green road +on the 1st, and that Sedgwick went over to make it. + + + +CHAPTER VII. +THE BATTLE OF THE THIRD OF MAY. + +The Eleventh Corps were now sent to the extreme left of the line +to reorganize. There they were sheltered behind the strong works +thrown up by Humphrey's division, and were not so liable to be +attacked. + +The new line laid out by Hooker's order was on a low ridge +perpendicular to the Plank Road, and opposite and at right angles +to the right of Slocum's front. It was strongly supported by the +artillery of the Third, Twelfth, and part of the Eleventh Corps, +massed under Captain Best on the heights at Fairview, in the rear +and to the left. Sickles was ordered to fall back to it at dawn +of day, Birney to lead the way, and Whipple (Graham's brigade) to +bring up the rear. The Plank Road ran through the centre of the +position, Birney being on the left and Berry on the right, with +Whipple's division on a short line in rear, as a reserve. French's +division of Couch's corps was posted on Berry's right, the other +division (that of Hancock) remained between Mott Run and +Chancellorsville. + +When the movement began, Birney's division, on the left of Whipple's, +occupied the high ground at Hazel Grove, facing the Plank Road, +Graham's brigade being on the extreme left. This was a very +aggressive position, since it took every column that advanced +against Sickles' new line directly in flank, and therefore it was +indispensable for the rebel commander to capture Hazel Grove before +he advanced against the main body of the Third Corps, which held +the Plank Road. This hill was not quite so high as that at Fairview, +but our artillery on it had great range, and the post should have +been maintained at all hazards. The cavalry who had so ably defended +it fell back, in obedience to orders, to the Chancellorsville House, +to support the batteries in that vicinity, and I think one regiment +was sent to report to Sedgwick. Whipple commenced the movement by +sending off his artillery and that of Birney. Graham's brigade +was the rear guard. Its retreat was covered by the fire of +Huntington's battery on the right. The moment the enemy saw that +Graham was retiring, Archer's brigade of A. P. Hill's division +charged, attained the top of the hill, and succeeded in capturing +four guns. Elated by his success, Archer pressed forward against +Huntington's battery, but was rudely repulsed; for Sickles opened +on him also with a battery from Fairview. He managed to hold the +four guns until Doles' brigade of Rodes' division came to his aid. +The two took the hill, for Whipple had no instructions to defend +it. He retired in perfect order to the new position assigned him. +Huntington's battery, supported by two regiments sent out by Sickles, +covered the retreat, but suffered considerable loss in doing so, +as one regiment was withdrawn and the other gave way. Ward's +brigade was then sent to the right and Hayman's brigade held in +reserve. + +Stuart, who was now in command of Jackson's corps, saw at a glance +the immense importance of this capture, and did not delay a moment +in crowning the hill with thirty pieces of artillery, which soon +began to play with fatal effect upon our troops below; upon +Chancellorsville; and upon the crest occupied by Slocum, which it +enfiladed, and as McLaws' batteries also enfiladed Slocum's line +from the opposite side, it seems almost miraculous that he was able +to hold it at all. + +Simultaneously with the attack against Hazel Grove came a fierce +onslaught on that part of Sickles' line to the left of the road, +accompanied by fierce yells and cries of _"Remember Jackson!"_ a +watch-word which it was supposed would excite the rebels to strenuous +efforts to avenge the fatal wound of their great leader. It was +handsomely met and driven back by Mott's brigade, which had come +up from the Ford, and now held the front on that part of the line. +A brilliant counter-charge by the 5th and 7th New Jersey captured +many prisoners and colors. + +Sickles' men fought with great determination, but being assailed +by infantry in front and battered almost in flank by the artillery +posted at Hazel Grove, the line was manifestly untenable. After +an obstinate contest the men fell back to the second line, which +was but partially fortified, and soon after to the third line, +which was more strongly intrenched, and which they held to the +close of the fight. + +McGowan's, Lane's, and Heth's brigades of A. P. Hill's division +charged resolutely over this line also; but they suffered heavily +from Best's guns at Fairview, and were driven back by Colonel +Franklin's and Colonel Bowman's brigades of Whipple's division, +which made an effective counter-charge. Whipple's other brigade, +that of Graham, had been sent to relieve one of Slocum's brigades +on the left of the line, which was out of ammunition. It held its +position there for two hours. + +While this attack was taking place on the left of the road, Pender's +and Thomas' brigades, also of Hill's division, charged over the +works on the right; but when the others retreated they were left +without support and were compelled to retire also. They reformed, +however; tried it again, and once more succeeded in holding temporary +possession of part of the line, but were soon driven out again. + +French's division of Couch's corps was now brought up, and Carroll's +brigade struck the rebels on the left, and doubled them back on +the centre, capturing a great many prisoners and confusing and +rendering abortive Hill's attack in front. Hill sent for his +reserves to come up, and three rebel brigades were thrown against +Carroll, who was supported by the remainder of French's division +and a brigade from Humphrey's division of Meade's corps, and French's +flank movement was checked. Then another front attack was organized +by the enemy, under cover of their artillery at Hazel Grove, and +Nicholls', Iverson's, and O'Neill's brigades charged over everything, +even up to Best's batteries at Fairview, which they captured; but +our men rallied, and drove them headlong down the hill, back to +the first line Sickles had occupied at daylight. It was a combat +of giants; a tremendous struggle between patriotism on the one hand +and vengeance on the other. + +French now tried to follow up this advantage by again pressing +against the Confederate left, but it was reinforced by still another +brigade, and he could make no progress. + +The struggle increased in violence. The rebels were determined to +break through our lines, and our men were equally determined not +to give way. Well might De Trobriand style it "a mad and desperate +battle." Mahone said afterward: "The Federals fought like devils +at Chancellorsville." Again Rodes' and Hill's divisions renewed +the attempt and were temporarily successful, and again was the +bleeding remnant of their forces flung back in disorder. Doles' +and Ramseur's brigades of Rodes' division, managed to pass up the +ravine to the right of Slocum's works and gain his right and rear, +but were unsupported there, and Doles was driven out by a concentrated +artillery and musketry fire. Ramseur, who now found himself directly +on Sickles' left flank, succeeded in holding on until the old +Stonewall brigade under Paxton came to his aid, and then they +carried Fairview again, only to be driven out as the others had +been. + +The battle had now lasted several hours, and the troops engaged, +as well as the artillery, were almost out of ammunition. There +should have been some staff officer specially charged with this +subject, but there seemed to be no one who could give orders in +relation to it. + +The last line of our works was finally taken by the enemy, who +having succeeded in driving off the 3d Maryland of the Twelfth +Corps, on Berry's left, entered near the road and enfiladed the +line to the right and left. Sickles sent Ward's brigade to take +the place of the 3d Maryland, but it did not reach the position +assigned it in time, the enemy being already in possession. In +attempting to remedy this disaster, Berry was killed, and his +successor, General Mott, was wounded. The command then devolved +upon general Revere, who, probably considering further contest +hopeless, led his men out of the action without authority--an +offence for which he was subsequently tried and dismissed the +service. + +As the cannon cartridges gave out, the enemy brought up numerous +batteries, under Colonel Carter, in close proximity to Fairview, +and soon overcame all resistance in that direction, driving the +troops and guns from the plain. + +Anderson now made a junction with Stuart, and their combined efforts +drove the Third Corps and Williams' division of the Twelfth Corps +back, leaving only Geary and Hancock to maintain the struggle. +Geary was without support, but he still fought on. He faced two +regiments west at right angles to his original line, and by the +aid of his artillery held on for an hour longer; his right brigade +facing south, west, and north. + +The Third Corps left their last position at Chancellorsville slowly +and sullenly. Hayman's brigade, not far from the Chancellorsville +House, finding the enemy a good deal disorganized, and coming +forward in a languid and inefficient manner, turned--by Sickles' +direction--and charged, capturing several hundred prisoners and +several colors, and relieving Graham, who was now holding on with +the bayonet, from a most perilous flank attack, enabling him to +withdraw in good order. Sickles himself was soon after injured by +a spent shot of piece of shell, which struck his waist-belt. His +corps and French's division had lost 5,000 out of 22,000. + +Our front gradually melted away and passed to the new line in rear +through Humphrey's division of the Fifth Corps, which was posted +about half a mile north of the Chancellorsville House in the edge +of the thicket, to cover the retreat. At last only indomitable +Hancock remained, fighting McLaws with his front line, and keeping +back Stuart and Anderson with his rear line. + +The enemy, Jackson's Corps, showed little disposition to follow up +their success. The fact is, these veterans were about fought out, +and became almost inert. They did not, at the last, even press +Hancock, who was still strong in artillery, and he withdrew his +main body in good order, losing however, the 27th Connecticut +regiment, which was posted at the apex of his line on the south, +and was not brought back in time, in consequence of the failure of +a subordinate officer to carry out his orders. + +Before Hancock left, his line was taken in reverse, and he was +obliged to throw back part of his force to the left to resist +Anderson, who was trying to force the passage of Mott Run. The +line in that direction was firmly held by Colonel Miles of the 61st +New York, who was shot through the body while encouraging his men +to defend the position. + +Stuart's command had lost 7,500 in his attack, and it could hardly +have resisted a fresh force if it had been thrown in. General +William Hays, of the Second Corps, who was taken prisoner, says +they were worn out, and Rodes admits in his report that Jackson's +veterans clung to their intrenchments, and that Ramseur and others +who passed them, urged them to go forward in vain. + +Before the close of the action Hooker was importuned for reinforcements, +but to no avail. Perhaps he intended to send them, for about this +time he rushed out and made a passionate appeal to Geary's men to +charge and retake the works they had lost; promising to aid them +by throwing in a heavy force on the enemy's left flank. At this +appeal the exhausted troops put their caps on their bayonets, waved +them aloft, and with loud cheers charged on the rebels and drove +them out once more; but sixty guns opened upon them at close range +with terrible effect; the promised reinforcements did not come; +they were surrounded with ever increasing enemies, and forced to +give up everything and retreat. Stuart and Anderson then formed +their lines on the south of and parallel to the Plank Road, facing +north, and began to fortify the position. + +Had they been disposed to follow up the retreat closely they would +have been unable to do so, for now a new and terrible barrier +intervened; the woods on each side of the Plank Road had been set +on fire by the artillery and the wounded and dying were burning in +the flames without a possibility of rescuing them. Let us draw a +veil over this scene, for it is pitiful to dwell upon it. + +There was no further change in Stuart's line until the close of +the battle; but Anderson's division was soon after detached against +Sedgwick. + +The new line taken up by the Union Army was a semi-ellipse, with +the left resting on the Rappahannock and the right on the Rapidan. +Its centre was at Bullock's House, about three-fourths of a mile +north of Chancellorsville. The approaches were well guarded with +artillery, and the line partially intrenched. The enemy did not +assail it. They made a reconnoissance in the afternoon, but Weed's +artillery at the apex of the line was too strongly posted to be +forced, and Lee soon found other employment for his troops, for +Sedgwick was approaching to attack his rear. + + +In the history of lost empires we almost invariably find that the +cause of their final overthrow on the battle-field may be traced +to the violation of one military principle, which is that _the +attempt to overpower a central force of converging columns, is +almost always fatal to the assailants_, for a force in the centre, +by the virtue of its position, has nearly double the strength of +one on the circumference. Yet his is the first mistake made by +every tyro in generalship. A strong blow can be given by a sledge- +hammer, but if we divide it into twenty small hammers, the blows +will necessarily be scattering and uncertain. Let us suppose an +army holds the junction of six roads. It seems theoretically +possible that different detachments encircling it, by all attacking +at the same time, must confuse and overpower it; but in practice +the idea is rarely realized, for no two routes are precisely alike, +the columns never move simultaneously, and therefore never arrive +at the same time. Some of this is due to the character of the +commanders. One man is full of dash, and goes forward at once; +another is timid, or at least over-cautious, and advances slowly; +a third stops to recall some outlying detachments, or to make +elaborate preparations. The result is, the outer army has lost +its strength and is always beaten in detail. One portion is sure +to be defeated before the others arrive. We shall have occasion +to refer to this principle again in reference to the battle of +Gettysburg. The history of our own war shows that an attack against +the front and rear of a force is not necessarily fatal. Baird's +division at Chickamauga defended itself successfully against an +assault of this kind, and Hancock faced his division both ways at +Chancellorsville and repelled every attempt to force his position. +But Hooker thought otherwise. He felt certain that if Sedgwick +assailed Lee in rear, while he advanced in front, the Confederate +army was doomed. When the time came, however, to carry out this +programme, if we may use a homely simile borrowed from General De +Peyster, Hooker did not hold up his end of the log, and the whole +weight fell upon Sedgwick. + +About this time a pillar of the Chancellorsville House was struck +by a cannon-ball, and Hooker, who was leaning against it at the +moment, was prostrated and severely injured. He revived in a few +minutes, mounted his horse and rode to the rear, but it was some +time before he turned over the command to Couch, who was second in +rank. After this stroke he suffered a great deal from paroxysms +of pain, and was manifestly unfit to give orders, although he soon +resumed the command. + +The historian almost refuses to chronicle the startling fact that +37,000 men were kept out of the fight, most of whom had not fired +a shot, and all of whom were eager to go in. The whole of the +First Corps and three-fourths of the Fifth Corps had not been +engaged. These, with 5,000 of the Eleventh Corps, who desired to +retrieve the disaster of the previous day and were ready to advance, +made a new army, which had it been used against Stuart's tired men +would necessarily have driven them off the field; for there were +but 26,000 of them when the fight commenced. To make the matter +worse, a large part of this force--the First and Fifth Corps--stood +with arms in their hands, as spectators, almost directly on the +left flank of the enemy; so that their mere advance would have +swept everything before it. Hancock, too, says that his men were +fresh enough to go forward again. + +Couch succeeded to the command after Hooker was wounded, and made +dispositions for the final stand around the Chancellorsville House, +where the battle lasted some time longer, and where a battery of +the Fifth Corps was sacrificed to cover the retreat of the troops. +He did not, however, take the responsibility of renewing the contest +with fresh troops, perhaps deterred by the fact that Anderson's +and McLaws' divisions had now effected a junction with Stuart's +corps; so that the chances were somewhat less favorable than they +would have been had Sickles and French had been reinforced before +the junction took place. He says, at the close of the action, that +fifty guns posted to the right and front of the Chancellorsville +House would have swept the enemy away. + +I think Hooker was beset with the idea of keeping back a large +portion of his force to be used in case of emergency. It appears +from a statement made by General Alexander S. Webb, who had made +a daring personal reconnoissance of the enemy's movement, that he +was present when Meade--acting on his (Webb's) representations, +and speaking for himself and Reynolds--asked Hooker's permission +to let the First and Fifth Corps take part in the battle. It is +fair, however, to state that Hooker, having been injured and in +great pain, was hardly accountable for his want of decision at this +time. Indeed, General Tremaine, who was a colonel on Sickles' +staff, says that Hooker did intend to use his reserve force as soon +as the enemy were utterly exhausted. President Lincoln seems to +have had a presentiment of what would occur, for his parting words +to Hooker and Couch were, to use all the troops and not keep any +back. + +I have stated that both Meade and Reynolds wished to put their +corps in at the vital point, but were not allowed to do so. General +Tremaine also states that, subsequently, when Hooker was suffering +a paroxysm of pain, he was the bearer of a communication to him +requesting reinforcements, which Hooker directed to be handed to +General Meade, who was present, for his action. Meade would not +take the responsibility thus offered him at so late a period in +the action, though strongly urged to do so both by Tremaine and +Colonel Dahlgren, without the express order of General Hooker, or +the sanction of General Couch, who was his superior officer, and +who was absent. Perhaps he was afraid that Hooker might resume +the command at any moment and leave him to shoulder the responsibility +of any disaster that might occur, without giving him the credit in +case of success. Still he should have put the men in, for the +success of the cause was above all personal considerations. A +single division thrown in at this time would have retrieved the +fortunes of the day. The delay of finding Couch would have been +fatal; for immediate action was demanded. + +Reynolds, indeed, considered himself obliged to wait for orders, +but was so desirous to go in that he directed me to send Colonel +Stone's brigade forward to make a reconnoissance, in the hope the +enemy would attack it and thus bring on a fresh contest; for he +intended to reinforce Stone with his whole corps. Stone went close +enough to the rebels to overhear their conversation. He made a +very successful reconnoissance and brought back a number of prisoners, +but as no hint was given him of the object of the movement, he did +not bring on a fight. Had he received the slightest intimation +that such was Reynolds' wish, he would not have hesitated a moment, +for his reputation for dash and gallantry was inferior to none in +the army. + + +Sedgwick being on the south side of the river, three miles below +the town, was farther off than Hooker supposed, and did not meet +the expectations of the latter by brushing aside Early's 9,000 men +from the fortified heights, and coming on in time to thunder on +Lee's rear at daylight, and join hands with the main body at +Chancellorsville. + +The Sixth Corps started soon after midnight to carry out the order. +General John Newton's division led the way, with General Shaler's +brigade in advance. They were somewhat delayed by a false alarm +in rear, and by the enemy's pickets in front, but made their way +steadily toward Fredericksburg. When they reached Hazel Run they +found a considerable body of the enemy on the Bowling Green Road +at the bridge in readiness to dispute the passage. Colonel Hamblin, +who was in charge of Newton's skirmish line, left a few of his men +to open an energetic fire in front, while he assembled the others +and made a charge which took the bridge and secured the right of +way. The command reached Fredericksburg about 3 A.M. As the +atmosphere was very hazy, Newton found himself almost on the enemy +before he knew it; near enough in fact to overhear their conversation. +He fell back quickly to the town and occupied the streets which +were not swept by the fire from the works above. He then waited +for daylight to enable him to reconnoitre the position in his front, +previous to making an attack; and that was the hour Hooker had set +for Sedgwick to join him in attacking Lee at Chancellorsville. + +As soon as it was light Gibbon laid bridges, crossed over, and +reported to Sedgwick with his division. + +At dawn Newton deployed Wharton's brigade and made a demonstration +to develop the enemy's line. As the fortified heights commanded +the Plank Road by which Sedgwick was to advance, it became necessary +to attack immediately. The plan of assault which was devised by +General Newton, and approved by General Sedgwick, was to attenuate +the rebel force by attacking it on a wide front, so that it could +not be strong anywhere, and to use the bayonet alone. Accordingly, +Gibbon was directed to advance on the right to turn their flank +there if possible, while Newton was to demonstrate against the +centre and Howe to act against the left. Newton deployed Wharton's +brigade, opened fire along his front and kept the enemy employed +there, but Gibbon was unable to advance on the right, because a +canal and a railway lay between him and the rebels, and they had +taken up the flooring of the bridges over the latter. Howe did +not succeed any better on the left, as in attempting to turn the +first line of works he encountered the fire of a second line in +rear and in _echelon_ to the first, which took him directly in +flank. A concentrated artillery fire was brought to bear on Gibbon, +Early sent Hays' brigade from Marye's Hill to meet him, and Wilcox's +brigade came up from Banks' Ford for the same purpose, so that he +was obliged to fall back. + +It was now 10 A.M., and there was no time to be lost. General +Warren, who was in camp to represent Hooker, urged an immediate +assault. This advice was followed. Newton formed two columns of +assault and one deployed line in the centre, and Howe three deployed +lines on the left. + +Colonel Johns, of the 7th Massachusetts, who was a graduate of West +Point, led one of these columns directly against Marye's Hill, with +two regiments of Eustis' brigade, supported by the other two +regiments, deployed, while another column, consisting of two +regiments under Colonel Spear, of the 61st Pennsylvania, supported +by two regiments (the 82d Pennsylvania and 67th New York) in column, +under Colonel Shaler, was directed to act farther to the right, +and the Light Division, under Colonel Burnham of the 5th Massachusetts, +attached to Newton's command, was ordered to deploy on the left +against the intrenchments at the base of the hill. Spear's column, +advancing through a narrow gorge, was broken and enfiladed by the +artillery--indeed almost literally swept away--and Spear himself +was killed. Johns had an equally difficult task, for he was +compelled to advance up a broken stony gulch swept by two rebel +howitzers. The head of his column was twice broken, but he rallied +it each time. He was then badly wounded, and there was a brief +pause, but Colonel Walsh, of the 36th New York, rallied the men +again, and they kept straight on over the works. Burnham with his +Light Brigade captured the intrenchments below, which had been so +fatal to our troops in the previous battle of Fredericksburg, and +went into the works above with the others.* The fortified heights +on the right of Hazel Run, held by Barksdale's brigade, being now +occupied by our troops, those to the left were necessarily taken +in reverse, and therefore Sedgwick thought it useless to attack +them in front. Howe, nevertheless, carried them gallantly, but +with considerable loss of life. + +[* When Spear's column was broken, the 82d Pennsylvania, under +Colonel Bassett, came forward in support, but was crushed with the +same fire. Colonel Shaler's remaining regiment, the 67th New York, +followed by the remnant of Bassett's regiment, forced their way +over the crest to the right of Colonel Johns' column.] + +The coveted heights, which Burnside had been unable to take with +his whole army, were in our possession, together with about a +thousand prisoners; but the loss of the Sixth Corps was severe, +for nearly a thousand men were killed, wounded, and missing in less +than five minutes. The attack was over so soon that Early did not +get back Hays' brigade, which had been detached to oppose Gibbon, +in time to assist in the defence. Newton says if there had been +a hundred men on Marye's Hill we could not have taken it. + +The rebel force was now divided, and thrown off toward Richmond in +eccentric directions. + +All that remained for Sedgwick to do was to keep straight on the +Plank Road toward Chancellorsville. Had he done so at once he +would have anticipated the enemy in taking possession of the strong +position of Salem Church, and perhaps have captured Wilcox's and +Hays' brigades. But it was not intended by Providence that we +should win this battle, which had been commenced by a boasting +proclamation of what was to be accomplished; and obstacles were +constantly occurring of the most unexpected character. After +directing Gibbon to hold the town and cover the bridges there, +Sedgwick, instead of pushing on, halted to reform his men, and sent +back for Brooks' division, which was still at its old position +three miles below Fredericksburg, to come up and take the advance. +It was full 3 P.M. before the final start was made. This delay +gave Hays time to rejoin Early by making a detour around the head +of Sedgwick's column, and Wilcox took advantage of it to select a +strong position at Guest's House, open fire with his artillery, +and detain Sedgwick still longer. Wilcox then retreated toward +the river road, but finding he was not pursued, and that Sedgwick +was advancing with great caution, he turned back and occupied for +a short time the Toll Gate, half a mile from Salem Church, where +McLaws' division was formed with one of Anderson's brigades on his +left. When Sedgwick advanced Wilcox fell back and joined the main +body at the church. + +The other brigades of Anderson's were sent to hold the junction of +the Mine road and the River road. + +When the pursuit ceased, Early reassembled his command near Cox's +house and made immediate arrangements to retake the Fredericksburg +heights, and demonstrate against Sedgwick's rear. + + +McLaws formed his line about 2 P.M. in the strip of woods which +runs along the low ridge at Salem Church; two brigades being posted +on each side of the road about three hundred yards back. Wilcox's +brigade, when driven in, was directed to take post in the church +and an adjacent school-house, which were used as citadels. This +was a strong position, for the rebels were sheltered by the woods, +while our troops were forced to advance over an open country, cut +up by ravines parallel to McLaws' front, which broke up their +organization to some extent, and destroyed the _elan_ of the attack. +After a brief artillery contest, which soon ended, as the enemy +were out of ammunition, Brooks' division went forward about 4 P.M., +and made a gallant charge, in which Bartlett's brigade, aided by +Willston's battery, captured the buildings and drove in part of +Wilcox's line. The New Jersey brigade charged at the same time on +his right, and Russell's brigade on his left. Wilcox placed himself +at the head of his reserve regiments, and aided by Semmes' brigade, +made a fierce counter-charge. The combat for the school-house +raged with great fury, each party breaking the other's line and +being broken in turn. Finally, after much desperate fighting, +Bartlett was obliged to yield the portion of the crest he had held +which was a key to the position; for as he was not strongly and +promptly reinforced, as he should have been, his withdrawal from +the church and school-house made a gap which forced the other +portions of the line to retreat to avoid being taken in flank. +Brooks was therefore driven back to the shelter of the guns at the +Toll House. Then Newton's division came up and formed on his right +and part of Howe's division on the left. + +The Union artillery was well served and destructive, and as Newton +had arrived, McLaws found his farther progress checked and was glad +to get back to the ridge. Bartlett's attack should have been +deferred until Newton's division was near enough to support it. +In that case it would undoubtedly have succeeded. + +Sedgwick's left now rested on a point nearly a mile from Salem +Church, while his right under Wheaton was somewhat advanced. + +Up to this time the fight had been between Brooks' division and +McLaws' mixed command. It was now decided that a second attempt +should be made by Newton's division, but Newton states that the +design was abandoned because Howe's division, which was to support +him, had gone into camp without orders, and was not immediately +available. Before new arrangements could be made darkness came +on, and both armies bivouacked on the ground they occupied. Brooks' +division in the assault just made had lost 1,500 men, and Sedgwick +no longer felt confident of forcing his way alone through the +obstacle that beset him. Nevertheless, trusting to the speedy and +hearty co-operation of Hooker, he stood ready to renew the attempt +on the morrow, although he foresaw the enemy would fortify their +line during the night and make it truly formidable. + +When Wilcox left Banks' Ford to aid in the defence of Salem Church, +General H. W. Benham of the United States Engineer Corps, who +commanded an engineer brigade there, threw over a bridge at Scott's +dam, about a mile below Banks' Ford, to communicate with Sedgwick, +enable him to retreat in case of disaster, and connect his headquarters +with those of Hooker by telegraph. + +Hooker disapproved the laying of the bridges, which he thought +superfluous, as Sedgwick's orders were to keep on to Chancellorsville. +Warren took advantage of this new and short route to return to the +main army, in order to give Hooker information as to Sedgwick's +position. He promised to send back full instructions for the +guidance of the latter. + +As soon as the bridge was laid, General J. T. Owens with his brigade +of the Second Corps, which had been guarding the ford, crossed over +and reported to Sedgwick. + +Warren found Hooker in a deep sleep, and still suffering from the +concussion that took place in the morning. He gathered from the +little he did say, that Sedgwick must rely upon himself, and not +upon the main body for deliverance, and he so informed Sedgwick. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. +MAY FOURTH.--ATTACK ON SEDGWICK'S FORCE. + +As Hooker seemed disposed to be inactive, Lee thought he might +venture to still further augment the force in front of Sedgwick, +with a view to either capture the Sixth Corps or force it to recross +the river. He therefore directed Anderson to reinforce McLaws with +the remainder of his division, leaving only what was left of +Jackson's old corps to confront Hooker. Anderson had gone over to +the right, opposite the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, and had opened +with a battery upon the wagon trains which were parked in that +vicinity, creating quite a stampede, until his guns were driven +away by the Twelfth Corps. In this skirmish, General Whipple, +commanding the Third Division of Sickles' corps, was killed. In +the meantime, Early had retaken the heights of Fredericksburg, +which were merely held by a picket guard of Gibbon's division, so +that, when Anderson arrived and took post on the right of McLaws, +parallel to the Plank Road, Sedgwick found himself environed on +three sides by the enemy; only the road to Banks' Ford remained +open, and even that was endangered by bands of rebels, who roamed +about in rear of our forces. At one time it is said they could +have captured him and his headquarters. Fortunately the tents +which constituted the latter were of so unpretending a character, +that they gave no indication of being tenanted by the commanding +general. + +Hooker had resumed the command, although manifestly incapable of +directing affairs; for the concussion must have affected his brain. +At all events, although he had almost thirty-seven thousand fresh +men, ready and desirous of entering into the combat, and probably +only had about seventeen thousand worn out men in front of him, he +failed to do anything to relieve Sedgwick's force, which was now +becoming seriously compromised. A feeble and ineffectual reconnoissance +was indeed attempted, and as that was promptly resisted, Hooker +gave up the idea of any advance, and left Sedgwick to get out of +the difficulty the best way he could. At 11 A.M., Sedgwick wrote, +stating the obstacles which beset him, and requesting the active +assistance of the main army. He was directed, in reply, not to +attack, unless the main body at Chancellorsville did the same. +All remained quiet until 4 P.M. The Sixth Corps were then formed +on three sides of a square inclosing Banks' Ford, with the flanks +resting on the river. Howe's division faced east toward Fredericksburg, +against Early, who confronted him in that direction, and his left +stretched out to Taylor's Hill on the Rappahannock. Newton's +division, together with Russell's brigade of Brooks' division, +faced McLaws on the west, and Brooks' other two brigades--those of +Bartlett and Torbert--were opposed to Anderson on the south. The +entire line was very long and thin. + +Early and McLaws had been skirmishing on their fronts all day, but +it was 6 P.M. before everything was in readiness for the final +advance. An attempt had, however, been made by Early to turn Howe's +left and cut Sedgwick off from the river; but it was promptly met +and the enemy were repulsed with a loss of two hundred prisoners +and a battle-flag. + +Sedgwick felt his position to be a precarious one. His line was +six miles long, and he had but about twenty thousand men with which +to hold it against twenty-five thousand of the enemy. He thought, +too, that reinforcements had come up from Richmond and that the +enemy's force far exceeded his own. It was evident he could not +recross the river in broad daylight without sacrificing a great +part of his corps, and he determined to hold on until night. Benham +took the precaution to throw over a second bridge, and this prudent +measure, in Sedgwick's opinion, saved his command. Lee, after +personally reconnoitring the position, gave orders to break in the +centre of the Sixth Corps so as to defeat the two wings, throw them +off in eccentric directions, and scatter the whole force. When +this was attempted, Sedgwick detached Wharton's brigade from Newton's +right, and sent it to reinforce that part of the line. At 6 P.M. +three guns were fired as a signal from Alexander's battery and the +Confederate forces pressed forward to the attack. Newton's front +was not assailed, and the right of Brooks' division easily repulsed +the enemy who advanced in that direction, with the fire of the +artillery and the skirmish line alone. + +The main effort of the evening was made by Early's division, which +advanced in columns of battalions, to turn Howe's left, and cut +that flank off from the river. Howe's artillery, under charge of +Major J. Watts de Peyster, a mere youth, was admirably posted and +did great execution on these heavy columns. De Peyster himself +rode out and established a battery, a considerable distance in +advance of the main line, and the enemy pressed forward eagerly to +capture it; after doing so they were suddenly confronted by several +regiments in ambush, which rose up and delivered a fire which threw +Hays' and Hoke's brigades into great confusion, and caused them to +make a precipitate retreat. An attack against Howe's right was +also repulsed. In the ardor of pursuit, Howe swung that flank +around and captured the 8th Louisiana Regiment, but in doing so, +he exposed his rear to Gordon, who came down a ravine behind him, +so that he was compelled to fall back and take up a new line. Howe +had carefully selected a reserve position and made dispositions to +hold it. Fresh assaults on his left finally forced General Neill +to retreat to it with his brigade. The enemy followed him up +promptly, but were driven back in disorder by Grant's Vermont +brigade, two regiments of Newton's division and Butler's regular +battery of the 2d United States Artillery. Newton thinks this last +attack on Howe was local and accidental, for as the other divisions +were not assailed, a concentrated attack on Howe would have destroyed +him. + +Darkness at last put an end to the strife. Newton, being an engineer +officer by profession, had previously been sent by Sedgwick to +select a new line to cover the bridges, and the army was ordered +to fall back there. It did so without confusion, the roads having +been carefully picketed. Brooks took position on Newton's left, +after which Howe's division, whose right flank for a time had been +"in the air," withdrew also an hour later than the others, and +prolonged the line to the left. Howe complained that he was deserted +by Sedgwick, but the latter appears to have sent Wheaton's brigade +and other reinforcements to aid his retreat. The movement to the +rear was favored by the darkness and a thick fog, which settled +over the valleys, but did not extend to the high ground. As Benham +and Sedgwick, who were classmates at West Point, walked on the +slope of the hill where the men were lying--the crest above being +held by thirty-four guns on the opposite side of the river--Benham +cautioned Sedgwick not to recross under any circumstances without +his entire command, nor without Hooker's express sanction, advice +which Sedgwick was wise enough to follow. + +The enemy did not assail the new position or attempt to interfere +with the crossing which soon after took place. When it was nearly +concluded, an order came from Hooker countermanding it, but it was +then too late to return. + +Howe thinks Sedgwick should not have crossed, as the last attack +on the left, which was the vital point, had been repulsed. This +may be so, in the light of after-consideration, but it was very +doubtful at the time, and as Sedgwick had lost a fraction under +five thousand men in these operations, and was acting under the +false information that additional forces had come up from Richmond, +he felt that he had fully borne his share of the burden, and that +it was better to place his corps beyond the risk of capture, than +to run the chances of renewing the battle. It would, undoubtedly, +have been of immense advantage to the cause if he could have +continued to hold Taylor's Hill, which dominated the country round, +and was the key of the battle-field; for in that case Hooker might +have withdrawn from Lee's front and joined Sedgwick, which would +have been attaining the object for which our main army left Falmouth, +and made the turning movement. He would thus have gained a strategic +if not a tactical victory; his shortcomings would have been forgotten, +and he would have been regarded as one of the greatest strategists +of the age. Hooker, however, had left so many things undone, that +it is by no means certain he would have carried out this policy, +although he expressed his intention to do so. Sedgwick's movement, +in my opinion, added another example to the evil effects of converging +columns against a central force. + +There is little more to add in relation to Hooker's operations. +On the night of the 4th, he called a council of war, and after +stating the situation to them, absented himself, in order that they +might have full liberty to discuss the subject. Reynolds was +exhausted, and went to sleep, saying that his vote would be the +same as that of Meade. Meade voted to remain, because he thought +it would be impossible to cross in the presence of the enemy. +Sickles and Couch voted to retreat. Howard voted to remain, without +reference to the situation of the army, because in his opinion his +corps had behaved badly, and he wished to retrieve its reputation. +Slocum was not present. The final result was that Hooker determined +to cross, although the majority of votes were against it. The +votes of Meade and Howard, however, were qualified in such a way +as to give the impression they were in favor of a retreat. + +Owing to a sudden rise in the river the bridges became too short, +and there was some doubt as to the practicability of passing over +them, but by taking down one, and piecing the others with it, the +difficulty was overcome and the army retired, without being followed +up, under cover of thirty-two guns posted on the heights on the +opposite bank. Meade's corps acted as rear guard. + +Hooker left his killed and wounded behind, and had lost 14 guns +and 20,000 stand of arms. + +It only remains to give a brief statement of the operations of +Stoneman's cavalry. These were of no avail as regard the battle +of Chancellorsville, for our army was defeated and in full retreat +before Lee's main line of communication with Richmond was struck, +and then all the damage was repaired in three or four days. There +seems to have been a lack of information as to where to strike; +for the principal depot of the rebel army was at Guiney's station +on the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad. The supplies there +were but slightly guarded, and could easily have been captured. +Had this been done, Lee would have been seriously embarrassed, +notwithstanding his victory, and forced to fall back to obtain +subsistence. + +Stoneman, upon setting out on the expedition, left one division of +4,000 men under Averell to do the fighting, and dispose of any +force that might attempt to interfere with the movements of the +main body. Averell accordingly followed W. H. F. Lee's two regiments +to Rapidan Station, and remained there skirmishing on the 1st of +May. His antagonist then burned the bridge, and fell back on +Gordonsville. As Averell was about to ford the river and follow, +he received orders from Hooker to return; he came back to Elley's +Ford on the 2d, which he reached at half past ten at night. As +his return was useless and unnecessary, he has been severely +censured, but it was not made of his own volition. Soon after Fitz +Hugh Lee made a dash at his camp, but was repulsed. On the 3d +Averell made a reconnoissance on Hooker's right, with a view to +attack the enemy there, but finding the country impracticable for +cavalry, returned to Elley's Ford. Hooker, who was not in the best +of humor at the time, became dissatisfied with his operations, +relieved him from command, and appointed Pleansonton to take his +place. + +In the meantime, the main body under Stoneman pressed forward, and +reached Louisa Court House early on the morning of the 2d. Parties +were at once ordered out to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad +above and below that point. One of W. H. F. Lee's regiments drove +back a detachment of Union cavalry which was moving on Gordonsville, +but reinforcements went forward and Lee was driven back in his turn. + +In the evening Stoneman made his headquarters at Thompson's Cross +Roads, and from there despatched regiments in different directions +to burn and destroy. + +One party under Colonel Wyndham, 1st New Jersey, was engaged all +day on the 3d in injuring the canal at Columbia, and in attempts +to blow up the aqueduct over the Rivanna. + +Colonel Kilpatrick moved with his regiment, the 2d New York, across +the country, passing within two miles and a half of Richmond, and +creating great consternation there. He struck and destroyed a +portion of the Fredericksburg Railroad--Lee's main line of supply +--on the 4th, at Hungary Station, ten miles from Richmond, and +burned Meadow Bridge, over the Chickahominy at the railroad crossing. +He then turned north again, crossed the Pamunkey, and ended his +long ride at Gloucester Point, which was garrisoned by our troops. + +Another regiment--the 12th Illinois, under Colonel Davis--went to +Ashland and moved up and down the railroad, doing a good deal of +damage. It captured a train full of Confederate wounded and paroled +them. After a brief encounter with an infantry and artillery force +at Tunstall's Station, it also turned north, and made its way over +the Pamunkey and Mattapony rivers to Gloucester Point. + +Two regiments, the 1st Maine and 1st Maryland, under General Gregg, +started down the South Anna River, burning bridges over common +roads and railroads. After destroying Hanover Junction, it returned +to headquarters. + +One of two other small parties were sent on flying excursions to +assist in the work of destruction. + +On the 5th, Stoneman started to return, and the entire command with +the exception of that portion which was at Gloucester Point, +recrossed at Kelly's Ford on the 8th. + +The losses in each army were heavy. An extract is here given from +the official reports, but it is said the Confederate statement is +far from being accurate. + +LOSSES AT CHANCELLORSVILLE. + +UNION. + Killed and + Wounded. Missing. Total. +First Corps (Reynolds). . . . . 192 100 292 +Second Corps (Couch). . . . . . 1,525 500 2,025 +Third Corps (Sickles) . . . . . 3,439 600 4,089 +Fifth Corps (Meade) . . . . . . 399 300 699 +Sixth Corps (Sedgwick). . . . . 3,601 1,000 4,601 +Eleventh Corps (Howard) . . . . 568 2,000 2,508 +Twelfth Corps (Slocum). . . . . 2,383 500 2,883 +Cavalry, etc. . . . . . . . . . 150 150 + + Total . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,197 5,000 17,197 + +CONFEDERATE. + Killed and + Wounded. Missing. Total. +Early's Division . . . . . . . 851 500 1,351 +A. P. Hill's Division . . . . . 2,583 500? 3,083 +Colston's Division . . . . . . 1,868 450? 2,318 +Rodes' Division . . . . . . . . 2,178 713 2,891 +Anderson's Division . . . . . . 1,180 210 1,390 +McLaws' Division . . . . . . . 1,379 380 1,759 +Artillery and Cavalry . . . . . 227 227 + + Total . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,266 2,753 13,019 + +The following extract from Harpers' "History of the Great Rebellion" +states the causes of Hooker's defeat in a very able manner, but I +do not agree with the author in his estimate of the great danger +Lee ran from the converging columns of Sedgwick and Hooker. It is +true Lee tried the same system, and succeeded, by sending Jackson +around to attack Hooker's right, but the success was due solely to +the utter lack of all preparations on the part of Howard to meet +the emergency, and to Hooker's failure to make use of the ample +means at his disposal to prevent the junction of Stuart and +Anderson. + +Mr. Alden, the author of the work in question, says: + +"There was not, in fact, any moment between Thursday afternoon and +Tuesday morning when success was not wholly within the grasp of +the Union army. The movement by which Chancellorsville was reached, +and the Confederate position rendered worthless, was brilliantly +conceived and admirably executed. The initial error, by which +alone all else was rendered possible, was that halt at Chancellorsville. +Had the march been continued for an hour longer, or even been +resumed early in the following morning, the army would have got +clear of the Wilderness without meeting any great opposing force, +and then it would have been in a position where its great superiority +of numbers would have told. The rout of Howard's corps was possible +only from the grossest neglect of all military precautions. Jackson, +after a toilsome march of ten hours, halted for three hours in open +ground, not two miles from the Union lines. A single picket, sent +for a mile up a broad road would have discovered the whole movement +in ample time for Howard to have strengthened his position, or to +have withdrawn from it without loss. The blame of this surprise +can not, however, fairly be laid upon Hooker. He had a right to +presume that whoever was in command there would have so picketed +his lines as to prevent the possibility of being surprised in broad +daylight. But even as it was, the disaster to the Eleventh Corps +should have had no serious effect upon the general result. That +was fully remedied when the pursuit was checked. On Sunday morning +Hooker was in a better position than he had been on the evening +before. He had lost 3,000 men and had been strengthened by 17,000, +and now had 78,000 to oppose to 47,000. The Confederate army was +divided, and could reunite only by winning a battle or by a day's +march. The only thing which could have lost the battle of that +day was the abandonment of the position at Hazel Grove, for from +this alone was it possible to enfilade Slocum's line. But surely +it is within the limits of military forethought that a general who +has occupied a position for two days and three nights should have +discovered the very key to that position, when it lay within a mile +of his own headquarters. The disabling of Hooker could not, indeed, +have been foreseen; but such an accident might happen to any +commander upon any field; and there should have been somewhere some +man with authority to have, within the space of three hours, brought +into action some of the more than 30,000 men within sound, and +almost within sight, of the battle then raging. How the hours from +Sunday noon till Monday night were wasted has been shown. Hooker, +indeed, reiterates that he could not assail the Confederate lines +through the dense forests. But Lee broke through those very woods +on Sunday, and was minded to attempt it again on Wednesday, when +he found that the enemy had disappeared. The golden opportunity +was lost, never to be recovered, and the Confederate Army of Northern +Virginia gained a new lease of life." + +It may not be out of place, as indicating the kind of service in +which we were engaged, to quote the following letter, written after +the retreat: + +"I am so cut, scratched, and bruised that I can hardly hold a pen +in my hand. My limbs are covered with swellings from the bites of +insects and torn from forcing my way through briers and thorny +bushes; my eyes close involuntarily from lack of sleep and excessive +fatigue. My legs are cramped from so much riding, and I have not +yet succeeded in getting rid of the chill caused by sleeping on +the wet ground in the cold rain. My clothes, up to last night, +had not been taken off for a week. As I lay down every night with +my boots and spurs on, my feet are very much swollen. I ought to +be in bed at this moment instead of attempting to write." + +The others must have suffered in the same way. Warren, especially, +as a medium of communication between Hooker and Sedgwick, made +almost superhuman exertions to do without sleep and perform the +important duties assigned him. + +Each army now felt the need of rest and recuperation, and no military +movements of importance took place for several weeks. Soon after +the battle of Chancellorsville, Longstreet's two divisions, which +had been operating in front of Suffolk, rejoined Lee at Fredericksburg. +That portion of Stoneman's cavalry which had taken refuge at +Gloucester Point also succeeded, by great boldness and skilful +manoeuvring on the part of Colonel Kilpatrick, in outwitting the +enemy and getting to Urbanna, after crossing Dragon River, rebuilding +a bridge there, and repulsing the rebel forces who tried to prevent +them from reaching the Rappahannock. The command, when it arrived +at Urbanna, passed over on the ferry-boat, under cover of a gunboat +sent there for that purpose, and rejoined the Army of the Potomac +at Falmouth, on the 3d of June, bringing in about 200 prisoners, +40 wagons, and 1,000 contrabands, as slaves were usually styled at +that time. + + + +CHAPTER IX. +PREPARATIONS TO RENEW THE CONFLICT. + +The close of the battle of Chancellorsville found the Union army +still strong in numbers, defeated, but not disheartened, and ready, +as soon as reinforcements and supplies arrived, and a brief period +of rest and recuperation ensued, to take the field again. To resist +the effects of this defeat and recruit our armies required, however, +great determination and serious effort on the part of the +Administration; for a large and powerful party still clogged and +impeded its efforts, and were allowed full liberty to chill the +patriotism of the masses, and oppose, with tongue and pen and every +species of indirection, all efficient action which looked to national +defence. This opposition was so strong and active that the President +almost preferred the risk of losing another battle to the commotion +which would be excited by attempts to enforce the draft; for hitherto +we had relied entirely on voluntary enlistments to increase our +strength in the field. Men are chilled by disaster and do not +readily enlist after a defeat; yet the terms of service of thirty +thousand of the two years' and nine months' men were expiring, and +something had to be done. Our army, however, at the end of May +was still formidable in numbers, and too strongly posted to be +effectually assailed; especially as it had full and free communication +with Washington and the North, and could be assisted in case of +need by the loyal militia of the free States. + +The rebels had obtained a triumph, rather than a substantial victory, +at Chancellorsville. It was gained, too, at a ruinous expense of +life, and when the battle was over they found themselves too weak +to follow up our retreating forces. While the whole South was +exulting, their great commander, General Lee, was profoundly +depressed. The resources of the Davis Government in men and means +were limited, and it was evident that without a foreign alliance, +prolonged defensive warfare by an army so far from its base, would +ultimately exhaust the seceding States, without accomplishing their +independence. It became necessary, therefore, for General Lee to +chose one of two plans of campaign: Either to fall back on the +centre of his supplies at Richmond, and stand a siege there, or to +invade the North. By retiring on Richmond he would save the great +labor of transporting food and war material to the frontier, and +would remove the Northern army still further from its sources of +supply and its principal depots. One circumstance, however, would +probably in any event, have impelled him to take the bolder course. +The situation in Vicksburg was becoming alarming. It was evident +the town must fall and with its surrender the Federal fleet would +soon regain possession of the Mississippi. The fall of Vicksburg, +supplemented by the retreat of Lee's army on Richmond, would +dishearten the Southern people, and stimulate the North to renewed +efforts. It was essential, therefore, to counterbalance the +impending disaster in the West by some brilliant exploit in the +East. + +There was perhaps another reason for this great forward movement, +founded on the relation of the Confederacy to the principal European +powers. England still made a pretence of neutrality, but the +aristocracy and ruling classes sided with the South, and a large +association of their most influential men was established at +Manchester to aid the slaveholding oligarchy. The rebels were +fighting us with English guns and war material, furnished by blockade +runners; while English Shenandoahs and Alabamas, manned by British +seamen, under the Confederate flag, burned our merchant vessels +and swept our commercial marine from the ocean. The French Government +was equally hostile to us, and there was hardly a kingdom in Europe +which did not sympathize with the South, allied as they were by +their feudal customs to the deplorable system of Southern slavery. +Russia alone favored our cause, and stood ready, if need be, to +assist us with her fleet; probably more from antagonism to England +and France, than from any other motive. The agents of the Confederate +Government stated in their official despatches that if General Lee +could establish his army firmly on Northern soil England would at +once acknowledge the independence of the South; in which case ample +loans could not only be obtained on Southern securities, but a +foreign alliance might be formed, and perhaps a fleet furnished to +re-open the Southern ports. + +While thus elated by hopes of foreign intervention, the Confederate +spies and sympathizers who thronged the North greatly encouraged +the Davis Government by their glowing accounts of the disaffection +there, in consequence of the heavy taxation, rendered necessary by +the war, and by the unpopularity of the draft, which would soon +have to be enforced as a defensive measure. They overrated the +influence of the _Copperhead_ or anti-war party, and prophesied +that a rebel invasion would be followed by outbreaks in the principal +cities, which would paralyze every effort to reinforce the Federal +forces in the field. + +These reasons would have been quite sufficient of themselves to +induce Lee to make the movement, but he himself gives an additional +one. He hoped by this advance to draw Hooker out, where he could +strike him a decisive blow, and thus ensure the permanent triumph +of the Confederacy. He was weary of all this marching, campaigning, +and bloodshed, and was strongly desirous of settling the whole +matter at once. Having been reinforced after the battle of +Chancellorsville by Longstreet's two divisions and a large body of +conscripts, he determined to advance. On May 31st, his force, +according to rebel statements, amounted to 88,754, of which 68,352 +were ready for duty. Recruits, too, were constantly coming in from +the draft, which was rigidly enforced in the Southern States. + + +Hooker having learned from his spies that there was much talk of +an invasion, wrote to the President on May 28th, that the enemy +was undoubtedly about to make a movement of some kind. On June +3d, McLaws' and Hood's divisions of Longstreet's corps started for +the general rendezvous at Culpeper. A change in the encampment on +the opposite side of the river was noted by the vigilant Union +commander, who at once ordered Sedgwick to lay two bridges at the +old crossing place, three miles below Fredericksburg, pass over +with a division, and press the enemy to ascertain if their main +body was still there. Fresh indications occurred on the 4th, for +Ewell's corps followed that of Longstreet. The bridges being +completed on the 5th, Howe's division of the Sixth Corps was thrown +over and Hill's corps came out of their intrenchments to meet it. +Some skirmishing ensued, and Sedgwick reported, as his opinion, +that the greater portion of the enemy's force still held their old +positions. Hooker, however, was determined to be prepared for all +contingencies, and therefore, on the same day, detached the Fifth +Corps to be in readiness to meet the enemy should they attempt to +force a passage anywhere between United States Ford and Banks' +Ford. Resolved to obtain certain information at all hazards, on +the 7th of June he ordered Pleasonton to make a forced reconnoissance +with all the available cavalry of the army, in the direction of +Culpeper, to ascertain whether the Confederate forces were really +concentrating there, with a view to an invasion of the North. + +Should this prove to be the case, Hooker desired to cross the river, +to envelop and destroy Hill's corps, and then follow up the main +body as they proceeded northward, thus intercepting their communications +with Richmond. The authorities at Washington, however, did not +look with much equanimity upon the possibility of finding Lee's +army interposed between them and the Army of the Potomac, so they +refused to sanction the plan and it was abandoned. + +Nevertheless, in my opinion it was about the best method that could +have been devised to check the invasion, provided that Hooker did +not lose his water-base; for Lee always showed himself very sensitive +whenever his communications with Richmond was threatened. If that +was severed no more _ammunition_ or military supplies would reach +him. The amount of cartridges on hand was necessarily limited. +It would soon be expended in constant skirmishes and engagements, +and then he would be helpless and at the mercy of his antagonist. +Consequently, the moment he heard that a portion of the Sixth Corps +had crossed and confronted Hill, he directed Ewell and Longstreet +to halt at Locust Grove, near Chancellorsville, and be in readiness +to return to Fredericksburg to assist Hill in case there was any +danger of his being overpowered. Finding Sedgwick's advance was +a mere reconnoissance, the two rebel corps resumed their march to +Culpeper. + +Hooker deemed it essential to success, that all troops connected +with the theatre of invasion should be placed under his command, +so that they could act in unison. In his opinion most of their +strength was wasted in discordant expeditions, which were useless +as regards the general result. He referred more particularly to +General Dix's command at Old Point Comfort, General Heintzelman's +command in Washington, and General Schenck's troops posted at +Baltimore, along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and in the Valley +of the Shenandoah. This request was reasonable and should have +been granted. Hooker's demands, however, were not considered +favorably. There was no very good feeling between General Halleck, +who was commander of the army, and himself; and as he felt that +his efforts were neither seconded nor approved at headquarters, he +soon after resigned the command. + +The main body of the Union cavalry at this time was at Warrenton +and Catlett's Station. Hooker, having been dissatisfied with the +result of the cavalry operations during the Chancellorsville +campaign, had displaced Stoneman in favor of Major-General Alfred +Pleasonton. + + + +CHAPTER X. +BATTLE OF BRANDY STATION (FLEETWOOD). + +The 8th of June was a day of preparation on both sides. Pleasonton +was engaged in collecting his troops and getting everything in +readiness to beat up the enemy's quarters the next morning, and +Stuart was preparing to cross for the purpose of either making a +raid on the railroad, as Pleasonton states, or to take up a position +to guard the right flank of the invading force as it passed by our +army. Major McClellan, Stuart's adjutant-general, asserts the +latter. Pleasonton's information was founded on captured despatches, +and on interviews held by some of our officers with the Confederates +under a flag of truce. + +The four batteries of Jones' cavalry brigade moved down near the +river opposite Beverly Ford on the 7th, to cover the proposed +crossing. They were imperfectly supported by the remainder of +Stuart's force. Jones' brigade was posted on the road to Beverly +Ford, that of Fitz Lee* on the other side of Hazel River; that of +Robertson along the Rappahannock below the railroad; that of W. H. +F. Lee on the road to Melford Ford, and that of Hampton in reserve, +near Fleetwood Hill--all too far off to be readily available. In +fact, the batteries were entirely unsuspicious of danger, although +they were a quarter of a mile from the nearest support and there +was only a thin line of pickets between their guns and the river. + +[* A familiar abbreviation for Fitz Hugh Lee, adopted in the rebel +reports.] + +In the meantime Pleasonton's three divisions, "stiffened"--to use +one of Hooker's expressions--by two brigades of infantry, stole +down to the fords and lay there during the night, quietly, and +without fires, ready at the first dawn of day to spring upon their +too-confident adversaries and give them a rude awakening. + +Pleasonton in person remained with Buford's division--the First-- +which was lying near Beverly Ford with Ames' infantry brigade. + +The other two divisions, the Second, under Colonel Duffie, and the +Third, under General Gregg--supported by Russell's infantry brigade, +were in bivouac opposite Kelly's Ford. + +As each commander is apt to overstate the enemy's force and underrate +his own, it is not always easy to get at the facts. Pleasonton +claims that the rebels had about twelve thousand cavalry and twelve +guns. Major McClellan of Stuart's staff, puts the number at nine +thousand three hundred and thirty-five men, on paper, and twenty +guns; but states there were nearly three thousand absentees. + +General Gregg estimates the Union cavalry at about nine thousand +men and six batteries, but--as will be seen hereafter--a third of +this force was detached toward Stevensburg, and their operations +had little or no effect on the general result. The batteries do +not seem to have been brought forward in time to be of much service. + +At daybreak Pleasonton's troops began to cross; Buford's division +and Ames' infantry at Beverly Ford; the other two divisions, under +Gregg and Duffie, with Russell's infantry at Kelly's Ford, six +miles below. Each division was accompanied by two light batteries. + +Pleasonton's plan was founded on the erroneous supposition that +the enemy were at Culpeper. He used the infantry to keep the lines +of retreat open, and directed the cavalry to rendezvous at Brandy +Station. They were to arrive there at the same time, and attack +together. Duffie's column was to make a circuit by way of Stevensburg. +Unfortunately, Stuart was not at Culpeper, but at Brandy Station; +that is, he occupied the point where they were to rendezvous, and +the plan therefore appertained practically to the same vicious +system of converging columns against a central force. What happened +may be briefly stated as follows: The First Division, under Buford, +came upon the enemy between Brandy Station and Beverly Ford. A +battle ensued at St. James' Church, and as their whole force +confronted him, and they had twenty pieces of artillery, he was +unable to break their line. After fighting some hours he was +obliged to turn back with a portion of his command to repel an +attempt against his line of retreat. Gregg next appeared upon the +scene, and succeeded in getting in Stuart's rear before the rebel +general knew he was there. Buford having gone back toward Beverly +Ford, as stated, Gregg in his turn, fought the whole of Stuart's +force without the co-operation of either Buford or Duffie. It can +hardly be said that Duffie's column took any part in the action, +for he did not reach Brandy Station until late in the day. And +then, as the rebel infantry were approaching, Pleasonton ordered +a retreat. + +For the future instruction of the reader it may be well to state +that every cavalry charge, unless supported by artillery or infantry, +is necessarily repulsed by a counter-charge; for when the force of +the attack is spent, the men who make it are always more or less +scattered, and therefore unable to contend against the impetus of +a fresh line of troops, who come against them at full speed and +strike in mass. + +Stuart's headquarters were twice taken by Gregg's division, and a +company desk captured with very important despatches, but the enemy +had the most men, and most artillery near the point attacked, and +therefore always regained, by a counter-charge, the ground that +had been lost. + +Stuart claims to have repulsed the last attack of Pleasonton against +Fleetwood Hill, and to have taken three guns, besides driving our +cavalry back across the river. + +Pleasonton claims to have fully accomplished the object of his +reconnoissance, to have gained valuable information which enabled +Hooker to thwart Lee's plans; and to have so crippled the rebel +cavalry that its efficiency was very much impaired for the remainder +of the campaign; so that Lee was forced to take the indirect route +of the valley, instead of the direct one along the eastern base of +the Blue Ridge, behind his cavalry as a screen; his original +intention having been to enter Maryland at Poolesville and Monocacy. + + + +GETTYSBURG. + + +CHAPTER I. +THE INVASION OF THE NORTH. + +An invasion of the North being considered as both practicable and +necessary, it only remained to select the most available route. + +There was no object in passing east of Hooker's army, and it would +have been wholly impracticable to do so, as the wide rivers to be +crossed were controlled by our gunboats. + +To attempt to cross the Rappahannock to the west, and in the +immediate vicinity of Fredericksburg, would have been hazardous, +because when an army is crossing, the portion which is over is +liable to be crushed before it can be reinforced. + +It would seem that Lee's first intention was to move along the +eastern base of the Blue Ridge directly toward Washington.* The +appearance of his army on Hooker's flank would be a kind of taunt +and threat, calculated to draw the latter out of his shell, and +induce him to make an attack. In such a case, as the rebels were +in the highest spirits, in consequence of their recent victory at +Chancellorsville, their commander had little doubt of the result. +This plan was feasible enough, provided his cavalry could beat back +that of Pleasonton and act as a screen to conceal his movements. +This they were not in a condition to do after the battle of Brandy +Station, and Lee was thus forced to take the route down the Shenandoah +Valley, which had many advantages. The mountain wall that intervened +between the two armies, was a sure defence against our forces, for +it was covered by dense thickets, and the roads that lead through +the gaps, and the gaps themselves, were easy to fortify and hold +against a superior force. If Hooker had attempted to assail these +positions, one corps could have held him in check, while the other +two captured Washington. + +[* See map facing page 1.] + +The movement also favored the subsistence of the troops, for the +valley being a rich agricultural region, Lee was enabled to dispense +with much of his transportation and feed his army off the country. + +There was one serious obstacle, however, to his further progress +in that direction, and that was the presence of a gallant soldier, +Milroy, with a very considerable Union garrison intrenched at +Winchester. + +It was essential to Lee's advance that the valley should be cleared +of Union troops, otherwise they would sally forth after he passed +and capture his convoys. + +With this object in view, on the 10th Ewell's corps passed through +Gaines' Cross Roads, and halted near Flint Hill on their way to +Chester Gap and Front Royal. + +The possibility of an invasion had been discussed for some days in +Washington, and Halleck had come to the conclusion that it was +better to withdraw the stores and ammunition from Winchester, and +retain the post there merely as a lookout, to give warning of the +enemy's approach. Accordingly, on the 11th, Milroy received orders +from his department commander, General Schenck, to send his armament +and supplies back to Harper's Ferry. Milroy remonstrated, saying +that he could hold the place against any force that would probably +attack him, and that it would be cruel to sacrifice the Union men +who looked to him for protection. + +In reply to this Schenck telegraphed him that he might remain, but +must be in readiness to retreat whenever circumstances made it +necessary. + +Milroy, in answer to another inquiry, reported that he could move +in six hours. + +On the 12th he sent out two scouting parties, and learned there +was a considerable force at Cedarsville, which he thought might +form part of Stuart's raid, information of which had been communicated +to him. + +He could not believe it possible that an entire rebel corps was +near him, for he supposed Lee's army was still at Fredericksburg. +His superiors had not informed him, as they should have done by +telegraph, that a large part of it had moved to Culpeper. He +thought if Lee left Hooker's front at Fredericksburg, the Army of +the Potomac would follow and he would receive full information and +instructions. He telegraphed General Schenck late that night for +specific orders, whether to hold his post or to retreat on Harper's +Ferry, stating there appeared to be a considerable force in front +of him. As the enemy soon after cut the wires, he never received +any answer. He sent a messenger the same night to notify Colonel +McReynolds, at Berryville, that there was a large body of the enemy +on the Front Royal road, and directed him to send out scouts to +Millwood, and keep himself advised of its approach, in order that +he might prepare to fall back on Winchester the moment he was +attacked by superior numbers. + +On the 13th Ewell marched with two divisions directly on Winchester, +while he sent the third--that of Rodes--to take Berryville. Thanks +to the timely warning McReynolds had received, his brigade got off +in time, his rear being covered by Alexander's battery, the 6th +Maryland Infantry, and part of the 1st New York (Lincoln) Cavalry. +These detained the enemy two hours, and then caught up with the +main body. Jenkins' cavalry came upon the retreating force at +Opequan Creek, where he made a fierce attack, which was promptly +repulsed by the rear guard, aided by the artillery with canister. +After this there was no further molestation, and McReynolds' command +reached Winchester at 10 P.M.--a march of thirty miles. + +Soon after the affair at the Opequan, Major Morris, with 200 men, +was attacked at Bunker Hill, an outlying post of Winchester. He +occupied a fortified church, but moved out to meet the enemy, under +the impression it was only a small raiding party. When he found +two thousand men in line of battle he retreated, fighting, to the +church again. There, as the doors were barricaded, and the walls +loopholed, the rebels could make no impression, and were obliged +to fall back to a respectful distance. In the night Morris managed +to steal away, and soon rejoined the main body at Winchester. + +The arrival of these reinforcements seriously embarrassed Milroy; +and it will be seen hereafter that it would have been much better +for all concerned if they had retreated to Harper's Ferry at once. +They acted, however, strictly in obedience to orders. + +Rodes' division, after the taking of Berryville, kept on towards +Martinsburg, and bivouacked at a place called Summit Point. + +On the morning of the 13th Milroy had sent out a detachment under +General Elliot on the Strasburg road, and another under Colonel +Ely on the Front Royal road, to reconnoitre. Eliott found no enemy, +and returned. An attempt was made to cut him off from the town, +but it was repulsed. His troops were then massed on the south side +behind Mill Creek and a mill-race which ran parallel to it, and +were protected by stone fences. Colonel Ely had a brisk artillery +skirmish with Ewell's advance, and then fell back to Winchester, +taking post at the junction of the Front Royal and Strasburg roads. +The enemy did not attempt to cross the creek that night, but at 5 +P.M. they advanced and captured a picket-post which commanded the +Strasburg road, but were soon driven out. + +From a prisoner captured in this skirmish Milroy learned the highly +important intelligence that he was confronted by Ewell's corps and +that Longstreet was rapidly approaching. + +The most natural course under the circumstances would have been +for him to retreat at once, but McReynolds' brigade had just arrived, +exhausted by their forced march, and could go no further, without +some hours' rest. To move without them would be to sacrifice a +large part of his force. He still cherished the hope that Hooker's +army would follow Lee up closely and come to his relief. + +Ewell at night directed Early's division to attack the works on +the north and west of the town at daylight the next morning, while +Johnson's division demonstrated against the east and southeast. + +Early on Sunday, the 14th, Milroy sent out a detachment to see if +the enemy had established themselves on the Pughtown or Romney +roads. The party returned about 2 P.M. and reported the roads +clear, but soon after the rebels came in great force from that +direction, so that Milroy's hopes of escaping by the routes leading +to the northwest were dissipated. Immediately west of Winchester, +and parallel with Applebie Ridge, on which the main forts were +situated, there is another ridge called Flint Ridge, where rifle +pits had been commenced to command the Pughtown and Romney roads. +These were held by one regiment, and part of another under Colonel +Keifer of the 110th Ohio, together with Battery "L" of the 5th +United States Artillery. Early's division made a sudden attack +there, preliminary to which he opened fire with four batteries. +He charged into these rifle-pits and took them, but the garrison +retreated successfully, under cover of the fire, from the main +works above, which were held by Elliot's and McReynolds' brigades. +This was followed by an artillery duel, which was kept up until 8 +P.M. without any special results. + +Johnson's division at daybreak attacked the eastern side of the +town, held by Colonel Ely's brigade, but was gallantly met and +repulsed by the 8th Pennsylvania and 87th Pennsylvania. These two +regiments, by Milroy's order, made a bold charge against the enemy +as they were retiring, but the latter were so suddenly and strongly +reinforced that the two regiments were glad to get back to their +shelter in the fortified suburbs. They were followed up however, +and after severe fighting Johnson gained possession of a part of +the town. This apparent success proved of no avail, for the forts +above shelled him out. He therefore retired and made no further +attempt in that direction. + +Darkness ended the struggle for the day. Johnson then left one +brigade to prevent Milroy from escaping toward the east and went +off with the remainder of his division to form across the Martinsburg +pike, about three miles north of Winchester, to intercept Milroy's +retreat in that direction. + +While these events were going on in the Valley, Imobden's cavalry +was engaged in breaking up the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad near +Romney, to prevent Milroy from receiving any reinforcements from +the west. + +The latter now found himself in a perilous situation. His cannon +ammunition was nearly exhausted, and he had but one day's rations +for his men. He resolved to give up all further attempts to defend +the place, to abandon his wagon train and artillery, and to force +his way through the hostile lines that night; taking with him only +the horses and small arms. This involved his leaving also his sick +and wounded, but it was unavoidable. He ordered all the guns +spiked, and the ammunition thrown into the cisterns. + +At 1 A.M. on the 15th, he moved silently out through a ravine and +was not molested until he struck the Martinsburg road, about four +miles from the town. There Elliot, who was in the advance with +his brigade, met a rebel skirmish line, and soon ascertained that +their main body were formed, partly on high ground in a woods east +of the road, and partly in an open field east of and adjoining the +woods. The enemy were in effect sheltered by a stone fence which +bordered a railroad cut, with their reserve and artillery principally +posted on elevated ground in the rear. + +The only thing to do was to break through their lines as soon as +possible. It was now about 3:30 A.M. Elliot, whose record of +long, careful, and brilliant service in the regular army is an +exemplary one, formed line of battle with his three regiments and +fought the six regiments that held the road for about an hour with +varied success, encountering a severe artillery fire and driving +back their right in disorder by a gallant charge of the 110th Ohio +and 122d Ohio; but unfortunately their left held firm, in spite of +repeated attacks made by Colonel Shawl with two regiments, reinforced +with two more and by part of Colonel Ely's brigade. Their force +in front, too, was sustained by heavy reserves both of infantry +and artillery. + +A signal-gun fired at Winchester showed that the enemy there were +aware of the flight and were in full pursuit. The main road being +blocked, Milroy determined to try another, and directed the troops +to fall back a short distance and turn to the right. Part of them +did so, but the greater number, through some misunderstanding, +filed to the left, and took the road to Bath. It was no longer +possible to reunite the two columns and as Milroy's horse was shot +under him about this time, he could use no personal exertions to +remedy the disaster. A portion of the command who were not pursued +reached Harper's Ferry by way of Smithfield late in the afternoon. +Those who moved out on the Bath road also made good their escape, +crossed the Potomac at Hancock, and rallied at Bloody Run. The +greater part of Colonel Ely's brigade, and Colonel McReynolds' +brigade, however, were captured. Milroy claims to have brought +off 5,000 men of the garrison, and that the 2,000 paroled by Early, +consisted principally of the sick and wounded. Early says he sent +108 officers and 3,250 enlisted men as prisoners to Richmond. +Johnson, who intercepted the retreat, says he captured 2,300 +prisoners, 175 horses, and 11 battle flags. + +While two-thirds of Ewell's corps were attacking Winchester, the +other division under Rodes, preceded by Jenkins' brigade of cavalry, +pursued McReynolds' wagon train to Martinsburg, arriving there late +in the afternoon of the 14th. The town was held as an outlying +post of Harper's Ferry by a small detachment of all arms under +Colonel Tyler, a subordinate of General Tyler, who formed his men +outside of the place and resisted Rodes' attack until night, when +his infantry escaped to Shepherdstown, and his artillery and cavalry +to Williamsport. In carrying out these movements, however, he lost +five guns and five caissons. He passed the river and rejoined the +main body at Harper's Ferry. The latter place is wholly indefensible +against an enemy holding the hills around it. It is like fighting +at the bottom of a well. General Tyler had therefore very wisely +moved across the river to Maryland Heights, where he had a strong +fortified post. From that commanding eminence he could very soon +shell out any force that attempted to occupy the town. + +The Shenandoah valley was now clear of Union troops, and soon became +the great highway of the invasion. However disastrous Milroy's +defeat may be considered on account of the losses incurred, it was +not without its compensation. The detention of Ewell's force there +gave time to the general Government and the Governors of the loyal +States to raise troops and organize resistance, and it awakened +the entire North to the necessity of immediate action. + +Hooker, having learned that Ewell had passed Sperryville, advanced +his right to prevent any crossing in his immediate vicinity, and +confine the enemy to the Valley route. He sent the Third Corps to +hold the fords opposite Culpeper, and the Fifth Corps to guard +those lower down. + +On the 13th he gave up his position opposite Fredericksburg, and +started north toward Washington, giving orders to Sedgwick to +recross and follow on to Dumfries. That night the First Corps +reached Bealeton, and the Eleventh Catlett's station. Reynolds +was placed in command of the left wing of the army (the First, +Third, and Eleventh Corps) and I relieved him in command of the +First Corps. The right wing (that is the Second, Fifth, Twelfth, +and Sixth Corps) was accompanied by Hooker in person, who reached +Dumfries on the 14th. + +As soon as Hill saw Sedgwick disappear behind the Stafford hills, +he broke up his camp and started for Culpeper. + +Some changes in the meantime had occurred in the Army of the Potomac, +and General Hancock was assigned to the Second Corps instead of +General Couch, who had been sent to organize the department of the +Susquehanna at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. + +The teamsters and fugitives from Winchester, making for Chambersburg +in all haste, told the inhabitants of the towns through which they +passed that the rebels were close behind them. This created the +wildest excitement. As many cases had occurred in which negroes +had been seized, and sent South to be sold as slaves, the whole +colored population took to the woods and filled up the roads in +all directions. The appearance of Jenkins' brigade, who crossed +at Williamsport on the morning of the 15th and reached Chambersburg +the same day, added to the alarm. + +Jenkins was at the head of 2,000 cavalry, and soon became a terror +to the farmers in that vicinity by his heavy exactions in the way +of horses, cattle, grain, etc. It must be confessed he paid for +what he took in Confederate scrip, but as this paper money was not +worth ten cents a bushel, there was very little consolation in +receiving it. His followers made it a legal tender at the stores +for everything they wanted. Having had some horses stolen, he +sternly called on the city authorities to pay him their full value. +They did so without a murmur--_in Confederate money._ He pocketed +it with a grim smile, evidently appreciating the joke. He boasted +greatly of his humanity and his respect for private property, but +if the local papers are to be believed, it must be chronicled to +his everlasting disgrace that he seized a great many negroes, who +were tied and sent South as slaves. Black children were torn from +their mothers, placed in front of his troops, and borne off to +Virginia to be sold for the benefit of his soldiers. There was +nothing out of character in that, he thought, for it was one of +the sacred rights for which the South was contending. + +Prompt measures were taken by the Northern States to meet the +emergency. Mr. Lincoln called on the Governors of West Virginia, +Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York to raise 120,000 men for +temporary service. It was easy to get the men, but difficult to +arm them, as nearly all serviceable muskets were already in possession +of the Army of the Potomac. As early as the 9th two new departments +had been created for Pennsylvania: That of the Monongahela, with +headquarters at Pittsburg, was assigned to Major-General W. T. H. +Brooks; and that of the Susquehanna, with headquarters at Carlisle, +to Major-General Darius N. Couch. + +On the 15th Ewell reached Williamsport with a force estimated at +twelve thousand men and sixteen guns. + +Before Couch could reach Carlisle it was already occupied by Jenkins' +cavalry, and the terrified farmers of that section of country were +fleeing in crowds across the Susquehanna, driving their horses and +cattle before them. + + + +CHAPTER II. +HOOKER'S PLANS--LONGSTREET OCCUPIES THE GAPS IN THE BLUE RIDGE-- + ALARM IN RICHMOND--HOOKER SUPERSEDED BY MEADE. + +A shower of telegrams came to Hooker, notifying him of these untoward +events, and demanding protection; but he simply moved one step +toward the enemy. On the 15th he had three corps--the First, Sixth, +and Eleventh--grouped around Centreville, with the Third Corps at +Manassas, and the Second, Fifth, and Twelfth Corps in reserve at +Fairfax Court House. The left flank of the army was guarded by +Pleasonton's cavalry, posted at Warrenton. Hooker was not to be +drawn away from the defence at Washington by any clamorous appeal +for his services elsewhere; his plan being to move parallel to +Lee's line of advance and strike his communications with Richmond +at the first favorable opportunity. He obtained some reinforcements +at this time, Stannard's Second Vermont brigade being assigned to +my division of the First Corps, and Stahel's cavalry division, +about six thousand strong, being directed to report to General +Pleasonton for duty. + +As Harrisburg lay directly in the track of the invading army, +Governor Curtin made strenuous efforts to collect a force there. +He called upon all able-bodied citizens to enroll themselves, and +complained that Philadelphia failed to respond. New York acted +promptly, and on the 15th two brigades arrived in Philadelphia on +their way to the front. + +On the same day Longstreet, having been relieved by Hill, left +Culpeper with his corps and marched directly across the country +east of the Blue Ridge to occupy Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps. +Stuart's cavalry were to guard his right flank, but did not leave +until the next day. The object of Longstreet's movement was to +tempt Hooker to abandon his strong position in front of Washington +and march against the Gaps, in which case it was hoped some +opportunity might occur by which the rebels could either crush the +Army of the Potomac in the open country or possibly outmanoeuvre +it, so as to intervene between it and Washington; but Hooker remained +stationary. + +Rodes' division of Ewell's corps reached Williamsport and remained +there during the 16th, 17th, and 18th, to support Jenkins, and +receive, and transmit to the rear, the cattle, horses, negroes, +and provisions, taken by him. + +The commotion created by the approach of the invader was not all +one-sided. General Dix, who commanded at Fortress Monroe, received +orders to advance on Richmond, which was weakly defended at this +time. As through their manifold offences in the way of starving +our prisoners, etc., the rebel President and his cabinet were afraid +of reprisals, there was great dismay at the weakness of the garrison +there, and bitter denunciations of Lee for leaving so small a force +behind. The Union troops for this counter-invasion were landed at +Yorktown and sent on to the White House. General Getty, in command +of one column of about seven thousand men, moved on the 13th as +far as Hanover Junction to destroy the bridge over the North and +South Anna, and as much of the railroad as possible, in order to +make a break in Lee's communications. At the same time General +Keyes, with another column of about five thousand men, moved from +the White House to secure Bottom's Bridge on the Chickahominy, and +thus leave a clear road for Getty's column to advance on the city. +The Davis Government, however, called out the militia and concentrated +enough men for defence by weakening the garrisons in South Carolina +and elsewhere; but there is no doubt the fright at one time was so +serious that it was in contemplation to recall Lee's forces; +especially on the 15th of June, when it was learned that General +Keyes' column was at New Kent Court House within fifteen miles of +the city. + +On the 16th Stuart's cavalry left the Rappahannock--with the +exception of the 15th Virginia, which remained with Hill--and +bivouacked at Salem with Fitz Lee's brigade at Piedmont. Their +orders were to keep along the eastern base of the Blue Ridge, and +guard the front of Longstreet's corps in the Gaps. + +Our own cavalry were concentrated at Warrenton and Catlett's. + +On the 17th Fitz Lee's brigade was sent forward from Piedmont to +Aldie, via Middleburg, to anticipate our troops in holding the Gap +there; it being considered important to occupy the Bull Run range +of mountains as a screen for Lee's further operations. Fitz Lee's +brigade was supported by that of Robertson which was moved to +Rectortown, where it was also available as a reserve to W. H. F. +Lee's brigade which had gone forward to occupy Thoroughfare Gap. +No opposition was anticipated in the latter place, Pleasonton having +moved to Centreville, with his main body. Stuart made his headquarters +at Middleburg on the 17th. + +Fitz Lee halted near Dover to close up his command, and sent his +pickets on to Aldie Gap. Pleasonton, who was scouting in the +vicinity, had no orders to go through the pass, but felt prompted +to do so by one of those presentiments which rarely deceive. He +pushed on, therefore, with Gregg's division until about 2.30 P.M., +when he came upon the rebel pickets, who fell back on the main +body. The latter had made a march of forty miles to reach the Gap, +and Fitz Lee chose a strong position on a hill directly west of +Aldie, in which to fight a defensive battle. His line covered the +road to Snicker's Gap, but could be turned by the road to Middleburg +and Ashby's Gap. + +A sanguinary contest ensued, which, including the pursuit, lasted +until 9 P.M. The rebel front was strengthened by a ditch and a +line of hay-stacks. After fighting for three hours the battle was +finally decided by a gallant charge of the 1st Maine Cavalry, who, +after our line had been broken and driven back, were led by Kilpatrick +in person, against a regiment of mounted infantry on the Ashby's +Gap road, capturing four guns. The Harris Light Cavalry had been +in disfavor for having failed in an attack at Brandy Station, but +on the present occasion they redeemed themselves, made several +brilliant charges, and greatly contributed to the success of the +day. + +The rebels claim to have taken 134 prisoners, and some flags in +this affair, and state that they only fell back to Middleburg in +obedience to Stuart's orders. Ascertaining that Colonel Duffie +was advancing on that place with his division, Stuart thought, by +concentrating his entire force there, he could overwhelm him. This +may account for the retreat, but it is very certain that the loss +of the pass at Aldie was a serious blow to the rebel cause. This, +supplemented by Colonel Duffie's operations, which will be described +hereafter, gave Hooker possession of Loudon County, and threw the +invading column far to the west. If the enemy had succeeded in +posting forces in the gaps of the Bull Run range of mountains, and +in occupying the wooded country between Thoroughfare Gap and +Leesburg, they would not only have hidden all their own movements +from view, but would have had command of the Potomac from Harper's +Ferry to within thirty miles of Washington, so that they could have +operated on either side of the river. + +While Gregg's division were thus engaged, Colonel Duffie started +under orders with his regiment from Centreville for Middleburg, by +way of Thoroughfare Gap. The enemy (W. H. F. Lee's brigade) were +already there, but he forced them out, and kept on to Middleburg, +which was reached about 9.30 A.M. He found Stuart's rear guard or +escort there, and drove them out. Stuart fell back to Rector's +Cross Roads, and sent word to all his forces to concentrate against +Duffie. Duffie barricaded the streets of the town and prepared to +hold it until reinforcements could reach him from Aldie, not being +aware that there was any impediment in that direction. At 7 P.M. +the different rebel brigades advanced on him from the direction of +Aldie, Union, and Upperville. By sheltering his men behind stone +walls and barricades, he repelled several assaults, but at last +was surrounded by overwhelming forces, and compelled to retreat by +the road upon which he had advanced in the morning. He fell back +until he crossed Little River, picketed the stream and halted there +to get some rest. This gave time to the enemy to surround him, +and by half past one the next morning all the roads in the neighborhood +were full of cavalry; an entire brigade being formed on that which +led to Aldie. He tried to force his way through the latter, but +was received with heavy volleys on both flanks, and with loud calls +to surrender. He directed Captain Bliss and Captain Bixby, who +were in advance, to charge through everything in front of them, +and the way was cleared for the main body, which at last gained +the junction of the Aldie road with that which leads to White +Plains. He then retreated on the latter, with his men all intermixed +with those of the enemy and fighting every step of the way. He +finally disengaged his force from this _melee_ and made his way +through Hopewell Gap back to Centreville, losing two-thirds of his +command. + +In this affair at Middleburg, Stuart states that he was unable with +his entire force to drive the 1st Rhode Island regiment from a +position it had chosen, and speaks with admiration of the gallantry +it displayed. + +On the 18th, Stuart took post outside of that town with Robertson +and W. H. F. Lee's brigade. Fitz Lee's brigade was on his left at +Union, and Jones' brigade was ordered up as a reserve. + +Pleasonton moved forward with all his available force and occupied +Middleburg and Philemont on the road to Snicker's Gap; releasing +some of Duffie's men who had been captured the day before. Gregg's +division encountered the enemy a short distance beyond Middleburg +and drove them five miles in the direction of Ashby's Gap. There +was no regular line formation, but the Indian mode of fighting was +adopted on both sides, by taking advantage of every stone, fence, +bush, or hollow, to shelter the men. Before the action was over +Kilpatrick's command came up and took a prominent part. + +Buford's division, which had advanced beyond Philemont on the +Snicker's Gap road, also became warmly engaged. They turned the +left flank of the rebels and pressed on successfully, but the +squadron left to guard the bridge over Goose Creek was overpowered +by numbers and the bridge was burned. Part of Pleasonton's force +made a reconnoissance toward Warrenton and engaged Hampton's brigade +there. + +On the 19th Pleasonton held the positions he had gained and sent +back for an infantry support. + +As there were indications that the whole of Stuart's cavalry would +be thrown on Gregg's division at Upperville, Pleasonton went forward +with his entire force and a brigade of infantry to support it. +After a series of brilliant engagements he drove Start steadily +back into Ashby's Gap, where he took refuge behind Longstreet's +Corps, a portion of which came up. Pleasonton then returned to +Upperville and next day to Aldie. The object of these movements-- +to gain possession of Loudon County--having been attained, Hooker +was wary, and did not propose to be lured away from his strong +position, to take part in cavalry battles at a distance without a +definite object. He still found it difficult to realize that Lee +would still further lengthen out his long line from Richmond, and +endanger his communications, by invading Pennsylvania; and he +therefore waited for further developments. Lee, however, impelled +by public opinion behind him, which it was hardly safe to brave, +still went forward, and directed Ewell to cross the Potomac with +his main body and Longstreet to fall back behind the Shenandoah to +act in conjunction with Hill, who had relieved Ewell at Winchester +on the 17th, against any attempt to strike the rear of his long +column. Like Achilles he felt that he was only vulnerable in his +heel. + +Several small skirmishes occurred about this time between detachments +of General Schenck's command, which picketed the north bank of the +Potomac, and bands of rebel partisans. The former were surprised +and captured in two or three instances. In one of these expeditions +a locomotive and twenty-three cars were disabled on the Baltimore +and Ohio Railroad. Imboden, too, who occupied Cumberland on the +17th, in order to favor the general plan of invasion, tore up some +miles of the track west of that town, with a view to prevent any +reinforcements coming from that direction. + +It would have been much better for the interests of the Southern +Confederacy if Lee, instead of making a downright invasion, had +been content to remain in the valley and threaten Hooker with two +corps, while he used the third to procure unlimited supplies in +Pennsylvania, and to sever all connection between the East and +West, by breaking up the railroads and cutting the telegraph wires. +Such a result, however, would hardly have been sufficient to meet +the expectations of the Southern people, who were bent upon nothing +else than the entire subjugation of the North and the occupation +of our principal cities. + +Pleasonton's operations having cleared the way, Hooker moved forward +promptly on the 18th to occupy the gaps. The Twelfth Corps were +sent to Leesburg, the Fifth to Aldie, and the Second to Thoroughfare +Gap. The other corps formed a second line in reserve. This covered +Washington and gave Hooker an excellent base of operations. + +In answer to his demand for reinforcements, Crawford's division of +Pennsylvania Reserves, and Abercrombie's division were sent to him. +As the latter was just going out of service, it was of no use. +Hooker contended that his army constituted the proper defence of +Washington, and that it was not necessary to keep a large force +inactive there, who could be of much more service at the front. +The authorities were timid, however, did not see the force of this +reasoning and therefore refused to place Schenck's and Heintzelman's +commands under his orders. + +The enemy made a feeble attempt about this time to occupy Harper's +Ferry, but were promptly shelled out by our batteries on Maryland +Heights. + +Lee having failed, on account of the discomfiture of his cavalry, +in crossing the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry, was forced either to +remain where he was or go forward. Impelled by public opinion he +kept on his way up the Cumberland Valley. Hooker being very desirous +of keeping the invasion west of the Blue Ridge, asked Heintzelman +to co-operate with him by sending the 2,000 men which seemed to be +of no service at Poolesville to the passes of South Mountain, which +is an extension of the same range; but Heintzelman said those passes +were outside of his jurisdiction, and the men were needed in +Poolesville. Hooker replied somewhat angrily that he would try +and do without the men. The two generals had quarreled, and there +was not the best feeling between them. + +All of Ewell's corps were across the river on the 22d, and Jenkins' +cavalry pushed on to Chambersburg. He was ordered to remain there +until reinforced, but failed to do so, as Union troops were +approaching from the direction of Carlisle. + +Longstreet and Hill were left behind to prevent Hooker from striking +the rear of this long column. Hooker still remained quiescent, +engaged in trying to obtain 15,000 men as reinforcements. He was +but partially successful, for as soon as the New York regiments +reached Baltimore, Lockwood's brigade of Maryland troops, about +three thousand, was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, and +was assigned to the Twelfth Corps. + +The Army of the Potomac at this time was posted as follows: The +Twelfth Corps at Leesburg, supported by the Eleventh on Goose Creek, +between Leesburg and Aldie; the Fifth Corps near Aldie, and the +Second at the next pass below, both supported by the Third Corps +at Gum Springs. The First Corps was behind the Eleventh and Twelfth +Corps, near Guilford, on the Loudon and Hampshire Railroad. Our +cavalry, which had left Aldie, covered the approaches to Leesburg. +On the 23d they had a sharp engagement at Dover, on the road from +Aldie to Leesburg, with part of Stuart's force, who beat up their +quarters, but they drove off their assailants without much +difficulty. + +Lee now, with a prudent regard to a possible defeat, requested the +authorities at Richmond to have a reserve army under Beauregard +assemble at Culpeper; a request which was looked upon by Davis as +one quite impossible to carry out, owing to the scarcity of troops, +and the necessity of reinforcing Johnston in the West and Beauregard +in the South. + +Two of Ewell's divisions, those of Rodes and Johnson, reached the +frightened town of Chambersburg on the 23d. The other, under Early, +took the road to York, _via_ Gettysburg, and halted on that day at +Waynesborough. + +By this time twenty regiments of militia were on their way from +New York to Baltimore and Harrisburg. + +Longstreet crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, and Hill at +Shepherdstown, on the 24th. Their columns united at Hagerstown +the next day. Thus supported, Ewell's main body resumed its march +to Carlisle, which it occupied on the 27th; gathering large supplies +there and along the road by means of foraging parties sent out to +depredate on the farmers. As soon as they reached the town, Jenkins' +brigade left for Harrisburg. + +Hooker having now satisfied himself that the Capital was safe from +a _coup-de-main_, and that the main body of the rebels were still +marching up the Cumberland Valley, determined to move in a parallel +line on the east side of South Mountain, where he could occupy the +gaps at once, in case the enemy turned east, toward Washington and +Baltimore. To carry out this design his army began to cross the +Potomac at Edwards' Ferry on the 25th, and at night Reynolds' corps +was in front and Sickles' corps in rear of Middletown, in readiness +to hold either Crampton's or Turner's Gap. Howard's corps was +thrown forward to Boonsborough. + +On the 26th Slocum's corps was sent to Harper's Ferry to act in +conjunction with the garrison there--supposed to be 10,000 strong +--against the enemy's line of communication with Richmond. The +Second, Fifth, and Sixth Corps were advanced to Frederick, Md., as +a support to the First, Third, and Eleventh Corps. Gregg's cavalry +division remained behind to cover the crossing, which was all +completed the next day, after which they too marched to Frederick. + +On the 25th, Early, leaving his division at Greenwood, went to +Chambersburg to consult Ewell, who gave him definite orders to +occupy York, break up the Central Railroad, burn the bridge over +the Susquehanna at Wrightsville, and afterward rejoin the main body +at Carlisle. + +It seems strange that Lee should suppose that the Union army would +continue inactive all this time, south of Washington, where it was +only confronted by Stuart's cavalry, and it is remarkable to find +him so totally in the dark with regard to Hooker's movements. It +has been extensively assumed by rebel writers that this ignorance +was caused by the injudicious raid made by Stuart, who thought it +would be a great benefit to the Confederate cause if he could ride +entirely around the Union lines and rejoin Lee's advance at York. +He had made several of these circuits during his military career, +and had gained important advantages from them in way of breaking +up communications, capturing despatches, etc. It is thought that +he hoped by threatening Hooker's rear to detain him and delay his +crossing the river, and thus give time to Lee to capture Harrisburg, +and perhaps Philadelphia. His raid on this occasion was undoubtedly +a mistake. When he rejoined the main body, his men were exhausted, +his horses broken down, and the battle of Gettysburg was nearly +over. As cavalry are the eyes of an army, it has been said that +Stuart's absence prevented Lee from ascertaining the movements and +position of Hooker's army. Stuart has been loudly blamed by the +rebel chroniclers for leaving the main body, but this is unjust; +Lee not only knew of the movement, but approved it; for he directed +Stuart to pass between Hooker and Washington, and move with part +of his force to Carlisle and the other part to Gettysburg. Besides, +Stuart left Robertson's and Jones' brigades behind, with orders to +follow up the rear of the Union army until it crossed, and then to +rejoin the main body. In the meantime they were to hold the gaps +in the Blue Ridge, for fear Hooker might send a force to occupy +them. These two brigades, with Imboden's brigade, and White's +battalion, made quite a large cavalry force: Imboden, however, +was also detached to break up the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to +prevent forces from the West from taking Lee in rear; all of which +goes to show how sensitive the Confederate commander was in regard +to any danger threatening his communications with Richmond. + +At 1 A.M. on the 25th, Stuart started on his expedition and advanced +to Haymarket, where he unexpectedly came upon Hancock's corps, +which had left Thoroughfare Gap, and was on its way to Gum Springs. +He opened fire against them but was soon driven off. He then +returned to Buckland and Gainesville; for to keep on, in presence +of our troops, would have frustrated the object of his expedition +by indicating its purpose. + +This was the day in which Longstreet and Hill united their columns +at Hagerstown. Some Union spies who counted the rebel forces as +they passed through the town made their number to be 91,000 infantry, +280 guns and 1,100 cavalry. This statement, though much exaggerated, +gained great credence at the time, and added to the excitement +among the loyal people throughout the Northern States, while the +copperhead element were proportionally active and jubilant. + +On the 26th, General French assumed command of the garrison at +Harper's Ferry, then posted at Maryland Heights. + +On the same day the Richmond Government were much alarmed by the +unexpected appearance of Colonel Spear's 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry +within eleven miles of the city. Spear had made quite a successful +and very destructive raid on the railroads and other lines of +communication. He made, too, a very important capture by bringing +in General W. H. F. Lee, who was wounded at the battle of Brandy +Station, and who was a son of General Robert E. Lee. The Davis +Government had determined to hang one of our captains who was a +prisoner in Libby, and the fact that a son of General Robert E. +Lee was in our power prevented them from carrying out their intention +for fear he might be hanged by way of retaliation. + +Early's division of Ewell's corps stopped at Gettysburg on its way +to York. The other two divisions kept on toward Carlisle. + +These movements at once caused Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania to +call out 60,000 men for the defence of the State. They were styled +the emergency militia. As there was little else than shot-guns +for them, these hasty gatherings did not promise to be very +effective. + +The Governor still complained of a lack of zeal in Philadelphia. +The people there, said "Isn't this awful!" but very few volunteered. +They soon awoke from their apathy, however, and took prompt measures +to defend the city. + +On the 27th the commands of Longstreet and Hill reached Chambersburg, +and Ewell's two divisions occupied Carlisle, while Jenkins pushed +on to Kingston, within thirteen miles of Harrisburg. At the same +time Early was engaged in wreaking destruction upon the Northern +Central Railroad, and by night he entered York. About the only +opposition he encountered came from a militia regiment at Gettysburg, +but this was soon driven away. + +There was wild commotion throughout the North, and people began to +feel that the boast of the Georgia Senator Toombs, that he would +call the roll of his slaves at the foot of Bunker Hill Monument, +might soon be realized. The enemy seemed very near and the Army +of the Potomac far away. + +On the same day Stuart succeeded with great difficulty in crossing +the Potomac in the vicinity of Drainsville. He found our troops +were now all north of this river, so that one object of his expedition +--to detain them on the south side--had failed. + +On the 28th he resumed his march, and as he passed close to Washington +and Baltimore, he created considerable excitement in those cities. +At Rockville he came upon a large train full of supplies, on its +way to Frederick, Maryland, and captured it with its slender escort, +after which he kept on in a northerly direction through Brookeville +and Cookesville, travelling all night. + +On this day the Adjutant-General at Richmond telegraphed for troops +to be sent there at once from the Carolinas and elsewhere, for he +estimated the Union forces at the White House at thirty thousand +men, and considered the capital to be in great danger. Neither +Davis nor his cabinet had the slightest desire to have any successes +Lee might obtain at the North supplemented by their own execution +at the South, a result they felt was not wholly improbable, in the +excited state of public feeling at that time, if the city should +be taken. + +Lee, ignorant that Hooker was following him up, continued his +aggressive advance. Early took prompt measures to seize the bridge +over the Susquehanna at Wrightsville. If successful, he intended +to cross over and amuse himself by destroying all direct connection +between Philadelphia and the West, by railroad and telegraph. This +done, he proposed to march along the north side of the river, +capture Harrisburg and rejoin Ewell at Carlisle. As Gordon's +brigade approached the bridge, after driving away some militia, +they found it in flames, the Union commander at Columbia, Colonel +Frick, having given orders for its destruction. Early gained some +compensation for his failure in this respect by levying a contribution +on York of one-hundred thousand dollars in cash; two hundred barrels +of flour; thirty thousand bushels of corn; one thousand pairs of +shoes, etc. + +The Union army still remained in Frederick, with the left wing +(three corps) under Reynolds thrown out toward the enemy, the +Eleventh Corps under Howard at Boonsborough, the First Corps under +my command at Middletown, supported by the Third Corps under Birney, +two or three miles in rear, with Buford's division of cavalry +holding the passes of South Mountain, the remainder of the cavalry +being at Frederick. + +Hooker thought it useless to keep a garrison of 10,000 men in a +passive attitude at Harper's Ferry. I think he was quite right, +for the war could not be decided by the possession of military +posts or even of cities, for hostilities would never cease until +one army or the other was destroyed. He therefore applied to +Washington for permission to add this force to that of Slocum, in +order that the two might act directly against Lee's communications +by following up his rear while preserving their own line of retreat. +Slocum had been already ordered there, for this purpose, but Halleck +would not consent that the garrison of Harper's Ferry should be +withdrawn under any circumstances, and positively refused Hooker's +request. Hooker then considering himself thwarted in all his plans +by the authorities at Washington, offered his resignation. It was +promptly accepted, and Major-General George G. Meade, then the +commander of the Fifth Corps, was assigned to the command of the +Army of the Potomac. He was a general of fine intellect, of great +personal bravery, and had had a good deal of experience in the war +in handling troops, but had never achieved any brilliant success, +or met with any serious reverse. + +Upon ascertaining that the enemy were at York and Carlisle, Hooker +had determined to throw out his different corps in a fan shape +toward the Susquehanna, and advance in that direction with three +corps on the left to defend that flank, in case Longstreet and Hill +should turn East, instead of keeping on toward the North. At the +same time it was his intention to have Slocum follow up Lee's +advance, by keeping in his rear, to capture his trains and couriers, +and to cut off his retreat should he be defeated. + +General Meade's first order was for all the troops to concentrate +in Frederick, where he proposed to have a grand review; but at the +urgent remonstrance of General Butterfield, who had been Hooker's +Chief of Staff, and who stated that this delay would give Lee time +to cross the Susquehanna, and capture Harrisburg and Philadelphia, +Hooker's orders were allowed to stand, with some exceptions. Meade +appears to have disapproved all movements against Lee's line of +retreat, for he ordered Slocum to rejoin the main army, and had +the hardihood to break up the post at Harper's Ferry, in spite of +the fact that Hooker had just been relieved from command for +requesting permission to do so. The bulk of the garrison, under +Major-General French, was directed to take post as a reserve at +Frederick, when our forces moved forward. The general idea of our +advance was to interpose between the enemy and Philadelphia if he +went north, or between him and Baltimore and Washington in case he +turned back. The orders at night were for Buford's division of +cavalry to take post on the left flank, in the direction of Fairfield; +Gregg's division on the right flank at Westminster; and Kilpatrick's +division in advance of the centre, at Littlestown, the different +corps to be posted between New Windsor and Emmetsburg. + +Ewell's corps, as stated, were at Carlisle and York, Lee and +Longstreet's at Chambersburg, and Hill's corps at Fayetteville. + +Lee was startled to learn from a countryman who came in on the 28th +that Hooker was at Frederick, and not south of the Potomac, as he +had supposed. He saw at once that his communications with Richmond, +about which he was so solicitous, were greatly endangered, for the +Union army could be formed to interpose between him and Williamsport, +and still keep a safe line of retreat open to Washington. This +might not be so great a misfortune to the enemy as regards food +and forage; for he could probably live on the country for some +time, by making predatory excursions in different directions, but +when it came to obtaining fresh supplies of ammunition, the matter +would become very serious. An army only carries a limited amount +of this into the field and must rely upon frequent convoys to keep +up the supply, which is constantly decreasing from the partial +engagements and skirmishes, so prevalent in a hostile country. + +The wisdom of Hooker's policy in desiring to assail the rebel +communications is demonstrated by the fact the Lee immediately +turned back. The head of the serpent faced about as soon as its +tail was trodden upon. He came to the conclusion to prevent an +attack against his rear by threatening Baltimore with his whole +force. This would necessarily cause the Union army to march further +east to confront him, and thus prevent it from operating in heavy +force in the Cumberland Valley. Accordingly on the night of the +28th, Lee sent expresses to all his corps commanders to concentrate +at Gettysburg. If he had known that Meade was about to withdraw +all the troops acting against his line of retreat he would probably +have gone on and taken Harrisburg. + +As the new commander of the Union army was a favorite of General +Halleck, no notice was taken of his disregard of instructions in +detaching the garrison of Harper's Ferry. General Couch, who +commanded the Department of the Susquehanna, was also placed under +his orders, a favor which had been denied to Hooker. The troubles +of the latter were not quite over, for on his appearing in Washington +to explain his action, he was immediately put under arrest for +visiting the Capital without his (Halleck's) permission; a piece +of petty persecution which might have been spared under the +circumstances. It was, however, a short and easy method of settling +all complaints that were inconvenient to answer. + + + +CHAPTER III. +STUART'S RAID--THE ENEMY IN FRONT OF HARRISBURG--MEADE'S PLANS. + +At dawn of day on the 29th, Stuart's command, after riding all +night, reached the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and commenced +disabling it, so far as the limited time at their disposal would +allow, by burning a bridge at Sykesville and tearing up a portion +of the track at Hood's Mill. They remained at the latter place +during the day to rest, but started again in the afternoon, and +reached Westminster about 5 P.M. At this place they were gallantly +attacked by the 1st Delaware Cavalry, which Stuart says was driven +off after hard fighting and pursued some distance toward Baltimore, +adding very much to the panic there. At night the head of his +column halted at Union Mills, half way between Westminster and +Littlestown. It may as well be stated here that Stuart found +himself greatly embarrassed by attempting to hold on to the long +train he had captured at Rockville. It lengthened out his column +to such an extent that it became difficult to defend all parts of +the line without scattering and weakening his command. As Kilpatrick's +division was waiting to intercept him at Littlestown, this +consideration became a matter of considerable importance. Gregg's +division also moved in the morning to head him off at Westminster, +but owing to the roads being very much blocked up by our infantry +and trains marching in that direction, Gregg did not succeed in +reaching his destination until some hours after Stuart had passed. + +At night two brigades of Buford's division of cavalry covered the +left flank of the Union army near Fairfield, with one brigade at +Mechanicstown. The First and Eleventh Corps were at Emmetsburg, +the Third and Twelfth at Middleburg, the Fifth Corps at Taneytown, +the Second Corps at Uniontown, and the Sixth Corps at New Windsor. + +The advance of the rebel cavalry under Jenkins were now within +sight of Harrisburg, and skirmishing only four miles from the town. +Jenkins' object was to make a thorough reconnoissance in order to +ascertain the best positions to be taken for an attack. There was +a perfect exodus from the city. All business was suspended, too, +in Philadelphia, and the authorities there busied themselves in +hastening the work on the fortifications in the suburbs of the +city. They were active enough now, and large numbers were enrolled. +Pleasonton, who was under general orders to guard the flank nearest +the enemy, directed Buford on the 29th to occupy Gettysburg the +next day, and hold it until the Army of the Potomac came to his +relief. He realized the importance of the position to the future +success of our arms. + +Hill's corps was at Fayetteville on the 29th, but one division, +that of Heth, was thrown forward on that day to Cashtown, within +eight miles of Gettysburg. The object of the movement was to join +Ewell at York, and co-operate with him in the destruction of the +railroads on the other side of the Susquehanna, etc. This plan, +as I have already stated, was suddenly changed on the evening of +the 28th, when Lee found his communications endangered, and now +all the advanced troops under his command turned back to concentrate +at Gettysburg. Longstreet left Chambersburg and marched to +Fayetteville, leaving Pickett's division behind to guard the trains. +Early received the order to return in the afternoon of the 28th, +recalled Gordon's brigade from Wrightsville, and made preparations +to start the next morning. Rodes' and Johnson's divisions left +Carlisle and marched on Gettysburg; the former by the direct route, +and the latter by way of Greenwood, to convoy the trains full of +stolen property. + +A number of partisan skirmishes took place during the day, which +were creditable to our troops, particularly that at McConnellsburg, +to the west of Chambersburg. + +The raid against Richmond ended by the return of Colonel Spear's +regiment to the White House. Hooker had urged that General Dix +assume command of all his available troops, march against Richmond, +and plant himself firmly on Lee's line of communication, but his +recommendations were slighted by Halleck. There was much disappointment +in the North at this failure to make a serious attack on the rebel +capital, for it was generally believed that it might have been +captured by a _coup de main_. + +On the 30th General Meade advanced his army still nearer the +Susquehanna. At evening his extreme left, the First Corps, was at +Marsh Creek, on the Emmetsburg road, while the extreme right, the +Sixth Corps, was away off at Manchester. The intermediate corps +were posted, the Eleventh at Emmetsburg; the Second at Uniontown; +the Third at Taneytown; the Fifth at Union Mills, and the Twelfth +at Frizzelburg. General French moved from Harper's Ferry with the +bulk of the garrison and occupied Frederick. The First Corps was +ordered to Gettysburg, but General Reynolds halted it at Marsh +Creek, as the enemy were reported to be coming from the direction +of Fairfield. + +Meade now resolved to take up a defensive position on Pipe Creek. +He threw out his forces as before in a fan shape, but any corps +encountering the enemy was expected to fight in retreat until it +reached the new line, where all the corps were to assemble. This +line as laid out was a long one, extending from Manchester to +Middleburg, a distance of about twenty-five miles. Falling back +to fight again, is hardly to be commended, as it chills the ardor +of the men; nor is it certain that Lee would have attacked the +intrenchments at Pipe Creek. If he found them formidable he might +have preferred to fight on the defensive with two corps, while the +Third Corps took Harrisburg, and broke up the railroad lines to +the west, or marched directly against Philadelphia; or, as Pipe +Creek did not interfere with his communications in any way he might +have chosen to let it severely alone, and have kept on depredating +in Pennsylvania, after capturing Harrisburg. This would have forced +Meade sooner or later to attack him. + +On the night of the 30th Ewell's corps had reached Heidlersburg, +nine miles from Gettysburg, with the exception of Johnson's division, +which was at Greenwood. Rodes' division had marched direct from +Carlisle by way of Petersburg. Longstreet with two divisions was +at Fayetteville; the other division, that of Pickett, was left at +Chambersburg to guard the trains. Hill's corps had reached Cashtown +and Mummasburg, except Anderson's division, which was still back +at the mountain pass on the Chambersburg road. + +Stuart, ascertaining that Early was no longer at York, and not +knowing that the army was concentrating on Gettysburg, turned toward +Carlisle. He had bivouacked half way between Westminster and +Littlestown, but having ascertained that Kilpatrick was waiting +for him at the latter place, attempted to avoid the encounter by +going through cross roads to Hanover. He found Farnsworth's brigade +of cavalry there, however, and charged their rear, driving them +back and capturing some prisoners and ambulances. The 5th New York +made a counter-charge under Major Hammond and drove him out again. +He claims to have taken the town by the aid of Hampton's brigade, +which arrived in time to reinforce him. Custer's brigade then came +up from Abbotstown. The battle lasted until night, when Stuart +gave up the contest and retreated, leaving Kilpatrick in possession. + +Part of his cavalry also attacked the 5th and 6th Michigan regiments +at Littlestown, but were repulsed. He then, having no time to +spare, kept on his way toward York to find the army he had lost. +He passed within seven miles of Ewell's column on its way to +Gettysburg, and neither knew that the other was near. Had they +effected a junction it would have saved the rebel cavalry a long, +fruitless, and exhausting march, which kept them out of the battle +on the first day. It was one of those accidental circumstances +which seemed to favor us in this campaign, while almost every +incident at Chancellorsville was against us. + +Finding Ewell had left York, Stuart turned and marched on Carlisle, +which he found occupied by our troops. He demanded the surrender +of the place under a threat of bombardment. General W. F. Smith, +one of the heroes of the Peninsula, was not to be affected by +menaces; and Stuart, whose time was precious and who had no ammunition +to spare, turned off in hopes of reaching Gettysburg in time to +take part in the battle. He arrived there on the afternoon of the +2d, with horses and men worn out by their extraordinary exertions; +on their way whole regiments slept in the saddle. This force when +it reached the field found Robertson's, Jones', and Jenkins' +brigades, and White's battalion ready to join it. + +By evening Meade was fully apprised, by telegrams and Buford's +scouts, that the enemy were concentrating on Gettysburg. He knew +that Reynolds at Marsh Creek was only about six miles from Hill at +Cashtown, but he sent no orders that night. He simply stated that +the enemy were marching on Gettysburg, and he would issue orders +when they developed their intentions. Thus the opposing forces +were moving in directions that would necessarily bring them in +contact, and a fight or retreat was inevitable. + +Reynolds had the true spirit of a soldier. He was a Pennsylvanian, +and, inflamed at seeing the devastation of his native State, was +most desirous of getting at the enemy as soon as possible. I speak +from my own knowledge, for I was his second in command, and he told +me at Poolesville soon after crossing the river, that it was +necessary to attack the enemy at once, to prevent his plundering +the whole State. As he had great confidence in his men, it was +not difficult to divine what his decision would be. He determined +to advance and hold Gettysburg. He directed the Eleventh Corps to +come up as a support to the First, and he recommended, but did not +order, the Third Corps to do the same. + +Buford, with two of his cavalry brigades, reached the place that +night, but not without considerable difficulty. He left Fountaindale +Gap early in the morning and attempted to move directly to his +destination, but he came upon Pettigrew's brigade of Hill's corps, +and was obliged to fall back to the mountains again. Later in the +day he succeeded, by going around by way of Emmetsburg. Before +evening set in, he had thrown out his pickets almost to Cashtown +and Hunterstown, posting Gamble's brigade across the Chambersburg +pike, and Devin's brigade across the Mummasburg road, his main body +being about a mile west of the town. + +While these great movements were going on, some minor affairs showed +great gallantry on the part of partisan officers. Captain Ulric +Dahlgren made a raid upon the rebel communications, capturing some +guns and prisoners, and gaining very important information which +will be referred to hereafter. + +The two armies now about to contest on the perilous ridges of +Gettysburg the possession of the Northern States, and the ultimate +triumph of freedom or slavery, were in numbers as follows, according +to the estimate made by the Count of Paris, who is an impartial +observer, and who has made a close study of the question: + +_The Army of the Potomac under General Meade_, 82,00 men and 300 +guns. + +_The Army of Northern Virginia under General Lee_, 73,500 men and +190 guns. + +Stuart had 11,100 cavalry and 16 guns. + +Pleasonton had about the same number of cavalry, and 27 guns. + + + +CHAPTER IV. +THE FIRST DAY OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1863. + +On the morning of the 1st of July, General Buford, as stated, held +the ridges to the west of Gettysburg, with his cavalry division, +composed of Gamble's and Devin's brigades. His vedettes were thrown +far out toward the enemy to give timely notice of any movement for +he was determined to prevent the rebels from entering the town if +possible, and knew the First Corps would soon be up to support him. +The enemy were not aware that there was any considerable force in +the vicinity, and in the morning sent forward Heth's division of +Hill's corps to occupy the place, anticipating no difficulty in +doing so. Buford in the meantime had dismounted a large part of +his force, had strengthened his line of skirmishers, and planted +his batteries at the most commanding points. + +General Reynolds, in consequence of the duties devolving upon him +as commander of the Left Wing of the army, that is of the First, +Third, and Eleventh Corps, had turned over the command of the First +Corps to me. He now made immediate dispositions to go forward to +assist Buford. + +As my corps was largely engaged in the first day's operations, I +must be excused for having a good deal to say in the first person +in relation to them. Reynolds sent for me about six o'clock in +the morning, read to me the various despatches he had received from +Meade and Buford, and told me he should go forward at once with +the nearest division--that of Wadsworth--to aid the cavalry. He +then instructed me to draw in my pickets, assemble the artillery +and the remainder of the corps, and join him as soon as possible. +Having given these orders, he rode off at the head of the column, +and I never saw him again. + +The position of the two armies on the morning of the 1st of July, +was as follows: The First Corps at Marsh Creek; the Second and +Third Corps at Taneytown; the latter being under orders to march +to Emmetsburg, to relieve the Eleventh Corps, which was directed +to join the First Corps at Gettysburg; the Twelfth Corps was at +Two Taverns; the Fifth Corps at Hanover, and the Sixth Corps about +thirty-five miles off to the right at Manchester. Kilpatrick's +and Gregg's divisions of cavalry were also at Hanover. The +Confederate army was advancing on Gettysburg from the west and +north. The concentration of their troops and the dispersion of +ours are indicated on the map. + +It must be remembered that the enemy had but _three_ corps, while +the Union army had _seven_. Each of their corps represented a +_third_, and each of ours a _seventh_, of our total force. The +same ratio extended to divisions and brigades. + +Heth's division, which started early in the morning to occupy the +town, soon found itself confronted by Buford's skirmishers, and +formed line of battle with Archer's and Davis' brigades in front, +followed by those of Pettigrew and Brockenborough. At 9 A.M. the +first gun was heard. Buford had three cannon-shots fired as a +signal for his skirmish line to open on the enemy, and the battle +of Gettysburg began.* + +[* Lt.-Col. Kress, of General Wadsworth's staff, entered Gettysburg +about this time and found General Buford surrounded by his staff +in front of the tavern there. Buford turned to him and said, "What +are you doing here, sir?" Kress replied that he came on to get +some shoes for Wadsworth's division. Buford told him that he had +better return immediately to his command. Kress said, "Why, what +is the matter, general?" At that moment the far off sound of a +single gun was heard, and Buford replied, as he mounted his horse +and galloped off, _"That's the matter."_] + +As the rebels had had several encounters with militia, who were +easily dispersed, they did not expect to meet any serious resistance +at this time, and advanced confidently and carelessly. Buford gave +way slowly, taking advantage of every accident of ground to protract +the struggle. After an hour's fighting he felt anxious, and went +up into the steeple of the Theological Seminary from which a wide +view could be obtained, to see if the First Corps was in sight. +One division of it was close at hand, and soon Reynolds, who had +preceded it, climbed up into the belfry to confer with him there, +and examine the country around. Although there is no positive +testimony to that effect, his attention was doubtless attracted to +Cemetery Ridge in his rear, as it was one of the most prominent +features of the landscape. An aide of General Howard--presumably +Major Hall--soon after Reynolds descended from the belfry, came up +to ask if he had any instructions with regard to the Eleventh Corps. +Reynolds, in reply, directed that General Howard bring his corps +forward at once and _form them on Cemetery Hill_ as a reserve. +General Howard has no recollection of having received any such +orders, but as he did get orders to come forward, and as his corps +was to occupy _some place_ in rear, as a support to the First Corps, +nothing is more probable than that General Reynolds directed him +to go there; for its military advantages were obvious enough to +any experienced commander. Lieutenant Rosengarten, of General +Reynolds' staff, states positively that he was present and heard +the order given for Howard to post his troops on Cemetery Ridge. +The matter is of some moment, as the position in question ultimately +gave us the victory, and Howard received the thanks of Congress +for selecting it. It is not to be supposed that either Howard or +Rosengarten would mistake the matter. It is quite probable that +Reynolds chose the hill simply as a position upon which his force +could rally if driven back, and Howard selected it as a suitable +battle-field for the army. It has since been universally conceded +that it was admirably adapted for that purpose. + +It will be seen from the above map, that there are two roads coming +to Gettysburg from the west, making a considerable angle with each +other. Each is intersected by ridges running north and south. On +that nearest to the town, and about three-fourths of a mile from +the central square, there is a large brick building, which was used +as a Lutheran Theological Seminary. A small stream of water called +Willoughby's Run winds between the next two ridges. The battle on +the first day was principally fought on the heights on each side +of this stream. + +Buford being aware that Ewell's corps would soon be on its way from +Heidlersburg to the field of battle, was obliged to form line facing +north with Devin's brigade, and leave Gamble's brigade to keep back +the overpowering weight of Hill's corps advancing from the west. + +While this fighting was going on, and Reynolds and Wadsworth were +pressing to the front, I was engaged in withdrawing the pickets +and assembling the other two divisions, together with the corps +artillery. As soon as I saw that my orders were in process of +execution, I galloped to the front, leaving the troops to follow, +and caught up with Meredith's brigade of Wadsworth's division, +commonly called "The Iron Brigade," just as it was going into +action. + +In the meantime the enemy approaching from the west were pressing +with great force against Buford's slender skirmish line, and Reynolds +went forward with Cutler's brigade to sustain it. He skilfully +posted Hall's 2d Maine battery in the road, and threw forward two +regiments, the 14th Brooklyn and the 95th New York, a short distance +in advance on the left. At the same time he directed General +Wadsworth to place the remaining three regiments of the brigade, +the 147th New York, the 76th New York, and the 56th Pennsylvania, +on the right of the road. When this formation was completed the +cavalry brigade under Gamble, which had been fighting there, withdrew +and formed in column on the left of the infantry; but the other +cavalry brigade, under Devin, which was not facing in that direction, +still held the position, awaiting the advance of Ewell's corps from +the north. + +As Davis' rebel brigade of Heth's division fronting Wadsworth were +hidden behind an intervening ridge, Wadsworth did not see them at +first, but formed his three regiments perpendicularly to the road, +without a reconnoissance. The result was that Davis came over the +hill almost directly on the right flank of this line, which being +unable to defend itself was forced back and directed by Wadsworth +to take post in a piece of woods in rear on Seminary Ridge. The +two regiments on the right accordingly withdrew, but the 147th New +York, which was next to the road, did not receive the order, as +their Colonel was shot down before he could deliver it. They were +at once surrounded and very much cut up before they could be rescued +from their perilous position. + +The two regiments on the right, which were forced back, were +veterans, conspicuous for gallantry in every battle in which the +Army of the Potomac had been engaged since the Peninsula campaign. +As Wadsworth withdrew them without notifying Hall's battery in the +road, or the two regiments posted by Reynolds on the left, both +became exposed to a disastrous flank attack on the right. Hall +finding a cloud of skirmishers launched against his battery which +was now without support, was compelled to retreat. The horses of +the lost gun were all shot or bayonetted. The non-military reader +will see that while a battery can keep back masses of men it cannot +contend with a line of skirmishers. To resist them would be very +much like fighting mosquitoes with musket-balls. The two regiments +posted by Reynolds, the 14th Brooklyn and 95th New York, finding +their support gone on the right, while Archer's rebel brigade was +advancing to envelop their left, fell back leisurely under Colonel +Fowler of the 14th Brooklyn, who assumed command of both as the +ranking officer present. + +I reached the field just as the attack on Cutler's brigade was +going on, and at once sent my adjutant-general, Major Halstead, +and young Meredith L. Jones, who was acting as aide on my staff, +to General Reynolds to ask instructions. Under the impression that +the enemy's columns were approaching on both roads, Reynolds said, +"Tell Doubleday I will hold on to this road," referring to the +Chambersburg road, "and he must hold on to that one;" meaning the +road to Fairfield or Hagerstown. At the same time he sent Jones +back at full speed to bring up a battery. + +The rebels, however, did not advance on the Fairfield road until +late in the afternoon. They must have been in force upon it some +miles back, for the cavalry so reported, and this caused me during +the entire day to give more attention than was necessary to my +left, as I feared the enemy might separate my corps from the Third +and Eleventh Corps at Emmetsburg. Such a movement would be equivalent +to interposing between the First Corps and the main army. + +There was a piece of woods between the two roads, with open ground +on each side. It seemed to me this was the key of the position, +for if this woods was strongly held, the enemy could not pass on +either road without being taken in flank by the infantry, and in +front by the cavalry. I therefore urged the men as they filed past +me to hold it at all hazards. Full of enthusiasm and the memory +of their past achievements they said to me proudly, _"If we can't +hold it, where will you find men who can?"_ + +As they went forward under command of Colonel Morrow* of the 24th +Michigan Volunteers, a brave and capable soldier, who, when a mere +youth, was engaged in the Mexican War, I rode over to the left to +see if the enemy's line extended beyond ours, and if there would +be any attempt to flank our troops in that direction. I saw, +however, only a few skirmishers, and returned to organize a reserve. +I knew there was fighting going on between Cutler's brigade and +the rebels in his front, but as General Reynolds was there in +person, I only attended to my own part of the line; and halted the +6th Wisconsin regiment as it was going into the action, together +with a hundred men of the Brigade Guard, taken from the 149th +Pennsylvania, to station them in the open space between the Seminary +and the woods, as a reserve, the whole being under the command of +Lieut.-Colonel R. R. Dawes, of the 6th Wisconsin. + +[* I sent orders to Morrow under the supposition that he was the +ranking officer of the brigade. Colonel W. W. Robinson, 7th +Wisconsin, was entitled to the command, and exercised it during +the remainder of the battle.] + +It is proper to state that General Meredith, the permanent commander +of the brigade, was wounded as he was coming up, some time after +its arrival, by a shell which exploded in front of his horse. + +Both parties were now trying to obtain possession of the woods. +Archer's rebel brigade, preceded by a skirmish line, was crossing +Willoughby's Run to enter them on one side as the Iron Brigade went +in on the other. General Reynolds was on horseback in the edge of +the woods, surrounded by his staff. He felt some anxiety as to +the result, and turned his head frequently to see if our troops +would be up in time. While looking back in this way, a rebel +sharpshooter shot him through the back of the head, the bullet +coming out near the eye. He fell dead in an instant, without a +word. The country sustained great loss in his death. I lamented +him as almost a life-long companion. We were at West Point together, +and had served in the same regiment--the old 3d Artillery--upon +first entering service, along with our present Commander-in-Chief, +General Sherman, and General George H. Thomas. When quite young +we had fought in the same battles in Mexico. There was little +time, however, to indulge in these recollections. The situation +was very peculiar. The rebel left under Davis had driven in Cutler's +brigade and our left under Morrow had charged into the woods, +preceded by the 2d Wisconsin under Colonel Fairchild, swept suddenly +and unexpectedly around the right flank of Archer's brigade, and +captured a large part of it, including Archer himself. The fact +is, the enemy were careless and underrated us, thinking, it is +said, that they had only militia to contend with. The Iron Brigade +had a different head-gear from the rest of the army and were +recognized at once by their old antagonists. Some of the latter +were heard to exclaim: "There are those d----d black-hatted fellows +again! 'Taint no militia. It's the Army of the Potomac." + +Having captured Archer and his men, many of the Iron Brigade kept +on beyond Willoughby's Run, and formed on the heights on the opposite +side. + +The command now devolved upon me, with its great responsibilities. +The disaster on the right required immediate attention, for the +enemy, with loud yells, were pursuing Cutler's brigade toward the +town. I at once ordered my reserve under Lieutenant-Colonel Dawes +to advance against their flank. If they faced Dawes, I reasoned +that they would present their other flank to Cutler's men, so that +I felt quite confident of the result. In war, however, unexpected +changes are constantly occurring. Cutler's brigade had been +withdrawn by order of General Wadsworth, without my knowledge, to +the suburbs of Gettysburg. Fortunately, Fowler's two regiments +came on to join Dawes, who went forward with great spirit, but who +was altogether too weak to assail so large a force. As he approached, +the rebels ceased to pursue Cutler, and rushed into the railroad +cut to obtain the shelter of the grading. They made a fierce and +obstinate resistance, but, while Fowler confronted them above, +about twenty of Dawes' men were formed across the cut by his +adjutant, E. P. Brooks, to fire through it. The rebels could not +resist this; the greater number gave themselves up as prisoners, +and the others scattered over the country and escaped. + +This success relieved the 147th New York, which, as I stated, was +surrounded when Cutler fell back, and it also enabled us to regain +the gun which Hall had been obliged to abandon. + +The enemy having vanished from our immediate front, I withdrew the +Iron Brigade from its advanced position beyond the creek, reformed +the line on the ridge where General Reynolds had originally placed +it, and awaited a fresh attack, or orders from General Meade. The +two regiments of Cutler's brigade were brought back from the town, +and, notwithstanding the check they had received, they fought with +great gallantry throughout the three days' battle that ensued. + +There was now a lull in the combat. I was waiting for the remainder +of the First Corps to come up, and Heth was reorganizing his +shattered front line, and preparing to bring his two other brigades +forward. The remnant of Archer's brigade was placed on the right, +and made to face south against Buford's cavalry, which, it was +feared, might attack that flank. What was left of Davis' brigade +was sent to the extreme left of the line, and Pegram's artillery +was brought forward and posted on the high ground west of Willoughby's +Run. + +Thus prepared, and with Pender's strong division in rear, ready to +cover his retreat if defeated, or to follow up his success if +victorious, Heth advanced to renew the attack. + +As I had but four weak infantry brigades at this time against eight +larger brigades which were about to assail my line, I would have +been justified in falling back, but I determined to hold on to the +position until ordered to leave it. I did not believe in the +system, so prevalent at that time, of avoiding the enemy. I quite +agreed with Reynolds that it was best to meet him as soon as +possible, for the rebellion, if reduced to a war of positions, +would never end so long as the main army of the Confederates was +left in a condition to take the field. A retreat, too, has a bad +effect on the men. It gives them the impression that their generals +think them too weak to contend with the enemy. I was not aware, +at this time, that Howard was on the ground, for he had given me +no indication of his presence, but I knew that General Meade was +at Taneytown; and as, on the previous evening, he had informed +General Reynolds that the enemy's army were concentrating on +Gettysburg, I thought it probable he would ride to the front to +see for himself what was going on, and issue definite orders of +some kind. As Gettysburg covered the great roads from Chambersburg +to York, Baltimore, and Washington, and as its possession by Lee +would materially shorten and strengthen his line of retreat, I was +in favor of making great sacrifices to hold it. + +While we were thus temporarily successful, having captured or +dispersed all the forces in our immediate front, a very misleading +despatch was sent to General Meade by General Howard. It seems +that General Howard had reached Gettysburg in advance of his corps, +just after the two regiments of Cutler's brigade, which had been +outflanked, fell back to the town by General Wadsworth's order. +Upon witnessing this retreat, which was somewhat disorderly, General +Howard hastened to send a special messenger to General Meade with +the baleful intelligence that the First Corps had fled from the +field at the first contact with the enemy, thus magnifying a forced +retreat of two regiments, acting under orders, into the flight of +an entire corps, two-thirds of which had not yet reached the field. +It is unnecessary to say that this astounding news created the +greatest feeling against the corps, who were loudly cursed for +their supposed lack of spirit and patriotism. + +About 11 A.M., the remainder of the First Corps came up, together +with Cooper's, Stewart's, Reynolds', and Stevens' batteries. By +this time the enemy's artillery had been posted on every commanding +position to the west of us, several of their batteries firing down +the Chambersburg pike. I was very desirous to hold this road, as +it was in the centre of the enemy's line, who were advancing on +each side of it, and Calef--exposed as his battery was--fired over +the crest of ground where he was posted, and notwithstanding the +storm of missiles that assailed him, held his own handsomely, and +inflicted great damage on his adversaries. He was soon after +relieved by Reynolds' Battery "L" of the 1st New York, which was +sustained by Colonel Roy Stone's brigade of Pennsylvania troops, +which I ordered there for that purpose. Stone formed his men on +the left of the pike, behind a ridge running north and south, and +partially sheltered them by a stone fence, some distance in advance, +from which he had driven the rebel skirmish line, after an obstinate +contest. + +It was a hot place for troops; for the whole position was alive +with bursting shells, but the men went forward in fine spirits and, +under the impression that the place was to be held at all hazards, +they cried out, _"We have come to stay!"_ The battle afterward +became so severe that the greater portion did stay, laying down +their lives there for the cause they loved so well. Morrow's +brigade remained in the woods where Reynolds was killed, and Biddle's +brigade was posted on its left in the open ground along the crest +of the same ridge, with Cooper's battery in the interval. Cutler's +brigade took up its former position on the right of the road. +Having disposed of Wadsworth's division and my own division, which +was now under the command of Brigadier General Rowley, I directed +General Robinson's division to remain in reserve at the Seminary, +and to throw up a small semicircular rail intrenchment in the grove +in front of the building. Toward the close of the action this +defence, weak and imperfect as it was, proved to be of great +service. + +The accompanying map shows the position of troops and batteries at +this time. + +It will be seen that Heth's division is formed on the western ridge +which bounds Willougby's Run and along a cross-road which intersects +the Chambersburg road at right angles. + +Pender's division, posted in the rear as a support to Heth, was +formed in the following order by brigades: Thomas, Lane, Scales, +and McGowan (under Perrin); the first named on the rebel left and +Perrin on the right. To sustain Heth's advance and crush out all +opposition, both Pegram's and McIntosh's artillery were posted on +the crest of the ridge west of the Run. + +While this was going on, General Howard, who was awaiting the +arrival of his corps, had climbed into the steeple of the seminary +to obtain a view of the surrounding country. At 11.30 A.M. he +learned that General Reynolds was killed, and that the command of +the three corps (the First, Eleventh, and Third) constituting the +Left Wing of the army devolved upon him by virtue of his rank. He +saw that the First Corps was contending against large odds and sent +back for the Eleventh Corps to come up at double-quick. Upon +assuming command of the Left Wing he turned over his own corps to +Major-General Carl Schurz, who then gave up the command of his +division to General Barlow. Howard notified General Meade of +Reynolds' death, but forgot to take back or modify the false +statement he had made about the First Corps, now engaged before +his eyes, in a most desperate contest with a largely superior force; +so that General Meade was still left under the impression that the +First Corps had fled from the field. + +Howard also sent a request to Slocum, who was at Two Taverns, only +about five miles from Gettysburg, to come forward, but Slocum +declined, without orders from Meade. He probably thought if any +one commander could assume the direction of other corps, he might +antagonize the plans of the General-in-Chief. + +Upon receiving the news of the death of General Reynolds and the +disorder which it was supposed had been created by that event, +General Meade superseded Howard by sending his junior officer, +General Hancock, to assume command of the field, with directions +to notify him of the condition of affairs at the front. He also +ordered General John Newton of the Sixth Corps to take command of +the First Corps. + +The head of the Eleventh Corps reached Gettysburg at 12.45 P.M., +and the rear at 1.45 P.M. Schimmelpfennig's division led the way, +followed by that of Barlow. The two were directed to prolong the +line of the First Corps to the right along Seminary Ridge. The +remaining division, that of Steinwehr, with the reserve artillery +under Major Osborne, were ordered to occupy Cemetery Hill, in rear +of Gettysburg, as a reserve to the entire line. Before this +disposition could be carried out, however, Buford rode up to me +with the information that his scouts reported the advance of Ewell's +corps from Heidlersburg directly on my right flank. I sent a staff +officer to communicate this intelligence to General Howard, with +a message that I would endeavor to hold my ground against A. P. +Hill's corps if he could, by means of the Eleventh Corps, keep +Ewell from attacking my right. He accordingly directed the Eleventh +Corps to change front to meet Ewell. As it did so, Devin's cavalry +brigade fell back and took up a position to the right and rear of +this line just south of the railroad bridge. + +The concentration of Rodes' and Early's divisions--the one from +Carlisle and the other from York--took place with great exactness; +both arriving in sight of Gettysburg at the same time. The other +division, that of Johnson, took a longer route from Carlisle by +way of Greenwood, to escort the trains, and did not reach the battle- +field until sunset. Anderson's division of Hill's corps was also +back at the pass in the mountains on the Chambersburg road. It +had halted to allow Johnson to pass, and then followed him to +Gettysburg, reaching there about dusk. + +The first indication I had that Ewell had arrived, and was taking +part in the battle, came from a battery posted on an eminence called +Oak Hill, almost directly in the prolongation of my line, and about +a mile north of Colonel Stone's position. This opened fire about +1.30 P.M., and rendered new dispositions necessary; for Howard had +not guarded my right flank as proposed, and indeed soon had more +than he could do to maintain his line. When the guns referred to +opened fire, Wadsworth, without waiting for orders, threw Cutler's +brigade back into the woods on Seminary Ridge, north of the railroad +grading; a movement I sanctioned as necessary. Morrow's brigade +was concealed from the view of the enemy, in the woods where Reynolds +fell, and Biddle's brigade, by my order, changed front to the north. +It could do so with impunity, as it was behind a ridge which +concealed its left flank from Hill's corps, and was further protected +in that direction by two companies of the 20th New York State +Militia, who occupied a house and barn in advance, sent there by +the colonel of that regiment, Theodore B. Gates, whose skill and +energy were of great service to me during the battle. + +It would of course have been impossible to hold the line if Hill +attacked on the west and Ewell assailed me at the same time on the +north; but I occupied the central position, and their converging +columns did not strike together until the grand final advance at +the close of the day, and therefore I was able to resist several +of their isolated attacks before the last crash came. + +Stone's brigade in the centre had a difficult angle to defend, but +was partially sheltered by a ridge on the west. His position was +in truth the key-point of the first day's battle. It overlooked +the field, and its possession by the enemy would cut our force in +two, enfilade Morrow's and Biddle's brigades, and compel a hasty +retreat. + +After Hall's battery was driven back, no other artillery occupied +the ground for some time, then General Wadsworth borrowed Calef's +regular battery from the cavalry, and posted it in rear of the +position Hall had occupied. When the remainder of the division +came up, Captain Reynolds' Battery "L" of the 1st New York Artillery, +as already stated, was sent to assist Calef in keeping down the +fire of two rebel batteries on the ridge to the west; but when +Ewell's artillery also opened, the cross fire became too severe. +Calef was withdrawn, and Reynolds was severely wounded. The rebel +batteries soon after ceased firing for the time being; and at +Wadsworth's request, Colonel Wainwright, Chief of Artillery to the +First Corps, posted a section of Reynolds' battery, under Lieutenant +Wilbur, on Seminary Ridge, south of the railroad cut; Stewart's +Battery "B" 4th United States being on a line north of the cut. +Cooper's battery was directed to meet Ewell's attack from the north, +and Stevens' 5th Maine battery was retained behind the Seminary in +reserve. + +Barlow's division on the right and Schimmelpfennig's on the left, +formed somewhat hastily against Ewell, whose line of battle faced +south. Barlow rested his right on a wooded knoll, constituting +part of the western bank of Rock Creek. As there was an open +country to the east he considered that flank secure, for no enemy +was in sight then, and if they came from that direction, there +would be time to make fresh dispositions. After the formation +there was an interval of a quarter of a mile between their left +and the First Corps, which might have been avoided by placing the +two divisions further apart. This was a serious thing to me, for +the attempt to fill this interval and prevent the enemy from +penetrating there, lengthened and weakened my line, and used up my +reserves. It seems to me that the Eleventh Corps was too far out. +It would have been better, in my opinion, if the left had been +_echeloned_ in rear of the right of the First Corps, and its right +had rested on the strong brick buildings with stone foundations at +the Almshouse. The enemy then could not have turned the right +without compromising the safety of the turning column and endangering +his communications; a movement he would hardly like to make, +especially as he did not know what troops might be coming up. +Still they had a preponderating force, and as their whole army was +concentrating on Gettysburg, it was not possible to keep them back +for any great length of time unless the First and Eleventh Corps +were heavily reinforced. The position of our forces and those of +the enemy, will be best understood by a reference to the map on +page 125. + +About 2 P.M., after the Eleventh Corps line was formed, General +Howard rode over, inspected, and approved it. He also examined my +position and gave orders, in case I was forced to retreat, to fall +back to Cemetery Hill. I think this was the first and only order +I received from him during the day. + +Rodes' division of five brigades was formed across Seminary Ridge, +facing south, with Iverson on the right, supported by Daniel and +O'Neill in the centre, and Doles on the left, Ramseur being in +reserve. Iverson was sent to attack the First Corps on Seminary +Ridge, and O'Neill and Doles went forward about 2.45 P.M., to keep +back the Eleventh Corps. When the two latter became fairly engaged +in front, about 3.30 P.M., Early came up with his whole division +and struck the Union right. This decided the battle in favor of +the enemy. + +Barlow had advanced with Von Gilsa's brigade, had driven back +Ewell's skirmish line, and with the aid of Wilkinson's battery was +preparing to hold the Carlisle road. He was not aware that Early +was approaching, and saw Doles' advance with pleasure, for he felt +confident he could swing his right around and envelop Doles' left; +a manoeuvre which could hardly fail to be successful. + +Schimmelpfennig now threw forward Von Amberg's brigade to intervene +between O'Neill and Doles, and to strike the right flank of the +latter; but Doles avoided the blow by a rapid change of front. +This necessarily exposed his left to Barlow, who could not take +advantage of it as he was unexpectedly assailed by Early's division +on his own right, which was enveloped, and in great danger. His +men fought gallantly, and Gordon, who attacked them, says, made +stern resistance until the rebels were within fifty paces of them. +As Barlow was shot down, and their right flank enveloped, they were +forced to retreat to the town. This isolated Von Amberg's brigade, +and Doles claims to have captured the greater portion of it. + +The retrograde movement of the Eleventh Corps necessarily exposed +the right flank of the First to attacks from O'Neill and Ramseur. + +Howard sent forward Coster's brigade, of Steinwehr's division, to +cover the retreat of the Eleventh Corps; but its force was too +small to be effective; its flanks were soon turned by Hays' and +Hoke's brigades, of Early's division, and it was forced back with +the rest. + +We will now go back to the First Corps and describe what took place +there while these events were transpiring. + +When the wide interval between the First and Eleventh Corps was +brought to my notice by Colonel Bankhead of my staff, I detached +Baxter's brigade of Robinson's division to fill it. This brigade +moved promptly, and took post on Cutler's right, but before it +could form across the intervening space, O'Neill's brigade assailed +its right flank, and subsequently its left, and Baxter was forced +to change front alternately, to meet these attacks. He repulsed +O'Neill, but found his left flank again exposed to an attack from +Iverson, who was advancing in that direction.* He now went forward +and took shelter behind a stone fence on the Mummasburg road, which +protected his right flank, while an angle in the fence which turned +in a southwesterly direction covered his front. As his men lay +down behind the fence, Iverson's brigade came very close up, not +knowing our troops were there. Baxter's men sprang to their feet +and delivered a most deadly volley at very short range, which left +500 of Iverson's men dead and wounded, and so demoralized them, +that all gave themselves up as prisoners. One regiment, however, +after stopping our firing by putting up a white flag, slipped away +and escaped. This destructive effect was not caused by Baxter +alone, for he was aided by Cutler's brigade, which was thrown +forward on Iverson's right flank, by the fire of our batteries, +and the distant fire from Stone's brigade. So long as the latter +held his position, his line, with that of Cutler and Robinson's +division, constituted a demi-bastion and curtain, and every force +that entered the angle suffered severely. Rodes in his report +speaks of it as "a murderous enfilade, and reverse fire, to which, +in addition to the direct fire it encountered, Daniel's brigade +had been subject to from the time it commenced its final advance." + +[* General Robinson states that these changes of front were made +by his orders and under his personal supervision.] + +While Iverson was making his attack, Rodes sent one of his reserve +brigades--the one just referred to, that of Daniel--against Stone. +This joined Davis' brigade of Hill's corps, and the two charged on +Stone's three little regiments. Stone threw forward one of these +--the 149th Pennsylvania, under Lieutenant-Colonel Dwight, to the +railroad cut, where they were partially sheltered. Colonel Dana's +regiment, the 143d Pennsylvania, was posted on the road in rear of +Dwight and to the right. When I saw this movement I thought it a +very bold one, but its results were satisfactory. Two volleys and +a bayonet charge by Dwight drove Daniel back for the time being.* +In this attack Colonel Stone was severely wounded, and the command +of his brigade devolved upon Colonel Wister of the 150th +Pennsylvania. + +[* Dwight was a hard fighter, and not averse to plain speaking. +Once, when Secretary of War Stanton had determined to grant no more +passes to go down to the army, Dwight applied for permission for +an old man to visit his dying son. The request was refused; +whereupon Dwight said: _"My name is Dwight, Walton Dwight, Lieutenant- +Colonel of the 149th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. You can +dismiss me from the service as soon as you like, but I am going to +tell you what I think of you,"_ and he expressed himself in terms +far from complimentary; whereupon Stanton rescinded the order and +gave him the pass.] + +This attack should have been simultaneous with one from the nearest +troops of Hill's corps, but the latter were lying down in a sheltered +position, and Daniel urged them in vain to go forward. + +Not being able to force his way in front on account of Dwight's +position in the railroad cut, Daniel brought artillery to enfilade +it, and threw the 32d North Carolina across it. The cut being no +longer tenable, Dwight retreated to the road and formed on Dana's +left. + +Daniel had been originally ordered to protect Iverson's right, but +Iverson swung his right around without notifying Daniel, and thus +dislocated the line. + +Ramseur now came forward to aid Iverson, and I sent Paul's brigade +of Robinson's division, which was preceded by Robinson in person, +to assist Baxter, and, if possible to fill the interval between +the First and Eleventh Corps, for I feared the enemy would penetrate +there and turn my right flank. + +When Paul's brigade arrived, Baxter was out of ammunition, but +proceeded to refill his cartridge-boxes from those of the dead and +wounded. + +General Howard has stated that the interval referred to was filled +by Dilger's and Wheeler's batteries of the Eleventh Corps, but a +glance at the official map will show that, before Paul's advance, +these batteries were several hundred yards distant from the First +Corps. + +Another attack was now made from the north and west by both Daniel's +and Davis' brigades. Colonel Wister faced his own regiment, under +Lieutenant-Colonel Huidekoper, to the west, and the other two +regiments to the north. The enemy were again repulsed by two +volleys and a gallant bayonet charge, led by Huidekoper, who lost +an arm in the fight. Colonel Wister having been shot through the +face, the command devolved upon Colonel Dana, another veteran of +the Mexican war. + +There had been a great lack of co-ordination in these assaults, +for they were independent movements, each repulsed in its turn. +The last attack, however, against Wister by extended by Brockenborough's +and Pettigrew's brigades to Morrow's front in the woods, but Morrow +held on firmly to his position. + +I now sent my last reserve, the 151st Pennsylvania, under Lieutenant- +Colonel McFarland, to take post between Stone's and Biddle's +brigades. + +So far I had done all that was possible to defend my front, but +circumstances were becoming desperate. My line was very thin and +weak, and my last reserve had been thrown in. As we had positive +information that the entire rebel army was coming on, it was evident +enough that we could not contend any longer, unless some other +corps came to our assistance. I had previously sent an aide-- +Lieutenant Slagle--to ask General Howard to reinforce me from +Steinwehr's division, but he declined to do so. I now sent my +Adjutant-General, Halsted, to reiterate the request, or to obtain +for me an order to retreat, as it was impossible for me to remain +where I was, in the face of the constantly increasing forces which +were approaching from the west. Howard insisted that Halstead +mistook rail fences for troops in the distance. The lorgnettes of +his staff finally convinced him of his error; he still, however, +refused to order me to retire, but sent Halsted off to find Buford's +cavalry, and order it to report to me. The First Corps had suffered +severely in these encounters, but by this additional delay, and +the overwhelming odds against us, it was almost totally sacrificed. +General Wadsworth reported half of his men were killed or wounded, +and Rowley's division suffered in the same proportion. Hardly a +field officer remained unhurt. After five color-bearers of the +24th Michigan Volunteers had fallen, Colonel Morrow took the flag +in his own hands, but was immediately prostrated. A private then +seized it, and, although mortally wounded, still held it firmly in +his grasp. Similar instances occurred all along the line. General +Robinson had two horses shot under him. He reported a loss of +1,667 out of 2,500. Buford was in a distant part of the field, +with Devin's brigade, covering the retreat of the Eleventh Corps, +and already had all he could attend to. He expressed himself in +unequivocal terms at the idea that he could keep back Hill's entire +corps with Gamble's cavalry brigade alone. + +As Howard seemed to have little or no confidence in his troops on +Cemetery Hill, he was perhaps justified in retaining them in line +there for the moral effect they would produce. + +About the time the Eleventh Corps gave way on the right, the +Confederate forces made their final advance in double lines, backed +by strong reserves, and it was impossible for the few men left in +the First Corps to keep them back, especially as Pender's large +division overlapped our left for a quarter of a mile; Robinson's +right was turned, and General Paul was shot through both eyes in +the effort to stem the tide. They could not contend against Ramseur +in front, and O'Neill on the flank, at the same time. + +Under these circumstances it became a pretty serious question how +to extricate the First Corps and save its artillery before it was +entirely surrounded and captured. + +Biddle, Morrow, and Dana were all forced back from the ridge they +had defended so long, which bordered Willoughby's Run. Each brigade +was flanked, and Stone's men under Dana were assailed in front and +on both flanks. Yet even then Daniel speaks of the severe fighting +which took place before he could win the position. + +What was left of the First Corps after all this slaughter rallied +on Seminary Ridge. Many of the men entered a semi-circular rail +entrenchment which I had caused to be thrown up early in the day, +and held that for a time by lying down and firing over the pile of +rails. The enemy were now closing in on us from the south, west, +and north, and still no orders came to retreat. Buford arrived +about this time, and perceiving that Perrin's brigade in swinging +around to envelop our left exposed its right flank, I directed him +to charge. He reconnoitered the position they held, but did not +carry out the order; I do not know why. It was said afterward he +found the fences to be an impediment; but he rendered essential +service by dismounting his men and throwing them into a grove south +of the Fairfield road, where they opened a severe fire, which +checked the rebel advance and prevented them from cutting us off +from our direct line of retreat to Cemetery Hill. + +The first long line that came on us from the west was swept away +by our artillery, which fired with very destructive effect, taking +the rebel line _en echarpe_. + +Although the Confederates advanced in such force, our men still +made strong resistance around the Seminary, and by the aid of our +artillery, which was most effective, beat back and almost destroyed +the first line of Scales' brigade, wounding both Scales and Pender. +The former states that he arrived within seventy-five feet of the +guns, and adds: "Here the fire was most severe. Every field +officer but one was killed or wounded. The brigade halted in some +confusion to return the fire." My Adjutant-Generals Baird and +Halstead, and my aides Lee, Marten, Slagle, Jones, and Lambdin had +hot work carrying orders at this time. It is a marvel that any of +them survived the storm of bullets that swept the field. + +Robinson was forced back toward the Seminary, but halted notwithstanding +the pressure upon him, and formed line to save Stewart's battery +north of the railroad cut, which had remained too long, and was in +danger of being captured. + +Cutler's brigade in the meantime had formed behind the railroad +grading to face the men who were pursuing the Eleventh Corps. This +show of force had a happy effect, for it caused the enemy in that +direction to halt and throw out a skirmish line, and the delay +enabled the artillery soon after to pass through the interval +between Cutler on the north and Buford's cavalry on the south. + +As the enemy were closing in upon us and crashes of musketry came +from my right and left, I had little hope of saving my guns, but +I threw my headquarters guard, under Captain Glenn of the 149th +Pennsylvania, into the Seminary and kept the right of Scales' +brigade back twenty minutes longer, while their left was held by +Baxter's brigade of Robinson's division, enabling the few remaining +troops, ambulances, and artillery to retreat in comparative safety. +It became necessary, however, to abandon one gun of Captain Reynolds' +battery, as several of the horses were shot and there was no time +to disengage them from the piece. Three broken and damaged caisson +bodies were also left behind. The danger at this time came +principally from Hoke's and Hays' brigades, which were making their +way into the town on the eastern side, threatening to cut us off +from Cemetery Hill. The troops in front of the Seminary were stayed +by the firm attitude of Buford's cavalry, and made a bend in their +line, apparently with a view to form square. + +I waited until the artillery had gone and then rode back to the +town with my staff. As we passed through the streets, pale and +frightened women came out and offered us coffee and food, and +implored us not to abandon them. + +Colonel Livingston of my staff, who had been sent on a message, +came back to the Seminary, not knowing that we had left. He says +the enemy were advancing toward the crest very cautiously, evidently +under the impression there was an ambuscade waiting for them there. +They were also forming against cavalry. + +On the way I must have met an aide that Howard says he sent to me +with orders to retreat, but I do not remember receiving any message +of the kind. + +I observe that Howard in his account of the battle claims to have +handled the First and Eleventh Corps from 11 A.M. until 4 P.M.; +but at 11 A.M. his corps was away back on the road, and did not +arrive until about 1 P.M. + +The map previously given on page 125 demonstrates that we were a +mere advance guard of the army, and shows the impossibility of our +defending Gettysburg for any length of time. + +The First Corps was broken and defeated, but not dismayed. There +were but few left, but they showed the true spirit of soldiers. +They walked leisurely from the Seminary to the town, and did not +run. I remember seeing Hall's battery and the 6th Wisconsin regiment +halt from time to time to face the enemy, and fire down the streets. +Both Doles and Ramsey claim to have had sharp encounters there. +Many of the Eleventh Corps, and part of Robinson's division, which +had been far out, were captured in the attempt to reach Steinwehr's +division on Cemetery Hill, which was the rallying point. + +When I arrived there I found General Howard, surrounded by his +staff, awaiting us at the main gate of the cemetery. He made +arrangements to hold the road which led up from the town, and which +diverged to Baltimore and Taneytown, by directing me to post the +First Corps on the left in the cemetery, while he assembled the +Eleventh Corps on the right. Soon after he rode over to ask me, +in case his own men (Steinwehr's division) deserted their guns, to +be in readiness to defend them. General Schurz about this time +was busily engaged in rallying his men, and did all that was possible +to encourage them to form line again. I understood they were told +that Sigel had just arrived and assumed command, a fiction thought +justifiable under the circumstances. It seemed to me that the +discredit that attached to them after Chancellorsville had in a +measure injured their morale and _esprit-de-corps_, for they were +rallied with great difficulty. + +About 3.30 P.M., General Hancock arrived with orders from General +Meade to supersede Howard. Congress had passed a law authorizing +the President to put any general over any other superior to rank +if, in his judgment, the good of the service demanded it, and +General Meade now assumed this power in the name of the President. +Owing to the false despatch Howard had sent early in the day, Meade +must have been under the impression that the First Corps had fled +without fighting. More than half of them, however, lay dead and +wounded on the field, and hardly a field officer had escaped. + +Hancock being his junior, Howard was naturally unwilling to submit +to his authority and, according to Captain Halstead of my staff, +who was present, refused to do so. Howard stated in a subsequent +account of the battle that he merely regarded General Hancock as +a staff officer acting for General Meade. He says "General Hancock +greeted me in his usual frank and cordial manner and used these +words, 'General Meade has sent me to represent him on the field.' +I replied, 'All right, Hancock. This is no time for talking. You +take the left of the pike and I will arrange these troops to the +right.' I noticed that he sent Wadsworth's division, without +consulting me, to the right of the Eleventh Corps to Culp's Hill, +but as it was just the thing to do I made no objection." He adds +that Hancock did not really relieve him until 7 P.M. Hancock, +however, denies that he told Howard he was merely acting as a staff +officer. He says he assumed absolute command at 3.30 P.M. I know +he rode over to me and told me he was in command of the field, and +directed me to send a regiment to the right, and I sent Wadsworth's +division there, as my regiments were reduced to the size of +companies. + +Hancock was much pleased with the ridge we were on, as a defensive +position, and considered it admirably adapted for a battle-field. +Its gentle slopes for artillery, its stone fences and rocky boulders +to shelter infantry, and its ragged but commanding eminences on +either flank, where far-reaching batteries could be posted, were +great advantages. It covered the principal roads to Washington +and Baltimore, and its convex shape, enabling troops to reinforce +with celerity any point of the line from the centre, or by moving +along the chord of this arc, was probably the cause of our final +success. The enemy, on the contrary, having a concave order of +battle, was obliged to move troops much longer distances to support +any part of his line, and could not communicate orders rapidly, +nor could the different corps co-operate promptly with each other. +It was Hancock's recommendation that caused Meade to concentrate +his army on this ridge, but Howard received the thanks of Congress +for selecting the position. He, doubtless, did see its advantages, +and recommended it to Hancock. The latter immediately took measures +to hold it as a battle-ground for the army, while Howard merely +used the cemetery as a rallying point for his defeated troops. +Hancock occupied all the prominent points, and disposed the little +cavalry and infantry he had in such a way as to impress the enemy +with the idea that heavy reinforcements had come up. By occupying +Culp's Hill, on the right, with Wadsworth's brigade, and posting +the cavalry on the left to take up a good deal of space, he made +a show of strength not warranted by the facts. Both Hill and Ewell +had received some stunning blows during the day, and were disposed +to be cautious. They, therefore, did not press forward and take +the heights, as they could easily have done at this time, but not +so readily after an hour's delay, for then Sickles' corps from +Emmetsburg, and Slocum's corps from Two Taverns, began to approach +the position. The two rebel divisions of Anderson and Johnson, +however, arrived about dusk, which would have still given the enemy +a great numerical superiority. + +General Lee reached the field before Hancock came, and watched the +retreat of the First and Eleventh Corps, and Hancock's movements +and dispositions through his field-glass. He was not deceived by +this show of force, and sent a recommendation--not an order--to +Ewell to follow us up; but Ewell, in the exercise of his discretion +as a corps commander, did not do so. He had lost 3,000 men, and +both he and Hill were under orders not to bring on a general +engagement. In fact they had had all the fighting they desired +for the time being. Colonel Campbell Brown, of Ewell's staff, +states that the latter was preparing to move forward against the +height, when a false report induced him to send Gordon's brigade +to reinforce Smith's brigade on his extreme left, to meet a supposed +Union advance in that direction. + +The absence of these two brigades decided him to wait for the +arrival of Johnson's division before taking further action. When +the latter came up, Slocum and Sickles were on the ground, and the +opportunity for a successful attack had passed. + +In sending Hancock forward with such ample powers, Meade virtually +appointed him commander-in-chief for the time being, for he was +authorized to say where we would fight, and when, and how. In the +present instance, in accordance with his recommendation, orders +were immediately sent out for the army to concentrate on Cemetery +Ridge. Two-thirds of the Third Corps, and all of the Twelfth came +up, and by six o'clock the position became tolerably secure. +Stannard's Second Vermont brigade also arrived, and as they formed +part of my command, reported to me for duty; a very welcome +reinforcement to my shattered division. Sickles had taken the +responsibility of joining us without orders, knowing that we were +hard pressed. His command prolonged the line of the First Corps +to the left. Slocum's Corps--the Twelfth--was posted, as a reserve, +also on the left. + +Hancock now relinquished the command of the field to Slocum and +rode back to Taneytown to confer with Meade and explain his reasons +for choosing the battle-field. + +Longstreet's corps soon arrived and joined Ewell and Hill; so that +the whole rebel army was ready to act against us the next morning, +with the exception of Pickett's division. + +At the close of the day General John Newton rode up and took charge +of the First Corps by order of General Meade, and I resumed the +command of my division. Several incidents occurred during the +severe struggle of the first day which are worthy of record. + +Colonel Wheelock of the 97th New York was cut off during the retreat +of Robinson's division, and took refuge in a house. A rebel +lieutenant entered and called upon him to surrender his sword. +This he declined to do, whereupon the lieutenant called in several +of his men, formed them in line, took out his watch and said to +the colonel, "You are an old gray-headed man, and I dislike to kill +you, but if you don't give up that sword in five minutes, I shall +order these men to blow your brains out." When the time was up +_the Colonel still refused to surrender._ A sudden tumult at the +door, caused by some prisoners attempting to escape, called the +lieutenant off for a moment. When he returned the colonel had +given his sword to a girl in the house who had asked him for it, +and she secreted it between two mattresses. He was then marched +to the rear, but being negligently guarded, escaped the same night +and returned to his regiment. + +Another occurrence recalls Browning's celebrated poem of "An Incident +at Ratisbon." An officer of the 6th Wisconsin approached Lieutenant- +Colonel Dawes, the commander of the regiment, after the sharp fight +in the railroad cut. The colonel supposed, from the firm and erect +attitude of the man, that he came to report for orders of some +kind; but the compressed lips told a different story. With a great +effort the officer said, _"Tell them at home I died like a man and +a soldier."_ He threw open his breast, displayed a ghastly wound, +and dropped dead at the colonel's feet. + +Another incident was related to me at the time, but owing to our +hurried movements and the vicissitudes of the battle, I have never +had an opportunity to verify it. It was said that during the +retreat of the artillery one piece of Stewart's battery did not +limber up as soon as the others. A rebel officer rushed forward, +placed his hand upon it, and presenting a pistol at the back of +the driver, directed him not to drive off with the piece. The +latter did so, however, received the ball in his body, caught up +with the battery and then fell dead. + +We lay on our arms that night among the tombs at the Cemetery, so +suggestive of the shortness of life and the nothingness of fame; +but the men were little disposed to moralize on themes like these +and were too much exhausted to think of anything but much-needed +rest. + + + +CHAPTER V. +BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG--THE SECOND DAY. + +The ridge upon which the Union forces were now assembling has +already been partially described. In two places it sunk away into +intervening valleys. One between Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill; +the other lay for several hundred yards north of Little Round Top, +as the lesser of the two eminences on the left was called to +distinguish it from the higher peak called Round Top. + +At 1 A.M. Meade arrived from Taneytown. When I saw him, soon after +daylight, he seemed utterly worn out and hollow-eyed. Anxiety and +want of sleep were evidently telling upon him. At dawn he commenced +forming his line by concentrating his forces on the right with a +view to descend into the plain and attack Lee's left, and the +Twelfth Corps were sent to Wadsworth's right to take part in the +movement. It seems to me that this would have been a very hazardous +enterprise, and I am not surprised that both Slocum and Warren +reported against it. The Fifth and Sixth Corps would necessarily +be very much fatigued after making a forced march. To put them in +at once, and direct them to drive a superior force of Lee's veterans +out of a town where every house would have been loop-holed, and +every street barricaded, would hardly have been judicious. If we +had succeeded in doing so, it would simply have reversed the battle +of Gettysburg, for the Confederate army would have fought behind +Seminary Ridge, and we would have been exposed in the plain below. +Nor do I think it would have been wise strategy to turn their left, +and drive them between us and Washington, for it would have enabled +them to threaten the capital, strengthen and shorten their line of +retreat, and endanger our communications at the same time. It is +an open secret that Meade at that time disapproved of the battle- +ground Hancock had selected. + +Warren and Slocum having reported an attack against Lee's left as +unadvisable, Meade began to post troops on our left, with a view +to attack the enemy's right. This, in my opinion, would have been +much more sensible. Lee, however, solved the problem for him, and, +fortunately for us, forced him to remain on the defensive, by +ordering an assault against each extremity of the Union line. + +There has been much discussion and a good deal of crimination and +recrimination among the rebel generals engaged as to which of them +lost the battle of Gettysburg. + +I have already alluded to the fact that universal experience +demonstrates that columns converging on a central force almost +invariably fail in their object and are beaten in detail. Gettysburg +seems to me a striking exemplification of this; repeated columns +of assault launched by Lee against our lines came up in succession +and were defeated before the other parts of his army could arrive +in time to sustain the attack. He realized the old fable. The +peasant could not break the bundle of fagots, but he could break +one at a time until all were gone. + +Lee's concave form of battle was a great disadvantage, for it took +him three times as long as it did us to communicate with different +parts of his line, and concentrate troops. His couriers who carried +orders and the reinforcements he sent moved on the circumference +and ours on the chord of the arc. + +The two armies were about a mile apart. The Confederates--Longstreet +and Hill--occupied Seminary Ridge, which runs parallel to Cemetery +Ridge, upon which our forces were posted. Ewell's corps, on the +rebel left, held the town, Hill the centre, and Longstreet the +right. + +Lee could easily have manoeuvred Meade out of his strong position +on the heights, and should have done so. When he determined to +attack, he should have commenced at daybreak, for all his force +was up except Pickett's division; while two corps of the Union +army, the Fifth and Sixth, were still far away, and two brigades +of the Third Corps were also absent. + +The latter were marching on the Emmetsburg road, and as that was +controlled by the enemy, Sickles felt anxious for the safety of +his men and trains, and requested that the cavalry be sent to escort +them in. This was not done, however. The trains were warned off +the road, and the two brigades were, fortunately, not molested. + +There has been a great deal of bitter discussion between Longstreet, +Fitz Lee, Early, Wilcox, and others as to whether Lee did or did +not order an attack to take place at 9 A.M., and as to whether +Longstreet was dilatory, and to blame for not making it. When a +battle is lost there is always an inquest, and a natural desire on +the part of each general to lay the blame on somebody else's +shoulders. Longstreet waited until noon for Law's brigade to come +up, and afterward there was a good deal of marching and countermarching +to avoid being seen by our troops. There was undoubtedly too much +delay. The fact is, Longstreet saw we had a strong position and +was not well pleased at the duty assigned him, for he thought it +more than probable his attempt would fail. He had urged Lee to +take up a position where Meade would be forced to attack him, and +was not in very good humor to find his advice disregarded. The +rebel commander, however, finding the Army of the Potomac in front +of him, having unbounded confidence in his troops, and elated by +the success of the first day's fight, believed he could gain a +great victory then and there, and end the war, and determined to +attempt it. He was sick of these endless delays and constant +sacrifices, and hoped one strong sword-thrust would slay his +opponent, and enable the South to crown herself queen of the North +American continent. + +By 9 A.M. our skirmish line, in front of the Peach Orchard, was +actively engaged with that of the enemy, who were making a +reconnoissance toward the Emmetsburg road. No serious affair, +however, occurred for some hours. Meade, as stated, was forming +his lines on the right of the position he afterward occupied. The +Fifth Corps, which came up about 1 P.M., was posted, as a reserve, +south of the Twelfth Corps, with a view to the attack which has +already been referred to. About 3 P.M. the Sixth Corps began to +arrive from its long and toilsome march of thirty-four miles, and +its tired troops were placed on the Taneytown road in the rear of +Round Top, to reinforce the other corps in case our troops made an +attack on the left. Lee, however, did not wait for Meade to advance +against him, but boldly directed that each flank of the Union army +should be assailed at the same time, while constant demonstrations +against our centre were to be kept up, to prevent either wing from +being reinforced. It was another attempt to converge columns with +an interval of several miles between them upon a central force, +and, like almost all such enterprises, failed from want of proper +co-operation in the different fractions of his line. + + +[Map] +GETTYSBURG.--Final Attack of the First Day, and Battle of the Second +Day.* +[* The first day's battle is represented north of the Fairfield +and Hanover roads. The second day's battle south of the same +roads.] + +REFERENCES TO THE FIRST DAY'S BATTLE. +_Union Troops,_ [filled rectangle] +MAJOR GENERAL O. O. HOWARD commanding the First and Eleventh Corps. +FIRST CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL ABNER DOUBLEDAY commanding. +FIRST DIVISION--MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES S. WADSWORTH commanding. + _a. First Brigade._ Colonel Henry A. Morrow, 24th Michigan. + _b. Second Brigade._ Brigadier-General Lysander Cutler. +SECOND DIVISION--MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN C. ROBINSON. + _c. First Brigade._ Brigadier-General Gabriel R. Paul. + _d. Second Brigade._ Brigadier-General Henry Baxter. +THIRD DIVISION--BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOS. A. ROWLEY. + _e. First Brigade._ Colonel Chapman Biddle, 121st Pennsylvania. + _f. Second Brigade._ Colonel Roy Stone, 149th Pennsylvania. +ELEVENTH CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL CARL SCHURZ commanding. +FIRST DIVISION--BRIGADIER-GENERAL F. C. BARLOW commanding. + _g. First Brigade._ Colonel Von Gilsa. + _h. Second Brigade._ Brigadier-General Adelbert Ames. +SECOND DIVISION--BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALEXANDER SCHIMMELPFENNIG. + _k. First Brigade._ Colonel Von Arnsberg. + _l. Second Brigade._ Colonel Kryzanowski. + _m. Coster's Brigade,_ of Steinwehr's Division. + +_Confederate Troops,_ [open rectangle] +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL A. P. HILL commanding Third Corps. +MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY HETH commanding Division. + 1. Archer's Brigade. 3. Brockenborough's Brigade. + 2. Davis' Brigade. 4. Pettigrew's Brigade. +MAJOR-GENERAL W. D. PENDER commanding Division. + 6. McGowan's Brigade. 8. Thomas' Brigade. + 7. Scales' Brigade. 9. Lane's Brigade. +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL BENJ. EWELL commanding Second Corps. +MAJOR-GENERAL R. E. RODES commanding Division. + 10. Daniel's Brigade. 12. Iverson's Brigade. + 11. Ramseur's Brigade. 13. O'Neill's Brigade. + 14. Doles' Brigade. +MAJOR-GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY commanding Division. + 15. Gordon's Brigade. 17. Hoke's Brigade. + 16. Hays' Brigade. 18. Smith's Brigade. + + +Longstreet's attack was over before Ewell came into action, and +although Ewell succeeded in temporarily establishing himself on +our extreme right, it was due to an unfortunate order given by +General Meade, by which the force in that part of the field was +withdrawn just as Ewell advanced against it. But we are anticipating +our narrative. + +Hood, who commanded the division on the right of Longstreet's corps, +complains that he was not allowed to go past Round Top and flank +us on the south, as he might have done, but was required by his +orders to break in at the Peach Orchard and drive Sickles' line +along the Emmetsburg road toward Cemetery Hill; but it seems to +me, as he started late in the afternoon, if he had made the detour +which would have been necessary in order to attack us on the south, +he would have met Sedgwick in front, while Sickles and Sykes might +have interposed to cut him off from the main body. + +Before describing Longstreet's attack we will give the final +disposition made by General Meade when it became necessary to fight +a defensive battle. The ridge was nearly in the shape of a horseshoe. +The Twelfth Corps was on the extreme right; next came one division +of the First Corps on Culp's Hill, then the Eleventh Corps on +Cemetery Hill, with two divisions of the First Corps at the base; +next the Second Corps; then the Third, and the Fifth Corps on the +extreme left, the Sixth Corps being posted in rear of Round Top as +a general reserve to the army. Sickles, however, denies that any +position was ever marked out for him. He was expected to prolong +Hancock's line to the left, but did not do so for the following +reasons: _First,_ because the ground was low, and _second,_ on +account of the commanding position of the Emmetsburg road, which +ran along a cross ridge oblique to the front of the line assigned +him, and which afforded the enemy an excellent position for their +artillery; _third,_ because the ground between the valley he was +expected to occupy, and the Emmetsburg road constituted a minor +ridge, very much broken and full of rocks and trees, which afforded +excellent cover for an enemy operating in his immediate front. He +had previously held an interview with General Meade and asked that +an experienced staff officer be sent with him to assist in locating +a suitable position for his corps. At his request, General Hunt, +the Chief of Artillery, was sent for that purpose. They rode out +to the ridge and Sickles directed that his troops should be posted +along that road, with his centre at the Peach Orchard, which was +about a mile from and nearly opposite to Little Round Top; his +right wing, under Humphreys, extending along the road, while his +left wing, under Birney, made a right angle at the Peach Orchard +with the other part of the line, and bent around, so as to cover +the front of Little Round Top at the base. The disadvantages of +this position are obvious enough. It is impossible for any force +to hold its ground when attacked at once on both sides which +constitute the right angle. The diagram shows that the force _A_ +will have both its lines _a1_ and _a2_ enfiladed by batteries at +_b1 b2_, and must yield. The ground, however, may be such that +the enemy cannot plant his guns at _b1_ or _b2_; but under any +circumstances it is a weak formation and the enemy easily penetrate +the angle. When that is the case, and it was so in the present +instance--each side constituting the angle is taken in flank, and +the position is no longer tenable. + +[Diagram] + _________________________ + | _b2_ + | + |_b1_ _________________ + | | _a1_ + | | + | | _A_ + | |_a2_ + | | + | | + +If one side of the right angle lies behind a ridge where it cannot +be enfiladed, a temporary formation of this kind is sometimes +permissible. + +Sickles claimed that he acted with the implied sanction of General +Meade, who, however, censured the movement afterward. As soon as +Sickles took position, General Buford's division of cavalry was +sent to the rear at Westminster, to guard the trains there; and +Kilpatrick's division was ordered to Hunterstown to attack the +rebel left. + +Sykes' corps--the Fifth--came up from the right about 5 P.M., soon +after Longstreet's attack on Sickles was fairly under way, and +formed along the outer base of Little Round Top, with Crawford's +Pennsylvania Reserves at their right and front. + +There had been a Council of War, or Conference of Corps Commanders, +called at Meade's headquarters, and it was universally agreed to +remain and hold the position. As the Third Corps, in answer to +the guns of Clark's battery, was suddenly assailed by a terrible +concentrated artillery fire, General Sickles rode back to his +command and General Meade went with him. The latter objected to +Sickles' line, but thought it was then too late to change it. + +The severe artillery fire which opened against the two sides of +the angle at the Peach Orchard was a prelude to a furious attack +against Ward's brigade on the left. This attack soon extended to +the Peach Orchard. The fight became very hot against Birney's +division from the left to the centre, but the troops on the right +of the centre--Humphreys' division--were not at first actively +engaged, and Humphreys reinforced Birney with one of his brigades, +and subsequently with a regiment. + +The battle which now raged among these trees, rocks, and ravines +was so complicated that it is hard to follow and difficult to +describe the movements of the contestants. Some idea of it can +probably be gained by an examination of the following diagram: + +It will be seen that a long line of rebel batteries bears upon A, +and that one of them was brought up to enfilade the side AB. The +angle at A, attacked by Barksdale on the north and Kershaw on the +west, was broken in. In consequence of this, several batteries on +the line EF were sacrificed, and Wofford's brigade soon came forward +and took the position DE. + +The Confederate line being very long, and overlapping Ward's brigade +on the left, the latter was forced back, and the exulting rebels +advanced to seize Little Round Top. They attacked the force there +with great fury, assailing it in front and rear, but they were +ultimately repulsed, and finally took up the line GL. Two divisions +of the Fifth Corps and one of the Second Corps were sent in, one +after the other, to drive back the strong rebel force posted from +D to G, but each one had a bitter contest in front, and was flanked +by the rebel line at DE, so that ultimately all were obliged to +retreat, although each performed prodigies of valor. Indeed, +Brooks' brigade charged almost up to the enemy's line of batteries, +HI. The rebels gained the position LG, confronting our main line +and close to it; but a fine charge made by Crawford's division of +the Pennsylvania Reserves drove them farther back, and as part of +the Sixth Corps came up and formed to support Crawford, the rebels +gave up the contest for the night as regards this part of the field. + +The attack against Humphreys' division which followed the breaking +in of the angle at A will be described further on. The general +result was that Sickles' entire line, together with the reinforcements +sent in at different times to sustain it, were all forced back to +the ridge which was our main line of battle, with the exception of +Crawford's division which maintained a somewhat advanced position. + +The details of this contest are full of incident, and too important +to be wholly omitted. + +About 3.30 P.M. the rebels commenced the movement against our left, +by sending a flanking force from Hood's division, formed in two +lines, around to attack Sickles' left, held by General J. Hobart +Ward's brigade, which occupied the open ground covering the approaches +to Little Round Top; Ward's line passing in front of the mountain, +and his flank resting on a rocky depression in the ground called +the Devil's Den. The right extended to the minor spur or wooded +ridge beyond the wheat-field. The engagement was furious; commencing +on the rebel right, it extended to the left, until it reached the +Peach Orchard, where it became especially violent. This central +point of Sickles' line was held by eleven regiments of Birney's +and Humphreys' divisions. Birney's two brigades, commanded by +Graham and De Trobriand, held on bravely, for the men who fought +with Kearney in the Peninsula were not easily driven; but the line +was too attenuated to resist the shock very long, and reinforcements +became absolutely necessary to sustain that unlucky angle at the +Peach Orchard. Sickles had authority to call on Sykes, whose corps +was resting from a long and fatiguing march, but the latter wished +his men to get their coffee and be refreshed before sending them +in; and as those who are fighting almost always exaggerate the +necessity for immediate reinforcements, Sykes thought Sickles could +hold on a while longer, and did not respond to the call for three- +quarters of an hour. + +It would seem that Lee supposed that Meade's main line of battle +was on the Emmetsburg pike, and that the flank rested on the Peach +Orchard, for he ordered Longstreet to form Hood's division +perpendicular to that road, whereas Sickles occupied an advanced +line, and Sykes the main line in rear. McLaws says that Lee thought +turning the Peach Orchard was turning the Union left. With this +idea, he directed Longstreet to form across the Emmetsburg road, +and push our troops toward Cemetery Hill. Kershaw, after the minor +ridge was taken, reported to Longstreet that he could not carry +out these orders without exposing his right flank to an attack from +Sykes' corps. + +Ward fought bravely against Benning's and Anderson's brigades on +the left, driving back two attacks of the latter, but his line was +long and weak, and the enemy overlapped it by the front of nearly +two brigades. Being concealed from view, from the nature of the +ground they could concentrate against any point with impunity. He +attempted to strengthen his forces at the Devil's Den by detaching +the 99th Pennsylvania from his right, and, although De Trobriand +had no troops to spare, he was directed by General Birney to send +the 40th New York, under Colonel Egan, to reinforce that flank. +Egan arrived too late to perform the duty assigned to him, as Ward +had been already driven back, but not too late to make a gallant +charge upon the rebel advance. + +The fighting soon extended to the Peach Orchard, but as it commenced +on the left, we will describe that part of the engagement first. + +General Warren, who was on Meade's staff as Chief Engineer, had +ridden about this time to the signal station on Little Round Top, +to get a better view of the field. He saw the long line of the +enemy approaching, and about to overlap Ward's left, and perceived +that unless prompt succor arrived Little Round Top would fall into +their hands. Once in their possession they would flank our whole +line and post guns there to drive our troops from the ridge; so +that this eminence was in reality the key of the battle-field, and +must be held at all hazards. He saw Barnes' division, which Sykes +had ordered forward, formed for a charge, and about to go to the +relief of De Trobriand, who held the centre of Birney's line, and +who was sorely beset. Without losing a moment he rode down the +slope, over to Barnes, took the responsibility of detaching Vincent's +brigade, and hurried it back to take post on Little Round Top. He +then sent a staff officer to inform General Meade of what he had +done and to represent the immense importance of holding this +commanding point. + +The victorious column of the enemy was subjected to the fire of a +battery on Little Round Top, and to another farther to the right; +but it kept on, went around Ward's brigade and rushed eagerly up +the ravine between the two Round Tops to seize Little Round Top +which seemed to be defenceless. Vincent's brigade rapidly formed +on the crest of a small spur which juts out from the hill, and not +having time to load, advanced with the bayonet, in time to save +the height. The contest soon became furious and the rocks were +alive with musketry. General Vincent sent word to Barnes that the +enemy were on him in overwhelming numbers, and Hazlett's regular +battery, supported by the 140th New York under Colonel O'Rorke of +Weed's brigade, was sent as a reinforcement. The battery was +dragged with great labor to the crest of Little Round Top, and the +140th were posted on the slope on Vincent's right. They came upon +the field just as the rebels, after failing to penetrate the centre, +had driven back the right. In advancing to this exposed position, +Colonel O'Rorke, a brilliant young officer who had just graduated +at the head of his class at West Point, was killed and his men +thrown into some confusion, but Vincent rallied the line and repulsed +the assault. In doing so he exposed himself very much and was soon +killed by a rebel sharpshooter. General Weed, who was on the crest +with the battery, was mortally wounded in the same way; and as +Hazlett leaned over to hear his last message, a fatal bullet struck +him also and he dropped dead on the body of his chief. Colonel +Rice of the 44th New York now took command in place of Vincent. +The enemy having been foiled at the centre and right, stole around +through the woods and turned the left of the line; but Chamberlain's +regiment--the 20th Maine--was folded back by him, around the rear +of the mountain, to resist the attack. The rebels came on like +wolves, with deafening yells, and forced Chamberlain's men over +the crest; but they rallied and drove their assailants back in +their turn. This was twice repeated and then a brigade of the +Pennsylvania Reserves and one of the Fifth Corps dashed over the +hill. The 20th Maine made a grand final charge and drove the rebels +from the valley between the Round Tops, capturing a large number +of prisoners. Not a moment too soon, for Chamberlain had lost a +third of his command and was entirely out of ammunition. Vincent's +men in this affair took two colonels, fifteen officers, and five +hundred men prisoners, and a thousand stand of arms. Hill in his +official report says "Hood's right was held as in a vise." + +We will now return to the Peach Orchard. In answer to a shot from +Clark's battery a long line of guns opened from the eleven batteries +opposite. Graham's infantry were partially sheltered from this +iron hail, but the three batteries with him in the beginning, which +were soon reinforced by four more from the reserve artillery, under +Major McGilvery, were very much cut up; and at last it became +necessary to sacrifice one of them--that of Bigelow--to enable the +others to retire to a new line in the rear. Graham still held the +Peach Orchard, although he was assailed on two fronts, by Barksdale's +brigade on the north and Kershaw's brigade on the west. A battery +was brought forward to enfilade Sickles' line on the Emmetsburg +road, and under cover of its fire Barksdale carried the position, +but was mortally wounded in doing so.* Sickles lost a leg about +this time (5.30 P.M.), and Graham, who was also badly wounded, fell +into the enemy's hands. The command of the Third Corps now devolved +upon General Birney. + +[* Barksdale soon after was brought into my lines and died like a +brave man, with dignity and resignation. I had known him as an +officer of volunteers in the Mexican war. As a member of Congress +he was very influential in bringing on the Rebellion.] + +The batteries under Major McGilvery, which lined the cross road +below the Peach Orchard, were very effective, but were very much +shattered. Kershaw captured them at one time but was driven off +temporarily by a gallant charge of the 141st Pennsylvania of Graham's +brigade, who retook the guns, which were then brought off by hand. +Bigelow was ordered by Major McGilvery to sacrifice his battery to +give the others time to form a new line. He fought with _fixed +prolonge_ until the enemy were within six feet of him, and then +retired with the loss of three officers and twenty-eight men. +Phillips' battery, which adjoined his, had a similar experience. +McLaws bears testimony to the admirable manner with which this +artillery was served. He says one shell killed and wounded thirty +men, out of a company of thirty-seven. + +The capture of the Peach Orchard necessarily brought the enemy +directly on Humphreys' left flank and De Trobriand's right. The +disaster then became irremediable, because every force thrown in +after this period, had to contend with a direct fire in front, and +an enfilading fire from the right. + +While the Peach Orchard was assailed, several combats took place +in the vicinity, which had a general relation to the defence of +Sickles' line. A little stream runs through a ravine parallel to +the cross road, and about five hundred yards south of it, and then +turns abruptly to the south at the corner of a wheat-field, passing +through a rocky wooded country, to empty in Plum Run. De Trobriand +held the north bank of this stream with a very insufficient force +--a front of two regiments--and his contest with Semmes' brigade +in front and Kershaw's brigade, which was trying to penetrate into +the Peach Orchard, on his right, was at very close range and very +destructive. At the same time as Ward's left was turned and driven +back the enemy came in on the left and rear of De Trobriand, and +occupied the wheat-field. Barnes' division of the Fifth Corps, +composed of Sweitzer's and Tilton's brigades, soon came to his +assistance. The former, by wheeling to the left and retaining +several lines, kept up the fight successfully against the enemy +who came up the ravine, but the latter was flanked and obliged to +give way. De Trobriand's two regiments in front had a most determined +fight, and would not yield the ground. When relieved by Zook's +force they fell back across the wheat-field. There Birney used +them as a basis of a new line, brought up two fresh regiments, +charged through the field, and drove the enemy back to the stone +fence which bounded it. + +Caldwell's division of Hancock's corps now came on to renew the +contest. Caldwell formed his men with the brigades of Cross and +Kelly in front, and those of Zook and Brooke in rear. In the +advance Colonel Cross was killed, and the front line being enfiladed +in both directions, was soon so cut up that the rear line came +forward in its place. Zook was killed, but Brooke made a splendid +charge, turning Kershaw's right and driving Semmes back through +the supporting batteries. Sweitzer's brigade then came up a second +time to aid Brooke, but it was useless, for there was still another +line of batteries beyond, and as the Peach Orchard by this time +was in possession of the enemy, Brooke's advanced position was +really a disadvantage, for both his flanks were turned. Semmes' +brigade, together with parts of Benning's and Anderson's brigades, +rallied behind a stone wall, again came forward, and succeeded in +retaking the knoll and the batteries they had lost. Caldwell, +under cover of our artillery, extricated his division with heavy +loss, for both Zook's and Kelly's brigades were completely +surrounded. + +Then Ayres,* who had been at the turning-point of so many battles, +went in with his fine division of regulars, commanded by Day and +Burbank, officers of courage and long experience in warfare. He +struck the enemy in flank who were pursuing Caldwell, and who would +have renewed the attack on Little Round Top, doubled them up, and +drove them back to the position Caldwell had left; but his line, +from the nature of things, was untenable, for a whole brigade with +ample supports had formed on his right rear, so that nothing remained +but to face about and fight his way home again. This was accomplished +with the tremendous loss of fifty per cent. of his command in killed +and wounded. His return was aided by the artillery on Little Round +Top, and by the advance of part of the Sixth Corps. When the troops +were all gone, Winslow's battery still held the field for a time, +and withdrew by piece. + +[* General Ayres, whose service in the war commenced with the first +Bull Run and ended at Appomattox, may almost be called an impersonation +of the Army of the Potomac, as he took part in nearly all its +battles and minor engagements.] + +The enemy, Wofford's, Kershaw's, and Anderson's brigades, now +swarmed in the front of our main line between the wheat-field and +Little Round Top. General S. Wiley Crawford, who commanded a +division composed of two brigades of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, +was ordered to drive them farther back. This organization, which +at one time I had the honor to command, were veterans of the +Peninsula, and were among the most dauntless men in the army. +Crawford called upon them to defend the soil of their native State, +and headed a charge made by McCandless' brigade, with the colors +of one of the regiments in his hand. The men went forward with an +impetus nothing could withstand. The enemy took shelter behind a +stone fence on the hither side of the wheat-field, but McCandless +stormed the position, drove them beyond the field, and then, as it +was getting dark, both sides rested on their arms. The other +brigade of Crawford's division--that of Fisher--had previously been +sent to reinforce Vincent in his desperate struggle on the slope +of Little Round Top. The enemy retired before it, so that it was +not engaged, and it then took possession of the main Round Top on +the left of Little Round Top and fortified it. + +As Crawford charged, two brigades of Sedgwick's corps, those of +Nevin and Eustis, formed under Wheaton on the right and below Little +Round Top. The sight of the firm front presented by these fresh +troops thoroughly discouraged Longstreet, who went forward to +reconnoitre, and he gave up all attempts at making any farther +advance. + +The enemy at night took post at the western base of the ridge, and +held a fortified line as far south as the Devil's Den, in which +rocky cavern they took shelter. + +It remains now to describe the effect of the loss of the Peach +Orchard and the wounding of Sickles and Graham--which took place +soon after--upon the fate of Humphreys' division, posted on the +right along the Emmetsburg road. When Sickles lost his leg, Birney +assumed command of the corps, and ordered Humphreys to move his +left wing back to form a new oblique line to the ridge, in connection +with Birney's division. Humphreys, up to the loss of the Peach +Orchard, had not been actively engaged, as the enemy had merely +demonstrated along his front; but now he was obliged, while executing +the difficult manoeuvre of a change of front to rear, to contend +with Barksdale's brigade of McLaws' division on his left at the +Peach Orchard, and enfilading batteries there also, while his entire +front was called upon to repel a most determined assault from +Anderson's division, which hitherto had not been engaged, and which +now pressed with great force on his right, which still clung to +the road. Four regiments were thrown in by Hancock to support that +part of the line, but the attack was so sudden and violent that +they only had time to fire a few volleys before Humphreys received +orders to give up his advanced position and fall back to the ridge +itself. There he turned at bay. Hancock, who had been placed in +command of the First, Second, and Third Corps, was indefatigable +in his vigilance and personal supervision, "patching the line" +wherever the enemy was likely to break through. His activity and +foresight probably preserved the ridge from capture. Toward the +last Meade brought forward Lockwood's Maryland brigade from the +right and sent them in to cover Sickles' retreat. Humphreys was +followed up by the brigades of Wilcox, Perry, and Wright--about +the best fighting material in the rebel army. Perry was driven +back by the fire of our main line, and as his brigade was between +the other two, his retreat left each of them in a measure unsupported +on the flanks. Posey's and Mahone's brigades were to advance as +soon as the others became actively engaged, but failed to do so, +and therefore Pender, who was to follow after them, did not move +forward. Hence the great effort of Wilcox and Wright, which would +have been ruinous to us if followed up, was fruitless of results. +Both were repulsed for lack of support, but Wright actually reached +the crest with his Georgians and turned a gun, whose cannoneers +had been shot, upon Webb's brigade of the Second Corps. Webb gave +him two staggering volleys from behind a fence, and went forward +with two regiments. He charged, regained the lost piece, and turned +it upon them. Wright, finding himself entirely isolated in this +advanced position, went back again to the main line, and Wilcox +did the same. On this occasion Wright did what Lee failed to +accomplish the next day at such a heavy expense of life, _for he +pierced our centre,_ and held it for a short time, and had the +movement been properly supported and energetically followed up, it +might have been fatal to our army, and would most certainly have +resulted in a disastrous retreat. It was but another illustration +of the difficulty of successfully converging columns against a +central force. Lee's divisions seemed never to strike at the hour +appointed. Each came forward separately, and was beaten for lack +of support. + +Wright attained the crest and Wilcox was almost on a line with him. +The latter was closely followed up and nearly surrounded, for troops +rushed in on him from all sides. He lost very heavily in extricating +himself from his advanced position. Wilcox claims to have captured +temporarily twenty guns and Wright eight. + +As they approached the ridge a Union battery limbered up and galloped +off. The last gun was delayed and the cannoneer, with a long line +of muskets pointing at him within a few feet, deliberately drove +off the field. The Georgians manifested their admiration for his +bravery by crying out "Don't shoot," and not a musket was fired at +him.* I regret that I have not been able to ascertain the man's +name. + +[* As it is well to verify these incidents, I desire to state that +this is a reminiscence of Dr. J. Robie Wood, of New York, a Georgian, +a relative of Wendell Phillips, who was in the charge with Wright. +Wood fell struck by six bullets, but recovered.] + +In the morning General Tidball, who was attached to the cavalry as +Chief of Artillery, rode along the entire crest from Little Round +Top to Culp's Hill to make himself familiar with the line. As he +passed by headquarters he noticed some new troops, the Second +Vermont brigade under General Stannard, which formed part of my +command. They were a fine-looking body of men, and were drawn up +in close column by division, ready to go to any part of the field +at a moment's notice. After inquiring to what corps they belonged +he passed over to the right. On his return late in the day he saw +Sickles' whole line driven in and found Wright's rebel brigade +established on the crest barring his way back. He rode rapidly +over to Meade's headquarters and found the general walking up and +down the room, apparently quite unconscious of the movements which +might have been discerned by riding to the top of the hill, and +which should have been reported to him by some one of his staff. +Tidball said, "General, I am very sorry to see that the enemy have +pierced our centre." Meade expressed surprise at the information +and said, "Why, where is Sedgwick?" Tidball replied, "I do not +know, but if you need troops, I saw a fine body of Vermonters a +short distance from here, belonging to the First Corps, who are +available." Meade then directed him to take an order to Newton +and put the men in at once; the order was communicated to me and +I went with my division at double quick to the point indicated. +There we pursued Wright's force as it retired, and retook, at +Hancock's instigation, four guns taken by Wright earlier in the +action. When these were brought in I sent out two regiments, who +followed the enemy up nearly to their lines and retook two more +guns. I have been thus particular in narrating this incident as +Stannard's Vermont brigade contributed greatly to the victory of +the next day and it is worthy of record to state how they came to +be located in that part of the field. + +It is claimed that unless Sickles had taken up this advanced position +Hood's division would have turned our left, have forced us from +the shelter of the ridge, and probably have intervened between us +and Washington. The movement, disastrous in some respects, was +propitious as regards its general results, for the enemy had wasted +all their strength and valor in gaining the Emmetsburg road, which +after all was of no particular benefit to them. They were still +outside our main line. They pierced the latter it is true, but +the gallant men who at such heavy expense of life and limb stood +triumphantly on that crest were obliged to retire because the +divisions which should have supported them remained inactive. I +must be excused for thinking that the damaging resistance these +supports encountered on the first day from the men of my command +exerted a benumbing influence on the second day. + +It is said, that Hood being wounded, Longstreet led the last advance +against Little Round Top in person, but when he saw Sedgwick's +corps coming into line he gave up the idea of capturing the heights +as impracticable. This eminence should have been the first point +held and fortified by us early in the day, as it was the key of +the field, but no special orders were given concerning it and +nothing but Warren's activity and foresight saved it from falling +into the hands of the enemy. + +Meade was considerably startled by the fact that the enemy had +pierced our centre. He at once sent for Pleasonton and gave him +orders to collect his cavalry with a view to cover the retreat of +the army. Indeed, in an article on the "Secret History of Gettysburg," +published in the "Southern Historical Papers," by Colonel Palfrey, +of the Confederate army, he states that the movement to the rear +actually commenced, and that Ewell's pickets heard and reported +that artillery was passing in that direction. After a short time +the noise of the wheels ceased. He also says that in a conversation +he had with Colonel Ulric Dahlgren of our cavalry, who had lost a +leg, and was a prisoner in Richmond, he was told that while the +battle of Gettysburg was going on he (Dahlgren) captured a Confederate +scout with a despatch from Jefferson Davis to General Lee, in which +the former wrote of the exposed condition of Richmond owing to the +presence of a large Union force at City Point. Dahlgren said a +retreat had been ordered, but when Meade read this despatch, he +looked upon it as a sign indicating the weakness of the enemy, and +perhaps thinking it would not do to supplement the probable capture +of Richmond by a retreat of the Army of the Potomac, countermanded +the order. Sedgwick, who was high in the confidence of General +Meade, told one of his division commanders that the army would +probably fall back on Westminster. General Pleasonton testifies +that he was engaged, by order of General Meade, until 11 P.M. in +occupying prominent points with his cavalry, to cover the retreat +of the army. Nevertheless it has been indignantly denied that such +a movement was contemplated. + +Although it was General Lee's intention that both flanks of the +Union army should be assailed at the same time, while the intermediate +forces made demonstrations against the centre, Ewell did not move +to attack the right of our line at Culp's Hill until Longstreet's +assault on the left had failed. Longstreet attributes it to the +fact that Ewell had broken his line of battle by detaching two +brigades up the York road. There is always some reason why columns +never converge in time. Johnson's division, which was on the +extreme left of the rebel army, and had not been engaged, made +their way, sheltered by the ravine of Rock Creek, to assail the +right at Culp's Hill, held by Wadsworth's division of the First +Corps, and that part of the line still farther to the right where +Geary's division of the Twelfth Corps was posted. + +In his desire to reinforce the Fifth Corps at the close of the +conflict with Longstreet, General Meade made the sad mistake of +ordering the Twelfth Corps to abandon its position on the right +and report to General Sykes for duty on the left. General Slocum, +sensible that this would be a suicidal movement, reported that the +enemy were advancing on his front, and begged permission to keep +Geary's division there to defend the position. General Meade +finally allowed him to retain Greene's brigade, and no more, and +thus it happened that Ewell's troops, finding the works on the +extreme right of our line defenceless, had nothing to do but walk +in and occupy them. If Meade was determined to detach this large +force, there seems no good reason why two of Sedgwick's brigades +should not have been sent to take its place, but nothing was done. + +Johnson's division, as it came on, deployed and crossed Rock Creek +about half and hour before sunset. It suffered so severely from +our artillery, that one brigade, that of Jones, fell back in +disorder, its commander being wounded. The other, however, advanced +against Wadsworth, and Greene on his right; but as these generals +had their fronts well fortified, the attack was easily repulsed. +Nevertheless, the left of Johnson's line, not being opposed, took +possession of Geary's works about 9 P.M. and thus endangered our +communications. + +Gregg's division of cavalry which was posted east of Slocum's +position saw this movement of Johnson. Gregg opened fire on the +column with his artillery and sent out his men dismounted to skirmish +on the flank of the enemy. Johnson detached Walker's brigade to +meet him, and the contest continued until after dark. Greene, in +the meantime, swung his right around on the edge of a ravine, +perpendicular to the main line and fortified it, to avoid being +flanked. He was an accomplished soldier and engineer, having +graduated second in his class at West Point, and knew exactly what +ought to be done and how to do it. He held on strongly, and as it +was dark, and the enemy did not exactly know where they were, or +where our troops were posted, they waited until daylight before +taking any further action. Yet they were now but a short distance +from General Meade's headquarters, and within easy reach of our +reserve artillery. A night attack on the rear of our army, in +conjunction with an advance from the opposite side on Hancock's +front, would have thrown us into great confusion and must have +succeeded. + +During the night Ewell sent Smith's brigade to reinforce Johnson. +Geary, after all, did not reach Little Round Top or report to Sykes, +and if he had done so, his troops would have been of no use, as +the battle was over in that part of the field. There was a mystery +about his movements which needs to be cleared up. + +To supplement this attack on the extreme right, and prevent +reinforcements from being sent there, Early's division was directed +to carry Cemetery Hill by storm. Before it advanced, a vigorous +artillery fire was opened from four rebel batteries on Benner's +Hill, to prepare the way for the assault, but our batteries on +Cemetery Hill, which were partially sheltered by earthworks, replied +and soon silenced those of the enemy. Then Early's infantry moved +forth, Hays' brigade on the right, Hoke's brigade on the left, +under Colonel Avery, and Gordon's brigade in reserve. It was +supposed Johnson's division would protect Early's left flank, while +Rodes' and Pender's divisions would come forward in time to prevent +any attack against his right. The enemy first struck Von Gilsa's +brigade, which was posted behind a stone fence at the foot of the +hill. Still farther to its left, at the base of the hill, was +Ames' brigade, both enclosing Rickett's and Weidrick's and Stevens' +batteries, which had been a good deal cut up on the first day, were +now brought to bear on the approaching enemy. Colonel Wainwright, +Chief of Artillery of the First Corps, gave them orders not to +attempt to retreat if attacked, but to fight the guns to the last. +The enemy advanced up the ravine which was specially commanded by +Stevens' battery. Weidrick, Ricketts, and Stevens played upon the +approaching line energetically. The rebel left and centre fell +back, but the right managed to obtain shelter from houses and +undulating ground, and came on impetuously, charging over Von +Gilsa's brigade, and driving it up the hill, through the batteries. +In doing so Hays says the darkness and smoke saved his men from a +terrible slaughter. Weidrick's battery was captured, and two of +Ricketts' guns were spiked. The enemy, in making this movement, +exposed their left flank to Stevens' battery, which poured a terrible +fire of double canister into their ranks. The 33d Massachusetts +also opened a most effective oblique fire. The batteries were +penetrated but would not surrender. Dearer than life itself to +the cannoneer is the gun he serves, and these brave men fought hand +to hand with handspikes, rammers, staves, and even stones. They +shouted, _"Death on the soil of our native State rather than lose +our guns."_ Hancock, all this time should have been kept busy on +his own front repelling an attack from Rodes and Pender, but as +they did not come forward, and as he felt that there was great +danger that Howard would lose Cemetery Hill and his own right be +turned, he sent Carroll's brigade to the rescue. Carroll was joined +by the 106th Pennsylvania and some reinforcements from Schurz's +division. For a few minutes, Hays says, there was an ominous +silence and then the tramp of our infantry was heard. They came +over the hill and went in with a cheer. The enemy, finding they +were about to be overwhelmed, retreated, as no one came to their +assistance. When they fell back our guns opened a very destructive +fire. It is said that out of 1,750 men of the organization known +as "The Louisiana Tigers," only 150 returned. Hays attributes his +defeat to the fact that Gordon was not up in time to support him. + +The failure to carry the hill isolated Johnson's division on our +extreme right. As it could only be reached by a long circuit it +was not easy for Lee to maintain it there, without unduly weakening +other parts of his line. That Rodes' division did not reach Cemetery +Hill in time to co-operate with Early's attack was not owing to +any lack of zeal or activity on the part of that energetic officer. +He was obliged to move out of Gettysburg by the flank, then change +front and advance double the distance Early had to traverse, and +by the time he had done so Early had made the attack and had been +repulsed. + +The day closed with the rebels defeated on our left, but victorious +on our right. Fortunately for us, this incited Lee to continue +his efforts. He could not bear to retreat after his heavy losses, +and acknowledge that he was beaten. He resolved to reinforce +Johnson's division, now in rear of our right, and fling Pickett's +troops, the _elite_ of his army, who had not been engaged, against +our centre. He hoped a simultaneous attack made by Pickett in +front and Johnson in rear, would yet win those heights and scatter +the Union army to the winds. Kilpatrick, who had been resting the +tired men and horses of his cavalry division at Abbotsford after +the conflict at Hanover, went on the afternoon of the 2d to circle +around and attack the left and rear of the enemy by way of Hunterstown. +This plan was foiled, however, by the sudden arrival of Stuart's +cavalry from its long march. They reached that part of the field +about 4 P.M. After a fierce combat, in which Farnsworth's and +Custer's brigades and Estes' squadron were principally engaged +against Hampton's brigade supported by the main body, darkness put +an end to the fight. Kilpatrick then turned back and bivouacked +at Two Taverns for the night. + +Gregg's division of cavalry left Hanover at noon and took post +opposite and about three miles east of Slocum's Corps on the right. +There, as stated, he saw Johnson's division moving to the attack +and after throwing some shells into their ranks deployed his own +skirmish line and advanced against the one they threw out to meet +him. At 10 P.M. he withdrew and took post on the Baltimore pike +where it crosses Cress Run, near Rock Creek. By so doing he guarded +the right and rear of the army from any demonstration by Stuart's +cavalry. + +At night a council of war was held, in which it was unanimously +voted to stay and fight it out. Meade was displeased with the +result, and although he acquiesced in the decision, he said angrily, +"Have it your own way, gentlemen, but Gettysburg is no place to +fight a battle in." The fact that a portion of the enemy actually +prolonged our line on the right and that our centre had been pierced +during the day, made him feel far from confident. He thought it +better to retreat with what he had, than run the risk of losing +all.* + +[* Since the above was written, the discussion has been renewed in +the public prints as to whether General Meade did or did not intend +to leave the field. So far as the drawing up of an order of retreat +is concerned, it ws undoubtedly right and proper to do so, for it +is the duty of a general to be prepared for every emergency. It +is easy to criticise, and say what should have been done, after a +battle has been fought, after the position of troops is all laid +down on the maps, and the plans of every commander explained in +official reports; but amid the doubt and confusion of actual combat, +where there has been great loss of men and material, it is not +always so easy to decide. On the night of the 2d the state of +affairs was disheartening. In the combats of the preceding days, +the First, Third, and Eleventh Corps had been almost annihilated; +the Fifth Corps and a great part of the Second were shattered, and +only the Sixth Corps and Twelfth Corps were comparatively fresh. +It was possible therefore that the enemy might gain some great +success the next day, which would stimulate them to extra exertions, +and diminish the spirit of our men in the same proportion. In such +a case it was not improbable that the army might be destroyed as +an organization, and there is a vast difference between a _destroyed_ +army and a _defeated_ army. By retiring while it was yet in his +power to do so, General Meade felt that he would assure the safety +of our principal cities, for the enemy were too exhausted to pursue; +and being out of ammunition, and far from their base of supplies, +were not in a condition to do much further damage, or act very +energetically. Whereas our troops could soon be largely reinforced +from the draft which had just been established, and, being in the +centre of their resources, could be supplied with all that was +necessary for renewed effort. + +There is no question in my mind that, at the council referred to, +General Meade did desire to retreat, and expressed fears that his +communications with Taneytown might be endangered by remaining at +Gettysburg. + +It has also been stated that both General Gibbon and General Newton +objected to our position at Gettysburg, but this is an error. They +merely recommended some additional precautions to prevent the enemy +from turning our left at Round Top, and thus intervening between +us and Washington. Hancock, in giving his vote, said the Army of +the Potomac had retreated too often, and he was in favor of remaining +now to fight it out.] + + + +CHAPTER VI. +THE BATTLE OF THE THIRD DAY--JOHNSON'S DIVISION DRIVEN OUT. + +At dawn on the 3d the enemy opened on us with artillery, but the +firing had no definite purpose, and after some hours it gradually +slackened. + +The principal interest early in the day necessarily centred on the +right, where Johnson's position not only endangered the safety of +the army, but compromised our retreat. It was therefore essential +to drive him out as soon as possible. To this end batteries were +established during the night on all the prominent points in that +vicinity. Geary had returned with his division about midnight, +and was not a little astonished to find the rebels established in +the works he had left. He determined to contest possession with +them at daylight. In the meantime he joined Greene and formed part +of his line perpendicular to our main line of battle, and part +fronting the enemy. + +On the other hand, Ewell, having obtained a foothold, swore he +would not be driven out, and hastened to reinforce Johnson with +Daniel's and O'Neill's brigades from Rodes' division. + +As soon as objects could be discerned in the early gray of the +morning our artillery opened fire. As Johnson, on account of the +steep declivities and other obstacles, had not been able to bring +any artillery with him, he could not reply. It would not do to +remain quiet under this fire, and he determined to charge, in hopes +of winning a better position on higher ground. His men--the old +Stonewall brigade leading--rushed bravely forward, but were as +gallantly met by Kane's brigade of Geary's division and a close +and severe struggle ensued for four hours among the trees and rocks. +Ruger's division of the Twelfth Corps came up and formed on the +rebel left, taking them in flank and threatening them in reverse. +Indeed, as the rest of our line were not engaged, there was plenty +of support for Geary. Troops were sent him, including Shaler's +brigade, which took the front, and was soon warmly engaged in re- +establishing the line. + +At about 11 A.M., finding the contest hopeless, and his retreat +threatened by a force sent down to Rock Creek, Johnson yielded +slowly and reluctantly to a charge made by Geary's division, gave +up the position and withdrew to Rock Creek, where he remained until +night. + +Our line was once more intact. All that the enemy had gained by +dogged determination and desperate bravery was lost from a lack of +co-ordination, caused perhaps by the great difficulty of communicating +orders over this long concave line where every route was swept by +our fire. + +Lee had now attacked both flanks of the Army of the Potomac without +having been able to establish himself permanently on either. +Notwithstanding the repulse of the previous day he was very desirous +of turning the left, for once well posted there he could secure +his own retreat while interposing between Meade and Washington. +He rode over with Longstreet to that end of the line to see what +could be done. General Wofford, who commanded a brigade of McLaws' +division, writes in a recent letter to General Crawford, United +States Army, as follows: "Lee and Longstreet came to my brigade +Friday morning before the artillery opened fire. I told him that +the afternoon before, I nearly reached the crest. He asked if I +could not go there now. I replied, 'No, General, I think not.' +He said quickly, 'Why not?' 'Because,' I said, 'General, the enemy +have had all night to intrench and reinforce. I had been pursuing +a broken enemy and the situation was now very different.'" + +Having failed at each extremity, it only remained to Lee to retreat, +or attack the centre. Such high expectations had been formed in +the Southern States in regard to his conquest of the North that he +determined to make another effort. He still had Pickett's division, +the flower of Virginia, which had not been engaged, and which was +full of enthusiasm. He resolved to launch them against our centre, +supported on either flank by the advance of the main portion of +the army. He had hoped that Johnson's division would have been +able to maintain its position on the right, so that the Union centre +could be assailed in front and rear at the same time, but Johnson +having been driven out, it was necessary to trust to Pickett alone, +or abandon the whole enterprise and return to Virginia. + +Everything was quiet up to 1 P.M., as the enemy were massing their +batteries and concentrating their forces preparatory to the grand +charge--the supreme effort--which was to determine the fate of the +campaign, and to settle the point whether freedom or slavery was +to rule the Northern States. + +It seems to me there was some lack of judgment in the preparations. +Heth's division, now under Pettigrew, which had been so severely +handled on the first day, and which was composed in a great measure +of new troops, was designated to support Pickett's left and join +in the attack at close quarters. Wilcox, too, who one would think +had been pretty well fought out the day before, in his desperate +enterprise of attempting to crown the crest, was directed to support +the right flank of the attack. Wright's brigade was formed in +rear, and Pender's division on the left of Pettigrew, but there +was a long distance between Wilcox and Longstreet's forces on the +right. + +At 1 P.M., a signal gun was fired and one hundred and fifteen guns +opened against Hancock's command, consisting of the First Corps +under Newton, the Second Corps under Gibbon, the Third Corps under +Birney, and against the Eleventh Corps under Howard. The object +of this heavy artillery fire was to break up our lines and prepare +the way for Pickett's charge. The exigencies of the battle had +caused the First Corps to be divided, Wadsworth's division being +on the right at Culp's Hill, Robinson on Gibbon's right, and my +own division intervening between Caldwell on the left and Gibbon +on the right. The convex shape of our line did not give us as much +space as that of the enemy, but General Hunt, Chief of Artillery, +promptly posted eighty guns along the crest--as many as it would +hold--to answer the fire, and the batteries on both sides suffered +severely in the two hours' cannonade. Not less than eleven caissons +were blown up and destroyed; one quite near me. When the smoke +went up from these explosions rebel yells of exultation could be +heard along a line of several miles. At 3 P.M. General Hunt ordered +our artillery fire to cease, in order to cool the guns, and to +preserve some rounds for the contest at close quarters, which he +foresaw would soon take place. + +My own men did not suffer a great deal from this cannonade, as I +sheltered them as much as possible under the crest of the hill, +and behind rocks, trees, and stone fences. + +The cessation of our fire gave the enemy the idea they had silenced +our batteries, and Pickett at once moved forward, to break the left +centre of the Union line and occupy the crest of the ridge.* The +other forces on his right and left were expected to move up and +enlarge the opening thus made, so that finally, the two wings of +the Union Army would be permanently separated, and flung off by +this entering wedge in eccentric directions. + +[* The attack was so important, so momentous, and so contrary to +Longstreet's judgment, that when Pickett asked for orders to advance +he gave no reply, and Pickett said proudly, "I shall go forward, +sir!"] + +This great column of attack, it was supposed, numbered about +seventeen thousand men, but southern writers have a peculiar +arithmetic by which they always cipher down their forces to nothing. +Even on the left, on the preceding day, when our troops in front +of Little Round Top were assailed by a line a mile and a half long, +they figure it almost out of existence. The force that now advanced +would have been larger still had it not been for a spirited attack +by Kilpatrick against the left of Longstreet's corps, detaining +some troops there which otherwise might have co-operated in the +grand assault against our centre. + +It necessarily took the rebels some time to form and cross the +intervening space, and Hunt took advantage of the opportunity to +withdraw the batteries that had been most injured, sending others +in their place from the reserve artillery, which had not been +engaged. He also replenished the ammunition boxes, and stood ready +to receive the foe as he came forward--first with solid shot, next +with shell, and lastly, when he came to close quarters, with +canister. + +General Meade's headquarters was in the centre of this cannonade, +and as the balls were flying very thickly there, and killing the +horses of his staff, he found it necessary temporarily to abandon +the place. Where nothing is to be gained by exposure it is sound +sense to shelter men and officers as much as possible. He rode +over to Power's Hill, made his headquarters with General Slocum, +and when the firing ceased rode back again. During his absence +the charge took place. He has stated that it was his intention to +throw the Fifth and Sixth Corps on the flanks of the attacking +force, but no orders to this effect were issued, and it is questionable +whether such an arrangement would have been a good one. It would +have disgarnished the left, where Longstreet was still strong in +numbers, and in forming perpendicular to our line of battle the +two corps would necessarily have exposed their own outer flanks to +attack. Indeed, the rebels had provided for just such a contingency, +by posting Wilcox's brigade and Perry's brigade under Colonel Lang +on the left, both in rear of the charging column under Pickett and +Pettigrew. Owing to a mistake or misunderstanding, this disposition, +however, did not turn out well for the enemy. It was not intended +by Providence that the Northern States should pass under the iron +rule of the slave power, and on this occasion every plan made by +Lee was thwarted in the most unexpected manner. + +The distance to be traversed by Pickett's column was about a mile +and a half from the woods where they started, to the crest of the +ridge they desired to attain. They suffered severely from our +artillery, which opened on them with solid shot as soon as they +came in sight; when half way across the plain they were vigorously +shelled; double canisters were reserved for their nearer approach. + +At first the direction of their march appeared to be directly toward +my division. When within five hundred yards of us, however, Pickett +halted and changed direction obliquely about forty-five degrees, +so that the attack passed me and struck Gibbon's division on my +right. Just here one of those providential circumstances occurred +which favored us so much, for Wilcox and Lang, who guarded Pickett's +right flank, did not follow his oblique movement, but kept on +straight to the front, so that soon there was a wide interval +between their troops and the main body, leaving Pickett's right +fully uncovered. + +The rebels came on magnificently. As fast as the shot and shell +tore through their lines they closed up the gaps and pressed forward. +When they reached the Emmetsburg road the canister began to make +fearful chasms in their ranks. They also suffered severely from +a battery on Little Round Top, which enfiladed their line. One +shell killed and wounded ten men. Gibbon had directed his command +to reserve their fire until the enemy were near enough to make it +very effective. Pickett's advance dashed up to the fence occupied +by the skirmishers of the Second Corps, near the Emmetsburg road, +and drove them back; then the musketry blazed forth with deadly +effect, and Pettigrew's men began to waver on the left and fall +behind; for the nature of the ground was such that they were more +exposed than other portions of the line. They were much shaken by +the artillery fire, and that of Hays' division sent them back in +masses.* + +[* The front line of Hays' division, which received this charge, +was composed of the 12th New Jersey, 14th Connecticut, and 1st +Delaware. The second line was composed of the 111th, 125th, 126th, +and 39th New York.] + +Before the first line of rebels reached a second fence and stone +wall, behind which our main body was posted, it was obliged to pass +a demi-brigade under Colonel Theodore B. Gates, of the 20th New +York State Militia, and a Vermont brigade under General Stannard, +both belonging to my command. When Pickett's right became exposed +in consequence of the divergence of Wilcox's command, Stannard +seized the opportunity to make a flank attack, and while his left +regiment, the 14th, poured in a heavy oblique fire, he changed +front with his two right regiments, the 13th and 16th, which brought +them perpendicular to the rebel line of march. In cases of this +kind, when struck directly on the flank, troops are more or less +unable to defend themselves, and Kemper's brigade crowded in toward +the centre in order to avoid Stannard's energetic and deadly attack. +They were closely followed up by Gates' command, who continued to +fire into them at close range. This caused many to surrender, +others to retreat outright, and others simply to crowd together. +Simultaneously with Stannard's attack, the 8th Ohio, which was on +picket, overlapping the rebel left, closed in on that flank with +great effect. Nevertheless, the next brigade--that of Armistead-- +united to Garnett's brigade, pressed on, and in spite of death- +dealing bolts on all sides, Pickett determined to break Gibbon's +line and capture his guns. + +Although Webb's front was the focus of the concentrated artillery +fire, and he had already lost fifty men and some valuable officers, +his line remained firm and unshaken. It devolved upon him now to +meet the great charge which was to decide the fate of the day. It +would have been difficult to find a man better fitted for such an +emergency. He was nerved to great deeds by the memory of his +ancestors, who in former days had rendered distinguished services +to the Republic, and felt that the results of the whole war might +depend upon his holding of the position. His men were equally +resolute. Cushing's battery, A, 4th United States Artillery, which +had been posted on the crest, and Brown's Rhode Island Battery on +his left, were both practically destroyed by the cannonade. The +horses were prostrated, every officer but one was struck, and +Cushing had but one serviceable gun left. + +As Pickett's advance came very close to the first line, young +Cushing, mortally wounded in both thighs, ran his last serviceable +gun down to the fence, and said: _"Webb, I will give them one more +shot!"_ At the moment of the last discharge he called out, _"Good- +by!"_ and fell dead at the post of duty. + +Webb sent for fresh batteries to replace the two that were disabled, +and Wheeler's 1st New York Independent Battery came up just before +the attack, and took the place of Cushing's battery on the left. + +Armistead pressed forward, leaped the stone wall, waving his sword +with his hat on it, followed by about a hundred of his men, several +of whom carried battle-flags. He shouted, "Give them the cold +steel, boys!" and laid his hands upon a gun. The battery for a +few minutes was in his possession, and the rebel flag flew triumphantly +over our line. But Webb was at the front, very near Armistead, +animating and encouraging his men. He led the 72d Pennsylvania +regiment against the enemy, and posted a line of wounded men in +rear to drive back or shoot every man that deserted his duty. A +portion of the 71st Pennsylvania, behind a stone wall on the right, +threw in a deadly flanking fire, while a great part of the 69th +Pennsylvania and the remainder of the 71st made stern resistance +from a copse of trees on the left, near where the enemy had broken +the line, and where our men were shot with the rebel muskets touching +their breasts. + +Then came a splendid charge of two regiments, led by Colonel Hall, +which passed completely through Webb's line, and engaged the enemy +in a hand-to-hand conflict.* Armistead was shot down by the side +of the gun he had taken. It is said he had fought on our side in +the first battle at Bull Run, but had been seduced by Southern +affiliations to join in the rebellion; and now, dying in the effort +to extend the area of slavery over the free States, he saw with a +clearer vision that he had been engaged in an unholy cause, and +said to one of our officers who leaned over him: "Tell Hancock I +have wronged him and have wronged my country." + +[* Colonel Norman J. Hall, commanding a brigade in Hancock's corps, +who rendered this great service, was one of the garrison who defended +Fort Sumter at the beginning of the war. At that time he was the +Second Lieutenant of my company.] + +Both Gibbon and Webb were wounded, and the loss in officers and +men was very heavy; two rebel brigadier-generals were killed, and +more prisoners were taken than twice Webb's brigade; 6 battle-flags, +and 1,463 muskets were also gathered in. + +My command being a little to the left, I witnessed this scene, and, +after it was over, sent out stretcher-bearers attached to the +ambulance train, and had numbers of wounded Confederates brought +in and cared for. I was told that there was one man among these +whose conversation seemed to indicate that he was a general officer. +I sent to ascertain his rank, but he replied: "Tell General +Doubleday in a few minutes I shall be where there is no rank." He +expired soon after, and I never learned his name. + +The rebels did not seem to appreciate my humanity in sending out +to bring in their wounded, for they opened a savage fire against +the stretcher-bearers. One shell burst among us, a piece of it +knocked me over on my horse's neck, and wounded Lieutenant Cowdry +of my staff. + +When Pickett--the great leader--looked around the top of the ridge +he had temporarily gained, he saw it was impossible to hold the +position. Troops were rushing in on him from all sides. The Second +Corps were engaged in a furious assault on his front. His men were +fighting with clubbed muskets, and even banner staves were intertwined +in a fierce and hopeless struggle. My division of the First Corps +were on his right flank, giving deadly blows there, and the Third +Corps were closing up to attack. Pettigrew's forces on his left +had given way, and a heavy skirmish line began to accumulate on +that flank. He saw his men surrendering in masses, and, with a +heart full of anguish, ordered a retreat. Death had been busy on +all sides, and few indeed now remained of that magnificent column +which had advanced so proudly, led by the Ney of the rebel army, +and those few fell back in disorder, and without organization, +behind Wright's brigade, which had been sent forward to cover the +retreat. At first, however, when struck by Stannard on the flank, +and when Pickett's charge was spent, they rallied in a little +slashing, where a grove had been cut down by our troops to leave +an opening for our artillery. There two regiments of Rowley's +brigade of my division, the 151st Pennsylvania and the 20th New +York State Militia, under Colonel Theodore R. Gates, of the latter +regiment, made a gallant charge, and drove them out. Pettigrew's +division, it is said, lost 2,000 prisoners and 15 battle-flags on +the left. + +While this severe contest was going on in front of Webb, Wilcox +deployed his command and opened a feeble fire against Caldwell's +division on my left. Stannard repeated the manoeuvre which had +been so successful against Kemper's brigade by detaching the 14th +and 16th Vermont to take Wilcox in flank. Wilcox thus attacked on +his right, while a long row of batteries tore the front of his line +to pieces with canister, could gain no foothold. He found himself +exposed to a tremendous cross fire, and was obliged to retreat, +but a great portion of his command were brought in as prisoners by +Stannard* and battle-flags were gathered in sheaves. + +[* As Stannard's brigade were new troops, and had been stationed +near Washington, the men had dubbed them _The Paper Collar Brigade_, +because some of them were seen wearing paper collars, but after +this fight the term was never again applied to them.] + +A portion of Longstreet's corps, Benning's, Robertson's, and Law's +brigades, advanced against the two Round Tops to prevent reinforcements +from being sent from that vicinity to meet Pickett's charge. +Kilpatrick interfered with this programme, however, for about 2 +P.M. he made his appearance on our left with Farnsworth's brigade +and Merritt's brigade of regulars, accompanied by Graham's and +Elder's batteries of the regular army, to attack the rebel right, +with a view to reach their ammunition trains, which were in the +vicinity. The rebels say his men came on yelling like demons. +Having driven back the skirmishers who guarded that flank, Merritt +deployed on the left and soon became engaged there with Anderson's +Georgia brigade, which was supported by two batteries. On the +right Farnsworth, with the 1st Vermont regiment of his brigade, +leaped a fence, and advanced until he came to a second stone fence, +where he was checked by an attack on his right flank from the 4th +Alabama regiment of Law's brigade, which came back for that purpose +from a demonstration it was making against Round Top. Farnsworth +then turned and leaping another fence in a storm of shot and shell, +made a gallant attempt to capture Backman's battery, but was unable +to do so, as it was promptly supported by the 9th Georgia regiment +of Anderson's brigade. Farnsworth was killed in this charge, and +the 1st Vermont found itself enclosed in a field, with high fences +on all sides, behind which masses of infantry were constantly rising +up and firing. The regiment was all broken up and forced to retire +in detachments. Kilpatrick after fighting some time longer without +making much progress, fell back on account of the constant +reinforcements that were augmenting the force opposed to him. +Although he had not succeeded in capturing the ammunition train, +he had made a valuable diversion on the left, which doubtless +prevented the enemy from assailing Round Top with vigor, or detaching +a force to aid Pickett. + +The Confederate General Benning states that the prompt action of +General Law in posting the artillery in the road and the 7th and +9th Georgia regiments on each side, was all that saved the train +from capture. "There was nothing else to save it." He also says +that two-thirds of Pickett's command were killed, wounded, or +captured. Every brigade commander and every field officer except +one fell. Lee and Longstreet had seen from the edge of the woods, +with great exultation, the blue flag of Virginia waving over the +crest occupied by the Union troops. It seemed the harbinger of +great success to Lee. He thought the Union army was conquered at +last. The long struggle was over, and peace would soon come, +accompanied by the acknowledgment of the independence of the Southern +Confederacy. It was but a passing dream; the flag receded, and +soon the plain was covered with fugitives making their way to the +rear. Then, anticipating an immediate pursuit, he used every effort +to rally men and officers, and made strenuous efforts to get his +artillery in position to be effective. + +The Confederate General A. R. Wright criticises this attack and +very justly says, "The difficulty was not so much in reaching +Cemetery Ridge or taking it. My brigade did so on the afternoon +of the 2d, but the trouble was to hold it, for the whole Federal +army was massed in a sort of horse shoe, and could rapidly reinforce +the point to any extent; while the long enveloping Confederate line +could not support promptly enough." This agrees with what I have +said in relation to the convex and concave orders of battle. + +General Gibbon had sent Lieutenant Haskell of his staff to Power's +Hill to notify General Meade that the charge was coming. As Meade +approached his old headquarters he heard firing on the crest above, +and went up to ascertain the cause. He found the charge had been +repulsed and ejaculated "Thank God!" + +When Lee learned that Johnson had yielded his position on the right, +and therefore could not co-operate with Pickett's advance, he sent +Stuart's cavalry around to accomplish the same object by attacking +the right and rear of our army. Howard saw the rebel cavalry moving +off in that direction, and David McM. Gregg, whose division was +near White's Creek where it crosses the Baltimore pike, received +orders about noon to guard Slocum's right and rear. + +Custer had already been contending with his brigade against portions +of the enemy's force in that direction, when Gregg sent forward +McIntosh's brigade to relieve him, and followed soon after with J. +Irvin Gregg's brigade. Custer was under orders to join Kilpatrick's +command, to which he belonged, but the exigencies of the battle +soon forced Gregg to detain him. McIntosh, having taken the place +of Custer, pushed forward to develop the enemy's line, which he +found very strongly posted, the artillery being on a commanding +ridge which overlooked the whole country, and covered by dismounted +cavalry in woods, buildings, and behind fences below. McIntosh +became warmly engaged and send back for Randol's battery to act +against the rebel guns on the crest, and drive the enemy out of +the buildings. The guns above were silenced by Pennington's and +Randol's batteries, and the force below driven out of the houses +by Lieutenant Chester's section of the latter. The buildings and +fences were then occupied by our troops. The enemy attempted to +regain them by a charge against McIntosh's right flank, but were +repulsed. In the meantime Gregg came up with the other brigade, +and assumed command of the field. The battle now became warm, for +W. H. F. Lee's brigade, under Chambliss, advanced to support the +skirmish line, and the 1st New Jersey, being out of ammunition, +was charged and routed by the 1st Virginia. The 7th Michigan, a +new regiment which came up to support it, was also driven in; for +the enemy's dismounted line reinforced the 1st Virginia. The latter +regiment, which had held on with desperate tenacity, although +attacked on both flanks, was at last compelled to fall back by an +attack made by part of the 5th Michigan. The contending forces +were now pretty well exhausted when, to the dismay of our men, a +fresh brigade under Wade Hampton, which Stuart had kept in reserve, +made its appearance, and new and desperate exertions were required +to stem its progress. There was little time to act, but every +sabre that could be brought forward was used. As Hampton came on, +our artillery under Pennington and Randol made terrible gaps in +his ranks. Chester's section kept firing canister until the rebels +were within fifty yards of him. The enemy were temporarily stopped +by a desperate charge on their flank, made by only sixteen men of +the 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Captains Triechel and Rogers, +accompanied by Captain Newhall of McIntosh's staff. This little +band of heroes were nearly all disabled or killed, but they succeeded +in delaying the enemy, already shattered by the canister from +Chester's guns, until Custer was able to bring up the 1st Michigan +and lead them to the charge, shouting "Come on, you wolverines!" +Every available sabre was thrown in. General McIntosh and his +staff and orderlies charged into the _melee_ as individuals. +Hampton and Fitz Lee headed the enemy, and Custer our troops. +Lieutenant Colonel W. Brooke-Rawle, the historian of the conflict, +who was present, says, "For minutes, which seemed like hours, amid +the clashing of the sabres, the rattle of the small arms, the +frenzied imprecations, the demands to surrender, the undaunted +replies, and the appeals for mercy, the Confederate column stood +its ground." A fresh squadron was brought up under Captain Hart +of the 1st New Jersey, and the enemy at last gave way and retired. +Both sides still confronted each other, but the battle was over, +for Pickett's charge had failed, and there was no longer any object +in continuing the contest. + +Stuart was undoubtedly baffled and the object of his expedition +frustrated; yet he stated in his official report that he was in a +position to intercept the Union retreat in case Pickett had been +successful. At night he retreated to regain his communications +with Ewell's left. + +This battle being off of the official maps has hardly been alluded +to in the various histories which have been written; but its results +were important and deserve to be commemorated. + +When Pickett's charge was repulsed, and the whole plain covered +with fugitives, we all expected that Wellington's command at +Waterloo, of _"Up, guards, and at them!"_ would be repeated, and +that a grand counter-charge would be made. But General Meade had +made no arrangements to give a return thrust. It seems to me he +should have posted the Sixth and part of the Twelfth Corps in rear +of Gibbon's division the moment Pickett's infantry were seen emerging +from the woods, a mile and a half off. If they broke through our +centre these corps would have been there to receive them, and if +they failed to pierce our line and retreated, the two corps could +have followed them up promptly before they had time to rally and +reorganize. An advance by Sykes would have kept Longstreet in +position. In all probability we would have cut the enemy's army +in two, and captured the long line of batteries opposite us, which +were but slightly guarded. Hancock, lying wounded in an ambulance, +wrote to Meade, recommending that this be done. Meade, it is true, +recognized in some sort the good effects of a counter-blow; but to +be effective the movement should have been prepared beforehand. +It was too late to commence making preparations for an advance when +some time had elapsed and when Lee had rallied his troops and had +made all his arrangements to resist an assault. It was ascertained +afterward that he had twenty rounds of ammunition left per gun, +but it was not evenly distributed and some batteries in front had +fired away all their cartridges. A counter-charge under such +circumstances is considered almost imperative in war; for the beaten +army, running and dismayed, cannot, in the nature of things, resist +with much spirit; whereas the pursuers, highly elated by their +success, and with the prospect of ending the contest, fight with +more energy and bravery. Rodes says the Union forces were so long +in occupying the town and in coming forward after the repulse of +the enemy that it was generally thought they had retreated. Meade +rode leisurely over to the Fifth Corps on the left, and told Sykes +to send out and see if the enemy in his front was firm and holding +on to their position. A brigade preceded by skirmishers was +accordingly sent forward, but as Longstreet's troops were well +fortified, they resisted the advance, and Meade--finding some hours +had elapsed and that Lee had closed up his lines and was fortifying +against him--gave up all idea of a counter-attack. + + + +CHAPTER VII. +GENERAL RETREAT OF THE ENEMY--CRITICISMS OF DISTINGUISHED CONFEDERATE + OFFICERS. + +Lee was greatly dispirited at Pickett's failure, but worked with +untiring energy to repair the disaster. + +There was an interval of full a mile between Hill and Longstreet, +and the plain was swarming with fugitives making their way back in +disorder. He hastened to get ready to resist the counter-charge, +which he thought was inevitable, and to plant batteries behind +which the fugitives could rally. He also made great personal +exertions to reassure and reassemble the detachments that came in. +He did not for a moment imagine that Meade would fail to take +advantage of this golden opportunity to crush the Army of Virginia +and end the war. + +The most distinguished rebel officers admit the great danger they +were in at this time, and express their surprise that they were +not followed up. + +The fact is, Meade had no idea of leaving the ridge. I conversed +the next morning with a corps commander who had just left him. He +said: "Meade says he thinks he can hold out for part of another +day here, if they attack him." + +This language satisfied me that Meade would not go forward if he +could avoid it, and would not impede in any way the rebel retreat +across the Potomac. Lee began to make preparations at once and +started his trains on the morning of the 4th. By night Rodes' +division, which followed them, was in bivouac two miles west of +Fairfield. It was a difficult task to retreat burdened with 4,000 +prisoners, and a train fifteen miles long, in the presence of a +victorious enemy, but it was successfully accomplished as regards +his main body. The roads, too, were bad and much cut up by the +rain. + +While standing on Little Round Top Meade was annoyed at the fire +of a rebel battery posted on an eminence beyond the wheat-field, +about a thousand yards distant. He inquired what troops those were +stationed along the stone fence which bounded the hither side of +the wheat-field. Upon ascertaining that it was Crawford's division +of the Fifth Corps, he directed that they be sent forward to clear +the woods in front of the rebel skirmishers, who were very annoying, +and to drive away the battery, _but not to get into a fight that +could bring on a general engagement._ As Crawford unmasked from +the stone fence the battery opened fire on his right. He sent +Colonel Ent's regiment, deployed as skirmishers, against the guns, +which retired as Ent approached. McCandless, who went forward with +his brigade, moved too far to the right, and Crawford ordered him +to change front and advance toward Round Top. He did so and struck +a rebel brigade in flank which was behind a temporary breastwork +of rails, sods, etc. When this brigade saw a Union force apparently +approaching from their own lines to attack them in flank, they +retreated in confusion, after a short resistance, and this disorder +extended during the retreat to a reserve brigade posted on the low +ground in their rear. Their flight did not cease until they reached +Horner's woods, half a mile distant, where they immediately intrenched +themselves. These brigades belonged to Hood's division, then under +Law. + +Longstreet says, "When this (Pickett's) charge failed, I expected +that, of course, the enemy would throw himself against our shattered +ranks and try to crush us. I sent my staff officers to the rear +to assist in rallying the troops, and hurried to our line of +batteries as the only support that I could given them." . . . "I +knew if the army was to be saved these batteries must check the +enemy." . . . "For unaccountable reasons the enemy did not pursue +his advantage." + +Longstreet always spoke of his own men as invincible, and stated +that on the 2d they did the best three hours' fighting that ever +was done, but Crawford's* attack seemed to show that they too were +shaken by the defeat of Picket's grand charge. + +[* Crawford was also one of those who took a prominent part in the +defence of Fort Sumter, at the beginning of the war. We each +commanded detachments of artillery on that occasion.] + +In regard to the great benefit we would have derived from a pursuit, +it may not be out of place to give the opinion of a few more +prominent Confederate officers. + +Colonel Alexander, Chief of Longstreet's artillery, says in a +communication to the "Southern Historical Papers": + +"I have always believed that the enemy here lost the greatest +opportunity they ever had of routing Lee's army by a prompt offensive. +They occupied a line shaped somewhat like a horseshoe. I suppose +the greatest diameter of this horseshoe was not more than one mile, +and the ground within was entirely sheltered from our observation +and fire, with communications by signals all over it, and they +could concentrate their whole force at any point and in a very +short time without our knowledge. Our line was an enveloping semi- +circle, over four miles in development, and communication from +flank to flank, even by courier, was difficult, the country being +well cleared and exposed to the enemy's view and fire, the roads +all running at right angles to our lines, and, some of them at +least, broad turnpikes where the enemy's guns could rake for two +miles. Is it necessary now to add any statement as to the superiority +of the Federal force, or the exhausted and shattered condition of +the Confederates for a space of at least a mile in their very +centre, to show that a great opportunity was thrown away? I think +General Lee himself was quite apprehensive the enemy would _riposte_, +and that it was that apprehension which brought him alone out to +my guns, where he could observe all the indications." + +General Trimble, who commanded a division of Hill's corps, which +supported Pickett in his advance, says, "By all the rules of warfare +the Federal troops should (as I expected they would) have marched +against our shattered columns and sought to cover our army with an +overwhelming defeat." + +Colonel Simms, who commanded Semmes' Georgia brigade in the fight +with Crawford just referred to, writes to the latter, "There was +much confusion in our army so far as my observation extended, and +I think we would have made but feeble resistance, if you had pressed +on, on the evening of the 3d." + +General Meade, however, overcome by the great responsibilities of +his position, still clung to the ridge, and fearful of a possible +disaster would not take the risk of making an advance. And yet if +he could have succeeded in crushing Lee's army then and there, he +would have saved two years of war with its immense loss of life +and countless evils. He might at least have thrown in Sedgwick's +corps, which had not been actively engaged in the battle, for even +if it was repulsed the blows it gave would leave the enemy little +inclination to again assail the heights. + +At 6.30 P.M. the firing ceased on the part of the enemy, and although +they retained their position the next day, the battle of Gettysburg +was virtually at an end. + +The town was still full of our wounded, and many of our surgeons, +with rare courage, remained there to take charge of them, for it +required some nerve to run the risk of being sent to Libby prison +when the fight was over, a catastrophe which has often happened to +our medical officers. Among the rest, the chief surgeons of the +First Corps, Doctor Theodore Heard and Doctor Thomas H. Bache, +refused to leave their patients, and in consequence of the hasty +retreat of the enemy were fortunately not carried off. + +After the battle Meade had not the slightest desire to recommence +the struggle. It is a military maxim that to a flying enemy must +be given a wall of steel or a bridge of gold. In the present +instance it was unmistakably the bridge of gold that was presented. +It was hard to convince him that Lee was actually gone, and at +first he thought it might be a device to draw the Union army from +its strong position on the heights. + +Our cavalry were sent out on the 4th to ascertain where the enemy +were, and what they were doing. General Birney threw forward a +reconnoitering party and opened fire with a battery on a column +making their way toward Fairfield, but he was checked at once and +directed _on no account to bring on a battle._ On the 5th, as it +was certain the enemy were retreating, Sedgwick received orders to +follow up the rear of the rebel column. He marched eight miles to +Fairfield Pass. There Early, who was in command of the rear guard, +was endeavoring to save the trains, which were heaped up in great +confusion. Sedgwick, after a distant cannonade, reported the +position too strong to be forced. It was a plain, two miles wide, +surrounded by hills, and it would not have been difficult to take +it, but Sedgwick knew Meade favored the "bridge of gold" policy, +and was not disposed to thwart the wishes of his chief. In my +opinion Sedgwick should have made an energetic attack, and Meade +should have supported it with his whole army, for our cavalry were +making great havoc in the enemy's train in rear; and if Lee, instead +of turning on Kilpatrick, had been forced to form line against +Meade, the cavalry, which was between him and his convoys of +ammunition, in all probability might have captured the latter and +ended the war. Stuart, it is true, was following up Kilpatrick, +but he took an indirect route and was nearly a day behind. I do +not see why the force which was now promptly detached from the +garrisons of Washington and Baltimore and sent to Harper's Ferry +could not have formed on the Virginia side of the Potomac opposite +Williamsport, and with the co-operation of General Meade have cut +off the ammunition of which Lee stood so much in need. As the +river had risen and an expedition sent out by General French from +Frederick had destroyed the bridge at Falling Waters, everything +seemed to favor such a plan. The moment it was ascertained that +Lee was cut off from Richmond and short of ammunition the whole +North would have turned out and made a second Saratoga of it. As +it was, he had but few roads for his cannon, and our artillery +could have opened a destructive fire on him from a distance without +exposing our infantry. It was worth the effort and there was little +or no danger in attempting it. Meade had Sedgwick's fresh corps +and was reinforced by a division of 11,000 men under General W. F. +Smith (Baldy Smith). French's division of 4,000 at Frederick, and +troops from Washington and Baltimore were also available to assist +in striking the final blow. The Twelfth Corps was also available, +as Slocum volunteered to join in the pursuit. Meade, however, +delayed moving at all until Lee had reached Hagerstown and then +took a route that was almost twice as long as that adopted by the +enemy. Lee marched day and night to avoid pursuit, and when the +river rose and his bridge was gone, so that he was unable to cross, +he gained six days in which to choose a position, fortify it, and +renew his supply of ammunition before Meade made his appearance. + +In consequence of repeated orders from President Lincoln to attack +the enemy, Meade went forward and confronted Lee on the 12th. He +spent that day and the next in making reconnoissances and resolved +to attack on the 14th; but Lee left during the night, and by 8 A.M. +the entire army of the enemy were once more on Virginia soil. + +The Union loss in this campaign is estimated by the Count of Paris, +who is an impartial observer, at 2,834 killed, 13,700 wounded, and +6,643 missing; total, 23,186. + +The rebel loss he puts at 2,665 killed, 12,599 wounded, 7,464 +missing; total 22,728. + +Among the killed in the battle on the rebel side were Generals +Armistead, Barksdale, Garnett, Pender, and Semmes; and Pettigrew +during the retreat. + +Among the wounded were Generals G. T. Anderson, Hampton, Jenkins, +J. M. Jones, Kemper, and Scales. + +Archer was captured on the first day. + +Among the killed on the Union side were Major-General Reynolds and +Brigadier-Generals Vincent, Weed, and Zook. + +Among the wounded were Major-Generals Sickles (losing a leg), +Hancock, Doubleday, Gibbon, Barlow, Warren, and Butterfield, and +Brigadier-Generals Graham, Stannard, Paul (losing both eyes), +Barnes, Brooke, and Webb. + + +APPENDIX A. +_Roster of the Federal Army engaged in the Battle of Gettysburg, +Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, July 1st, 2d, and 3d, 1863._ + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEO. GORDON MEADE +_STAFF._ +MAJOR-GENERAL DANIEL BUTTERFIELD, Chief of Staff. +BRIG.-GENERAL M. R. PATRICK, Provost Marshal-General. + " " SETH WILLIAMS, Adjutant-General. + " " EDMUND SCHRIVER, Inspector-General. + " " RUFUS INGALLS, Quartermaster-General. +COLONEL HENRY F. CLARKE, Chief Commis'y of Subsistence. +MAJOR JONATHAN LETTERMAN, Surgeon, Chief of Medical Department. +BRIG.-GENERAL G. K. WARREN, Chief Engineer. +MAJOR D. W. FLAGLER, Chief Ordnance Officer. +MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED PLEASONTON, Chief of Cavalry. +BRIG.-GENERAL HENRY J. HUNT, Chief of Artillery. +CAPTAIN L. B. NORTON, Chief Signal Officer. + +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN F. REYNOLDS,* Commanding the First, Third, and +Eleventh Corps on July 1st. +[* He was killed and succeeded by Major-General O. O. Howard.] +MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY W. SLOCUM, Commanding the Right Wing on July +2d and July 3d. +MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. HANCOCK, Commanding the Left Centre on July 2d +and July 3d. + +FIRST CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN F. REYNOLDS, PERMANENT COMMANDER. +MAJOR-GENERAL ABNER DOUBLEDAY, Commanding on July 1st. +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN NEWTON, Commanding July 2d and 3d. + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JAMES S. WADSWORTH + _First Brigade._--(1) Brigadier-General SOLOMON MEREDITH +(wounded); (2) Colonel HENRY A. MORROW (wounded);* (3) Colonel W. +W. ROBINSON. +[* See page 130.] + 2d Wisconsin, Colonel Lucius Fairchild (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel George H. Stevens (wounded), Major John Mansfield (wounded), +Captain Geo. H. Otis + 6th Wisconsin, Lieut.-Colonel R. R. Dawes + 7th Wisconsin, Colonel W. W. Robinson + 24th Michigan, Colonel Henry A. Morrow (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel Mark Flanigan (wounded), Major Edwin B. Wright (wounded), +Captain Albert M. Edwards + 19th Indiana, Colonel Samuel Williams + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General LYSANDER CUTLER + 7th Indiana, Major Ira G. Grover + 56th Pennsylvania, Colonel J. W. Hoffman + 76th New York, Major Andrew J. Grover (killed), Captain John +E. Cook + 95th New York, Colonel George H. Biddle (wounded), Major +Edward Pye + 147th New York, Lieut.-Colonel F. C. Miller (wounded), Major +George Harney + 14th Brooklyn, Colonel E. B. Fowler + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN C. ROBINSON + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GABRIEL R. PAUL (wounded); +Colonel S. H. LEGNARD; Colonel RICHARD COULTER. + 16th Maine, Colonel Charles W. Tilden (captured), Lieut.- +Colonel N. E. Welch, Major Arch. D. Leavitt + 13th Massachusetts, Colonel S. H. Leonard (wounded) + 94th New York, Colonel A. R. Root (wounded), Major S. H. +Moffat + 104th New York, Colonel Gilbert G. Prey + 107th Pennsylvania, Colonel T. F. McCoy (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel James McThompson (wounded), Captain E. D. Roath + 11th Pennsylvania, Colonel Richard S. Coulter, Captain J. J. +Blerer.* +[* The 11th Pennsylvania was transferred from the Second Brigade.] + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General HENRY BAXTER + 12th Massachusetts, Colonel James L. Bates + 83d New York, Lieut.-Colonel Joseph R. Moesch + 97th New York, Colonel Charles Wheelock + 88th Pennsylvania, Major Benezet F. Faust, Captain E. Y. +Patterson + 90th Pennsylvania, Colonel Peter Lyle + THIRD DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL ABNER DOUBLEDAY PERMANENT COMMANDER on July 2d and +3d. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS A. ROWLEY, July 1st. + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General THOMAS A. ROWLEY, July 2d +and 3d; Colonel CHAPMAN BIDDLE, July 1st. + 121st Pennsylvania, Colonel Chapman Biddle, Major Alexander +Biddle + 142d Pennsylvania, Colonel Robert P. Cummings (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel A. B. McCalmont + 151st Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel George F. McFarland (lost +a leg), Captain Walter L. Owens + 20th New York S. M., Colonel Theodore B. Gates + _Second Brigade_.--(1) Colonel ROY STONE Commanding (wounded); +(2) Colonel LANGHORNE WISTER (wounded); (3) Colonel EDMUND L. DANA + 143d Pennsylvania, Colonel Edmund L. Dana, Major John D. Musser + 149th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Walton Dwight (wounded), +Captain A. J. Sofield (killed), Captain John Irvin + 150th Pennsylvania, Colonel Langhorne Wister (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel H. S. Huidekoper (wounded), Major Thomas Chamberlain +(wounded), Capt. C. C. Widdis (wounded), Captain G. W. Jones + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GEO. J. STANNARD (wounded) + 12th Vermont, Colonel Asa P. Blunt (not engaged) + 13th Vermont, Colonel Francis V. Randall + 14th Vermont, Colonel William T. Nichols + 15th Vermont, Colonel Redfield Proctor (not engaged) + 16th Vermont, Colonel Wheelock G. Veazey + _Artillery Brigade_.--Colonel CHARLES S. WAINWRIGHT + 2d Maine, Captain James A. Hall + 5th Maine, G. T. Stevens + Battery B, 1st Pennsylvania, Captain J. H. Cooper + Battery B, 4th United States, Lieutenant James Stewart + Battery L, 1st New York, Captain J. A. Reynolds +[NOTE.--Tidball's Battery of the 2d United States Artillery, under +Lieutenant John H. Calef, also fought in line with the First Corps. +Lieutenant Benj. W. Wilber, and Lieutenant George Breck, of Captain +Reynolds' Battery, and Lieutenant James Davison, of Stewart's +Battery, commanded sections which were detached at times.] + +SECOND CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD S. HANCOCK, PERMANENT COMMANDER (wounded). +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN GIBBON (wounded). +BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN C. CALDWELL. + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN C. CALDWELL + COLONEL JOHN H. BROOKE (wounded) + _First Brigade_.--Colonel EDWARD E. CROSS (killed); Colonel H. +B. McKEEN + 5th New Hampshire, Colonel E. E. Cross, Lieut.-Colonel C. +E. Hapgood + 61st New York, Lieut.-Colonel Oscar K. Broady + 81st Pennsylvania, Colonel H. Boyd McKeen, Lieut.-Colonel +Amos Stroho + 148th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Robert McFarland + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel PATRICK KELLY + 28th Massachusetts, Colonel Richard Byrnes + 63d New York, Lieut.-Colonel R. C. Bentley (wounded), Captain +Thos. Touhy + 69th New York, Captain Richard Maroney (wounded), Lieutenant +James J. Smith + 88th New York, Colonel Patrick Kelly, Captain Dennis F. Burke +116th Pennsylvania, Major St. Clair A. Mulholland + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General S. K. ZOOK Commanding +(killed), Lieut.-Colonel JOHN FRAZER + 52d New York, Lieut.-Colonel Charles G. Freudenberg (wounded), +Captain Wm. Scherrer + 57th New York, Lieut.-Colonel Alfred B. Chapman + 66th New York, Colonel Orlando W. Morris (wounded), Lieut. +Colonel John S. Hammell (wounded), Major Peter Nelson + 146th Pennsylvania, Colonel Richard P. Roberts (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel John Frazer + _Fourth Brigade_.--Colonel JOHN R. BROOKE Commanding (wounded) + 27th Connecticut, Lieut.-Colonel Henry C. Merwin (killed), +Major James H. Coburn + 64th New York, Colonel Daniel G. Bingham + 53d Pennsylvania, Colonel J. R. Brooke, Lieut.-Colonel +Richard McMichael + 145th Pennsylvania, Colonel Hiram L. Brown (wounded), Captain +John W. Reynolds (wounded), Captain Moses W. Oliver + 2d Delaware, Colonel William P. Bailey + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN GIBBON, PERMANENT COMMANDER (wounded). + BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM HARROW. + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General WILLIAM HARROW, Colonel +FRANCIS E. HEATH + 19th Maine, Colonel F. E. Heath, Lieut.-Colonel Henry W. +Cunningham + 15th Massachusetts, Colonel George H. Ward (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel George C. Joslin + 82d New York, Colonel Henry W. Hudson (killed), Captain John +Darrow + 1st Minnesota, Colonel William Colvill (wounded), Captain +N. S. Messick (killed), Captain Wilson B. Farrell, Captain Louis +Muller, Captain Joseph Perham, Captain Henry C. Coates + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General ALEX. S. WEBB (wounded) + 69th Pennsylvania, Colonel Dennis O. Kane (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel M. Tschudy (killed), Major James Duffy (wounded), Captain +Wm. Davis + 71st Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Richard Penn Smith + 72d Pennsylvania, Colonel De Witt C. Baxter + 106th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Theo. Hesser + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel NORMAN J. HALL Commanding + 19th Massachusetts, Colonel Arthur F. Devereaux + 20th Massachusetts, Colonel Paul J. Revere (killed), Captain +H. L. Abbott (wounded) + 42d New York, Colonel James E. Mallon + 59th New York, Lieut.-Colonel Max A. Thoman (killed) + 7th Michigan, Colonel N. J. Hall, Lieut.-Colonel Ames E. +Steele (killed), Major S. W. Curtis + _Unattached_.--Andrew Sharpshooters. + THIRD DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALEXANDER HAYS + _First Brigade_.--Colonel SAMUEL S. CARROLL + 4th Ohio, Lieut.-Colonel James H. Godman, Lieut.-Colonel L. +W. Carpenter + 8th Ohio, Colonel S. S. Carroll, Lieut.-Colonel Franklin +Sawyer + 14th Indiana, Colonel John Coons + 7th West Virginia, Colonel Joseph Snyder + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel THOMAS A. SMITH (wounded); Lieut.- +Colonel F. E. PIERCE + 14th Connecticut, Major John T. Ellis + 10th New York (battalion), Major Geo. F. Hopper + 108th New York, Colonel Charles J. Powers + 12th New Jersey, Major John T. Hill + 1st Delaware, Colonel Thomas A. Smyth; Lieut.-Colonel Edward +P. Harris, Captain M. B. Ellgood (killed), Lieutenant Wm. Smith +(killed) + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel GEORGE L. WILLARD (killed); Colonel +ELIAKIM SHERRILL (killed); Lieut.-Colonel JAMES M. BULL + 39th New York, Lieut.-Colonel James G. Hughes + 111th New York, Colonel Clinton D. McDougall (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel Isaac M. Lusk, Captain A. P. Seeley + 125th New York, Colonel G. L. Willard (killed), Lieut.-Colonel +Levi Crandall + 126th New York, Colonel E. Sherrill (killed), Lieut.-Colonel +J. M. Bull + _Artillery Brigade_.--Captain J. G. HAZARD + Battery B, 1st New York, Captain James McK. Rorty (killed) + Battery A, 1st Rhode Island, Lieutenant William A. Arnold + Battery B, 1st Rhode Island, Lieutenant T. Fred. Brown +(wounded) + Battery I, 1st United States, Lieutenant G. A. Woodruff +(killed) + Battery A, 4th United States, Lieutenant A. H. Cushing +(killed) +[NOTE.--Battery C, 4th United States, Lieutenant R. Thomas, was in +the line of the Second Corps on July 3d. Some of the batteries +were so nearly demolished that there was no officer to assume +command at the close of the battle.] + +THIRD CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL DANIEL E. SICKLES (wounded) +MAJOR-GENERAL DAVID B. BIRNEY + FIRST DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL DAVID B. BIRNEY PERMANENT COMMANDER. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL J. H. H. WARD + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General C. K. GRAHAM (wounded, +captured); Colonel ANDREW H. TIPPIN + 57th Pennsylvania, Colonel Peter Sides, Lieut.-Colonel Wm. +P. Neeper (wounded), Captain A. H. Nelson + 63d Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel John A. Danks + 68th Pennsylvania, Colonel A. H. Tippin, all the Field Officers +wounded + 105th Pennsylvania, Colonel Calvin A. Craig + 114th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Frederick K. Cavada +(captured) + 141st Pennsylvania, Colonel Henry J. Madill, Captain E. R. +Brown.* +[* Colonel Madill commanded the 114th and 141st Pennsylvania.] +[NOTE.--The 2d New Hampshire, 3d Maine, and 7th and 8th New Jersey +also formed part of Graham's line on the 2d.] + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. H. H. WARD, Colonel H. +BERDAN + 1st U. S. Sharpshooters, Colonel H. Berdan, Lieut.-Colonel +C. Trapp + 2d U. S. Sharpshooters, Major H. H. Stoughton + 3d Maine, Colonel M. S. Lakeman (captured), Captain William +C. Morgan + 4th Maine, Colonel Elijah Walker (killed), Major Ebenezer +Whitcombe (wounded), Captain Edwin Libby + 20th Indiana, Colonel John Wheeler (killed), Lieut.-Colonel +William C. L. Taylor + 99th Pennsylvania, Major John W. Moore + 86th New York, Lieut.-Colonel Benjamin Higgins + 124th New York, Colonel A. Van Horn Ellis (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel Francis M. Cummings + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel PHILIP R. DE TROBRIAND + 3d Michigan, Colonel Byron R. Pierce (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel E. S. Pierce + 5th Michigan, Lieut.-Colonel John Pulford (wounded), Major +S. S. Matthews + 40th New York, Colonel Thomas W. Egan + 17th Maine, Lieut.-Colonel Charles B. Merrill + 110th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel David M. Jones (wounded), +Major Isaac Rogers + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ANDREW A. HUMPHREYS + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General JOSEPH B. CARR + 1st Massachusetts, Colonel N. B. McLaughlin + 11th Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Porter D. Tripp + 16th Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Waldo Merriam + 26th Pennsylvania, Captain Geo. W. Tomlinson (wounded), +Captain Henry Goodfellow + 11th New Jersey, Colonel Robert McAllister (wounded), Major +Philip J. Kearny (killed), Captain Wm. B. Dunning + 84th Pennsylvania (not engaged), Lieut.-Colonel Milton Opp + 19th New Hampshire, Captain J. F. Langley + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel WILLIAM B. BREWSTER + 70th New York (1st Excelsior), Major Daniel Mahen + 71st New York (2d Excelsior), Colonel Henry L. Potter + 72d New York (3d Excelsior), Colonel Wm. O. Stevens (killed), +Lieut.-Colonel John S. Austin + 73d New York (4th Excelsior), Colonel William R. Brewster, +Major M. W. Burns + 74th New York (5th Excelsior), Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Holt + 120th New York, Lieut.-Colonel Cornelius D. Westbrook (wounded), +Major J. R. Tappen, Captain A. L. Lockwood + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel GEORGE C. BURLING + 5th New Jersey, Colonel William J. Sewall (wounded), Captain +Virgel M. Healey (wounded), Captain T. C. Godfrey, Captain H. H. +Woolsey + 6th New Jersey, Colonel George C. Burling, Lieut.-Colonel +S. R. Gilkyson + 7th New Jersey, Colonel L. R. Francine (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel Francis Price + 8th New Jersey, Colonel John Ramsey (wounded), Captain John +G. Langston + 115th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel John P. Dunne + 2d New Hampshire, Colonel Edward L. Bailey (wounded), Major +Saml. P. Sayles (wounded) + _Artillery Brigade_.--Captain GEORGE E. RANDOLPH + Battery E, 1st Rhode Island, Lieutenant John K. Bucklyn +(wounded), Lieutenant Benj. Freeborn + Battery B, 1st New Jersey, Captain A. J. Clark + Battery D, 1st New Jersey, Captain Geo. T. Woodbury + Battery K, 4th U. S., Lieutenant F. W. Seeley (wounded), +Lieutenant Robt. James + Battery D, 1st New York, Captain George B. Winslow + 4th New York, Captain James E. Smith + +FIFTH CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE SYKES + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JAMES BARNES + _First Brigade_.--Colonel W. S. TILTON + 18th Massachusetts, Colonel Joseph Hayes + 22d Massachusetts, Colonel William S. Tilton, Lieut.-Colonel +Thomas Sherman, Jr. + 118th Pennsylvania, Colonel Charles M. Prevost + 1st Michigan, Colonel Ira C. Abbot (wounded), Lieut.-Colonel +W. A. Throop + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel J. B. SWEITZER + 9th Massachusetts, Colonel Patrick R. Guiney + 32d Massachusetts, Col. Geo. L. Prescott (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel Luther Stephenson (wounded), Major J. Cushing Edmunds + 4th Michigan, Colonel Hamson H. Jeffords (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel George W. Lombard + 62d Pennsylvania, Colonel J. B. Sweitzer, Lieut.-Colonel +James C. Hall + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel STRONG VINCENT (killed); Colonel +JAMES C. RICE + 20th Maine, Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain + 44th New York, Colonel James C. Rice, Lieut.-Colonel Freeman +Conner + 83d Pennsylvania, Major William H. Lamont, Captain O. E. +Woodward + 16th Michigan, Lieut.-Colonel N. R. Welch + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROMAYN B. AYRES + _First Brigade_.--Colonel HANNIBAL DAY, 6th U. S. Infantry + 3d U. S. Infantry, Captain H. W. Freedley (wounded), Captain +Richard G. Lay + 4th U. S. Infantry, Captain J. W. Adams + 6th U. S. Infantry, Captain Levi C. Bootes + 12th U. S. Infantry, Captain Thomas S. Dunn + 14th U. S. Infantry, Major G. R. Giddings + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel SIDNEY BURBANK, 2d U. S. Infantry + 2d U. S. Infantry, Major A. T. Lee (wounded), Captain S. +A. McKee + 7th U. S. Infantry, Captain D. P. Hancock + 10th U. S. Infantry, Captain William Clinton + 11th U. S. Infantry, Major De L. Floyd Jones + 17th U. S. Infantry, Lieut.-Colonel Durrell Green + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General S. H. WEED (killed); Colonel +KENNER GARRARD + 140th New York, Colonel Patrick H. O'Rorke (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel Louis Ernst + 146th New York, Colonel K. Garrard, Lieut.-Colonel David T. +Jenkins + 91st Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Joseph H. Sinex + 155th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel John H. Cain + THIRD DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL S. WILEY CRAWFORD + _First Brigade_.--Colonel WILLIAM McCANDLESS + 1st Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel William Cooper Talley + 2d Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel William McCandless, Lieut.- +Colonel George A. Woodward + 6th Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel Wellington H. Ent + 11th Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel S. M. Jackson + 1st Rifles (Bucktails), Colonel Charles J. Taylor (killed), +Lieut.-Colonel A. E. Niles (wounded), Major William R. Hartshorn + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel JOSEPH W. FISHER + 5th Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel J. W. Fisher, Lieut.- +Colonel George Dare + 9th Pennsylvania Reserves, Lieut.-Colonel James McK. Snodgrass + 10th Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel A. J. Warner + 12th Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel M. D. Hardin + _Artillery Brigade_.--Captain A. P. MARTIN + Battery D, 5th United States, Lieutenant Charles E. Hazlett +(killed), Lieutenant B. F. Rittenhouse + Battery I, 5th United States, Lieutenant Leonard Martin + Battery C, 1st New York, Captain Albert Barnes + Battery L, 1st Ohio, Captain N. C. Gibbs + Battery C, Massachusetts, Captain A. P. Martin + _Provost Guard_.--Captain H. W. RYDER. Companies E and D, 12th +New York. + +SIXTH CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGWICK + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General A. T. A. TORBERT + 1st New Jersey, Lieut.-Colonel William Henry, Jr. + 2d New Jersey, Colonel Samuel L. Buck + 3d New Jersey, Colonel Henry W. Brown + 15th New Jersey, Colonel William H. Penrose + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. J. BARTLETT + 5th Maine, Colonel Clark S. Edwards + 121st New York, Colonel Emory Upton + 95th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Edward Carroll + 96th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel William H. Lossig + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General D. A. RUSSELL + 6th Maine, Colonel Hiram Burnham + 49th Pennsylvania, Colonel William H. Irvin + 119th Pennsylvania, Colonel P. C. Ellmaker + 5th Wisconsin, Colonel Thomas S. Allen + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. P. HOWE + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel L. A. GRANT + 2d Vermont, Colonel J. H. Walbridge + 3d Vermont, Colonel T. O. Seaver + 4th Vermont, Colonel E. H. Stoughton + 5th Vermont, Lieut.-Colonel John B. Lewis + 6th Vermont, Lieut.-Colonel Elisha L. Barney + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General T. A. NEILL + 7th Maine, Lieut.-Colonel Seldon Conner + 49th New York, Colonel D. D. Bidwell + 77th New York, Colonel J. B. McKean + 43d New York, Colonel B. F. Baker + 61st Pennsylvania, Major Geo. W. Dawson + THIRD DIVISION + BRIGADIER-GENERAL FRANK WHEATON + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General ALEXANDER SHALER + 65th New York, Colonel J. E. Hamblin + 67th New York, Colonel Nelson Cross + 122d New York, Lieut.-Colonel A. W. Dwight + 23d Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel John F. Glenn + 82d Pennsylvania, Colonel Isaac Bassett + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel H. L. EUSTIS + 7th Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Franklin P. Harlow + 10th Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Jefford M. Decker + 37th Massachusetts, Colonel Oliver Edwards + 2d Rhode Island, Colonel Horatio Rogers + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel DAVID I. NEVIN + 62d New York, Colonel D. L. Nevin, Lieut.-Colonel Theo. B. +Hamilton + 102d Pennsylvania,* Colonel John W. Patterson + 93d Pennsylvania, Colonel James W. McCarter + 98th Pennsylvania, Major John B. Kohler + 139th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel William H. Moody +[* Not engaged.] + _Artillery Brigade_.--Colonel C. H. TOMPKINS + Battery A, 1st Massachusetts, Captain W. H. McCartney + Battery D, 2d United States, Lieutenant E. B. Williston + Battery F, 5th United States, Lieutenant Leonard Martin + Battery G, 2d United States, Lieutenant John H. Butler + Battery C, 1st Rhode Island, Captain Richard Waterman + Battery G, 1st Rhode Island, Captain George W. Adams + 1st New York, Captain Andrew Cowan + 3d New York, Captain William A. Harn + _Cavalry Detachment_.--Captain WILLIAM L. CRAFT Commanding. +H, 1st Pennsylvania; L, 1st New Jersey. + +ELEVENTH CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL OLIVER O. HOWARD PERMANENT COMMANDER. +MAJOR-GENERAL CARL SCHURZ, July 1st. + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL FRANCIS C. BARLOW (wounded) + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ADELBERT AMES + _First Brigade_.--Colonel LEOPOLD VON GILSA + 41st New York, Colonel L. Von Gilsa, Lieut.-Colonel D. Von +Einsiedel + 54th New York, Colonel Eugene A. Kezley + 68th New York, Colonel Gotthilf Bonray de Ivernois + 153d Pennsylvania, Colonel Charles Glanz + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General ADELBERT AMES, Colonel +ANDREW L. HARRIS + 17th Connecticut, Lieut.-Colonel Douglass Fowler (killed), +Major A. G. Brady (wounded) + 25th Ohio, Lieut.-Colonel Jeremiah Williams (captured), +Lieutenant William Maloney (wounded), Lieutenant Israel White + 75th Ohio, Colonel Andrew L. Harris (wounded), Lieut.-Colonel +Ben Morgan (wounded), Major Charles W. Friend + 107th Ohio, Captain John M. Lutz + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. VON STEINWEHR + _First Brigade_.--Colonel CHARLES R. COSTER + 27th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Lorenz Cantador + 73d Pennsylvania, Captain Daniel F. Kelly + 134th New York, Colonel Charles R. Coster, Lieut.-Colonel +Allan H. Jackson + 154th New York, Colonel Patrick H. Jones + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel ORLANDO SMITH + 33d Massachusetts, Lieut.-Colonel Adin B. Underwood + 136th New York, Colonel James Wood, Jr. + 55th Ohio, Colonel Charles B. Gambee + 73d Ohio, Colonel Orlando Smith, Lieut.-Colonel Richard Long + THIRD DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL CARL SCHURZ PERMANENT COMMANDER. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALEXANDER SCHIMMELPFENNIG Commanding on July +1st. + _First Brigade_.--Brigadier-General A. VON SCHIMMELPFENNIG +(captured); Colonel GEORGE VON ARNSBURG. + 45th New York, Colonel G. Von Arnsburg, Lieut.-Colonel Adolpus +Dobke + 157th New York, Colonel Philip F. Brown, Jr. + 74th Pennsylvania, Colonel Adolph Von Hartung (wounded), +Lieut.-Colonel Von Mitzel (captured), Major Gustav Schleiter + 61st Ohio, Colonel S. J. McGroarty + 82d Illinois, Colonel J. Hecker + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel WALDIMIR KRYZANOWSKI + 58th New York, Colonel W. Kryzanowski, Lieut.-Colonel August +Otto, Captain Emil Koenig, Lieut.-Colonel Frederick Gellman + 119th New York, Colonel John T. Lockman, Lieut.-Colonel James +C. Rogers + 75th Pennsylvania, Colonel Francis Mahler (wounded), Major +August Ledig + 82d Ohio, Colonel James S. Robinson (wounded), Lieut.-Colonel +D. Thomson + 26th Wisconsin, Colonel Wm. H. Jacobs + _Artillery Brigade_.--Major THOMAS W. OSBORN + Battery L, 1st New York, Captain Michael Wiedrick + Battery I, 1st Ohio, Captain Hubert Dilger + Battery K, 1st Ohio, Captain Lewis Heckman + Battery G, 4th United States, Lieutenant Bayard Wilkinson +(killed), Lieutenant E. A. Bancroft + 13th New York, Lieutenant William Wheeler + +TWELFTH CORPS. +BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALPHEUS S. WILLIAMS + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS H. RUGER + _First Brigade_.--Colonel ARCHIBALD L. McDOUGALL + 5th Connecticut, Colonel Warren W. Packer + 20th Connecticut, Lieut.-Colonel William B. Wooster + 123d New York, Colonel A. L. McDougall, Lieut.-Colonel James +G. Rogers + 145th New York, Colonel E. L. Price + 46th Pennsylvania, Colonel James L. Selfridge + 3d Maryland, Colonel J. M. Sudsburg + _Second Brigade_.*--Brigadier-General HENRY H. LOCKWOOD + 150th New York, Colonel John H. Ketcham + 1st Maryland (P. H. B.), Colonel William P. Maulsby + 1st Maryland (E. S.), Colonel James Wallace +[* Unassigned during progress of battle; afterward attached to +First Division as Second Brigade.] + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel SILAS COLGROVE + 2d Massachusetts, Colonel Charles R. Mudge (killed), Lieut.- +Colonel Charles F. Morse + 107th New York, Colonel Miron M. Crane + 13th New Jersey, Colonel Ezra A. Carman (wounded), Lieut.- +Colonel John R. Fesler + 27th Indiana, Colonel Silas Colgrove, Lieut.-Colonel John R. +Fesler + 3d Wisconsin, Lieut.-Colonel Martin Flood + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN W. GEARY + _First Brigade_.--Colonel CHARLES CANDY + 28th Pennsylvania, Captain John Flynn + 147th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Arlo Pardee, Jr. + 5th Ohio, Colonel John H. Patrick + 7th Ohio, Colonel William R. Creighton + 29th Ohio, Captain W. F. Stevens (wounded), Captain Ed. Hays + 66th Ohio, Colonel C. Candy, Lieut.-Colonel Eugene Powell + _Second Brigade_.--(1) Colonel GEORGE A. COBHAM, JR.; (2) +Brigadier-General THOMAS L. KANE + 29th Pennsylvania, Colonel William Rickards + 100th Pennsylvania, Captain Fred. L. Gimber + 111th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas M. Walker, Lieut.- +Colonel Frank J. Osgood + _Third Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GEORGE S. GREENE + 60th New York, Colonel Abel Godard + 78th New York, Lieut.-Colonel Herbert Von Hammerstein + 102d New York, Lieut.-Colonel James C. Lane (wounded) + 137th New York, Colonel David Ireland + 149th New York, Colonel Henry A. Barnum, Lieut.-Colonel Charles +B. Randall + _Artillery Brigade_.--Lieutenant EDWARD D. MUHLENBERG + Battery F, 4th United States, Lieutenant E. D. Muhlenberg, +Lieutenant S. T. Rugg + Battery K, 5th United States, Lieutenant D. H. Kinsie + Battery M, 1st New York, Lieutenant Charles E. Winegar + Knap's Pennsylvania Battery, Lieutenant Charles Atwell + _Headquarter Guard_.--Battalion 10th Maine. + +CAVALRY CORPS. +MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED PLEASONTON + FIRST DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN BUFORD + _First Brigade_.--Colonel WILLIAM GAMBLE + 8th New York, Colonel Benjamin F. Davis + 8th Illinois, Colonel William Gamble, Lieut.-Colonel D. R. +Clendenin + two squadrons 12th Illinois, Colonel Amos Vos + three squadrons 3d Indiana, Colonel George H. Chapman + _Second Brigade_.--Colonel THOMAS C. DEVIN + 6th New York, Colonel Thomas C. Devin, Lieut.-Colonel William +H. Crocker + 9th New York, Colonel William Sackett + 17th Pennsylvania, Colonel J. H. Kellogg + 3d Virginia (detachment) + _Reserve Brigade_.--Brigadier-General WESLEY MERRITT + 1st United States, Captain R. S. C. Lord + 2d United States, Captain T. F. Rodenbough + 5th United States, Captain J. W. Mason + 6th United States, Major S. H. Starr (wounded), Captain G. +C. Cram + 6th Pennsylvania, Major James H. Hazeltine + SECOND DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL D. McM. GREGG + (HEADQUARTERS GUARD--Company A, 1st Ohio.) + _First Brigade_.--Colonel J. B. McINTOSH + 1st New Jersey, Major M. H. Beaumont + 1st Pennsylvania, Colonel John P. Taylor + 3d Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel Edward S. Jones + 1st Maryland, Lieut.-Colonel James M. Deems + 1st Massachusetts at Headquarters Sixth Corps. + _Second Brigade_.*--Colonel PENNOCK HUEY + 2d New York, 4th New York, 8th Pennsylvania, 6th Ohio. +[* Not engaged.] + _Third Brigade_.--Colonel J. I. GREGG + 1st Maine, Colonel Charles H. Smith + 10th New York, Major W. A. Avery + 4th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel W. E. Doster + 16th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel John K. Robison + THIRD DIVISION. + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JUDSON KILPATRICK + (HEADQUARTER GUARD--Company C, 1st Ohio.) + _First Brigade_.--(1) Brigadier-General E. J. FARNSWORTH; (2) +Colonel N. P. RICHMOND + 5th New York, Major John Hammond + 18th Pennsylvania, Lieut.-Colonel William P. Brinton + 1st Vermont, Colonel Edward D. Sawyer + 1st West Virginia, Colonel N. P. Richmond + _Second Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GEORGE A. CUSTER + 1st Michigan, Colonel Charles H. Town + 5th Michigan, Colonel Russell A. Alger + 6th Michigan, Colonel George Gray + 7th Michigan, Colonel Wm. D. Mann + HORSE ARTILLERY.* +[* A section of a battery attached to the Purnell Legion was with +Gregg on the 3d.] + _First Brigade_.--Captain JOHN M. ROBERTSON + Batteries B and L, 2d United States, Lieutenant Edw. Heaton + Battery M, 2d United States, Lieutenant A. C. M. Pennington + Battery E, 4th United States, Lieutenant S. S. Elder + 6th New York, Lieutenant Jos. W. Martin + 9th Michigan, Captain J. J. Daniels + Battery C, 3d United States, Lieutenant William D. Fuller + _Second Brigade_.--Captain JOHN C. TIDBALL + Batteries G and E, 1st United States, Captain A. M. Randol + Battery K, 1st United States, Captain Wm. M. Graham + Battery A, 2d United States, Lieutenant John H. Calef + Battery C, 3d United States + +ARTILLERY RESERVE. +(1) BRIGADIER-GENERAL R. O. TYLER (disabled) +(2) CAPTAIN JOHN M. ROBERTSON + _First Regular Brigade_.--Captain D. R. RANSOM (wounded) + Battery H, 1st United States, Lieutenant C. P. Eakin +(wounded) + Batteries F and K, 3d United States, Lieutenant J. C. +Turnbull + Battery C, 4th United States, Lieutenant Evan Thomas + Battery C, 5th United States, Lieutenant G. V. Weir + _First Volunteer Brigade_.--Lieut.-Colonel F. McGILVERY + 15th New York, Captain Patrick Hart + Independent Battery Pennsylvania, Captain R. B. Ricketts + 5th Massachusetts, Captain C. A. Phillips + 9th Massachusetts, Captain John Bigelow + _Second Volunteer Brigade_.--Captain E. D. TAFT + Battery B, 1st Connecticut;* + Battery M, 1st Connecticut;* + 5th New York, Captain Elijah D. Taft + 2d Connecticut, Lieutenant John W. Sterling +[* Not engaged.] + _Third Volunteer Brigade_.--Captain JAMES F. HUNTINGTON + Batteries F and G, 1st Pennsylvania, Captain R. B. Ricketts + Battery H, 1st Ohio, Captain Jas. F. Huntington + Battery A, 1st New Hampshire, Captain F. M. Edgell + Battery C, 1st West Virginia, Captain Wallace Hill + _Fourth Volunteer Brigade_.--Captain R. H. FITZHUGH + Battery B, 1st New York, Captain Jas. McRorty (killed) + Battery G, 1st New York, Captain Albert N. Ames + Battery K, 1st New York (11th Battery attached), Captain +Robt. H. Fitzhugh + Battery A, 1st Maryland, Captain Jas. H. Rigby + Battery A, 1st New Jersey, Lieutenant Augustin N. Parsons + 6th Maine, Lieutenant Edwin B. Dow + _Train Guard_.--Major CHARLES EWING Commanding. 4th New Jersey +Infantry. + _Headquarter Guard_.--Captain J. C. FULLER Commanding. Battery +C, 32d Massachusetts. + +DETACHMENTS AT HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. + _Command of the Provost-Marshal-General_.--Brigadier-General +M. B. PATRICK + 93d New York* + 8th United States* + 1st Massachusetts Cavalry + 2d Pennsylvania Cavalry + Batteries E and I, 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry + Detachment Regular Cavalry + United States Engineer Battalion,* Captain Geo. H. Mendel, +United States Engineers +[* Not engaged.] + _Guards and Orderlies_.--Captain D. P. MANN + Independent Company Oneida Cavalry. + + +APPENDIX B. +_Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, June 1, 1863._ + +GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE +_STAFF._ +COLONEL W. H. TAYLOR, Adjutant-General. + " C. S. VENABLE, A.D.C. + " CHARLES MARSHALL, A.D.C. + " JAMES L. CORLEY, Chief Quartermaster. + " R. G. COLE, Chief Commissary. + " B. G. BALDWIN, Chief of Ordnance. + " H. L. PEYTON, Assistant Inspector-General. +GENERAL W. N. PENDLETON, Chief of Artillery. +DOCTOR L. GUILD, Medical Director. +COLONEL W. PROCTOR SMITH, Chief Engineer. +MAJOR H. E. YOUNG, Assistant Adjutant-General. + " G. B. COOK, Assistant Inspector-General. + +FIRST CORPS. +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET + McLAWS' DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL L. McLAWS + _Kershaw's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. B. KERSHAW + 15th South Carolina, Colonel W. D. De Sausssure + 8th South Carolina, Colonel J. W. Mamminger + 2d South Carolina, Colonel John D. Kennedy + 3d South Carolina, Colonel James D. Nance + 7th South Carolina, Colonel D. Wyatt Aiken + 3d (James') Battalion South Carolina Infantry, + Lieut.-Colonel R. C. Rice. + _Benning's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General H. L. BENNING + 50th Georgia, Colonel W. R. Manning + 51st Georgia, Colonel W. M. Slaughter + 53d Georgia, Colonel James P. Somms + 10th Georgia, Lieut.-Colonel John B. Weems + _Barksdale's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General WM. BARKSDALE + 13th Mississippi, Colonel J. W. Carter + 17th Mississippi, Colonel W. D. Holder + 18th Mississippi, Colonel Thomas M. Griffin + 21st Mississippi, Colonel B. G. Humphreys + _Wofford's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General W. T. WOFFORD + 18th Georgia, Major E. Griffs + Phillips' Georgia Legion, Colonel W. M. Phillips + 24th Georgia, Colonel Robert McMillan + 16th Georgia, Colonel Goode Bryan + Cobb's Georgia Legion, Lieut.-Colonel L. D. Glewn + PICKETT'S DIVISION + MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE E. PICKETT COMMANDING. + _Garnett's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General R. B. GARNETT + 8th Virginia, Colonel Eppa Hunton + 18th Virginia, Colonel R. E. Withers + 19th Virginia, Colonel Henry Gantt + 28th Virginia, Colonel R. C. Allen + 56th Virginia, Colonel W. D. Stuart + _Armistead's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General L. A. ARMISTEAD + 9th Virginia, Lieut.-Colonel J. S. Gilliam + 14th Virginia, Colonel J. G. Hodges + 38th Virginia, Colonel E. C. Edmonds + 53d Virginia, Colonel John Grammer + 57th Virginia, Colonel J. B. Magruder + _Kemper's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. L. KEMPER + 1st Virginia, Colonel Lewis B. Williams, Jr. + 3d Virginia, Colonel Jospeh Mayo, Jr. + 7th Virginia, Colonel W. T. Patton + 11th Virginia, Colonel David Funston + 24th Virginia, Colonel W. R. Terry + _Toombs' Brigade_.--Brigadier-General R. TOOMBS + 2d Georgia, Colonel E. M. Butt + 15th Georgia, Colonel E. M. DuBose + 17th Georgia, Colonel W. C. Hodges + 20th Georgia, Colonel J. B. Cummings + _Corse's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General M. D. CORSE + 15th Virginia, Colonel T. P. August + 17th Virginia, Colonel Morton Marye + 30th Virginia, Colonel A. T. Harrison + 32d Virginia, Colonel E. B. Montague + HOOD'S DIVISION + MAJOR-GENERAL J. B. HOOD. + _Robertson's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. B. ROBERTSON + 1st Texas, Colonel A. T. Rainey + 4th Texas, Colonel J. C. G. Key + 5th Texas, Colonel R. M. Powell + 3d Arkansas, Colonel Van H. Manning + _Law's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General E. M. LAW + 4th Alabama, Colonel P. A. Bowls + 44th Alabama, Colonel W. H. Perry + 15th Alabama, Colonel James Canty + 47th Alabama, Colonel J. W. Jackson + 48th Alabama, Colonel J. F. Shepherd + _Anderson's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General G. T. ANDERSON + 10th Georgia Battalion, Major J. E. Rylander + 7th Georgia, Colonel W. M. White + 8th Georgia, Lieut.-Colonel J. R. Towers + 9th Georgia, Colonel B. F. Beck + 11th Georgia, Colonel F. H. Little + _Jenkins' Brigade_.--Brigadier-General M. JENKINS + 2d South Carolina Rifles, Colonel Thomas Thompson + 1st South Carolina, Lieut.-Colonel David Livingstone + 5th South Carolina, Colonel A. Coward + 6th South Carolina, Colonel John Bratton + Hampton's Legion, Colonel M. W. Gary + ARTILLERY OF THE FIRST CORPS. + COLONEL J. B. WALTON COMMANDING. + _Battalion_.--Colonel H. C. CABELL, Major HAMILTON + Batteries: McCarty's, Manly's, Carlton's, Fraser's. + _Battalion_.--Major DEARING + Batteries: Macon's, Blount's, Stribling's, Caskie's. + _Battalion_.--Major HENRY + Batteries: Bachman's, Rielly's, Latham's, Gordon's. + _Battalion_.--Colonel E. P. ALEXANDER, Major HUGER + Batteries: Jordan's, Rhett's, Moody's, Parker's, Taylor's. + _Battalion_.--Major ESHLEMAN + Batteries: Squires', Miller's, Richardson's, Norcom's. + Total number of guns, Artillery of the First Corps, 83. + +SECOND CORPS. +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL R. S. EWELL. + EARLY'S DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL J. A. EARLY + _Hays' Brigade_.--Brigadier-General H. S. HAYS + 5th Louisiana, Colonel Henry Forno + 6th Louisiana, Colonel William Monaghan + 7th Louisiana, Colonel D. B. Penn + 8th Louisiana, Colonel Henry B. Kelley + 9th Louisiana, Colonel A. L. Stafford + _Gordon's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General J. B. GORDON + 13th Georgia, Colonel J. M. Smith + 26th Georgia, Colonel E. N. Atkinson + 31st Georgia, Colonel C. A. Evans + 38th Georgia, Colonel W. H. Stiles + 61st Georgia, Colonel J. H. Lamar + _Smith's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General WILLIAM SMITH + 13th Virginia, Colonel J. E. B. Terrill + 31st Virginia, Colonel John S. Hoffman + 49th Virginia, Colonel Gibson + 52d Virginia, Colonel Skinner + 58th Virginia, Colonel F. H. Board + _Hoke's Brigade_.--Colonel J. E. AVERY Commanding (General R. +F. HOKE being absent, wounded) + 5th North Carolina, Colonel J. E. Avery + 21st North Carolina, Colonel W. W. Kirkland + 54th North Carolina, Colonel J. C. T. McDowell + 57th North Carolina, Colonel A. C. Godwin + 1st North Carolina Battalion, Major R. H. Wharton + RODES' DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL R. E. RODES + _Daniel's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General JUNIUS DANIEL + 32d North Carolina, Colonel E. C. Brabble + 43d North Carolina, Colonel Thomas S. Keenan + 45th North Carolina, Lieut.-Colonel Saml. H. Boyd + 53d North Carolina, Colonel W. A. Owens + 2d North Carolina Battalion, Lieut.-Colonel H. S. Andrew + _Doles' Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GEORGE DOLES + 4th Georgia, Lieut.-Colonel D. R. E. Winn + 12th Georgia, Colonel Edward Willis + 21st Georgia, Colonel John T. Mercer + 44th Georgia, Colonel S. P. Lumpkin + _Iverson's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General ALFRED IVERSON + 5th North Carolina, Captain S. B. West + 12th North Carolina, Lieut.-Colonel W. S. Davis + 20th North Carolina, Lieut.-Colonel N. Slough + 23d North Carolina, Colonel D. H. Christie + _Ramseur's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General S. D. RAMSEUR + 2d North Carolina, Major E. W. Hurt + 4th North Carolina, Colonel Bryan Grimes + 14th North Carolina, Colonel R. T. Bennett + 30th North Carolina, Colonel F. M. Parker + _Rodes' Brigade_.--Colonel E. A. O'NEILL + 3d Alabama, Colonel C. A. Battle + 5th Alabama, Colonel J. M. Hall + 6th Alabama, Colonel J. N. Lightfoot + 12th Alabama, Colonel S. B. Pickens + 26th Alabama, Lieut.-Colonel J. C. Goodgame + JOHNSON'S DIVISION. + MAJOR-GENERAL ED. JOHNSON + _Steuart's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General GEO. H. STEUART + 10th Virginia, Colonel E. T. H. Warren + 23d Virginia, Colonel A. G. Taliaferro + 27th Virginia, Colonel T. V. Williams + 1st North Carolina, Colonel J. A. McDowell + 3d North Carolina, Lieut.-Colonel Thurston + _"Stonewall" Brigade_.--Brigadier-General JAMES A. WALKER + 2d Virginia, Colonel J. Q. A. Nadenbousch + 4th Virginia, Colonel Charles A. Ronald + 5th Virginia, Colonel J. H. S. Funk + 27th Virginia, Colonel J. K. Edmondson + 33d Virginia, Colonel F. M. Holladay + _Jones' Brigade_.--Brigadier-General JOHN M. JONES + 21st Virginia, Captain Moseley + 43d Virginia, Lieut.-Colonel Withers + 44th Virginia, Captain Buckner + 48th Virginia, Colonel T. S. Garnett + 50th Virginia, Colonel Vanderventer + _Nicholls' Brigade_.--Colonel J. M. WILLIAMS Commanding (General +F. T. NICHOLLS being absent, wounded) + 1st Louisiana, Colonel William R. Shirers + 2d Louisiana, Colonel J. M. Williams + 10th Louisiana, Colonel E. Waggaman + 14th Louisiana, Colonel Z. York + 15th Louisiana, Colonel Edward Pendleton + ARTILLERY OF THE SECOND CORPS. + COLONEL S. CRUTCHFIELD + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel THOMAS H. CARTER, Major CARTER M. +BRAXTON + Batteries: Page's, Fry's, Carter's, Reese's. + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel H. P. JONES, Major BROCKENBOROUGH + Batteries: Carrington's, Garber's, Thompson's, Tanner's. + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel S. ANDREWS, Major LATIMER + Batteries: Brown's, Dermot's, Carpenter's, Raine's. + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel NELSON, Major PAGE + Batteries: Kirkpatrick's, Massie's, Millege's. + _Battalion_.--Colonel J. T. BROWN, Major HARDAWAY + Batteries: Dance's, Watson's, Smith's, Huff's, Graham's. + Total number of guns, Artillery of the Second Corps, 82. + +THIRD CORPS. +LIEUT.-GENERAL A. P. HILL + R. H. ANDERSON'S DIVISION. + _Wilcox's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General C. M. WILCOX + 8th Alabama, Colonel T. L. Royster + 9th Alabama, Colonel S. Henry + 10th Alabama, Colonel W. H. Forney + 11th Alabama, Colonel J. C. C. Saunders + 14th Alabama, Colonel L. F. Pinkhard + _Mahone's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General WILLIAM MAHONE + 6th Virginia, Colonel G. T. Rogers + 12th Virginia, Colonel D. A. Weisiger + 16th Virginia, Lieut.-Colonel Joseph H. Ham + 41st Virginia, Colonel W. A. Parham + 61st Virginia, Colonel V. D. Groner + _Posey's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General CARNOT POSEY + 46th Mississippi, Colonel Jos. Jayne + 16th Mississippi, Colonel Saml. E. Baker + 19th Mississippi, Colonel John Mullins + 12th Mississippi, Colonel W. H. Taylor + _Wright's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General A. R. WRIGHT + 2d Georgia Battalion, Major G. W. Ross + 3d Georgia, Colonel E. J. Walker + 22d Georgia, Colonel R. H. Jones + 48th Georgia, Colonel William Gibson + _Perry's Brigade_.--Brigadier-General E. A. PERRY + 2d Florida, Lieut.-Colonel S. G. Pyles + 5th Florida, Colonel J. C. Hately + 8th Florida, Colonel David Long + HETH'S DIVISION + _First, Pettigrew's Brigade_.--42d, 11th, 26th, 44th, 47th, +53d, and 17th North Carolina. + _Second, Field's Brigade_.--40th, 55th, and 47th Virginia. + _Third, Archer's Brigade_.--1st, 7th, and 14th Tennessee, and +13th Alabama. + _Fourth, Cook's Brigade_.--15th, 27th, 46th, and 48th North +Carolina. + _Fifth, Davis' Brigade_.--2d, 11th, 42d Mississippi, and 55th +N. Carolina. + PENDER'S DIVISION + _First, McGowan's Brigade_.--1st, 12th, 13th, and 14th North +Carolina. + _Second, Lane's Brigade_.--7th, 18th, 28th, 33d, and 37th +Georgia. + _Third, Thomas' Brigade_.--14th, 35th, 45th, and 49th Georgia. + _Fourth, Pender's Old Brigade_.--13th, 16th, 22d, 34th, and +38th North Carolina. + ARTILLERY OF THE THIRD CORPS. + Colonel R. LINDSEY WALKER + _Battalion_.--Major D. G. McINTOSH, Major W. F. POAGUE + Batteries: Hurt's, Rice's, Luck's, Johnson's. + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel GARNETT, Major RICHARDSON + Batteries: Lewis', Maurin's, Moore's, Grandy's. + _Battalion_.--Major CUTSHAW + Batteries: Wyatt's, Woolfolk's, Brooke's. + _Battalion_.--Major WILLIE P. PEGRAM + Batteries: Brunson's, Davidson's, Crenshaw's, McGraw's, +Marye's. + _Battalion_.--Lieut.-Colonel CUTTS, Major LANE + Batteries: Wingfield's, Ross', Patterson's. + Total number of guns, Artillery of the Third Corps, 83. +Total number of guns, Army of Northern Virginia, 248. + +LIEUT.-GENERAL J. E. B. STUART'S CAVALRY CORPS. + Brigadier-General Wade Hampton's Brigade. + Brigadier-General Fitz Hugh Lee's Brigade. + Brigadier-General W. H. F. Lee's Brigade, under Colonel Chambliss. + Brigadier-General B. H. Robertson's Brigade. + Brigadier-General William E. Jones' Brigade. + Brigadier-General J. D. Imboden's Brigade. + Brigadier-General A. G. Jenkins' Brigade. + Colonel White's Battalion. + Baker's Brigade. +[NOTE.--The regimental roster of this Cavalry Corps is unfortunately +unobtainable.] + + +INDEX. [omitted] + + +MESSRS. CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS +are publishing, under the general title of THE +CAMPAIGNS OF THE CIVIL WAR +a series of volumes, contributed at their solicitation by a number +of leading actors in and students of the great conflict of 1861- +'65, with a view to bringing together, for the first time, a full +and authoritative military history of the suppression of the +Rebellion. + + +The final and exhaustive form of this great narrative, in which +every doubt shall be settled and every detail covered, may be a +possibility only of the future. But it is a matter for surprise +that twenty years after the beginning of the Rebellion, and when +a whole generation has grown up needing such knowledge, there is +no authority which is at the same time of the highest rank, +intelligible and trustworthy, and to which a reader can turn for +any general view of the field--for a strong, vivid, concise by +truly proportioned story of the great salient events. + +The many reports, regimental histories, memoirs, and other materials +of value for special passages, require, for their intelligent +reading, an ability to combine and proportion them which the ordinary +reader does not possess. There have been no attempts at general +histories which have supplied this satisfactorily to any large part +of the public. Undoubtedly there has been no such narrative as +would be especially welcome to men of the new generation, and would +be valued by a very great class of readers;--and there has seemed +to be great danger that the time would be allowed to pass when it +would be possible to give to such a work the vividness and accuracy +that come from personal recollection. These facts led to the +conception of the present work. + +From every department of the Government, from the officers of the +army, and from a great number of custodians of records and special +information everywhere, both authors and publishers have received +every aid that could be asked in this undertaking; and in announcing +the issue of the work the publishers take this occasion to convey +the thanks which the authors have had individual opportunities to +express elsewhere. + + +The volumes of the series will be duodecimos of about 250 pages +each, illustrated by maps and plans prepared under the direction +of the authors. They will appear, as far as possible, in the +chronological order of the Campaigns of which they treat; and by +their preliminary and concluding chapters will be so far connected +that the completed work will practically cover the entire field of +the war. + +The price of each volume will be $1.00. + + +_The following volumes are now ready:_ + +I.--THE OUTBREAK OF THE REBELLION. By JOHN G. NICOLAY, Esq., +Private Secretary to President Lincoln; late Consul-General to +France, etc. + +A preliminary volume, describing the opening of the war, and covering +the period from the election of Lincoln to the end of the first +battle of Bull Run. + +II.--FROM FORT HENRY TO CORINTH. By the Hon. M. F. FORCE, Justice +of the Superior Court, Cincinnati; late Brigadier-General and Bvt. +Maj. Gen'l, U.S.V., commanding First Division, 17th Corps: In +1862, Lieut. Colonel of the 20th Ohio, commanding the regiment at +Shiloh; Treasurer of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. + +The narrative of events in the West from the Summer of 1861 to May, +1862; covering the capture of Fts. Henry and Donelson, the Battle +of Shiloh, etc., etc. + +III.--THE PENINSULA. By ALEXANDER S. WEBB., LL.D., President of +the College of the City of New York; Assistant Chief of Artillery, +Army of the Potomac, 1861-'62; Inspector General Fifth Army Corps; +General commanding 2d Div., 2d Corps; Major General Assigned, and +Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac. + +The history of McClellan's Peninsula Campaign, from his appointment +to the end of the Seven Days' Fight. + +IV.--THE ARMY UNDER POPE. By JOHN C. ROPES, Esq., of the Military +Historical Society of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Historical +Society, etc. + +From the appointment of Pope to command the Army of Virginia, to +the appointment of McClellan to the general command in September, +1862. + +V.--THE ANTIETAM AND FREDERICKSBURG. By FRANCIS WINTHROP PALFREY, +Bvt. Brigadier Gen'l, U.S.V., and formerly Colonel 20th Mass. +Infantry; Lieut. Col. of the 20th Massachusetts at the battle of +the Antietam; Member of Military Historical Society of Massachusetts, +of the Massachusetts Historical Society, etc. + +From the appointment of McClellan to the general command, Sept. +1862, to the end of the battle of Fredericksburg. + +VI.--CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG. By ABNER DOUBLEDAY, Bvt. +Maj. Gen'l, U.S.A., and Maj. Gen'l, U.S.V.; commanding the First +Corps at Gettysburg, etc. + +From the appointment of Hooker, through the campaigns of Chancellorsville +and Gettysburg, to the retreat of Lee after the latter battle. + +VII.--THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. By HENRY M. CIST, Brevet Brig. +Gen'l U.S.V.; A.A.G. on the staff of Major Gen'l Rosecrans, and +afterwards on that of Major Gen'l Thomas; Corresponding Secretary +of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland. + +From the formation of the Army of the Cumberland to the end of the +battles at Chattanooga, November, 1863. + +IX.--THE CAMPAIGN OF ATLANTA. By the Hon. JACOB D. COX, Ex-Governor +of Ohio; late Secretary of the Interior of the United States; Major +General U.S.V., commanding Twenty-third Corps during the campaigns +of Atlanta and the Carolinas, etc., etc. + +From Sherman's first advance into Georgia in May, 1864, to the +beginning of the March to the Sea. + +X.--THE MARCH TO THE SEA.--FRANKLIN AND NASHVILLE. By the Hon. +JACOB D. COX. + +From the beginning of the March to the Sea to the Surrender of +Johnston--including also the operations of Thomas in Tennessee. + + +The following volumes, now preparing for early publication, will +complete the series: + +VIII.--THE MISSISSIPPI. By FRANCIS VINTON GREENE, Lieut. of +Engineers, U. S. Army; late Military Attache to the U. S. Legation +in St. Petersburg; Author of "The Russian Army and its Campaigns +in Turkey in 1877-78," and of "Army Life in Russia." + +An account of the operations--especially at Vicksburg and Port +Hudson--by which the Mississippi River and its shores were restored +to the control of the Union. + +XI.--THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY in 1864. The Campaign of Sheridan. By +GEORGE E. POND, Esq., Associate Editor of the _Army and Navy +Journal_. + +XII.--THE CAMPAIGNS OF GRANT IN VIRGINIA. By ANDREW A. HUMPHREYS, +Brigadier General and Bvt. Major General, U.S.A.; late Chief of +Engineers; Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac, 1863-'64; commanding +Second Corps, 1864-'65, etc., etc. + +Covering the Virginia Campaigns of 1864 and '65, to Lee's surrender. + + +[Asterism] _The above books for sale by all booksellers, or will +be sent, post-paid, upon receipt of price by_ + + CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, + 743 AND 745 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. + + +Transcriber's note: + + Footnotes follow the paragraph in which they are referenced. + + Small caps have been set as caps. + + Regimental numbers, which were all spelled out in the text (but + not the Appendixes), have been converted to numerals. + + Personal names have been corrected, place names have not when they + could be a contemporary variant. The possessives ending in "s's" + or "s'" have been made uniformly the latter. + + The Appendixes have been rearranged from paragraph to tabular style; + the words "Commanding" and "Regiment" have been deleted when + possible. It seems that the end of Appendix B was originally + shortened to fit the signature. + + LoC call number: E468.C2 v.6 + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, by Abner Doubleday + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG *** + +***** This file should be named 20762.txt or 20762.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/7/6/20762/ + +Produced by Ed Ferris + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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