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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ae024c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52121 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52121) diff --git a/old/52121-8.txt b/old/52121-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ed882e0..0000000 --- a/old/52121-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8874 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer, by -Gilbert Moxley Sorrel - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer - -Author: Gilbert Moxley Sorrel - -Contributor: John W. Daniel - -Release Date: May 22, 2016 [EBook #52121] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RECOLLECTIONS--CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - RECOLLECTIONS OF A - CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER - - - [Illustration: - Very truly yrs - Gill Sorrell] - - - - -RECOLLECTIONS OF A CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER - - BY - GEN. G. MOXLEY SORREL - - _Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff, Longstreet's 1st - Army Corps_; _Brigadier-General commanding - Sorrel's Brigade, A. P. Hill's 3rd - Army Corps, Army of Northern - Virginia_ - - SECOND EDITION - - [Illustration] - - WITH INTRODUCTION BY - - SENATOR JOHN W. DANIEL - - THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY - 440 FOURTH AVENUE YORK - 1917 - - - - - Copyright, 1905, by - THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY - - - - - _TO MY WIFE_ - - _This Volume is affectionately_ - - _DEDICATED_ - - _In illness and tedious convalescence it was she who suggested - these reminiscences of the past, as a solace, - giving me cheerful encouragement and material - assistance in their preparation, for which - my grateful thanks are ever hers._ - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - Introduction 13 - - CHAPTER - - I Battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861 23 - - II After Manassas at Centerville 35 - - III Reminiscences and Horses 45 - - IV Sketches 53 - - V Our National Hymn 61 - - VI The Peninsula and Battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862 65 - - VII Battle of Seven Pines, May 31, 1862 71 - - VIII Battles of the Chickahominy, June 26 to July 2, 1862 76 - - IX Rivalry and More Reminiscences 87 - - X Second Battle of Manassas, August 29 and 30, 1862 94 - - XI Battles of South Mountain (Boonsboro Gap) and - Sharpsburg (Antietam), September 14 and 17, 1862 103 - - XII Battle of Sharpsburg, Continued 110 - - XIII Battle of Sharpsburg, Concluded 115 - - XIV Our Personnel--Visitors 120 - - XV The Staff 124 - - XVI Events Preceding Fredericksburg 129 - - XVII Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862 136 - - XVIII After Fredericksburg--Reminiscences 143 - - XIX To South Virginia for Supplies 150 - - XX Preparing for Gettysburg 156 - - XXI Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 2, 3, 1863 163 - - XXII Gettysburg Aftermath 173 - - XXIII In Virginia Again 179 - - XXIV Longstreet to Reinforce Bragg 184 - - XXV Battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863 188 - - XXVI Chattanooga--Incidents 195 - - XXVII The East Tennessee Campaign, November, 1863, to - April, 1864 204 - - XXVIII The East Tennessee Campaign, Continued 212 - - XXIX At Home in Savannah--Sketches 220 - - XXX Battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864 228 - - XXXI Coincidences--Longstreet's Successor 240 - - XXXII Battle of Spottsylvania C. H., May 10 and 12, and - Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864 244 - - XXXIII The siege of Petersburg June, 1864, to March, 1865 254 - - XXXIV Longstreet's Return--Farewell to Lee 265 - - Appendix 283 - - - - -RECOLLECTIONS OF A CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER - - - - -INTRODUCTION - -BY - -JOHN W. DANIEL - -_Formerly Major and Assistant Adjutant-General Early's Division, Second -Corps, A. N. V._ - - -A few months ago I entered a room where a group of five or six -gentlemen were seated around a table in conversation. As I took my seat -to join them, one of the number, a distinguished Northern Senator, of -high cultivation and who is a great reader of history, made this remark -to his companions: "The Army of Northern Virginia was in my opinion the -strongest body of men of equal numbers that ever stood together upon -the earth." As an ex-Confederate soldier I could not feel otherwise -than pleased to hear such an observation from a gentleman of the North -who was a student of military history. As the conversation continued -there seemed to be a general concurrence in the opinion he stated, and -I doubt if any man of intelligence who would give sedate consideration -to the subject, would express a different sentiment. - -The Army of the Potomac, the valiant and powerful antagonist of the -Army of Northern Virginia, was indeed of much larger numbers, and -better equipped and fed; but it would have nevertheless failed but -for its high quality of soldiership which are by none more respected -than by its former foes. Both armies were worthy of any steel that was -ever forged for the business of war, and when General Grant in his -"Memoirs" describes the meeting after the surrender of the officers of -both sides around the McLean House, he says that they seemed to "enjoy -the meeting as much as though they had been friends separated for a -long time while fighting battles under the same flag." He prophesied in -his last illness that "we are on the eve of a new era when there is to -be great harmony between the Federal and Confederate." - -That era came to meridian when the Federal Government magnanimously -returned to the States of the South the captured battle-flags of their -regiments. The story of the war will be told no longer at soldiers' -camp-fires with the feelings of bygone years, or with even stifled -reproach, but solely with a design to cultivate friendship and to -unfold the truth as to one of the most stupendous conflicts of arms -that ever evoked the heroism of the human race. - -"Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer," by Brigadier-General -G. Moxley Sorrel, of the Army of Northern Virginia, is a valuable -contribution to this great history. Its author received his "baptism -of fire" in the First Battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861, while serving -on the staff of Brigadier-General James Longstreet as a volunteer aid, -with the complimentary rank of captain. - -The forces under General Beauregard at Bull Run were known at that -time as "The Army of the Potomac." The name of the antagonist of the -Federal "Army of the Potomac" was soon changed to the "Army of Northern -Virginia"; and Longstreet, the senior brigadier, became major-general -and then lieutenant-general. - -Sorrel followed the fortunes of his chief, serving as adjutant-general -of his brigade, division, and corps, with rank successively as captain, -major, and lieutenant-colonel, and distinguished himself many times by -his gallantry and efficiency. During the siege of Petersburg the tardy -promotion which he had long deserved and for which he had been time -and again recommended, came to him and he succeeded Brigadier-General -Girardey, a gallant soldier, who had been killed in battle, as -commander of a brigade in Mahone's division, A. P. Hill's Third Corps. - -When promoted he showed the right spirit by making a faithful and -brave courier his aide-de-camp. As a general, as well as while on the -staff, Sorrel often had his "place near the flashing of the guns." At -Sharpsburg he leaped from his horse, with Fairfax, Goree, Manning, and -Walton, of Longstreet's staff, to serve as cannoneers at the guns of -the Washington Artillery, whose soldiers had been struck down. While he -was carrying a message to a brigade commander his horse was shot under -him, and still later on the same field a fragment of a shell struck -him senseless and he was for a while disabled. He passed through the -maelstrom of Gettysburg, here and there upon that field of blood; the -hind legs of his horse were swept away by a cannon ball, and at the -same time he and Latrobe, of Longstreet's staff, were carrying in their -arms saddles taken from horses slain under them. - -At the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, he was at the side of his chief when -that officer was badly wounded, and when General Jenkins, of South -Carolina, and Captain Dobie of the staff were killed. He won his -general's wreath that day, although it was some time before it reached -him. At the crisis when Longstreet's corps was going to the rescue he -was entrusted with marshalling three brigades to flank the advancing -forces of General Hancock. Moving forward with the line of the Twelfth -Virginia Infantry, of Mahone's brigade, he endeavored to take its -colors as it advanced to the onset, but Ben May, the stout-hearted -standard-bearer, refused him that honor and himself carried them to -victory. When this battle was over General Lee saluted him as "General -Sorrel." - -He was wounded in the leg while commanding his brigade on the right -of the Confederate line near Petersburg; and again he was shot in the -lungs at Hatcher's Run in January, 1865, the same action in which fell -the brave General John Pegram, then commanding Early's old division. - -During the illness resulting from this wound, General Sorrel was cared -for by relatives in Roanoke County, Virginia, and having recovered -sufficiently returned to the field. He was in Lynchburg, Virginia, on -his way back to his command when the surrender at Appomattox ended the -career of the Army of Northern Virginia. - -Scarcely any figure in that army was more familiar to its soldiers than -that of General Sorrel, and certainly none more so to the soldiers of -the First Corps. Tall, slender, and graceful, with a keen dark eye, a -trim military figure, and an engaging countenance, he was a dashing and -fearless rider, and he attracted attention in march and battle by his -constant devotion to his duties as adjutant-general, and became as well -known as any of the commanders. - -General Sorrel has not attempted a military history. He has simply -related the things he saw and of which he was a part. He says of his -writings, "that they are rough jottings from memory without access to -any data or books of reference and with little attempt at sequence." -What his book will therefore lack in the precision and detail as -to military strategy or movement, will be compensated for by the -naturalness and freshness which are found in the free, picturesque, and -salient character of his work. - -General Sorrel was of French descent on his father's side. His -grandfather, Antoine Sorrel Des Riviere, had been a colonel of -engineers in the French Army, and afterwards held estates in San -Domingo, from which he was driven by the insurrection of the negroes in -the early part of the nineteenth century. He then moved to Louisiana. - -His father, Francis Sorrel, became a successful business man in -Savannah, Georgia, and his mother was a lady of Virginia. If he -inherited from one those distinctively American qualities which were so -attractive in his character, we can but fancy that he inherited in some -degree at least from his sire the delicate touch with the pen which is -so characteristic of the French. They have written more entertaining -memoirs than any other people, and this memoir of General Sorrel is -full of sketches, incidents, anecdotes, and of vivid portraitures and -scenes which remind the reader no little of the military literature of -the French. - -No military writer has yet undertaken to produce a complete history -of either the Army of the Potomac or the Army of Northern Virginia. -Indeed, it has scarce been practicable to write such a history. The -rolls of the two armies have not yet been published, and while the War -Records have furnished a great body of most valuable matter and there -are many volumes of biography and autobiography which shed light on -campaigns and battles, the deposit of historical material will not be -finished before the whole generation who fought the war has passed from -earth. This volume will be useful to the historian in giving him an -insight to the very image and body of the times. It will carry him to -the general's headquarters and from there to the picket-line; from the -kitchen camp-fire and baking-oven to the hospital and ordnance wagon; -from the devices of the commissary and quarter-master to the trenches -in the battlefield; from the long march to the marshalled battle line; -from the anxieties of the rear-guard of the retreat to the stern array -of the charging columns. He will find some graphic accounts of leading -characters, such as Longstreet, Ewell, D. H. Hill, A. P. Hill, Jeb -Stuart, Early, Anderson, Mahone, Van Dorn, Polk, Bragg, and many others -who shone in the lists of the great tourney. The private soldier is -justly recognized, and appears in his true light all along the line, of -which he was the enduring figure. Lee, great and incomparable, shines -as he always does, in the endearing majesty of his matchless character -and genius. - -General Sorrel's book is written in the temper and spirit which we -might expect of the accomplished and gallant soldier that he was. It is -without rancor, as he himself declares, and it is without disposition -unduly to exalt one personage or belittle another. It bespeaks the -catholic mind of an honest man. It tells things as he saw them, and he -was one who did his deed from the highest and purest motives. - -The staff of the Army of Northern Virginia (of which G. M. Sorrel, -assistant adjutant-general, was a bright, particular star) was for -the most part an improvised affair, as for the most part was the -whole Confederate Army, and indeed the Federal Army was almost as -much so. It showed, as did the line of civilians turned quickly into -soldiers, the aptitude of our American people for military service and -accomplishment. Even the younger officers of military training were -needed in armies of raw and inexperienced recruits for many commands. -The staff had to be made up for the most part of alert young men, some -of them yet in their teens, and it is remarkable that they were so -readily found and so well performed their duties. - -At twenty-two years of age Sorrel was a clerk in a Savannah bank, and -a private in a volunteer company of Savannah. He slipped away from his -business to see the bombardment of Fort Sumter in April, 1861, and a -little later we then find him at his father's country estate some ten -miles from Manassas Junction, looking forward to a second lieutenancy -as the fulfilment of his then ambition. - -An introduction from Col. Thomas Jordan, the adjutant-general of -Beauregard, to General Longstreet fixed his career with that officer, -and he was by his side transacting his business and carrying his -orders from the start to well-nigh the finish. On the Peninsula, and -in the trenches at Yorktown, at Williamsburg and Seven Pines, in the -Seven Days Battle around Richmond, at Second Manassas and Sharpsburg, -at Suffolk in southeast Virginia, at Gettysburg, Chickamauga, at -Knoxville, at the Wilderness, and in many combats along the Richmond -and Petersburg lines, General Sorrel shared in many adventures and was -a part of many matters of great pith and moment. Like Sandy Pendleton, -the adjutant of Jackson, of Ewell, and of Early as commanders of the -Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, and like W. H. Palmer, -of Richmond, the adjutant of A. P. Hill, he had no special preparation -for his military career; and all three of these valuable officers, like -many others who might be mentioned, are simply illustrations of the -fine inherent qualities that pertain to the scions of a free people. - -I have not written this introduction in the hope that I could add -anything to the attractiveness of General Sorrel's recollections, -nor have I undertaken to edit them or to pass upon the opinions -which he expressed concerning men or things or battles. My part is -simply that of a friend who belonged also to the staff of the Army -of Northern Virginia, and of one who, from opportunities to observe -General Sorrel on many occasions and to know him personally, learned to -honor and admire him. I deem it fitting, however, to say that in some -respects I differ from General Sorrel's opinions and would vary some -of his observations respecting Ewell, Stuart, Early, and a few other -conspicuous leaders. - -"Fortunate indeed is the man who like General Sorrel is entitled to -remind those around his death-bed that he did his best to do his duty -and to serve his country with heart and soul. The records of his life -tell us how well, how faithfully he did serve her, and if anything can -console you and others for his loss it must be that fact." - -These are the words of Field Marshal Wolseley, written to Mrs. Sorrel, -the widow of the General upon his death at "The Barrens" near Roanoke, -Va., the home of his brother, Dr. Francis Sorrel. - -They are worthy of repetition in connection with General Sorrel's -name by reason of their just estimate of his worth as a patriot and a -soldier, and of the high spirit which they breathe; and that they are -uttered by a soldier and a man of such character and ability as Field -Marshal Wolseley impresses all the more their inherent merit. - -They better introduce the volume of General Sorrel's composition than -anything I can say, for they reveal in short compass the nature of the -man, the principle that actuated his life, and the estimate formed of -him by an eminent soldier who had no partial relation to him or his -deeds. - - JOHN W. DANIEL. - - WASHINGTON, D. C., May 1, 1905. - - - - -RECOLLECTIONS OF A CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER - - - - -CHAPTER I - -BATTLE OF MANASSAS, JULY 21, 1861 - - Forbears and Home at Savannah--Fort Sumter attacked--Hostilities - begin--Leave for Virginia--Visit to my father--Beauregard's - camp at Manassas--Colonel Jordan--Introduced to General - Longstreet--Sketch--General Stuart--General Johnston--The - battle--Enemy defeated--Pursuit stopped--March to - Centerville--Stonewall Jackson--Prince Napoleon--the review--Colonel - Skinner--His Exploits. - - -My forbears were French on my father's side. His father, Antoine -Sorrel des Riviere, Colonel du Genie (Engineer Corps) in the French -Army, was on his estates in the island of San Domingo when the bloody -insurrection of the blacks broke out at the opening of the century. -He had the tragic horror of witnessing the massacre of many relatives -and friends. His property was destroyed, and his life barely saved by -concealment and flight to Cuba, thence to Louisiana, where a refuge was -found among friendly kindred. There he died at a great age. - -His son Francis, my father, was saved from the rage of bloodthirsty -blacks by the faithful devotion of the household slaves, and some -years later succeeded in reaching Maryland, where he was educated. He -married in Virginia, engaging in business in the early part of the -century at Savannah, Georgia. - -My maternal great-grandfather, Alvin Moxley, was from Westmoreland -County, Virginia. He was one of the signers of what is known as the -Richard Henry Lee Bill of Rights, 1765, the first recorded protest in -America against taxation without representation, and which twelve years -later led directly to the Revolutionary War. The original document is -now preserved and framed in the Virginia Historical Society at Richmond. - -Death bereft my father of his wife in time's flight. An eminent -merchant, successful and prominent, we find him in the Civil War in -health and ease, happy in the love of many children and the esteem -of hosts of friends. As a child he had seen some horrors of the -insurrection, but never could he be persuaded to speak of them, so deep -and painful were even their distant memories. At the culmination of the -political troubles in 1861 I was a young chap just twenty-two, at home -in my native city, Savannah, peacefully employed with the juniors of -the banking force of the Central Railroad. - -When Sumter was bombarded at Charleston in April, I slipped away for a -day or two and witnessed the scenes of wild excitement that attended -its fall. It spread everywhere, and like all the youth of the country -I was quickly drawn in. For a year or two before, like many of my -associates in Savannah, I was a member, a private, of the Georgia -Hussars, a fine volunteer cavalry company, with a creditable history of -almost a century. - -On the secession of Georgia, now soon following, Fort Pulaski was -seized and the various military commands did their tour of duty there, -the Hussars among them. - -This was my first service. The company also immediately offered itself -to the Confederate Government just organized at Montgomery, Alabama, -and was eager to get into the field; but delay ensued, although it was -mustered in for thirty days' service on the coast of Skidaway Island, -near Savannah. There I served again as private until mustered out. A -Confederate army was being collected in Virginia under Beauregard, the -capital having been settled in Richmond. Becoming impatient of inaction -at Savannah, our company apparently not being wanted, I decided to go -to Virginia and seek employment there. - -Richmond looked like a camp when I arrived, in July. It was full of -officers in their smart uniforms, all busy with their duties, and the -greatest efforts were made for equipping and arming the men now pouring -in from the South. They were posted first in camps of instruction, -where, by means of younger officers, they attained some drill before -being sent to the army. How happy should I be could I get a commission -as second lieutenant and plunge into work with the men. - -My brother, Dr. Francis Sorrel, had just arrived from California and -was gazetted to a high position in the Surgeon-General's Department. -He aided me all possible, but I got nothing, and so about July 15, my -cash running down, betook myself to my father's pretty country place -at Greenwich, about ten miles north of Warrenton, Fauquier County. -It was also about ten miles from Manassas Junction, the headquarters -of General Beauregard, now in command of the army that was to fight -McDowell and defend Richmond. My father said it was unfortunate -I had not come a day or two earlier, because he had driven his -daughters across the country for a visit to the camps, where they met -many friends. Among these was Col. Thomas Jordon, the all-powerful -adjutant-general of Beauregard's army, then termed the Army of the -Potomac. Many years before, Jordon, when a lieutenant, had been -stationed in Savannah, and enjoyed my father's generous hospitality. -This was my opportunity. - -I asked for just a few lines of introduction to Jordon, and a horse out -of the stables. I knew them well and could get a good mount for the -field. My dear father willingly acceded, and parted from me cheerfully -but with moist eyes. On the way to the camp I came up with Meredith, a -relation (not long ago United States Congressman from Virginia), and -soon I found Colonel Jordon. He had been doing an enormous amount of -work and was almost exhausted. - -Jordon was considered a brilliant staff officer, and justly so; but -there appeared something lacking in his make-up as a whole that -disappointed his friends. At all events, his subsequent military career -failed and he sank out of prominent notice. He was kind to me, read my -note, said nothing could be done then; but--"Come again to-morrow." - -This turned me loose in the camp. The soldiers from the Valley under J. -E. Johnston and J. E. B. Stuart began to make an appearance in small -numbers, principally cavalry. We slept that night at Meredith's, about -three miles from camp. Jordon, the next day, was still unable to do -anything for me, and I began to be doubtful of success, but could at -least go as a private with a good horse under me. - -Again at Meredith's and awakened very early by cannon, we were up in a -moment and galloping to Beauregard's. - -There I was made happy on the 21st day of July. The adjutant-general -handed me three lines of introduction to Longstreet, commanding a -brigade at Blackburn's Ford several miles distant. With a good-by to -Meredith I was swiftly off. Approaching the ford, shot and shell were -flying close overhead; and feeling a bit nervous, my first time under -fire, I began to inquire what folly had brought me into such disturbing -scenes. - -The feeling passed, however, and Longstreet, who had called on -Beauregard for staff officers, received me cordially. - -His acting adjutant-general, Lieutenant Frank Armistead, a West Point -graduate and of some service in the United States Army, was ordered -to announce me to the brigade as captain and volunteer aide-de-camp. -Brig.-Gen. James Longstreet was then a most striking figure, about -forty years of age, a soldier every inch, and very handsome, tall -and well proportioned, strong and active, a superb horseman and with -an unsurpassed soldierly bearing, his features and expression fairly -matched; eyes, glint steel blue, deep and piercing; a full brown beard, -head well shaped and poised. The worst feature was the mouth, rather -coarse; it was partly hidden, however, by his ample beard. His career -had not been without mark. Graduating from West Point in 1842, he was -assigned to the Fourth Infantry, the regiment which Grant joined one -year later. The Mexican War coming on, Longstreet had opportunity of -service and distinction which he did not fail to make the most of; -wounds awaited him, and brevets to console such hurts. After peace with -Mexico he was in the Indian troubles, had a long tour of duty in Texas, -and eventually received the appointment of major and paymaster. It was -from that rank and duty that he went at the call of his State to arm -and battle for the Confederacy. History will tell how well he did it. -He brought to our army a high reputation as an energetic, capable, and -experienced soldier. At West Point he was fast friends with Grant, and -was his best man at the latter's marriage. Grant, true as steel to his -friends, never in all his subsequent marvelous career failed Longstreet -when there was need. - -Such was the brigadier-general commanding four regiments of Virginia -infantry, the First, Eleventh, Seventeenth, and Twenty-fourth, and a -section of the Washington Artillery of New Orleans. The Eighteenth -Virginia Infantry was afterwards added. - -Three days previously, Longstreet, just joined his command, had -opportunity of showing his mettle. His position at the ford was -fiercely assailed by the Federals, and his coolness, good disposition, -and contagious courage brought about their defeat, and was the -beginning of that devotion which his men gave him up to Appomattox. -His staff officers at the time were Lieutenant Armistead, Lieutenant -Manning of Mississippi, ordnance officer; Captain Walton of -Mississippi, aid; Captain Goree of Texas, aid; and some quartermasters -and commissaries detailed from the regiments. - -The army had scarcely made an attempt yet at good organization. - -At Manassas Junction, while waiting on Jordon, I first saw Gen. Joseph -E. Johnston and J. E. B. Stuart. The first was full bearded, dusty, -and worn from long marching; a high-bred, stern-looking soldier of -faultless seat and bearing in the saddle. I had the good fortune to -know him well and most happily in the coming years. Once long after -the close of the war I was chatting with him in his best humor. We were -speaking of his varied military life and the several wounds he had -received in Mexico, with Indians, and in the recent Confederate War. He -had many, and as he sat in face of me the General's splendid, dome-like -head was something to admire. Quite bald, it was scarred in several -places, and looking at the mark of an ugly gash I inquired, "And, -General, where did you get that one?" The smile that irradiated that -strong, expressive face was brilliant and contagious as he answered, "I -got _that_, sir, out of a cherry tree!" and then followed a laughing -account of what a fall he had, and how he had been chased by the farmer. - -Stuart, red bearded, ruddy faced, alert and ever active, was dirtier -even than Johnston; but there stood the tireless cavalryman, the future -right arm of the great Lee, the eyes and ears to his army. Alas! that -his pure soldier's life, crowned with such splendid fame, should have -ended so needlessly, late in the war, by a stray shot. - -I should say here there is to be no attempt at describing battles--the -military works are full of them. I shall content myself with bare -outlines, and some observations of men and things, adding such -incidents and personal happenings as may, I hope, prove of interest. - -Longstreet's brigade had practically no part in the battle of -Manassas. It sustained some desultory artillery fire, and there was a -demonstration against it, but it amounted to nothing. Blackburn's Ford -was on the right, where the attack was expected, but McDowell found -his way to Beauregard's left and nearly smashed him until Johnston and -Jackson "ventre a terre" and turned the doubtful tide of battle into a -ruinous rout of the enemy. - -It was late in the afternoon, but we soon heard of it at our ford, and -Longstreet, waiting for no man, was immediately in pursuit. He was -halted first by Bonham, who ranked him, to permit his brigade to take -the lead. Then resuming the march hot-footed, after the flying foe, we -were again stopped, this time by Major Whiting, of Johnston's staff, -with orders from Beauregard to attempt no pursuit. Painful was this -order. We knew the Federals were in full flight, and we had only to -show ourselves to bag the whole outfit. - -We dismounted among some young pines to await further orders, and I saw -Longstreet in a fine rage. He dashed his hat furiously on the ground, -stamped, and bitter words escaped him. However, the night was on us, -some food was picked up by hook or crook, and we slept well under the -stars. The soundness of the order stopping pursuit has been viewed in -many different ways, and I shall not add my own opinion, except to -suggest that while in the condition of our army it was practically -impossible to seize Washington, it was yet the proper thing to keep on -the heels of those frightened soldiers until they reached the Potomac. -Many thousand prisoners, and much loot and stores, ammunition, guns, -colors, and other material would have fallen into our hands. - -Next day the field and highways showed the terrible battle that had -raged, and the ground was covered with the debris of the panic-stricken -army. Our brigade moved leisurely on, and halted for some time at -Centerville. The army was concentrated in the neighborhood, and about -Fairfax Court House and Fairfax Station, our headquarters being for -some time at the former place. About this time Longstreet was joined -by two noted scouts and rangers whom he had known in Texas--the -celebrated Frank Terry and Tom Lubbock, powerful men, both of them, -in the prime of life. Scouting and fighting had been their part from -boyhood. They were of much use to Longstreet. From Fairfax Court House -and vicinity we sent regular details, called the advanced forces, to -occupy Mason's and Munson's hills, only a few miles from Washington. -At night the dome of the Capitol could be seen from those positions, -lighted up with great splendor. There was sharp sniping in front of the -hills, and Terry and Lubbock generally bagged their man apiece, each -day, besides bringing in valuable information. Both men soon returned -to Texas and organized a regiment of cavalry in the Confederate service -under Terry. It was said to be the finest body of horsemen and fighters -imaginable, and subsequently did great service in the West. Terry fell -among them at their head. - -It was while we lay in the neighborhood that I saw Prince Jerome -Napoleon, "Plon Plon." It seems he was making a short visit of -curiosity (he was no friend of the South), and was at Beauregard's -headquarters some distance off. - -The General sent notice to Longstreet that he was coming with his staff -and guest to call on him, and suggested that he try to get up something -in the way of a small review of our best-clad soldiers. Longstreet -started me off at once to borrow a regiment from Stonewall Jackson and -one from D. R. Jones (South Carolina), both commands being near by. The -First Virginia Infantry, the Richmond regiment, was the contingent from -our own brigade. I soon found myself saluting General T. J. Jackson, -the first time I had seen the soldier. He was seated in a low, -comfortable chair in front of his quarters, quite shabbily dressed, but -neat and clean--little military ornament about him. It was the eye full -of fire and the firm, set face that drew attention. His hand was held -upright; a ball at the recent battle had cut off a piece of his finger, -and that position eased it. He was all courtesy to the young subaltern -awaiting his answer. - -"Say to General Longstreet, with my compliments, that he shall have my -best-looking regiment, and that immediately. The colonel will report at -the point you may designate." This done, Jones gave up his best, some -good-looking Carolinians, with palmetto badges, and then spurring back -to meet Beauregard and party to guide them to the reviewing ground, he -presented me to His Highness the Prince, who, well mounted, was riding -by his side. I could not keep my eyes off the Frenchman's face. It was -almost a replica of the great Napoleon, his uncle, but unpleasantly so; -skin pasty and flabby, bags under the eyes, and beefy all over. A large -man, tall, but without dignity of movement or attitude. The review was -soon over. The three picked regiments, with a good band, looked well, -although the Richmond boys were a bit out at the seat; but, as old -Skinner, the Colonel, said to the Frenchman as they marched by, "The -enemy won't see that part of them." - -The spot was on a nice piece of turf near an old wooden church, and -we had gathered a few refreshments for the occasion, but the Prince -would have nothing. Coldly and impassively he raised his hat in parting -salute, entered the carriage that was awaiting him, and, escorted by a -lieutenant of cavalry and a half dozen men under a flag of truce, we -willingly sent him back to his friends, the enemy. On returning to -France he published what ill he could find to say of us. "Plon Plon's" -abuse was not to hurt or disturb honest men with brave hearts. - -A word about Old Skinner, Colonel of the First Virginia. He was an old -Maryland fox hunter, handsome and distinguished looking, and had lived -long in France, almost domiciled there. He was connected with many of -the best people of Maryland and Virginia, and had hosts of friends. -Fond of good liquor, it was almost every night that he was a bit full, -and then there were wild scenes with his well-known hunter, who could -do anything or go anywhere with the Colonel on him. Skinner was a fine -swordsman, and had brought from France a long, straight, well-balanced -double-edged cuirassier's saber. In his cups the fine old Colonel would -swear he should die happy could he have one chance to use that steel on -the enemy. - -The chance came and Skinner was ready for it. At the second battle -of Manassas a battery of six guns was mauling some of our infantry -horribly. His regiment, the gallant First Virginia, was thrown at it, -"Old Fred," as the men affectionately called him, leading well in -advance. Out flashed the French saber, and he was among the gunners in -a trice. His execution was wonderful; sabering right and left he seemed -invulnerable, but down he came at last, just as his men swept over the -guns in a fine charge. It was the end of the Colonel's soldiering, but -although frightfully wounded in the chest and body he survived for many -years. So lively was the old beau sabreur, that only a few years ago he -came to New York to fight John Wise because of some fancied slight to a -member of his family--Wise, too, his lifelong friend! As there could -be no fighting, Wise had to do some nice diplomatic work to soothe the -irate Colonel and smooth over the affair. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -AFTER MANASSAS AT CENTERVILLE - - Commissioned as captain and acting adjutant-general--Pay of - officers--Assigned to Longstreet's brigade--The Oglethorpe Infantry, - of Savannah--Enemy preparing for winter quarters--Beauregard - takes command in West--Confederate flag--Presentation of - battle-flags--Starting a theatre--Georgia Hussars--A sleigh ride. - - -Something must now be said as to what happened to me several weeks -after the Manassas battle. It will be remembered I was a volunteer aid -with the rank by courtesy, but no pay. When I saw my messmates taking -theirs in very comfortably, it occurred to me I should make another -effort for a commission, so I wrote my application to the Secretary of -War asking to be appointed a second lieutenant, C. S. A., and assigned -as might be thought proper. Blushing like a girl, I asked General -Longstreet if he could endorse it favorably. Glancing hastily at the -paper, he said, "Certainly," and then added carelessly, "but it isn't -necessary." The words made no impression at the time, but they came to -mind later. - -After the battle we had not been idle; at least I was set to work. -There was no commissary to the brigade, and for a week or two I -did the duty after a fashion until an officer of that department -was assigned--Major Chichester. His papers, correspondence, and -duties seemed to fall on me, naturally, by his consent, and the -brigadier-general soon began to look to me for assistance. - -This had been going on for some time until the official mail one fine -morning brought me a commission as captain in the Adjutant-General's -Department, with orders to report to Longstreet. Then his words leaped -to my memory. He had a right to nominate his own adjutant-general and -had applied for me while I was fishing around for a second lieutenancy. -I had no military training except some drill and tactics at school, but -it seemed he thought I took to the work handily. He instructed me to -relieve Armistead and take over all the duties of the office. I rose -with Longstreet to be major and lieutenant-colonel in that department, -and brigadier-general commanding in Hill's corps, and my affection for -him is unfailing. Such efficiency on the field as I may have displayed -came from association with him and the example of that undismayed -warrior. He was like a rock in steadiness when sometimes in battle the -world seemed flying to pieces. - -Armistead left us, carrying our good wishes for his future. - -I think the pay of a captain (mounted) was $140 per month and forage -for two horses; a major, $162 a month; a lieutenant-colonel, $187. All -general officers got $301 per month. A soldier said the $1 was for what -they did, the $300 just thrown in to please them. Johnny Reb must have -his little joke. - -The first company to leave Savannah for Virginia was the Oglethorpe -Infantry, a fine body of eager young men commanded by Captain Bartow. -He was well known all through the State as an ardent Confederate, a -distinguished lawyer and orator. He took his young men to Joe Johnston -in the Valley, wildly enthusiastic; but Bartow could not long remain -their captain. His wide reputation quickly placed him colonel of the -Eighth Georgia Infantry, and with that historic regiment the company -fought at Manassas, and the entire war thereafter in Longstreet's -command. Bartow was commissioned a brigadier and served as such -at Manassas. On July 31st many anxious eyes were fixed on it in -Savannah. Then was its baptism of fire, and nobly did the young men -stand it. Many were the mourners at home for the killed and wounded -of these devoted youth. Their officers--West, Cooper, Butler--led -them handsomely; their colonel was lost to them and to the country. -Bartow was shot down at the head of the Eighth. "They have killed me, -boys, but never give up the fight," was his last gasp, and his soul, -with the gallant Bee's, sought its upward flight. The company became -famous. It left its dead and wounded on every battlefield from Manassas -to Appomattox, wherever Longstreet's corps was engaged. Revived -now and honored it is at its old home, one of the leading military -organizations of Georgia. Never do the men forget the memories of that -day of battle on its recurring anniversaries, or fail in pride of their -glorious predecessors. - -As the winter approached, the enemy drew in their front and lined -the fortifications and defenses on the Potomac. McClellan evidently -determined not to attack and that the winter must pass idly on their -part. The _gaudium certaminis_ was no part of him. On ours Johnston -drew in his scattered forces, concentrating about Centerville, which -he fortified, and there they were, the two armies making faces at each -other, and the Northern papers telling wonders about us, all believed -by McClellan, whose imagination always doubled, trebled, quadrupled the -fighting strength of those desperate Rebels. - -While at Centerville the army underwent its first reorganization. -Beauregard was sent West to important duty and J. E. Johnston assumed -command of the Eastern army, to be forever known and glorious as the -Army of Northern Virginia. It was then in four divisions, the second of -the three brigades under Major-General Longstreet (Second Virginia and -First South Carolina Brigade). First Division, also of three brigades, -under Major-General Holmes (down on lower Potomac), and the district of -the Valley, under Major-General T. J. Jackson (Stonewall), made up this -army, besides artillery and cavalry; the latter under Stuart. The first -flag of the Confederacy was the stars and bars, but it was found on the -battlefield dangerously similar to the Northern stars and stripes. The -battle-flag under which we fought to the finish was then substituted, -and it was while we were at Centerville that the military function of -presenting the new colors to the battalions was arranged. - -The day for our division went off admirably. It was brilliant weather, -and all were in their best outfits, and on their best mounts. The -troops looked well as the colonels successively received their colors -to defend. - -Arrangements had been made for a generous hospitality at our division -headquarters. We were occupying a dismantled old wooden farm-house -well situated in the shade of fine trees. There a sumptuous repast was -spread, and the principal officers of the divisions became our guests -after the flag ceremonies. These arrangements were made by Major John -W. Fairfax, whom Longstreet had had appointed a major and inspector on -his staff. Fairfax was a rich man, owning the beautiful broad estate of -President Monroe, Oak Hill, on the upper Potomac, in Loudoun County, -near Aldie, also a fine property on the lower Potomac. - -Major Fairfax was then of middle age, tall, courtly and rather -impressive. He had attached himself at once to Longstreet, and took -charge of his mess and small wants, presented him with a superb mount, -and did the best he could with his new military duties. He lacked -nothing in courage; was brave and would go anywhere. But Fairfax had -two distinctions--he was the most pious of churchmen and was a born bon -vivant, knowing and liking good things. Whiskey later was hard to get, -yet he managed to have always a good supply on hand. - -He is now a hale and hearty man, wonderfully well preserved. - -It was Fairfax, as I said, that provided the feast, drawing the richest -materials from his beautiful broad pastures in Loudoun. Everything -was plentiful in that stage of the war and much liquor and wine were -consumed. Johnston, G. W. Smith, Van Dorn, Beauregard, and others of -high rank were present, and we had great merriment and singing. - -Suddenly came a clash of steel in the crowded room. Longstreet, with -great quickness, had thrown a pair of swords out of the window. Dr. -Cullen and Captain Walton, both of his staff (too much wine taken), -had suddenly quarreled, and Walton had given the doctor a blow in the -face. Longstreet's quick movement disposed of the matter for the time, -but it could not so end. After the entertainment, and when done with -some hard racing and leaping by the wilder young mounted officers, -Colonel Ransome Calhoun of South Carolina called on Major Walton. It -was to demand a meeting in expiation of the blow. Walton referred -Calhoun to me, and our _pourparler_ opened most courteously. He was an -admirable gentleman, and but for his good sense and forbearance there -must have been an ugly meeting. My difficulties were increased by -Longstreet, who, suspecting something, ordered me to put a stop to the -whole affair, adding that I was chief of the staff and would be held -responsible were not a hostile meeting avoided. We managed to close the -thing by explanations from Cullen and regrets from Walton. Both men -seemed well satisfied. Colonel Calhoun, of whom I then formed a high -opinion, returned to duty at Charleston, and there incurred the enmity -of Colonel Rhett. After some time, and many efforts of friends to bring -about a better feeling, they met with pistols, and Calhoun was killed. -A high-minded, honorable gentleman! Walton was quite a friend of mine. - -Walton was quite a friend of mine and fond of me. Gifted with uncommon -intellectual attainments, the favorite scholar of L. Q. C. Lamar at the -University of Mississippi, he was of the most uncertain, unexpected -temper and exactions; he could be dangerous at times, and only the -greatest firmness held him in check until the humor passed off and -then he was all lovely. When the war ended he returned to Mississippi, -quarreled with a man, and killed him. Moving to Alabama he found -himself in the thick of the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. Dropping all -personal interests he devoted himself wholly to the sick and dying, -until himself struck down by death. His memory is sweet in that part of -the State. - -One day, as the winter came on, Longstreet sent for me. "The men will -want amusement and entertainment the long winter days," he said. "We -must get them up a theater and a good company. See to it at once and -lose no time. Issue such orders as may be necessary." That was all, -and quite easy for the General. Draw a theater and company, properties -and all out of one's pocket like a ripe apple! But it could be done -with the resources of a division of infantry at one's hand, and I set -about it at once. The colonels each received a note asking help and -details from the ranks of actors with some experience. They were sure -to be found there. But more than all, I wanted a manager, and he soon -came out of the First Virginia Infantry to take charge of the play. It -was Theodore Hamilton, an actor of some experience. I have met him in -several places acting since the peace, and he always comes to me as an -old friend, although he was not to tread the boards at the "Centerville -Theater." - -"Now, Captain," he said, "for scenery and properties. You have the -building, I have the company; what about the rest?" It was easy; -painters were found in the ranks for scenery, and many of the officers -chipping in, we got together enough money to send Hamilton to Richmond -to get the costumes and properties. I don't think he made the most of -his time there, but he got something, and after many delays we began -to think we should see some acting after all. But alas! just then, -Johnston, discovering McClellan's movements to the Peninsula, broke -up his camp, his officers destroying needlessly an immense amount of -valuable supplies, and off we marched merrily to face our old friend, -the young Napoleon. Such was the beginning and the end of our first and -only attempt at theatricals. - -It was while we were about Centerville that a great change came over -Longstreet. He was rather gay in disposition with his chums, fond of -a glass, and very skilful at poker. He, Van Dorn, and G. W. Smith -were accustomed to play almost every night with T. J. Rhett, General -Johnston's adjutant-general, and we sometimes heard of rather wild -scenes amid these old army chums--all from West Point, all having -served in Mexico and against the Indians. Longstreet's wife and -children were at Richmond. He was devoted to them. Suddenly scarlet -fever broke out and three of the children died within one week. He -was with them, and some weeks after resumed his command a changed -man. He had become very serious and reserved and a consistent member -of the Episcopal Church. His grief was very deep and he had all our -sympathies; later years lightened the memory of his sorrow and he -became rather more like his old cheerful self, but with no dissipation -of any kind. - -Before parting with Centerville it should be said that my old troop, -the Georgia Hussars, had at last got their services accepted and were -brought to Richmond under my friend, Captain F. Waring, and mustered in -for the war. They were thrown into a regiment known as the Jeff Davis -Legion, commanded by Colonel Will T. Martin, which was to prove itself -a fine body of horse. - -While in quarters this winter there were several light falls of snow, a -novelty to most of our Southern fellows. Not many of them were familiar -with such descents from the clouds. There came, however, a storm -anything but interesting. Snow was lying deep and camps were almost -hidden. - -My staff comrade, Peyton Manning, and myself decided it was the time -for a sleigh ride of our own. No cutters were to be had, but we -improvised one. Securing a stout, well-made box of good size, a plank -seat in it for two made it the body of the fabric. Then the forests -yielded a couple of slim saplings, which, bent at the ends over the -fire, were not bad for runners. On these, braced and crossed, with -shafts attached, our box, well elevated, was securely fastened, and -there was our cutter. We settled that the team should be stylish and -made it "tandem," in good extemporized harness. My charger was put -in the shafts and Manning's in the lead, both high-spirited animals. -Each horse was mounted by a small negro, postilion-fashion, good -riders both, and supposed to add some safety as well as novelty to the -equipage. - -Manning undertook to handle the long reins from the bits, and we -started, the observed of many curious, and amid the worst lot of evil -prophecies of what would befall us that it was ever my fate to hear. -The outfit took the road handsomely, cheered by the soldiers, our black -postilions grinning with delight. - -All went well for a time and then the devil himself broke loose! The -spirit of the horses rising, especially that fiery brute of Manning's, -they were off entirely beyond control. Over the deep-snowed roads and -fields, across ditches and broken fences the gallant pair in mad race -took everything on a full run, their postilions now ashy hue with -terror and clinging like burs to the bounding animals. The finish came -quickly. There seemed to be a sudden great fall of stars from the -midday skies and Manning and I were hurled right and left into deep -snow drifts, everything in pieces, horses and little niggers quite -out of sight. Digging ourselves out we took a good look at each other -and some ugly words were said; but although scratched and bruised no -bones were broken, and we slowly trod our way back to camp, wiser if -not better men from our first and last sleigh ride in old Virginia. The -horses were brought back to quarters but never again were their black -postilions seen in those parts. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -REMINISCENCES AND HORSES - - Visit to Mr. Francis Sorrel's country-seat--Interment of Captain - Tillinghast, U. S. A.--Sir William Howard Russell, _Times_ - correspondent--McDowell and July 21st--Seward and the French - princes--Army begins to march to Peninsula. - - -Not long after the battle I set out on a visit to my father's country -place, Ireland, fifteen miles from our camp. Hitching up two good -mules to a light army ambulance, what we needed was put in, our -intention being to bring back some delicacies for the messes. Captain -Thompson, of Mississippi, one of the aids, accompanied me. He was an -extraordinary looking person. Nature had been unkind. The son of Jacob -Thompson, Buchanan's Secretary of the Interior, he had much to hope -for, but for his affliction. His teeth and jaws were firmly set and -locked, and no surgical ingenuity had yet succeeded in opening them. -Liquids could be conveniently taken, but mechanical arrangements had to -be made for solid food by the removal of some teeth. - -This young officer showing a great desire to go along with me, was -taken, although I could not help picturing some surprise on the part of -my father and young sisters. We were made very welcome, as fresh from -the glorious battlefield, and the day was a happy one. The girls had -made a captain's coat for me out of homespun cloth; but such a fit! big -enough for two captains of my thickness, it hung at all angles and -flapped furiously in high winds. But love had prompted its making and I -would never suffer any ugly remarks about it. - -Something better soon came. My brother, Doctor Sorrel, in Richmond, was -always mindful of his juniors in the field, and getting possession of -a blockade bolt of fine gray cloth, he soon had enough snipped off to -make me two good Confederate suits, suitably laced and in regulation -trim, besides a long gray cape, or cloak, well lined, which was to do -me good service for years. - -At "Ireland" they loaded our ambulance with good things and there were -shouts of joy when we reached the camp with the delicacies. - -Captain Thompson was not subject to military duty and soon returned to -his home. - -It should be said here that these jottings are without the aid of a -scrap of notes or other memoranda. The memory alone is called on, and -as the events go back forty years it is something of a test; but I -hope I am rather strong on that point and do not fear falling into -inventions or imaginations. There were some dry notes of dates and -marches, but they cannot be found, and they would be of no use with -these jottings, as no attempt at dates is made. It is a lasting regret -to me that as a staff officer with opportunities of seeing and knowing -much, I did not keep up a careful diary or journal throughout the war. -It should be made one of the duties of the staff. - -This is odd. The day after the battle I came across the body of Captain -Tillinghast at the Federal field infirmary near the stone bridge. The -year previous I had been much in Baltimore at the Maryland Club and had -there played billiards with Tillinghast, then a captain of Artillery, -U. S. A., and an agreeable acquaintance; consequently there could be -no mistake when I recognized his dead body. The Federal surgeon also -identifying him, I set about giving him decent burial, and managed it -finally by the help of some men of Bartow's Savannah company who knew -me. The ground was baked hard and we could not make the grave deep, -but it was enough; and with my own hands I carved his name on the bark -of a tree, under which the soldier found his last bivouac--"Otis H. -Tillinghast." - -Some time after, a blockade-runner, passing the lines took a letter -from me to my cousin, Robert Fisher, in Baltimore, a friend also -of Tillinghast. It was on other matters, but I let him know that -Tillinghast's body had been recognized on the field, had received -decent burial, and the spot marked. I described the location and then -the matter passed out of my mind. - -After peace came I was with Fisher in Baltimore and learned from him -that my letter had been received and the information as to Captain -Tillinghast considerately conveyed to his family. Fisher was answered -soon after with thanks, "but there was some mistake," Captain -Tillinghast was buried by his old classmate Samuel Jones, a Confederate -brigadier-general, in a different part of the field and his body later -removed to the family vault. Astonishing! If they got a body from a -spot not where I had laid him they got the wrong husband. Sam Jones -quite likely saw Tillinghast, but he had no hand in our burial of him. -Stranger things, however, have happened. - - * * * * * - -Here are some trifles of talk remembered as coming from the famous -war correspondent, Sir William Howard Russell, whose letters from the -Crimea broke the Aberdeen Ministry and made him one of the leading -men of the Kingdom. He was not long ago knighted at great age for his -service all over the world in that field of letters. I met him several -years ago in New York, in the train of the notorious Colonel North, the -Chilean nitrate king. Russell had always some good stories on hand, and -laughed at his chase from Bull Run battlefield, whither he had gone -with the Federal army to write up their victory pictures. It gave him -the name of "Bull Run Russell," which stuck to him. He admitted being -very far to the rear, but said there were some generals and colonels -who outstripped him to Washington! Some years after the war he met -in Europe General McDowell, who said, "Russell, do you know what day -this is?" "No, I don't recall any special occurrence." "It is," said -McDowell, "the 21st of July, and had I succeeded on that day in '61 I -should have been the greatest man in America and you the most popular." - -Russell also had something about the French princes come to join -McClellan's army. The two young men, Comte de Paris and Duc de -Chartres, were under the care and tutelage of their uncle, the Prince -de Joinville, who did not follow them to the army. On landing they -received their commissions as captains, and quickly equipped themselves -with handsome regulation uniforms and military appointments. - -They proceeded to Washington to make formal calls of ceremony before -reporting to McClellan. Among their first visits was that to Seward, -the Secretary of State. On that evening he was holding a large -reception. Seward himself leaving the ceremony to his son Frederick, -was upstairs with some cronies drinking whiskey. "Seward was screwed, -you know," said Russell, "undoubtedly screwed." When the two princes -entered the hall, trim in their new uniforms, erect and soldierly, they -were met by Frederick Seward, who at once went to announce them. "Tell -them to come right up," said the old politician; "bring them right up -and they shall have some good whiskey." "That will never do," said -his son. "You must come down to them; it is etiquette and strictly in -rule." And down the Secretary went. "Screwed" a little, for as soon as -he spied the Frenchmen, out he broke: "Captain Chatters, glad to see -you; welcome to Washington. And you too, Captain Paris. I am pleased to -have you in my house. Both of you come up with me. You won't dislike -the whiskey you shall taste." But the watchful Frederick came to the -rescue and carried off the astonished princes with all propriety. - -Russell declared this to be literally true; but if not, it at least as -the Italians say, "ben trovato." Sir William was then a picturesque -figure in dark blue dress coat, brass buttons, and ruffled shirt. -Always interesting, he had exhaustless stores of information and -adventure. A pretty young Italian wife accompanied him. - -Something as to horses. I had left a good one in Savannah, in care of -a member of the troop. Hearing that the horse was with him in Virginia -I sent over for my property and got for answer that he was not mine; -that he belonged to the man in Savannah, who not being able to enlist -had contributed this fine animal to the outfit of the troop. A nice -business indeed. It was easy to be patriotic with my horse, but it was -soon settled. Captain Waring heard the statement, and recognizing the -animal as mine had him sent to me; but the horse had been so neglected -and diseased that he was no good and I was obliged to leave him by -the roadside. I had, during the war, many horses, some good, some very -poor. Among the best was the tough-looking clay-bank I took from my -father when joining the army. He was capable of anything in speed and -endurance, but with a walk so slow and a trot so bone-breaking that I -had to swap him for one not so good. Many of my animals broke down from -hard staff service in campaign, and a magnificent mare was killed under -me in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. A shell burst directly under -her and the poor beast was instantly done for. I was not touched. In -Tennessee, in 1864, I picked up a delightful little white mare, sound, -fleet and enduring. I could not always get to my other horses at the -outbreak of firing, and the mare's color was against us both. It was -always among the soldiers, "Fire at the fellow on the white horse." She -was at my brigade quarters at Appomattox and my brother rode her to -Savannah. When the two appeared in front of our residence, my sisters -rushed out, but could not believe that the poor, tired little mare was -their brother's war horse. Their imagination had been at work. - -My brother Claxton, my junior, was a fine, well set up young fellow -and eager for the fray. He was also a private in the Hussars, and like -myself had not waited for the company, but came on to Richmond. Here -he fell in with some young Georgians from Athens, the Troop Artillery, -a six-gun battery under command of Captain Carlton. Claxton joined and -became a good artillerist and was a corporal when transferred. The -First Georgia Regulars was organized by the State among the first, -its officers being appointed by the Governor and the men enlisted -anywhere. Its drill and discipline were supposed to be severer than -that of other troops. This regiment was brought to Virginia and -assigned to G. T. Anderson's (Tige Anderson) Georgia Brigade. With some -influence and much hard work, my brother, Doctor Sorrel, succeeded -in getting a commission as second lieutenant in this regiment for -Claxton. Its officers were not elected; they were appointed by the -Executive. Claxton's service was thenceforward with this regiment, its -officers showing some of the best names in Georgia, and its reputation -correspondingly high. Later I gave Captain Sorrel a temporary detail -on the staff of Brigadier-General Garnett, and still later he was -appointed captain in the Assistant Adjutant-General's Department and -served with General John Bratton. - -When we moved from Centerville my father had long since returned to -Savannah with his family, and his "Ireland" place was unoccupied (it -was later burned by the Union soldiers). But my cousin, Mrs. Lucy -Green, and children, were at their place, "The Lawn," which would be -in the enemy's territory after our withdrawal. Our first halt was near -Gainesville and after getting the troops comfortably into camp I rode -over to see her, about three miles. The situation was clearly described -and he decided to pack her carriages and wagons and move to Richmond. -I gave her a safe escort in a man from Lynchburg, Mr. Paxton, a member -of Blackford's cavalry company. With farewells I rode back through the -night, the better by a pair of English boots my cousin gave me. She -and the children, with servants, under good Paxton's charge, made next -morning a start for Richmond, where they arrived safely. - -Referring again to horses, the hussar horse had been my mount at the -short service on Skidaway. Henry Taylor was my messmate and rode next -me on a good bay precisely the same color as mine, with considerable -resemblance between them. Taylor was rich, lazy, despised discipline, -and was a trial to the captain. He gave his horse no attention and the -beast would have starved but for others. The captain could stand it no -longer. Sending for Taylor he read him a severe lecture and promised -punishment if the horse was not kept clean and tended. - -Taylor was persuaded he must do something, and the next morning he was -up at stable-call at the picket ropes, brush and curry comb in hand. -It was very early and misty. My horse was picketed next to Taylor's -and I had the satisfaction of seeing my lazy friend give him the best -morning's rub he had received for many days. When Taylor woke up to -what he had done and that his own horse was still to be tended he could -not immediately see the joke, but soon took it in good part and had -something ready for me not long after, which he thought squared us. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -SKETCHES - - Brigadier-Generals Elzey and Early--Leaping horses--Confederate - uniforms--Ladies at Fairfax Station--Colonel Stuart's Maryland - line--Longstreet made Major-General--Sketches of Brigadier-Generals - Ewell and Pickett--General Anderson--Major-General Van - Dorn--Major-General G. W. Smith--Brigadier Early--Brigadier-General D. - R. Jones. - - -One fine day not long after the Manassas battle, and while we were -at Fairfax Court House, Longstreet called on me to ride over to the -station on a visit. It was to General Elzey, who was found with General -Early in a dilapidated old church. Refreshments were ordered and a -good deal of whiskey consumed by the three brigadiers, some colonels -and staff officers. Early had been a strong Union man until Virginia -seceded, and he then took arms, devotedly and ever bravely, for his -State and the Confederacy. He was, however, of a snarling, rasping -disposition, and seemed to irritate Elzey, who, not a Union man, had -come South without the secession of his State, Maryland. There were -some hot words all around, but peace was made, however, and we all -quit the drinks and adjourned to the horses and fine weather outside. -Leaping fences and ditches at once began, my mount doing well and -coming some daring trials. Longstreet was mounted on a fine bay not -quite up to such work, with his weight, and the General turned him over -to me. The bay did splendidly, surpassing all others present, and the -generals were much pleased. - -Colonel Duncan McRae, Fifth North Carolina, had just received from -Richmond a handsome new Confederate uniform and outfit. Alas! it soon -came to grief. The Colonel, in taking a high fence, lost his seat and -came down very hard, splitting his fine coat in the back, from collar -to waist. - -A word here as to uniforms and insignia. So fast does the memory of -things pass that perhaps it may be well to make a note of what was -the Confederate uniform. It was designed and settled on by a board of -officers of the War Department. - -For all officers, a close-fitting double-breasted gray tunic. - -For generals, staff and all field officers, dark blue trousers. - -The arm of service was shown by collar and cuff--Generals and staff -officers, buff; Cavalry, yellow; Artillery, red; Infantry, blue; -Medical Department, black. - -Dark blue trousers had broad gold stripes on outer seams, except -generals, who wore two narrower and slightly apart. - -Trousers for all line officers under rank of major were light blue with -broad cloth stripe, color of service arm. - -Rank was shown on collar and sleeve. - -Generals wore on collar a gold wreath enclosing three stars in line, -the middle one slightly larger. On their sleeves was the ornamental -Hungarian knot of four braids width. They usually wore their buttons -in groups of twos or threes. There was no difference in the uniform or -rank mark among the several grades of general officers. - -Colonels wore three stars in line, same size; lieutenant-colonels, two, -and majors, one. The knot on the sleeve was three braids width for the -three grades of field officers--colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major. - -For captains, rank was shown by three short bars lateral on front of -collar; first lieutenant, two bars, and second lieutenant, one bar. -Captains wore on sleeve Hungarian knot of two braids width, and first -and second lieutenants, one braid. - -For headgear the French "Kepi," color of arm of service, richly -embroidered, was first provided; but the felt hat, black or any color -that could be had, speedily pushed it aside almost before it had an -existence. - -The intention of the board of officers was to adopt the tunic like the -short, close-fitting, handsome Austrian garment, but it went completely -by default. The officers would none of it. They took to the familiar -cut of frock coat with good length of tail. - -Longstreet and two or three of us tried the tunic, but it was not -popular. - -Confederate uniforms were in great number at the flag presentations -a little later, of which I have already spoken. We were then bravely -dressed in the bright and handsome Confederate gray. - -But now "place aux dames." A splendid Maryland regiment of Elzey's -brigade was at Fairfax Station near by, and two lovely women, -descendants of a distinguished Virginia family, were then visiting -their numerous friends serving with it. They were the beautiful Carys, -Hetty and her cousin Constance. The three generals, gallantly inclined, -decided they must call on the ladies, and this they did, shutting out -their staffs for the time. Then evening coming on dress parade was in -order and Colonel George Stewart soon had his fine Marylanders in -line. He insisted on the two ladies taking position by him, and when -time for the manual came, handed his sword to Hetty, and stepping -aside prompted her with the orders, and thus the regiment, amid much -enthusiasm, was put through its manual by the prettiest woman in -Virginia. They soon returned to Richmond and occupied themselves in -the good work of the Southern women. Hetty, a really glorious beauty, -married Brig.-Gen. John Pegram in January, 1865. Three weeks after -he fell at Hatcher's Run, at the same time that I received what was -thought a fatal wound. The _New York Herald_ a few days later published -both our obituaries. (See Appendix.) - -Constance married, after the peace, my friend Burton N. Harrison, -President Davis's accomplished private secretary. He began his law -practice in New York, succeeding well, and his wife soon became -established and admired as a woman of taste and uncommon social and -literary attainments. Her books have gained deserved popularity and -wide circulation. - - * * * * * - -Longstreet being now a major-general, with three brigades, the new -brigadiers are to be introduced. R. S. Ewell took our old brigade. He -was a distant relative of mine and one of the strangest of warriors; -had served with distinction in Mexico, and all his life against -Indians. He was without a superior as a cavalry captain and of the -most extraordinary appearance. Bald as an eagle, he looked like one; -had a piercing eye and a lisping speech. A perfect horseman and lover -of horses (racers), he never tired of talking of his horse "Tangent," -in Texas, who appears to have never won a race and always to have lost -his owner's money. But the latter's confidence never weakened and he -always believed in "Tangent." General Ewell became a very distinguished -soldier, and justly so. To uncommon courage and activity he added a -fine military instinct, which could make him a good second in command -in any army. He was not long with us. His fortunes were with Stonewall -Jackson in the Valley operations, and he rose to be major-general and -lieutenant-general. In the latter rank he commanded the Second Corps -at Gettysburg, having previously lost a leg in the second Manassas -campaign. His command suffered great loss in the slaughter of Malvern -Hill. The morning after, I found him doubled up on the floor of a -little shanty, his head covered up; the ground was covered with our -slain. Raising himself he instantly recognized me, and lisped out, -"Mather Thorrel, can you tell me why we had five hundred men killed -dead on this field yesterday?" That was all; the soul of the brave -General was fit to burst for the awful and useless sacrifice. It was -a fearful blunder somewhere and has not yet been boldly and clearly -lighted up. Kemper, a fine Virginian colonel, succeeded Ewell in the -command of the Fourth Brigade, and served well until he was left for -dead in front of his men in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. - -Our Second Brigade was also Virginian. One evening at dark I was in my -narrow office when an officer was announced. I turned and had quite -a start at my visitor's appearance. It was George Pickett, just made -brigadier-general, and reporting for command. A singular figure indeed! -A medium-sized, well-built man, straight, erect, and in well-fitting -uniform, an elegant riding-whip in hand, his appearance was -distinguished and striking. But the head, the hair were extraordinary. -Long ringlets flowed loosely over his shoulders, trimmed and highly -perfumed; his beard likewise was curling and giving out the scents -of Araby. He was soon made at home, and having already received -Longstreet's instructions, was assigned to his brigade. - -Pickett became very friendly, was a good fellow, a good brigadier. -He had been in Longstreet's old Army regiment, and the latter was -exceedingly fond of him. Taking Longstreet's orders in emergencies, -I could always see how he looked after Pickett, and made us give him -things very fully; indeed, sometimes stay with him to make sure he did -not get astray. - -Such was the man whose name calls up the most famous and heroic charge, -possibly, in the annals of war. Pickett's charge at Gettysburg stirs -every heart that beats for great deeds, and will forever live in song -and story. - -Afterwards his division was relieved to rest and recruit, and grew -strong and fit. It was, however, badly mauled at Five Forks by -Sheridan, although its commander is said to have made excellent -disposition of his troops and fought them gallantly. - -The Third Brigade was of South Carolina regiments under command -of Brig.-Gen. Richard H. Anderson, a West Point graduate and an -experienced officer of the old Army. Of him and also the artillery -attached to the division there is more to be said later. - -At the Centerville camp Major-General Earl Van Dorn commanded a -division. A small, handsome man, the very picture of a thorough light -cavalryman, he enjoyed a high reputation from service in Mexico and -against the Indians. Soon after he was transferred to a command in -Mississippi, and there falling into a private quarrel was killed. - -Maj.-Gen. G. W. Smith also had a division near Centerville. From this -officer much was expected. He had left the Academy with high honors, -and served many years with distinction. He resigned from the Army -to become Street Commissioner in New York, a lucrative office, and -thence he came South for service. There was no opportunity to show his -abilities in the field until the battle of Seven Pines in May-June, -1862, and then General Lee taking command of the army, Smith withdrew, -and was, I think, not again heard of in active field work. After the -war he wrote a book, his "Apologies," in which he threw all the blame -on his once bosom friend, James Longstreet, and upon General Johnston -for field work, up to the time of his retirement. - -Jubal Early, brigadier-general, was one of the ablest soldiers in the -army. Intellectually he was perhaps the peer of the best for strategic -combinations, but he lacked ability to handle troops effectively in -the field; that is, he was deficient in tactical skill. His irritable -disposition and biting tongue made him anything but popular, but he was -a very brave and able commander. His appearance was quite striking, -having a dark, handsome face, regular features, and deep piercing -eyes. He was the victim of rheumatism, and although not old was bent -almost double, like an aged man. Of high scholarly and fine political -attainments, he never married, but led the life of a recluse in -Virginia, entirely apart from social and public affairs. - -D. R. Jones, brigadier-general, was also near us. A very agreeable, -lovable man, tall and stately, he made a brave appearance, and well -merited the sobriquet of "Neighbor Jones," as they pleasantly called -him at West Point. His wife, a relative of President Davis, was much -with him in camp, and a very decided character by the side of her -indulgent husband. He could not figure with much success, his health -being poor, and after Sharpsburg was transferred to some easier service -elsewhere, and soon after died. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -OUR NATIONAL HYMN - - Singing among the troops--Van Dorn--Longstreet--Smith and "I Puritani" - for National hymn--Surgeon Francis Sorrel, C. S. A.--Life in - Richmond--Troops passing through--Toombs and his brigade--General D. - H. Hill. - - -Among the troops at Centerville there was much singing, some of it very -sweet and touching. "Lorena," set to a tender, sentimental air, was -heard everywhere. "My Maryland" was a great favorite, and of course -"Dixie" was always in evidence. There were, however, other sweet -Southern melodies that the soldiers took up, seemingly mellowing stern -hearts and bringing tender memories of home. There was constant talk -of a National air, "Dixie" being thought by some as of not sufficient -dignity. "My Maryland" had many advocates, but there were some that -thought the noble strain of the great Liberty duet from "I Puritani" -was the thing for the Confederacy. General Van Dorn was enthusiastic -about it. At the banquet at Longstreet's, after the flag presentation, -the talk turned on this air, and Van Dorn began to sing it. "Up on the -table and, show yourself; we can't see you!" said Longstreet. "Not -unless you stand by me!" shouted Van Dorn; and no sooner said than -Longstreet, G. W. Smith, and Van Dorn, the ranking major-generals, were -clinging to each other on a narrow table and roaring out the noble bars -of "I Puritani." Johnston and Beauregard stood near with twinkling -eyes of amusement and enjoyment. So much for wine and "entoosy moosy," -as Byron calls it; but for all this good start, the soldiers declined -the impressive air and stuck to their Dixie. - -It was always gratifying to me to note the good equipment in which -the troops from my State were sent to the front for the Confederacy. -Governor Brown was thorough in doing the best for them that the -blockade of the coast and his factories permitted. They came forward -with good clothing, shoes and underwear, which, although of home make, -were warm, comfortable and serviceable. - -My brother, Dr. Francis Sorrel, was many years my senior. He had served -in the United States Army as assistant surgeon, but had resigned and -was in California when the war began. He immediately came to share the -fortunes of his State. Dr. Moore, the Confederate Surgeon-General, -without delay had him appointed to full rank and assigned for service -as his close confidential assistant (the pair were forever rolling -cigarettes). There his influence and powers were considerable and -the Doctor was always helpful to his friends. He was instrumental in -assigning Dr. James B. Read, of Savannah, to the officers' hospital -in Richmond, and in Read's hands it became celebrated. He kept a good -lookout for his two junior brothers in the field and we had many -evidences of his thoughtfulness. - -With a wide acquaintance in Richmond, he knew the principal members -of Congress and was liked by all the Cabinet. His previous service in -the United States Army put him in good touch with many high officers, -and his position in all respects was enviable. Occasionally I managed -to make a short visit to Richmond, and then my brother gave me -introductions to pleasant men and charming women. There may be more to -say of him later. - -Life at Richmond at this time--January, February, March, April, -1862--seemed gay and happy, with but little outward sign of -apprehension or anxieties for the future. Food supplies were abundant -and the pinch for clothing and shoes was being eased by the remarkable -achievement of the several States in equipping their contingents for -the field. - -Most of the troops passed through Richmond en route to the Peninsula, -and there was much excitement and cheering. Main Street was thronged -with people shouting wildly as the regiments marched down to Rocketts, -where they were to take boat for part of the route. - -General Toombs was quite conspicuous. Every one knows that that -luminous intellect embraced no soldier's talent. It might have been so -with study, but the Georgian was for once and all a politician, and in -the wrong shop with a sword and uniform on. - -He marched his troops down Main Street, past the crowds at Spottswood -Hotel, with childlike delight. He put himself at the head of one -regiment and moved it out of sight amid hurrahs, then galloping back -he brought on another, ready himself for cheers, until the brigade was -down the street and near the embarkation. It was somewhat amusing, but -a harmless entertainment for the brilliant orator and statesman. - -Being quite without notes I had almost omitted a jotting about one -of Longstreet's brigadiers at Centerville--a marked and peculiar -character. This was General D. H. Hill, not long with us. He was soon -made major-general and sent elsewhere to command. Hill was a small, -delicate man, rather bent, and cursed with dyspepsia, which seemed -to give color to his whole being. He was out of West Point with a -good class number, was a capable, well-read soldier, and positively -about the bravest man ever seen. He seemed not to know peril and was -utterly indifferent to bullets and shell, but with all these qualities -was not successful. His backbone seemed a trifle weak. He would take -his men into battle, fight furiously for some time and then something -weakened about him. Unless there was some strong character near by, -like Longstreet, for instance, on whom he leaned, his attack would -be apt to fail and his first efforts go unrewarded. His speech was -bitter, although a most devout Presbyterian elder. He had resigned -long before from the United States Army, and had a large school in -North Carolina. He was accustomed to sneer at cavalry, and once went -so far as to say he had "yet to see a dead man with spurs on." It may -be imagined what Stuart's gallant troopers thought of him. But Hill -had brains, and rose. He was later on sent West to command in Bragg's -army, was promoted to lieutenant-general, and is said to have failed -grievously at Chickamauga, for which Bragg suspended him from command; -and he was not, I think, restored to any service in the field. He was -really a good man, but of sharp prejudice and intemperate language. -If there was one department of the army well administered amid almost -impossibilities, requiring most ingenious and inventive resources, -it was the Ordnance, under Colonel Gorgas. Hill took a hatred to it -because a gun burst in action, and his imputations on the faith of the -department and its abilities were quite unworthy of him or of any good -soldier. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE PENINSULA AND BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG, MAY 5, 1862 - - Arrival at Yorktown--Major-General Magruder--His skilful - defense--Lines at Warwick River--Major-General McClellan--Retreat - from Yorktown--Battle of Williamsburg, May 5--Death of Colonel Mott, - Nineteenth Mississippi--Destruction of armored ram _Virginia_--Charge - by Georgia Hussars--Explosives behind rearguard rebuked--Promoted - major. - - -But I must hasten to the Peninsula, where at Yorktown and along the -lines of the little Warwick River, McClellan and Johnston are frowning -at each other; the former, as usual, tripling the Confederate force -and bawling for more men. Persons and things I have left behind will -probably come into these jottings in the loose way they fall from the -pen. - -Longstreet with his staff and some of his regiments were among the -first arrivals to face McClellan and gave great relief to Magruder. -This officer, a major-general, commanding some 10,000 to 12,000 men, -had offered a most extraordinary and successful defense. It was a -wonderful piece of bluff and could have won only against McClellan. -Yorktown was strongly armed and well defended. Thence stretching across -the Peninsula was a sluggish little stream known as the Warwick River. -It was fordable in almost all places, in some nearly dry-shod. - -Magruder's engineers had strengthened the defenses by some dams -that gathered a good spread of water to be passed in an attack. -The Warwick, of many miles extent, was necessarily thinly defended. -Magruder put his whole force behind it, an attenuated line, up and down -which he constantly rode in full sight of the enemy. He was known in -the old Army as "Prince John," from the splendor of his appearance and -his dress. Of commanding form and loving display, he had assembled a -numerous staff, all, like himself, in the most showy uniforms. To these -he added a fine troop of cavalry, and when the cavalcade at full gallop -inspected the thin lines of the Warwick, it was a sight for men and -gods. I am persuaded he so impressed "Little Mac" that he sang out for -more men and thus lost his opportunity. In very truth he was so strong -and Magruder so weak that the Union ramrods should have sufficed to -break the defense and gobble up the magnificent "Prince John." - -Longstreet's arrival was therefore a great relief, and soon Johnston -had his army in full position, making McClellan almost frantic; he -more than doubled Johnston's actual strength. A strong attack should -have prevailed to drive us away; and if briskly followed, eventually -into the York River. But Johnston knew his man, as did indeed every -Confederate leader later on. Lee, Longstreet, Jackson, the Hills all -knowing his points, while serving in the U. S. Army, could now rightly -measure him. McClellan was a lovable man, an admirable organizer, but -with little taste for battle unless largely outnumbering his opponent. -Here in the trenches occurred remarkable scenes. Many of the Southern -regiments had enlisted for only twelve months and the time expired in -April. Re-enlistments and elections of the officers took place under -fire of the enemy! Our men were splendid, and with rare exceptions -they refused home and re-enlisted, this time for the war. - -Inactivity continued for some time, Longstreet commanding the center -with his own and other troops, until it was soon apparent to Johnston -that Richmond was too much exposed to attacks on the north side of the -James River. The capital must be covered; besides, both our flanks -were endangered by the enemy's immense superiority on the water. -Preparations therefore began for a move, and on the night of May 3 -the army was successfully drawn from its trenches and started on its -deliberate, well-ordered retreat. On May 5 our rearguard was overtaken -and attacked in force at Williamsburg, Longstreet in command, with a -considerable part of the army. It was a stubborn, all-day fight, with -serious losses on both sides, but the enemy was beaten off and we -resumed the march that night, the Federals having enough of it. We were -not again molested. This was our first severe fight, and the steadiness -and order of officers and men appeared to be very satisfactory. I was -promoted to be major soon afterwards, the commission dating May 5, the -day of the action. There was a gruesome but affecting sight during the -battle. Colonel Mott, of high reputation, had brought from his State -the Nineteenth Mississippi Infantry. It was hotly engaged in a long, -fierce fight, and Mott fell. His black servant in the rear immediately -took a horse and went to the firing line for his master's body. I -met the two coming out of the fire and smoke. The devoted negro had -straddled the stiffened limbs of his master on the saddle before him, -covered his face with a handkerchief, and thus rescued his beloved -master's body for interment with his fathers on the old Mississippi -estate. - -The celebrated L. Q. C. Lamar was lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, -and succeeded to the command, until forced by physical disability, he -retired to Richmond for other service. The army moving on soon neared -the capital and took up the several positions assigned its divisions. -McClellan's huge force following, threw itself across the Chickahominy, -and the siege of Richmond may be said to have begun. - -On the withdrawal of the army from the Peninsula, Norfolk and -Gloucester Point became indefensible and the destruction of immense -quantities of material both for field use and for construction had -to be submitted to. The blow was not made lighter by the loss of the -famous _Virginia_, formerly the _Merrimac_, that did such havoc at -Newport News. She could not be permitted to fall into the enemy's -hands and was of too deep draft for service on the James River. Her -commander, Admiral Josiah Tatnall, was therefore reluctantly forced -to her destruction. She was blown up and disappeared. Other vessels, -cruisers and gun-boats, boilers, engines, and great quantities of -material for construction had to be destroyed for similar reasons. The -loss was bitter to us, as so much could have been done with it all for -a little fighting navy. - -It was during the action at Williamsburg that I was ready to shout for -joy at seeing my old troop, the Georgia Hussars, in a gallant charge. -Their regiment, the Jeff Davis Legion, had been prematurely thrown -at the enemy in a position he was thought about leaving. The cavalry -colonel was wrong. Our Georgians went forward in fine style, expecting -to carry everything, but quickly found themselves in a very hot place. -The enemy was not retiring, but on the contrary gave the Legion so warm -a reception as to empty many saddles. They all came back pell-mell, -"the devil take the hindmost," my Hussar comrades wondering what their -colonel had got them "into that galley for!" It was a severe lesson -but a salutary one, and the regiment was not again caught that way. -Longstreet saw them close by as they dashed forward, and said, "They -must soon come back; the colonel is ahead of the right moment." - -General Johnston was present on the field all day, but seeing -Longstreet, the rearguard commander, carrying things very handsomely, -generously forbore any interference and left the battle to his -handling. He sent the latter such additional troops as he had to call -for from time to time. When night came it was horrible. There were many -dead and wounded and the weather nasty; the roads ankle deep in mud and -slush. But the march had to be again taken up. - -On the retreat from Yorktown, Brigadier-General Rains was commanding -the rearguard. He was a brother of the other Rains who at Augusta, -Georgia, achieved the apparently impossible task of supplying -ammunition. Both brothers were given to experiments in explosives and -fond of that study. When Gabriel began moving out on our march he -amused himself planting shells and other explosives in the roadway -after us to tickle the pursuers. Hearing this I reported the matter -to Longstreet, who instantly stopped it. He caused me to write Rains -a rather severe note, reminding him that such practises were not -considered in the limits of legitimate warfare, and that if he would -put them aside and pay some attention to his brigade his march would -be better and his stragglers not so numerous. This officer did not -remain long on duty in the field. His talents, like those of his more -celebrated brother, lay elsewhere. - -After getting into position before Richmond, less than a month -intervened between the reorganization and strengthening of the army and -change of its commander. I shall therefore defer any observations that -I may recall as to its composition and personnel until it took its more -permanent form under Lee, contenting myself with some stray reflections -on the battle of Seven Pines, which by the deplorable wounding of -Johnston gave us for leader Robert E. Lee. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES, MAY 31, 1862 - - Position taken in front of Richmond--Reception at - President Davis's--Sketch--Mr. Benjamin, Secretary of - State--Storm-bound--Richmond--General Johnston wounded--Von Borcke, - the German volunteer--His armament. - - -Our positions were so near Richmond as to permit frequent visits there -during the pleasant month of May. - -McClellan was hugging himself in security and reinforcements beyond -the Chickahominy, and the earthwork defenses of Richmond which we were -guarding seemed to us then all-sufficing. Later, we could realize how -little they were worth without men and guns and rifles and a leader in -the field. These defenses had been scientifically constructed by the -engineers headed by General Lee and Maj.-Gen. J. F. Gilmer. The latter -was a distinguished officer not long since resigned from the United -States Army, had married in Savannah in the family of dear friends -of ours, and when the war broke out at once placed his unquestioned -engineering abilities at the service of the government. - -On one of my visits to the city I was persuaded by my brother, Dr. -Sorrel, to stay the night and attend, a reception at the President's. -It was interesting and striking. The highest and most brilliant of the -Southland were there; bright, witty, confident, carrying everything -with a high hand. The men generally in full uniform and the women -in finery, that seems somehow always to turn up for them under all -circumstances. After presentation to Mr. and Mrs. Davis I had a good -look at that remarkable man. A most interesting study, calm and -self-contained, gracious with some sternness; his figure was straight, -slim and elegant. A well-poised, ample head was faced with high-bred -features and an expression that could be very winning and agreeable. -His wife, Varina, was a rather large woman, handsome and brilliant, a -bit inclined to be caustic of speech, but withal a good and gracious -help to her husband. - -Her devotion when he was a prisoner was later beautifully manifested. -Senators and Congressmen were there in abundance. Our own -representative, Julien Hartridge, characteristically indifferent to -such assemblages, was taking his pleasure elsewhere. - -Mr. Benjamin was a most interesting character--a short, squatty Jewish -figure. His silvery speech charmed all hearers with its wit, persiflage -and wisdom. His wonderful legal abilities made him _facile princeps_ -in equity law. His after career was extraordinary. When the collapse -of the Confederate Army came he was still in Mr. Davis's Cabinet and -joined his chief in flight. Separating, however, Benjamin escaped -to one of the West India Islands and thence to London. It seems his -nativity had actually been in a British Colony, and this fact and his -great legal acquirements, with some routine attendance at the courts, -quickly permitted his admittance to the bar and he was Q. C. in almost -no time. He immediately took up an immense special practise and made -much money. - -I had the pleasure of meeting him in 1872 in Paris, at a breakfast -given by Mr. Francis Corbin in his splendid hotel on the Faubourg St. -Germain. Needless to say, Mr. Benjamin was delightful. - -It was on one of these visits to my brother that I nearly came to -trouble. I intended to ride back to camp quite early, but he had visits -for me to make with him and pressed me so affectionately that I was -late in starting back. Then a furious storm of rain and wind nearly -drowned my good horse and myself and I was concerned for the late hour -at which I finally reported to my chief. I found him provoked at my -absence, because much had happened. In the afternoon a council of war -had agreed with the commander-in-chief to attack McClellan the next -morning. The opportunity was a good one because McClellan had posted -his forces so that the Chickahominy cut them in two and they might -be destroyed in detail. I was not too late, however, for the duties, -and both Longstreet and myself were soon in good humor again. Orders -for the dispositions of the troops were quickly gotten out and the -time and line of march given. We had six strong brigades and D. H. -Hill's four were to join us under Longstreet, besides a strong force -of artillery and a body of cavalry on the right. When the day came -(May 31) the movement began, and never was the opening for battle more -unsatisfactory. - -The same storm that put McClellan's army in decided peril by destroying -his bridges and cutting communication between his two wings, impeded -our march at every step. Little rivulets were now raging torrents. - -Bridges had to be improvised and causeways made by which the column -could be moved. Everything seemingly lost us time, and our attack, -instead of being early in the day, was delayed until 4 p. m. There -shall be no attempt to describe or discuss this battle. G. W. Smith -with a large command was on our left. General Johnston with him and -Major-General Huger with a strong division was expected to support our -right, but for some reason we did not get it. D. H. Hill with his four -brigades and our six, attacked with great fury. Smith's attack on the -left was retarded and unsuccessful. We made quick progress, but with -heavy losses in our ten fine brigades. The enemy could not stand before -them and Casey's division, posted at Seven Points, gave way after heavy -losses and was crushed. Cannon and colors fell into our hands. Darkness -was then coming on and no supports, much to Longstreet's chagrin. -Further attack on our part was deferred until the morning. Meantime, -while Smith was making on the left his abortive attack, our gallant -General Joseph E. Johnston had been struck down by a severe wound and -borne from the field. The second in command was G. W. Smith, but as -operations for the day had ceased there was no occasion for him to make -any change in existing dispositions of the troops, and Gen. Robert E. -Lee was the next day placed in command of the Army of Northern Virginia. - -Seven Pines should under all circumstances have been a magnificent -victory for us. It was really far from that, and while encouraging the -soldiers in fighting and the belief in their ability to beat the enemy, -it was waste of life and a great disappointment. - -Walton, of Longstreet's staff, was wounded in the head, the bullet -making a long furrow in his bald scalp. Here we saw for the first time -the German Von Borcke, who, attached later to Stuart's cavalry, made -some reputation. He had just arrived and could not speak a word of -English; was splendidly mounted on a powerful sorrel and rode well. He -was an ambulating arsenal. A double-barreled rifle was strapped across -his back, a Winchester carbine hung by his hip, heavy revolvers were -in his belt, right and left side; an enormous straight double-edged -sharp-pointed cuirasseur's saber hung together with sabertasche to -his left thigh, and a short "couteau de chasse" finished up his -right. Besides, his English army saddle bore two large holsters, -one for his field-glasses, the other for still another revolver, -bigger and deadlier than all the others. Von Borcke was a powerful -creature--a tall, blonde, active giant. When I next saw him he had -discarded--taught by experience--all his arsenal except his good saber -and a couple of handy revolvers. He stayed with us to the end and -received an ugly wound in the throat. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -BATTLES OF THE CHICKAHOMINY, JUNE 26 TO JULY 2, 1862 - - General Lee in command--Sketch--Reinforced--Preparing for - campaign--General Lee's staff--Longstreet second in command--His - division--Artillery reorganized--Washington Artillery of New - Orleans--Colonel E. P. Alexander commanding artillery--General W. W. - Mackall reports--Sketch--Civilian prisoners at Fort Warren--General - Miles and President Davis--The battles around Richmond--McClellan's - defeat--Stonewall Jackson not on time--Ochiltree and Eastern - fighting--Lord Edward St. Maur a visitor--McClellan on James River in - position--Later we take again positions by Richmond. - - -When General Lee took command it was my first sight of him. He had been -employed in the northwest Virginia mountains, on the South Atlantic -Coast, and at Richmond, generally as adviser to the President. His -appearance had, it seems, changed. Up to a short time before Seven -Pines he had worn for beard only a well-kept moustache, soon turned -from black to grizzled. When he took us in hand his full gray beard -was growing, cropped close, and always well tended. An unusually -handsome man, he has been painted with brush and pen a hundred times, -but yet there is always something to say of that noble, unostentatious -figure, the perfect poise of head and shoulders and limbs, the strength -that lay hidden and the activity that his fifty-five years could not -repress. Withal graceful and easy, he was approachable by all; gave -attention to all in the simplest manner. His eyes--sad eyes! the -saddest it seems to me of all men's--beaming the highest intelligence -and with unvarying kindliness, yet with command so firmly set that -all knew him for the unquestioned chief. He loved horses and had good -ones, and rode carefully and safely, but I never liked his seat. The -General was always well dressed in gray sack-coat of Confederate cloth, -matching trousers tucked into well-fitting riding-boots--the simplest -emblems of his rank appearing, and a good, large black felt army hat -completed the attire of our commander. He rarely wore his sword, but -his binoculars were always at hand. Fond of the company of ladies, he -had a good memory for pretty girls. His white teeth and winning smile -were irresistible. While in Savannah and calling on my father, one of -my sisters sang for him. Afterwards, in Virginia, almost as soon as he -saw me he asked after his "little singing-bird." - -The touch of the leader's hand was soon apparent in the reorganization -of the army and its increased strength. The Administration reposing -a perfect confidence in Lee, gave him all he asked for in men and -material that could be furnished. It is proper to add that so moderate -was the man and so fully understanding the situation and difficulties -of supply, that he rarely asked for what could not be given him. His -staff was small and efficient. I suppose that at this date there -are some hundreds of men in the South who call themselves members -of Lee's staff, and so they were if teamsters, sentry men, detailed -quartermasters (commissary men), couriers and orderlies, and all the -rest of the following of general headquarters of a great army are to -be so considered. But by staff we usually confine ourselves to those -responsible officers immediately about a general, and Lee had selected -carefully. Four majors (afterwards lieutenant-colonels and colonels) -did his principal work. Walter Taylor, from the Virginia Military -Institute, was adjutant-general, and better could not be found for this -important post. - -Charles Venable, a scholar and mathematician, and with some study -of strategy, together with Charles Marshall, a distinguished lawyer -by inheritance from his ancestor, the Chief Justice, and his own -attainments, did much of the correspondence under dictation. Talcot -was the engineer officer, and Long, of the old Army, a close friend -of the General, was ranked as military secretary and did various -duties. At a later date Brig.-Gen. R. H. Chilton, A. A. G., was -assigned to confidential duties with the General, and was sometimes -called chief of staff. But Lee really had no such chief about him. The -officer practically nearest its duties was his extremely efficient -adjutant-general, W. H. Taylor. - -Maj. H. E. Young was also attached later--an excellent officer. There -were possible one or two young lieutenants for personal aids, but this -was Lee's staff, although perhaps I have made some omissions. Of course -it does not include the important administrative officers like Cole, -chief commissary; Corley, chief quartermaster; Doctor Guild, medical -director, and his chiefs of ordnance and other organizations. - -Longstreet was second in command and it soon became apparent that -he was to be quite close to Lee. His camps and bivouacs were near -by the General's, and thus my acquaintance with him and his staff -became quite free and I was often honored by the kind interest of the -Commander-in-Chief. - -In the new organization Longstreet had a powerful division of six -brigades, and A. P. Hill (major-general) one of six, also a fine body -which Hill happily christened as the Light Division. The artillery was -much improved, and loose batteries were gathered and organized into -well-found battalions, generally of four batteries of six guns each, -and a battalion assigned to each division. The celebrated Washington -Artillery of New Orleans was given to us, and glad we were to have such -gunners. E. P. Alexander commanded in reserve a fine battalion of six -batteries and was to do much good service with it. - -A word about this splendid fellow. He was from Georgia and a dear -friend of mine. Leaving West Point with very high honors, he was -immediately commissioned into the Engineers, and sent to the Pacific, -whence he came South to fight. His was the happiest and most hopeful -nature. He was sure of winning in everything he took up, and never did -he open his guns on the enemy but that he knew he should maul him into -smithereens. An accomplished engineer, he was often called on both by -Lee and Longstreet for technical work and special reconnoitering. His -future in peace, after Appomattox, was varied and distinguished, and -he still is with us, eager, enthusiastic, most interesting, and of -undiminished abilities. - -The Washington Artillery was an ancient and wealthy organization of New -Orleans, numbering five well-equipped, well-manned batteries. There -were many men of wealth and family serving as gunners. Four batteries -under Colonel Walton came to Virginia, the fifth was sent West. Walton -was large and imposing in appearance, looking, as indeed did the whole -battalion, rather French. This arose from their uniform, which from -"kepi" to gaiters was handsomely French, and made them very fine beside -our homespun infantry fellows. It was a most efficient organization, -serving with Longstreet throughout the war; it always did good service -and constantly distinguished itself most conspicuously. - -Our own staff will not be touched on just yet, preferring to wait for -the creation of the two army corps in October, when we were put in more -permanent shape for the remainder of the war. At present there had been -but few additions to it, since Longstreet's command was limited to a -single brigade, and the staff work consequently was sometimes hard on -us. - -I think it was in this month, September, that I rode to one of the -lower landings of the James to meet General Mackall, my brother-in-law. -He had been a prisoner of war at Fort Warren near Boston, and was to -land, exchanged with some others from the Federal steamer. He was -quite well and I sent him on to Richmond, where Doctor Sorrel saw to -his comfort. Mackall married my father's eldest daughter. He was an -army man out of West Point, and an able, accomplished soldier. He -should have achieved much in the Confederate war, but circumstances -were against him. When it broke out he was lieutenant-colonel in the -Adjutant-General's Department, considered a very enviable billet. -Stationed on the Pacific, his intimates were J. E. Johnston, J. F. -Gilmer, Halleck, and others of that type. - -The Marylander had a tedious time in Richmond waiting for active -service suitable to his abilities. At last he was sent to report to A. -S. Johnston at Bowling Green, Kentucky. After Shiloh, at Beauregard's -earnest request, he was made brigadier-general and ordered to hold -Island No. 10, a fortified position in the Mississippi, immediately -to fall by reason of other combinations. In less than a week after -assuming command the inevitable happened. The island was surrendered -and the garrison made prisoners of war. Mackall was sent to Fort -Warren, from which he was exchanged in 1863. He then took duty with -Bragg's army as chief of staff; and after Bragg with J. E. Johnston, -one of his dearest friends, until the General was supplanted by Hood. -Mackall was afterwards given a command at Mobile, from which, however, -he soon had to withdraw his force by reason of the successes of the -Federal fleet. And there, I think, his active service ended. He was -of a high order of mind and of the finest and nicest elevation of -character; there was something supercritical, however, that would stand -in his way without reason. - -When General Mackall was exchanged out of Fort Warren he told me of -two other prisoners, civilians, Andrew Low and Charles Green. The -latter had married my cousin, and both were Englishmen of the regular -holdfast, energetic type. They constituted the most important business -house in Savannah, were making quantities of money, but had quarrelled -and were about separating on the worst terms, when Seward's detectives, -suspicious of their movements (they had both married in Savannah and -were truly Southern and Confederate), clapped them in Fort Warren. -There by the irony of fate they were the sole occupants of the same -casemate, these quondam friends, now bitter, non-speaking enemies. The -situation was difficult and rather enjoyed by some gentlemen outside -who knew of the partners' troubles. - -Treatment of prisoners of war at Fort Warren (Boston Harbor) appears -to have been proper and unobjectionable. The governor, Colonel -Dimmock, was a gentleman and knew what was due to his own reputation, -as well as what his prisoners had a right to expect. There were -marked contrasts elsewhere, as at Fort Johnston, but in all the four -years there was yet to be found a prison commandant surpassing the -brutalities of Miles. His chief distinction then appears to have been -in manacling the helpless President of the Confederate States, who was -advanced in years, feeble in health, with no friends near, and that in -the strongest fortress in the United States, with a large garrison and -a guard literally standing over the prisoner night and day, and not a -Confederate organized force in existence. - -Lee was an aggressive general, a fighter. To succeed, he knew battles -were to be won, and battles cost blood, and blood he did not mind -in his general's work. Although always considerate and sparing of -his soldiers, he would pour out their blood when necessary or when -strategically advisable. His army had become much strengthened, troops -filled its ranks from Georgia, South and North Carolina, being drawn -from the coast, where they were doing nothing. His divisions had among -them Longstreet's, A. P. Hill's, Magruder's, D. H. Hill's, McLane's, -D. R. Jones's, Huger's, and Whiting's--a splendid force, nearly eighty -thousand men, including Jackson's. The latter was in the Valley, -soon to be with us. Lawton had just taken his immense brigade of six -thousand men from Savannah to reinforce him, and the Georgians were -having some lively marching and fighting in "Stonewall" Jackson's way. -It was evident that the General was soon to make his great attack -to crush McClellan, whose dispositions were so faulty as to offer a -tempting mark. His army greatly outnumbered ours. He had thrown it -across the Chickahominy and its two wings were again exposed. There -were quiet but intense preparations for the important movement. - -It was of great extent and covered nearly seven days. Jackson was to -move secretly and swiftly from the Valley and join Lee in the attack on -the Federal right. He was late, and when Lee crossed at Mechanicsville, -June 26, A. P. Hill was thrown at the defenses on Beaver Dam, and was -nearly sacrificed. His losses were pitiable, as were D. H. Hill's in -the same attack. Had Jackson been in position the enemy would have -melted before us. He had promised to be there on the morning of the -26th. On the 27th, Longstreet, A. P. Hill, Whiting, and others stormed -the heights at Gaines's Mill, suffering heavy loss, but defeating the -enemy badly, taking many prisoners, guns and colors, and driving him -in panic after the retreating McClellan. There was great maneuvering -on the 26th, and a severe combat at Savage's Station. On the 30th the -enemy showed front at Fraser's Farm, and Longstreet, supported by A. P. -Hill, instantly attacked with great fury. The enemy was stubborn and -contested every foot. Jackson was to be with us, and had he been, our -success was undoubted, but for some reason he could not get through -White Oak Swamp, and denied us. Of Huger on the right we also heard -nothing. The combination had failed. The enemy was thus suffered to -escape, but with heavy loss. Our own was far from light. - -Malvern Hill followed with its bloody fields and crest. The reckoning -there was awful and apparently for no good. McClellan abandoned the -hill at night and soon found himself safe at Harrison's Landing under -cover of his cruisers and gun-boats. His army was beaten and dispirited -and the siege of Richmond broken up; but "Little Mac" raised a faint -cry of partial victory and did not fail to torment poor Mr. Lincoln for -more men; "heavy reinforcements could alone save the army," etc. - -Jackson's firmest friends have been obliged to admit some faults in -their hero. As to these movements--either from miscalculation or -something else, he was fatally late on the 26th. That he was not on -hand at Fraser's Farm was also a serious disaster. Some of Munford's -cavalry had got through White Oak Swamp, bad as it was with a heavy -rain falling, and it would seem that a soldier so great and energetic -as Jackson would have found means to push through to the help of -fighting, hard-pressed comrades. It is possible that he was overdone -with work and fatigue, but his men should have been there as planned. - -I saw him on the 28th, and he seemed brisk enough. Longstreet had -sent me after Gaines's Mill to find him and establish connections -and communications. He was cheerful and pleasant. "Explain, Major, -to General Longstreet where I am and how my troops are lying, and -say, with my compliments, I am ready to obey any orders he may send -me." When I set out to find him, Tom Ochiltree, fresh and breezy from -Texas, was with us for a week as a volunteer by Longstreet's consent. -Ochiltree said, that familiar with fighting in Texas, he wanted to -see how we did it in the East. He had also a great desire to see the -celebrated "Stonewall" before returning home. He asked permission -to ride with me. We trotted off together, our route taking us by an -extensive field-infirmary, where the surgeons were at their bloody -work on the wounded. We halted for a few minutes. The scene was -sickening and cured Ochiltree of battle sights. "Sorrel," he said very -seriously, "this gives me enough; I don't want any more. It seems now -I have seen everything--too much, nothing for me to do here. Better -for me to ride back to Richmond and take train for Texas. Sorry not -to see 'Stonewall,' but I travel the other way. Good-by and good luck -to you." And off he went after just about four days' service with the -Confederates in the East. - -During these movements there was a young Englishman with us, our -guest. He had brought letters to authorities in Richmond. It was -Lord Edward St. Maur, a scion of the ducal house of Somerset. He was -about twenty-one, just from the University, where he had taken high -honors, and was around now with an Englishman's curiosity. A singularly -handsome young man he was, with pure olive skin and beautiful features. -He was always courteous, always reserved. He came as a neutral for -observation, and in all the freedom of our fighting week and rough -bivouacs nothing stirred him from that attitude. In truth, I don't -think he approved of us. I afterwards heard he was something of a prig -but destined for high political life. The battle of Fraser's Farm broke -out in the afternoon with great suddenness and severity. I had given -St. Maur a mount and we happened to be on the line among the men when -firing began, but notwithstanding the cannonading and heavy musketry -he was quite cool. "This is not my place," he said, "and with your -permission I shall retire," doing so with entire deliberation; he so -placed himself as to see something and we talked it over when we met -at night. When McClellan took cover at Harrison's Landing, St. Maur -was given an officer and flag of truce and soon landed in the home -of his fathers. A very careful, neutral chap. I was sorry for his -end--hunting big game in India soon after, he was mauled and eaten by a -tiger. - -When McClellan was safely at Harrison's Landing under cover of heavy -guns (some fifteen-inch spherical shell), there was nothing to keep -our army there. Besides, it left Richmond somewhat exposed from the -direction of Fredericksburg. General Lee, therefore, gave the word -and we were soon again in, or near, our old positions. Everything was -made ship-shape, the wounded mending and returning to duty, damages -repaired, and the waste of that extraordinary movement and series of -battles made good as best could be. McClellan could not now see the -spires of Richmond from his headquarters. Additional reinforcements -were brought from the South in preparation for Lee's next move, for he -was not the man to stay idly behind defenses when there was an enemy -about that he might hopefully strike. Longstreet's division of six -brigades was in fine condition, with filling ranks, and so was A. P. -Hill's Light Division, which lay near us, and thereby hangs a tale -which must be recited, I fear, at some little length. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -RIVALRY AND MORE REMINISCENSES - - Longstreet's and A. P. Hill's divisions--Rivalry between the - two--Publications in _Richmond Examiner_ and _Whig_--General Hill - resentful--Refuses recognition of Longstreet's adjutant-general--Hill - in arrest--Personal difficulty between the two major-generals adjusted - by General Lee's influence--General Hill cherishes no rancor--Later - gave me a brigade--Army busy drilling--Quartermaster Potts and Major - Fairfax--Books among the troops--Gambling. - - -There was some rivalry between the two splendid divisions. Each had -done its full share of fighting in the recent battles and each had -won glory and renown. Hill had handled his men well and fought them -gallantly. Needless to say how Longstreet had held his men, as it were, -in the hollow of his hand (his abilities for handling large bodies -under fire being remarkable), and how his never-failing valor and -tenacity had supported them. The papers came out of Richmond daily, -with fetching headlines and columns of description giving the events of -the previous day. One of the widest read of these was _The Examiner_, -very brilliantly edited. It seemed to have taken Hill's division under -its special favor. Every movement was chronicled, every clash of arms, -no matter how trifling, was written up, and the grand movements and -actions of the division given such prominence as to dwarf all other -commands. There was some feeling growing up about it, especially -since it was known that a newspaper man from _The Examiner_ office -was serving temporarily on Hill's staff. Nothing was then done about -the matter, but Longstreet's young staff officers were quite at the -fighting point, as our division had come in for some animadversions in -_The Examiner_. - -After the short campaign, while we were occupying some of our old -positions about Richmond, Hill lying near by, under command of -Longstreet, the latter came one day to me with a rough draft of a short -communication to _The Whig_, a Richmond paper. It flatly contradicted -_The Examiner_, so far as Longstreet's division was concerned, and -criticized the major-general who could suffer such reports to emanate -from his own staff; it was short but positive. Longstreet asked if I -objected to send such a communication to _The Whig_, signed by myself -officially, as adjutant-general. He would answer for it, because -I should not be expected alone to attack or criticize my superior -officer. I was only too willing to carry out these wishes. The little -note was prepared for the press and published in _The Whig_. It was -stiff, but with military civility, and made some comment on the -taste of having such correspondents along with military operations. -It was not regarded as offensive, but was certainly pointed in some -contradiction. To my regret I have no copy. - -Such was the bomb-shell that was to burst over us in a few days. Having -occasion for some routine report or information from General A. P. -Hill, a note was sent him for it in the usual form. It was returned -endorsed that "General Hill declined to hold further communication with -Major Sorrel." Of course I was surprised, but it was apparent that -trouble was brewing and that Longstreet must show his hand. The note -was handed him and he was at once on fire at such disobedience. "Write -him again," said he, "and say that note was written by my command, and -must be answered satisfactorily." - -To this Hill insisted on holding to his refusal. The correspondence was -then taken up by Longstreet personally with Hill. I did not see the -letters, but several passed, until finally, a day or two later, General -Longstreet came to me with, "Major, you will be good enough to put on -your sword and sash, mount, and place Major-General Hill in arrest, -with orders to confine himself to limits of his camp and vicinity." -It was my first duty of that kind with such rank, but I was soon on -my way, followed by an orderly. The General was in his tent seated -in a low chair, and rose as I entered, returning stiffly my salute. -Bowing, when I had communicated the orders, he resumed his chair -without speech, and saluting again, I was quickly on the road to my -own friendly camp. I know only by hearsay what took place afterwards. -It was kept quite out of reach of the staff and confined to the two -principals. Certain it is, however, that some angry letters passed and -intimate friends (D. H. Hill and Toombs for Longstreet) were called -in and a hostile meeting between the two generals was almost certain. -General Lee, however, heard of it, and acted quickly and effectively, -using his unvarying tact and great influence. He brought matters, -through other friends, to an adjustment honorable to both. A few days -later General Hill's division was shifted out of reach of Longstreet's -command and nothing more was known of the affair. Later on Longstreet -and Hill became fairly good friends, but I naturally supposed I had -incurred his hatred. For a year or two we did not meet--his division -being in Jackson's corps--except occasionally on the march, and -then the General's manner seemed to me stiff and menacing. If so, -it was only the manner, not the feeling, because in 1864 I received -from General Hill the very highest evidence of his appreciation and -friendliness. On several occasions previously, Longstreet recommended -me for promotion to command, and it must necessarily be to a brigade of -Georgians. But where a brigadier was wanted for them, there were always -good colonels of long service in the brigade that properly gained the -preference. This was so general that I despaired of leaving the staff -for higher promotion, until one day in September, 1864, a commission of -brigadier-general came to me with orders to report to Lieut-Gen. A. P. -Hill. - -My preparations began at once for the change and it was necessary -for me to go to the War Department, Richmond. There I found in the -Adjutant-General's Office Capt. John W. Reilly, A. A. G., a fine young -Virginia officer, who had once served under me. - -"Did you ever see, General, the paper that brought about your -promotion?" It was entirely new to me. He drew from a file a letter -from Gen. A. P. Hill, commenting on the bad condition of his fine -Georgia Brigade, which, left without a brigadier by the wounds of -Wright and the death of Girardy, was then in the hands of a brave but -incompetent colonel. He concluded by asking with great earnestness that -Lieutenant-Colonel Sorrel, of Longstreet's corps, should be promoted -and sent to him. The letter was referred to General Lee for his opinion -and then passed between the Adjutant-General, the Secretary of War, and -the President, who finally scrawled, "Make the appointment, J. D." - -I tried to get the paper from Reilly as an autographic souvenir, but it -was against orders and I was obliged to content myself with a certified -copy. "It never rains but it pours;" some days after, Major-General -Kershaw wrote me that he (Kershaw) had asked for my promotion to -command one of his Georgia brigades. - -Hill was a West Point man of medium height, a light, good figure, and -most pleasing soldierly appearance. He surely handled his division on -all occasions with great ability and courage and justly earned high -reputation. When Lee created the Third Army Corps he placed him in -command of it, and it was thought Hill did not realize in that high -position all that was hoped of him. - -His health was impaired toward the close of the war, and his noble life -ended by a stray bullet at Petersburg after withdrawal of the lines. -It was unnecessary and he should have had years before him. It is not -necessary to say how much I appreciated his action toward myself. It -proved him magnanimous and free of petty spite in that affair, and such -was his nature. When I reported to him no one could have been more -warmly welcomed, and thenceforward I had nothing but kindness and the -most valuable support and help while with his corps. - -A. P. Hill was very close to both Generals Lee and Stonewall Jackson at -different times. Perhaps only a coincidence, but certainly significant -it is, that, the last dying words of the two military chiefs were -said to be of Hill. "Send word to A. P. Hill," whispered the expiring -Jackson. "Tell Hill he must come up," were the last words on Lee's lips. - -July and early August, 1862, were busy months. In front of Richmond -General Lee kept the army well exercised in drill and the new men had -to get into shape. Our staff work had been severe and our horses had -suffered. I was obliged to keep two good mounts at least, sometimes -more. It was here I fell in love with a perfect little stallion named -Voltaire, and paid a round price for him; he soon proved too delicate -for army work and I gave him to my brother in Richmond. There he should -have thriven, but I think soon went to pieces. I succeeded in finding -a handsome, powerful chestnut mare, from which I got good service -until she was killed at Gettysburg. Longstreet was admirably mounted -on two bays; one he had brought to the army with him, the other, a -finer beast, was a present from Major Fairfax, whose horse judgment -was excellent. For himself, he rode a superb gray stallion, "Saltron," -widely known, which he had raised at his Loudoun estate. Fairfax lost -him at Sharpsburg. A round shot struck him under the tail, fairly in -the fundament, and it was at once all over with the stallion. Fairfax -was excitable, and rushing to Longstreet, sitting grimly on his horse -directing the battle, he broke out, "General, General, my horse is -killed; Saltron is shot; shot right in the back!" Longstreet gave the -Major a queer look and consoled him with, "Never mind, Major, you ought -to be glad you are not shot in your own back!" - -Frank Potts, a quartermaster in the corps, tells a story of these two. -Fairfax messed General Longstreet, took good care of all his wants, -and kept him in whiskey and in all else that was needful. Potts says -that in one of the campaigns he had parked his animals and wagons in a -nice spot by the roadside at a good hour and everything was made snug -for the night's bivouac until the early march next morning. Suddenly -he saw a figure galloping wildly across the fields to him, taking -fences and ditches as he came. "Now," grumbled Potts, "it's a move; -here are the orders coming." It was Major Fairfax in full uniform. He -pulled up sharply before the quartermaster, saluted, and then, "Captain -Potts, can you tell me where a washerwoman is to be found for General -Longstreet?" relieved the Irishman and tickled his humor. - -During the war the men were without many books and eagerly clung to -a novel when one came their way. Many old volumes were sent from -home, but they did not go far among such numbers. Victor Hugo's "Les -Miserables," and Muhlbach's novels, translated from the German, and -reprinted at Mobile, had begun to appear and were devoured by readers. -Later on, after Gettysburg, Freemantle's "Three Months in the Southern -States" was reprinted at Mobile and widely read. These old volumes are -now a curiosity and not to be had except at great price. The dirty -old type, blurred and worn, the rough paper with florid designs, all -attested the stress of the Confederacy in everything entering into -life. Among the soldiers in camp there was the usual gambling going on; -they played some odd sorts of games, but the greasiest packs of cards -were their stand-by. - -One day Longstreet received a note from General Lee, after a ride -through our camps. This informed the corps commander that he regretted -to see so much gambling among the men; they nearly all seemed absorbed -in a game called "Chuck-a-luck." "Could anything be done to better the -matter?" Longstreet had served much with soldiers, and knew they would, -many of them, gamble in camp in spite of all orders and watching; never -yet had he found anything that would completely cure the evil. He -would, however, see what could be done--but nothing came of it. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS, AUGUST 29 AND 30, 1862 - - Major-General Pope in command of Union troops in - Northern Virginia--Religious observances in our - army--Homesickness--Furloughs--Rations--March against Pope--Artillery - duel at Rappahannock--Spy captured and hung--Jackson's - marches--Thoroughfare Gap--Longstreet's attack--Enemy routed--General - Wilcox and Union general--Wilcox's and Couch's baptismals--Brig.-Gen. - A. G. Evans--General Toombs and the picket--His arrest--Released and - joins brigade in the fight. - - -McClellan still lay at Westover, recruiting and reorganizing. It was -apparent that his army would not be long in that position. Confidence -in him had been lost, and there was a new paladin in the field, the -doughty John Pope, major-general, with "Headquarters in the saddle." -He was a man of some ability, but did not have a reputation for high -character in the old Army; and now with elevated rank and command -thrust upon him, he turned into abuse of his enemy, explained how he -meant to whip him, and filled the air with bombast and threatening. He -was in command in northern Virginia, and Lee had marked him for his own. - -We were rather a devout army. The men came from their homes deeply -tinged with religion. Methodists were in large numbers and next to them -Baptists and Presbyterians. There were many meetings and addresses -conducted by worthy chaplains. These devoted ministers could always -be counted on to follow beside their men, in camp or on the firing -line. The men were fond of hearing in camp any kind of address, and -were an easy prey to sharpers. I recall that some years later, on the -Petersburg line, a crank came along with what he called an artis-avis -(a bird of art) with him, and some fifty thousand like it; he was -to drop a shell into Grant's army and fleet and destroy them! He -wanted permission to address my men and solicit cash for building his -wonderful birds. He was sent out of camp. The soldiers were fond of -chanting hymns and quaint old plantation airs, and at times they were -touching with the recollections of home. Homesickness was often very -prevalent, and the awful nostalgia came near crippling us. There is a -general order from Longstreet on that matter somewhere and I may be -able to find it to attach to these leaves. - -At this date, July and August, 1862, food was plentiful and good. No -variety, but fresh beef or bacon, flour, coffee and sugar were issued -in full rations. There was an abundance of whiskey, but comparatively -little drunkenness. Encouragement and incentives to good conduct -came from the General-in-Chief down through the officers. Previous -to the Chickahominy Campaign a balloon had been constructed for -reconnoitering. The enemy had several and we also wanted one, so the -women--Heaven bless them!--came to the front with, it may be, tearful -eyes but willing hearts and chipped in all their pretty silk frocks -and gowns. It was a wonderfully picturesque balloon and at first did -some little service, captive to a locomotive pushed far to the front. -Then it was packed on a little steamboat in an adventurous cruise down -the James. She ran aground, was gobbled up, with the bright ball-dress -balloon, by the delighted Yankees, and that was the last of the pretty -things of our sisters, sweethearts, and wives. - -But the march against Pope is now beginning and must have a little -space. The movement was masked as much as possible, a few troops only -being at first concentrated at Gordonsville by rail. Lee collected -then his outlying commands with great skill and started in earnest -against his braggart opponent. Pope seems to have quite underestimated -or disbelieved what was awaiting him, and his dispositions were all -in favor of Lee. His first rude awakening was the shock Jackson gave -him at Cedar Mountain, very costly to him; but we lost Charles Winder, -one of the finest and most promising of the brigadiers. The march of -the army was in tactical language "left in front," Jackson's position -throwing him on the left; and this formation was necessarily observed -by all the commands of the army. In these operations Stuart and his -cavalry were exceedingly active and performed most valuable service. -Our command, the full division, and two smaller ones under D. R. Jones -and N. G. Evans, came to a halt hunting a ford on the Rappahannock and -found a strong force of the enemy, with good artillery, at the railroad -bridge. The gunners (ours the Washington Artillery) on both sides took -up an artillery duel for nearly all day, but nothing decisive was -achieved. We forded the river in another place without opposition. - -It was in these operations that a spy was taken. He had murdered one -of our cavalry couriers, and was caught almost red-handed, and with -papers on him compromising enough to hang a dozen spies. Nevertheless, -we gave him a trial. I convened a drum-head court martial of three -brigadiers and they sentenced him to be hanged immediately. The wretch -was mounted, arms tied, on a horse, with the noose and limb of a -tree connected. He finally admitted he was a spy from Loudoun County, -Virginia, but to the last stuck out he had not shot the cavalry -courier. A smart blow with the flat of a saber started the horse on the -jump and left the spy breathless, and there he hung until the army, -continuing its march, passed almost under the tree and perhaps took the -lesson to heart. - -Jackson's marches, in swiftness, daring, and originality of execution, -were almost extraordinary. At one time there was great fear for -his safety, widely separated as he was from the right wing under -Longstreet. General Lee's route was near Longstreet's and night and -day he was always close to us. Longstreet was delayed by the enemy -at Thoroughfare Gap. This is a mountain gorge, not long, but narrow, -rocky, and precipitous. It was capable of stubborn defense. Its echoes -were wonderful--a gun fired in its depths gave forth roars fit to bring -down the skies. Here Longstreet had to stop impatiently until he could -work his way through. He knew Jackson was hard pressed on the other -side and praying for a sight of him. It took a little time, but we sent -a flanking force over the mountains by a rocky path and the enemy gave -way speedily and left the gap early. Pushing through we saw the dust -of Jackson's masses miles away and heard his guns. Forward we pressed -almost at a run, and in time. The attack on Stonewall ceased as soon as -Longstreet came on the scene. - -This was early enough in the day to permit us in turn to make a -combined attack. The enemy was disheartened, and Jackson's column, -although fatigued and losing heavily, was triumphant and still capable -of great efforts. Our own force was large, comparatively fresh, and -eager to crush John Pope, but for some reason the attack was not made, -although I think General Lee preferred it to waiting. - -The great battle that followed, and all these operations covering -several days, were called the Second Manassas. Some of the ground -was identical with the first. Most of it lay beautifully for good -tactical operations, and as the country was quite open much could be -observed at considerable distances. When the enemy's masses began again -pressing Stonewall on the 30th of August, Longstreet moved quickly up -to support. Their dense columns had been left exposed to artillery fire -from our position and Longstreet instantly saw it. Planting a battery -in the road, the first shots, together with Jackson's incessant fire, -began to tell. - -We were near enough to see some wavering in the blue masses, then -halt, and then a flight back to cover. But it was all up with John -Pope. No rest was given his army. Longstreet started every man of us -to his division to push them into attack, and soon everything was -hotly engaged. The easy, rounded ridges ran at right angles to the -turnpike, and over these infantry and artillery poured in pursuit. -The artillery would gallop furiously to the nearest ridge, limber to -the front, deliver a few rounds until the enemy were out of range, -and then a gallop again to the next ridge. And thus it went on until -black darkness stopped operations--the enemy defeated at all points -and hastening back to the Potomac. Many prisoners, guns, colors, small -arms, and large quantities of stores and equipments fell into our hands. - -J. E. B. Stuart was highly tickled at his capture of Pope's wagon and -personal effects, including a very fine uniform. - -Losses on both sides were heavy. Alas! the butcher's bill is always to -be paid after these grand operations, and at Manassas especially there -were some splendid young lives laid down for our cause and our homes. - -Longstreet was seen at his best during the battle. His consummate -ability in managing troops was well displayed that day and his large -bodies of men were moved with great skill and without the least -confusion. - -As General C. M. Wilcox was moving forward at the head of his brigade -in the open field, he was attracted by the waving of a handkerchief -at some little distance. He found time to go to the spot and there -mortally wounded was a Federal general, Wilcox's old army friend, who -had recognized the Confederate as he passed and wanted to say farewell. -His soul soon took flight and his body was cared for by his old-time -comrade--the name is forgotten. - -Wilcox told me that he once officiated at a christening with D. N. -Couch, afterwards a Federal major-general. Wilcox's baptismals were -Cadmus Marcellus, and Couch's Darius Narcissus. It is said that when -these sonorous designations reached the parson's ear he almost dropped -the baby in round-eyed astonishment! - -N. G. Evans ("Shank" Evans) had two brigades with Longstreet and was -a rather marked character. A regular soldier, he had served well in -Mexico, and at Manassas, on July 21, had done exceedingly well with a -small command, a good eye, and quick decision. It was he, too, that -commanded at Ball's Bluff on the upper Potomac when Baker attempted to -take it with a fine regiment and lost some 800 men. Baker was Senator -from Oregon and only a few days before had addressed the United States -Senate in full uniform in farewell. It was forever, for he died with -hundreds of his men in the waters of the Potomac. Evans was difficult -to manage and we found him so. He had a Prussian orderly, with a wooden -vessel holding a gallon of whiskey always strapped on his back, and -there was the trouble. At the little artillery fight he had on the -Rappahannock, G. T. Anderson (Tige), commanding one of the Georgia -brigades, was ordered by Evans to attack a powerful battery and silence -it. In vain did Anderson explain that it was on the far side of a deep -river and that without a bridge his infantry could not get to it. -Evans would not listen to reason and Anderson came to me. Of course he -was told to make no such attempt, and I proceeded to hunt up Evans, -finding him under a tree, too near his "Barrelita," as he called his -whiskey holder. But he had to listen and comply. In the progress of the -campaign after the Manassas battle he became so unruly as to arrest -without reason Hood, one of his brigadiers, and Longstreet had to get -him out of the way in some manner. He disappeared afterwards from field -work and I don't know his end. He had been a very brave, experienced -cavalry officer. Anderson's indignation at the impossibility of the -order to take the battery was highly amusing. - -In the early part of the march against Pope we made a bivouac near -where some Federal cavalry were reported to have been prowling. The -enemy had no troops near by to disturb us except this body of horse. -It was therefore thought prudent to post a regiment at the cross-road -which would warn our camps. General Toombs was ordered to detail one -and I saw that it was posted. - -During the night a cavalry picket reported that the regiment had been -withdrawn. I awoke Longstreet to ascertain if by his orders. "No, but -place immediately in arrest the officer who has done so." It proved -to be Toombs. He was a great lawyer and a good politician, but in the -wrong place when posing as a soldier. He had taken a notion that his -regiment was not really needed at the cross-road and the men would be -more comfortable with the others in bivouac. - -Toombs was therefore put in arrest and the march continued. The next -evening on halting it was reported to me that he had followed, as was -proper, in rear of his brigade, but had worn his sword, and upon his -men going into camp had made them a violent speech. I felt called on -to make this known to General Longstreet, whereupon he directed me to -order General Toombs back to Gordonsville and confine himself there; -also to prefer charges against him on two grounds--withdrawing the -regiment from picket duty and breaking his arrest. This was done and -Toombs went back to Gordonsville, not many miles away, whence he wrote -a short note asking to be released of the charge of breaking arrest, -saying he had worn his sword only for convenience and there was nothing -improper in his speech to the men. Longstreet always had a decided -liking for Toombs, and upon seeing this note he not only withdrew that -charge, but the other also and sent him back to duty. Knowing that we -should soon be engaged he advised me to be quick about it if I wanted -the Georgian to see something of hot work. - -An intelligent courier was sent to Toombs with the latest orders, and -meantime we were marching forward. He returned; General Toombs was -not at Gordonsville. I might well have left the matter there, but it -seemed to me that one of our foremost Georgians should have a chance -with the army and I sent a second man after him; this time he was -found. The situation was explained to him and he was advised to lose -no time in joining his men if he desired to be with them in the smoke -of battle. And so Toombs came; late, but just in time to be with his -brigade in its last victorious charge when everything, as already -described, was turned loose. - -Toombs stuck to the army through Sharpsburg, where he did good service, -and then returned to more congenial fields--politics and oratory. In -after years he always showed me much kindness and appreciation for the -trouble I had taken to get him back to his brigade for fighting at the -Second Manassas. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -BATTLES OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN (BOONSBORO GAP) AND SHARPSBURG (ANTIETAM), -SEPT. 14TH AND 17TH, 1862 - - Accident to General Lee--To Longstreet also--Fight at - Chantilly--General Kearny killed--Cross the Potomac--Lee's - confidential order found by McClellan--Straggling. - - -When we got back to Virginia and Toombs's resignation had gone in, -Longstreet sent for me to say he had, some time before, about August, -1862, recommended me for promotion to brigadier-general. That Toombs's -retirement now left a Georgia brigade open and he wanted me to have -it and that I must put out for Richmond forthwith and try to work it -through by help of my Congressman and other strong friends. I lost no -time about this and was soon on the ground. Hartridge, our M. C., did -all he could in my behalf; but there was no possible chance while the -brigade had four colonels, well known representative Georgia men, ready -each for the command. It was given to Colonel, formerly Judge, Benning, -and his record in command of it was excellent. - -The day after great Manassas, General Lee suffered a painful accident. -It had rained and he was wearing a rubber poncho and over-alls, his -body and legs being thus well protected. With a number of his officers -he was dismounted in a thick piece of woods, making some disposition -for following the enemy. His horse, a gentle, intelligent animal, was -at the General's shoulder, reins on neck; he made some slight movement -as if to start away, and Lee taking a step ahead for the bridle tripped -in his over-alls and fell forward, not prone, but catching on his hands. - -He was instantly on his feet, erect, but his hands were badly damaged; -one had a small bone broken and the other was nearly as bad with the -twist and strain. Both were put into splints, but were painful and most -uncomfortable. For some time the saddle had to be given up and the -ambulance called into use. General Lee made the campaign on wheels. At -Sharpsburg he was far enough cured to allow him to ride a little. This -accident caused widespread report of the General having been wounded, -and of course the enemy's papers gave facts in detail of the serious -character of the wound and how it was received. - -Some little time afterwards Longstreet also got himself damaged. A -boot chafed his heel, which took on an ugly look and refused to heal. -"Peter" (this was his West Point sobriquet, much used for him by his -army friends and to this day not forgotten) therefore was obliged -to don a slipper, and at Sharpsburg he was in no good humor at such -footwear and the need of occasionally walking in it. In fact, a wobbly -carpet slipper was not a good-looking thing for a commander on the -field. - -General Lee took his army forward to the Potomac. Only a detachment of -the enemy was encountered by Jackson, and this was at Chantilly, where -toward dark, and in a furious storm, there was a short combat in which -Major-General Kearny was killed and left in our hands. - -Kearny had been a conspicuous young officer in the Mexican War, where -he lost an arm, and coming of a wealthy New Jersey family had resigned -from the army and retired to private life. I saw his body next morning. -It was given up to the enemy at their request, and his horse also, I -think. He was a small, dashing-looking man, possessed, it was thought, -of considerable military ability. - -After such successes there was a fair prospect of driving the enemy out -of Washington or bringing him to terms. General Lee moved his army into -Maryland, passing most of the troops across the river at White Ford. -The soldiers crossed with joyful excitement, singing "My Maryland," -and the whole round of their musical stock, with bands playing and all -cheering as well-known officers came in sight. Indeed there was some -reason for elation and hope. The enemy had suffered a serious defeat -and was driven into his capital, his numbers again very great, but of -demoralized and raw-recruited men. On the other hand, Lee also had a -strong army (for Confederate numbers--we had been accustomed to be -outnumbered). The men were triumphantly rejoicing and confident, and as -they believed were moving into the friendly fields of a sister State, -whose men would surely rise and join us; and more than all, they were -commanded by the first General of the day. - -It was early September and delightful marching over Maryland's good -roads and through her fields of plenty. We had not yet been pushed for -food, the transport so far having kept us supplied. General Lee made a -short halt at Frederick City, where we took a rest and got loose ends -of the army together; and from here began the movement that after two -bloody battles was to send us disappointed back to the Virginia side of -the Potomac. - -General Lee there issued his famous confidential general order on which -the army moved. It provided in detail for the march of his troops -and his objective points. It was so full that when a copy came in my -possession I wondered what could be done with it in event of my falling -into the enemy's hands. - -By it Jackson was to move to Harper's Ferry and capture its large -garrison--it was a menace to Lee's rear. McLaws was to occupy Maryland -Heights, and J. G. Walker, Loudoun Heights, in co-operation with -Jackson. Troops were also sent to Crampton's Gap. - -D. H. Hill was to occupy South Mountain, or Boonsboro Gap, as it -was variously called. Longstreet's strong column was to be in the -vicinity of Hagerstown, twelve miles from D. H. Hill's position. Proper -directions were provided for Stuart's large cavalry force. - -The army moved from Frederick under the confidential order. All should -have gone well. The programme would have been carried out, the severed -army reunited, with Harper's Ferry captured at it was, and once in -front of the already half-beaten McClellan (who had succeeded Pope in -command of the Army of the Potomac), what great victory would surely -have awaited us! But fate or an unlucky chance decided otherwise. A -copy of General Lee's confidential order was handed to McClellan when -he reached Frederick. He says in his official report that it was picked -up by one of his men on our late camping ground. - -Had Lee whispered into the Federal General's ear his inmost plans the -latter could have asked for nothing more than the information brought -him on that fatal paper. - -The effect on McClellan was immediate. His march, up to then, had -been cautious and timid, not more than eight or nine miles a day. When -the order came to him he knew all about us. He knew that D. H. Hill's -five brigades at Boonsboro would be nearly all that lay in his path -to cross the mountain, and he began footing it with great speed. His -march was rapid, and for McClellan confident. He actually struck D. -H. Hill on September 14, on the mountain, with an overwhelming force. -Hill defended himself valiantly, Drayton's and Anderson's brigades -reinforcing him. - -Hearing his guns near Hagerstown, Longstreet's quick military instinct -told him what was happening. We instantly broke camp and raced out for -Hill's relief. The distance was covered in extraordinary time and we -happily got to Hill just as he was being driven from the crest of the -mountain, and in time to save him. Darkness coming on, he was able to -assemble his shattered battalions below, where with our force a front -was shown that McClellan hesitated on immediately attacking. At sun -up we prepared to move and were soon on the march to Antietam Creek, -behind which part of the army took position on the 15th and 16th. - -But I must go back to Frederick City, asking how a document so vitally -important as General Lee's order could have suffered loss. It has often -been discussed in special papers, in magazine articles, and in letters. -McClellan says it was addressed to Major-General D. H. Hill. There is -no disputing this because the document is on file for evidence. General -Hill and his adjutant-general, Col. Archer Anderson, both declare -it impossible to have been Hill's copy. They are to be implicitly -believed. In addition, Colonel Anderson is able to produce a copy -addressed to his chief.[1] Thus we find ourselves in a dilemma. - -[1] Colonel Anderson was not there, being at home wounded. - -The explanation suggested is that perhaps two copies were sent Hill. -Although now an independent division, Jackson considered Hill under his -command and sent him a copy of the order. One copy certainly reached -him direct from General Lee. Jackson and Hill, although connected by -marriage, had it is said no great personal liking for each other, -and I can imagine the cross and dyspeptic Hill, with the order from -Lee in his pocket, receiving another copy from Jackson with careless -irritation. If this theory does not work out, we seem to be quite -baffled in finding a solution. - -We had a bad night on the mountain, extracting D. H. Hill. He had made -a magnificent defense, but was terribly mauled and broken up. - -Drayton's brigade had been dispersed. There was great straggling to -the rear by some of the men and our staff had to make sharp play with -the flats of our swords on the backs of these fellows. It tired and -disgusted me. The mountain roads were filled with broken regiments -and companies and it was very late before they got to the foot of the -mountain and in some sort of order. The material of our army was such -that it did not take long for the men to shape up after disaster. It -was near daylight before I got to Longstreet's bivouac, made a brief -report of things, and threw myself on some fence rails in the bad -weather for a chance to sleep. Not for long, however. All hands were -soon afoot preparing for the march. During the day I came up with my -old friend and schoolmate "Sandy" Duncan, of the Hussars. He was a -comical object, but doing good service mounted on a little beast, -almost skin and bones, with scarcely any hair. The animal looked badly -scalded. He bore Duncan and his arms however, the trooper bearded and -with as odd an appearance as his mount. He was gathering stragglers and -pushing them forward with hard words and sometimes blows. We had never -a campaign when there was so much straggling. Duncan was an excellent -cavalry soldier and devoted to his troop. In full health to-day -at Savannah, he is considered justly good authority on all things -Confederate. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG, CONTINUED - - Marching through Frederick--Barbara Fritchie and Stonewall - Jackson--Commissariat broken down--Green corn for rations--Stampede of - horses of a cavalry regiment--D. H. Hill's horse shot--Longstreet's - staff served guns of Washington Artillery--Cannoneers killed--Colonel - John R. Cooke's gallant fight--Am wounded and carried off the field. - - -When the army marched through Frederick City it was fine weather, -and the poet Whittier has told of Barbara Frietchie and Stonewall -Jackson--a stirring poem in winning lines, but quite without fact at -bottom. But that matters not in the least. The lines are good and we -can well afford to throw in with all the hard words and abuse of those -days, the poet's ideas about our Stonewall. - -The country through which we marched was beautiful, rich, and fertile, -but we were constantly hungry. There were two lines of Whittier's -unquestionably true: - - "Fair as a garden of the Lord, - To the eyes of the famished rebel horde." - -In all parts of the army straggling was principally caused by want -of food. The commissariat had about broken down and the troops had -recourse to anything. - -The fields were full of ripened corn, of which too much was eaten. -Parched and salted it would help a little, but eaten as it was, bad -attacks of diarrhoea followed and such sickness became serious. - -On the night before the battle we were getting some sleep under thick -trees when a stampede of horses nearly trampled us. It was a very -surprising thing that happened to the Jeff Davis Legion. The regiment -was well lined and picketed in front, part of the officers and men -asleep, guards and pickets on good watch, and everything deadly quiet -and still, the night went on. - -Suddenly something seemed to pass through the animals like a quiver of -motion, a faint sound as of a sign, and then the wildest scene ensued. -The horses for no reason that could be found had become stampeded, -in the greatest panic and excitement. They broke away from their -picket ropes, and droves of different sizes, some few, some many, were -thundering along over the country and about the army in wild confusion. -Fortunately, they drew to our rear, and the troopers were all night and -part of the next day recovering them. Duncan has well described to me -this extraordinary stampede, the like of which did not occur during the -four years' war. - -The morning of September 17 opened with battle before us, presaged by -the booming of cannon already beginning their noisy work. - -Longstreet held the right center, the other wing being trusted to -Jackson, Hood, Richard H. Anderson, McLaws, and other divisions. The -fall of Harper's Ferry had released the attacking forces and enabled -Jackson and part of his command to join Lee, but only after great -exhaustion and fatal straggling. The enemy called this battle Antietam, -from the little stream that traverses the field. We gave it the name of -Sharpsburg, the village that nestled in the hills by the turnpike some -little distance back of Antietam. It was a dreadful day of fighting. -Beginning early, we were at it until nightfall. Outnumbered three to -one, it seemed that at almost any time a strong effort by McClellan -would drive us back, but that effort was not made. A third of his fine -army did not fire a rifle. - -In the early afternoon Lee, Longstreet, and D. H. Hill ascended a -little acclivity near the turnpike to make some observations. All -others--staff and orderlies--were kept back under the brow of the -hill to avoid drawing fire on the three generals. In truth, they did -look conspicuous on the crest, silhouetted against the bright skies, -and the shot of course came, a little wide, but the second was from a -good gunner. This shot struck the front legs of Hill's horse, cutting -them sharp off at the knees. The poor beast did not fall immediately, -and made no sound, but put his nose into the grass, nibbling at it -seemingly. - -The small general in a high-cantled saddle could not get his leg over -in the position of the horse until Longstreet helped him down. There -is occasional talk of groans and shrieks of horses when wounded. I -have seen many badly hurt, but cannot recall an instance in which the -animal made any noise. This "gunning" has recently been associated with -another incident on the field, with which it has really no connection. -It was rather later in the day that we came on two of Miller's -Washington Artillery guns that had been doing splendid work, but were -now silent. - -The gunners had fallen by their places, which were temporarily without -cannoneers. Longstreet was with us. Fairfax, Goree, Manning, Walton, -myself, and perhaps some others took our horses' bridles as we leaped -from them to the guns. The position was most important and it would -never do for those "barkers" to be dumb, even for a minute; so at it -we went, the improvised gunners, and were afterwards cheered by being -told we did it well and could always get a gunner's berth when we might -want it. I had the rammer, No. 1, I think it is in the drill. Our fire -was really strong and effective, until some reliefs from the Washington -Artillery came up "ventre à terre," and with hearty shouts took their -guns in hand. The enemy opened a severe fire on us, but fortunately -none of our party was hurt. We mounted again with cheerful grins at our -sudden adventure, and Longstreet, much pleased, turned his attention to -other imperiled points. - -Now, some fellow writing recently says it was McClellan's own hands -that fired at Hill's horse in the morning; and that, in revenge, -Longstreet seeing his position in the afternoon, guessed it must be -McClellan and his staff and dispersed them with his own hands on the -guns. An awful lot of lies circulate nowadays about the Civil War, and -it is so long ago there is hardly anybody to contradict them. - -Longstreet, whose eyes were everywhere, had noticed a regiment well -advanced that had been fighting steadily for hours. It had gathered a -few rails and stones for a chance protection to its brave fellows, all -the time keeping up a good steady fire on the force in front of them, -whose ranks looked so thick as to make one wonder they did not walk -over our poor little regiment. Longstreet never failed to encourage -good work; he praised freely and liberally where he thought it due, -constantly recommending meritorious young officers for promotion. There -was no illiberality about him, and the officers knew it and tried for -his notice. "Major Sorrel," he said, "go down to that regiment with -my compliments to the colonel. Say he has fought splendidly and must -keep it up. We are hard pressed and if he loses his position there is -nothing left behind him; his men have made noble sacrifices, but are to -do still more." - -It was Col. John R. Cooke, commanding a North Carolina regiment, that -received this message. There were many dead along his lines and some -severely wounded who could not be got away. My horse was wounded on the -way to him, and the enemy's rifle firing was incessant, while from the -saddle Longstreet's praises and encouragement were given this brave -officer. - -Profanity is justly considered objectionable. I do not approve of it, -but there are times when it may be overlooked, and never did such -words sound so sweet as when I looked into Cooke's eyes and heard him: -"Major, thank General Longstreet for his good words, but say, by ---- -almighty, he needn't doubt me! We will stay here, by J. C., if we must -all go to hell together! That ---- thick line of the enemy has been -fighting all day, but my regiment is still ready to lick this whole ----- outfit. Start away, Major, quick, or you'll be getting hurt too, -exposed as you are on that horse!" This is only a faint reproduction of -the Colonel's gift of language, but it left me with no doubt that the -position would stand until that gallant heart gave the word to leave -it. He stuck there until ordered off at night. It was some time before -I was able to send a report to Longstreet, the hour being about 5 -p. m., but he had Cooke promoted immediately. I had scarcely drawn my -hand from Cooke's when a shell burst over us and a fragment struck me -senseless from my horse. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG, CONCLUDED - - Toombs's Georgia Brigade--Longstreet on the field--Lee's war - horse--McClellan superseded by Burnside--A horse trade--Richard H. - Anderson's division--A lost opportunity--Walton and myself find - quarters at Shepherdstown among wounded--Driven away by enemy's shells. - - -Toombs's brigade of Georgians had fought well at the bridge on the -right. It was contested all day and was the scene of some bloody -encounters. Some fresher men under A. P. Hill at last came up late, -almost dark, and a general advance on the enemy's lines persuaded the -timorous McClellan that we were not done fighting, and he ceased his -operations. Lee was left, after the long day's work, with thin ranks -holding the ground he stood on in the morning, and nothing lost by -us in guns, colors, or prisoners. The casualties, however, were very -heavy, our list of wounded and killed being awful. Here fell my dear -personal friends of school days, McIntosh and Parkman. I had lost -several in the battles preceding and my heart was heavy. - -Longstreet's conduct on this great day of battle was magnificent. -He seemed everywhere along his extended lines, and his tenacity and -deep-set resolution, his inmost courage, which appeared to swell with -the growing peril to the army, undoubtedly stimulated the troops to -greater action, and held them in place despite all weakness. My staff -comrades described to me later his appearance and reception by Lee when -they met at night after firing ceased. Longstreet, big, heavy, and -red, grimly stern after this long day's work, that called for all we -could stomach, rolled in on his clumsy carpet slippers. Lee immediately -welcomed him with unconcealed joy. "Here comes my war horse just from -the field he has done so much to save!" his arm affectionately around -"Peter's" shoulder. The latter should surely have been proud and well -satisfied. Lee held his ground that night and all the next day (the -18th), caring for his wounded and burying his dead. On the night of -the 18th he quietly moved out and successfully passed the Potomac to -Virginia ground without loss. That McClellan with his great army, a -third of which had taken no part in the two battles, permitted this -escape is unaccountable. In olden times generals lost their heads for -such stupidities. "Little Mac" lost his place instead, being soon -superseded by Burnside. - -I was never good at a horse trade, and here is a story of one. I had -a nice little mare of good paces, but she was undersized for my long -legs. Walton, my staff comrade, had a big, fine bay, well gaited and -apparently all that I could wish. Walton, being a small man, liked the -mare, and was ready to trade; but just before getting to Boonsboro, the -big bay, "Mott" (he had been brought from Mississippi by that Colonel -Mott who was killed at Williamsburg, and we named him "Mott"), had -broken loose and was astray somewhere, Walton being unable to find him. -Having some mounted men I could use and knowing the cavalry officers -near by, I believed he could be found, so taking the chances I made -the trade by paying Walton $275 to boot, and this too in '62, when -Confederate money was not so very _bad_. That much cash could then buy -considerable stuff. Longstreet was an excellent judge of horseflesh -and to him I gave the details of my trade. In answer I got a little -stare and smile as he said, "Why, Major, I would not give $275 for the -horse tied to a corn crib; no quartermaster in this army can furnish -forage enough for that beast!" This was soothing and encouraging to be -sure, and in the mean time bay "Mott" refused to be found. Boonsboro -and Sharpsburg were fought, the army back in Virginia, and I on my -way back, when at last came my cavalrymen, bay "Mott" in hand, and in -a fortnight or so I was on him, a powerful, well-paced animal; but -Longstreet was right, he could never get enough to eat, and after some -time his ribs and bones were disagreeably in evidence, and the beast -was turned over to a quartermaster to do with as he would. He had -pickings in the corral and was probably hitched to a hay wagon. - -When struck down by that bursting shell, Colonel Cooke had me -immediately carried off on a stretcher to a less exposed place, and -on regaining consciousness good old Fairfax was pouring whiskey down -my throat. We had been severed by one of those unnecessary camp -differences and were not on good terms. Needless to say all that -was now forgotten and we were comrades once more. He managed to get -an ambulance and sent me off to the army field-infirmary. There was -another officer stretched by me in the ambulance, very bloody and -very terribly wounded. I did not think I was hurt badly, but seemed -to have no motion or feeling about the legs. We were soon at the -surgeon's camp, Dr. Guild medical director in charge. I knew him well, -a cheerful soul. "What, you too!" he cried. "Now, turn over." And he -began pinching my legs unmercifully. I kicked and cried out loudly, and -he laughed and said: "O, you are quite right, I feared for your back. -Now away to the rear across the river; you will be on duty again in a -fortnight." The hurt was a violent contusion below the right shoulder -and made the whole side of the body black and blue with extravasated -blood. Off we started and came up with my staff comrade, Walton, slowly -trotting to the rear with a bullet in his shoulder. He took charge of -things energetically, managed by threats and bullying to get a boat, -and had us ferried across the river at Shepherdstown. There Walton got -some men to carry me, hunting a resting place; he tried everywhere, his -wound paining him all the time. The little town was full of wounded -and it looked as if we should have to lie out in the street, but some -gentle hearts were melted. At the house of the Hamtrammocks, already -crowded with wounded, the ladies gave up their last room and put us in -it, fed and cheered us, providing that sweet sympathy and goodness that -was ever present among the noble women of battle-torn Virginia. - -The Hamtrammock family was unknown to me, but stood very well in the -village and all through the Valley. It was said that their father, long -dead, had commanded a Virginia regiment in the Mexican War. The only -members of the family we saw were the two pleasant girls, Elsie and -Florence, and an aunt, Miss Sheperd. That evening the doctor relieved -Walton of acute suffering by cutting out the bullet, which had buried -itself in the muscles of the shoulder, and dressed my battered back. -So we awoke next morning refreshed and easier, charmed with our luck -in such good quarters. We were soon quite ready to be entertained by -the young ladies, and they were nothing loth after the nurses had made -us presentable. There was a Georgian in the house, Captain D'Antignac, -badly wounded in the head, and in charge of Miss Sheperd. She would -sometimes rush into our room, laughing immoderately; the poor fellow -was out of his head and talking all sorts of nonsense. Our hostesses -were very gracious, gay, happy, well educated girls; they played and -sang prettily, and were such Confederates! We had much curiosity to -know how they had fared during the night, since they had been robbed -of their rooms; it finally came out that they had shared the bathroom -between them. But this elysium could not last long, for next day -the enemy planted some guns on the river bank and began shelling -everything. The wounded were in great peril and the surgeons hurried -them to the rear. An ambulance was sent at once for us, and with -grateful farewells to our friends, we were taken away to a little old -farmhouse fifteen miles distant, behind Lee's army. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -OUR PERSONNEL--VISITORS - - On duty again, recovered--Army refreshed and in good - condition--Reorganization--First and Second Army Corps, Longstreet - and Stonewall commanding--Divisions composing them--Cavalry under - Stuart--Visitors to our camp in Valley--Three Englishmen, Wolseley, - Lawley, and Vizitelly. - - -Within the fortnight I was returned to duty, rather stiff but quite -fit, and pleased with the hearty welcome of my brother officers. -Walton's wound proved severe and he was sent to a hospital at Richmond. -The army had picked up wonderfully, stragglers were back in ranks, -the lightly wounded were again ready with their rifles, rations were -abundant; some clothing and shoes had come, for a small part of it, and -we were just eager for Burnside or any other fellow. Our General, like -his army, was high in spirit and controlling absolutely its destiny. -Its devotion for Lee and unfaltering confidence in him had never been -surpassed. It was now that he found it necessary to reorganize its -various commands. They were all comfortably camped in the Valley, -except a small detachment sent to the vicinity of Fredericksburg, and -covered a good deal of ground. The enemy was silent and showed no sign -of movement, but we could guess where he was likely to strike next. -Somewhere about Spottsylvania or Fredericksburg, Lee divided his army -into two great infantry corps--the First Army Corps under Lieut.-Gen. -James Longstreet; the Second Army Corps under Lieut-Gen. T. J. -Jackson. The First had five divisions under Pickett, McLaws, Hood, -Richard Anderson, and J. G. Walker; all had from four to five brigades; -except Walker's, only two, but it was known that his command was to be -but temporarily with the Virginia army. Jackson's Second Army Corps -had also four divisions under A. P. Hill, R. S. Ewell, D. H. Hill, and -Jackson's old division under Taliaferro. - -The strength of the two great bodies was thus about equal. To each -division there was a battalion of artillery of four batteries, and to -each corps a reserve battalion of six batteries. Longstreet had two of -them, the Washingtons, and Alexander's battalion. - -There was also a strong body of reserve artillery to the army under -command (and indeed he claimed some authority over the rest) of -Brig.-Gen. W. N. Pendleton. This officer had graduated from West Point, -had changed his uniform to the cassock and was rector of an Episcopal -church in Western Virginia. He was an especial friend of General Lee, -and leaving his pulpit brought a good battery to Jackson's command. A -well-meaning man, without qualities for the high post he claimed--Chief -of Artillery of the Army. - -The cavalry under Stuart completed the good organization of that -wonderful army. An excellent body of horse it was, in fit hands, and -its commander, true body and soul to Lee, was already a great cavalry -leader. It was not, however, until next year that he rose with it to -its high-water mark of strength, efficiency, and renown. - -While camped there in the Valley we had all at once three interesting -visitors, Col. Garnet Wolseley, of the British Army; Hon. Francis -Lawley, correspondent at the South for _The London Times_, and -Frank Vizitelly, Southern correspondent and artist for _The London -Illustrated News_. Wolseley was on duty in Canada and had just slipped -across the border and the army lines to have a look at the Confederate -forces. He was a small, spare man, modest and soldierly. It was from -Lawley that we learned more about him, and that he had distinguished -himself while a subaltern in the Crimea and was considered a rising -officer. It fell to me to make better acquaintance with Wolseley and we -have kept up some communication since. It has, therefore, been good to -follow his "steps" and note the more than fulfillment of the favorable -expectations of him. Commander of the Red River Expedition; general -in charge of the Ashantee War; severe, successful service in India; -command in Egypt and defeat of Arabi at Tel-el-Kebir; operations in the -Soudan--these have been some of his various services up to five years -ago, when he was made commander-in-chief of the forces, his tour of -duty having just ended. We had a review of one of our divisions, gave -him a good mount, and he rode well with Longstreet, admiring with an -experienced eye the hardy material of our soldiers. In a day or two he -returned to Canada. He has attained the rank of Field Marshal, and is -Viscount Wolseley in the Peerage of England, with many high orders of -merit. - -This distinguished officer has written well and often of his -Confederate observations. He places Lee in the first rank of generals -of the English-speaking race, with Marlborough and Wellington; and his -admiration for our leader is constant--of the very highest. A letter -pointing to his interest in Confederate autographs will be found in the -Appendix. - -Frank Lawley, tall, handsome, and of distinguished appearance, had -started in English political life with everything in his favor. A -fine University education, natural aptitude, and a polished pen aided -him in becoming secretary to Mr. Gladstone when Chancellor of the -Exchequer. Soon, however, a shadow fell on Lawley. He gave up his post -and political life, taking to writing, for which he was well fitted. -_The Times_ had sent him South, and he was about Lee's army nearly two -years, making many friends. He is now one of the principal editors of -the _London Telegram_, with a great salary, which, as of old, does not -go far with him. - -Frank Vizitelly (Italian family, for centuries settled in England) -was a burly-looking, reckless "Bohemian," of many accomplishments. He -could write, could sing, could draw and paint, could dance and ride, -could tell good stories (good only in the telling, not in the matter) -by the hour, and, finally, could drink like a fish, and did so. He made -spirited drawings of battles, persons, and all sorts of scenes during -the two years he was with us in the South, and managed to get them -through the blockade to his paper. - -When Vizitelly left us he served his paper all over the world, -whenever there was war; and finally joining Hicks Pasha's Expedition -for subduing the Soudan, perished in the complete massacre of that -ill-fated column. - -His name, with six other war correspondents who fell at their several -posts elsewhere, is carved in a tablet set in the walls of St. Paul's -Cathedral, London. I never thought Vizitelly could possibly come to -such respectable distinction. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -THE STAFF - - Staff of First Corps--Kirkwood Rangers escort--A camp dinner party in - state--Lee's aggressiveness--Ropes's description of Lee--Duties of the - staff. - - -The organization of the army having been described, it is time to show -the staff of the First Army Corps; thus, October, 1862: - - Major G. M. Sorrel, A. A. G. and Chief of Staff. - - Major John W. Fairfax, A. A. G. and Inspector. - - Major Osmun Latrobe, A. A. G. and Inspector. - - Lieut.-Col. P. T. Manning, Chief of Ordnance. - - Captain F. W. Dawson, Assistant to Chief of Ordnance. - - Major Thomas Walton, A. D. C. - - Captain Thomas Goree, A. D. C. - - Lieutenant Blackwell, A. D. C. - - Major R. J. Moses, Chief Commissary of Subsistence. - - Major Mitchell, Chief Quartermaster. - - Captain J. H. Manning, Signal Officer. - - Surgeon J. S. D. Cullen, Medical Director. - - Surgeon R. Barksdale, Medical Inspector. - - Surgeon Kellum, Medical Inspector. - - Assistant Surgeon Thomas Maury, Assistant to Medical Director. - - Major Chichester, Commissary of Subsistence. - - Major I. G. Clarke, Engineer Corps. - -Of the names of those starting out with Longstreet at the beginning -only a few have already been given. The others were added as the -command grew in strength and wants. Some of those here named may not -have joined until a little later than this time, which I fix at about -November 15, 1862. Latrobe, a Marylander, had been serving with D. R. -Jones's small division. Upon its being broken up he came to us and -proved most acceptable to the Lieutenant-General, and a valuable staff -officer. He was eventually to succeed me when I was in 1864 promoted -to command in another corps. Moses, the chief commissary, had been a -leading lawyer in Georgia, and was now a most intelligent, efficient -officer. He was much older than most of us, but "bon comrade," and had -an exhaustless fund of incident and anecdote, which he told inimitably. - -Latrobe, whom I often see, is my dear friend as I write; in fine health -and good condition; big in body and frame as he is in heart. To corps -headquarters at this time was attached a good troop of cavalry for -courier and escort service. It was the Kirkwood Rangers, from South -Carolina, first commanded by Captain Shannon, then by Captain Tobey. -Captain Shannon was that excellent man, somewhat advanced in years, -and retired, who was forced into a duel in South Carolina, and killed. -The staff well understood their General and he knew them; they worked -together with good results and never did one of them fail him. - -An officer who might also be numbered on the staff was Colonel E. P. -Alexander, although he commanded the reserve artillery; but Longstreet -thought so well of his engineering and reconnoitering abilities that he -kept him very near headquarters. - -While the three Englishmen were visiting us it was decided to give -them a dinner. Two hospital tents were thrown together and made a fine -mess hall, embellished with trophies of arms and flags. Flowers and -ferns did the rest for decoration. For the table there were planks -on trestles, and the same for seats. The countryside was generous in -lending, as well as giving provisions, and our fête did not lack a good -white covering over its bare boards. Provisions were plentiful outside -the army rations, and I aver that on this occasion they were paid for -honestly. Young pig, well fattened, turkeys, fowls, fresh beef, and -vegetables topped off the commissary's pork and hardtack. There were -good cooks at our call, and the negro servants of the officers fairly -grinned with delight at such a feast. We had many officers of note -to meet our guests, and the function went off most agreeably. The -absence of wine was conspicuous, but no one lacked for good whiskey, -and perhaps before parting it had been tasted too often by some. After -dinner came cards--poker. The Englishmen, except Wolseley, knew the -game and enjoyed it. I know that I was a considerable loser, then a -turn of chance brought me even, and soon we quit for bed, my last real -game of poker to this date. - -The army had now been long enough under Lee to satisfy all that he -meant fighting, always fighting. That was the business of the army, and -only by fighting could Virginia be cleared of the enemy and Richmond -made secure. When he first took command there were a few unthinking -speeches made. He had fortified Richmond, and like a skilful general -knew the value of field-works and temporary entrenchments. Some in the -army were given to speak of him as the "King of Spades" who would never -allow us to show fighting. The past fourteen months had indeed opened -the eyes of these sneerers. - -Ropes, the distinguished Northern military historian, writing always, -even in the most heated controversy, fairly and dispassionately, has -this to say for our hero, en passant, in one of his books, having -already once declared him "The most accomplished soldier of the day": - - At the time of his appointment to the command of the Army of Northern - Virginia, General Lee was 55 years of age, in perfect health, - vigorous, robust, of a commanding presence. His character, public and - private, was of the highest. In intellect it may be doubted whether he - was superior to the able soldier whom he succeeded; indeed, Joseph E. - Johnston possessed as good a military mind as any general on either - side; but in that fortunate combination of qualities, physical, - mental, and moral, which go to make up a great commander, General Lee - was unquestionably more favored than any of the leaders of the Civil - War. He possessed at once the entire confidence of his Government - and the unquestioning and enthusiastic devotion of the army. He had - no rival, either in the councils of the Richmond War Department or - in the colloquies around camp-fires. Lee's position was unique. No - army commander on either side was so universally believed in, so - absolutely trusted. Nor was there ever a commander who better deserved - the support of his Government and the affection and confidence of his - soldiers. - -With the growth of Longstreet's command my duties had become doubly -important, and with weighty responsibilities. The General left much to -me, both in camp and on the field. As chief of his staff it was my part -to respond to calls for instruction and to anticipate them. The General -was kept fully advised after the event, if he was not near by at the -time; but action had to be swift and sure, without waiting to hunt him -up on a different part of the field. - -The change of movement of a brigade or division in battle certainly -carried a grave responsibility, but it has often to be faced by the -chief staff officer if the general happened to be out of reach. -Nearly two years of war on a grand scale had given me experience and -confidence, and Longstreet was always generous with good support when -things were done apparently for the best. This gave me good prestige in -our large corps, and I found hosts of friends among officers and men. - -The reorganization had made the First Corps 40,000 strong, effective, -by the time it got to Fredericksburg in December. Jackson's Second -Corps was fully 38,000 strong. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -EVENTS PRECEDING FREDERICKSBURG - - Burnside in command of Army of the Potomac--Sketch--Lee's plans--At - Fredericksburg--General Patrick, U. S. A.--Flag of truce--Arrival - of army in position--Poor defensive works--Bad-weather march--Some - expedients by Longstreet--The stone wall--Major-General McLaws, - Major-General Hood, Major-General Anderson, Major-General - Walker--Sketches. - - -The new commander of the Army of the Potomac was one of the most highly -respected officers of the United States Army, but he was not equal -to the command, and so stated to the officers who brought him Mr. -Lincoln's commission and orders. - -McClellan was of decided ability in many respects; timorous, but safe; -and there was no better organizer. He seemed to hate battle, and it is -surprising that with such a record he should have secured and retained -the devotion and confidence of his men to the very end. There was no -lack of physical courage; it was a mental doubt with him. - -Burnside had no prominent reputation, but made a success of an -unimportant expedition into North Carolina. He conspicuously failed -at Sharpsburg, where all day the bridge on the right was the scene of -combat, without his movement to seize it. His great corps, held idly in -hand, was equal to it ten times over. But he may have been waiting on -McClellan, with whom he was in the closest intimacy of friendship. - -At all events, Burnside could and would fight, even if he did not know -how, and after "Little Mac" this was what Mr. Lincoln was trying for. -He was a handsome man, from Rhode Island, of fine, courteous bearing. - -Franklin should have been, I think, the man for Lincoln; but who knows? -There was a powerful clique always about McClellan, most unwisely at -difference, sometimes, with the Administration. - -A pause in the operations ensued while we lay about Bunker Hill and -Winchester. But Lee had, in the first half of November, decided where -he should make Burnside fight. It was Fredericksburg. Longstreet had -previously sent McLaws's division east of the mountains to the vicinity -of Culpeper, and about November 16 started him for the old town on the -Rappahannock, following a day or two later from his Valley camps with -the remainder of the corps. - -The gaps of the Blue Ridge were well occupied and defended by Jackson -and Stuart's cavalry during Lee's transfer of his army in this delicate -strategical operation. - -I parted from Longstreet for a day or two, and arrived near -Fredericksburg with some of the leading troops, before him. - -My ride was in the worst weather, roads deep in mud, with rain in -torrents. Fredericksburg is one of the oldest and most aristocratic -of the Virginia towns. A dwindling trade had thinned the population -and quieted its ambitions. At this time the place was the home of -families of historical importance and present interest, with a thorough -knowledge of good living, and still respectable cellars of old Madeira -that had been imported by them many years before. - -The enemy had a small garrison there and a provost marshal, an elderly -United States officer, kind and gentle in his authority, and much liked -by the citizens. - -From this officer I received a request to meet him under flag of truce, -and we made acquaintance in a little block-house just outside the town. -The good old General Patrick was quite in ignorance apparently of the -great operation that was then culminating. Expecting to hold the city -with his little garrison he wished to avert any shelling of the town by -our guns. - -His friends had not yet made their appearance on the Falmouth Hills, -commanding the town on the left bank of the river. We had outstripped -their march. - -General Patrick was informed that he must at once withdraw from -Fredericksburg, that we should occupy it in force. He smiled, thinking -it a bluff, and wanted to know where the soldiers were. On this point -he got no information, of course, and we parted. However, he was soon -to see our men pouring forward, and McLaws's division seizing the city -and posting his gallant Mississippians on the river front, under the -intrepid Barksdale. - -Patrick's little gang had, of course, immediately slipped away when -they saw what was coming. - -This I think was about November 21. The entire army soon after arrived -and took position behind the Rappahannock, a wide, undulating plain -for the most part stretching between our lines and the river itself. -Longstreet took the left and Jackson the right; the former's most -important point being the stone wall and sunken road at the foot of -Marye's Hill. - -Looking back at the situation, it seems surprising that we did so -little in the way of defensive field-works. The enemy in great masses -were crowding the Falmouth Hills, and we knew intended to cross and -strike us. But yet we contented ourselves with the little stone wall -(which proved helpful), and two or three tiers of light trenchwork -extended on the slope of the hill behind and on our left. - -The like observation applies to Jackson, whose lines were above the -same as ours in strength, except the stone wall. - -Later in the war such a fault could not have been found. Experience had -taught us that to win, we must fight; and that fighting under cover was -the thing to keep up the army and beat the enemy. He knew it, too, and -practised it, so later on veterans no sooner got to facing each other -than they began to dig, if ever so little; a little trench, a tiny -hillock is often a very helpful defense and protection. - -The march to Fredericksburg in bad weather and over almost bottomless -roads had caused great suffering to the men and some losses among the -animals. It was then that Longstreet told his men of an expedient that -as an old soldier he had often resorted to. "Rake," he sent word to the -men, "the coals and ashes from your cooking fires and sleep on that -ground; it will be dry and warm." And so it proved. Also, there being -many barefooted men, "Take the rawhides of the beef cattle, killed for -food; cut roughly for a moccasin-like covering for the feet, and there -you are with something to walk in." But this did not go. The foot-wear -had nothing like soles of stiffening, and in the mud and icy slush of -the Virginian roads the moist, fresh skins slipped about as if on ice. -The wearers, constantly up or down, finally kicked them aside and took -the road as best they could, barefooted or wrapped with rags or straw. -Richmond did its best to supply, but there was always trouble for want -of shoes. Great quantities were run in from England by blockade, but -they were worthless, shoddy things that might be done for in a day's -use. I once wore a pair of them, and in a single day of wet and mud the -cheats came to pieces and developed bits of paper and odds of leather -things, where should be good, strong, well tanned cow skin. - -It is said that our friends, the enemy, across the lines fared badly as -well in shoddy, and that too from their own neighbors and countrymen. - -It was awfully nasty work getting down to that stone wall for giving -orders or receiving information, the way swept by the enemy's volume -of fire over every foot. Once at the wall it was fairly snug, but the -coming back was still worse, and one drew a long breath on emerging -safely from the deadly fusilade. - -We could only manage it on foot by making short rushes from point to -point, affording perhaps some little cover. It was on such a duty that -my friend Lord King was killed. He was A. D. C. to McLaws, of the -family of Kings of southern Georgia. - -The ranking major-general of our corps was L. McLaws, his division -made up of Georgians, Mississippians, and South Carolinians. He was -an officer of much experience and most careful. Fond of detail, his -command was in excellent condition, and his ground and position well -examined and reconnoitered; not brilliant in the field or quick in -movement there or elsewhere, he could always be counted on and had -secured the entire confidence of his officers and men. - -Maj.-Gen. John B. Hood's appearance was very striking; in age only 34, -he had a personality that would attract attention anywhere. Very tall -and somewhat loose-jointed; a long, oval face shaded by yellowish -beard, plentiful hair of same color, and voice of great power and -compass. - -With very winning manners, he is said to have used these advantages -actively for his own advancement. But apart from that, his services in -the field were of the best. Resigning from the United States Army he -was made colonel of one of the three Texas regiments that were sent to -Virginia. There he quickly showed his soldierly qualities and was made -brigadier-general over the brigade formed of the three Texas regiments -and the Third Arkansas. It was conspicuous in all of the many combats -in which it was engaged, and Hood soon came on for promotion to one of -the divisions of Longstreet's corps. As major-general he continued to -display high qualities and he might be considered an ideal officer of -that rank and command. At Gettysburg he received a wound in the arm. -It is said that at Richmond, while convalescing, he suffered himself -to criticize very freely our operations in Pennsylvania. As soon as -recovered he resumed his division, which he took to Chickamauga, -where his conduct was magnificent. There he lost a leg. Longstreet -immediately recommended him to promotion to lieutenant-general, which -was done, and on recovery Hood was assigned to the Western army under -J. E. Johnston. There I must leave him. His biographers will relate -his promotion to the rank of full general; his superseding Johnston; -his march to the enemy's rear; the sanguinary battles of Franklin and -Nashville, and the crushing defeat of his expedition by Thomas, making -possible the great decisive strategic operation of Sherman's "March to -the sea." - -Maj.-Gen. G. E. Pickett we already know. He had a very fine division -of five Virginia brigades, all well commanded by brigadiers who greatly -helped the Major-General to the high reputation gained by this gallant -body of men. - -Maj.-Gen. Richard H. Anderson, of South Carolina, had been a captain -of cavalry in the United States Army, and was rather an interesting -character. His courage was of the highest order, but he was indolent. -His capacity and intelligence excellent, but it was hard to get him to -use them. Withal, of a nature so true and lovable that it goes against -me to criticize him. He had served well as a brigadier-general, and -now with Longstreet, commanding a division, had more to do. Longstreet -knew him well and could get a good deal out of him, more than any one -else. His division was of Georgians, South Carolinians, Alabamians and -Mississippians. - -Maj.-Gen. J. B. Walker was commanding two brigades of North -Carolinians. I had no intimate knowledge of this officer, who it was -known would be with the Virginia army but for a short time. He bore a -high reputation among those of his acquaintance. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG, DECEMBER 13, 1862 - - Enemy massed on Stafford Heights--Heavy artillery fire--The pontoon - bridge--Splendid defense of Mississippians--Enemy crosses--Preparing - for his assault--Sumner's attack on Marye's Hill--The deadly stone - wall--General Cobb killed--General Lee's position--Jackson in - uniform--His answer to Longstreet--Franklin's attack on Jackson--Enemy - escapes across the river--Strength and losses--Bursting of a gun--Old - Madeiras in Fredericksburg--An incident, "one touch of nature"--Enemy - not pursued. - - -But now it is time to sketch something of the remarkable battle that -the quiet waters of the Rappahannock were to see fiercely fought in -torrents of blood across the plain that bordered the stream. I attempt -no description, limiting myself to some stray observations. - -The enemy had finally massed his great force (122,500 men) on Stafford -Heights and was to force the passage of the river. Franklin had wisely -advised Burnside to do the work with half the army against our right, -and Burnside, at first assenting, then resumed his original intention -to attack our center with Sumner's grand division. Well for us that he -did so! - -On December 11 his movements began by attempting to set his pontoon -bridge opposite the city for the crossing. - -It was opposed by General Barksdale's Mississippi Brigade of McLaws's -division, and stands as one of the finest acts of heroism and stubborn -resistance in our military annals. - -Burnside first poured an artillery fire in the devoted town and -defending brigade--that was literally an "enfer." - -There had been nothing like it before in this war. Every shot, all -kinds of missiles, were thrown at the Mississippians to dislodge them. -The brave fellows were there, however, to stay. They hid themselves in -cellars, wells, holes of any kind where they could get a little cover, -while their rifles picked off the pontooners pluckily trying to throw -their boats across the stream. The latter fell in great numbers and -this went on nearly all day. The Confederates would not budge, although -so stubborn a defense had been no part of our expectation. We knew the -town would be seized. - -Quite late the bridge effort was abandoned by the Federal engineers. -Calling for volunteers to fill the boats and cross in mass, it -was gallantly answered. A number of them were quickly crowded, -and notwithstanding our fire their landing was soon made and the -town occupied, but not before Barksdale had safely withdrawn his -hard-fighting fellows. - -They had the cheers of the army for their day's brave work. - -Then began that night and all next day and night the movement of -Burnside's great army across the river. More brigades were added and -there were several in Franklin's possession. He had no trouble in -laying what he wanted in his front. - -Thus stood Burnside, his army facing us with nothing between, on -December 13, and bitter cold, Franklin operating on his left against -Jackson. Sumner in the center and center-right against Longstreet, who -also guarded the lines extended considerably to our left. Hooker's -grand division was held on Stafford Heights during the night of the -12th. - -But Marye's Hill was our strong point. Burnside wanted it and there -he threw his men in blind and impotent fury. It was held by T. R. R. -Cobb's brigade of Georgians behind a stone wall at first and another -brigade in support. The front here was quite narrow. Ransom's and -Cook's North Carolina brigades were in light trenches higher up the -hill, but in position to deliver deadly fire, and did so. The defense -at the stone wall was also kept carefully reinforced as needed. -There was some artillery in pits near the crest of the hill that did -effective service. - -General Lee's position with his staff during the day was on a small -hill with a good plateau, from which he had a fair view of Sumner's -attack on Longstreet, as well as Franklin's on Jackson. Longstreet was -much of the time with him. Before the hot work began, "Stonewall" rode -up to have a word with Lee. As he dismounted we broke into astonished -smiles. He was in a spick and span new overcoat, new uniform with rank -marks, fine black felt hat, and a handsome sword. We had never seen -the like before, and gave him our congratulations on his really fine -appearance. He said he "believed it was some of his friend Stuart's -doings." - -Franklin was in great masses before Jackson, and before mounting, -Longstreet called out, "Jackson, what are you going to do with all -those people over there?" "Sir," said Stonewall, with great fire and -spirit, "we will give them the bayonet." - -There is really now but little more to be said in detail of the battle. -In front of us it was hammer and tongs all day from 11 a. m. until -finally Burnside had to desist in sheer weariness of slaughter. His -troops advanced to their assaults with the finest intrepidity, but it -was impossible for them to stand before our fire. I afterwards saw -that perhaps not more than half a dozen of their men had got within -sixty yards of our wall and dropped there. Not once was there any sign -of faltering or weakness among our troops; the solid bodies of troops -attacking might easily have made it otherwise with unseasoned soldiers. - -On our right Franklin had been more successful. He managed to pierce -a salient that should have been corrected and worsted a considerable -number of Jackson's men. The line was retaken and restored, but with -some loss, among whom was Captain Edward Lawton, a young brother of -General Lawton, of Georgia. We also lost at Marye's Hill General Cobb -(T. R. R.), of Georgia, deeply mourned as one of the most promising -officers and whole-souled patriots of the South. - -When darkness fell on this great tragedy, hostile movements ceased and -the two armies were caring for the "butcher's bill." Ours was small -comparatively, but the enemy had lost very heavily. - -A thick fog or mist also arose and enveloped the enemy's movements in -strangeness and uncertainty. They were actually started on hastily -recrossing the river, but we don't appear to have known it. Most of -the day of the 14th it was thick and misty, veiling successfully the -enemy's movements, but all the time he was preparing for his retreat. - -He was not attacked while in this exposed position. Why not? It is -generally thought it would have been fatal to the Federals and it is -indisputable that they were in hourly dread of it. Some say Jackson -proposed a night attack, but I doubt it, and am glad it was not made. - -It is impossible to describe the confusion of such an attempt or to -anticipate what might happen. I was in one later on with three picked -brigades of the highest order and efficiency. - -The roar of battle between Lookout Mountain and Brown's Ferry on the -Tennessee River words cannot express, and in the black darkness the -three brigades achieved worse than nothing. - -But why did we not attack on the 14th in daylight? Not my part to -attempt this explanation, but it looks much as if we were "building a -bridge of gold for the flying enemy." - -On the night of the 17th Burnside withdrew his army to his old camp in -the Falmouth Hills. - -We lost in killed and wounded--Longstreet, 1,519; Jackson, 2,682; -total, 4,201. Jackson was also reported as having lost in missing 526. -These figures are also adopted by Ropes, and he gives Burnside's army -as 122,500, ours as 78,500. I do not think that more than half of our -forces were engaged on the 13th. The Federal losses, attacks on Marye's -Hill, 8,000; loss of whole army, Federal, 12,650 killed and wounded. -(Ropes figures.) - -The hill referred to as affording General Lee at Fredericksburg a point -of view, had a light trench in which was mounted a 30-pounder Parrott -gun, made in Richmond. The 10-pounder guns of that make had done well, -but those of heavy caliber were treacherous. The one on "Lee's Hill," -as it came to be called, burst after a few discharges. Happily it did -not send fragments flying about, and no one was hurt. The immense -breech just appeared to have split into a dozen pieces of various -sizes and then fallen heavily to the ground. We were rather glad to -have done with such a piece of metal. - -The old wines of the good people of Fredericksburg have been referred -to. They suffered in the fortunes of war. A few nights before the -opening of the battle, which was then imminent, considerable quantities -of fine old Madeira and other varieties were taken out of cellars and -bins, and sent by the citizens to our fellows in camp, equally ready -for drink or for battle. It was known that the town would be shelled -and occupied by the Federals, probably looted and plundered; therefore -it was thought safest to see priceless old vintages passed around -campfires and quaffed in gulps from tincups. Of course the men would -have better liked whiskey, but they did not refuse the wine. - -An incident on the river may bear telling. It was after the battle, -when the pickets had resumed their posts and had become friendly; more -given to trading than shooting each other at less than one hundred -yards. The authorities had to set their faces sternly against this -trading. It led to desertion. A fine Federal band came down to the -river bank one afternoon and began playing pretty airs, among them -the Northern patriotic chants and war songs. "Now give us some of -ours!" shouted our pickets, and at once the music swelled into Dixie, -My Maryland, and the Bonnie Blue Flag. Then, after a mighty cheer, a -slight pause, the band again began, all listening; this time it was -the tender, melting bars of Home, Sweet Home, and on both sides of the -river there were joyous shouts, and many wet eyes could be found among -those hardy warriors under the flags. "One touch of nature makes the -whole world kin." - -Of course the enemy's powerful artillery on Stafford Heights would have -been an efficient aid in resisting an attack on his infantry before, -and while recrossing the river. But they were badly demoralized and -would probably not have stood long with that threatening river in -their rear and the triumphant Confederates in the front. There was -much private discussion then, and after, among the intelligent of -the Federals as to why they were not struck after their sanguinary -defeat. A general belief existed among them that we were deficient in -ammunition, the only explanation many of them were able to arrive at. -We had no want of it. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -AFTER FREDERICKSBURG--REMINISCENCES - - Fredericksburg after the battle--Flag of truce--Burying dead--General - Wadsworth, U. S. A.--Again on enemy's side with flag of truce--At - their picket fire--Colonel Brown, of Rhode Island--Bitter cold--All - night in their camp--Luxuries for the wounded--First Georgia - Regulars--They are ordered home--Want of shoes--Captain Cuthbert, of - South Carolina. - - -The battle was indeed fought and finished, and although the triumph of -victory rested with us, and the enemy was back in his lines, beaten and -dispirited, yet it cannot be said that there had been achieved a result -so decisive as to bring us near the end of the war. - -We were caring for our dead. The enemy was to do so for his. They lay -in great numbers on the plain. General Lee wrote Burnside and I carried -the letter under a flag of truce through the town to the ferry, where -was found a pontoon, and my men took me across. It was pitiful riding -through the town, considerably damaged as it was by the artillery fire -from Stafford Heights, but more still from the plundering and looting -that had gone on while in possession of the United States troops. -Furniture, bedding, mattresses, carpets, china, domestic utensils, -indeed all that went to make up those comfortable homes, were strewn -helter skelter, broken and ruined about the streets. The streets were -filled with distressed women and children, both black and white. But -we passed on--"C'est à la guerre comme à la guerre!" My pontoon -landed me at the foot of a steep road that ascended the hill and I was -immediately met by a number of officers in brilliant uniforms. For -myself I must have been awfully shabby; never at any time given to -military finery, while campaigning, I think I was worse off than usual -here at Fredericksburg. The weather had been atrocious, and mud and I -were closely acquainted day and night. There was, too, so much to do -that one had no time for repairing damages. - -But my reception by the Federal officers was extremely courteous -while awaiting an answer to General Lee's missive, now on its way to -Burnside, whose headquarters were near by. - -There were Major-General Park, chief of staff to the army; -Major-General Wadsworth (whom I was to see in eighteen months at the -"Wilderness" under different circumstances); Brig.-Gen. Jim Hardie, and -many others, all having some inquiries to make for friends on our side. -General Wadsworth asked me how many dead I thought lay on our front. "I -ask, Major," he said, "so as to make my burying parties strong enough." - -I said: "I cannot possibly guess with any approach to accuracy. I have -only ridden through the slain in front of Marye's Hill, and it seemed -that there must be at least 800 there awaiting burial." "My God, my -God!" groaned the old officer, deeply impressed by such mortality. -Instead of 800, they buried nearly 1,200 men in that small front, -besides some 300 in front of Jackson's position. General Burnside's -answer soon came, and saluting my Federal acquaintances I was quickly -on our own side of the river and the Federal commander's letter in -Lee's possession. - -Strong burial parties immediately came across for their ghastly duty. -General Wadsworth was a wealthy, middle-aged man from the lovely -Genesee Valley, New York, owning great tracts of land; but considered -it his patriotic duty to raise some battalions for the army and did so, -placing himself at their head. The Government showed him all honor, -conferring at once high rank. - -A day or two later it became necessary to see the Northerners again. -Their burying parties were making hideous work with the dead soldiers; -throwing them in heaps in shallow trenches, barely covered; filling the -country ice houses and wells with them; indeed, doing this work most -brutally for themselves, and intolerably for our citizens. General Lee -called Burnside's attention to the revolting conduct of the latter's -men and I went across the river, with also some verbal details. - -The pontoon had been drawn in by the owners and was in the Union rear -with the bridge train. There was naught to cross in except a broken, -leaky little batteau that was found in a cellar. The river was smooth -and one of my men managed to paddle the crazy thing safely across. -There I was met by Colonel Brown, commanding a Rhode Island regiment -on picket duty, who civilly invited me to the comfort of his camp fire -while awaiting the communication from his army headquarters, now quite -a distance off. I was detained some time, and the Colonel (a lawyer -of high reputation from Providence, Rhode Island), had time for much -general talk. At last, making my thanks and farewell, I started back, -only to find my man at the river's edge almost frozen and the batteau -sunk out of sight with darkness on us! A pretty kettle of fish, indeed! -The water rough, wind strong, and already freezing. There was nothing -for it but to take my man back with me to the picket and get a message -to headquarters of my plight, with request of assistance to cross. -After another considerable wait there came an officer and several -mounted orderlies leading a good horse; this was for me. The officer -brought a civil message from the adjutant-general regretting that they -had nothing at hand to float (their pontoons being in the rear), and -hoping I could be made comfortable for the night. Leaving my soldier -to the good care of the friendly pickets, I mounted and was led to the -large house on the hill, at that time in use as a hospital. There my -escort left me and I found myself for the night in the great kitchen of -the establishment, filled with bright warmth and savory smells of good -food. - -A blanket or two had to do me for bedding, but I was soon asleep, after -the soldier cooks had given me food, always with full respect to rank -and authority. - -To see what they had, its quality, its abundance, filled one's heart -with envy when contrasted with the doled-out, bare necessities of life -the lot of our own uncomplaining fellows. - -Here in this great kitchen were huge swinging vessels of odorous real -coffee; immense chunks of fat, fresh beef of all parts of the animal; -great slabs of dessicated vegetables, which, when thrown with knuckles -of meat and good flesh into the boiling cauldron, puffed out, swelling -each vegetable into something like freshness, and then with free dashes -of salt and pepper, behold, a soup of strength and tastiness fit for -Faint Heart to fight on. They gave me of it all and I tasted all, -sleeping well and early up. My man, who had fared well too, was soon -at hand, and the boat raised, bailed out, landed us safely on our own -bank. The soldier with me was Jesse Beall, private from Milledgeville -in a Georgia regiment. I was disposed at first to be vexed by such -rough lodgings (a parlementaire being entitled to the best), but -Colonel Kip explained that there was really nothing else to be done at -that hour of night. Of course they could not carry me through the lines -to their own comfortable staff quarters in the rear. - -Many years after, hearing that there was in Savannah, passing through, -a Colonel Brown, of Rhode Island, with his wife, I called on him. It -proved to be my friend of the picket fire, and his wife, with much -enthusiasm, declared he had spoken of the incident fifty times. Colonel -Brown had some more talk this time, quite free, and like very many -Union officers marveled why they were not attacked after a repulse -so bloody and disastrous. He said that want of ammunition could only -explain it to him. Brown was a middle aged, delicate man, a member of -the well-known Brown family of Rhode Island. - -He said he had raised his regiment from patriotic convictions and -carried it through the battle of Fredericksburg; then he gave way to -younger, stronger men and resigned. He was a broad, fair-minded man, -with no deep prejudices against the South. Next year he died, his -townsmen showing in every way the honor and respect in which he was -held. - -The First Georgia Regulars were posted at Hamilton's Crossing, near -Fredericksburg, and had its ranks much thinned by the casualties of -several campaigns. It could not be recruited like other regiments, -being enlisted from all parts, and the Department therefore ordered it -home to fill its ranks. - -I rode myself, orders in hand, to its camp. I had many friends among -the officers and knew how delighted they would be; and so it was, a -wild shout of happiness at seeing old Georgia again, and the skeleton -battalion began packing almost immediately for the route. After doing -some enlistment it took an honorable part in the battle of Olustee, -fought in Florida. Lieutenant Sorrel was with them until a captain's -commission in the Adjutant-General's Department sent him to report in -Virginia to Gen. John Bratton's South Carolina Brigade. - -I was in Europe in the summer of 1860, and traveled on the continent -a few weeks with George Cuthbert, of Beaufort, South Carolina. He was -a pleasant fellow, and handsome, of good height and figure, and the -fairest blonde, with beautiful blue eyes. Even in fair-haired Saxony, -people turned to look at him. - -The war broke out and I did not know where Cuthbert would be serving. -One day, however, in the winter of 1862-63, riding by the lines of -one of our South Carolina regiments, up rose Cuthbert, and I was -immediately on my feet beside him. He was a line captain, had been -wounded, and was at the moment as shabby a Confederate soldier as could -be found anywhere. Razors had been discarded, and the German girls -who liked to look at the handsome Southerner would not have deigned -him a glance. I resolved to do something for his advancement, but the -channels were such that I could not get him out of them. Soon after, -however, an order came from Richmond to detail 160 shoemakers for the -use of the Quartermaster-General--such was the stress we were in for -shoes. Half the detail was ordered from Jackson's corps and half from -Longstreet's. I sent out orders for our eighty crispins, and when they -were picked out of the whole corps, word was given to Captain Cuthbert -to report at corps headquarters and a brief colloquy opened. - -"I say, Cuthbert, would you like to go to Richmond?" "Wouldn't -I!--clean clothes, soap, a bath and a shave!" "Eighty shoemakers -are to be taken there by rail and then turned over to the -Quartermaster-General, and an officer must take the detail. Will you -have it?" "My dear Sorrel, give it to me; for God's sake, give it to -me--such a change after my long trench service. I'd land them safely -with the Q. M. G. if they were eighty raving demons instead of the -happy fellows they doubtless are in getting such a detail." "All right, -old chap, take your fellows off by train to-morrow; here are the -orders. And I say, Cuthbert, while you are in Richmond don't hurry too -much; you can make the duty last you a week or ten days." - -He was very grateful for being thought of, performed his work -satisfactorily, and then enjoyed himself hugely. - -I was glad to think of this later, since he was one of many personal -friends who gave up his life in battle. The incident also illustrated -the great straits the Confederate supply department was in to keep the -troops equipped for the field. This was especially the case with shoes. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -TO SOUTH VIRGINIA FOR SUPPLIES - - Burnside's "mud march"--His removal--Hooker superseding him--Our - great want of supplies--Longstreet ordered to South Virginia--Hood's - and Pickett's divisions with him--I precede them--Inspecting fort - at Washington, N. C.--Rejoin the command at Suffolk--Gathering - supplies--Operations against Suffolk not successful--Ordered - back to Lee--All haste--No time lost, but too late for - Chancellorsville--Pickett's courtship--Harrison, the scout--Death of - Stonewall Jackson--Lieutenant Habersham. - - -Here then for some weeks did the two armies lay in the peace of camp -life after the fever of battle. Burnside attempted a movement, known -as the mud march, quickly made abortive by the condition of roads, and -then Mr. Lincoln reluctantly removed him, placing Hooker--"Fighting Joe -Hooker"--in command of the Army of the Potomac. It was in May before he -attempted his disastrous move against Lee and Jackson. - -Meantime, our army was in want of all supplies. The subsistence -department lacked fresh meat. In southern Virginia and eastern North -Carolina there were said to be large quantities of small cattle which, -fattened on the good Virginia pasture lands, would greatly help the -subsistence officers. There were also there large stores of bacon and -corn. It was decided to send part of Lee's army to operate in that -region, and, at the same time, by covering large wagon trains, we -should be enabled to use that part of the country for the Virginia -army. - -It had sometimes been occupied by the enemy, at all times exposed to -their sudden incursions. But these, it is thought, formed the least -of the reasons governing Lee when sending Longstreet and two of his -strong divisions to Nansemond and Suffolk. It was daring to make such -a large draft on his army, but Lee was given to daring efforts, with -a great objective in view. The Northern army was becoming dangerously -strong for him to view calmly, and another strong body was preparing to -threaten Richmond from a different quarter. Lee may have reasoned, as -he did in some of his Valley operations, that by detaching Longstreet, -Hooker would be quickly induced to follow him, by sending from his army -a still larger force for the safety of the threatened districts. But it -proved they had enough troops for such reinforcements without impairing -Hooker's great strength. - -Our two divisions, Hood's and Pickett's, and a battalion of artillery -broke camp and halted at Petersburg, whence the force found camps -on the Nansemond River, in a manner besieging the town of Suffolk, -strongly held by the Federals. - -By Longstreet's order I set out alone for a short visit of inspection -to the eastern boundary of North Carolina. It was the little town -of Washington, on the head of a tidal river, that, I think, I first -visited. There was nothing there but a well-built, strong earthwork -fort, and a fine, full regiment, doing nothing and eager for action. -It was not likely to come to them at that dull place, and on my -recommendation the regiment was sent to Lee. - -The lieutenant-colonel (Lamb) gave me a warm fur collar, which was -always a comfort, and he was delighted with the pair of spurs I made -him accept from me (they were made from the brass trunnion beds of the -monitor _Keokuk_, sunk by our forces at Charlestown). Poor Lamb was -killed in the first engagement of his regiment. My instructions were to -lose no time, but, after a glance around, hasten back to the command. -When I returned it was seen that nothing had been achieved. Some little -bluffing had been made at the town of Suffolk, in which we lost two -pieces of artillery and gained nothing. Time was passing, the Virginia -roads improving, and some restlessness apparent among us. We knew, of -course, that Hooker must soon fight, and that we should be there. At -last General Lee sent for us in haste, not a moment was to be lost. Not -a moment was lost; we threw everything into movement, realizing how -keenly our beloved commander and comrades on the Rappahannock would be -wanting their Lieutenant-General and his two splendid divisions. But -it was humanly impossible. We were late, Hooker had attacked rather -earlier than expected, and on May 3 the battle was given, and our -great Jackson fell in glorious victory while we were miles distant by -railroad from the memorable field of Chancellorsville. - -General Pickett was a widower, but had recently suffered himself to -fall in love with all the ardor of youth. The object of these fiery, if -mature, affections dwelt not far from Suffolk. Pickett's visits were -frequent, a long night ride and return for duty early next day. Perhaps -he had wearied Longstreet by frequent applications to be absent, -but once he came to me for the authority. My answer was, "No, you -must go to the Lieutenant-General." "But he is tired of it, and will -refuse. I swear, Sorrel, I'll be back before anything can happen in -the morning." I could not permit myself to be moved. If anything did -happen, such as a movement of his division or any demonstration against -it, my responsibility for the absence of the Major-General could not -be explained. But Pickett went all the same, nothing could hold him -back from that pursuit. He married some time after. I don't think his -division benefited by such carpet-knight doings in the field. - -While Longstreet was holding this brief independent command, a scout, -more properly a spy, was placed at his service by the War Department. -He was a man of about thirty years, calling himself a Mississippian, -and was altogether an extraordinary character. He was paid in United -States greenbacks. I approved requisition on the quartermaster every -month for $150 for him. His time seemed to be passed about equally -within our lines and the enemy's. Harrison (such was his name) always -brought us true information. There was invariable confirmation of his -reports afterwards. - -While always suspicious that such secret instruments give away as much -as they bring and may be in the pay of both sides, it was difficult to -be sure of this in Harrison's case. He went everywhere, even through -Stanton's War Office at Washington itself, and brought in much. We -could never discover that he sold anything against us; besides, we -had means, and did verify his account of himself as coming from -Mississippi. When Longstreet gave him up in September, he was sorry -afterwards and missed the man. He made me try to get him back for our -command, but I failed. - -There will be more to say of Harrison before losing him. On the whole -he appears to have been a daring Southerner, hating Yankees most -bitterly, but loving their greenbacks, and fond of secret, perilous -adventure. Latrobe recently heard from him in Baltimore, in want, and -asking some small assistance. - -Upon rejoining our army after Chancellorsville we were, of course, -eager questioners and listeners for everything about the battle. - -Gratifying it was to hear on all sides of the conduct of our two -divisions, which bore so large a part of the attacks on Lee. Anderson -and McLaws had never fought better; while Lee, to hold his position -and beat off Hooker, had to have the very best every man could -give him. It was a battle most extraordinary in its execution and -development. The powerful movement on Lee's rear by Sedgwick's force -from Fredericksburg was enough to disconcert any ordinary commander. -Lee, calm and undismayed, met it by thinning out his lines to almost a -frazzle, and throwing a good division before John Sedgwick, while he -and Jackson were preparing the blow that made "Fighting Joe Hooker's" -head split with surprise and agony and sent him flying back across the -Rappahannock. - -The great flank movement of Stonewall had been carefully planned by -Lee and most brilliantly executed by the Lieutenant. But the army had -suffered the irreparable loss of that hero. Struck down in the gloaming -and thick foliage of the forest, by his own men, his dauntless spirit -clung to his army for a week, among ever-hopeful soldiers, and then -took its warrior's flight to its Supreme Maker. There was none left in -his place; there was but one Jackson. - -When Marye's Hill was attacked by Sedgwick in Lee's rear, the battery -in action there had to make a hurried escape. One of its officers, a -dear friend of mine, Lieut. Frederick Habersham, had been killed at -his section. His comrades determined to have his body, and lashed it to -the trail of a gun, and there it hung, firmly bound, a sight not often -witnessed, while the battery, already late in retiring, was at a gallop -in escape from the pursuing enemy. It was accomplished handsomely, and -the brave fellow received his interment by the hands of loving wife -and friends at his home in Savannah. It was my brother, Doctor Sorrel, -in Richmond, who, with many difficulties, arranged for the care and -transportation home of the slain artillerist. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -PREPARING FOR GETTYSBURG - - Preparations for summer campaign--Army reorganized--Three Army - Corps--A. P. Hill made lieutenant-general, commanding Third - Corps--Lieutenant-General Ewell commanding Second Corps--Stuart's - cavalry reviewed--Its fine condition--Longstreet and his scout - Harrison--Lee's intricate operations--Stuart's cavalry movements--He - crosses below--The loss to Lee--The march through Maryland and - Pennsylvania--No depredations--Halt at Chambersburg--Scout Harrison - reports Meade in command, superseding Hooker--Ewell ordered to - leave--March resumed, A. P. Hill leading, gaining decided success. - - -General Lee began now to prepare for his summer campaign. It was -secretly settled that it should be an invasion of Pennsylvania. -There were many things that assisted in arriving at this decision in -the conferences with the president and chiefs of the Government at -Richmond. Virginia had been fiercely fought over, and ravaged by the -tramp of hostile armies. Now, it looked as if the enemy should feel -something of such sacrifices. If we could live on the supplies we hoped -to find north of the Potomac, the already serious question of food and -forage for our men and animals would lighten up temporarily, at least; -and finally, the men of arms were eager for the movement and most -enthusiastic at the start. - -First of all, Lee had to reorganize his army. Jackson's death made -this necessary; besides, the two corps had grown, individually, rather -large for effective handling. He created a third corps and placed A. -P. Hill in command of it, perhaps the best arrangement possible at -the time. One division was taken from Longstreet--Anderson's; one from -Jackson--Heth's, and the third, under Pender, was made up of unassigned -commands, of which there were quite a number between Richmond and the -General's camps. - -The second (Ewell's) was of Early's, Rodes's, and E. Johnson's -divisions. - -The first (Longstreet's) was of Hood's, McLaws's and Pickett's -divisions. - -Suitable artillery details were made to meet these changes, which went -in effect smoothly and effectively. - -On the cavalry, special care was bestowed. It had been heavily -strengthened and much improved by selections of men and horses. For -some time, during inaction, they had been getting good forage and -pasturage. Now, when the time was near for the use of this formidable -arm under Stuart, its able and famous leader, it was ready for the -Commander-in-Chief. - -What irony of fate that the great approaching campaign should be fought -and lost without that bold leader and his riders being at Lee's touch, -when indeed he wanted them, bitterly missing having Stuart and his -great body of unsurpassed horse near by him. - -The activity of preparation went through all -departments--Quartermaster's, Subsistence, Ordnance, and Medical. -It could be guessed that the military operations would be of great -severity and exaction and it behooved all officers of supply to be -ready; to fail would be fatal. - -The cavalry were assembled under Stuart in Northern Virginia, on lands -growing richer and richer in grass with the advancing weeks. It was -a magnificent day, befitting the superb body of cavalry that, under -Stuart, marched rapidly in review before the Commander-in-Chief. A -sight it was not soon to be forgotten. The utmost order prevailed. -There could be no doubt that the cavalry was as ready for the work -before us as was our matchless infantry. - -Longstreet sent for his favorite scout, Harrison. His instructions -were to proceed into the enemy's lines, where he was to stay until the -last part of June. Then he was to report to General Longstreet, it was -hoped, with the amplest and most accurate information. "Where shall -I find you, General, to make this report?" asked Harrison. "With the -army," was Longstreet's grim answer; "I shall be sure to be with it." -He was very far from giving even to his trusted scout information as -to his movements. But Harrison knew all the same; he knew pretty much -everything that was going on. - -The operation now performed by General Lee was intricate, of much -delicacy and hazard. It was to move from his position in front of -Hooker without exposing any part of his forces, or Richmond, to be -attacked in detail, and this important part of the grand maneuver was -left to Longstreet and his corps, with the cavalry in communication. - -The corps of Ewell (formerly Jackson's) and A. P. Hill were sent ahead -by easy marches, keeping a certain distant touch with Longstreet. The -mountain gaps were filled with Stuart's cavalry and the enemy held in -close observation. All went well. Hooker made no attempt to follow. Lee -moved toward Washington leisurely, as if to meet him there later. - -Stuart's part with his cavalry was now most important. It is contended -by some that Lee left it finally optional for him to decide upon his -movements. Whether to follow the army by crossing the river in the west -of the ridge or by one of the lower fords. In the latter event it was, -as it proved, to lose Lee and leave him without his strong arm in an -enemy's country. It has been attempted to show also that the order by -which Stuart moved came from Longstreet. But this must be dismissed; -positive information to the contrary being at hand. Surprising to say, -it now appears that Stuart left the army with his fine command and -started on his too fascinating raid, not only by his own preference, -but actually in violation of Lee's orders, which failed to reach him. -All doubt had passed from Lee's mind and he had ordered Stuart to keep -with him. The latter was raiding, and Lee's campaign was lost. - -Major McClellan, Stuart's A. A. G. and chief of staff, in his history -of that cavalry (an excellent work) declares that in his opinion the -absence of Stuart was the cause of Lee's trouble; and for myself I have -never doubted it. It is not to be supposed that no cavalry whatever was -left with the army. Stuart's defenders have taken pains to point that -out. There was a squadron or two, here and there, a regiment at one -place, and a brigade under an efficient commander left in the rear. But -these separate little commands amounted to nothing. It was the great -body of that splendid horse under their leader Stuart that Lee wanted. -He was the eyes and ears and strong right arm of the commander, and -well may he have missed him. All through the marches he showed it. - -Stuart was on a useless, showy parade almost under the guns of the -Washington forts, and his horse, laurel-wreathed, bore the gay rider -on amid songs and stories. He had some opposition, of course, and had a -share of fighting in Ashby's Gap and the plain on the east. - -When he rejoined Lee it was with exhausted horses and half worn-out men -in the closing hours of Gettysburg. - -Had he been with Lee where would our commander have made his battle? -Possibly, not on that unfavorable ground of Gettysburg. Lee with his -personally weak opponent, and Stuart by him, could almost have chosen -the spot where he would be sure to defeat the Union Army. - -This, however, somewhat anticipates; going back we find our three corps -with their military pushed across the river with energy. The Second -(Ewell's), the Third (A. P. Hill's), and Longstreet last. All infantry -and artillery across, leaving only about a brigade of cavalry on the -south side. The enemy for some days had quite disappeared from our -observations. The march proceeded through Maryland and Pennsylvania -in good form, General Lee's orders against depredations being most -peremptory. At Chambersburg a halt was made over Sunday and our corps -had the place well guarded and protected from plunder by loose bodies -of men. Our chief commissary, Moses, made a forced requisition and got -some supplies and necessaries, not very much. - -At night I was roused by a detail of the provost guard bringing up a -suspicious prisoner. I knew him instantly; it was Harrison, the scout, -filthy and ragged, showing some rough work and exposure. He had come -to "Report to the General, who was sure to be with the army," and -truly his report was long and valuable. I should here say that in -every respect it was afterwards fully confirmed by events and facts. -Harrison gave us the first complete account of the operations of the -enemy since Hooker left our front. He brought his report down to a -day or two, and described how they were even then marching in great -numbers in the direction of Gettysburg, with intention apparently of -concentrating there. He also informed us of the removal of Hooker and -the appointment of George Meade to command of the Army of the Potomac. -How many commanders had Lee made for that army! Harrison's report was -so exceedingly important that I took him at once with me, and woke -Longstreet. He was immediately on fire at such news and sent the scout -by a staff officer to General Lee's camp near by. The General heard -him with great composure and minuteness. It was on this, the report -of a single scout, in the absence of cavalry, that the army moved. -Important as was the change, the commanding General was not long in -deciding. He sent orders to bring Ewell immediately back from the North -about Harrisburg, and join his left. Then he started A. P. Hill off at -sunrise for Gettysburg, followed by Longstreet. The enemy was there, -and there our General would strike him. - -The march was much impeded by too many troops and trains on one road -and Ewell's men breaking in on the route next day to get to their -position. - -The army thus moved forward, and A. P. Hill leading, struck the enemy -near, and in, the town of Gettysburg sharply on the afternoon of July -1. We were following some little distance in the rear, and heard the -lively fire of cannon and rifles, and soon after got the news of Hill's -and Ewell's decided success in an important preliminary engagement. -Many prisoners and much material remained with the Confederates. This -stimulated every one forward, and Ewell taking position on our left, -we were all snugly in bivouac at a good hour, with Longstreet's two -divisions, McLaws and Hood, about four miles in rear, but ready for -movement next day. Pickett had been doing guard duty at Chambersburg -and was not yet up, but would be in the morning. The serious mishap of -the day was Ewell's failure to seize the heights on the left. General -Lee expected it of him, and we know of no impediment. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, JULY 1, 2, 3, 1863 - - Expectation of revelations--Longstreet and Lee--Attacks not in - good combination between the three corps--July 2, situation - unfavorable--Our heavy attack on the right--Ground and guns - taken--Round Top reinforced checks us--Longstreet leads--Hood and - Longstreet--Am slightly wounded--Lieutenant-Colonel Freemantle, - Coldstream Guards--Captain Ross, Austrian Army--July 3, necessity - of a stroke--Pickett's charge--His repulse--Lee's noble - encouragements--July 4, not attacked--Holding ground--Withdrawal at - night--The retreat, and passage of the river. - - -On the tremendous and decisive battle of Gettysburg, now about to -engage the two armies, more has probably been written than on any -battle since Waterloo. There seems to be a feeling abroad that great -secrets explaining why we were beaten are yet to be told and that they -are locked up in the breasts of a few men, one of them the present -writer, Longstreet's chief of staff. There is absolutely nothing in -that expectation; no living man knows more about the battle than has -already been written. - -Lee has made his report. Longstreet has written a book and said his -say. The staff has little or nothing to add. Communications were in -the main between Lee and Longstreet, verbally, or occasionally by note -direct. - -The story has been in part told by Longstreet. We can discover that -he did not want to fight on the ground or on the plan adopted by the -General-in-Chief. As Longstreet was not to be made willing and Lee -refused to change or could not change, the former failed to conceal -some anger. There was apparent apathy in his movements. They lacked the -fire and point of his usual bearing on the battlefield. His plans may -have been better than Lee's, but it was too late to alter them with the -troops ready to open fire on each other. Ewell on the left, A. P. Hill -and Longstreet on the right, seemed never able to work together, and I -can well imagine the great soul of our Commander deeply furrowed with -the difficulties about him and what was going on to the disadvantage -of the army. This is all I shall permit myself to express on this -well-worn but ever interesting subject. One can build many theories, -but theories only will they be; besides, my opinion is already given -that the loss of the campaign was due to the absence of Stuart's -cavalry. - -I proceed to jot down idly some "choses vues" of the military events -and incidents of the three great days of this remarkable historic -battle and the days immediately about it. - -The situation on the morning of the 2nd was far from favorable to us. -First of all, our position, compared with the enemy's, was not good. It -may be said to have been decidedly inferior. We were the outer line, -he held the inner. We were the cord to the arc on which his heavy -columns were massed. True, there were some positions on the left that -were in Ewell's possession and could be well used. Round Top and his -high shoulders were on our right, and held by us would be everything. -This Lee quickly saw and tried for. They made the key for the position, -and with it dangling at our girdle the lock would have yielded and the -door opened. But we were too late on our right. An attack, powerful -indeed, at 4 p. m. was quite different from the commanding General's -expectation of one in the forenoon. - -Late on the first, and early on the second, Hill and Ewell were heavily -engaged with apparently no satisfactory results. - -On the second, quite late, 4 p. m., Longstreet made his long-deferred -attack on the enemy's left. It was done in smashing style by McLaws's -and Hood's divisions and a few of Hill's troops, Longstreet personally -leading the attack with splendid effect. - -His fine horsemanship as he rode, hat in hand, and martial figure, were -most inspiring. - -We gained ground rapidly and almost carried Round Top, but the morning -delay was fatal. It had been heavily reinforced while we were pottering -around in sullen inactivity. Undoubtedly Lee's intention was to make -the attack in the forenoon and support it with strong movements by Hill -and Ewell. I think it would have won, notwithstanding the difficulties -of the position. The attempt was made to move the troops to the right -into position without discovery by the enemy, but it was abortive. - -We were seen from the start and signaled constantly. Much valuable time -was lost by this trial, which with better knowledge of the ground by -General Lee's engineers would not have been attempted. - -At nightfall the combat was over and we were dragging off our captured -cannon and standards, and caring for our dead and wounded. - -The loss in storming the position on the right was heavy. When Hood's -division was across the turnpike, under orders to attack, he begged me -to look at it, report its extreme difficulty, and implore Longstreet to -make the attack another way. This was done, but the answer I took to -Hood was that the attack must instantly be made, that General Lee had -so directed; and forward and upward the gallant Hood charged, almost -gaining the plateau of Round Top, the key of the enemy's left. - -The staff had been hard at work day and night, and my exhausted frame -found rest that night in the snuggest fence corner in sight. The ground -to weary bones felt as good as a feather bed. In addition, I had been -suffering from a painful but not serious wound. Riding with Dearing's -artillery late in the afternoon, while exchanging some shots, a -shrapnel burst directly over us, one of the large projectiles striking -me on the right arm near the shoulder. It was not broken or pierced, -paralyzed for use for at least ten days, and quite black down to the -wrist. Painful, of course, it was, but a small matter where there was -so much death and mangling. - -On the march through Virginia we had received a delightful acquisition -to our headquarters party, in Lieutenant-Colonel Freemantle, of the -Coldstream Guards. - -He had entered the Confederacy on a visit of observation, well -fortified with credentials from his own government, and, traveling -through all the Confederate States, had arrived in Richmond just in -time to join Lee's army in its invasion of Pennsylvania. - -With good letters of introduction he had been sent to us and there -could not be a finer fellow. He roughed it with the hardest, and -took everything as it came. A quick, observant eye and indefatigable -sightseer, apparently nothing escaped him. When the campaign was ended -and the Confederates making their way back to Virginia, Freemantle -said his farewells and made the best of his way to New York, whence -he immediately took steamer for England. There he published an -entertaining little book, "Three Months in the Southern States," which -was later reproduced by a worn-out, decrepit old press at Mobile, a -copy of the issue being now a great rarity. Freemantle had met Southern -men of all kinds, and his book has many pen pictures by this fine -officer and friend of ours. His regiment a corps d'élite, soon sent -him to the staff, where he distinguished himself, and successively -obtained rank as major-general, lieutenant-general, and general, with -several military orders of coveted distinction. He is now Sir Arthur -Lyon-Freemantle, K. C. M. G.,[1] and of other good-service orders. He -commanded the brigade of guards in Egypt, and has just finished (about -retiring) his four years' tour of duty as Governor of Malta, one of -the greatest of the British military posts. He is delightful to every -Confederate he can put his hands upon. - -[1] Sir Lyon-Freemantle has since died. - -There was another foreign officer with us at this time, and for some -months later, Captain Fitzgerald Ross, very Scotch as to name, but -Austrian to the core. He came of one of those military Scotch or north -of Ireland families that centuries ago settled in many parts of Europe -and generally rose to distinction. - -On the morning of July 3, it was apparent that a great blow must be -delivered to Meade's army. He could not be persuaded to leave his -formidable positions and instruments and attack us, and Lee could not -retreat without another effort, indecisive as had been those of the 2d. -Our General, as has been said, did not mind blood when it had to be -shed. It is the soldier's calling. Here was a case in point: His -army and trains could only be saved by a tremendous strike straight at -the enemy. The time for maneuvering had passed and he prepared for what -was before him. He believed his troops could do what he asked of them; -never yet had they failed him. - -The attack was to be made as soon as possible, under direction of Lee's -"War Horse," that stout warrior James Longstreet, with three brigades -of Pickett's division (right), Heth's division of Hill's corps (left), -with supports of several brigades of other divisions thrown into -position. - -An artillery "feu d'enfer" was to precede the attack, directed by E. -P. Alexander, who was to give the signal when in his judgment the -artillery had made the greatest impression, and then the troops were -to move instantly across the wide, lead-swept plain, against the -heavy masses of blue on the crest of the heights. All this was done -at about 2 o'clock, Longstreet accepting Alexander's signal message -with dejection, it seemed. Indeed, the delay in attacking which -undoubtedly hurt us was apparently caused by his objections made known -to the Commander-in-Chief, but of course all this is set out from that -standpoint in Longstreet's own book. - -It was soon over. Pickett's men got far up the acclivity and many were -soon among the enemy. There was, however, some wavering on our left, -which weakened us, and we broke, tearing back pell-mell torn by shot -and shell across the width of that bloody plain, a sight never before -witnessed--part of the Army of Northern Virginia in full, breathless -flight. - -But there was no pursuit and the run soon stopped. The soldiers got -together, picked up arms, and in a short time were ready for another -combat. - -If there was repulse and its usual result, a quick flight for cover, -there was also something else. A charge that, considering the -difficulties of position, comparison of numbers, was so steady to the -objective point, and so near success as to make it one of the greatest -feats of arms in all the annals of war. Every brigade commander and -colonel and lieutenant-colonel of Pickett's division was shot down. The -brave Armistead and Garnett at the head of their brigades fell inside -the enemy's parapet, and the gallant Kemper, hard hit and left for -dead, lay with the men of his leading line. To-day, the detail of the -great charge, not as barely hinted at here, but as described in full -with ample particulars, mounts one's blood, stirs all hearts with deep -tragedy and pride. Well do we know that amid all things to happen, the -memory of Pickett's charge will forever live in song and story of that -fair land for which the Southern soldier poured out his blood like -water. - -While Longstreet by no means approved the movement, his soldierly eye -watched every feature of it. He neglected nothing that could help it -and his anxiety for Pickett and the men was very apparent. - -Fearing some flank attacks if we succeeded, he had sent Latrobe to the -left to warn the officer against its possibility. I went sharply off in -search of Pickett to watch his right and if necessary move some troops -in for meeting such an attempt. I did not meet with General Pickett -and was soon up with Garnett and Armistead. The former was ill that -morning, but was at the head of his men where he was to fall. Just -here a shell burst under my horse (my best), a splendid chestnut mare, -and down she came, both hind legs off. I luckily got another from a -mounted man near by, who rather ruefully gave up his horse and saved -my saddle for me. Latrobe also had his horse killed over on the left; -other staff officers were also sent forward with the troops and shared -in the charge. - -General Lee's extreme agitation when he witnessed the repulse and race -of our men for cover from that murderous fire has not been exaggerated -in the prints. The noble soul was stirred to its inmost depths at the -sight of the awful and fruitless sacrifices his men had made at his -command. His generous heart could only say, "It is my fault, I take it -all--get together, men, we shall yet beat them." I saw no man fail him. - -It was on July 3 that a mail from the Department at Richmond brought my -commission as lieutenant-colonel, A. A. G. Latrobe's and Fairfax's, as -inspectors, came along a few days later. - -Notwithstanding our great losses of the second and third, we were -permitted to hold the field on the fourth by Meade's inactivity. His -army was very strong, had not suffered as had ours, and an enterprising -general might seemingly have had us on the run in short order. - -But no! he had taken a taste of our mettle the day before and wanted -no more of it. A bridge of gold for his enemy was the card for Meade's -hands. It is said on good authority that at a council called by Meade -he was in favor of retiring, and it was only by strenuous, bold -opposition of two or three of his generals that he was prevented and -induced to keep his ground. - -Thus during all the fourth we were in preparation for the rear movement -that must begin that night. Lee's position had become serious, but -undismayed were the Confederate Chief and his three corps commanders. -He knew he could count on their tried courage and experience. - -The night of July 4, 1863, was of awful weather--rain in torrents, -howling winds, and roads almost impassable; all trains had been sent -back during the day, as well as the reserve artillery. At night -artillery in position and pickets were withdrawn and the army moved -back by its left--Ewell, Hill, and Longstreet. It marched all night and -part of next day, and then Lee with characteristic audacity selected a -line of defense, entrenched and fortified it, and offered Meade battle -for several days, while his immense trains were safely crossing the -Potomac. Meade declined the challenge, and Lee resuming the retreat, -crossed on the bridge of boats that had been thrown over the river at -Falling Waters by the engineers--and a crazy affair it was, too. - -Our corps was all night crossing, and at dawn I was able to approach -General Lee on the south bank, "tête de pont," with a report to that -effect, adding that now everything was clear for General Hill's -infantry. The General's anxiety was intense. He expected to be attacked -at the passage of the river. There was good reason to fear; why Meade -failed to do so is yet to be explained. General Lee, like every one, -had been up the whole night, and his staff officers were stretched in -sleep on the ground. He desired me to recross the bridge for him, see -General Hill in person, and urge him to the utmost haste in getting his -men over, stopping only when imperatively necessary. - -I immediately pushed back, finding the road deep in mud but clear of -any impediment to the men. Broken wagons or a dismounted gun or two had -been cleared away and thrown one side. General Lee's message was given -and Hill asked me to assure the Commander that he should safely get -across, notwithstanding a slight attack that was even then developing -itself on his rear brigade--Pettigrew's. Some men were captured, but we -suffered most loss in the death of that promising officer. - -Returning, I reported to the General that "all was clear. Hill was -about three-quarters of a mile from the bridge and marching rapidly to -it." "What was his leading division?" I was asked. "General Anderson, -sir." "I am sorry, Colonel; my friend Dick is quick enough pursuing, -but in retreat I fear he will not be as sharp as I should like." -Just then a heavy gun was fired lower down, filling the gorge of the -river with most threatening echoes. "There," said the General, "I was -expecting it, the beginning of the attack." But he was wrong. The enemy -made no further demonstration and Hill came safely across. Our corps -had found camp some ten miles south of the river and there I soon threw -myself down for rest and food. After a week of the most exhausting -physical and mental trial it was indeed time for some repose. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -GETTYSBURG AFTERMATH - - Retrospective--Invasion of Pennsylvania--Some characteristics--Pickett - and perfumery--An acquisition--The inhabitants, Pennsylvania - Dutch--Their cookery--Colonel Freemantle's activity--Figures as - to strength and losses--Lieutenant Dawson--A curious meeting--The - sweating soldier--Death of Captain Fraser. - - -The invasion of Pennsylvania had many features of interest to our army. -The country itself contrasted greatly with our own. It was rolling in -plenty, high cultivation was apparent on all sides, and the ripening -wheat stood tall and golden. General Lee's orders caused it to be well -protected, and there was not much looting. The people seemed a queer -lot. Hostile looks and imprecations were constantly leveled at the -good-natured Southerners footing it amid such new scenes. The cherries -were ripe and the trees bending with delicious fruit. I recall one -especial tree near Chambersburg that seemed beyond all others to tempt -me. Sitting quietly in saddle, branch after branch was gently drawn -down to the rider's thirsty lips almost to repletion, and good is the -recollection even to this present day. The roads were magnificent -in our eyes--metaled macadams, bearing the heaviest loads, and well -drained and graded. The animals were nearly all for farm use, great -lumbering, powerful horses, capable of enormous draughts on those hard -roads, but quite impossible to do anything out of a heavy walk. We -thought to renew some of our quartermaster's and cavalry mounts from -this source and a few horses were got across the river. They proved -useless and were soon abandoned. As we marched, the people were drawn -to the roadside arrayed in their Sunday best, gazing viciously at the -invaders. All work in town and country had stopped. Chambersburg being -quite a town, was subject to requisition, which did not, I think, yield -much. - -We "persuaded," however, the principal shopkeepers to keep open, and -they displayed some of their wares, doubtless old or unsalable stuff -that they could not hide. Everything was strictly paid for in our -national currency--Confederate bills! - -I did get something, however. Our good commissary, Major Moses, managed -to secure (by payment, of course) a bolt of excellent velveteen, -wearing quite as well as corduroy. Indeed, he got some of the latter -also, and sent the plunder to our headquarters, where the stuff went -around sufficiently to give me a coat and trousers, which did good -service, I think, till the end of things. He also managed to get a few -felt hats, and deserved more, for he was grumbling furiously at the -ill success of his important requisition for cash, stores, and army -supplies; also for the sound rating and liberal abuse he had taken from -the irate females in furious rage at his work. - -Lee and Longstreet were bivouacked near by in a beautiful grove of -large trees not far from town. They both had many visits from citizens, -generally with some trumped-up complaint as a means of seeing the two -celebrated soldiers. - -The women of the country were a hard-featured lot. The population, -principally Pennsylvania Dutch, are an ignorant offshoot of a certain -class of Germans long settled there. - -Many can speak no English. A hard-working, thrifty class, with, it -seems, no thought but for their big horses and barns, huge road-wagons -like ships at sea, and the weekly baking, and apple-butter. This last -appeared to be their staple food. On the morning of the 3d, already -mentioned, waking in my fence-corner, I took thought of breakfast and -sent my man to an abandoned farm-house near by. The terrible shell and -musketry fire of the previous day had driven off the owners hurriedly, -for safety. But here was food galore. My soldier came back loaded with -loaves of well-baked bread and jars of apple-butter--a week's baking -of the bread, and the abominable butter once a year, I suppose. It did -for once or so when very hungry, but I don't call it a nice breakfast -anywhere. - -The drain of war had not here shown itself--none of the men out of -this populous region seemed to have gone to the front. There was no -need. The Government, the State, counties, towns, and villages were -all paying great bounties for the substitutes. The drafted man was -serving at home, and there was joy at so much money among the foreign -mercenaries brought over by the rich Northern and Eastern States, and -among the ever-present and agile bounty-jumpers, who were indeed making -their golden harvest. - -Our British friend, Colonel Freemantle, was bound to see everything. -During one of the hottest hours of fire he climbed a tree with great -agility, and notwithstanding I bawled to him to come down, there he -stuck with his binoculars. He was a very small, slight man, wiry, and -much enduring. I don't believe he changed his clothing or boots while -with us, and I never saw him use a note-book or any scrap of paper as -an aid to memory, and yet his book puts down things with much accuracy. - -In this great campaign and battle the numbers and casualties and lists -may be fairly accepted as follows: Col. W. H. Taylor's figures as to -strength--Army of the Potomac, of all arms, 105,000; Army of Northern -Virginia, of all arms, 63,000 or say 50,000 infantry, 8,000 cavalry, -5,000 artillery. - -His figures are about right as to the Army of Northern Virginia. They -would be verified by those of our own corps. - -Confederate losses, 2,292 killed; 12,709 wounded; 5,150 missing. - -It was about this time that Lieut. F. W. Dawson, C. S. Artillery, -reported to our corps for duty. A few words of the career of this young -man may not be without interest. He was an Englishman of university -education, able and capable. He had come to see hard service. Colonel -Manning, chief of ordnance, wanting some assistance at that time, I -assigned Dawson to do duty with the ordnance train. He was thoroughly -competent, and made himself indispensable to Manning, whose taste took -him more to adventures in the field. Dawson was made captain and also -acquitted himself well under fire. With return of peace I lost sight of -him until a year or two later he turned up as the able and aggressive -editor and part proprietor of a leading newspaper of Charleston, -South Carolina, and had reason to call for my help in a dangerous -crisis. He was strongly on the respectable white side in the dark days -of reconstruction, was bold and unflinching, showed extraordinary -abilities, made many friends, married, and was assassinated at the very -height of an adventurous career. - -This is curious in the way of happenings. It has been mentioned that -the soldier who passed the night at Fredericksburg with me inside the -enemy's lines was Private Jesse Beall. It has not been said, though, -that my staff comrade and friend, Manning, had been desperately -assailed, stabbed almost to death, by a fellow-student at the Georgia -Military Institute. Manning recovered after long care, spoke only once, -even to me, of what had happened, and then with a curious tension of -feature. Another time we were riding together across fallow fields -near camp, when a soldier came out, saluting us, and asked to speak -with Colonel Manning. On rejoining me, Manning's face was set and -deathly pale. "Sorrel," he said, "that was the man who came so near -murdering me. I had sworn to kill him on sight, and it was all I could -do to stop myself while he stood by my horse. But he had a tale, and I -believed him. It was remorse and horror of his deed. He humbly begged -my forgiveness. Nothing else would content him, and I yielded to the -man's suffering and evident sincerity. I gave him my hand in parting, -but never do I wish to see him again." It was Jesse Beall, Manning's -assailant, and my man of the batteau. He was afterwards killed in -battle. - -On a hot day's march across the river, General Lee, Longstreet, and -their people had made a short midday halt in a little rising grove by -the roadside, where we found a spring to wash down our soldier's fare. -It was the hottest of July days, and the troops were moving by in long -column, listlessly, and suffering from the heat. Soon I saw one of -the men leave the ranks and approach General Lee. Some one tried to -stop him, but the General kindly encouraged his coming forward. He was -a stout, well-built soldier, equal to any work, but sweating awfully. -"What is it you want?" said Lee. "Please, General, I don't want much, -but it's powerful wet marching this weather. I can't see for the water -in my eyes. I came aside to this old hill to get a rag or _something_ -to wipe the sweat out of my eyes." "Will this do?" said the General, -handkerchief in hand. "Yes, _my Lordy_, that indeed!" broke out the -soldier. "Well, then take it with you, and back quick to ranks; no -straggling this march, you know, my man." - -Lee's talk and manner with the soldier were inimitable in their -encouraging kindness. It is only a single little example of what he was -with them. - -At Gettysburg, on the 3d, I lost another dear personal friend, Captain -John C. Fraser, of Georgia, commanding a battery of artillery. He was -working it most effectively in action when struck down. Only a few days -before he made me a visit, and noticing his very bad hat, I sent him -off rejoicing in one of the felts Major Moses had given us. Then it -pillowed his shattered head. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -IN VIRGINIA AGAIN - - Lee moves across the ridge into the Piedmont country--Camps taken - near Rapidan--Our Headquarters at Taylor's--Festivities and - gaieties--Buying remounts--Scout Harrison again--Longstreet and - two divisions start for Chickamauga--In Richmond--Harrison as - Cassius--His dismissal--The First Army Corps--Dissensions in Hood's - Division--Jenkins and Law. - - -The army being after some days refreshed and strengthened by rest -and food and the return of wounded and stragglers, General Lee began -preparing to move to a good position east of the mountains. It lay now -in the Valley, and General Meade with great consideration molested us -not nor gave us any uneasiness. As usual the cavalry filled the gaps of -the Ridge and covered efficiently every approach, while the army slowly -poured through its defiles to well-known camping grounds on the sunny -slopes of the Piedmont glades and meadows. Gradually without incident -we found good camps for several weeks in a rolling country bordered -by the Rapidan. Our headquarters were in the grounds of Mr. Erasmus -Taylor, a well-known gentleman, farming largely in that county, and -everything was done by him for our comfort and amusement. The house -was spacious, well fitted for dances and entertainments, and being -crowded with joyous, happy Virginia girls there was no lack of fun and -gaiety. We got out our best, cleaned up, kept the barber busy, became -very particular as to the shine of our boots, and put forth all of our -long disused bravery in honor of the lovely eyes and true Virginia -hearts that were joyfully giving us welcome. There were for those young -officers who had time to give, dances by day and evening at Taylor's or -elsewhere in the well-settled neighborhood, horses in plenty for riding -parties, picnics, excursions--everything indeed for the happiness of -the young warriors and their captivating maidens. Hard, brave work had -earned the guerdon and it was no niggard hand that gave it. - -It was here I had to provide my remounts. My best had been lost in -Pickett's charge and the other had broken down and was left. I was -consequently up to buying two horses, and after many trials and tests -selected from a certain commissary given to horse dealing, two beasts -that I thought would do my work. They both broke down under the demands -of our Georgia and Tennessee expedition, and later I shall have -something to say about the sharp officer who was so ready to put these -animals on me. I have already said that I cannot call myself successful -in horse selection. These two cost about $2,500. - -Ah! those were lovely days; that short rest amid such delightful -environments. We were soon to change it, plunge into the forests of -Georgia and Tennessee, and fight in the former one of the fiercest, -bloodiest battles on record. But meanwhile time went merrily and there -was enjoyment throughout the army. The soldiers were in high spirits -and ready any day for the enemy. - -Supplies of clothing and shoes had come down from Richmond and the -ranks looked decidedly better. - -Harrison, our scout, had been with us since Gettysburg. His report, -all important as to the results of that campaign, was not forgotten. -With no immediate duties assigned him, he trotted along from day to -day, but he was sure of something to come, and it came. He asked -permission to go to Richmond for a few days. As there was nothing to -keep him, leave was given. - -"Colonel," said this dark character, "if by any chance you should be in -Richmond next week, I hope you will take in the theater one evening." -(There was then not the slightest expectation of my being in Richmond -at that time.) "What is the attraction?" I asked. "Myself," said -Harrison. "I have made a bet of $50 greenbacks that I play Cassio and -play him successfully." "Are you an actor?" I asked. "No, but I can -play." The matter was dismissed as so much nonsense, but he was not a -man for nonsense. It so happened that I was in Richmond the next week -with Longstreet and the staff on the way to Georgia to strike our great -strategic coup, and _did_ happen into a friend's box at the theater. -"Othello" was on the boards with all the splendor the times could -muster, and my Harrison and "Cassio," one and the same, were before me. -He had lied in part. His acting was as if he had regularly strutted the -boards for a stock company. But the play was rather lively at times. -"Othello" was in drink, "Cassius" was really quite far gone, and even -"Desdemona" was under more than one suspicion that evening. - -The occurrence induced me next day to set on foot some minute inquiries -about Harrison's life. I learned that he was drinking and gambling. On -reporting it to General Longstreet he thought it better to let him go -and so directed me; accordingly I had him paid off, with an order to -report to the Secretary of War, from whom he had originally come. - -This is the last I saw of the mysterious fellow. Longstreet missed him -afterwards while we were in East Tennessee, and I made a careful effort -to find him and bring him out to us. - -While writing I hear from Latrobe that the man is alive and in -Baltimore, seeking some small assistance from the Confederate veterans. -I should like to see his last days made comfortable. - -The organization of our First Army Corps had suffered no material -damage. The ranks were kept fairly well filled by constant -recruiting, and the feeling of confidence and pride of this splendid -force of infantry and artillery could not be surpassed, from the -Lieutenant-General down to the teamster. It was a very remarkable body, -inspired by great sacrifices and victories in its history, and with a -cohesive strength and belief in itself that spoke nobly for the future. -This is said on the eve of a separation of many months, by which the -larger part of the corps was sent to strange fields and new sacrifices -and laurels. - -There was, however, an ugly flaw in one of the divisions, that long -uncured was eventually to lead to disaster. When Hood was borne wounded -from the Gettysburg field his division of five brigades--Alabama, -Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina--fell under the command of the -senior brigadier, Mr. Jenkins, of South Carolina. Between this officer -and General E. M. Law, of Alabama, there was the most intense rivalry. -They were both from South Carolina, and it was but a continuation, -it was said, of what stirred them at school together, at college, at -military exercises, and finally in Longstreet's corps. They had been -made colonels about the same time--Law of an Alabama regiment--and -had advanced almost contemporaneously to be brigadier-generals. -Longstreet had recommended them both for promotion to major-general, -and they were both unquestionably officers of high attainments and -the greatest promise. Here we had a situation that made it useless -to think of one of these men serving under the other in the same -division. A major-general must be assigned to command, or else one -of the aspiring brigadiers transferred to another place. Neither was -immediately done and Longstreet had considerable trouble. Both officers -were highly valued by him and he wanted full justice done to each, but -the situation grew no better with time and service, and Longstreet's -efforts at the Department commanded apparently no attention. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -LONGSTREET TO REINFORCE BRAGG - - The movement to reinforce Bragg--Good work of the - Quartermaster-General--General A. R. Lawton, of Georgia--The journey - through the States--Ovations to the troops. - - -The important movement now impending was the subject of deep and secret -discussion by the President, Generals Lee and Longstreet, and General -Lawton, Quartermaster-General, whose part in it would be of the first -consideration. Its gravity can scarcely be overstated. - -Rosecrans, commanding the Federal forces in Tennessee and Georgia, -had suffered himself to be in position inviting attack by a competent -force. It was believed that Bragg, his opponent, if reinforced, could -strike a swift, crushing blow, relieve the wide region in which he -was operating from the presence of the enemy, and enable masterly -reinforcements to return rapidly to Virginia without endangering -the safety of the Confederate capital or that of Lee's army, thus -temporarily weakened. - -Indeed it was the military calculation that so large a detachment -from the Southern army would be instantly followed by a still greater -withdrawal of troops from Lee's front, and that too by the outer line -of the segment, while our own contingent was hurrying by the short, -straight cord of the circle. - -This expectation proved correct. Meade was silent and inactive, and -our own army was stiffening in material and numbers. Meade was -apparently without a plan. His predecessors had suffered so cruelly at -Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville that his well-known prudence and -lack of initiative might be trusted to keep him quiet during our great -strategic coup. The movement was, therefore, determined on, and in the -first half of September the details were settled. Longstreet was to -take on the expedition his two splendid divisions, McLaws and Hood, the -latter by this time quite cured of his wound, and Alexander's battalion -of artillery--six batteries. Supply trains were to be furnished at -destination. - -The movement was to be wholly by train, and to any one familiar with -the railroad service at the South in the last part of 1863 little need -be said of the difficulties facing the Quartermaster-General. - -He was to pick up their camps near Gordonsville and the Rapidan, nine -strong brigades of infantry and six batteries of artillery, and land -them without serious accident and no delay with their ambulances and -light vehicles near Chattanooga or Lookout Mountain. This feat was -accomplished without stint of honor or praise, be it said, to the -Quartermaster-General's department. Never before were so many troops -moved over such worn-out railways, none first-class from the beginning. -Never before were such crazy cars--passenger, baggage, mail, coal, box, -platform, all and every sort wabbling on the jumping strap-iron--used -for hauling good soldiers. But we got there nevertheless. The trains -started day after day from Virginia and worked through North Carolina, -South Carolina, and Georgia by different routes, all converging at a -point not far east of Chattanooga--Catoosa Station, I think, was the -name. - -The Quartermaster-General, Brig.-Gen. A. R. Lawton, was my -fellow-townsman. He had graduated from West Point in the class of '39 -and entered the artillery. Soon resigning, he took up the study and -practise of law, married, and resided in Savannah, where he achieved -success. An admirable, well-rounded character, with many friends, -Lawton was a leading man in municipal and State affairs for years. - -When the clash came in 1861 there was no doubt as to where he would -stand. It was for his State, and he was immediately commissioned a -brigadier-general, stationed on the coast assembling and organizing -troops. - -Called by General Lee to Virginia in 1862, he took a brigade of nearly -6,000 strong to Jackson in the Valley operations, and served with -distinction in the Chickahominy battles, the campaign against Pope, and -at Sharpsburg. - -At the latter he was severely wounded and retired from field -service. He was, however, not long left in quiet ease. Lawton's -abilities suggested him for administrative work, and he was made -Quartermaster-General. It was by him and his department that our -reinforcements were moved to the help of Bragg and the victory of -Chickamauga--an admirable piece of railroad military transportation -under adverse conditions. General Lawton was Minister to Austria during -Cleveland's Administration. - -The journey through the States from Virginia was a continuous ovation -to the troops. They were fed at every stopping place and must have -hated the sight of food. Kisses and tokens of love and admiration for -these war-worn heroes were ungrudgingly passed around, and as the two -divisions were from States all south of Virginia, it was good for the -men to show up in this fashion even for a few minutes with their home -people. - -Many of the companies were carried through their own towns and villages -and surrounded by the eager faces of kinsfolk and neighbors. But there -were no desertions or stops. The brave fellows pressed stoutly on with -comrades to meet the foe. - -The first arrivals plunged into the battle of September 19th, and on -the 20th, when the final stroke was delivered, five of our brigades -were up and hotly engaged in that bloody, all-day battle. The glory -and renown of the Army of Northern Virginia were fully upheld by -Longstreet's men. Some general outlines of the day's events will be -attempted in the next chapter, to be filled out at close, as hitherto -tried, with brief reflections and observations on the occurrences of -the great struggle and the days before and after it. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA, SEPTEMBER 20, 1863 - - Arrival at Catoosa--Riding to General Bragg--The meeting--Order of - battle--Polk the right wing, Longstreet the left--attack to begin on - right--Delayed some hours--Left wing takes it up victoriously--Attack - on right checked--Thomas reinforces his right against Longstreet's - assaults--Cannot stand and retreats toward Chattanooga--A great - victory for the Confederates--Pursuit next day expected--Bragg says - no--Army marches to positions in front of Chattanooga--A barren - result--Lieutenant-General Polk--Sketch. - - -It was about three o'clock in the afternoon of September 19 that our -rickety train pulled up, with jerks and bangs, at the little railway -landing, called Catoosa Platform. Longstreet and some of his personal -staff, Colonels Sorrel and Manning, were in this train and immediately -took horse. The remainder of the staff, with most of the horses, were -on a train two or three hours later. The Lieutenant-General and part of -his staff at once started to find General Bragg. - -That General should surely have had guides to meet and conduct us to -the conference on which so much depended. A sharp action had taken -place during the day and it would appear that if Bragg wanted to -see anybody, Longstreet was the man. But we were left to shift for -ourselves, and wandered by various roads and across small streams -through the growing darkness of the Georgia forest in the direction of -the Confederate General's bivouac. At one point in our hunt for him -we narrowly escaped capture, being almost in the very center of a -strong picket of the enemy before our danger was discovered. A sharp -right-about gallop, unhurt by the pickets' hasty and surprised fire, -soon put us in safety, and another road was taken for Bragg, about whom -by this time some hard words were passing. - -But all things have an end, even a friendly hunt for an army commander, -and between 10 and 11 o'clock that night we rode into the camp of -Gen. Braxton Bragg. He was asleep in his ambulance, and when aroused -immediately entered into private conference with Longstreet. It lasted -about an hour, and in that time the plan of battle for next day was -definitely settled, and then we all took to the leafy ground under the -tall oaks and hickories for some sleep against the work before us. - -An hour was quite enough to settle the plan and details, since -nothing could be simpler than the operation proposed for Rosecrans's -destruction. - -Bragg's army was already occupying favorable ground and but little -preliminary movement was positively necessary. The enemy's force was -not far off in our immediate front, seemingly easy to attack. Bragg's -army was, however, strange to say, rather deficient in artillery, and -its want was felt the next day. Our own batteries, under Alexander, -had not yet detrained. Bragg made a good disposition of his separate -divisions and commands, dividing his army into two wings, the right -under Lieutenant-General Polk and the left under Lieutenant-General -Longstreet. There was consequently thrown under the latter three -of Hood's brigades and two of McLaws's (under Hood), and Stuart's -and Preston's divisions (under Buckner), and a division of B. R. -Johnson's, and Hindman's with artillery. The order for the day was -simple in the extreme. - -There was no question about all the troops being in position by -daylight, and at that hour the attack was to be opened by General Polk -on the extreme right and followed up vigorously by the lines to the -left, until the entire front of Bragg's fine army should be engaged and -charging the enemy, exposed to an attack so furious it was not believed -he could sustain it, and he could not. It will be shown how he was -partially saved after the roughest handling he had had since Bull Run. -The right wing was formed of Breckinridge's and Cleburne's divisions -under D. H. Hill, Walker's and Biddell's divisions under Walker, and -Cheatham's division, besides artillery. - -Longstreet's front had Wheeler's cavalry on his extreme left, then -Hindman, Hood's corps, Stuart, and Preston in the order named, and they -were ready for their work at daylight on the 20th, the other commands -in close support. Unhappily, a most serious delay occurred on the -right, by which Polk's attack was retarded until near 10 o'clock, a -loss of at least four previous hours. Lieutenant-General Hill's command -was on Polk's extreme right and should have begun the attack. Orders -sent during the night by General Polk failed to reach him. On our part -we waited with the utmost impatience for the guns, but no sound came -until 10 o'clock. Then Polk's attack was made, but does not appear to -have achieved a decided success. The enemy were able to hold their -ground against most of the right wing commands. - -When it came, as it quickly did, to the left wing to put in its work -there was another tale. The ground was in parts difficult in front of -us, but never was a more determined, dashing attack made, never a more -stubborn resistance. But our men would not be denied. The fighting -lasted nearly all day. Finally everything broke before us, and the -enemy's right was in full flight. It was a panic-stricken host that -fled. Our Virginia contingent was always to the front and seemed to -fire their western comrades with emulation of the grand example of the -Army of Northern Virginia. - -Unhappily, amid shouts of victory, General Hood was shot down at the -head of his seasoned veterans. His leg was taken off on the field, the -operation being well borne. But we were forced into a temporary halt. - -Reinforcements were pouring fresh and ready against our front. The -attack of the right wing having partly broken down, the enemy in front -of Polk was not held to their own, but were in large numbers free for -a masterly movement by that fine soldier, Gen. George Thomas. He was a -Virginian, and it is said started to join his Southern friends at the -beginning, but was finally won over to the Northern side. - -He was one of the ablest of their soldiers, perhaps none equaled him, -and I heartily wish he had been anywhere but at Chickamauga. Thomas -pressed rapid columns to relieve his overwhelmed right and was in time -to make a good stand, but it was unavailing, although costing more -blood and time. His defenses were finally broken down, about dark, by -our incessant hammering, and it was right-about-face and hasty retreat -to Chattanooga. - -This was just as darkness spread its mantle over the fields and -forests, and simultaneously there sprang up on that bloodstained -battle-ground camp fires innumerable, and the wildest Confederate -cheers and yells for victory that ever stirred the hearts of -warriors--and such warriors as had that day borne the battle-flags -forward. It was one of the greatest of the many Confederate successes. - -That night was passed in caring for the wounded, burying the dead, and -cooking rations, for in all that host there was probably only one who -did not believe that "pursuit" would be the word early next day, and -that was the commander-in-chief. It is thought by some that General -Bragg did not know a victory had been gained. He does not appear to -have been closely present on the battlefield, nor for that matter was -Rosecrans. A unique instance of a great battle being fought out of the -immediate presence of the respective commanders. The next morning Bragg -asked Longstreet for suggestions. "Move instantly against Rosecrans's -rear to destroy him," was the instant reply. "Should we fail, we can -put him in retreat, and then clear East Tennessee of Burnside and the -Union forces." - -Apparently, Bragg adopted this view, and gave orders to march out at -4 p. m. The right wing marched about eight miles, ours next day at -daylight. We were halted at the Chickamauga Red House Ford, I think it -was, and then directed to march to Chattanooga. At the close of the -battle we could have strolled into that town; now it was vigorously -defended. This was the fruit of the great battle; the pitiable end of -the glorious victory that was ours. The spoils were 8,000 prisoners, 36 -pieces of artillery, 15,000 small arms, and 25 stands of colors. - -It was a lasting regret that I had no more than a passing glimpse -during these operations of the distinguished soldier, Lieut.-Gen. -Leonidas Polk, second in command of Bragg's army. - -A pure and lofty character, nothing but the most self-sacrificing, -patriotic convictions, and the almost peremptory wishes of the -Executive had led him to lay down his great Episcopal station and -duties and take to arms. His training at West Point had well prepared -him for the stern efforts in the field awaiting Southern men. -Throughout his army career he was never without a desire to put by his -sword and take up again his dearly loved people, his Bishop's staff, -for prayer and strength and consolation in their many trials and -sufferings. But the President, holding him in the highest esteem and -confidence, insisted on retaining him in the armies of the Confederacy. -He could not but yield. Of commanding presence and most winning -address, he served with distinction and renown. While suffering at the -hands of Bragg treatment unjust and harsh, he on the other hand had won -to himself the abiding affection and confidence of all officers and men -whom he commanded. - -On June 1, 1864, near Marietta, Georgia, that noble life ended. In the -distance lay the hills of the Etowah; on the right, Kenesaw reared its -lofty heights. The Generals--Johnston, Hardee, and Polk--had together -walked off to observe a portion of the enemy's lines, some distance -away. Soon after they slowly separated. - -Dr. W. M. Polk, the General's son, eminent in his profession, and -author of his interesting biography, simply relates what then happened -(Vol. II, p. 349): - - General Polk walked to the crest of the hill, and, entirely exposed, - turned himself around as if to take a farewell view. Folding his arms - across his breast, he stood intently gazing on the scene below. While - thus he stood, a cannon shot crashed his breast, and opening a wide - door, let free that indomitable spirit. He fell upon his back with his - feet to the foe. Amid the shot and shell now poured upon the hill, his - faithful escort gathered up the body and bore it to the foot of the - hill. There in a sheltered ravine his sorrow-stricken comrades, silent - and in tears, gathered around his mangled corpse. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -CHATTANOOGA--INCIDENTS - - The Western army--Its general appearance--Feeling toward - Bragg--President Davis's visit--An incident in battle--General - W. W. Mackall, chief of Bragg's staff--Losses--A captured - saber--General Forrest--General Benning and Longstreet--Vizitelly's - battle-picture--Quartermaster Mitchell dead--Manning - wounded--President Davis's escort--The Austrian captain's brilliant - uniform. - - -We were therefore marched back to what was called the siege of -Chattanooga, finding the enemy there in fine spirits after the -indulgent reprieve granted him; strengthening his works, perfecting -his communications with the rear, and pouring in men from the East, -who, following our own movements, were necessarily late in arriving by -the outer line. Bragg put his army in position across Missionary Creek -(subject to perilous overflow) and occupied Lookout Mountain with his -left and Missionary Ridge with his right, and here I shall leave the -army while jotting down some observations and incidents since we left -Virginia. - -The personal appearance of Bragg's army was, of course, matter of -interest to us of Virginia. The men were a fine-looking lot, strong, -lean, long-limbed fighters. The Western tunic was much worn by both -officers and men. It is an excellent garment, and its use could be -extended with much advantage. - -The army gave one the feeling of a very loose organization. There were -indeed corps, so called, but not that compact, shoulder-to-shoulder -make-up of Lee's army. There a First Corps man would so speak of -himself, just as a Third Georgia Regiment man would speak of the -regiment to which he belonged. The artillery, which seemed to me not -as strong as should be, looked a bit primitive. The battalion unit -was not often met with; but, on the contrary, many single independent -batteries, nominally attached to infantry commands, but on the day of -the battle wandering loose, hunting for their supports. The subsistence -and quartermaster's departments were well supplied with food and -forage, but weak in transportation. - -The tone of the army among its higher officers toward the commander was -the worst conceivable. Bragg was the subject of hatred and contempt, -and it was almost openly so expressed. His great officers gave him no -confidence as a general-in-chief. The army was thus left a helpless -machine, and its great disaster in November at Missionary Ridge and -Lookout Mountain could easily be foreseen with Bragg retained in -command. - -Mr. Davis made his celebrated visit to the camp to see and hear -for himself. It is difficult, even now, to recall and realize that -unprecedented scene. The President, with the commander-in-chief, and -the great officers of the army, assembled to hear the opinion of the -General's fitness for command. In the presence of Bragg and his corps -commanders he asked of each his opinion, and his reasons if adverse. -This was eye to eye with the President, the commander-in-chief, and -the generals. There was no lack of candor in answer to such challenge -with men like Longstreet, Cheatham, Hill, Cleburne, and Stewart. Some -very plain language was used in answer, but it seems that one and all -were quite agreed as to Bragg's unfitness for command of that army. -These opinions were received by the President and his general without -comment, and Mr. Davis got more than he came for. - -An incident of the day of battle will indicate some differences between -the Eastern and Western armies in the reception of orders. While Thomas -was heavily reinforcing his right, a column of fours was seen marching -across Gen. A. P. Stewart's front. If attacked, its destruction was -certain. I pointed out the opportunity to General Stewart, his position -being admirable for the purpose. His answer was that he was there by -orders and could not move until he got others. I explained that I was -chief of staff to Longstreet and felt myself competent to give such -an order as coming from my chief, and that this was customary in our -Virginia service. General Stewart, however, courteously insisted that -he could not accept them unless assured the orders came direct from -Longstreet. Valuable time was being lost, but I determined to have a -whack at those quick-moving blue masses. Asking General Stewart to get -ready, that I hoped soon to find Longstreet, I was off, and luckily -did find him after an eager chase. Longstreet's thunderous tones need -not be described when, in the first words of explanation, he sent me -back with orders to Stewart to fall on the reinforcing column with all -his power. Stewart was ready and pushed forward handsomely. In a few -minutes, with little or no loss to himself, he had broken up Thomas's -men and taken many prisoners. This was quite late in the afternoon, -twilight coming on. - -My brother-in-law, General W. W. Mackall, was serving with Bragg -as chief of staff, although his rank and attainments qualified him -for higher duties. But the Executive at Richmond was not favorably -disposed toward him, and the best that could be had for service must -content him. It seems that he and Bragg had been long friends, having -served together in the old Army. I was glad to come up with him, -and delighted his soul by a gift of a five-pound bale of Virginia -Killikinick smoking tobacco, in place of the vile stuff he was blowing -off. - -The numbers on both sides, and the casualties, are generally accepted -as follows: Rosecrans's strength, 60,867; Bragg's strength, 60,366. -Rosecrans's losses, 16,550; Bragg's losses, 17,800. - -It was during the battle that I became the possessor of a handsomely -mounted saber. In a part of the field near us there was a sudden sharp, -deadly scrimmage between some of our mounted men and the enemy, a small -force on each side. It was soon over, and Hardy, one of my couriers, -a stout, ready Georgian, came to me with a beautiful saber, evidently -a presentation to the lieutenant-colonel whose name was engraved on -it. My fellow made me a gift of the handsome blade, and I wore it -until peace came. What became of the lieutenant-colonel I could never -ascertain. - - "His sword it is rust, - His bones they are dust, - His soul is with the Saints, I trust." - -The good sword was treasured until a few years ago, when the ladies -of the Confederate Museum at Richmond asked me to put it among their -collection, and there it hangs to-day, I hope for many years. - -It was on the 20th that I had my look at the celebrated Forrest. Truly -a most powerful, impressive figure of a great cavalryman. He was -yet to become still greater, as one of the first commanders of the -South, and subsequent studies of his life and career only expand this -admiration into deeper feelings for the great soldier. - -Dr. John Wyeth's interesting biography of Forrest, published only in -the past few years, is most fascinating, and has gone far to place him -as one of the greatest leaders of the Civil War. During the battle a -queer scene between Longstreet and the valiant old brigadier, Benning, -commanding one of Hood's brigades, illustrates Longstreet's grim calm -in action, and the excitability of "Old Rock," as his men called him. -A sudden counter-stroke of the enemy had smashed his brigade and they -were badly scattered. Benning thought that they were "all gone." -Seizing an artillery horse that was galloping by, harness flying, he -threw himself on the terrified animal and found Longstreet. "General," -said the brigadier, "I am ruined; my brigade was suddenly attacked and -every man killed; not one is to be found. Please give orders where -I can do some fighting." Longstreet saw the excitement and quickly -cooled it. "Nonsense, General, you are not so badly hurt. Look about -you. I know you will find at least one man, and with him on his feet -report your brigade to me, and you two shall have a place in the -fighting-line." - -Benning saw it, took the hint, hunted up his men, who were not so badly -mauled after all, and with a respectable body was soon ready for work. - -Vizitelly, the English artist, had started from Richmond with us, to -sketch and draw for the campaign; something stopped him on the way, -drink, probably. At all events, he arrived very sheep-faced, long after -the battle. He took me aside with: "Colonel, I am in an awful mess. -I must send drawings and a picture of this great battle to my paper -somehow. Cannot you help me?" We were at the time not very far from -a little field that had a scene during the fighting which struck me, -even then, as somewhat picturesque. The open field crowned with thick -woods at one side, through which frowned half a dozen Federal guns -and a brigade of ours moving up in beautiful order to capture it. I -said as much as this to Vizitelly, and sent him to look at the spot. -He returned, on fire with his artist's fancies, and shut himself up -for several days. Then he emerged with drawings, and much letter-press -of what he had _actually_ seen; and principally a very large drawing -beautifully finished of the so-called "Little scene." But heavens! -all resemblance had ceased. Instead of the slight affair, three solid -lines of infantry were moving across a great stretch of ground against -hundreds of guns that were devastating our troops in fire and smoke. In -the central portion there was the wounding and fall of a great officer -and the closing in of the soldiers to protect him. "What think you?" -said the proud Vizitelly. "Splendid, but nothing like it took place." -"No matter, it might have happened, and besides all battle-pictures are -drawn with such freedom." "Who is the general just falling?" "That, -sir, is General Hood, drawn the instant of being shot." "But, my good -Vizitelly, Hood was not within a mile of that little field I gave -you." "No matter, he was shot, no one will deny that; and I must have -a great interesting center for my picture. You fellows are altogether -too particular. This goes by first underground chance, and you will -see it in the _London Illustrated News_." And so I did in the quiet -sitting-room of a Northern friend later on. - -He is not the only one of artistic imagination for battle-pictures. - -At Chickamauga, we lost our quartermaster, Major Mitchell, of Virginia, -a valuable officer. A sudden attack of diphtheria carried him off like -a stroke of lightning. Major Erasmus Taylor, of Orange Court House, -Virginia, was immediately appointed in his place, and served with us -efficiently until the close of the war. - -Lieutenant-Colonel Manning, of our staff, was slightly wounded in the -battle of the 20th. A fragment of shell pierced his scalp, causing much -loss of blood, but otherwise no great damage. He was soon about his -ordnance duties as good as ever. - -When President Davis came to Bragg's army on his visit of conciliation -and support to his general, there was a universal turnout to give the -Executive our best reception. At all headquarters the least shabby -uniforms were looked up and our best belongings for horse and man -were brought out. Mr. Davis had a really fine escort to the top of -Lookout Mountain and back to quarters. At First Corps headquarters -we still had the pleasure of Captain Fitzgerald Ross with us, a -companionable and honorable officer and gentleman. On this occasion we -thought it time for Ross to show the quality of his Austrian corps, -and most reluctantly he consented to ride with us in full uniform. -It was a beauty and a wonder! Sky-blue tunic and trousers, fitting -skin-tight to the body and legs, loaded down with the richest gold -braid and ornaments. Tiny boots, tasseled and varnished, incased the -Captain's shapely Hussar legs. And then the pelisse hanging from the -left shoulder!--it would be the envy of any woman. The color, still -sky-blue, of the finest cloth, lined with buff satin, gold braided and -richly furred. A smart, richly plumed Hungarian busby, with handsomely -mounted curved saber and gold cords, completed the costume of this -brilliant representative of his corps d'élite. - -We gave Ross our plaudits and thanks for his fine appearance, and -only on returning was there any annoyance. The large cortege about -the President parted and some of us found ourselves riding with Ross -under Maj.-Gen. John C. Breckinridge. Our route lay through one of his -divisions camped in the noble primeval forests. The men were scattered -all about attending to their personal matters, cooking, cleaning arms, -mending, and, as it seemed, many stripped to the waist examining very -closely their shirts and undergarments. - -Without going into particulars, all soldiers in the field must be -careful in this respect. Long-worn clothing had a way of "gathering" -things, and it was what had to be done in all our armies. But when the -scattered troops saw the brilliant apparition of Captain Ross riding -with their General there was a shout and a rush to him. Such was the -rough admiration exhibited that harm might have come to him but for -Breckinridge. He motioned the men back, said the Captain was his -guest, and, "When you fellows get to his army on a visit you will find -him treating you more civilly; so get back to your bivouacs and make -yourselves clean." - -There was a good-natured cheer for Breckinridge, Ross, the President, -and all the rest of us, and we got back to camp with much cheerful -chaff for poor Ross and his gay uniform. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN, NOVEMBER 1863, TO APRIL, 1864 - - Ordered by Bragg to move against Burnside and Knoxville--Our - two divisions--Wheeler's cavalry with artillery--Burnside's - strength--At Sweetwater, November 21st--Disappointed in supplies--The - railway--Pontoons, but no train--Cross Holston at Loudon--Enemy - escapes into Knoxville--Hood's old division--Generals Jenkins - and Law--Siege of Knoxville--Bull Winthrop--McLaws ready for an - assault--Troops ordered to support--General Leadbetter, of Bragg's - staff, orders assault--Brigadiers Wofford, Humphreys, and Bryan - attacked--Repulsed at Fort Saunders--General Longstreet assumes the - blame--Losses. - - -After a long wait, General Bragg settled on something. He decided -to make a move against Burnside and Knoxville. About November 3, -Longstreet received his instructions. They were about in line with what -the Lieutenant-General wanted instantly after Chickamauga and what -should have been done, but the General-in-Chief could not see it, and, -welcoming the orders even at this late day, we prepared for a hearty -support and active campaign. - -The troops of the expedition were to be the two divisions (nine -brigades of infantry) brought from Virginia and Alexander's fine -battalion of artillery, six batteries; also Leyden's artillery, and -Wheeler's powerful body of cavalry (four brigades) and horse artillery. -We were also to take up all the loose bodies of troops to be found -in the wide district to be covered. A force of about 3,000 men was -promised from southwest Virginia. - -It was an ill-disciplined body, not well organized, but accomplished -wonders under Wheeler as a screen to the army, and an unceasing menace -to the enemy's communications. He had some able officers with him, -Generals W. J. Martin, John T. Morgan, G. G. Dibbrell, and Thomas -Harrison. When Wheeler left us with instructions for a movement calling -for some night work his cheerful words to his fellows were: "Come, -boys, mount. The War Child rides to-night." That being, it seems, one -of his pet names among the men. - -Major-General Wheeler was not long with us, Bragg, to whom his services -were invaluable, having sent for him. I saw him I think but once. He -had reported to Longstreet for orders and was followed by a rather -numerous staff and escort. A small, slight man, very quick and alert -in his movements, quite young, only recently from West Point, he had -justly earned great distinction as the cavalry leader of our Western -army. - -Burnside's force south of Knoxville was computed at about 15,000, and -if we could get all the troops Bragg held out to our commander, there -would be enough of us to crush Burnside. But the Federal general had -within reach some five thousand more men than General Bragg estimated. - -The expedition, glad to be on the move, set out smartly for Tyner's -Station, where it was to be entrained for Sweetwater, but things went -decidedly wrong. We had brought no transportation from Virginia and -General Bragg's officers supplied us with wagons and teams, but held -themselves under Bragg's order. A most inconvenient disposition then, -and until we parted company with that commander for good. - -With these and other difficulties it was November 12th before the -last of our brigades came to Sweetwater. Here there were more -disappointments as to rations, supplies, and transportation. We were -dependent on Bragg's provisions, which cruelly failed us. Not to dwell -too long on these mishaps, I need only add that they beset the entire -campaign. - -The cars and railway by which we helped the transportation were almost -comical in their inefficiency. The railroad was of heavy grades and the -engines light-powered. When a hill was reached the long train would -be instantly emptied--platforms, roofs, doors, and windows--of our -fellows, like ants out of a hill, who would ease things by trudging up -the dirt road and catching on again at the top; and so it went on as -far as the railroad would serve us. - -A bridge train had been prepared by the engineers, and it had been our -intention to use it across the Little Tennessee, or Halston, above its -confluence and through Marysville. But here again was disappointment; -there were pontoons but no train for hauling. - -We were thus forced to throw our bridge across at Loudon, where, -fortunately, the boats could be floated direct from cars without -need of wagons, and there that curious bridge was laid by our worthy -engineers. It was a sight to remember. The current was strong, the -anchorage insufficient, the boats and indeed entire outfit quite -primitive, and when lashed finally to both banks it might be imagined -a bridge; but a huge letter "S" in effect it was with its graceful -reverse curves. But no man should abuse the bridge by which he safely -crosses, and this one took us over, using care and caution. I shall -always love the looks of that queer bridge. - -The enemy was well advised as to our movements, and evidently conducted -his retreat with skill and no serious losses. At Lenoir's Station -he was forced to leave nearly a hundred loaded wagons, though the -running-gear had been broken up so as to make them of no immediate use -to us. - -I do not give in-detail the various movements of our advance from one -point to another, their character generally not being of the highest -credit to us in rapidity or co-operation of our several commands. - -A fine opportunity of crushing Burnside was lost at Campbell's Station. -Burnside's retreat was in time to cover the roads leading into it, and -there he had to make a stand. We should have beaten him badly, but he -escaped and was soon safe in Knoxville. The roads were deep in mud and -caused hard travel and labor, but they were no better for the Union -force. - -Campbell's Station cannot be termed a serious battle. It was -principally an artillery fight, in which the gallant Alexander was -tormented by defective ammunition. It should have been a strong and -decisive battle, but things went wrong with the infantry divisions and -an effective co-operation was not secured. Ah! would that we could have -had Hood again at the head of his division. - -As it was, the five brigades of this fine command were practically -paralyzed by the differences between the senior brigadier in command, -Jenkins, and his competitor, General E. M. Law. It was a most unhappy -condition of things, but by no fault of Longstreet. When Mr. Davis -visited us at Chickamauga the Lieutenant-General laid the situation -before him and urged the promotion and appointment of Jenkins, to -which Mr. Davis would not listen. He was asked then to appoint Law, -but this also met the Executive's "No," that officer being junior; and -then Longstreet begged the assignment of any good major-general to be -found elsewhere. But none came then; months after one was sent when -irretrievable mischief had been done by the unfortunate condition of -the division. It lasted during all the subsequent operations in East -Tennessee throughout the winter. - -Thus it came about that the enemy eluded us at Campbell's Station, and -the next day was behind his works at Knoxville, except his cavalry, -which lingered to retard our march. Our army followed closely, at once -put the enemy's works under fire, and so began what is called the -"Siege of Knoxville." - -By many it is thought to have been a serious error on the part of the -Confederate commander, the resorting to so slow a process. "He should -have attacked immediately"; and I am disposed to consider intelligent -statements of Union officers and citizens of Knoxville, long after, as -indicating that an energetic movement, without the slightest delay, -would have carried us into the town and brought Burnside to terms. - -On the 18th of November McLaws advanced against some defenses of -skirmishers, but part of his line halted before reaching the crest -of the hill. Captain Winthrop, an Englishman serving with Alexander, -dashed forward, and encouraging the men got through the hill in -handsome style. It was well done by "Bull" Winthrop, as we called him, -and he picked up a nasty wound in the doing of it. - -Burnside's strongest defense was Fort Loudon, later called Fort -Saunders, for the gallant officer of that name who fell in its -defense. It was a strong earthwork, closely under McLaws's eye, who -was expected to capture it. Of course he had done much work toward -it--ditches, parallels, and many devices for success. A night attack -was proposed and at one time favored. - -On the 22d General McLaws thought the time had come and he was ordered -to prepare his assaulting column, supported by the division. Longstreet -also ordered up other troops for support and following up a success. -Later on McLaws reported that his officers preferred daylight for the -work before them and the movement was for the time deferred. On the 23d -we heard that Bragg had been attacked at Chattanooga. Bushrod Johnson's -division of two brigades was at Loudon moving to us, and our strength -then would be eleven brigades of infantry, Wheeler's cavalry of four -brigades (Wheeler himself had been ordered back by Bragg, leaving -the horse under command of Maj.-Gen. Will T. Martin), Alexander's -artillery, and Leyden's battalion. - -On the 25th, Bragg's chief engineer, General Leadbetter, brought orders -from the former to attack immediately. Longstreet was reluctant. Troops -from Virginia were on the march, due with us in eight or ten days, -and with them the investment could be made complete. The enemy was -also said to be on half rations, and an attack now with chances of our -repulse would be all in his favor. But Leadbetter felt that Bragg's -orders were imperative and the assault must be attempted. Minute orders -were then sent to McLaws for the effort. The details are rather lengthy -for the scope of these recollections. It was intended for the 28th, but -because of bad weather put off until the 29th. At the appointed time -the vigorous assault was made in fine form by the brigades of Wofford, -Humphreys, and Bryan in the early gray of the morning. At first we -seemed to be going right ahead, shoving everything aside, but some -stops were made and the wounded men began coming back. - -General Longstreet says that when Major Goggin, an old Army man on -McLaws's staff, reported to him that it would be useless to persevere, -that the fort was so surrounded with net-works of wire that no progress -could be made without axes and not an axe was to be found--"Without a -second thought, I ordered the recall." He says later that the accounts -of General Poe, the engineer in charge of the works, convinced him -that the few wires met with were far from being the serious obstacle -reported and that we could have gone in without axes. It also seemed -sure that the fort was nearly ours by the retirement of part of its -garrison, only some two hundred men being kept with the guns. - -General Longstreet takes upon himself the failure of the assault. -It seems conclusive to him that it was due to the order for recall. -He had long known Goggin. Some of our men pushed into the fort. One -gallant young officer, Adjutant Cumming, from Augusta, Georgia, leaped -through an embrasure and instantly demanded the surrender of fort and -garrison. The Union troops cheered the feat while making him a prisoner -of war. Almost immediately after the repulse General Longstreet -received a telegram from the President to the effect that "Bragg had -been forced back by numbers and that we were to co-operate with his -army." A euphemism on the part of the President--Bragg had suffered a -severe defeat and was in full retreat. He made for Dalton, which put -out of the question any co-operation by us. Our own safety was to be -considered and how it could be accomplished. - -The casualties at Knoxville are thus given: Confederate loss in -assault, 822; Union loss in assault, 673; Confederate loss in campaign, -1,296; Union loss in campaign, 1,481. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN, CONTINUED - - In front of Knoxville after repulse--Position serious--Bragg defeated - at Missionary Ridge--Reinforcements pressing to Burnside--We withdraw - to the eastward--Halt at Rogersville--Foraging good--Supplies in - valleys sufficient--We decide to winter there--Occasional operations - without importance--Affair at Bean's Station--Much uneasiness at - Washington at Longstreet's presence in East Tennessee--General - Grant ordered to drive him out--Affair at Dandridge--Great want of - shoes--A supply from Quartermaster General--General McLaws relieved - from duty--The correspondence--General McLaws's resignation--Intense - cold--Roads almost impassable--Inhabitants of the valleys and - mountaineers--The fierce old woman--Mountain fastnesses--Deserters - from a North Carolina regiment--Their capture and execution--General - Schofield in command of Union army--We take position and make camps - near Bull's Gap. - - -Our position was now becoming serious. Some additional troops under -Ransom would soon join us, but the enemy was being heavily reinforced. -Grant had decided to drive us out of East Tennessee. A letter from him -to Burnside by courier was captured, advising him of three columns en -route for his relief--one on south side by General Sherman, one by -Dechared under General Elliott, and one by Cumberland Gap under General -Foster. Longstreet decided to march past Knoxville on the north side of -the river and aim for the column reported coming from Cumberland Gap. -The enemy did not see fit to molest our flank as we marched past his -defenses on the 2d of December. - -There was good foraging in the country, and we halted at Rogersville -on the 9th to accumulate supplies. Up to this date it had not been our -General's intention to stay in the Tennessee Valley. He was looking -eastward, but more hopefully toward some combinations and increase of -force by which a powerful demonstration could be made into Kentucky -through Cumberland Gap. But at Rogersville the foraging officers -brought in roseate reports of plenty in the land. It appeared to -be overflowing with subsistence for any army; cattle, swine, corn, -sorghum, and honey were abundant, and it was decided we should winter -in these beautiful valleys, watered by the Holston, the French Broad, -the mouth of Chucky and Nolachucky. Truly was it a fertile and smiling -land to be still showing all this abundance, ravaged and harried as it -had been alternately by Union and Confederate forces, and with such a -population! It could well be said that "Only man was vile." - -General Longstreet in his book, "Manassas to Appomattox," has written -up his movements from the time he left Bragg to that of leaving -Tennessee, at great length and with extreme particularity. Its recital -had apparently occupied him more than any part of the four years' -war. We may therefore well leave these details; they are correctly -stated, although without the interest of a successful campaign. We -turn therefore to matters more general, but perhaps attractive, of our -doings in that country. - -There was occasional skirmishing and outpost fighting, but nothing of -importance. At the affair of Bean's Station we expected to accomplish -something, but little came of it. Gradually a good force had been -assembled at scattered points under Longstreet's orders, and he was -most confident and eager for an opportunity to deal the enemy a blow. -President Davis, on December 10th, gave him discretionary authority -over all the troops in the department, and on this he held, for the -present, Martin's cavalry by him, that Bragg had called for. It was -positively necessary for holding East Tennessee, which seemed the best -possible use to make of the troops while Bragg's army was in a state of -demoralization and uncertainty. - -Indeed, in the published annals there is appearance of intense -uneasiness by Halleck and Mr. Lincoln as to Longstreet's presence -in Tennessee. The emphatic tone of many letters and orders from the -Federal capital was that we should, under any circumstances and -apparently at any sacrifices, be driven out. Our presence there took -the form of a political peril. As long as we had a good foothold and -a good army in reach of Cumberland Gap there was the chance of a -successful movement into Kentucky, and once there that State would -have been in an unpleasant and dangerous attitude to the Federals. Its -Confederate sentiments were in parts still strong and shared by large -numbers of the population. Longstreet's correspondence always took a -squint at such an eventuality, and nothing would have better pleased -him than to lead such a movement. But the winter coming on sharp, we -found camps in the great forest about Morristown before Christmas and -began collection of food supplies in earnest. - -The men were happy and cheerful, but awfully in want of clothing and -shoes. Some of the latter were made by themselves, but this supply -could not go far. I recall a movement against General Granger at -Dandridge when the corps turned out to march. It was bitter winter -weather, the ground hard and sharp with ice, and not less than 2,000 of -our little army were without shoes. Their bleeding feet left marks at -every step. - -They were useless for the work and quickly sent back to camp. Not long -after, however, all were made happy by a shipment of three thousand -pairs of shoes by General Lawton, our Quartermaster-General. He had -listened to our earnest, almost desperate appeals. - -About the middle of December, Major-General McLaws was relieved from -command of his division by Lieutenant-General Longstreet and ordered -to Augusta, Georgia. Part of the correspondence concerning this matter -will be found in the Appendix, sufficiently explanatory. The commanding -General had for some time been dissatisfied with his second in command. -Later on, at Greenville, McLaws had the court of inquiry for which he -at once applied. The charges were three in number, principally alleging -neglect and want of preparation at Knoxville, supported each by one -specification. The court absolved McLaws from all fault, but found -him guilty on one of the specifications. The proceedings went to the -President, who immediately disapproved them, restored McLaws to duty, -and assigned him to a command in Georgia. - -General E. M. Law handed in his resignation and asked leave of -absence on it--this about December 20th. It was cheerfully granted, -and then General Law asked the privilege of taking the resignation -himself to Richmond. It was unusual, but was allowed. From this -afterwards grew serious complications, involving Law's arrest by -Longstreet, his support by the Executive, and Longstreet's threat of -resignation from the army, in which he was upheld by General Lee. And -the Lieutenant-General had his way. Law was not again in Longstreet's -command. - -The cold was intense, the record showing the lowest temperature for -many years. During the last days of 1863 the glass went down to zero -and the entire army was quiet in the effort to keep warm. - -Fortunately there was fuel in abundance. The primeval forests of oak -and hickory were food for some of the grandest campfires ever seen, -but we froze in front while scorching in back, and vice versa. And as -to sleeping, many a fine fellow woke to find his shoes crisp from the -too generous blaze. At this time the roads were so bad as to be almost -impassable; artillery and wagons would be drawn hub deep. The artillery -horses, Leyden's especially, were in bad condition, very weak, and six -or eight pairs would be hitched to a single gun or caisson. It amused -the infantry footing it on the side paths, and they would call out, -"Here comes the cavalry, but what's that gun tied to the tail for?" - -The people of these valleys made an interesting study. They -doubtless went through much during the Civil War, and part of their -disposition at the period of our occupation may be accounted for. -There were, of course, some exceptions to be found in families of -wealth, intelligence, and breeding, but the general run of people -was hard in the extreme. Apparently they were without pity or -compassion--generosity and sympathy were strangers to them; but hatred -and revenge made their homes in the breasts of these farmers. - -When the Confederates came on the ground, then was the time for acts of -brutality against their Union neighbors, the political feeling in the -valleys being about equally divided. Burnings, hangings, whippings were -common--all acts of private vengeance and retaliation. When the turn -came and the Unionists were in authority, Confederate sympathizers were -made to suffer in the same way, and so it went on throughout the bloody -strife. - -Once an old woman came to my quarters with a request. She was a fierce, -hard creature, strong, of wrinkled skin, but set, relentless features, -clothed in the homespun worn by all, and like all, dipping snuff. Stick -in mouth she made her statement. Some men had come to her house that -morning--she knew them name by name. They had taken her old man from -her and hung him to a tree by his own porch, and there left him--dead. -She wanted the murderers caught and punished. Not a word of sorrow or -softness, not a tear of regret, but only vengeance, and that instantly. -I immediately sent a good troop of cavalry to seize the men, if to be -found, but little hoped it. They had, as usual, taken refuge in the -mountains, quite inaccessible to ordinary attack, and were safe there -with numbers of others. - -These mountain fastnesses were filled with evil-doers of both sides, -Union and Confederate; murderers, thieves, deserters--all crimes could -there be known. - -The authorities had found it quite impossible to break up these -formidable gangs by any ordinary force. A special expedition for the -express purpose would be necessary. - -It was to these mountains that a large body of deserters from a North -Carolina regiment in Virginia was making a little time back. - -A whole company had broken away, but were overtaken at a crossing of -the James above Richmond. They showed fight and killed several of the -pursuers, but were taken back and the leaders tried by court martial. -Ten were convicted and sentenced to be shot. There had been too much -leniency, and General Lee had the sentence executed. The unfortunates -were tied to small sunken crosses in line about ten feet apart, -with a firing party in front of each. Their division, Major-General -Edward Johnson's, was drawn up in three sides of a hollow square, the -deserters being on the fourth. At the word the firing was accurately -executed and the men sank dead or dying at their stakes. The division -was then marched by, close to their bodies, and it was hoped the lesson -would be salutary. - -General Grant made a visit to Knoxville about January 1st, General -Foster in command. Before leaving he ordered Foster to expel us from -Tennessee, if not altogether, at least beyond Bull's Gap and Red -Bridge. Washington was still uneasy and pressing him hard to put us out -of the way. - -Preparing for it, he ordered the Ninth and the Twenty-third Corps -to Mossy Creek, Fourth Corps to Strawberry Plain and the cavalry to -Dandridge--a formidable force. That army moved about January 15th. -Dandridge is on the French Broad River, about thirty miles from -Knoxville, and was the enemy's objective. - -General Foster was invalided, and Sheridan for a short time took -command until relieved by the corps commander, Gordon Granger. A -smart affair ensued, General Martin's cavalry doing our principal -work. Granger retired and Longstreet rode into Dandridge and was soon -in the house occupied by his old friend Granger. Pursuit was made -impracticable by the condition of roads and want of a bridge train. -Practically nothing was accomplished on this trial, and our troops as -well as the enemy were sent back to camps. - -On February 9th General Schofield took command at Knoxville of the -Union army in East Tennessee. The pressure on him continued from -Halleck, whose uneasiness at one time became almost uncontrollable. -Grant at first made strong effort to carry out these wishes, but we -were not moved. Later on he found the field too far from his other -operations and likely to interrupt plans for the summer. He preferred -resting on the apparent apathy at the South and using his East -Tennessee strength in Virginia and Georgia where he should have full -need for it. This view was to leave us in inactivity in East Tennessee, -and no further serious effort was made. Longstreet had to move east -when he was refused more troops for extended aggressive operations -and received orders for return of Martin's cavalry to Georgia. Our -march was begun about February 20, 1864, and was not disturbed. A fair -position was found at Bull's Gap, and then we distributed our commands -in good camps from the Holston to the Nolachucky. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -AT HOME IN SAVANNAH--SKETCHES - - Leave of absence--Visiting home with Doctor Sorrel--Traveling - by rail--Old Savannah--Few changes--Many friends--Happiness in - meeting them--Return to the army--Longstreet's correspondence - with Schofield--Attempt in same line near Richmond with General - Ord--General Grant declines negotiations for peace--Andrew Johnson's - Masonic paraphernalia saved by Captain Goree--Sketch--Longstreet - at Richmond--In conference with President and General Lee--Without - result--First corps ordered back to Lee--Began moving late in - April--Arrived at Mechanicsville last of month--Major-General Field - assigned to command of Hood's division--Sketch--Congress votes thanks - to First Corps (see Appendix)--Charlottesville--Sketch--Prices of - various articles. - - -I had now opportunity for yielding to my father's pressing urgency to -take leave of absence and see him once more in life. I arranged for -thirty days absence. The railroad was not yet fully repaired and my -nearest station was about fifteen miles to ride. An agreeable medical -officer gave me his company so far, but was constantly weeping that he -was not on his way "to see his dear, beautiful little wife." I tried -to comfort him by the reminder that no such attraction was waiting for -me, but without success. He was, however, braced up by a horse trade we -managed to get off, which as usual I incline to think I got the worst -of. I think so by reason of a memorandum about horses in which the -animal then acquired is named "Deceit." The train soon reached Bristol, -whence a change of cars brought me through Lynchburg to Richmond. -There Doctor Sorrel met me, like myself on leave, and light-hearted we -started for home to see our dear kith and kin. - -It was my first absence from duty since July 21, 1861. Slow railway -traveling in those days was the rule without exception--gauges not -uniform, routes deviating, and engines of low power. The time was, I -think, quite three days between Richmond and Savannah, traveling day -and night, and of course such luxuries as sleeping-cars were then -unknown. - -It was a great delight to see home again; to be welcomed and made much -of, after the stern scenes of more than two years. Our friends were not -backward or ungenerous. Hospitalities were showered upon us, but better -than all was the loving home circle of aging father and happy young -sisters. The latter, gladdened to have their brothers once more with -them, sang, played, and danced to heart's delight. - -There were many changes. Only six companies had gone to the Eastern -army. The remainder of the very large forces sent by the city was -distributed through the Western armies and the coast defenses; -consequently I had seen but few of my old comrades and associates in -Virginia. The happiness of meeting many awaited me in Savannah, and it -will easily be imagined what our talk was about--the camp, the battle, -the march, the enemy, and our own commands. - -There was no great change in the appearance of the town, then of -about 30,000 population. Eighteen miles from the sea, and beautifully -situated on a high bluff, it enjoyed a large commerce and much -lucrative business. Shady walks, numerous small wooded parks, and -thousands of branching, leafy trees made it a very attractive and -beautiful little city. The rigors of war had not yet touched it. The -forts at the entrance to the river were the enemy's, but he had not yet -penetrated to the city. That was preserved for Sherman in December, -from the West. - -The days slipped by. Our time was nearly up, and with cheerful -farewells we were soon on our way back to Virginia. Dropping my -brother, the Doctor, at Richmond, I went directly back to my familiar -duties with our army in its winter camp in East Tennessee. - -Affairs had been very quiet within that thirty days, and I was well -satisfied to be again with the colors. My leave and my home became, as -it were, but a pleasant bit of dreaming. - -Not long after Schofield took command of the Union forces our -Lieutenant-General succeeded in getting into a short correspondence -with him. The Federal commander was an able soldier, of liberal -views, from which Longstreet had hopes. The latter's intentions were -commendable. Like most of us, he wanted peace and the honorable -termination of the war and cessation of bloodshed. He felt that it -was not to be accomplished by the politicians. They had plunged the -country into civil war, he reasoned. They would be the last to bring -it to an end. The hope was that the generals on both sides might give -the movement such an impetus that statecraft must necessarily take it -up with probably good results. It was with this view that some letters -passed between Longstreet and Schofield. The former pressed that view, -and, assuming the Union General, like himself, wanted peace, he urged -a joint initiative from which much could be hoped. It was illusory. -Schofield's letter was calm and noncommittal. Finally he had to say -what was sure to be said, that it was not his part to deal with such -matters, which were properly to be discussed by the Executive in -Washington. It was necessarily so. The military were not clothed with -authority for the purpose. Even the convention between Sherman and -Johnston at the close of hostilities was disapproved and annulled by -the Federal civil authorities. - -The idea, however, did not vanish from Longstreet's thoughts. It took -fresh shape later in front of Richmond through General Ord, the officer -immediately in command, as intermediary by which it was hoped a meeting -between Grant and Lee could be achieved. General Grant declined a -meeting for discussion on such a subject. The correspondence relating -to these two incidents is probably to be found in the records published -by Congress, and should be interesting. I refer to them entirely from -memory. - -While quartered near Greenville some straggling soldiers found their -way into the house once occupied by Andrew Johnson, afterwards -Vice-President. He was a Mason of high degree, and the emblems and -paraphernalia of the order were very numerous in the dwelling. Our -fellows thought they had made a find of value and were about starting -off with it when halted by Captain Goree, A. D. C. of our staff. He had -everything carefully repacked and put in a safe place for the rightful -owner. I have never known whether he finally recovered them uninjured. - -Goree was a Texan and had been with Longstreet from the beginning. -The General was fortunate in having an officer so careful, observing, -and intelligent. His conduct on all occasions was excellent and his -intrepidity during exposure in battle could always be counted on. He -was with the corps until Appomattox, and then returned to Texas, where -he occupied responsible public office by vote of the people for many -years. He enjoys good health and good Confederate memories now at his -home in Galveston. - -About this time Generals Lee, Johnston, and Longstreet were called on -by the Richmond authorities for suggestions as to further operations -on a comprehensive scale. General Bragg was in office as adviser to -the President. Having failed in all field operations, he had now -the President's ear and the President's support for experimental -strategy. Longstreet submitted an elaborate proposition, having for -its objective a powerful demonstration in Kentucky by combination with -General Johnston's army and the eventual command of the State under -Confederate auspices. It is said that plan had General Lee's approval -when submitted to the President in counsel with the Secretary of War, -General Bragg, and General Lee. The proposition was not accepted and -nothing apparently was settled. General Lee returned immediately to -his army on the Rapidan and the Lieutenant-General set out for his -headquarters at Greenville. Feeling himself entitled to the privilege, -he stopped two days at Petersburg to see his wife, and to have his -infant son christened "Robert Lee." It appears this short stop -subjected him to rebuke by the President for loitering. - -The country was now in wintry weather and there was much snow. -Everything went into quarters that could and all military operations -were suspended. The second division of General Johnston's cavalry -was ordered to him through the mountains--a hard march. It should be -stated that Johnston was now for some time in command of the Army of -Tennessee in Bragg's place. In the first half of April our command -started back to join General Lee on the Rapidan. It was made on cars -collected as fast as possible. The troop detrained at Charlottesville. -After a short stop in that country, we began, about the 22d, the march -to Mechanicsville, not far from Gordonsville, and on the last of the -month had the happiness to be reviewed by our beloved commander, -General Lee. The troubles in Hood's old division would, it was hoped, -be ended. Maj-Gen. Charles W. Fields had been some time back assigned -to command and was to prove an active and capable commander. He was an -old Army man of much experience and unquestioned valor. In the Appendix -may be read the vote of thanks given by Congress to Lieutenant-General -Longstreet and his command. - -When we detrained at Charlottesville I had the good fortune to meet -some most hospitable friends. Judge William J. Robertson, eminent -on the bench, and his charming wife insisted on having me in their -handsome residence and agreeable family circle. It was a welcome -contrast to the asperities of a winter campaign in East Tennessee. The -town itself was interesting and full of Virginia historic lore. Its -chief pride is the Alma Mater of many Southern men, the University of -Virginia, beloved of Jefferson. Near by, on steep Monticello, stands -his own house, where youth and age, in admiration of the sage, the -statesman, the philosopher, sought him for a word, a touch of the hand. -The property is still well maintained by its present owner, proud of -its history as part of Thomas Jefferson. The county of Albemarle (its -deep red-clay soil remembered by many a sore-footed soldier), is of -ancient settlement, abounding in wood and meadow and shining streams. -Its tasty, luscious pippins are widely known to lovers of the apple. -Some stately old residences, the "great houses" of large estates of the -early Virginia families, are still to be seen; but alas! the ravages -of war and its bitter results have left such properties but as so many -reminders of an opulent past. It was this delightful resting place of -a few days that we were now to leave for the great campaign of the -Wilderness and its subsequent battles. - -In April, 1864, the Confederacy had reached a point of great financial -embarrassment, as shown by the depreciation of its paper currency. The -pay of the officers was in reality a pittance, and those without other -resources were often in straits. Many boxes and hampers, however, came -to the camps from home and were of some help to all. - -A petition from officers in the field had gone to the War Department, -asking that rations might be issued to them as to the private soldiers. -It had attached a scale of prices charged the officers by the army -commissaries, presumably the average cost price, and not the price of -retail market. The officers paid for bacon, $2.20 per pound; beef, 75 -cents; lard, $2.20 per pound; molasses, $6 per gallon; sugar, $1.50 per -pound. A coat cost $350; boots, $250; trousers, $125; hat, $80 to $125; -shirt, $50; socks, $10 per pair. General Johnston in approving and -verifying the petition said that at existing prices the pay of company -officers was worth less than that of a private soldier. - -The shrinkage of the value of our paper currency continued with the -progress of the war until, near the close, it almost ceased to have any -purchasing power whatever. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS, MAY 6, 1864. - - General Grant in command of all the Union forces--Takes station with - Army of the Potomac--His career--His successes--Later kind feelings - of Southern people toward him--His dinner party at Savannah--His - plan of campaign--The policy of attrition--Grant moves his army--The - Wilderness--Disparity of numbers--Courier service an example of - our economy in men--Kershaw promoted major-general, commanding - McLaws's division--Sketch--Lee decides to strike--Grant on the - march--They meet on May 5th--An indecisive partial contest--Early - on May 6 Longstreet comes up--Finds situation serious--Hancock's - successful attack on Third Corps--It is checked--Our flank attack on - Hancock's left--He is rolled up and sent back--General Lee wants to - lead troops--Longstreet wounded and Jenkins killed by fire of our - own men--Major-General Wadsworth, U. S. A., killed--Attack resumed - later--Not successful--Night ends long day's fighting. - - -The Army of Northern Virginia was now to deal with a new force--a -general with the great prestige of repeated victories in the West, -and of undeniable ability. Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant had been -made Commander-in-Chief of all the Federal armies in the field, and -realizing the extraordinary achievements of Lee's army, left the scene -of his operations, and retaining Meade in command of the Army of the -Potomac, took his station by that army for the supreme direction of -military affairs. Grant's career was wonderful; were it not a fact, it -would be thought a fairy tale. A West Point graduate of mediocrity, -serving well in Mexico, but so given over to drink that his retirement -from the Army may be said to have been compulsory. This was followed -by hard-working attempts to make a living for his family, in humble -occupations, until the stirring events of 1861 brought him forward, -as they did every one who had enjoyed the opportunity of a soldier's -education. Obtaining command of an Illinois regiment, his field service -began, and was followed up with much success; until, placed in command -of important armies in Tennessee and Kentucky, he was able to break up -the Confederate plans, and finally, by his crushing defeat of Bragg at -Missionary Ridge, prepared the way for Hood's destruction at Franklin -and Nashville, and Sherman's "march to the sea." - -Now came his work in Virginia, which is to be touched on, and then -his Presidency for two terms. During much of this time he was said -to be intemperate, but if true it made no difference in the results -accomplished. Mr. Lincoln was thought to be looking up Grant's brand of -whiskey for some of his other generals. This General's character made -him very dear to his friends. He was always true and helpful to them, -and possessed a certain directness and simplicity of action that was in -itself most attractive. - -General Grant's conduct toward our leader in the closing scenes -at Appomattox and his vigorous defense of Lee when threatened by -unprincipled and powerful Northern politicians are not likely to be -forgotten by the Southern people. With the passing of time his fame -as a great commander appears to be growing, and will probably still -grow after careful study of his campaigns. Only once did I have the -opportunity of meeting this remarkable man. It was during the "third -term" plans of the Republican party that his friends were carrying -him on visits to various parts of the country. He was in Savannah with -Sheridan and others for a few days and was entertained at a handsome -dinner-party, of some dozen or more leading gentlemen of the city, by -General Henry R. Jackson, a wealthy and prominent Democratic citizen. -He was himself a marked personality--a lawyer of eminence; had been -Minister to Austria under Buchanan; was to be Minister to Mexico under -Cleveland; was a poet and an orator, besides of the highest character, -attainments, and social attractions. The dinner was a great success, -served lavishly in the old Southern fashion, with various courses -of wine, which the rough Sheridan brusquely put aside. "He wanted -champagne, must have it at once." And he _did_ have it from start to -finish. - -Grant was in excellent form, looked well and talked well; his glass was -not touched. Fresh from his tour around the world he had much to say. -He had been deeply interested in Japan and talked incisively of that -wonderful country, really a monologue of a full hour, the table intent -and absorbed in the fresh observations that fell from him. Then it -became time for his departure to meet a public appointment, and we rose -to bow him out. Resuming our seats and attention to the old Madeiras, -we agreed that for a silent man Grant was about the most interesting -one we had recently found. His talk was clean-cut, simple, direct, and -clear. - -The General-in-Chief made his headquarters near Culpeper. The Army -of the Potomac was about 130,000 strong in aggregate, and consisted -of Hancock's Second Corps, Warren's Fifth, and Sedgwick's Sixth; -besides Burnside's Ninth, held apart near Rappahannock railroad -bridge. Lee's army lay west of the Rapidan, R. H. Anderson's division -facing Madison Court House; the Second and Third Corps (Ewell's and -Hill's), two divisions of the First and Alexander's artillery were at -Mechanicsville; Pickett's division of the First was south of the James. -Our strength is stated by Colonel Taylor to have been 63,998. - -We were at no loss to understand Grant's intention. The Northern -papers, as well as himself, had boldly and brutally announced the -purpose of "attrition"--that is, the Federals could stand the loss of -four or five men to the Confederate's one, and threw nice strategy -into the background. It was known that we were almost past recruiting -our thin ranks, and the small figures of the army as it now stood; -while the double numbers of the Federals could be reproduced from the -immense resources in population, not to speak of their foreign field of -supplies under inducement of liberal bounties. - -Grant started his march the night of May 3d, via Germanna and Elys -Fords, Wilson's and Gregg's cavalry leading. Burnside was also ordered -to him. - -The Wilderness was a wild, tangled forest of stunted trees, with -in places impassable undergrowth, lying between Fredericksburg and -Orange Court House, probably sixteen or seventeen miles square. Some -farm clearings and a shanty or two for a few poor inhabitants might -occasionally be seen. Two principal roads penetrated this repulsive -district, the Orange Plank Road and the turnpike. The ground generally -lay flat and level. - -And now was to begin the last and greatest of the campaigns of the Army -of Northern Virginia. The campaign of _attrition_ on one side met and -foiled by the fine flower of the ablest strategy on the other. It was -Grant's stubborn perseverance, indifferent to the loss of life, against -Lee's clear insight and incessant watchfulness. Our army always ready, -ever fighting, was to hold the Federal forces from the Wilderness to -the final break at Petersburg, from May to March, ten months of supreme -effort, most exhaustive to a commander. Marshall Marmont says, "The -attacking general has, to a large extent, command of the mind of his -defensive opponents." It is doubtless true, but Lee often gave his mind -necessary relief and chanced success by a sudden initiative against -Grant. The latter would unexpectedly find part of his army attacked -with swift energy and would get something for his mind to work on -besides the control of Lee's. - -Referring to the disparity of numbers, we did in truth want men. A -little detail will show how we had to economize them. Until recently -there had been small cavalry details at general headquarters and with -corps and division chiefs. These, however, were all sent back to serve -with the regimental colors, and the courier service they had been doing -taken up by assignments of men from the infantry ranks who could keep -themselves mounted. - -Six were allowed for corps headquarters, four for divisions, and two -for brigades. Being picked men, the service was well performed; but the -time was not far off when these able men had again to take up their -muskets by their colors. Disabled fellows who could ride but did no -marching were put at the important courier duties and did well! The -enemy said we were robbing the cradle and the grave, and it was more -or less true. - -Maj.-Gen. J. B. Kershaw, a lawyer from South Carolina, was one of the -most distinguished and efficient officers of the Virginia army. His -service had been long and uninterrupted. Coming out with a fine South -Carolina regiment among the first to be sent to Virginia, his abilities -soon made him its colonel. He served long in that rank, his steady -courage and military aptitude invariably showing handsomely in the -arduous service of his regiment. - -It was one of those forming the South Carolina Brigade of McLaws's -division. Longstreet was quick to perceive Kershaw's merit and -recommended him for promotion. It was sometime coming. But when he was -brigadier-general and placed in command of the brigade he maintained -his high reputation fully. In 1864 he was promoted to be major-general, -and continuing his service with Longstreet's corps, his conduct and -abilities were conspicuous until the very end of hostilities. General -Kershaw was of most attractive appearance, soldierly and handsome, of -medium size, well set up, light hair and moustache, with clean-cut, -high-bred features. - -Grant's movement was soon made known to Lee, and the latter prepared to -strike. It was his way, he waited not for the blow; better give it, was -a large part of his strategy. It was thought Grant could best be met by -a stroke as he marched. The Second and Third Corps were ordered forward -by the Plank Road. Our own two divisions, Field's and Kershaw's, the -latter commanding in McLaws's place, and Alexander's batteries were -near Gordonsville and ordered to move by the Plank Road to Parker's -Store. The route was changed at General Longstreet's request, and he -found a good guide in James Robinson, well known to our Quartermaster -Taylor, who lived at Orange Court House. We were at Richard's shop at -5 p. m. on May 5th, Rosser's cavalry then being engaged at that point -with part of Sheridan's; the latter moving off when we came up. The -march had been twenty-eight miles, and there orders from the Commanding -General were received for changing direction so as to unite with other -troops on the Plank Road. Directions conforming were issued to resume -march at midnight. - -Both armies being now in quick motion, the collision was soon to come; -indeed, had already come with Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, ending -late that night after fierce battle. I make no attempt at detail of all -Confederate and Union movements, but the great battle of the Wilderness -is now to be fought and the important part in it taken by the First -Army Corps briefly sketched. - -Strange to say, the two divisions of our Third Corps, Heth's and -Wilcox's, after their severe battle made no attempt at defensive field -work or trenching when firing ceased that night. In explanation, it is -said they expected to be withdrawn and consequently did no work nor -replenished their ammunition. But Hancock, accomplished general that -he was, suffered himself to fall into no such pit. He had his men at -work all night strengthening his position, and was thus enjoying the -soldier's high feeling of confidence; and then with the sun he let -fly at the troops in front of him, apparently inviting attack with no -ground defenses whatever. It was distressing to realize such failure -in the field work, and the result came near a great disaster. - -Longstreet had moved at 1 a. m., the march being difficult and slow in -the dense forest by side tracks and deep furrowed roadways. At daylight -he was on the Plank Road and in close touch with Lee when Hancock -struck the two unprepared divisions. The situation when we came on -the scene, that of May 6th, was appalling. Fugitives from the broken -lines of the Third Corps were pouring back in disorder and it looked -as if things were past mending. But not so to James Longstreet; never -did his great qualities as a tenacious, fighting soldier shine forth -in better light. He instantly took charge of the battle, and threw his -two divisions across the Plank Road, Kershaw on the right, Field on -the left. None but seasoned soldiers like the First Corps could have -done even that much. I have always thought that in its entire splendid -history the simple act of forming line in that dense undergrowth, under -heavy fire and with the Third Corps men pushing to the rear through -the ranks, was perhaps its greatest performance for steadiness and -inflexible courage and discipline. Hill's men were prompt to collect -and reform in our rear and soon were ready for better work. General -Lee was under great excitement immediately on the left. He wanted to -lead some of our troops into action, but the Texas brigade was about -him and swore they would do nothing unless he retired. A confident -message from Longstreet through Colonel Venable that his line would -be restored within an hour also helped him to regain his calm; and -then at it we went in earnest, on both sides of the road. Hancock's -success had loosened his ranks somewhat, which helped us when we fell -on him. It was a hard shock of battle by six of our brigades, three -on each side of the road. No artillery came into play, the ground not -being fit for it. The enemy's advance was checked, then wavered, and -finally relinquished; our troops pushing forward into the recovered -lines. Longstreet had redeemed his promise to his commander. Meantime -sharp work had also been going on at the left by Lieutenant-General -Ewell--the never sleeping Ewell--and the prospects were bright. - -R. H. Anderson, with Hill's corps, had come up and reported to -Longstreet, who posted part of it on the right. Latrobe, of our staff, -had received painful wounds in the thigh and hand, in this fight, -while pushing the men forward. It had taken several hours to achieve -this and a slight pause in the activities of the armies occurred. Gen. -M. L. Smith, an engineer from General Headquarters, had reported to -Longstreet and examined the situation on our right, where he discovered -the enemy's left somewhat exposed and inviting attack; and now came our -turn. General Longstreet, calling me, said: "Colonel, there is a fine -chance of a great attack by our right. If you will quickly get into -those woods, some brigades will be found much scattered from the fight. -Collect them and take charge. Form a good line and then move, your -right pushed forward and turning as much as possible to the left. Hit -hard when you start, but don't start until you have everything ready. -I shall be waiting for your gun fire, and be on hand with fresh troops -for further advance." - -No greater opportunity could be given to an aspiring young staff -officer, and I was quickly at work. The brigades of Anderson, Mahone, -and Wofford were lined up in fair order and in touch with each other. -It was difficult to assemble them in that horrid Wilderness, but in -an hour we were ready. The word was given, and then with heavy firing -and ringing yells we were upon Hancock's exposed left, the brigades -being ably commanded by their respective officers. It was rolled back -line after line. I was well mounted, and despite the tangled growth -could keep with our troops in conspicuous sight of them, riding most -of the charge with Mahone's men and the Eighteenth Virginia. Some -correspondence will be found in the Appendix about it. A stand was -attempted by a reserve line of Hancock's, but it was swept off its -feet in the tumultuous rush of our troops, and finally we struck the -Plank Road lower down. On the other side of it was Wadsworth's corps in -disorder. (I had last seen him under flag of truce at Fredericksburg.) -Though the old General was, doing all possible to fight it, his men -would not stay. A volley from our pursuing troops brought down the -gallant New Yorker, killing both rider and horse. - -There was still some life left in the General, and every care was given -him by our surgeon. Before they could get to him, however, some of -his valuables--watch, sword, glasses, etc.--had disappeared among the -troops. One of the men came up with, "Here, Colonel, here's his map." -It was a good general map of Virginia, and of use afterwards. We were -then so disorganized by the chase through the woods that a halt was -necessary to reform, and I hastened back to General Longstreet to press -for fresh troops. There was no need with him. He had heard our guns, -knew what was up, and was already marching, happy at the success, to -finish it with the eager men at his heels. - -There was quite a party of mounted officers and men riding with -him--Generals Kershaw and Jenkins, the staff, and orderlies. Jenkins, -always enthusiastic, had thrown his arm about my shoulder, with, -"Sorrel, it was splendid; we shall smash them now." And turning back I -was riding by Longstreet's side, my horse's head at his crupper, when -firing broke out from our own men on the roadside in the dense tangle. - -The Lieutenant-General was struck. He was a heavy man, with a very firm -seat in the saddle, but he was actually lifted straight up and came -down hard. Then the lead-torn coat, the orifice close to the right -shoulder pointed to the passage of the heavy bullet of those days. His -staff immediately dismounted him, at the foot of a branching tree, -bleeding profusely. - -The shot had entered near the throat and he was almost choked with -blood. Doctor Cullen, his medical director, was quickly on the spot. -Even then the battle was in the leader's mind, and he sent word to -Major-General Field to go straight on. He directed me to hasten to -General Lee, report what had been accomplished, and urge him to -continue the movement he was engaged on; the troops being all ready, -success would surely follow, and Grant, he firmly believed, be driven -back across the Rapidan. I rode immediately to General Lee, and did -not again see my chief until his return to duty in October. The fatal -firing that brought him down also killed Captain Jenkins, Captain -Foley, and several orderlies. Jenkins was a loss to the army--brave, -ardent, experienced and highly trained, there was much to expect of -him. - -The firing began among some of the Virginia troops that had rushed the -attack. Our detour was such that it was quite possible to expect the -capture of prisoners, and when Longstreet's party was seen, followed -by Jenkins's brigade and part of Kershaw's command, in the shaded -light of the dense tangle, a shot or two went off, then more, and -finally a strong fusilade. The officers of our party acted splendidly -in the effort to avert confusion and stop the deadly firing. General -Kershaw was conspicuous about it, and our signal officer, Captain -J. H. Manning, deliberately, calmly rode through the fire up to the -Virginians, holding up his hands and making signs that we were friends. -This happened between twelve and one o'clock. My report to General Lee -was, as instructed, immediate. I found him greatly concerned by the -wounding of Longstreet and his loss to the army. He was most minute -in his inquiries and was pleased to praise the handling of the flank -attack. Longstreet's message was given, but the General was not in -sufficient touch with the actual position of the troops to proceed with -it as our fallen chief would have been able to do; at least, I received -that impression, because activity came to a stop for the moment. A new -attack with stronger forces was settled on. It was to be made direct on -the enemy's works, lower down the Plank Road, in the hope of dislodging -him. - -But meantime the foe was not idle. He had used the intervening hours in -strengthening his position and making really formidable works across -the road. When the Confederate troops assaulted them late in the -afternoon they met with a costly repulse, and with this the principal -operations on our part of the field ceased for the day; it was coming -on dark. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI - -COINCIDENCES--LONGSTREET'S SUCCESSOR - - Longstreet borne from the field--His letter to Lee from - Lynchburg--Return of General Wadsworth's map to his son--Coincidence - in the wounding of Jackson and Longstreet--General Lee summons - me--Talks of assignment to command of First Corps--He decides on - General Richard H. Anderson. - - -General Longstreet was first taken to the house of his quartermaster, -Major Taylor, near by, and thence, when he could be moved, to -Lynchburg. From there he wrote to General Lee of this attack on -Hancock's left as conducted by myself, and I trust it may not be -considered out of place to insert that letter here. - -General Longstreet's book has caused to be brought forth quite a number -of incidents of the late war which that distinguished Confederate -necessarily passed over briefly in his narrative. In the battle of the -Wilderness, May 6, 1864, Longstreet's corps moved to the support of A. -P. Hill's corps early in the morning and checked the onward movement of -the enemy. In this attack General G. M. Sorrel (then lieutenant-colonel -and chief of staff of General Longstreet), under the orders of his -chief, took Mahone's, Wofford's and G. T. Anderson's brigades, and, -swinging around to the right, the Confederates carried everything -before them. For his gallantry on that occasion, Colonel Sorrel was -made a brigadier-general on the recommendation of General Longstreet, -in the subjoined letter: - - LYNCHBURG, VA., May 19, 1864. - GENERAL R. E. LEE, _Commanding, etc._ - - SIR: The peculiar character of the position occupied by the enemy - in my front on the 6th inst. was such as to render a direct assault - impracticable. After a brief consultation with the commanding general, - a move was agreed upon, turning and attacking the enemy's left - flank. Lieutenant-Colonel Sorrel, my chief of staff, was assigned - to represent me in this flank movement, with instructions as to the - execution of it. The flank attack, made by three brigades, was to be - followed by a corresponding movement of the other brigades of the - command. This attack, made under the supervision of Lieutenant-Colonel - Sorrel, was executed with much skill, promptness, and address, and the - enemy was driven from his position in haste and some confusion. - - It occurs to me that this is one of the instances of skill, ability - and gallantry on the battle-field which should commend itself to the - high approval of the Executive. - - I, therefore, take great pleasure in recommending Lieutenant-Colonel - Sorrel's promotion to brigadier-general for distinguished conduct on - this occasion. I should have reported this case much earlier and asked - for promotion upon the spot, but that I was struck down by a painful - wound a few moments after the execution of the movement. I am still - unable to write and hence must ask the privilege of signing this by my - aide-de-camp. - - I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, - - (Signed.) - J. LONGSTREET, - _Lieutenant-General_. - - (Signed.) - By T. J. GOREE, - _Aide-de-Camp_. - -Hancock said long after to Longstreet, "You rolled me up like a wet -blanket and it was some hours before I could reorganize for battle." - -Many years after this great struggle opportunity was given me of -placing with Hon. James Wadsworth, M. C., son of the general, the map -before referred to as taken from his father when he fell. In making -his acknowledgments it was gratifying to learn that nearly all the -other belongings of this gallant officer had gradually, by kindness of -friends, found their way back into the family possessions. - -Some coincidences in the fall of Jackson and Longstreet are not without -interest. - -On _May 3, 1863_, Lieutenant-General Jackson, great corps commander of -the Army of Northern Virginia, was struck down by the fire of his own -men while executing a successful flank movement in the Wilderness at -the battle of Chancellorsville. On _May 6, 1864_, just one year later, -Lieutenant-General Longstreet, the other great corps commander of the -Army of Northern Virginia, was also struck down by the fire of his own -men while conducting a successful flank movement, and this on almost -the same ground. - -While one fell (unhappily mortally wounded) at Chancellorsville and the -other at Wilderness, both names apply to that singular district, and -the two points were not very wide apart. - -At sunrise, on the 7th, I was summoned to the Commander-in-Chief and -promptly reported. General Lee received me most kindly and at once -withdrew under a neighboring tree. "I must speak to you, Colonel," he -opened, "about the command of the First Corps." He then in substance -went on to say that the two major-generals of the corps present were -too recent for the command (Pickett does not appear to have been -thought of) and an officer must be assigned. He had three in mind: -Major-Generals Early, Edward Johnson, and Richard H. Anderson, and did -me the honor to invite my opinion. "You have," he said, "been with the -corps since it started as a brigade, and should be able to help me." - -At once I saw the need of giving all the assistance possible and that I -must use every care in judgment. - -Thanking the General for his unprecedented confidence, I said that -probably Early would be the ablest commander of the three named, but -would also be the most unpopular in our corps. His flings and irritable -disposition had left their marks, and there had been one or two -occasions when some ugly feelings had been aroused while operating in -concert. I feared he would be objectionable to both officers and men. -"And now, Colonel, for my friend Ed. Johnson; he is a splendid fellow." -"All say so, General," was my answer--and I fully believed it--"but he -is quite unknown to the corps. His reputation is so high that perhaps -he would prove all that could be wished, but I think that some one -personally known to the corps would be preferred." - -This brought the commander to Gen. Richard H. Anderson, and I was led -to say, without presuming to criticize him or point out his merits or -demerits (there are probably plenty of both), "We _know him_ and shall -be satisfied with him." He was long a brigadier with us, tried and -experienced; then a major-general until withdrawn to make up the Third -Corps. - -"Thank you, Colonel," said General Lee. "I have been interested, but -Early would make a fine corps commander." Being dismissed, I hastened -back to camp, full of thoughts as to who was to command us. It looked -from the General's closing words as if it would be Early (I am sure -he preferred him), but no, Anderson was the man. Later, the same day, -came the order assigning chivalrous, deliberate "Dick" Anderson to the -command of the First Army Corps and it was not very long before he was -made lieutenant-general. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII - -BATTLES OF SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., MAY 10 AND 12, AND COLD HARBOR, JUNE 3, -1864 - - The night's horrors--The forest on fire--Sufferings of the - wounded--On same ground May 7th--Anderson in command of First - Corps--Characteristics--The great strategic contest between Grant - and Lee--Grant moves for Spottsylvania Court House--Lee follows in - time--Both sides entrench--Union attack of 10th checked--Not so on the - 12th--Edward Johnson's division suddenly assailed--Is captured with - guns and colors--A serious loss keenly felt--Salient was exposed--New - line established--Terrific fire for its possession by Gordon's fresh - troops--We hold the new ground after heavy losses--Sedgwick killed on - 10th--Stuart, our cavalry leader, shot on May 12--General Lee not in - good health--Attack by Grant at Cold Harbor--Great slaughter of Union - soldiers--Assaults abandoned--Grant asks for truce to bury dead--Lee - in doubt as to enemy's movements--Grant stole a march and nearly - had Petersburg--Saved by Beauregard--Reinforcements and losses--An - accident by falling chimney--Death of Colonel Edward Willis--General - Hampton assigned to command of cavalry--Sketch. - - -The night was hideous. The brush and undergrowth had taken fire from -the musketry and flames and smoke were obscuring everything. The -numerous parties out for burying the dead and gathering the wounded -were much impeded and many wounded must have perished, hidden from -sight of man in that awful burnt tangle. These duties and close search -continued all next day. - -Our new commander, General Anderson, took the corps early on the 7th, -during which the armies lay quiet after the battle. Grant was not -aggressive, nor were we. The Federal commander's reflections may have -been sombre. Expecting only a march, he had found bloody battles, -for the Army of Northern Virginia was always in front of him. On the -other hand, Lee was doubtless in the full gravity of the immense -responsibilities before him and his severe losses. - -It was from now until June 14th, when Grant reached his pontoon bridge -over the James on his way to the new scene of action at Petersburg, a -game to the death for the possession of Richmond. His able and powerful -movements were to throw his army between Lee and our capital. He found -Lee always, not the capital, and the movements, which shall not be -detailed too much, were steadily on that line. Our General invariably -penetrated his adversary's design and objective and was there--perhaps -in a hurry and breathless, but there; and enough of us were ready to -make necessary another march of the Union left. - -Following then his original plan, Grant, on the night of the 7th, made -a rapid flank movement to secure Spottsylvania Court House. Immediately -part of our corps moved with General Anderson and arrived at the Court -House contemporaneously with the Northerners. - -The march through the scorched and smoking Wilderness was most painful. -The Union men, a little advance, had seized the best strategic point, -but were driven off by our arrival, and on the 9th we found each other -in line of battle, both sides entrenching wherever they might stand. - -On the 10th the enemy made a handsome dash at Ewell's left and -dislodged it, taking two guns. General Lee wanted to lead for recovery, -but was dissuaded. The enemy being attacked was made to give up the -line and the guns. - -It was in this affair that Maj.-Gen. John Sedgwick, commander of -Grant's Sixth Corps, was killed. A bullet pierced his head from a great -distance. He and Lee had been warm friends, and the latter expressed -many regrets. - -There was a salient on Ewell's line, occupied by Edward Johnson's -division, that Lee rightly considered dangerous to our security. -Another line across the base was ordered constructed and the exposed -artillery transferred to it. Before arrangements could be completed -and before the artillery could be pushed forward again, Johnson was -fiercely assailed at sunrise on the 12th by a heavy column massed -for the purpose during the night. Most of the division was captured, -including Major-General Johnson and Brigadier-General Stewart. - -Lee's position instantly became perilous. He was cut in twain and fully -realized it. Good work was done in repairing the break and strong -bodies of troops moved from right and left to check the enemy's further -advance. General Lee was under intense anxiety, plainly evinced, and -was quite on the point of leading his fresh troops for restoring the -line. Gen. J. B. Gordon, however, came on the scene, got the General -back in his right place, and after a short, impassioned address to -the troops, attacked most vigorously with the other generals. Truly -it was the center of a fire from hell itself! The Federals lining the -two sides of the captured salient and the Confederates at the base -poured forth a fusilade that could not be exceeded. Nothing uncovered -could live in such a fire--trees were felled, trunks cut by small-arm -bullets! The Union advance was checked, but we failed to recover our -first lines and rested with a new one better drawn. - -The army felt keenly the loss of Johnson's division and guns, but our -lines were not again forced in the field. Reinforcements poured into -the Union army, Grant waiting quietly until the 18th for assembling -them from Washington, occasionally also doing some maneuvering. Our own -army was likewise in quiet inaction, but unhappily receiving no such -reinforcements. - -General Anderson, as already stated, was well known to us, and -fell easily into position as corps commander. During the events -just sketched he had shown commendable prudence and an intelligent -comprehension of the work in hand. He was a very brave man, but of a -rather inert, indolent manner for commanding troops in the field, and -by no means pushing or aggressive. My relations with him were uniformly -pleasant. He seemed to leave the corps much to his staff, while his own -meditative disposition was constantly soothed by whiffs from a noble, -cherished meerschaum pipe in process of rich coloring. He was a short, -thick, stocky figure, with good features and agreeable expression. I -sometimes found myself sleeping in the same tent with him. He had a -way on waking of sitting on his bed and proceeding to mend and patch -his belongings out of a well-filled tailor's "necessaire" he always -carried--clothing, hats, boots, bridles, saddles, everything came handy -to him. He caught me once watching this work, and said, smiling: "You -are wondering, I see; so did my wife when first married. She thought -she should do the mending, but I told her I ought to have a little -recreation occasionally." - -We heard of Stewart's death near the Yellow Tavern on May 12th. It -caused indescribable feeling in the army. - -The great cavalry leader was so known to us all, officers and men; -had passed through so much without hurt; his devotion to Lee was so -thoroughly appreciated, and our sense of security against surprise -so confident with him in the saddle that deep was our grief. His -disposition so happy and sunny, his enterprise so untiring, his soul -so valiant, all sprang to our memories. It was really after the battle -that he fell, by an outpost bullet, when he should have been safe. - -Long years after, on a glorious day in May, Confederate veterans -thronged Richmond to dedicate the statue of their beloved commander. - -The flower-strewn city--grim war having long since given way to gentle -peace--was gay with lovely women and their happy smiles; while bright -bunting, our own starry cross and the stars and stripes, conspicuous -with flags of all nations, made the streets a mass of flaming color. - -It was as one of the marshals that I was assisting on the memorable -occasion, and dear friends at the fine old Virginia estate, the -Stewart's hospitable "Brook Hill," near the city, had made me their -guest. The gracious hostess, growing if possible more lovely with -advancing years, recalled from far back that historic toast and beauty -of old Virginia, Evelyn Byrd, from whose family she descended; there -this pictured chatelaine of Brook Hill, encompassed by accomplished -daughters, dispensed a charming hospitality. - -On one of those days Miss Stewart drove me to the spot where Stewart -fell, about half way between their residence and the old Yellow -Tavern. A small stone shaft by the roadside marked it. There we -feelingly recalled his deeds and fame, and placed upon it our flower -tokens. It was pleasant to see, too, the young people and children of -the countryside tenderly placing their own remembrances on the hero's -column. The valiant rider was not forgotten! - -On the 18th we sustained on our lines another attack. It was easily -resisted, and then Grant, two days after, started toward Bowling Green. -Lee was quick to move for Hanover Junction and offered battle there. -Grant declining, moved about May 25th on a detour to the east--Lee -always parallel and Richmond behind him. - -Our Commander-in-Chief was far from well physically. Colonel Taylor, -his adjutant-general, says the indisposition was more serious than -generally supposed. Those near him were very apprehensive lest he -should be compelled to give up. General Early writes: "One of his three -corps commanders had been disabled by wounds at Wilderness. Another -was too ill to command his corps, while he himself was suffering from -a most annoying and weakening disease." Only his indomitable will and -devotion could keep him in the field. To them we owe his patriotic -adherence to the command of his unexampled army. - -About the 30th the Confederate army was in battle order near Atlee's -Station, but General Grant continued his flank movement, Lee by him, in -an easterly direction, and on June 3d the two armies confronted each -other at Cold Harbor, the Confederates hastily entrenching, as usual. - -It was historic ground. We had fought on part of it on the eventful -days of June 26, 27, 28, 1862. Here the Federal commander, weary of -Lee and the oft-repeated march, made up his mind evidently to finish -things. He attacked us with the utmost ferocity, but in vain. The -assaults were delivered repeatedly but always repulsed with frightful -carnage, and finally men could do no more. The officers with drawn -swords pointed the way, but the men stood motionless in their ranks, a -silent, effective protest against further "attrition." - -Our men were steady in their field works and suffered but little -loss. A section of a Savannah battery, commanded by Lieutenant -Robert Faligant, was on our line and conspicuous for its brilliant -work. Swinton, the historian, says, "The loss on the Union side in -this sanguinary action was over 13,000, while on the part of the -Confederates it is doubtful if it reached that many hundreds." - -General Grant was late in asking for a truce to bury his dead, but -finally did so. The sight in our front was sickening, heartrending to -the stoutest soldier. Nothing like it was seen during the war, and that -awful mortality was inflicted in but little more than an hour! The -Union commander afterwards announced in general orders that no more -assaults on entrenched lines should be made. He then continued his -movement eastward. Lee was for a short time in painful doubt whether -Grant would cross the river or hold his route up the north side. It was -solved by Grant's bridge and rapid crossing, Lee having barely time to -throw his van into Petersburg. Grant had nearly stolen the march on him. - -The latter had expected to capture the town by surprise, a coup de -main. He was foiled by Beauregard and Wise and some brave militia and -home guards. They defended the position until succor came, by the head -of Lee's column hastening to the rescue. Beauregard's conduct on this -occasion was admirable, and much was owing to him, for which I doubt if -full acknowledgment has been made. - -According to official returns the Union losses since May 5th had been -60,700 killed, wounded and missing--3,000 more than Lee numbered at the -opening of the campaign. Grant had received in reinforcements 51,000 -muskets, including Smith's four brigades. Lee's were 14,000. - -From Wilderness to Cold Harbor: Lee's aggregate, 78,400; Grant's -aggregate, 192,600. - -I place here an incident less dismal than the reflections brought up by -the foregoing gruesome figures. - -At one of the small rivers in the sharp campaign just ended we were -in line on the south side inviting battle. The enemy were on the -other side, but with no intention of crossing. He contented himself -with abundant artillery practise, and made everything uncomfortable -in range of his shell. We found no need of making reply and saved our -ammunition. Our corps headquarters had made halt for the time in a -beautiful grove, where stood a large, old-fashioned Virginia residence, -a great house of wooden framing, with two immense brick chimneys at -each gable, the chimneys stretching far above the roof apex. - -The shelling was so frequent and the small fragments flying everywhere -so annoying that most of us got under the lee of a gable. We knew it -would not resist a shell, but could fend off the offensive fragments. -General Anderson was coolly walking about the grove, sucking his big -pipe, and warned us that if a shell struck one of the chimneys there -might be trouble. We were perhaps two dozen sitting there, officers, -orderlies, and some horses held by the bridle. Anderson was right. A -crash, a bursting roar, and down came bricks and mortar on those not -quick enough to skip out of the way. I myself lost no time, and was -unhurt, as also were the others of the staff. But two of the couriers -had a bad time of it. Hardy, my Chickamauga man, and Tucker, from -Milledgeville, had, one a broken leg, the other a fractured arm. Both -were put into an ambulance and, cursing and reviling at being wounded -by loose brick-bats instead of honorable bullets, were carried to the -rear. The laugh was decidedly on us. - -A loss, personal to me as well as to the army, happened during the -marches, in which there was sometimes severe fighting by parts -of the armies not mentioned in the narrative. General Early, a -most enterprising, resourceful officer, was much given to forced -reconnaissances. They usually seemed to me unnecessary and wasted men -by death and wounds. Their intention was to ascertain accurately the -positive strength and morale of the enemy, and generally a brigade was -told off for the service. It appeared to me that the information could -be gathered by scouts and picked men without sacrificing the ranks, -but General Early thought differently. On one of these movements the -Virginia brigade of Pegram (who was absent, wounded) was commanded by -Col. Edward Willis, of the Twelfth Georgia Infantry. His was a fine -character. Just from West Point at the outbreak of the war, he threw -himself into the army with ardor, became colonel of the fine Twelfth -Georgia Infantry, worthily succeeding Ed. Johnson, and was about to -be made brigadier-general when ordered to the reconnaissance in -force. He was shot down, mortally wounded--the gallant, fair-headed, -white-skinned, slight young colonel (he was very young), valiantly -leading the brigade. - -Our position was at some distance, but I was immediately sent for. Our -families had long been neighbors and friends in Savannah, and young -Willis was soon to be one of us by a still closer tie. I was quickly by -his side. He died on my arm, but not before whispering loving messages -for home and to that one he bore on his brave heart to its last beat. -The remains of this brilliant young soldier were sent home, accompanied -by a guard of honor picked from the brigade by his division commander. - -Major-General Hampton succeeded Stuart in command of the cavalry. -This officer had served from the very beginning of the war with -high distinction, had proved himself a careful, vigilant, as well -as enterprising cavalry leader, and possessed the confidence of the -cavalry troops. General Lee gave him his own without reservation and -his hearty support in every situation. - -General Hampton was of fine presence, a bold horseman, a swordsman, and -of the most undaunted courage. He had received several wounds, but was -now in robust health. - -His family were identified with South Carolina from its earliest -settlement, and grew to be of commanding importance and wealth. - -He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general, and after the war performed -great political services to his State within her borders and as her -Senator at Washington. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII - -THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG, JUNE, 1864, TO MARCH, 1865 - - Siege of Petersburg--Lines closely drawn--Attacks on Lee's - right--Mahone's defense--Mining for an explosion--North side - threatened--Troops sent--Capture of Battery Harrison--Lee's attempt - to retake it--The repulse--General Lee and General Pemberton--Attack - on Fort Gilmer--Negroes in the van--General Lee's activity--His - headquarters--Enemy's fire on Petersburg--Meeting with Twelfth - Virginia Infantry--Lee attacks in front of Richmond--Beats Kautz - and takes his cannon--Kautz retreats to a fort--Lee attacks and is - repulsed--Union troops armed with Spencer rifles--General Lee's quick - eye for horses--Ewell's fall from his horse--Kershaw's Division sent - to Valley--Destruction of barns and houses--Kershaw returns--Capture - of a remount--The crater--Intercourse between pickets--Continuous - firing--General E. P. Alexander's love of shooting. - - -The siege of Petersburg had now begun. It is certain that Lee had had -a narrow escape in getting there in time. Grant had nearly beaten him -and indeed should have taken the place, notwithstanding Beauregard's -boldness. The Union generals had been explaining with some heated -recriminations how they failed to be in possession before Lee came -up. The latter on the north side had been for hours under intense -anxious uncertainty in discovering Grant's move, whether a crossing or -continued march on the north side. - -The lines were closely drawn and severe fighting ensued. Digging -began in earnest on both sides. Salients, traverses, bastions, forts, -trenches, covered ways, parallel, zig-zags, and all the other devices -for the taking and defense of fortified cities were resorted to. Our -left rested on the Appomattox River and was so close to the enemy's -line that a biscuit could be thrown across, and conversation went on -constantly between the fighters, who the next minute were firing at any -head or arm that might be incautiously exposed. Our works stretched -from the left around the town to the Weldon Road on the right, and this -was an object of Lee's constant solicitude. It was our direct railroad -to the South, and Grant in possession would have our communications -cut and supplies broken off. For months it was the Federal General's -incessant effort to accomplish it. His great numbers made it possible, -but Lee always managed, notwithstanding, to have a defense. - -At Reams Station Major-General Mahone performed great service in -beating back the force sent to seize the road at that point. Later in -the siege, mining began by the enemy. The result was the appalling -hour of the crater explosion by which very many Confederates perished, -and then in the great combat that followed for recapturing the ground, -hundreds of Federals fell. Mahone was conspicuous in restoring the -broken lines. - -But the story of the siege of Petersburg--eight months--is not to be -told in a few pages. It was a struggle from day to day, night to night, -and filled with picturesque scenes of individual daring and valor, -sorties and strategems. There was often quiet massing of columns for -heavy assaults on points supposed to be relatively weak. We sustained -many of these but the lines were maintained. Lee also made some hard -drives at his opponent with varying success. All, however, pointed -to only one thing--the wasting of our unrecruited strength and the -apparently limitless numbers available for the Union Army. - -While such operations were carried on south of the James, General -Grant was not idle on the north side. A strong force was held there -threatening Richmond, and our commander had to provide for it out of -his thin ranks and keep some show of strength in front of our capital, -immensely aided, however, by the excellent lines of field works that -environed the city. These conditions brought about considerable -shifting of our two divisions. Field and Kershaw were between the -Petersburg lines and the north side, and Pickett's division was -defending what was known as the Chesterfield lines between Petersburg -and Richmond, but was not threatened. - -A strong force of the enemy had massed north of the James and captured -a powerful earthwork known as Battery Harrison on our extreme right. -General Lee had come on the scene with one of the First Corps divisions -and other troops. He decided to retake the fort, attaching great -importance to its possession. An assaulting column of three good -brigades was organized, Bratton's South Carolina regiments among them. -Captain Sorrel, then adjutant-general, shook hands with me as they -started forward, almost a "forlorn hope," and I thought never to see -him alive again. But he came out safe among many killed and wounded, -the assault being repulsed with great loss. A new line was entrenched -and fortified, thrown back to right and rear. - -General Lee, when he liked, could sit down pretty hard on words not -agreeable to him. An example was given that night. With his staff and -several general officers he was at the Chaffin farm-house on the -James, reviewing the serious events of the day. General Pemberton, -after the fall of Vicksburg, being without assignment, had assumed -his rank of lieutenant-colonel in the Regular Army, and as such was -on engineer duty on the Richmond line of defense. He was present -and, speaking of Battery Harrison, said with something like superior -confidence, "I presume, General, you will retake the fort, coûte que -coûte." Lee's sad, steady eyes rested on that unfortunate officer as -he slowly said: "General Pemberton, I made my effort this morning and -failed, losing many killed and wounded. I have ordered another line -provided for that point and shall have no more blood shed at the fort -unless you can show me a practical plan of capture; perhaps you can. I -shall be glad to have it." There was no answer from Pemberton. - -General Lee had had an anxious day; all of it was occupied in meeting -the enemy's attacks. There was an especially severe one on Fort Gilmer -by Ben Butler's command, with negro regiments pushed in front of the -assailing whites. Fortunately we had a staunch regiment in the fort, -which beat back the attacking column. - -A hundred or two of the negroes, half crazed with whiskey, got into the -ditch of the fort and refused surrender. - -Our men lighted some shells, rolled them over the parapet and quickly -brought the darkies to subjection. It was an ugly affair all through. - -And so the siege passed. One day strong detachments must be made to -meet powerful movements against our extreme right flank, and requires -the leaders' presence. Truly never was a leader called on for greater -performance. General Lee's health was now fortunately stronger and his -activity most wonderful. - -He was in comfortable quarters at the Turnbull House, offered for his -use by the owner. Our own were not far distant, and quite comfortable -in tents and small houses. The routine life of the town passed from day -to day without excitement. The people had become accustomed to shell -and bullets and made no ado when they whizzed about their heads. - -I do not think the enemy's fire was directed especially at the -non-combatant part of the town, but much of it got there all the same. -A new accession to our staff was Captain Dunn, of Petersburg, an -excellent gentleman, with us now for several months. A shell burst on -him while bathing in his house, and smashed things all around, but the -A. D. C. and his family escaped. A bullet had found his leg before this -good luck. - -The citizens were very hospitable and very self-sacrificing. Too much -could not be done for the soldiers. But this was the feeling and the -practise all over Virginia. - -As we entered Petersburg I came up with the regiments of Mahone's -brigade, the Twelfth among them. They had not forgotten the Wilderness, -gave me a rousing cheer, and cried that we must again together charge -these fellows in front of Petersburg. Their brave survivors keep me in -mind still, after these many years. - -General Lee, always aggressive, was quick to find opportunity of -attack. He saw his enemy rather exposed at a point in front of -Richmond, quickly got some troops in position, and made a dash at -them in great style. It was a strong force of infantry and cavalry -under General Kautz, and he left eight or nine guns, many prisoners, -and some colors in our hands, retiring to a strong fort and defenses -about a mile in his rear. Our General decided to have it and follow -up his first success. Gregg's Texas Brigade and two others--seasoned -troops--were thrown at Kautz's fort. We could not live against its -fire--no troops could. His men were armed with the Spencer magazine -rifles and such a fire had never before jarred and stunned us. We had -to retire and resume our positions. Losses were considerable, among -them Brig.-Gen. John Gregg, commanding the Texas Brigade--a very able -officer. - -General Lee was fond of horses and had always an eye to them. When the -first attack was made my brother, Captain Sorrel, was mounted on a nice -young mare I had just given him. At the first onset she was shot, and -horse and rider were both in the mud. It happened almost under General -Lee's eyes. - -Some days after, the General meeting Sorrel on the road kindly asked if -he were hurt, and was sorry for the loss of the mare. "But I have got -another, General," said the Captain. "Yes, two it seems," the General -answered as he rode off, smiling. Sorrel's bewilderment was removed -when later on it became plain that the new purchase was in foal. - -When Ewell, one leg gone, was forced to relinquish field work and -take leave of his corps, the old Warrior insisted on other duty, and -was assigned to command of the inner line of defenses about Richmond. -General Lee, with Ewell, Anderson, and a number of other officers, -and some of our staff, was examining a new line of defense with that -trained engineer's eye of his, Ewell riding by him. The latter was so -good a horseman that his one leg was equal to most riders' two, but -his horse stumbling, down came both--an awful cropper. I made sure -the General's head and neck were cracked. He was picked up, no bones -broken, but an "object" about the head; scratched, bruised, torn and -bloody. Lee instantly ordered him back to Richmond and to stay there -until completely well. - -In two or three hours he was again on the lines, and such a sight! -Painfully comical it was. He had gone to the hospital, where the bald -head and face were dressed. He returned swathed in bandages from crown -of head to shoulders. Two little apertures for his piercing eyes -and two small breathing spaces were all that was left open for the -Lieutenant-General. Quite indifferent, however, to such mishaps, he was -sharp about his work and lisping out directions as usual. - -General Lee thought to weaken the pressure on him at Petersburg and -Richmond by transferring some of it to the open field of the Valley, -where skilful maneuvering might offset inferior numbers. He had the -temerity to detach part of his army for the purpose, and with some -other commands sent General Anderson with Kershaw's division across -the mountains. Most of the staff went with the expedition and had -opportunity of witnessing Sheridan's work in destroying all the -resources of that fighting-ground. - -As we marched forward, the enemy slowly retiring, smoke was seen -ahead on a wide range from the burning barns and granaries of the -non-combatant people. Sheridan was arranging for his "crow" to carry -his own rations should he venture into the Valley. - -General Lee's ingenious and bold attempt did not result as he hoped. -Grant could not be tempted that way. His business was at Petersburg -and Richmond, and besides there were already enough of his troops in -the Valley and covering Washington to answer for the safety of that -capital. Our expedition was therefore soon terminated and came back to -the James. The division had but two encounters in the Valley. One at -Charlestown, a small affair, in which General Humphreys, commanding the -Mississippi Brigade, was wounded. Another was at Front Royal, in which -Wofford's brigade got caught in a bend of the river and was beaten off -with loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners. A dear friend, Colonel -Edward Stiles, Sixteenth Georgia Regiment, was killed. - -I had chance, however, before marching, after a sharp night's ride, to -pay a flying visit at their home to the good ladies Hamtrammock, who -had cared for me wounded at Sharpsburg. They were as pleasant as ever -and the hour seemed all too short. While in the Federal lines they had -supplied themselves with all sorts of little things for soldiers in the -field, as tokens of remembrance, and I had pressed on me a pair of fine -gauntlets, which seemed about everything that I wanted at the moment. - -On our way back to Lee the division (Kershaw's) suddenly came up with -a Union regiment of cavalry foraging at the foot of the mountains. It -was a surprise to the riders, and they at once took to their heels, -pressing up on the side of the mountains for escape. We had nothing -but food with us, and most of the mounted regiment got safely away in -small parties. Two fully-equipped ambulances, however, could not follow -the riders, and were overturned in a mountain gulley. One of them -furnished me with an excellent mount. Two soldiers were going through -its beautiful equipment, and coming among the medicines to a large -vessel labeled "Spiritus frumenti" it was tossed aside with the rest -of the pharmacopoeia. But some one suggested that "Spiritus frumenti" -might be another way of spelling whiskey--and then to see those fellows -go for it! - -While the commander and most of the troops of the First Corps were on -the north side, the enemy's mines at Petersburg were "spring making." -"The Crater" was a frightful affair, and should, it appears to me, have -been prevented. We knew they were mining. Our shaft had been sunk and -short galleries run out. Their working parties could be heard. Should -we not have countermined actively and fought their men off in their own -galleries? However, it was not done, and the "blow up," considered only -barely possible, was upon us. When it came it was all that the enemy -could wish. His plans were excellent, but miscarried by the conduct of -one or more of his leading officers. The crater was at once filled with -their men, many negroes among them--negroes who, as usual, primed with -whiskey, had been pushed to the front and into the breach, but support -failed them. - -Then came the Confederates' great work of destroying these men and -recovering their mutilated line. Mahone did brilliant service. His -division of five brigades was thrown at the invaders, and with other -forces seized the "hole," captured or killed the unfortunates in it, -and the day was ours with the works and integrity of the line restored. - -I had heard much of this remarkable fight from the Georgia Brigade (it -had been very conspicuous in it) that I took command of some days after. - -This amusing story was told me by one of its men. Exhausted in the -crater fight, he sank wearily on a log for a short rest. It moved -gently and an old-fashioned negro's voice came from the log-like darky, -"Please, Marster, don't shoot; I'se doin' nuttin'." The rascal had -doubtless been one of the first in the crater, wild with liquor; but -the Southerner was merciful and sent him to the rear. - -Of course the men on both sides behind the works, so close sometimes, -got tired of "potting" at each other, and taking a rest became -altogether too friendly. Firing would cease and individuals and small -parties appear in front bartering and chaffing with the boys in blue. - -Our tobacco was always good for coffee and a Northern paper. It got to -be too familiar and led to desertions of our men. Their rations were -of the poorest (one-half pound of bacon and three-quarters of a pound -of cornmeal), their clothing and shoes worn and unfit for the field, -and their work and duties of the hardest on our attenuated lines. -Reliefs were few and far between. No wonder they sometimes weakened to -better themselves, as they supposed, and stayed with the fat-jowled, -well-clad, coddled-up masses opposite them. But we had to stop the -desertions at any price, so at night steady, continuous musketry firing -was ordered, sweeping the glacis in front of our entrenchments. It -cost a lot of lead and powder, but did something in holding back the -weaklings in our command. - -The enemy, nothing loth, returned the fire, and were good enough to -send plenty of their own lead. There was considerable to be gathered -during the day, and this got my friend, Gen. E. P. Alexander, into -trouble. He was a many-sided character--an engineer of the highest -abilities, an artillerist of great distinction, a good reconnoitering -officer and an enthusiastic sportsman besides. In the early days -of the war I one day met him, mounted as usual on a very sorry, -doubtful-looking beast, with a pair of enormous holsters on his -saddle-horn. "And what have you there, Alexander?" I asked, thinking -possibly of some good edibles. "These," he said, and drew out his long -telescope for reconnaissance--a very powerful glass--and from the -other an enormous old-fashioned horse-pistol of immense calibre, some -tiny cubes of lead, cut from bullets, and a pinch or two of gunpowder. -"Quail," he said, "are eating up this country and I like them. This -old pistol gives me many a mess of birds." At Petersburg his only -want for his private gunning was lead to melt into small shot, and -gathering some (after working his big gun) he received an unexpected -contribution--a bullet in his shoulder, hot from the enemy, which made -him a very uncomfortable wound. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV - -LONGSTREET'S RETURN--FAREWELL TO LEE - - Return of Longstreet--Am promoted brigadier-general--Parting with the - First Corps--Report to A. P. Hill and Mahone--Sketches--Assume command - of brigade of Georgians--Its staff--Drill and exercises--Laying out - a camp--General Lee's encouragement--Want of field officers--Captain - H. H. Perry--Mahone's bread ovens--Christmas, 1864--Sherman's - march in Georgia--Grant's Virginia strategy--Our division moves - out in bitter cold--Demonstration on our extreme right against the - railroad--Brigade forms line--No close firing--Enemy rejoins his - main command--Received a slight wound--The return to camp--Its bad - condition in our absence--Valuable boots burnt in bivouac--In February - again ordered out to right--Serious collision with enemy in force - at Hatcher's Run--General Pegram killed--Am shot in lung and borne - from the field--Moved to Richmond and thence to Colonel Watts's, - in southwest Virginia for convalescence--My recovery--Marriage of - Doctor Sorrel--At Lynchburg--Hear of Lee's surrender--Take to the - mountains--Again at Colonel Watts's--Hunter and Crook--Homeward - bound--Lady Godiva--Farewell to Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. - - -It was in October, our corps (two divisions) being on the north side, -that we had the happiness of welcoming our chief back to his command. - -His right arm was quite paralyzed and useless. - -He had taught himself to write legibly and easily with his left. -Following the advice of his doctor, he was forever pulling at the -disabled arm to bring back its life and action. He succeeded, for, -though never strong, its use was partially restored in later years and -his pen went back to it. - -I was with him but a few days. My commission as brigadier-general came -unexpectedly, a note from my friend Burton Harrison, the President's -Secretary, to the effect that it had been signed, reaching me the -evening before. This was the first inkling I had of the promotion. -Elsewhere it has been told how it came about, and I began preparing to -move, my orders being to report to Lieut.-Gen. A. P. Hill for command -in Mahone's division. Hill's corps was on the south side in front of -Petersburg. Lieut.-Col. O. Latrobe succeeded me as A. A. G. and chief -of staff; an excellent assignment. A brigadier going to an organized -command carries no staff with him. That is attached to the brigade, not -to the general. He has one appointment, that of A. D. C. (captain's -rank), personal to himself. There were many applications for the place, -but sending for Spencer, private, Fort Alabama, my sergeant of couriers -for several years, I almost floored the modest fellow by asking if he -should like to go with me as captain. "Of course" he should, and did, -and was part and parcel of that brigade of Georgians in no time until -Appomattox dispersed us. I had made no mistake in him; an exceedingly -useful staff officer. - -Few can know how painful it was to part with my corps and its chief. -I had started with them at the opening battle, handled its growing -battalions into brigades and divisions, and shared its battles, -expeditions, and campaigns; was proud of its renown; was known to -officers and men of every regiment and had, I believe, their confidence -and respect. It was much to give up, but the duty called, and on a fine -morning I mounted with my A. D. C. to cross the river and take up my -new billet. I shall be excused, I hope, if a little homesickness is -confessed. - -My comrades did not let me go easily. The night before there was a -farewell party of many officers at headquarters. A goodly quantity -of apple-toddy was consumed, but not to hurt, and the party, General -Longstreet with us for a time, was full of feeling, touching me keenly -by its spontaneous demonstration. - -Here ended the staff officer's duties, but his recollections will yet -carry him a little way forward while commanding his brigade. The end -was fast approaching, and my concluding jottings seem to belong to what -has gone before. - -Turning my back, then, for the first time on the glorious old First -Army Corps, I reported next day at A. P. Hill's quarters. Nothing -could exceed his kindness in receiving me; it continued all through my -service in his corps and I had every evidence of the good feeling of -this distinguished officer. I was to report next to General Mahone for -command of his Georgia brigade. This remarkable man was at breakfast -when I entered and immediately had me seated with him. - -Maj.-Gen. William Mahone was a Virginian, about forty years of age. His -appearance arrested attention. Very small both in height and frame, he -seemed a mere atom with little flesh. His wife said "none." When he was -shot (slightly) she was told it was only a flesh wound. "Now I know it -is serious," said the good lady, "for William has no flesh whatever." -Sallow of feature, sharp of eye, and very active in movement was the -General; in dress quite unconventional, he affected jackets rather than -coats, and on a certain hot summer's day that I recall he was seen, a -major-general indeed, but wonderfully accoutered! A plaited brown linen -jacket, _buttoned to trousers_, of same material, like a boy's; topped -off by a large Panama straw hat of the finest and most beautiful -texture, met our eyes, and I must say he looked decidedly comfortable. -But not always was he thus attired. He could be strictly uniformed when -he chose. - -He had been president of the railroad between Petersburg and Norfolk, -and retaining the office, managed the road all through the campaigns. -Finally the enemy captured his wagon-load of railroad papers, records, -etc., and Mahone was raging. It was that railway, when hostilities -ended, that he combined with others connecting and gained a start into -the political power and mischief he exercised in Virginia. His brigade -of Virginians had not seen much hard fighting until the Wilderness, and -there they did well. It was at Petersburg, in command of his division -of five brigades from Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and -Florida that he justly won great reputation for brilliant achievements -in defense of the beleaguered city. He was undoubtedly a general of -very uncommon ability. - -While we sat, I enjoyed his breakfast. A high liver, nothing could -excel it, and he was never without the materials. A cow was always -by his quarters and laying hens cackled loud, besides many luxuries. -Delicate in physique, he had to nourish himself carefully. - -I received his orders to take command of my Georgians, and mounted on -my way to them. Mahone was said to be irritable and in some instances -tyrannical, but for myself I had invariably nothing but consideration, -and often good help from him. - -The brigade was in trenches far on the right, not in very close touch -with the enemy, and was having a quiet time of it with Col. William -Gibson in command. He was well known in Georgia politics for some -years, and a very brave officer; repeatedly wounded, but without -discipline or organization. Leave of absence was allowed him to return -to Georgia. - -On assuming command, Captain Evans, a line officer detailed as A. A. -G., supposing that I was bringing an officer of the staff department -with me, suggested that probably I should wish him to rejoin his -regiment. - -But I wanted him with me. He had long filled the post, was acquainted -with almost every officer and man of the brigade, and was a brave and -qualified officer. The command consisted of the Second, Twenty-second, -Forty-eighth, and Sixty-fourth regiments and Second and Tenth -battalions, Georgia Infantry. The Sixty-fourth regiment and Tenth -battalion were late levies and had not made the great reputation of the -others, while serving under Wright and Girardy. The latter was a most -promising officer promoted from captain in the brigade, and was killed -at the head of it two weeks after taking command. - -The Third Georgia enjoyed a reputation excelled by none in the army. - -My first thought was to get supplies of clothing and shoes for the -men and have the command relieved from trench duty, to which it was -entitled by the length of service in them. Our work strengthening the -defenses always went on, and there was no time for much-needed drill -and military exercise. - -General Lee, taking his daily ride about the lines, came on me while -the working parties were digging and spading. His greeting was, -"Good-morning, my young friend; I feel sorry for you." "Why so, -General?" "Because you have so much to do," answered the commander, -the gleaming white teeth showing his pleasant humor as he continued his -ride. He generally had some such words to let one know he expected a -lot of work out of him. - -I was not unsuccessful as to my wants. A fair quantity of supplies were -issued and orders came for relief from the trenches and to pitch good -winter camps a little in the rear. It was great joy to the troops. - -A good piece of woods was selected and a fine camp of winter huts laid -out and built according to regulations, with battalion fronts and -company streets and all the rest in good soldiery form. Once settled, -drill became the order of the day in good weather. There were fine open -fields near by furnishing good ground, and company drill, battalion -drill, and evolutions of the line by the brigade were followed up -vigorously, as well as all military exercises and street duties -practised and perfected. The men were in much need of the instruction. -Decided neglect in these respects had fallen on this fine brigade after -the stern and gallant Wright left it, and the good effects of the -efforts now working out were soon apparent. - -The greatest want was in field officers; so many had been wounded and -left with the enemy at Gettysburg, besides others sick at home or in -the hospital, that the regiments suffered thereby. - -I wrote urgently and personally to Mr. Ould, our commissioner for -exchange, to get back to me certain officers whom I wanted badly. He -managed to get only one, Colonel Snead, of the Third Georgia, and him I -was glad to have. - -The brigade was well equipped with staff officers of the subsistence, -quartermaster, ordnance, and medical departments. The commissary, Major -Hughes, an excellent fellow, was the same who had sold me those two -sorry mounts that broke down in the Chickamauga Campaign. On reporting, -he evidently thought I might recall him unfavorably and was a bit -uneasy, until shown that no ill feelings were harbored against him. In -horse dealing it is "caveat emptor"--the buyer must look sharply to -himself. - -It was not long before Capt. H. H. Perry, of the Adjutant-General's -Department, was transferred from Benning's brigade to report to me as -A. A. G. There being two of that department with Benning and none with -me, Perry was summarily transferred without any question. He had always -performed inspection duty, and preferring it, was assigned to that -branch of his department in my brigade, thus retaining Evans as A. A. -G. "Old Rock" (General Benning) always believed I was at the bottom of -the whole business and never forgave me. - -I was surely fortunate in securing so excellent a staff officer. Highly -educated, experienced with troops, active and resourceful, he soon -became prominent and strong in the brigade as well as attached to his -brigadier. He is still with the living in Georgia, numbered among my -dear friends. - -At times the soldier's ration was execrable, really unfit. Some bacon -from Nassau was coming through the blockade, and it would not be -incredible for the blockading fleet to allow it to come through in hope -of poisoning us. A third of a pound of this stuff and some corn-meal -was often the full extent of the daily ration. - -Sometimes we got better allowances of wheat flour, and then General -Mahone took a notion to improve on it by baking. The brigade -commissaries were ordered to set up ovens--plenty of bricks and -material lying about--and issue the flour baked in good loaves. There -is, too, a slight gain in weight in baking. But the men would none of -such food, it was too light and wholesome. Their stomachs wanted the -flour stirred with grease in a skillet and cooked solid and hard. When -a chunk was eaten it stayed with the soldier and kept his appetite -partly appeased. But these new-fangled loaves--so easily digested! -Hunger came again, almost before finishing one of them. Not for Johnny -Reb was this thing; he wanted, like Tommy Atkins, "some bulk in his -inside," and one fine morning Mahone's ovens were found completely -demolished. The soldiers took again to their old-time toothsome and -staying morsels out of the skillet. - -Christmas of 1864 was now at hand. The birth of the Prince of Peace -was given such honor amid the warlike scenes of the siege as our small -resources permitted. Some boxes came from loving hearts at home, the -commissaries did all they could, and the Army of Northern Virginia -actually feasted, trying to forget for an hour or two the perils and -hardships that beset it. - -At Christmas General Sherman was in Savannah, his march to the sea -a complete success. My people at home suffered no great annoyance. -Sherman as a young lieutenant had shared my father's hospitality and -had not forgotten it. The old gentleman, however, persistently fastened -on him the crime of burning his comfortable country establishment in -Virginia. - -Sherman's march and other movements in the West were in Grant's -strategic combination for the destruction of Lee's army and should -be considered in estimating his abilities outside of operating in -Virginia. Indeed, it might be said that Sherman contributed to the -fall of Richmond almost as much as did the Army of the Potomac. - -Early in January it came on to be very cold, and during the worst of -it our division was ordered out to meet a threatening demonstration -against our right at a considerable distance. My brigade marched -instantly, our camp being occupied by Gen. C. A. Evans's Georgia -Brigade to fill our position on the line. Evans was in luck to get his -men into such well-prepared camps. We moved rapidly and in two days -came up with a large force of the enemy, formed in line and prepared -for battle. It appears, however, that he was not ready this time, -or that he overestimated the Confederate strength sent against him. -Some shelling was indulged in and small-arm long-distance firing. It -seems that but two or three of us were touched, among them myself. I -was sitting on the white mare (my other mount gone suddenly lame) in -front of the line, with no thought of firing then, so distant was the -enemy,--quite out of range,--when a long-range rifle sent a bullet -through many folds of thick clothing and striking on the hip bone -knocked me out of the saddle. It proved to be nothing serious. The ball -had glanced off, stiffening and bruising the leg rather painfully, so -that remounting after some bandaging, it stuck out like a wooden leg. I -did not think that just such a hit could unhorse me. - -My men said the brigade was unlucky for its commanders. General -Wright had been repeatedly and dangerously wounded; several colonels -commanding, wounded or killed, and General Girardy killed. I began to -think there might be something in it. The enemy took up the march, and -leisurely rejoining their main body to the right, Mahone's division -began moving for the camps just vacated. It continued very cold, much -ice and snow lying about the roads. At our last bivouac some miles from -camp I suffered a loss, nothing less than a noble pair of riding-boots, -a present, kept for extra work. - -At the bivouac the negro servant had taken them out of the blanket -roll and failed to replace them. As soon as they were missed, back he -went and returned with the precious leathers burned to a crisp! Our -campfires had spread through the forest. At this period boots cost five -or six hundred dollars of our currency, if to be had at any price. - -On starting back I sent word to General Evans of our approach so that -my camps could be vacated in good order. The men were utterly disgusted -and indignant when they re-entered their quarters. They were little -like the well-kept camps they had temporarily vacated. Evans's officers -had not properly restrained the careless, reckless soldiers. I made -vigorous complaint at headquarters, but at this date there was perhaps -too much else to think of. General Evans is now chief of the veterans -in Georgia and held in great respect by their dwindling numbers. - -Mahone's other brigades were efficiently commanded by Finnegan, -Florida; Harris, Mississippi; Weisiger, Virginia; Sanders, Alabama. - -In the first days of February another demonstration was made against -Lee's extreme right, this time in great force and meaning business. -Our division and other troops with cavalry at once pushed out to meet -it, with Finnegan in command of division (Mahone was absent, sick). -The collision came at Hatcher's Run by some preliminary skirmishing on -February 5th, a sanguinary action on the 6th, followed up by the enemy -feebly on the 7th. On the 6th, my Georgians were hotly engaged in the -afternoon and made a handsome, successful charge, which dislodged and -forced back the Federals. The contest went on until darkness stopped -it, and the night passed entrenching where we stood, caring for wounded -and burying dead. - -Early next morning the enemy, driving back my pickets, got too close -to us, and a rifleman put a bullet through my right lung, smashing the -ribs front and rear. I was down this time for good, I supposed, the -breath gushing through the orifices instead of its natural channel. The -surgeon, Dr. Wood, however, soon relieved that by plastering the holes, -and sent me back that night. The roads being frozen and very rough, my -brave fellows made two relief gangs and bore their commander by litter -on their shoulders eight miles to a small shanty, where rest was taken. - -All through the night, while passing stray troops on the road, I could -hear the question, "Who have you there?" "General Sorrel." "Is he badly -hurt?" "Yes, mortally wounded." The soldier habitually takes a gloomy -view of things. - -Very soon I was in comfortable quarters near Petersburg, in the hands -of my excellent brigade surgeon, Dr. Sampson Pope, and progressed so -well that in a fortnight I could be moved to Doctor Sorrel's quarters -in Richmond, under treatment of my friend Dr. J. B. Reid, and with that -ended the staff officer's soldiering. A few closing words will bring me -to the end of these "Recollections" nearly forty years behind us. - -My wound healing satisfactorily, Doctor Sorrel proposed in March -taking me to "The Oaklands," the beautiful estate in Roanoke County of -Colonel Wm. Watts, who had kindly sent me an invitation to visit him. -He was the invalided colonel of the Twenty-eighth Virginia, of the -First Corps, a fine officer and most hospitable, the leading man of -the county. To him we went, the change being very beneficial. Then the -railroad station was Big Lick, a post-office, shop, and tavern. It is -now grown to be Roanoke, a prosperous city of 25,000. Colonel Watts's -widowed sister, Mrs. Rives, presided over the delightful old Virginia -establishment. Her lovely character won all hearts. The stately -figure and attractive features were known and admired widely over the -countryside. To me she was kindness itself, and no marvel is it that I -mended rapidly. - -There was an engagement of a few months' standing between Doctor -Sorrel and Mrs. Rives, and soon after our coming the uncertain future -was considered. They decided to wed without longer waiting, and the -ceremony, quite private, was performed at the residence, myself in full -uniform as the Doctor's best man, propped on my feet by the dignified, -silver-haired black major-domo. - -While in this part of the country I heard much about Hunter's -expedition into it the previous year and the devastation he had brought -in the region round about. Truly Maj.-Gen. David Hunter, of the United -States Army, was a torch bearer if nothing else. He had no military -distinction, but had served against the Indians, it is said, with -the same cruelties it was now his delight to apply to non-combatant -dwellers in southwest Virginia and the head of the Shenandoah Valley. -No property within reach of his destroying hand seemed safe from him. -His fame lay not in the soldier's hard-fought battles, but in burning -farmers' houses and barns. The extensive schools at Lexington aroused -his hate and were laid in ashes by his torch. - -General Crook, the fine soldier then serving with him, said, "He would -have burned the Natural Bridge could he have compassed it." Marvel -it is that Hunter did not blow it up. He was, however, beaten off by -Early's forces and the home guards, and the country cleared of that -devastator. There was little more heard of him as a soldier. - -Maj.-Gen. George Crook was altogether a different character. He was a -soldier of high training and tried courage, making no war on women and -children, houses and barns. - -Some time later, one of our daring rangers, NcNeil, with a small -following, achieved a bold exploit. While Crook was commanding a -department at Cumberland, Md., the ranger penetrated many miles within -the blue lines, took the General out of bed, mounted him well, and -landed his distinguished prisoner safely in Richmond. - -There Doctor Sorrel, who had served with him in the old Army, called to -see to his comforts. Crook as a thorough-going Indian fighter was not -without some admiration for the way NcNeil had gathered him in. "But, -Sorrel," said he, "I shall get even with that fellow at his own work. -Just as soon as I get out of this my commission will drop for a few -weeks, while I raise a hundred men with whom I undertake to beat Master -NcNeil at his own game." - -Such was perhaps his intention then, but, exchanged soon after, there -was other and more important work awaiting this gallant and respected -officer. - -Early in April, after grateful farewells to my host and new sister, -we started to rejoin the army. At Lynchburg came to us the accounts -of the surrender at Appomattox, with all the pathetic, harrowing -details attaching to that event; the feeling of the soldiers, their -overflowing affection for Lee and sympathy with him and his own hidden -but overwhelming grief--I pass them by. My brigade was on hand in good -shape, with Captain Perry looking after it, and paroled stronger than -any brigade in the army. (See Appendix.) - -The commandant at Lynchburg, General Lomax, placed at my disposal an -ambulance and mules to get out of reach of the Union forces. We could -not yet realize that the war was ended with the life of Lee's army. I -took to the mountains for some days, and then finding things really -ended and my troublesome wound breaking out afresh, ventured again on -Colonel Watts's hospitality. It was as generous as the day. But it was -time to move, and after farewell to hospitable Oaklands the Doctor and -I started on our return home. The rails were sufficiently repaired -to take up to Lynchburg, where we were paroled by the United States -officer. Between us we had just fifteen dollars good money, and it came -to me in this way. When I was last in Lynchburg, as already described, -one of our quartermasters pressed on me $20 in gold, four half-eagles; -"A barrel of Confederate money not good," as he said, "for the price of -a dinner." - -Some time after I came up with a young Maryland cavalryman making his -way back to Baltimore. He had no coat or jacket, although the rest of -him was good, and I wanted to know why. "Well," said young Latrobe (it -was my friend's brother), "my horse wanted a set of shoes. The farrier -would not look at my money, but took the jacket, and I got my shoes." -It was quite certain the young fellow would part with his remaining -outfit, piece by piece, with the same easy nonchalance, if need be, -and I insisted on his taking one of my half-eagles. But for that the -"Peeping Toms" of Baltimore might possibly have seen a new Godiva, -"clothed only with chastity," riding through their streets fresh from -the Southern armies. Their blushes and the young cavalryman's were -saved by that golden half-eagle. - -From Lynchburg to Richmond the route was tedious and wearying. It -was partly by rail, partly in an army wagon, and partly on foot. On -arriving at the Confederate capital we were amid the ruins of the great -fire that nearly destroyed it. The army of occupation was in force, -everywhere the Union army filled one with wonder. It was like the ant -in numbers, and I really could not take in its unstinted equipment in -wagons, ambulances, mules, draught horses, light artillery, and horse -furniture, all apparently new and of the best class for field work. -The contrast with our own inadequate equipment was very decided, and -still greater was the splendor of their officers, mounts and uniforms, -and the good clothing of the soldiers, with what on our part had -contented us. In Richmond, nursing our dwindling cash, we found a -frugal but cheerful hospitality while preparing for the next move to -Baltimore, where we were sure of meeting my good father's provision for -us. My weak condition would not permit me making the journey home on -horse-back; it must be by sea. - -At Richmond we took the oath, as prescribed, to the United States -Government, the courteous Federal officer asking pleasantly if it -"tasted bad?" This done we hoped to get a permit to leave by boat for -Baltimore, but were refused. No movements of Confederate officers, -except Marylanders returning, were suffered in that direction. The -decision was then forced on us that we must go, "coûte que coûte." It -was managed successfully with some little risk. By the help of friends -we were smuggled on board just as the boat was starting. The Doctor -was in mufti and I had doffed as much military attire as I could. We -kept very quiet and secluded on the main deck of the boat as she glided -down the river of so many warlike scenes of the preceding years! past -frowning Drewry's Bluff, past bristling Chappin's farm, City Point, -Westover, and Harrison's Landing, Turkey Bend and Butler's Dutch -Gap Canal--all saddening and depressing in the retrospect, crossing -thoughts of the misty future. At the fortress a short stop was made, -and then the voyage up the noble Chesapeake resumed. One of the coal -passers here recognized me with a wide, astonished grin. He was one of -my brigade fellows, in now for a job at anything. The night was passed -on the bay and could have been very comfortable with a trifle more -cash. We had, however, just about enough to pay for passage, without -bed or meals. So we stood out the long night and could provide some -small refreshments. When morning came we were moored to the wharf, and -I soon found my good Baltimore relatives most hospitably inclined, and -our troubles for the time were done with. - -There were many Confederate officers and soldiers about the city, all -watched quite closely by the Federal authorities. General Hancock was -in command of the department, and from his adjutant-general I received -an order to report in person. Upon so doing I was questioned as to my -reasons for being in Baltimore and my intentions. Upon explaining why -I was returning home by that route and that I should have to go to -New York to find a steamer for Savannah, he was civil and obliging; -allowed a stay of a week in Baltimore; but I was required to report -once in every twenty-four hours. The next day this considerate officer -dispensed with such visits, adding, "You shall not, General, be -troubled in any way while you are stopping here." Here Doctor Sorrel -left me. Deciding to defer his visit home, he returned at once to -Virginia. A few days later I was in New York at the New York Hotel, -Mr. Cranston the proprietor, and for years past, as then, the resort -of everything Southern. There were many officers in the hotel, some I -suspect by Cranston's good nature and kindness. After a visit to some -relatives and friends, who had only thought of me as one dead, I took -passage for Savannah on a small, crowded, most uncomfortable little -steamer. The rough voyage was safely made, and I landed on my own -shores in dear old Georgia, greeted by kindred and friends, with hands -outstretched in a hearty welcome home. - -And now these recollections approach their close. There are many more -thronging, pulsing memories that could interest, perhaps instruct. -What is here gathered has been an inexpressible comfort and occupation -in the colorless hours of recent tedious convalescence, and could be -extended, but the parting word must be spoken. - -It is farewell to the Army of Northern Virginia and its ever-glorious -commander. - -His name, his fame shall forever live! His sword, unstained, be ever a -soldier's shining light and bright example! - - "Ah Muse! You dare not claim - A nobler man than he, - Nor nobler man hath less of blame - Nor blameless man hath purer name, - Nor purer name hath grander fame, - Nor fame, another Lee!" - -His army incomparable holds, after long years, the abiding love of its -surviving veterans. Who that marched with it, fought with it, took part -in its victories and its defeats, shared its sufferings and its joys, -shall ever be deaf when its deeds are sung or mute when ring out its -plaudits! - -For my part, when the time comes to cross the river like the others, -I shall be found asking at the gates above, "Where is the Army of -Northern Virginia? For there I make my camp." - - - - -APPENDIX - - - "HEADQUARTERS NEAR BEAN'S STATION, - "December 17, 1863. - - "Special Orders No. 27. - -"Major-General L. McLaws is relieved from further duty with this army, -and will proceed to Augusta, Georgia, from which place he will report -by letter to the adjutant and inspector-general. He will turn over the -command of the division to the senior brigadier present. - -"By command of Lieut.-General Longstreet. - - "G. M. SORREL, - "_Lieut.-Col. and Assistant Adjutant-General_. - - "Major-General MCLAWS, - "Confederate States Army." - - * * * * * - - "CAMP ON BEAN'S STATION GAP ROAD, - "December 17th, 1863. - - "Lieut.-Col. SORREL, - "_Assistant Adjutant-General_. - -"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Special Orders No. 27 -from your headquarters, of this date, relieving me from further duty -with this army. If there is no impropriety in making inquiry, and I -cannot imagine there is, I respectfully request to be informed of the -particular reason for the order. - - "Very respectfully, - "L. MCLAWS, - "_Major-General._" - - * * * * * - - "HEADQUARTERS NEAR BEAN'S STATION, - "December 17th, 1863. - - "Major-General MCLAWS, - "Confederate States Army. - -"General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of -to-day, asking for the particular reason for the issue of the order -relieving you from duty with this army. - -"In reply I am directed to say that throughout the campaign on which -we are engaged, you have exhibited a want of confidence in the efforts -and plans which the commanding general has thought proper to adopt, and -he is apprehensive that this feeling will extend more or less to the -troops under your command. - -"Under these circumstances the commanding general has felt that the -interest of the public service would be advanced by your separation -from him, and as he could not himself leave, he decided upon the issue -of the order which you have received. - -"I have the honor to be, general, with great respect, - - "G. M. SORREL, - "_Lieut.-Col. and Assistant Adjutant-General_." - - * * * * * - - From _The Savannah News_, 1899. - -"During the siege of Petersburg, Va., there was a severe combat at -Hatcher's Run, resisting one of Grant's attacks on Lee's right flank. - -"Brig.-Gen. John Pegram was killed and Brig.-Gen. Sorrel was, for some -time, thought to be mortally wounded. - -"The action took place on February 6, 1865. A time-stained clipping -from the _New York Herald_, a few days later, gives 'Sketches of -the Dead Rebel Generals,' with some detail, indicating considerable -acquaintance with the Confederate personnel. - -"We print what it had to say of our townsman, who, still with us, is -thus permitted to read his own obituary from the _Herald's_ columns: - - "'BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. M. SORREL - - "'The rebel Gen. Sorrel, reported seriously wounded in the battle on - Hatcher's Run, has been permitted to enjoy his rank but a short time. - He has been but lately appointed to the rank and assigned to duty. - - "'Gen. Sorrel was a native of Georgia, and, at the commencement of - the war, was a teller in the Central Railroad Bank in Savannah. He - had no military education. To his established character as a quiet, - taciturn business man and accountant and to some influence from an - extensive family to which he belongs, he owes his appointment on the - staff of Gen. Longstreet at the beginning of the war. He served in the - capacity of assistant adjutant-general to Gen. Longstreet, at Bull - Run, July 21, 1861, was wounded at Antietam, September 17, 1862, and - since followed the varied fortunes of Longstreet. He has been advanced - from a lieutenancy to a lieutenant-colonelcy in the adjutant-general's - department of the rebel army. - - "'During the battle of the Wilderness, fought in May, Lieut.-Col. - Sorrel displayed great gallantry and evinced much ability in directing - and managing a division whose commander had fallen, and of which he - was placed in command by Longstreet. Generals Lee and Longstreet - awarded him high praise for his conduct, and recommended him for - promotion. He was in consequence appointed brigadier-general, - November 1, 1864, and assigned to the command of the brigade formerly - commanded by Gen. Wright. In relieving him from duty as his assistant - adjutant-general, Gen. Longstreet paid the following compliment to - young Sorrel: - - "'"General Order No. 15--Headquarters First Army Corps, November 4, - 1864. Col. G. M. Sorrel, assistant adjutant-general, having been - promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and assigned to the command - of a brigade in the Third Corps, is relieved from duty as assistant - adjutant-general of this corps. The loss of this officer to the First - Corps, with which he has been so permanently connected since its - organization, will be severely felt. Distinguished alike for gallantry - in the field and for energy and skill in the administration of his - department, his value cannot be over-estimated. He will carry with him - to his new command, so richly won, a sure promise of success in the - record of the past. - - "'"By command of Lieut.-Gen. Longstreet. - - "'"Official: - - "'"O. LATROBE, - "'"_Assistant Adjutant-General_." - - "'The rebel papers of February 9th report Gen. Sorrel dead of the - wounds received on the 6th inst.'" - - - _From an address delivered by Comrade John R. Turner before A. P. Hill - Camp of Confederate Veterans of Petersburg, Va., on the evening of - March 3, 1892._ - -"My letter to General Sorrel I mailed to Savannah, Ga., and was as -follows: - - "'PETERSBURG, VA., January 13, 1892. - "'GEN. G. M. SORREL, - - "'Savannah, Ga. - - "'DEAR GENERAL: Being anxious to know if your recollection and - mine accorded, as to certain movements made at the battle of the - Wilderness, May 6th, 1864, in which we both participated, I take - the liberty of addressing you this communication, and hope (if not - trespassing too much upon your time) you will do me the kindness to - favor me with a reply. - - "'You will remember Mahone's brigade of Anderson's division was - quartered near Madison Run Station. We broke camp on the morning, I - think, of the 4th, and bivouacked near Rapidan Station that night. - In the early morning of the 6th we made a forced march to the - battlefield, which we reached about 10 o'clock. - - "'Mahone's brigade was ordered very soon afterwards to the right in - the Wilderness. After going some distance through the thicket, we - encountered the enemy apparently bivouacking, and little expecting - any attack from that direction. They fled pell-mell before us, - leaving their light camp equipage scattered in every direction, - making scarcely any resistance until they reached the Orange Plank - Road; when, having a natural fortification, strengthened hurriedly - by them, they stoutly resisted us. Just at this point you dashed up - to the front of my regiment, the Twelfth Virginia, and approaching - our color-bearer, Benj. H. May (as gallant a soldier as ever carried - a flag or shouldered a musket, and who was killed at Spottsylvania - Court House the 12th of May), asked him for his colors to lead the - charge. He refused to give up his colors, but said: "We will follow - you." With great enthusiasm we followed you in the direction of the - Plank Road. The enemy broke and fled before us. I remember seeing you - then dash with great speed up the road in the direction, I suppose, - of General Longstreet, to inform him that the way was clear. Our - color-bearer, in the excitement of the moment, failed to observe that - the other regiments of the brigade had halted at the Plank Road. - We became detached and passed over the road forty or fifty yards - before halting. Our colonel, D. A. Weisiger, observing that we were - in advance of the brigade, ordered us to fall back in line with the - brigade. In doing so the other regiments, mistaking us for the enemy, - fired into us, killing and wounding several of our men, and I always - thought the same volley killed General Jenkins and wounded General - Longstreet, this apparently putting an end to all operations for the - day, as there seemed to be very little done afterwards during the day. - - "'I had the pleasure of a short conversation with General Longstreet - returning from Gettysburg three years ago, and he told me that, while - he knew he was wounded by his own men, he never knew exactly how it - occurred. He said everything was working beautifully up to this point, - and what seemed to be an opportunity for a brilliant victory was lost - by this unfortunate circumstance. - - "'I have often thought of your bravery and gallant bearing as you led - us through the woods up to the Plank Road. I feel that I would like to - know with certainty whether or not my recollections are correct as to - the part you took in that charge. - - "'Wishing you a long life, much happiness and great prosperity, I am - very truly, your comrade, - - "'JOHN R. TURNER.' - -"To this letter General Sorrel replied as follows: - - "'NEW YORK, January 19, 1892. - "'Lee's Birthday. - - "'JOHN R. TURNER, ESQ., - "'A. P. Hill Camp, C. V., - "'Petersburg, Va. - - "'DEAR SIR: Your letter of January 14th was forwarded to me from - Savannah, and I am very glad to hear from you. The events you describe - are so long ago, that one's memory may be pardoned if slightly - treacherous as to details, but I may say at once that your recital - of the incident and the movements of Mahone's brigade at the battle - of the Wilderness conform accurately to my own recollection of it, - excepting, of course, the too-partial and flattering view you take - of my own personal service there. But I will give you briefly my own - version of it, which really is near your own. - - "'Longstreet's corps had to move at the earliest hour in the morning - of the 6th of May, and arriving at the battlefield was just in time - to be thrown across the Plank Road and check the enemy, whose attack - had begun on A. P. Hill's corps. This of itself was a magnificent - performance of the corps to form line in the dense thicket after a - hasty march, in the midst of troops suddenly attacked and retiring - from the front in disorder. Being done during the enemy's attack it - displayed the steadiness characteristic of Longstreet's famous corps. - This checked that attempt and for some time there was some quiet. It - was then, too, you will recollect, that General Lee was about to lead - the Texas Brigade into action, so threatening was the situation. He - was almost forcibly stopped by his officers and the entreaties of - the soldiers. It was soon after this that General Longstreet said - to me that if I were to collect some troops over on the right, get - them in good line and in touch with each other, and make a strong - movement forward, swinging by the right, he felt sure a splendid - success would follow. I proceeded to follow out these directions, with - full authority to control the movement. There were three brigades, - in addition, perhaps, to other troops, that I succeeded in getting - into good form and ready to move. These were Mahone's, Wofford's, and - Anderson's. The movement soon began, at a given signal, our right - swinging swiftly around, driving everything before it. The lines - in front of us made some sharp resistance, but they were quickly - overcome, and our troops, Mahone's brigade notably distinguished in - the affair, rushed forward through the dense undergrowth, carrying - everything before them. It was then that the incident occurred of - which you speak, about poor Ben May. He was doing all that man could - do with his colors, but seemed to be somewhat embarrassed by the - bushes, and I thought perhaps I might help to get them forward, - mounted as I was. As you say, he positively refused to let them leave - his own hands. I was filled with admiration of his splendid courage. - I think it was on the 12th that poor May was shot, and I received - from a member of the Twelfth Virginia an affectionate message that - he sent me. I have always remembered him as one of the bravest of - Confederate soldiers. The Twelfth Virginia did splendid service that - day, and the regiment and myself became great friends. Till the end - of the war, whenever in marches or elsewhere I met it, I was always - honored with its friendly greetings. As our troops reached the Plank - Road, you will recollect that a volley was given to the enemy, who - were trying to rally on the opposite side. By this volley General - Wadsworth and his horse (while trying to rally his men) were both - killed, and his soldiers could make no stand against us. Our rapid - movements through the woods had disordered our line, as you correctly - describe it. Leaving them for a moment, while recovering good order, - I hastened to General Longstreet with a view to bringing up supports - to follow up our splendid success. I met the General near by, - Jenkins's brigade immediately behind him. He had heard the sound of - our rifles, and, with the quick instinct of the general that he was, - was following us up with a strong and powerful support to pursue his - victory. I had scarcely taken more than a few steps with him when a - sudden and unexpected fire, at first scattering, then heavier, broke - out from our men. The General was shot down by my side, and at the - same time General Jenkins, one or two staff officers, and several - couriers. I have never known accurately who started this fire; there - is yet some confusion about it, but it was fatal, and had the effect, - by disabling the General, of putting a stop to the heavy blow he - was about inflicting on the disordered enemy. Later in the day, you - will remember, we made another attack, rather more direct, with a - strong force, on the enemy, who had got behind some entrenchments; - but we there sustained a repulse, and that about closed the principal - features of the battle of the Wilderness on the 6th of May. - - "'The importance of our flank attack, which I have described here - so briefly, was not under-estimated by the enemy in his subsequent - reports. The official report of the battle by General Grant, or his - immediate subordinate, describes the tremendous attack of these three - brigades, which turned his own left flank and nearly brought about - a widespread disaster to the Federal army. I cannot but think it - would have ended so, had not General Longstreet, in the flush of his - success, and with ardent, fresh troops in hand, been struck down in - the very act of delivering this blow. - - "'I am sketching this off to you hastily, and entirely from memory, - and while there may be some omissions or inaccuracies as to detail, I - think the account is not far from wrong. - - "'With best wishes, I am, yours very truly and sincerely, - - "'G. M. SORREL.'" - - - _From Colonel Freemantle's (Coldstream Guards) - "Three Months in the Southern States."_ - -"30th June, Tuesday.--This morning before marching from Chambersburg, -General Longstreet introduced me to the Commander-in-Chief. General -Lee is, almost without exception, the handsomest man of his age I ever -saw. He is 56 years old, tall, broad shouldered, very well made, well -set up, a thorough soldier in appearance, and his manners are most -courteous and full of dignity. He is a perfect gentleman in every -respect. I imagine no man has so few enemies, or is so universally -esteemed. Throughout the South, all agree in pronouncing him to be as -near perfection as man can be. He has none of the small vices, such as -smoking, drinking, chewing or swearing, and his bitterest enemy never -accused him of any of the greater ones. He generally wears a well-worn -long gray jacket, a high black felt hat, and blue trousers tucked into -Wellington boots. I never saw him carry arms, and the only mark of his -military rank are the three stars on his collar. He rides a handsome -horse which is extremely well groomed. He, himself, is very neat in his -dress and person, and in the most arduous marches he always looks smart -and clean. - -"In the old Army he was always considered one of its best officers; -and at the outbreak of these troubles he was lieutenant-colonel of the -Second Cavalry. He was a rich man--but his fine estate was one of the -first to fall into the enemy's hands. I believe he has never slept in -a house since he has commanded the Virginian army, and he invariably -declines all offers of hospitality for fear the person offering it may -afterwards get into trouble for having sheltered the rebel General." - - * * * * * - - _From Viscount Wolseley._ - - "OFFICE OF COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, - "LONDON, 10th July, 1899. - - "MY DEAR GENERAL SORREL: I have great pleasure in complying with your - request, and hope Mrs. Sorrel will do me the honor of accepting the - enclosed latest photograph I have had taken. - - "I am a collector of autograph letters, but I lack letters from the - Confederate commanders. I am very glad to have your letter to add to - my collection. If you happen to have any letters from the Southern - generals that you could spare me I should esteem it a great favor. - - "Believe me to be, with a very keen and pleasant remembrance of all - the kindness I received when in the Southern States, - - "Sincerely yours, - "WOLSELEY. - - "To GENERAL SORREL, - "New York." - - * * * * * - -_Thanks of the Confederate Congress to Lieutenant-General James -Longstreet and his Command._ - - _"Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States of America._ - - "That the thanks of Congress are due and hereby cordially tendered to - Lieutenant-General James Longstreet and the officers and men of his - command for their patriotic services and brilliant achievements in the - present war, sharing as they have, the arduous fatigues and privations - of many campaigns in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and - Tennessee, and participating in nearly every great battle fought in - those States, the commanding general ever displaying great ability, - skill, and prudence in command, and the officers and men the most - heroic bravery, fortitude, and energy in every duty they have been - called upon to perform. - - "_Resolved_, That the President be requested to transmit a copy of the - foregoing resolution to Lieutenant-General Longstreet for publication - to his command. - - "Approved February 17, 1864." - - _J. Longstreet to Secretary of War._ - - "HEADQUARTERS NEAR CHATTANOOGA, - "September 26th, 1863. - - "HON. J. A. SEDDON, _Secretary of War_. - - "SIR: May I take the liberty to advise you of our condition and our - wants. On the 20th instant, after a very severe battle, we gained - a complete and glorious victory--the most complete victory of the - war, except perhaps the first Manassas. On the morning of the 21st - General Bragg asked my opinion as to our best course. I suggested - at once to strike at Burnside and if he made his escape to march - upon Rosecrans's communication in rear of Nashville. He seemed to - adopt the suggestion and gave the order to march at four o'clock in - the afternoon. The right wing of the army marched some eight or ten - miles, my command following next day at daylight. I was halted at the - crossing of the Chickamauga, and on the night of the 22d the army was - ordered to march for Chattanooga, thus giving the enemy two days and - a half to strengthen the fortifications here already prepared for - him by ourselves. Here we have remained under instructions that the - enemy shall not be assaulted. To express my conviction in a few words, - our chief has done but one thing that he ought to have done since I - joined his army--that was to order the attack upon the 20th. All other - things that he has done he ought not to have done. I am convinced that - nothing but the hand of God can save us and help us as long as we have - our present commander. - - "Now to our wants. Can't you send us General Lee? The army in Virginia - can operate defensively, while our operations here should be - offensive, until we have recovered Tennessee at all events. - - "We need some such great mind as General Lee's (nothing more) to - accomplish this. You will be surprised that this army has neither - organization nor mobility and I have doubts if this commander can - give it to them. In an ordinary war I could serve without complaint - under any one whom the Government might place in authority; but we - have too much at stake in this to remain quiet under such distressing - circumstances. Our most precious blood is now flowing in streams from - the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains and may yet be exhausted before we - have succeeded. Then goes honor, treasure, and independence. When I - came here I hoped to find our commander willing and anxious to do all - things that would aid us in our great cause and ready to receive what - aid he could get from his subordinates. - - "It seems that I was greatly mistaken. It seems that he cannot adopt - and adhere to any plan or course whether of his own or some one else. - I desire to impress upon your mind that there is no exaggeration - in these statements. On the contrary I have failed to express my - convictions to the fullest extent. All that I can add without making - this letter exceedingly long is to pray you to help us and speedily. - - "I remain, with the greatest respect, your most obedient servant, - - "J. LONGSTREET, - "_Lieutenant General_." - - * * * * * - - _Captain H. H. Perry, A. A. G., Sorrel's Brigade, writes of Grant's - first demand for Lee's surrender at Appomattox._ - - "THE EVENTFUL NIGHT - -"It was night, April 7th, 1865. We had crossed the river, near -Farmville, and had taken up a position about, as near as I can -remember, a mile from the crossing, which the Confederates had -attempted to burn, but unsuccessfully. General Miles, commanding a -Federal brigade, made a mad attempt to throw the Confederates into -confusion on their left by a flank movement (perhaps that was his -purpose), but it was a very unfortunate move, for his lines were in a -few minutes nearly cut to pieces and his brigade placed hors de combat. -A furious picket firing and sharp-shooting began on both sides, while -the wounded and dead Federals lay between the two lines. - -"Mahone's division was now the rearguard at this point of General Lee's -army. General Lee's forces were reduced now to their minimum strength, -but a fiercer, more determined body of men never lived. They simply -waited for General Lee's orders. - -"About five o'clock p. m. a flag of truce appeared in front of General -Sorrel's brigade (General Wright's old brigade), of which the writer -of this account was the adjutant-general. A courier was sent to -division headquarters to announce it. Colonel Tayloe, a splendid young -Virginian, had been assigned temporarily to the command of General -Sorrel's brigade, General Sorrel having been almost mortally wounded -near Petersburg. In a short while Colonel Tayloe was ordered to send a -staff officer to answer to the flag of truce. - -"The writer was assigned to this duty at the Confederate front -lines. As the top of the earthworks was reached, a number of Federal -sharpshooters fired at me, and two balls passed through the uniform -coat I wore, and one ball wounded a Confederate soldier in the hand, -who had risen up with others from behind the works, out of curiosity -to see what was going to take place. That ended the truce business for -that afternoon. After nightfall and after everything on both sides had -lapsed into silence, pickets were put in front of our lines about one -hundred yards. Captain James W. English, one of the bravest, coolest, -most faithful and vigilant officers in the Confederate Army, was in -charge of the line in front of our brigade. I had selected him for -the reason that I knew that he would not fail me if I depended on his -courage and faith. Colonel Tayloe knew nothing of our command or its -officers, and the responsibility rested on me to select the right man -in the crisis there was now upon us. We apprehended a night attack. - -"About nine o'clock at night, as soon as the moon was about to rise, -Captain English reported that a flag of truce was again offered on -the Federal lines on our front. It was reported again at our division -headquarters and I was again sent out to answer it as before. I put on -an army revolver, put aside my sword, and advanced about fifty yards -from our pickets, halted, and called for the flag. Where I stood there -were scattered around several Federal dead and wounded. - -"One of the latter asked me to do something for him. I told him I would -very soon, making this promise only to encourage him, for I could -really do nothing for lack of authority, as well as lack of means. I -asked his name and was rather astonished when he said he was General -Miles's adjutant-general and that his name was Boyd, as I now remember -it. A response to my call in front took my attention, though I remember -that the wounded officer said he had been shot through the thigh. - -"I advanced some distance and met a very handsomely dressed Federal -officer. We stepped in front of each other about seven or eight feet -apart. I soon recognized the fact that my worn Confederate uniform and -slouch hat, even in the dim light, would not compare favorably with his -magnificence; but as I am six feet high I drew myself up as proudly -as I could, and put on the appearance as well as possible of being -perfectly satisfied with my personal exterior. The officer spoke first -introducing himself as Gen. Seth Williams, of General Grant's staff. - -"After I had introduced myself, he felt in his side pocket for -documents, as I thought, but the document was a very nice-looking -silver flask, as well as I could distinguish. He remarked that he hoped -I would not think it was an unsoldierly courtesy if he offered me some -very fine brandy. I will own up now that I wanted that drink awfully. -Worn down, hungry and dispirited, it would have been a gracious godsend -if some old Confederate and I could have emptied that flask between us -in that dreadful hour of misfortune. But I raised myself about an inch -higher, if possible, bowed and refused politely, trying to produce the -ridiculous appearance of having feasted on champagne and pound-cake -not ten minutes before, and that I had not the slightest use for so -plebeian a drink as 'fine brandy.' He was a true gentleman, begged -pardon, and placed the flask in his pocket again, without touching the -contents in my presence. If he had taken a drink, and my Confederate -olfactories had obtained a whiff of the odor of it, it is possible that -I should have 'caved.' The truth is, I had not eaten two ounces in two -days, and I had my coat-tail then full of corn, waiting to parch it as -soon as opportunity might present itself. I did not leave it behind me -because I had nobody I could trust it with. - -"As an excuse which I felt I ought to make for refusing his proffered -courtesy, I rather haughtily said that I had been sent forward only -to receive any communication that was offered and could not properly -accept or offer any courtesies. In fact, if I had offered what I could -it would have taken my corn. - -"He then handed to me a letter, which he said was from General Grant to -General Lee, and asked that General Lee should get it immediately if -possible. I made no reply except to ask him if that was all we had to -transact, or something to that effect. He said that was all. We bowed -very profoundly to each other and turned away. - -"In twenty minutes after I got back in our lines, a Confederate courier -riding a swift horse had placed in General Lee's hands the letter which -was handed to me, the first demand for surrender of his devoted army. -In an hour's time we were silently pursuing our way toward the now -famous field of Appomattox. We marched all day of the 8th of April and -slept in bivouac not more than three or four miles from Appomattox, -where the demand was made again and was acceded to, and the Confederacy -of the South went down in defeat, but with glory. - -"We arrived on the field of Appomattox about 9 o'clock on the 9th day -of April, the day of capitulation. The negotiations lasted during that -day. The general order from General Lee was read to the army on the -10th of April. That is, as I remember it, General Lee published his -last order to his soldiers on that day. I sat down and copied it on a -piece of Confederate paper, using a drum-head for a desk, the best I -could do. I carried this copy to General Lee, and asked him to sign it -for me. He signed it and I have it now. It is the best authority along -with my parole that I can produce why, after that day, I no longer -raised a soldier's hand for the South. There were tears in his eyes -when he signed it for me, and when I turned to walk away there were -tears in my own eyes. He was in all respects the greatest man that ever -lived, and as an humble officer of the South, I thank Heaven that I had -the honor of following him. - -"Waynesboro, Georgia, 1896." - - * * * * * - -_Some extracts from Colonel Freemantle's "Three Months in the Southern -States."_ - - "GETTYSBURG--PICKETT'S CHARGE - -"I determined to make my way to General Longstreet. It was then about -2.30. After passing General Lee and his staff I rode on through the -woods in the direction in which I had left Longstreet. I soon began -to meet many wounded men returning from the front; many of them asked -in piteous tones the way to a doctor or an ambulance. The farther I -got the greater became the number of the wounded. Some were walking -alone on crutches composed of two rifles, others were supported by -men less badly wounded than themselves, and others were carried on -stretchers by the ambulance corps; but in no case did I see a sound man -helping the wounded to the rear, unless he carried the red badge of -the ambulance corps. I saw all this in much less time than it takes to -write it, and although astonished to meet such vast numbers of wounded, -I had not seen _enough_ to give me an idea of the real extent of the -mischief. - -"When I got close to General Longstreet I saw one of his regiments -advancing through the woods in good order; so thinking I was in time to -see the attack I remarked to the General that '_I wouldn't have missed -this for anything._' Longstreet was seated at the top of a snake fence -at the edge of the wood and looking perfectly calm and unperturbed. He -replied: 'The devil you wouldn't! I would liked to have missed it very -much; we've attacked and been repulsed; look there!' - -"For the first time I then had a view of the open space between the -two positions and saw it covered with Confederates slowly and sulkily -returning toward us in small, broken parties under a heavy fire of -artillery. The General told me that Pickett's division had succeeded -in carrying the enemy's position and capturing the guns, but after -remaining there some minutes it had been forced to retire. No person -could have been more calm or self-possessed than General Longstreet -under these trying circumstances, aggravated as they now were by the -movements of the enemy, who began to show a strong disposition to -advance. I could now thoroughly appreciate the term 'Bulldog,' which I -had heard applied to him by the soldiers. - -"Difficulties seemed to make no other impression upon him than to make -him a little more savage. - -"Major Walton was the only officer with him when I came up--all the -rest had been put into the charge. In a few minutes Major Latrobe -arrived on foot, carrying his saddle, having just had his horse killed. -Colonel Sorrel was also in the same predicament and Captain Goree's -horse was wounded in the mouth. - -"The General was making the best arrangements in his power to resist -the threatened advance, by advancing some artillery, rallying the -stragglers. - -"I remember seeing a general come up to him and report that he was -'unable to bring up his men again.' Longstreet turned upon him and -replied with some sarcasm, 'Very well, never mind, then, General, just -let them remain where they are; the enemy's going to advance and it -will spare you the trouble.' He asked for something to drink. I gave -him some rum out of my silver flask, which I begged he would keep in -remembrance of the occasion; he smiled, and to my great satisfaction -accepted the memorial. - -"If Longstreet's conduct was admirable, that of General Lee was -perfectly sublime. He was engaged in rallying and encouraging the -broken troops, and was riding about a little in front of the wood, -quite alone--the whole of his staff being engaged in a similar manner -farther to the rear. His face, which is always placid and cheerful, did -not show signs of the slightest disappointment, care, or annoyance; and -he was addressing every soldier he met, a few words of encouragement, -such as: 'All this will come right in the end, we'll talk it over -afterwards; but in the meantime all good men must rally. We want all -good and true men just now,' etc. He spoke to all the wounded men that -passed him, and the slightly wounded he exhorted 'to bind up their -hurts and take up a musket in this emergency.' Very few failed to -answer his appeal, and I saw many badly wounded men take off their hats -and cheer him. He said to me, 'This has been a sad day for us, Colonel, -a sad day; but we can't expect always to gain victories.'" - - - [From "The Battle of the Wilderness," by General Morris Schaff, pages - 267-273, here quoted with the kind permission of the author. Boston - and New York: Houghton Mifflin & Company, 1910.] - -General M. L. Smith, a New Yorker and a distinguished graduate of West -Point, doing engineer duty with Lee's army, had examined our left, -and, finding it inviting attack, so reported to Longstreet. Now there -is on Longstreet's staff a tall, trim, graceful young Georgian, with -keen dark eyes and engaging face, whose courage and ability to command, -Longstreet knows well, for he has been with him on many a field. His -name is Sorrel, and his gallant clay is lying in the cemetery at -Savannah, the long, pendulant Southern moss swaying softly over it. His -"Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer" has for me, like all the -books I love, a low, natural, wild music; and, as sure as I live, the -spirits who dwell in that self-sown grove called Literature were by his -side when he wrote the last page of his Recollections, his pen keeping -step with his beating heart. Longstreet, on hearing Smith's report, -called Sorrel to him, and told him to collect some scattered brigades, -form them in a good line on our left, and then, with his right pushed -forward, to hit hard. "But don't start till you have everything ready. -I shall be waiting for your gun-fire, and be on hand with fresh troops -for further advance," said Longstreet. - -Sorrel picked up G. T. Anderson's, Wofford's, Davis's of Heth's, and -Mahone's brigades, and led them to the old unfinished railroad bed; -and, having stretched them out on it, formed them, facing north, for -advance. Of course, had Gibbon obeyed Hancock's order, this movement -of Sorrel's could not have been made; as it was, the coast was clear. -On Birney's left, as everywhere along the front, our forces were in -several broken lines, and those of the first had changed places with -the second, to take advantage of the little fires at which they had -boiled their coffee to boil some for themselves; for many of the troops -had not had a bite since half-past three in the morning, and it was -now past eleven. Save the skirmish line, the men were lying down, and -not expecting any danger, when suddenly, from the heavy undergrowth, -Sorrel's three widely-winged brigades burst on their flank with the -customary yell, and before our people could change front, or, in some -cases, even form, they were on them. Fighting McAlister tried his best -to stay the tempest, and so did others, many little groups of their men -selling their lives dearly; for the color-bearers planted their banners -on nearly every knoll, and brave young fellows would rally around them; -but being overpowered, panic set in, and the lines melted away. - -As soon as Carroll, Lewis A. Grant, Birney, Webb, and Wadsworth heard -Sorrel's quick volleys, they were all on their feet at once, for the -character of the firing and the cheers told them that Peril had snapped -its chain and was loose. In a few minutes fleeing individuals, then -squads, and then broken regiments, began to pour through the woods from -the left. - -Kershaw and Field, being notified by Longstreet to resume the offensive -as soon as they should hear Sorrel, now pressed forward, seriously and -exultingly active. Wadsworth, to stay the threatening disaster (for -that lunatic, Panic, travels fast, and every officer of experience -dreads its first breath), flew to the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts at -the head of Eustis's brigade, which was just getting back from the -junction, and ordered Edwards, a resolute man, to throw his regiment -across the front of Field, who, with several pieces of artillery raking -the road, was advancing. The Thirty-seventh moved quickly by flank -into the woods, and then, undismayed, heard the command, "Forward." -And with it went my friends, Lieutenants Casey and Chalmers, and that -pleasant and true one of many a day, Captain "Tom" Colt of Pittsfield, -whose mother was a saint. "You have made a splendid charge!" exclaimed -Wadsworth, and so they had--the ground behind them showed it; they -thrust Field back, gaining a little respite for all hands before -disaster; and very valuable it proved to be, for some of the broken -commands thereby escaped utter destruction. - -While Field and Kershaw assailed Carroll, Birney, and Wadsworth -fiercely, fire was racing through the woods, adding its horrors to -Sorrel's advance; and with the wind driving the smoke before him, he -came on, sweeping everything. Seeing his lines falter, Sorrel dashed up -to the color-bearer of the Twelfth Virginia, "Ben" May, and asked for -the colors to lead the charge. "We will follow you," said the smiling -youth spiritedly, refusing to give them up; and so they did. In the -midst of the raging havoc, Webb, under instructions from Wadsworth, -now in an almost frantic state of mind, tried to align some troops -beyond the road so as to meet Sorrel, whose fire was scourging the -flanks of Carroll and the Green Mountain men, through whom and around -whom crowds of fugitives, deaf to all appeals to rally, were forcing -their way to the rear. But the organizations, so severely battered -in the morning, were crumbling so fast, and the tumult was so high, -that Webb saw it was idle to expect they could hold together in any -attempted change of position; he therefore returned to his command, and -quickly brought the Fifty-sixth Massachusetts, Griswold's regiment, -alongside the road. Fortunately his Nineteenth Maine, withdrawn during -the lull to replenish its ammunition, had been wheeled up by the -gallant Connor at the first ominous volley from the South. They had -barely braced themselves on the road before Carroll, and then the old -Vermont brigade, had to go; and now Connor and Griswold open on Sorrel, -checking him up roundly. - -Wadsworth undertook to wheel the remnants of Rice's regiments who had -stood by him, so as to fire into the enemy on the other side of the -road. In trying to make this movement he ran squarely onto Perrin's -Alabama brigade, of Anderson's division, which had relieved a part -of Field's, who rose and fired a volley with fatal effect, breaking -Wadsworth's formation, the men fleeing in wild confusion. In this -Alabama brigade was the Eighth Regiment, commanded that morning by -Hilary A. Herbert who lost his arm. This gallant man, soldier, member -of Congress, and distinguished lawyer was Mr. Cleveland's Secretary of -the Navy. - -The heroic Wadsworth did not or could not check his horse till within -twenty odd feet of the Confederate line. Then, turning, a shot struck -him in the back of the head, his brain spattering the coat of Earl M. -Rogers, his aide at his side. The rein of Wadsworth's horse, after -the general fell, caught in a snag, and, Rogers's horse having been -killed by the volley, he vaulted into the saddle, and escaped through -the flying balls. Wadsworth lies unconscious within the enemy's -lines; his heart, that has always beaten so warmly for his country, -is still beating, but hears no response now from the generous manly, -truth-viewing brain. I believe that morning, noon, and night the -bounteous valley of the Genesee, with its rolling fields and tented -shocks of bearded grain, holds Wadsworth in dear remembrance. - -Everything on the right of the Nineteenth Maine, Fifty-sixth and -Thirty-seventh Massachusetts is gone, and they, with fragments of other -gallant regiments, will soon have to go, too, for Sorrel comes on again -with a rush. Griswold, pistol in hand, advances the colors to meet him, -and is killed almost instantly; Connor, on foot and in the road, is -struck and, as he falls, Webb calls out, "Connor, are you hit?" "Yes, -I've got it this time." And his men sling him in a blanket and carry -him to the rear. Webb, seeing the day is lost, tells the bitterly-tried -regiments to scatter, and the wreckage begins to drift sullenly far -and wide, some in Cutler's tracks, and some toward where Burnside is -still pottering; but naturally the main stream is back on both sides -of the Plank to the Brock Road, and there it straggles across it -hopelessly toward Chancellorsville. Chaplain Washiell, Fifty-seventh -Massachusetts, says, "I well remember the route as the men streamed by -in panic, some of them breaking their guns to render them useless in -the hands of the rebels. Nothing could stop them until they came to the -cross-roads." - -Where now is the morning's vision of victory which Babcock raised? -All of Hancock's right wing, together with Wadsworth's division of -the Fifth Corps, Getty's of the Sixth, and one brigade of the Ninth -all smashed to pieces! The Plank Road is Lee's,--and the Brock, the -strategic key, is almost within his grasp too! For Longstreet, followed -by fresh brigades at double-quick, is coming down determined to clinch -the victory!! His spirits are high, and Field's hand still tingles -with his hearty grasp congratulating him on the valor of his troops. -Jenkins, a sensitive, enthusiastic South Carolinian, "abreast with the -foremost in battle and withal an humble Christian," says Longstreet, -has just thrown his arms around Sorrel's shoulder,--for the graceful -hero has ridden to meet his chief, and tell him the road is clear,--and -says, "Sorrel, it was splendid, we shall smash them now." And then, -after conferring with Kershaw, who had already been directed to follow -on and complete Hancock's overthrow, Jenkins rides up to Longstreet's -side and with overflowing heart says, "I am happy. I have felt despair -of the cause for some months, but am relieved and feel assured that -we shall put the enemy back across the Rapidan before night." Put the -enemy back across the Rapidan! That means the Army of the Potomac -defeated again, and Grant's prestige gone!! - - -THE END - - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - -Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as -possible, including obsolete and variant spellings, inconsistent -punctuation that does not interfere with meaning, and other -inconsistencies. - -Obvious punctuation and spelling errors and minor printer errors -repaired. - -Transcription of author's handwritten autograph added by transcriber: -'--Very truly yrs, Gill Sorrell.' - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Recollections of a Confederate Staff -Officer, by Gilbert Moxley Sorrel - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RECOLLECTIONS--CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER *** - -***** This file should be named 52121-8.txt or 52121-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/1/2/52121/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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G. Moxley Sorrel. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -h1,h2,h3 { -text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ -clear: both; -} - -h1 .smaller -{ - font-size: large; -} - -.front-matter -{ - text-align: center; - font-size: x-large; - /* line-height:2; */ -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -.ph2,.ph3,.ph4 { -text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ -clear: both; -} - -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } -.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto;} -.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } - -.mt2 {margin-top: 2em;} - -.mb4 {margin-bottom: 4em;} - -.front-matter {margin-top: 4em; margin-bottom: 4em;} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 15%; margin-left: 42.5%; margin-right: 42.5%; margin-top: .75em; margin-bottom: .75em;} -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - -table.toc { /* Table of Contents */ - margin: auto; - width:auto; - max-width: 40em; - margin-top: 4em; -} - -td.rom { - text-align: right; - vertical-align: bottom; - padding-left: 1em; - padding-right: 1em; -} -td.cht { - text-align: left; - vertical-align: top; - padding-left: 1em; - text-indent: -1em; -} -td.pag { - text-align: right; - vertical-align: bottom; - padding-left: 2em; -} - -td.pag a { - /* color: black; */ - font-weight: bold; - text-decoration: none; -} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} /* page numbers */ - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 5%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -/* text formatting */ - -.center {text-align: center;} -.right { text-align: right;} - -.indent {margin-left: 3em;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -/* Images */ - -img {max-width: 100%; height: auto;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.caption -{ - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; - margin: 0.25em 0; -} - - -/* Footnotes */ -.footnotes {border: dashed 1px; margin-top:1em; clear:both;} - -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; width:80%; - margin-bottom:0.75em; - font-size: 0.9em; - position:relative;} -.footnote .label {position: absolute; - left:-3em; top:0; - text-align: left; } -.fnanchor {vertical-align:baseline; - position:relative; bottom:0.4em; - font-size: .8em; } - -/* Poetry */ -.poetry-container - { - text-align: center; - margin: -1em 0; - } - -.poetry - { - display: inline-block; - text-align: left; - } - -.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} - -.poetry .verse - { - text-indent: -3em; - padding-left: 3em; - } - -.poetry .indent4 {text-indent: 1em;} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - -/* ePub stylings */ - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} - -@media handheld -{ - body - { - margin: 0; - padding: 0; - width: 95%; - } - - .poetry - { - display: block; - margin-left: 1.5em; - } - - hr.chap {display: none;} -} - -@media print -{ - .front-matter - { - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; - margin: 0; - padding-top: 6em; - } -} - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer, by -Gilbert Moxley Sorrel - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer - -Author: Gilbert Moxley Sorrel - -Contributor: John W. Daniel - -Release Date: May 22, 2016 [EBook #52121] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RECOLLECTIONS--CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="mb4 figcenter"> - <img src="images/i001.jpg" alt="Publisher's Imprint" /> -</div> - - - - -<p class="front-matter"> -RECOLLECTIONS OF A<br /> -CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER -</p> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 412px;"> - <img src="images/i006.jpg" width="412" height="700" alt="Portrait of Gill Sorrell" /> - <p class="caption"> - Very truly yrs<br /> - Gill Sorrell - </p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<h1>RECOLLECTIONS<br /> -<span class="smaller">OF A</span><br /> -CONFEDERATE<br /> -STAFF OFFICER</h1> - -<p class="mt2 ph3">BY</p> - -<p class="ph2"><span class="smcap">Gen.</span> G. MOXLEY SORREL</p> - -<p class="ph3"><em>Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff, Longstreet's 1st<br /> -Army Corps</em>; <em>Brigadier-General commanding<br /> -Sorrel's Brigade, A. P. Hill's 3rd<br /> -Army Corps, Army of Northern<br /> -Virginia</em></p> -<p class="ph3">SECOND EDITION</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/title-emblem.jpg" alt="Emblem" /> -</div> - -<p class="ph4">WITH INTRODUCTION BY</p> -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Senator</span> JOHN W. DANIEL</p> - -<p class="mt2 ph2">THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY</p> -<p class="ph4"> - 440 FOURTH AVENUE NEW YORK<br /> - 1917 -</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="front-matter"> - <p class="ph4"> - Copyright, 1905, by<br /> - <span class="smcap">The Neale Publishing Company</span> - </p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="front-matter"> - <p class="ph3"> - <em>TO MY WIFE</em><br /> - <em>This Volume is affectionately</em><br /> - - <em>DEDICATED</em></p> - - <p class="ph3"> - <em>In illness and tedious convalescence it was she who suggested<br /> - these reminiscences of the past, as a solace,<br /> - giving me cheerful encouragement and material<br /> - assistance in their preparation, for which<br /> - my grateful thanks are ever hers.</em> - </p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<table class="toc" summary="Contents"> - <tr> - <td class="rom"></td> - <td class="cht"></td> - <td class="pag smcap"><b>PAGE</b></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom"></td> - <td class="cht">Introduction</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom smcap"><b>CHAPTER</b></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">I </td><td class="cht">Battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">II </td><td class="cht">After Manassas at Centerville</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">III </td><td class="cht">Reminiscences and Horses</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">IV </td><td class="cht">Sketches</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">V </td><td class="cht">Our National Hymn</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">VI </td><td class="cht">The Peninsula and Battle of Williamsburg, May 5, 1862</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">VII </td><td class="cht">Battle of Seven Pines, May 31, 1862</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">VIII </td><td class="cht">Battles of the Chickahominy, June 26 to July 2, 1862</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">IX </td><td class="cht">Rivalry and More Reminiscences</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">X </td><td class="cht">Second Battle of Manassas, August 29 and 30, 1862</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XI </td><td class="cht">Battles of South Mountain (Boonsboro Gap) and Sharpsburg (Antietam), September 14 and 17, 1862</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XII </td><td class="cht">Battle of Sharpsburg, Continued</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XIII </td><td class="cht">Battle of Sharpsburg, Concluded</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XIV </td><td class="cht">Our Personnel—Visitors</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XV </td><td class="cht">The Staff</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XVI </td><td class="cht">Events Preceding Fredericksburg</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XVII </td><td class="cht">Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XVIII </td><td class="cht">After Fredericksburg—Reminiscences</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XIX </td><td class="cht">To South Virginia for Supplies</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XX </td><td class="cht">Preparing for Gettysburg</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXI </td><td class="cht">Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 2, 3, 1863</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXII </td><td class="cht">Gettysburg Aftermath</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXIII </td><td class="cht">In Virginia Again</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXIV </td><td class="cht">Longstreet to Reinforce Bragg</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXV </td><td class="cht">Battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_188">188</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXVI </td><td class="cht">Chattanooga—Incidents</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXVII </td><td class="cht">The East Tennessee Campaign, November, 1863, to April, 1864</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXVIII </td><td class="cht">The East Tennessee Campaign, Continued</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXIX </td><td class="cht">At Home in Savannah—Sketches</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXX </td><td class="cht">Battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXXI </td><td class="cht">Coincidences—Longstreet's Successor</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXXII </td><td class="cht">Battle of Spottsylvania C. H., May 10 and 12, and Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXXIII </td><td class="cht">The siege of Petersburg June, 1864, to March, 1865</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_254">254</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom">XXXIV </td><td class="cht">Longstreet's Return—Farewell to Lee</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td> - </tr><tr> - <td class="rom"></td><td class="cht">Appendix</td> - <td class="pag"><a href="#Page_283">283</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="front-matter">RECOLLECTIONS OF A<br /> -CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph4">BY</p> - -<p class="ph2"><span class="smcap">John W. Daniel</span></p> - -<p class="ph3"><em>Formerly Major and Assistant Adjutant-General -Early's Division, Second Corps, A. N. V.</em></p> - - -<p>A few months ago I entered a room where a group -of five or six gentlemen were seated around a table -in conversation. As I took my seat to join them, -one of the number, a distinguished Northern Senator, -of high cultivation and who is a great reader -of history, made this remark to his companions: -"The Army of Northern Virginia was in my opinion -the strongest body of men of equal numbers -that ever stood together upon the earth." As an -ex-Confederate soldier I could not feel otherwise than -pleased to hear such an observation from a gentleman -of the North who was a student of military history. -As the conversation continued there seemed to -be a general concurrence in the opinion he stated, and -I doubt if any man of intelligence who would give -sedate consideration to the subject, would express a -different sentiment.</p> - -<p>The Army of the Potomac, the valiant and powerful -antagonist of the Army of Northern Virginia, -was indeed of much larger numbers, and better -equipped and fed; but it would have nevertheless failed -but for its high quality of soldiership which are by -none more respected than by its former foes. Both -armies were worthy of any steel that was ever forged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -for the business of war, and when General Grant in -his "Memoirs" describes the meeting after the surrender -of the officers of both sides around the McLean -House, he says that they seemed to "enjoy the meeting -as much as though they had been friends separated -for a long time while fighting battles under the same -flag." He prophesied in his last illness that "we -are on the eve of a new era when there is to be great -harmony between the Federal and Confederate."</p> - -<p>That era came to meridian when the Federal Government -magnanimously returned to the States of -the South the captured battle-flags of their regiments. -The story of the war will be told no longer at soldiers' -camp-fires with the feelings of bygone years, -or with even stifled reproach, but solely with a design -to cultivate friendship and to unfold the truth as to -one of the most stupendous conflicts of arms that ever -evoked the heroism of the human race.</p> - -<p>"Recollections of a Confederate Staff Officer," by -Brigadier-General G. Moxley Sorrel, of the Army of -Northern Virginia, is a valuable contribution to this -great history. Its author received his "baptism of -fire" in the First Battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861, -while serving on the staff of Brigadier-General James -Longstreet as a volunteer aid, with the complimentary -rank of captain.</p> - -<p>The forces under General Beauregard at Bull Run -were known at that time as "The Army of the Potomac." -The name of the antagonist of the Federal -"Army of the Potomac" was soon changed to the -"Army of Northern Virginia"; and Longstreet, the -senior brigadier, became major-general and then lieutenant-general.</p> - -<p>Sorrel followed the fortunes of his chief, serving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -as adjutant-general of his brigade, division, and corps, -with rank successively as captain, major, and lieutenant-colonel, -and distinguished himself many times by his -gallantry and efficiency. During the siege of Petersburg -the tardy promotion which he had long deserved -and for which he had been time and again recommended, -came to him and he succeeded Brigadier-General -Girardey, a gallant soldier, who had been killed in -battle, as commander of a brigade in Mahone's division, -A. P. Hill's Third Corps.</p> - -<p>When promoted he showed the right spirit by making -a faithful and brave courier his aide-de-camp. -As a general, as well as while on the staff, Sorrel often -had his "place near the flashing of the guns." At -Sharpsburg he leaped from his horse, with Fairfax, -Goree, Manning, and Walton, of Longstreet's staff, -to serve as cannoneers at the guns of the Washington -Artillery, whose soldiers had been struck down. While -he was carrying a message to a brigade commander -his horse was shot under him, and still later on the -same field a fragment of a shell struck him senseless -and he was for a while disabled. He passed through -the maelstrom of Gettysburg, here and there upon that -field of blood; the hind legs of his horse were swept -away by a cannon ball, and at the same time he and -Latrobe, of Longstreet's staff, were carrying in their -arms saddles taken from horses slain under them.</p> - -<p>At the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, he was at the side -of his chief when that officer was badly wounded, and -when General Jenkins, of South Carolina, and Captain -Dobie of the staff were killed. He won his general's -wreath that day, although it was some time before it -reached him. At the crisis when Longstreet's corps -was going to the rescue he was entrusted with mar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>shalling -three brigades to flank the advancing forces of -General Hancock. Moving forward with the line of -the Twelfth Virginia Infantry, of Mahone's brigade, -he endeavored to take its colors as it advanced to the -onset, but Ben May, the stout-hearted standard-bearer, -refused him that honor and himself carried them to -victory. When this battle was over General Lee saluted -him as "General Sorrel."</p> - -<p>He was wounded in the leg while commanding his -brigade on the right of the Confederate line near -Petersburg; and again he was shot in the lungs at -Hatcher's Run in January, 1865, the same action in -which fell the brave General John Pegram, then commanding -Early's old division.</p> - -<p>During the illness resulting from this wound, General -Sorrel was cared for by relatives in Roanoke -County, Virginia, and having recovered sufficiently -returned to the field. He was in Lynchburg, Virginia, -on his way back to his command when the surrender -at Appomattox ended the career of the Army of Northern -Virginia.</p> - -<p>Scarcely any figure in that army was more familiar -to its soldiers than that of General Sorrel, and certainly -none more so to the soldiers of the First Corps. -Tall, slender, and graceful, with a keen dark eye, a -trim military figure, and an engaging countenance, he -was a dashing and fearless rider, and he attracted attention -in march and battle by his constant devotion -to his duties as adjutant-general, and became as well -known as any of the commanders.</p> - -<p>General Sorrel has not attempted a military history. -He has simply related the things he saw and of which -he was a part. He says of his writings, "that they -are rough jottings from memory without access to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -any data or books of reference and with little attempt -at sequence." What his book will therefore lack in -the precision and detail as to military strategy or movement, -will be compensated for by the naturalness and -freshness which are found in the free, picturesque, and -salient character of his work.</p> - -<p>General Sorrel was of French descent on his father's -side. His grandfather, Antoine Sorrel Des Riviere, -had been a colonel of engineers in the French Army, -and afterwards held estates in San Domingo, from -which he was driven by the insurrection of the negroes -in the early part of the nineteenth century. He then -moved to Louisiana.</p> - -<p>His father, Francis Sorrel, became a successful business -man in Savannah, Georgia, and his mother was a -lady of Virginia. If he inherited from one those distinctively -American qualities which were so attractive -in his character, we can but fancy that he inherited in -some degree at least from his sire the delicate touch -with the pen which is so characteristic of the French. -They have written more entertaining memoirs than -any other people, and this memoir of General Sorrel -is full of sketches, incidents, anecdotes, and of vivid -portraitures and scenes which remind the reader no -little of the military literature of the French.</p> - -<p>No military writer has yet undertaken to produce -a complete history of either the Army of the Potomac -or the Army of Northern Virginia. Indeed, it -has scarce been practicable to write such a history. -The rolls of the two armies have not yet been published, -and while the War Records have furnished a -great body of most valuable matter and there are -many volumes of biography and autobiography which -shed light on campaigns and battles, the deposit of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>torical -material will not be finished before the whole -generation who fought the war has passed from earth. -This volume will be useful to the historian in giving -him an insight to the very image and body of the -times. It will carry him to the general's headquarters -and from there to the picket-line; from the kitchen -camp-fire and baking-oven to the hospital and ordnance -wagon; from the devices of the commissary and quarter-master -to the trenches in the battlefield; from the -long march to the marshalled battle line; from the -anxieties of the rear-guard of the retreat to the stern -array of the charging columns. He will find some -graphic accounts of leading characters, such as Longstreet, -Ewell, D. H. Hill, A. P. Hill, Jeb Stuart, Early, -Anderson, Mahone, Van Dorn, Polk, Bragg, and many -others who shone in the lists of the great tourney. -The private soldier is justly recognized, and appears -in his true light all along the line, of which he was -the enduring figure. Lee, great and incomparable, -shines as he always does, in the endearing majesty of -his matchless character and genius.</p> - -<p>General Sorrel's book is written in the temper and -spirit which we might expect of the accomplished -and gallant soldier that he was. It is without rancor, -as he himself declares, and it is without disposition -unduly to exalt one personage or belittle another. It -bespeaks the catholic mind of an honest man. It tells -things as he saw them, and he was one who did his -deed from the highest and purest motives.</p> - -<p>The staff of the Army of Northern Virginia (of -which G. M. Sorrel, assistant adjutant-general, was -a bright, particular star) was for the most part an -improvised affair, as for the most part was the whole -Confederate Army, and indeed the Federal Army was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -almost as much so. It showed, as did the line of -civilians turned quickly into soldiers, the aptitude of -our American people for military service and accomplishment. -Even the younger officers of military training -were needed in armies of raw and inexperienced -recruits for many commands. The staff had to be -made up for the most part of alert young men, some -of them yet in their teens, and it is remarkable that -they were so readily found and so well performed -their duties.</p> - -<p>At twenty-two years of age Sorrel was a clerk in -a Savannah bank, and a private in a volunteer company -of Savannah. He slipped away from his business -to see the bombardment of Fort Sumter in April, -1861, and a little later we then find him at his father's -country estate some ten miles from Manassas Junction, -looking forward to a second lieutenancy as the -fulfilment of his then ambition.</p> - -<p>An introduction from Col. Thomas Jordan, the -adjutant-general of Beauregard, to General Longstreet -fixed his career with that officer, and he was by his -side transacting his business and carrying his orders -from the start to well-nigh the finish. On the Peninsula, -and in the trenches at Yorktown, at Williamsburg -and Seven Pines, in the Seven Days Battle around -Richmond, at Second Manassas and Sharpsburg, at -Suffolk in southeast Virginia, at Gettysburg, Chickamauga, -at Knoxville, at the Wilderness, and in many -combats along the Richmond and Petersburg lines, -General Sorrel shared in many adventures and was a -part of many matters of great pith and moment. -Like Sandy Pendleton, the adjutant of Jackson, of -Ewell, and of Early as commanders of the Second -Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia, and like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -W. H. Palmer, of Richmond, the adjutant of A. P. -Hill, he had no special preparation for his military -career; and all three of these valuable officers, like -many others who might be mentioned, are simply illustrations -of the fine inherent qualities that pertain -to the scions of a free people.</p> - -<p>I have not written this introduction in the hope -that I could add anything to the attractiveness of -General Sorrel's recollections, nor have I undertaken -to edit them or to pass upon the opinions which he -expressed concerning men or things or battles. My -part is simply that of a friend who belonged also to -the staff of the Army of Northern Virginia, and of -one who, from opportunities to observe General Sorrel -on many occasions and to know him personally, learned -to honor and admire him. I deem it fitting, however, -to say that in some respects I differ from General Sorrel's -opinions and would vary some of his observations -respecting Ewell, Stuart, Early, and a few other conspicuous -leaders.</p> - -<p>"Fortunate indeed is the man who like General -Sorrel is entitled to remind those around his death-bed -that he did his best to do his duty and to serve -his country with heart and soul. The records of his -life tell us how well, how faithfully he did serve her, -and if anything can console you and others for his -loss it must be that fact."</p> - -<p>These are the words of Field Marshal Wolseley, -written to Mrs. Sorrel, the widow of the General upon -his death at "The Barrens" near Roanoke, Va., the -home of his brother, Dr. Francis Sorrel.</p> - -<p>They are worthy of repetition in connection with -General Sorrel's name by reason of their just estimate -of his worth as a patriot and a soldier, and of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -the high spirit which they breathe; and that they are -uttered by a soldier and a man of such character and -ability as Field Marshal Wolseley impresses all the -more their inherent merit.</p> - -<p>They better introduce the volume of General Sorrel's -composition than anything I can say, for they -reveal in short compass the nature of the man, the -principle that actuated his life, and the estimate formed -of him by an eminent soldier who had no partial relation -to him or his deeds.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<span class="smcap">John W. Daniel.</span> -</p> - -<p class="indent"><span class="smcap">Washington, D. C.</span>, May 1, 1905.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a><br /><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>RECOLLECTIONS OF A CONFEDERATE - STAFF OFFICER</h2> -</div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER I</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Forbears and Home at Savannah—Fort Sumter attacked—Hostilities - begin—Leave for Virginia—Visit to my father—Beauregard's - camp at Manassas—Colonel Jordan—Introduced - to General Longstreet—Sketch—General Stuart—General - Johnston—The battle—Enemy defeated—Pursuit - stopped—March to Centerville—Stonewall Jackson—Prince - Napoleon—the review—Colonel Skinner—His Exploits.</p> -</div> - - -<p>My forbears were French on my father's side. His -father, Antoine Sorrel des Riviere, Colonel du Genie -(Engineer Corps) in the French Army, was on his -estates in the island of San Domingo when the bloody -insurrection of the blacks broke out at the opening of -the century. He had the tragic horror of witnessing -the massacre of many relatives and friends. His property -was destroyed, and his life barely saved by concealment -and flight to Cuba, thence to Louisiana, where -a refuge was found among friendly kindred. There -he died at a great age.</p> - -<p>His son Francis, my father, was saved from the -rage of bloodthirsty blacks by the faithful devotion -of the household slaves, and some years later succeeded -in reaching Maryland, where he was educated. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -married in Virginia, engaging in business in the early -part of the century at Savannah, Georgia.</p> - -<p>My maternal great-grandfather, Alvin Moxley, was -from Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was one -of the signers of what is known as the Richard Henry -Lee Bill of Rights, 1765, the first recorded protest in -America against taxation without representation, and -which twelve years later led directly to the Revolutionary -War. The original document is now preserved -and framed in the Virginia Historical Society -at Richmond.</p> - -<p>Death bereft my father of his wife in time's flight. -An eminent merchant, successful and prominent, we -find him in the Civil War in health and ease, happy -in the love of many children and the esteem of hosts -of friends. As a child he had seen some horrors of -the insurrection, but never could he be persuaded to -speak of them, so deep and painful were even their distant -memories. At the culmination of the political -troubles in 1861 I was a young chap just twenty-two, -at home in my native city, Savannah, peacefully employed -with the juniors of the banking force of the -Central Railroad.</p> - -<p>When Sumter was bombarded at Charleston in -April, I slipped away for a day or two and witnessed -the scenes of wild excitement that attended its fall. It -spread everywhere, and like all the youth of the country -I was quickly drawn in. For a year or two before, -like many of my associates in Savannah, I was a member, -a private, of the Georgia Hussars, a fine volunteer -cavalry company, with a creditable history of almost -a century.</p> - -<p>On the secession of Georgia, now soon following, -Fort Pulaski was seized and the various military com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>mands -did their tour of duty there, the Hussars among -them.</p> - -<p>This was my first service. The company also immediately -offered itself to the Confederate Government -just organized at Montgomery, Alabama, and was -eager to get into the field; but delay ensued, although -it was mustered in for thirty days' service on the coast -of Skidaway Island, near Savannah. There I served -again as private until mustered out. A Confederate -army was being collected in Virginia under Beauregard, -the capital having been settled in Richmond. Becoming -impatient of inaction at Savannah, our company -apparently not being wanted, I decided to go to -Virginia and seek employment there.</p> - -<p>Richmond looked like a camp when I arrived, in -July. It was full of officers in their smart uniforms, -all busy with their duties, and the greatest efforts were -made for equipping and arming the men now pouring -in from the South. They were posted first in camps -of instruction, where, by means of younger officers, -they attained some drill before being sent to the army. -How happy should I be could I get a commission as -second lieutenant and plunge into work with the men.</p> - -<p>My brother, Dr. Francis Sorrel, had just arrived -from California and was gazetted to a high position -in the Surgeon-General's Department. He aided me -all possible, but I got nothing, and so about July 15, -my cash running down, betook myself to my father's -pretty country place at Greenwich, about ten miles -north of Warrenton, Fauquier County. It was also -about ten miles from Manassas Junction, the headquarters -of General Beauregard, now in command of -the army that was to fight McDowell and defend Richmond. -My father said it was unfortunate I had not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -come a day or two earlier, because he had driven his -daughters across the country for a visit to the camps, -where they met many friends. Among these was Col. -Thomas Jordon, the all-powerful adjutant-general of -Beauregard's army, then termed the Army of the Potomac. -Many years before, Jordon, when a lieutenant, -had been stationed in Savannah, and enjoyed my -father's generous hospitality. This was my opportunity.</p> - -<p>I asked for just a few lines of introduction to Jordon, -and a horse out of the stables. I knew them well and -could get a good mount for the field. My dear father -willingly acceded, and parted from me cheerfully but -with moist eyes. On the way to the camp I came up -with Meredith, a relation (not long ago United States -Congressman from Virginia), and soon I found Colonel -Jordon. He had been doing an enormous amount of -work and was almost exhausted.</p> - -<p>Jordon was considered a brilliant staff officer, and -justly so; but there appeared something lacking in his -make-up as a whole that disappointed his friends. At -all events, his subsequent military career failed and he -sank out of prominent notice. He was kind to me, read -my note, said nothing could be done then; but—"Come -again to-morrow."</p> - -<p>This turned me loose in the camp. The soldiers -from the Valley under J. E. Johnston and J. E. B. -Stuart began to make an appearance in small numbers, -principally cavalry. We slept that night at Meredith's, -about three miles from camp. Jordon, the next day, -was still unable to do anything for me, and I began to -be doubtful of success, but could at least go as a private -with a good horse under me.</p> - -<p>Again at Meredith's and awakened very early by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -cannon, we were up in a moment and galloping to -Beauregard's.</p> - -<p>There I was made happy on the 21st day of July. -The adjutant-general handed me three lines of introduction -to Longstreet, commanding a brigade at Blackburn's -Ford several miles distant. With a good-by to -Meredith I was swiftly off. Approaching the ford, -shot and shell were flying close overhead; and feeling a -bit nervous, my first time under fire, I began to inquire -what folly had brought me into such disturbing scenes.</p> - -<p>The feeling passed, however, and Longstreet, who -had called on Beauregard for staff officers, received me -cordially.</p> - -<p>His acting adjutant-general, Lieutenant Frank Armistead, -a West Point graduate and of some service in -the United States Army, was ordered to announce me to -the brigade as captain and volunteer aide-de-camp. -Brig.-Gen. James Longstreet was then a most striking -figure, about forty years of age, a soldier every inch, -and very handsome, tall and well proportioned, strong -and active, a superb horseman and with an unsurpassed -soldierly bearing, his features and expression fairly -matched; eyes, glint steel blue, deep and piercing; a full -brown beard, head well shaped and poised. The worst -feature was the mouth, rather coarse; it was partly hidden, -however, by his ample beard. His career had not -been without mark. Graduating from West Point in -1842, he was assigned to the Fourth Infantry, the regiment -which Grant joined one year later. The Mexican -War coming on, Longstreet had opportunity of service -and distinction which he did not fail to make the most -of; wounds awaited him, and brevets to console such -hurts. After peace with Mexico he was in the Indian -troubles, had a long tour of duty in Texas, and eventu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>ally -received the appointment of major and paymaster. -It was from that rank and duty that he went at the -call of his State to arm and battle for the Confederacy. -History will tell how well he did it. He brought to -our army a high reputation as an energetic, capable, -and experienced soldier. At West Point he was fast -friends with Grant, and was his best man at the latter's -marriage. Grant, true as steel to his friends, never in -all his subsequent marvelous career failed Longstreet -when there was need.</p> - -<p>Such was the brigadier-general commanding four -regiments of Virginia infantry, the First, Eleventh, -Seventeenth, and Twenty-fourth, and a section of the -Washington Artillery of New Orleans. The Eighteenth -Virginia Infantry was afterwards added.</p> - -<p>Three days previously, Longstreet, just joined his -command, had opportunity of showing his mettle. His -position at the ford was fiercely assailed by the Federals, -and his coolness, good disposition, and contagious courage -brought about their defeat, and was the beginning -of that devotion which his men gave him up to Appomattox. -His staff officers at the time were Lieutenant -Armistead, Lieutenant Manning of Mississippi, -ordnance officer; Captain Walton of Mississippi, aid; -Captain Goree of Texas, aid; and some quartermasters -and commissaries detailed from the regiments.</p> - -<p>The army had scarcely made an attempt yet at good -organization.</p> - -<p>At Manassas Junction, while waiting on Jordon, I -first saw Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and J. E. B. Stuart. -The first was full bearded, dusty, and worn from long -marching; a high-bred, stern-looking soldier of faultless -seat and bearing in the saddle. I had the good -fortune to know him well and most happily in the com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>ing -years. Once long after the close of the war I -was chatting with him in his best humor. We were -speaking of his varied military life and the several -wounds he had received in Mexico, with Indians, and in -the recent Confederate War. He had many, and as he -sat in face of me the General's splendid, dome-like -head was something to admire. Quite bald, it was -scarred in several places, and looking at the mark of -an ugly gash I inquired, "And, General, where did you -get that one?" The smile that irradiated that strong, -expressive face was brilliant and contagious as he answered, -"I got <em>that</em>, sir, out of a cherry tree!" and -then followed a laughing account of what a fall he had, -and how he had been chased by the farmer.</p> - -<p>Stuart, red bearded, ruddy faced, alert and ever -active, was dirtier even than Johnston; but there stood -the tireless cavalryman, the future right arm of the -great Lee, the eyes and ears to his army. Alas! that his -pure soldier's life, crowned with such splendid fame, -should have ended so needlessly, late in the war, by a -stray shot.</p> - -<p>I should say here there is to be no attempt at describing -battles—the military works are full of them. I -shall content myself with bare outlines, and some observations -of men and things, adding such incidents and -personal happenings as may, I hope, prove of interest.</p> - -<p>Longstreet's brigade had practically no part in the -battle of Manassas. It sustained some desultory artillery -fire, and there was a demonstration against it, but -it amounted to nothing. Blackburn's Ford was on the -right, where the attack was expected, but McDowell -found his way to Beauregard's left and nearly smashed -him until Johnston and Jackson "ventre a terre" and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -turned the doubtful tide of battle into a ruinous rout of -the enemy.</p> - -<p>It was late in the afternoon, but we soon heard of -it at our ford, and Longstreet, waiting for no man, was -immediately in pursuit. He was halted first by Bonham, -who ranked him, to permit his brigade to take the -lead. Then resuming the march hot-footed, after the -flying foe, we were again stopped, this time by Major -Whiting, of Johnston's staff, with orders from Beauregard -to attempt no pursuit. Painful was this order. -We knew the Federals were in full flight, and we had -only to show ourselves to bag the whole outfit.</p> - -<p>We dismounted among some young pines to await -further orders, and I saw Longstreet in a fine rage. -He dashed his hat furiously on the ground, stamped, -and bitter words escaped him. However, the night was -on us, some food was picked up by hook or crook, and -we slept well under the stars. The soundness of the -order stopping pursuit has been viewed in many different -ways, and I shall not add my own opinion, except -to suggest that while in the condition of our army it -was practically impossible to seize Washington, it was -yet the proper thing to keep on the heels of those -frightened soldiers until they reached the Potomac. -Many thousand prisoners, and much loot and stores, -ammunition, guns, colors, and other material would -have fallen into our hands.</p> - -<p>Next day the field and highways showed the terrible -battle that had raged, and the ground was covered -with the debris of the panic-stricken army. Our brigade -moved leisurely on, and halted for some time at -Centerville. The army was concentrated in the neighborhood, -and about Fairfax Court House and Fairfax -Station, our headquarters being for some time at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -former place. About this time Longstreet was joined -by two noted scouts and rangers whom he had known -in Texas—the celebrated Frank Terry and Tom Lubbock, -powerful men, both of them, in the prime of life. -Scouting and fighting had been their part from boyhood. -They were of much use to Longstreet. From -Fairfax Court House and vicinity we sent regular details, -called the advanced forces, to occupy Mason's -and Munson's hills, only a few miles from Washington. -At night the dome of the Capitol could be seen from -those positions, lighted up with great splendor. There -was sharp sniping in front of the hills, and Terry and -Lubbock generally bagged their man apiece, each day, -besides bringing in valuable information. Both men -soon returned to Texas and organized a regiment of -cavalry in the Confederate service under Terry. It -was said to be the finest body of horsemen and fighters -imaginable, and subsequently did great service in the -West. Terry fell among them at their head.</p> - -<p>It was while we lay in the neighborhood that I -saw Prince Jerome Napoleon, "Plon Plon." It seems -he was making a short visit of curiosity (he was no -friend of the South), and was at Beauregard's headquarters -some distance off.</p> - -<p>The General sent notice to Longstreet that he was -coming with his staff and guest to call on him, and -suggested that he try to get up something in the way -of a small review of our best-clad soldiers. Longstreet -started me off at once to borrow a regiment -from Stonewall Jackson and one from D. R. Jones -(South Carolina), both commands being near by. The -First Virginia Infantry, the Richmond regiment, was -the contingent from our own brigade. I soon found -myself saluting General T. J. Jackson, the first time I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -had seen the soldier. He was seated in a low, comfortable -chair in front of his quarters, quite shabbily -dressed, but neat and clean—little military ornament -about him. It was the eye full of fire and the firm, set -face that drew attention. His hand was held upright; -a ball at the recent battle had cut off a piece of his -finger, and that position eased it. He was all courtesy -to the young subaltern awaiting his answer.</p> - -<p>"Say to General Longstreet, with my compliments, -that he shall have my best-looking regiment, and that -immediately. The colonel will report at the point you -may designate." This done, Jones gave up his best, -some good-looking Carolinians, with palmetto badges, -and then spurring back to meet Beauregard and party -to guide them to the reviewing ground, he presented me -to His Highness the Prince, who, well mounted, was -riding by his side. I could not keep my eyes off the -Frenchman's face. It was almost a replica of the great -Napoleon, his uncle, but unpleasantly so; skin pasty -and flabby, bags under the eyes, and beefy all over. A -large man, tall, but without dignity of movement or attitude. -The review was soon over. The three picked -regiments, with a good band, looked well, although the -Richmond boys were a bit out at the seat; but, as old -Skinner, the Colonel, said to the Frenchman as they -marched by, "The enemy won't see that part of them."</p> - -<p>The spot was on a nice piece of turf near an old -wooden church, and we had gathered a few refreshments -for the occasion, but the Prince would have -nothing. Coldly and impassively he raised his hat in -parting salute, entered the carriage that was awaiting -him, and, escorted by a lieutenant of cavalry and a half -dozen men under a flag of truce, we willingly sent him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -back to his friends, the enemy. On returning to France -he published what ill he could find to say of us. "Plon -Plon's" abuse was not to hurt or disturb honest men -with brave hearts.</p> - -<p>A word about Old Skinner, Colonel of the First -Virginia. He was an old Maryland fox hunter, handsome -and distinguished looking, and had lived long in -France, almost domiciled there. He was connected -with many of the best people of Maryland and Virginia, -and had hosts of friends. Fond of good liquor, -it was almost every night that he was a bit full, and -then there were wild scenes with his well-known hunter, -who could do anything or go anywhere with the Colonel -on him. Skinner was a fine swordsman, and had -brought from France a long, straight, well-balanced -double-edged cuirassier's saber. In his cups the fine -old Colonel would swear he should die happy could he -have one chance to use that steel on the enemy.</p> - -<p>The chance came and Skinner was ready for it. At -the second battle of Manassas a battery of six guns -was mauling some of our infantry horribly. His regiment, -the gallant First Virginia, was thrown at it, -"Old Fred," as the men affectionately called him, leading -well in advance. Out flashed the French saber, -and he was among the gunners in a trice. His execution -was wonderful; sabering right and left he seemed -invulnerable, but down he came at last, just as his men -swept over the guns in a fine charge. It was the end -of the Colonel's soldiering, but although frightfully -wounded in the chest and body he survived for many -years. So lively was the old beau sabreur, that only a -few years ago he came to New York to fight John -Wise because of some fancied slight to a member of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -family—Wise, too, his lifelong friend! As there -could be no fighting, Wise had to do some nice diplomatic -work to soothe the irate Colonel and smooth over -the affair.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER II</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">After Manassas at Centerville</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Commissioned as captain and acting adjutant-general—Pay of - officers—Assigned to Longstreet's brigade—The Oglethorpe - Infantry, of Savannah—Enemy preparing for winter - quarters—Beauregard takes command in West—Confederate - flag—Presentation of battle-flags—Starting a theatre—Georgia - Hussars—A sleigh ride.</p> -</div> - - -<p>Something must now be said as to what happened -to me several weeks after the Manassas battle. It -will be remembered I was a volunteer aid with the -rank by courtesy, but no pay. When I saw my messmates -taking theirs in very comfortably, it occurred to -me I should make another effort for a commission, so I -wrote my application to the Secretary of War asking to -be appointed a second lieutenant, C. S. A., and assigned -as might be thought proper. Blushing like a girl, I -asked General Longstreet if he could endorse it favorably. -Glancing hastily at the paper, he said, "Certainly," -and then added carelessly, "but it isn't necessary." -The words made no impression at the time, but -they came to mind later.</p> - -<p>After the battle we had not been idle; at least I was -set to work. There was no commissary to the brigade, -and for a week or two I did the duty after a fashion until -an officer of that department was assigned—Major -Chichester. His papers, correspondence, and duties -seemed to fall on me, naturally, by his consent, and the -brigadier-general soon began to look to me for assistance.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> - -<p>This had been going on for some time until the official -mail one fine morning brought me a commission -as captain in the Adjutant-General's Department, with -orders to report to Longstreet. Then his words leaped -to my memory. He had a right to nominate his own -adjutant-general and had applied for me while I was -fishing around for a second lieutenancy. I had no military -training except some drill and tactics at school, but -it seemed he thought I took to the work handily. He -instructed me to relieve Armistead and take over all the -duties of the office. I rose with Longstreet to be major -and lieutenant-colonel in that department, and brigadier-general -commanding in Hill's corps, and my affection -for him is unfailing. Such efficiency on the field as I -may have displayed came from association with him and -the example of that undismayed warrior. He was like -a rock in steadiness when sometimes in battle the -world seemed flying to pieces.</p> - -<p>Armistead left us, carrying our good wishes for his -future.</p> - -<p>I think the pay of a captain (mounted) was $140 -per month and forage for two horses; a major, $162 a -month; a lieutenant-colonel, $187. All general officers -got $301 per month. A soldier said the $1 was for -what they did, the $300 just thrown in to please them. -Johnny Reb must have his little joke.</p> - -<p>The first company to leave Savannah for Virginia -was the Oglethorpe Infantry, a fine body of eager -young men commanded by Captain Bartow. He was -well known all through the State as an ardent Confederate, -a distinguished lawyer and orator. He took his -young men to Joe Johnston in the Valley, wildly enthusiastic; -but Bartow could not long remain their captain. -His wide reputation quickly placed him colonel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -of the Eighth Georgia Infantry, and with that historic -regiment the company fought at Manassas, and the -entire war thereafter in Longstreet's command. Bartow -was commissioned a brigadier and served as such -at Manassas. On July 31st many anxious eyes were -fixed on it in Savannah. Then was its baptism of fire, -and nobly did the young men stand it. Many were the -mourners at home for the killed and wounded of these -devoted youth. Their officers—West, Cooper, Butler—led -them handsomely; their colonel was lost to them -and to the country. Bartow was shot down at the head -of the Eighth. "They have killed me, boys, but never -give up the fight," was his last gasp, and his soul, with -the gallant Bee's, sought its upward flight. The company -became famous. It left its dead and wounded -on every battlefield from Manassas to Appomattox, -wherever Longstreet's corps was engaged. Revived -now and honored it is at its old home, one of the leading -military organizations of Georgia. Never do the -men forget the memories of that day of battle on its recurring -anniversaries, or fail in pride of their glorious -predecessors.</p> - -<p>As the winter approached, the enemy drew in their -front and lined the fortifications and defenses on the -Potomac. McClellan evidently determined not to attack -and that the winter must pass idly on their part. -The <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">gaudium certaminis</i> was no part of him. On ours -Johnston drew in his scattered forces, concentrating -about Centerville, which he fortified, and there they -were, the two armies making faces at each other, and -the Northern papers telling wonders about us, all believed -by McClellan, whose imagination always doubled, -trebled, quadrupled the fighting strength of those desperate -Rebels.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> - -<p>While at Centerville the army underwent its first -reorganization. Beauregard was sent West to important -duty and J. E. Johnston assumed command of -the Eastern army, to be forever known and glorious as -the Army of Northern Virginia. It was then in four -divisions, the second of the three brigades under Major-General -Longstreet (Second Virginia and First South -Carolina Brigade). First Division, also of three brigades, -under Major-General Holmes (down on lower -Potomac), and the district of the Valley, under Major-General -T. J. Jackson (Stonewall), made up this army, -besides artillery and cavalry; the latter under Stuart. -The first flag of the Confederacy was the stars and bars, -but it was found on the battlefield dangerously similar -to the Northern stars and stripes. The battle-flag under -which we fought to the finish was then substituted, -and it was while we were at Centerville that the military -function of presenting the new colors to the battalions -was arranged.</p> - -<p>The day for our division went off admirably. It -was brilliant weather, and all were in their best outfits, -and on their best mounts. The troops looked well as -the colonels successively received their colors to defend.</p> - -<p>Arrangements had been made for a generous hospitality -at our division headquarters. We were occupying -a dismantled old wooden farm-house well situated -in the shade of fine trees. There a sumptuous -repast was spread, and the principal officers of the divisions -became our guests after the flag ceremonies. -These arrangements were made by Major John W. -Fairfax, whom Longstreet had had appointed a major -and inspector on his staff. Fairfax was a rich man, -owning the beautiful broad estate of President Monroe,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -Oak Hill, on the upper Potomac, in Loudoun County, -near Aldie, also a fine property on the lower Potomac.</p> - -<p>Major Fairfax was then of middle age, tall, courtly -and rather impressive. He had attached himself at -once to Longstreet, and took charge of his mess and -small wants, presented him with a superb mount, and -did the best he could with his new military duties. He -lacked nothing in courage; was brave and would go -anywhere. But Fairfax had two distinctions—he was -the most pious of churchmen and was a born bon vivant, -knowing and liking good things. Whiskey later was -hard to get, yet he managed to have always a good supply -on hand.</p> - -<p>He is now a hale and hearty man, wonderfully well -preserved.</p> - -<p>It was Fairfax, as I said, that provided the feast, -drawing the richest materials from his beautiful broad -pastures in Loudoun. Everything was plentiful in that -stage of the war and much liquor and wine were consumed. -Johnston, G. W. Smith, Van Dorn, Beauregard, -and others of high rank were present, and we had -great merriment and singing.</p> - -<p>Suddenly came a clash of steel in the crowded room. -Longstreet, with great quickness, had thrown a pair of -swords out of the window. Dr. Cullen and Captain -Walton, both of his staff (too much wine taken), had -suddenly quarreled, and Walton had given the doctor -a blow in the face. Longstreet's quick movement disposed -of the matter for the time, but it could not so -end. After the entertainment, and when done with -some hard racing and leaping by the wilder young -mounted officers, Colonel Ransome Calhoun of South -Carolina called on Major Walton. It was to demand a -meeting in expiation of the blow. Walton referred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> -Calhoun to me, and our <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">pourparler</i> opened most courteously. -He was an admirable gentleman, and but for -his good sense and forbearance there must have been an -ugly meeting. My difficulties were increased by Longstreet, -who, suspecting something, ordered me to put a -stop to the whole affair, adding that I was chief of the -staff and would be held responsible were not a hostile -meeting avoided. We managed to close the thing by -explanations from Cullen and regrets from Walton. -Both men seemed well satisfied. Colonel Calhoun, of -whom I then formed a high opinion, returned to duty at -Charleston, and there incurred the enmity of Colonel -Rhett. After some time, and many efforts of friends -to bring about a better feeling, they met with pistols, -and Calhoun was killed. A high-minded, honorable -gentleman! Walton was quite a friend of mine.</p> - -<p>Walton was quite a friend of mine and fond of -me. Gifted with uncommon intellectual attainments, -the favorite scholar of L. Q. C. Lamar at the University -of Mississippi, he was of the most uncertain, -unexpected temper and exactions; he could be dangerous -at times, and only the greatest firmness held -him in check until the humor passed off and then he -was all lovely. When the war ended he returned to -Mississippi, quarreled with a man, and killed him. -Moving to Alabama he found himself in the thick of -the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. Dropping all personal -interests he devoted himself wholly to the sick -and dying, until himself struck down by death. His -memory is sweet in that part of the State.</p> - -<p>One day, as the winter came on, Longstreet sent for -me. "The men will want amusement and entertainment -the long winter days," he said. "We must get -them up a theater and a good company. See to it at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> -once and lose no time. Issue such orders as may be -necessary." That was all, and quite easy for the General. -Draw a theater and company, properties and all -out of one's pocket like a ripe apple! But it could be -done with the resources of a division of infantry at -one's hand, and I set about it at once. The colonels -each received a note asking help and details from the -ranks of actors with some experience. They were -sure to be found there. But more than all, I wanted -a manager, and he soon came out of the First Virginia -Infantry to take charge of the play. It was Theodore -Hamilton, an actor of some experience. I have met -him in several places acting since the peace, and he always -comes to me as an old friend, although he was not -to tread the boards at the "Centerville Theater."</p> - -<p>"Now, Captain," he said, "for scenery and properties. -You have the building, I have the company; -what about the rest?" It was easy; painters were -found in the ranks for scenery, and many of the officers -chipping in, we got together enough money to send -Hamilton to Richmond to get the costumes and properties. -I don't think he made the most of his time -there, but he got something, and after many delays we -began to think we should see some acting after all. -But alas! just then, Johnston, discovering McClellan's -movements to the Peninsula, broke up his camp, his -officers destroying needlessly an immense amount of -valuable supplies, and off we marched merrily to face -our old friend, the young Napoleon. Such was the -beginning and the end of our first and only attempt at -theatricals.</p> - -<p>It was while we were about Centerville that a great -change came over Longstreet. He was rather gay in -disposition with his chums, fond of a glass, and very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -skilful at poker. He, Van Dorn, and G. W. Smith -were accustomed to play almost every night with T. J. -Rhett, General Johnston's adjutant-general, and we -sometimes heard of rather wild scenes amid these old -army chums—all from West Point, all having served -in Mexico and against the Indians. Longstreet's wife -and children were at Richmond. He was devoted to -them. Suddenly scarlet fever broke out and three of -the children died within one week. He was with them, -and some weeks after resumed his command a changed -man. He had become very serious and reserved and a -consistent member of the Episcopal Church. His grief -was very deep and he had all our sympathies; later -years lightened the memory of his sorrow and he became -rather more like his old cheerful self, but with no -dissipation of any kind.</p> - -<p>Before parting with Centerville it should be said that -my old troop, the Georgia Hussars, had at last got their -services accepted and were brought to Richmond under -my friend, Captain F. Waring, and mustered in for -the war. They were thrown into a regiment known -as the Jeff Davis Legion, commanded by Colonel Will -T. Martin, which was to prove itself a fine body of -horse.</p> - -<p>While in quarters this winter there were several light -falls of snow, a novelty to most of our Southern fellows. -Not many of them were familiar with such -descents from the clouds. There came, however, a -storm anything but interesting. Snow was lying deep -and camps were almost hidden.</p> - -<p>My staff comrade, Peyton Manning, and myself decided -it was the time for a sleigh ride of our own. -No cutters were to be had, but we improvised one.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -Securing a stout, well-made box of good size, a plank -seat in it for two made it the body of the fabric. Then -the forests yielded a couple of slim saplings, which, -bent at the ends over the fire, were not bad for runners. -On these, braced and crossed, with shafts attached, our -box, well elevated, was securely fastened, and there was -our cutter. We settled that the team should be stylish -and made it "tandem," in good extemporized harness. -My charger was put in the shafts and Manning's in the -lead, both high-spirited animals. Each horse was -mounted by a small negro, postilion-fashion, good riders -both, and supposed to add some safety as well as -novelty to the equipage.</p> - -<p>Manning undertook to handle the long reins from the -bits, and we started, the observed of many curious, and -amid the worst lot of evil prophecies of what would -befall us that it was ever my fate to hear. The outfit -took the road handsomely, cheered by the soldiers, our -black postilions grinning with delight.</p> - -<p>All went well for a time and then the devil himself -broke loose! The spirit of the horses rising, especially -that fiery brute of Manning's, they were off entirely -beyond control. Over the deep-snowed roads and -fields, across ditches and broken fences the gallant pair -in mad race took everything on a full run, their postilions -now ashy hue with terror and clinging like burs -to the bounding animals. The finish came quickly. -There seemed to be a sudden great fall of stars from -the midday skies and Manning and I were hurled right -and left into deep snow drifts, everything in pieces, -horses and little niggers quite out of sight. Digging -ourselves out we took a good look at each other and -some ugly words were said; but although scratched and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -bruised no bones were broken, and we slowly trod our -way back to camp, wiser if not better men from our -first and last sleigh ride in old Virginia. The horses -were brought back to quarters but never again were -their black postilions seen in those parts.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER III</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Reminiscences and Horses</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Visit to Mr. Francis Sorrel's country-seat—Interment of Captain - Tillinghast, U. S. A.—Sir William Howard Russell, - <cite>Times</cite> correspondent—McDowell and July 21st—Seward - and the French princes—Army begins to march to Peninsula.</p> -</div> - - -<p>Not long after the battle I set out on a visit to my -father's country place, Ireland, fifteen miles from our -camp. Hitching up two good mules to a light army -ambulance, what we needed was put in, our intention -being to bring back some delicacies for the messes. -Captain Thompson, of Mississippi, one of the aids, accompanied -me. He was an extraordinary looking person. -Nature had been unkind. The son of Jacob -Thompson, Buchanan's Secretary of the Interior, he -had much to hope for, but for his affliction. His teeth -and jaws were firmly set and locked, and no surgical -ingenuity had yet succeeded in opening them. Liquids -could be conveniently taken, but mechanical arrangements -had to be made for solid food by the removal of -some teeth.</p> - -<p>This young officer showing a great desire to go along -with me, was taken, although I could not help picturing -some surprise on the part of my father and young sisters. -We were made very welcome, as fresh from the -glorious battlefield, and the day was a happy one. The -girls had made a captain's coat for me out of homespun -cloth; but such a fit! big enough for two captains of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -thickness, it hung at all angles and flapped furiously in -high winds. But love had prompted its making and I -would never suffer any ugly remarks about it.</p> - -<p>Something better soon came. My brother, Doctor -Sorrel, in Richmond, was always mindful of his juniors -in the field, and getting possession of a blockade bolt of -fine gray cloth, he soon had enough snipped off to make -me two good Confederate suits, suitably laced and in -regulation trim, besides a long gray cape, or cloak, well -lined, which was to do me good service for years.</p> - -<p>At "Ireland" they loaded our ambulance with good -things and there were shouts of joy when we reached -the camp with the delicacies.</p> - -<p>Captain Thompson was not subject to military duty -and soon returned to his home.</p> - -<p>It should be said here that these jottings are without -the aid of a scrap of notes or other memoranda. The -memory alone is called on, and as the events go back -forty years it is something of a test; but I hope I am -rather strong on that point and do not fear falling into -inventions or imaginations. There were some dry -notes of dates and marches, but they cannot be found, -and they would be of no use with these jottings, as no -attempt at dates is made. It is a lasting regret to me -that as a staff officer with opportunities of seeing and -knowing much, I did not keep up a careful diary or -journal throughout the war. It should be made one of -the duties of the staff.</p> - -<p>This is odd. The day after the battle I came across -the body of Captain Tillinghast at the Federal field infirmary -near the stone bridge. The year previous I -had been much in Baltimore at the Maryland Club and -had there played billiards with Tillinghast, then a captain -of Artillery, U. S. A., and an agreeable acquaint<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>ance; -consequently there could be no mistake when I -recognized his dead body. The Federal surgeon also -identifying him, I set about giving him decent burial, -and managed it finally by the help of some men of -Bartow's Savannah company who knew me. The -ground was baked hard and we could not make the -grave deep, but it was enough; and with my own hands -I carved his name on the bark of a tree, under which -the soldier found his last bivouac—"Otis H. Tillinghast."</p> - -<p>Some time after, a blockade-runner, passing the lines -took a letter from me to my cousin, Robert Fisher, in -Baltimore, a friend also of Tillinghast. It was on -other matters, but I let him know that Tillinghast's -body had been recognized on the field, had received -decent burial, and the spot marked. I described the -location and then the matter passed out of my mind.</p> - -<p>After peace came I was with Fisher in Baltimore and -learned from him that my letter had been received and -the information as to Captain Tillinghast considerately -conveyed to his family. Fisher was answered soon -after with thanks, "but there was some mistake," Captain -Tillinghast was buried by his old classmate Samuel -Jones, a Confederate brigadier-general, in a different -part of the field and his body later removed to -the family vault. Astonishing! If they got a body -from a spot not where I had laid him they got the -wrong husband. Sam Jones quite likely saw Tillinghast, -but he had no hand in our burial of him. -Stranger things, however, have happened.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Here are some trifles of talk remembered as coming -from the famous war correspondent, Sir William -Howard Russell, whose letters from the Crimea broke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -the Aberdeen Ministry and made him one of the leading -men of the Kingdom. He was not long ago -knighted at great age for his service all over the world -in that field of letters. I met him several years ago -in New York, in the train of the notorious Colonel -North, the Chilean nitrate king. Russell had always -some good stories on hand, and laughed at his chase -from Bull Run battlefield, whither he had gone with -the Federal army to write up their victory pictures. -It gave him the name of "Bull Run Russell," which -stuck to him. He admitted being very far to the rear, -but said there were some generals and colonels who outstripped -him to Washington! Some years after the -war he met in Europe General McDowell, who said, -"Russell, do you know what day this is?" "No, I -don't recall any special occurrence." "It is," said McDowell, -"the 21st of July, and had I succeeded on that -day in '61 I should have been the greatest man in -America and you the most popular."</p> - -<p>Russell also had something about the French princes -come to join McClellan's army. The two young men, -Comte de Paris and Duc de Chartres, were under the -care and tutelage of their uncle, the Prince de Joinville, -who did not follow them to the army. On landing -they received their commissions as captains, and quickly -equipped themselves with handsome regulation uniforms -and military appointments.</p> - -<p>They proceeded to Washington to make formal calls -of ceremony before reporting to McClellan. Among -their first visits was that to Seward, the Secretary of -State. On that evening he was holding a large reception. -Seward himself leaving the ceremony to his son -Frederick, was upstairs with some cronies drinking -whiskey. "Seward was screwed, you know," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -Russell, "undoubtedly screwed." When the two -princes entered the hall, trim in their new uniforms, -erect and soldierly, they were met by Frederick Seward, -who at once went to announce them. "Tell them to -come right up," said the old politician; "bring them -right up and they shall have some good whiskey." -"That will never do," said his son. "You must come -down to them; it is etiquette and strictly in rule." -And down the Secretary went. "Screwed" a little, -for as soon as he spied the Frenchmen, out he broke: -"Captain Chatters, glad to see you; welcome to Washington. -And you too, Captain Paris. I am pleased -to have you in my house. Both of you come up with -me. You won't dislike the whiskey you shall taste." -But the watchful Frederick came to the rescue and carried -off the astonished princes with all propriety.</p> - -<p>Russell declared this to be literally true; but if not, it -at least as the Italians say, "ben trovato." Sir William -was then a picturesque figure in dark blue dress -coat, brass buttons, and ruffled shirt. Always interesting, -he had exhaustless stores of information and adventure. -A pretty young Italian wife accompanied -him.</p> - -<p>Something as to horses. I had left a good one in -Savannah, in care of a member of the troop. Hearing -that the horse was with him in Virginia I sent over for -my property and got for answer that he was not mine; -that he belonged to the man in Savannah, who not being -able to enlist had contributed this fine animal to -the outfit of the troop. A nice business indeed. It -was easy to be patriotic with my horse, but it was soon -settled. Captain Waring heard the statement, and -recognizing the animal as mine had him sent to me; -but the horse had been so neglected and diseased that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -he was no good and I was obliged to leave him by the -roadside. I had, during the war, many horses, some -good, some very poor. Among the best was the tough-looking -clay-bank I took from my father when joining -the army. He was capable of anything in speed and -endurance, but with a walk so slow and a trot so bone-breaking -that I had to swap him for one not so good. -Many of my animals broke down from hard staff service -in campaign, and a magnificent mare was killed -under me in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. A shell -burst directly under her and the poor beast was instantly -done for. I was not touched. In Tennessee, -in 1864, I picked up a delightful little white mare, -sound, fleet and enduring. I could not always get to -my other horses at the outbreak of firing, and the -mare's color was against us both. It was always -among the soldiers, "Fire at the fellow on the white -horse." She was at my brigade quarters at Appomattox -and my brother rode her to Savannah. When the -two appeared in front of our residence, my sisters -rushed out, but could not believe that the poor, tired -little mare was their brother's war horse. Their imagination -had been at work.</p> - -<p>My brother Claxton, my junior, was a fine, well set -up young fellow and eager for the fray. He was also -a private in the Hussars, and like myself had not waited -for the company, but came on to Richmond. Here he -fell in with some young Georgians from Athens, the -Troop Artillery, a six-gun battery under command of -Captain Carlton. Claxton joined and became a good -artillerist and was a corporal when transferred. The -First Georgia Regulars was organized by the State -among the first, its officers being appointed by the Governor -and the men enlisted anywhere. Its drill and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -discipline were supposed to be severer than that of -other troops. This regiment was brought to Virginia -and assigned to G. T. Anderson's (Tige Anderson) -Georgia Brigade. With some influence and much hard -work, my brother, Doctor Sorrel, succeeded in getting -a commission as second lieutenant in this regiment for -Claxton. Its officers were not elected; they were appointed -by the Executive. Claxton's service was -thenceforward with this regiment, its officers showing -some of the best names in Georgia, and its reputation -correspondingly high. Later I gave Captain Sorrel a -temporary detail on the staff of Brigadier-General -Garnett, and still later he was appointed captain in the -Assistant Adjutant-General's Department and served -with General John Bratton.</p> - -<p>When we moved from Centerville my father had -long since returned to Savannah with his family, and -his "Ireland" place was unoccupied (it was later -burned by the Union soldiers). But my cousin, Mrs. -Lucy Green, and children, were at their place, "The -Lawn," which would be in the enemy's territory after -our withdrawal. Our first halt was near Gainesville -and after getting the troops comfortably into camp I -rode over to see her, about three miles. The situation -was clearly described and he decided to pack her carriages -and wagons and move to Richmond. I gave -her a safe escort in a man from Lynchburg, Mr. Paxton, -a member of Blackford's cavalry company. With -farewells I rode back through the night, the better by -a pair of English boots my cousin gave me. She and -the children, with servants, under good Paxton's -charge, made next morning a start for Richmond, -where they arrived safely.</p> - -<p>Referring again to horses, the hussar horse had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -my mount at the short service on Skidaway. Henry -Taylor was my messmate and rode next me on a good -bay precisely the same color as mine, with considerable -resemblance between them. Taylor was rich, lazy, -despised discipline, and was a trial to the captain. He -gave his horse no attention and the beast would have -starved but for others. The captain could stand it no -longer. Sending for Taylor he read him a severe lecture -and promised punishment if the horse was not -kept clean and tended.</p> - -<p>Taylor was persuaded he must do something, and the -next morning he was up at stable-call at the picket -ropes, brush and curry comb in hand. It was very -early and misty. My horse was picketed next to Taylor's -and I had the satisfaction of seeing my lazy friend -give him the best morning's rub he had received for -many days. When Taylor woke up to what he had -done and that his own horse was still to be tended he -could not immediately see the joke, but soon took it in -good part and had something ready for me not long -after, which he thought squared us.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Sketches</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Brigadier-Generals Elzey and Early—Leaping horses—Confederate - uniforms—Ladies at Fairfax Station—Colonel Stuart's - Maryland line—Longstreet made Major-General—Sketches - of Brigadier-Generals Ewell and Pickett—General - Anderson—Major-General Van Dorn—Major-General - G. W. Smith—Brigadier Early—Brigadier-General - D. R. Jones.</p> -</div> - - -<p>One fine day not long after the Manassas battle, and -while we were at Fairfax Court House, Longstreet -called on me to ride over to the station on a visit. It -was to General Elzey, who was found with General -Early in a dilapidated old church. Refreshments were -ordered and a good deal of whiskey consumed by the -three brigadiers, some colonels and staff officers. -Early had been a strong Union man until Virginia seceded, -and he then took arms, devotedly and ever -bravely, for his State and the Confederacy. He was, -however, of a snarling, rasping disposition, and seemed -to irritate Elzey, who, not a Union man, had come -South without the secession of his State, Maryland. -There were some hot words all around, but peace was -made, however, and we all quit the drinks and adjourned -to the horses and fine weather outside. Leaping -fences and ditches at once began, my mount doing -well and coming some daring trials. Longstreet was -mounted on a fine bay not quite up to such work, with -his weight, and the General turned him over to me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -The bay did splendidly, surpassing all others present, -and the generals were much pleased.</p> - -<p>Colonel Duncan McRae, Fifth North Carolina, had -just received from Richmond a handsome new Confederate -uniform and outfit. Alas! it soon came to -grief. The Colonel, in taking a high fence, lost his seat -and came down very hard, splitting his fine coat in the -back, from collar to waist.</p> - -<p>A word here as to uniforms and insignia. So fast -does the memory of things pass that perhaps it may be -well to make a note of what was the Confederate uniform. -It was designed and settled on by a board of -officers of the War Department.</p> - -<p>For all officers, a close-fitting double-breasted gray -tunic.</p> - -<p>For generals, staff and all field officers, dark blue -trousers.</p> - -<p>The arm of service was shown by collar and cuff—Generals -and staff officers, buff; Cavalry, yellow; Artillery, -red; Infantry, blue; Medical Department, black.</p> - -<p>Dark blue trousers had broad gold stripes on outer -seams, except generals, who wore two narrower and -slightly apart.</p> - -<p>Trousers for all line officers under rank of major -were light blue with broad cloth stripe, color of service -arm.</p> - -<p>Rank was shown on collar and sleeve.</p> - -<p>Generals wore on collar a gold wreath enclosing -three stars in line, the middle one slightly larger. On -their sleeves was the ornamental Hungarian knot of -four braids width. They usually wore their buttons in -groups of twos or threes. There was no difference in -the uniform or rank mark among the several grades of -general officers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> - -<p>Colonels wore three stars in line, same size; lieutenant-colonels, -two, and majors, one. The knot on the -sleeve was three braids width for the three grades of -field officers—colonel, lieutenant-colonel, and major.</p> - -<p>For captains, rank was shown by three short bars -lateral on front of collar; first lieutenant, two bars, and -second lieutenant, one bar. Captains wore on sleeve -Hungarian knot of two braids width, and first and second -lieutenants, one braid.</p> - -<p>For headgear the French "Kepi," color of arm of -service, richly embroidered, was first provided; but the -felt hat, black or any color that could be had, speedily -pushed it aside almost before it had an existence.</p> - -<p>The intention of the board of officers was to adopt -the tunic like the short, close-fitting, handsome Austrian -garment, but it went completely by default. The -officers would none of it. They took to the familiar -cut of frock coat with good length of tail.</p> - -<p>Longstreet and two or three of us tried the tunic, but -it was not popular.</p> - -<p>Confederate uniforms were in great number at the -flag presentations a little later, of which I have already -spoken. We were then bravely dressed in the bright -and handsome Confederate gray.</p> - -<p>But now "place aux dames." A splendid Maryland -regiment of Elzey's brigade was at Fairfax Station -near by, and two lovely women, descendants of a distinguished -Virginia family, were then visiting their -numerous friends serving with it. They were the -beautiful Carys, Hetty and her cousin Constance. The -three generals, gallantly inclined, decided they must -call on the ladies, and this they did, shutting out their -staffs for the time. Then evening coming on dress -parade was in order and Colonel George Stewart soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -had his fine Marylanders in line. He insisted on the -two ladies taking position by him, and when time for -the manual came, handed his sword to Hetty, and stepping -aside prompted her with the orders, and thus the -regiment, amid much enthusiasm, was put through its -manual by the prettiest woman in Virginia. They -soon returned to Richmond and occupied themselves in -the good work of the Southern women. Hetty, a -really glorious beauty, married Brig.-Gen. John Pegram -in January, 1865. Three weeks after he fell at -Hatcher's Run, at the same time that I received what -was thought a fatal wound. The <cite>New York Herald</cite> a -few days later published both our obituaries. (See -Appendix.)</p> - -<p>Constance married, after the peace, my friend Burton -N. Harrison, President Davis's accomplished private -secretary. He began his law practice in New -York, succeeding well, and his wife soon became established -and admired as a woman of taste and uncommon -social and literary attainments. Her books have -gained deserved popularity and wide circulation.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Longstreet being now a major-general, with three -brigades, the new brigadiers are to be introduced. R. -S. Ewell took our old brigade. He was a distant relative of -mine and one of the strangest of warriors; had -served with distinction in Mexico, and all his life -against Indians. He was without a superior as a cavalry -captain and of the most extraordinary appearance. -Bald as an eagle, he looked like one; had a piercing eye -and a lisping speech. A perfect horseman and lover -of horses (racers), he never tired of talking of his -horse "Tangent," in Texas, who appears to have never -won a race and always to have lost his owner's money.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -But the latter's confidence never weakened and he always -believed in "Tangent." General Ewell became a -very distinguished soldier, and justly so. To uncommon -courage and activity he added a fine military instinct, -which could make him a good second in command -in any army. He was not long with us. His -fortunes were with Stonewall Jackson in the Valley -operations, and he rose to be major-general and lieutenant-general. -In the latter rank he commanded the -Second Corps at Gettysburg, having previously lost a -leg in the second Manassas campaign. His command -suffered great loss in the slaughter of Malvern Hill. -The morning after, I found him doubled up on the -floor of a little shanty, his head covered up; the ground -was covered with our slain. Raising himself he instantly -recognized me, and lisped out, "Mather Thorrel, -can you tell me why we had five hundred men killed -dead on this field yesterday?" That was all; the soul -of the brave General was fit to burst for the awful and -useless sacrifice. It was a fearful blunder somewhere -and has not yet been boldly and clearly lighted up. -Kemper, a fine Virginian colonel, succeeded Ewell in -the command of the Fourth Brigade, and served well -until he was left for dead in front of his men in -Pickett's charge at Gettysburg.</p> - -<p>Our Second Brigade was also Virginian. One evening -at dark I was in my narrow office when an officer -was announced. I turned and had quite a start at my -visitor's appearance. It was George Pickett, just made -brigadier-general, and reporting for command. A singular -figure indeed! A medium-sized, well-built man, -straight, erect, and in well-fitting uniform, an elegant -riding-whip in hand, his appearance was distinguished -and striking. But the head, the hair were extraordi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>nary. -Long ringlets flowed loosely over his shoulders, -trimmed and highly perfumed; his beard likewise was -curling and giving out the scents of Araby. He was -soon made at home, and having already received Longstreet's -instructions, was assigned to his brigade.</p> - -<p>Pickett became very friendly, was a good fellow, a -good brigadier. He had been in Longstreet's old -Army regiment, and the latter was exceedingly fond of -him. Taking Longstreet's orders in emergencies, I -could always see how he looked after Pickett, and made -us give him things very fully; indeed, sometimes stay -with him to make sure he did not get astray.</p> - -<p>Such was the man whose name calls up the most -famous and heroic charge, possibly, in the annals of -war. Pickett's charge at Gettysburg stirs every heart -that beats for great deeds, and will forever live in song -and story.</p> - -<p>Afterwards his division was relieved to rest and recruit, -and grew strong and fit. It was, however, badly -mauled at Five Forks by Sheridan, although its commander -is said to have made excellent disposition of -his troops and fought them gallantly.</p> - -<p>The Third Brigade was of South Carolina regiments -under command of Brig.-Gen. Richard H. Anderson, a -West Point graduate and an experienced officer of the -old Army. Of him and also the artillery attached to -the division there is more to be said later.</p> - -<p>At the Centerville camp Major-General Earl Van -Dorn commanded a division. A small, handsome man, -the very picture of a thorough light cavalryman, he -enjoyed a high reputation from service in Mexico and -against the Indians. Soon after he was transferred to -a command in Mississippi, and there falling into a private -quarrel was killed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> - -<p>Maj.-Gen. G. W. Smith also had a division near Centerville. -From this officer much was expected. He -had left the Academy with high honors, and served -many years with distinction. He resigned from the -Army to become Street Commissioner in New York, a -lucrative office, and thence he came South for service. -There was no opportunity to show his abilities in the -field until the battle of Seven Pines in May-June, 1862, -and then General Lee taking command of the army, -Smith withdrew, and was, I think, not again heard of -in active field work. After the war he wrote a book, -his "Apologies," in which he threw all the blame on -his once bosom friend, James Longstreet, and upon -General Johnston for field work, up to the time of his -retirement.</p> - -<p>Jubal Early, brigadier-general, was one of the ablest -soldiers in the army. Intellectually he was perhaps the -peer of the best for strategic combinations, but he lacked -ability to handle troops effectively in the field; that is, -he was deficient in tactical skill. His irritable disposition -and biting tongue made him anything but popular, -but he was a very brave and able commander. His -appearance was quite striking, having a dark, handsome -face, regular features, and deep piercing eyes. -He was the victim of rheumatism, and although not old -was bent almost double, like an aged man. Of high -scholarly and fine political attainments, he never married, -but led the life of a recluse in Virginia, entirely -apart from social and public affairs.</p> - -<p>D. R. Jones, brigadier-general, was also near us. A -very agreeable, lovable man, tall and stately, he made a -brave appearance, and well merited the sobriquet of -"Neighbor Jones," as they pleasantly called him at -West Point. His wife, a relative of President Davis,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -was much with him in camp, and a very decided character -by the side of her indulgent husband. He could -not figure with much success, his health being poor, and -after Sharpsburg was transferred to some easier service -elsewhere, and soon after died.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER V</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Our National Hymn</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Singing among the troops—Van Dorn—Longstreet—Smith - and "I Puritani" for National hymn—Surgeon Francis - Sorrel, C. S. A.—Life in Richmond—Troops passing - through—Toombs and his brigade—General D. H. Hill.</p> -</div> - - -<p>Among the troops at Centerville there was much -singing, some of it very sweet and touching. -"Lorena," set to a tender, sentimental air, was heard -everywhere. "My Maryland" was a great favorite, -and of course "Dixie" was always in evidence. There -were, however, other sweet Southern melodies that the -soldiers took up, seemingly mellowing stern hearts and -bringing tender memories of home. There was constant -talk of a National air, "Dixie" being thought by -some as of not sufficient dignity. "My Maryland" -had many advocates, but there were some that thought -the noble strain of the great Liberty duet from "I -Puritani" was the thing for the Confederacy. General -Van Dorn was enthusiastic about it. At the banquet -at Longstreet's, after the flag presentation, the -talk turned on this air, and Van Dorn began to sing it. -"Up on the table and, show yourself; we can't see -you!" said Longstreet. "Not unless you stand by -me!" shouted Van Dorn; and no sooner said than -Longstreet, G. W. Smith, and Van Dorn, the ranking -major-generals, were clinging to each other on a narrow -table and roaring out the noble bars of "I Puritani." -Johnston and Beauregard stood near with twinkling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -eyes of amusement and enjoyment. So much for wine -and "entoosy moosy," as Byron calls it; but for all -this good start, the soldiers declined the impressive air -and stuck to their Dixie.</p> - -<p>It was always gratifying to me to note the good -equipment in which the troops from my State were -sent to the front for the Confederacy. Governor -Brown was thorough in doing the best for them that -the blockade of the coast and his factories permitted. -They came forward with good clothing, shoes and underwear, -which, although of home make, were warm, -comfortable and serviceable.</p> - -<p>My brother, Dr. Francis Sorrel, was many years my -senior. He had served in the United States Army as -assistant surgeon, but had resigned and was in California -when the war began. He immediately came to -share the fortunes of his State. Dr. Moore, the Confederate -Surgeon-General, without delay had him appointed -to full rank and assigned for service as his -close confidential assistant (the pair were forever rolling -cigarettes). There his influence and powers were -considerable and the Doctor was always helpful to his -friends. He was instrumental in assigning Dr. James -B. Read, of Savannah, to the officers' hospital in Richmond, -and in Read's hands it became celebrated. He -kept a good lookout for his two junior brothers in the -field and we had many evidences of his thoughtfulness.</p> - -<p>With a wide acquaintance in Richmond, he knew the -principal members of Congress and was liked by all the -Cabinet. His previous service in the United States -Army put him in good touch with many high officers, -and his position in all respects was enviable. Occasionally -I managed to make a short visit to Richmond, -and then my brother gave me introductions to pleasant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -men and charming women. There may be more to say -of him later.</p> - -<p>Life at Richmond at this time—January, February, -March, April, 1862—seemed gay and happy, with but -little outward sign of apprehension or anxieties for the -future. Food supplies were abundant and the pinch -for clothing and shoes was being eased by the remarkable -achievement of the several States in equipping their -contingents for the field.</p> - -<p>Most of the troops passed through Richmond en -route to the Peninsula, and there was much excitement -and cheering. Main Street was thronged with people -shouting wildly as the regiments marched down to -Rocketts, where they were to take boat for part of the -route.</p> - -<p>General Toombs was quite conspicuous. Every one -knows that that luminous intellect embraced no soldier's -talent. It might have been so with study, but -the Georgian was for once and all a politician, and in -the wrong shop with a sword and uniform on.</p> - -<p>He marched his troops down Main Street, past the -crowds at Spottswood Hotel, with childlike delight. -He put himself at the head of one regiment and moved -it out of sight amid hurrahs, then galloping back he -brought on another, ready himself for cheers, until the -brigade was down the street and near the embarkation. -It was somewhat amusing, but a harmless entertainment -for the brilliant orator and statesman.</p> - -<p>Being quite without notes I had almost omitted a -jotting about one of Longstreet's brigadiers at Centerville—a -marked and peculiar character. This was -General D. H. Hill, not long with us. He was soon -made major-general and sent elsewhere to command. -Hill was a small, delicate man, rather bent, and cursed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -with dyspepsia, which seemed to give color to his -whole being. He was out of West Point with a good -class number, was a capable, well-read soldier, and positively -about the bravest man ever seen. He seemed not -to know peril and was utterly indifferent to bullets and -shell, but with all these qualities was not successful. -His backbone seemed a trifle weak. He would take -his men into battle, fight furiously for some time and -then something weakened about him. Unless there -was some strong character near by, like Longstreet, for -instance, on whom he leaned, his attack would be apt to -fail and his first efforts go unrewarded. His speech -was bitter, although a most devout Presbyterian elder. -He had resigned long before from the United States -Army, and had a large school in North Carolina. He -was accustomed to sneer at cavalry, and once went so -far as to say he had "yet to see a dead man with spurs -on." It may be imagined what Stuart's gallant troopers -thought of him. But Hill had brains, and rose. -He was later on sent West to command in Bragg's -army, was promoted to lieutenant-general, and is said -to have failed grievously at Chickamauga, for which -Bragg suspended him from command; and he was not, -I think, restored to any service in the field. He was -really a good man, but of sharp prejudice and intemperate -language. If there was one department of the -army well administered amid almost impossibilities, requiring -most ingenious and inventive resources, it was -the Ordnance, under Colonel Gorgas. Hill took a -hatred to it because a gun burst in action, and his imputations -on the faith of the department and its abilities -were quite unworthy of him or of any good soldier.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">The Peninsula and Battle of Williamsburg, -May 5, 1862</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Arrival at Yorktown—Major-General Magruder—His skilful - defense—Lines at Warwick River—Major-General McClellan—Retreat - from Yorktown—Battle of Williamsburg, - May 5—Death of Colonel Mott, Nineteenth Mississippi—Destruction - of armored ram <cite>Virginia</cite>—Charge by Georgia - Hussars—Explosives behind rearguard rebuked—Promoted - major.</p> -</div> - - -<p>But I must hasten to the Peninsula, where at Yorktown -and along the lines of the little Warwick River, -McClellan and Johnston are frowning at each other; -the former, as usual, tripling the Confederate force -and bawling for more men. Persons and things I -have left behind will probably come into these jottings -in the loose way they fall from the pen.</p> - -<p>Longstreet with his staff and some of his regiments -were among the first arrivals to face McClellan and -gave great relief to Magruder. This officer, a major-general, -commanding some 10,000 to 12,000 men, had -offered a most extraordinary and successful defense. -It was a wonderful piece of bluff and could have won -only against McClellan. Yorktown was strongly -armed and well defended. Thence stretching across -the Peninsula was a sluggish little stream known as the -Warwick River. It was fordable in almost all places, -in some nearly dry-shod.</p> - -<p>Magruder's engineers had strengthened the defenses -by some dams that gathered a good spread of water to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -be passed in an attack. The Warwick, of many miles -extent, was necessarily thinly defended. Magruder -put his whole force behind it, an attenuated line, up and -down which he constantly rode in full sight of the -enemy. He was known in the old Army as "Prince -John," from the splendor of his appearance and his -dress. Of commanding form and loving display, he -had assembled a numerous staff, all, like himself, in the -most showy uniforms. To these he added a fine troop -of cavalry, and when the cavalcade at full gallop inspected -the thin lines of the Warwick, it was a sight for -men and gods. I am persuaded he so impressed -"Little Mac" that he sang out for more men and thus -lost his opportunity. In very truth he was so strong -and Magruder so weak that the Union ramrods should -have sufficed to break the defense and gobble up the -magnificent "Prince John."</p> - -<p>Longstreet's arrival was therefore a great relief, and -soon Johnston had his army in full position, making -McClellan almost frantic; he more than doubled Johnston's -actual strength. A strong attack should have -prevailed to drive us away; and if briskly followed, -eventually into the York River. But Johnston knew -his man, as did indeed every Confederate leader later -on. Lee, Longstreet, Jackson, the Hills all knowing -his points, while serving in the U. S. Army, could now -rightly measure him. McClellan was a lovable man, an -admirable organizer, but with little taste for battle unless -largely outnumbering his opponent. Here in the -trenches occurred remarkable scenes. Many of the -Southern regiments had enlisted for only twelve months -and the time expired in April. Re-enlistments and -elections of the officers took place under fire of the -enemy! Our men were splendid, and with rare excep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>tions -they refused home and re-enlisted, this time for -the war.</p> - -<p>Inactivity continued for some time, Longstreet commanding -the center with his own and other troops, until -it was soon apparent to Johnston that Richmond -was too much exposed to attacks on the north side of -the James River. The capital must be covered; besides, -both our flanks were endangered by the enemy's -immense superiority on the water. Preparations therefore -began for a move, and on the night of May 3 the -army was successfully drawn from its trenches and -started on its deliberate, well-ordered retreat. On May -5 our rearguard was overtaken and attacked in force at -Williamsburg, Longstreet in command, with a considerable -part of the army. It was a stubborn, all-day -fight, with serious losses on both sides, but the enemy -was beaten off and we resumed the march that night, -the Federals having enough of it. We were not again -molested. This was our first severe fight, and the -steadiness and order of officers and men appeared to be -very satisfactory. I was promoted to be major soon -afterwards, the commission dating May 5, the day of -the action. There was a gruesome but affecting sight -during the battle. Colonel Mott, of high reputation, -had brought from his State the Nineteenth Mississippi -Infantry. It was hotly engaged in a long, fierce fight, -and Mott fell. His black servant in the rear immediately -took a horse and went to the firing line for his -master's body. I met the two coming out of the fire -and smoke. The devoted negro had straddled the stiffened -limbs of his master on the saddle before him, -covered his face with a handkerchief, and thus rescued -his beloved master's body for interment with his fathers -on the old Mississippi estate.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> - -<p>The celebrated L. Q. C. Lamar was lieutenant-colonel -of the regiment, and succeeded to the command, -until forced by physical disability, he retired to Richmond -for other service. The army moving on soon -neared the capital and took up the several positions assigned -its divisions. McClellan's huge force following, -threw itself across the Chickahominy, and the siege -of Richmond may be said to have begun.</p> - -<p>On the withdrawal of the army from the Peninsula, -Norfolk and Gloucester Point became indefensible and -the destruction of immense quantities of material both -for field use and for construction had to be submitted -to. The blow was not made lighter by the loss of the -famous <cite>Virginia</cite>, formerly the <cite>Merrimac</cite>, that did such -havoc at Newport News. She could not be permitted -to fall into the enemy's hands and was of too deep draft -for service on the James River. Her commander, Admiral -Josiah Tatnall, was therefore reluctantly forced -to her destruction. She was blown up and disappeared. -Other vessels, cruisers and gun-boats, boilers, -engines, and great quantities of material for construction -had to be destroyed for similar reasons. The loss -was bitter to us, as so much could have been done with -it all for a little fighting navy.</p> - -<p>It was during the action at Williamsburg that I was -ready to shout for joy at seeing my old troop, the -Georgia Hussars, in a gallant charge. Their regiment, -the Jeff Davis Legion, had been prematurely thrown at -the enemy in a position he was thought about leaving. -The cavalry colonel was wrong. Our Georgians went -forward in fine style, expecting to carry everything, but -quickly found themselves in a very hot place. The -enemy was not retiring, but on the contrary gave the -Legion so warm a reception as to empty many saddles.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -They all came back pell-mell, "the devil take the hindmost," -my Hussar comrades wondering what their -colonel had got them "into that galley for!" It was -a severe lesson but a salutary one, and the regiment was -not again caught that way. Longstreet saw them close -by as they dashed forward, and said, "They must soon -come back; the colonel is ahead of the right moment."</p> - -<p>General Johnston was present on the field all day, -but seeing Longstreet, the rearguard commander, carrying -things very handsomely, generously forbore any -interference and left the battle to his handling. He -sent the latter such additional troops as he had to call -for from time to time. When night came it was horrible. -There were many dead and wounded and the -weather nasty; the roads ankle deep in mud and slush. -But the march had to be again taken up.</p> - -<p>On the retreat from Yorktown, Brigadier-General -Rains was commanding the rearguard. He was a -brother of the other Rains who at Augusta, Georgia, -achieved the apparently impossible task of supplying -ammunition. Both brothers were given to experiments -in explosives and fond of that study. When -Gabriel began moving out on our march he amused -himself planting shells and other explosives in the roadway -after us to tickle the pursuers. Hearing this I -reported the matter to Longstreet, who instantly -stopped it. He caused me to write Rains a rather -severe note, reminding him that such practises were -not considered in the limits of legitimate warfare, and -that if he would put them aside and pay some attention -to his brigade his march would be better and his stragglers -not so numerous. This officer did not remain -long on duty in the field. His talents, like those of his -more celebrated brother, lay elsewhere.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> - -<p>After getting into position before Richmond, less -than a month intervened between the reorganization -and strengthening of the army and change of its commander. -I shall therefore defer any observations that -I may recall as to its composition and personnel until it -took its more permanent form under Lee, contenting -myself with some stray reflections on the battle of -Seven Pines, which by the deplorable wounding of -Johnston gave us for leader Robert E. Lee.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battle of Seven Pines, May 31, 1862</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Position taken in front of Richmond—Reception at President - Davis's—Sketch—Mr. Benjamin, Secretary of State—Storm-bound—Richmond—General - Johnston wounded—Von Borcke, the German volunteer—His armament.</p> -</div> - - -<p>Our positions were so near Richmond as to permit -frequent visits there during the pleasant month of -May.</p> - -<p>McClellan was hugging himself in security and reinforcements -beyond the Chickahominy, and the earthwork -defenses of Richmond which we were guarding -seemed to us then all-sufficing. Later, we could realize -how little they were worth without men and guns -and rifles and a leader in the field. These defenses -had been scientifically constructed by the engineers -headed by General Lee and Maj.-Gen. J. F. Gilmer. -The latter was a distinguished officer not long since resigned -from the United States Army, had married in -Savannah in the family of dear friends of ours, and -when the war broke out at once placed his unquestioned -engineering abilities at the service of the government.</p> - -<p>On one of my visits to the city I was persuaded by -my brother, Dr. Sorrel, to stay the night and attend, a -reception at the President's. It was interesting and -striking. The highest and most brilliant of the Southland -were there; bright, witty, confident, carrying -everything with a high hand. The men generally in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -full uniform and the women in finery, that seems somehow -always to turn up for them under all circumstances. -After presentation to Mr. and Mrs. Davis I -had a good look at that remarkable man. A most interesting -study, calm and self-contained, gracious with -some sternness; his figure was straight, slim and elegant. -A well-poised, ample head was faced with high-bred -features and an expression that could be very -winning and agreeable. His wife, Varina, was a -rather large woman, handsome and brilliant, a bit inclined -to be caustic of speech, but withal a good and -gracious help to her husband.</p> - -<p>Her devotion when he was a prisoner was later beautifully -manifested. Senators and Congressmen were -there in abundance. Our own representative, Julien -Hartridge, characteristically indifferent to such assemblages, -was taking his pleasure elsewhere.</p> - -<p>Mr. Benjamin was a most interesting character—a -short, squatty Jewish figure. His silvery speech -charmed all hearers with its wit, persiflage and wisdom. -His wonderful legal abilities made him <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">facile -princeps</i> in equity law. His after career was extraordinary. -When the collapse of the Confederate Army -came he was still in Mr. Davis's Cabinet and joined his -chief in flight. Separating, however, Benjamin escaped -to one of the West India Islands and thence to -London. It seems his nativity had actually been in a -British Colony, and this fact and his great legal acquirements, -with some routine attendance at the courts, -quickly permitted his admittance to the bar and he was -Q. C. in almost no time. He immediately took up an -immense special practise and made much money.</p> - -<p>I had the pleasure of meeting him in 1872 in Paris, -at a breakfast given by Mr. Francis Corbin in his splen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>did -hotel on the Faubourg St. Germain. Needless to -say, Mr. Benjamin was delightful.</p> - -<p>It was on one of these visits to my brother that I -nearly came to trouble. I intended to ride back to -camp quite early, but he had visits for me to make with -him and pressed me so affectionately that I was late in -starting back. Then a furious storm of rain and wind -nearly drowned my good horse and myself and I was -concerned for the late hour at which I finally reported -to my chief. I found him provoked at my absence, -because much had happened. In the afternoon a council -of war had agreed with the commander-in-chief to -attack McClellan the next morning. The opportunity -was a good one because McClellan had posted his forces -so that the Chickahominy cut them in two and they -might be destroyed in detail. I was not too late, however, -for the duties, and both Longstreet and myself -were soon in good humor again. Orders for the dispositions -of the troops were quickly gotten out and the -time and line of march given. We had six strong brigades -and D. H. Hill's four were to join us under -Longstreet, besides a strong force of artillery and a -body of cavalry on the right. When the day came -(May 31) the movement began, and never was the -opening for battle more unsatisfactory.</p> - -<p>The same storm that put McClellan's army in decided -peril by destroying his bridges and cutting communication -between his two wings, impeded our march -at every step. Little rivulets were now raging torrents.</p> - -<p>Bridges had to be improvised and causeways made -by which the column could be moved. Everything -seemingly lost us time, and our attack, instead of being -early in the day, was delayed until 4 p. m. There -shall be no attempt to describe or discuss this battle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -G. W. Smith with a large command was on our left. -General Johnston with him and Major-General Huger -with a strong division was expected to support our -right, but for some reason we did not get it. D. H. -Hill with his four brigades and our six, attacked with -great fury. Smith's attack on the left was retarded -and unsuccessful. We made quick progress, but with -heavy losses in our ten fine brigades. The enemy -could not stand before them and Casey's division, -posted at Seven Points, gave way after heavy losses -and was crushed. Cannon and colors fell into our -hands. Darkness was then coming on and no supports, -much to Longstreet's chagrin. Further attack on our -part was deferred until the morning. Meantime, while -Smith was making on the left his abortive attack, our -gallant General Joseph E. Johnston had been struck -down by a severe wound and borne from the field. -The second in command was G. W. Smith, but as operations -for the day had ceased there was no occasion for -him to make any change in existing dispositions of the -troops, and Gen. Robert E. Lee was the next day placed -in command of the Army of Northern Virginia.</p> - -<p>Seven Pines should under all circumstances have -been a magnificent victory for us. It was really far -from that, and while encouraging the soldiers in fighting -and the belief in their ability to beat the enemy, it -was waste of life and a great disappointment.</p> - -<p>Walton, of Longstreet's staff, was wounded in the -head, the bullet making a long furrow in his bald scalp. -Here we saw for the first time the German Von Borcke, -who, attached later to Stuart's cavalry, made some -reputation. He had just arrived and could not speak a -word of English; was splendidly mounted on a powerful -sorrel and rode well. He was an ambulating ar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>senal. -A double-barreled rifle was strapped across his -back, a Winchester carbine hung by his hip, heavy revolvers -were in his belt, right and left side; an enormous -straight double-edged sharp-pointed cuirasseur's -saber hung together with sabertasche to his left thigh, -and a short "couteau de chasse" finished up his right. -Besides, his English army saddle bore two large holsters, -one for his field-glasses, the other for still another -revolver, bigger and deadlier than all the others. -Von Borcke was a powerful creature—a tall, blonde, -active giant. When I next saw him he had discarded—taught -by experience—all his arsenal except his -good saber and a couple of handy revolvers. He -stayed with us to the end and received an ugly wound -in the throat.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battles of the Chickahominy, June 26 -to July 2, 1862</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>General Lee in command—Sketch—Reinforced—Preparing for - campaign—General Lee's staff—Longstreet second in command—His - division—Artillery reorganized—Washington - Artillery of New Orleans—Colonel E. P. Alexander commanding - artillery—General W. W. Mackall reports—Sketch—Civilian - prisoners at Fort Warren—General Miles - and President Davis—The battles around Richmond—McClellan's - defeat—Stonewall Jackson not on time—Ochiltree - and Eastern fighting—Lord Edward St. Maur a - visitor—McClellan on James River in position—Later we - take again positions by Richmond.</p> -</div> - - -<p>When General Lee took command it was my first -sight of him. He had been employed in the northwest -Virginia mountains, on the South Atlantic Coast, and -at Richmond, generally as adviser to the President. -His appearance had, it seems, changed. Up to a short -time before Seven Pines he had worn for beard only -a well-kept moustache, soon turned from black to -grizzled. When he took us in hand his full gray beard -was growing, cropped close, and always well tended. -An unusually handsome man, he has been painted with -brush and pen a hundred times, but yet there is always -something to say of that noble, unostentatious figure, -the perfect poise of head and shoulders and limbs, the -strength that lay hidden and the activity that his fifty-five -years could not repress. Withal graceful and -easy, he was approachable by all; gave attention to all -in the simplest manner. His eyes—sad eyes! the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -saddest it seems to me of all men's—beaming the -highest intelligence and with unvarying kindliness, yet -with command so firmly set that all knew him for the -unquestioned chief. He loved horses and had good -ones, and rode carefully and safely, but I never liked -his seat. The General was always well dressed in gray -sack-coat of Confederate cloth, matching trousers -tucked into well-fitting riding-boots—the simplest emblems -of his rank appearing, and a good, large black -felt army hat completed the attire of our commander. -He rarely wore his sword, but his binoculars were always -at hand. Fond of the company of ladies, he had -a good memory for pretty girls. His white teeth and -winning smile were irresistible. While in Savannah -and calling on my father, one of my sisters sang for -him. Afterwards, in Virginia, almost as soon as he -saw me he asked after his "little singing-bird."</p> - -<p>The touch of the leader's hand was soon apparent in -the reorganization of the army and its increased -strength. The Administration reposing a perfect confidence -in Lee, gave him all he asked for in men and -material that could be furnished. It is proper to add -that so moderate was the man and so fully understanding -the situation and difficulties of supply, that he rarely -asked for what could not be given him. His staff was -small and efficient. I suppose that at this date there -are some hundreds of men in the South who call themselves -members of Lee's staff, and so they were if teamsters, -sentry men, detailed quartermasters (commissary -men), couriers and orderlies, and all the rest of -the following of general headquarters of a great army -are to be so considered. But by staff we usually confine -ourselves to those responsible officers immediately -about a general, and Lee had selected carefully. Four<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -majors (afterwards lieutenant-colonels and colonels) -did his principal work. Walter Taylor, from the Virginia -Military Institute, was adjutant-general, and better -could not be found for this important post.</p> - -<p>Charles Venable, a scholar and mathematician, and -with some study of strategy, together with Charles -Marshall, a distinguished lawyer by inheritance from -his ancestor, the Chief Justice, and his own attainments, -did much of the correspondence under dictation. Talcot -was the engineer officer, and Long, of the old Army, -a close friend of the General, was ranked as military -secretary and did various duties. At a later date Brig.-Gen. -R. H. Chilton, A. A. G., was assigned to confidential -duties with the General, and was sometimes called -chief of staff. But Lee really had no such chief about -him. The officer practically nearest its duties was his -extremely efficient adjutant-general, W. H. Taylor.</p> - -<p>Maj. H. E. Young was also attached later—an excellent -officer. There were possible one or two young -lieutenants for personal aids, but this was Lee's staff, -although perhaps I have made some omissions. Of -course it does not include the important administrative -officers like Cole, chief commissary; Corley, chief quartermaster; -Doctor Guild, medical director, and his -chiefs of ordnance and other organizations.</p> - -<p>Longstreet was second in command and it soon became -apparent that he was to be quite close to Lee. -His camps and bivouacs were near by the General's, -and thus my acquaintance with him and his staff became -quite free and I was often honored by the kind -interest of the Commander-in-Chief.</p> - -<p>In the new organization Longstreet had a powerful -division of six brigades, and A. P. Hill (major-general) -one of six, also a fine body which Hill happily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -christened as the Light Division. The artillery was -much improved, and loose batteries were gathered and -organized into well-found battalions, generally of four -batteries of six guns each, and a battalion assigned to -each division. The celebrated Washington Artillery -of New Orleans was given to us, and glad we were to -have such gunners. E. P. Alexander commanded in -reserve a fine battalion of six batteries and was to do -much good service with it.</p> - -<p>A word about this splendid fellow. He was from -Georgia and a dear friend of mine. Leaving West -Point with very high honors, he was immediately commissioned -into the Engineers, and sent to the Pacific, -whence he came South to fight. His was the happiest -and most hopeful nature. He was sure of winning in -everything he took up, and never did he open his guns -on the enemy but that he knew he should maul him into -smithereens. An accomplished engineer, he was often -called on both by Lee and Longstreet for technical work -and special reconnoitering. His future in peace, after -Appomattox, was varied and distinguished, and he still -is with us, eager, enthusiastic, most interesting, and of -undiminished abilities.</p> - -<p>The Washington Artillery was an ancient and -wealthy organization of New Orleans, numbering five -well-equipped, well-manned batteries. There were -many men of wealth and family serving as gunners. -Four batteries under Colonel Walton came to Virginia, -the fifth was sent West. Walton was large and imposing -in appearance, looking, as indeed did the whole -battalion, rather French. This arose from their uniform, -which from "kepi" to gaiters was handsomely -French, and made them very fine beside our homespun -infantry fellows. It was a most efficient organization,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -serving with Longstreet throughout the war; it always -did good service and constantly distinguished itself -most conspicuously.</p> - -<p>Our own staff will not be touched on just yet, preferring -to wait for the creation of the two army corps -in October, when we were put in more permanent shape -for the remainder of the war. At present there had -been but few additions to it, since Longstreet's command -was limited to a single brigade, and the staff -work consequently was sometimes hard on us.</p> - -<p>I think it was in this month, September, that I rode -to one of the lower landings of the James to meet General -Mackall, my brother-in-law. He had been a prisoner -of war at Fort Warren near Boston, and was to -land, exchanged with some others from the Federal -steamer. He was quite well and I sent him on to -Richmond, where Doctor Sorrel saw to his comfort. -Mackall married my father's eldest daughter. He was -an army man out of West Point, and an able, accomplished -soldier. He should have achieved much in the -Confederate war, but circumstances were against him. -When it broke out he was lieutenant-colonel in the -Adjutant-General's Department, considered a very enviable -billet. Stationed on the Pacific, his intimates -were J. E. Johnston, J. F. Gilmer, Halleck, and others -of that type.</p> - -<p>The Marylander had a tedious time in Richmond -waiting for active service suitable to his abilities. At -last he was sent to report to A. S. Johnston at Bowling -Green, Kentucky. After Shiloh, at Beauregard's -earnest request, he was made brigadier-general and -ordered to hold Island No. 10, a fortified position in -the Mississippi, immediately to fall by reason of other -combinations. In less than a week after assuming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> -command the inevitable happened. The island was -surrendered and the garrison made prisoners of war. -Mackall was sent to Fort Warren, from which he was -exchanged in 1863. He then took duty with Bragg's -army as chief of staff; and after Bragg with J. E. -Johnston, one of his dearest friends, until the General -was supplanted by Hood. Mackall was afterwards -given a command at Mobile, from which, however, he -soon had to withdraw his force by reason of the successes -of the Federal fleet. And there, I think, his active -service ended. He was of a high order of mind -and of the finest and nicest elevation of character; -there was something supercritical, however, that would -stand in his way without reason.</p> - -<p>When General Mackall was exchanged out of Fort -Warren he told me of two other prisoners, civilians, -Andrew Low and Charles Green. The latter had -married my cousin, and both were Englishmen of the -regular holdfast, energetic type. They constituted the -most important business house in Savannah, were making -quantities of money, but had quarrelled and were -about separating on the worst terms, when Seward's -detectives, suspicious of their movements (they had -both married in Savannah and were truly Southern and -Confederate), clapped them in Fort Warren. There -by the irony of fate they were the sole occupants of -the same casemate, these quondam friends, now bitter, -non-speaking enemies. The situation was difficult and -rather enjoyed by some gentlemen outside who knew -of the partners' troubles.</p> - -<p>Treatment of prisoners of war at Fort Warren -(Boston Harbor) appears to have been proper and unobjectionable. -The governor, Colonel Dimmock, was -a gentleman and knew what was due to his own repu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>tation, -as well as what his prisoners had a right to -expect. There were marked contrasts elsewhere, as at -Fort Johnston, but in all the four years there was yet -to be found a prison commandant surpassing the brutalities -of Miles. His chief distinction then appears -to have been in manacling the helpless President of the -Confederate States, who was advanced in years, feeble -in health, with no friends near, and that in the strongest -fortress in the United States, with a large garrison -and a guard literally standing over the prisoner night -and day, and not a Confederate organized force in -existence.</p> - -<p>Lee was an aggressive general, a fighter. To succeed, -he knew battles were to be won, and battles cost -blood, and blood he did not mind in his general's work. -Although always considerate and sparing of his soldiers, -he would pour out their blood when necessary or -when strategically advisable. His army had become -much strengthened, troops filled its ranks from Georgia, -South and North Carolina, being drawn from the -coast, where they were doing nothing. His divisions -had among them Longstreet's, A. P. Hill's, Magruder's, -D. H. Hill's, McLane's, D. R. Jones's, Huger's, and -Whiting's—a splendid force, nearly eighty thousand -men, including Jackson's. The latter was in the Valley, -soon to be with us. Lawton had just taken his -immense brigade of six thousand men from Savannah -to reinforce him, and the Georgians were having some -lively marching and fighting in "Stonewall" Jackson's -way. It was evident that the General was soon to -make his great attack to crush McClellan, whose dispositions -were so faulty as to offer a tempting mark. -His army greatly outnumbered ours. He had thrown -it across the Chickahominy and its two wings were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> -again exposed. There were quiet but intense preparations -for the important movement.</p> - -<p>It was of great extent and covered nearly seven days. -Jackson was to move secretly and swiftly from the -Valley and join Lee in the attack on the Federal right. -He was late, and when Lee crossed at Mechanicsville, -June 26, A. P. Hill was thrown at the defenses on -Beaver Dam, and was nearly sacrificed. His losses -were pitiable, as were D. H. Hill's in the same attack. -Had Jackson been in position the enemy would have -melted before us. He had promised to be there on the -morning of the 26th. On the 27th, Longstreet, A. P. -Hill, Whiting, and others stormed the heights at -Gaines's Mill, suffering heavy loss, but defeating the -enemy badly, taking many prisoners, guns and colors, -and driving him in panic after the retreating McClellan. -There was great maneuvering on the 26th, and a -severe combat at Savage's Station. On the 30th the -enemy showed front at Fraser's Farm, and Longstreet, -supported by A. P. Hill, instantly attacked with great -fury. The enemy was stubborn and contested every -foot. Jackson was to be with us, and had he been, our -success was undoubted, but for some reason he could -not get through White Oak Swamp, and denied us. -Of Huger on the right we also heard nothing. The -combination had failed. The enemy was thus suffered -to escape, but with heavy loss. Our own was far from -light.</p> - -<p>Malvern Hill followed with its bloody fields and -crest. The reckoning there was awful and apparently -for no good. McClellan abandoned the hill at night -and soon found himself safe at Harrison's Landing under -cover of his cruisers and gun-boats. His army was -beaten and dispirited and the siege of Richmond broken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -up; but "Little Mac" raised a faint cry of partial victory -and did not fail to torment poor Mr. Lincoln for -more men; "heavy reinforcements could alone save the -army," etc.</p> - -<p>Jackson's firmest friends have been obliged to admit -some faults in their hero. As to these movements—either -from miscalculation or something else, he was -fatally late on the 26th. That he was not on hand at -Fraser's Farm was also a serious disaster. Some of -Munford's cavalry had got through White Oak Swamp, -bad as it was with a heavy rain falling, and it would -seem that a soldier so great and energetic as Jackson -would have found means to push through to the help -of fighting, hard-pressed comrades. It is possible that -he was overdone with work and fatigue, but his men -should have been there as planned.</p> - -<p>I saw him on the 28th, and he seemed brisk enough. -Longstreet had sent me after Gaines's Mill to find him -and establish connections and communications. He -was cheerful and pleasant. "Explain, Major, to General -Longstreet where I am and how my troops are lying, -and say, with my compliments, I am ready to obey -any orders he may send me." When I set out to find -him, Tom Ochiltree, fresh and breezy from Texas, was -with us for a week as a volunteer by Longstreet's consent. -Ochiltree said, that familiar with fighting in -Texas, he wanted to see how we did it in the East. -He had also a great desire to see the celebrated -"Stonewall" before returning home. He asked permission -to ride with me. We trotted off together, our -route taking us by an extensive field-infirmary, where -the surgeons were at their bloody work on the wounded. -We halted for a few minutes. The scene was sickening -and cured Ochiltree of battle sights. "Sorrel,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -he said very seriously, "this gives me enough; I don't -want any more. It seems now I have seen everything—too -much, nothing for me to do here. Better for -me to ride back to Richmond and take train for Texas. -Sorry not to see 'Stonewall,' but I travel the other -way. Good-by and good luck to you." And off he -went after just about four days' service with the Confederates -in the East.</p> - -<p>During these movements there was a young Englishman -with us, our guest. He had brought letters to -authorities in Richmond. It was Lord Edward St. -Maur, a scion of the ducal house of Somerset. He was -about twenty-one, just from the University, where he -had taken high honors, and was around now with an -Englishman's curiosity. A singularly handsome young -man he was, with pure olive skin and beautiful features. -He was always courteous, always reserved. -He came as a neutral for observation, and in all the -freedom of our fighting week and rough bivouacs nothing -stirred him from that attitude. In truth, I don't -think he approved of us. I afterwards heard he was -something of a prig but destined for high political life. -The battle of Fraser's Farm broke out in the afternoon -with great suddenness and severity. I had given St. -Maur a mount and we happened to be on the line -among the men when firing began, but notwithstanding -the cannonading and heavy musketry he was quite cool. -"This is not my place," he said, "and with your permission -I shall retire," doing so with entire deliberation; -he so placed himself as to see something and we -talked it over when we met at night. When McClellan -took cover at Harrison's Landing, St. Maur was given -an officer and flag of truce and soon landed in the home -of his fathers. A very careful, neutral chap. I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> -sorry for his end—hunting big game in India soon -after, he was mauled and eaten by a tiger.</p> - -<p>When McClellan was safely at Harrison's Landing -under cover of heavy guns (some fifteen-inch spherical -shell), there was nothing to keep our army there. Besides, -it left Richmond somewhat exposed from the -direction of Fredericksburg. General Lee, therefore, -gave the word and we were soon again in, or near, our -old positions. Everything was made ship-shape, the -wounded mending and returning to duty, damages repaired, -and the waste of that extraordinary movement -and series of battles made good as best could be. McClellan -could not now see the spires of Richmond from -his headquarters. Additional reinforcements were -brought from the South in preparation for Lee's next -move, for he was not the man to stay idly behind defenses -when there was an enemy about that he might -hopefully strike. Longstreet's division of six brigades -was in fine condition, with filling ranks, and so was A. -P. Hill's Light Division, which lay near us, and thereby -hangs a tale which must be recited, I fear, at some little -length.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Rivalry and More Reminiscenses</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Longstreet's and A. P. Hill's divisions—Rivalry between the two—Publications - in <cite>Richmond Examiner</cite> and <cite>Whig</cite>—General - Hill resentful—Refuses recognition of Longstreet's adjutant-general—Hill - in arrest—Personal difficulty between - the two major-generals adjusted by General Lee's influence—General - Hill cherishes no rancor—Later gave me a brigade—Army - busy drilling—Quartermaster Potts and Major - Fairfax—Books among the troops—Gambling.</p> -</div> - - -<p>There was some rivalry between the two splendid -divisions. Each had done its full share of fighting in -the recent battles and each had won glory and renown. -Hill had handled his men well and fought them gallantly. -Needless to say how Longstreet had held his -men, as it were, in the hollow of his hand (his abilities -for handling large bodies under fire being remarkable), -and how his never-failing valor and tenacity had supported -them. The papers came out of Richmond -daily, with fetching headlines and columns of description -giving the events of the previous day. One of -the widest read of these was <cite>The Examiner</cite>, very brilliantly -edited. It seemed to have taken Hill's division -under its special favor. Every movement was chronicled, -every clash of arms, no matter how trifling, was -written up, and the grand movements and actions of the -division given such prominence as to dwarf all other -commands. There was some feeling growing up about -it, especially since it was known that a newspaper man -from <cite>The Examiner</cite> office was serving temporarily on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -Hill's staff. Nothing was then done about the matter, -but Longstreet's young staff officers were quite at the -fighting point, as our division had come in for some -animadversions in <cite>The Examiner</cite>.</p> - -<p>After the short campaign, while we were occupying -some of our old positions about Richmond, Hill lying -near by, under command of Longstreet, the latter came -one day to me with a rough draft of a short communication -to <cite>The Whig</cite>, a Richmond paper. It flatly contradicted -<cite>The Examiner</cite>, so far as Longstreet's division -was concerned, and criticized the major-general -who could suffer such reports to emanate from his own -staff; it was short but positive. Longstreet asked if I -objected to send such a communication to <cite>The Whig</cite>, -signed by myself officially, as adjutant-general. He -would answer for it, because I should not be expected -alone to attack or criticize my superior officer. I was -only too willing to carry out these wishes. The little -note was prepared for the press and published in <cite>The -Whig</cite>. It was stiff, but with military civility, and -made some comment on the taste of having such correspondents -along with military operations. It was not -regarded as offensive, but was certainly pointed in some -contradiction. To my regret I have no copy.</p> - -<p>Such was the bomb-shell that was to burst over us in -a few days. Having occasion for some routine report -or information from General A. P. Hill, a note was -sent him for it in the usual form. It was returned endorsed -that "General Hill declined to hold further -communication with Major Sorrel." Of course I was -surprised, but it was apparent that trouble was brewing -and that Longstreet must show his hand. The note -was handed him and he was at once on fire at such disobedience. -"Write him again," said he, "and say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> -that note was written by my command, and must be -answered satisfactorily."</p> - -<p>To this Hill insisted on holding to his refusal. The -correspondence was then taken up by Longstreet personally -with Hill. I did not see the letters, but several -passed, until finally, a day or two later, General Longstreet -came to me with, "Major, you will be good -enough to put on your sword and sash, mount, and -place Major-General Hill in arrest, with orders to confine -himself to limits of his camp and vicinity." It -was my first duty of that kind with such rank, but I -was soon on my way, followed by an orderly. The -General was in his tent seated in a low chair, and rose -as I entered, returning stiffly my salute. Bowing, -when I had communicated the orders, he resumed his -chair without speech, and saluting again, I was quickly -on the road to my own friendly camp. I know only by -hearsay what took place afterwards. It was kept quite -out of reach of the staff and confined to the two principals. -Certain it is, however, that some angry letters -passed and intimate friends (D. H. Hill and Toombs -for Longstreet) were called in and a hostile meeting -between the two generals was almost certain. General -Lee, however, heard of it, and acted quickly and -effectively, using his unvarying tact and great influence. -He brought matters, through other friends, to an adjustment -honorable to both. A few days later General -Hill's division was shifted out of reach of Longstreet's -command and nothing more was known of the affair. -Later on Longstreet and Hill became fairly good -friends, but I naturally supposed I had incurred his -hatred. For a year or two we did not meet—his -division being in Jackson's corps—except occasionally -on the march, and then the General's manner seemed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -me stiff and menacing. If so, it was only the manner, -not the feeling, because in 1864 I received from General -Hill the very highest evidence of his appreciation -and friendliness. On several occasions previously, -Longstreet recommended me for promotion to command, -and it must necessarily be to a brigade of Georgians. -But where a brigadier was wanted for them, -there were always good colonels of long service in the -brigade that properly gained the preference. This was -so general that I despaired of leaving the staff for -higher promotion, until one day in September, 1864, a -commission of brigadier-general came to me with -orders to report to Lieut-Gen. A. P. Hill.</p> - -<p>My preparations began at once for the change and -it was necessary for me to go to the War Department, -Richmond. There I found in the Adjutant-General's -Office Capt. John W. Reilly, A. A. G., a fine young Virginia -officer, who had once served under me.</p> - -<p>"Did you ever see, General, the paper that brought -about your promotion?" It was entirely new to me. -He drew from a file a letter from Gen. A. P. Hill, commenting -on the bad condition of his fine Georgia Brigade, -which, left without a brigadier by the wounds of -Wright and the death of Girardy, was then in the hands -of a brave but incompetent colonel. He concluded by -asking with great earnestness that Lieutenant-Colonel -Sorrel, of Longstreet's corps, should be promoted and -sent to him. The letter was referred to General Lee -for his opinion and then passed between the Adjutant-General, -the Secretary of War, and the President, who -finally scrawled, "Make the appointment, J. D."</p> - -<p>I tried to get the paper from Reilly as an autographic -souvenir, but it was against orders and I was obliged -to content myself with a certified copy. "It never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> -rains but it pours;" some days after, Major-General -Kershaw wrote me that he (Kershaw) had asked for -my promotion to command one of his Georgia brigades.</p> - -<p>Hill was a West Point man of medium height, a -light, good figure, and most pleasing soldierly appearance. -He surely handled his division on all occasions -with great ability and courage and justly earned high -reputation. When Lee created the Third Army Corps -he placed him in command of it, and it was thought -Hill did not realize in that high position all that was -hoped of him.</p> - -<p>His health was impaired toward the close of the war, -and his noble life ended by a stray bullet at Petersburg -after withdrawal of the lines. It was unnecessary and -he should have had years before him. It is not necessary -to say how much I appreciated his action toward -myself. It proved him magnanimous and free of -petty spite in that affair, and such was his nature. -When I reported to him no one could have been more -warmly welcomed, and thenceforward I had nothing -but kindness and the most valuable support and help -while with his corps.</p> - -<p>A. P. Hill was very close to both Generals Lee and -Stonewall Jackson at different times. Perhaps only a -coincidence, but certainly significant it is, that, the last -dying words of the two military chiefs were said to be -of Hill. "Send word to A. P. Hill," whispered the -expiring Jackson. "Tell Hill he must come up," were -the last words on Lee's lips.</p> - -<p>July and early August, 1862, were busy months. In -front of Richmond General Lee kept the army well -exercised in drill and the new men had to get into -shape. Our staff work had been severe and our horses -had suffered. I was obliged to keep two good mounts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> -at least, sometimes more. It was here I fell in love -with a perfect little stallion named Voltaire, and paid a -round price for him; he soon proved too delicate for -army work and I gave him to my brother in Richmond. -There he should have thriven, but I think soon went to -pieces. I succeeded in finding a handsome, powerful -chestnut mare, from which I got good service until she -was killed at Gettysburg. Longstreet was admirably -mounted on two bays; one he had brought to the army -with him, the other, a finer beast, was a present from -Major Fairfax, whose horse judgment was excellent. -For himself, he rode a superb gray stallion, "Saltron," -widely known, which he had raised at his Loudoun estate. -Fairfax lost him at Sharpsburg. A round shot -struck him under the tail, fairly in the fundament, and -it was at once all over with the stallion. Fairfax was -excitable, and rushing to Longstreet, sitting grimly on -his horse directing the battle, he broke out, "General, -General, my horse is killed; Saltron is shot; shot right -in the back!" Longstreet gave the Major a queer look -and consoled him with, "Never mind, Major, you -ought to be glad you are not shot in your own back!"</p> - -<p>Frank Potts, a quartermaster in the corps, tells a -story of these two. Fairfax messed General Longstreet, -took good care of all his wants, and kept him in -whiskey and in all else that was needful. Potts says -that in one of the campaigns he had parked his animals -and wagons in a nice spot by the roadside at a good -hour and everything was made snug for the night's -bivouac until the early march next morning. Suddenly -he saw a figure galloping wildly across the fields -to him, taking fences and ditches as he came. "Now," -grumbled Potts, "it's a move; here are the orders coming." -It was Major Fairfax in full uniform. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -pulled up sharply before the quartermaster, saluted, and -then, "Captain Potts, can you tell me where a washerwoman -is to be found for General Longstreet?" relieved -the Irishman and tickled his humor.</p> - -<p>During the war the men were without many books -and eagerly clung to a novel when one came their way. -Many old volumes were sent from home, but they did -not go far among such numbers. Victor Hugo's "Les -Miserables," and Muhlbach's novels, translated from -the German, and reprinted at Mobile, had begun to appear -and were devoured by readers. Later on, after -Gettysburg, Freemantle's "Three Months in the Southern -States" was reprinted at Mobile and widely read. -These old volumes are now a curiosity and not to be -had except at great price. The dirty old type, blurred -and worn, the rough paper with florid designs, all attested -the stress of the Confederacy in everything entering -into life. Among the soldiers in camp there was -the usual gambling going on; they played some odd -sorts of games, but the greasiest packs of cards were -their stand-by.</p> - -<p>One day Longstreet received a note from General -Lee, after a ride through our camps. This informed -the corps commander that he regretted to see so much -gambling among the men; they nearly all seemed absorbed -in a game called "Chuck-a-luck." "Could -anything be done to better the matter?" Longstreet -had served much with soldiers, and knew they would, -many of them, gamble in camp in spite of all orders and -watching; never yet had he found anything that would -completely cure the evil. He would, however, see what -could be done—but nothing came of it.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER X</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Second Battle of Manassas, August 29 -and 30, 1862</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Major-General Pope in command of Union troops in Northern - Virginia—Religious observances in our army—Homesickness—Furloughs—Rations—March - against Pope—Artillery - duel at Rappahannock—Spy captured and hung—Jackson's - marches—Thoroughfare Gap—Longstreet's attack—Enemy - routed—General Wilcox and Union general—Wilcox's - and Couch's baptismals—Brig.-Gen. A. G. Evans—General - Toombs and the picket—His arrest—Released and - joins brigade in the fight.</p> -</div> - - -<p>McClellan still lay at Westover, recruiting and reorganizing. -It was apparent that his army would not be -long in that position. Confidence in him had been lost, -and there was a new paladin in the field, the doughty -John Pope, major-general, with "Headquarters in the -saddle." He was a man of some ability, but did not -have a reputation for high character in the old Army; -and now with elevated rank and command thrust upon -him, he turned into abuse of his enemy, explained how -he meant to whip him, and filled the air with bombast -and threatening. He was in command in northern -Virginia, and Lee had marked him for his own.</p> - -<p>We were rather a devout army. The men came -from their homes deeply tinged with religion. Methodists -were in large numbers and next to them Baptists -and Presbyterians. There were many meetings and -addresses conducted by worthy chaplains. These devoted -ministers could always be counted on to follow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -beside their men, in camp or on the firing line. The -men were fond of hearing in camp any kind of address, -and were an easy prey to sharpers. I recall that some -years later, on the Petersburg line, a crank came along -with what he called an artis-avis (a bird of art) with -him, and some fifty thousand like it; he was to drop a -shell into Grant's army and fleet and destroy them! -He wanted permission to address my men and solicit -cash for building his wonderful birds. He was sent -out of camp. The soldiers were fond of chanting -hymns and quaint old plantation airs, and at times -they were touching with the recollections of home. -Homesickness was often very prevalent, and the awful -nostalgia came near crippling us. There is a general -order from Longstreet on that matter somewhere and -I may be able to find it to attach to these leaves.</p> - -<p>At this date, July and August, 1862, food was plentiful -and good. No variety, but fresh beef or bacon, -flour, coffee and sugar were issued in full rations. -There was an abundance of whiskey, but comparatively -little drunkenness. Encouragement and incentives to -good conduct came from the General-in-Chief down -through the officers. Previous to the Chickahominy -Campaign a balloon had been constructed for reconnoitering. -The enemy had several and we also wanted -one, so the women—Heaven bless them!—came to -the front with, it may be, tearful eyes but willing hearts -and chipped in all their pretty silk frocks and gowns. -It was a wonderfully picturesque balloon and at first -did some little service, captive to a locomotive pushed -far to the front. Then it was packed on a little steamboat -in an adventurous cruise down the James. She -ran aground, was gobbled up, with the bright ball-dress -balloon, by the delighted Yankees, and that was the last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -of the pretty things of our sisters, sweethearts, and -wives.</p> - -<p>But the march against Pope is now beginning and -must have a little space. The movement was masked -as much as possible, a few troops only being at first -concentrated at Gordonsville by rail. Lee collected -then his outlying commands with great skill and started -in earnest against his braggart opponent. Pope seems -to have quite underestimated or disbelieved what was -awaiting him, and his dispositions were all in favor of -Lee. His first rude awakening was the shock Jackson -gave him at Cedar Mountain, very costly to him; but -we lost Charles Winder, one of the finest and most -promising of the brigadiers. The march of the army -was in tactical language "left in front," Jackson's position -throwing him on the left; and this formation was -necessarily observed by all the commands of the army. -In these operations Stuart and his cavalry were exceedingly -active and performed most valuable service. Our -command, the full division, and two smaller ones under -D. R. Jones and N. G. Evans, came to a halt hunting a -ford on the Rappahannock and found a strong force of -the enemy, with good artillery, at the railroad bridge. -The gunners (ours the Washington Artillery) on both -sides took up an artillery duel for nearly all day, but -nothing decisive was achieved. We forded the river -in another place without opposition.</p> - -<p>It was in these operations that a spy was taken. He -had murdered one of our cavalry couriers, and was -caught almost red-handed, and with papers on him compromising -enough to hang a dozen spies. Nevertheless, -we gave him a trial. I convened a drum-head -court martial of three brigadiers and they sentenced -him to be hanged immediately. The wretch was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -mounted, arms tied, on a horse, with the noose and -limb of a tree connected. He finally admitted he was a -spy from Loudoun County, Virginia, but to the last -stuck out he had not shot the cavalry courier. A smart -blow with the flat of a saber started the horse on the -jump and left the spy breathless, and there he hung -until the army, continuing its march, passed almost -under the tree and perhaps took the lesson to heart.</p> - -<p>Jackson's marches, in swiftness, daring, and originality -of execution, were almost extraordinary. At -one time there was great fear for his safety, widely -separated as he was from the right wing under Longstreet. -General Lee's route was near Longstreet's and -night and day he was always close to us. Longstreet -was delayed by the enemy at Thoroughfare Gap. This -is a mountain gorge, not long, but narrow, rocky, and -precipitous. It was capable of stubborn defense. Its -echoes were wonderful—a gun fired in its depths -gave forth roars fit to bring down the skies. Here -Longstreet had to stop impatiently until he could work -his way through. He knew Jackson was hard pressed -on the other side and praying for a sight of him. It -took a little time, but we sent a flanking force over the -mountains by a rocky path and the enemy gave way -speedily and left the gap early. Pushing through we -saw the dust of Jackson's masses miles away and heard -his guns. Forward we pressed almost at a run, and in -time. The attack on Stonewall ceased as soon as -Longstreet came on the scene.</p> - -<p>This was early enough in the day to permit us in turn -to make a combined attack. The enemy was disheartened, -and Jackson's column, although fatigued and losing -heavily, was triumphant and still capable of great -efforts. Our own force was large, comparatively<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -fresh, and eager to crush John Pope, but for some reason -the attack was not made, although I think General -Lee preferred it to waiting.</p> - -<p>The great battle that followed, and all these operations -covering several days, were called the Second -Manassas. Some of the ground was identical with the -first. Most of it lay beautifully for good tactical operations, -and as the country was quite open much could -be observed at considerable distances. When the -enemy's masses began again pressing Stonewall on the -30th of August, Longstreet moved quickly up to support. -Their dense columns had been left exposed to -artillery fire from our position and Longstreet instantly -saw it. Planting a battery in the road, the first shots, -together with Jackson's incessant fire, began to tell.</p> - -<p>We were near enough to see some wavering in the -blue masses, then halt, and then a flight back to cover. -But it was all up with John Pope. No rest was given -his army. Longstreet started every man of us to his -division to push them into attack, and soon everything -was hotly engaged. The easy, rounded ridges ran at -right angles to the turnpike, and over these infantry -and artillery poured in pursuit. The artillery would -gallop furiously to the nearest ridge, limber to the front, -deliver a few rounds until the enemy were out of range, -and then a gallop again to the next ridge. And thus it -went on until black darkness stopped operations—the -enemy defeated at all points and hastening back to the -Potomac. Many prisoners, guns, colors, small arms, -and large quantities of stores and equipments fell into -our hands.</p> - -<p>J. E. B. Stuart was highly tickled at his capture of -Pope's wagon and personal effects, including a very -fine uniform.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> - -<p>Losses on both sides were heavy. Alas! the -butcher's bill is always to be paid after these grand -operations, and at Manassas especially there were some -splendid young lives laid down for our cause and our -homes.</p> - -<p>Longstreet was seen at his best during the battle. -His consummate ability in managing troops was well -displayed that day and his large bodies of men were -moved with great skill and without the least confusion.</p> - -<p>As General C. M. Wilcox was moving forward at -the head of his brigade in the open field, he was attracted -by the waving of a handkerchief at some little -distance. He found time to go to the spot and there -mortally wounded was a Federal general, Wilcox's old -army friend, who had recognized the Confederate as he -passed and wanted to say farewell. His soul soon took -flight and his body was cared for by his old-time comrade—the -name is forgotten.</p> - -<p>Wilcox told me that he once officiated at a christening -with D. N. Couch, afterwards a Federal major-general. -Wilcox's baptismals were Cadmus Marcellus, -and Couch's Darius Narcissus. It is said that when -these sonorous designations reached the parson's ear he -almost dropped the baby in round-eyed astonishment!</p> - -<p>N. G. Evans ("Shank" Evans) had two brigades -with Longstreet and was a rather marked character. -A regular soldier, he had served well in Mexico, and at -Manassas, on July 21, had done exceedingly well with -a small command, a good eye, and quick decision. It -was he, too, that commanded at Ball's Bluff on the -upper Potomac when Baker attempted to take it with a -fine regiment and lost some 800 men. Baker was Senator -from Oregon and only a few days before had addressed -the United States Senate in full uniform in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -farewell. It was forever, for he died with hundreds -of his men in the waters of the Potomac. Evans was -difficult to manage and we found him so. He had a -Prussian orderly, with a wooden vessel holding a gallon -of whiskey always strapped on his back, and there was -the trouble. At the little artillery fight he had on the -Rappahannock, G. T. Anderson (Tige), commanding -one of the Georgia brigades, was ordered by Evans to -attack a powerful battery and silence it. In vain did -Anderson explain that it was on the far side of a deep -river and that without a bridge his infantry could not -get to it. Evans would not listen to reason and Anderson -came to me. Of course he was told to make no -such attempt, and I proceeded to hunt up Evans, finding -him under a tree, too near his "Barrelita," as he -called his whiskey holder. But he had to listen and -comply. In the progress of the campaign after the -Manassas battle he became so unruly as to arrest without -reason Hood, one of his brigadiers, and Longstreet -had to get him out of the way in some manner. He -disappeared afterwards from field work and I don't -know his end. He had been a very brave, experienced -cavalry officer. Anderson's indignation at the impossibility -of the order to take the battery was highly amusing.</p> - -<p>In the early part of the march against Pope we made -a bivouac near where some Federal cavalry were reported -to have been prowling. The enemy had no -troops near by to disturb us except this body of horse. -It was therefore thought prudent to post a regiment at -the cross-road which would warn our camps. General -Toombs was ordered to detail one and I saw that it was -posted.</p> - -<p>During the night a cavalry picket reported that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -regiment had been withdrawn. I awoke Longstreet to -ascertain if by his orders. "No, but place immediately -in arrest the officer who has done so." It proved -to be Toombs. He was a great lawyer and a good -politician, but in the wrong place when posing as a soldier. -He had taken a notion that his regiment was -not really needed at the cross-road and the men would -be more comfortable with the others in bivouac.</p> - -<p>Toombs was therefore put in arrest and the march -continued. The next evening on halting it was reported -to me that he had followed, as was proper, in -rear of his brigade, but had worn his sword, and upon -his men going into camp had made them a violent -speech. I felt called on to make this known to General -Longstreet, whereupon he directed me to order -General Toombs back to Gordonsville and confine himself -there; also to prefer charges against him on two -grounds—withdrawing the regiment from picket duty -and breaking his arrest. This was done and Toombs -went back to Gordonsville, not many miles away, -whence he wrote a short note asking to be released of -the charge of breaking arrest, saying he had worn his -sword only for convenience and there was nothing improper -in his speech to the men. Longstreet always -had a decided liking for Toombs, and upon seeing this -note he not only withdrew that charge, but the other -also and sent him back to duty. Knowing that we -should soon be engaged he advised me to be quick about -it if I wanted the Georgian to see something of hot -work.</p> - -<p>An intelligent courier was sent to Toombs with the -latest orders, and meantime we were marching forward. -He returned; General Toombs was not at Gordonsville. -I might well have left the matter there, but it seemed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -to me that one of our foremost Georgians should have -a chance with the army and I sent a second man after -him; this time he was found. The situation was explained -to him and he was advised to lose no time in -joining his men if he desired to be with them in the -smoke of battle. And so Toombs came; late, but just -in time to be with his brigade in its last victorious -charge when everything, as already described, was -turned loose.</p> - -<p>Toombs stuck to the army through Sharpsburg, -where he did good service, and then returned to more -congenial fields—politics and oratory. In after years -he always showed me much kindness and appreciation -for the trouble I had taken to get him back to his brigade -for fighting at the Second Manassas.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battles of South Mountain (Boonsboro Gap) -and Sharpsburg (Antietam), Sept. -14th and 17th, 1862</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Accident to General Lee—To Longstreet also—Fight at Chantilly—General - Kearny killed—Cross the Potomac—Lee's - confidential order found by McClellan—Straggling.</p> -</div> - - -<p>When we got back to Virginia and Toombs's resignation -had gone in, Longstreet sent for me to say he -had, some time before, about August, 1862, recommended -me for promotion to brigadier-general. That -Toombs's retirement now left a Georgia brigade open -and he wanted me to have it and that I must put out -for Richmond forthwith and try to work it through by -help of my Congressman and other strong friends. I -lost no time about this and was soon on the ground. -Hartridge, our M. C., did all he could in my behalf; -but there was no possible chance while the brigade had -four colonels, well known representative Georgia men, -ready each for the command. It was given to Colonel, -formerly Judge, Benning, and his record in command -of it was excellent.</p> - -<p>The day after great Manassas, General Lee suffered -a painful accident. It had rained and he was wearing -a rubber poncho and over-alls, his body and legs -being thus well protected. With a number of his officers -he was dismounted in a thick piece of woods, -making some disposition for following the enemy. -His horse, a gentle, intelligent animal, was at the Gen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>eral's -shoulder, reins on neck; he made some slight -movement as if to start away, and Lee taking a step -ahead for the bridle tripped in his over-alls and fell -forward, not prone, but catching on his hands.</p> - -<p>He was instantly on his feet, erect, but his hands -were badly damaged; one had a small bone broken and -the other was nearly as bad with the twist and strain. -Both were put into splints, but were painful and most -uncomfortable. For some time the saddle had to be -given up and the ambulance called into use. General -Lee made the campaign on wheels. At Sharpsburg he -was far enough cured to allow him to ride a little. -This accident caused widespread report of the General -having been wounded, and of course the enemy's papers -gave facts in detail of the serious character of the -wound and how it was received.</p> - -<p>Some little time afterwards Longstreet also got himself -damaged. A boot chafed his heel, which took on -an ugly look and refused to heal. "Peter" (this was -his West Point sobriquet, much used for him by his -army friends and to this day not forgotten) therefore -was obliged to don a slipper, and at Sharpsburg he was -in no good humor at such footwear and the need of -occasionally walking in it. In fact, a wobbly carpet -slipper was not a good-looking thing for a commander -on the field.</p> - -<p>General Lee took his army forward to the Potomac. -Only a detachment of the enemy was encountered by -Jackson, and this was at Chantilly, where toward dark, -and in a furious storm, there was a short combat in -which Major-General Kearny was killed and left in our -hands.</p> - -<p>Kearny had been a conspicuous young officer in the -Mexican War, where he lost an arm, and coming of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> -wealthy New Jersey family had resigned from the army -and retired to private life. I saw his body next morning. -It was given up to the enemy at their request, -and his horse also, I think. He was a small, dashing-looking -man, possessed, it was thought, of considerable -military ability.</p> - -<p>After such successes there was a fair prospect of -driving the enemy out of Washington or bringing him -to terms. General Lee moved his army into Maryland, -passing most of the troops across the river at -White Ford. The soldiers crossed with joyful excitement, -singing "My Maryland," and the whole round -of their musical stock, with bands playing and all cheering -as well-known officers came in sight. Indeed there -was some reason for elation and hope. The enemy had -suffered a serious defeat and was driven into his capital, -his numbers again very great, but of demoralized -and raw-recruited men. On the other hand, Lee also -had a strong army (for Confederate numbers—we -had been accustomed to be outnumbered). The men -were triumphantly rejoicing and confident, and as they -believed were moving into the friendly fields of a sister -State, whose men would surely rise and join us; and -more than all, they were commanded by the first General -of the day.</p> - -<p>It was early September and delightful marching over -Maryland's good roads and through her fields of plenty. -We had not yet been pushed for food, the transport so -far having kept us supplied. General Lee made a short -halt at Frederick City, where we took a rest and got -loose ends of the army together; and from here began -the movement that after two bloody battles was to send -us disappointed back to the Virginia side of the Potomac.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> - -<p>General Lee there issued his famous confidential general -order on which the army moved. It provided in -detail for the march of his troops and his objective -points. It was so full that when a copy came in my -possession I wondered what could be done with it in -event of my falling into the enemy's hands.</p> - -<p>By it Jackson was to move to Harper's Ferry and -capture its large garrison—it was a menace to Lee's -rear. McLaws was to occupy Maryland Heights, and -J. G. Walker, Loudoun Heights, in co-operation with -Jackson. Troops were also sent to Crampton's Gap.</p> - -<p>D. H. Hill was to occupy South Mountain, or Boonsboro -Gap, as it was variously called. Longstreet's -strong column was to be in the vicinity of Hagerstown, -twelve miles from D. H. Hill's position. Proper directions -were provided for Stuart's large cavalry force.</p> - -<p>The army moved from Frederick under the confidential -order. All should have gone well. The programme -would have been carried out, the severed army -reunited, with Harper's Ferry captured at it was, and -once in front of the already half-beaten McClellan -(who had succeeded Pope in command of the Army of -the Potomac), what great victory would surely have -awaited us! But fate or an unlucky chance decided -otherwise. A copy of General Lee's confidential order -was handed to McClellan when he reached Frederick. -He says in his official report that it was picked up by -one of his men on our late camping ground.</p> - -<p>Had Lee whispered into the Federal General's ear -his inmost plans the latter could have asked for nothing -more than the information brought him on that fatal -paper.</p> - -<p>The effect on McClellan was immediate. His march,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -up to then, had been cautious and timid, not more than -eight or nine miles a day. When the order came to -him he knew all about us. He knew that D. H. Hill's -five brigades at Boonsboro would be nearly all that lay -in his path to cross the mountain, and he began footing -it with great speed. His march was rapid, and for -McClellan confident. He actually struck D. H. Hill on -September 14, on the mountain, with an overwhelming -force. Hill defended himself valiantly, Drayton's and -Anderson's brigades reinforcing him.</p> - -<p>Hearing his guns near Hagerstown, Longstreet's -quick military instinct told him what was happening. -We instantly broke camp and raced out for Hill's relief. -The distance was covered in extraordinary time -and we happily got to Hill just as he was being driven -from the crest of the mountain, and in time to save -him. Darkness coming on, he was able to assemble -his shattered battalions below, where with our force a -front was shown that McClellan hesitated on immediately -attacking. At sun up we prepared to move and -were soon on the march to Antietam Creek, behind -which part of the army took position on the 15th and -16th.</p> - -<p>But I must go back to Frederick City, asking how a -document so vitally important as General Lee's order -could have suffered loss. It has often been discussed -in special papers, in magazine articles, and in letters. -McClellan says it was addressed to Major-General D. -H. Hill. There is no disputing this because the document -is on file for evidence. General Hill and his -adjutant-general, Col. Archer Anderson, both declare -it impossible to have been Hill's copy. They are to be -implicitly believed. In addition, Colonel Anderson is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> -able to produce a copy addressed to his chief.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Thus -we find ourselves in a dilemma.</p> - -<p>The explanation suggested is that perhaps two copies -were sent Hill. Although now an independent division, -Jackson considered Hill under his command and -sent him a copy of the order. One copy certainly -reached him direct from General Lee. Jackson and -Hill, although connected by marriage, had it is said no -great personal liking for each other, and I can imagine -the cross and dyspeptic Hill, with the order from Lee -in his pocket, receiving another copy from Jackson -with careless irritation. If this theory does not work -out, we seem to be quite baffled in finding a solution.</p> - -<p>We had a bad night on the mountain, extracting D. -H. Hill. He had made a magnificent defense, but was -terribly mauled and broken up.</p> - -<p>Drayton's brigade had been dispersed. There was -great straggling to the rear by some of the men and our -staff had to make sharp play with the flats of our -swords on the backs of these fellows. It tired and disgusted -me. The mountain roads were filled with -broken regiments and companies and it was very late -before they got to the foot of the mountain and in some -sort of order. The material of our army was such -that it did not take long for the men to shape up after -disaster. It was near daylight before I got to Longstreet's -bivouac, made a brief report of things, and -threw myself on some fence rails in the bad weather -for a chance to sleep. Not for long, however. All -hands were soon afoot preparing for the march. During -the day I came up with my old friend and schoolmate -"Sandy" Duncan, of the Hussars. He was a -comical object, but doing good service mounted on a -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>little beast, almost skin and bones, with scarcely any -hair. The animal looked badly scalded. He bore -Duncan and his arms however, the trooper bearded and -with as odd an appearance as his mount. He was gathering -stragglers and pushing them forward with hard -words and sometimes blows. We had never a campaign -when there was so much straggling. Duncan -was an excellent cavalry soldier and devoted to his -troop. In full health to-day at Savannah, he is considered -justly good authority on all things Confederate.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battle of Sharpsburg, Continued</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Marching through Frederick—Barbara Fritchie and Stonewall - Jackson—Commissariat broken down—Green corn for rations—Stampede - of horses of a cavalry regiment—D. H. - Hill's horse shot—Longstreet's staff served guns of Washington - Artillery—Cannoneers killed—Colonel John R. - Cooke's gallant fight—Am wounded and carried off the - field.</p> -</div> - - -<p>When the army marched through Frederick City it -was fine weather, and the poet Whittier has told of -Barbara Frietchie and Stonewall Jackson—a stirring -poem in winning lines, but quite without fact at bottom. -But that matters not in the least. The lines are good -and we can well afford to throw in with all the hard -words and abuse of those days, the poet's ideas about -our Stonewall.</p> - -<p>The country through which we marched was beautiful, -rich, and fertile, but we were constantly hungry. -There were two lines of Whittier's unquestionably true:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">"Fair as a garden of the Lord,</div> - <div class="verse">To the eyes of the famished rebel horde."</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>In all parts of the army straggling was principally -caused by want of food. The commissariat had about -broken down and the troops had recourse to anything.</p> - -<p>The fields were full of ripened corn, of which too -much was eaten. Parched and salted it would help a -little, but eaten as it was, bad attacks of diarrhoea followed -and such sickness became serious.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> - -<p>On the night before the battle we were getting some -sleep under thick trees when a stampede of horses -nearly trampled us. It was a very surprising thing -that happened to the Jeff Davis Legion. The regiment -was well lined and picketed in front, part of the officers -and men asleep, guards and pickets on good watch, and -everything deadly quiet and still, the night went on.</p> - -<p>Suddenly something seemed to pass through the animals -like a quiver of motion, a faint sound as of a sign, -and then the wildest scene ensued. The horses for no -reason that could be found had become stampeded, in -the greatest panic and excitement. They broke away -from their picket ropes, and droves of different sizes, -some few, some many, were thundering along over the -country and about the army in wild confusion. Fortunately, -they drew to our rear, and the troopers were -all night and part of the next day recovering them. -Duncan has well described to me this extraordinary -stampede, the like of which did not occur during the -four years' war.</p> - -<p>The morning of September 17 opened with battle before -us, presaged by the booming of cannon already -beginning their noisy work.</p> - -<p>Longstreet held the right center, the other wing being -trusted to Jackson, Hood, Richard H. Anderson, -McLaws, and other divisions. The fall of Harper's -Ferry had released the attacking forces and enabled -Jackson and part of his command to join Lee, but only -after great exhaustion and fatal straggling. The -enemy called this battle Antietam, from the little stream -that traverses the field. We gave it the name of -Sharpsburg, the village that nestled in the hills by the -turnpike some little distance back of Antietam. It -was a dreadful day of fighting. Beginning early, we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -were at it until nightfall. Outnumbered three to one, -it seemed that at almost any time a strong effort by -McClellan would drive us back, but that effort was not -made. A third of his fine army did not fire a rifle.</p> - -<p>In the early afternoon Lee, Longstreet, and D. H. -Hill ascended a little acclivity near the turnpike to make -some observations. All others—staff and orderlies—were -kept back under the brow of the hill to avoid -drawing fire on the three generals. In truth, they did -look conspicuous on the crest, silhouetted against the -bright skies, and the shot of course came, a little wide, -but the second was from a good gunner. This shot -struck the front legs of Hill's horse, cutting them sharp -off at the knees. The poor beast did not fall immediately, -and made no sound, but put his nose into the -grass, nibbling at it seemingly.</p> - -<p>The small general in a high-cantled saddle could not -get his leg over in the position of the horse until Longstreet -helped him down. There is occasional talk of -groans and shrieks of horses when wounded. I have -seen many badly hurt, but cannot recall an instance in -which the animal made any noise. This "gunning" -has recently been associated with another incident on -the field, with which it has really no connection. It -was rather later in the day that we came on two of -Miller's Washington Artillery guns that had been doing -splendid work, but were now silent.</p> - -<p>The gunners had fallen by their places, which were -temporarily without cannoneers. Longstreet was with -us. Fairfax, Goree, Manning, Walton, myself, and -perhaps some others took our horses' bridles as we -leaped from them to the guns. The position was most -important and it would never do for those "barkers" -to be dumb, even for a minute; so at it we went, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> -improvised gunners, and were afterwards cheered by -being told we did it well and could always get a gunner's -berth when we might want it. I had the rammer, -No. 1, I think it is in the drill. Our fire was really -strong and effective, until some reliefs from the Washington -Artillery came up "ventre à terre," and with -hearty shouts took their guns in hand. The enemy -opened a severe fire on us, but fortunately none of our -party was hurt. We mounted again with cheerful -grins at our sudden adventure, and Longstreet, much -pleased, turned his attention to other imperiled points.</p> - -<p>Now, some fellow writing recently says it was McClellan's -own hands that fired at Hill's horse in the -morning; and that, in revenge, Longstreet seeing his -position in the afternoon, guessed it must be McClellan -and his staff and dispersed them with his own hands on -the guns. An awful lot of lies circulate nowadays -about the Civil War, and it is so long ago there is -hardly anybody to contradict them.</p> - -<p>Longstreet, whose eyes were everywhere, had noticed -a regiment well advanced that had been fighting steadily -for hours. It had gathered a few rails and stones for -a chance protection to its brave fellows, all the time -keeping up a good steady fire on the force in front of -them, whose ranks looked so thick as to make one wonder -they did not walk over our poor little regiment. -Longstreet never failed to encourage good work; he -praised freely and liberally where he thought it due, -constantly recommending meritorious young officers for -promotion. There was no illiberality about him, and -the officers knew it and tried for his notice. "Major -Sorrel," he said, "go down to that regiment with my -compliments to the colonel. Say he has fought splendidly -and must keep it up. We are hard pressed and if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -he loses his position there is nothing left behind him; -his men have made noble sacrifices, but are to do still -more."</p> - -<p>It was Col. John R. Cooke, commanding a North -Carolina regiment, that received this message. There -were many dead along his lines and some severely -wounded who could not be got away. My horse was -wounded on the way to him, and the enemy's rifle firing -was incessant, while from the saddle Longstreet's -praises and encouragement were given this brave officer.</p> - -<p>Profanity is justly considered objectionable. I do -not approve of it, but there are times when it may be -overlooked, and never did such words sound so sweet -as when I looked into Cooke's eyes and heard him: -"Major, thank General Longstreet for his good words, -but say, by —— almighty, he needn't doubt me! We -will stay here, by J. C., if we must all go to hell together! -That —— thick line of the enemy has been -fighting all day, but my regiment is still ready to lick -this whole —— outfit. Start away, Major, quick, or -you'll be getting hurt too, exposed as you are on that -horse!" This is only a faint reproduction of the -Colonel's gift of language, but it left me with no doubt -that the position would stand until that gallant heart -gave the word to leave it. He stuck there until ordered -off at night. It was some time before I was able -to send a report to Longstreet, the hour being about 5 -p. m., but he had Cooke promoted immediately. I had -scarcely drawn my hand from Cooke's when a shell -burst over us and a fragment struck me senseless from -my horse.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battle of Sharpsburg, Concluded</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Toombs's Georgia Brigade—Longstreet on the field—Lee's war - horse—McClellan superseded by Burnside—A horse trade—Richard - H. Anderson's division—A lost opportunity—Walton - and myself find quarters at Shepherdstown among - wounded—Driven away by enemy's shells.</p> -</div> - - -<p>Toombs's brigade of Georgians had fought well at -the bridge on the right. It was contested all day and -was the scene of some bloody encounters. Some -fresher men under A. P. Hill at last came up late, almost -dark, and a general advance on the enemy's lines -persuaded the timorous McClellan that we were not -done fighting, and he ceased his operations. Lee was -left, after the long day's work, with thin ranks holding -the ground he stood on in the morning, and nothing lost -by us in guns, colors, or prisoners. The casualties, -however, were very heavy, our list of wounded and -killed being awful. Here fell my dear personal friends -of school days, McIntosh and Parkman. I had lost -several in the battles preceding and my heart was heavy.</p> - -<p>Longstreet's conduct on this great day of battle was -magnificent. He seemed everywhere along his extended -lines, and his tenacity and deep-set resolution, -his inmost courage, which appeared to swell with the -growing peril to the army, undoubtedly stimulated the -troops to greater action, and held them in place despite -all weakness. My staff comrades described to me later -his appearance and reception by Lee when they met at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -night after firing ceased. Longstreet, big, heavy, and -red, grimly stern after this long day's work, that called -for all we could stomach, rolled in on his clumsy carpet -slippers. Lee immediately welcomed him with unconcealed -joy. "Here comes my war horse just from the -field he has done so much to save!" his arm affectionately -around "Peter's" shoulder. The latter should -surely have been proud and well satisfied. Lee held -his ground that night and all the next day (the 18th), -caring for his wounded and burying his dead. On the -night of the 18th he quietly moved out and successfully -passed the Potomac to Virginia ground without loss. -That McClellan with his great army, a third of which -had taken no part in the two battles, permitted this escape -is unaccountable. In olden times generals lost -their heads for such stupidities. "Little Mac" lost -his place instead, being soon superseded by Burnside.</p> - -<p>I was never good at a horse trade, and here is a story -of one. I had a nice little mare of good paces, but she -was undersized for my long legs. Walton, my staff -comrade, had a big, fine bay, well gaited and apparently -all that I could wish. Walton, being a small man, liked -the mare, and was ready to trade; but just before getting -to Boonsboro, the big bay, "Mott" (he had been -brought from Mississippi by that Colonel Mott who -was killed at Williamsburg, and we named him -"Mott"), had broken loose and was astray somewhere, -Walton being unable to find him. Having some -mounted men I could use and knowing the cavalry officers -near by, I believed he could be found, so taking -the chances I made the trade by paying Walton $275 to -boot, and this too in '62, when Confederate money was -not so very <em>bad</em>. That much cash could then buy considerable -stuff. Longstreet was an excellent judge of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> -horseflesh and to him I gave the details of my trade. -In answer I got a little stare and smile as he said, -"Why, Major, I would not give $275 for the horse tied -to a corn crib; no quartermaster in this army can furnish -forage enough for that beast!" This was soothing -and encouraging to be sure, and in the mean time -bay "Mott" refused to be found. Boonsboro and -Sharpsburg were fought, the army back in Virginia, -and I on my way back, when at last came my cavalrymen, -bay "Mott" in hand, and in a fortnight or so I -was on him, a powerful, well-paced animal; but Longstreet -was right, he could never get enough to eat, and -after some time his ribs and bones were disagreeably in -evidence, and the beast was turned over to a quartermaster -to do with as he would. He had pickings in the -corral and was probably hitched to a hay wagon.</p> - -<p>When struck down by that bursting shell, Colonel -Cooke had me immediately carried off on a stretcher to -a less exposed place, and on regaining consciousness -good old Fairfax was pouring whiskey down my throat. -We had been severed by one of those unnecessary camp -differences and were not on good terms. Needless to -say all that was now forgotten and we were comrades -once more. He managed to get an ambulance and sent -me off to the army field-infirmary. There was another -officer stretched by me in the ambulance, very bloody -and very terribly wounded. I did not think I was hurt -badly, but seemed to have no motion or feeling about -the legs. We were soon at the surgeon's camp, Dr. -Guild medical director in charge. I knew him well, a -cheerful soul. "What, you too!" he cried. "Now, -turn over." And he began pinching my legs unmercifully. -I kicked and cried out loudly, and he laughed -and said: "O, you are quite right, I feared for your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> -back. Now away to the rear across the river; you will -be on duty again in a fortnight." The hurt was a violent -contusion below the right shoulder and made the -whole side of the body black and blue with extravasated -blood. Off we started and came up with my staff comrade, -Walton, slowly trotting to the rear with a bullet -in his shoulder. He took charge of things energetically, -managed by threats and bullying to get a boat, -and had us ferried across the river at Shepherdstown. -There Walton got some men to carry me, hunting a -resting place; he tried everywhere, his wound paining -him all the time. The little town was full of wounded -and it looked as if we should have to lie out in the -street, but some gentle hearts were melted. At the -house of the Hamtrammocks, already crowded with -wounded, the ladies gave up their last room and put us -in it, fed and cheered us, providing that sweet sympathy -and goodness that was ever present among the noble -women of battle-torn Virginia.</p> - -<p>The Hamtrammock family was unknown to me, but -stood very well in the village and all through the Valley. -It was said that their father, long dead, had commanded -a Virginia regiment in the Mexican War. -The only members of the family we saw were the two -pleasant girls, Elsie and Florence, and an aunt, Miss -Sheperd. That evening the doctor relieved Walton of -acute suffering by cutting out the bullet, which had -buried itself in the muscles of the shoulder, and dressed -my battered back. So we awoke next morning refreshed -and easier, charmed with our luck in such good -quarters. We were soon quite ready to be entertained -by the young ladies, and they were nothing loth after -the nurses had made us presentable. There was a -Georgian in the house, Captain D'Antignac, badly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -wounded in the head, and in charge of Miss Sheperd. -She would sometimes rush into our room, laughing immoderately; -the poor fellow was out of his head and -talking all sorts of nonsense. Our hostesses were very -gracious, gay, happy, well educated girls; they played -and sang prettily, and were such Confederates! We -had much curiosity to know how they had fared during -the night, since they had been robbed of their rooms; it -finally came out that they had shared the bathroom between -them. But this elysium could not last long, for -next day the enemy planted some guns on the river -bank and began shelling everything. The wounded -were in great peril and the surgeons hurried them to -the rear. An ambulance was sent at once for us, and -with grateful farewells to our friends, we were taken -away to a little old farmhouse fifteen miles distant, -behind Lee's army.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Our Personnel—Visitors</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>On duty again, recovered—Army refreshed and in good condition—Reorganization—First - and Second Army Corps, - Longstreet and Stonewall commanding—Divisions composing - them—Cavalry under Stuart—Visitors to our camp in - Valley—Three Englishmen, Wolseley, Lawley, and Vizitelly.</p> -</div> - - -<p>Within the fortnight I was returned to duty, rather -stiff but quite fit, and pleased with the hearty welcome -of my brother officers. Walton's wound proved severe -and he was sent to a hospital at Richmond. The army -had picked up wonderfully, stragglers were back in -ranks, the lightly wounded were again ready with their -rifles, rations were abundant; some clothing and shoes -had come, for a small part of it, and we were just eager -for Burnside or any other fellow. Our General, like -his army, was high in spirit and controlling absolutely -its destiny. Its devotion for Lee and unfaltering confidence -in him had never been surpassed. It was now -that he found it necessary to reorganize its various -commands. They were all comfortably camped in the -Valley, except a small detachment sent to the vicinity -of Fredericksburg, and covered a good deal of ground. -The enemy was silent and showed no sign of movement, -but we could guess where he was likely to strike -next. Somewhere about Spottsylvania or Fredericksburg, -Lee divided his army into two great infantry -corps—the First Army Corps under Lieut.-Gen. -James Longstreet; the Second Army Corps under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> -Lieut-Gen. T. J. Jackson. The First had five divisions -under Pickett, McLaws, Hood, Richard Anderson, -and J. G. Walker; all had from four to five brigades; -except Walker's, only two, but it was known that his -command was to be but temporarily with the Virginia -army. Jackson's Second Army Corps had also four -divisions under A. P. Hill, R. S. Ewell, D. H. Hill, -and Jackson's old division under Taliaferro.</p> - -<p>The strength of the two great bodies was thus about -equal. To each division there was a battalion of artillery -of four batteries, and to each corps a reserve battalion -of six batteries. Longstreet had two of them, -the Washingtons, and Alexander's battalion.</p> - -<p>There was also a strong body of reserve artillery to -the army under command (and indeed he claimed some -authority over the rest) of Brig.-Gen. W. N. Pendleton. -This officer had graduated from West Point, had -changed his uniform to the cassock and was rector of -an Episcopal church in Western Virginia. He was an -especial friend of General Lee, and leaving his pulpit -brought a good battery to Jackson's command. A -well-meaning man, without qualities for the high post -he claimed—Chief of Artillery of the Army.</p> - -<p>The cavalry under Stuart completed the good organization -of that wonderful army. An excellent body of -horse it was, in fit hands, and its commander, true body -and soul to Lee, was already a great cavalry leader. -It was not, however, until next year that he rose with -it to its high-water mark of strength, efficiency, and -renown.</p> - -<p>While camped there in the Valley we had all at once -three interesting visitors, Col. Garnet Wolseley, of the -British Army; Hon. Francis Lawley, correspondent at -the South for <cite>The London Times</cite>, and Frank Vizitelly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> -Southern correspondent and artist for <cite>The London -Illustrated News</cite>. Wolseley was on duty in Canada -and had just slipped across the border and the army -lines to have a look at the Confederate forces. He was -a small, spare man, modest and soldierly. It was from -Lawley that we learned more about him, and that he -had distinguished himself while a subaltern in the -Crimea and was considered a rising officer. It fell to -me to make better acquaintance with Wolseley and we -have kept up some communication since. It has, therefore, -been good to follow his "steps" and note the -more than fulfillment of the favorable expectations of -him. Commander of the Red River Expedition; general -in charge of the Ashantee War; severe, successful -service in India; command in Egypt and defeat of -Arabi at Tel-el-Kebir; operations in the Soudan—these -have been some of his various services up to five -years ago, when he was made commander-in-chief of -the forces, his tour of duty having just ended. We -had a review of one of our divisions, gave him a good -mount, and he rode well with Longstreet, admiring -with an experienced eye the hardy material of our soldiers. -In a day or two he returned to Canada. He -has attained the rank of Field Marshal, and is Viscount -Wolseley in the Peerage of England, with many -high orders of merit.</p> - -<p>This distinguished officer has written well and often -of his Confederate observations. He places Lee in -the first rank of generals of the English-speaking race, -with Marlborough and Wellington; and his admiration -for our leader is constant—of the very highest. -A letter pointing to his interest in Confederate autographs -will be found in the Appendix.</p> - -<p>Frank Lawley, tall, handsome, and of distinguished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -appearance, had started in English political life with -everything in his favor. A fine University education, -natural aptitude, and a polished pen aided him in becoming -secretary to Mr. Gladstone when Chancellor of -the Exchequer. Soon, however, a shadow fell on -Lawley. He gave up his post and political life, taking -to writing, for which he was well fitted. <cite>The Times</cite> -had sent him South, and he was about Lee's army -nearly two years, making many friends. He is now -one of the principal editors of the <cite>London Telegram</cite>, -with a great salary, which, as of old, does not go far -with him.</p> - -<p>Frank Vizitelly (Italian family, for centuries settled -in England) was a burly-looking, reckless "Bohemian," -of many accomplishments. He could write, -could sing, could draw and paint, could dance and ride, -could tell good stories (good only in the telling, not in -the matter) by the hour, and, finally, could drink like a -fish, and did so. He made spirited drawings of battles, -persons, and all sorts of scenes during the two -years he was with us in the South, and managed to get -them through the blockade to his paper.</p> - -<p>When Vizitelly left us he served his paper all over -the world, whenever there was war; and finally joining -Hicks Pasha's Expedition for subduing the Soudan, -perished in the complete massacre of that ill-fated -column.</p> - -<p>His name, with six other war correspondents who -fell at their several posts elsewhere, is carved in a tablet -set in the walls of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. I -never thought Vizitelly could possibly come to such respectable -distinction.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">The Staff</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Staff of First Corps—Kirkwood Rangers escort—A camp dinner - party in state—Lee's aggressiveness—Ropes's description - of Lee—Duties of the staff.</p> -</div> - - -<p>The organization of the army having been described, -it is time to show the staff of the First Army Corps; -thus, October, 1862:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Major G. M. Sorrel, A. A. G. and Chief of - Staff.</p> - - <p>Major John W. Fairfax, A. A. G. and Inspector.</p> - - <p>Major Osmun Latrobe, A. A. G. and Inspector.</p> - - <p>Lieut.-Col. P. T. Manning, Chief of Ordnance.</p> - - <p>Captain F. W. Dawson, Assistant to Chief of - Ordnance.</p> - - <p>Major Thomas Walton, A. D. C.</p> - - <p>Captain Thomas Goree, A. D. C.</p> - - <p>Lieutenant Blackwell, A. D. C.</p> - - <p>Major R. J. Moses, Chief Commissary of Subsistence.</p> - - <p>Major Mitchell, Chief Quartermaster.</p> - - <p>Captain J. H. Manning, Signal Officer.</p> - - <p>Surgeon J. S. D. Cullen, Medical Director.</p> - - <p>Surgeon R. Barksdale, Medical Inspector.</p> - - <p>Surgeon Kellum, Medical Inspector.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> - - <p>Assistant Surgeon Thomas Maury, Assistant to - Medical Director.</p> - - <p>Major Chichester, Commissary of Subsistence.</p> - - <p>Major I. G. Clarke, Engineer Corps.</p> -</div> - -<p>Of the names of those starting out with Longstreet -at the beginning only a few have already been given. -The others were added as the command grew in -strength and wants. Some of those here named may -not have joined until a little later than this time, which -I fix at about November 15, 1862. Latrobe, a Marylander, -had been serving with D. R. Jones's small division. -Upon its being broken up he came to us and -proved most acceptable to the Lieutenant-General, and -a valuable staff officer. He was eventually to succeed -me when I was in 1864 promoted to command in another -corps. Moses, the chief commissary, had been a -leading lawyer in Georgia, and was now a most intelligent, -efficient officer. He was much older than most -of us, but "bon comrade," and had an exhaustless fund -of incident and anecdote, which he told inimitably.</p> - -<p>Latrobe, whom I often see, is my dear friend as I -write; in fine health and good condition; big in body -and frame as he is in heart. To corps headquarters at -this time was attached a good troop of cavalry for -courier and escort service. It was the Kirkwood Rangers, -from South Carolina, first commanded by Captain -Shannon, then by Captain Tobey. Captain Shannon -was that excellent man, somewhat advanced in -years, and retired, who was forced into a duel in South -Carolina, and killed. The staff well understood their -General and he knew them; they worked together with -good results and never did one of them fail him.</p> - -<p>An officer who might also be numbered on the staff<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> -was Colonel E. P. Alexander, although he commanded -the reserve artillery; but Longstreet thought so well of -his engineering and reconnoitering abilities that he -kept him very near headquarters.</p> - -<p>While the three Englishmen were visiting us it was -decided to give them a dinner. Two hospital tents -were thrown together and made a fine mess hall, embellished -with trophies of arms and flags. Flowers and -ferns did the rest for decoration. For the table there -were planks on trestles, and the same for seats. The -countryside was generous in lending, as well as giving -provisions, and our fête did not lack a good white covering -over its bare boards. Provisions were plentiful -outside the army rations, and I aver that on this occasion -they were paid for honestly. Young pig, well fattened, -turkeys, fowls, fresh beef, and vegetables topped -off the commissary's pork and hardtack. There were -good cooks at our call, and the negro servants of the -officers fairly grinned with delight at such a feast. We -had many officers of note to meet our guests, and the -function went off most agreeably. The absence of -wine was conspicuous, but no one lacked for good -whiskey, and perhaps before parting it had been tasted -too often by some. After dinner came cards—poker. -The Englishmen, except Wolseley, knew the game and -enjoyed it. I know that I was a considerable loser, -then a turn of chance brought me even, and soon we -quit for bed, my last real game of poker to this date.</p> - -<p>The army had now been long enough under Lee -to satisfy all that he meant fighting, always fighting. -That was the business of the army, and only by fighting -could Virginia be cleared of the enemy and Richmond -made secure. When he first took command -there were a few unthinking speeches made. He had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -fortified Richmond, and like a skilful general knew the -value of field-works and temporary entrenchments. -Some in the army were given to speak of him as the -"King of Spades" who would never allow us to show -fighting. The past fourteen months had indeed opened -the eyes of these sneerers.</p> - -<p>Ropes, the distinguished Northern military historian, -writing always, even in the most heated controversy, -fairly and dispassionately, has this to say for our hero, -en passant, in one of his books, having already once -declared him "The most accomplished soldier of the -day":</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>At the time of his appointment to the command of the Army - of Northern Virginia, General Lee was 55 years of age, in perfect - health, vigorous, robust, of a commanding presence. His - character, public and private, was of the highest. In intellect it - may be doubted whether he was superior to the able soldier - whom he succeeded; indeed, Joseph E. Johnston possessed as - good a military mind as any general on either side; but in that - fortunate combination of qualities, physical, mental, and moral, - which go to make up a great commander, General Lee was unquestionably - more favored than any of the leaders of the Civil - War. He possessed at once the entire confidence of his Government - and the unquestioning and enthusiastic devotion of the - army. He had no rival, either in the councils of the Richmond - War Department or in the colloquies around camp-fires. Lee's - position was unique. No army commander on either side was - so universally believed in, so absolutely trusted. Nor was there - ever a commander who better deserved the support of his Government - and the affection and confidence of his soldiers.</p> -</div> - -<p>With the growth of Longstreet's command my duties -had become doubly important, and with weighty responsibilities. -The General left much to me, both in -camp and on the field. As chief of his staff it was -my part to respond to calls for instruction and to anticipate -them. The General was kept fully advised -after the event, if he was not near by at the time; but -action had to be swift and sure, without waiting to -hunt him up on a different part of the field.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> - -<p>The change of movement of a brigade or division in -battle certainly carried a grave responsibility, but it -has often to be faced by the chief staff officer if the -general happened to be out of reach. Nearly two years -of war on a grand scale had given me experience and -confidence, and Longstreet was always generous with -good support when things were done apparently for the -best. This gave me good prestige in our large corps, -and I found hosts of friends among officers and men.</p> - -<p>The reorganization had made the First Corps 40,000 -strong, effective, by the time it got to Fredericksburg -in December. Jackson's Second Corps was fully 38,000 -strong.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Events Preceding Fredericksburg</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Burnside in command of Army of the Potomac—Sketch—Lee's - plans—At Fredericksburg—General Patrick, U. S. A.—Flag - of truce—Arrival of army in position—Poor defensive - works—Bad-weather march—Some expedients by Longstreet—The - stone wall—Major-General McLaws, Major-General - Hood, Major-General Anderson, Major-General - Walker—Sketches.</p> -</div> - - -<p>The new commander of the Army of the Potomac -was one of the most highly respected officers of the -United States Army, but he was not equal to the command, -and so stated to the officers who brought him -Mr. Lincoln's commission and orders.</p> - -<p>McClellan was of decided ability in many respects; -timorous, but safe; and there was no better organizer. -He seemed to hate battle, and it is surprising that with -such a record he should have secured and retained the -devotion and confidence of his men to the very end. -There was no lack of physical courage; it was a mental -doubt with him.</p> - -<p>Burnside had no prominent reputation, but made a -success of an unimportant expedition into North Carolina. -He conspicuously failed at Sharpsburg, where -all day the bridge on the right was the scene of combat, -without his movement to seize it. His great corps, held -idly in hand, was equal to it ten times over. But he -may have been waiting on McClellan, with whom he -was in the closest intimacy of friendship.</p> - -<p>At all events, Burnside could and would fight, even<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -if he did not know how, and after "Little Mac" this -was what Mr. Lincoln was trying for. He was a -handsome man, from Rhode Island, of fine, courteous -bearing.</p> - -<p>Franklin should have been, I think, the man for Lincoln; -but who knows? There was a powerful clique -always about McClellan, most unwisely at difference, -sometimes, with the Administration.</p> - -<p>A pause in the operations ensued while we lay about -Bunker Hill and Winchester. But Lee had, in the first -half of November, decided where he should make -Burnside fight. It was Fredericksburg. Longstreet -had previously sent McLaws's division east of the -mountains to the vicinity of Culpeper, and about November -16 started him for the old town on the Rappahannock, -following a day or two later from his Valley -camps with the remainder of the corps.</p> - -<p>The gaps of the Blue Ridge were well occupied and -defended by Jackson and Stuart's cavalry during Lee's -transfer of his army in this delicate strategical operation.</p> - -<p>I parted from Longstreet for a day or two, and arrived -near Fredericksburg with some of the leading -troops, before him.</p> - -<p>My ride was in the worst weather, roads deep in mud, -with rain in torrents. Fredericksburg is one of the -oldest and most aristocratic of the Virginia towns. -A dwindling trade had thinned the population and -quieted its ambitions. At this time the place was the -home of families of historical importance and present -interest, with a thorough knowledge of good living, -and still respectable cellars of old Madeira that -had been imported by them many years before.</p> - -<p>The enemy had a small garrison there and a pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>vost -marshal, an elderly United States officer, kind -and gentle in his authority, and much liked by the -citizens.</p> - -<p>From this officer I received a request to meet him -under flag of truce, and we made acquaintance in a -little block-house just outside the town. The good old -General Patrick was quite in ignorance apparently of -the great operation that was then culminating. Expecting -to hold the city with his little garrison he -wished to avert any shelling of the town by our guns.</p> - -<p>His friends had not yet made their appearance on -the Falmouth Hills, commanding the town on the left -bank of the river. We had outstripped their march.</p> - -<p>General Patrick was informed that he must at once -withdraw from Fredericksburg, that we should occupy -it in force. He smiled, thinking it a bluff, and wanted -to know where the soldiers were. On this point he -got no information, of course, and we parted. However, -he was soon to see our men pouring forward, -and McLaws's division seizing the city and posting -his gallant Mississippians on the river front, under the -intrepid Barksdale.</p> - -<p>Patrick's little gang had, of course, immediately -slipped away when they saw what was coming.</p> - -<p>This I think was about November 21. The entire -army soon after arrived and took position behind the -Rappahannock, a wide, undulating plain for the most -part stretching between our lines and the river itself. -Longstreet took the left and Jackson the right; -the former's most important point being the stone -wall and sunken road at the foot of Marye's Hill.</p> - -<p>Looking back at the situation, it seems surprising -that we did so little in the way of defensive field-works. -The enemy in great masses were crowding the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> -Falmouth Hills, and we knew intended to cross and -strike us. But yet we contented ourselves with the -little stone wall (which proved helpful), and two or -three tiers of light trenchwork extended on the slope -of the hill behind and on our left.</p> - -<p>The like observation applies to Jackson, whose lines -were above the same as ours in strength, except the -stone wall.</p> - -<p>Later in the war such a fault could not have been -found. Experience had taught us that to win, we -must fight; and that fighting under cover was the thing -to keep up the army and beat the enemy. He knew -it, too, and practised it, so later on veterans no sooner -got to facing each other than they began to dig, if ever -so little; a little trench, a tiny hillock is often a very -helpful defense and protection.</p> - -<p>The march to Fredericksburg in bad weather and -over almost bottomless roads had caused great suffering -to the men and some losses among the animals. -It was then that Longstreet told his men of an expedient -that as an old soldier he had often resorted -to. "Rake," he sent word to the men, "the coals -and ashes from your cooking fires and sleep on that -ground; it will be dry and warm." And so it proved. -Also, there being many barefooted men, "Take the -rawhides of the beef cattle, killed for food; cut roughly -for a moccasin-like covering for the feet, and there -you are with something to walk in. "But this did not -go. The foot-wear had nothing like soles of stiffening, -and in the mud and icy slush of the Virginian roads -the moist, fresh skins slipped about as if on ice. The -wearers, constantly up or down, finally kicked them -aside and took the road as best they could, barefooted -or wrapped with rags or straw. Richmond did its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> -best to supply, but there was always trouble for want -of shoes. Great quantities were run in from England -by blockade, but they were worthless, shoddy things -that might be done for in a day's use. I once wore -a pair of them, and in a single day of wet and mud -the cheats came to pieces and developed bits of paper -and odds of leather things, where should be good, -strong, well tanned cow skin.</p> - -<p>It is said that our friends, the enemy, across the lines -fared badly as well in shoddy, and that too from their -own neighbors and countrymen.</p> - -<p>It was awfully nasty work getting down to that -stone wall for giving orders or receiving information, -the way swept by the enemy's volume of fire over every -foot. Once at the wall it was fairly snug, but the coming -back was still worse, and one drew a long breath -on emerging safely from the deadly fusilade.</p> - -<p>We could only manage it on foot by making short -rushes from point to point, affording perhaps some -little cover. It was on such a duty that my friend -Lord King was killed. He was A. D. C. to McLaws, -of the family of Kings of southern Georgia.</p> - -<p>The ranking major-general of our corps was L. -McLaws, his division made up of Georgians, Mississippians, -and South Carolinians. He was an officer -of much experience and most careful. Fond of detail, -his command was in excellent condition, and his -ground and position well examined and reconnoitered; -not brilliant in the field or quick in movement there or -elsewhere, he could always be counted on and had secured -the entire confidence of his officers and men.</p> - -<p>Maj.-Gen. John B. Hood's appearance was very -striking; in age only 34, he had a personality that -would attract attention anywhere. Very tall and some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>what -loose-jointed; a long, oval face shaded by yellowish -beard, plentiful hair of same color, and voice of -great power and compass.</p> - -<p>With very winning manners, he is said to have used -these advantages actively for his own advancement. -But apart from that, his services in the field were of -the best. Resigning from the United States Army he -was made colonel of one of the three Texas regiments -that were sent to Virginia. There he quickly showed -his soldierly qualities and was made brigadier-general -over the brigade formed of the three Texas regiments -and the Third Arkansas. It was conspicuous in all -of the many combats in which it was engaged, and -Hood soon came on for promotion to one of the divisions -of Longstreet's corps. As major-general he -continued to display high qualities and he might be -considered an ideal officer of that rank and command. -At Gettysburg he received a wound in the arm. It is -said that at Richmond, while convalescing, he suffered -himself to criticize very freely our operations in -Pennsylvania. As soon as recovered he resumed his -division, which he took to Chickamauga, where his -conduct was magnificent. There he lost a leg. Longstreet -immediately recommended him to promotion to -lieutenant-general, which was done, and on recovery -Hood was assigned to the Western army under J. E. -Johnston. There I must leave him. His biographers -will relate his promotion to the rank of full general; -his superseding Johnston; his march to the enemy's -rear; the sanguinary battles of Franklin and Nashville, -and the crushing defeat of his expedition by -Thomas, making possible the great decisive strategic -operation of Sherman's "March to the sea."</p> - -<p>Maj.-Gen. G. E. Pickett we already know. He had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -a very fine division of five Virginia brigades, all well -commanded by brigadiers who greatly helped the Major-General -to the high reputation gained by this gallant -body of men.</p> - -<p>Maj.-Gen. Richard H. Anderson, of South Carolina, -had been a captain of cavalry in the United States -Army, and was rather an interesting character. His -courage was of the highest order, but he was indolent. -His capacity and intelligence excellent, but it was hard -to get him to use them. Withal, of a nature so true -and lovable that it goes against me to criticize him. -He had served well as a brigadier-general, and now -with Longstreet, commanding a division, had more to -do. Longstreet knew him well and could get a good -deal out of him, more than any one else. His division -was of Georgians, South Carolinians, Alabamians -and Mississippians.</p> - -<p>Maj.-Gen. J. B. Walker was commanding two brigades -of North Carolinians. I had no intimate knowledge -of this officer, who it was known would be with -the Virginia army but for a short time. He bore a -high reputation among those of his acquaintance.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Enemy massed on Stafford Heights—Heavy artillery fire—The - pontoon bridge—Splendid defense of Mississippians—Enemy - crosses—Preparing for his assault—Sumner's attack - on Marye's Hill—The deadly stone wall—General - Cobb killed—General Lee's position—Jackson in uniform—His - answer to Longstreet—Franklin's attack on Jackson—Enemy - escapes across the river—Strength and losses—Bursting - of a gun—Old Madeiras in Fredericksburg—An - incident, "one touch of nature"—Enemy not pursued.</p> -</div> - - -<p>But now it is time to sketch something of the remarkable -battle that the quiet waters of the Rappahannock -were to see fiercely fought in torrents of blood -across the plain that bordered the stream. I attempt -no description, limiting myself to some stray observations.</p> - -<p>The enemy had finally massed his great force (122,500 -men) on Stafford Heights and was to force the -passage of the river. Franklin had wisely advised -Burnside to do the work with half the army against -our right, and Burnside, at first assenting, then resumed -his original intention to attack our center with -Sumner's grand division. Well for us that he did so!</p> - -<p>On December 11 his movements began by attempting -to set his pontoon bridge opposite the city for the -crossing.</p> - -<p>It was opposed by General Barksdale's Mississippi -Brigade of McLaws's division, and stands as one of the -finest acts of heroism and stubborn resistance in our -military annals.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> - -<p>Burnside first poured an artillery fire in the devoted -town and defending brigade—that was literally -an "enfer."</p> - -<p>There had been nothing like it before in this war. -Every shot, all kinds of missiles, were thrown at the -Mississippians to dislodge them. The brave fellows -were there, however, to stay. They hid themselves -in cellars, wells, holes of any kind where they could -get a little cover, while their rifles picked off the -pontooners pluckily trying to throw their boats across -the stream. The latter fell in great numbers and this -went on nearly all day. The Confederates would not -budge, although so stubborn a defense had been no part -of our expectation. We knew the town would be -seized.</p> - -<p>Quite late the bridge effort was abandoned by the -Federal engineers. Calling for volunteers to fill the -boats and cross in mass, it was gallantly answered. -A number of them were quickly crowded, and notwithstanding -our fire their landing was soon made and -the town occupied, but not before Barksdale had safely -withdrawn his hard-fighting fellows.</p> - -<p>They had the cheers of the army for their day's -brave work.</p> - -<p>Then began that night and all next day and night -the movement of Burnside's great army across the -river. More brigades were added and there were several -in Franklin's possession. He had no trouble in -laying what he wanted in his front.</p> - -<p>Thus stood Burnside, his army facing us with nothing -between, on December 13, and bitter cold, Franklin -operating on his left against Jackson. Sumner in the -center and center-right against Longstreet, who also -guarded the lines extended considerably to our left.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -Hooker's grand division was held on Stafford Heights -during the night of the 12th.</p> - -<p>But Marye's Hill was our strong point. Burnside -wanted it and there he threw his men in blind and impotent -fury. It was held by T. R. R. Cobb's brigade -of Georgians behind a stone wall at first and another -brigade in support. The front here was quite narrow. -Ransom's and Cook's North Carolina brigades were -in light trenches higher up the hill, but in position to -deliver deadly fire, and did so. The defense at the -stone wall was also kept carefully reinforced as needed. -There was some artillery in pits near the crest of the -hill that did effective service.</p> - -<p>General Lee's position with his staff during the day -was on a small hill with a good plateau, from which -he had a fair view of Sumner's attack on Longstreet, -as well as Franklin's on Jackson. Longstreet was -much of the time with him. Before the hot work began, -"Stonewall" rode up to have a word with Lee. -As he dismounted we broke into astonished smiles. -He was in a spick and span new overcoat, new uniform -with rank marks, fine black felt hat, and a handsome -sword. We had never seen the like before, and gave -him our congratulations on his really fine appearance. -He said he "believed it was some of his friend Stuart's -doings."</p> - -<p>Franklin was in great masses before Jackson, and -before mounting, Longstreet called out, "Jackson, -what are you going to do with all those people over -there?" "Sir," said Stonewall, with great fire and -spirit, "we will give them the bayonet."</p> - -<p>There is really now but little more to be said in detail -of the battle. In front of us it was hammer and -tongs all day from 11 a. m. until finally Burnside had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> -to desist in sheer weariness of slaughter. His troops -advanced to their assaults with the finest intrepidity, -but it was impossible for them to stand before our fire. -I afterwards saw that perhaps not more than half a -dozen of their men had got within sixty yards of our -wall and dropped there. Not once was there any sign -of faltering or weakness among our troops; the solid -bodies of troops attacking might easily have made it -otherwise with unseasoned soldiers.</p> - -<p>On our right Franklin had been more successful. -He managed to pierce a salient that should have been -corrected and worsted a considerable number of Jackson's -men. The line was retaken and restored, but -with some loss, among whom was Captain Edward -Lawton, a young brother of General Lawton, of -Georgia. We also lost at Marye's Hill General Cobb -(T. R. R.), of Georgia, deeply mourned as one of the -most promising officers and whole-souled patriots of -the South.</p> - -<p>When darkness fell on this great tragedy, hostile -movements ceased and the two armies were caring -for the "butcher's bill." Ours was small comparatively, -but the enemy had lost very heavily.</p> - -<p>A thick fog or mist also arose and enveloped the -enemy's movements in strangeness and uncertainty. -They were actually started on hastily recrossing the -river, but we don't appear to have known it. Most -of the day of the 14th it was thick and misty, veiling -successfully the enemy's movements, but all the time -he was preparing for his retreat.</p> - -<p>He was not attacked while in this exposed position. -Why not? It is generally thought it would have been -fatal to the Federals and it is indisputable that they -were in hourly dread of it. Some say Jackson pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>posed -a night attack, but I doubt it, and am glad it -was not made.</p> - -<p>It is impossible to describe the confusion of such -an attempt or to anticipate what might happen. I was -in one later on with three picked brigades of the highest -order and efficiency.</p> - -<p>The roar of battle between Lookout Mountain and -Brown's Ferry on the Tennessee River words cannot -express, and in the black darkness the three brigades -achieved worse than nothing.</p> - -<p>But why did we not attack on the 14th in daylight? -Not my part to attempt this explanation, but it looks -much as if we were "building a bridge of gold for -the flying enemy."</p> - -<p>On the night of the 17th Burnside withdrew his -army to his old camp in the Falmouth Hills.</p> - -<p>We lost in killed and wounded—Longstreet, 1,519; -Jackson, 2,682; total, 4,201. Jackson was also reported -as having lost in missing 526. These figures -are also adopted by Ropes, and he gives Burnside's -army as 122,500, ours as 78,500. I do not think that -more than half of our forces were engaged on the 13th. -The Federal losses, attacks on Marye's Hill, 8,000; -loss of whole army, Federal, 12,650 killed and wounded. -(Ropes figures.)</p> - -<p>The hill referred to as affording General Lee at -Fredericksburg a point of view, had a light trench -in which was mounted a 30-pounder Parrott gun, made -in Richmond. The 10-pounder guns of that make had -done well, but those of heavy caliber were treacherous. -The one on "Lee's Hill," as it came to be called, burst -after a few discharges. Happily it did not send fragments -flying about, and no one was hurt. The immense -breech just appeared to have split into a dozen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> -pieces of various sizes and then fallen heavily to the -ground. We were rather glad to have done with such -a piece of metal.</p> - -<p>The old wines of the good people of Fredericksburg -have been referred to. They suffered in the fortunes -of war. A few nights before the opening of the battle, -which was then imminent, considerable quantities -of fine old Madeira and other varieties were taken -out of cellars and bins, and sent by the citizens to our -fellows in camp, equally ready for drink or for battle. -It was known that the town would be shelled -and occupied by the Federals, probably looted and -plundered; therefore it was thought safest to see priceless -old vintages passed around campfires and quaffed -in gulps from tincups. Of course the men would have -better liked whiskey, but they did not refuse the wine.</p> - -<p>An incident on the river may bear telling. It was -after the battle, when the pickets had resumed their -posts and had become friendly; more given to trading -than shooting each other at less than one hundred yards. -The authorities had to set their faces sternly against -this trading. It led to desertion. A fine Federal band -came down to the river bank one afternoon and began -playing pretty airs, among them the Northern patriotic -chants and war songs. "Now give us some of ours!" -shouted our pickets, and at once the music swelled into -Dixie, My Maryland, and the Bonnie Blue Flag. Then, -after a mighty cheer, a slight pause, the band again -began, all listening; this time it was the tender, melting -bars of Home, Sweet Home, and on both sides of -the river there were joyous shouts, and many wet eyes -could be found among those hardy warriors under the -flags. "One touch of nature makes the whole world -kin."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> - -<p>Of course the enemy's powerful artillery on Stafford -Heights would have been an efficient aid in resisting -an attack on his infantry before, and while recrossing -the river. But they were badly demoralized -and would probably not have stood long with that -threatening river in their rear and the triumphant Confederates -in the front. There was much private discussion -then, and after, among the intelligent of the -Federals as to why they were not struck after their -sanguinary defeat. A general belief existed among -them that we were deficient in ammunition, the only -explanation many of them were able to arrive at. We -had no want of it.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">After Fredericksburg—Reminiscences</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Fredericksburg after the battle—Flag of truce—Burying dead—General - Wadsworth, U. S. A.—Again on enemy's side - with flag of truce—At their picket fire—Colonel Brown, - of Rhode Island—Bitter cold—All night in their camp—Luxuries - for the wounded—First Georgia Regulars—They - are ordered home—Want of shoes—Captain Cuthbert, of - South Carolina.</p> -</div> - - -<p>The battle was indeed fought and finished, and although -the triumph of victory rested with us, and the -enemy was back in his lines, beaten and dispirited, yet -it cannot be said that there had been achieved a result -so decisive as to bring us near the end of the war.</p> - -<p>We were caring for our dead. The enemy was to -do so for his. They lay in great numbers on the plain. -General Lee wrote Burnside and I carried the letter -under a flag of truce through the town to the ferry, -where was found a pontoon, and my men took me -across. It was pitiful riding through the town, considerably -damaged as it was by the artillery fire from -Stafford Heights, but more still from the plundering -and looting that had gone on while in possession of -the United States troops. Furniture, bedding, mattresses, -carpets, china, domestic utensils, indeed all -that went to make up those comfortable homes, were -strewn helter skelter, broken and ruined about the -streets. The streets were filled with distressed women -and children, both black and white. But we passed on—"C'est -à la guerre comme à la guerre!" My pon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>toon -landed me at the foot of a steep road that ascended -the hill and I was immediately met by a number of -officers in brilliant uniforms. For myself I must have -been awfully shabby; never at any time given to military -finery, while campaigning, I think I was worse -off than usual here at Fredericksburg. The weather -had been atrocious, and mud and I were closely acquainted -day and night. There was, too, so much to -do that one had no time for repairing damages.</p> - -<p>But my reception by the Federal officers was extremely -courteous while awaiting an answer to General -Lee's missive, now on its way to Burnside, whose -headquarters were near by.</p> - -<p>There were Major-General Park, chief of staff to -the army; Major-General Wadsworth (whom I was to -see in eighteen months at the "Wilderness" under -different circumstances); Brig.-Gen. Jim Hardie, and -many others, all having some inquiries to make for -friends on our side. General Wadsworth asked me -how many dead I thought lay on our front. "I ask, -Major," he said, "so as to make my burying parties -strong enough."</p> - -<p>I said: "I cannot possibly guess with any approach -to accuracy. I have only ridden through the slain in -front of Marye's Hill, and it seemed that there must -be at least 800 there awaiting burial." "My God, my -God!" groaned the old officer, deeply impressed by -such mortality. Instead of 800, they buried nearly -1,200 men in that small front, besides some 300 in -front of Jackson's position. General Burnside's answer -soon came, and saluting my Federal acquaintances -I was quickly on our own side of the river and -the Federal commander's letter in Lee's possession.</p> - -<p>Strong burial parties immediately came across for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -their ghastly duty. General Wadsworth was a -wealthy, middle-aged man from the lovely Genesee -Valley, New York, owning great tracts of land; but -considered it his patriotic duty to raise some battalions -for the army and did so, placing himself at their head. -The Government showed him all honor, conferring at -once high rank.</p> - -<p>A day or two later it became necessary to see the -Northerners again. Their burying parties were making -hideous work with the dead soldiers; throwing -them in heaps in shallow trenches, barely covered; filling -the country ice houses and wells with them; indeed, -doing this work most brutally for themselves, -and intolerably for our citizens. General Lee called -Burnside's attention to the revolting conduct of the -latter's men and I went across the river, with also some -verbal details.</p> - -<p>The pontoon had been drawn in by the owners and -was in the Union rear with the bridge train. There -was naught to cross in except a broken, leaky little -batteau that was found in a cellar. The river was -smooth and one of my men managed to paddle the -crazy thing safely across. There I was met by Colonel -Brown, commanding a Rhode Island regiment on -picket duty, who civilly invited me to the comfort of -his camp fire while awaiting the communication from -his army headquarters, now quite a distance off. I -was detained some time, and the Colonel (a lawyer of -high reputation from Providence, Rhode Island), had -time for much general talk. At last, making my -thanks and farewell, I started back, only to find my -man at the river's edge almost frozen and the batteau -sunk out of sight with darkness on us! A pretty -kettle of fish, indeed! The water rough, wind strong,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -and already freezing. There was nothing for it but -to take my man back with me to the picket and get a -message to headquarters of my plight, with request of -assistance to cross. After another considerable wait -there came an officer and several mounted orderlies -leading a good horse; this was for me. The officer -brought a civil message from the adjutant-general regretting -that they had nothing at hand to float (their -pontoons being in the rear), and hoping I could be -made comfortable for the night. Leaving my soldier -to the good care of the friendly pickets, I mounted and -was led to the large house on the hill, at that time in -use as a hospital. There my escort left me and I -found myself for the night in the great kitchen of the -establishment, filled with bright warmth and savory -smells of good food.</p> - -<p>A blanket or two had to do me for bedding, but I -was soon asleep, after the soldier cooks had given me -food, always with full respect to rank and authority.</p> - -<p>To see what they had, its quality, its abundance, -filled one's heart with envy when contrasted with the -doled-out, bare necessities of life the lot of our own -uncomplaining fellows.</p> - -<p>Here in this great kitchen were huge swinging vessels -of odorous real coffee; immense chunks of fat, -fresh beef of all parts of the animal; great slabs of -dessicated vegetables, which, when thrown with -knuckles of meat and good flesh into the boiling cauldron, -puffed out, swelling each vegetable into something -like freshness, and then with free dashes of salt -and pepper, behold, a soup of strength and tastiness fit -for Faint Heart to fight on. They gave me of it all -and I tasted all, sleeping well and early up. My man, -who had fared well too, was soon at hand, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> -boat raised, bailed out, landed us safely on our own -bank. The soldier with me was Jesse Beall, private -from Milledgeville in a Georgia regiment. I was disposed -at first to be vexed by such rough lodgings (a -parlementaire being entitled to the best), but Colonel -Kip explained that there was really nothing else to be -done at that hour of night. Of course they could not -carry me through the lines to their own comfortable -staff quarters in the rear.</p> - -<p>Many years after, hearing that there was in Savannah, -passing through, a Colonel Brown, of Rhode Island, -with his wife, I called on him. It proved to be -my friend of the picket fire, and his wife, with much -enthusiasm, declared he had spoken of the incident fifty -times. Colonel Brown had some more talk this time, -quite free, and like very many Union officers marveled -why they were not attacked after a repulse so bloody -and disastrous. He said that want of ammunition -could only explain it to him. Brown was a middle -aged, delicate man, a member of the well-known Brown -family of Rhode Island.</p> - -<p>He said he had raised his regiment from patriotic -convictions and carried it through the battle of Fredericksburg; -then he gave way to younger, stronger men -and resigned. He was a broad, fair-minded man, -with no deep prejudices against the South. Next year -he died, his townsmen showing in every way the honor -and respect in which he was held.</p> - -<p>The First Georgia Regulars were posted at Hamilton's -Crossing, near Fredericksburg, and had its ranks -much thinned by the casualties of several campaigns. -It could not be recruited like other regiments, being -enlisted from all parts, and the Department therefore -ordered it home to fill its ranks.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> - -<p>I rode myself, orders in hand, to its camp. I had -many friends among the officers and knew how delighted -they would be; and so it was, a wild shout of -happiness at seeing old Georgia again, and the skeleton -battalion began packing almost immediately for the -route. After doing some enlistment it took an honorable -part in the battle of Olustee, fought in Florida. -Lieutenant Sorrel was with them until a captain's commission -in the Adjutant-General's Department sent him -to report in Virginia to Gen. John Bratton's South -Carolina Brigade.</p> - -<p>I was in Europe in the summer of 1860, and traveled -on the continent a few weeks with George Cuthbert, -of Beaufort, South Carolina. He was a pleasant -fellow, and handsome, of good height and figure, and -the fairest blonde, with beautiful blue eyes. Even in -fair-haired Saxony, people turned to look at him.</p> - -<p>The war broke out and I did not know where Cuthbert -would be serving. One day, however, in the winter -of 1862-63, riding by the lines of one of our South -Carolina regiments, up rose Cuthbert, and I was immediately -on my feet beside him. He was a line captain, -had been wounded, and was at the moment as shabby -a Confederate soldier as could be found anywhere. -Razors had been discarded, and the German girls who -liked to look at the handsome Southerner would not -have deigned him a glance. I resolved to do something -for his advancement, but the channels were such -that I could not get him out of them. Soon after, -however, an order came from Richmond to detail 160 -shoemakers for the use of the Quartermaster-General—such -was the stress we were in for shoes. Half the -detail was ordered from Jackson's corps and half from -Longstreet's. I sent out orders for our eighty cris<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>pins, -and when they were picked out of the whole -corps, word was given to Captain Cuthbert to report at -corps headquarters and a brief colloquy opened.</p> - -<p>"I say, Cuthbert, would you like to go to Richmond?" -"Wouldn't I!—clean clothes, soap, a bath -and a shave!" "Eighty shoemakers are to be taken -there by rail and then turned over to the Quartermaster-General, -and an officer must take the detail. Will -you have it?" "My dear Sorrel, give it to me; for -God's sake, give it to me—such a change after my -long trench service. I'd land them safely with the Q. -M. G. if they were eighty raving demons instead of the -happy fellows they doubtless are in getting such a detail." -"All right, old chap, take your fellows off by -train to-morrow; here are the orders. And I say, -Cuthbert, while you are in Richmond don't hurry too -much; you can make the duty last you a week or ten -days."</p> - -<p>He was very grateful for being thought of, performed -his work satisfactorily, and then enjoyed himself -hugely.</p> - -<p>I was glad to think of this later, since he was one of -many personal friends who gave up his life in battle. -The incident also illustrated the great straits the Confederate -supply department was in to keep the troops -equipped for the field. This was especially the case -with shoes.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">To South Virginia for Supplies</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Burnside's "mud march"—His removal—Hooker superseding - him—Our great want of supplies—Longstreet ordered to - South Virginia—Hood's and Pickett's divisions with him—I - precede them—Inspecting fort at Washington, N. C.—Rejoin - the command at Suffolk—Gathering supplies—Operations - against Suffolk not successful—Ordered back to - Lee—All haste—No time lost, but too late for Chancellorsville—Pickett's - courtship—Harrison, the scout—Death of - Stonewall Jackson—Lieutenant Habersham.</p> -</div> - - -<p>Here then for some weeks did the two armies lay in -the peace of camp life after the fever of battle. Burnside -attempted a movement, known as the mud march, -quickly made abortive by the condition of roads, and -then Mr. Lincoln reluctantly removed him, placing -Hooker—"Fighting Joe Hooker"—in command of -the Army of the Potomac. It was in May before he -attempted his disastrous move against Lee and Jackson.</p> - -<p>Meantime, our army was in want of all supplies. -The subsistence department lacked fresh meat. In -southern Virginia and eastern North Carolina there -were said to be large quantities of small cattle which, -fattened on the good Virginia pasture lands, would -greatly help the subsistence officers. There were also -there large stores of bacon and corn. It was decided -to send part of Lee's army to operate in that region, -and, at the same time, by covering large wagon trains, -we should be enabled to use that part of the country -for the Virginia army.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> - -<p>It had sometimes been occupied by the enemy, at all -times exposed to their sudden incursions. But these, -it is thought, formed the least of the reasons governing -Lee when sending Longstreet and two of his strong -divisions to Nansemond and Suffolk. It was daring -to make such a large draft on his army, but Lee was -given to daring efforts, with a great objective in view. -The Northern army was becoming dangerously strong -for him to view calmly, and another strong body was -preparing to threaten Richmond from a different quarter. -Lee may have reasoned, as he did in some of his -Valley operations, that by detaching Longstreet, -Hooker would be quickly induced to follow him, by -sending from his army a still larger force for the safety -of the threatened districts. But it proved they had -enough troops for such reinforcements without impairing -Hooker's great strength.</p> - -<p>Our two divisions, Hood's and Pickett's, and a battalion -of artillery broke camp and halted at Petersburg, -whence the force found camps on the Nansemond -River, in a manner besieging the town of Suffolk, -strongly held by the Federals.</p> - -<p>By Longstreet's order I set out alone for a short -visit of inspection to the eastern boundary of North -Carolina. It was the little town of Washington, on -the head of a tidal river, that, I think, I first visited. -There was nothing there but a well-built, strong earthwork -fort, and a fine, full regiment, doing nothing and -eager for action. It was not likely to come to them at -that dull place, and on my recommendation the regiment -was sent to Lee.</p> - -<p>The lieutenant-colonel (Lamb) gave me a warm fur -collar, which was always a comfort, and he was delighted -with the pair of spurs I made him accept from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> -me (they were made from the brass trunnion beds of -the monitor <cite>Keokuk</cite>, sunk by our forces at Charlestown). -Poor Lamb was killed in the first engagement -of his regiment. My instructions were to lose -no time, but, after a glance around, hasten back to the -command. When I returned it was seen that nothing -had been achieved. Some little bluffing had been made -at the town of Suffolk, in which we lost two pieces of -artillery and gained nothing. Time was passing, the -Virginia roads improving, and some restlessness apparent -among us. We knew, of course, that Hooker -must soon fight, and that we should be there. At last -General Lee sent for us in haste, not a moment was to -be lost. Not a moment was lost; we threw everything -into movement, realizing how keenly our beloved commander -and comrades on the Rappahannock would be -wanting their Lieutenant-General and his two splendid -divisions. But it was humanly impossible. We were -late, Hooker had attacked rather earlier than expected, -and on May 3 the battle was given, and our -great Jackson fell in glorious victory while we were -miles distant by railroad from the memorable field of -Chancellorsville.</p> - -<p>General Pickett was a widower, but had recently -suffered himself to fall in love with all the ardor of -youth. The object of these fiery, if mature, affections -dwelt not far from Suffolk. Pickett's visits were frequent, -a long night ride and return for duty early next -day. Perhaps he had wearied Longstreet by frequent -applications to be absent, but once he came to me for -the authority. My answer was, "No, you must go to -the Lieutenant-General." "But he is tired of it, and -will refuse. I swear, Sorrel, I'll be back before anything -can happen in the morning." I could not permit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -myself to be moved. If anything did happen, such as -a movement of his division or any demonstration -against it, my responsibility for the absence of the -Major-General could not be explained. But Pickett -went all the same, nothing could hold him back from -that pursuit. He married some time after. I don't -think his division benefited by such carpet-knight doings -in the field.</p> - -<p>While Longstreet was holding this brief independent -command, a scout, more properly a spy, was placed at -his service by the War Department. He was a man of -about thirty years, calling himself a Mississippian, and -was altogether an extraordinary character. He was -paid in United States greenbacks. I approved requisition -on the quartermaster every month for $150 for -him. His time seemed to be passed about equally -within our lines and the enemy's. Harrison (such was -his name) always brought us true information. There -was invariable confirmation of his reports afterwards.</p> - -<p>While always suspicious that such secret instruments -give away as much as they bring and may be in the -pay of both sides, it was difficult to be sure of this in -Harrison's case. He went everywhere, even through -Stanton's War Office at Washington itself, and -brought in much. We could never discover that he -sold anything against us; besides, we had means, and -did verify his account of himself as coming from -Mississippi. When Longstreet gave him up in September, -he was sorry afterwards and missed the man. -He made me try to get him back for our command, -but I failed.</p> - -<p>There will be more to say of Harrison before losing -him. On the whole he appears to have been a daring -Southerner, hating Yankees most bitterly, but loving<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> -their greenbacks, and fond of secret, perilous adventure. -Latrobe recently heard from him in Baltimore, -in want, and asking some small assistance.</p> - -<p>Upon rejoining our army after Chancellorsville we -were, of course, eager questioners and listeners for -everything about the battle.</p> - -<p>Gratifying it was to hear on all sides of the conduct -of our two divisions, which bore so large a part of the -attacks on Lee. Anderson and McLaws had never -fought better; while Lee, to hold his position and beat -off Hooker, had to have the very best every man could -give him. It was a battle most extraordinary in its -execution and development. The powerful movement -on Lee's rear by Sedgwick's force from Fredericksburg -was enough to disconcert any ordinary commander. -Lee, calm and undismayed, met it by thinning -out his lines to almost a frazzle, and throwing a -good division before John Sedgwick, while he and -Jackson were preparing the blow that made "Fighting -Joe Hooker's" head split with surprise and agony and -sent him flying back across the Rappahannock.</p> - -<p>The great flank movement of Stonewall had been -carefully planned by Lee and most brilliantly executed -by the Lieutenant. But the army had suffered -the irreparable loss of that hero. Struck down in the -gloaming and thick foliage of the forest, by his own -men, his dauntless spirit clung to his army for a week, -among ever-hopeful soldiers, and then took its warrior's -flight to its Supreme Maker. There was none -left in his place; there was but one Jackson.</p> - -<p>When Marye's Hill was attacked by Sedgwick in -Lee's rear, the battery in action there had to make a -hurried escape. One of its officers, a dear friend of -mine, Lieut. Frederick Habersham, had been killed at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -his section. His comrades determined to have his -body, and lashed it to the trail of a gun, and there it -hung, firmly bound, a sight not often witnessed, while -the battery, already late in retiring, was at a gallop in -escape from the pursuing enemy. It was accomplished -handsomely, and the brave fellow received his interment -by the hands of loving wife and friends at his -home in Savannah. It was my brother, Doctor Sorrel, -in Richmond, who, with many difficulties, arranged -for the care and transportation home of the slain artillerist.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Preparing for Gettysburg</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Preparations for summer campaign—Army reorganized—Three - Army Corps—A. P. Hill made lieutenant-general, commanding - Third Corps—Lieutenant-General Ewell commanding - Second Corps—Stuart's cavalry reviewed—Its fine condition—Longstreet - and his scout Harrison—Lee's intricate - operations—Stuart's cavalry movements—He crosses below—The - loss to Lee—The march through Maryland and - Pennsylvania—No depredations—Halt at Chambersburg—Scout - Harrison reports Meade in command, superseding - Hooker—Ewell ordered to leave—March resumed, A. P. - Hill leading, gaining decided success.</p> -</div> - - -<p>General Lee began now to prepare for his summer -campaign. It was secretly settled that it should be an -invasion of Pennsylvania. There were many things -that assisted in arriving at this decision in the conferences -with the president and chiefs of the Government -at Richmond. Virginia had been fiercely fought over, -and ravaged by the tramp of hostile armies. Now, it -looked as if the enemy should feel something of such -sacrifices. If we could live on the supplies we hoped -to find north of the Potomac, the already serious question -of food and forage for our men and animals -would lighten up temporarily, at least; and finally, the -men of arms were eager for the movement and most -enthusiastic at the start.</p> - -<p>First of all, Lee had to reorganize his army. Jackson's -death made this necessary; besides, the two corps -had grown, individually, rather large for effective -handling. He created a third corps and placed A. P.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> -Hill in command of it, perhaps the best arrangement -possible at the time. One division was taken from -Longstreet—Anderson's; one from Jackson—Heth's, -and the third, under Pender, was made up of -unassigned commands, of which there were quite a -number between Richmond and the General's camps.</p> - -<p>The second (Ewell's) was of Early's, Rodes's, and -E. Johnson's divisions.</p> - -<p>The first (Longstreet's) was of Hood's, McLaws's -and Pickett's divisions.</p> - -<p>Suitable artillery details were made to meet these -changes, which went in effect smoothly and effectively.</p> - -<p>On the cavalry, special care was bestowed. It had -been heavily strengthened and much improved by selections -of men and horses. For some time, during inaction, -they had been getting good forage and pasturage. -Now, when the time was near for the use of this formidable -arm under Stuart, its able and famous leader, -it was ready for the Commander-in-Chief.</p> - -<p>What irony of fate that the great approaching campaign -should be fought and lost without that bold -leader and his riders being at Lee's touch, when indeed -he wanted them, bitterly missing having Stuart and -his great body of unsurpassed horse near by him.</p> - -<p>The activity of preparation went through all departments—Quartermaster's, -Subsistence, Ordnance, and -Medical. It could be guessed that the military operations -would be of great severity and exaction and it -behooved all officers of supply to be ready; to fail -would be fatal.</p> - -<p>The cavalry were assembled under Stuart in Northern -Virginia, on lands growing richer and richer in -grass with the advancing weeks. It was a magnificent -day, befitting the superb body of cavalry that, under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -Stuart, marched rapidly in review before the Commander-in-Chief. -A sight it was not soon to be forgotten. -The utmost order prevailed. There could be -no doubt that the cavalry was as ready for the work -before us as was our matchless infantry.</p> - -<p>Longstreet sent for his favorite scout, Harrison. -His instructions were to proceed into the enemy's -lines, where he was to stay until the last part of June. -Then he was to report to General Longstreet, it was -hoped, with the amplest and most accurate information. -"Where shall I find you, General, to make this -report?" asked Harrison. "With the army," was -Longstreet's grim answer; "I shall be sure to be with -it." He was very far from giving even to his trusted -scout information as to his movements. But Harrison -knew all the same; he knew pretty much everything -that was going on.</p> - -<p>The operation now performed by General Lee was -intricate, of much delicacy and hazard. It was to -move from his position in front of Hooker without -exposing any part of his forces, or Richmond, to be attacked -in detail, and this important part of the grand -maneuver was left to Longstreet and his corps, with -the cavalry in communication.</p> - -<p>The corps of Ewell (formerly Jackson's) and A. P. -Hill were sent ahead by easy marches, keeping a certain -distant touch with Longstreet. The mountain -gaps were filled with Stuart's cavalry and the enemy -held in close observation. All went well. Hooker -made no attempt to follow. Lee moved toward Washington -leisurely, as if to meet him there later.</p> - -<p>Stuart's part with his cavalry was now most important. -It is contended by some that Lee left it finally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> -optional for him to decide upon his movements. -Whether to follow the army by crossing the river in -the west of the ridge or by one of the lower fords. In -the latter event it was, as it proved, to lose Lee and -leave him without his strong arm in an enemy's country. -It has been attempted to show also that the order -by which Stuart moved came from Longstreet. But -this must be dismissed; positive information to the -contrary being at hand. Surprising to say, it now appears -that Stuart left the army with his fine command -and started on his too fascinating raid, not only by his -own preference, but actually in violation of Lee's -orders, which failed to reach him. All doubt had -passed from Lee's mind and he had ordered Stuart to -keep with him. The latter was raiding, and Lee's -campaign was lost.</p> - -<p>Major McClellan, Stuart's A. A. G. and chief of -staff, in his history of that cavalry (an excellent work) -declares that in his opinion the absence of Stuart was -the cause of Lee's trouble; and for myself I have never -doubted it. It is not to be supposed that no cavalry -whatever was left with the army. Stuart's defenders -have taken pains to point that out. There was a -squadron or two, here and there, a regiment at one -place, and a brigade under an efficient commander left -in the rear. But these separate little commands -amounted to nothing. It was the great body of that -splendid horse under their leader Stuart that Lee -wanted. He was the eyes and ears and strong right -arm of the commander, and well may he have missed -him. All through the marches he showed it.</p> - -<p>Stuart was on a useless, showy parade almost under -the guns of the Washington forts, and his horse, laurel-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>wreathed, -bore the gay rider on amid songs and stories. -He had some opposition, of course, and had a share of -fighting in Ashby's Gap and the plain on the east.</p> - -<p>When he rejoined Lee it was with exhausted horses -and half worn-out men in the closing hours of Gettysburg.</p> - -<p>Had he been with Lee where would our commander -have made his battle? Possibly, not on that unfavorable -ground of Gettysburg. Lee with his personally -weak opponent, and Stuart by him, could almost have -chosen the spot where he would be sure to defeat the -Union Army.</p> - -<p>This, however, somewhat anticipates; going back -we find our three corps with their military pushed -across the river with energy. The Second (Ewell's), -the Third (A. P. Hill's), and Longstreet last. All infantry -and artillery across, leaving only about a brigade -of cavalry on the south side. The enemy for some -days had quite disappeared from our observations. -The march proceeded through Maryland and Pennsylvania -in good form, General Lee's orders against -depredations being most peremptory. At Chambersburg -a halt was made over Sunday and our corps had -the place well guarded and protected from plunder by -loose bodies of men. Our chief commissary, Moses, -made a forced requisition and got some supplies and -necessaries, not very much.</p> - -<p>At night I was roused by a detail of the provost -guard bringing up a suspicious prisoner. I knew him -instantly; it was Harrison, the scout, filthy and ragged, -showing some rough work and exposure. He had -come to "Report to the General, who was sure to be -with the army," and truly his report was long and valuable. -I should here say that in every respect it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> -afterwards fully confirmed by events and facts. Harrison -gave us the first complete account of the operations -of the enemy since Hooker left our front. He -brought his report down to a day or two, and described -how they were even then marching in great numbers in -the direction of Gettysburg, with intention apparently -of concentrating there. He also informed us of the -removal of Hooker and the appointment of George -Meade to command of the Army of the Potomac. -How many commanders had Lee made for that army! -Harrison's report was so exceedingly important that I -took him at once with me, and woke Longstreet. He -was immediately on fire at such news and sent the scout -by a staff officer to General Lee's camp near by. The -General heard him with great composure and minuteness. -It was on this, the report of a single scout, in -the absence of cavalry, that the army moved. Important -as was the change, the commanding General was -not long in deciding. He sent orders to bring Ewell -immediately back from the North about Harrisburg, -and join his left. Then he started A. P. Hill off at -sunrise for Gettysburg, followed by Longstreet. The -enemy was there, and there our General would strike -him.</p> - -<p>The march was much impeded by too many troops -and trains on one road and Ewell's men breaking in -on the route next day to get to their position.</p> - -<p>The army thus moved forward, and A. P. Hill leading, -struck the enemy near, and in, the town of Gettysburg -sharply on the afternoon of July 1. We were -following some little distance in the rear, and heard the -lively fire of cannon and rifles, and soon after got the -news of Hill's and Ewell's decided success in an important -preliminary engagement. Many prisoners and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> -much material remained with the Confederates. This -stimulated every one forward, and Ewell taking position -on our left, we were all snugly in bivouac at a -good hour, with Longstreet's two divisions, McLaws -and Hood, about four miles in rear, but ready for -movement next day. Pickett had been doing guard -duty at Chambersburg and was not yet up, but would -be in the morning. The serious mishap of the day was -Ewell's failure to seize the heights on the left. General -Lee expected it of him, and we know of no impediment.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 2, 3, 1863</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Expectation of revelations—Longstreet and Lee—Attacks not - in good combination between the three corps—July 2, situation - unfavorable—Our heavy attack on the right—Ground - and guns taken—Round Top reinforced checks us—Longstreet - leads—Hood and Longstreet—Am slightly - wounded—Lieutenant-Colonel Freemantle, Coldstream - Guards—Captain Ross, Austrian Army—July 3, necessity - of a stroke—Pickett's charge—His repulse—Lee's noble - encouragements—July 4, not attacked—Holding ground—Withdrawal - at night—The retreat, and passage of the river.</p> -</div> - - -<p>On the tremendous and decisive battle of Gettysburg, -now about to engage the two armies, more has probably -been written than on any battle since Waterloo. -There seems to be a feeling abroad that great secrets -explaining why we were beaten are yet to be told and -that they are locked up in the breasts of a few men, -one of them the present writer, Longstreet's chief of -staff. There is absolutely nothing in that expectation; -no living man knows more about the battle than has -already been written.</p> - -<p>Lee has made his report. Longstreet has written a -book and said his say. The staff has little or nothing -to add. Communications were in the main between -Lee and Longstreet, verbally, or occasionally by note -direct.</p> - -<p>The story has been in part told by Longstreet. We -can discover that he did not want to fight on the ground -or on the plan adopted by the General-in-Chief. As -Longstreet was not to be made willing and Lee re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>fused -to change or could not change, the former failed -to conceal some anger. There was apparent apathy in -his movements. They lacked the fire and point of his -usual bearing on the battlefield. His plans may have -been better than Lee's, but it was too late to alter them -with the troops ready to open fire on each other. -Ewell on the left, A. P. Hill and Longstreet on the -right, seemed never able to work together, and I can -well imagine the great soul of our Commander deeply -furrowed with the difficulties about him and what was -going on to the disadvantage of the army. This is all -I shall permit myself to express on this well-worn but -ever interesting subject. One can build many theories, -but theories only will they be; besides, my opinion is -already given that the loss of the campaign was due to -the absence of Stuart's cavalry.</p> - -<p>I proceed to jot down idly some "choses vues" of -the military events and incidents of the three great -days of this remarkable historic battle and the days -immediately about it.</p> - -<p>The situation on the morning of the 2nd was far -from favorable to us. First of all, our position, compared -with the enemy's, was not good. It may be said -to have been decidedly inferior. We were the outer -line, he held the inner. We were the cord to the arc -on which his heavy columns were massed. True, there -were some positions on the left that were in Ewell's -possession and could be well used. Round Top and -his high shoulders were on our right, and held by us -would be everything. This Lee quickly saw and tried -for. They made the key for the position, and with it -dangling at our girdle the lock would have yielded and -the door opened. But we were too late on our right. -An attack, powerful indeed, at 4 p. m. was quite differ<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>ent -from the commanding General's expectation of one -in the forenoon.</p> - -<p>Late on the first, and early on the second, Hill and -Ewell were heavily engaged with apparently no satisfactory -results.</p> - -<p>On the second, quite late, 4 p. m., Longstreet made -his long-deferred attack on the enemy's left. It was -done in smashing style by McLaws's and Hood's divisions -and a few of Hill's troops, Longstreet personally -leading the attack with splendid effect.</p> - -<p>His fine horsemanship as he rode, hat in hand, and -martial figure, were most inspiring.</p> - -<p>We gained ground rapidly and almost carried Round -Top, but the morning delay was fatal. It had been -heavily reinforced while we were pottering around in -sullen inactivity. Undoubtedly Lee's intention was to -make the attack in the forenoon and support it with -strong movements by Hill and Ewell. I think it would -have won, notwithstanding the difficulties of the position. -The attempt was made to move the troops to the -right into position without discovery by the enemy, but -it was abortive.</p> - -<p>We were seen from the start and signaled constantly. -Much valuable time was lost by this trial, -which with better knowledge of the ground by General -Lee's engineers would not have been attempted.</p> - -<p>At nightfall the combat was over and we were dragging -off our captured cannon and standards, and caring -for our dead and wounded.</p> - -<p>The loss in storming the position on the right was -heavy. When Hood's division was across the turnpike, -under orders to attack, he begged me to look at -it, report its extreme difficulty, and implore Longstreet -to make the attack another way. This was done, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> -the answer I took to Hood was that the attack must instantly -be made, that General Lee had so directed; and -forward and upward the gallant Hood charged, almost -gaining the plateau of Round Top, the key of the -enemy's left.</p> - -<p>The staff had been hard at work day and night, and -my exhausted frame found rest that night in the snuggest -fence corner in sight. The ground to weary bones -felt as good as a feather bed. In addition, I had been -suffering from a painful but not serious wound. Riding -with Dearing's artillery late in the afternoon, while -exchanging some shots, a shrapnel burst directly over -us, one of the large projectiles striking me on the right -arm near the shoulder. It was not broken or pierced, -paralyzed for use for at least ten days, and quite black -down to the wrist. Painful, of course, it was, but a -small matter where there was so much death and -mangling.</p> - -<p>On the march through Virginia we had received a -delightful acquisition to our headquarters party, in -Lieutenant-Colonel Freemantle, of the Coldstream -Guards.</p> - -<p>He had entered the Confederacy on a visit of observation, -well fortified with credentials from his own -government, and, traveling through all the Confederate -States, had arrived in Richmond just in time to join -Lee's army in its invasion of Pennsylvania.</p> - -<p>With good letters of introduction he had been sent -to us and there could not be a finer fellow. He -roughed it with the hardest, and took everything as it -came. A quick, observant eye and indefatigable sightseer, -apparently nothing escaped him. When the campaign -was ended and the Confederates making their -way back to Virginia, Freemantle said his farewells and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -made the best of his way to New York, whence he immediately -took steamer for England. There he published -an entertaining little book, "Three Months in -the Southern States," which was later reproduced by a -worn-out, decrepit old press at Mobile, a copy of the -issue being now a great rarity. Freemantle had met -Southern men of all kinds, and his book has many pen -pictures by this fine officer and friend of ours. His -regiment a corps d'élite, soon sent him to the staff, -where he distinguished himself, and successively obtained -rank as major-general, lieutenant-general, and -general, with several military orders of coveted distinction. -He is now Sir Arthur Lyon-Freemantle, K. C. -M. G.,<a name="FNanchor_1_2" id="FNanchor_1_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> and of other good-service orders. He commanded -the brigade of guards in Egypt, and has just -finished (about retiring) his four years' tour of duty -as Governor of Malta, one of the greatest of the British -military posts. He is delightful to every Confederate -he can put his hands upon.</p> - -<p>There was another foreign officer with us at this -time, and for some months later, Captain Fitzgerald -Ross, very Scotch as to name, but Austrian to the -core. He came of one of those military Scotch or -north of Ireland families that centuries ago settled in -many parts of Europe and generally rose to distinction.</p> - -<p>On the morning of July 3, it was apparent that a -great blow must be delivered to Meade's army. He -could not be persuaded to leave his formidable positions -and instruments and attack us, and Lee could -not retreat without another effort, indecisive as had -been those of the 2d. Our General, as has been said, -did not mind blood when it had to be shed. It is the -soldier's calling. Here was a case in point: His</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> -<p>army and trains could only be saved by a tremendous -strike straight at the enemy. The time for maneuvering -had passed and he prepared for what was before -him. He believed his troops could do what he asked -of them; never yet had they failed him.</p> - -<p>The attack was to be made as soon as possible, under -direction of Lee's "War Horse," that stout warrior -James Longstreet, with three brigades of Pickett's division -(right), Heth's division of Hill's corps (left), -with supports of several brigades of other divisions -thrown into position.</p> - -<p>An artillery "feu d'enfer" was to precede the -attack, directed by E. P. Alexander, who was to give -the signal when in his judgment the artillery had -made the greatest impression, and then the troops -were to move instantly across the wide, lead-swept -plain, against the heavy masses of blue on the crest -of the heights. All this was done at about 2 o'clock, -Longstreet accepting Alexander's signal message -with dejection, it seemed. Indeed, the delay in attacking -which undoubtedly hurt us was apparently -caused by his objections made known to the Commander-in-Chief, -but of course all this is set out from -that standpoint in Longstreet's own book.</p> - -<p>It was soon over. Pickett's men got far up the -acclivity and many were soon among the enemy. -There was, however, some wavering on our left, -which weakened us, and we broke, tearing back pell-mell -torn by shot and shell across the width of that -bloody plain, a sight never before witnessed—part -of the Army of Northern Virginia in full, breathless -flight.</p> - -<p>But there was no pursuit and the run soon stopped.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> -The soldiers got together, picked up arms, and in a -short time were ready for another combat.</p> - -<p>If there was repulse and its usual result, a quick -flight for cover, there was also something else. A -charge that, considering the difficulties of position, -comparison of numbers, was so steady to the objective -point, and so near success as to make it one of -the greatest feats of arms in all the annals of war. -Every brigade commander and colonel and lieutenant-colonel -of Pickett's division was shot down. -The brave Armistead and Garnett at the head of -their brigades fell inside the enemy's parapet, and -the gallant Kemper, hard hit and left for dead, lay -with the men of his leading line. To-day, the detail -of the great charge, not as barely hinted at here, -but as described in full with ample particulars, -mounts one's blood, stirs all hearts with deep tragedy -and pride. Well do we know that amid all things -to happen, the memory of Pickett's charge will forever -live in song and story of that fair land for which -the Southern soldier poured out his blood like water.</p> - -<p>While Longstreet by no means approved the movement, -his soldierly eye watched every feature of it. -He neglected nothing that could help it and his anxiety -for Pickett and the men was very apparent.</p> - -<p>Fearing some flank attacks if we succeeded, he -had sent Latrobe to the left to warn the officer -against its possibility. I went sharply off in search -of Pickett to watch his right and if necessary move -some troops in for meeting such an attempt. I did -not meet with General Pickett and was soon up with -Garnett and Armistead. The former was ill that -morning, but was at the head of his men where he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> -was to fall. Just here a shell burst under my horse -(my best), a splendid chestnut mare, and down she -came, both hind legs off. I luckily got another from -a mounted man near by, who rather ruefully gave -up his horse and saved my saddle for me. Latrobe -also had his horse killed over on the left; other staff -officers were also sent forward with the troops and -shared in the charge.</p> - -<p>General Lee's extreme agitation when he witnessed -the repulse and race of our men for cover -from that murderous fire has not been exaggerated -in the prints. The noble soul was stirred to its inmost -depths at the sight of the awful and fruitless -sacrifices his men had made at his command. His -generous heart could only say, "It is my fault, I -take it all—get together, men, we shall yet beat -them." I saw no man fail him.</p> - -<p>It was on July 3 that a mail from the Department -at Richmond brought my commission as lieutenant-colonel, -A. A. G. Latrobe's and Fairfax's, as inspectors, -came along a few days later.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding our great losses of the second and -third, we were permitted to hold the field on the -fourth by Meade's inactivity. His army was very -strong, had not suffered as had ours, and an enterprising -general might seemingly have had us on the -run in short order.</p> - -<p>But no! he had taken a taste of our mettle the -day before and wanted no more of it. A bridge of -gold for his enemy was the card for Meade's hands. -It is said on good authority that at a council called -by Meade he was in favor of retiring, and it was -only by strenuous, bold opposition of two or three of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> -his generals that he was prevented and induced to -keep his ground.</p> - -<p>Thus during all the fourth we were in preparation -for the rear movement that must begin that night. -Lee's position had become serious, but undismayed -were the Confederate Chief and his three corps commanders. -He knew he could count on their tried -courage and experience.</p> - -<p>The night of July 4, 1863, was of awful weather—rain -in torrents, howling winds, and roads almost -impassable; all trains had been sent back during the -day, as well as the reserve artillery. At night artillery -in position and pickets were withdrawn and the -army moved back by its left—Ewell, Hill, and Longstreet. -It marched all night and part of next day, -and then Lee with characteristic audacity selected a -line of defense, entrenched and fortified it, and offered -Meade battle for several days, while his immense -trains were safely crossing the Potomac. -Meade declined the challenge, and Lee resuming the -retreat, crossed on the bridge of boats that had been -thrown over the river at Falling Waters by the engineers—and -a crazy affair it was, too.</p> - -<p>Our corps was all night crossing, and at dawn I -was able to approach General Lee on the south bank, -"tête de pont," with a report to that effect, adding -that now everything was clear for General Hill's infantry. -The General's anxiety was intense. He expected -to be attacked at the passage of the river. -There was good reason to fear; why Meade failed -to do so is yet to be explained. General Lee, like -every one, had been up the whole night, and his -staff officers were stretched in sleep on the ground.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> -He desired me to recross the bridge for him, see -General Hill in person, and urge him to the utmost -haste in getting his men over, stopping only when -imperatively necessary.</p> - -<p>I immediately pushed back, finding the road deep -in mud but clear of any impediment to the men. -Broken wagons or a dismounted gun or two had been -cleared away and thrown one side. General Lee's -message was given and Hill asked me to assure the -Commander that he should safely get across, notwithstanding -a slight attack that was even then developing -itself on his rear brigade—Pettigrew's. -Some men were captured, but we suffered most loss -in the death of that promising officer.</p> - -<p>Returning, I reported to the General that "all was -clear. Hill was about three-quarters of a mile from -the bridge and marching rapidly to it." "What was -his leading division?" I was asked. "General Anderson, -sir." "I am sorry, Colonel; my friend Dick -is quick enough pursuing, but in retreat I fear he -will not be as sharp as I should like." Just then -a heavy gun was fired lower down, filling the gorge -of the river with most threatening echoes. "There," -said the General, "I was expecting it, the beginning -of the attack." But he was wrong. The enemy -made no further demonstration and Hill came safely -across. Our corps had found camp some ten miles -south of the river and there I soon threw myself -down for rest and food. After a week of the most -exhausting physical and mental trial it was indeed -time for some repose.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Gettysburg Aftermath</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Retrospective—Invasion of Pennsylvania—Some characteristics—Pickett - and perfumery—An acquisition—The inhabitants, - Pennsylvania Dutch—Their cookery—Colonel Freemantle's - activity—Figures as to strength and losses—Lieutenant - Dawson—A curious meeting—The sweating soldier—Death - of Captain Fraser.</p> -</div> - - -<p>The invasion of Pennsylvania had many features -of interest to our army. The country itself contrasted -greatly with our own. It was rolling in plenty, high -cultivation was apparent on all sides, and the ripening -wheat stood tall and golden. General Lee's -orders caused it to be well protected, and there was -not much looting. The people seemed a queer lot. -Hostile looks and imprecations were constantly leveled -at the good-natured Southerners footing it amid such -new scenes. The cherries were ripe and the trees -bending with delicious fruit. I recall one especial -tree near Chambersburg that seemed beyond all others -to tempt me. Sitting quietly in saddle, branch after -branch was gently drawn down to the rider's thirsty -lips almost to repletion, and good is the recollection -even to this present day. The roads were magnificent -in our eyes—metaled macadams, bearing the heaviest -loads, and well drained and graded. The animals -were nearly all for farm use, great lumbering, powerful -horses, capable of enormous draughts on those -hard roads, but quite impossible to do anything out -of a heavy walk. We thought to renew some of our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> -quartermaster's and cavalry mounts from this source -and a few horses were got across the river. They -proved useless and were soon abandoned. As we -marched, the people were drawn to the roadside arrayed -in their Sunday best, gazing viciously at the -invaders. All work in town and country had stopped. -Chambersburg being quite a town, was subject to requisition, -which did not, I think, yield much.</p> - -<p>We "persuaded," however, the principal shopkeepers -to keep open, and they displayed some of -their wares, doubtless old or unsalable stuff that they -could not hide. Everything was strictly paid for in -our national currency—Confederate bills!</p> - -<p>I did get something, however. Our good commissary, -Major Moses, managed to secure (by payment, -of course) a bolt of excellent velveteen, wearing -quite as well as corduroy. Indeed, he got some -of the latter also, and sent the plunder to our headquarters, -where the stuff went around sufficiently -to give me a coat and trousers, which did good service, -I think, till the end of things. He also managed -to get a few felt hats, and deserved more, for -he was grumbling furiously at the ill success of his -important requisition for cash, stores, and army supplies; -also for the sound rating and liberal abuse -he had taken from the irate females in furious rage -at his work.</p> - -<p>Lee and Longstreet were bivouacked near by in a -beautiful grove of large trees not far from town. -They both had many visits from citizens, generally -with some trumped-up complaint as a means of seeing -the two celebrated soldiers.</p> - -<p>The women of the country were a hard-featured -lot. The population, principally Pennsylvania Dutch,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> -are an ignorant offshoot of a certain class of Germans -long settled there.</p> - -<p>Many can speak no English. A hard-working, -thrifty class, with, it seems, no thought but for their -big horses and barns, huge road-wagons like ships -at sea, and the weekly baking, and apple-butter. -This last appeared to be their staple food. On the -morning of the 3d, already mentioned, waking in -my fence-corner, I took thought of breakfast and -sent my man to an abandoned farm-house near by. -The terrible shell and musketry fire of the previous -day had driven off the owners hurriedly, for safety. -But here was food galore. My soldier came back -loaded with loaves of well-baked bread and jars of -apple-butter—a week's baking of the bread, and the -abominable butter once a year, I suppose. It did -for once or so when very hungry, but I don't call it -a nice breakfast anywhere.</p> - -<p>The drain of war had not here shown itself—none -of the men out of this populous region seemed to -have gone to the front. There was no need. The -Government, the State, counties, towns, and villages -were all paying great bounties for the substitutes. -The drafted man was serving at home, and there -was joy at so much money among the foreign mercenaries -brought over by the rich Northern and Eastern -States, and among the ever-present and agile -bounty-jumpers, who were indeed making their golden -harvest.</p> - -<p>Our British friend, Colonel Freemantle, was bound -to see everything. During one of the hottest hours -of fire he climbed a tree with great agility, and notwithstanding -I bawled to him to come down, there -he stuck with his binoculars. He was a very small,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> -slight man, wiry, and much enduring. I don't believe -he changed his clothing or boots while with us, -and I never saw him use a note-book or any scrap -of paper as an aid to memory, and yet his book puts -down things with much accuracy.</p> - -<p>In this great campaign and battle the numbers and -casualties and lists may be fairly accepted as follows: -Col. W. H. Taylor's figures as to strength—Army -of the Potomac, of all arms, 105,000; Army of Northern -Virginia, of all arms, 63,000 or say 50,000 -infantry, 8,000 cavalry, 5,000 artillery.</p> - -<p>His figures are about right as to the Army of -Northern Virginia. They would be verified by those -of our own corps.</p> - -<p>Confederate losses, 2,292 killed; 12,709 wounded; -5,150 missing.</p> - -<p>It was about this time that Lieut. F. W. Dawson, -C. S. Artillery, reported to our corps for duty. A -few words of the career of this young man may not -be without interest. He was an Englishman of university -education, able and capable. He had come -to see hard service. Colonel Manning, chief of ordnance, -wanting some assistance at that time, I assigned -Dawson to do duty with the ordnance train. -He was thoroughly competent, and made himself indispensable -to Manning, whose taste took him more -to adventures in the field. Dawson was made captain -and also acquitted himself well under fire. With return -of peace I lost sight of him until a year or two -later he turned up as the able and aggressive editor -and part proprietor of a leading newspaper of Charleston, -South Carolina, and had reason to call for my -help in a dangerous crisis. He was strongly on the -respectable white side in the dark days of reconstruc<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>tion, -was bold and unflinching, showed extraordinary -abilities, made many friends, married, and was assassinated -at the very height of an adventurous career.</p> - -<p>This is curious in the way of happenings. It has -been mentioned that the soldier who passed the night -at Fredericksburg with me inside the enemy's lines -was Private Jesse Beall. It has not been said, -though, that my staff comrade and friend, Manning, -had been desperately assailed, stabbed almost to death, -by a fellow-student at the Georgia Military Institute. -Manning recovered after long care, spoke only once, -even to me, of what had happened, and then with a -curious tension of feature. Another time we were -riding together across fallow fields near camp, when -a soldier came out, saluting us, and asked to speak -with Colonel Manning. On rejoining me, Manning's -face was set and deathly pale. "Sorrel," he said, -"that was the man who came so near murdering me. -I had sworn to kill him on sight, and it was all I -could do to stop myself while he stood by my horse. -But he had a tale, and I believed him. It was remorse -and horror of his deed. He humbly begged my forgiveness. -Nothing else would content him, and I -yielded to the man's suffering and evident sincerity. -I gave him my hand in parting, but never do I wish -to see him again." It was Jesse Beall, Manning's -assailant, and my man of the batteau. He was afterwards -killed in battle.</p> - -<p>On a hot day's march across the river, General -Lee, Longstreet, and their people had made a short -midday halt in a little rising grove by the roadside, -where we found a spring to wash down our soldier's -fare. It was the hottest of July days, and the troops -were moving by in long column, listlessly, and suf<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>fering -from the heat. Soon I saw one of the men -leave the ranks and approach General Lee. Some -one tried to stop him, but the General kindly encouraged -his coming forward. He was a stout, -well-built soldier, equal to any work, but sweating -awfully. "What is it you want?" said Lee. "Please, -General, I don't want much, but it's powerful wet -marching this weather. I can't see for the water in -my eyes. I came aside to this old hill to get a rag -or <em>something</em> to wipe the sweat out of my eyes." -"Will this do?" said the General, handkerchief in -hand. "Yes, <em>my Lordy</em>, that indeed!" broke out the -soldier. "Well, then take it with you, and back quick -to ranks; no straggling this march, you know, my -man."</p> - -<p>Lee's talk and manner with the soldier were inimitable -in their encouraging kindness. It is only a -single little example of what he was with them.</p> - -<p>At Gettysburg, on the 3d, I lost another dear personal -friend, Captain John C. Fraser, of Georgia, -commanding a battery of artillery. He was working -it most effectively in action when struck down. -Only a few days before he made me a visit, and -noticing his very bad hat, I sent him off rejoicing in -one of the felts Major Moses had given us. Then -it pillowed his shattered head.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">In Virginia Again</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Lee moves across the ridge into the Piedmont country—Camps - taken near Rapidan—Our Headquarters at Taylor's—Festivities - and gaieties—Buying remounts—Scout Harrison - again—Longstreet and two divisions start for Chickamauga—In - Richmond—Harrison as Cassius—His dismissal—The - First Army Corps—Dissensions in Hood's Division—Jenkins - and Law.</p> -</div> - - -<p>The army being after some days refreshed and -strengthened by rest and food and the return of -wounded and stragglers, General Lee began preparing -to move to a good position east of the mountains. -It lay now in the Valley, and General Meade -with great consideration molested us not nor gave -us any uneasiness. As usual the cavalry filled the -gaps of the Ridge and covered efficiently every approach, -while the army slowly poured through its -defiles to well-known camping grounds on the sunny -slopes of the Piedmont glades and meadows. Gradually -without incident we found good camps for several -weeks in a rolling country bordered by the -Rapidan. Our headquarters were in the grounds of -Mr. Erasmus Taylor, a well-known gentleman, farming -largely in that county, and everything was done -by him for our comfort and amusement. The house -was spacious, well fitted for dances and entertainments, -and being crowded with joyous, happy Virginia -girls there was no lack of fun and gaiety. We -got out our best, cleaned up, kept the barber busy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> -became very particular as to the shine of our boots, -and put forth all of our long disused bravery in -honor of the lovely eyes and true Virginia hearts -that were joyfully giving us welcome. There were -for those young officers who had time to give, dances -by day and evening at Taylor's or elsewhere in the -well-settled neighborhood, horses in plenty for riding -parties, picnics, excursions—everything indeed for -the happiness of the young warriors and their captivating -maidens. Hard, brave work had earned the -guerdon and it was no niggard hand that gave it.</p> - -<p>It was here I had to provide my remounts. My -best had been lost in Pickett's charge and the other -had broken down and was left. I was consequently -up to buying two horses, and after many trials and -tests selected from a certain commissary given to -horse dealing, two beasts that I thought would do -my work. They both broke down under the demands -of our Georgia and Tennessee expedition, and later I -shall have something to say about the sharp officer -who was so ready to put these animals on me. I have -already said that I cannot call myself successful in -horse selection. These two cost about $2,500.</p> - -<p>Ah! those were lovely days; that short rest amid -such delightful environments. We were soon to -change it, plunge into the forests of Georgia and -Tennessee, and fight in the former one of the fiercest, -bloodiest battles on record. But meanwhile time went -merrily and there was enjoyment throughout the -army. The soldiers were in high spirits and ready -any day for the enemy.</p> - -<p>Supplies of clothing and shoes had come down from -Richmond and the ranks looked decidedly better.</p> - -<p>Harrison, our scout, had been with us since Gettys<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>burg. -His report, all important as to the results of -that campaign, was not forgotten. With no immediate -duties assigned him, he trotted along from day -to day, but he was sure of something to come, and -it came. He asked permission to go to Richmond for -a few days. As there was nothing to keep him, leave -was given.</p> - -<p>"Colonel," said this dark character, "if by any -chance you should be in Richmond next week, I hope -you will take in the theater one evening." (There -was then not the slightest expectation of my being in -Richmond at that time.) "What is the attraction?" -I asked. "Myself," said Harrison. "I have made -a bet of $50 greenbacks that I play Cassio and play -him successfully." "Are you an actor?" I asked. -"No, but I can play." The matter was dismissed -as so much nonsense, but he was not a man for nonsense. -It so happened that I was in Richmond the -next week with Longstreet and the staff on the way -to Georgia to strike our great strategic coup, and <em>did</em> -happen into a friend's box at the theater. "Othello" -was on the boards with all the splendor the times could -muster, and my Harrison and "Cassio," one and the -same, were before me. He had lied in part. His -acting was as if he had regularly strutted the boards -for a stock company. But the play was rather lively -at times. "Othello" was in drink, "Cassius" was -really quite far gone, and even "Desdemona" was -under more than one suspicion that evening.</p> - -<p>The occurrence induced me next day to set on -foot some minute inquiries about Harrison's life. I -learned that he was drinking and gambling. On reporting -it to General Longstreet he thought it better -to let him go and so directed me; accordingly I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -him paid off, with an order to report to the Secretary -of War, from whom he had originally come.</p> - -<p>This is the last I saw of the mysterious fellow. -Longstreet missed him afterwards while we were in -East Tennessee, and I made a careful effort to find -him and bring him out to us.</p> - -<p>While writing I hear from Latrobe that the man -is alive and in Baltimore, seeking some small assistance -from the Confederate veterans. I should like -to see his last days made comfortable.</p> - -<p>The organization of our First Army Corps had -suffered no material damage. The ranks were kept -fairly well filled by constant recruiting, and the feeling -of confidence and pride of this splendid force of -infantry and artillery could not be surpassed, from -the Lieutenant-General down to the teamster. It -was a very remarkable body, inspired by great sacrifices -and victories in its history, and with a cohesive -strength and belief in itself that spoke nobly for the -future. This is said on the eve of a separation of -many months, by which the larger part of the corps -was sent to strange fields and new sacrifices and -laurels.</p> - -<p>There was, however, an ugly flaw in one of the -divisions, that long uncured was eventually to lead -to disaster. When Hood was borne wounded from -the Gettysburg field his division of five brigades—Alabama, -Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina—fell -under the command of the senior brigadier, Mr. -Jenkins, of South Carolina. Between this officer and -General E. M. Law, of Alabama, there was the most -intense rivalry. They were both from South Carolina, -and it was but a continuation, it was said, of what -stirred them at school together, at college, at military<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> -exercises, and finally in Longstreet's corps. They had -been made colonels about the same time—Law of an -Alabama regiment—and had advanced almost contemporaneously -to be brigadier-generals. Longstreet -had recommended them both for promotion to major-general, -and they were both unquestionably officers of -high attainments and the greatest promise. Here we -had a situation that made it useless to think of one of -these men serving under the other in the same division. -A major-general must be assigned to command, or -else one of the aspiring brigadiers transferred to another -place. Neither was immediately done and Longstreet -had considerable trouble. Both officers were -highly valued by him and he wanted full justice done -to each, but the situation grew no better with time and -service, and Longstreet's efforts at the Department -commanded apparently no attention.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Longstreet to Reinforce Bragg</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>The movement to reinforce Bragg—Good work of the Quartermaster-General—General - A. R. Lawton, of Georgia—The - journey through the States—Ovations to the troops.</p> -</div> - - -<p>The important movement now impending was the -subject of deep and secret discussion by the President, -Generals Lee and Longstreet, and General Lawton, -Quartermaster-General, whose part in it would -be of the first consideration. Its gravity can scarcely -be overstated.</p> - -<p>Rosecrans, commanding the Federal forces in -Tennessee and Georgia, had suffered himself to be -in position inviting attack by a competent force. It -was believed that Bragg, his opponent, if reinforced, -could strike a swift, crushing blow, relieve the wide -region in which he was operating from the presence -of the enemy, and enable masterly reinforcements to -return rapidly to Virginia without endangering the -safety of the Confederate capital or that of Lee's -army, thus temporarily weakened.</p> - -<p>Indeed it was the military calculation that so large -a detachment from the Southern army would be instantly -followed by a still greater withdrawal of troops -from Lee's front, and that too by the outer line of -the segment, while our own contingent was hurrying -by the short, straight cord of the circle.</p> - -<p>This expectation proved correct. Meade was silent -and inactive, and our own army was stiffening in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -material and numbers. Meade was apparently without -a plan. His predecessors had suffered so cruelly -at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville that his well-known -prudence and lack of initiative might be trusted -to keep him quiet during our great strategic coup. -The movement was, therefore, determined on, and in -the first half of September the details were settled. -Longstreet was to take on the expedition his two -splendid divisions, McLaws and Hood, the latter by -this time quite cured of his wound, and Alexander's -battalion of artillery—six batteries. Supply trains -were to be furnished at destination.</p> - -<p>The movement was to be wholly by train, and to -any one familiar with the railroad service at the South -in the last part of 1863 little need be said of the difficulties -facing the Quartermaster-General.</p> - -<p>He was to pick up their camps near Gordonsville -and the Rapidan, nine strong brigades of infantry -and six batteries of artillery, and land them without -serious accident and no delay with their ambulances -and light vehicles near Chattanooga or Lookout Mountain. -This feat was accomplished without stint of -honor or praise, be it said, to the Quartermaster-General's -department. Never before were so many troops -moved over such worn-out railways, none first-class -from the beginning. Never before were such crazy -cars—passenger, baggage, mail, coal, box, platform, -all and every sort wabbling on the jumping strap-iron—used -for hauling good soldiers. But we got -there nevertheless. The trains started day after day -from Virginia and worked through North Carolina, -South Carolina, and Georgia by different routes, all -converging at a point not far east of Chattanooga—Catoosa -Station, I think, was the name.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> - -<p>The Quartermaster-General, Brig.-Gen. A. R. Lawton, -was my fellow-townsman. He had graduated -from West Point in the class of '39 and entered the -artillery. Soon resigning, he took up the study and -practise of law, married, and resided in Savannah, -where he achieved success. An admirable, well-rounded -character, with many friends, Lawton was -a leading man in municipal and State affairs for years.</p> - -<p>When the clash came in 1861 there was no doubt -as to where he would stand. It was for his State, -and he was immediately commissioned a brigadier-general, -stationed on the coast assembling and organizing -troops.</p> - -<p>Called by General Lee to Virginia in 1862, he took -a brigade of nearly 6,000 strong to Jackson in the -Valley operations, and served with distinction in the -Chickahominy battles, the campaign against Pope, and -at Sharpsburg.</p> - -<p>At the latter he was severely wounded and retired -from field service. He was, however, not long left -in quiet ease. Lawton's abilities suggested him for -administrative work, and he was made Quartermaster-General. -It was by him and his department that -our reinforcements were moved to the help of Bragg -and the victory of Chickamauga—an admirable piece -of railroad military transportation under adverse conditions. -General Lawton was Minister to Austria -during Cleveland's Administration.</p> - -<p>The journey through the States from Virginia -was a continuous ovation to the troops. They were -fed at every stopping place and must have hated the -sight of food. Kisses and tokens of love and admiration -for these war-worn heroes were ungrudgingly -passed around, and as the two divisions were from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> -States all south of Virginia, it was good for the men -to show up in this fashion even for a few minutes -with their home people.</p> - -<p>Many of the companies were carried through their -own towns and villages and surrounded by the eager -faces of kinsfolk and neighbors. But there were no -desertions or stops. The brave fellows pressed stoutly -on with comrades to meet the foe.</p> - -<p>The first arrivals plunged into the battle of September -19th, and on the 20th, when the final stroke -was delivered, five of our brigades were up and hotly -engaged in that bloody, all-day battle. The glory -and renown of the Army of Northern Virginia were -fully upheld by Longstreet's men. Some general outlines -of the day's events will be attempted in the next -chapter, to be filled out at close, as hitherto tried, -with brief reflections and observations on the occurrences -of the great struggle and the days before and -after it.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Arrival at Catoosa—Riding to General Bragg—The meeting—Order - of battle—Polk the right wing, Longstreet the - left—attack to begin on right—Delayed some hours—Left - wing takes it up victoriously—Attack on right checked—Thomas - reinforces his right against Longstreet's assaults—Cannot - stand and retreats toward Chattanooga—A great - victory for the Confederates—Pursuit next day expected—Bragg - says no—Army marches to positions in front of - Chattanooga—A barren result—Lieutenant-General Polk—Sketch.</p> -</div> - - -<p>It was about three o'clock in the afternoon of September -19 that our rickety train pulled up, with jerks -and bangs, at the little railway landing, called Catoosa -Platform. Longstreet and some of his personal staff, -Colonels Sorrel and Manning, were in this train and -immediately took horse. The remainder of the staff, -with most of the horses, were on a train two or three -hours later. The Lieutenant-General and part of his -staff at once started to find General Bragg.</p> - -<p>That General should surely have had guides to meet -and conduct us to the conference on which so much -depended. A sharp action had taken place during -the day and it would appear that if Bragg wanted to -see anybody, Longstreet was the man. But we were -left to shift for ourselves, and wandered by various -roads and across small streams through the growing -darkness of the Georgia forest in the direction of the -Confederate General's bivouac. At one point in our -hunt for him we narrowly escaped capture, being al<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>most -in the very center of a strong picket of the -enemy before our danger was discovered. A sharp -right-about gallop, unhurt by the pickets' hasty and -surprised fire, soon put us in safety, and another road -was taken for Bragg, about whom by this time some -hard words were passing.</p> - -<p>But all things have an end, even a friendly hunt -for an army commander, and between 10 and 11 o'clock -that night we rode into the camp of Gen. Braxton -Bragg. He was asleep in his ambulance, and when -aroused immediately entered into private conference -with Longstreet. It lasted about an hour, and in that -time the plan of battle for next day was definitely -settled, and then we all took to the leafy ground under -the tall oaks and hickories for some sleep against the -work before us.</p> - -<p>An hour was quite enough to settle the plan and -details, since nothing could be simpler than the operation -proposed for Rosecrans's destruction.</p> - -<p>Bragg's army was already occupying favorable -ground and but little preliminary movement was positively -necessary. The enemy's force was not far off -in our immediate front, seemingly easy to attack. -Bragg's army was, however, strange to say, rather -deficient in artillery, and its want was felt the next -day. Our own batteries, under Alexander, had not -yet detrained. Bragg made a good disposition of his -separate divisions and commands, dividing his army -into two wings, the right under Lieutenant-General -Polk and the left under Lieutenant-General Longstreet. -There was consequently thrown under the latter -three of Hood's brigades and two of McLaws's -(under Hood), and Stuart's and Preston's divisions -(under Buckner), and a division of B. R. Johnson's,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> -and Hindman's with artillery. The order for the day -was simple in the extreme.</p> - -<p>There was no question about all the troops being -in position by daylight, and at that hour the attack -was to be opened by General Polk on the extreme -right and followed up vigorously by the lines to the -left, until the entire front of Bragg's fine army should -be engaged and charging the enemy, exposed to an -attack so furious it was not believed he could sustain -it, and he could not. It will be shown how he was -partially saved after the roughest handling he had had -since Bull Run. The right wing was formed of Breckinridge's -and Cleburne's divisions under D. H. Hill, -Walker's and Biddell's divisions under Walker, and -Cheatham's division, besides artillery.</p> - -<p>Longstreet's front had Wheeler's cavalry on his -extreme left, then Hindman, Hood's corps, Stuart, -and Preston in the order named, and they were ready -for their work at daylight on the 20th, the other commands -in close support. Unhappily, a most serious -delay occurred on the right, by which Polk's attack -was retarded until near 10 o'clock, a loss of at least -four previous hours. Lieutenant-General Hill's command -was on Polk's extreme right and should have -begun the attack. Orders sent during the night by -General Polk failed to reach him. On our part we -waited with the utmost impatience for the guns, but -no sound came until 10 o'clock. Then Polk's attack -was made, but does not appear to have achieved a -decided success. The enemy were able to hold their -ground against most of the right wing commands.</p> - -<p>When it came, as it quickly did, to the left wing -to put in its work there was another tale. The ground -was in parts difficult in front of us, but never was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> -more determined, dashing attack made, never a more -stubborn resistance. But our men would not be -denied. The fighting lasted nearly all day. Finally -everything broke before us, and the enemy's right was -in full flight. It was a panic-stricken host that fled. -Our Virginia contingent was always to the front and -seemed to fire their western comrades with emulation -of the grand example of the Army of Northern Virginia.</p> - -<p>Unhappily, amid shouts of victory, General Hood -was shot down at the head of his seasoned veterans. -His leg was taken off on the field, the operation being -well borne. But we were forced into a temporary -halt.</p> - -<p>Reinforcements were pouring fresh and ready -against our front. The attack of the right wing having -partly broken down, the enemy in front of Polk -was not held to their own, but were in large numbers -free for a masterly movement by that fine soldier, -Gen. George Thomas. He was a Virginian, and it is -said started to join his Southern friends at the beginning, -but was finally won over to the Northern -side.</p> - -<p>He was one of the ablest of their soldiers, perhaps -none equaled him, and I heartily wish he had been -anywhere but at Chickamauga. Thomas pressed -rapid columns to relieve his overwhelmed right and -was in time to make a good stand, but it was unavailing, -although costing more blood and time. His defenses -were finally broken down, about dark, by our -incessant hammering, and it was right-about-face and -hasty retreat to Chattanooga.</p> - -<p>This was just as darkness spread its mantle over -the fields and forests, and simultaneously there sprang<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> -up on that bloodstained battle-ground camp fires innumerable, -and the wildest Confederate cheers and -yells for victory that ever stirred the hearts of warriors—and -such warriors as had that day borne the -battle-flags forward. It was one of the greatest of -the many Confederate successes.</p> - -<p>That night was passed in caring for the wounded, -burying the dead, and cooking rations, for in all that -host there was probably only one who did not believe -that "pursuit" would be the word early next day, and -that was the commander-in-chief. It is thought by -some that General Bragg did not know a victory had -been gained. He does not appear to have been closely -present on the battlefield, nor for that matter was -Rosecrans. A unique instance of a great battle being -fought out of the immediate presence of the respective -commanders. The next morning Bragg asked Longstreet -for suggestions. "Move instantly against -Rosecrans's rear to destroy him," was the instant reply. -"Should we fail, we can put him in retreat, and -then clear East Tennessee of Burnside and the Union -forces."</p> - -<p>Apparently, Bragg adopted this view, and gave -orders to march out at 4 p. m. The right wing -marched about eight miles, ours next day at daylight. -We were halted at the Chickamauga Red House Ford, -I think it was, and then directed to march to Chattanooga. -At the close of the battle we could have -strolled into that town; now it was vigorously defended. -This was the fruit of the great battle; the -pitiable end of the glorious victory that was ours. -The spoils were 8,000 prisoners, 36 pieces of artillery, -15,000 small arms, and 25 stands of colors.</p> - -<p>It was a lasting regret that I had no more than a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> -passing glimpse during these operations of the distinguished -soldier, Lieut.-Gen. Leonidas Polk, second -in command of Bragg's army.</p> - -<p>A pure and lofty character, nothing but the most -self-sacrificing, patriotic convictions, and the almost -peremptory wishes of the Executive had led him to -lay down his great Episcopal station and duties and -take to arms. His training at West Point had well -prepared him for the stern efforts in the field awaiting -Southern men. Throughout his army career he -was never without a desire to put by his sword and -take up again his dearly loved people, his Bishop's -staff, for prayer and strength and consolation in their -many trials and sufferings. But the President, holding -him in the highest esteem and confidence, insisted -on retaining him in the armies of the Confederacy. -He could not but yield. Of commanding presence -and most winning address, he served with distinction -and renown. While suffering at the hands of Bragg -treatment unjust and harsh, he on the other hand had -won to himself the abiding affection and confidence -of all officers and men whom he commanded.</p> - -<p>On June 1, 1864, near Marietta, Georgia, that noble -life ended. In the distance lay the hills of the Etowah; -on the right, Kenesaw reared its lofty heights. The -Generals—Johnston, Hardee, and Polk—had together -walked off to observe a portion of the enemy's -lines, some distance away. Soon after they slowly -separated.</p> - -<p>Dr. W. M. Polk, the General's son, eminent in his -profession, and author of his interesting biography, -simply relates what then happened (Vol. II, p. 349):</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>General Polk walked to the crest of the hill, and, entirely exposed, - turned himself around as if to take a farewell view.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> - Folding his arms across his breast, he stood intently gazing on - the scene below. While thus he stood, a cannon shot crashed - his breast, and opening a wide door, let free that indomitable - spirit. He fell upon his back with his feet to the foe. Amid the - shot and shell now poured upon the hill, his faithful escort gathered - up the body and bore it to the foot of the hill. There in - a sheltered ravine his sorrow-stricken comrades, silent and in - tears, gathered around his mangled corpse.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Chattanooga—Incidents</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>The Western army—Its general appearance—Feeling toward - Bragg—President Davis's visit—An incident in battle—General - W. W. Mackall, chief of Bragg's staff—Losses—A - captured saber—General Forrest—General Benning and - Longstreet—Vizitelly's battle-picture—Quartermaster Mitchell - dead—Manning wounded—President Davis's escort—The - Austrian captain's brilliant uniform.</p> -</div> - - -<p>We were therefore marched back to what was called -the siege of Chattanooga, finding the enemy there in -fine spirits after the indulgent reprieve granted him; -strengthening his works, perfecting his communications -with the rear, and pouring in men from the East, -who, following our own movements, were necessarily -late in arriving by the outer line. Bragg put his army -in position across Missionary Creek (subject to -perilous overflow) and occupied Lookout Mountain -with his left and Missionary Ridge with his right, and -here I shall leave the army while jotting down some -observations and incidents since we left Virginia.</p> - -<p>The personal appearance of Bragg's army was, of -course, matter of interest to us of Virginia. The -men were a fine-looking lot, strong, lean, long-limbed -fighters. The Western tunic was much worn by both -officers and men. It is an excellent garment, and its -use could be extended with much advantage.</p> - -<p>The army gave one the feeling of a very loose -organization. There were indeed corps, so called, but -not that compact, shoulder-to-shoulder make-up of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> -Lee's army. There a First Corps man would so speak -of himself, just as a Third Georgia Regiment man -would speak of the regiment to which he belonged. -The artillery, which seemed to me not as strong as -should be, looked a bit primitive. The battalion unit -was not often met with; but, on the contrary, many -single independent batteries, nominally attached to infantry -commands, but on the day of the battle wandering -loose, hunting for their supports. The subsistence -and quartermaster's departments were well supplied -with food and forage, but weak in transportation.</p> - -<p>The tone of the army among its higher officers toward -the commander was the worst conceivable. -Bragg was the subject of hatred and contempt, and -it was almost openly so expressed. His great officers -gave him no confidence as a general-in-chief. The -army was thus left a helpless machine, and its great -disaster in November at Missionary Ridge and Lookout -Mountain could easily be foreseen with Bragg retained -in command.</p> - -<p>Mr. Davis made his celebrated visit to the camp -to see and hear for himself. It is difficult, even now, -to recall and realize that unprecedented scene. The -President, with the commander-in-chief, and the great -officers of the army, assembled to hear the opinion of -the General's fitness for command. In the presence -of Bragg and his corps commanders he asked of each -his opinion, and his reasons if adverse. This was eye -to eye with the President, the commander-in-chief, and -the generals. There was no lack of candor in answer -to such challenge with men like Longstreet, Cheatham, -Hill, Cleburne, and Stewart. Some very plain language -was used in answer, but it seems that one and -all were quite agreed as to Bragg's unfitness for com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>mand -of that army. These opinions were received -by the President and his general without comment, -and Mr. Davis got more than he came for.</p> - -<p>An incident of the day of battle will indicate some -differences between the Eastern and Western armies -in the reception of orders. While Thomas was -heavily reinforcing his right, a column of fours was -seen marching across Gen. A. P. Stewart's front. If -attacked, its destruction was certain. I pointed out -the opportunity to General Stewart, his position being -admirable for the purpose. His answer was that he -was there by orders and could not move until he got -others. I explained that I was chief of staff to Longstreet -and felt myself competent to give such an order -as coming from my chief, and that this was customary -in our Virginia service. General Stewart, however, -courteously insisted that he could not accept them unless -assured the orders came direct from Longstreet. -Valuable time was being lost, but I determined to have -a whack at those quick-moving blue masses. Asking -General Stewart to get ready, that I hoped soon to -find Longstreet, I was off, and luckily did find him -after an eager chase. Longstreet's thunderous tones -need not be described when, in the first words of -explanation, he sent me back with orders to Stewart -to fall on the reinforcing column with all his power. -Stewart was ready and pushed forward handsomely. -In a few minutes, with little or no loss to himself, -he had broken up Thomas's men and taken many -prisoners. This was quite late in the afternoon, twilight -coming on.</p> - -<p>My brother-in-law, General W. W. Mackall, was -serving with Bragg as chief of staff, although his -rank and attainments qualified him for higher duties.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> -But the Executive at Richmond was not favorably -disposed toward him, and the best that could be had -for service must content him. It seems that he and -Bragg had been long friends, having served together -in the old Army. I was glad to come up with him, -and delighted his soul by a gift of a five-pound bale of -Virginia Killikinick smoking tobacco, in place of the -vile stuff he was blowing off.</p> - -<p>The numbers on both sides, and the casualties, are -generally accepted as follows: Rosecrans's strength, -60,867; Bragg's strength, 60,366. Rosecrans's losses, -16,550; Bragg's losses, 17,800.</p> - -<p>It was during the battle that I became the possessor -of a handsomely mounted saber. In a part -of the field near us there was a sudden sharp, deadly -scrimmage between some of our mounted men and -the enemy, a small force on each side. It was soon -over, and Hardy, one of my couriers, a stout, ready -Georgian, came to me with a beautiful saber, evidently -a presentation to the lieutenant-colonel whose -name was engraved on it. My fellow made me a -gift of the handsome blade, and I wore it until peace -came. What became of the lieutenant-colonel I could -never ascertain.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">"His sword it is rust,</div> - <div class="verse">His bones they are dust,</div> - <div class="verse">His soul is with the Saints, I trust."</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>The good sword was treasured until a few years -ago, when the ladies of the Confederate Museum at -Richmond asked me to put it among their collection, -and there it hangs to-day, I hope for many years.</p> - -<p>It was on the 20th that I had my look at the -celebrated Forrest. Truly a most powerful, impressive -figure of a great cavalryman. He was yet to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> -become still greater, as one of the first commanders -of the South, and subsequent studies of his life and -career only expand this admiration into deeper feelings -for the great soldier.</p> - -<p>Dr. John Wyeth's interesting biography of Forrest, -published only in the past few years, is most -fascinating, and has gone far to place him as one -of the greatest leaders of the Civil War. During the -battle a queer scene between Longstreet and the valiant -old brigadier, Benning, commanding one of -Hood's brigades, illustrates Longstreet's grim calm in -action, and the excitability of "Old Rock," as his men -called him. A sudden counter-stroke of the enemy -had smashed his brigade and they were badly scattered. -Benning thought that they were "all gone." Seizing -an artillery horse that was galloping by, harness flying, -he threw himself on the terrified animal and found -Longstreet. "General," said the brigadier, "I am -ruined; my brigade was suddenly attacked and every -man killed; not one is to be found. Please give orders -where I can do some fighting." Longstreet saw the -excitement and quickly cooled it. "Nonsense, General, -you are not so badly hurt. Look about you. I -know you will find at least one man, and with him on -his feet report your brigade to me, and you two shall -have a place in the fighting-line."</p> - -<p>Benning saw it, took the hint, hunted up his men, -who were not so badly mauled after all, and with a -respectable body was soon ready for work.</p> - -<p>Vizitelly, the English artist, had started from Richmond -with us, to sketch and draw for the campaign; -something stopped him on the way, drink, probably. -At all events, he arrived very sheep-faced, long after -the battle. He took me aside with: "Colonel, I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> -in an awful mess. I must send drawings and a picture -of this great battle to my paper somehow. Cannot -you help me?" We were at the time not very -far from a little field that had a scene during the fighting -which struck me, even then, as somewhat picturesque. -The open field crowned with thick woods -at one side, through which frowned half a dozen Federal -guns and a brigade of ours moving up in beautiful -order to capture it. I said as much as this to -Vizitelly, and sent him to look at the spot. He returned, -on fire with his artist's fancies, and shut himself -up for several days. Then he emerged with drawings, -and much letter-press of what he had <em>actually</em> -seen; and principally a very large drawing beautifully -finished of the so-called "Little scene." But heavens! -all resemblance had ceased. Instead of the slight affair, -three solid lines of infantry were moving across -a great stretch of ground against hundreds of guns -that were devastating our troops in fire and smoke. -In the central portion there was the wounding and -fall of a great officer and the closing in of the soldiers -to protect him. "What think you?" said the proud -Vizitelly. "Splendid, but nothing like it took place." -"No matter, it might have happened, and besides all -battle-pictures are drawn with such freedom." "Who -is the general just falling?" "That, sir, is General -Hood, drawn the instant of being shot." "But, my -good Vizitelly, Hood was not within a mile of that -little field I gave you." "No matter, he was shot, -no one will deny that; and I must have a great interesting -center for my picture. You fellows are altogether -too particular. This goes by first underground -chance, and you will see it in the <cite>London Illustrated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> -News</cite>." And so I did in the quiet sitting-room of a -Northern friend later on.</p> - -<p>He is not the only one of artistic imagination for -battle-pictures.</p> - -<p>At Chickamauga, we lost our quartermaster, Major -Mitchell, of Virginia, a valuable officer. A sudden -attack of diphtheria carried him off like a stroke of -lightning. Major Erasmus Taylor, of Orange Court -House, Virginia, was immediately appointed in his -place, and served with us efficiently until the close of -the war.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant-Colonel Manning, of our staff, was -slightly wounded in the battle of the 20th. A fragment -of shell pierced his scalp, causing much loss of -blood, but otherwise no great damage. He was soon -about his ordnance duties as good as ever.</p> - -<p>When President Davis came to Bragg's army on -his visit of conciliation and support to his general, -there was a universal turnout to give the Executive -our best reception. At all headquarters the least -shabby uniforms were looked up and our best belongings -for horse and man were brought out. Mr. -Davis had a really fine escort to the top of Lookout -Mountain and back to quarters. At First Corps headquarters -we still had the pleasure of Captain Fitzgerald -Ross with us, a companionable and honorable -officer and gentleman. On this occasion we thought -it time for Ross to show the quality of his Austrian -corps, and most reluctantly he consented to ride with -us in full uniform. It was a beauty and a wonder! -Sky-blue tunic and trousers, fitting skin-tight to the -body and legs, loaded down with the richest gold braid -and ornaments. Tiny boots, tasseled and varnished,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> -incased the Captain's shapely Hussar legs. And then -the pelisse hanging from the left shoulder!—it would -be the envy of any woman. The color, still sky-blue, -of the finest cloth, lined with buff satin, gold braided -and richly furred. A smart, richly plumed Hungarian -busby, with handsomely mounted curved saber and -gold cords, completed the costume of this brilliant -representative of his corps d'élite.</p> - -<p>We gave Ross our plaudits and thanks for his fine -appearance, and only on returning was there any annoyance. -The large cortege about the President -parted and some of us found ourselves riding with -Ross under Maj.-Gen. John C. Breckinridge. Our -route lay through one of his divisions camped in the -noble primeval forests. The men were scattered all -about attending to their personal matters, cooking, -cleaning arms, mending, and, as it seemed, many -stripped to the waist examining very closely their shirts -and undergarments.</p> - -<p>Without going into particulars, all soldiers in the -field must be careful in this respect. Long-worn -clothing had a way of "gathering" things, and it -was what had to be done in all our armies. But -when the scattered troops saw the brilliant apparition -of Captain Ross riding with their General there was -a shout and a rush to him. Such was the rough -admiration exhibited that harm might have come to -him but for Breckinridge. He motioned the men -back, said the Captain was his guest, and, "When -you fellows get to his army on a visit you will find -him treating you more civilly; so get back to your -bivouacs and make yourselves clean."</p> - -<p>There was a good-natured cheer for Breckinridge,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> -Ross, the President, and all the rest of us, and we -got back to camp with much cheerful chaff for poor -Ross and his gay uniform.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">The East Tennessee Campaign, November -1863, to April, 1864</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Ordered by Bragg to move against Burnside and Knoxville—Our - two divisions—Wheeler's cavalry with artillery—Burnside's - strength—At Sweetwater, November 21st—Disappointed - in supplies—The railway—Pontoons, but no - train—Cross Holston at Loudon—Enemy escapes into - Knoxville—Hood's old division—Generals Jenkins and - Law—Siege of Knoxville—Bull Winthrop—McLaws - ready for an assault—Troops ordered to support—General - Leadbetter, of Bragg's staff, orders assault—Brigadiers Wofford, - Humphreys, and Bryan attacked—Repulsed at Fort - Saunders—General Longstreet assumes the blame—Losses.</p> -</div> - - -<p>After a long wait, General Bragg settled on something. -He decided to make a move against Burnside -and Knoxville. About November 3, Longstreet received -his instructions. They were about in line with -what the Lieutenant-General wanted instantly after -Chickamauga and what should have been done, but -the General-in-Chief could not see it, and, welcoming -the orders even at this late day, we prepared for a -hearty support and active campaign.</p> - -<p>The troops of the expedition were to be the two -divisions (nine brigades of infantry) brought from -Virginia and Alexander's fine battalion of artillery, -six batteries; also Leyden's artillery, and Wheeler's -powerful body of cavalry (four brigades) and horse -artillery. We were also to take up all the loose bodies -of troops to be found in the wide district to be covered. -A force of about 3,000 men was promised from -southwest Virginia.</p> - -<p>It was an ill-disciplined body, not well organized,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> -but accomplished wonders under Wheeler as a screen -to the army, and an unceasing menace to the enemy's -communications. He had some able officers with him, -Generals W. J. Martin, John T. Morgan, G. G. Dibbrell, -and Thomas Harrison. When Wheeler left us -with instructions for a movement calling for some -night work his cheerful words to his fellows were: -"Come, boys, mount. The War Child rides to-night." -That being, it seems, one of his pet names among the -men.</p> - -<p>Major-General Wheeler was not long with us, -Bragg, to whom his services were invaluable, having -sent for him. I saw him I think but once. He -had reported to Longstreet for orders and was followed -by a rather numerous staff and escort. A small, -slight man, very quick and alert in his movements, -quite young, only recently from West Point, he had -justly earned great distinction as the cavalry leader of -our Western army.</p> - -<p>Burnside's force south of Knoxville was computed -at about 15,000, and if we could get all the troops -Bragg held out to our commander, there would be -enough of us to crush Burnside. But the Federal general -had within reach some five thousand more men -than General Bragg estimated.</p> - -<p>The expedition, glad to be on the move, set out -smartly for Tyner's Station, where it was to be entrained -for Sweetwater, but things went decidedly -wrong. We had brought no transportation from Virginia -and General Bragg's officers supplied us with -wagons and teams, but held themselves under Bragg's -order. A most inconvenient disposition then, and -until we parted company with that commander for -good.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> - -<p>With these and other difficulties it was November -12th before the last of our brigades came to Sweetwater. -Here there were more disappointments as to -rations, supplies, and transportation. We were dependent -on Bragg's provisions, which cruelly failed -us. Not to dwell too long on these mishaps, I need -only add that they beset the entire campaign.</p> - -<p>The cars and railway by which we helped the transportation -were almost comical in their inefficiency. -The railroad was of heavy grades and the engines -light-powered. When a hill was reached the long -train would be instantly emptied—platforms, roofs, -doors, and windows—of our fellows, like ants out -of a hill, who would ease things by trudging up the -dirt road and catching on again at the top; and so it -went on as far as the railroad would serve us.</p> - -<p>A bridge train had been prepared by the engineers, -and it had been our intention to use it across the Little -Tennessee, or Halston, above its confluence and through -Marysville. But here again was disappointment; there -were pontoons but no train for hauling.</p> - -<p>We were thus forced to throw our bridge across -at Loudon, where, fortunately, the boats could be -floated direct from cars without need of wagons, and -there that curious bridge was laid by our worthy -engineers. It was a sight to remember. The current -was strong, the anchorage insufficient, the boats -and indeed entire outfit quite primitive, and when -lashed finally to both banks it might be imagined a -bridge; but a huge letter "S" in effect it was with its -graceful reverse curves. But no man should abuse -the bridge by which he safely crosses, and this one -took us over, using care and caution. I shall always -love the looks of that queer bridge.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> - -<p>The enemy was well advised as to our movements, -and evidently conducted his retreat with skill and no -serious losses. At Lenoir's Station he was forced to -leave nearly a hundred loaded wagons, though the -running-gear had been broken up so as to make them -of no immediate use to us.</p> - -<p>I do not give in-detail the various movements of -our advance from one point to another, their character -generally not being of the highest credit to us in -rapidity or co-operation of our several commands.</p> - -<p>A fine opportunity of crushing Burnside was lost -at Campbell's Station. Burnside's retreat was in time -to cover the roads leading into it, and there he had -to make a stand. We should have beaten him badly, -but he escaped and was soon safe in Knoxville. The -roads were deep in mud and caused hard travel and -labor, but they were no better for the Union force.</p> - -<p>Campbell's Station cannot be termed a serious battle. -It was principally an artillery fight, in which the -gallant Alexander was tormented by defective ammunition. -It should have been a strong and decisive -battle, but things went wrong with the infantry divisions -and an effective co-operation was not secured. -Ah! would that we could have had Hood again at the -head of his division.</p> - -<p>As it was, the five brigades of this fine command -were practically paralyzed by the differences between -the senior brigadier in command, Jenkins, and his competitor, -General E. M. Law. It was a most unhappy -condition of things, but by no fault of Longstreet. -When Mr. Davis visited us at Chickamauga the Lieutenant-General -laid the situation before him and urged -the promotion and appointment of Jenkins, to which -Mr. Davis would not listen. He was asked then to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> -appoint Law, but this also met the Executive's "No," -that officer being junior; and then Longstreet begged -the assignment of any good major-general to be found -elsewhere. But none came then; months after one -was sent when irretrievable mischief had been done by -the unfortunate condition of the division. It lasted -during all the subsequent operations in East Tennessee -throughout the winter.</p> - -<p>Thus it came about that the enemy eluded us at -Campbell's Station, and the next day was behind his -works at Knoxville, except his cavalry, which lingered -to retard our march. Our army followed closely, at -once put the enemy's works under fire, and so began -what is called the "Siege of Knoxville."</p> - -<p>By many it is thought to have been a serious error -on the part of the Confederate commander, the resorting -to so slow a process. "He should have attacked -immediately"; and I am disposed to consider -intelligent statements of Union officers and citizens of -Knoxville, long after, as indicating that an energetic -movement, without the slightest delay, would have carried -us into the town and brought Burnside to terms.</p> - -<p>On the 18th of November McLaws advanced against -some defenses of skirmishers, but part of his line -halted before reaching the crest of the hill. Captain -Winthrop, an Englishman serving with Alexander, -dashed forward, and encouraging the men got through -the hill in handsome style. It was well done by "Bull" -Winthrop, as we called him, and he picked up a nasty -wound in the doing of it.</p> - -<p>Burnside's strongest defense was Fort Loudon, -later called Fort Saunders, for the gallant officer of -that name who fell in its defense. It was a strong -earthwork, closely under McLaws's eye, who was ex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>pected -to capture it. Of course he had done much -work toward it—ditches, parallels, and many devices -for success. A night attack was proposed and at one -time favored.</p> - -<p>On the 22d General McLaws thought the time had -come and he was ordered to prepare his assaulting -column, supported by the division. Longstreet also -ordered up other troops for support and following up -a success. Later on McLaws reported that his officers -preferred daylight for the work before them and -the movement was for the time deferred. On the 23d -we heard that Bragg had been attacked at Chattanooga. -Bushrod Johnson's division of two brigades was at -Loudon moving to us, and our strength then would be -eleven brigades of infantry, Wheeler's cavalry of four -brigades (Wheeler himself had been ordered back by -Bragg, leaving the horse under command of Maj.-Gen. -Will T. Martin), Alexander's artillery, and -Leyden's battalion.</p> - -<p>On the 25th, Bragg's chief engineer, General Leadbetter, -brought orders from the former to attack immediately. -Longstreet was reluctant. Troops from -Virginia were on the march, due with us in eight or -ten days, and with them the investment could be made -complete. The enemy was also said to be on half -rations, and an attack now with chances of our repulse -would be all in his favor. But Leadbetter felt -that Bragg's orders were imperative and the assault -must be attempted. Minute orders were then sent to -McLaws for the effort. The details are rather lengthy -for the scope of these recollections. It was intended -for the 28th, but because of bad weather put off until -the 29th. At the appointed time the vigorous assault -was made in fine form by the brigades of Wofford,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -Humphreys, and Bryan in the early gray of the morning. -At first we seemed to be going right ahead, -shoving everything aside, but some stops were made -and the wounded men began coming back.</p> - -<p>General Longstreet says that when Major Goggin, -an old Army man on McLaws's staff, reported to -him that it would be useless to persevere, that the -fort was so surrounded with net-works of wire that -no progress could be made without axes and not an -axe was to be found—"Without a second thought, -I ordered the recall." He says later that the accounts -of General Poe, the engineer in charge of the works, -convinced him that the few wires met with were far -from being the serious obstacle reported and that we -could have gone in without axes. It also seemed sure -that the fort was nearly ours by the retirement of -part of its garrison, only some two hundred men being -kept with the guns.</p> - -<p>General Longstreet takes upon himself the failure -of the assault. It seems conclusive to him that it -was due to the order for recall. He had long known -Goggin. Some of our men pushed into the fort. -One gallant young officer, Adjutant Cumming, from -Augusta, Georgia, leaped through an embrasure and -instantly demanded the surrender of fort and garrison. -The Union troops cheered the feat while making -him a prisoner of war. Almost immediately after -the repulse General Longstreet received a telegram -from the President to the effect that "Bragg had been -forced back by numbers and that we were to co-operate -with his army." A euphemism on the part of the -President—Bragg had suffered a severe defeat and -was in full retreat. He made for Dalton, which put -out of the question any co-operation by us. Our own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> -safety was to be considered and how it could be accomplished.</p> - -<p>The casualties at Knoxville are thus given: Confederate -loss in assault, 822; Union loss in assault, -673; Confederate loss in campaign, 1,296; Union loss -in campaign, 1,481.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">The East Tennessee Campaign, Continued</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - - <p>In front of Knoxville after repulse—Position serious—Bragg - defeated at Missionary Ridge—Reinforcements pressing to - Burnside—We withdraw to the eastward—Halt at Rogersville—Foraging - good—Supplies in valleys sufficient—We - decide to winter there—Occasional operations without importance—Affair - at Bean's Station—Much uneasiness at - Washington at Longstreet's presence in East Tennessee—General - Grant ordered to drive him out—Affair at Dandridge—Great - want of shoes—A supply from Quartermaster - General—General McLaws relieved from duty—The - correspondence—General McLaws's resignation—Intense - cold—Roads almost impassable—Inhabitants of the valleys - and mountaineers—The fierce old woman—Mountain fastnesses—Deserters - from a North Carolina regiment—Their - capture and execution—General Schofield in command of - Union army—We take position and make camps near Bull's - Gap.</p> -</div> - - -<p>Our position was now becoming serious. Some additional -troops under Ransom would soon join us, but -the enemy was being heavily reinforced. Grant had -decided to drive us out of East Tennessee. A letter -from him to Burnside by courier was captured, advising -him of three columns en route for his relief—one -on south side by General Sherman, one by Dechared -under General Elliott, and one by Cumberland Gap -under General Foster. Longstreet decided to march -past Knoxville on the north side of the river and aim -for the column reported coming from Cumberland -Gap. The enemy did not see fit to molest our flank -as we marched past his defenses on the 2d of December.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> - -<p>There was good foraging in the country, and we -halted at Rogersville on the 9th to accumulate supplies. -Up to this date it had not been our General's -intention to stay in the Tennessee Valley. He was -looking eastward, but more hopefully toward some -combinations and increase of force by which a powerful -demonstration could be made into Kentucky -through Cumberland Gap. But at Rogersville the -foraging officers brought in roseate reports of plenty -in the land. It appeared to be overflowing with subsistence -for any army; cattle, swine, corn, sorghum, -and honey were abundant, and it was decided we -should winter in these beautiful valleys, watered by the -Holston, the French Broad, the mouth of Chucky and -Nolachucky. Truly was it a fertile and smiling land -to be still showing all this abundance, ravaged and -harried as it had been alternately by Union and Confederate -forces, and with such a population! It could -well be said that "Only man was vile."</p> - -<p>General Longstreet in his book, "Manassas to Appomattox," -has written up his movements from the -time he left Bragg to that of leaving Tennessee, at -great length and with extreme particularity. Its recital -had apparently occupied him more than any part -of the four years' war. We may therefore well leave -these details; they are correctly stated, although without -the interest of a successful campaign. We turn -therefore to matters more general, but perhaps attractive, -of our doings in that country.</p> - -<p>There was occasional skirmishing and outpost fighting, -but nothing of importance. At the affair of -Bean's Station we expected to accomplish something, -but little came of it. Gradually a good force had -been assembled at scattered points under Longstreet's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> -orders, and he was most confident and eager for an -opportunity to deal the enemy a blow. President -Davis, on December 10th, gave him discretionary -authority over all the troops in the department, and -on this he held, for the present, Martin's cavalry by -him, that Bragg had called for. It was positively necessary -for holding East Tennessee, which seemed the -best possible use to make of the troops while Bragg's -army was in a state of demoralization and uncertainty.</p> - -<p>Indeed, in the published annals there is appearance -of intense uneasiness by Halleck and Mr. Lincoln -as to Longstreet's presence in Tennessee. The emphatic -tone of many letters and orders from the Federal -capital was that we should, under any circumstances -and apparently at any sacrifices, be driven -out. Our presence there took the form of a political -peril. As long as we had a good foothold and -a good army in reach of Cumberland Gap there was -the chance of a successful movement into Kentucky, -and once there that State would have been in an unpleasant -and dangerous attitude to the Federals. Its -Confederate sentiments were in parts still strong and -shared by large numbers of the population. Longstreet's -correspondence always took a squint at such -an eventuality, and nothing would have better pleased -him than to lead such a movement. But the winter -coming on sharp, we found camps in the great forest -about Morristown before Christmas and began collection -of food supplies in earnest.</p> - -<p>The men were happy and cheerful, but awfully in -want of clothing and shoes. Some of the latter were -made by themselves, but this supply could not go far. -I recall a movement against General Granger at Dan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>dridge -when the corps turned out to march. It was -bitter winter weather, the ground hard and sharp with -ice, and not less than 2,000 of our little army were -without shoes. Their bleeding feet left marks at every -step.</p> - -<p>They were useless for the work and quickly sent -back to camp. Not long after, however, all were -made happy by a shipment of three thousand pairs -of shoes by General Lawton, our Quartermaster-General. -He had listened to our earnest, almost desperate -appeals.</p> - -<p>About the middle of December, Major-General -McLaws was relieved from command of his division -by Lieutenant-General Longstreet and ordered to -Augusta, Georgia. Part of the correspondence concerning -this matter will be found in the Appendix, -sufficiently explanatory. The commanding General -had for some time been dissatisfied with his second -in command. Later on, at Greenville, McLaws had -the court of inquiry for which he at once applied. -The charges were three in number, principally alleging -neglect and want of preparation at Knoxville, -supported each by one specification. The court absolved -McLaws from all fault, but found him guilty -on one of the specifications. The proceedings went -to the President, who immediately disapproved them, -restored McLaws to duty, and assigned him to a command -in Georgia.</p> - -<p>General E. M. Law handed in his resignation and -asked leave of absence on it—this about December -20th. It was cheerfully granted, and then General -Law asked the privilege of taking the resignation -himself to Richmond. It was unusual, but was allowed. -From this afterwards grew serious complica<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span>tions, -involving Law's arrest by Longstreet, his support -by the Executive, and Longstreet's threat of -resignation from the army, in which he was upheld -by General Lee. And the Lieutenant-General had his -way. Law was not again in Longstreet's command.</p> - -<p>The cold was intense, the record showing the lowest -temperature for many years. During the last days -of 1863 the glass went down to zero and the entire -army was quiet in the effort to keep warm.</p> - -<p>Fortunately there was fuel in abundance. The -primeval forests of oak and hickory were food for -some of the grandest campfires ever seen, but we -froze in front while scorching in back, and vice versa. -And as to sleeping, many a fine fellow woke to find -his shoes crisp from the too generous blaze. At this -time the roads were so bad as to be almost impassable; -artillery and wagons would be drawn hub deep. The -artillery horses, Leyden's especially, were in bad condition, -very weak, and six or eight pairs would be -hitched to a single gun or caisson. It amused the infantry -footing it on the side paths, and they would call -out, "Here comes the cavalry, but what's that gun -tied to the tail for?"</p> - -<p>The people of these valleys made an interesting -study. They doubtless went through much during the -Civil War, and part of their disposition at the period -of our occupation may be accounted for. There were, -of course, some exceptions to be found in families of -wealth, intelligence, and breeding, but the general run -of people was hard in the extreme. Apparently they -were without pity or compassion—generosity and -sympathy were strangers to them; but hatred and -revenge made their homes in the breasts of these farmers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> - -<p>When the Confederates came on the ground, then -was the time for acts of brutality against their Union -neighbors, the political feeling in the valleys being -about equally divided. Burnings, hangings, whippings -were common—all acts of private vengeance and retaliation. -When the turn came and the Unionists -were in authority, Confederate sympathizers were -made to suffer in the same way, and so it went on -throughout the bloody strife.</p> - -<p>Once an old woman came to my quarters with a -request. She was a fierce, hard creature, strong, of -wrinkled skin, but set, relentless features, clothed in -the homespun worn by all, and like all, dipping snuff. -Stick in mouth she made her statement. Some men -had come to her house that morning—she knew them -name by name. They had taken her old man from -her and hung him to a tree by his own porch, and -there left him—dead. She wanted the murderers -caught and punished. Not a word of sorrow or softness, -not a tear of regret, but only vengeance, and -that instantly. I immediately sent a good troop of -cavalry to seize the men, if to be found, but little -hoped it. They had, as usual, taken refuge in the -mountains, quite inaccessible to ordinary attack, and -were safe there with numbers of others.</p> - -<p>These mountain fastnesses were filled with evil-doers -of both sides, Union and Confederate; murderers, -thieves, deserters—all crimes could there be -known.</p> - -<p>The authorities had found it quite impossible to -break up these formidable gangs by any ordinary -force. A special expedition for the express purpose -would be necessary.</p> - -<p>It was to these mountains that a large body of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> -deserters from a North Carolina regiment in Virginia -was making a little time back.</p> - -<p>A whole company had broken away, but were overtaken -at a crossing of the James above Richmond. -They showed fight and killed several of the pursuers, -but were taken back and the leaders tried by court -martial. Ten were convicted and sentenced to be shot. -There had been too much leniency, and General Lee -had the sentence executed. The unfortunates were -tied to small sunken crosses in line about ten feet -apart, with a firing party in front of each. Their -division, Major-General Edward Johnson's, was -drawn up in three sides of a hollow square, the deserters -being on the fourth. At the word the firing -was accurately executed and the men sank dead or -dying at their stakes. The division was then marched -by, close to their bodies, and it was hoped the lesson -would be salutary.</p> - -<p>General Grant made a visit to Knoxville about January -1st, General Foster in command. Before leaving -he ordered Foster to expel us from Tennessee, if not -altogether, at least beyond Bull's Gap and Red Bridge. -Washington was still uneasy and pressing him hard to -put us out of the way.</p> - -<p>Preparing for it, he ordered the Ninth and the -Twenty-third Corps to Mossy Creek, Fourth Corps -to Strawberry Plain and the cavalry to Dandridge—a -formidable force. That army moved about January -15th. Dandridge is on the French Broad River, about -thirty miles from Knoxville, and was the enemy's objective.</p> - -<p>General Foster was invalided, and Sheridan for a -short time took command until relieved by the corps -commander, Gordon Granger. A smart affair en<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>sued, -General Martin's cavalry doing our principal -work. Granger retired and Longstreet rode into -Dandridge and was soon in the house occupied by -his old friend Granger. Pursuit was made impracticable -by the condition of roads and want of a bridge -train. Practically nothing was accomplished on this -trial, and our troops as well as the enemy were sent -back to camps.</p> - -<p>On February 9th General Schofield took command -at Knoxville of the Union army in East Tennessee. -The pressure on him continued from Halleck, whose -uneasiness at one time became almost uncontrollable. -Grant at first made strong effort to carry out these -wishes, but we were not moved. Later on he found -the field too far from his other operations and likely -to interrupt plans for the summer. He preferred -resting on the apparent apathy at the South and using -his East Tennessee strength in Virginia and Georgia -where he should have full need for it. This view was -to leave us in inactivity in East Tennessee, and no -further serious effort was made. Longstreet had to -move east when he was refused more troops for extended -aggressive operations and received orders for -return of Martin's cavalry to Georgia. Our march -was begun about February 20, 1864, and was not disturbed. -A fair position was found at Bull's Gap, -and then we distributed our commands in good camps -from the Holston to the Nolachucky.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">At Home in Savannah—Sketches</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Leave of absence—Visiting home with Doctor Sorrel—Traveling - by rail—Old Savannah—Few changes—Many friends—Happiness - in meeting them—Return to the army—Longstreet's - correspondence with Schofield—Attempt in same - line near Richmond with General Ord—General Grant declines - negotiations for peace—Andrew Johnson's Masonic - paraphernalia saved by Captain Goree—Sketch—Longstreet - at Richmond—In conference with President and General - Lee—Without result—First corps ordered back to - Lee—Began moving late in April—Arrived at Mechanicsville - last of month—Major-General Field assigned to command - of Hood's division—Sketch—Congress votes thanks - to First Corps (see Appendix)—Charlottesville—Sketch—Prices - of various articles.</p> -</div> - - -<p>I had now opportunity for yielding to my father's -pressing urgency to take leave of absence and see -him once more in life. I arranged for thirty days -absence. The railroad was not yet fully repaired and -my nearest station was about fifteen miles to ride. -An agreeable medical officer gave me his company so -far, but was constantly weeping that he was not on -his way "to see his dear, beautiful little wife." I -tried to comfort him by the reminder that no such attraction -was waiting for me, but without success. -He was, however, braced up by a horse trade we managed -to get off, which as usual I incline to think I -got the worst of. I think so by reason of a memorandum -about horses in which the animal then acquired -is named "Deceit." The train soon reached -Bristol, whence a change of cars brought me through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> -Lynchburg to Richmond. There Doctor Sorrel met -me, like myself on leave, and light-hearted we started -for home to see our dear kith and kin.</p> - -<p>It was my first absence from duty since July 21, -1861. Slow railway traveling in those days was the -rule without exception—gauges not uniform, routes -deviating, and engines of low power. The time was, -I think, quite three days between Richmond and -Savannah, traveling day and night, and of course such -luxuries as sleeping-cars were then unknown.</p> - -<p>It was a great delight to see home again; to be -welcomed and made much of, after the stern scenes -of more than two years. Our friends were not backward -or ungenerous. Hospitalities were showered -upon us, but better than all was the loving home -circle of aging father and happy young sisters. The -latter, gladdened to have their brothers once more -with them, sang, played, and danced to heart's delight.</p> - -<p>There were many changes. Only six companies -had gone to the Eastern army. The remainder of the -very large forces sent by the city was distributed -through the Western armies and the coast defenses; -consequently I had seen but few of my old comrades -and associates in Virginia. The happiness of meeting -many awaited me in Savannah, and it will easily -be imagined what our talk was about—the camp, -the battle, the march, the enemy, and our own commands.</p> - -<p>There was no great change in the appearance of -the town, then of about 30,000 population. Eighteen -miles from the sea, and beautifully situated on a high -bluff, it enjoyed a large commerce and much lucrative -business. Shady walks, numerous small wooded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> -parks, and thousands of branching, leafy trees made -it a very attractive and beautiful little city. The -rigors of war had not yet touched it. The forts -at the entrance to the river were the enemy's, but -he had not yet penetrated to the city. That was -preserved for Sherman in December, from the West.</p> - -<p>The days slipped by. Our time was nearly up, -and with cheerful farewells we were soon on our -way back to Virginia. Dropping my brother, the -Doctor, at Richmond, I went directly back to my -familiar duties with our army in its winter camp in -East Tennessee.</p> - -<p>Affairs had been very quiet within that thirty days, -and I was well satisfied to be again with the colors. -My leave and my home became, as it were, but a -pleasant bit of dreaming.</p> - -<p>Not long after Schofield took command of the -Union forces our Lieutenant-General succeeded in getting -into a short correspondence with him. The Federal -commander was an able soldier, of liberal views, -from which Longstreet had hopes. The latter's intentions -were commendable. Like most of us, he -wanted peace and the honorable termination of the -war and cessation of bloodshed. He felt that it was -not to be accomplished by the politicians. They had -plunged the country into civil war, he reasoned. -They would be the last to bring it to an end. The hope -was that the generals on both sides might give the -movement such an impetus that statecraft must necessarily -take it up with probably good results. It was -with this view that some letters passed between Longstreet -and Schofield. The former pressed that view, -and, assuming the Union General, like himself, wanted -peace, he urged a joint initiative from which much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> -could be hoped. It was illusory. Schofield's letter -was calm and noncommittal. Finally he had to say -what was sure to be said, that it was not his part to -deal with such matters, which were properly to be -discussed by the Executive in Washington. It was -necessarily so. The military were not clothed with -authority for the purpose. Even the convention between -Sherman and Johnston at the close of hostilities -was disapproved and annulled by the Federal civil -authorities.</p> - -<p>The idea, however, did not vanish from Longstreet's -thoughts. It took fresh shape later in front -of Richmond through General Ord, the officer immediately -in command, as intermediary by which it was -hoped a meeting between Grant and Lee could be -achieved. General Grant declined a meeting for discussion -on such a subject. The correspondence relating -to these two incidents is probably to be found in -the records published by Congress, and should be interesting. -I refer to them entirely from memory.</p> - -<p>While quartered near Greenville some straggling -soldiers found their way into the house once occupied -by Andrew Johnson, afterwards Vice-President. He -was a Mason of high degree, and the emblems and -paraphernalia of the order were very numerous in -the dwelling. Our fellows thought they had made a -find of value and were about starting off with it -when halted by Captain Goree, A. D. C. of our staff. -He had everything carefully repacked and put in a -safe place for the rightful owner. I have never -known whether he finally recovered them uninjured.</p> - -<p>Goree was a Texan and had been with Longstreet -from the beginning. The General was fortunate in -having an officer so careful, observing, and intelli<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>gent. -His conduct on all occasions was excellent and -his intrepidity during exposure in battle could always -be counted on. He was with the corps until Appomattox, -and then returned to Texas, where he occupied -responsible public office by vote of the people for -many years. He enjoys good health and good Confederate -memories now at his home in Galveston.</p> - -<p>About this time Generals Lee, Johnston, and Longstreet -were called on by the Richmond authorities for -suggestions as to further operations on a comprehensive -scale. General Bragg was in office as adviser to -the President. Having failed in all field operations, -he had now the President's ear and the President's -support for experimental strategy. Longstreet submitted -an elaborate proposition, having for its objective -a powerful demonstration in Kentucky by combination -with General Johnston's army and the eventual -command of the State under Confederate -auspices. It is said that plan had General Lee's approval -when submitted to the President in counsel -with the Secretary of War, General Bragg, and General -Lee. The proposition was not accepted and -nothing apparently was settled. General Lee returned -immediately to his army on the Rapidan and the Lieutenant-General -set out for his headquarters at Greenville. -Feeling himself entitled to the privilege, he -stopped two days at Petersburg to see his wife, and -to have his infant son christened "Robert Lee." It -appears this short stop subjected him to rebuke by the -President for loitering.</p> - -<p>The country was now in wintry weather and there -was much snow. Everything went into quarters that -could and all military operations were suspended. -The second division of General Johnston's cavalry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> -was ordered to him through the mountains—a hard -march. It should be stated that Johnston was now -for some time in command of the Army of Tennessee -in Bragg's place. In the first half of April our command -started back to join General Lee on the Rapidan. -It was made on cars collected as fast as possible. The -troop detrained at Charlottesville. After a short stop -in that country, we began, about the 22d, the march -to Mechanicsville, not far from Gordonsville, and on -the last of the month had the happiness to be reviewed -by our beloved commander, General Lee. The -troubles in Hood's old division would, it was hoped, -be ended. Maj-Gen. Charles W. Fields had been -some time back assigned to command and was to prove -an active and capable commander. He was an old -Army man of much experience and unquestioned -valor. In the Appendix may be read the vote of -thanks given by Congress to Lieutenant-General Longstreet -and his command.</p> - -<p>When we detrained at Charlottesville I had the -good fortune to meet some most hospitable friends. -Judge William J. Robertson, eminent on the bench, -and his charming wife insisted on having me in their -handsome residence and agreeable family circle. It -was a welcome contrast to the asperities of a winter -campaign in East Tennessee. The town itself was -interesting and full of Virginia historic lore. Its -chief pride is the Alma Mater of many Southern men, -the University of Virginia, beloved of Jefferson. -Near by, on steep Monticello, stands his own house, -where youth and age, in admiration of the sage, the -statesman, the philosopher, sought him for a word, -a touch of the hand. The property is still well maintained -by its present owner, proud of its history as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> -part of Thomas Jefferson. The county of Albemarle -(its deep red-clay soil remembered by many a sore-footed -soldier), is of ancient settlement, abounding in -wood and meadow and shining streams. Its tasty, -luscious pippins are widely known to lovers of the -apple. Some stately old residences, the "great -houses" of large estates of the early Virginia families, -are still to be seen; but alas! the ravages of war -and its bitter results have left such properties but as -so many reminders of an opulent past. It was this -delightful resting place of a few days that we were -now to leave for the great campaign of the Wilderness -and its subsequent battles.</p> - -<p>In April, 1864, the Confederacy had reached a point -of great financial embarrassment, as shown by the depreciation -of its paper currency. The pay of the officers -was in reality a pittance, and those without -other resources were often in straits. Many boxes -and hampers, however, came to the camps from home -and were of some help to all.</p> - -<p>A petition from officers in the field had gone to the -War Department, asking that rations might be issued -to them as to the private soldiers. It had attached a -scale of prices charged the officers by the army commissaries, -presumably the average cost price, and not -the price of retail market. The officers paid for -bacon, $2.20 per pound; beef, 75 cents; lard, $2.20 -per pound; molasses, $6 per gallon; sugar, $1.50 per -pound. A coat cost $350; boots, $250; trousers, -$125; hat, $80 to $125; shirt, $50; socks, $10 per -pair. General Johnston in approving and verifying -the petition said that at existing prices the pay of company -officers was worth less than that of a private -soldier.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> - -<p>The shrinkage of the value of our paper currency -continued with the progress of the war until, near the -close, it almost ceased to have any purchasing power -whatever.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864.</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>General Grant in command of all the Union forces—Takes - station with Army of the Potomac—His career—His successes—Later - kind feelings of Southern people toward him—His - dinner party at Savannah—His plan of campaign—The - policy of attrition—Grant moves his army—The Wilderness—Disparity - of numbers—Courier service an example - of our economy in men—Kershaw promoted major-general, - commanding McLaws's division—Sketch—Lee decides - to strike—Grant on the march—They meet on May 5th—An - indecisive partial contest—Early on May 6 Longstreet - comes up—Finds situation serious—Hancock's successful - attack on Third Corps—It is checked—Our flank attack - on Hancock's left—He is rolled up and sent back—General - Lee wants to lead troops—Longstreet wounded and - Jenkins killed by fire of our own men—Major-General - Wadsworth, U. S. A., killed—Attack resumed later—Not - successful—Night ends long day's fighting.</p> -</div> - - -<p>The Army of Northern Virginia was now to deal -with a new force—a general with the great prestige -of repeated victories in the West, and of undeniable -ability. Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant had been -made Commander-in-Chief of all the Federal armies -in the field, and realizing the extraordinary achievements -of Lee's army, left the scene of his operations, -and retaining Meade in command of the Army of -the Potomac, took his station by that army for the -supreme direction of military affairs. Grant's career -was wonderful; were it not a fact, it would be thought -a fairy tale. A West Point graduate of mediocrity, -serving well in Mexico, but so given over to drink -that his retirement from the Army may be said to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> -have been compulsory. This was followed by hard-working -attempts to make a living for his family, in -humble occupations, until the stirring events of 1861 -brought him forward, as they did every one who had -enjoyed the opportunity of a soldier's education. Obtaining -command of an Illinois regiment, his field -service began, and was followed up with much success; -until, placed in command of important armies -in Tennessee and Kentucky, he was able to break up -the Confederate plans, and finally, by his crushing defeat -of Bragg at Missionary Ridge, prepared the way -for Hood's destruction at Franklin and Nashville, and -Sherman's "march to the sea."</p> - -<p>Now came his work in Virginia, which is to be -touched on, and then his Presidency for two terms. -During much of this time he was said to be intemperate, -but if true it made no difference in the results -accomplished. Mr. Lincoln was thought to be looking -up Grant's brand of whiskey for some of his -other generals. This General's character made him -very dear to his friends. He was always true and -helpful to them, and possessed a certain directness -and simplicity of action that was in itself most -attractive.</p> - -<p>General Grant's conduct toward our leader in the -closing scenes at Appomattox and his vigorous defense -of Lee when threatened by unprincipled and -powerful Northern politicians are not likely to be forgotten -by the Southern people. With the passing of -time his fame as a great commander appears to be -growing, and will probably still grow after careful -study of his campaigns. Only once did I have the -opportunity of meeting this remarkable man. It was -during the "third term" plans of the Republican<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> -party that his friends were carrying him on visits to -various parts of the country. He was in Savannah -with Sheridan and others for a few days and was entertained -at a handsome dinner-party, of some dozen -or more leading gentlemen of the city, by General -Henry R. Jackson, a wealthy and prominent Democratic -citizen. He was himself a marked personality—a -lawyer of eminence; had been Minister to Austria -under Buchanan; was to be Minister to Mexico under -Cleveland; was a poet and an orator, besides of the -highest character, attainments, and social attractions. -The dinner was a great success, served lavishly in the -old Southern fashion, with various courses of wine, -which the rough Sheridan brusquely put aside. "He -wanted champagne, must have it at once." And he -<em>did</em> have it from start to finish.</p> - -<p>Grant was in excellent form, looked well and talked -well; his glass was not touched. Fresh from his tour -around the world he had much to say. He had been -deeply interested in Japan and talked incisively of -that wonderful country, really a monologue of a full -hour, the table intent and absorbed in the fresh observations -that fell from him. Then it became time -for his departure to meet a public appointment, and we -rose to bow him out. Resuming our seats and attention -to the old Madeiras, we agreed that for a silent -man Grant was about the most interesting one we had -recently found. His talk was clean-cut, simple, direct, -and clear.</p> - -<p>The General-in-Chief made his headquarters near -Culpeper. The Army of the Potomac was about -130,000 strong in aggregate, and consisted of Hancock's -Second Corps, Warren's Fifth, and Sedgwick's -Sixth; besides Burnside's Ninth, held apart near Rap<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span>pahannock -railroad bridge. Lee's army lay west of -the Rapidan, R. H. Anderson's division facing Madison -Court House; the Second and Third Corps -(Ewell's and Hill's), two divisions of the First and -Alexander's artillery were at Mechanicsville; Pickett's -division of the First was south of the James. Our -strength is stated by Colonel Taylor to have been -63,998.</p> - -<p>We were at no loss to understand Grant's intention. -The Northern papers, as well as himself, had -boldly and brutally announced the purpose of "attrition"—that -is, the Federals could stand the loss of -four or five men to the Confederate's one, and threw -nice strategy into the background. It was known that -we were almost past recruiting our thin ranks, and the -small figures of the army as it now stood; while the -double numbers of the Federals could be reproduced -from the immense resources in population, not to -speak of their foreign field of supplies under inducement -of liberal bounties.</p> - -<p>Grant started his march the night of May 3d, via -Germanna and Elys Fords, Wilson's and Gregg's -cavalry leading. Burnside was also ordered to him.</p> - -<p>The Wilderness was a wild, tangled forest of stunted -trees, with in places impassable undergrowth, lying -between Fredericksburg and Orange Court House, -probably sixteen or seventeen miles square. Some -farm clearings and a shanty or two for a few poor inhabitants -might occasionally be seen. Two principal -roads penetrated this repulsive district, the Orange -Plank Road and the turnpike. The ground generally -lay flat and level.</p> - -<p>And now was to begin the last and greatest of -the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> -The campaign of <em>attrition</em> on one side met and foiled -by the fine flower of the ablest strategy on the other. -It was Grant's stubborn perseverance, indifferent to -the loss of life, against Lee's clear insight and incessant -watchfulness. Our army always ready, ever -fighting, was to hold the Federal forces from the Wilderness -to the final break at Petersburg, from May -to March, ten months of supreme effort, most exhaustive -to a commander. Marshall Marmont says, -"The attacking general has, to a large extent, command -of the mind of his defensive opponents." It is -doubtless true, but Lee often gave his mind necessary -relief and chanced success by a sudden initiative -against Grant. The latter would unexpectedly find -part of his army attacked with swift energy and would -get something for his mind to work on besides the -control of Lee's.</p> - -<p>Referring to the disparity of numbers, we did in -truth want men. A little detail will show how we -had to economize them. Until recently there had -been small cavalry details at general headquarters and -with corps and division chiefs. These, however, were -all sent back to serve with the regimental colors, and -the courier service they had been doing taken up by -assignments of men from the infantry ranks who -could keep themselves mounted.</p> - -<p>Six were allowed for corps headquarters, four for -divisions, and two for brigades. Being picked men, -the service was well performed; but the time was -not far off when these able men had again to take -up their muskets by their colors. Disabled fellows -who could ride but did no marching were put at the -important courier duties and did well! The enemy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> -said we were robbing the cradle and the grave, and -it was more or less true.</p> - -<p>Maj.-Gen. J. B. Kershaw, a lawyer from South -Carolina, was one of the most distinguished and efficient -officers of the Virginia army. His service had -been long and uninterrupted. Coming out with a fine -South Carolina regiment among the first to be sent to -Virginia, his abilities soon made him its colonel. He -served long in that rank, his steady courage and military -aptitude invariably showing handsomely in the -arduous service of his regiment.</p> - -<p>It was one of those forming the South Carolina -Brigade of McLaws's division. Longstreet was quick -to perceive Kershaw's merit and recommended him -for promotion. It was sometime coming. But when -he was brigadier-general and placed in command of -the brigade he maintained his high reputation fully. -In 1864 he was promoted to be major-general, and -continuing his service with Longstreet's corps, his -conduct and abilities were conspicuous until the very -end of hostilities. General Kershaw was of most attractive -appearance, soldierly and handsome, of medium -size, well set up, light hair and moustache, with -clean-cut, high-bred features.</p> - -<p>Grant's movement was soon made known to Lee, -and the latter prepared to strike. It was his way, -he waited not for the blow; better give it, was a large -part of his strategy. It was thought Grant could best -be met by a stroke as he marched. The Second and -Third Corps were ordered forward by the Plank -Road. Our own two divisions, Field's and Kershaw's, -the latter commanding in McLaws's place, and Alexander's -batteries were near Gordonsville and ordered -to move by the Plank Road to Parker's Store. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> -route was changed at General Longstreet's request, -and he found a good guide in James Robinson, well -known to our Quartermaster Taylor, who lived at -Orange Court House. We were at Richard's shop -at 5 p. m. on May 5th, Rosser's cavalry then being -engaged at that point with part of Sheridan's; the -latter moving off when we came up. The march had -been twenty-eight miles, and there orders from the -Commanding General were received for changing direction -so as to unite with other troops on the Plank -Road. Directions conforming were issued to resume -march at midnight.</p> - -<p>Both armies being now in quick motion, the collision -was soon to come; indeed, had already come -with Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, ending late that -night after fierce battle. I make no attempt at detail -of all Confederate and Union movements, but the -great battle of the Wilderness is now to be fought -and the important part in it taken by the First Army -Corps briefly sketched.</p> - -<p>Strange to say, the two divisions of our Third -Corps, Heth's and Wilcox's, after their severe battle -made no attempt at defensive field work or trenching -when firing ceased that night. In explanation, it -is said they expected to be withdrawn and consequently -did no work nor replenished their ammunition. -But Hancock, accomplished general that he was, -suffered himself to fall into no such pit. He had his -men at work all night strengthening his position, and -was thus enjoying the soldier's high feeling of confidence; -and then with the sun he let fly at the troops in -front of him, apparently inviting attack with no -ground defenses whatever. It was distressing to real<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>ize -such failure in the field work, and the result came -near a great disaster.</p> - -<p>Longstreet had moved at 1 a. m., the march being -difficult and slow in the dense forest by side tracks -and deep furrowed roadways. At daylight he was on -the Plank Road and in close touch with Lee when -Hancock struck the two unprepared divisions. The -situation when we came on the scene, that of May 6th, -was appalling. Fugitives from the broken lines of -the Third Corps were pouring back in disorder and it -looked as if things were past mending. But not so to -James Longstreet; never did his great qualities as a -tenacious, fighting soldier shine forth in better light. -He instantly took charge of the battle, and threw his -two divisions across the Plank Road, Kershaw on -the right, Field on the left. None but seasoned soldiers -like the First Corps could have done even that -much. I have always thought that in its entire splendid -history the simple act of forming line in that dense -undergrowth, under heavy fire and with the Third -Corps men pushing to the rear through the ranks, was -perhaps its greatest performance for steadiness and -inflexible courage and discipline. Hill's men were -prompt to collect and reform in our rear and soon -were ready for better work. General Lee was under -great excitement immediately on the left. He wanted -to lead some of our troops into action, but the Texas -brigade was about him and swore they would do nothing -unless he retired. A confident message from -Longstreet through Colonel Venable that his line -would be restored within an hour also helped him to -regain his calm; and then at it we went in earnest, -on both sides of the road. Hancock's success had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> -loosened his ranks somewhat, which helped us when -we fell on him. It was a hard shock of battle by six -of our brigades, three on each side of the road. No -artillery came into play, the ground not being fit for -it. The enemy's advance was checked, then wavered, -and finally relinquished; our troops pushing forward -into the recovered lines. Longstreet had redeemed -his promise to his commander. Meantime sharp -work had also been going on at the left by Lieutenant-General -Ewell—the never sleeping Ewell—and the -prospects were bright.</p> - -<p>R. H. Anderson, with Hill's corps, had come up -and reported to Longstreet, who posted part of it -on the right. Latrobe, of our staff, had received painful -wounds in the thigh and hand, in this fight, while -pushing the men forward. It had taken several hours -to achieve this and a slight pause in the activities of -the armies occurred. Gen. M. L. Smith, an engineer -from General Headquarters, had reported to Longstreet -and examined the situation on our right, where -he discovered the enemy's left somewhat exposed and -inviting attack; and now came our turn. General -Longstreet, calling me, said: "Colonel, there is a fine -chance of a great attack by our right. If you will -quickly get into those woods, some brigades will be -found much scattered from the fight. Collect them -and take charge. Form a good line and then move, -your right pushed forward and turning as much as -possible to the left. Hit hard when you start, but -don't start until you have everything ready. I shall -be waiting for your gun fire, and be on hand with -fresh troops for further advance."</p> - -<p>No greater opportunity could be given to an aspiring -young staff officer, and I was quickly at work.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> -The brigades of Anderson, Mahone, and Wofford -were lined up in fair order and in touch with each -other. It was difficult to assemble them in that horrid -Wilderness, but in an hour we were ready. The -word was given, and then with heavy firing and ringing -yells we were upon Hancock's exposed left, the -brigades being ably commanded by their respective -officers. It was rolled back line after line. I was -well mounted, and despite the tangled growth could -keep with our troops in conspicuous sight of them, -riding most of the charge with Mahone's men and -the Eighteenth Virginia. Some correspondence will -be found in the Appendix about it. A stand was attempted -by a reserve line of Hancock's, but it was -swept off its feet in the tumultuous rush of our troops, -and finally we struck the Plank Road lower down. -On the other side of it was Wadsworth's corps in disorder. -(I had last seen him under flag of truce at -Fredericksburg.) Though the old General was,doing -all possible to fight it, his men would not stay. -A volley from our pursuing troops brought down the -gallant New Yorker, killing both rider and horse.</p> - -<p>There was still some life left in the General, and -every care was given him by our surgeon. Before -they could get to him, however, some of his valuables—watch, -sword, glasses, etc.—had disappeared -among the troops. One of the men came up with, -"Here, Colonel, here's his map." It was a good general -map of Virginia, and of use afterwards. We -were then so disorganized by the chase through the -woods that a halt was necessary to reform, and I -hastened back to General Longstreet to press for fresh -troops. There was no need with him. He had heard -our guns, knew what was up, and was already march<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span>ing, -happy at the success, to finish it with the eager -men at his heels.</p> - -<p>There was quite a party of mounted officers and -men riding with him—Generals Kershaw and Jenkins, -the staff, and orderlies. Jenkins, always enthusiastic, -had thrown his arm about my shoulder, with, -"Sorrel, it was splendid; we shall smash them now." -And turning back I was riding by Longstreet's side, -my horse's head at his crupper, when firing broke -out from our own men on the roadside in the dense -tangle.</p> - -<p>The Lieutenant-General was struck. He was a -heavy man, with a very firm seat in the saddle, but -he was actually lifted straight up and came down hard. -Then the lead-torn coat, the orifice close to the right -shoulder pointed to the passage of the heavy bullet of -those days. His staff immediately dismounted him, at -the foot of a branching tree, bleeding profusely.</p> - -<p>The shot had entered near the throat and he was -almost choked with blood. Doctor Cullen, his medical -director, was quickly on the spot. Even then the -battle was in the leader's mind, and he sent word to -Major-General Field to go straight on. He directed -me to hasten to General Lee, report what had been -accomplished, and urge him to continue the movement -he was engaged on; the troops being all ready, success -would surely follow, and Grant, he firmly believed, -be driven back across the Rapidan. I rode immediately -to General Lee, and did not again see my chief -until his return to duty in October. The fatal firing -that brought him down also killed Captain Jenkins, -Captain Foley, and several orderlies. Jenkins was a -loss to the army—brave, ardent, experienced and -highly trained, there was much to expect of him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> - -<p>The firing began among some of the Virginia troops -that had rushed the attack. Our detour was such that -it was quite possible to expect the capture of prisoners, -and when Longstreet's party was seen, followed by Jenkins's -brigade and part of Kershaw's command, in the -shaded light of the dense tangle, a shot or two went -off, then more, and finally a strong fusilade. The -officers of our party acted splendidly in the effort to -avert confusion and stop the deadly firing. General -Kershaw was conspicuous about it, and our signal -officer, Captain J. H. Manning, deliberately, calmly -rode through the fire up to the Virginians, holding up -his hands and making signs that we were friends. -This happened between twelve and one o'clock. My -report to General Lee was, as instructed, immediate. -I found him greatly concerned by the wounding of -Longstreet and his loss to the army. He was most -minute in his inquiries and was pleased to praise the -handling of the flank attack. Longstreet's message -was given, but the General was not in sufficient touch -with the actual position of the troops to proceed with -it as our fallen chief would have been able to do; at -least, I received that impression, because activity came -to a stop for the moment. A new attack with stronger -forces was settled on. It was to be made direct on -the enemy's works, lower down the Plank Road, in -the hope of dislodging him.</p> - -<p>But meantime the foe was not idle. He had used -the intervening hours in strengthening his position and -making really formidable works across the road. -When the Confederate troops assaulted them late in -the afternoon they met with a costly repulse, and with -this the principal operations on our part of the field -ceased for the day; it was coming on dark.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Coincidences—Longstreet's Successor</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Longstreet borne from the field—His letter to Lee from Lynchburg—Return - of General Wadsworth's map to his son—Coincidence - in the wounding of Jackson and Longstreet—General - Lee summons me—Talks of assignment to command - of First Corps—He decides on General Richard H. - Anderson.</p> -</div> - - -<p>General Longstreet was first taken to the house -of his quartermaster, Major Taylor, near by, and -thence, when he could be moved, to Lynchburg. -From there he wrote to General Lee of this attack -on Hancock's left as conducted by myself, and I trust -it may not be considered out of place to insert that -letter here.</p> - -<p>General Longstreet's book has caused to be -brought forth quite a number of incidents of the late -war which that distinguished Confederate necessarily -passed over briefly in his narrative. In the battle of -the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, Longstreet's corps -moved to the support of A. P. Hill's corps early in the -morning and checked the onward movement of the -enemy. In this attack General G. M. Sorrel (then -lieutenant-colonel and chief of staff of General Longstreet), -under the orders of his chief, took Mahone's, -Wofford's and G. T. Anderson's brigades, and, swinging -around to the right, the Confederates carried everything -before them. For his gallantry on that occasion, -Colonel Sorrel was made a brigadier-general on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> -the recommendation of General Longstreet, in the -subjoined letter:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p class="right"><span class="smcap">Lynchburg, Va.</span>, May 19, 1864.</p> - <p><span class="smcap">General R. E. Lee</span>, <em>Commanding, etc.</em></p> - - <p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>: The peculiar character of the position occupied by the - enemy in my front on the 6th inst. was such as to render a direct - assault impracticable. After a brief consultation with the - commanding general, a move was agreed upon, turning and - attacking the enemy's left flank. Lieutenant-Colonel Sorrel, my - chief of staff, was assigned to represent me in this flank movement, - with instructions as to the execution of it. The flank - attack, made by three brigades, was to be followed by a corresponding - movement of the other brigades of the command. - This attack, made under the supervision of Lieutenant-Colonel - Sorrel, was executed with much skill, promptness, and address, - and the enemy was driven from his position in haste and some - confusion.</p> - - <p>It occurs to me that this is one of the instances of skill, ability - and gallantry on the battle-field which should commend itself - to the high approval of the Executive.</p> - - <p>I, therefore, take great pleasure in recommending Lieutenant-Colonel - Sorrel's promotion to brigadier-general for distinguished - conduct on this occasion. I should have reported this case much - earlier and asked for promotion upon the spot, but that I was - struck down by a painful wound a few moments after the execution - of the movement. I am still unable to write and hence - must ask the privilege of signing this by my aide-de-camp.</p> - - <p>I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,</p> - - <p class="right"> - (Signed.)<br /> - <span class="smcap">J. Longstreet</span>,<br /> - <em>Lieutenant-General</em>.<br /> - <br /> - (Signed.)<br /> - By <span class="smcap">T. J. Goree</span>,<br /> - <em>Aide-de-Camp</em>. - </p> -</div> - -<p>Hancock said long after to Longstreet, "You rolled -me up like a wet blanket and it was some hours before -I could reorganize for battle."</p> - -<p>Many years after this great struggle opportunity -was given me of placing with Hon. James Wadsworth, -M. C., son of the general, the map before referred -to as taken from his father when he fell. In making -his acknowledgments it was gratifying to learn that -nearly all the other belongings of this gallant officer -had gradually, by kindness of friends, found their way -back into the family possessions.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> - -<p>Some coincidences in the fall of Jackson and Longstreet -are not without interest.</p> - -<p>On <em>May 3, 1863</em>, Lieutenant-General Jackson, great -corps commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, -was struck down by the fire of his own men while -executing a successful flank movement in the Wilderness -at the battle of Chancellorsville. On <em>May 6, -1864</em>, just one year later, Lieutenant-General Longstreet, -the other great corps commander of the Army -of Northern Virginia, was also struck down by the -fire of his own men while conducting a successful flank -movement, and this on almost the same ground.</p> - -<p>While one fell (unhappily mortally wounded) at -Chancellorsville and the other at Wilderness, both -names apply to that singular district, and the two -points were not very wide apart.</p> - -<p>At sunrise, on the 7th, I was summoned to the -Commander-in-Chief and promptly reported. General -Lee received me most kindly and at once withdrew -under a neighboring tree. "I must speak to -you, Colonel," he opened, "about the command of -the First Corps." He then in substance went on to -say that the two major-generals of the corps present -were too recent for the command (Pickett does not -appear to have been thought of) and an officer must -be assigned. He had three in mind: Major-Generals -Early, Edward Johnson, and Richard H. Anderson, -and did me the honor to invite my opinion. "You -have," he said, "been with the corps since it started -as a brigade, and should be able to help me."</p> - -<p>At once I saw the need of giving all the assistance -possible and that I must use every care in judgment.</p> - -<p>Thanking the General for his unprecedented confidence, -I said that probably Early would be the ablest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> -commander of the three named, but would also be the -most unpopular in our corps. His flings and irritable -disposition had left their marks, and there had been -one or two occasions when some ugly feelings had -been aroused while operating in concert. I feared he -would be objectionable to both officers and men. -"And now, Colonel, for my friend Ed. Johnson; he -is a splendid fellow." "All say so, General," was my -answer—and I fully believed it—"but he is quite -unknown to the corps. His reputation is so high that -perhaps he would prove all that could be wished, but -I think that some one personally known to the corps -would be preferred."</p> - -<p>This brought the commander to Gen. Richard H. -Anderson, and I was led to say, without presuming -to criticize him or point out his merits or demerits -(there are probably plenty of both), "We <em>know him</em> -and shall be satisfied with him." He was long a brigadier -with us, tried and experienced; then a major-general -until withdrawn to make up the Third Corps.</p> - -<p>"Thank you, Colonel," said General Lee. "I have -been interested, but Early would make a fine corps -commander." Being dismissed, I hastened back to -camp, full of thoughts as to who was to command -us. It looked from the General's closing words as if -it would be Early (I am sure he preferred him), but -no, Anderson was the man. Later, the same day, -came the order assigning chivalrous, deliberate -"Dick" Anderson to the command of the First Army -Corps and it was not very long before he was made -lieutenant-general.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXXII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Battles of Spottsylvania C. H., May 10 and 12, -and Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>The night's horrors—The forest on fire—Sufferings of the - wounded—On same ground May 7th—Anderson in command - of First Corps—Characteristics—The great strategic - contest between Grant and Lee—Grant moves for Spottsylvania - Court House—Lee follows in time—Both sides entrench—Union - attack of 10th checked—Not so on the - 12th—Edward Johnson's division suddenly assailed—Is - captured with guns and colors—A serious loss keenly felt—Salient - was exposed—New line established—Terrific - fire for its possession by Gordon's fresh troops—We hold - the new ground after heavy losses—Sedgwick killed on 10th—Stuart, - our cavalry leader, shot on May 12—General Lee - not in good health—Attack by Grant at Cold Harbor—Great - slaughter of Union soldiers—Assaults abandoned—Grant - asks for truce to bury dead—Lee in doubt as to enemy's - movements—Grant stole a march and nearly had - Petersburg—Saved by Beauregard—Reinforcements and - losses—An accident by falling chimney—Death of Colonel - Edward Willis—General Hampton assigned to command - of cavalry—Sketch.</p> -</div> - - -<p>The night was hideous. The brush and undergrowth -had taken fire from the musketry and flames -and smoke were obscuring everything. The numerous -parties out for burying the dead and gathering -the wounded were much impeded and many wounded -must have perished, hidden from sight of man in -that awful burnt tangle. These duties and close -search continued all next day.</p> - -<p>Our new commander, General Anderson, took the -corps early on the 7th, during which the armies lay -quiet after the battle. Grant was not aggressive, nor -were we. The Federal commander's reflections may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> -have been sombre. Expecting only a march, he had -found bloody battles, for the Army of Northern Virginia -was always in front of him. On the other hand, -Lee was doubtless in the full gravity of the immense -responsibilities before him and his severe losses.</p> - -<p>It was from now until June 14th, when Grant -reached his pontoon bridge over the James on his -way to the new scene of action at Petersburg, a game -to the death for the possession of Richmond. His -able and powerful movements were to throw his army -between Lee and our capital. He found Lee always, -not the capital, and the movements, which shall not -be detailed too much, were steadily on that line. Our -General invariably penetrated his adversary's design -and objective and was there—perhaps in a hurry and -breathless, but there; and enough of us were ready to -make necessary another march of the Union left.</p> - -<p>Following then his original plan, Grant, on the -night of the 7th, made a rapid flank movement to -secure Spottsylvania Court House. Immediately part -of our corps moved with General Anderson and arrived -at the Court House contemporaneously with the -Northerners.</p> - -<p>The march through the scorched and smoking -Wilderness was most painful. The Union men, a -little advance, had seized the best strategic point, but -were driven off by our arrival, and on the 9th we -found each other in line of battle, both sides entrenching -wherever they might stand.</p> - -<p>On the 10th the enemy made a handsome dash at -Ewell's left and dislodged it, taking two guns. General -Lee wanted to lead for recovery, but was dissuaded. -The enemy being attacked was made to give -up the line and the guns.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> - -<p>It was in this affair that Maj.-Gen. John Sedgwick, -commander of Grant's Sixth Corps, was killed. A -bullet pierced his head from a great distance. He -and Lee had been warm friends, and the latter expressed -many regrets.</p> - -<p>There was a salient on Ewell's line, occupied by -Edward Johnson's division, that Lee rightly considered -dangerous to our security. Another line across -the base was ordered constructed and the exposed artillery -transferred to it. Before arrangements could -be completed and before the artillery could be pushed -forward again, Johnson was fiercely assailed at sunrise -on the 12th by a heavy column massed for the -purpose during the night. Most of the division was -captured, including Major-General Johnson and Brigadier-General -Stewart.</p> - -<p>Lee's position instantly became perilous. He was -cut in twain and fully realized it. Good work was -done in repairing the break and strong bodies of troops -moved from right and left to check the enemy's further -advance. General Lee was under intense anxiety, -plainly evinced, and was quite on the point of -leading his fresh troops for restoring the line. Gen. -J. B. Gordon, however, came on the scene, got the -General back in his right place, and after a short, -impassioned address to the troops, attacked most vigorously -with the other generals. Truly it was the center -of a fire from hell itself! The Federals lining the -two sides of the captured salient and the Confederates -at the base poured forth a fusilade that could not be -exceeded. Nothing uncovered could live in such a -fire—trees were felled, trunks cut by small-arm bullets! -The Union advance was checked, but we failed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> -to recover our first lines and rested with a new one -better drawn.</p> - -<p>The army felt keenly the loss of Johnson's division -and guns, but our lines were not again forced in the -field. Reinforcements poured into the Union army, -Grant waiting quietly until the 18th for assembling -them from Washington, occasionally also doing some -maneuvering. Our own army was likewise in quiet -inaction, but unhappily receiving no such reinforcements.</p> - -<p>General Anderson, as already stated, was well -known to us, and fell easily into position as corps -commander. During the events just sketched he had -shown commendable prudence and an intelligent comprehension -of the work in hand. He was a very -brave man, but of a rather inert, indolent manner -for commanding troops in the field, and by no means -pushing or aggressive. My relations with him were -uniformly pleasant. He seemed to leave the corps -much to his staff, while his own meditative disposition -was constantly soothed by whiffs from a noble, -cherished meerschaum pipe in process of rich coloring. -He was a short, thick, stocky figure, with good -features and agreeable expression. I sometimes -found myself sleeping in the same tent with him. He -had a way on waking of sitting on his bed and proceeding -to mend and patch his belongings out of a -well-filled tailor's "necessaire" he always carried—clothing, -hats, boots, bridles, saddles, everything -came handy to him. He caught me once watching -this work, and said, smiling: "You are wondering, -I see; so did my wife when first married. She thought -she should do the mending, but I told her I ought to -have a little recreation occasionally."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> - -<p>We heard of Stewart's death near the Yellow Tavern -on May 12th. It caused indescribable feeling in -the army.</p> - -<p>The great cavalry leader was so known to us all, -officers and men; had passed through so much without -hurt; his devotion to Lee was so thoroughly appreciated, -and our sense of security against surprise -so confident with him in the saddle that deep was our -grief. His disposition so happy and sunny, his enterprise -so untiring, his soul so valiant, all sprang to -our memories. It was really after the battle that he -fell, by an outpost bullet, when he should have been -safe.</p> - -<p>Long years after, on a glorious day in May, Confederate -veterans thronged Richmond to dedicate the -statue of their beloved commander.</p> - -<p>The flower-strewn city—grim war having long -since given way to gentle peace—was gay with lovely -women and their happy smiles; while bright bunting, -our own starry cross and the stars and stripes, conspicuous -with flags of all nations, made the streets a -mass of flaming color.</p> - -<p>It was as one of the marshals that I was assisting -on the memorable occasion, and dear friends at the -fine old Virginia estate, the Stewart's hospitable -"Brook Hill," near the city, had made me their guest. -The gracious hostess, growing if possible more lovely -with advancing years, recalled from far back that historic -toast and beauty of old Virginia, Evelyn Byrd, -from whose family she descended; there this pictured -chatelaine of Brook Hill, encompassed by accomplished -daughters, dispensed a charming hospitality.</p> - -<p>On one of those days Miss Stewart drove me to the -spot where Stewart fell, about half way between their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> -residence and the old Yellow Tavern. A small stone -shaft by the roadside marked it. There we feelingly -recalled his deeds and fame, and placed upon it our -flower tokens. It was pleasant to see, too, the young -people and children of the countryside tenderly placing -their own remembrances on the hero's column. The -valiant rider was not forgotten!</p> - -<p>On the 18th we sustained on our lines another attack. -It was easily resisted, and then Grant, two -days after, started toward Bowling Green. Lee was -quick to move for Hanover Junction and offered battle -there. Grant declining, moved about May 25th -on a detour to the east—Lee always parallel and -Richmond behind him.</p> - -<p>Our Commander-in-Chief was far from well physically. -Colonel Taylor, his adjutant-general, says the -indisposition was more serious than generally supposed. -Those near him were very apprehensive lest -he should be compelled to give up. General Early -writes: "One of his three corps commanders had -been disabled by wounds at Wilderness. Another -was too ill to command his corps, while he himself -was suffering from a most annoying and weakening -disease." Only his indomitable will and devotion -could keep him in the field. To them we owe his -patriotic adherence to the command of his unexampled -army.</p> - -<p>About the 30th the Confederate army was in battle -order near Atlee's Station, but General Grant continued -his flank movement, Lee by him, in an easterly -direction, and on June 3d the two armies confronted -each other at Cold Harbor, the Confederates hastily -entrenching, as usual.</p> - -<p>It was historic ground. We had fought on part<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> -of it on the eventful days of June 26, 27, 28, 1862. -Here the Federal commander, weary of Lee and the -oft-repeated march, made up his mind evidently to -finish things. He attacked us with the utmost ferocity, -but in vain. The assaults were delivered repeatedly -but always repulsed with frightful carnage, and -finally men could do no more. The officers with -drawn swords pointed the way, but the men stood motionless -in their ranks, a silent, effective protest against -further "attrition."</p> - -<p>Our men were steady in their field works and suffered -but little loss. A section of a Savannah battery, -commanded by Lieutenant Robert Faligant, was -on our line and conspicuous for its brilliant work. -Swinton, the historian, says, "The loss on the Union -side in this sanguinary action was over 13,000, while -on the part of the Confederates it is doubtful if it -reached that many hundreds."</p> - -<p>General Grant was late in asking for a truce to bury -his dead, but finally did so. The sight in our front was -sickening, heartrending to the stoutest soldier. Nothing -like it was seen during the war, and that awful -mortality was inflicted in but little more than an hour! -The Union commander afterwards announced in general -orders that no more assaults on entrenched lines -should be made. He then continued his movement -eastward. Lee was for a short time in painful doubt -whether Grant would cross the river or hold his route -up the north side. It was solved by Grant's bridge -and rapid crossing, Lee having barely time to throw -his van into Petersburg. Grant had nearly stolen the -march on him.</p> - -<p>The latter had expected to capture the town by -surprise, a coup de main. He was foiled by Beaure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span>gard -and Wise and some brave militia and home -guards. They defended the position until succor -came, by the head of Lee's column hastening to the -rescue. Beauregard's conduct on this occasion was -admirable, and much was owing to him, for which I -doubt if full acknowledgment has been made.</p> - -<p>According to official returns the Union losses since -May 5th had been 60,700 killed, wounded and missing—3,000 -more than Lee numbered at the opening of -the campaign. Grant had received in reinforcements -51,000 muskets, including Smith's four brigades. -Lee's were 14,000.</p> - -<p>From Wilderness to Cold Harbor: Lee's aggregate, -78,400; Grant's aggregate, 192,600.</p> - -<p>I place here an incident less dismal than the reflections -brought up by the foregoing gruesome figures.</p> - -<p>At one of the small rivers in the sharp campaign -just ended we were in line on the south side inviting -battle. The enemy were on the other side, but with -no intention of crossing. He contented himself with -abundant artillery practise, and made everything uncomfortable -in range of his shell. We found no need -of making reply and saved our ammunition. Our -corps headquarters had made halt for the time in a -beautiful grove, where stood a large, old-fashioned -Virginia residence, a great house of wooden framing, -with two immense brick chimneys at each gable, the -chimneys stretching far above the roof apex.</p> - -<p>The shelling was so frequent and the small fragments -flying everywhere so annoying that most of -us got under the lee of a gable. We knew it would -not resist a shell, but could fend off the offensive fragments. -General Anderson was coolly walking about -the grove, sucking his big pipe, and warned us that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> -if a shell struck one of the chimneys there might be -trouble. We were perhaps two dozen sitting there, -officers, orderlies, and some horses held by the bridle. -Anderson was right. A crash, a bursting roar, and -down came bricks and mortar on those not quick -enough to skip out of the way. I myself lost no time, -and was unhurt, as also were the others of the staff. -But two of the couriers had a bad time of it. Hardy, -my Chickamauga man, and Tucker, from Milledgeville, -had, one a broken leg, the other a fractured arm. -Both were put into an ambulance and, cursing and -reviling at being wounded by loose brick-bats instead -of honorable bullets, were carried to the rear. The -laugh was decidedly on us.</p> - -<p>A loss, personal to me as well as to the army, -happened during the marches, in which there was -sometimes severe fighting by parts of the armies not -mentioned in the narrative. General Early, a most -enterprising, resourceful officer, was much given to -forced reconnaissances. They usually seemed to me -unnecessary and wasted men by death and wounds. -Their intention was to ascertain accurately the positive -strength and morale of the enemy, and generally a -brigade was told off for the service. It appeared to -me that the information could be gathered by scouts -and picked men without sacrificing the ranks, but General -Early thought differently. On one of these movements -the Virginia brigade of Pegram (who was absent, -wounded) was commanded by Col. Edward Willis, -of the Twelfth Georgia Infantry. His was a fine -character. Just from West Point at the outbreak of -the war, he threw himself into the army with ardor, -became colonel of the fine Twelfth Georgia Infantry, -worthily succeeding Ed. Johnson, and was about to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> -made brigadier-general when ordered to the reconnaissance -in force. He was shot down, mortally -wounded—the gallant, fair-headed, white-skinned, -slight young colonel (he was very young), valiantly -leading the brigade.</p> - -<p>Our position was at some distance, but I was immediately -sent for. Our families had long been neighbors -and friends in Savannah, and young Willis was -soon to be one of us by a still closer tie. I was quickly -by his side. He died on my arm, but not before whispering -loving messages for home and to that one he -bore on his brave heart to its last beat. The remains -of this brilliant young soldier were sent home, accompanied -by a guard of honor picked from the brigade -by his division commander.</p> - -<p>Major-General Hampton succeeded Stuart in command -of the cavalry. This officer had served from -the very beginning of the war with high distinction, -had proved himself a careful, vigilant, as well as enterprising -cavalry leader, and possessed the confidence -of the cavalry troops. General Lee gave him his own -without reservation and his hearty support in every -situation.</p> - -<p>General Hampton was of fine presence, a bold -horseman, a swordsman, and of the most undaunted -courage. He had received several wounds, but was -now in robust health.</p> - -<p>His family were identified with South Carolina -from its earliest settlement, and grew to be of commanding -importance and wealth.</p> - -<p>He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general, and after -the war performed great political services to his State -within her borders and as her Senator at Washington.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXXIII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">The Siege of Petersburg, June, 1864, to -March, 1865</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Siege of Petersburg—Lines closely drawn—Attacks on Lee's - right—Mahone's defense—Mining for an explosion—North - side threatened—Troops sent—Capture of Battery - Harrison—Lee's attempt to retake it—The repulse—General - Lee and General Pemberton—Attack on Fort Gilmer—Negroes - in the van—General Lee's activity—His headquarters—Enemy's - fire on Petersburg—Meeting with Twelfth - Virginia Infantry—Lee attacks in front of Richmond—Beats - Kautz and takes his cannon—Kautz retreats to a fort—Lee - attacks and is repulsed—Union troops armed with - Spencer rifles—General Lee's quick eye for horses—Ewell's - fall from his horse—Kershaw's Division sent to Valley—Destruction - of barns and houses—Kershaw returns—Capture - of a remount—The crater—Intercourse between - pickets—Continuous firing—General E. P. Alexander's love - of shooting.</p> -</div> - - -<p>The siege of Petersburg had now begun. It is certain -that Lee had had a narrow escape in getting there -in time. Grant had nearly beaten him and indeed -should have taken the place, notwithstanding Beauregard's -boldness. The Union generals had been explaining -with some heated recriminations how they -failed to be in possession before Lee came up. The -latter on the north side had been for hours under intense -anxious uncertainty in discovering Grant's move, -whether a crossing or continued march on the north -side.</p> - -<p>The lines were closely drawn and severe fighting -ensued. Digging began in earnest on both sides. -Salients, traverses, bastions, forts, trenches, covered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> -ways, parallel, zig-zags, and all the other devices for -the taking and defense of fortified cities were resorted -to. Our left rested on the Appomattox River and -was so close to the enemy's line that a biscuit could -be thrown across, and conversation went on constantly -between the fighters, who the next minute were -firing at any head or arm that might be incautiously -exposed. Our works stretched from the left around -the town to the Weldon Road on the right, and this -was an object of Lee's constant solicitude. It was -our direct railroad to the South, and Grant in possession -would have our communications cut and supplies -broken off. For months it was the Federal General's -incessant effort to accomplish it. His great numbers -made it possible, but Lee always managed, notwithstanding, -to have a defense.</p> - -<p>At Reams Station Major-General Mahone performed -great service in beating back the force sent -to seize the road at that point. Later in the siege, -mining began by the enemy. The result was the appalling -hour of the crater explosion by which very -many Confederates perished, and then in the great -combat that followed for recapturing the ground, hundreds -of Federals fell. Mahone was conspicuous in -restoring the broken lines.</p> - -<p>But the story of the siege of Petersburg—eight -months—is not to be told in a few pages. It was a -struggle from day to day, night to night, and filled -with picturesque scenes of individual daring and valor, -sorties and strategems. There was often quiet massing -of columns for heavy assaults on points supposed -to be relatively weak. We sustained many of these -but the lines were maintained. Lee also made some -hard drives at his opponent with varying success. All,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> -however, pointed to only one thing—the wasting of -our unrecruited strength and the apparently limitless -numbers available for the Union Army.</p> - -<p>While such operations were carried on south of the -James, General Grant was not idle on the north side. A -strong force was held there threatening Richmond, and -our commander had to provide for it out of his thin -ranks and keep some show of strength in front of our -capital, immensely aided, however, by the excellent -lines of field works that environed the city. These -conditions brought about considerable shifting of our -two divisions. Field and Kershaw were between the -Petersburg lines and the north side, and Pickett's division -was defending what was known as the Chesterfield -lines between Petersburg and Richmond, but was -not threatened.</p> - -<p>A strong force of the enemy had massed north of -the James and captured a powerful earthwork known -as Battery Harrison on our extreme right. General -Lee had come on the scene with one of the First Corps -divisions and other troops. He decided to retake the -fort, attaching great importance to its possession. An -assaulting column of three good brigades was organized, -Bratton's South Carolina regiments among them. -Captain Sorrel, then adjutant-general, shook hands -with me as they started forward, almost a "forlorn -hope," and I thought never to see him alive again. -But he came out safe among many killed and wounded, -the assault being repulsed with great loss. A new -line was entrenched and fortified, thrown back to right -and rear.</p> - -<p>General Lee, when he liked, could sit down pretty -hard on words not agreeable to him. An example -was given that night. With his staff and several gen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span>eral -officers he was at the Chaffin farm-house on the -James, reviewing the serious events of the day. General -Pemberton, after the fall of Vicksburg, being -without assignment, had assumed his rank of lieutenant-colonel -in the Regular Army, and as such was on -engineer duty on the Richmond line of defense. He -was present and, speaking of Battery Harrison, said -with something like superior confidence, "I presume, -General, you will retake the fort, coûte que coûte." -Lee's sad, steady eyes rested on that unfortunate officer -as he slowly said: "General Pemberton, I made -my effort this morning and failed, losing many killed -and wounded. I have ordered another line provided -for that point and shall have no more blood shed at the -fort unless you can show me a practical plan of capture; -perhaps you can. I shall be glad to have it." -There was no answer from Pemberton.</p> - -<p>General Lee had had an anxious day; all of it was -occupied in meeting the enemy's attacks. There was -an especially severe one on Fort Gilmer by Ben -Butler's command, with negro regiments pushed in -front of the assailing whites. Fortunately we had -a staunch regiment in the fort, which beat back the -attacking column.</p> - -<p>A hundred or two of the negroes, half crazed with -whiskey, got into the ditch of the fort and refused -surrender.</p> - -<p>Our men lighted some shells, rolled them over the -parapet and quickly brought the darkies to subjection. -It was an ugly affair all through.</p> - -<p>And so the siege passed. One day strong detachments -must be made to meet powerful movements -against our extreme right flank, and requires the -leaders' presence. Truly never was a leader called<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> -on for greater performance. General Lee's health -was now fortunately stronger and his activity most -wonderful.</p> - -<p>He was in comfortable quarters at the Turnbull -House, offered for his use by the owner. Our own -were not far distant, and quite comfortable in tents -and small houses. The routine life of the town -passed from day to day without excitement. The -people had become accustomed to shell and bullets -and made no ado when they whizzed about their heads.</p> - -<p>I do not think the enemy's fire was directed especially -at the non-combatant part of the town, but -much of it got there all the same. A new accession -to our staff was Captain Dunn, of Petersburg, an -excellent gentleman, with us now for several months. -A shell burst on him while bathing in his house, and -smashed things all around, but the A. D. C. and his -family escaped. A bullet had found his leg before -this good luck.</p> - -<p>The citizens were very hospitable and very self-sacrificing. -Too much could not be done for the soldiers. -But this was the feeling and the practise all -over Virginia.</p> - -<p>As we entered Petersburg I came up with the regiments -of Mahone's brigade, the Twelfth among them. -They had not forgotten the Wilderness, gave me a -rousing cheer, and cried that we must again together -charge these fellows in front of Petersburg. Their -brave survivors keep me in mind still, after these -many years.</p> - -<p>General Lee, always aggressive, was quick to find -opportunity of attack. He saw his enemy rather exposed -at a point in front of Richmond, quickly got -some troops in position, and made a dash at them in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> -great style. It was a strong force of infantry and -cavalry under General Kautz, and he left eight or -nine guns, many prisoners, and some colors in our -hands, retiring to a strong fort and defenses about a -mile in his rear. Our General decided to have it and -follow up his first success. Gregg's Texas Brigade -and two others—seasoned troops—were thrown at -Kautz's fort. We could not live against its fire—no -troops could. His men were armed with the Spencer -magazine rifles and such a fire had never before jarred -and stunned us. We had to retire and resume our -positions. Losses were considerable, among them -Brig.-Gen. John Gregg, commanding the Texas -Brigade—a very able officer.</p> - -<p>General Lee was fond of horses and had always -an eye to them. When the first attack was made my -brother, Captain Sorrel, was mounted on a nice young -mare I had just given him. At the first onset she -was shot, and horse and rider were both in the mud. -It happened almost under General Lee's eyes.</p> - -<p>Some days after, the General meeting Sorrel on -the road kindly asked if he were hurt, and was sorry -for the loss of the mare. "But I have got another, -General," said the Captain. "Yes, two it seems," -the General answered as he rode off, smiling. Sorrel's -bewilderment was removed when later on it became -plain that the new purchase was in foal.</p> - -<p>When Ewell, one leg gone, was forced to relinquish -field work and take leave of his corps, the old Warrior -insisted on other duty, and was assigned to command -of the inner line of defenses about Richmond. General -Lee, with Ewell, Anderson, and a number of other -officers, and some of our staff, was examining a new -line of defense with that trained engineer's eye of his,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> -Ewell riding by him. The latter was so good a horseman -that his one leg was equal to most riders' two, but -his horse stumbling, down came both—an awful cropper. -I made sure the General's head and neck were -cracked. He was picked up, no bones broken, but -an "object" about the head; scratched, bruised, torn -and bloody. Lee instantly ordered him back to Richmond -and to stay there until completely well.</p> - -<p>In two or three hours he was again on the lines, -and such a sight! Painfully comical it was. He -had gone to the hospital, where the bald head and -face were dressed. He returned swathed in bandages -from crown of head to shoulders. Two little -apertures for his piercing eyes and two small breathing -spaces were all that was left open for the Lieutenant-General. -Quite indifferent, however, to such -mishaps, he was sharp about his work and lisping -out directions as usual.</p> - -<p>General Lee thought to weaken the pressure on him -at Petersburg and Richmond by transferring some of -it to the open field of the Valley, where skilful maneuvering -might offset inferior numbers. He had the -temerity to detach part of his army for the purpose, -and with some other commands sent General Anderson -with Kershaw's division across the mountains. Most -of the staff went with the expedition and had opportunity -of witnessing Sheridan's work in destroying -all the resources of that fighting-ground.</p> - -<p>As we marched forward, the enemy slowly retiring, -smoke was seen ahead on a wide range from the -burning barns and granaries of the non-combatant -people. Sheridan was arranging for his "crow" to -carry his own rations should he venture into the -Valley.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> - -<p>General Lee's ingenious and bold attempt did not -result as he hoped. Grant could not be tempted that -way. His business was at Petersburg and Richmond, -and besides there were already enough of his troops -in the Valley and covering Washington to answer for -the safety of that capital. Our expedition was therefore -soon terminated and came back to the James. -The division had but two encounters in the Valley. -One at Charlestown, a small affair, in which General -Humphreys, commanding the Mississippi Brigade, was -wounded. Another was at Front Royal, in which -Wofford's brigade got caught in a bend of the river -and was beaten off with loss in killed, wounded, and -prisoners. A dear friend, Colonel Edward Stiles, -Sixteenth Georgia Regiment, was killed.</p> - -<p>I had chance, however, before marching, after a -sharp night's ride, to pay a flying visit at their home -to the good ladies Hamtrammock, who had cared -for me wounded at Sharpsburg. They were as pleasant -as ever and the hour seemed all too short. While -in the Federal lines they had supplied themselves with -all sorts of little things for soldiers in the field, as -tokens of remembrance, and I had pressed on me a -pair of fine gauntlets, which seemed about everything -that I wanted at the moment.</p> - -<p>On our way back to Lee the division (Kershaw's) -suddenly came up with a Union regiment of cavalry -foraging at the foot of the mountains. It was a -surprise to the riders, and they at once took to their -heels, pressing up on the side of the mountains for -escape. We had nothing but food with us, and most -of the mounted regiment got safely away in small -parties. Two fully-equipped ambulances, however, -could not follow the riders, and were overturned in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> -a mountain gulley. One of them furnished me with -an excellent mount. Two soldiers were going through -its beautiful equipment, and coming among the medicines -to a large vessel labeled "Spiritus frumenti" it -was tossed aside with the rest of the pharmacopœia. -But some one suggested that "Spiritus frumenti" -might be another way of spelling whiskey—and then -to see those fellows go for it!</p> - -<p>While the commander and most of the troops of -the First Corps were on the north side, the enemy's -mines at Petersburg were "spring making." "The -Crater" was a frightful affair, and should, it appears -to me, have been prevented. We knew they were mining. -Our shaft had been sunk and short galleries -run out. Their working parties could be heard. -Should we not have countermined actively and fought -their men off in their own galleries? However, it was -not done, and the "blow up," considered only barely -possible, was upon us. When it came it was all that -the enemy could wish. His plans were excellent, but -miscarried by the conduct of one or more of his leading -officers. The crater was at once filled with their -men, many negroes among them—negroes who, as -usual, primed with whiskey, had been pushed to the -front and into the breach, but support failed them.</p> - -<p>Then came the Confederates' great work of destroying -these men and recovering their mutilated line. -Mahone did brilliant service. His division of five -brigades was thrown at the invaders, and with other -forces seized the "hole," captured or killed the unfortunates -in it, and the day was ours with the works -and integrity of the line restored.</p> - -<p>I had heard much of this remarkable fight from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> -the Georgia Brigade (it had been very conspicuous -in it) that I took command of some days after.</p> - -<p>This amusing story was told me by one of its men. -Exhausted in the crater fight, he sank wearily on a -log for a short rest. It moved gently and an old-fashioned -negro's voice came from the log-like darky, -"Please, Marster, don't shoot; I'se doin' nuttin'." -The rascal had doubtless been one of the first in the -crater, wild with liquor; but the Southerner was merciful -and sent him to the rear.</p> - -<p>Of course the men on both sides behind the works, -so close sometimes, got tired of "potting" at each -other, and taking a rest became altogether too friendly. -Firing would cease and individuals and small parties -appear in front bartering and chaffing with the boys -in blue.</p> - -<p>Our tobacco was always good for coffee and a -Northern paper. It got to be too familiar and led -to desertions of our men. Their rations were of the -poorest (one-half pound of bacon and three-quarters -of a pound of cornmeal), their clothing and shoes -worn and unfit for the field, and their work and duties -of the hardest on our attenuated lines. Reliefs were -few and far between. No wonder they sometimes -weakened to better themselves, as they supposed, and -stayed with the fat-jowled, well-clad, coddled-up -masses opposite them. But we had to stop the desertions -at any price, so at night steady, continuous -musketry firing was ordered, sweeping the glacis in -front of our entrenchments. It cost a lot of lead -and powder, but did something in holding back the -weaklings in our command.</p> - -<p>The enemy, nothing loth, returned the fire, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> -were good enough to send plenty of their own lead. -There was considerable to be gathered during the -day, and this got my friend, Gen. E. P. Alexander, -into trouble. He was a many-sided character—an -engineer of the highest abilities, an artillerist of great -distinction, a good reconnoitering officer and an enthusiastic -sportsman besides. In the early days of the -war I one day met him, mounted as usual on a very -sorry, doubtful-looking beast, with a pair of enormous -holsters on his saddle-horn. "And what have you -there, Alexander?" I asked, thinking possibly of some -good edibles. "These," he said, and drew out his -long telescope for reconnaissance—a very powerful -glass—and from the other an enormous old-fashioned -horse-pistol of immense calibre, some tiny cubes of -lead, cut from bullets, and a pinch or two of gunpowder. -"Quail," he said, "are eating up this country -and I like them. This old pistol gives me many -a mess of birds." At Petersburg his only want for -his private gunning was lead to melt into small shot, -and gathering some (after working his big gun) he -received an unexpected contribution—a bullet in his -shoulder, hot from the enemy, which made him a very -uncomfortable wound.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>CHAPTER XXXIV</h2> -</div> - -<p class="ph3"><span class="smcap">Longstreet's Return—Farewell to Lee</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p>Return of Longstreet—Am promoted brigadier-general—Parting - with the First Corps—Report to A. P. Hill and Mahone—Sketches—Assume - command of brigade of Georgians—Its - staff—Drill and exercises—Laying out a camp—General - Lee's encouragement—Want of field officers—Captain - H. H. Perry—Mahone's bread ovens—Christmas, 1864—Sherman's - march in Georgia—Grant's Virginia strategy—Our - division moves out in bitter cold—Demonstration on our - extreme right against the railroad—Brigade forms line—No - close firing—Enemy rejoins his main command—Received - a slight wound—The return to camp—Its bad condition - in our absence—Valuable boots burnt in bivouac—In - February again ordered out to right—Serious collision with - enemy in force at Hatcher's Run—General Pegram killed—Am - shot in lung and borne from the field—Moved to Richmond - and thence to Colonel Watts's, in southwest Virginia - for convalescence—My recovery—Marriage of Doctor - Sorrel—At Lynchburg—Hear of Lee's surrender—Take - to the mountains—Again at Colonel Watts's—Hunter and - Crook—Homeward bound—Lady Godiva—Farewell to - Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia.</p> -</div> - - -<p>It was in October, our corps (two divisions) being -on the north side, that we had the happiness of welcoming -our chief back to his command.</p> - -<p>His right arm was quite paralyzed and useless.</p> - -<p>He had taught himself to write legibly and easily -with his left. Following the advice of his doctor, he -was forever pulling at the disabled arm to bring back -its life and action. He succeeded, for, though never -strong, its use was partially restored in later years -and his pen went back to it.</p> - -<p>I was with him but a few days. My commission -as brigadier-general came unexpectedly, a note from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> -my friend Burton Harrison, the President's Secretary, -to the effect that it had been signed, reaching -me the evening before. This was the first inkling I -had of the promotion. Elsewhere it has been told -how it came about, and I began preparing to move, -my orders being to report to Lieut.-Gen. A. P. Hill -for command in Mahone's division. Hill's corps was -on the south side in front of Petersburg. Lieut.-Col. -O. Latrobe succeeded me as A. A. G. and chief of -staff; an excellent assignment. A brigadier going to -an organized command carries no staff with him. -That is attached to the brigade, not to the general. -He has one appointment, that of A. D. C. (captain's -rank), personal to himself. There were many applications -for the place, but sending for Spencer, private, -Fort Alabama, my sergeant of couriers for several -years, I almost floored the modest fellow by asking -if he should like to go with me as captain. "Of -course" he should, and did, and was part and parcel -of that brigade of Georgians in no time until Appomattox -dispersed us. I had made no mistake in -him; an exceedingly useful staff officer.</p> - -<p>Few can know how painful it was to part with -my corps and its chief. I had started with them at -the opening battle, handled its growing battalions into -brigades and divisions, and shared its battles, expeditions, -and campaigns; was proud of its renown; was -known to officers and men of every regiment and had, -I believe, their confidence and respect. It was much -to give up, but the duty called, and on a fine morning -I mounted with my A. D. C. to cross the river and -take up my new billet. I shall be excused, I hope, if -a little homesickness is confessed.</p> - -<p>My comrades did not let me go easily. The night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> -before there was a farewell party of many officers at -headquarters. A goodly quantity of apple-toddy was -consumed, but not to hurt, and the party, General -Longstreet with us for a time, was full of feeling, -touching me keenly by its spontaneous demonstration.</p> - -<p>Here ended the staff officer's duties, but his recollections -will yet carry him a little way forward while -commanding his brigade. The end was fast approaching, -and my concluding jottings seem to belong to -what has gone before.</p> - -<p>Turning my back, then, for the first time on the -glorious old First Army Corps, I reported next day -at A. P. Hill's quarters. Nothing could exceed his -kindness in receiving me; it continued all through my -service in his corps and I had every evidence of the -good feeling of this distinguished officer. I was to -report next to General Mahone for command of his -Georgia brigade. This remarkable man was at breakfast -when I entered and immediately had me seated -with him.</p> - -<p>Maj.-Gen. William Mahone was a Virginian, about -forty years of age. His appearance arrested attention. -Very small both in height and frame, he seemed -a mere atom with little flesh. His wife said "none." -When he was shot (slightly) she was told it was only -a flesh wound. "Now I know it is serious," said the -good lady, "for William has no flesh whatever." Sallow -of feature, sharp of eye, and very active in movement -was the General; in dress quite unconventional, -he affected jackets rather than coats, and on a certain -hot summer's day that I recall he was seen, a major-general -indeed, but wonderfully accoutered! A plaited -brown linen jacket, <em>buttoned to trousers</em>, of same material, -like a boy's; topped off by a large Panama<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> -straw hat of the finest and most beautiful texture, met -our eyes, and I must say he looked decidedly comfortable. -But not always was he thus attired. He -could be strictly uniformed when he chose.</p> - -<p>He had been president of the railroad between -Petersburg and Norfolk, and retaining the office, managed -the road all through the campaigns. Finally the -enemy captured his wagon-load of railroad papers, -records, etc., and Mahone was raging. It was that -railway, when hostilities ended, that he combined with -others connecting and gained a start into the political -power and mischief he exercised in Virginia. His -brigade of Virginians had not seen much hard fighting -until the Wilderness, and there they did well. It -was at Petersburg, in command of his division of five -brigades from Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, -and Florida that he justly won great reputation for -brilliant achievements in defense of the beleaguered -city. He was undoubtedly a general of very uncommon -ability.</p> - -<p>While we sat, I enjoyed his breakfast. A high -liver, nothing could excel it, and he was never without -the materials. A cow was always by his quarters -and laying hens cackled loud, besides many luxuries. -Delicate in physique, he had to nourish himself -carefully.</p> - -<p>I received his orders to take command of my -Georgians, and mounted on my way to them. Mahone -was said to be irritable and in some instances -tyrannical, but for myself I had invariably nothing -but consideration, and often good help from him.</p> - -<p>The brigade was in trenches far on the right, not -in very close touch with the enemy, and was having -a quiet time of it with Col. William Gibson in com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span>mand. -He was well known in Georgia politics for -some years, and a very brave officer; repeatedly -wounded, but without discipline or organization. -Leave of absence was allowed him to return to Georgia.</p> - -<p>On assuming command, Captain Evans, a line officer -detailed as A. A. G., supposing that I was bringing -an officer of the staff department with me, suggested -that probably I should wish him to rejoin his regiment.</p> - -<p>But I wanted him with me. He had long filled -the post, was acquainted with almost every officer -and man of the brigade, and was a brave and qualified -officer. The command consisted of the Second, -Twenty-second, Forty-eighth, and Sixty-fourth regiments -and Second and Tenth battalions, Georgia Infantry. -The Sixty-fourth regiment and Tenth battalion -were late levies and had not made the great -reputation of the others, while serving under Wright -and Girardy. The latter was a most promising officer -promoted from captain in the brigade, and was killed at -the head of it two weeks after taking command.</p> - -<p>The Third Georgia enjoyed a reputation excelled -by none in the army.</p> - -<p>My first thought was to get supplies of clothing -and shoes for the men and have the command relieved -from trench duty, to which it was entitled by -the length of service in them. Our work strengthening -the defenses always went on, and there was no -time for much-needed drill and military exercise.</p> - -<p>General Lee, taking his daily ride about the lines, -came on me while the working parties were digging -and spading. His greeting was, "Good-morning, my -young friend; I feel sorry for you." "Why so, General?" -"Because you have so much to do," answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> -the commander, the gleaming white teeth showing his -pleasant humor as he continued his ride. He generally -had some such words to let one know he expected -a lot of work out of him.</p> - -<p>I was not unsuccessful as to my wants. A fair -quantity of supplies were issued and orders came for -relief from the trenches and to pitch good winter camps -a little in the rear. It was great joy to the troops.</p> - -<p>A good piece of woods was selected and a fine -camp of winter huts laid out and built according to -regulations, with battalion fronts and company streets -and all the rest in good soldiery form. Once settled, -drill became the order of the day in good weather. -There were fine open fields near by furnishing good -ground, and company drill, battalion drill, and evolutions -of the line by the brigade were followed up -vigorously, as well as all military exercises and street -duties practised and perfected. The men were in -much need of the instruction. Decided neglect in -these respects had fallen on this fine brigade after the -stern and gallant Wright left it, and the good effects -of the efforts now working out were soon apparent.</p> - -<p>The greatest want was in field officers; so many -had been wounded and left with the enemy at Gettysburg, -besides others sick at home or in the hospital, -that the regiments suffered thereby.</p> - -<p>I wrote urgently and personally to Mr. Ould, our -commissioner for exchange, to get back to me certain -officers whom I wanted badly. He managed to -get only one, Colonel Snead, of the Third Georgia, and -him I was glad to have.</p> - -<p>The brigade was well equipped with staff officers of -the subsistence, quartermaster, ordnance, and medical -departments. The commissary, Major Hughes, an ex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span>cellent -fellow, was the same who had sold me those -two sorry mounts that broke down in the Chickamauga -Campaign. On reporting, he evidently thought I -might recall him unfavorably and was a bit uneasy, -until shown that no ill feelings were harbored against -him. In horse dealing it is "caveat emptor"—the -buyer must look sharply to himself.</p> - -<p>It was not long before Capt. H. H. Perry, of the -Adjutant-General's Department, was transferred from -Benning's brigade to report to me as A. A. G. There -being two of that department with Benning and none -with me, Perry was summarily transferred without -any question. He had always performed inspection -duty, and preferring it, was assigned to that branch -of his department in my brigade, thus retaining Evans -as A. A. G. "Old Rock" (General Benning) always -believed I was at the bottom of the whole business and -never forgave me.</p> - -<p>I was surely fortunate in securing so excellent a -staff officer. Highly educated, experienced with -troops, active and resourceful, he soon became prominent -and strong in the brigade as well as attached -to his brigadier. He is still with the living in Georgia, -numbered among my dear friends.</p> - -<p>At times the soldier's ration was execrable, really -unfit. Some bacon from Nassau was coming through -the blockade, and it would not be incredible for the -blockading fleet to allow it to come through in hope -of poisoning us. A third of a pound of this stuff -and some corn-meal was often the full extent of the -daily ration.</p> - -<p>Sometimes we got better allowances of wheat flour, -and then General Mahone took a notion to improve on -it by baking. The brigade commissaries were ordered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> -to set up ovens—plenty of bricks and material lying -about—and issue the flour baked in good loaves. -There is, too, a slight gain in weight in baking. But -the men would none of such food, it was too light and -wholesome. Their stomachs wanted the flour stirred -with grease in a skillet and cooked solid and hard. -When a chunk was eaten it stayed with the soldier -and kept his appetite partly appeased. But these new-fangled -loaves—so easily digested! Hunger came -again, almost before finishing one of them. Not for -Johnny Reb was this thing; he wanted, like Tommy -Atkins, "some bulk in his inside," and one fine morning -Mahone's ovens were found completely demolished. -The soldiers took again to their old-time toothsome -and staying morsels out of the skillet.</p> - -<p>Christmas of 1864 was now at hand. The birth of -the Prince of Peace was given such honor amid the -warlike scenes of the siege as our small resources -permitted. Some boxes came from loving hearts at -home, the commissaries did all they could, and the -Army of Northern Virginia actually feasted, trying -to forget for an hour or two the perils and hardships -that beset it.</p> - -<p>At Christmas General Sherman was in Savannah, -his march to the sea a complete success. My people -at home suffered no great annoyance. Sherman as a -young lieutenant had shared my father's hospitality -and had not forgotten it. The old gentleman, however, -persistently fastened on him the crime of burning -his comfortable country establishment in Virginia.</p> - -<p>Sherman's march and other movements in the West -were in Grant's strategic combination for the destruction -of Lee's army and should be considered in estimating -his abilities outside of operating in Virginia.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> -Indeed, it might be said that Sherman contributed -to the fall of Richmond almost as much as did the -Army of the Potomac.</p> - -<p>Early in January it came on to be very cold, and -during the worst of it our division was ordered out -to meet a threatening demonstration against our right -at a considerable distance. My brigade marched instantly, -our camp being occupied by Gen. C. A. Evans's -Georgia Brigade to fill our position on the line. Evans -was in luck to get his men into such well-prepared -camps. We moved rapidly and in two days came up -with a large force of the enemy, formed in line and -prepared for battle. It appears, however, that he was -not ready this time, or that he overestimated the Confederate -strength sent against him. Some shelling -was indulged in and small-arm long-distance firing. -It seems that but two or three of us were touched, -among them myself. I was sitting on the white mare -(my other mount gone suddenly lame) in front of the -line, with no thought of firing then, so distant was -the enemy,—quite out of range,—when a long-range -rifle sent a bullet through many folds of thick clothing -and striking on the hip bone knocked me out of the -saddle. It proved to be nothing serious. The ball -had glanced off, stiffening and bruising the leg rather -painfully, so that remounting after some bandaging, -it stuck out like a wooden leg. I did not think that -just such a hit could unhorse me.</p> - -<p>My men said the brigade was unlucky for its commanders. -General Wright had been repeatedly and -dangerously wounded; several colonels commanding, -wounded or killed, and General Girardy killed. I began -to think there might be something in it. The -enemy took up the march, and leisurely rejoining their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> -main body to the right, Mahone's division began moving -for the camps just vacated. It continued very -cold, much ice and snow lying about the roads. At -our last bivouac some miles from camp I suffered a -loss, nothing less than a noble pair of riding-boots, -a present, kept for extra work.</p> - -<p>At the bivouac the negro servant had taken them -out of the blanket roll and failed to replace them. -As soon as they were missed, back he went and returned -with the precious leathers burned to a crisp! -Our campfires had spread through the forest. At this -period boots cost five or six hundred dollars of our -currency, if to be had at any price.</p> - -<p>On starting back I sent word to General Evans of -our approach so that my camps could be vacated in -good order. The men were utterly disgusted and -indignant when they re-entered their quarters. They -were little like the well-kept camps they had temporarily -vacated. Evans's officers had not properly restrained -the careless, reckless soldiers. I made vigorous -complaint at headquarters, but at this date there -was perhaps too much else to think of. General -Evans is now chief of the veterans in Georgia and -held in great respect by their dwindling numbers.</p> - -<p>Mahone's other brigades were efficiently commanded -by Finnegan, Florida; Harris, Mississippi; Weisiger, -Virginia; Sanders, Alabama.</p> - -<p>In the first days of February another demonstration -was made against Lee's extreme right, this time in -great force and meaning business. Our division and -other troops with cavalry at once pushed out to meet -it, with Finnegan in command of division (Mahone -was absent, sick). The collision came at Hatcher's -Run by some preliminary skirmishing on February<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> -5th, a sanguinary action on the 6th, followed up by -the enemy feebly on the 7th. On the 6th, my -Georgians were hotly engaged in the afternoon and -made a handsome, successful charge, which dislodged -and forced back the Federals. The contest went on -until darkness stopped it, and the night passed entrenching -where we stood, caring for wounded and -burying dead.</p> - -<p>Early next morning the enemy, driving back my -pickets, got too close to us, and a rifleman put a bullet -through my right lung, smashing the ribs front and -rear. I was down this time for good, I supposed, the -breath gushing through the orifices instead of its natural -channel. The surgeon, Dr. Wood, however, soon -relieved that by plastering the holes, and sent me back -that night. The roads being frozen and very rough, -my brave fellows made two relief gangs and bore -their commander by litter on their shoulders eight -miles to a small shanty, where rest was taken.</p> - -<p>All through the night, while passing stray troops -on the road, I could hear the question, "Who have -you there?" "General Sorrel." "Is he badly hurt?" -"Yes, mortally wounded." The soldier habitually -takes a gloomy view of things.</p> - -<p>Very soon I was in comfortable quarters near -Petersburg, in the hands of my excellent brigade surgeon, -Dr. Sampson Pope, and progressed so well that -in a fortnight I could be moved to Doctor Sorrel's -quarters in Richmond, under treatment of my friend -Dr. J. B. Reid, and with that ended the staff officer's -soldiering. A few closing words will bring me to the -end of these "Recollections" nearly forty years behind -us.</p> - -<p>My wound healing satisfactorily, Doctor Sorrel pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span>posed -in March taking me to "The Oaklands," the -beautiful estate in Roanoke County of Colonel Wm. -Watts, who had kindly sent me an invitation to visit -him. He was the invalided colonel of the Twenty-eighth -Virginia, of the First Corps, a fine officer and -most hospitable, the leading man of the county. To -him we went, the change being very beneficial. Then -the railroad station was Big Lick, a post-office, shop, -and tavern. It is now grown to be Roanoke, a prosperous -city of 25,000. Colonel Watts's widowed -sister, Mrs. Rives, presided over the delightful old -Virginia establishment. Her lovely character won all -hearts. The stately figure and attractive features -were known and admired widely over the countryside. -To me she was kindness itself, and no marvel is it that -I mended rapidly.</p> - -<p>There was an engagement of a few months' standing -between Doctor Sorrel and Mrs. Rives, and soon -after our coming the uncertain future was considered. -They decided to wed without longer waiting, -and the ceremony, quite private, was performed at -the residence, myself in full uniform as the Doctor's -best man, propped on my feet by the dignified, silver-haired -black major-domo.</p> - -<p>While in this part of the country I heard much -about Hunter's expedition into it the previous year -and the devastation he had brought in the region -round about. Truly Maj.-Gen. David Hunter, of the -United States Army, was a torch bearer if nothing -else. He had no military distinction, but had served -against the Indians, it is said, with the same cruelties -it was now his delight to apply to non-combatant dwellers -in southwest Virginia and the head of the Shenan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span>doah -Valley. No property within reach of his destroying -hand seemed safe from him. His fame lay -not in the soldier's hard-fought battles, but in burning -farmers' houses and barns. The extensive schools at -Lexington aroused his hate and were laid in ashes by -his torch.</p> - -<p>General Crook, the fine soldier then serving with -him, said, "He would have burned the Natural Bridge -could he have compassed it." Marvel it is that Hunter -did not blow it up. He was, however, beaten off by -Early's forces and the home guards, and the country -cleared of that devastator. There was little more -heard of him as a soldier.</p> - -<p>Maj.-Gen. George Crook was altogether a different -character. He was a soldier of high training and -tried courage, making no war on women and children, -houses and barns.</p> - -<p>Some time later, one of our daring rangers, NcNeil, -with a small following, achieved a bold exploit. -While Crook was commanding a department at Cumberland, -Md., the ranger penetrated many miles within -the blue lines, took the General out of bed, mounted -him well, and landed his distinguished prisoner safely -in Richmond.</p> - -<p>There Doctor Sorrel, who had served with him in -the old Army, called to see to his comforts. Crook -as a thorough-going Indian fighter was not without -some admiration for the way NcNeil had gathered him -in. "But, Sorrel," said he, "I shall get even with -that fellow at his own work. Just as soon as I get -out of this my commission will drop for a few weeks, -while I raise a hundred men with whom I undertake -to beat Master NcNeil at his own game."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span></p> - -<p>Such was perhaps his intention then, but, exchanged -soon after, there was other and more important work -awaiting this gallant and respected officer.</p> - -<p>Early in April, after grateful farewells to my host -and new sister, we started to rejoin the army. At -Lynchburg came to us the accounts of the surrender -at Appomattox, with all the pathetic, harrowing details -attaching to that event; the feeling of the soldiers, -their overflowing affection for Lee and sympathy with -him and his own hidden but overwhelming grief—I -pass them by. My brigade was on hand in good -shape, with Captain Perry looking after it, and paroled -stronger than any brigade in the army. (See Appendix.)</p> - -<p>The commandant at Lynchburg, General Lomax, -placed at my disposal an ambulance and mules to get -out of reach of the Union forces. We could not yet -realize that the war was ended with the life of Lee's -army. I took to the mountains for some days, and -then finding things really ended and my troublesome -wound breaking out afresh, ventured again on Colonel -Watts's hospitality. It was as generous as the -day. But it was time to move, and after farewell to -hospitable Oaklands the Doctor and I started on our -return home. The rails were sufficiently repaired to -take up to Lynchburg, where we were paroled by the -United States officer. Between us we had just fifteen -dollars good money, and it came to me in this way. -When I was last in Lynchburg, as already described, -one of our quartermasters pressed on me $20 in gold, -four half-eagles; "A barrel of Confederate money not -good," as he said, "for the price of a dinner."</p> - -<p>Some time after I came up with a young Maryland -cavalryman making his way back to Baltimore. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> -had no coat or jacket, although the rest of him was -good, and I wanted to know why. "Well," said -young Latrobe (it was my friend's brother), "my -horse wanted a set of shoes. The farrier would not -look at my money, but took the jacket, and I got my -shoes." It was quite certain the young fellow would -part with his remaining outfit, piece by piece, with the -same easy nonchalance, if need be, and I insisted on -his taking one of my half-eagles. But for that the -"Peeping Toms" of Baltimore might possibly have -seen a new Godiva, "clothed only with chastity," riding -through their streets fresh from the Southern -armies. Their blushes and the young cavalryman's -were saved by that golden half-eagle.</p> - -<p>From Lynchburg to Richmond the route was -tedious and wearying. It was partly by rail, partly -in an army wagon, and partly on foot. On arriving -at the Confederate capital we were amid the ruins -of the great fire that nearly destroyed it. The army -of occupation was in force, everywhere the Union -army filled one with wonder. It was like the ant in -numbers, and I really could not take in its unstinted -equipment in wagons, ambulances, mules, draught -horses, light artillery, and horse furniture, all apparently -new and of the best class for field work. The -contrast with our own inadequate equipment was very -decided, and still greater was the splendor of their -officers, mounts and uniforms, and the good clothing -of the soldiers, with what on our part had contented -us. In Richmond, nursing our dwindling cash, we -found a frugal but cheerful hospitality while preparing -for the next move to Baltimore, where we were -sure of meeting my good father's provision for us. -My weak condition would not permit me making the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> -journey home on horse-back; it must be by sea.</p> - -<p>At Richmond we took the oath, as prescribed, to -the United States Government, the courteous Federal -officer asking pleasantly if it "tasted bad?" This -done we hoped to get a permit to leave by boat for -Baltimore, but were refused. No movements of Confederate -officers, except Marylanders returning, were -suffered in that direction. The decision was then -forced on us that we must go, "coûte que coûte." -It was managed successfully with some little risk. -By the help of friends we were smuggled on board -just as the boat was starting. The Doctor was in -mufti and I had doffed as much military attire as I -could. We kept very quiet and secluded on the main -deck of the boat as she glided down the river of so -many warlike scenes of the preceding years! past -frowning Drewry's Bluff, past bristling Chappin's -farm, City Point, Westover, and Harrison's Landing, -Turkey Bend and Butler's Dutch Gap Canal—all -saddening and depressing in the retrospect, crossing -thoughts of the misty future. At the fortress a short -stop was made, and then the voyage up the noble -Chesapeake resumed. One of the coal passers here -recognized me with a wide, astonished grin. He was -one of my brigade fellows, in now for a job at anything. -The night was passed on the bay and could -have been very comfortable with a trifle more cash. -We had, however, just about enough to pay for -passage, without bed or meals. So we stood out the -long night and could provide some small refreshments. -When morning came we were moored to the wharf, -and I soon found my good Baltimore relatives most -hospitably inclined, and our troubles for the time were -done with.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span></p> - -<p>There were many Confederate officers and soldiers -about the city, all watched quite closely by the Federal -authorities. General Hancock was in command of -the department, and from his adjutant-general I received -an order to report in person. Upon so doing -I was questioned as to my reasons for being in Baltimore -and my intentions. Upon explaining why I was -returning home by that route and that I should have -to go to New York to find a steamer for Savannah, -he was civil and obliging; allowed a stay of a week -in Baltimore; but I was required to report once in -every twenty-four hours. The next day this considerate -officer dispensed with such visits, adding, "You -shall not, General, be troubled in any way while you -are stopping here." Here Doctor Sorrel left me. -Deciding to defer his visit home, he returned at once -to Virginia. A few days later I was in New York -at the New York Hotel, Mr. Cranston the proprietor, -and for years past, as then, the resort of everything -Southern. There were many officers in the hotel, -some I suspect by Cranston's good nature and kindness. -After a visit to some relatives and friends, who -had only thought of me as one dead, I took passage -for Savannah on a small, crowded, most uncomfortable -little steamer. The rough voyage was safely made, -and I landed on my own shores in dear old Georgia, -greeted by kindred and friends, with hands outstretched -in a hearty welcome home.</p> - -<p>And now these recollections approach their close. -There are many more thronging, pulsing memories -that could interest, perhaps instruct. What is here -gathered has been an inexpressible comfort and occupation -in the colorless hours of recent tedious con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span>valescence, -and could be extended, but the parting -word must be spoken.</p> - -<p>It is farewell to the Army of Northern Virginia and -its ever-glorious commander.</p> - -<p>His name, his fame shall forever live! His sword, -unstained, be ever a soldier's shining light and bright -example!</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"><div class="poetry"><div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">"Ah Muse! You dare not claim</div> - <div class="verse">A nobler man than he,</div> - <div class="verse">Nor nobler man hath less of blame</div> - <div class="verse">Nor blameless man hath purer name,</div> - <div class="verse">Nor purer name hath grander fame,</div> - <div class="verse indent4">Nor fame, another Lee!"</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>His army incomparable holds, after long years, the -abiding love of its surviving veterans. Who that -marched with it, fought with it, took part in its victories -and its defeats, shared its sufferings and its -joys, shall ever be deaf when its deeds are sung or -mute when ring out its plaudits!</p> - -<p>For my part, when the time comes to cross the -river like the others, I shall be found asking at the -gates above, "Where is the Army of Northern Virginia? -For there I make my camp."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="chapter"> - <h2>APPENDIX</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="center">"<span class="smcap">Headquarters Near Bean's Station</span>,</p> -<p class="right">"December 17, 1863.</p> -<p>"Special Orders No. 27.</p> - -<p>"Major-General L. McLaws is relieved from further -duty with this army, and will proceed to Augusta, -Georgia, from which place he will report by -letter to the adjutant and inspector-general. He will -turn over the command of the division to the senior -brigadier present.</p> - -<p class="indent">"By command of Lieut.-General Longstreet.</p> - -<p class="right">"<span class="smcap">G. M. Sorrel</span>,<br /> -"<em>Lieut.-Col. and Assistant Adjutant-General</em>.<br /> - -"Major-General <span class="smcap">McLaws</span>,<br /> -"Confederate States Army."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - - -<p class="center">"<span class="smcap">Camp on Bean's Station Gap Road</span>,</p> -<p class="right">"December 17th, 1863.</p> - -<p>"Lieut.-Col. <span class="smcap">Sorrel</span>,<br /> -"<em>Assistant Adjutant-General</em>.</p> - -<p>"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of -Special Orders No. 27 from your headquarters, of -this date, relieving me from further duty with this -army. If there is no impropriety in making inquiry, -and I cannot imagine there is, I respectfully request -to be informed of the particular reason for the order.</p> - -<p class="right"> -"Very respectfully,<br /> -"<span class="smcap">L. McLaws</span>,<br /> -"<em>Major-General.</em>"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - - -<p class="center">"<span class="smcap">Headquarters Near Bean's Station</span>,</p> -<p class="right">"December 17th, 1863.</p> - -<p>"Major-General <span class="smcap">McLaws</span>,<br /> -"Confederate States Army. -</p> - -<p>"General: I have the honor to acknowledge the -receipt of your note of to-day, asking for the particular -reason for the issue of the order relieving you -from duty with this army.</p> - -<p>"In reply I am directed to say that throughout the -campaign on which we are engaged, you have exhibited -a want of confidence in the efforts and plans -which the commanding general has thought proper -to adopt, and he is apprehensive that this feeling will -extend more or less to the troops under your command.</p> - -<p>"Under these circumstances the commanding general -has felt that the interest of the public service -would be advanced by your separation from him, and -as he could not himself leave, he decided upon the -issue of the order which you have received.</p> - -<p>"I have the honor to be, general, with great respect,</p> - -<p class="right"> -"<span class="smcap">G. M. Sorrel</span>,<br /> -"<em>Lieut.-Col. and Assistant Adjutant-General</em>." -</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - - -<p class="center">From <cite>The Savannah News</cite>, 1899.</p> - -<p>"During the siege of Petersburg, Va., there was a -severe combat at Hatcher's Run, resisting one of -Grant's attacks on Lee's right flank.</p> - -<p>"Brig.-Gen. John Pegram was killed and Brig.-Gen. -Sorrel was, for some time, thought to be mortally -wounded.</p> - -<p>"The action took place on February 6, 1865. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> -time-stained clipping from the <cite>New York Herald</cite>, a -few days later, gives 'Sketches of the Dead Rebel -Generals,' with some detail, indicating considerable -acquaintance with the Confederate personnel.</p> - -<p>"We print what it had to say of our townsman, -who, still with us, is thus permitted to read his own -obituary from the <cite>Herald's</cite> columns:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p class="center">"'BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. M. SORREL</p> - - <p>"'The rebel Gen. Sorrel, reported seriously wounded - in the battle on Hatcher's Run, has been permitted - to enjoy his rank but a short time. He has been but - lately appointed to the rank and assigned to duty.</p> - - <p>"'Gen. Sorrel was a native of Georgia, and, at the - commencement of the war, was a teller in the Central - Railroad Bank in Savannah. He had no military - education. To his established character as a - quiet, taciturn business man and accountant and to - some influence from an extensive family to which - he belongs, he owes his appointment on the staff of - Gen. Longstreet at the beginning of the war. He - served in the capacity of assistant adjutant-general - to Gen. Longstreet, at Bull Run, July 21, 1861, was - wounded at Antietam, September 17, 1862, and since - followed the varied fortunes of Longstreet. He has - been advanced from a lieutenancy to a lieutenant-colonelcy - in the adjutant-general's department of the - rebel army.</p> - - <p>"'During the battle of the Wilderness, fought in - May, Lieut.-Col. Sorrel displayed great gallantry and - evinced much ability in directing and managing a division - whose commander had fallen, and of which he - was placed in command by Longstreet. Generals Lee - and Longstreet awarded him high praise for his con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span>duct, - and recommended him for promotion. He was - in consequence appointed brigadier-general, November - 1, 1864, and assigned to the command of the - brigade formerly commanded by Gen. Wright. In - relieving him from duty as his assistant adjutant-general, - Gen. Longstreet paid the following compliment - to young Sorrel:</p> - - <p>"'"General Order No. 15—Headquarters First - Army Corps, November 4, 1864. Col. G. M. Sorrel, - assistant adjutant-general, having been promoted to - the rank of brigadier-general, and assigned to the command - of a brigade in the Third Corps, is relieved from - duty as assistant adjutant-general of this corps. The - loss of this officer to the First Corps, with which he - has been so permanently connected since its organization, - will be severely felt. Distinguished alike for - gallantry in the field and for energy and skill in the - administration of his department, his value cannot be - over-estimated. He will carry with him to his new - command, so richly won, a sure promise of success in - the record of the past.</p> - - <p>"'"By command of Lieut.-Gen. Longstreet.</p> - - <p>"'"Official:</p> - <p class="right"> - "'"<span class="smcap">O. Latrobe</span>,<br /> - "'"<em>Assistant Adjutant-General</em>."<br /> - </p> - - <p>"'The rebel papers of February 9th report Gen. - Sorrel dead of the wounds received on the 6th inst.'"</p> -</div> - - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p><cite>From an address delivered by Comrade John R. - Turner before A. P. Hill Camp of Confederate - Veterans of Petersburg, Va., on the evening of - March 3, 1892.</cite></p> -</div> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span></p> - - <p>"My letter to General Sorrel I mailed to Savannah, - Ga., and was as follows:</p> - - <div class="blockquot"> - <p class="right"> - "'<span class="smcap">Petersburg, Va.</span>, January 13, 1892.</p> - <p>"'<span class="smcap">Gen. G. M. Sorrel</span>,<br /> - "'Savannah, Ga.</p> - - <p>"'<span class="smcap">Dear General</span>: Being anxious to know if - your recollection and mine accorded, as to certain - movements made at the battle of the Wilderness, May - 6th, 1864, in which we both participated, I take the - liberty of addressing you this communication, and hope - (if not trespassing too much upon your time) you - will do me the kindness to favor me with a reply.</p> - - <p>"'You will remember Mahone's brigade of Anderson's - division was quartered near Madison Run - Station. We broke camp on the morning, I think, - of the 4th, and bivouacked near Rapidan Station that - night. In the early morning of the 6th we made a - forced march to the battlefield, which we reached - about 10 o'clock.</p> - - <p>"'Mahone's brigade was ordered very soon afterwards - to the right in the Wilderness. After going - some distance through the thicket, we encountered - the enemy apparently bivouacking, and little expecting - any attack from that direction. They fled pell-mell - before us, leaving their light camp equipage scattered - in every direction, making scarcely any resistance - until they reached the Orange Plank Road; - when, having a natural fortification, strengthened hurriedly - by them, they stoutly resisted us. Just at this - point you dashed up to the front of my regiment, the - Twelfth Virginia, and approaching our color-bearer, - Benj. H. May (as gallant a soldier as ever carried a - flag or shouldered a musket, and who was killed at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> - Spottsylvania Court House the 12th of May), asked - him for his colors to lead the charge. He refused to - give up his colors, but said: "We will follow you." - With great enthusiasm we followed you in the direction - of the Plank Road. The enemy broke and fled - before us. I remember seeing you then dash with - great speed up the road in the direction, I suppose, of - General Longstreet, to inform him that the way was - clear. Our color-bearer, in the excitement of the moment, - failed to observe that the other regiments of the - brigade had halted at the Plank Road. We became - detached and passed over the road forty or fifty yards - before halting. Our colonel, D. A. Weisiger, observing - that we were in advance of the brigade, ordered - us to fall back in line with the brigade. In doing so - the other regiments, mistaking us for the enemy, fired - into us, killing and wounding several of our men, and - I always thought the same volley killed General Jenkins - and wounded General Longstreet, this apparently - putting an end to all operations for the day, as there - seemed to be very little done afterwards during the - day.</p> - - <p>"'I had the pleasure of a short conversation with - General Longstreet returning from Gettysburg three - years ago, and he told me that, while he knew he - was wounded by his own men, he never knew exactly - how it occurred. He said everything was working - beautifully up to this point, and what seemed to be - an opportunity for a brilliant victory was lost by this - unfortunate circumstance.</p> - - <p>"'I have often thought of your bravery and gallant - bearing as you led us through the woods up to - the Plank Road. I feel that I would like to know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> - with certainty whether or not my recollections are correct - as to the part you took in that charge.</p> - - <p>"'Wishing you a long life, much happiness and - great prosperity, I am very truly, your comrade,</p> - - <p class="right">"'<span class="smcap">John R. Turner</span>.'</p> -</div> - -<p>"To this letter General Sorrel replied as follows:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p class="right"> - "'<span class="smcap">New York</span>, January 19, 1892.<br /> - "'Lee's Birthday.</p> - - <p> - "'<span class="smcap">John R. Turner, Esq.</span>,<br /> - "'A. P. Hill Camp, C. V.,<br /> - "'Petersburg, Va. - </p> - - <p>"'<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>: Your letter of January 14th was - forwarded to me from Savannah, and I am very glad - to hear from you. The events you describe are so - long ago, that one's memory may be pardoned if - slightly treacherous as to details, but I may say at - once that your recital of the incident and the movements - of Mahone's brigade at the battle of the Wilderness - conform accurately to my own recollection of it, - excepting, of course, the too-partial and flattering view - you take of my own personal service there. But I - will give you briefly my own version of it, which - really is near your own.</p> - - <p>"'Longstreet's corps had to move at the earliest - hour in the morning of the 6th of May, and arriving - at the battlefield was just in time to be thrown across - the Plank Road and check the enemy, whose attack - had begun on A. P. Hill's corps. This of itself was - a magnificent performance of the corps to form line - in the dense thicket after a hasty march, in the midst - of troops suddenly attacked and retiring from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> - front in disorder. Being done during the enemy's - attack it displayed the steadiness characteristic of - Longstreet's famous corps. This checked that attempt - and for some time there was some quiet. It - was then, too, you will recollect, that General Lee was - about to lead the Texas Brigade into action, so threatening - was the situation. He was almost forcibly - stopped by his officers and the entreaties of the soldiers. - It was soon after this that General Longstreet - said to me that if I were to collect some troops over - on the right, get them in good line and in touch with - each other, and make a strong movement forward, - swinging by the right, he felt sure a splendid success - would follow. I proceeded to follow out these directions, - with full authority to control the movement. - There were three brigades, in addition, perhaps, to - other troops, that I succeeded in getting into good - form and ready to move. These were Mahone's, - Wofford's, and Anderson's. The movement soon began, - at a given signal, our right swinging swiftly - around, driving everything before it. The lines in - front of us made some sharp resistance, but they were - quickly overcome, and our troops, Mahone's brigade - notably distinguished in the affair, rushed forward - through the dense undergrowth, carrying everything - before them. It was then that the incident occurred - of which you speak, about poor Ben May. He was - doing all that man could do with his colors, but seemed - to be somewhat embarrassed by the bushes, and I - thought perhaps I might help to get them forward, - mounted as I was. As you say, he positively refused - to let them leave his own hands. I was filled with - admiration of his splendid courage. I think it was - on the 12th that poor May was shot, and I received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> - from a member of the Twelfth Virginia an affectionate - message that he sent me. I have always remembered - him as one of the bravest of Confederate soldiers. - The Twelfth Virginia did splendid service that - day, and the regiment and myself became great friends. - Till the end of the war, whenever in marches or elsewhere - I met it, I was always honored with its friendly - greetings. As our troops reached the Plank Road, - you will recollect that a volley was given to the enemy, - who were trying to rally on the opposite side. By - this volley General Wadsworth and his horse (while - trying to rally his men) were both killed, and his - soldiers could make no stand against us. Our rapid - movements through the woods had disordered our - line, as you correctly describe it. Leaving them for - a moment, while recovering good order, I hastened - to General Longstreet with a view to bringing up - supports to follow up our splendid success. I met - the General near by, Jenkins's brigade immediately - behind him. He had heard the sound of our rifles, - and, with the quick instinct of the general that he - was, was following us up with a strong and powerful - support to pursue his victory. I had scarcely - taken more than a few steps with him when a sudden - and unexpected fire, at first scattering, then heavier, - broke out from our men. The General was shot down - by my side, and at the same time General Jenkins, - one or two staff officers, and several couriers. I have - never known accurately who started this fire; there - is yet some confusion about it, but it was fatal, and - had the effect, by disabling the General, of putting a - stop to the heavy blow he was about inflicting on the - disordered enemy. Later in the day, you will remember, - we made another attack, rather more direct, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> - a strong force, on the enemy, who had got behind some - entrenchments; but we there sustained a repulse, and - that about closed the principal features of the battle - of the Wilderness on the 6th of May.</p> - - <p>"'The importance of our flank attack, which I have - described here so briefly, was not under-estimated by - the enemy in his subsequent reports. The official report - of the battle by General Grant, or his immediate - subordinate, describes the tremendous attack of these - three brigades, which turned his own left flank and - nearly brought about a widespread disaster to the - Federal army. I cannot but think it would have ended - so, had not General Longstreet, in the flush of his success, - and with ardent, fresh troops in hand, been struck - down in the very act of delivering this blow.</p> - - <p>"'I am sketching this off to you hastily, and entirely - from memory, and while there may be some - omissions or inaccuracies as to detail, I think the account - is not far from wrong.</p> - - <p>"'With best wishes, I am, yours very truly and sincerely,</p> - - <p class="right"> - "'<span class="smcap">G. M. Sorrel</span>.'" - </p> -</div> - - -<p class="center"><cite>From Colonel Freemantle's (Coldstream Guards) -"Three Months in the Southern States."</cite></p> - - <p>"30th June, Tuesday.—This morning before - marching from Chambersburg, General Longstreet - introduced me to the Commander-in-Chief. General - Lee is, almost without exception, the handsomest man - of his age I ever saw. He is 56 years old, tall, broad - shouldered, very well made, well set up, a thorough - soldier in appearance, and his manners are most courteous - and full of dignity. He is a perfect gentleman - in every respect. I imagine no man has so few en<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span>emies, - or is so universally esteemed. Throughout the - South, all agree in pronouncing him to be as near perfection - as man can be. He has none of the small - vices, such as smoking, drinking, chewing or swearing, - and his bitterest enemy never accused him of any - of the greater ones. He generally wears a well-worn - long gray jacket, a high black felt hat, and blue trousers - tucked into Wellington boots. I never saw him - carry arms, and the only mark of his military rank - are the three stars on his collar. He rides a handsome - horse which is extremely well groomed. He, - himself, is very neat in his dress and person, and in - the most arduous marches he always looks smart and - clean.</p> - - <p>"In the old Army he was always considered one - of its best officers; and at the outbreak of these troubles - he was lieutenant-colonel of the Second Cavalry. He - was a rich man—but his fine estate was one of the - first to fall into the enemy's hands. I believe he has - never slept in a house since he has commanded the - Virginian army, and he invariably declines all offers - of hospitality for fear the person offering it may afterwards - get into trouble for having sheltered the rebel - General."</p> - - <hr class="tb" /> - - <p class="center"><cite>From Viscount Wolseley.</cite></p> - - <p class="center"> - "<span class="smcap">Office of Commander-in-Chief</span>,</p> - <p class="right">"<span class="smcap">London</span>, 10th July, 1899. - </p> - - <p>"<span class="smcap">My Dear General Sorrel</span>: I have great pleasure - in complying with your request, and hope Mrs. - Sorrel will do me the honor of accepting the enclosed - latest photograph I have had taken.</p> - - <p>"I am a collector of autograph letters, but I lack - letters from the Confederate commanders. I am very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> - glad to have your letter to add to my collection. If - you happen to have any letters from the Southern generals - that you could spare me I should esteem it a - great favor.</p> - - <p>"Believe me to be, with a very keen and pleasant - remembrance of all the kindness I received when in - the Southern States,</p> - - <p class="right"> - "Sincerely yours,<br /> - "<span class="smcap">Wolseley</span>.</p> - - - <p>"To <span class="smcap">General Sorrel</span>,<br /> - "New York."</p> - - <hr class="tb" /> - - - <p class="center"><cite>Thanks of the Confederate Congress to Lieutenant-General - James Longstreet and his Command.</cite></p> - - <p class="center"><em>"Resolved by the Congress of the Confederate States - of America.</em></p> - - <p>"That the thanks of Congress are due and hereby - cordially tendered to Lieutenant-General James Longstreet - and the officers and men of his command for - their patriotic services and brilliant achievements in - the present war, sharing as they have, the arduous - fatigues and privations of many campaigns in Virginia, - Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Tennessee, - and participating in nearly every great battle - fought in those States, the commanding general ever - displaying great ability, skill, and prudence in command, - and the officers and men the most heroic bravery, - fortitude, and energy in every duty they have - been called upon to perform.</p> - - <p>"<em>Resolved</em>, That the President be requested to - transmit a copy of the foregoing resolution to Lieutenant-General - Longstreet for publication to his command.</p> - - <p>"Approved February 17, 1864."</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center"><em>J. Longstreet to Secretary of War.</em></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - <p class="center"> - "<span class="smcap">Headquarters Near Chattanooga</span>,</p> - <p class="right">"September 26th, 1863.</p> - - <p>"<span class="smcap">Hon. J. A. Seddon</span>, <em>Secretary of War</em>.</p> - - <p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>: May I take the liberty to advise you of - our condition and our wants. On the 20th instant, - after a very severe battle, we gained a complete and - glorious victory—the most complete victory of the - war, except perhaps the first Manassas. On the - morning of the 21st General Bragg asked my opinion - as to our best course. I suggested at once to - strike at Burnside and if he made his escape to march - upon Rosecrans's communication in rear of Nashville. - He seemed to adopt the suggestion and gave - the order to march at four o'clock in the afternoon. - The right wing of the army marched some eight or - ten miles, my command following next day at daylight. - I was halted at the crossing of the Chickamauga, - and on the night of the 22d the army was - ordered to march for Chattanooga, thus giving the - enemy two days and a half to strengthen the fortifications - here already prepared for him by ourselves. - Here we have remained under instructions that the - enemy shall not be assaulted. To express my conviction - in a few words, our chief has done but one - thing that he ought to have done since I joined his - army—that was to order the attack upon the 20th. - All other things that he has done he ought not to - have done. I am convinced that nothing but the - hand of God can save us and help us as long as we - have our present commander.</p> - - <p>"Now to our wants. Can't you send us General - Lee? The army in Virginia can operate defensively,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> - while our operations here should be offensive, until - we have recovered Tennessee at all events.</p> - - <p>"We need some such great mind as General Lee's - (nothing more) to accomplish this. You will be surprised - that this army has neither organization nor - mobility and I have doubts if this commander can give - it to them. In an ordinary war I could serve without - complaint under any one whom the Government might - place in authority; but we have too much at stake in - this to remain quiet under such distressing circumstances. - Our most precious blood is now flowing in - streams from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains - and may yet be exhausted before we have succeeded. - Then goes honor, treasure, and independence. When - I came here I hoped to find our commander willing - and anxious to do all things that would aid us in our - great cause and ready to receive what aid he could - get from his subordinates.</p> - - <p>"It seems that I was greatly mistaken. It seems - that he cannot adopt and adhere to any plan or course - whether of his own or some one else. I desire to - impress upon your mind that there is no exaggeration - in these statements. On the contrary I have - failed to express my convictions to the fullest extent. - All that I can add without making this letter exceedingly - long is to pray you to help us and speedily.</p> - - <p>"I remain, with the greatest respect, your most - obedient servant,</p> - - <p class="right"> - "<span class="smcap">J. Longstreet</span>,<br /> - "<em>Lieutenant General</em>." - </p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - - - <p class="center"><em>Captain H. H. Perry, A. A. G., Sorrel's Brigade, - writes of Grant's first demand for Lee's - surrender at Appomattox.</em></p> - - <p class="center">"THE EVENTFUL NIGHT</p> - - <p>"It was night, April 7th, 1865. We had crossed - the river, near Farmville, and had taken up a position - about, as near as I can remember, a mile from - the crossing, which the Confederates had attempted - to burn, but unsuccessfully. General Miles, commanding - a Federal brigade, made a mad attempt to - throw the Confederates into confusion on their left - by a flank movement (perhaps that was his purpose), - but it was a very unfortunate move, for his lines were - in a few minutes nearly cut to pieces and his brigade - placed hors de combat. A furious picket firing and - sharp-shooting began on both sides, while the wounded - and dead Federals lay between the two lines.</p> - - <p>"Mahone's division was now the rearguard at this - point of General Lee's army. General Lee's forces - were reduced now to their minimum strength, but a - fiercer, more determined body of men never lived. - They simply waited for General Lee's orders.</p> - - <p>"About five o'clock p. m. a flag of truce appeared - in front of General Sorrel's brigade (General - Wright's old brigade), of which the writer of this - account was the adjutant-general. A courier was - sent to division headquarters to announce it. Colonel - Tayloe, a splendid young Virginian, had been - assigned temporarily to the command of General - Sorrel's brigade, General Sorrel having been almost - mortally wounded near Petersburg. In a short while - Colonel Tayloe was ordered to send a staff officer to - answer to the flag of truce.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span></p> - - <p>"The writer was assigned to this duty at the Confederate - front lines. As the top of the earthworks - was reached, a number of Federal sharpshooters fired - at me, and two balls passed through the uniform coat - I wore, and one ball wounded a Confederate soldier - in the hand, who had risen up with others from behind - the works, out of curiosity to see what was going - to take place. That ended the truce business for that - afternoon. After nightfall and after everything on - both sides had lapsed into silence, pickets were put in - front of our lines about one hundred yards. Captain - James W. English, one of the bravest, coolest, most - faithful and vigilant officers in the Confederate Army, - was in charge of the line in front of our brigade. I - had selected him for the reason that I knew that he - would not fail me if I depended on his courage and - faith. Colonel Tayloe knew nothing of our command - or its officers, and the responsibility rested on - me to select the right man in the crisis there was now - upon us. We apprehended a night attack.</p> - - <p>"About nine o'clock at night, as soon as the moon - was about to rise, Captain English reported that a - flag of truce was again offered on the Federal lines - on our front. It was reported again at our division - headquarters and I was again sent out to answer it as - before. I put on an army revolver, put aside my - sword, and advanced about fifty yards from our pickets, - halted, and called for the flag. Where I stood - there were scattered around several Federal dead and - wounded.</p> - - <p>"One of the latter asked me to do something for - him. I told him I would very soon, making this - promise only to encourage him, for I could really do - nothing for lack of authority, as well as lack of means.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> - I asked his name and was rather astonished when - he said he was General Miles's adjutant-general and - that his name was Boyd, as I now remember it. A - response to my call in front took my attention, though - I remember that the wounded officer said he had been - shot through the thigh.</p> - - <p>"I advanced some distance and met a very handsomely - dressed Federal officer. We stepped in front - of each other about seven or eight feet apart. I soon - recognized the fact that my worn Confederate uniform - and slouch hat, even in the dim light, would - not compare favorably with his magnificence; but as - I am six feet high I drew myself up as proudly as I - could, and put on the appearance as well as possible - of being perfectly satisfied with my personal exterior. - The officer spoke first introducing himself as - Gen. Seth Williams, of General Grant's staff.</p> - - <p>"After I had introduced myself, he felt in his side - pocket for documents, as I thought, but the document - was a very nice-looking silver flask, as well as I could - distinguish. He remarked that he hoped I would not - think it was an unsoldierly courtesy if he offered me - some very fine brandy. I will own up now that I - wanted that drink awfully. Worn down, hungry and - dispirited, it would have been a gracious godsend if - some old Confederate and I could have emptied that - flask between us in that dreadful hour of misfortune. - But I raised myself about an inch higher, if possible, - bowed and refused politely, trying to produce the - ridiculous appearance of having feasted on champagne - and pound-cake not ten minutes before, and that I - had not the slightest use for so plebeian a drink as 'fine - brandy.' He was a true gentleman, begged pardon, - and placed the flask in his pocket again, without touch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span>ing - the contents in my presence. If he had taken a - drink, and my Confederate olfactories had obtained a - whiff of the odor of it, it is possible that I should - have 'caved.' The truth is, I had not eaten two - ounces in two days, and I had my coat-tail then full - of corn, waiting to parch it as soon as opportunity - might present itself. I did not leave it behind me - because I had nobody I could trust it with.</p> - - <p>"As an excuse which I felt I ought to make for - refusing his proffered courtesy, I rather haughtily - said that I had been sent forward only to receive any - communication that was offered and could not properly - accept or offer any courtesies. In fact, if I had - offered what I could it would have taken my corn.</p> - - <p>"He then handed to me a letter, which he said was - from General Grant to General Lee, and asked that - General Lee should get it immediately if possible. I - made no reply except to ask him if that was all we had - to transact, or something to that effect. He said that - was all. We bowed very profoundly to each other - and turned away.</p> - - <p>"In twenty minutes after I got back in our lines, - a Confederate courier riding a swift horse had placed - in General Lee's hands the letter which was handed - to me, the first demand for surrender of his devoted - army. In an hour's time we were silently pursuing our - way toward the now famous field of Appomattox. - We marched all day of the 8th of April and slept in - bivouac not more than three or four miles from - Appomattox, where the demand was made again and - was acceded to, and the Confederacy of the South - went down in defeat, but with glory.</p> - - <p>"We arrived on the field of Appomattox about 9 - o'clock on the 9th day of April, the day of capitula<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span>tion. - The negotiations lasted during that day. The - general order from General Lee was read to the army - on the 10th of April. That is, as I remember it, - General Lee published his last order to his soldiers - on that day. I sat down and copied it on a piece - of Confederate paper, using a drum-head for a desk, - the best I could do. I carried this copy to General - Lee, and asked him to sign it for me. He signed it - and I have it now. It is the best authority along with - my parole that I can produce why, after that day, I - no longer raised a soldier's hand for the South. - There were tears in his eyes when he signed it for - me, and when I turned to walk away there were - tears in my own eyes. He was in all respects the - greatest man that ever lived, and as an humble officer - of the South, I thank Heaven that I had the honor of - following him.</p> - - <p>"Waynesboro, Georgia, 1896."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center"><em>Some extracts from Colonel Freemantle's "Three -Months in the Southern States."</em></p> - - - <p class="center">"<span class="smcap">Gettysburg—Pickett's Charge</span></p> - - <p>"I determined to make my way to General Longstreet. - It was then about 2.30. After passing General - Lee and his staff I rode on through the woods - in the direction in which I had left Longstreet. I - soon began to meet many wounded men returning - from the front; many of them asked in piteous tones - the way to a doctor or an ambulance. The farther - I got the greater became the number of the wounded. - Some were walking alone on crutches composed of - two rifles, others were supported by men less badly - wounded than themselves, and others were carried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> - on stretchers by the ambulance corps; but in no case - did I see a sound man helping the wounded to the - rear, unless he carried the red badge of the ambulance - corps. I saw all this in much less time than - it takes to write it, and although astonished to meet - such vast numbers of wounded, I had not seen <em>enough</em> - to give me an idea of the real extent of the mischief.</p> - - <p>"When I got close to General Longstreet I saw - one of his regiments advancing through the woods - in good order; so thinking I was in time to see the - attack I remarked to the General that '<em>I wouldn't - have missed this for anything.</em>' Longstreet was - seated at the top of a snake fence at the edge of the - wood and looking perfectly calm and unperturbed. - He replied: 'The devil you wouldn't! I would - liked to have missed it very much; we've attacked - and been repulsed; look there!'</p> - - <p>"For the first time I then had a view of the open - space between the two positions and saw it covered - with Confederates slowly and sulkily returning toward - us in small, broken parties under a heavy fire of - artillery. The General told me that Pickett's division - had succeeded in carrying the enemy's position and - capturing the guns, but after remaining there some - minutes it had been forced to retire. No person could - have been more calm or self-possessed than General - Longstreet under these trying circumstances, aggravated - as they now were by the movements of the - enemy, who began to show a strong disposition to - advance. I could now thoroughly appreciate the - term 'Bulldog,' which I had heard applied to him by - the soldiers.</p> - - <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span></p> - - <p>"Difficulties seemed to make no other impression upon - him than to make him a little more savage.</p> - - <p>"Major Walton was the only officer with him when - I came up—all the rest had been put into the charge. - In a few minutes Major Latrobe arrived on foot, - carrying his saddle, having just had his horse killed. - Colonel Sorrel was also in the same predicament and - Captain Goree's horse was wounded in the mouth.</p> - - <p>"The General was making the best arrangements - in his power to resist the threatened advance, by advancing - some artillery, rallying the stragglers.</p> - - <p>"I remember seeing a general come up to him and - report that he was 'unable to bring up his men again.' - Longstreet turned upon him and replied with some - sarcasm, 'Very well, never mind, then, General, just - let them remain where they are; the enemy's going - to advance and it will spare you the trouble.' He - asked for something to drink. I gave him some rum - out of my silver flask, which I begged he would keep - in remembrance of the occasion; he smiled, and to my - great satisfaction accepted the memorial.</p> - - <p>"If Longstreet's conduct was admirable, that of General - Lee was perfectly sublime. He was engaged in - rallying and encouraging the broken troops, and - was riding about a little in front of the wood, quite - alone—the whole of his staff being engaged in a - similar manner farther to the rear. His face, which - is always placid and cheerful, did not show signs - of the slightest disappointment, care, or annoyance; - and he was addressing every soldier he met, a few - words of encouragement, such as: 'All this will - come right in the end, we'll talk it over afterwards; - but in the meantime all good men must rally. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> - want all good and true men just now,' etc. He spoke - to all the wounded men that passed him, and the - slightly wounded he exhorted 'to bind up their hurts - and take up a musket in this emergency.' Very few - failed to answer his appeal, and I saw many badly - wounded men take off their hats and cheer him. He - said to me, 'This has been a sad day for us, Colonel, - a sad day; but we can't expect always to gain victories.'"</p> - - <div class="blockquot"> - <p>[From "The Battle of the Wilderness," by General Morris - Schaff, pages 267-273, here quoted with the kind permission of - the author. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin & Company, - 1910.]</p> - </div> - -<p>General M. L. Smith, a New Yorker and a distinguished -graduate of West Point, doing engineer -duty with Lee's army, had examined our left, and, -finding it inviting attack, so reported to Longstreet. -Now there is on Longstreet's staff a tall, trim, graceful -young Georgian, with keen dark eyes and engaging -face, whose courage and ability to command, Longstreet -knows well, for he has been with him on many -a field. His name is Sorrel, and his gallant clay is -lying in the cemetery at Savannah, the long, pendulant -Southern moss swaying softly over it. His "Recollections -of a Confederate Staff Officer" has for me, -like all the books I love, a low, natural, wild music; -and, as sure as I live, the spirits who dwell in that -self-sown grove called Literature were by his side -when he wrote the last page of his Recollections, his -pen keeping step with his beating heart. Longstreet, -on hearing Smith's report, called Sorrel to him, and -told him to collect some scattered brigades, form them -in a good line on our left, and then, with his right -pushed forward, to hit hard. "But don't start till<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> -you have everything ready. I shall be waiting for -your gun-fire, and be on hand with fresh troops for -further advance," said Longstreet.</p> - -<p>Sorrel picked up G. T. Anderson's, Wofford's, -Davis's of Heth's, and Mahone's brigades, and led -them to the old unfinished railroad bed; and, having -stretched them out on it, formed them, facing north, -for advance. Of course, had Gibbon obeyed Hancock's -order, this movement of Sorrel's could not have -been made; as it was, the coast was clear. On Birney's -left, as everywhere along the front, our forces were -in several broken lines, and those of the first had -changed places with the second, to take advantage of -the little fires at which they had boiled their coffee to -boil some for themselves; for many of the troops had -not had a bite since half-past three in the morning, -and it was now past eleven. Save the skirmish line, -the men were lying down, and not expecting any -danger, when suddenly, from the heavy undergrowth, -Sorrel's three widely-winged brigades burst on their -flank with the customary yell, and before our people -could change front, or, in some cases, even form, they -were on them. Fighting McAlister tried his best to -stay the tempest, and so did others, many little groups -of their men selling their lives dearly; for the color-bearers -planted their banners on nearly every knoll, -and brave young fellows would rally around them; -but being overpowered, panic set in, and the lines -melted away.</p> - -<p>As soon as Carroll, Lewis A. Grant, Birney, Webb, -and Wadsworth heard Sorrel's quick volleys, they -were all on their feet at once, for the character of -the firing and the cheers told them that Peril had -snapped its chain and was loose. In a few minutes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> -fleeing individuals, then squads, and then broken regiments, -began to pour through the woods from the left.</p> - -<p>Kershaw and Field, being notified by Longstreet to -resume the offensive as soon as they should hear Sorrel, -now pressed forward, seriously and exultingly active. -Wadsworth, to stay the threatening disaster -(for that lunatic, Panic, travels fast, and every officer -of experience dreads its first breath), flew to the -Thirty-seventh Massachusetts at the head of Eustis's -brigade, which was just getting back from the junction, -and ordered Edwards, a resolute man, to throw -his regiment across the front of Field, who, with several -pieces of artillery raking the road, was advancing. -The Thirty-seventh moved quickly by flank into the -woods, and then, undismayed, heard the command, -"Forward." And with it went my friends, Lieutenants -Casey and Chalmers, and that pleasant and true -one of many a day, Captain "Tom" Colt of Pittsfield, -whose mother was a saint. "You have made -a splendid charge!" exclaimed Wadsworth, and so -they had—the ground behind them showed it; they -thrust Field back, gaining a little respite for all hands -before disaster; and very valuable it proved to be, for -some of the broken commands thereby escaped utter -destruction.</p> - -<p>While Field and Kershaw assailed Carroll, Birney, -and Wadsworth fiercely, fire was racing through the -woods, adding its horrors to Sorrel's advance; and -with the wind driving the smoke before him, he came -on, sweeping everything. Seeing his lines falter, Sorrel -dashed up to the color-bearer of the Twelfth Virginia, -"Ben" May, and asked for the colors to lead -the charge. "We will follow you," said the smiling -youth spiritedly, refusing to give them up; and so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> -they did. In the midst of the raging havoc, Webb, -under instructions from Wadsworth, now in an almost -frantic state of mind, tried to align some troops beyond -the road so as to meet Sorrel, whose fire was -scourging the flanks of Carroll and the Green Mountain -men, through whom and around whom crowds of -fugitives, deaf to all appeals to rally, were forcing -their way to the rear. But the organizations, so -severely battered in the morning, were crumbling so -fast, and the tumult was so high, that Webb saw it -was idle to expect they could hold together in any -attempted change of position; he therefore returned -to his command, and quickly brought the Fifty-sixth -Massachusetts, Griswold's regiment, alongside the -road. Fortunately his Nineteenth Maine, withdrawn -during the lull to replenish its ammunition, had been -wheeled up by the gallant Connor at the first ominous -volley from the South. They had barely braced themselves -on the road before Carroll, and then the old -Vermont brigade, had to go; and now Connor and -Griswold open on Sorrel, checking him up roundly.</p> - -<p>Wadsworth undertook to wheel the remnants of -Rice's regiments who had stood by him, so as to fire -into the enemy on the other side of the road. In -trying to make this movement he ran squarely onto -Perrin's Alabama brigade, of Anderson's division, -which had relieved a part of Field's, who rose and -fired a volley with fatal effect, breaking Wadsworth's -formation, the men fleeing in wild confusion. In this -Alabama brigade was the Eighth Regiment, commanded -that morning by Hilary A. Herbert who lost -his arm. This gallant man, soldier, member of Congress, -and distinguished lawyer was Mr. Cleveland's -Secretary of the Navy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span></p> - -<p>The heroic Wadsworth did not or could not check -his horse till within twenty odd feet of the Confederate -line. Then, turning, a shot struck him in the -back of the head, his brain spattering the coat of Earl -M. Rogers, his aide at his side. The rein of Wadsworth's -horse, after the general fell, caught in a snag, -and, Rogers's horse having been killed by the volley, -he vaulted into the saddle, and escaped through the -flying balls. Wadsworth lies unconscious within the -enemy's lines; his heart, that has always beaten so -warmly for his country, is still beating, but hears no -response now from the generous manly, truth-viewing -brain. I believe that morning, noon, and night the -bounteous valley of the Genesee, with its rolling fields -and tented shocks of bearded grain, holds Wadsworth -in dear remembrance.</p> - -<p>Everything on the right of the Nineteenth Maine, -Fifty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Massachusetts is gone, -and they, with fragments of other gallant regiments, -will soon have to go, too, for Sorrel comes on -again with a rush. Griswold, pistol in hand, advances -the colors to meet him, and is killed almost instantly; -Connor, on foot and in the road, is struck and, as he -falls, Webb calls out, "Connor, are you hit?" "Yes, -I've got it this time." And his men sling him in a -blanket and carry him to the rear. Webb, seeing the -day is lost, tells the bitterly-tried regiments to scatter, -and the wreckage begins to drift sullenly far and wide, -some in Cutler's tracks, and some toward where Burnside -is still pottering; but naturally the main stream -is back on both sides of the Plank to the Brock Road, -and there it straggles across it hopelessly toward -Chancellorsville. Chaplain Washiell, Fifty-seventh -Massachusetts, says, "I well remember the route as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> -the men streamed by in panic, some of them breaking -their guns to render them useless in the hands of the -rebels. Nothing could stop them until they came to -the cross-roads."</p> - -<p>Where now is the morning's vision of victory which -Babcock raised? All of Hancock's right wing, together -with Wadsworth's division of the Fifth Corps, -Getty's of the Sixth, and one brigade of the Ninth all -smashed to pieces! The Plank Road is Lee's,—and -the Brock, the strategic key, is almost within his grasp -too! For Longstreet, followed by fresh brigades at -double-quick, is coming down determined to clinch the -victory!! His spirits are high, and Field's hand still -tingles with his hearty grasp congratulating him on -the valor of his troops. Jenkins, a sensitive, enthusiastic -South Carolinian, "abreast with the foremost in -battle and withal an humble Christian," says Longstreet, -has just thrown his arms around Sorrel's shoulder,—for -the graceful hero has ridden to meet his -chief, and tell him the road is clear,—and says, "Sorrel, -it was splendid, we shall smash them now." And -then, after conferring with Kershaw, who had already -been directed to follow on and complete Hancock's -overthrow, Jenkins rides up to Longstreet's side and -with overflowing heart says, "I am happy. I have -felt despair of the cause for some months, but am -relieved and feel assured that we shall put the enemy -back across the Rapidan before night." Put the -enemy back across the Rapidan! That means the -Army of the Potomac defeated again, and Grant's -prestige gone!!</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END</p> - - - - -<div class="footnotes"> - <h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - <div class="footnote"> - - <p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Colonel Anderson was not there, being at home wounded.</p> - </div> - - <div class="footnote"> - <p><a name="Footnote_1_2" id="Footnote_1_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Sir Lyon-Freemantle has since died.</p> - </div> -</div> - - -<div class='transnote'> - <h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> - - <p>Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as - possible, including obsolete and variant spellings, inconsistent - punctuation that does not interfere with meaning, and other - inconsistencies.</p> - - <p>Obvious punctuation and spelling errors and minor printer errors - repaired.</p> - - <p>Transcription of author's handwritten autograph added by transcriber: '—Very truly yrs, Gill Sorrell.'</p> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Recollections of a Confederate Staff -Officer, by Gilbert Moxley Sorrel - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RECOLLECTIONS--CONFEDERATE STAFF OFFICER *** - -***** This file should be named 52121-h.htm or 52121-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/1/2/52121/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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