The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 36

Author: Morris, John M., ed
Publication date: 1863
Publisher: New Haven : Peck, White & Peck
Number of Pages: 886

USA > Connecticut > The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865 > Part 36

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Gen. Hooker, by being betrayed into a false

In the Department of the Gulf there has step, would not expose the army of the Po- been considerable activity along the coast of tomac to ruin and the city of Washington to Texas. But, with these exceptions, the hard- capture. Read the language of that report : worked and fatigued soldiers have every- where gone into winter quarters, and are en- gaged in making themselves as comfortable

" It was thought that the corresponding movement on the part of the enemy, to which those contemplated by us would probably as possible. The present winter does not give rise, might offer a fuir opportunity to seem likely to give occasion for the oceur- renee of any of those great battles, such as

strike a blow at the army then commanded by Gen. Hooker."

Fort Donelson, Murfreesboro and Fredericks- burg, which have marked those of the two last years; and unless the desperate ex- igencies of the Confederacy force them to in- itiate some aggressive movement, there is no

ful labors so richly deserve. Meanwhile, the work of reorganization, by the re-enlistment of veterans, and by recruiting, goes success- the advance of Sherman's columns compelled fully forward, and in all probability the army him to abandon the siege of Knoxville, he will be able to take the field next spring, relatively stronger than it ever has been be- fore. passed rapidly by that city, in retreat, close- ly pursued in the rear, and harassed on his left flank by a Union foree, marching down from Cumberland Gap. But when the Con- federate commander reached Rogersville, he faced about and gave battle to his pursuers ; and ever since then, his command has re- mained there, subsisting itself upon the country, and doggedly refusing to retire.

Throughout the whole theatre of opera- tions, cavalry raids, for the last month, have been remarkably numerous, and some of them very brilliant. Foremost among these in daring and importanee, was the raid of Averill against the Virginia and East Ten- nessee Railroad at Salem. Five bridges, a large number of ears and an immense quan- tity of military stores were burnt, and fifteen

inflicted irreparable loss upon the enemy.

114-

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

[JANUARY,

But " in vain the net is spread in sight off themselves as much as possible, so as to the Union Commander to cover the ap- any bird." A brief resume will show that the proaeles to Baltimore, and prevent him from operations of Gen. Hooker were directly dif- ferent from those anticipated and desired by This belief, if entertained, would cause a with- drawal of the National army from Virginia, to repel this supposed invasion, and would uncover the way for Lee, operating by his right flank, to plant hin-elf directly in front of Washington. the Rebel commander. The Confederate army broke camp at Fredericksburgh on tho 3d of June, and on the 8th the eorps of Longstreet and Ewell, and the cavalry under Stuart, were concentrated at Culpepper Court House, leaving the command of Hill at Fredericks- burgh, as a corps of observation. On the 10th Ewell left Calpepper, for the Shenan-

But Gen. Hooker was not deceived by! these numerous strategieal artifices, and ob- stinately persisted, despite the wishes of Lee, doah Valley, from which, on the 14th, he | in covering the approaches to the National, Confederate ariny ordered to concentrate at Capital, and in holding his army directly

routed the National force under Milroy, and drove it across the Potomac. But neither Longstreet or llill had stirred from their positions at Culpepper and Fredericksburgh ; and the army of the Potomac had not moved from Falmouth. The Confederate army was thus stretched along a line of over one han- dred miles, while its old antagonist was con-

But by this time Ewell had advanced so far into Pennsylvania, that it was necessary for the remainder of the Confederate army | supposed advance of the National army to- to be within supporting distance. Accord- centrated on its extreme right wing. Such |ingly, on the 24th of June, Longstreet and had been the Confederate move.

This information, so far as it concerned a ward Williamsport, was entirely incorrect. That army under command of Gen. Meade, Hill crossed the Potomac, above Harper's Ferry, and by the 27th, encamped near (Hooker having been relieved at his own re- quest, on account of Halleck's refusal to con- Chambersburgh, Ewell being at Carlisle. cur with his order for the evacuation of Har- cipated from this strategy, and which was to! But this invasion of Pennsylvania was not : per's Ferry,) left Frederick on the 29th, offer a fair opportunity to strike a blow at ; undertaken for the purpose of drawing the marebing north, under orders to find and the National army. Only three plans were | Union army away from its base, and bring- i fight the enemy. On the 30th, Gen. Bu- open to the election of the Union commander ; ing on a general battle, unless it should be ford, skirmishing with his Cavalry, beyond -to bring on an cugagement if possible with : necessary. The evidence of Lee's official Gettysburgh, discovered the enemy ap- the rebel right-to fall back towards Wash- report is conclusive. Speaking of the rea- proaching in force, and immediately sent ington or to march against Longstreet at sons of the battle of Gettysburgh, it says: word of this fact to Gen. Meade, who ae- Culpepper. But the first could not have . It had not been intended to fight a gener- cordingly directed Gen. Reynolds with the been reasonably expected, since its disadvan-'al battle, at such a distance from our base, | first and eleventh corps to advance and oceu- tages were too palpable. It would involve the unless attacked by the enemy." Disajoint-

. loss of Washington, and would place two-fed already in his efforts to betray the Union ! thirds of the rebel army in the rear of the commander into a false step, Gen. Lee seems army of the Potomae, while engaged in irnit- now to have been actuated by the inferior lessly chasing the other third. The second , motives of invasion and plunder. plan -- the one actually adopted-offerel no As soon as it was known that the main gallant manner. Reynolds at onee threw favorable opportunity for attack, and there. body of the enemy had entered Maryland, fore the third and last must have been thy Gen. Hooker crossed the Potomac, at El- in which his wily adversary thought to en- wand's Ferry, and on the 28th, arrived at trap Hooker. 'Frederick. Gen. Stuart, commanding the

py the town. About ten o'clock on the morning of the Ist of July, Reynolds arrived at Gettysburgh, where he found Buford warmly engaged with the confederate ad- vance, which he was checking in the most the most advanced division of the first corps against the enemy and sent off orders for the į eleventh, under Howard, to come on as fast as possible. Soon after making his disposi-

This view gathers confirmation from the next Rebel cavalry, in endeavoring to impede the : tions for the battle, the brave Reynolds fell futile stratagem of Lee. When it was foaud passage of the river, was thrown off to the mortally wounded, and the command then that Hooker cautiously kept near his base, right of the Army of the Potomne, and was devolved upon Gen. Howard. At first tho then with a view to draw him therefrom, therefore compelled to ride around the whole success of our arms was decisive. The enemy Longstreet's corps was pushed along the east extent of the Union lines in order to rejoin | were driven back and several hundred pris- side of the Blue Ridge-inviting attack, since Lee. This famous circuit was no cause of: oners captured. But between 1 and 2 P. M. thus it was apparently isolated from the other boasting to Gen. Stuart, since it deprived his two divisions of Ewell's corps arrived on the portions of the Rebel army. If only this Hole chef of all reliable means of obtaining intel- ; field, and were at once deployed on our bit of strategy had succeeded, and Hooker Isence of the situation of the Federal army, right flank. Thus outnumbered and out- had left his base to attack Long-treet, very from the timo he left the Potomac, till the flanked, Gen. Howard withdrew to the likely Lee would have made a swinging move. commencement of the battle of Gettysburgh : heights south of Gettysburgh, though not ment by his left flank and thrown Ewel uil to no event more than this does Gen. against Washington.

Ice as ribe the cause of tho failure of his

without considerable loss in prisoners. About 7 P. M. the twelfth and part of the third corps arrived and were at once posted

One other plan of deceiving the Union compaign.

Commander remained. Ewell was ordered Anticipating, however, the operations of along tho heights. Thus elosed the first across the Potomac, with instructions to the Army of the Potomac, Lee had judi- throw light, movable columns of men into ciously or lered Ewell to send strong detach- day of the great battle of Gettysburgh-a battle which was to roll back the tide of the Cuniberland Valley, who should magnify . ments eastward from Carlisle, so as to oblige | Rebel invasion, never to return.

create the belief that the whole Confederate army was already on its northward mareh. |marching against his own line of retreat to Williamsport. Lee then began to make preparations for an advance upon Ilarris- burgh ; but upon the night of the 29th, he received information through a scout, that the Union army had entered Maryland, and that its advance had reached South Moun- tain, and thus endangered his line of opera- tions. Accordingly the movement against Harrisburgh was arrested, and the entire Gettysburgh, prepared to grasp the commu- opposite the main body of the enemy. nications of the Union Commander with And so all the astute calculations of the Rebel Baltimore and Washington, should that ofli- General were completely foiled. cer attempt to seize his own with the Poto- mac.

Now what was that " corresponding move- . ment" of Gen. Hooker, which Lee had anti-

864.]

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD).

115

About 3 P. M. Gen. Meade rode out to heard on this continent. Shot and shell the left, to post the fifth corps. He found rushed, whistled, shrieked and moaned, and . that Sickles, commanding the third corps, the very air seemed alive with the flying mistaking the nature of his orders, and for projectiles. At length our guns ceased to the purpose of occupying more elevated reply, and the artillery roar slackened. Then followed the grand assault of the Rebels. In it was one half of their whole army. On they came, with a heavy line of skirmishers signed that he should rest. While Gen. in front, and two complete lines of battle. Accordingly a prompt concentration of his Meade. was explaining this mistake to him They were received principally by the second forces was ordered, and before the close of and discussing the propriety of withdrawing, the afternoon of the 1st of July, his entire the enemy made a fierce and terrible assault army, save a single division, was collected on the heights north of Gettysburgh.

upon the front and flanks of this very corps, which, however, received it with great firmness and resolution. A portion of the second corps moved rapidly forward and . but with the madness of desperation on they covered the night of the third, while its left . rushed.

Meanwhile only about a mile from Lee's position lay but one-half of the Federal army, and the greater portion of even that had been thoroughly fatigned by the engage- was equally protected by the fifth, which, ment of the day. All night long did this Now they had reached our guns, and were after a gallant and bloody struggle, seized | in the act of turning them against us, when Round Top hill and firmly held it. Notwith- la determined charge recovered them. For several hours, division after division was hurled against the firm and solid lines of our army only to be dashed back with slaughter and confusion. Finally the sullen roar of battle rolled off to the southwest, and the enemy withdrew repulsed and defeated. inequality continue. Day dawned, the sun rose and was nearly three hours high, and standing the obstinate resistance of the third, yet its advanced position rendering it liable to be outflanked. Gen. Birney, now in com- mand, (Sickles having been severely wound- ed,) was advised to fall back and reform on the line originally intended. This was suc- Cessfully accomplished, and the mistake of no re-enforcements had reached the Federal position. Had the Rebel assault been made at daybreak, the result would probably have been anything else than a victory to the National cause. At 7 A. M. the second and fifth corps arrived. Still the army was not Thus closed the terrible battle of Gettys- Sickles, which, in the opinion of Halleck, burgh. The pride and power of the Rebel invasion were thoroughly broken by the in- vincible valor and obstinate bravery of the fatigued and hard-marched veterans of the army of the Potomac. all up. The gallant sixth was not present. The foreuoon wore away, and now the sun came very near being fatal, was thus cor- rected. All the assaults of the enemy in this part of the field were repulsed with terri- ble slaugliter, and he retired about sunset in great confusion and disorder. About 8 P. M. had passed the meridian, and two o'clock in the afternoon had arrived, before the columns of the sixth corps made their appearance on the field. Still the enemy had not attacked. Gen. Lee made good his retreat to Will- However the army of the Potomac is now en- | a furious attack was made upon the eleventh [iamsport, though with great loss of plunder, tirely concentrated and we may breathe easi- er, thanking Heaven that Stuart rode around our lines, and thus deprived his chief of the means of ascertaining our position.

corps, on Cemetery Hill, but was gallantly [ and constantly harassed by the National and successfully resisted. The necessity of cavalry. Gen. Meade arrived before Will- re-enforcing the left had so weakened our ex- "iamsport on the 12th of July. After a thor- treme riglit, that Ewell had succeeded in oc-'ough examination and a lengthy consultation enpying a portion of our line, in this direc- it was resolved to attack the enemy in his tion, which was the only compensation to the chosen position, on the 14th. But having extemporized a bridge across the Potomac,

At one o'clock on the morning of the 2d Gen. Meade reached the field, and as soon as it was light, commenced making his ar- enemy for his terrible losses during the day. On the morning of the 3d-the last and for the transportation of his trains, and the great day- of the battle,-Gen. Geary, who river being now fordable, Gen. Lee re- in its general outline, resembling a horse- had marched from the centre to the right treated to the south side on the night of the during the previous night, was attacked by : 18th, and thus terminated in failure his won- the enemy, at early dawn. However, he ; derful campaign of just forty days' duration. soon succeeded in driving him back and in ousting him from that part of the field, which Capt. Jepson recently enlisted a man for the 10th Regiment, whose father and two brothers wero among the killed in the bloody conflict of Antie- tam. Ile was the sole remaining member of the family, and " he was going now," he said, "to do what he could to avenge their death." he had won the day before. The battle then surged along this part of the line, with great fury, the enemy being uniformly re- of greater height, known as Round Top. On pulsed, till 11 A. M., when it ceased, and over the whole field everything was ominous- rangements for the battle. The heights to the south of Gettysburgh form a position, shoe, with its toe resting on Cemetery Ridge, directly opposite the town, and the heel opening southward. On the front and right of this position the ground is very elevated and finely adapted for defense, while on the left, for some distance from the front, it is considerably lower, till it comes to a ridge this irregular line Gen. Meade drew up his REINSTATED .- President Lincoln has authorized the re-appointment of Assistant Surgeon L. II. army ; the twelfth corps on the right, then ly silent for two hours. The soldiers ate the first, and then the eleventh, which held their dinners and rested, pondering what the ; Pease, 10th Regt. Conn. Vols., recently dismissed issue might be. At 1 P. M. two signal guns, ; by a special order of the war department with no from the Rebel line, broke the silence, and assigned cause. It was conclusively shown that bo was a competent and faithful officer, and that he discharged his duties satisfactorily.

the front on Cemetery Ridge. On the con- tinuation of this ridge to the left, the second and third eorps were directed to form. Pending the arrival of the sixth, the fifth

were at once followed by the roar of one |hundred and twenty-five cannon, massed in was the reserve, when it was ordered to the | position against our left centre. Our own | one cent a month.

Gen. Lee had intended, as has been seen, extreme left, and the sixthi became the re- batteries responded, and for over two hours to avoid a general engagement ; but finding serve. there was the grandest artillery prelude ever himself suddenly confronted face to face with his old enemy, and it being a matter of diffi- culty to withdraw in safety, with his large trains of plunder or to obtain forage and pro- visions while encamped so near the main body of our army, and moreover, flushed ground, was in the act of advancing half al mile beyond the line of the second corps, on the prolongation of which it had been de- with the success of the day, and elated with the hope of defeating Gen. Meade, he deter- mined to renew the battle on the next day.

corps, which behaved with magnificent cour- age. Re-enforcements were rapidly sent to its support, and all our available artillery was converged upon the advancing enemy. Their first line seemed to sink in the earth,

POSTAGE .-- Postage on the WAR RECORD is only

116

THE CONNECTICUT WAR RECORD.

LJANUARY,

For the Connectiont War Record.

the right of the road are seen far away on von that day they started for the field of bat- The Three Months' Volunteers. Continued. the "run," while near the path the men | tle, but, delayed by the columns of lleintzel- " rest in place," quietly waiting. Presently |man and Hunter, they did not come under the same movement is repeated by those on fire until about ten A. M. The part taken My last chapter left the Second Regiment the left. Thus, walking leisurely through by the Second in the day's work has already eneamped at Falls Church. Early in July it |fields nearly level, covered with the crawling been detailed in the sketch of the First Reg- was brigaded with two other Connectieut regiments and the Second Maine, the whole and abundant, stain the boots a deep crim- placed under the command of Col. Erasmus son, emblematie of the horrible dye which blackberry vines whose ripe clusters, luscious iment, published in the November number of the War Record. General Keyes in his report of the battle says : "I also observed D. Keyes, of the 11th Regular Infantry, as perhaps awaits the wearers further on ; or throughout the day the gallantry and excel- Brigadier General. Eight companies of the [ toiling slowly over the yielding ridges of lent conduct of Col. Terry's Second Regi- regiment having the Sharps rifle, one of the some newly ploughed hillside, or wading ment, Connecticut volunteers, from whom ] received most zealous assistance." " At one time a portion of his regiment did great exe -. most effective if not the very best weapon | through morasses of tangled reeds and grass- ever invented, General Keyes had them drill [ es covering slimy, liquid mud, or creeping was selected for the purpose, and the men were taught to move by the sound of the bugle. This exercise was but a preparation men were a little tardy in moving forward." for the " grand movement " talked about in camp, and discussed in the public prints.

daily as skirmishers. The roughest ground through the thick underbrush of forests, or cution with their rifles from a point of our wading, waist deep, through brooks and line which was thin, and where a few of our pools, or leaping fences, stepping carefully through gardens of kitchen vegetables, pass- | Ile also calls attention to the coolness, activ- ing through rows of tall corn, and occasion- ity and discretion of Lieut. Col. Young and ally exploring a dwelling which stands in their : Major Colburn. "The latter, with the Ad- On the 16th, at three P. M., the regiment path, the men move forward like an army leaving the camp standing, occupied ouly by jutant of the regiment, Lieut. Charles L. of locusts or the progress of resistless fate. Russell, showed conspicuous gallantry in de- a few servants and ailing men, marehed out Every eye and ear being strained to catch | fending their regimental colors during the and led the advance of the brigade and the | the first indication of an enemy's presence ; retreat this side of Bull Run against a charge the labor is exhausting, but its danger and excitement makes it perfectly fascinating. Such is skirmi-hing.

of cavalry." Col. Terry also commends " the devotion of Doctors Douglass and Bacon to Thus the flankers pressed forward from the wounded while under the hottest fire of artillery." Private Arnold Leacb, of Co. B, five o'clock until about ten at night, the col- (since a Captain in the 6th Regiment, now umn slowly winding through by-roads, until | in the Invalid Corps,) is also highly praised the order to halt found the main body at "for having spiked three abandoned guns road and the verdurous forest. Women and . the little hamlet of Flint Hill, and the skir- with a ramrod, and then bringing away two children came to the doors and gates, and mishers more than half a mile farther on, to | abandoned muskets."

the few laborers in the fields stood with open where the read passing through a dark forest mouths and staring eyes as the procession | was blockaded by felled trees. While wait- filed past. That portion of Virginia was not

Throughout the whole day these carnest men upheld the honor of the State whose fing here to be relieved by the pickets, the revolutionary Governor, for his valuable ser- then the wilderness it has since become. men of Co. H. who rested by the side of the vices . and counsels, won from the father of Pleasant orchards, well , kept gardens and ral, detected two horsemen approaching his country the endearing title of " Brother fruitful fields of grain were not impossible from the direction of the rebel camps. They Jonathan."

sights. The demon of war had not yet driv- were halted and their pass required by Capt. en out the husbandman, and taken up his Gore. They said they had a pass from a field, which was done in perfect order, the abode in desolate dwellings o'erlooking ruined Col. Gardner. When told it was valueless regiment, after a short rest at Centreville, one of them asked his captors who they marched in the darkness of night back to their camp, and for two successive days worked in a furious storm, saving all the

The last to leave the bloody and disastrous

lands. The march was a gala excursion, hot Jacking even the admiration of woman to give zest to its enjoyment.

were. " Federal soldiers," was the reply. Turning to his companion he saitl with an

Two hours thus passed, when the bands : imprecation, " By --- Jim, we've got into | property belonging to six different organiza- were hushed and skirmishers thrown out. 'the wrong pew." Surrendering their arms, tions, including their own, and then, and not Advanced at least half a mile from the col. they were escorted to headquarters and placed | till then, marched into the fortifications about umn, they spread themselves over the fields under guard in a small log house. Washington, where they arrived on the eve- and through the woods, each man some'

In regular ranks lay the sleeping men on ning of Tuesday, the 23d of July. The next twenty paces from his fellow in the open the damp earth, each with his blanket over day the regimeut went into camp at Meridi- ground, but in the forest reducing this tosix him, and his mu-ket like a bride lying shel- an Hill, Washington, and on Friday, the 2d or eight. Thus they move forward, rifle at tored by his side. The night was clear, but of August, after depositing their arms at the " trail arms " or in the best position for im- the dows were heavy, and toward morning Arsenal, started for New York by railroad, mediate use, keeping their dress as nearly as the fences were laid under contribution for where they arrived on Sunday, the 4th. possible, thus sweeping a wide belt on either fuel, an ! huge fires blazed in every direction, Monday morning, Aug. 5th, the regiment side the road. The Generals, Colonels, a surroun led by shivering soldiers. iarrived in New Haven on the steamers At five o'clock in the morning tho division Champion and Trurcler. Here they were

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The Connecticut war record, 1863-1865, Part 36

Author: Morris, John M., ed Publication date: 1863 Publisher: New Haven : Peck, White & Peck Number of Pages: 886

Author: Morris, John M., ed
Publication date: 1863
Publisher: New Haven : Peck, White & Peck
Number of Pages: 886