USA > Illinois > Yates phalanx : the history of the Thirty-Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Veteran Infantry in the war of the rebellion, 1861-1865 > Part 8
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It will perhaps be remembered that when our forces first entered Martinsburg, the rebellious inhabitants had barricaded the doors of the courthouse, and cut the halyards from the flagstaff with the avowed purpose that no Union flag should float over it. The Thirty-Ninth was determined that the Stars and Stripes should fly there notwithstanding that the people of the town had announced that sudden death awaited those who dare attempt it. A member of Company B, of the Thirty-Ninth, Private Lee Harvey, volunteered to do the business, and was soon seen getting up the side of the building by the aid of the lightning-rod, bearing with him a flag. He reached the roof and with the same energy he climbed the flagstaff and to the top of it nailed the Stars and Stripes where so lately had flaunted the Stars and Bars of the so-called Southern Confederacy. This brave act made him the hero of the hour.
After General Shields' address the command moved out a short distance from town on the Winchester Pike, and bivouacked for the night. The following morning at nine we resumed our march toward Winchester, and when within two miles of that city went into camp, at four in the afternoon. The following morning, March 12, 1862, after guard mount and the duties of the day were disposed of, attention was given to a general cleaning up, which was sadly needed after so long a confinement in filthy cars.
Several officers, after "slicking up," as it was termed, and which mainly consisted in having their boots blacked or greased and attaching a clean paper collar to the shirt, received permission to ride into the city of Winchester to satisfy a curiosity to see the late stronghold of Secession, and the base of operations of Jackson's army.
General Nathaniel Banks' command was encamped near by and the Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteers was on provost-marshal duty in the town.
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After a few days of rest in camp, the Thirty-Ninth was ordered to take part in an expedition up the valley; and leaving knapsacks and all camp equipment we filed out on the morning of March 18, 1862, to join the balance of our Brigade, which was already in line, and at half-past nine commenced to move, preceded by a company of pioneers bearing axes and followed by twenty pieces of artillery.
During a short halt made in the city, Major S. W. Munn, who was riding a horse that had been captured at Bath on January 3, was approached by a young and comely lady and a loyal rebel, who after the preface of some pleasant smiles and words, remarked that he was riding her horse and proceeded forthwith to state the circumstances that led to its being captured, and ended by saying that she presumed the Major would have the courtesy to return the horse to its owner. The Major as we all know, was an exceedingly gallant and gracious man and especially so when a handsome woman was concerned. After recovering somewhat from his surprise he said in reply, "Well, Madam, I do not know about this. The horse, if yours, was found in very bad company, and is a legitimate capture from an officer in open rebellion against the Government of the United States. It is a contraband and confiscation of war and is now the property of the government. I am riding it on the present occasion, being sadly in need of a horse; perhaps the accidents of war may restore it to you. Otherwise it will be turned in to the quartermaster and sold. I am very sorry that I cannot have the pleasure of turning it over to you, but it is not within my leaving." The woman much chagrined at her failure and doubtless with a less favorable opinion of the "Yanks" than she had before.
The circumstances attending the capture of this horse were as follows: During a reconnaissance on January 3 near Bath, under the immediate command of Captain S. S. Linton, also accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Mann and several cavalrymen, Sergeant Hopkins, of Company D, with a squad of men surprised an officer who seemed to be out prospecting in a neighboring field, and who, as was afterwards learned, was the Adjutant-General of Loring's Brigade. The Sergeant commanded him to halt, dismount, and surrender! The officer quickly dismounted, and taking down some of the top rails of the intervening fence, gave the horse a stoke that sent him over and into our lines, while the officer, taking advantage of the momentary diversion and approach of some of the rebel cavalry, sneaked away under cover of the fence and escaped. The horse was captured and turned over to Major Munn, who had been without a horse since his promotion. It was afterwards jointly used by him and Lieutenant-Colonel Mann, whose horse had been severely injured on this expedition while leaping a ditch in efforts to escape capture. At Suffolk, Virginia, the horse was turned in to the quartermaster, and an order was procured for its sale, when it was bought by money contributed by the officers of the Regiment and forwarded to Governor Yates as a present-Major Munn taking it to Springfield in December 1862, when he left the service.
As we passed through the streets of Winchester many dark and gloomy faces peered at us from doors and windows, and some among the gentler sex were even tearful, thinking perhaps of our mission and their many dear friends in the Confederate service whom we might encounter.
The streets through which we passed were lined with soldiers from General Banks' command who greeted us as we passed with cheering words. At times a familiar voice would admonish us to "take care of yourself, old boy!" and "don't get shot in the back!"
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"Fight under any circumstances"
The spectacle presented by this moving column, fully 10,000 strong, was grand and imposing-the glorious old Stars and Stripes waving to the breeze-the various bands discoursing lively Union music, and the well-clothed and orderly soldiers trampling onward in measured steps.
"'Twere worth ten years of peaceful life,- One glance of their array."
We passed at a quickstep through the city and were soon joined by General Shields and staff, who took position at the head of the column, which was preceded by the Fifth Ohio Infantry and a portion of the First Michigan Cavalry, who acted as skirmishers.
Along our line of travel we constantly saw traces of the enemy, who, as we approached, had hastily decamped, leaving their campfires still burning and their forage scattered. We found enough of hay and oats to give our horses a good feed. At a distance of eight miles we reached the small village of Newtown, the only remarkable feature of which was the absence of the male population. The women were, as it seemed, the sole occupants, and exhibited themselves freely at the windows and porches of the houses, and it pleased them to wear a most forbidding countenance. The only delighted and happy expressions were seen in the shining faces of the many Negroes who had gathered together in little groups at various points.
Several miles further brought us to Middletown, before reaching which, however, we noticed a dense column of smoke from what we soon learned was the bridge spanning Cedar Creek, and which had been set on fire by the retreating rebels. Soon after we heard the booming of cannon, and an order came to open ranks and let the artillery pass, which came at flying speed; then closing up, we rushed forward at double-quick to the scene of the action, but found no enemy to fight. One of the Michigan Cavalry was badly wounded by Colonel Ashby, in the thigh, and the bone was so badly shattered that amputation was necessary.
We were obliged to bivouac at this point for the night, the Thirty-Ninth being ordered to flank the artillery. No fire was allowed, and as the night was cold, dark and rainy, it was supremely disagreeable; but it being a "military necessity" we stood it out patiently.
The following morning we were up and stirring by the time "reveille" sounded, and after sharpening our teeth on hardtack passed on to Strasburg, a temporary bridge having been provided to cross the creek. Our approach, however, was careful and well considered, for now and then a shell would come over in our vicinity, which plainly gave us to understand that the enemy was not far off. We halted a mile from town; the sharpshooters and cavalry were sent ahead together with a portion of the artillery, and for the space of an hour a brisk skirmish was kept up with Ashby's cavalry. We finally entered Strasburg, and proceeded two miles beyond, taking the field instead of the road, as we were afraid of masked batteries, and with reason, too, for they were soon discovered, and in such position that had we kept the road they would have done great damage. The enemy constantly directed their fire upon us, but without effect, as but very few of their shells exploded. We had expected to meet a large force and consequently were drawn up in line of battle, and anxiously awaited the commencement. Quickly twelve pieces of artillery were put in position, and opened fire,
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but soon ceased, for we could discover in the distance an attempt to stampede and Ashby's cavalry preparing for a charge upon the Fifth Ohio in order to give opportunity for a successful retreat.
We waited impatiently for operations to commence, but there was no commencement, and we advanced until darkness when the order came to bivouac; and to add to the discomfort a drizzly rain set in and continued through the night. In the morning nothing could be seen of the enemy and at nine a.m. we were ordered back to our former camp, which was reached at eight p.m., after a very fatiguing march of twenty-one miles through the rain, which still continued to fall.
BIVOUACKING AT CEDAR CREEK- IN THE RAIN.
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CHAPTER SEVEN
"The scene of the battlefield is awful"
At Newton, on our return, we met with Doctor J. W. Owens, who invited the Surgeon of the Thirteenth Indiana and Dr. Clark to his house, where a good dinner was furnished, with the "et cetera." Before dining he took much pride in showing us some of his correspondence with Daniel Webster and several European celebrities. We found him to be a man of culture and refinement. He was a widower; the splendid residence occupied by him being chiefly in care of his much-attached slaves. He showed up a miniature picture of his late wife, who was a descendant of the Washington family, and which he carried in a fold of his pocketbook, for the reason, as he stated, that he did not know when he might be taken prisoner, and he wished to have it with him. He was a most bitter secessionist and owned some twenty slaves which, he said, he would soon free.
On our return we met with our old friend, David Strother (Porte Crayon). He is attached to the cavalry service and was stationed at Manassas, but had been detached and put upon General Bank's staff and was proceeding to Strasburg by invitation of General Shields, who wished to avail himself of his topographical knowledge. In speaking of the late affair at Bath, he stated that the rebels had done him great damage, having destroyed a valuable cabinet of minerals-defaced all his paintings and stolen all his sketches, a loss irreparable, and one that money could not replace.
We reached our camp near Winchester at eight p.m., and were glad to get under the shelter of our tents.
Lieutenant S. S. Brucker was later to write:
"As your are probably not aware that I had the honor to open the battle of Winchester, I will give you a brief account of the matter.
"On the Friday evening, March 21, 1862, before the battle, I was detailed to report, with fifty men of Company C, at the headquarters of General Shields. Upon arrival, I was ordered to await a detail of fifty men from the Thirteenth Indiana Volunteers, who would report to me, and I was then to proceed out a distance of about two miles on the Front Royal road to relieve picket outposts belonging to General Bank's army, which was preparing to move on Centreville.
"In having rained almost continuously the preceding three days, the roads were in bad condition and almost impassable, and being a very dark night our progress was necessarily
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slow. After marching nearly four hours, I concluded that it was about time we found the pickets that we were to relieve, so I halted my command near the border of some timber, where we found a large plantation-house and outbuildings.
"As was usual in such cases, in less than fifteen minutes the "boys" had ascertained that there were several fine horses and saddles in the stable. I borrowed three of them without taking the trouble of asking permission, and mounting a sergeant and two men, sent them forward to find out if the pickets were still in advance of us. In an hour's time they returned, having failed to discover them. After a short rest I ordered my men to fall back toward Winchester, and having taken about the proper distance I deployed them in regular picket-line between the Front Royal and Strasburg Pikes, leaving a small reserve and both ends of the line.
"We had barely got our line fully established as day began to break, and I concluded to take some rest; but before I could accomplish this, my attention was called by the Corporal of the Guard, who said that he could see Banks' pickets coming in; and looking I could perceive some fifteen cavalrymen, dressed in the Federal uniform, coming toward us from the Front Royal Road. They continued to approach until within fifty yards, when they raised their carbines and opened fire, but their aim being hurried no one was hurt. After the volley they immediately whirled about and rode off at a gallop. Everyone seemed to be surprised, having little doubt but that they were our own men, and the pickets that we had been in search of, and that perhaps they were playing a joke upon us. Nevertheless, I instructed my men to return the fire in case of a repetition.
"One half hour later they returned with an increased force, and quite a lively skirmish took place for an hour's time. I soon found a more advantageous position behind a stone fence, such as are found in that locality, and where I had a better chance to pepper into them without exposing my men, and shortened the distance between the two roads.
"The enemy must have realized the fact that our position was such that they could not dislodge us with their tactics, and to our great surprise an artillery fire was opened, throwing shells. This was continued quite lively for a while in order to distract our attention from the cavalry, who in the meantime attempted to flank our position, but without success, as we kept them at bay and held the position. Meanwhile we were looking toward Winchester for reinforcements, and wondered why none came, for we reasoned that the firing must have been heard, and I had sent a messenger to General Shields' headquarters some time before; and yet no sign of answer, and we were beginning to despair. But at last, about eleven a.m., we heard the welcome sounds of the bugle and fast-galloping troopers coming down the Strasburg Pike to our assistance. They found us still masters of the situation.
"We had been attacked and had successfully repulsed the enemy's pickets and skirmishers at least a dozen times, and it was surprising that we had escaped with so small a loss, which was, one killed and three wounded of the Thirteenth Indiana Volunteers, and two wounded and five prisoners taken from the Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers. The Confederate loss, as I was afterwards credibly informed, was three killed and fifteen wounded.
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"The scene of the battlefield is awful"
"When I reported at General Shields' headquarters the following evening, I found him confined to his bed suffering from a shattered arm, caused by a fragment of shell from the enemy's guns, received early in the evening of the 22nd. I gave him a detailed account of the occurrences of my two days and one night's outpost duty, and inquired why no support was sent me after the firing was heard. He replied that he had heard the firing of musketry and artillery, and on inquiring the cause had been informed that our artillery and infantry were drilling and practicing. He was very angry when he learned that General Banks' pickets had left their posts without waiting to be relieved. He highly complimented us and our noble Regiment, and expressed the great interest he took in the old brigade, remarking that if the balance of the army consisted of such material the war would soon end."
This reconnaissance in force was not attended with the results that were anticipated, except that we gained a knowledge of the enemy's strength and location and cleared the way for the advance of General Banks' army, which was moving on Centreville.
The night of March 22, the "long roll" was sounded, and the various regiments of our Division turned out and were soon in line and on the march toward Winchester. The scene of the affray was located about one mile beyond the city, and was occasioned by a body of Ashby's cavalry who had dismounted and were advancing as infantry, under the impression that the Union forces had left, as they had undoubtedly witnessed the departure of General Banks' army. They came howling and yelling like so many demons, but were gallantly met by the First Maryland Cavalry, who delivered a fire that killed nineteen of the rebels who fell like stones to rise no more. The Thirty-Ninth Illinois and the Fifth Ohio Infantry took position on the Romney Pike, fortunately their services were not demanded, for the enemy soon retreated.
During the little skirmish one of our artillerymen was killed, and also the horse he was riding. General Shields was also wounded by a fragment of shell which broke his left arm. He was soon conveyed to the rear in an ambulance.
During the day Captain Gray of Company C had been stationed some three miles in advance with his company, on outpost duty, and when we met with him, after this skirmish, he told us that he had been engaged more or less during the whole day with the advance of Ashby's cavalry and had lost two men.
The whole Division was kept on duty during the entire night, and the retreating rebels were followed up by some five companies of cavalry.
The succeeding day (March 23, 1862) ushered in the battle of Winchester, with Ashby's cavalry and the whole force of Jackson to combat. The engagement commenced at ten a.m., and did not terminate until darkness had set in. The Thirty-Ninth occupied the extreme left and was not called into action, but did good service in supporting a battery during the engagement.
The scene of the action was in the vicinity of Kernstown, some four miles in advance of Winchester on the Strasburg Pike. Our Division was posted as follows: the Brigade of General Nathanial Kimball on the extreme right, General Tyler in the center, and General Jeremiah Sullivan on the left. General Kimball had command, owing to the disability of General Shields. The battle opened with a fierce artillery duel which continued until about three in the afternoon, when the
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infantry became engaged, and resulted in a complete victory for our troops after fighting almost hand- to-hand over a distance of two miles.
The carnage was frightful, our Division having 150 men killed and 300 wounded, while the enemy's loss amounted to some 900 in killed and wounded, 236 taken prisoner, and the abandonment of two field-pieces and four caissons, together with 1,000 small arms and several stands of colors. (The battle and the victory at Winchester were considered so important, occurring as it did so soon after the Bull Run disaster, that President Lincoln and his cabinet paid a visit to the battleground. The victory at Winchester was bravely won, but not without the sacrifice of many good and valiant men. The troops were complimented by General McClellan, and General Shields personally complimented them upon opening the campaign on the Potomac, and advised us to inscribe Winchester upon our banners.)
General Jackson, it was said, had made the boast in the morning that he would enter Winchester in time for evening service at the churches; and so confident were the women that he would be successful that they were preparing a banquet for him, but it proved as true in this case as in many others that "There's many a slip between cup and lip;" and instead of entering Winchester he was fast retreating on Strasburg with a crippled army. It was at this battle that General Jackson received the "Soubriquet" of "Stonewall Jackson" from the fact of his having taken up with a position behind a stone wall which resulted most disastrously to our men while making a charge. [Editors' note: In reality, Stonewall Jackson earned his "soubriquet" during the first battle of Bull Run].
Our men had nothing to eat since early morning and it was not until nine p.m. that the commissary reported with rations.
The men lay on their weapons all night, and a bitter cold night it was. The following morning General Banks returned, but too late to be of any service except in the matter of directing the pursuit, and it devolved upon the Thirty-Ninth to lead the advance, which was continued to Strasburg. Our march during the day was continually interrupted and made disagreeable by the continued assaults of the rearguard of the enemy, who with two pieces of artillery, were throwing shells amongst us but their fire was returned with interest, and as we advanced we could perceive that our fire had been effectual from the number of dead and wounded that had been left to our mercy.
We bivouacked for the night at Cedar Creek. The pursuit was continued the following morning (Tuesday, March 25), and as we pushed forward the rebel cavalry and artillery seemed to have disappeared; but more or less skirmishing was kept up with the enemy's rearguard until we went into camp near Woodstock. This town was a county-seat and was built up along one street, and as we entered at one end the rebels left at the other. The enemy had planted a battery of artillery upon a hill at the further side, and our artillery took position on a rise of ground opposite, the town lying between, and a brief but lively cannonading took place. A shell from one of our guns struck a large brass ball upon the cupola of the court-house, splitting it in halves. General Ashby's horse was also killed under him.
We soon moved on and went into camp at the town of Edinburg, and here, as we were sadly short of rations, permission was given to forage; and as the woods were full of hogs there was soon no lack of provender in the flesh line.
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"The scene of the battlefield is awful"
We remained at this place until April 1, when we were called upon at one in the morning to advance. We passed through the town, our advance guard driving the pickets of the enemy. The rebels, however, made but little resistance. About sunrise we reached Mount Jackson, a town of some 600 inhabitants, and here the enemy set fire to the cars and the bridge before retiring; but our cavalry hastened forward and after a light skirmish in which one man was killed and three taken prisoners the bridge was saved. Jackson endeavored to make a stand on the heights across the river, but Shields succeeded in flanking his position and he moved on toward Staunton.
FRESH PORK FOR SUPPER.
Here it was that the Thirty-Ninth made its first, if not its most brilliant charge. On Rude's Hill, nearly a mile distant, there was discovered what was supposed to be a masked battery. No men were visible, only the mouth of a large gun, at least a 32-pounder, could be seen. This battery must be taken, and the Thirty-Ninth was assigned that duty. At the word of command the boys started out on the "double-quick," but cautiously, making a detour so as to conceal the movement and take the battery in flank. When sufficiently near, the order came to charge, and with a cheer and hurrah they made a grand rush upon the formidable battery, which was found to consist of an old piece of smokestack or pipe that had been abandoned by the roadside and was well supported by any number of trees standing in martial order behind it. We then moved on to Strasburg and went into camp.
As stated in Fifteen Years Ago: or the Patriotism of Will County by George H. Woodruff, Joliet, 1876, 156-158, about the battle of Winchester:
"Being posted at the extreme left, the Thirty-Ninth did not come into the thickest of the fight, and suffered very little. Its part in the battle is thus told by a member of the Regiment, (name unknown), writing to the Wilmington Herald at the time. Under date of March 29, near Strasburg, he writes:
"Everything remained quiet after that, until Sunday noon, when the long roll sounded again. We marched out on the Strasburg road, and within two miles of Winchester, turned off to the left, and marching through the fields and woods until we came in sight of the enemy. We halted and were ordered to lie flat. Meanwhile the enemy's cannon on the front and right was speaking loud and fierce. Some of our artillery were planted on a hill to the right, and replied with good effect. The position of the enemy was in the woods to the right
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