USA > Michigan > American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men.: Michigan Volume > Part 35
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consin, -opened with fearful volleys upon Jackson's advance, so that he was from twilight till after midnight gaining five miles towards Winchester. It was far into the night before Gordon went into bivouac on the ridge near Winchester which commands the Strasburg pike. Ewell, whose separate column was ordered to move towards Winchester at the first dawn, did not arrive near that town until late in the day. His advance was driven back by a strong picket of several companies of .
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necessity without superior orders ; and Hatch's cavalry. | staff officer with him at the moment, Captain Beman, cut off by Jackson's main body when it struck the valley pike, had not reported at Winchester. On the other hand, Jackson had it in his power, under the cover of night, to place a force superior to that of General Will- iams on both his flanks and in his rear, completely hedging him in. Fortunately, no attempt of this kind 'was made; but, some hours after daylight, after appar- ently much marching and counter-marching, an attack was made on Donnelly's position. He repulsed it with great loss to the enemy and very little to himself, as he was for the most part under cover of stone walls. No further attempt was made on Donnelly; but, as the mist rose, more than thirty battle-flags of the enemy's regi-
acting Commissary of Subsistence, put their horses towards what seemed the most favorable point of pas- sage in a very heavy stone wall on the right. The General's horse carried him safely over. Captain Beman's failed, but he contrived to get off unharmed at an- other place in the fence, and rejoined the General. Anxious to know how far the enemy's movements jeopardized the line of retreat, another attempt was made, further on, to reach the crest of the hill through a narrow lane. A rattling volley from the hill-top put an end to all efforts at reconnoissance in that direction, and gave satisfactory proof that the enemy was moving along the ridge which commands the Mar- ments could be seen moving to turn both flanks, but | tinsburg road on the north side of the town. When they reached the plain on the north side, which spreads out for about a half mile to a skirting of heavy timber, a scene of confusion presented itself. Hundreds of fugi-
mainly around Gordon's and on the right, which move- ment the topography of the country greatly favored. Gordon moved two regiments to meet the emergency ; but the 27th Indiana, while deploying from column, on tives, mostly colored people, with vehicles of all kinds, the extreme right, was unexpectedly struck by Taylor's from hay-racks to mule-carts, crowded the road; and brigade, and forced down the hill, carrying with it the ' groups of men and women, of all ages, weighed down 29th Pennsylvania. General Williams, who had just with all kinds of household effects, from feather beds to arrived in the rear of these regiments, from Donnelly's | frying pans, were hurrying across the unfenced fields as position, was satisfied that further attempts " to test the ! if flying from the wrath of a threatening volcano. Amid substance and strength" of a force so vastly superior in these confused and frightened masses, columns of infan- numbers would result in irreparable disaster. After try and lines of batterie, were moving to the rear with dispatching Captain Wilkins, acting Adjutant-General, [ apparent coolness and deliberation. In the edge of the to rally the two regiments at a fence near the foot | woods, where a brief halt wa, made, the stragglers had of the hill, he ordered Gordon to withdraw his brigade' formed in a well-ordered line of battle. A battery was through the town, and sent Lieutenant S. E. Pittman, put into position, and opened upon the eminences Aid-de-camp, with orders to Donnelly to retire through occupied by the enemy, but no persistent attack was the fields on the east side. These movements were attempted. There were yet thirty-five miles of weari- made in perfect order, mostly in column. excepting some marching to reach the Potomac, for troops, most . some stragglers from the two broken regiment. The | of whom had been under arms, with much fighting, for only cavalry on the field was a battalion of the 1st nearly thirty-six hours; and the morning sun was already Michigan, under Major Town, standing calmly in j at least five hours above the horizon. The retreat was column half way up the slope on the right of Gordon's therefore continued, with short halts at Bunker Hill and other favorable positions for repelling cavalry. Cooke, Jackson's biographer, asserts that the infantry halted through exhaustion, five miles from Winchester; and that, for some improbable reason, " the cavalry did not at first press the Federal troops;" but that Ashby and Stewart, having joined forces at Bunker Hill, "the Federal forces were followed hotly through Martins- burg, and driven across the Potomac with the loss of many prisoners and the capture of immense stores." The river was reached long after dark; and the crossing to Williamsport was not completed until after noon of the following day, as the stream was unfordable. There was neither hot pursuit nor serious molestation after regiments. It was important that, to extricate an ex- posed battery, some immediate demonstration should be made to check a rapid advance of the enemy. Major Town undertook the perilous duty with characteristic alacrity, and his little cavalry command of two squadrons was at once put in movement up the hill; while on his immediate left, an infantry regiment was hurriedly going down, broken by a superior force Upon reaching the crest, the officers in advance saw an approaching line of battle extending right and left beyond the reach of sight; and, in its rear, undeployed masses covering the broad plateau. Astonished by what must have struck them as an unlooked-for charge in force, the enemy's line halted, and, apparently without orders, opened a, leaving Winchester. Many men, wholly exhausted by furious, but ill-directed fusillade. It was an honest occa- long vigils, marching and fighting, fell out of the ranks and were captured; but not one was taken in battle. A sion of sauve qui peut. Town, with his little command, went down the hill without standing particularly "upon | considerable quantity of military supplies, stored mainly the order of his going; " General Williams and the only : at Winchester for the Department of the Shenandoah,
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were destroyed or fell into the hands of the enemy; but | least fifteen miles away. The other divisions of Mc- the long train of five hundred wagons, filled with | Dowell were beyond supporting distance. Neither military supplies, and all the artillery, with General Williams' command, were brought off with little loss. General Williams' loss in killed and wounded did not exceed one hundred and fifty men. Jackson's biograph- ers state the enemy's loss to have been about four hun- dred in killed and wounded. Banks' retreat, derisively called " Banks' skedaddle," has been a subject of much glorification with Southern historians and biographers, and of no little misrepresentation, as to comparative forces and actual losses, by Northern writers. When the facts shall be fully known, the wonder will be how Banks' little command, with its huge impedimenta, escaped at all from the overwhelming force of the vigilant and tireless Stonewall Jackson. Jackson, after Banks' retreat, slowly pursued his march to the vicinity of Harper's Ferry. McDowell at Fredericksburg, and Fremont in Western Virginia, were ordered to make forced marches to intercept his retreat ; but, fully advised by the Northern press of the intended trap, Jackson managed, June I, to escape both Generals. Two weeks afterwards, having cunningly convinced our military authorities that he was preparing for another campaign down the valley, Jackson had transferred his whole force to Lee's army, near Richmond ; and was stoutly engaged in the seven days' fight which forced McClellan to the James River. In the meantime, to cover Washington, Rickett's division nor Sigel's corps reached the field till dark, and after the battle was over. Banks had present in battle of his whole corps, infantry and artil- lery, as appears from the reports now in existence of regimental and battery commanders, just six thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven officers and men. Over four thousand men were absent in detachments of single companies, batteries, and routine details ; and five whole regiments at different passes and cross roads. The Union force, therefore, in the battle of Cedar Mountain, did not exceed seven thousand men, exclusive of Bayard's cavalry, which took no part in the main battle. South- ern writers claim that McDowell, Banks, and Sigel were united in a force of thirty thousand men. Jackson brought into the field his own and Ewell's divisions (his old valley command, less losses), and A. P. Hill's division,-an aggregate of not less than from twenty to twenty-five thousand officers and men, with numerous batteries, and General Robertson's cavalry command. The enemy had opened with a single battery before noon. After a cessation, it re-opened about three o'clock, and soon developed into a broad circle of artillery fire. In the absence of special instructions, General Williams deployed his division on the right of the main road, near a margin of wood, resting his right-two regi- ments and four companies, 3d Wisconsin, of Gordon's McDowell's command was deployed through Central | brigade, with a battery - upon a favorable elevation, Virginia, and Banks and Fremont had joined flanks at which projected beyond the general line, commanding Middletown, on the main valley road, which separated | an opening to the right front as well as to the imme- the two military departments. General Williams' di- diate front. Its whole length was traversed by deep vision, having recrossed the Potomac early in June, now ! gullies, and the little rivulet known as Cedar Run. Six formed the left flank of Banks' newly organized corps, near Front Royal. Movements for concentration began early in July. On the 6th, General Williams crossed the Blue Ridge by Chester's Gap, and, after temporary halts at Annsville and Warrenton, and marches and counter- marches, went into camp on the 16th of July, at Little Washington, sending one brigade (Crawford's) to Cul- pepper Court House. Early in August, it was known that Jackson had been sent in command of a large force to resist the advance of Pope. Banks' corps was con- centrated near Culpepper; and, on the 9th of August, Jackson having crossed the Rapidan, both of his divi- companies of the 3d Wisconsin were sent into the woods, a few hundred yards in front, as skirmishers. Observ- ing, from time to time, that single regiments were with- drawn from the line by staff officers, and sent to the woods in front, without orders passing through the intermediate commanders, General Williams at length sent the whole of Crawford's brigade to that position ; keeping Gordon's two regiments in their original place to observe and check any flank movement towards the right, which the evident superior force of the enemy rendered probable. At length, about five o'clock, P. M., after an artillery battle of at least two hours, a sharp sions took up position seven or eight miles south of that : rattle of musketry on the extreme left and considerably place, near Cedar Run. General C. C. Augur com -! in the rear of General Williams' advance brigade showed that a portion of Augur's division was engaged. This
manded the Second Division, and General Williams the First Division, of Banks' newly organized corps, -the | fire by degrees extended itself towards the center. Second Corps, Army of Virginia. On the morning of General Williams, recognizing the probably disastrous and fruitless results of advancing Crawford's brigade that day, Pope's forces, that were or might have been within supporting distance of Banks', were posted as from its sheltered position, across open wheat fields in follows: One division ( Rickett's) of McDowell's corps the face of woods held by the enemy, had procured a modification of two or three orders for that movement. in advance of Culpepper; Sigel's corps, superior in numbers to Banks', at Sperryville, or on the road, at [ It was evident that the enemy's left must soon under-
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take the disadvantages of an offensive attack. It is now | Winder's, Archer's, and Pender's, - two in line, and two well known that Jackson was only waiting for A. P. in support. Even here, with such vast odds against Hill's division to begin an advance on that flank. But
them, Jackson reports, "the fight was still maintained the annoyances of several batteries along the road, with obstinacy." Jackson, in person, rallied his con- thought to be in position to capture, and an apparent necessity of relieving a heavy pressure upon Augur's division, carried the day with the commanding General. Under urgent directions to hasten Crawford's move- ments, Captain W. D. Wilkins, Acting Adjutant-General, was sent with conditional orders to make the charge. The following is an extract, relative to this movement, from General Jackson's official report (See Reports of the Army of Northern Virginia, volume 20, page 15): " While the Federal attack upon Early was in progress, the main body of the Federal infantry moved down from the woods, through the corn and wheat-fields, and fell with great vigor on our extreme left; and, by the force of superior numbers, bearing down all oppo-
fused and flying brigades, and, uniting them to the four brigades which had arrested the stampede, hurled the whole in a general charge upon this little body of cx- hausted assailants. They had outrun all possible sup- port. They had no directing head; for their brigade commander, Crawford, had not gone forward with them, and most of their field-officers were already disabled. Their only alternative was capture or retreat; and back they came, pursued on flank and rear by at least ten times their number, burning to avenge their recent disasters. But the enemy's advance was arrested, and the scattered remnants of the gallant retreating regi- ments, bringing off in safety all their regimental colors, were collected in the rear. Their loss was terrible. sition, turned it and poured a destructive fire into its , Every field-officer and every regimental Adjutant was killed or wounded. In the 28th New York, every com- pany officer in the charge was killed or wounded; in
rear. Campbell's brigade fell back in disorder. The enemy pushing forward, the left flank of A. G. Talia- ferro's brigade, being by these movements exposed | the 46th Pennsylvania, all but five; in the 5th Connec- to a flank fire, fell back, as did also the left of Early's ticut, all but eight. The aggregate of casualties, of line. General W. B. Taliaferro's division (Jackson's old , officers and men, was six hundred and ninety-one, more brigade) becoming exposed, they were withdrawn." than one-half of the command. Probably, the whole history of the late war can not present an instance of more heroic and persistent valor; but, in view of the improbabilities of ultimate success, and the almost cer- tain great and useless sacrifice of men, General Bosquet's well-known criticism of the charge of the six hundred at Balaklava may fitly be repeated: "It was splendid, but it was not war." Early in the night following the battle, a body of the enemy's infantry moved silently into the woods, strangely left unguarded, in front of one of Rickett's brigades; and, at the same time, a battery was brought up along the shaded road. Both opened a rattling fire over the fields, apparently at ran- dom, and with no results corresponding to the noise and confusion that followed. A large group of dismounted Generals, staff officers, and orderlies had gathered around a rocky knoll, where General Pope had temporarily established himself, and became mixed up with rearing and plunging wounded horses. General Banks was badly injured by the kick of a horse. On the night of September 2, General Banks, still quite an invalid, left at once for Washington, accompanied by his staff, per- sonal and administrative. The severe losses had left the corps reduced in numbers and efficiency. On September 4, pursuant to orders of General Mcclellan, who had been restored to his old command, General Williams crossed the corps into Maryland and encamped above Georgetown. In the meantime, he had sharply reported to General Banks, still unrelieved of command of the corps, the continued absence of all the executive corps officers. At length a reply came, as follows: This general stampede of brigades and batterie, was checked, at length, by the two brigades of Branch and Winder, supported by Archer's and Pender's brigades, in reserve in the open fields; "where," says Jackson, "the fight was still maintained with obstinacy, when, Archer and Pender coming up, a general charge - by four brigades - was made, which drove the enemy across the fields into the opposite woods, strewing the narrow valley with their dead." It seems hardly creditable that this attacking force, which Jackson calls "the main body of the Federal army," consisted of only three regi- ments - the 10th Maine, supporting a battery, not going in - of General Williams' first brigade. These three regi- ments - 46th Pennsylvania, 5th Connecticut, and 28th New York - took into battle just one thousand three hundred and six officers and men. The six companies of 3d Wisconsin, about three hundred men in the out- set, joined in the charge on the extreme right. They were shortly driven back by a superior force in the woods. These three regiments, taking the double-quick across the wheat-field, exposed for several hundred yards to an unobstructed fire, struck Campbell's brigade, not in flank, but squarely in front. This command being routed, brigade after brigade was in turn thrown into confusion ; and, for over a mile, this heroic band drove before them the best troops of Jackson's gallant army. At length, emerging from the woods, themselves broken in ranks, badly disorganized, and greatly exhausted by the rapidity of the chase, they encountered Jackson's reserves in the open field; four brigades, - Branch's,
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"WILLARD'S, WASHINGTON, Sept. 7-1:40 P. M. "General A. S. Williams, Commanding First Division, Second Corps :
"GENERAL- Major Perkins left here yesterday morn- ing with instructions to report to you, and to assign to you the command of the corps. If he has not done so, it has been a most dishonorable violation of his duty. You will assume command of the corps, on receipt of this dispatch, and give such instructions as may be necessary. I will order all my officers to report to you, and join you myself to-morrow or to-night, if possible. Send me reports of what occurs by my orderlies. I am very anxious to know all.
"Very truly yours,
[ Signed.] "N. P. BANKS, Major-General."
position on the extreme right of the army from Culps' Hill to Rock Creek. On the afternoon of the same day, July 2, General William> marched with the First Division and Lockport's brigade to reinforce the Third (Sickles') Corps, desperately engaged with Longstreet's command on the left. During the night, General Will- iams attended, by summons, the council of war at Gen- eral Meade's head-quarters which decided the succeeding military operations. Returning from this council at midnight, he found the enemy - Ewell's, originally Jack- son's, corps- had got possession, during his absence in support of the left wing, of the greater portion of his original intrenched line. Preparations were made dur- ing the night to retake this important position. The
But General Banks did not join General Williams. Ile was soon afterwards assigned to command the de- combat began at daylight, and was kept up without fenses of Washington, and was subsequently sent to | cessation and with great fury until about ten o'clock A. relieve General Butler at New Orleans. General Will- M., when the enemy gave way and the original line was iams remained in command of the corps thereafter regained. The enemy's loss was fearful; that of Will- designated the Twelfth Corps, Army of the Potomac, | iams' command, one thousand and eighty-eight killed and during the march through Maryland, and until the day ! wounded. General Williams recrossed the Potomac with his division, July 19; and, during the summer, held 15, when he was relieved by the veteran General Mans- i the advance posts of Meade's army on the Rapidan. field, appointed permanent corps commander by the | During this time, several of his regiments were selected President. General Williams returned to the command succeeding the battle of South Mountain, September to be sent to New York to quell the anticipated draft of his old division, but held it for the brief period of riots, remaining there a month or more. September 24, two days only. Early in the morning of the battle of |1863, under orders to form a part of General Hooker's Antietam, September 17, at the moment the leading command to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland, columns struck the enemy's line of mu-ketry fire, the after the unsuccessful battle of Chickamauga, General brave and venerable Mansfield fell, mortally wounded. ; Williams and his old division bade good-bye to the and the command of the corps again devolved on Gen- " Army of the Potomac, and were transported by rail westward. The advance of his division reached Bridge- port, Alabama, in the vicinity of the enemy's posts, the
eral Williams. In this battle, the corps captured many prisoners and about one-third of all the colors reported by General Mcclellan as taken on this occasion. Nearly | 2d of October. General Williams' division passed the one-third of the command present was killed or wounded. ! winter in covering and protecting the single-track rail- General Williams was engaged more or less in all the | road line from Nashville to Bridgeport. In the spring three days' operations about Chancellorsville. The se- of 1864, Hooker's command was reorganized, and Gen- eral Williams' old division, strengthened by a new bri- gade, became the First Division of the Twentieth Army verity of this contest can be best understood by the casualties of the battle: Williams' division, not num- bering at this time five thousand men, lost sixteen hun- | Corps, General Hooker commanding, attached to the dred and eleven in killed and wounded. Fourteen of the thirty regimental field-officers were killed or wounded. From this battle, May 3, to that of Gettysburg, General William, remained in command of the division, moving
Army of the Cumberland, General George H. Thomas commanding. On the 6th of May, General Williams entered upon that famous campaign which ended in the capture of Atlanta, and which has been aptly desig- with the Army of the Potomac in observation of Lee's! nated as the "campaign of a hundred days under fire." movement into Pennsylvania. On the Ist of July, at | May 14, Williams' division had its first serious conflict with the enemy in this campaign, having come up on
the small village of Two Taverns, reports were received of the engagement of the First Corps with the enemy the double-quick, for four or five miles, to support Stan- near Gettysburg. General Slocum turned the command ley's division of the Fourth Corps (Howard's), which of the corps over to General Williams, and rode to that i had unexpectedly fallen upon a very superior force of place. General Williams retained the command of the the enemy. On the following day occurred the battle corps during the subsequent days of the battle; General | of Resaca. General Williams' division held the extreme T. II. Ruger commanding the division, and General left of the Union line, which Hood, with his reinforced Slocum the right wing of the army. The corps reached corps, was ordered to attack. The assaults began early the vicinity of Gettysburg before dark, but the operations in the afternoon, and were repeated until nearly twi- of the day were over. On the following morning, it took | light. In the final attack, Hood's columns were driven
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back with great discomfiture, leaving their dead and | Before they were half across the open fields, William,' many wounded in our hands. Besides prisoners from brigade was deployed in line of battle with the bat- two divisions, one entire regiment (38th Alabama), with teries, and infantry and artillery opened with fearful its colors and Colonel, was captured. Williams' division lost four hundred and seventeen officers and men, killed and wounded. The division crossed the Connasauga and Coosawattee the following day. After three days' pursuit over a very rough country, they occupied Cass- ville, the enemy having fallen back to Allatoona Pass. May 23, under General Sherman's order, the army moved forward to Allatoona, with twelve days' supplies, and compelled the enemy to evacuate the place three
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