USA > New York > Camp fires of the Twenty-Third: sketches of the camp life, marches, and battles of the Twenty-Third Regiment, N. Y. V. Added to these are statistics of enlistments and all valuable information connected with the regiment > Part 6
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The great mistake was want of confidence. Victory hinged on that. Confidence would have brought Por- ter promptly to the support. Confidence in his men would have kept Pope in possession of the field rather than attack. (See Pope's official report.) Confidence in Pope would have made a wall of our troops, an im- passable and terrible wall-a wall of fire. They were kept in utter ignorance of everything but their own terrible sufferings. They would have ignored num- bers. They would have scorned life. They would have welcomed death. They would have faced the combined armies to the last man, with the simple knowledge that to do this was victory. Witness- Antietam under Mcclellan.
The part that a regiment or brigade or division per- forms in a battle involves in part the description of the battle. Of what does the description of a battle con- sist ? Is it the arrangement of forces ? King's division,
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after several charges, found its proper niche-the ad- vance. Is it the plan of battle ? That varies with success. Is it an account of the fallen, the heaps of slain, the shock of conflict when the two mighty waves come surging on, foaming, and fretting, and dashing, and at last the wild wail and shriek of the concussion, as it leaps heavenward, and the fiercer, madder wave sweeps victoriously over the conquered ? Does it tell of deeds of valor, when a brave and gallant leader at the head of his column cheers them on, and that column marches calmly determined into the jaws of death, when that sublime courage that knows no fal- tering possesses the officer, the private, ALL ?
There were glorions deeds on that disastrous field- deeds that have immortalized those great brave hearts. But lack of confidence undermined the great wall of defense, otherwise they could never have been bat- tered down.
Colonel Crane led the usual number of the Twenty- third that reported for duty into this fight-about 225 in line. This last clause will apply to nearly all the regiments in the division. General Hatch's and Gen- eral Gibbon's brigades took the advance, two bat- talions front, two columns deep-immediately follow- ing and supporting these, General Patrick's and General Doubleday's brigades. The Second Berdan Sharpshooters were deployed as skirmishers. A narrow belt of wood screened the forces of the enemy. A field half a mile in width spread away to the wood, beyond this a field forty rods to the railroad. The rebel skir- mishers occupied this wood. The enemy were dis. covered in position along the railroad and beyond. To dislodge them was the evident intention.
At two o'clock par. the advance commenced, and
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the enemy retired slowly and obstinately. The wood was gained. On reaching the open field across which ran the sunken ditch or grade, rebel batteries, six in number, open from the right, left, and front. These had position on the slope sufficiently elevated to allow the infantry in the ditch to pour in their volleys of musketry with terrible effect. It seemed madness to attempt this array of musketry and cannon, so admira- bly posted as to sweep the whole plain at every volley. Nothing could long survive such a storm of iron and lead. The attempt would have seemed rational and success certain with troops enough to follow in the wake of the regiments swept away ; but these were wanting, whether from a lack of knowledge of the enemy's force or of forethought, is not known.
The attempt was made. The Tirenty-second and Thirtieth New York had no sooner debouched from the wood than they were stunned by a volley from the ditch. The batteries, which had been throwing shell and solid shot into the woods, now threw grape and canister. The shattered ranks closed up and pressed upon the ditch. The advance, led by the gal- lant major of the Twenty-second, rushed madly upon the ditch ; but they were swept away so rapidly that but few reached a hand-to-hand conflict, and they were soon dispatched or taken prisoners. The major fell a mangled corpse in front of the ditch, while his horse rushed into the rebel ranks. Regiment after regiment was thus swallowed up till nearly half of King's division was destroyed.
In the mean time the enemy had massed his forces on the left center. Porter's corps, now so hotly pressed, gave way in confusion. It was folly to hold ground when the enemy were flanking upon the left and would
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soon surround the entire division. Hatch's brigade had been driven back. The Twentieth and Twenty- first New York had attempted the field, but could not hold it, and now the Thirty-fifth and Twenty-third New York held the woods. We had been ordered out; but in the confusion the order was mistaken, and we remained for some time-but the order was again given, and the two regiments retired in perfect order.
We had no sooner gained the cover of our batteries than a brigade of gray-backs defiled from the woods, and forming in line of battle very rapidly, prepared to charge the batteries. The cannon were filled with grape and canister. The Seventh Wisconsin and Nine- teenth Indiana, who were not engaged in the woods, had lain down in rear of the guns. `All was silent un- til the brigade in perfect line had advanced half way across the field, when in an instant cannon and mus- ketry flamed and sent death at them. A remnant of the brigade ran for the woods; but another volley tumbled them headlong as they ran.
We give an extract from Colonel Crane's official report :
"This morning (August 30th), after giving time to get coffee, the brigade changed positions two or three times to different parts of the field. No enemy. in force was discovered, notwithstanding our batteries kept throwing sheil into the woods to draw them out or bring forth a response ; but all continued silent.
"About two r.M. our division was placed under com- mand of Fitz-John Porter, and with his corps ordered to advance. It was the prevailing opinion that the enemy had retired, having been defeated on the pre- vions day.
" We advancel. King's division having the right and
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forming four lines of battle. My regiment was the third line of the division. (General Hatch was now in command, General King having been relieved for the affair at Gainesville on the 28th.) We now moved forward to a thick wood. Here the skirmishers com- menced firing, and soon the advanced lines opened with terrific volleys of musketry. We pushed on. Soon the bullets flew around us as thick as hail. Now commenced in earnest the final battle of Bull Run. The enemy's artillery opened upon us with shot and shell, and this with their musketry made a storm of their fire. Our artillery in rear of the woods could give us no support.
"Thus the battle raged for about one and one-half hours, until our front lines were broken and the dead and wounded lay in heaps. The enemy lay behind a railroad embankment, and so well protected that our men charged in vain upon them, sometimes upon the ditch, and fought hand-to-hand. Sykes' brigade of regulars on our left was forced back, our two front lines were decimated and broken, and our (Patrick's) brigade badly cut to pieces. Colonel Pratt, of the Twentieth New York State Militia, was killed, and the regiment scattered and demoralized. The Twenty-first was used up, and the left wing of the Thirty-fifth deci- mated. These had all left the field and fallen back.
"I had heard no orders to retire, and remained in the woods some little time, my regiment being almost alone. I finally gave the orders to retire (right of com- pantes to the rear), and did so in as perfect order as on battalion drill. (In this action I lost a number of men and officers wounded, but only a few killed. Providence has thus far seemed to favor us.)
" On emerging from the woods I met General Pat-
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rick, and saw at once that the battle was going against us, as the enemy had turned our left, and the fighting was terrific of musketry and artillery on that part of the field. Our brigade was got together (what was left), and we took a position in rear of a battery, and the men ordered to lie down.
" We lay in this position about half an hour, then were ordered toward the rear and left. As we moved over the field the enemy continued to throw shot and shell at us ; but fortunately none of my regiment were hit. As we came out upon the pike, General McDow- ell rode up, his horse all covered with foam and dust, and he himself looking nearly exhausted with fatigue and excitement, and ordered us toward Centreville. We continued the march, and soon learned that the army were on the retreat to Washington.
" We arrived at Centreville about ten P.M., worn out and exhausted. We lay down upon the ground so completely tired that we did not mind the rain that, commenced, but slept soundly till morning and wet to the skin.
" As I awoke in the morning and realized the situa- tion of affairs, and that we had left our dead and wounded in the hands of the enemy, thoughts of the sufferings of those noble heroes left behind with no comrades near to stanch the bleeding wound-who must lay perhaps for days (as they did) without food-to give life or water to quench their burning thirst, thus to suffer a thousand deaths, the thought was agonizing in the extreme, and I could not keep back the blinding tears, and it filled my heart too full for utterance. Thank God! none of my regiment were left behind.
" Then, again, our country ! Our army in full retreat, hotly pressed on our flank and rear by a strong
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and merciless foe flushed with victory, within thirty miles of our capital, and confidence in our generals lost, this was enough to demoralize the entire army. No recollections of my short life could bring up an hour of such utter dejection and despondency. I felt as though all was lost.
"It was about nine A.M. when we received the news that General McClellan was again in command of the army of the Potomac. The effect was wonderful and thrilling. For miles along the lines of that battle-shat- tered and disheartened army cheer upon cheer rent the air, and the sound swelled and rolled along like a wave. Officers sprang into their saddles with a bound, soldiers grasped their muskets with eagerness and sprang to their places in the ranks, and at the order forward, all moved as if invigorated with renewed life. We all felt that we were again a host, and could and would save our capital and country.
"We marched on toward Fairfax two or three miles and halted near the road. About five p.M. my regiment and the Twenty-first New York were ordered to proceed to Fairfax, for the purpose of guarding a wagon-train to that place. We did so, and when within about one mile of our destination the enemy attacked the train, but only succeeded in killing one mule, and then retired, satisfied that the experiment would not prove profitable. It commenced raining, and we concluded to remain all night at Fairfax.
"The next morning we commenced our return to- ward Centreville, and had proceeded about two and a half miles when we met the balance of the brigade, and countermarched. About this time we learned that the enemy were about to make an attack at a point near Chantilly. Our brigade was moved in that direction,
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and the Thirty-fifth, Twenty-first, and Twenty-third were placed in an old rebel rifle-pit to protect the right of our line of battle. About sundown the enemy attacked our left, and the battle lasted till about 'nine p.M. The firing of musketry and artillery was incessant, and this, with the terrific thunder and light- ning, rendered the scene grand. and terrible. The enemy were repulsed with considerable loss. We remained here until the following afternoon, when we were ordered to march for Upton's Hill. We set out immediately, and reached that place about midnight."
Thus ended the disgraceful campaign that cost our country mines of treasure, vast stores of equipment and armament, depreciated our currency, laid open the capital to the mercy of a relentless and victorious foe ; that killed some of our best generals ; that demoralized the army ; that set the prowling dogs of intervention howling on our track ; that waked up the torpid copper- heads, the slimy vomitings of pandemonium, to poison our national life, to bite at and breathe pollution upon us ; and that, more and above all these, strewed the desolated plains of Virginia, from the Rapidan to Slaughter Mountain, to the very gates of the capital, with thousands and tens of thousands of the brave and gallant defenders of freedom. heroes, patriots, whose lives were as dear as the apple of the eye to many a deserted home circle. Their bones are bleaching in the hot Southern sun, and on the " sacred soil," whose sterile plains are one vast charnel-house. The anxious hearts that watch and wait for the return of the loved ones must watch and wait in vain-for
Silent, they lie on the broad path of glory,
Where withers ungarnered the red crop of war ;
Grand is their conch, though the pillows are gory,
'Mid forms that shall battle, 'mid guns that shall rattle no more.
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We are permitted to publish the following letter, written to a friend by one of the Twenty-third who was taken prisoner at Bull Run, having been detached for service in the First New Hampshire battery, and who was waiting his exchange papers at Columbus, Ohio. This truthful and thrilling story has the pecu- liar merit of being told without any attempt at display, but as a simple interchange of friendly feeling and in- terest. It will serve to bring to the mind of each mem- ber of the regiment his own part in the perils of that battle.
COLUMBUS, O., September 21st, 1862.
" DEAR FRIEND: Thinking that perhaps you might like to know that I am still in the land of the living, and being myself anxious to know what has befallen you amid the turmoil of the last few weeks, I take this method of opening communication with you, though I fear the answer will contain sad news. To tell who is living and who dead in these times is indeed difficult ; but I am happy to tell you (as you doubtless mistrust ere you have read thus far) that I am all right, and I earnestly hope that you also are in the same con- dition. The most that I dare hope for you is, that you are alive and able to tote your knapsack through the day, that you are not aroused more than three times a night to receive the rebs who have no intention of vis- iting you, and that your teeth are in proper order to consume your ration of Uncle Sam's pies. Happiness beyond this is not to be expected in the army.
"I am at present situated in one of the most pleasant spots in this good State of Ohio, am living on the top shelf, enjoying the pleasures of civilization. Were I to tell you of my very kind and agreeable friends, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford, whose hospitality I am sharing, of
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their splendid residence, and of my pleasant room in it, of apples, peaches, pears, cider, and high living gen- erally, it might make you discontented. To tantalize you with accounts of oyster-suppers, dances, rides, and visits with the fair ones of Columbus, would be the last degree of cruelty. I sometimes wish the rebs had left me in Virginia, when I think of leaving all this and returning to the army, as I shall probably do very soon ; then some evening, as we sit beside the camp- fire, I will spin out the particulars of my sojourn here.
"Perhaps you would like to know something of my adventures before reaching Ohio. My experience in Rebeldom and journey thence were not very agree- able.
" We went into the fight, I suppose, about the time that you did. We kept the Gainesville turnpike till we crossed the brook, and passed a little old house on the left of the road and on the side of a hill. On the top of this hill we went into battery under a pretty sharp fire. Doubleday's brigade went in on our left. The rebel fire continued to increase till it became a perfect storm. The infantry had scarcely formed when they broke and went down the hill pell-mell. They made a partial rally at the foot, and again commenced the ascent, but had not reached the top when they gave way a second time, and that is the last I have seen of them. In the mean time we kept up our thun- der to the best of our ability. While our canister lasted we swept them off terribly ; but we had only ten rounds to the gun, as the caissons were left in the rear. After canister was played out they had a de- cided advantage of us, as they were so near that we could do nothing with shell and shrapnell. They came on, howling in the most approved secesh style, I
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should judge-at least I never heard such noises from human beings. Our men who had fallen back were pouring their fire into us, and the rebs were doing likewise; in short, things were getting pretty badly mixed. They were soon upon us. By the aid of dark- ness all the guns managed to get off but one, which had recoiled into a gutter, so that we could not limber up in the short time allowed us. The first that I knew of the actual presence of the rebs, one who was fore- most in the charge came up to me with his bayonet pointed for my breast and very fiercely demanded :
"' What regiment do you belong to ?'
"I was in my shirt-sleeves, and had on a citizen's hat, so he could not tell whether I was Secesh or Yankee. I answered him in genuine Yankee style by asking :
"' What regiment do you belong to ?'
""'Fourth Alabama !' said he.
"I left him without further conversation, thinking that I could get to our men. I don't know whether the fellow shot at me or not, as there were so many bullets hissing around. When I reached the brook I saw that a whole regiment of rebs had crossed before me. To go through them and to our army, when both were firing, was too much of an undertaking for me, so I sat down and concluded to take it cool. It was not many minutes before a reb came along and asked :
"'Are you wounded ?'
" 'Not very bad !' I said.
""' What regiment do you belong to?' he asked.
"' First New Hampshire battery!' I said, thinking it no longer of use to play off.
''Get up and come along, then !' said he, adding a few oaths by way of emphasis. I stood up.
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"' Have you got any weapons about you ?' he asked.
"'No!' I answered.
"' Any knives ?'
"'Anything in your pockets ?' ยท
"'No!'
" About this time he very unceremoniously took my hat off my head, putting his in its place, saying, 'he reckoned he'd trade hats with me.' As we approached his regiment he began to halloo to his comrades very exultingly, saying that he had got one of the d-d Yankees who had been shooting at them. He took me to his captain, telling him that he had captured a d-d Yankee.
"' I don't want him ! d-n him ! kill him !' said the captain.
"They d --- d me off in grand style. The fellow drew back his gun ready to pierce me, and I really be- gan to think that they did mean to kill me. Finally the captain said :
"' Somebody take him to the rear !'
" A fellow who was standing by said his gun was so dirty that he could do nothing with it, and he would take me. So we started for the rear. The firing had ceased for a few minutes, but it commenced again with redoubled fury. After a short talk with the chap who was taking me to the rear, we were both very much surprised to find that we were old acquaintances. I had known him several years ago in Huntsville, Ala. Although a strange meeting for friends, we were friends nevertheless. As soon as we were out of reach of bul- . lets we sat down and had a long talk of old times, the people of Huntsville, war, politics, etc., etc. Among other interesting items, he told me that all my lady ac-
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quaintances of that place were married, and that my favorite one had been the cause of a shooting affair be- tween two gentlemen, in which one was killed. The conqueror, of course, won the prize. To say the least, I am happy that I am not in the place of the one who was killed.
" After talking over matters of most interest we found that it was getting late in the evening, and I was beginning to shiver with cold. All had become quiet in front, so my friend (Allison) suggested that if we should go back to the battle-field, I could pick up a blanket, which I very much needed, as all my clothing was on the limber of the gun, which I could not get to then. We went back to the field, and I was not long in finding a blanket. It is no use to tell you of the sights we saw there, of dead, dying, and mangled men. My friend's comrade had been killed by our cannon, and he was feeling very sad. What a war ! friends, and even brothers, are killing each other.
" Allison said he must see his captain before going back with me (he had agreed to stay with me that night), but said he did not wish to take me to the front, as they might commence firing again. I told him that I would go with him. We found his regi- ment lying down on the next hill beyond the brook with guns all ready for something to come over the hill. I found a whole company from Huntsville, and had quite a talk with them. They were very much elated with their success, and were sure of having Washing- ton in a few days. Allison had a talk with his captain, and we started to the rear again. After traveling about three miles we came to where a squad of prison- ers were sleeping under guard. Here we lay down und slept till morning. On awaking, I found our cap-
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tain and eight of the battery boys in the squad. Alli- son said that he must go to his regiment-so we shook hands, hoping, if we ever met again, it would not be with weapons in our hands trying to kill each other.
"That morning we were marched to Gainesville, where we were kept till the next Monday at noon (this was Saturday). They gave us nothing to eat, for the very good reason that they had nothing to give. But they treated us kindly. They seemed to be a band of brothers, all striving for the same object and all in earnest-a great deal more so than our army. They were badly clothed and scantily fed, yet there was no complaining. On Sunday, three hundred out of our crowd started on their march for Harper's Ferry. Monday, at noon, the rest of us (1,200) commenced our march for the Point of Rocks, where we arrived the next Wednesday.
"No one can appreciate our experience at Gaines- ville, or our march from there, till they have been through something similar. We went into the fight on Friday night hungry and worn out-from then till Monday they gave us nothing to eat. On our march to the Point of Rocks we lived on green corn. Most of the boys had no blanket, and some, like myself, had no jacket. We lay out in all the storms which succeeded the battle, in that condition without the pro- tection of tents. At the Point of Rocks, an Ohio regi- ment, which was stationed there, turned over to us all their rations, and the cheering, patriotic words and no- ble conduct of their colonel did us almost as much good as the eatables. It was indeed pleasing to see the stars and stripes again, and to be among friends.
"From the Point of Rocks we went on the Balti- more and Ohio road to Cumberland, were we staid
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about a week, and were treated with much kindness by the inhabitants. From there we went through by rail to Columbus. No soldier in that party will ever cease to be grateful to the Ohio ladies for their kindness as we passed through their villages. Most of us had no money-in fact, we needed none. At all the places where the train stopped for any length of time, hun- dreds of ladies would be on the platforms with baskets of eatables, smiles, and cheering words for us. I heard many a 'God bless them !' come from the roughest of characters, showing that a soft spot somewhere under their jackets had been touched.
" But I have spun this out too long already. Hoping that I shall very soon hear that you are all right, I re- main your friend and comrade, T. C. S."
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CHAPTER XV.I.
MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.
Four days of comparative rest were allowed us on Upton Hill, and abundant rations supplied. For two weeks we had been nearly famished, and we surfeited in the midst of such plenty. The result proved serions to health and added to the prostration of the physical system. Very few in the entire regiment were able to do duty, and many were dangerously ill. This is true of officers and men. Dr. Madill, though himself sick, gave his untiring energies to the relief of the men.
On the second day the enemy had reached the vicinity of Falls Church, and threatened that post. It was held by a small detachment of infantry and the Sixth regular cavalry. General Patrick moved im- mediately to Falls Church with the Twenty-first and Twenty-third New York, and met on the road the cav- alry, retiring. The enemy had thrown a few shell toward the camp of this cavalry, whereupon they im- mediately set fire to a large amount of Government stores and started pell-mell for Washington. This shameful act excels in pusillanimity the exploits of the famous " Villiam Brown" and the " Mackerel Brigade."
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