USA > New York > History of the One hundred and twenty-fourth regiment, N. Y. S. V. > Part 9
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Abram Hyatt. of A | David Wright. of C
John Edwards D James B. Moore. E
John Gordon. I Henry Dill .G E. D. Van Keuren. H
are with our division pioneer corps, and may be called upon to share with us the dangers of the battle-field.
* Captain Clark, though properly classed with the "absent sick," followed the regiment across the river, and remained at our field hospital during the battle, render- ing such services as he was able, to the wounded of our regiment, especially to the men of his own company, a number of whom have since spoken to me in most flatter- ing terms of the captain's kind attention, and efforts to alleviate their sufferings on that occasion.
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CHANCELLORSVILLE.
DR. MARSHALL was left, with our sick, in division hospital at Stoneman's Switch.
Surgeon THOMPSON has been ordered to report for duty at a field hospital which is being established near United States Ford.
Chaplain BRADNER is, I presume, with Dr. Thompson.
Lieutenant HI. P. RAMSDELL is aide-de-camp on the staff of Colonel Franklyn, our brigade commander. All others not present, or already accounted for, are on detached service ; most of them occupying what soldiers term " soft positions," beyond the range of shot and shell.
PRESENT FOR DUTY,
At the head of the regiment, waiting for the order "Forward !" stands Colonel A. VAN HORNE ELLIS, Lieutenant-Colonel F. M. CUMMINS, and Major JAMES CROMWELL.
Adjutant WILLIAM BRONSON, and his assistant, Sergeant- Major William B. Van Houten, are at their respective posts.
Assistant Surgeon R. V. K. MONTFORT, and Hospital Steward Isaac Ellison, with our drum corps,
JOHN G. BUCKLEY, of H, Leader.
Arthur Haigh. of H-Fife. | George W. Camfield. of K-Drum.
· Charles Whitehead. of H-Fife. John N. Cole. of I-Drum.
George W. Dimmick of D-Fife. R. D. Stephens of E-Drum. Henry C. Payne of B-Fife.
William Hamilton of B-Drum. Robert L. Travis. of F-Drum.
Henry Hoofman of C-Drum.
A. J. Millspaugh of K-Drum. IC. Van Gordon. of G-Drum.
to assist them, will, as soon as the battle begins, be ordered to fall to the rear and look after such of our wounded as are able to crawl back to them, or are so fortunate as to be carried there by our stretcher-bearers.
Bugler Moses P. Ross stands, with his bugle swung across his shoulder, near the colonel. And now we come to the rank and file, and the officers of the line, standing at their proper places . in front and rear of their companies. .
HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
CAPTAIN CHARLES IL. WEYGANT. (A.)
Ist SERCT. John C. Wood. CORP. W. H. Campbell. CORP. Robert C. Hunt. Samiae! Ycomans. William Odell. Robert Potter. William Carpenter. Charles W. Gallow. George Sering. I. L. Jackson. John II. Dingee. CORP. Thomas Hart. CORP. Joseph Davey. CORP. John W. Taylor. Samuel Clark. Samuel Potter. Richard Rollings. Henry Arcularius. Jabez Odell. Jacob Lent. Joseph L. Simpson. Charles II. Valentine. Enos Jenkins. Theodore Smith. CORP. Abram Bellows.
1ST SERGT. John D. Drake.
Conr. James Comey.
ConP. M. Rensler. Levi Cartwright. Sanford L. Gordon. J. S. Crawford. George W. Tompkins. Judson P. Adams. William V. C. Carmer.
J. J. Harrigan. C. B. Anderson. Il. R. Broadhead. S. S Crawford. A. J. McCarty. CORP. Nathan Hershler. CORP. James II. Taylor. CORP. T. R. Allington. P. A. F. Hanaka. B. J .. Tompkins. William C. Van Sickle. John T. Fisher. H. B. Appleman. Barney F. Kean. CORP. Charles Peters.
CORP. A. S. Barkley.
James G. Ciles. John Lewis. Joseph Brownley.
CORP. J. M. Miller, of Co. G. Right General Guide. SERGT. Peter Rose.
Wesley Morgan. Newton Gotchieus.
F. B. Gallow. Edward Rice. Robert Ashman.
Isaac L. Conklin.
SERGT. O. H. Whitney ..
Samuel L. Conklin.
Daniel Ackerman.
Jacob Wilson. John H. Warford.
John Polhamus.
Allen Owen.
Frank Rhinefield.
Joseph Gardner.
2D LT. CHAS. T. CRISSEY.
Gilbert D. W. Roat.
John H. Conklin. Daniel Morgan. Jeremiah Hartnett. Michael Hager. John H. Judson. James McGrath.
SERGT. Samuel T. Rollings.
SERGT. E. M. B. Peck.
SERGT. Chas. H. Hull.
2D LT. S. W. HOTCHKISS.
Jeremiah Sisco. George Garrett. Edward Sharp. F. Rundle. Job M. Snell. W. H. Schofield. J. Cunningham. SERGT. A. P. Francisco.
CAPTAIN IRA S. BUSH. (F.)
A. T. Drake. Reuben Doty. F. H. Rossman. M. W. Quick. Ira Wilcox. J. Z. Drake, William Balmos. Jacob Garrison. Floyd S. Goble J. C. Magie. Ransom Wilcox. James Carty. I. G. Gillson. Charles Roberty. R. L. White. J. M. Young. E. Coddington.
G. W. Adams. A. W. Quick. Charles P. Kirk. J. N. Hazen. Ira Gordon. T. H. Jefrey. John G. Ogg.
1
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CHANCELLORSVILLE.
97
(D.)
CAPTAIN JAMES W. BENEDICT.
SERGT. John Cowdrey. CORP. William Wright. CORP. Ebenezer Holbert. John M. Garrison. William L. Becraft. R. Quackenbush. Norman A. Sly. Joel McCann. John C. Degraw. John W. Leeper.
Jesseman Dolson. John S. Gray. Gilliam Bertholf.
Benjamin Gray.
George W. Decker.
William H. Tomar.
George B. Kinney. 1ST. LIEUT. DANIEL SAYER.
John Hall. John K. Clark.
Wells Benjamin.
Joseph R. Ray. .
CORP. F. A. Benedict.
Joseph Wood.
David F. Raymond
Olander A. Humphrey.
Coleman Morris. R. S. Lameroux. Nathan Hunt.
David Currey. William H. Callister.
Thomas S. Storms.
John Gannin. 2D LT. JOHN W. HOUSTON.
William Mann.
H. S. Qnackenbush.
Daniel P. Dugan.
Thomas P. Powell.
1ST SERGT. W. W. Smith. CORP. William Wallace.
Edward Oney.
Joseph Hanna. SERGT. Amos M. Eager.
William Milligan.
William Sutherland.
Jolın Hamil.
Jeduthan Millspaugh.
Rensalaer D. Baird.
James Bovell. James Cooper.
James Flannigan. Anson Hamilton. SERGT. Spencer C. Brooks.
C. S. Allen. Cortland Bodine.
Nathaniel Jackson.
James C. Haggerty.
J. H. McCallister. Newton B. Pierson.
CORP. J. B. Chatfield.
Alex. Thompson.
David Loughridge. William Moore. Patrick Ryan.
SERGT. A. T. Vanderlyn.
Smith Birdsley. William Edgar. Henry H. Snyder. Charles Lozier.
Patrick Keane.
David Storms.
Henry R. Turner. SERGT. Charles Stewart.
FIRST LIEUTENANT THOMAS J. QUICK. (I.)
CORP. Alex. M. Valet.
Abram S. Furshee. Zopher Wilson. Joseph Brooks.
William McGarrah.
Carl G. Hoffman.
James Pembleton. CORP. Gideon H. Pelton.
Robert Wilson. James Partington. James T. Titchener. John N. Knapp. David L. Kidd. Nelson Foot. John Joice. William Whan.
CORP. A. P. Millspaugh. J. P. Wightman. Thomas Farley. William Hamilton. James S. Barrett. G N. Tucker. Henry Losey. George Weygant. Giles Curran. CORP. Samuel Chalmers.
CORP. James A. Smith.
Norman L. Dill.
William E. Hyatt.
J. F. Quackenbush.
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM SILLIMAN. (C.)
1ST SERGT. William H. Many. CORP. Charles Knapp. . William A. Homan. Duncan W. Boyd.
.Samuel Lewis.
Peter Conklin. SERGT. Geo. L. Brewster.
Ephraim Tompkins.
Thomas Rodman.
Morvalden Odel).
William Bodenstein. Frederick Dezendorf.
Daniel Pine. Andrew M. Boyd.
Albert E. Bunce.
Albert Wise.
CORP. Daniel O'Hara.
John Tompkins.
CORP. William Mead. Wm. W. Amerman. SERGT. Peter P. Hazen.
James H. Barnes.
John Thompson.
Clark Smith, Jr.
George Briggs.
Robert Rush.
James D. Tilton.
Samuel Dodge.
David L. Westcott.
Charles H. Goodsall.
James A. Ward.
2D LIEUT. JAS. A. GRIER.
Daniel S. Gardner.
James E. Daniels.
CORP. Charles Chatfield.
Daniel C. Rider.
SERGT. Thomas Taft.
CORP. Samuel McQuaid, I. CORP. Ezra Hyatt, D). CORP. O. U. Knapp, F. COLOR SERUT. T. Foley, C. CORP. J. P. Moulton, C. CORP. Dan. S. White, G.
CORP. Wm. H. Hazen, B. CORP. G. W. Edwards, A. CORP. W. L. Fairchild, H.
SERGT. John Rowland.
William Buchanan. SERGT. A. R. Rhinehart. .
CORP. Theron Bodine.
CORP. David Mould.
Judson B. Lupton.
Noah Kimbark.
Henry Mathews.
G. M. Legg.
John Rediker. David D. Post.
William McVay.
S. S. Youngblood.
William Brown.
Milton Crist. Josiah Dawson.
Thornton Dawson.
Charles W. Tindall.
William H. Dawson. SERGT. William H. Cox.
Charles Seaman. Van Keuren Crist. James Crist. Charles A. Foster.
Edward Hunter.
CORP. John R. Post.
Grandison Judson.
CORP. Thomas Bradley.
Robert Mocking.
Lyman Fairchild.
William Whiteside.
Andrew Armstrong. Joseph W. Delamater. Chester Judson. Thomas O'Connell.
Thomas H. Baker.
William Dawson (2d). James E. Homan. Francis S. Brown.
Clark B. Gallation.
CORP. A. R. Rapalje.
CORP. Benjamin Dutcher.
George Butters. John McCann. Daniel W. Baker. George O. Fuller. Abram Hawley. Jacob F. Jordan. Andrew Bowman. Daniel Carman.
2D LIEUT. JOHN R. HAYS. .
SERGT. Geo. B. Youngblood.
CAPTAIN DAVID CRIST. (H.)
Jesse F. Camp.
Jeremiah Crist.
Charles A. Mefiregor.
William S. M. Hatch.
Charles E. Brown.
CHANCELLORSVILLE.
99
1ST SERGT. T. M. Robinson.
CORP. William J Daley.
Joseph H. Johnson.
Isaac W. Daley.
John W. Taylor.
William L. Dougherty.
Abraham Rogers.
James Sloat.
James W. Parsons.
John H. Sarvice. William Mackey.
Lewis W. Baxter.
Judson Kelley.
Theophilus Dolson. Edward Glenn.
Hezekiah Harris.
Horace Wheeler.
A. W. Lamereaux. James A. Beakes.
Charles M. Everett.
Charles J. Fosdick.
CORP. John H. Little.
CORP. Hiram Ketchum.
CORP. William H. Howell.
Josiah Harris.
Benjamin Hull.
William H. Shaw.
Adam W. Beakes.
Lewis M. Tonton.
John W. Hirst.
Miles Vance.
Simeon Wheat.
Arch. Freeman. CORP. Adam W. Miller.
CORP. Moses Crist.
George Nichols. John H. Miller.
SERGT. William Price.
1ST SERGT. Lewis S. Wisner. CORP. J. R. Conning. A. S. Holbert.
(K.)
CAPTAIN WILLIAM A. JACKSON.
CORP. Isaac Decker. CORP. D. Carpenter.
Stephen B. Kerr. William W. Carpenter. Nathan M. Hallock. Samuel Malcomb. Cornelins Crans. Joseph Point. John Skelton. A. W. Miller. Daniel E. Webb. CORP. G. Van Sciver.
Henry C. Baker. John W. Pitts. Thomas Kincaid. H. R. Mayette. Panl Holliday. J. McDermott. Sylvanus Grier. N. J. Conklin. Win. H. H. Wood.
Patrick Cuneen.
Michael Cullen. Isaac Kanoff. Samuel V. Tidd. G. H. Stephens. N. B. Mullen. Ira S. Ketcham. Gordon B. Cox. John O'Brien. R. McCartney. Cornelius Herron. David S. Purdy. Alonzo S. Frost. W. W. Bailey.
SERGT. J. J. Crawford.
John C. Vermylia. John Carroll. Jacob E. Smith. John W. Parks. Jacob Cameron. Alonzo Price. James II. Conklin. David U. Quick. Egbert S. Puff.
1ST. LT. JAMES FINNEGAN.
SERGT. W. W. Ritch.
SERGT. W. T. Ogden.
2D LIEUT. JACOB DENTON.
SERGT. Winfield W. Parsons.
SERGT. John J. Scott.
Solomon Carr.
Lewis Gardiner. Matthew W. Wood.
J. M. Coddington. Charles Newell. Charles Downing.
George C. Godfrey. Henry M. Howell.
John C. Staples.
FIRST LIEUTENANT HENRY GOWDY. (E.)
Curtis Ackerman.
John Scott.
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
IST SERGT. W. H. Benjamin.
CORP. Abraham Denney. CORP. George W. Odell.
Harvey A. Brock.
Selah Brock.
Hector Finney.
John Chambers.
David H. Corwin. Grant B. Benjamin.
Garrett II. Bennett.
W. H. Trainer.
Peter Higgins.
John Trainer.
Daniel Riggenbaugh.
Joseph Miller.
Cyrenius Giles.
George A. Griffin.
William E. Cannon.
Thomas Corbett.
Isaac W. Parker .:
J. J. Taylor.
William Campbell.
Daniel Giles.
CORP. Lewis P. Miller.
Alexander Trainer.
Patrick Touhey.
William Rake.
Abram Stalter.
James Roke.
George R. Fitzgerald.
Walter Barton.
William Jackson. SERGT. Isaac Decker.
John M. Calver.
William Hauxhurst.
William Tysoe.
Nelson De Groat.
William Fosbury.
A. H. Merritt.
Eli Hughes.
Cornelius Hughs. Charles Benjamin.
George W. Coleman.
Joseph Jones.
Oliver Miller.
John H. H. Conklin.
Wm. D. Dawkins."
Charles A. Ensign.
SERGT. F. F. Wood.
1ST SERGT. C. A. Wheeler. CORP. Francis Lee.
John Eckert.
Reuben Rynders.
D. McCormick.
2D LIEUT. G. S. Tuthill.
SERGT. Coe L. Reevs.
·
SERGT. J. H. Hanford.
SERGT. R. R. Murray.
CORP. S. W. Smith, of K, Right General Guide.
FIRST LIEUTENANT JAMES O. DENNISTON.
CAPTAIN HENRY S. MURRAY. (B.)
CORP. Henry O. Smith. E. B. Benjamin. Samuel Green. R. W. Gardner. Samuel Sherman. A. W. Tucker. William E. Titus. Charles H. Bull. Harrison Storms. CORP. Harrison Bull.
M. S. Holbert. Simon Bellis.
SERGT. Wm. Valentine.
George Shawcross. Wesley Storms. E. M. Carpenter. R. J. Holland. Ezra F. Tuthill. J. M. Merritt. William Merritt. William Snyder. CORP. James Scott.
Joseph Bross. Herman Crans. John Glanz. James Gavin. Jesse Hunter. E. N. Laine. George Hawley. George Culver. Wm. Lamereaux. Patrick Leach. Benjamin M. Little. William H. Lucky. James Odell. Hugh McShane. John F. Brown. A. J. Messenger. J. J. Messenger. Joseph Pratt. S. Garrison.
SERGT. H. J. Estabrook.
(G .: )
Mat. Sager. Albert W. Parker.
David Lowers.
Gilbert Peet.
SERGT. Robert Fairchild.
Francis McMahon. John Newkirk.
Daniel Rider. CORP. S. T. Estabrook. CORP. Joshua V. Cole.
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CHANCELLORSVILLE.
These are the Orange Blossoms whose metal is about to be tested in the double-heated crucible. This is the 124th, which is soon to moisten with the blood of its brave men the recreant soil of Virginia. Virginia ! birthplace of Washington. Virginia ! home of Presidents, for so many years honored above all your sisters, but now, alas ! sunk so low-under the crushing weight of that vile institution which has made of your sons of presi- dents breeders of bondsmen, dealers in human chattels, yea, traffickers not unfrequently in their own flesh and blood-as to be known by those, who aforetime have honored you, as the hot- bed of treason, the home of traitors, the accursed theatre of the most gigantie civil war of modern times.
The movement below Fredericksburg was a most successful feint. The manoeuvres of the First, Third, and Sixth corps in that direction. and of the Second corps, which remained in front of the city, completely absorbed the attention of the enemy, who set to work with his usual energy, throwing up additional earthworks along the threatened portion of his line. The concentration of the enemy's attention at that point made it possible for the Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth corps, to move off unobserved, and-by making a long detour and crossing two rivers nearly thirty miles from their starting point-to successfully turn the enemy's left, sweep down the southern shore of the Rappahannock, uncovering the fords as they came, and plant themselves on a strong position in the rear of Gen. Lee's elaborate works, before the minds of the Confederate generals were fairly disabused of their mistaken idea that the whole of Hooker's army was in front of, and about to make an attack on, their now doubly fortified right. As soon as this powerful turning column effected a lodgment at Chancel- lorsville, the Third corps retraced its steps, and, preceded by . two divisions of the Second corps, hastened to join it. And there we were, on the afternoon of May Ist. not less than sixty-five .. thousand strong, in rear and some thirteen miles west of the enemy's centre at Fredericksburg.
The 124th had lain in the woods but a short time when we heard, first skirmishing, and then heavy infantry firing from
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
the direction of Fredericksburg. A considerable portion of the army, under the immediate command of General Hooker, whose head-quarters were then at the Chancellor House, had been ordered to advance and secure possession of a commanding ridge on which it was said our line of battle was speedily to be formed, in case the enemy showed a disposition to fight.
Now it appears that General Lee had selected this same- position for a defensive line, and leaving some four or five brig- ades at Fredericksburg to confront Sedgwick, was hurrying for- ward his main body, in hopes of getting in position there, before Hooker's force should reach it. The vanguards of the opposing forces came together on the coveted ground, and a spirited engagement took place ; but the Union forces were too strong for their opponents, and speedily, though not without considerable loss, compelled them to fall back on their main body, which soon came in sight and began deploying in line of battle ; a rather strong assurance that inglorious flight was no part of Lee's programme.
This ridge was in the open country just beyond the dense forest which surrounded the cleared farm, which, with its some- what commodious brick dwelling, was known by the high-sounding title of Chancellorsville.
Thus far every movement had shown unmistakable marks of a great military genius. Thus far unprecedented success had attended every effort, and officers and men began to feel that at last the Army of the Potomac had a head in keeping with its noble body. But alas ! at this critical juncture-the moment it became apparent that the enemy had determined to fight rather than flee ; our leading star, which had mounted so high and shone with such dazzling brightness, suddenly grew dim. "Our giant has become a pigmy," says one. "Fighting Joe Hooker has lost his head for once," says another. " Was he drunk?" whispers a third. Let us return to the narration of facts.
The remaining troops were not sent to complete the partly formed line. Aids were hurried back to inform Hooker of the state of affairs at the front, and to request that the reserves he
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CHANCELLORSVILLE.
hurried forward ; but in their stead came an order for the advance to fall immediately back toward the Chancellor Ilouse. "With mingled amazement and incredulity "-writes Swinton in his Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac-" this command was received by the officers, who sent to beg Hooker to allow the army to push on, and hold the front thus gained. It was urged in the warmest terms that the occupation of that fine position would uncover Banks' Ford, thus . giving easy communication with Sedgwick ; that it secured the dominating heights which, if not held, would instantly be seized to his great disadvantage by his antagonist; that it would take the army beyond the densely wooded region in which manoeuvring was impossible, and that it would enable it to command the open country on the posterior slope of Fredericksburg Heights, soon to be carried by Sedgwick. It was in vain these considerations, whose supreme importance must be apparent from a moment's glance at the topography of the region, were urged by his ablest advisers." Back the advance had been ordered, and back it came, followed by a shower of shot and shell from half a dozen of the enemy's batteries which had been hurried into position on the very ground they had vacated.
About five o'clock that afternoon our regiment piled knap- sacks where they had been resting, and. leaving one man from each company to guard them, moved forward through the woods, until we reached the open space, or Chancellor Farm, where we again halted and stacked arms.
After walking around a few moments I spread my rubber blanket on the ground, and buttoning my coat and wrapping my woollen blanket about me-for it was damp and chilly-lay down and listened to the fitful firing along our front. Just after dark the firing ceased, save now and then a report from the picket line, which ran along the edge of the woods on the opposite side of the clearing. The two divisions which composed the Twelfth corps were there ; and now that the strong commanding position to the left had been abandoned, an unknown force of the enemy was in front of them. Presently to the occasional sound of the rifle in front, was added the ceaseless chirping of tree toads from
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
the woods in our rear. As I lay there listening, and wondering what the morrow would bring forth, Colonel Cummins came along, and being without blankets, readily accepted an invitation to share mine with me, and lay down beside me ; then our dog Jack, a regimental pet, crawled under the blanket and coiled him- self up between our feet. About ten o'clock, the pickets all of a sudden started a brisk firing, and raising on my elbow I looked across the field just as a streak of light flashed from the opposite woods, followed by the crashing sound of a volley of musketry ; then another, and yet another flashing line of light sped from right to left, and from right to left again in quick succession. And following right after and blending with the crash of musketry, came the thunder of a volley of artillery ; then another flash- ing line of light, another crash of musketry, a charging shout, a few straggling shots, and all was quiet again.
Drawing my blanket closer about me, I lay down again, but not to sleep. Ever and anon I would instinctively raise a little, and scan the plain, wondering what it really meant, and was it all over ; or was what I had heard and seen but the prelude of something yet to come ?
About eleven o'clock, I discovered the dim outline of a man, moving toward me over the plain, and rising to my feet I walked out to meet him. He wore the jacket of an artillery-man and had a bridle in his hand. "My friend," said I, " what was all that firing about ?" " What was it about ? " he replied, " why the rebs charged our battery." "Did they take it?" I asked. " Well, I reckon not," said he, "and I guess they wish they hadn't tried. You see the word came in just after dark that they were mass- ing uncomfortably near our picket line, and our battery was sent out as a kind of bait, I suppose ; then two lines of infantry crept out, and lay down behind us. I don't think the rebs saw our support, and concluded it would be a nice thing to rush out, and gobble us. We had driven out and halted there careless like, just as if we were stopping for the night, but before we lay down to sleep, with one eye open, our growlers were double-shotted with grape. and ready for visitors. Well, you heard them come. They pushed
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CHANCELLORSVILLE.
right over our picket line, out of the woods, and rushed at us, firing a volley as they came. Then we let go. They were four lines deep, and we cut half a dozen swarths clean through them ; but they were grit, and closing up, made another dash for our guns, before we had a chance to reload; but before they reached us, our infantry support rushed past, poured a volley point-blank into them, and with a shout charged them back into the woods."
We were now some distance from the regiment, and bidding my artillery-man good night, I hurried back, and crawled under my blanket by the side of the colonel again. About midnight we returned to our knapsacks in the woods, and slept very com- fortably there until daylight.
General Hooker had now abandoned the offensive. His defensive line of battle was formed in an irregular quarter-circle, some five miles in length. The left of this line rested on the Rappahannock at Scott's Dam, one and a half miles below United States Ford, and ran from thence in a southerly direction to and across the Fredericksburg turnpike, about half a mile east of the Chancellor House ; thence in a westerly direction a short distance in front and parallel with the turnpike, nearly three miles, to the house of one Tully, where the extreme right brigade, with a section of artillery, was thrown back across the road, at right angles with the main line, and faced directly west. This flank, though well posted, was left unprotected by either cavalry or advanced infantry pickets.
The Fifth corps held the left of this line. The Twelfth corps, with Hancock's division of the Second corps on its left, and Bir- ney's division of the Third corps on its right, held the centre ; the right was intrusted to the Eleventh corps. French's division of the Second, and Whipple's and Berrie's divisions of the Third corps, were in reserve.
Hooker's head-quarters remained at the Chancellor House, and in the open grounds about it several hundred wagons were parked. Early Saturday morning we heard heavy firing toward our right centre, which gradually spread along the front; but it was not of that furious nature which characterizes an attack in
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HISTORY OF THE 124TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
force. About the middle of the forenoon several shells fell among these wagons, and a few moments later the road which led toward the United States Ford, and ran past where we were lying, was filled with mule teams which were being driven at a dead run for some safe retreat.
Lee was simply feeling our front with a few thousand men, and endeavoring to hold Hooker's attention, while his Lieutenant, General Jackson, put in execution one of the boldest, and as the sequel proves, most successful flank movements of the war.
Through that portion of our line held by Birney's division, and leading south, ran what is known as the Furnace road, from the fact that about a mile and a half beyond, it passed the Catherine Furnace. Along this road ran a small stream called Lewis Creek. About ten A. M. some of Birney's vedettes, look- ing down this ravine, discovered crossing a bridge about a mile beyond what appeared to be a continuous column of troops moving toward the Union right.
This fact having been communicated to General Sickles, who was never known to remain in the rear when any portion of his command was at the front, he sought and obtained from General Hooker, permission to push out two of his divisions and "look into the matter." Hooker, it was said at the time, inclined to the opinion that Lee's entire army was in full retreat.
About noon, Birney's division, supported by Whipple's, advanced, and Berrie's division moved up and occupied the posi- tion in the main line which Birney's men had just vacated. One of Birney's brigades, with a light battery, formed our advance ; and hurrying forward, soon came up to what proved to be the rear division of Stonewall Jackson's column, and opening on it with their battery, soon caused those who had not yet crossed the bridge to seek some more distant route. Now let us return to the 124th. Moving out of the woods, we advanced with our division about half a mile down this Furnace road, then leaving the column took a turn to the right, marched a short distance in the woods, relieved some of Birney's piekets, and remained there until about three o'clock. We then formed col-
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