USA > Pennsylvania > Our Campaigns: or, The marches, bivouacs, battles, incidents of camp life and history of our regiment during its three years term of service > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
Fredericksburg is an ancient city, situated on the western bank of the Rappahannock, and is principally noted for the refinement of its inhabitants, their aristo- cratic characteristics and the beauty of its women. Prior to the war it contained about five thousand inhabitants, and its exports amounted to some million of dollars yearly.
The first account we have of this locality is that given
-
100
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
by Captain John Smith who ascended the river in 1608, and fought the Indians on the present site of the town.
It was here that Mary, the mother of Washington re- sided for many years prior to her death, which occurred on the 25th of August, 1789. Her grave is near the outskirts of the town upon the edge of a pretty bluff near the cemetery. Some years ago an attempt was made to erect a suitable monument to the memory of this good and estimable lady, and the corner-stone was laid by President Jackson, but for want of public spirit the project fell through. Some years afterwards, a merchant from New York who was doing business there at the time, fell desperately in love with one of the Lewis branch of the family and her money, and to advance his suit determined to complete the monument, but before it was finished his firm collapsed and his bright visions of love and gold vanished like a soap-bubble. In the cem- etery near by are several pretty monuments, and among them that of Hugh Mercer, M. D., a son of General Hugh Mercer, who fell so gloriously at Princeton. The gen eral prior to the Revolution practised medicine here. There also, in newly-made graves, rested in quiet repose some three hundred Confederate soldiers, victims of the mad ambition of their reckless leaders. Though mostly strangers from the far South, the hand of sympathy had decked their graves with flowers, and already the "Love- entangled " and "Forget-me-not," had taken root in the new earth.
Soon after General McDowell arrived, work was com- menced on the Aquia creek and Fredericksburg railroad, which was soon put in running order. The railroad bridge was also rebuilt across the river, a bridge of canal boats completed below it, a trestle one above, and a pon- toon thrown over opposite Falmouth. Stockades and block houses were built to protect the approaches to these, and artillery commanded them on the eastern bluffs.
On the 9th of May, Mr. Hunnicutt commenced the re- issue of his paper "The Christian Banner," which he was
.
-
1
101
FREDERICKSBURG.
forced to suspend exactly one year before on account of its loyal sentiments. Until the retrograde movement of the enemy, three secession sheets were issued here. The advent of the northerners soon made a marked difference in the appearance of the town, they opening stores, res- taurants, bakeries, etc .; in front of which were displayed numerous American flags. Although the streets were thronged with soldiers, we did not hear of any insult being offered to any of the inhabitants.
On the day of our crossing, General Reynolds was appointed Military Governor, and such was the course of his administration as not only to receive the warm thanks of the Mayor and Council, but when he was taken pris- oner at the battle of Gaines Mill, they sent a deputation to Richmond to intercede for his release.
On the 26th, Henry Webb of " F," our detached bat- tery company, was drowned.
On the same day our advance posts were eight miles from the town and on the 29th our cavalry advanced twenty miles beyond, skirmishing and driving the enemy. On the 30th, the regiment was paid off by Major Pom- eroy, and the same night orders were received to have one day's cooked rations in haversacks. The next morning at eight o'clock the men were ordered to fall in without knapsacks, but at noon orders came to pack up all, and passing through Fredericksburg, crossed the river to the east side, where our artillery was posted upon the high banks, and we moved about a half mile back to the vacated camp of the Twenty-second New York.
The cause of this movement was: it being ascertained the enemy under General Anderson had moved toward Richmond, destroying the bridges in his rear, and on account of the weakening of our forces, by sending re- enforcements to General Banks, we were unable to follow him, it was determined to place the Rappahan- nock between us and them, so as to spare reinforcements . to Mcclellan.
-
1
-
102
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
About this time our brigade was furnished with white linen leggings and orders issued requiring the men to have two pairs of shoes .* The officers here took lessons in sword exercise from a Mr. O'Rouke, who was the only Irishman we ever met who was base enough to deny his nationality. On the 4th of June the river became so swollen from the effects of continued rains that fears were entertained for the safety of the bridges, and as a matter of precaution the pontoon was taken up, but in the afternoon the pile or trestle bridge being unable to resist the pressure, gave way, and was swept down the river, where its timbers coming in contact with the rail- road bridge, carried it away also, and the wreck of both coming in contact with the canal boats, broke them from their moorings, destroying the bridge that rested upon them, sending them drifting down the river. The gun- boats fortunately were enabled to get out of the way, and succeeded in recovering them all. As soon as it was known in the city that our bridges were in danger, the inhabitants of both sexes collected upon the shore, and, as each structure gave way they demonstrated their ir by loud cheers and the waving of handkerchiefs.
On Sunday morning, the 8th, orders were received to prepare to march, and after spending the day in cooking rations and making other necessary arrangements, at sunset we struck tents, packed knapsacks and got into line. It was a clear and beautiful moonlight night, and as the brigade bands pealed forth their soul-inspiring airs we marched off, winding our way through the woods and over the hill to the Rappahannock, down which we marched the distance of seven miles, bivouacking at two o'clock that night in Cedar lane. The next morning after cooking breakfast we marched to Gray's landing,
* The object of this order was to decrease the transportation of the Division Quartermaster Department, and as Captain Hall did not carry a knapsack on the march he doubtless considered it a brilliant idea. Nine-tenths of the shoes were thrown away by the men on the march.
A
1
103
EMBARK FOR THE PENINSULA.
one mile distant, where were collected a fleet of steam- boats to receive us. By four o'clock our wagons, baggage and supplies were embarked, and marching aboard we hanled out into the stream. Soon after General Reynolds pushed off in a skiff, and was received with loud cheers, when our bands striking up we steamed down the river, as happy a set of blue coats as ever trod this planet. At sundown we came to anchor off Port Royal, where we remained all night, as we had no pilot. The steamer Canonicus was a fine large boat, but as she had our regi- ment and five companies of the First and Eighth aboard, she was rather crowded, and by the time we all got our- selves laid out for the night, there was scarcely a square foot of deck unoccupied.
The next morning at five o'clock we weighed anchor, and again started on, accompanied by the ferry boat Chancellor Livingston, and about one P. M., came to anchor near the mouth of the river, where the rest of the flotilla soon afterwards arrived. The day had been a stormy one, but as the wind lulled in the course of a few hours, we again got under way, and passing into Chesa- peake bay, headed to the south and at sunset entered the York river, passing by Yorktown and Gloucester City and coming to anchor during the night off West Point at the confluence of the Pamunkey and Mattapony rivers. Early on the 11th we again got under way and entering the Pamunkey, steamed rapidly up it. This river winds through a low, flat country, and on account of its exceed- ingly crooked course, it was interesting to watch our flotilla with their bows sometimes pointing in every direction. In fact when a strange steamer was discerned, it was impossible to tell whether she was going up or down the river, and when one was but a half mile from us in a direct line she was many times that distance off by the river. A "dark," who had resided in the neigh- borhood, it was said, answered that it was so crooked in some places that it was impossible to cross it, as no matter how often one rowed over, he would invariably
L
i
104
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
find himself on the same side. We soon commenced meeting Government transports, mostly steamers and schooners laden with forage for the cavalry and artil- lery. The farther we ascended the more numerous they became, until they numbered hundreds lining the banks of the river for a long distance and obstructing the navi- gation. About nine o'clock we arrived at the White House, where we landed and stacked arms, awaiting orders.
White House is situated on the Pamunkey, where the Richmond and York River Railroad crosses, and was a position of great importance, being the depot of supplies for the army in front of Richmond. The house itself is an object of interest, being the spot where Washington met and loved Martha Custis in 1758. At the landing there was a forest of masts, and for a half mile the shore was covered with commissary stores and ammunition. There were thousands of tons on the wharf boats, and thousands more awaiting to be landed. There were many commissary, sutler, guard and other tents there. and many soldiers, sutlers, Government employees and contrabands, who, with innumerable wagons and order- lies, continually moving to and fro, and the arrival and departure of trains presented a scene of life and activity. Some distance back from the river was a canvas town, consisting of several hundred hospital tents, arranged in regular streets, with board floors and beds in them, and every thing prepared for the wounded of the coming battles.
The boys having had time to wash themselves and replenish their stock of tobacco, the brigade formed and marched up the railroad about two miles, passing an establishment "for the embalming the dead," whose pro- prietors distributed to their anticipated customers a bountiful supply of handbills. Moving into a field to the left, we bivouacked for the night. Here our baggage was reduced to the lowest possible amount, the officers being required to send to the landing All but a small
1
105
DISPATCH STATION.
valise or knapsack, and the companies being allowed their cooking utensils only. Orders were issued to cook three days' rations, we borrowing from the First and Fifth kettles for the purpose.
At nine o'clock the next morning, we formed and marched off up the railroad which runs nearly due west from here, passing Tunstall's Station. The country through which we moved was mostly low, heavily wooded, and interspersed with numerous swamps. In some places where there were deep cuts, there were large deposits of marine shells and corals that indicated that at one time this portion of the Peninsula had been the bed of the sea. The same formation was found in other portions of the Peninsula. The day being exces- sively warm many of the men threw away their over- coats and blankets to lighten their loads. About four o'clock we passed Dispatch Station and moved to the right of the road and encamped on the edge of a. heavy wood near the Chickahominy river, we having marched ten miles. Through the day we heard the slow fire of heavy guns.
CHAPTER XII.
SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. SKIRMISHTES AT SEVEN PINES, COLD HARBOR AND MECHANICSVILLE. BAT- TLE OF HANOVER COURT HOUSE. BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS. ATTACK ON TUNSTALL'S STATION. MARCH TO THE CHICKA- HOMINY. NANALEY'S MILL. SHELLING THE ENEMY. BATTLE OF OAK GROVE.
BEFORE proceeding further, it will be necessary here to refer to the movements of the Army of the Potomac since its debarkation on the Peninsula. The presence of the enemy's steamer Merimac in the James river closed it to us, as a line of water communication be-
T
-
106
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
tween Fortress Monroe and the army operating against Richmond. To gain possession of the York river and its tributaries for that purpose, the reduction of York- town was necessary. Therefore, on the 4th of April, the army took up its line of march from the camping ground near Hampton to that point. At Big Bethel the enemy's pickets were encountered, but they fell back to Howard's creek, to which point they were followed by the main body of the army.
THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN, APRIL 5TH TO MAY 4TH, 1862 .- The next morning the column again advanced, and in a few hours was in front of the enemy's works at Yorktown. On examination of their position it proved to be one of the strongest that could be opposed to an invading force, and the delays thereby created occupied until the 1st of May, when our siege batteries opened fire on the enemy's works, which during the night of the 3d they evacuated, leaving two 3-inch rifled cannon, two 43-inch rifled cannon, sixteen 32-pounders, six 42- pounders, nineteen 8-inch Columbiads, four 9-inch Dahl- grens, one 10-inch Columbiad, one 10-inch mortar, and one 8-inch siege howitzer, with carriages and implements complete, and seventy-six rounds of ammunition to each piece. Besides these there were a large number of guns left at Gloucester Point and other works on the left.
BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG, MAY 4TH, 5TH, 6TH, AND 7TH. -General McClellan immediately threw all his cavalry and horse-artillery in pursuit, under General Stoneman, Chief of Cavalry, supported by infantry under Generals Heintzelman, Hooker and Smith, who were followed by the divisions of Kearney, Couch and Casey, all under General Sumner, the second in command of the army. Two miles east of Williamsburg, the advance came upon the enemy's works, four miles in extent, over two-thirds of their front being covered by the branches of College and Queen's Creeks. The principal works were Fort Magruder, and twelve other redoubts and epaulements for field guns. The woods in front of the fort were felled,
S.
-
BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG.
107
and the open ground dotted with rifle pits. From this position the enemy opened fire upon the advance guard as it debouched from the woods, which being unsup- ported by infantry, was forced to retire, but held the enemy in check until the arrival of General Sumner with part of Smith's division, at half-past five P. M. Heint- zelman and Keyes reached the ground during the after- noon. Early the next morning General Hooker came up, and began the attack on the enemy's works at seven and-a-half o'clock on the morning of the 6th, and for a time silenced Fort Magruder. Although the enemy was heavily reinforced, and attacked in turn, capturing five guns and inflicting heavy loss on Hooker, whose ammu- nition was nearly exhausted, he maintained his position until near four P. M., when Kearney arrived, and repuls- ing the enemy, held possession of the ground that night. The battle was renewed the next day, and about four P. M., General McClellan arriving from Yorktown, took command in person. Fearing there was no direct com- munication between the centre and left under Heintzel- man, and hearing heavy firing in the direction of Han- cock's command, he moved the centre forward, attempting to open communication with Heintzelman, and sent Smith and Naglee to the support of Hancock. Before these Generals reached Hancock, however, he was confronted by a superior force. Feigning to retreat slowly, he awaited the onset, and then turned upon them, and after some terrific volleys of musketry, he charged them with the bayonet, routing and dispersing their whole force, killing, wounding and capturing from five to six hun- dred men, himself losing only thirty-one men.
The enemy having fought to gain time to save their trains, abandoned their position during the night, leaving the town filled with their wounded in charge of eighteen surgeons. The official report of our loss is put down at two thousand two hundred and twenty-eight men killed. wounded and missing. The army was so much exhausted by the marches and conflicts which resulted in the vic-
108
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
tory at Williamsburg, as to render an immediate pursuit of the enemy impossible, in the condition of the country.
The divisions of Franklin, Sedgwick, Porter and Richardson, were sent from Yorktown by water to the vicinity of West Point, where, on the 7th, General Franklin handsomely repulsed the enemy under General Whiting, after a battle of nearly five hours duration.
Communication was soon opened between the two columns of the army, and headquarters was established at White House on the 16th, General Stoneman having occupied the place some days before. About the same time Generals Franklin, Smith and Porter, reached White House, the roads being in such a state as to require thirty-six hours for one train to move five miles.
A permanent depot for supplies being established at White House, the army was pushed forward along the York River and Richmond Railroad, and on the 20th the advance reached the banks of the Chickahominy River at Bottom's Bridge, which, as well as the railroad bridge about a mile above, they found destroyed. The operations of the army embraced that portion of the river between this point and Meadow Bridge, which covered the principal approaches to Richmond from the east, and over which it became necessary to construct eleven new bridges, all long and difficult, with extensive log-way approaches.
On the 22d, headquarters were removed to Cold Har- bor, and on the 24th three important skirmishes took place. General Naglee made a reconnoissance in force, for the purpose of ascertaining the strength of the enemy, and dislodge them from a position in the vicinity of the "Seven Pines," eight miles from Richmond. Another portion of the army had a spirited engagement of two hours near Cold Harbor, and drove their assailants from the field. A third and brilliant little skirmish took place between the brigades of General Stoneman and Davidson, in which they drove the enemy out of Mechanicsville with their artillery, forcing them to seek safety on the
109
BATTLE OF HANOVER COURT HOUSE.
opposite banks of the Chickahominy, they destroying the bridge in their retreat. General Stoneman also sent a portion of his cavalry three miles up the river, and de- stroyed the bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad.
THE BATTLE OF HANOVER COURT HOUSE, May 27th .- Having ascertained that the enemy were in force in the vicinity of Hanover Court House, threatening the right and rear of our army, General Mcclellan dispatched General Porter to dislodge them, for which purpose he moved at daybreak on the 27th. After a fatiguing march of fourteen miles through the mud and rain, General Emory arrived in position and opened the battle about noon, driving the enemy before him. The other columns soon after became engaged, and the enemy were defeated and routed with the loss of some two hundred killed, seven hundred and thirty prisoners, a 12-pound howitzer, a caisson, a large number of small arms, and two railroad trains. Our loss amounted to fifty-three killed, and three hundred and forty-four wounded and missing. The enemy's camp was also captured and de- stroyed. The next day detachments were sent out, which destroyed the railroad bridges over the Pamunky, the railroad bridges of the Virginia Central, and of the Fredericksburg and Richmond roads, and the country bridges over the South-Anna. These operations for a time cleared our right flank and rear, and cut off commu- nication by rail with Fredericksburg, and with Jackson via Gordonsville, excepting by the circuitous route of Lynchburg ..
On the 28th of May our troops were pushed forward to Fair Oaks, their advance being met with sharp opposi- tion, and on the 30th their positions on the south side of the Chickahominy were as follows : Casey's division on the right of the Williamsburg road, at right-angles to it, . the centre at Fair Oaks; Couch's division at the Seven Pines ; Kearney's division on the railroad, from near Savage's Station towards the bridge; Hooker's division
١
... n
A 1
-
110
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
on the borders of White Oak Swamp. During the night of the 30th, a violent storm occurred, the rain falling in torrents, making the roads almost impassable, and threatening the destruction of the bridges over the Chickahominy.
THE BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS .- The enemy perceiving the unfavorable position in which our army was placed, and the possibility of destroying that part of it which was apparently cut off from the main body by the rap- idly rising stream, the next day threw an overwhelming force upon the position occupied by Casey's division. The battle opened about one o'clock P. M., the attack being made simultaneously upon the front and both flanks. The unequal contest was maintained with great gallantry, the troops struggling against the overwhelming masses of the enemy, for the space of three hours, before reinforcements arrived, and were finally driven from the field with heavy loss, and the position occupied by Casey taken by the enemy. During this time the troops of Heintzelman, Kearney, Sumner, Keyes, Couch and Sedg- wick, were engaged, and in a measure retrieved the disaster of the day, and when night closed the contest, the enemy fell back to their defensive line.
During the night our lines were newly formed, and artillery placed in position, and at five o'clock the next morning, June 1st, the battle was again renewed. The enemy boldly advanced without skirmishers, with two columns of attack supported by infantry in line of battle on each side, apparently determined to carry all before him by one crushing blow. He was met, however, with gallant resistance, and through the fierce battle he was driven back at every point, our troops pushing forward to the extreme lines held by them the day before, re- covering their own wounded and capturing the enemy's. Our' total loss was five thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven, and of the enemy, per their official report, six thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.
The only communication between the two hanks of
1
:: 111
TUNSTALL'S STATION.
· the Chickahominy were Bottom's, New and Mechanics- ville bridges, the two latter being completely enfiladed by the enemy's batteries upon the commanding heights opposite, supported by strong forces, having numerous rifle-pits in their front, which would have made it necessary to have fought a sanguinary battle, with not a certain prospect of success, before a passage could have been secured. Therefore, to have advanced on Richmond soon after the battle, it would have been necessary to march the troops from Mechanicsville and other points on the north bank of the Chickahominy down to Bottom's bridge and thence to Fair Oaks, a dis- tance of twenty three miles, which in the condition of the roads would have required two days to accomplish with artillery, by which time the enemy would have been secure within his entrenchments, but five miles distant.
On the 13th of June we rested. In the afternoon orders were received to be prepared to move at daylight the next morning. Soon after orders were issued to move immediately, then orders came to draw five days' rations, three of which were to be cooked and two put in the knapsacks. By the time we had got through, about eleven, news was received that an attack had been made upon "Tunstall's Station," in our rear, and our brigade was ordered out. The night was a beautiful moonlight one, and after a march of eight miles we reached there, but the enemy had left. The "Buck- tails," Fifth and Eighth were posted on the different roads, and we ordered to occupy a commanding position and hold the station.
.
It appears that two squadrons of the Fifth United States Cavalry, under the command of Captain Royall, stationed near Hanover Old Church, were attacked and overpowered by a force of the enemy's cavalry, number- ing about one thousand five hundred men, with four guns, who pushed on towards the White House in hopes of destroying the stores and shipping there, but the for-
-
112
OUR CAMPAIGNS.
tunate arrival of the Third Brigade of Reserves frus. trated their design. Upon the enemy's arrival at the station a portion of them dismounted and awaited the arrival of the train, upon which they fired, killing one man and wounding several others. The engineer imme- diately put on steam and succeeded in running the train through. After this they set fire to the station-house and a car loaded with grain, and then tearing up a rail retired to a neighboring wood to await the arrival of another train now due. Upon the arrival of our brigade, however, they skedaddled.
The next morning a number of laborers, who had escaped and hid themselves in the woods came in, as also Colonel G. B. Hall, Second Excelsior Brigade, who fell from a platform car and was captured by the enemy. They bound his hands together and tied him to the stirrup of one of the men, but during the confusion of their skedaddle upon our arrival, he managed to give them the slip. The bodies of two or three poor laborers who had been wantonly killed were found and buried. Near the station they captured and burnt a number of Government and sutler wagons, from which they got considerable liquor, and some of them indulging rather freely, they were found lying around loose in the woods next morning and brought in. A Dutch butcher of Richmond came riding in, in a most glorious state of felicity, tickled half to death with the fun of the night before, which he related to us with great gusto, and pro- posed taking a drink with any one who had liquor, and shooting the Yankee prisoners. The terror of the poor devil upon discovering his mistake, almost instantly sobered him, and the boys, after frightening him to their hearts'- content " bucked and gagged" him, and turned him over to the guard.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.