USA > Tennessee > The military annals of Tennessee. Confederate. First series: embracing a review of military operations, with regimental histories and memorial rolls, V.1 > Part 28
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took the positions assigned them on both sides of the river, completely cutting off the retreat of the garrison.
On the evening of Sept. 14 Archer's and Pender's brigades stormed and capt- ured an elevated and fortified position, which gave our artillery command of Bolivar Heights. On the morning of the 15th all our batteries were ordered to open, and upon their silencing the enemy's batteries, Hill's division was to storm the place on the right. Archer's and Pender's brigades were formed in front, and the other four brigades formed in their rear to support them. The enemy's bat- teries were soon silenced, and we were just beginning to move when a white flag was seen flying from the ferry. They surrendered. Some of the cavalry escaped, but the number surrendered amounted to eleven thousand. We also captured several hundred wagons, seventy-two pieces of artillery, and a very large amount of army stores. A. P. Hill was left with his division to receive the surrender of the garrison and to dispose of the captured stores, while Gen. Jackson, with all the other troops, marched at once to join Gen. Lee, who was now confronted by Mcclellan at Sharpsburg.
We now congratulated ourselves on the prospect of several days rest, but had hardly finished caring for the stores when we were ordered to join the army at Sharpsburg, as MeClellan was about to attack Lee with a much superior force. We reached the field of battle just in time on the 17th. Burnside had forced his way across Antietam Creek, driven the division of Jones and the brigade of Toombs from their positions, and had almost reached the road from Sharpsburg to the Potomac, the only remaining line of retreat for the army. The brigades of Archer, Branch, and Gregg, with Toombs, who had rallied, advanced upon the front and flank of the victorious but now somewhat disordered Federals, and drove them back in confusion to the creek, where they were protected by the heavy masses of artillery. This ended the battle except desultory skirmishing on our part of the line. The Seventh, by losses in killed, wounded, sick, and straggling had been reduced to less than one hundred men. Out of this small number en- gaged we lost more than thirty officers and men killed and wounded.
Our army stood all day of the 18th expecting to be attacked again; but it seems that Mcclellan had had enough, and he prudently kept quiet. On the night of the 1Sth, we leisurely fell back across the Potomac without further loss. On the 20th, the advance division of MeClellan's army, commanded by Gen. Pleasanton, pro- tected by artillery, crossed the Potomac. It had hardly reached the southern bank when Archer's and Pender's brigades, which were only about three miles distant, returned and drove them in and across the river again, capturing about three hundred and fifty men and killing many. After this affair MeClellan was quiet for several weeks. We now moved to Berryville, where we encamped and remained until the last of November, at which time we were ordered to join Longstreet at Fredericksburg, which we did after a ten days march.
Here we remained until the 13th of December, when a great battle was fought. The city of Fredericksburg is situated on the south bank of the Rappahannock River, and is commanded by the hills called Stafford Heights, on the north side of the river. These heights were occupied by the Federal army, now command- ed by Gen. Burnside. On the morning of the 11th the Federals, under cover of their numerous batteries, succeeded in throwing a pontoon bridge across the river, and on the 12th occupied the town, the Confederates having abandoned it.
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The Confederate line formed a semicirele, their left resting on Mary's Heights, just above the city, and commanding the river; their right upon Hamilton's crossing, three miles below; the center, the high grounds about two and a half miles from the river. A. P. Hill's division held the right, and the Tennessee Brigade was on the extreme right of his division. On the morning of the 13th, as soon as the fog cleared, the entire plain from Hamilton's crossing to Fredericks- burg could be seen covered with Federals in battle array. After an hour's artillery fighting, engaged in by at least fifty pieces, Franklin's grand division, in three lines of battle, supported by Hooker, amounting to about fifty-five thousand men, advanced upon the Confederate right, held by the brigades of Pender, Lane, and Archer, not exceeding five thousand men -- their greatest effort being made against Archer and Lane. These brigades undauntedly held their ground, and re- pulsed every effort in their front with ease. The distance between the right of Lane and the left of Archer was about one-fourth of a mile. This was discovered by the Federals, and through this opening they poured a heavy column. Arch- er's brigade, on account of the inequality of the ground, could not see beyond their left, and did not know of this breach in the lines until the enemy had passed completely around their left and were firing in their rear, at not more than fifty paces distant. The left of our brigade necessarily gave way, to prevent capture. The Fourteenth and half of the Seventh were thus enveloped, but they, without panic, hastily changed their front almost at right angles to their original position and the right of the brigade, which still held its position. But we were only in this dilemma a few moments, when Early's division came to our relief, and the Tennes- seans, joining him, made a charge upon the exposed flank of the Federals, and drove the entire attacking force pell-mell and in utter rout to the protection of their artillery, on the banks of the river. In this charge we captured several hundred prisoners. This ended the fighting on the right. The loss of the Fed- erals was frightful: their dead covered the ground for nearly a mile in our front. The loss of the Confederates was comparatively slight, and fell principally upon the brigades of Lane and Archer; and of the regiments of the latter the Seventh and Fourteenth lost most heavily. Col. P. Turney, of the First Tennessee, was severely wounded while assisting in re-forming the left of the brigade. The at- tack on the right of Sumner met the fate of Franklin.
After the battle of Fredericksburg the Seventh Tennessee, with the corps of Jackson, retired to the vicinity of Guiney's Station, about ten miles from the city, and went into winter-quarters. We remained quietly here, picketing the Rappahannock, until late in the spring. The Federal army in the meantime had been reorganized. Burnside was relieved, and Gen. Hooker placed in com- mand of the army. On the 29th of April heavy artillery firing in front of Fred- ericksburg announced the fact that Hooker's army had begun to move. On that day Sedgwick's grand division crossed the Rappahannock below Fredericksburg. A. P. and D. H. Hill's divisions were thrown forward to confront them. We re- mained in this position until the morning of the 1st of May, when we were or- dered to Chancellorsville, which the main army, under the immediate command of Hooker, had succeeded in occupying. One division only was left to hold Sedgwick.
Hill reached the vicinity of Chancellorsville late in the evening of the 1st, and, after some sharp skirmishing, bivouacked for the night. On the morn-
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ing of the 2d, after withdrawing some distance from the front, the whole of Jackson's corps began the great flank movement which resulted in the attack of the right and rear of Hooker's army. In this movement the Tennessee Brigade was detached to watch the enemy along the line of march. The Fourteenth and a part of the Seventh were left at and near Catherine Furnace; the residue of the brigade was kept in supporting distance until night-fall, when we were ordered to resume the march. We could distinctly hear the terrible artillery fire that fol- lowed the wounding of Jackson. We reached a point near the scene of the bat- tle which had just been fought, when we were halted for a few hours rest. Or- ders to "fall in" were given about 2 o'clock at night, which were promptly obeyed, and we marched at once to the position assigned us, which was the ex- treme right of Hill's division. To reach this we passed over the battle-field of the evening before, the road and woods being literally covered with the dead and wounded of both armies. We reached our position just before day; the po- sition of the Seventh being the extreme left of the brigade. So tired and ex- hausted were the men that in a moment after being halted many in half reeum- bent position were asleep. Just after dawn the brigade on our left began to move slightly to correct its alignment. The officer on the extreme left of the Seventh, mistaking this for an advance, gave the order, "Forward; the brigade on the left is advancing." This order was immediately passed up the line, and the Tennes- see Brigade, by this mistake, moved forward at once and some time before any other troops. After advancing some two hundred yards they came upon a large body of Federals, posted and partially fortified upon a high and strong position. In passing through the tangled underbrush our alignment was somewhat disor- dered, but without waiting to re-form we charged and routed the troops, holding this strong position with very slight loss. We followed the retreating Federals until we reached their strongly fortified position near the Chancellor House, where we were repulsed and retreated to the strong position which we had just captured. This position proved the key to the Federal position; in fact, com- manded the entire field in and around Chancellorsville. While we were re-form- ing Gen. Lee, with Stuart -- who now commanded Jackson's corps-arrived on the field, and in a few moments Col. Pegram came with twenty-five or thirty pieces of artillery, which were planted upon the captured position.
The presence of Gens. Lee and Stuart and the hurried massing of artillery were evidence to all that the position so gallantly won by the Tennesseans would be the turning-point of the battle.
Our lines were re-formed, and we took position just in rear of the artillery. After a short but terrific cannonading we were again ordered forward, when we advanced over the same ground to the fortified position held by the Federals near the Chancellor House, about three hundred yards distant, and again we were re- pulsed. At this juncture our artillery redoubled its fire, and our extreme right was connected with the left of Anderson's division, and we again advanced, with the entire line, upon the Chancellor House position; and in this the third attack we succeeded in driving the Federals from their fortifications and beyond the Chan- cellor House, and thus ended the battle of Chancellorsville.
In these several attacks Gen. Archer, commanding the entire right of Hill's division, was constantly exposed to the fire of the enemy, and exhibited on this occasion a daring and bravery seldom witnessed. He led every charge on horse-
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back, and was always in the "thickest of the fight;" and how he escaped death or wounds is one of the inexplicable enigmas of war.
This, perhaps, was the most brilliant victory of the war. In this battle the Confederates, with less than one-third the number of men, drove the " finest army on the planet" from a strongly intrenched position, and actually killed and wounded and captured half as many men as they had in their entire army. Chancellorsville is a prominent example of battles that are often determined by a trivial circumstance. This battle was commenced through a mistaken order, and by that very error the Federals were prevented from completing their works in the place first taken. And singularly enough, this point was the very key to Chancellorsville; and it was evident that if the Federals had remained unmolested for thirty minutes longer their works and fortifications would have been so far completed that it is doubtful whether Lee, with his available forces, could have dislodged them, even from their first position. That the Chancellor House posi- tion was inferior to the first, both as a natural and strategie point, appeared evi- dent to every one after the battle commenced; and strange to say, no historian has given any prominence to the fact that the strong position commanding Chan- cellorsville was captured through a mistaken order, and that too by the Tennessee Brigade. The importance of this successful movement was evident to every one afterward.
The Army of Northern Virginia was reorganized after the death of Jackson, and two corps were formed from his old corps; of these, A. P. Hill was assigned to the command of one, and Gen. H. H. Heth was made Major-general and assigned to the command of Hill's division. After the battle of Chancellorsville we remained quiet a few weeks, when the Pennsylvania campaign was undertaken, which culminated with the battle of Gettysburg, on the 1st, 2d. and 3d of July. The Tennessee Brigade commenced this battle on the Ist, and on the 2d we were held in reserve; on the 3d we held the right of Heth's division in the memorable assault on the Cemetery Ridge, and in that dreadful attack were the only troops that reached and captured the works of the enemy. (For a detailed description, see "Battle of Gettysburg" in appendix.) The Tennessee Brigade brought up and protected the rear of Lee's army, retreating from Gettysburg to and across the Potomac. At Falling Waters we had a battle with the Federal advance divisions. (For full description, see " Battle of Gettysburg " in appendix.) The several cam- paigns and battles that had been fought up to this time, ending with Gettysburg, had thinned the ranks of the Army of Northern Virginia so that the regiments and brigades, being thus decimated, never acted independently of their divisions: so that afterward in every movement worthy of mention the regiment or brigade was lost sight of, and thenceforward the story of the Tennessee Brigade was the history of Heth's division, of which it was a part. As a part of this division the Tennessee Brigade fought in all the important battles of Virginia, and acquitted itself with great credit. After the retreat from Pennsylvania, with the exception of the short and bloody campaign of the Shenandoah Valley, Bristol Station. and Mine Run, nothing of importance took place until the advance of Grant in May, 1864. Prior to the opening of this campaign a corps of sharp-shooters was organ- ized for the division, consisting of forty men from each regiment; and Lieut. F. S. Harris, of Co. HI, Seventh Tennessee, was placed in command of those from the Seventh Regiment, and afterward of the brigade, and at intervals of the entire corps.
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Upon Grant crossing the Rapidan River, Lee attacked him, moving on the plank-road, with Heth's division-the Tennessee Brigade in advance. After being joined by the residue of the army, the fighting continued until late in the evening, and the contest was resumed the next morning, when Longstreet's corps arrived. This two days battle is known as that of the Wilderness, which re- sulted in a great victory to the Confederates, in which we captured many prison- ers, cight or ten thousand stand of small arms-Grant's army being repulsed and his plan of campaign changed. Then followed the great battle of Spottsylvania Court-house, on the 12th of May, in which Heth's division held the extreme right of the infantry line, and the Tennessee Prigade the extreme right of this division, whose stubborn resistance to repeated attacks saved the center of Lee's army. . (A full description of which was published in the Philadelphia Times, Novem- ber, 1881. See appendix.) Soon after this, Grant felt of Lee's army at Hanover Court-house, but retired across the Pamunkey and proceeded down the river on the north bank, and crossed over at Cold Harbor, where he brought on a general battle on the 3d of June. Heth's division held the extreme left, it being one of the two points attacked by the Federals. On this Grant made three assaults, but was repulsed in every instance. His army met with a similar defeat all along the line. Here Grant abandoned the historic " summer line," moved his army south of Richmond, and commenced the siege of Petersburg. Upon our reaching this place, the First Maryland Battalion was permanently attached to our brigade, and so remained until the close of the war. In the varied vicissitudes and fortunes that followed our brigade, we were greatly aided by the valor of this battalion. No command, great or small, displayed greater devotion or patriotism than this gallant band of Marylanders. The siege of Petersburg was begun on the last of June, and was pressed with all the appliances of modern warfare until April 1, 1865. The sufferings and trials of the Confederates during the winter of 1564-5 were far greater than any before experienced. Fuel for fires was exceedingly scarce, clothing scant, and food and supplies could hardly be said to exist. There were frequent intervals of several days when our entire food was stale corn-bread and sour sorghum molasses. Scarcely a week elapsed that the Seventh was not engaged with the enemy in some manner. Skirmishing was continually kept up on some parts of the lines. In some of the sorties, which are called " affairs" by historians-not dignified by the title of battle, and do not even have a name-more men were put hors de combat than in any pitched battle of the Revolutionary War. In some of these affairs the Tennesseans lost heavily, especially on the 18th and 19th of August, on the Weldon railroad. The regiment at different times was stationed at nearly every point of the defensive line around Petersburg, and shared equally with the other troops all the horrors of the siege. On the 1st of April we occupied Fort Archer on the right of our lines, about four miles south- east of Petersburg. (Just before this time Gen. Archer died, and Col. William MeComb, of the Fourteenth Tennessee, was made Brigadier-general, and assigned to the command of the Tennessee Brigade.) Our front was so much extended that we could not keep a continuous line of battle, consequently when an attack was threatened at one point a portion of the lines was necessarily left undefended in order to concentrate upon the point threatened, which kept the army continually under orders to " move at a moment's warning."
Before daylight on the morning of the 2d of April, our lines were threatened
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about one mile to our right. We at once "double-quicked" to the rescue, leav. ing the lines recently occupied by us undefended, except by one battery of artil- lery in Fort Archer. The enemy, seeing our lines here defenseless, advanced with at least twenty thousand men, and captured Fort Archer and about one mile of our fortified lines. The artillerymen in Fort Archer did all that men could to check this advance and save the lines, and did not abandon their guns until they had lost three-fourths of the command. When the firing began, we were at once countermarched, and started in double-quick back to our abandoned posi- tion. But the lines and fort had been carried before we could reach the meager garrison. On arriving in sight of the enemy we were immediately formed in order of battle, and although our brigade at that time did not number more than six hundred, we were ordered to charge and retake the works. This order was at once attempted to be carried out, and we succeeded in retaking Fort Archer and a part of the works, which we held for a few minutes, when another force of Federals enveloped our left, captured about half of our command, and thereby forced the remainder to abandon the works, when we fell back about two hun- dred yards. And here, what was left of our command was ordered to form a strong skirmish line and hold the position at all hazards. This we did for a few minutes, under constant and heavy fire. At this juncture, Capt. John Allen, of the Seventh, acting upon Gen. McComb's staff, hurriedly rode up and orderel us to retire, saying, "The Federals now have the Boydton plank-road," which was the only road by which to retreat in order to join our army. We hastily with- drew, expecting to cross Hatcher's Run; but we scon found that the enemy had taken possession of the ouly bridge across that stream, as well as the territory above, and our escape could only be effected by crossing a deep pond below, which was made for the purpose of flooding a camp of the enemy a few months before. When we reached this pond we at first saw no alternative but surrender, but upon some one suggesting that we attempt to swim the pond, all those who could acted upon the suggestion in the face of the enemy and under fire. Capt. John Allen, of the Seventh, on the staff of McComb, who was accompanying us, rode in and was thrown from his horse, which had become unmanageable, and in the struggle between rider and horse, this gallant soldier, who had been severely wounded seven times before, barely escaped with his life: for in the water his horse by some means pawed or kicked him, and he reached the bank almost life- less. After we got across, we joined the general retreat, during which we took part in the skirmishing all day and resumed the march at night, from this time until the surrender, six days. We received but one day's rations during this time, and this only of meat without bread. But our principal subsistence was . parched corn, and even of this the supply was scant.
Ewell's corps having Leen captured on the 7th, the Tennessee Brigade, as well as the rest of Lee's army, on the night of the 7th parked their wagons and set fire to them, as well as to every thing else that might encumber the army. Nearly three thousand wagons and innumerable caissons, cumbersome implements of war, were reduced to ashes. Heavy ordnance, as well as small field-pieces, were hur- riedly buried in trenches and beds of streams, lest they might fall into the hands of a victorious and pur-ning enemy. In a word, the half-starved and fatigued Army of Northern Virginia rendered itself a light-armed body. anticipating a union with Johnston's army in North Carolina. Yet, strange to say, there was
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no terror or dismay, though it was apparent we were in a perilous situation; still, no one as yet doubted that Lee would triumphantly extricate his veterans from this impending disaster.
On the morning of the 9th the Tennessee Brigade was formed in line of bat- tle, awaiting expected orders to charge a body of Federals that appeared some distance in our front and on our right. We heard the fighting of Gordon early in the morning to our front, and we all felt that a desperate struggle would soon be made in which every available man in Lee's army would be brought into requisition. There was but one road left to retreat farther, and this was now held by a large body of Federals which we were now facing. Gordon tried to - open the road and failed. We were relieved of our baggage and train by the torch, and unmindful of our famished condition, tired, hungry, and foot-sore, we rested on our arms, while in plain view were the Federals gradually envelop- ing our army. Still, the military genius of Lee was relied on. Presently a subordinate officer or private came near our lines and said, "Gen. Lee has sur- rendered this army." This remark aroused the wrath of the men. They could scarcely Le restrained from doing some violence to the informant. The remark was repeated, and it aroused a wild spirit of nmutiny. The soldiers could not be- lieve it. They never lost confidence in the ability of Lee, and, notwithstanding the desperate straits to which they were reduced, were still eager to assault the enemy, for they still believed they could crush them. The Army of Northern Virginia could not be vanquished. About this time mysterious movements of men and officers on all sides were seen. A flag of truce appeared in the distance on the left. The firing had ceased some time before, and " Gen. Lee has sur- rendered this army" became a fact. Sorrow and dismay were depicted on every face. Will, clamorous, and meaningless gesticulations filled the rank and file of this veteran army. The terrible blow could not be realized; some still doubted; they ranted, swore, and denounced their leaders. Frenzy and despair seemed to take the place of discipline. Their affection for Gen. Lee for a few moments seemed changed to such revenge and hatred as is felt for a traitor. The scene was appalling. Gen. J. B. Gordon strove to briefly announce the surrender and its terms. Yet the rage and despair of the men could not be allayed; and again Gen. Gordon addressed them at great length, giving the causes which led in- evitably to this crisis. And now, for the first time, did they but faintly realize their condition and the terrible odds against which they were hopelessly con- tending. Shortly afterward, Gen. Lee was seen riding slowly along the road- his head erect, but the tears were in his eyes. This was enough: the troub- led sea of human commotion was stilled; strong mien wept like children; stout hearts, which never quailed amidst the havoc and carnage of war, were now unnerved. The change was wrought as if by magic. Every feeling, emotion, and thought was lost in sympathy for their revered commander.
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