USA > Texas > A comprehensive history of Texas, 1685-1897 > Part 33
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On the morning of December 11 they opened fire at daylight upon the pickets stationed to resist their advance, and raked every street and lane of the city with a galling fire. This was the beginning of the battle of Fredericksburg.
During that battle Hood's brigade was not actively engaged. They were in line of battle with Longstreet's corps, repelled with ease the feeble attempt made upon their front, and stood as interested spectators and reserves while McLaws's division and the Washington Artillery repulsed the attack made upon Marye's Heights.
After the battle the army became comfortable in winter quarters. Details were sent to different Southern States for recruits, a reasonable number of furloughs were granted, and the Texans who remained in camp were put back to the rigid discipline General Hood always tried to maintain.
Not long was this rest enjoyed, as unexpectedly Hood's and another division of Longstreet's corps were detached for service on the south side of the James River in February and took up the line of march for Suffolk. This movement was never satisfactorily understood by officers or men. It was not explained why one- fourth of the army was sent away when General Lee had reason to expect an advance by General Hooker, who had superseded General Burnside, unless it was that an attack upon Richmond was feared from that quarter. Nothing was ever accomplished by the movement.
Finally, when General Hooker crossed the Rappahannock, General Longstreet was ordered to General Lee's support. A short delay was unavoidable, as the wagons were off in North Carolina in search of forage, but every effort was made to join Lee, and while on a forced march came the intelligence of the victory at Chan- cellorsville and the mortal wounding of General Jackson.
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The division continued the march without resting, and camped on the Rapidan, near Gordonsville. In a letter to General Hood, General Lee said : "I wished for you much in the last battle, and believe, had I had the whole army with me, General Hooker would have been demolished I grieve much over the death of Jackson. I rely much upon you. You must inspire and lead your brave division so that it may accomplish the work of a corps."
The river was again flowing between the two armies. General Lee began to inaugurate measures for freeing Virginia from the invading army by transferring his base of operations to Northern soil. The month of May was spent inspecting the troops and providing transportation for artillery and supplies.
The Texas Brigade, under General Robertson, remained near Gordonsville until the line of march was taken up, on June 3, and it moved to Culpeper Court- House. The Confederates had cleared the valley of Federals when General Ewell reached Winchester, which he captured after a short but stubborn resistance. A portion of Ewell's corps crossed the Potomac soon after at Williamsport.
On June 24 the whole of Hill's corps crossed the river at Shepherdstown, the Texas Brigade, Hood's division, under Longstreet, having previously crossed at Williamsport. The columns reunited at Hagerstown and advanced into Pennsyl- vania, camping near Chambersburg on June 27.
General Hooker, having failed to prevent General Lee penetrating into Penn- sylvania, was removed and General George G. Meade placed in command, who moved at once to meet Lee towards Chambersburg. General Lee had designed attacking Harrisburg (the Confederate cavalry having explored the southern region of Pennsylvania near enough to Harrisburg for their trumpets to be distinctly heard), but news reached him on the night of the 29th that Meade had crossed the Potomac and the head of his column had reached South Mountain, thereby threat- ening communication with his base of supplies, and compelling him to concentrate his forces on the east side of the mountain. Generals Ewell, Hill, and Longstreet were ordered to proceed to Gettysburg.
The battle-field of Gettysburg was not the choice of either commanding gen- eral. "General Lee had not designed to engage in a pitched battle at this time, but, being confronted by the enemy, was compelled to show fight."
The troops advanced slowly. but on July I three divisions of Hill's corps met the enemy in front of Gettysburg, driving them back a short distance from the town.
About five miles from Gettysburg the mountain rises abruptly several hundred feet. Upon this height, known as Round Top, General Meade rested his left flank, his right being upon the crest of the range, about a mile and a half from Gettysburg, his line in the shape of a crescent.
Ewell was sent to the right, Longstreet to the left, and Hill to the centre. The commands were brought up as rapidly as possible after the order was issued to con- centrate at Gettysburg. Hood's division arrived in front of the heights about day- break and fled into an open field. General Lee's anxiety increasing, it was decided to begin the fight without waiting for the troops still on the march and advancing as rapidly as possible.
General Hood was ordered to place his division across the Emmettsburg Road and attack. Notwithstanding the seemingly impregnable character of the enemy's
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position, Benning's brigade of Hood's division, with the First Texas Regiment, suc- ceeded in gaining temporary possession of the advanced Federal line, capturing three guns. The other Texas regiments, impeded by the boulders and sharp ledges of rock, were unable to keep up and render the necessary support. Never did the Texans fight more desperately against difficulties as General Robertson led them to this unsuccessful assault. He always contended this was the most appall- ing situation of the war.' In the midst of the thundering carnage General Hood was severely wounded in the arm and borne from the field, while hundreds of Texans strewed the field, and their comrades were compelled to retire before reach- ing the summit. The day closed without decisive result.
Next day General Lee decided to mass his forces and storm Cemetery Hill. At twelve o'clock the battle began and raged with fearful violence until sunset. The storming party, with Pickett's Virginia division in front, made a renowned charge, managed to enter the advanced works of the enemy, and got possession of some of his batteries. Suddenly the Confederate artillery. ceased firing, and while the intrepid charge received without wavering great sheets of shot and shell, their foe moved around fresh bodies of soldiers and sought to gain their rear. Instantly the order was given to fall fack, contesting every inch of ground, but conscious that no bravery was able to grasp a victory, and that annihilation or capture would be inevitable had they continued. The enemy did not follow below their works, but the day was lost. General Lee rode among his broken troops quiet, placid, uttering cheering words to the men. They answered his appeal, the wounded even taking off their hats and cheering him. Without panic or confusion he con- ducted them by detachments back to the position from which they had first driven the enemy. "All this has been my fault, and you must help me out of it the best you can," he said.
He began his retreat across the Potomac by way of Hagerstown, which he reached July 7. He issued an inspiring order to his men complimenting them upon their bravery in action and coolness in retreat. No impediment was thrown in his way, and he recrossed the Potomac, through the mountain fastnesses, until he rested quietly once more on the south bank of the Rappahannock. The Texans suffered at Gettysburg more heavily the first day, not being so prominently en- gaged afterwards. The wounded Hood followed the retreating army in an ambu- lance, suffering with his disabled arm and chafing at the enforced inactivity.
President Lincoln, when shown the heights held so persistently by Northern soldiers, said : "I am proud to be the countryman of the men who assailed these heights."
During the lull in the storm that followed the Gettysburg campaign Long- street's corps was detached from the army of Northern Virginia ( General Lee con- senting to remain on the defensive) and sent to the relief of General Bragg, com- manding the Army of Tennessee.
General Rosecrans, the Federal commander, was pressing on through East Tennessee to force his way into the heart of the cotton States. General Bragg had
' Spot to be marked by the Federal government as the scene of most desperate re- sistance, where the Texans lost eighty-three per cent. of their men.
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fallen back near Chattanooga. Cumberland Gap had been surrendered. As it was impossible to hold Chattanooga with Rosecrans advancing so rapidly, the Confederate forces took position on the road leading south of Chattanooga, front- ing the east slope of Lookout Mountain. Chattanooga is the great gate-way through the mountains to Georgia and Alabama. On one side rises Lookout Mountain, on the other the heights of Missionary Ridge. East of the latter is Chickamauga Valley, following the course of Chickamauga Creek. The Confed- erates were concentrated along this stream in communication with the railroad at Ringgold, Georgia. To this point General Longstreet's men were hastened by rail through Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia, leaving General Lee about September 5, reaching Ringgold in time to move forward to Chickamauga, reinforcing General Bragg on the afternoon of the 18th in time for the expected conflict, Rosecrans having massed his forces at Chattanooga.
General Hood, who was still under treatment for his wound, with his arm in a sling, determined to follow Longstreet's corps when they passed through Richmond. After reaching Ringgold he was ordered to Reed's Bridge, and to assume command of the column advancing against the enemy. Here he met his men for the first time since Gettysburg, and they gave him a touching welcome.
During the first day he drove the enemy six or seven miles across the creek. Next day General Longstreet assigned to him the direction of the left wing of the army, placing five divisions under his command. General Bragg's plan of attack was to commence the assault on the right and gradually extend it to the left. General Rosecrans massed his forces on the right ; the left met with less resistance, and from nine until half-past two o'clock General Hood's men wrestled with the foe, who fought desperately.
On went Hood's division, the Texas Brigade hotly engaged, when a body of Federals rushed upon their flank and rear, and they were suddenly forced to change front. General Hood, always on the alert for his old brigade, galloped down the slope in the midst of his men, who speedily corrected their alignment. At this moment Kershaw's division was brought forth under General Hood's direction, who ordered a change of front, when the men rushed forward all along the line, penetrated into the wood, over and beyond the enemy's breastworks, which gave way along his whole front, crowning the day with success.
Just when victory was certain, General Hood was pierced with a Minie-ball through his right thigh, and fell from his horse into the arms of the men of his old brigade,-a singular coincidence while commanding five divisions. After the battle he was removed on a litter, -his leg amputated at the thigh, -afterwards to At- lanta, and thence to Richmond. On the day he was wounded General Long- street telegraphed from the battle-field to the Confederate authorities urging his promotion to lieutenant-general. It was January following before he received the promotion and was placed in command of the Army of Tennessee after General Johnston's removal.
The battle-field of Chickamauga was the last time he commanded his old bri- gade, and to them he paid this tribute : "In almost every battle in Virginia it bore a conspicuous part. It acted as the advanced guard of Jackson when he moved upon McClellan around Richmond ; and almost without an exceptional instance it was
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among the foremost of Longstreet's corps in the attack and pursuit of the enemy. It was also, as a rule, with the rear-guard of this corps whenever falling back before the adversary. If a ditch was to be leaped or a fortified position to be carried, General Lee knew no better troops upon whom to rely. In truth, its signal achieve- ments in the war of secession have never been surpassed in the history of nations."
Although the battle was a signal success, General Bragg made the appalling confession that he had lost at Chickamauga two-fifths of his troops, including many field officers. Rosecrans's retreat to Chattanooga was disorderly. General Longstrect wanted to intercept his progress, but General Bragg refused ; reported his supplies were reduced, and he hoped by cutting off the enemy's communication to force an evacuation of Chattanooga. He advanced up and over Missionary Ridge, where the army halted and remained many weeks. General Bragg was holding the Federal army at the point of starvation when he pursued a strange policy ; he detached Longstreet's corps, while confronting the enemy, and sent him off on an expedition against Knoxville, in East Tennessee, to attack Burnside.
While General Longstreet did all possible to sustain himself in an isolated situ- ation, yet it was a season of greater suffering and privation than anything expe- rienced by the Texas Brigade during the struggle. Not only was food scarce and poor, but they suffered for want of clothing,-many were barefooted. General Robertson did what he could for their comfort, and when General Longstreet went into winter quarters got furloughs for them as far as practicable. On one occasion he protested against marching his barefooted men in the snow, when their bleeding feet the day before had left stains along the road, and ignored the order sent from head-quarters. He was relieved of his command for insubordination and court-martialed. General John Gregg, a Texan, who had commanded a brigade in Bragg's army, was appointed to the command of the Texas Brigade, and General Robertson was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department. Soon after the brigade moved to the railroad, all jubilant at the prospect of returning to Virginia and General Lee, and reached Cobham, Virginia, seven miles from Gordonsville, on April 28.
On April 29, General Lee reviewed the First Army Corps (Longstreet's) and paid the Texas Brigade a high compliment, speaking of it as the best fighting bri- gade of the corps. General Lee's army thought they could cope with General Grant, the new commander of the Federal Army of the Potomac, but felt more comfortable to have Longstreet again with them. Congress passed new conscrip- tion laws, both for men and animals, and did all possible to provide for the army.
General Grant became the hero of the North after the disaster of Bragg at Missionary Ridge. He was promoted to lieutenant-general, and transferred his influence to the Army of the Potomac. He conceived the crowning plan for crushing the rebellion. One column was to march under Sherman through the centre of the Confederacy, destroying all within reach. Another, under Sheridan, was to lay waste the beautiful valley of Virginia. General Butler was to operate by the Peninsula, while he led in person the grand Army of the Potomac.
General Lee allowed General Grant to cross the Rapidan unmolested, while he thought he was surprising Lee. Grant's object was to pass through the Wilderness to the roads between Lee and Richmond. General Lee resolved to fight him in
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those pathless woods, "where artillery would be least available, where massive columns would be most embarrassed, and where Southern individuality would be specially effective."
Hood's brigade marched on May 4 from their camp to Orange Court-House. Next day they proceeded until night, when they learned that Grant had crossed the Rapidan with three corps, under Sedgwick, Warren, and Hancock. At dawn the following day Wilcox's and Heath's divisions of A. P. Hill's corps were retreat- ing, pressed by the enemy, borne back by the advancing wave of overwhelming numbers, after holding the ground the day before.
Dr. Jones says : " It was a crisis in the battle when the head of Longstreet's corps dashed upon the field. General Lee came to meet them, and found the old Texas Brigade, led by the gallant Gregg, in front. As he rode up he said : ' Ah ! there are my brave Texans. I know you, and know you can and will keep those people back.' They greeted him with cheers as they hurried to the front, but were horrified to find their beloved chief was going with them into the thickest of the fight. They began to shout: 'Go back, General Lee ! Go back! General Lee to the rear!' A ragged veteran stepped from the ranks and seized his bridle, and at last the whole brigade halted and exclaimed with one voice : 'We will not advance unless General Lee goes back ; but if he will not expose himself, we pledge our- selves to drive the enemy back.' General Lee saw Longstreet, rode off to give him some order, the gallant Texans rushed forward and redeemed their pledge. The rest of Longstreet's corps hurried to the front, Hill's troops rallied, the enemy was driven back in confusion, and only the wounding of Longstreet prevented the utter rout, if not the crushing, of that wing of General Grant's army."
Next day they lay in their breastworks, and on the 8th marched to Spottsyl- vania Court-House, where they entered breastworks. There were sharp-shooting and an attack on the roth. A storming column struck the Fourth Texas, crossed the works, and entered a gap in the fortifications. Those who entered were killed, wounded, or captured. All along the line they were repulsed.
Then followed that series of strategic movements and sanguinary conflicts known as the battles of the " Wilderness," and ending with the siege of Petersburg. The Texans took their full share in the fighting with their accustomed bravery.
The Texas Brigade marched from Cold Harbor to the Chickahominy, through Gaines's Farm, crossed the Chickahominy, the York River Road near Savage Sta- tion, and over the battle-field of Seven Pines, passing on pontoon bridge over the James River, and participated in the engagement of June 17, where the enemy had taken possession of Beauregard's advanced line. They charged this position, when the line of skirmishers fled or were taken prisoners. During this affair the brigade was subjected to a most galling fire of shells from the enemy's main line, about one thousand yards distant.
They passed through Petersburg next day, where they were refreshed by coffee distributed by the citizens and ladies, and entered the fortifications surrounding the city, where they relieved the troops occupying the trenches. Here they remained day after day, -- literally burrowing in the ground, so close to the enemy's line that it was unsafe to raise their heads above the works, as sharp-shooting was continually going on, varied by shelling. Their food, consisting principally of corn bread and
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bacon, was prepared by a cooking detail in the rear, and they watched chances to go after water. Duty in the trenches was very unpleasant. One-third of the offi- cers and men were on the alert at night, and every one was ready at a moment's notice for a surprise ; yet the health and spirits of the men were perfect. They tantalized the enemy in every conceivable way, amusing themselves singing religious songs or playing chess. At times it would be six days before they were relieved even for a day, so as to permit them to write letters, change clothing, and hear the news.
On the night of July 27, General Grant threw three corps of his army across the north side of the James, and the impression prevailed that he would try and reach Richmond between the James and the Chickahominy. As developed, this move- ment was only a feint to compel General Lee to seatter his forces. To be in readi- ness, General Lee sent Field's and Kershaw's division of Longstreet's corps and Wilcox's and Heath's division of Hill's corps to the north side of the river. The Texas Brigade, part of Field's division, recrossed the James on pontoon bridges as before, and passed near the battle-field of Malvern Hill, where they remained on the alert.
On the morning of July 30 the mine was exploded at the point occupied pre- viously by the Texas Brigade in front of Petersburg, and an opening was made for the enemy to enter. "He did enter, only to be driven back, engulfed by the disaster planned for others,-to die fearful, ghastly deaths !" Prisoners said the Texas Brigade had given them so much trouble, they had hoped to extinguish it at the grand upheaval and collapse, but as General Lee had fortunately sent the brigade, only the day before, north of the James, it did not participate in the great catastrophe.
On August 15, on the north side of the James, on the left of Field's division, temporarily under command of General Gregg, the Federals made an attack which the Texans handsomely repulsed.
General Lee's line on the north side of the James extended from Chaffin's on the river to the New Market Road, on both sides of Four Mile Run. The Texas Brigade occupied the extreme left of the infantry at a place called "Phillips's House," with General Gary's South Carolina cavalry supporting them on the left. The fortifications at this point consisted of earth-works five feet high, with a ten-foot ditch beyond, and an intricate abatis some fifty yards in front.
On September 28, General Gregg, in command of all the forces on the north side of the river, sent word to the officers of the brigade that Grant had been crossing over a heavy force all night, and at daylight he was expecting an attack. Sharp-shooting commenced at dawn of day, and soon the attack on "Phillips's House" was made.
Pollard says of this affair : "The enemy in very heavy force had reached the abatis, thirty or forty yards in front, but were met by a most terrifie and galling fire, which mowed them down with terrible slaughter. The white troops fled in great confusion, but the entangled brush greatly impeding their speed, many of them fell under the well-aimed rifles of the Texans. The negroes, who were driven up at the point of the bayonet, lay flat upon the ground, just in rear of the abatis, hoping thereby to shield themselves from the sad havoc in their ranks, but the Texans, mounting the works, shot them like sheep led to the shambles."
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The New York Herald said : "One hundred and ninety-four negroes were buried on that spot, and counting the wounded at five times that number, which is a low estimate, at least twelve hundred killed and wounded cumbered the ground in front of that little brigade." The Texans lost not one man.
Early on the morning of October 7, General Gary's cavalry and a force of Confederate infantry of Field's division surprised the enemy by an attack between four and five miles below the city. They fled to their intrenchments, a short dis . tance to the rear, where they were followed by our troops and made a desperate resistance. Our men did not dislodge them, as they were reinforced from Fort Harrison, but they were not allowed to regain their former position. A private letter conveyed this news : "We charged the enemy's works between the Darby- town and New Market Roads and suffered heavily. General Gregg among the killed." This was the brief notice of a catastrophe the Texas Brigade had never been called upon to bear, -- the loss of a general on the field. It was a dreadful experience, and the circumstances touched the stoutest hearts.
The Texans had driven the enemy into their breastworks, and were advancing steadily under a murderous fire when General Gregg was stricken down. The men recoiled about one hundred yards in the rear of their somewhat disordered line. Cap- tain Kerr, adjutant-general on General Gregg's staff, deserves special notice for his coolness. Coming down the line close to Lieutenant- Colonel Winkler, in command of the Fourth Regiment, he said in a low tone: "Gregg's killed." Walking back a moment later, with- out relaxing a muscle, he again spoke : "Bass is wounded ; you must take command of the bri- gade." Under the pitiless fire and confusion, Colonel Winkler ordered the color-bearer to a small depression of the ground, gave the order, "Dress to your colors !" when every man was at his place and the line reformed. Lieutenant Shotwell, of General Gregg's staff, asked per- mission to take three men and a blanket and go out to recover General Gregg's body. This was given, and in that rain of shot and shell, where COLONEL C. M. WINKLER. it seemed nothing could live, they ran out, rolled his body in the blanket, and safely bore it to the rear. The brigade was now withdrawn from the field, and hostilities ccased.
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