USA > Texas > The Confederate capital and Hood's Texas brigade > Part 11
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I will never forget the expression on the faces of the wounded as we walked into the room, the satisfied pleasure that diffused itself over every feature, and the deep, earnest look of the eyes that followed our steps wherever we went. The wounds were dressed once a day by the surgeons, and keeping them moist with water was the treatment. Getting a pan and sponge I soon found my work, and went through the rooms from one to an- other applying the cooling water.
We had been through twice in this way when a young man from North Carolina, wounded through the spine at the back of the neck, said to me:
"Oh, Miss! God will surely bless you for this visit. I have been longing for the sight of a friendly face. Nobody has done anything for me but men, and the ball is still imbedded in my spine. You seem like my sister I left behind in old North Caro- lina. I may never see her again, but will you come to me every day when you first enter the hospital? I am so weary, so des- titute, far away from those I love."
I made the promise, while my eyes grew moist to think my slight service met with so much appreciation. Another young lady who had brought her port-folio and writing material, busied herself writing letters for the brave, dying men, but I was too restless to do that, too impatient to apply a few drops of water to the parched lips and the burning wounds.
A cot was brought in with another wreck of humanity. The bearers deposited their load near where I stood. The pale feat- ures were convulsed with pain. I said, as gently as possible: "Can I do anything for you?" Looking eagerly up in my face he replied: "Ves, you can; stay by me a few moments. I am shot through the lungs, am bleeding to death, and if you will only wipe the blood from my breast God will surely reward y011."
He bared his breast, and there was the ghastly wound, bleeding at every pulsation of his heart. Somebody must wipe that blood
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away, and why should I shrink back? There was no one else He had appealed to mie pityingly. So I sat beside him, and with my sponge absorbed the red fluid and cleansed it in the basin, while my own heart sank as I witnessed his anguish, as he talked of his South Carolina mother and dictated a letter telling her he was dying, but watched by a girl who had not failed in an hour of dire necessity.
The long, hot afternoon passed. Still I kept my position, the monotony only varied by going occasionally for a fresh pan of water, and smoothing the fevered brow. The sun went down and I must go. With some intuition of my intention he asked: "Can you not stay longer?"
I told him I had a wounded brother at home, and could not re- nain all night, but would get an older lady to take my place.
"Oh!" he said, "I shall not live long after you leave. I ami not afraid to die. The surgeon said if I was raised up, I would suffocate. I don't want to die while you are here, but when you go, I will make them raise me up, and the suffering will soon be over. I can never thank you for your kindness, but sometimes remember the poor soldier you nursed. I will pray that many blessings may follow your life."
I had no appetite for my supper that night. The pleading eyes seemed to gaze into mine wherever I looked, while my sym- pathy went out to the tortured, and wandered away to the South - ern home where the shadows would ever after hang.
The next day his cot was empty. The attendant said he had insisted upon being raised up, and had expired half an hour af- ter I left, and his body was in the dead house awaiting burial. I did not want to look upon his dead face, but turned to the living. The young man who had asked me to come to him each day, I found utterly paralyzed, not even able to lift his head. There he lay, so brave, so helpless, talking cheerfully about the battle where he was wounded, never regretting the sacrifice, knowing as he spoke of the one who had died, that his turn would come very soon, and he too, would be taken and laid away by stranger hands.
Is it any wonder that sensitive, sympathetic people should quiver with emotion amid such scenes, that a great pity should fill the soul for the lives going down thus early to death? Glory was exchanged for agony. Patriotism well nigh oozed out ami l the horrors of the situation.
A grand looking officer from Georgia mistook me in his de. lirium for the young wife he left in hts native State, and larin .; lucid intervals would talk of scenes sacred to his memory an : bers, and as it seemed to please him. I never toli him X
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was a stranger, allowing him the happy delusion, and with his hand resting in mine, his wife's name upon his lips, he breathed his last, one of the saddest death-beds during all that sad time.
It was so dreadfully real, this taking out the cot with the dead, this constant talk of the loved ones in a distant home, this catching at every face that brought the absent to memory. the pleading for a woman's presence, a woman's voice, a wom- an's hand, it was deeply, fearfully real.
My spririts grew more depressed each day as my patients passed beyond my care, and each day I became morbidly anxious lest another should be added to the list of the lost.
I have visited hospitals where charity is bestowed, alms houses, hospitals, private retreats for the sick, lunatic asylums; but nothing is so truly heart-rending as a military hospital during time of war.
After the seven days' carnage was ended, that hospital was so full that the cots were pushed close together, with only room to reach them from the foot.
The day after my first visit, we had an abundance of help, as the ladies came in groups to Dr. Gibson's assistance, and little girls became efficient help with their fly brushes. How welcome the children were to those wounded men can never be expressed. as they eagerly fanned the flies away and talked gaily to the men.
To those whose sick room is guarded by a loved presence, an- ticipating every want, or a hired nurse whose duty it is to be ever on the alert, this will not be understood. Remember how these men had been deprived of female society for months. away from the sight of a child's face, wounded and dying in a hospi- tal, where every man only received so much attention. . Think of the sickening sight on every side of others' suffering and wce, the thirst, the intolerable army of flies, do as best the attendants could to prevent this nuisance, the bare, blank walls where they were compelled to gaze for weeks and months, and then reflect how welcome was a woman's hand, a child's voice amid the dis- tracting confusion of ideas.
The weeks spent at that hospital are indelibly stamped upen memory's tablets. Often, when weary with the world. feeling utterly desolate. the recollection of those feeble words. "Goi bless you," has come back as the refreshing dew upon the parched earth. The grateful looks from the eyes of the deal Confederates seem to speak in benisons to the weary heart, and those blessings have followed me through the checkered, chang- ing scenes of a life filled with strange experiences.
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CHAPTER XII.
Feeling at the North with Regard to Mcclellan's Want of Success-C:1 for Three Hundred Thousand Men and a New Commander-Major-Gen. eral Pope Selected-Change of Base to Rappahannock River-Record of the New Favorite-General Jackson's Activity-Whereabouts of the Texans - Battle of Freeman's Ford-Fight at Thoroughfare Gap-Second Battle of Manassas -- Bravery of Texans-General Hood in Command of Several Brigades-Texans and Other Confederates Supply Themselves With Clothing-General Lee's Plan to Cross the Potomac Iuto Marylan i- General Hood Placed Under Arrest-Texans Refuse to Fight at Bootes- boro Gap Unless General Hood is Restored-General Lee Orders Gren- eral Hood to His Command-Enthusiasm of the Men, Again Assisting to Save the Day-Jackson at Harper's Ferry-Lee and Jackson at Sharps- burg-General Lee's Proclamation to Marylanders.
The people of the North were surprised and chagrined at Gen- eral Mcclellan's ill success in reaching Richmond, as they had fondly boasted would be the El Dorado of their hopes. Con- ducting the war, however, upon the soil of the enemy, they felt no immediate alarm for the safety of their homes and firesides. and coolly looked upon the defeat of the rebels only as a matter of time and the expenditure of more men and means. Accord- ingly the government at Washington issued a call for three hundred thousand additional troops and a new commander, who could more successfully cope with the fighting capacity of the Co:1- federates,
The choice now fell upon Major-General Pope, who changed the base of active operations back to the Rappahannock river. This general had, in 1849, conducted the Minnesota exploring expedition, afterwards acted as topographical engineer in New Mexico, and had command in 1853 of one of the exploring ex- peditions to develop the Southern Pacific railroad route. He d:,- tinguished himself on the overland route to the Pacific by sirk- ing artesian wells and government money, to the amount of a million dollars. Some of these wells were sunk on the stake 1 plains of Texas. He was in Missouri at the beginning of the war, and made himself obnoxious to the people of that State. He was afterward made Major-General and placed at the head of a corps, in the reduction of Corinth. He reported to his super! in command, General Halleck, that he had captured ten thousand of General Beauregard's army, and fifteen hundred stand of arms, when not a man or musket had fallen under bis operation -.
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which shows how reckless he was with regard to the statement of facts.
As soon as he was placed in command of the Army of the Potomac he issued his proclamation from headquarters in the saddle, ordering all citizen Comtederates to "take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government of be escorted beyond his lines." This order created consternation among the people, where defenceless women were only protected from the brutal soldiery by aged relatives too old for service in the rebel army. "Let us study the probable line of retreat of our opponent and leave our own to take care of itself. Let us look before and not behind-disaster and shame lurk in the rear."
These were the words addressed to his command. He fondly hoped to chase the rebel hordes away from his front and boasted of his ability, until the Northern papers caught the inspiration and believed him the greatest leader of the age He had a wily foe in his front-no less than the indomitable Stonewall Jackson, who had quietly left the lines below Richmond and made his way as rapidly as possible to the Rapidan. The Confederate authorities knew it would be folly to wait for the new recruits to be gathered at the North, and the best way was to push ahead with their military operations.
On August 8th, General Jackson's command engaged the Fed- erals at what is known as the battle of Ceda: Mountain, one of the most rapid and severe engagements of the war. In every particular it was a sanguinary and desperate struggle, and re- sulted in a complete and decisive victory for our arms.
The Texas Brigade was not engaged in this battle. After resting and recruiting, as before stated, Whiting's division had received orders to move north, but the place of destination was a mystery. General Longstreet had gone, but under which leader they were expected to fight was not known.
They took up the line of march, going thirteen miles the Erst day, and this in proportion each day until they reached the Rap- pahannock. The weather was oppressively warm, and many of the division were smitten with sunstroke, but still General Hood moved forward until they reached Freeman's Ford. The enemy had crossed in front of General Trimble-the battle was already begun. The artillery had been at work some time, and now the sharpshooters were marking their objects. Onarriving, the Texas Brigade took position on General Trimble's right, and Colonel Law's Brigade on his left. The line of battle was formed. the "forward" was given, the line of the Federals instantly broken and . driven headlong into the river. The rout was complete: many were shot in the back while attempting to re-cross the river, while
AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE.
about three hundred killed and wounded in the river and along the shore told the tale of this day's destruction.
The men had only green corn for food, as the wagons did not come up until the night of the 23d. Soon the camp was busy cooking rations, when an order came to move at once. Sapper was in every shape of preparation, except ready to eat. but the military rule to move must be obeyed.
The next day they had a chance to cook their food, which was done, and the march continued for several days, until they reached, on the 28th, what is known as "Thoroughfare Gap." Jackson had passed through unmolested, but the Federals now occupied the Gap, which was a narrow defile in the Ball Run mountains, with crags and slopes close around, protected, as it were, by a wall of stone on either side.
General Hood had united with General Jones' division and they determined to force a passage through this strong position. They were prepared to fight persistently, for they well knew the advantage was upon the Federal side. General Jones' advance immediately opened fire, and pressing vigorously on, drove them before him from the slopes and gap, and led his men to the other side. The whole line, quickly following, passed through and bivouacked upon the field beyond.
There were about one hundred killed and captured in this en- counter, but few casualties on our side, while the booming of General Jackson's cannon was distinctly heard in the direction of Manassas.
"Next morning the Texas Brigade was thrown to the front, and Colonel Upton, of the Fifth Regiment, was placed in com- mand of a picked force of about one hundred and fifty ten. whose duty it was to act as skirmishers, also to act as an advance guard and drive the enemy before them. This gallant officer and his brave marksmen pushed them so rapidly as to be frequently under the necessity of halting for the troops to come up."
Early in the day they came upon the main body of the Federals upon the plain of Manassas, having pursued the retreating guard for eight miles.
Forming line of battle, they awaited orders. as General Jack- son was engaged upon the left in deadly combat.
The division was formed across the pike, Hood's Brigade posted on the right and that of Law on the left. Between Hood's left and Jackson's right, which rested about one mile south of Groveton, there was a gap of several hundred yards. Here was planted the Washington Artillery, of New Orleans, under Colonel Walton, and several batteries commanding the ground over which General Pope's forces were advancing. He
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threw forward a heavy column, making a desperate effort :) divide our line. The artillery opened fire and the advance was repulsed. Again an advance was made, and again driven back the fight becoming general along nearly the entire column of Jackson.
General Lee discovered that re-enforcements were coming up to aid the discomfited Federals. General Hood, at this juncture. was ordered by Longstreet to make a demonstration on the ene- my's left. Instantly the order was given the flash of fire belched forth along the line. The din became horrible, the artillery thundering and the infantry firing continuously. The advancing column wavered, fell back, took another position to the rear, and advanced again, but were again driven back. Thus, on and on, they retreated, until night put an end to the progress of the troops, and gave shelter to a vanquished army.
About 9 o'clock it was discovered that the Federals and Con- federates were mixed up curiously-Hood's men in advance of Jackson. It was so dark one flag could not be distinguished from another. The troops soon found out the condition of affairs. Federals sang out "5th Texas," and passed unmolested by the guard to the rear. General Hood discovered the state of affairs. and determined to inform General Lee of the facts, and recom- mended that his men be called off to the ground they had occu- pied before the pursuit began. He agreed to this, and at 2 o'clock in the morning the Texans were withdrawn from the immediate presence of the enemy.
This is said to have caused General Pope to telegraph to Wash- ington that he had whipped the rebel army, and driven them from the field, although confessing his own loss in killed and wounded to be eight thousand. Thus ended the first day's fight. The soldiers sought their rest only for a few hours, as next day the conflict was renewed, and one of the most bloody battles of the war was fought.
The morning of August 30th broke upon the two armies lying so close together. The Federals liad moved up and occupied the ground which Hood's men had abandoned. Picket firing and artillery dueling began at an early hour.
Our line of battle was an obtuse crescent in shape, and at least five miles long. Jackson's line, which formed our let. stretched from Sudley, on Bull Run, along the partly.excavated track of the Manassas independent line of railroad. for a portion of the way, and thence toward a point on the Warrenton t .: n. pike, about a mile and a half in rear or west of Groveton. His extreme right came within about six hundred yards of the t-a- pike.
WIGFALL MESS. Winter Quarters Texas Brigade near Dumfries, Va., Winter 1861-1862.
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Longstreet's command, which formed our left, extended from the point near the turnpike, on which Jackson's right flank rested, and prolonged the line of battle far to the right, stretching beyond the line of the Manassas Gap railroad. A point on the Warrenton pike was the apex of the crescent, and it was here, between Jackson's right and Longstreet's left, that the artillery had been placed. Eight batteries were planted on a command- ing elevation.
The Federal line of battle conformed itself to that of the rebels, and took also a crescent form-artillery in rear of their infantry. Whiting's Division belonged to Longstreet's Corps, and Hood's Brigade formed Longstreet's left.
During the morning the fighting did not amount to more than a brisk artillery duel. At 1 o'clock the Federals commenced a series of invitations to compel the rebels to bring on the fight, by advancing both upon the right and left, but were promptly re- pulsed.
Suddenly, at 4 o'clock, our batteries "belched forth a volley that seemed to shake the earth." A column of infantry bad moved out to attack Jackson. A second and a third column made their appearance, moving boldly forward, until they came within range of small arms. These troops were the crack corps of the Federals, under Generals Sykes and Morrell. As the fight progressed, General Lee moved his batteries to the left and opened fire, only four hundred yards distant. A spectator says:
"It was not in human nature to stand unflinchingly before that hurricane of fire. The spectacle was magnificent, as shell after shell burst in the wavering ranks, and round shot ploughed broad gaps among them; one could distinctly see through the rifts of smoke, the Federals falling and flying upon every side. The columns broke, the men fell back to the rear. Jackson's men now went into the charge upon the scattering crowd left without a leader. In the severe action Jackson's left advanced more rap- idly than his right, and the line of battle became changed. Longstreet, who had hitherto not been engaged, took the golden opportunity to attack the exposed left flank of the enemy in his front; Hood's Brigade being on the left, charged the turnpike. Here occurred another brilliant achievement of these men, again crowning Hood's Texans with fresh laurels."
Sickles' Excelsior Brigade of Zouaves had been, for several days, anxious to come in contact with the Texans.
Pollard says: "In the track of the charge, the Texas Brigade met Sickles' Excelsior Brigade, and almost annihilated them.' This was how it came about. During the charge, while the men were steadily advancing upon the Zouaves, who occupied an
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eminence, with their batteries in the rear upon the brow of the hill. General Longstreet sent rapidly for General Hood. He in- structed Hood not to allow his men to move so far forward as to throw themselves beyond the prompt support of the troops he had ordered to the front.
General Hood, on leaving his men to receive his superior's instruction, gave the order to "press the enemy back to the branch, and there halt under the shelter of the hill." They obeyed the order to "press them back to the branch," but the temptation was too strong to allow them to halt; they moved right on up the hill to the battery of five pieces, frowning down upon them, and scattering destruction in their midst.
The men stood gallantly by their guns. The Texans advanced and, amid the deadly fire, succeeded in driving the Zouaves, with their bright, red uniforms, beyond their guns. Never were braver men than those standing beside these guns. Even when the in- fantry had fled, pell-mell, like heroes they kept up firing to the last. One remarked to his captor, as he lay mortally wounded: "I promised to drive you back, or die by my guns, and I have kept my word." When the men returned from the charge, he was dead under his gun. The battery, under Captain Curran. had volunteered to support the Zouaves and regulars in their attack upon Hood's Brigade.
When General Hood returned, he found his men were not where he had ordered them to halt, but had run over the battery and were in the valley beyond, pouring their deadiv fire into those splendid troops which Mcclellan had ettlogized so highly before Richmond, with the 5th Texas leading the van.
When the general came up, instead of having them arrested for disobedience of orders, or sent to the guard-house. be said: "Boys, you don't know how proud I am of you! You have be- haved gallantly; you have acted nobly !- for you have fought like heroes!"
It was a fine compliment to General Hood's military skill and + genius that, just at this stage of the fight. General Longstreet selected him to receive and post the fresh troops sent upon the field by himself, as he watched from the rear the behavior of his corps, striving successfully with superior forces. Gallantly Hood handled his men, five or six brigades, besides his own, being sent to his disposal.
Resting his troops for a few moments, he took position near a house where he could watch and direct the movements upon tha: part of the field.
General Jones' Division now arrived. He rode up to General Hood, and desired to know what point he had best attack. He
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promptly accepted the situation, as did several other command- ers, to act in concert, and they moved to the attack, as did the whole line from right to left.
General Hood says: "Thus the splendid corps of Longstreet moved forward in a grand charge, out upon the high open ground, in rear of the Chiun house. Onward it swept toward Ball Ren, driving the enemy at a rapid pace before it, and presenting to view the most beautiful battle-scene I have ever witnessei.
This time, when night approached, and the engagement was ended, the 5th Texas was found far to the front. in the vicinity of Sudley Ford road.
The day ended with a decisive victory gained by the Confed- erates, upon the plains of Manassas -- twice baptized in the blood of the true and the brave. Our loss was severe. Colonel Upton, of the 5th, was left dead upon the field; Colonel Robertson, of the 5th. was wounded, while leading his men far out upon the field.
General Hood said, of all engaged with him that day: "As to their gallantry and unflinching courage, they stand unsurpassed in the history of the world."
The men who made the advance upon the battery and zou- aves all unite in saying this was, to them, a miost trying ordeal. -the one place, up to this time, the most hotly contested of all others. Those who stormed the breastworks at Gaines' Farm were the same who gave this verdict. Their opposers had pur- posely pitted themselves against the Texans. and were deter- mined to conquer if possible. The men knew nothing of this until told by the prisoners, but grandly did they win the victory, and over such gallant enemies. It was truly wonderful.
An incident will serve to show the spirit of the men handling the guns: The 4th Texas had advanced up to the brow of the hill where the battery was planted. The zouaves had fed pre- cipitately. The Texans had been watching the firing of one of guns, and had learned the range pretty well. as soldiers by a keen perception soon learn this. One gun was apparently si- lenced, as so many had fallen at this post. Captain Vinkler. commanding company 1, 4th Texas, happened to be just in its range. When only two feet from the mouth of the cannon. be saw the gunner suddenly rise and touch it off. He moved aside with self-possession, and the bomb-shell went tearing and whiz- zing past his ears-one of the remarkable escapes of the day. Poor, brave gunner! So eager to do his whole duty, but in a few moments shot down in the act of sending forth another death dealing missile. This is perhaps the only record ever made of ยท his conduct, literally dying beside his gun rather than be taken prisoner.
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