USA > Texas > The Confederate capital and Hood's Texas brigade > Part 15
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The Federals were well intrenched, protected by an impene- trable abatis, but during an affair between the troops and gut- boats, Captain Turner, of the 5th Texas, was killed. As an outpost officer, he was said to be gifted with qualities of rare dis- crimination. Under the inactivity of the situation, Genera! Hood became very restless to rejoin General Lee, who, he be- lieved, would be attacked by Hooker. His appeal was refused. Finally about the time General Hooker crossed the Rappahan- nock, General Longstreet was ordered to General Lee's support.
There had been a scarcity of forage at Suffolk, and the wag- ons had been sent off into North Carolina for supplies. A short delay was unavoidable, as other transportation had to be pro. vided. Every effort was made to get to Lee, at the earliest mo- ment, but while on a forced march to accomplish that purpose. intelligence was received of the battle of Chancellorsville, and the mortal wounding of General Jackson.
The division continued its march without resting, and finally bivouacked upon the Rapidan near Gordonsville. The absence of so large a portion of General Lee's army, made the victory at Chancellorsville but the more brilliant. In a letter to Gen- eral Hood, General Lee said: "Although separated from me, I have always had you in my eye and thoughts. I wished for yo: much in the last battle, and believe, had I had the whole army with me, General Hooker would have been demolished. But God ordered otherwise. I grieve much over the death of Gen- eral Jackson. We must endeavor to follow the unselfish devo- tion and intrepid course he pursued, and we shall be strength- ened rather than weakened, by his loss. I rely much upon you. You must inspire and lead your brave division, as that it may accomplish the work of a corps.
"I am, and always your friend, "R. E. LEE."
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CHAPTER XV.
Position of General Lee at Chancellorsville-Wounding of General Jackson by his Own Men - Death of the Great Chieftain-H fors to the Dealat Richmond and Along the Road to Lexington-Grief of the People and Army-General Lee Prepares to "Change bis Base to Northern Soli- Passage of the Potomac-Excitement at Washington-Arrival in Pennsyl- vania-General Meade's Position at Gettysburg-Position of the Comed- erates-Wounding of General Hood -- General Lee Compelled to Retire- Successful Passage of the Potomac -- Disappointment of the Whole Country at the Disastrous Result -General Lee Assumes the Responsi- bility of the Campaign.
General Hooker, confident of success with what he styled "the finest army on the planet," had thrown three army corps across the Rappahannock, with eight days' rations, ani, by a well-con- ceived plan, sought to engage and capture the Confederate army. General Lee and his officers watched his movements with every step, until the two armies confronted one another at Chancellors- ville, some eleven miles from Fredericksburg ani four miles south of the point of confluence of the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers. This place consisted of only a large brick house, formerly kept as a tavern, and some onthonses. It is situated on the plank road leading from Fredericksburg to Orange Court House, and easily approached by roads leading from the various fords along the rivers.
Between Chancellorsville and the river, and above, les the wilderness, a district of country covered by scrubby black jack oaks and a dense undergrowth. The ground around Chancel- lorsville is heavily timbered and favorable for defense.
General Jackson, in command of one of the Confederate army corps, was ordered to make a flank movement and attack on the rear, "leaving a force in front to hold the Federals in check and conceal the movement." The enemy was completely taken by surprise. Position after position was carried, and every effort of the foe to rally was defeated, the rebels, in the ardor of pursuit, dashing over the intrenchments.
Night closed in, General Jackson and staff were returning from the extreme front, when, meeting a line of skirmishers that had been thrown out, he was mistaken for the enemy, fired upon, and borne, mortally wounded, from the feld. This occurred : May 2nd. Consternation spread throughout the army-Jackson, the invincible, wounded by his own men !! Never were sadder
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words flashed over the wires to the waiting thousands who eagerly watched the coruscations of his genius, believing him the guid- ing star of the hopes of the South.
The darkness of the night, and the difficulty of moving troops through the dense undergrowth, rendered it necessary to delay further operations until morning, but renewing the attack next day, General Hooker's army was driven from all of its fortified positions, and retreated, with heavy loss, towards the Rappa- hannock; the fighting being terrible.
The attack of Sedgwick's corps, approaching General Lee from Fredericksburg, in the rear, and that general hurling his forces against him, preventing a junction with Hooker, was a masterly stroke. By the time this was effected, the beaten Fed- eral army had retreated to its old camp ground near Fredericks- burg, and the Southern army could claim another victory.
To General Jackson's note, informing him he was wounded, General Lee replied:
"I can not express my regret at the occurrence. Could I have directed events, I should have chosen, for the good of the coun- try, to have been disabled in your stead. I congratulate you on the victory due to your skill and energy."
It was on the reception of these touching words that the wounded chieftain exclaimed: "Better that ten Jacksons should fall than one Lee. General Lee should give the glory to God."
Eight days after General Jackson was wounded, the first blow to the success of the Confederate cause was struck by his death, which occurred at the field hospital of Wilderness Run, May roth. Only once he regretted his fall, and then with reference to the fortunes of the field. "If I had not been wounded, or had had an hour more of daylight, I should have cut off the enemy from the road to the ford, and we should have had them entirely sur- rounded, and they would have been obliged to surrender or cut their way out; they had no other alternative. My troops, some- times, may fail in driving the enemy from a position, but the enemy always fail to drive my men from a position."
When informed he must die, his only response was: "It is all right"; and, with the words, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees," his mighty spirit quietly passed over the dark river of death, and the Christian warrior was forever at rest.
It is impossible to describe the grief and silent despair of the people and anguish of the army at this sudden and unexpected blow. Dead in the full zenith of his glory! The man of des- tiny, in whom had been embodied all the dreams of the chivalry of the South, who, from his startling stand at the first battle of
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Manassas, where General Bee rallied his men, exclaiming. "Von- der stands Jackson like a stone-wall," had been followed. not only with admiring eagerness, but also by the prayers of a sorely stricken people. They trusted him, they loved him. they rever- enced him for his purity and the firm reliance he manifested in his God, to whom he prayed as an humble child petitioning his father.
Women's faces turned pale when his death was announced upon the bulletin boards of the capital. Strong men trembled and shuddered at the future without Jackson's skill to maneuver the troops so long under his command, and whose place could not be filled-the man General Lee had called his "right arm." Every head was bowed, every heart stricken.
When the train bearing the honored remains reached Rich- mond, tender, loving hands placed the casket in the hall of the House of Representatives at the capitol, wrapped in the folds of the flag of the "Southern Cross" he had so often led to victory, and decked with the floral offerings of a people whose hearts were well nigh broken in agony.
Thousands crowded through the building in a continuous stream to gaze upon the beloved face, soon to be bid from sight forever. Many predicted the downfall of the Confederacy in the removal of this idol they had all worshipped so well, shaking their heads mournfully, believing God had taken him away, and turned away His face in anger. Others would fain consider his death an incentive to redoubled vigilance and energy, and bravely took up the burden he had borne so faithfully.
Perhaps no one grieved more than General Lee, who, in a pri- vate letter to his wife, said: "We have to moura the loss of the great and good Jackson. Any victory would be dear at such a price." He announced his death in the following order to the troops:
"With deep grief the commanding general announces to the army the death of Lieutenant-General T. J. Jackson, who ex- pired on the roth instant, at a quarter to 3 p. m. The daring skill and energy of this great and good soldier are now. by the decree of an Allwise Providence, lost to us. But, while we mourn his death, we feel that his spirit still lives and will inspire the whole army with his indomitable courage and unshaken confi- dence in God, as our hope and strength. Let his name be a watchword to his corps who have followed him to victory on so many fields. Let his officers and soldiers emulate bis invincible determination to do everything in defense of our beloved country. R. E. LEE, General."
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The admiring world paid tribute to his fame. "He was," says the London Times, "one of the most constuimate generals that this century has produced. The military feats he accomplished moved the minds of the people with astonishment which is only given to the highest genius to produce. The blows he struck at the enemy were as terrible and decisive as those of Bonaparte himself."
After lying in state at Richmond, his remains were taken to the train by a detailed military escort, and conveyed to Lexing- ton where he had lived so long-the quiet praying professor of the Military Institute. He had said, when dying, "Bury me at Lexington, in the valley of Virginia, amongst the people I have loved."
Every station where the sad cortege passed, the sorrowing peo- ple crowded to testify their devotion with floral tributes of re- membrance; and at Lexington he was buried amid the booming of cannon and the universal lamentation of a people stricken where least expected, and amongst those with whom he had walked so humbly as a Christian gentleman and friend.
Dying in the hour of triumph, with the plaudits of a nation sounding in his ears, the gratitude of his worshippers rising like incense around his pathway, thrice blessed was such a death! It was not his fate to watch the fading ont of every hope, to grieve like those who surrendered the "Lost Cause" after four years of bloodshed, privation and sacrifice. Blest indeed was he to die, "like one who wraps his mantle round him, and lies down to pleasant slumber."
The river was now flowing between the two armies, with no desire to cross and attack. General Lee began to inaugurate measures for freeing Virginia from the presence of the invading army, by transferring his base of operations to Northern soil.
During the balance of the month of May his troops were in- spected, artillery and transportation prepared for another cam- paign, and everything put in as good order as possible.
Longstreet's corps made the junction with General Lee after the battle of Chancellorsville, and the Texas brigade, under Genera! J. B. Robertson, with Hood's division, went into biv- one near Gordonsville, where they remained until the line of marth was taken up, June 3d.
At this time, the various armies of the Confederacy comprised all the population fit for military duty, and there was no hopes of any further increase of the Army of Northern Virginia. Gen- eral Lee's plan was to cross the Potomac, and by a brilliant vic- tory before his opponent could concentrate another "on to Rich- mond" advance from beyond the Rappahannock, to compel a
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speedy termination of the great contest. Public opinion clamored for a transfer of hostilities to Northern soil by following up the victory of Chancellorsville. The army was thoroughly reorgan- ized, the question of General Jackson's successor satisfactorily settled by the President commissioning Generals R. S. Ewell and A. P. Hill both as lieutenant-generals, with General Ewell as- signed to Jackson's old corps.
On June 3d, Hood's division, with Longstreet's corps, which had been occupied on the Rapidan, marched to Culpepper Court House. Ewell moved to the same place the next day, leaving General Hill watching Hooker's movements at Fredericksburg. Stuart's cavalry was also concentrated at Culpepper.
On the 9th, a force of Federal cavalry, supported by infantry, crossed the Rappahannock and attacked Stuart, but were re- pulsed with heavy loss. This was known as the affair of Brandy Station, and effectually quieted any further demonstration, Gen- eral Hooker retiring, with his army, in the direction of Wash- ington, keeping near the Potomac, enabling him to cover the ap- proaches to that city.
The Confederate troops had cleared the valley of Federals when General Ewell reached Winchester, which he captured after a short but stubborn resistance. The whole number of prisoners who surrendered were four thousand, with two or three hundred wagons and ambulances, besides military stores.
A portion of Ewell's corps crossed the Potomac soon after, at Williamsport, sending a division eastwards from Chambersburg to cross South Mountain to leave open the communication with the Potomac through Hagarstown.
On June 244th, the whole of Hill's corps crossed the river at Shepherdstown, Hood's division, with Longstreet's, having pre- viously crossed at Williamsport. The columns reunited at Hagarstown, and advanced into Pennsylvania, camping near Chambersburg on the 27th.
This invasion called forth the wildest excitement at the North. President Lincoln called for an additional hundred thousand men to defend Washington; the governors of Northern States offered all their military forces, and grave consultations were held with reference to the military situation.
Hooker having failed, allowing Lee to penetrate into Pennsyl- vania, he was immediately removed, and the command of the Army of the Potomac given to General George Meade, who moved at once to meet Lee, towards Chambersburg. The south- ern region of Pennsylvania was explored by the dashing Con- federate cavalry, who were near enough to Harrisburg for their trumpets to be distinctly heard.
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General Lee had designed attacking Harrisburg, 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 threatening his 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 at once ordered to proceed to Gettysburg.
In successfully conducting his army thus far, General Lee showed true generalship. From the immediate presence of a large foe, he had crossed the Blue Ridge, freed the valley, forded streams, overcome difficulties, and had reached Pennsylvania without much resistance. With a tender wisdom some thought sentimental, he offered protection to non-combatants along the line of march, in the invaded country; forbade the destruction of private property, and restrained his men from laying waste the country through which he passed.
The Northern armies had scattered broadcast so much desola- tion through all portions of the South, that many felt General Lee should have retaliated when he had the opportunity. This great leader decided otherwise, and preferred a chivalrous con- duct of his military operations.
The editor of the Richmond Enquirer declared that General Lee's movements in Pennsylvania, in dissuading the people from what had been imagined of the horrors of invasion, gave them a certain moral comfort, and encouraged the prosecution of the war. This editor did not wish like scenes of Southern outrage committed, but "some justifiable retaliation serving out merited justice under the authority of superior officers." Be this as it may, posterity will judge after the passions of the hour have been spent.
The battle-field of Gettysburg was not the choice of either of the commanding generals. General Lee had not designed to engage in a pitched battle at this time, but being confronted by the Federals, he was compelled to show fight.
The troops advanced slowly, but on July ist three divisions of Hill's corps met the enemy in front of Gettysburg, driving them back within a short distance of the town. Ewell, coming up with two of his divisions, joined in the engagement, and the op- posing force was driven through Gettysburg with heavy loss, in- cluding about five thousand prisoners and several pieces of artil- tery.
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 being in the shape of a crescent.
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Pollard says: "The fatal mistake of the Confederates was, ia not pressing the advantage of the afternoon, while only a small por- tiou of Meade's troops were in position. General Lee was not aware of his weakness, and not having his whole army ready to handle, fighting, thus far, when prudence dictated otherwise, and no information of Meade's movements, the delay enabled the latter to get possession of the almost impregnable position which he occupied and fortified."
Much needless discussion has been excited upon whose shoul- ders to lay the blame of the disaster that followed. Ewell was sent to the right, Longstreet to the left, and Hill to the centre.
General Pendleton, chief of artillery, says General Lee ex- pected Longstreet to begin the attack at sunrise, and had that been accomplished before Meade's re-enforcements arrived. the fortunes of the day would have been changed.
General Hood says Longstreet had not been able to bring up all the divisions of his corps, at that time, and remarked he did not "like to go into battle with one boot off." The commands had been brought up as rapidly as possible, from the time the order was issued "to concentrate at Gettysburg." General Hood says of his division: "So imperative had been the orders to hasten forward with all possible speed, that on the march my troops were allowed to halt and rest only about two hours dur- ing the night from the ist to 2nd of July."
Hood's division arrived in front of the heights of Gettysburg about daybreak, and were filed into an open field. As the morn- ing wore away, and General Lee's anxiety increased, it was de- cided to begin the attack, without waiting for the troops still on the march, advancing as rapidly as possible.
General Hood was ordered to place his division across the Emmettsburg road, form line of battle and attack. Sending out his pieked Texas scouts, he ascertained that the enemy's leit flank rested upon Round Top, but the country was open, and he could march around Round Top, and make an assault success- fully, in flank and rear.
By making the attack as ordered, he found he would be fight- ing at great disadvantage, as first, he would be compelled to en- counter the advanced line of battle, that at the base, and aleny the slopes of the mountain were immense boulders of rock. so steep, as almost impossible to be scaled while under constat fre from the line of fortifications above, bristling with cannon. and also subject to an enfilading fire. He saw, that independent of any fire, they could be repelled simply by rolling down stones 'from the steep mountain side. Having ascertained these facts and conceiving the plan of turning Round Top as the most
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feasible, he hastily sent a courier to General Longstreet protest- ing against the attack as ordered. That general replied to three separate messages: "General Lee's orders are to attack up the Emmettsburg road." While moving forward his men, he came up with Longstreet, and again expressed fears of the result under such unfavorable circumstances. He replied: "We must obey the orders of General Lee."
Notwithstanding the seeming impregnable character of the enemy's position, Benning's brigade of Hood's division, in con- cert with the ist Texas Regiment, succeeded in gaining tempo- rary possession of the advanced Federal line ;* they captured three guns and sent them to the rear.
Unfortunately the other Texas regiments, whose advance was impeded by the boulders and sharp edges of rock, were unable to keep pace up the mountain and render the necessary support. The whole division was in excellent condition, never did more heroic men enter into battle, and 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 appalling 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 sank down like grass before the mower, their comrades compelled to retire before reaching the summit.
General Hood believed had he been allowed to use his own judgment, this part of the field would not have been lost. The day of frightful sacrifice closed without decisive result all along the line, leaving General Lee hopeful of victory, and the pros- pect for dictating peace upon Northern soil, not relinquished.
The enemy's position was almost impregnable, cannon placed wherever the Confederates might be raked, and thousands of musketry upon the dizzy heights, ready to be discharged at a moment's warning.
The next morning was spent in forming plans, the Federals waiting to be attacked. General Lee decided to mass his forces and storm Cemetery Hill-the key to the enemy's position. \t twelve o'clock the battle began and raged with fearful violence until sunset; the stormning party with Pickett's Virginia division in front, made a renowned charge, and gave to the world an- other example of the most sublime heroism. They managed to enter the advanced works of the enemy and got possession of some of his batteries, amid the heaviest, most galling fire of the artillery, near the summit of the ridge.
*Spot to be marked by a national monument as a scene of great bravery.
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This was a supreme moment, but suddenly the Confederate ar- tillery ceased firing for want of ammunition, and while the in- trepid advance received, without wavering, great sheets of shot and shell, their foe moved around strong, fresh bodies of infantry, and by a flank movement, rapidly sought to gain their rear. The order was instantly given to fall back, and doggedly resist- ing every inch of ground, they were obliged to retire, con- scions that no bravery was capable of grasping a victory. An- nihilation or capture was inevitable. Men could not accomplish impossibilities. The enemy did not follow beyond their works, but the day was lost.
General Lee acted with sublimity when aware of the disaster. Ile rode along among his broken troops, encouraging and rally- ing them, quiet, placid, uttering such words as these: "All this will come right in the end, but in the meantime, all good inen must rally. We want all good, true men just now." They answered his appeal, and many-even the wounded -- took off their hats and cheered him.
Without panic or confusion, General Lee and his officers, fully alive to the peril of the situation, successfully conducted them, by detachments, back to the same position from which they had driven the enemy the first day the contending forces came in contact.
To his generals, when they expressed vexation and annoyance at the unexpected turn of events, General Lee replied with a heroic ignoring of self: "Never mind, gentlemen! All this has been my fault. It is I have lost this fight, and you must help me out of it the best you can."
An English correspondent and eye-witness says: "It was im- possible to look at him or listen to him without feeling the strong- est admiration."
The effect upon the troops was surprising. His broken com. mands rallied and presented such a determined front that General Meade did not deem it advisable to attack, and the Confederates began their retrograde movement back across the Potomac, by way of Hagarstown, which they reached July 7th.
General Meade followed the retreating column, and approached to close proximity on the 12th, when an attack was expected.
On the 11th General Lee issued an inspiring order to his mien, complimenting them upon their bravery in time of action, their coolness on the retreat, and exhorting them, in the name of their country and cause, to remain true to their standard, invoking the blessings of heaven upon their efforts. He closed thus: "Soldiers. your old enemy is before you. Win from him honor worthy
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