USA > Texas > The Confederate capital and Hood's Texas brigade > Part 9
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AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE.
during attacks of illness, but nothing more had come under my superivision.
I thought the doctor was either very much maistaken about th extent of the injury or his sensibilities had become blunt. . . familiarity with wretched suffering. To me the examin. tion w .. painful, and when the pale lips grew blogless, the white ii . blanched, and I found he had fainted, although outwardiy c .::: I was almost wild with terror, fearing death would ensue. Ate he revived, I asked the doctor ( woman-like :, "If he hadn't bette: administer chloroform ?'
"Don't be alarmed, Miss, said he," as it seemed to dawn upon his brain this was a new experience in my vocabulary, "It scon remove the ball, and our young friend will then get wet and soon be back again in camp."
His cheerful words fell soothingly upon my ear, and thinkin .; he was not utterly heartless after all, I consoled my fears, and made no more remarks upon this subject.
The operation ended, the ball was extracted, the wound dressed with lint and bandages, when the doctor said: "Here is your patient, all right. Keep him quiet; keep the bandage we: with cold water; give him a little broth to-day, and now I 1 . .. him in your hands."
With an exultant feeling I proceeded to carry out direct. es The tired eyes soon closed, and he sank into a peaceful slumber. while I kept away the hungry dies, and reflected how much er it was to nurse the wounded than the sick. My feats were gone. I had successfully passed through the first lesson in surgery a did not look forward to the next with the same shrinking feles of hesitancy. The physician was profuse in his comp lisse a- with regard to my assistance. while I listened, smiled, and fr .- dered if he had known the real state of my feelings while be bin. died the instruments so deity, whether he would not have the night I wis an exceedingly absurd and chicken-hearted young -lidy.
The next morning my charge was much brighter; converse. a little, and requested me to write to his friends. "away dowe in Dixie." Nursing him back to health was a pleasure, as I - sair there was no danger of a fatal termination. Each wir his wound was dressed, the surgeon pronounced him better. :: progressing to his satisfaction. He was patient, gentle, inade few demands, seeming to appreciate the willing service : rendered.
When he became well enough to be removed to a private house, he was taken from the hospital. That was the last Ie.er knew about him, as events and battles came on thick and! !!: crowding the hospitals daily with fresh victims of the condet.
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CHAPTER X.
General Jackson's Operations in the Valley of Virginia-Battle of Seven Pines-Movements of the Texans-General Jolinston Wounded-General Lee Assumes Command of the Confederate Forces at Richmoni-The Army known Henceforth as "Army of Northern Virginia"-Delight of People at the Change of Commanders-Comparison of Historians Cpu- ions with Regard to Plan of the Campaign -General Lee's Ruse of Send- ing off General Whiting's Division to Join Jackson -- The Latter Su llealy to Make a Junction with General Lee -- Texaus with Whiting's Di.is z- Battle of Mechanicsville- Jackson Connects with General Lee's Line of Battle at Coldl Harbor-Battle of Gaines' Farm-Hood's Brigade Turas the Tide of Battle-General Hood's Report of the Day's Work-Gezeral Jackson's Report of the Charge of the 4th Texas Regiment-Burial of the Dead-Removal of the Wounded -- Confederates Bivouacking-Realy for Another Day's Conflict.
During the latter part of April General Banks, who was ope- rating in the valley of Virginia, announced to the government at Washington that the "rebel Jackson has abandoned the valley of Virginia permanently, and is en route to Gordonsville by the way of the mountains."
He was astounded when the news reached him, May a3rd. that the "rebel Jackson" had suddenly descended upon the guard at Front Royal, burned the bridges, driven the Federal troops towards Strasburg with great loss, captured a section of artillery, and taken about fourteen hundred prisoners.
General Banks now took his turn in flight, or as he officially said, "To enter the lists with the enemy in a race or a battle. as he should choose, for the possession of Winchester, the key to the valley."
The day following his appearance at Front Royal, General Jackson had, by rapid movements, pierced General Banks re- treating column towards Strasburg.
When the Federal general reached Winchester, after being worried all the route by Jackson, he found the place "filled with shouts of derision for the Federals and defiant cheers for Jackson."
May 25th General Jackson attacked Winchester, and drive the enemy across the Potomac. He escaped with his army, leaving "four thousand prisoners and stores amounting to millions of dollars."
The intrepid Stonewall did not tarry for a day's rest, bat fel back immediately from Winchester. as General Fremont was 32- proaching in his rear from the west with eight brigades.
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AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE.
We left the Texas Brigade at Pine Island, below the city of Richmond. On May 2 th they received orders to march, and then, after going to and fro along the Chickahominy faity moved down the Nine Mile road, within a mile and a half of the enemy, where they halted and waited for the signal of battle.
Sunday, May 31st, General Long-treet had begun the attick at g o'clock, and waited impatiently for General Huger s division to come up as ordered, but they failed to put in an appearance.
The battle became general, under the leadership of General Joseph E. Johnston; regiment after regiment, brigade after bri- gade was thrown against the batteries of the entrenched Federais, protected by earth-works, palisades, fallen timber and the swamps.
When night closed in it was found the enemy had been driven back two miles on the left wing.
The attack on the right wing was more desperate, and the Federals held their position until dark. General Johnston was severely wounded on this part of the field, and was immediately taken to Richmond for treatment.
Next morning, June ist, the enemy made a demonstration very early. The battle again waged hot. At last re-enforce- ments came up, the enemy was repulsed, and thus ended the battle of Seven Pines.
The Texas Brigade was under fire during the two days' fight. but not directly engaged. much to the chagrin of the men. After the battle, they were thrown to the front. Every day two hun- dred men, and the requisite number of officers, were detailed to act as spies and sharp-shooters. These men operated beyond and independent of the regular pickets, and soon became a terror to the enemy.
On the morning of June 7th, a party under Lieutenant Jenti- son, of the ist Texas, was ordered to drive in the enemy's pick =: s by General Hood. They attacked the outposts, and the pickets fled pell-mell, but perceiving there was only a small force returned and resisted the advance of the Texans. A regiment of Federais now came in sight, and the Texans dropped back under cover of our batteries, having lost six men, and the Federals about fifty. General Hood issued an order complimenting officers and men.
The following, from the pen of W'm. H. Lessing, of Waco, is one of the incidents of the brigade during this time:
"As a truly great and brave commander, General Hood neve: forgot the dictates of humanity, even when the storm-cloud~ ~ fierce battle, strife and war hung low and threatening on the horizon. An incident in my personal experience greatly ins- pressed mie with this fact:
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.About the second or third night after the battle of Seven Pines, when the smoke of battle had scarce cleared away, I was detailed for guard duty at General Hood's temporary heli- quarters, at Pine Island, near Richmond. As I was small in sire and not yet fifteen years old, the corporal of the guard generaly gave me the easiest patrol, so that on this occasion I was put cu guard at the gate of an inclosure occupied by General H. p.i. from four to six o'clock in the morning. For what purpose I was to guard this gate, I was then too young and innocent to cost- prebend, and made no attempt to get away.
At daybreak. feeling assured of the safety of the gate, and overcome by the fatigue of march and battle and hunger. 1 grounded arms and leaned up against the gate post, thinking si the good things they would have to eat at home in Texas that morning. Just then General Hood passed, almost unsest .y me, through the gate, and after attending to some orders that seemed to weigh on his mind. he returned, repassed the gate and stood before me, and though aware of his presence. I was too mitch drowned in reverie and quasi sleep to rouse and realize the situation. Suddenly, in thunder tones it seemed to me , 'he command. 'Present arms,' fell on my bewildered ears, and with the lightning speed and mechanism of a well-drilled soldier. I came to a 'present arms,' and the following dialogue and its se- quei followed:
"What company ?'
" 'Company B, 4th regiment.'
" "What? How is this? Carter is a fine officer, and his mer gererally know their duty. Don't you know you should never ground arms when on guard?'.
". . Yes, sir.'
" .And don't you know you should salute your officers wars they pass?'
". . Yes, general; but I was so tired and hungry I forgot,' and just then a big tear stole down my cheek, which the genera: doubtless samr.
""""Corporal of the guard" rang out the general's voice, and rapidly the corporal came, and I thought my time was up, and I would be placed under arrest.
" 'Corporal, relieve this boy,' was the next order, and a cost- rade was put in my place. A command to follow him was text obeyed by me with tear and alacrity. The sequel is that I was taken by the general to his tent, where the pleasant aroma of a wholesome breakfast greeted my offactories, ani I was offered to sit down and have some breakfast, which I also did with fiat- rity, a knife and fork, and much amazement. Well, some of
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AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE.
those officers went short of their allowance that morning. much to the delight of the general. That was our first and last per- sonal intercourse, until ten years Inter, at a reunion, we niet in the parlor of the Hutchins House, Houston, and I was called by name and greeted cheerfully as soon as I entered the room, the general at once mentioning the incident to his lovely, accor- plished wife, to whom he introduced me, with pleasure."
Pollard, the historian, says: 'Upon taking command of the Confederate army in the field, after General Johnston had been wounded' in the battle of Seven Pines, General Robert E. Lee did not hesitate to adopt the spirit of that commander, which had already been distayed in attacking the chemy, and which Indicated the determination, ou his part, that the operations be- fore Richmond should not degenerate into a siege."
General Hood, in his work, "Advance and Retreat," says: "Richmond would have been abandoned by General Johnston as the outset of the struggle, bad he been afforded the opportunity: in other words, had he not, in consequence of bis disability, been replaced by General Lee, who retained to the end command of the Army of Northern Virginia."
President Davis, in his work, says: ""I rode out occasionally to the lines, and visited the headquarters of the commandiss general. There were no visible preparations tor defense, ant my brief conversation with the general afforded no satisfactory info: mation as to his plans and purposes. Auxious for the de- fense of the ancient capital of Virginia, now the capital of the Confederate States, and remembering a remark of General John- ston, that the Spaniards were the only people who ever under- took to hold fortified towns, I had written to him that he knew the defense of Richmond must be at a distance from it. Seeing no preparation to keep the enemy at a distance, and kept in ig- norance of any plan for such a purpose. I sent for General Lee, then in Richmond, in general charge of army operations, and told bim how and why I was dissatisfied with the condition of affairs."
President Davis goes on to narrate that he thought General MeClellan should be attacked on the other side of the Chicka- hominy, to which General Lee assented, and that then the latter proposed going to General Johaston and heating his plans. Upon returning, he informed Mr. Davis he intended attacking the next Thursday, which resulted in the battle of Seven Pines, This engagement was not a deci led victory for either of the Lei- ligerents. and during which General Joliston was wounded. "General Lee was now placed in command. and thene forward directed the movements of the army in front of Richmond. La-
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borious and exact in details, as he was vigilant and compre- hensive in grand strategy, a power with which the public had not credited him, soon became manifest in all that makes an army a rapid, accurate, compact machine, with responsive mo- tion in all its parts."
Colonel Chilton, Adjutant and Inspector-General of the Con- federacy, said: "I consider General Lee's exhibitions of grand administrative talents and indomitable energy in bringing up that army in so short a time to that state of discipline which maintained aggression through those terrible seven days fights around Richmond, as probably his grandest achievement."
Dr. Jones, the biographer of General Lee, said: "When Gen- eral Lee assumed command of the army, which before that time had borne the name of 'The Army of the Potomac,' but was soon re-christened by the name of 'The Army of Northern Vir- ginia,' he found the Confederate capital beleaguered with an army of over one hundred thousand men, with a very large train of field and siege guns, while his own force was very little more than half that. Nevertheless, he conceived the idea of relieving the capital of the threatening presence of the besieging army by one of those bold, strategic movements of which only great minds are capable."
All this does not seem to imply that he followed General Jolin- ston's plans. but took hold of the horns of the dilemma in which he found himself, and resolutely determined to extricate his army, or perish in the attempt.
The people of Richmond did not hesitate to express their de- light at the change of commanders at this critical moment, for they had not forgiven General Johnston for failing to follow up his advantages at Manassas, and upon the whole, the wounding of General Johnston was considered fortunate for the salvation of the Confederate capital.
The record of General Lee for bravery was very fine. The troops were well satisfied with his appointment. This feeling of confidence was destined to deepen into enthusiasm, until his or- ders were obeyed without question or dissent, and the name of General Robert E. Lee was written upon the deathless honor- roll of fame.
General Jackson had conceived the stupendous plan of freeing the valley of the Shenandoah of the Federal army, and had been marching and fighting for weeks against the combined forces of Generals Banks and Shields.
While riding at the head of an advancing column with Gen- eral Ewell, "his dark face in a blaze of enthusiasm," on June 5th, in a skirmish at Harrisburg, General Turner Ashby fell.
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AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE.
killed from a shot fired by a concealed marksman. This was a severe blow to General Jackson, who considered the brave cav- alry leader his right hand officer.
During a campaign which lasted only three weeks, General Jackson fought four battles, had a number of skirmishes, killed and wounded a considerable number of the Federais, secured and destroyed millions of dollars' worth of stores, recovered Win- chester and annihilated the invading army of the valley, driving them off, with a loss not exceeding one hundred in killed and wounded.
General Fremont attacked General Jackson, June Sth, at Cross Keys. They fought all day, and the next morning the rebels were away, the celerity of Jackson's movements being too much for the slow and cautious Fremont. Just at this juncture of affairs General Lee formed his plan of attack upon Mcclellan, which was only known to a few of his officers.
"His first move was to send General Whiting's division to Staunton, as a ruse, to join General Jackson, to order the latter then to march to Richmond, or down the north side of the Chickahominy, upon the right flank of Mcclellan, and when Jackson was sufficiently near the enemy, to throw across the stream the main body of the Confederate army at and in the vicinity of Meadow Bridge, and finally, with his united forces, to make a general assault upon the Federals."
The Texas Brigade, under General Hood, belonging to Whit- ing's division, " moved by railway via Lynchburg to Charlottes- ville and thence to Staunton." The men were astonished at this move, and when asked where they were going were instructed to reply, "don't know."
Many amusing incidents grew out of this order. They were virtually a set of " know nothings," much to the chagrin of the couriers, who could not understand why General Lee was send- ing men away from Richmond when MeClellan was literally thundering at the gates.
After reaching Staunton they joined General Jackson, and orders were issued immediately to return to Charlottesville and Hanover Junction. From Ashland the troops commenced the march in a southeasterly direction on the morning of June 26th.
Below the city the troops attacked the entrenched enemy at Mechanicsville, only three miles from the city. The booming of cannon and the sharp click of the musketry was distinctly heard in the city, while the lurid light from artillery flashed with startling vividness during the entire afternoon.
There is a strange peculiarity of the human family to watch danger. Ladies, gentlemen and children were out upon the
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hills while the contest lasted, listening to and watching the ex- plosions of gunpowder ; this, too, when they knew not but the victorious Federals might at any moment break through sie lines and enter the city triumphantly. There was, however ::- tle fear of such a calamity. General Lee and his brave miss were between the people and harm.
Night brought an end to the fighting. The Federals retre ..:: to Gaines' farm, where they were strongly entrenched. Next morning the attack was renewed. Everyone in the anxious city perceived that the sound of the whistling bullets vas not so distinct and the battle further off.
As soon as General Lee was advised thot General Jackson :: d arrived and made his connection at Cold Hir or, the attack -as made simultaneously along the whole life.
It was on this memorable June 27th that Hood's Texas Fr :- gade made the reputation which one of their number quai: by said, "nearly exhausted them to achieve, and nearly finished them to maintain."
The battle had waged hot and thick, but no break was mitde in the entrenchments. The Confederates marched boldly up, but were mowed down by a blinding, continuous shower of ; zot and shell, and were unable to make any headway whaterer against the Federal lines. About half-past four o'clock in the afternoon General Lee came up with General Hood and told him the works must be carried. "Can you break his lines?" General Hood replied: "I will try."
The Texas Brigade consisted at that time of the First, Fourth and Fifth Texas and Eighteenth Georgia regiments. White's division consisted of the Fourth Alabama, Second and Eighteenth Mississippi, Sixth North Carolina and Hampton Legion.
The division, with the exception of Hood's Brigade, had been actively engaged for some time when General Ite spoke to G .::- eral Hood. The latter says:
"I immediately formed my brigade in line of battle, with Hampton's Legion on the left. My line was established and moved forward, regiment by regiment, when I discovered. as he disposition of the Eighteenth Georgia was completed, an : = 1 field to its right. Holding in reserve the Fourth Texas, I offeret the advance and galloped into the open field, from which ; fit I could see, at a distance of about eight hundred yards, the po- sition of the Federals. They were heavily entrenched up. s :s side of an elevated ridge, running a little west and south ani extending to the vicinity of the Chickahominy. At the foot of the slope rau Powhite creek, which stream, together with the abatis in front of their works, constituted a formidable obstruction
AND HOOD'S TEXAS BRIGADE.
to our approch whilst batteries, supported by masses of a- fantry, crownca the crest of the hill in the rear, and long more guns were justed upon the south side of the Chickahomin !!! readiness to enfilade our advancing columns. The grom _ _ =! which I made this observation was open the entire distan. . : ) their entrenchments.
"In a moment I determined to allvance from that point, to :: : se a strenuous effort to pierce the enemy's fortifications, an . if possible, to put him to flight. I therefore marched the ch Texas by the right flank into this open field, halted and ca - the line, whilst under fire of the long-range guns, and gave tive instructions that no man should fire until I give the : les, For I knew if the men were allowed to fire, they would hat- to load, break the alignment, and very likely never reach the 'gas :- works. I moreover ordered them not only to keep together at also in line, and announced to them that I'm mid lead the charge. """Forward march' was sounded, and we moved at a rapid tt not a double-quick race. Meantime, my tegiments on the left had advanced some distance to the front through the wool and swamp.
"Onward we marched under a constantly increasing shon is of shot and shell, whilst to our right could ve seen some of var troops making their way to the rear, and others bring doy a w der the galling fire. Soon we attained the crest of the ball -lige. within about one hundred and fifty yards of the breast-vaks. Here was concentrated upon us, from batteries in front and .. ... a fire of shell and canister which plonghet through our sonks with deadly effect. At a quickene i pace we continue ! : : -
vance without firing a shot, down the slope. over a bo ly soldiers lying upon the ground, to an ! across Powhite s. when, amid the ferial roar of ansketry and artillery, I have the order to fix bayonets and charge.'
"With a ringing shout we d :shed up the steep hill, through the abatis, and over the breast-works, upon the very heads enemy. The Federals, panie stricken. russel precipit toby to the rear. upon the infantry in support of the artiflers. Sa! the whole joined in the flight toward the valley beyond. juncture some twenty guns, stationel in the rear of the t shirt line, on a hill to my left, opened fire upon the 4th Texas, with changed front and charged in that direction. Ispatche : WHEN officer of my staff to the main portion of the brigade, in the : on the left, instructing them to hear the glad! tillings that the Texas had pierced the enemy's rear, and to deliver. ofles- to pash forward with atinost histe. At the sims moment ! outered a Keletal brighde marching up the slope, from the valley
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beyond, evidently with the purpose to re-establish the line. Meantime, the long line of Due and steel. to the right and left. wavered and finally gave way. as the isth Georgia, the ist and 5th Texas, and Hampton's Legion, gallantiy moved forward from right to left, completing a grand let wheel of the brigade into the very heart of the enemy. Simultaneously with this move- ment burst forth a tumultuous shout of victory, which was taken up along the whole Confederate line. I mounted my horse, rode forward, and found the 4th Texas and 18th Georgia had captured fourteen pieces of artillery, whilst the 5th Texas had charge of a Federal regiment which had surrendered to :t."
General Jackson, with reference to this charge. says officially: "In this charge, in which upwards of a thousand men Fell. killed and wounded, before the fire of the enemy, and in which fourteent pieces of artillery and nearly a reciment was captured, the 4th Texas, under the lead of General Hood, was the first to pierce their strongholds, and seize the guns. Although strep: from their defenses by this rapid and almost matchless display of daring and desperate valor. the well-disciplined Federals con- tinued, in retreat, to fight with stubborn resistance."
While surveying the ground next day over which these men charged, he exclaimed: "The men who carried this position were soldiers indeed."
The day was won, but at what a fearful sacrifice. Colonel Marshall, of the 4th, was killed; Lieutenant-Colonel Warwick was mortally wounded just as he mounted the breast-works. and planted there the Confederate colors flag ci an Alabama regi- ment, dropped by a dying soldier : Major Key was seriously wounded; thirty-two out of thirty-eight company officers were either killed or wounded. Among the latter was Captain \T. C. Walsh, who had so gallantly led one platoon of his company. when lieutenant, on the skirmish line at Eltham's Landing, who was compelled to suffer the amputation of a limb after the day's work was ended at Gaines' Farm. They wrote their record in characters of blood, which will go down to future generations as one of the graudest military charges of modern times.
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